This post includes our ultimate guide on how to get into Vanderbilt, as well as everything you need to know about admissions chances.

Known as one of the ‘Southern Ivies’, Vanderbilt is most known for its programs in Comp Sci, Math, Econ, Liberal Arts, and Social Sciences. As a top-ranked school, getting accepted into Vanderbilt is a good way to ensure future success.

Perhaps one of the most useful assets in Vanderbilt –as it is with any elite university– is the networking opportunities. Getting accepted is a great way to guarantee strong career networking, and it can certainly give individuals advantages that others don’t have. In this modern day, you want to have as many of these advantages as possible. It’s no wonder everyone is excited to apply, and only 6.7% made the cut!

So, let’s cover everything you need to know about how to get accepted into Vanderbilt University.

Table of Contents

1. What is Vanderbilt Looking For in a Candidate?
2. Vanderbilt’s Abysmal Acceptance Stats.
3. How To Get Accepted Into Vanderbilt University
   • How To Get Accepted Into Vanderbilt With a Lower GPA or Scores.
   • How To Get Accepted Into Vanderbilt Without Extracurriculars.
   • How to Write the Vanderbilt Application Essays.

What is Vanderbilt Looking For in a Candidate?

Getting into Vanderbilt takes more than just grades and extracurriculars. The school exercises what is called holistic admissions. This means that they need to use a fine-tooth comb to truly understand whether you are a good candidate for their school.

The numbers aren’t everything; though, they do tell part of the story. You should consider the grades and marks you earn as tools to help the admissions officers understand your success. However, you should also do everything you can to make their lives easier. This means demonstrating your background information and outside projects in a manner that helps them get a better idea of your fit for the school.

Vanderbilt uses a holistic admissions process — we do not employ cutoffs for standardized testing or grade point averages. Rather we look for students who have demonstrated strong academic skills and intellectual curiosity, and who have engaged in activities outside the classroom that have nurtured their growth as leaders. Most successful applicants have taken a very rigorous course load and have challenged themselves at the highest levels of the available curriculum. Note that Vanderbilt does not consider demonstrated interest in the admissions review process.

Vanderbilt Admissions Website

Vanderbilt’s Abysmal Acceptance Stats.

You can find more information about Vanderbilt’s acceptance stats here. As the title suggests, these stats are absolutely terrifying. You can guarantee good grades and strong backgrounds won’t be enough. You’ll need something unique to stand out amongst the rest.

Vanderbilt Class of 2025, Early and Regular Decision Admissions Statistics (as of March 29, 2021)

• Applications:  47,174
• Admitted:  3,162
• Admit Rate:  6.7%
• Percent of students applying with test scores: 56.3%
• Percent of students admitted with test scores: 61.1%
• Number of U.S. states represented among admitted students: 50
• Number of countries represented among admitted students: 74 (including the U.S.)

Vanderbilt Average Stats

• GPA: 3.76
• SAT Range: 1460-1560
• ACT Range 33-35
• High School Rank: top 10%

But wait, it get’s better (worse)! Here’s the trend of acceptance rates starting from the class of 2020-2025. We’ve also provided a nifty little chart too!

Holy guacamole…

That’s okay though! If you think about it, a small acceptance rate is still something rather than nothing. From a logical perspective, something is actually infinitely more than nothing! Whether you’re a glass-half-full or glass-half-empty sort of person, this is the most reasonable mindset to think with when applying for Vanderbilt.

If you want to know how to get into Vanderbilt, you’re going to need to know how to fight against this lowered acceptance rate trend. Here’s everything you’ll need to know covered below.

How To Get Accepted Into Vanderbilt University

How To Get Accepted Into Vanderbilt With a Lower GPA or Scores.

One of the most important things to consider is that Vanderbilt has a holistic admissions process. Let’s take a look at their overall admissions philosophy. You can find the full page here.

1. Strong academic skills
2. Rigorous course load/highest level of available curriculum
3. Intellectual curiosity
4. Engagement in activities outside the classroom
5. Nurtured growth in leadership

So, what does this tell us about Vanderbilt? This tells us that these five tenets are their best indicators of success in the admissions process. However, because most applicants already have both strong academic skills and a rigorous course load, they must consider the other factors as well.

This is where you come in. Some students may have the first two factors listed above. However, there may be applicants who can fulfill number 3, 4, and 5.

By demonstrating strength in 3, 4, and 5, you can compensate for any lower scores or GPA performance. This is no guarantee to help your admissions chances, but it will certainly make you a stronger candidate.

