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‘Academic Life at Vanderbilt’

What do you want to know?

Mar. 31, 2011—I had an amazing meeting with my student bloggers this past Tuesday.  A core part of our meeting included planning for April blog topics and we kept circling back to the same question, “What do our readers want to know?  What questions do they have?  What do they want us to write about?”  So today...

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You’re Admitted! Now What?

Mar. 29, 2011—First, take a breather and appreciate what you’ve accomplished.  Then, explore our Class of 2015 page.  This will answer most of your questions about the matriculation deposit, setting up your VUnetID, and requesting housing on campus.  Also, explore the Common Place Class of 2015 message board where you’ll find helpful information regarding your life here...

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Behind the Scenes: Mailing Day 2011

Mar. 24, 2011—Yesterday we officially mailed our Class of 2015 admission decisions!  Every year Mailing Day is a celebration for us here at OUA as it represents an entire year’s worth of recruitment and evaluation.  Today the office is officially closed to the public as OUA staff members take a much needed breather and prepare for a...

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Vanderbilt Class of 2015 Admission Decisions Mailed Today

Mar. 23, 2011—At 1:00 p.m. this afternoon an excited OUA staff filled two USPS mail trucks with admission decisions for the Class of 2015.  The past year of recruitment and evaluation resulted in Vanderbilt’s most impressive incoming class in university history.  We want to first thank each and every applicant who submitted themselves to our rigorous review...

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Wacky Wednesday

Mar. 9, 2011—College admissions involves serious topics.  We’re talking about a lot of money and a huge investment of time put into an uncertain future.  However, I feel compelled to tell you that this point of your life shouldn’t be all stress all the time. Live it up!  You only get to go through high school once,...

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Merit Scholarship Notification Begins Today

Mar. 7, 2011—Good morning, I just wanted to provide a brief update regarding the selection process for the Cornelius Vanderbilt and Chancellor’s Scholarship awards.  Beginning today, we will notify recipients of the Cornelius Vanderbilt and Chancellor’s Scholarship awards by both e-mail and letter. Applicants who were not selected for either program will only receive an e-mail notification....

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2011 ED II Decisions Mailed and Total Applications Update

Feb. 11, 2011—Our Early Decision II letters left OUA this afternoon!  ED II applicants will likely receive admission decisions in the mail early next week.  Students who do not receive their letters by February 18th may call our office to receive the admissions decision, but we will not release decisions over the phone prior to that date.

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Have mission. Will travel.

Feb. 8, 2011—In my last post, I talked about all the places we go overseas and how many international students find their way to us.  What about the domestic students (the ones who fill 94% of our class)? How does OUA reach out to y’all?

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Meet Ricky Thrash

Jan. 20, 2011—Hogansville, Georgia is my hometown. I am the admissions counselor responsible for Missouri, Kansas, North Georgia.

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Transfer Admission FAQs

Jan. 7, 2011—In the crazy world of college admissions, it seems as if most of the spotlight is on first-time freshman admissions.  However, transfer students are an important part of Vanderbilt University.  Transfer students add to the classroom discussion and campus life because of their diversified experiences; we are looking for transfer students who will add to...

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TROUBLESHOOTING the Alumni Interview

Nov. 18, 2010—Here are a few troubleshooting tips for our alumni interview process.  If you have additional questions, please feel free to post in the comments and we’ll get you an answer shortly!

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Early Decision on the Mind

Oct. 26, 2010—Yesterday I was sitting in a coffee shop in Bloomington, Indiana spacing off and thinking about the small joys of life – I had my first John Cougar Mellencamp sighting!  I spent four years in Bloomington and it wasn’t until I came back several years after moving that I saw JCM milling about.  This was...

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