How to Get Into Vanderbilt: Process, Requirements & More
Did you know that according to the latest data published by the College Board, Vanderbilt University has an acceptance rate of just 7%? That means only 7 out of every 100 applicants are accepted each year. Vanderbilt University has consistently maintained its position among the top universities, most recently securing 18th place in the U.S. News & World Report rankings.
Vanderbilt is a top-tier university, and the competition to get in is fierce. But don’t worry, this blog is your comprehensive guide to navigating the Vanderbilt admissions process and increasing your chances of landing a spot at this prestigious institution.
How to Get Into Vanderbilt
At the Vanderbilt Office of Undergraduate Admissions, the committee believes in getting to know you beyond just your grades. Your application is a window into your passions, accomplishments, and interests, both inside and outside the classroom. They also consider your background and experiences to understand how they’ve shaped you. This means evaluating your grades in light of your school’s curriculum, understanding how a job or family commitment might have affected your high school journey, or recognizing the impact of global events on your life.
When Vanderbilt reviews your application, they’re checking out these things:
- Academic achievement
- Standardized test scores (if submitted)
- Letters of recommendation
- Personal essay and short answer
- Extracurricular activities, leadership, and/or engagement
What Are the Ways to Apply at Vanderbilt?
When it comes to applying to Vanderbilt University, you have three options: Coalition, powered by Scoir, Common Application, and QuestBridge.
Option 1: Coalition, Powered by Scoir
Coalition, powered by Scoir, is an application platform that emphasizes personal stories and holistic reviews. It allows you to showcase your unique experiences, talents, and aspirations through essays, portfolios, and letters of recommendation. If you’re a creative thinker or have a passion for sharing your journey, Coalition could be the perfect fit for you.
Option 2: Common Application
The Common Application is a widely used platform that provides a standardized format for applying to many colleges and universities. It’s a streamlined option if you’re applying to multiple institutions and want to avoid redundant paperwork. However, it’s important to make your application stand out by highlighting your individuality and achievements.
Option 3: QuestBridge
QuestBridge is a national college match program that connects high-achieving, low-income students with top-tier universities. If you demonstrate financial need, academic excellence, and a commitment to community service, QuestBridge could open doors to Vanderbilt and other prestigious institutions.
Note: Vanderbilt University is all about options, so they don’t mind which application system you choose. Just pick one, and once you’ve made your choice, make sure to submit all the required materials through that one system.
How Do I Prepare Essays, LORs, and Extracurricular Activities for Vanderbilt?
Essay
Your college essay is your chance to shine and show Vanderbilt who you are. They are not interested in reading another rehash of your academic achievements or extracurricular activities. They want to hear your personal story—the one that makes you unique.
Don’t waste time trying to figure out what they want to read. Just be yourself and let your passions shine through. They are looking for authenticity and originality, not just a well-written essay.
They already know your grades and leadership roles, so use this space to tell us something new about yourself. Share your dreams, your fears, and your quirks. Show them what makes you tick.
Get feedback from others, but don’t let them take over your essay. Vanderbilt wants to hear your voice, not that of your parents, teachers, or AI helpers.
Remember, this is your essay, so treat it like a class assignment. Write it early, proofread it carefully, and make sure it’s polished and professional. Don’t stress too much about typos or grammar errors; they look at the whole picture, not just the perfect essay.
Letters of Recommendation
At Vanderbilt, they ask for three letters: two from academic teachers and one from your counselor. But before you start seeking recommendations, here’s a cheat sheet:
Teacher Selection:
- Go beyond grades; choose teachers who know you well.
- Seek out teachers who’ve witnessed your academic growth.
- Don’t wait till the last minute; give teachers ample time.
- Share your achievements and activities for context.
Additional Letters:
- Consider adding an extracurricular leader who can provide a unique perspective.
- Avoid adding letters just to add numbers.
Remember, recommendation letters are your chance to shine. Choose wisely, give teachers ample time and context, and let your true self shine through!
Extracurricular Activities
When listing your activities, prioritize the ones that mean the most to you. This shows Vanderbilt where you invest your time and energy.
- Highlight your leadership roles, commitment, and impact. If you led an organization, emphasize the scope of your leadership. They also value involvement that required significant time and effort. If you made a real difference, showcase that impact, regardless of your official title.
- Depth over breadth. They would rather see a genuine commitment to a few activities than superficial involvement in many.
- Don’t leave anything out. Include school-affiliated activities, community involvement, part-time jobs, or family commitments.
- Provide context. If an activity needs extra explanation, use the additional information section.
Remember, your activities showcase your passions and contributions beyond the classroom. Let them reflect on your unique journey.
What Are the Application Requirements for Vanderbilt?
- To apply to Vanderbilt, you will need to complete the Common Application or Coalition Application, including the personal essay and short answer.
- There is a $50 application fee, but there are fee waivers available for qualified students.
- You will also need to submit your official high school transcript, a letter of recommendation from your counselor, and two letters of recommendation from academic teachers.
- For students applying for fall 2024 entry, SAT or ACT scores are optional. If you do choose to submit your scores, the SAT code is 1871 and the ACT code is 4036.
