A Few Words on Admissions’ New Website
Unless this is your first visit to our site, you’ve likely noticed that quite a bit has changed in the last couple of weeks. We’ve simplified, refreshed, re-imagined and, in some cases, removed elements of our site entirely. Nearly every shred of information was weighed for its relevancy to your college search and organized on the basis of that audit. Sometimes a simple facelift won’t cut it.
The primary method by which we aimed to improve your user experience was through a drastic streamlining of the navigation. Here, we considered the most important and consistent actions taken on our site and worked to pave clear paths to those options at every turn. That’s why, for instance, you’ll now see a dedicated block of Quick Links — vis-à-vis “Visit,” “Contact,” etc. — on every page. We know how busy you are and want our site to reflect that acknowledgement. At the same time, however, we’ve endeavored to provide a rich experience for those who simply want to know more about Vanderbilt and have the time to explore. In this way, the site serves both a utilitarian and narrative purpose — you should easily be able to get what you need from us no matter the reasons for any given visit.
We’ve also tried to honor our goal of providing personal attention to each individual within the context of a high volume, highly selective admissions process. It is now easier than ever to contact your admissions counselor and to get the inside scoop on our Expanded Aid program from Vice Provost for Enrollment and Dean of Admissions Dr. Douglas Christiansen. Or maybe you simply want to cut through all the facts and figures and hear straight from the Director of Admissions, John Gaines, on what it is precisely that he loves so much about Vanderbilt.
These are just a few of the highlights, of course, albeit some of the more significant ones. Many other elements, graphical and otherwise, contribute to why we consider this a truly new website. And we’re not through yet. In the coming months, expect to see more robust features on our Academics and International pages, among others, and a continued commitment to keeping you informed through the admissions and student blogs.
We’ll also be making adjustments here and there as we learn more about how students, parents and counselors are using the site. To that end, please use the new Site Feedback link to let us know if you find yourself running into any difficulties with the new interface, or simply want to comment on any of its features. As always, we’d love to hear from you.