Are you an applicant? Perhaps, you are planning to apply for an Early decision. If yes, I think you need to read through this article. This article will give you all the necessary information you need to excel in early decisions. Of course, you should understand that early decision is not for impatient people. Hence, this kind of admission process should be approached with lots of pre-planning, researching, and asking the right questions. 
However, some universities may have an Early Decision process that gives students a slight competitive edge. Hence, Vanderbilt has made it clear that it doesn’t accept students based on interest.
In that case, the admissions process will assess students based on a holistic look at their academic performances and values in an attempt to make a prestigious education accessible to students from all walks of life.
Meanwhile, students may wonder why they should be bothered with the issue of early Early Decisions if it doesn’t add to their application.
Just as the College Board has pointed out, pursuing Early Decisions can be helpful to students who have made a university their first choice. Not just that, the students must have confidence in their financial aid status and have a competitive academic record.
In the case of Vanderbilt, Early Decision really is up to student preference. This implies that students shouldn’t approach the Early Decision application as if it is what will give them a competitive edge.
Therefore, they have to approach it with the conviction that the Vanderbilt is indeed a school for them.
On this note, the student can take their time to consider what they want from a Vanderbilt education. How will students achieve this? morning Thest way to do this is to look at the cost of attendance, the academic programs, and the kind of students the university attracts.
Hence, one of the topmost concerns of students regarding Early Decisions is financial aid.
The reason for this is that students are applying early. So, they will not get information on their financial aid package until they got information on their acceptance. This means that students need to know enough about the cost of attendance not to be blindsided by the financial side of the Vanderbilt experience.
To understand more about the cost of attendance and what aid a student will be eligible for, students and their families should check out the Vanderbilt affordability page.
If this is done, it will provide students with information on merit and need-based scholarships, a net price calculator, and a breakdown of opportunities at Vanderbilt.
In the same vein, students should be looking at the academics that Vanderbilt has to offer. Hence Students will be primarily attending one of the four schools: College of Arts and Sciences, Blair School of Music, Peabody College of Education and Human Development, and the School of Engineering.
On the other hand, a student’s program may be focused on one of the schools. Therefore, the university encourages students to take courses from all four for a more well-rounded educational experience.
In conclusion, understanding a university through the eyes of its students is one way to determine if a university is the right fit. In that case, students can do this by visiting the campus, checking out social media, and reading the student-run blog.
Another essential feature of Vanderbilt is the Contact a Student tool. Applicants can search through a list of current students based on major, location, or year to find someone to connect with.
In this regard, each student profile has an information page on the student, a contact form, and a short interview with the student about their favorites at Vanderbilt.
However, if reaching out to a current student is somehow intimidating, students can also get a window into Vanderbilt student life by reading through the Inside Dores student blog.
Articles range from what it has been like to live with covid-19 at Vanderbilt to what it is like to be in ROTC.
To pursue an Early Decision at Vanderbilt isn’t about trying to get an edge on others. Rather, it is about committing to an experience that students know is the right fit for them. To start the process of pursuing Early Decisions, students should follow the guidelines below.
Vanderbilt Early Decision Acceptance Rate
Hence, the Early Decision acceptance rate is 17%.
So, to get information concerning what Vanderbilt expects from its Early Decision applicants, students should look through the overview of those that have been accepted.
As it is, Vanderbilt offers detailed info about its incoming Early Decision students through the university’s admissions blog.
Therefore, the latest class to be accepted is made up of students across the globe who have received honors, and who are in the top 10% of their graduating class.
In the same vein, the general Vanderbilt acceptance rate is around 7.1%. On the other hand, the difference in the acceptance rates doesn’t reflect one deadline being easier than another.
So, Early Decision applications have higher rates of acceptance. The reason for this is because of the likelihood that these applications might be the most competitive not minding if they came in during Early Decision or Regular Decision.
Vanderbilt Early Decision Decision Date
Hence, students will receive Vanderbilt’s final decision on their application by Mid-December.
