Vanderbilt University

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School Says - General Information
In 1873, Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt endowed Vanderbilt University in the hope that it would "strengthen the ties which should exist between all sections of our common country." Today, Vanderbilt is a highly selective, medium-sized university with a total enrollment of just over 12,000. In line with the Commodore's dream, students join the campus from all over the country and around the world.

Vanderbilt has 6,794 undergraduates, and all entering students are required to live on campus for four years. On-campus residence halls are shared by students in all four undergraduate schools. The university has a strong sense of community, and the housing staff works with the Vanderbilt Student Government to organize social, cultural, and educational events on campus. On-campus housing options include traditional single and double rooms, apartments, townhouses, and suites. About 42 percent of undergraduates participate in Greek life, and though fraternities and sororities do not have residential houses, Greek organizations play an active role in undergraduate life.

First-year students live at The Commons, a living-learning residential community comprised of 10 residence houses, The Commons Center, and the Dean of Commons residence. A faculty member lives in each of the residence houses, serving as a mentor to students and working with elected students from the house to design programming throughout the year. The Commons Center includes dining facilities, a health club, post office, mini-market, and a coffee bar open 24 hours a day. Students also frequent the Sarratt Student Center which houses recreational facilities such as a movie theater, a ticket box office, a pub, student organization offices, meeting rooms, an art gallery, and facilities for the student produced radio station and newspapers. Other student facilities include a state-of-the-art recreation center.

School Says - Student Body
Vanderbilt Student Government is responsible for maintaining a lively educational atmosphere on campus. Elected representatives of VSG work in conjunction with the nearly 400 student-run organizations to bring noted speakers and events to campus. Students can join a variety of pre-professional, cultural, religious, political, and social organizations. VanderbiltÂ's Honor Code has governed the undergraduate academic experience since the first final examination in 1875. Every year, one senior has the honor of serving a four-year term as the Young Alumni Trustee of the university's Board of Trust. Vanderbilt has a thriving college athletics program. Recent accomplishments include the football teamÂ's Music City Bowl victory, a trip to the Sweet Sixteen for the men's basketball team, Southeastern Conference regular season and tournament championships for the baseball team, and a national championship for the women's bowling team. A founding member of the SEC, Vanderbilt sponsors 16 Division I (FBS) teams.

School Says - Academics
Students apply to one of the four undergraduate schools: the College of Arts and Science, the School of Engineering, Peabody College of Education and Human Development, and the Blair School of Music. The College of Arts and Science provides all Vanderbilt students the opportunity to experience a wide range of academic disciplines and subjects. Through AXLE (Achieving eXcellence in Liberal Education), students refine their skills in writing, mathematics, foreign languages, the humanities, natural sciences, and the social sciences. The School of Engineering educates engineers for practice in industry, government, consulting, teaching, and research careers. In addition to technical courses, each student's program includes a rich complement of course work in the humanities and social sciences, resulting in a balanced foundation for future achievement and for the assumption of leadership roles in his or her chosen field. The curriculum at Peabody College allows students to pursue a traditional teaching degree or to study human and organizational development, child development, child studies, or cognitive studies. All Peabody students receive a strong liberal arts foundation, combined with a solid program of pre-professional courses and a multitude of internship and practicum opportunities. Peabody undergraduates must complete requirements in communication, the humanities, mathematics, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The Blair School offers majors in composition and theory, musical arts, musical arts and teacher education, and performance. Instruction is available in all orchestral instruments, as well as piano, organ, euphonium, multiple woodwinds, saxophone, classical guitar, and voice. The curriculum combines intensive musical training with liberal arts studies.

School Says - Admissions
Vanderbilt seeks accomplished students who are prepared to benefit from a demanding undergraduate program. The Admissions Committee evaluates every aspect of a candidate's application and achievements, both academic and extracurricular. The typical applicant will have completed 20 or more units in a challenging high school curriculum, including at least two years of foreign language study. School of Engineering applicants must complete at least 4 units of mathematics; calculus and physics are strongly recommended. Admissions decisions are based on strength of high school transcript, standardized test results (either the SAT Reasoning Test or ACT with Writing), personal essays, official recommendations, and extracurricular activities. SAT Subject Tests are not required. In addition to completing standard application materials, candidates for the Blair School of Music must audition on their primary instrument. Campus visits are recommended for all prospective students although a student's demonstrated interest in Vanderbilt is not a consideration in admissions decisions. Students should visit http://admissions.vanderbilt.edu to learn more about group information sessions, campus tours, half-and full-day visit programs, and opportunities to attend classes and to "shadow" a current Vanderbilt student. Vanderbilt does not conduct on-campus interviews, but optional alumni interviews are available in many locations. Vanderbilt offers Early Decision for students who have selected Vanderbilt as their first choice. Early Decision I applications are due November 1; admissions decisions are mailed by December 15. Early Decision II applications are due January 3, with a response date of February 15. Regular Decision applications are due January 3, and a decision will be mailed by April 1. Vanderbilt exclusively accepts the Common Application for both freshman and transfer admission. Applicants must submit "Part 1: The Vanderbilt Common Application Supplement," the Common Application, and a $50 application fee. Part 1 and the application fee may be submitted before or with the Common Application itself. All parts of the application should be submitted electronicallyor postmarked by the appropriate deadline.

