‘decision process’
Tips for Your Alumni Interview
Oct. 20, 2010—Interviews for college admissions can be a stressful experience. Let’s admit it, a large portion of the college application process can be stressful. Try to squash the stress. This should be fun. During your senior year of college you have the opportunity to dream about what could be, about the possibilities, and you can imagine...
Alumni Interviews NOW Available!
Oct. 18, 2010—I can’t believe I’m wrapping up my final week of fall recruitment. Hopefully, I’ll see many of the students I’ve met these past few months on campus next year! As we reach the peak of application season, be aware that alumni interviews are an optional part of the application process at Vanderbilt. Alumni interviews at...
Meet Thom Golden
Oct. 8, 2010—My hometown is Snellville, GA by way of Nashville, TN. I am the admissions counselor responsible for the areas of Chicago, Mexico & the Caribbean.
IDK
Oct. 4, 2010—What type of grass is on the soccer field? How many declared majors are in the philosophy department? Is a double major in biology and chemistry the same thing as a biochemistry degree? What percentage of incoming freshmen preference a roommate versus those that go potluck? Of your African American students, what is the gender...
Meet Harper Haynes
Oct. 1, 2010—Anderson, South Carolina is my hometown. I am the admissions counselor responsible for Northern and Central Florida and South Carolina.
10th Day Data
Sep. 30, 2010—Before school begins each fall colleges and universities think we know what the incoming class is going to look like (statistically speaking), but we can’t be absolutely confident. Therefore we wait 10 days for everyone to get to campus, begin classes, and get in a groove before we take count. This college/university census is known as...
Deadlines
Sep. 29, 2010—A deadline is a deadline is a deadline… unless it’s a suggestion? As a senior in college there are A LOT of dates to remember (you better get a calendar/planner/iPhone application to help you remember everything). Sometimes a deadline is hard and fast – as in if you don’t meet it you’re out of luck....
Letters of Recommendation
Sep. 22, 2010—One night last year I was pouring over Sam’s application for admission to Vanderbilt. In terms of Vanderbilt’s applicant pool, he was fairly average. Solid academic achievement with test scores in the 90th percentile, but nothing about the numbers jumped out at me as extraordinary. I don’t remember Sam’s essay, but I’m sure it was...
Writing a Personal Statement
Sep. 13, 2010—Last year I was responsible for approximately 1,000 applications. Numerically, far too many of my students look identical. It’s the intangible pieces: essay, letters of recommendation, and extracurriculars that set one student apart from another. The essay is my personal favorite. I love a good story. I know, though, that this can be a stressful...
Stress Coping Tips (from someone who's been there)
Dec. 7, 2009—I’ve had a lot of experience with school and school-related stress. Throughout my undergraduate education, graduate education, and my time here at the OUA I have developed a few coping mechanisms. As many of you await our Early Decision I letters and most of you wrap-up semesters with final projects and exams, let me hand...
A Tuesday Intellectual on a Friday Afternoon
Apr. 21, 2009—At Vanderbilt, we feel comfortable putting our classroom experience up against any University, but we're biased). What I have come to understand in my three years here though is that this highly intellectual community maintains such a high level of livability for many Vanderbilt students. To me, Vanderbilt offers Tuesday morning academics in a setting that feels like a Friday afternoon. I reject that if a student wants an elite academic experience that they have to put up with a community that is cut-throat and staid.
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.