In that case, if students are accepted, they will be held to the binding agreement and must withdraw all other applications from other universities.
Also, Mid-December is equally the time that students will learn what their preliminary financial aid awards are.
Again, the final financial aid package will be given to students by late March.
Vanderbilt Early Decision Deadline
Vanderbilt’s Early Decision deadline is November 1st. However, this isn’t the only date students need to keep in mind. Apart from the Early Decision I deadline, there are other deadlines that students need to be aware of.
In the same manner, financial aid is one thing that is given to students who applied for Decision.
Vanderbilt requires that students complete a CSS profile, which is an application that is similar to the FAFSA. Meanwhile, the CSS profile is rather used to determine eligibility for institutional aid. The priority deadline for both the FAFSA and the CSS profile is November 4thfor ED.
On the other hand, it’s not much relevant to the Early Decision, however, it’s still just as important to remember. Hence, with that, students are also able to apply for merit scholarships.
Also, not minding which decision a student applies under, the deadline for applying for merit scholarships is December 1st.
In the same vein, it is a deadline that is important for music students who want to attend the Blair School of Music. Early Decision music students will need to submit their regular application and the music schools’ additional application by the same November 1st deadline.
Does Vanderbilt Have Early Decision 2?
Yes, Vanderbilt offers an Early Decision II option to applicants.
Hence, the deadline for ED II is January 1st. Students will be informed of the university’s decision on their application by Mid-February.
At the initial stage, students might find it confusing that the Early Decision II and the Regular Decision deadline are the same, January 1st.
However, the distinction between the two lies in the all-important “binding” agreement that always accompanies an Early Decision deadline.
On the other hand, Regular Decision allows students to wait to decide if they want to attend based on all their options. Early Decision students are locked into Vanderbilt if they are offered acceptance and must withdraw all other applications.
Vanderbilt ED Deferral Rate
Vanderbilt doesn’t give out information regarding their ED Deferral Rate. Students who apply for ED will either be accepted or waitlisted.
In the same way, the case of Deferral can be the student’s choice.
Hence, students who apply for Early Decision and get accepted will have the option to defer their acceptance if life circumstances come up that require a pause on their enrollment.
In order to defer enrollment, students need to reach out to deferrals@vanderbilt.edu by July 1st in order to request a deferral.
Accordingly, the university will review the requests on a case-by-case basis. Students who are granted a deferral will be required to pay a $400 fee to hold their spot.
How to Apply to Vanderbilt for Early Decision
It is worthy of note that the application process for Early Decision is the same as the Regular Decision process with the addition of a signed Early Decision Agreement.
An exception to this is those who wish to attend the Blair School of Music. Students will need to submit the music application requirements on top of the regular application requirements if they choose this path.
Students will start the general application process by picking the Common or Coalition Application to complete.
Hence, there will be a $50 application fee that can be paid or waived through the application. In addition, students will need to submit the core documents which nearly all colleges request. These documents are transcripts and letters.
Transcripts from high school and/or colleges should be sent directly to the university.
Also, Vanderbilt requires students to submit two letters of recommendation from a teacher and one from a counselor.
Meanwhile, there is no mandatory requirement for students to write an essay. However, students are encouraged to do so through the application so the university can get to know them better.
In the same vein, SAT/ACT scores will not be required for admission to Vanderbilt till at least 2024.
On the other hand, students who plan to submit an application beyond 2024 should contact the university’s admission office to hear how the university will move forward once this deadline is reached.
Again, students who enter Vanderbilt will go into one of the four main schools. Then, the Blair School of Music is the only one that requires a few more application materials from applicants.
In addition to the Blair School of Music application, students will need to submit two artistic recommendations, a photo, a music resume, a repertoire list, and a prescreening video.
To learn more about these special requirements, students should visit the Blair School of Music home page.
Another promising path available to students is the QuestBridge program. Vanderbilt is one of over 40 universities that participate in the QuestBridge match process. This is where academically gifted, low-income high schoolers can apply for a fully-funded college education at some of the top universities in the nation.