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What To Do If You've Been Waitlisted

Apr. 2, 2009—This year, Vanderbilt's pool of applicants was so strong that many students who may have been admitted even a year ago were offered a spot on our waitlist. Keep in mind that it was equally difficult to be offered a spot on our waitlist as it was to be admitted. Still, I know that many students and families are unclear about what being on a waitlist means, and as such, I hope this post provides some insight into Vanderbilt's waitlist process.

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Deposit and Decline Reports: Shoe Officially on the Other Foot

Apr. 1, 2009—I had mentioned on this blog before that the time will come when us admissions folks will wait on your decisions. That time has officially arrived.

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I've Been Admitted – Now What?: April Edition

Mar. 31, 2009—The letters have gone and been received by most across the country. Usually at this point, the readership of our blog becomes a little segmented depending on which envelope you received from us. The informational needs of each of the different groups certainly keep us busy enough to fill the time vacated by less reading. My hope this week is to provide some "what now" information to our admitted students (today) and our waitlisted students (later this week). For students who were denied and who wish to appeal our decision, see the comments section from the last post (3/26) for details about that process.

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2009 Decision Letters Have Been Mailed

Mar. 26, 2009—Last year's incoming class was historic. For a year now, the Vanderbilt class of 2012, the first Commons class, was able to boast about being the most diverse, best prepared group of incoming students ever seen at Vanderbilt. After this coming Fall, the class of 2012 will not be able to say that anymore.

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Mailing Day 2009 is Here!

Mar. 26, 2009—The day is finally here. The letters are stuffed, sorted, packed, and checked. This morning, we will put the finishing touches on all of the decision letters and finally get them out the door later today.

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How Admissions Committee at Vanderbilt Works

Mar. 19, 2009—For the past two weeks I, along with my fellow Associate Director and Director of Admissions at Vanderbilt, have reviewed the decisions of hundreds of individual students all across the country. Think of a meeting that lasts 80+ hours long. Yes, it is that fascinating.

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

Mar. 5, 2009—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.

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Things That Are Chock Full of Awesome: March Edition

Mar. 4, 2009—Things that are chock full of awesome: 1. Vanderbilt students are scattered to the winds for Spring Break, including our ASB Groups out there helping hundreds if not thousands of people, go 'Dores. Selfishly, I celebrate increased parking spots.

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Stop Reading This Blog

Feb. 26, 2009—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.

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Late Afternoon Scholarship Update: 2009 Ingram Scholars Announced

Feb. 20, 2009—More merit-based scholarship news out of Vanderbilt. Late this afternoon, the Ingram Scholarship Program announced the 19 newest Ingram Scholars for the incoming class of 2009.

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Update on Merit Scholarships

Feb. 20, 2009—The following was posted this afternoon on the Vanderbilt Undergraduate Honors Scholarship website: To our Scholarship Applicants: I just wanted to provide a brief update regarding the selection process for the Cornelius Vanderbilt and Chancellor's Scholarship selections.

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Would Da Vinci have Gotten the Small Envelope?

Feb. 18, 2009—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.

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