Applying as an International Student
The college application process can be an intimidating experience, especially if you are considering leaving your home country to study in the United States. Don’t worry, though, because our international admissions team has the tips and advice to help you through the process of applying to Vanderbilt as an international student. Here are the top 10 tips gathered from current international students and admissions officers.
1) Take the virtual tour of campus. See our campus from afar by taking our virtual tour. At Vanderbilt you’ll live with your peers and faculty members, have world-class resources available, and enjoy an arboretum in the heart of Nashville. The virtual tour is currently offered in English, Spanish and Mandarin!
2) Connect with current Vanderbilt students. Contact a Student to discover what it’s like to be living and learning on Vanderbilt’s campus. Cici Zhang, a junior Child Studies major from Beijing explained, “I checked out the [website] regularly but it wasn’t until I got in touch with one of the current Chinese students that most of my questions were answered. It is also great to get information about Vanderbilt from a student’s perspective.”
3) Connect with your admissions counselor. Your admissions counselor is happy to answer any questions you may have about the application process and Vanderbilt University. Elizabeth Mekbib, a junior Chemical Engineering major from Ethiopia shared, “I sought out my admissions counselor and asked him questions about Vandy because I was extremely interested.
4) Explore Nashville, the vibrant city we call home! Nashville is the #1 friendliest city in America and students are always discovering new ways to experience it.
5) Stay up-to-date with the Vanderbilt Admissions Blog. The Admissions Blog allows you to stay connected to the admissions office, read about events on campus, gain advice and tips (like this list!), and stay current with deadlines.
6) Make sure that all of your application documents are intact and translated. You can check on requested materials via your Common Application or Universal College Application page. Elizabeth advises, “Checking on the front end saves the trouble of explaining how the system at your school works, if it is different.”
7) Check your MyAppVU account. This portal will allow you to see a checklist of items so that you can know if we’re missing any required application materials. In particular, if you used different email/mailing/street address on different parts of your application, issues may occur, making it difficult for the Admissions Office to complete your application. After you submit materials, please allow a couple of days for processing, but contact your admissions counselor if things remain missing.
8) Be sure we have all of your test scores. All undergraduate applicants must take either the SAT Test; or the ACT with Writing. All non-native English speakers should sit for the TOEFL, the IELTS or the PTE Academic. The English proficiency test can be waived if you’ve scored above a 600 on the SAT Critical Reading or a 26 on the ACT English section.
9) Mind your deadlines. Early Decision II and Regular Decision applications are due on January 1. If you will be applying for need-based financial aid, the priority date to submit the College Board Financial Aid PROFILE is January 5.
10) Remember, there’s no formula to our holistic admissions process. The admissions committee considers academic excellence, non-academic accomplishments and interests, letters of recommendation, English language proficiency, and standardized test scores. Present a true picture of who you are and that will help us better understand how you might make interesting contributions to the Vanderbilt community.
We’re here to help you through this process. Feel free to reach out to your admissions counselor with any additional questions.