Credit – Anseley Philippe
In the first instalment on my profile of the 20 so-called ‘New Ivies,’ I thought it apropos to begin in my home state of Tennessee and specifically the capital city of Nashville. You would be hard pressed to find a school in the south that can come close to the campus experience, location, and all-around outstanding programs found in this highly prestigious private research university.
Founded in a time when rich people vanity projects consisted of building museums, libraries, gargantuan mega-mansions, Cornelius Vanderbilt funded his eponymous university with a generous $1 million endowment (roughly $26 million today) with its vision to heal the wounds of the Civil War and contribute to the nation's progress through education. Since inception, Vanderbilt has consistently ranked among the top universities in the United States, renowned for its strong programs in fields such as law, medicine (thank you for saving my life), engineering, education, and business.
Credit – Visit Music City
‘Music City,’ as Nashville is otherwise known is a fantastic, trendy, and up and coming cultural hub, combining worlds of the arts and entertainment industry and the unrivalled (personal opinion) culinary delights of Southern American cuisine. Nashville Hot Chicken has become a global phenomenon, while other regional staple dishes are deeply rooted in the unique mix of cultures dating back to pre-revolutionary American history.
Back to academics…
The term "New Ivy" refers to a group of colleges and universities that rival (and probably exceed) the established Ivy League schools in terms of academic excellence, selectivity, and prestige. Vanderbilt offers equal resources and quality of education, while cultivating a more inclusive and close-knit atmosphere. The university's commitment to interdisciplinary learning, small class sizes, and renowned faculty are just a few of the many factors contributing to its exceptional academic reputation and thus steadily declining acceptance rates.
Vanderbilt has gained widespread attention from international students who currently make up a little over 10% of the student body. Thanks to the ‘New Ivy’ moniker, acceptance rates have plummeted to shy of 7% overall, with international students claiming 4% for 2023. They do offer Early Decision, which can substantially increase admission chances if done correctly. Regardless, to be considered for admission, international students should focus on achieving best possible academic records throughout high school, with a focus on challenging coursework and high grades. Competitive scores on standardized tests such as the SAT or ACT can’t hurt, although they will remain test optional through 2027. Digging deeper into the data for this year and you find roughly half of accepted students submitted test scores and of those, most we’re pushing 97th percentile + or in raw numbers 1500 or higher, with the more competitive ED students at 1540 minimum. Keep in mind, these numbers would pretty much walk you straight into an Ivy a decade ago.
The real key to cracking the Vanderbilt code stands just like any other competitive US school, mired in the opaque world of holistic admissions. Students must engage in meaningful extracurricular activities that showcase a variety of interests, talents, and leadership potential. On the note of leadership, an admissions guru colleague relayed that 100% of ED admissions held either major leadership positions within their class, or held some other significant honor. The school president was quoted as saying “Our waitlist students today would be like our Cornelius Vanderbilt scholars (read: full scholarship winners) four years ago. This speaks volumes to the changing candidate pool and the lengths to which students and families are willing to go to maximize admissions chances.
The application process itself is simple enough and involves completing the Common Application, including essays that highlight personal qualities and aspirations. International students may also need to provide additional documentation, such as financial aid information and visa requirements. Ultimately, Vanderbilt seeks students who are not only academically gifted but also demonstrate a zeal for learning, a fit for the community, and a commitment to campus engagement (insert statement about inclusivity and diversity here).
To maximize chances of success, prospective applicants should start the application process as early as possible to ensure they have plenty of time for gathering materials and meeting deadlines. Connecting with current international students at Vanderbilt can give a massive leg up and be a natural window into the whole university experience. Seeking out the right advice and guidance for crafting a compelling narrative in application essays that paints a unique canvas about what makes an applicant a valuable addition to the Vanderbilt community can make a world of difference in strengthening an application. Thorough Test preparation, a healthy dose of making a difference while actually trying to make the world a better place, and professionals you can count on can hugely impact chances of success. In the end, building up a tougher skin and setting some realistic expectations can have a pretty significant impact as well.
Vanderbilt University offers an incredible educational experience for those worthy of unlocking its gates. For my money, I’d choose it over most of the Ivy, Ivy +, and New Ivy schools, and honestly, I’d do it by virtue of location alone, but there are endless reasons, when stacked against contemporary schools, why Vanderbilt might just be the better choice.
Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.