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New "Insider's Guide to Financial Aid" Video Just Released

Our Insider's Guide to Admissions video received such great feedback from students and parents that we've filmed a sequel. This short video outlines in simple terms the ins and outs of financial aid with Doug Christiansen, Vanderbilt's Associate Provost for Enrollment and Dean of Admissions.

Posted by Thom on March 5, 2009 in Advice for Parents, Application Process, Scholarships and Financial Aid, , , , , ,

Stop Reading This Blog

Seriously, stop it. Not to go all Billy Gates on you, but there's this little squared red X in the top right corner of your computer screen and I'm begging you to punch it in the face.

Posted by Thom on February 26, 2009 in Admissions Committee, Advice for Parents, Balance, College Confidential, , ,

Would Da Vinci have Gotten the Small Envelope?

A wonderful article appears this week in the Chronicle of Higher Education's Chronicle Review by W. A. Pannapacker of Hope College. In it, Pannapacker portrays the well known genius of Leonardo da Vinci set against the lesser known backdrop of growing biographical evidence that he was a chronic procrastinator.

Posted by Thom on February 18, 2009 in Advice for Parents, File Reading Explained, Preparing for College, , , , ,

Stupid Things Admissions People Say

From time to time I'm asked to serve as a panelist for high schools hosting "junior nights." These are opportunities for students and their parents to come out and hear from college "experts." They're usually fun affairs for us, as we get to put down your employer's banner for a little bit, field questions and get a pulse for what's on people's minds. Not too long ago, I sat on one in Chicago and something happened there that has had me thinking for about a while now about the state of the whole admissions field and where our profession has gone wrong.

Posted by Thom on January 27, 2009 in Academic Life, Advice for Parents, Balance, College Rankings, Preparing for College, , ,

And Then There Were Files: ED I and Front Yard Football

It was a moment a couple Sundays ago.  On the couch, my 2.5 year old playing quietly on the floor in front of me, the Titans game on in front of him.  Nothing too remarkable about the exact moment really when I realized this would be last weekend without file reading.  The clicking of Matchbox...

Posted by Thom on November 18, 2008 in Advice for Parents, Application Process, Balance, Early Decision, File Reading Explained, Preparing for College, The College Essay, , , , , ,

Vandy Admissions Deadlines: Your to-do list for this weekend

There’s a great line from an Arrested Development episode, spoken as a teaser by a TV news anchor, “Packs of wolves loose on the streets of Orange County – we’ll tell you what it means for your weekend when we come back.”  Just thought of it when I was writing the title for this post. ...

Posted by Thom on October 31, 2008 in Advice for Parents, Application Process, Early Decision, File Reading Explained, Political Life at Vanderbilt, , , , ,

The ED & Financial Aid Quandary

We got a really good question about Early Decision & fin aid from Talha and I thought I would answer it here instead of replying over email. “Hey bloggers, I was wondering wheather (sic) applying early decision to Vander-awsome-bilt would affect at all the financial need of a student/family. I know that once you are accepted...

Posted by Thom on October 16, 2008 in Advice for Parents, Application Process, Early Decision, Preparing for College, Scholarships and Financial Aid, , , , , , ,

Three Promises

I might have the greatest job in the world. I get to travel. I get to meet intelligent, interesting young people. When not traveling, I go to work on a beautiful campus in the middle of Nashville. I even have a season baseball ticket.   Still, the best part is that I can make some...

Posted by Brad on October 3, 2008 in Advice for Parents, Application Process, Diversity at Vanderbilt, Scholarships and Financial Aid, , , , ,

The College Admissions Essay Part II: Beyond gimmicks and hooks

We talked yesterday about the importance of voice in your college application essay.   Today let’s discuss the second insight your college application gives our admission officers, specifically, how you put your thoughts together to convey a point. In college a buddy of mine introduced me to a friend of his at a party like this, “Hey...

Posted by Thom on September 12, 2008 in Admissions Committee, Advice for Parents, Application Process, College Application Guides, File Reading Explained, The College Essay, , , , , ,

First-Year Philosophy (Things You Should Know Now, so You Don't Feel Goofy Later)

Like Carl Jung, you could hear your inner self telling you – almost imploring you to listen…just this once. Of course, as usual – you went against the wishes of your subconscious and you brought with you – on move-in day – in your first year of college that outdated shirt that flung you in...

Posted by Thom on May 27, 2008 in Advice for Parents, Freshman Commons, Living on Campus, Preparing for College

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