Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN, USA

Admissions

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college chances

Key Admission Stats

Institution Type
Private
  • Coed

Need Aware

This school may consider an applicant’s financial situation when deciding admission

Level of Institution
4 Year
Campus Setting
Major city
0
100
7%
Acceptance Rate
46,377
Students Applied
25%
Transfer Acceptance Rate
280
Transfer Students Admitted

Admissions Requirements

SAT
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No
ACT
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No
SAT Subject Tests
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Yes
AP Course Credit
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Yes
Dual Enrollment
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Yes
Transcript
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Yes

Important Deadlines

Application TypeApplication DeadlineReply Deadline
Early Decision Acceptance is binding so student must attend college if accepted.November 1
Fall Regular DecisionJanuary 1
Other
Early Decision 2
January 1
Test Optional
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Yes
Application Fee
$50
Fee waivers available
Rolling Admissions
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No

Admitted Student Stats

In-State Students
9%
Out-Of-State Students
89%
US States Represented
52
Countries Represented
56
32%
Submitting ACT
29%
Submitting SAT
Average ACT Composite: 35
0
36
Average SAT Composite: 1515
0
1600
SAT Percentiles

Math
25th
760
75th
800
Reading
25th
730
75th
770
3.90
Average GPA
Students Enrolled By GPA

3.75+
81%
3.50 - 3.74
12%
3.25 - 3.49
4%
3.00 - 3.24
2%
2.50 - 2.99
1%
Students Enrolled By Class Rank

Top 10%
93
Top 25%
95
Top 50%
98

Admissions Resources

Admissions: visit page
Admissions Email: [email protected]
Admissions Telephone: 800-288-0432
For International Student Services: visit page
For Students with Disabilities: visit page
For Veteran Services: visit page

What Students Are Saying

-well written and creative essays are key
-while your GPA and the SAT are important, they are by far not the only things that matters
-Vanderbilt seeks well-rounded students, who excel in several different areas of life
-Vandy stresses balance; while the school wants to help educate you, they also want you to take advantage of the social, volunteer, and local opportunities that Vandy and Nashville have to offer
-get to know your admission counselor and keep in touch with him/her...don't be annoying, but send an occasional e-mail reminding them about that one time you all met, or why you love Vandy so much
-try to come visit Vanderbilt when classes are in session, stay with a student for a night, and attend a class...this might give you a small taste of what Vanderbilt is like...it should be more realistic than taking a tour
-meet with a professor and ask him/her questions about a course or a major
K from Atlanta, GA
Check out the majors and classes and make sure you will like what they have. The Commons for freshmen living is amazing. Everyone at Vandy is nice for the most part so ask any questions you have, don't hesitate.
R from MO
VISIT! VISIT! VISIT!
To be honest, Vanderbilt looks a lot like any other top university on paper. Coming to this campus sealed my decision. The students were so friendly, and the campus was beautiful. Come to campus, sit in on a class, and ask if you can stay a night in a dorm room, you'll really get a feel for the campus.
L from Chicago, IL
Getting in to Vanderbilt is certainly not easy, but definitely worth striving for. You will need a well-written essay that reflects your interests and personality in a way the rest of the application does not. Your standardized scores and high school record are important as well. Make sure you demonstrate that you have taken every opportunity to challenge yourself in your high school career. The admissions office will take into account the high school you went to and the opportunities that were available to you, so be sure you show that you took advantage of what was available. Finally, be sure you demonstrate your well-rounded qualities. Vanderbilt students are more than just academic, so admissions wants to see that you were involved outside of your schoolwork, including your volunteer activities, leadership positions, and extracurricular involvements.
Go 'Dores!
Apply for financial aid and scholarships-- Vanderbilt is very generous in this area and even offers several full-merit scholarships
Keep an open-mind-- even though Vanderbilt is known for being a traditional school in the South and well as having a large Greek population, there are many students on campus who don't fit the stereotype
Andi from Chagrin Falls, OH
Make sure you are prepared to put in work. Nothing good in life comes easy!!!
Walisha from Louisville, KY
If you're looking to get into Vandy, keep in mind that you need not only top grades but also meaningful (quality over quantity, unless the quantity is too small) community service and extracurricular experience. Show them that you care deeply about things unrelated to your GPA or class rank as well.
C from Georgia
Show Vanderbilt that you are a student who can add something to this community. How can your uniqueness help others and the campus as a whole?
Ryan from Bowling Green, KY
Definitely at least apply here, even if you think it will be too expensive. I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to afford it here, but Vanderbilt has given me extremely generous financial aid.
James from Anchorage, AK
Look at Rate My Professor as an invaluable tool before deciding to take a class. When choosing classes, there is an advanced option you should use when trying to find a perfect class to fit certain restrictions (whether it be time during the day, fulfilling an Axle Requirement, etc.). Cannot stress enough to do research with professors there. Get connected. Go to office hours and talk to your professors as much as you can. By doing research with them, it helps even more.
Make friends. Enjoy experiences otherwise not granted to you had you not went to such an affluent university.
A from Vandy