Vanderbilt University

“Good grades, good SAT's, the usual, but also, diversityJan 14 2007Psychology
good grades, good SAT's, the usual, but also, diversity REALLY helps--beware though--that once you are here it is pretty segregated socially
SAT: 1320 Male

“Get a 4.0, get 5s on your APs, writeDec 04 2006Biology
Get a 4.0, get 5s on your APs, write a killer essay, and generally be amazing.
SAT: 1570 Male

“I gave that school two years and then INov 01 2006Business - Management and Administration
I gave that school two years and then I got out and I am glad I did. I made some good friends, but overall the people were really shallow and typical. No one seemed to really care about what they were learning, only about the grades. I would also never recommend the school to anyone black or jewish. Vandy is trying to get more diverse, but the old prejudices are all still there. I am at a smaller, more intellectual school now and feel I am getting SUCH a better education.
SAT: 1300 Female

“If you are jewish and you apply to theAug 27 2006Undecided
if you are jewish and you apply to the HOD program at Peabody you are in.
SAT: 1310 Female

“The best way to get into Vanderbilt is toAug 18 2006Economics
The best way to get into Vanderbilt is to have as many of the following as possible.
1) An SAT score of 1400 or above. (32 or higher if in the South)
2) Depending on how well known your high school is (i.e. a well known private school or a public magnet or math and science school) you GPA must be 3.8 or higher. If you come from one of the above schools you can get in with a 35 or higher, but your test scores must be excellent and you have tyo have good recommendations.
3) I recommend finding at least two teachers from ANY year of high school that will go to bat for you on the page long recommendation forms. Also someone who you've worked for or an old coach that can mainly vouch for your character or work ethic is a plus. Send three only. More than three is boring to administrators and less than three shows a lack of effort.
4) Stress a FEW extracurricular activities that you were heavily involved in. Many student are members of tons of different clubs, sports groups, etc. and admissions knows this. Keeping it short, but profound sticks out in the minds of admissions.
5) Take AP tests only in subjects you are good at and hope to focus on in school. A 760 on Math II SAT II looks great. A 580 in biology, when you want to be an English major does nothing.

In summary, the best way to get accepted is to have a high GPA, good test scores, and solid recommendations. If you live in Tennessee it is harder to get in. If you play a sport to collegiate level, this is a big plus.
ACT: 34 SAT: 1450 Male