Authentic Voices
I spent last night at MAFIAoZA’S celebrating a friend’s birthday. If you haven’t had the chance to experience the gloriousness of this casual Italian hot spot, you need to do so! I recommend The Dolan if you’re in the mood for pizza and The Joey if you have a taste for pasta. Anyways, I was at MAFIAoZA’S and my friend was telling a story about a mutual acquaintance couched with the statement, “He’s in sales; therefore I distrust everything he says.” This struck me as something similar to how my students feel about college admissions counselors.
Although I know my job is nothing like sales (I am much closer to a counselor), I understand the skepticism harbored by prospective students and families. The Commodore signs my checks and, therefore, I am not completely unbiased. Finding out “the real deal” and discovering unfiltered information can feel like a job in and of itself. Because of this, many students turn to online discussion forums for “true” student life perspectives or admissions advice. These can be entertaining and a good way to connect with other high school students experiencing similar stresses. I caution you to take the information with a grain of salt, though. I read these forums from time to time when I need a mind vacation at work and sometimes the information is helpful, but many times the advice/suggestions/recommendations/opinions are egregiously wrong.
So, where should you turn? Keep reading my blogs because I promise you I’m giving you as much unfiltered information as humanly possible, but I also have other suggestions. Talk to our current students! If you were an ED I admit you will soon receive a postcard from a current Vandy student (with their contact information). Utilize these resources. All of the students participating are part of our AmbassaDores program and they are unpaid volunteers. They reach out to prospective students because they love Vanderbilt, but not because we are paying them to do so. If you are not an ED I admit, but would still love to talk to an AmbassaDore, contact your admissions counselor and he/she can help you connect.
Also, read our student blog! The bloggers of Inside ‘Dores are also AmbassaDore volunteers. I work with the student writers and I encourage the bloggers to write about what they’re really going through, even if they’re having a bad day! We have new bloggers coming on this semester and you’re going to see much more fresh content. Ask the bloggers questions by posting comments.
My hope is that the frequency and clarity of our information will help you build a relationship with Vanderbilt that will extend beyond this present admissions season!
Photo courtesy of Mally Burton, Class of 2015
January 17th, 2011
Hi Kylie,
Greetings from Panama City, Republic of Panama!
Thanks for such a wonderful and insightful blog. My daughter and I have been reading it continuously during the last few months.
Does Vanderbilt take into consideration the scores obtained in AP Exams when evaluating an applicant’s candidacy for admission or are the AP scores primarily used for placement purposes?
With best wishes,
Ramon
January 17th, 2011
Ramon: While AP scores are not a large part of our admissions review, we do use these scores when we evaluate applications. Thanks for the comment/question!
January 18th, 2011
When should we expect our postcards from current Vandy students?
January 18th, 2011
Amber: They’re headed your way!
January 18th, 2011
Hi Kylie,
I am an ED1 admit, but have not received a postcard from an AmbassaDore. Is there any way that I can get one or if you can check if one was sent?
Thanks,
Brian
January 18th, 2011
Brian: You should receive that card within a week. They sent the cards out just yesterday (I believe) and some went out in waves. Contact me if you don’t receive one by the end of January.
January 19th, 2011
Hi Kylie,
I would like to expand on the question I posted on Monday afternoon. As Vanderbilt does not require official scores from AP Exams in order for an application file to be considered complete, will a student be at a disadvantage if he or she elects not submit said official score even though he/she took the yearlong course and obtained a very high grade? Or will Vanderbilt consider the score detailed by the student in the Academic section of the Common App?
I thank you in advance for your kind help.
With best wishes,
Ramon
January 19th, 2011
Ramon: It is very hard to get into hypothetical situations such as the one above. The most honest answer is I don’t really know. If you took an AP course we may look for an AP exam score. However, we are aware that students may choose to not take an exam because of scheduling obligations or that a student may score poorly because of illness. We are looking at the whole picture (holistic file reading): if a student has a wonderful application we’re going to notice that regardless of whether or not they submitted an AP exam for every AP course taken.