‘Vanderbilt Admissions Committee’
Meet Nicole Molina
Jan. 6, 2011—I am the admissions counselor responsible for Southern California and Illinois, except Chicagoland. In the office I work on: Black and Gold Days and with CoRPs (Commodore Recruitment Programs).
ED I Update
Dec. 12, 2010—Much of the information below will come as a repeat to you if you’ve kept up with the comments. Many questions keep popping up, though, so I wanted to address those major topics here. Additionally, I want to add a bit of a personal perspective in these last few days before our ED I applicants...
Understanding the Mid-50%
Dec. 9, 2010—As a counselor at a highly selective college I frequently field questions about standardized testing. I noticed in recent months, though, that many students I work with don’t apply testing statistics to their college search process appropriately. Numbers aren’t helpful if you don’t understand their reference. Here I break down testing statistics: questions to ask...
What Not to Fret About
Dec. 1, 2010—I had a writing block this week. I think my head is full of all the writing my students put into their applications, which is amazing, but a block of sorts for my own words. I’ve been stewing for days and as I summarily rejected numerous ideas I put them into a mental category I...
Meet Alex Gano
Nov. 29, 2010—My hometown is Charleston, Illinois. I am the admissions counselor for Illinois (non-Chicago) and Southern California. I share these territories with Nicole Molina.
Thanksgiving Week Information
Nov. 23, 2010—Hopefully the information below helps keep you in the loop this holiday week! I hope you have an amazing time with friends and family on Thanksgiving. Relax and give yourself the break you deserve.
How We Read a File
Nov. 19, 2010—In a previous post I walked readers through how all of our mail makes it into a complete application file. I ended with the file landing in the “Read me!” bin of my office. The question begs, then what? How does an admissions counselor actually read a file, what are we looking for, and where...
Application Status UPDATE
Nov. 3, 2010—You hit submit. Whew. Take a breather, you’ve earned it. I understand that now you want to follow up and confirm we’ve received materials. However, give us some time. We have HUNDREDS of applications and pieces of applications pouring into our office every day. It takes time to process all of that snail mail and...
Not an Ivy in the South
Nov. 2, 2010—Vanderbilt is not an Ivy League in the South. No, I’m not going to be one of those naïve jerks who tells you the Ivy League is just a sports conference. I understand it means more than an athletic schedule. Wikipedia (the authority on all things pop culture) says the Ivy League has a “connotation...
Meet Sarah Quin
Oct. 25, 2010—I am the admissions counselor responsible for Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia & West Virginia. I work as the AmbassaDores coordinator in the office.
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...
Wrapping Up Travel Season – What Comes Next?
Oct. 11, 2010—Hopefully, you’ve had the chance to meet an admissions representative from our office in the past few months. Officers (including myself) from Vanderbilt traveled extensively this fall in order to meet prospective students in their hometowns. If you didn’t get to meet one of us in your region, come visit us! OUA is open six...