- You can also submit a Schoolhouse.world portfolio if you have one. This portfolio can be uploaded via your MyAppVU portal.
| Homeschoolers are welcome to apply to Vanderbilt without any special requirements. As long as you submit all the regular application materials, they’ll review your application just like any other student’s. |
Blair Applicants—Additional Requirements
To apply to the Blair School of Music, you’ll need to fill out a separate application in addition to the Common App, Coalition App (powered by Scoir), or QuestBridge application. Here’s what you’ll need to submit for the Blair School of Music application:
- An artistic recommendation (with the option to add another one)
- Your music resume
- A list of your repertoire
- A pre-screening video
Note: You won’t be able to access the Blair School of Music Application until you’ve submitted your Common App, Coalition App (powered by Scoir), or QuestBridge application, and your MyAppVU portal has been created. Once your portal is up and running, you can find the Blair School of Music application under the “Application Checklist” section.
Did you check off everything on the list?
Does Vanderbilt Require SAT or ACT Scores?
| No more stressing over test scores! Vanderbilt University has decided to ditch the ACT or SAT requirement for students applying for fall 2024. |
When you apply, you’ll get to choose whether you want your ACT or SAT scores to be considered in your application. Don’t worry, your decision won’t affect how your application is reviewed.
If you decide to submit your scores, you can simply self-report them on your Vanderbilt application. The university will use these scores to evaluate your admission, but if you end up getting in, you’ll need to send in official score reports.
| Students who typically get in usually have an SAT score between 1480 and 1570 or an ACT score of 34 to 35. |
If you do choose to submit your scores, you don’t need to worry about the Writing section of the ACT or the Essay section of the SAT (which was discontinued in 2021).
Vanderbilt will superscore your ACT and SAT scores. This means they’ll take your best section scores from all your tests and combine them to create your best overall score.
So, if you’re planning to submit your scores, Vanderbilt encourages you to send in all the tests you’ve taken. They’ll only consider your highest section scores, either from the ACT or the SAT exam, whichever is better.
Vanderbilt will even superscore both the digital and paper SAT formats. If you’ve taken both versions, they’ll take your highest Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score from either format and combine it with your highest Math score from either format.
Early Decision I, Early Decision II, and Regular Decision: Dates and Deadlines
Early Decision I and II
If you’re sure you want to attend Vanderbilt, Early Decision I or II is the way to go. These are binding decision plans, which means that if you’re admitted, you have to go to Vanderbilt and withdraw your applications from other schools.
| Dates (Early Decision I) | Details |
| Mid-December | Admission decisions available |
| December 31, 2023 | Deadline for matriculation deposit |
| Dates (Early Decision II) | Details |
| January 1, 2024 | Deadline for completed application |
| Mid-February | Admission decisions available |
| March 1, 2024 | Deadline for matriculation deposit |
Regular Decision
Not sure about Vanderbilt yet? That’s okay! Regular Decisions are non-binding, so you can apply to as many schools as you want and make your final decision in April after all the admission decisions are out.
| Dates (Regular Decision) | Details |
| January 1, 2024 | Deadline for completed application |
| Late-March | Admission decisions available |
Changing Your Decision Plan
If you change your mind about your decision plan, you can usually do so through the MyAppVU portal. However, you can only change your decision plan up to two weeks after the deadline for that plan. If you’re changing your decision plan to Early Decision I or II, you will need to sign the Early Decision Agreement.
What is MyAppVU?
Once you’ve submitted your application to Vanderbilt through Common Application or Coalition, powered by Scoir, you’ll receive an email within two business days with instructions on how to create your MyAppVU account. If you don’t get this email, make sure you actually submitted your application to Vanderbilt by checking your Common Application or Scoir portal. If you did submit it, check your spam folder.
With MyAppVU, you can:
- Track the status of your application and see which parts have been received.
- Check the progress of your need-based financial aid application.
- View your standardized test scores.
- Apply for optional merit-based scholarships.
- Update your contact information, including your address, phone number, and email address.
- Change your decision plan or choose which Vanderbilt school you prefer.
- See your admissions decision once it’s available.
Note: You’ll receive your Vanderbilt admissions decision exclusively through your MyAppVU portal. Keep an eye on your inbox for official emails from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, which will always come from a Vanderbilt.edu address.
From the Desk of Yocket
Getting into Vanderbilt University for undergraduate studies is a challenging but rewarding feat. It is ranked among the top 20 national universities by U.S. News & World Report in 2024, and the QS World University Rankings 2024 ranked it at 261. The university is highly selective, with an acceptance rate of just 7% in 2023. However, Vanderbilt is also a renowned institution that offers a world-class education and a vibrant campus community.
Getting into Vanderbilt University is competitive. If you are considering applying to Vanderbilt University, there are a few things you can do to increase your chances of getting in. First, make sure you have a strong academic record. This means taking challenging courses and getting good grades. You should also take the SAT or ACT and aim for a high score. The average SAT score for admitted students is 1480–1570, and the average ACT score is 34–35.
In addition to your academic record, you will also need to submit a strong application essay and letters of recommendation. Your essay should tell the admissions committee about your unique experiences and qualifications. The letters of recommendation should come from teachers or counselors who can speak to your academic abilities and personal qualities.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Does Vanderbilt University offer financial aid?
Yes, Vanderbilt University offers a variety of financial aid options to help students afford their education. The university meets the full demonstrated financial needs of all admitted students.
2. Does Vanderbilt University require interviews for undergraduate applicants?
No, Vanderbilt University does not require interviews for undergraduate applicants.
3. Can first-year students defer admission to Vanderbilt to a later start date?
Yes, first-year applicants can defer admission to a later start date.