Vanderbilt partners specifically with Posse New York to bring two cohorts to campus each year, and also selects one cohort each from Posse Houston, Posse Miami, and Posse Atlanta. Each Posse consists of ten students who receive a full-tuition leadership scholarship, pre-collegiate leadership training, and ongoing support. They attend Vanderbilt as a tight-knit group of changemakers, committed to making an impact on campus and beyond. Visit The Posse Foundation and connect with your local Posse office to start the process.
High school juniors are nominated by their teachers, counselors, or community-based organizations for their leadership potential, academic promise, and ability to thrive in a team setting, typically during the school year. If you are a student interested in being nominated or a teacher or mentor looking to nominate someone, visit The Posse Foundation and connect with your local Posse office.
Once nominated, students participate in Posse’s unique Dynamic Assessment Process (DAP), a three-round series of interactive interviews designed to identify leaders who might be overlooked by traditional admissions criteria. This process usually runs from August to December, though dates may vary.
In the final round of DAP, students are interviewed not only by Posse staff but also by representatives from Posse’s partner colleges and universities. At this stage, students may be matched with one of those institutions, including Vanderbilt University. After this round, the final Posse cohort is selected.
All components of the Posse experience—mentorship, events, and leadership development—are essential parts of the scholarship and required of all participating scholars.
Before arriving on campus, Posse Scholars participate in eight months of intensive Pre-Collegiate Training. This program builds critical skills in leadership, cross-cultural communication, and academic preparedness while fostering strong bonds among each Posse. It ensures that students are confident, connected, and ready to thrive from day one at Vanderbilt.
At Vanderbilt, Posse Scholars engage in a supportive, structured community that extends well beyond the classroom. For the first two years of college, scholars participate in weekly group meetings with their Posse and campus mentor, as well as one-on-one check-ins with that mentor, who is a faculty or staff member providing personalized guidance and support.
Throughout their time on campus, scholars take part in cornerstone Posse events such as Big Meet, the Welcome Ceremony, and the PossePlus Retreat. These experiences are designed to strengthen community, encourage dialogue, and foster leadership.
Even before arriving at Vanderbilt, each new scholar is paired with a “Big Sib,” a member of the class above them who helps ease their transition and build connections on campus. In the summer before junior year, scholars also have the opportunity to opt into the Alumni Mentor Program, where they are matched with a Posse alum to discuss career pathways, networking, and post-college goals.