Located in Nashville, TN, Vanderbilt is an extremely popular private research university with a classic college vibe. They’ve got great academics, great sports, and it’s in a super fun city. However, all of these factors mean Vandy is beyond competitive. Last cycle they had a 6% acceptance rate. SIX! However, early acceptance rates hover more around the 18-20%. That means, if you’re looking for a top-tier southern school to ED2 to, Vanderbilt might be the move.
If you just got rejected from your ED school, you’re probably scrambling for other options right now, and if you were interested in schools like Duke, Vanderbilt is definitely worth considering. We know applying ED2 can feel super nerve-wracking—especially if you’re already deep into RD apps. Maybe you’re hesitant about committing, or maybe you’re worried about facing another rejection. Totally understandable. But here’s the deal: ED2 is your smartest move right now. It boosts your chances, and at a school like Vanderbilt, where the acceptance rate is *tiny,* every little edge helps. So, take a deep breath and go for it!
Let’s jump in and talk about their supplemental essays and how to write something that will stand out in the crowd.
Vanderbilt University’s motto, Crescere aude, is Latin for “dare to grow.” In your response, reflect on how one or more aspects of your identity, culture, or background has played a role in your personal growth, and how it will contribute to our campus community as you dare to grow at Vanderbilt. (250 words)
This essay might seem super broad, but at its core, it’s a community essay. If you’re reading “identity, culture, or background” and think you must talk about something that checks a minority box to get into college, you don’t have to. It’s cool if you do! But we want you to know you have permission to not write about that if you wish.
What they want to see here is how the community you are a part of at home has helped you grow, and they want you to connect it to something at Vanderbilt. Remember, community can be soooo many different things. It doesn’t have to be a formal group or service org – it can be your family, your neighbors, the book club you go to with your mom, like truly whatever. You want to think about this in terms of a story. Colleges love stories for essays, and if you use that as a framework as you brainstorm, that can help you get through this a little easier.
Once you think of the thing you want to write about, you’ll want to zero in on a specific moment in time with this community. Was there a challenge you had to overcome as a group – big or small? Did you help set up a successful event or organize the members of this community in a unique way? You can even write about the less tangible ways this group has shaped you, perhaps emotionally or mentally. You want to write about a time you built or strengthened some kind of skill, and that skill could be a hard or a soft one.
Then, you want to tell your story. Good stories have distinct beginning, middles, and ends. You want (nay, need) to use lots of descriptive details to drop the reader right smack dab in the middle of whatever you’re doing. You can use things like dialog to help break it up or act as a hook! But here’s the kicker with this supplement: you need to connect it back to something at Vanderbilt.
If you wrote about your knitting group, is there a yarnbombing club at Vanderbilt? Some kind of volunteer group that knits hats and gloves for people? Make sure what you write about makes sense with the story you just told.
With an overall acceptance rate in the single digits, you may want to check the rest of your Common App, especially if you’re reeling post-ED-rejection. We have lots of advice on how to tackle everything from the Common App essay to the activities section to the additional information section.
Getting rejected is tough, but it doesn’t mean you won’t attend college next year. Choosing to apply ED2 is one of the smartest moves you can make, and if you need help with your ED2 application to Vanderbilt, don’t hesitate to reach out—we’re here for you!
Need help after an ED rejection? Reach out to us today.