Another way of thinking about this is reverse-engineering the admissions process. Think of the admissions officers and their perspectives: how is your intellectual curiosity, engagement in non-classroom activities, and leadership critical to the Vanderbilt community? Is there a way of presenting your experiences in which refusing a student like you would be a very, very bad idea?

In other words, what is an offer they know they can’t refuse?

Let’s say you have a GPA of 3.7. You’re below average, and you don’t have all the highest level of courses available. However, you can logically explain this because you take your leadership experience as the lead cello player in your orchestra very seriously. Perhaps you went above and beyond the call of duty as lead cellist, and decided to create a small group of other passionate players to go on performances. This would explain the inability to invest all your time in academics.

Now, is a lead cellist someone who Vanderbilt absolutely needs in their Freshman class? They can be! Maybe leading a small band of string players is the beginning of a new social media movement that brings classical music to younger generations. Vanderbilt can greatly benefit from having you, the harbinger of a new social movement in music, in their legacy.

How To Get Accepted Into Vanderbilt Without Extracurriculars.

When people ask us how to get into Vanderbilt, it also comes with this question: can I get in with lower grades and fewer extracurriculars?

It’s not obvious what your exact admissions chances are; however, it’s certain being below average would lower one’s chances of acceptance. Let’s cover what to do if you’re applying to Vanderbilt if you don’t have many extracurriculars –or any at all.

There are two scenarios one should consider.

1. The Vanderbilt deadline is in less than 1 month.
2. The Vanderbilt deadline is in more than 1 month.

If your deadline is in less than a month, there is no reasonable way you can fit in any meaningful extracurriculars at the last minute. We don’t mean picking up a hobby and writing about it in one day. We mean developing a passion or extracurricular that can demonstrate viable results such as rewards, honors, or real-world applications.

If this is the case, you need to find a way to get creative with your application. You don’t want to lie, but you want to find something that you can write about that will work without having to stretch the truth. Fortunately, this is more possible than most people think.

If #1 applies to you, and your Vanderbilt application deadline ins in less than a month, you should consider speaking with one of our experts. Schedule a free consultation, and we will help you quickly brainstorm everything you need to maximize your chances to getting accepted into Vanderbilt.

Okay, so what do you do if #2 applies to you? What should you do if you don’t have any meaningful extracurriculars while the Vanderbilt deadline is more than 1 month away?

If you have more time in your hands and you haven’t established any significant extracurriculars in your transcript, we’d recommend this. Get a 2-4 week program.

There are many programs out there such as summer music programs, rigorous computer science programs for C++, programs in business and marketing, etc.

We actually have a 2 week comprehensive program for those who need a strong portfolio and extracurricular for their application before the deadline. It typically works with people in computer science and business; however, it works with all fields. We also made our extracurriculars program fast-paced and project-oriented, so you don’t leave without at least something to show for in the admissions process! If you wanted to learn more about our extracurricular program, contact us. We’ll provide you more information and show you what works best.

How to Write the Vanderbilt Application Essays.

One of the most important aspects of understanding how to get accepted into Vanderbilt is writing the essay. Vanderbilt University only has one application essay.

Now, this may seem to be good news. However, you should remember: Vanderbilt implements holistic admissions. That means your essays are going to be much more important. For schools with a lot of essays, you can take your time writing a good application. Vanderbilt’s 400-word essay prompt only allows you to show your skills in very few words.

Here’s the prompt below.

Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. (200-400 words)

The Common Application –Vanderbilt University

As we said in the previous sections, this can be quite difficult depending on whether you’ve done anything outside of the classroom.

Some people have only a minor bit of work experience that they believe didn’t add much value to their transcript. Others have extracurricular activities that they didn’t do anything in or didn’t win any awards in.

Some applicants have neither work experience nor extracurricular activities at all!

If you fall into any of these categories, contact us ASAP. We can recommend you quick 2-4 week programs that would be perfect to talk about in the Vanderbilt University application essay.

Alright, let’s say you have viable work experience or a strong extracurricular with awards or honorable mentions. If this is you, you should consider writing only about one aspect of the topic. In other words, do not spread yourself out too thin.

Let’s say you work as a hostess at a chain restaurant, and you managed to grow from your position. It is important that you stick to only one aspect of your position and why you are strong in it. If you explain other things like what the job entails and when you head to work, you’ll realize that there is not enough room in your essay to showcase your true strengths. The key to getting accepted into Vanderbilt is using every bit of space you can in the essay to showcase how you’re a good fit.

If you want to learn more about how to get into Vanderbilt University, or you simply need help with your Vanderbilt essay, we can help! Contact us. We will get back to you within 24 hours, and our team of admissions experts will help maximize your chances of acceptance.