School Says - Campus Life
Vanderbilt is located in the city of Nashville, home to a diverse population of 1.25 million and marked by a special touch of Southern charm. As the capital of Tennessee, Nashville is an important cultural and commercial hub in the mid-South, and is often referred to as Music City. Located equidistant from the northern and southern U.S. borders, Nashville sits at the intersection of three major interstate highways, and the international airport is served by all major airlines . Beyond the city limits, the surrounding area contains 81 parks and recreation areas, and over 30,000 acres of lakes, offering ample opportunity for sports year round.

School Says - Cost Aid
The costs for 2009-2010 include: tuition, $37,632; room and board, $12,650; books and supplies, $1,292; and the student activities and recreation fee, $946. First-year engineering students are required to have a laptop computer which meets requirements specified by the School of Engineering. All costs are subject to change.About 60 percent of the university's undergraduates receive some type of financial aid. Vanderbilt's undergraduate admissions process is need-blind for domestic students, and the university will meet 100% of demonstrated need for all admitted students. Need-based aid is awarded based on the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE and the FAFSA. Beginning with the entering class in 2009, Vanderbilt no longer includes need-based loans in financial aid packages. Need-based loans have been replaced with a combination of grant, scholarship, and work-study assistance from various sources including Vanderbilt, federal, state, and private entities. Under certain conditions and based upon individual family circumstances, loans from federal and other sources may be made available to students upon their request.

Vanderbilt awards merit-based scholarships to approximately 5% of first-year applicants who demonstrate exceptional accomplishment and intellectual promise. Three signature scholarship programs comprise the majority of these honor scholarships. Recipients are guaranteed full-tuition awards, plus summer stipends for study abroad, research, or service projects. All three programs require a separate application in addition to the application for admission. The signature programs are the Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholarships (for students who combine outstanding academic achievements with strong leadership and contributions outside the classroom), the Ingram Scholarships (for students who have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to community service), and the Chancellor's Scholarship (for students who have worked to build strong high school communities by bridging gaps among economically, socially, and racially diverse groups). Vanderbilt also offers scholarships to National Merit and National Achievement Finalists.

Students Say - Academics
Vanderbilt University "is a school where everyone has countless opportunities at their fingertips and students are encouraged to excel academically, extracurricularly and socially." Slackers, be warned: the academic environment here is challenging and intense. As one neuroscience major reveals, "The courses are meant to push students to their absolute limit and this can be overwhelming. Doing well in classes is very hard." Thankfully, undergrads feel that the experience is "rewarding" nonetheless. This is no doubt due in large part to the "fantastic" professors who "take a genuine interest in [students'] education and development." As a satisfied junior concurs, "My professors are always readily available to help with academic and life issues that I may be facing. They truly care about me, and they are extremely prompt in their response to my needs and questions." A content senior goes further, sharing, "I've been to dinner with professors, [attended] brunches at professors' houses with foreign dignitaries, and [attended] barbeques in professors' backyards." Certainly, this speaks to the "feeling of community between the faculty, staff, and students." It's therefore not surprising that undergrads are also quick to applaud Vanderbilt's administrators. They are very "visible and accessible" and it's quite common "to see deans at the lunch halls eating with students."

Students Say - Campus Life
Vanderbilt students "like to stay busy" and life here is all about "balancing friends and extracurriculars with schoolwork." Indeed, undergrads "take studying and partying equally seriously. Everyone has some excellent party stories from a Wednesday [night] and everyone has pulled at least one all-nighter." When students want to unwind they typically head to frat parties, as "Greek life is big" at Vanderbilt. Fortunately, "fraternity parties are mostly open events, so anyone, Greek or non-Greek, can enjoy the social scene." Sporting events are "also a great time. Everyone tailgates for the football games and the men's basketball team is very popular as well." Undergrads "are admitted [to games] for free by displaying their VU student ID." Those wary of frats or indifferent to athletics need not worry about being bored on campus, as one sophomore assures us: "We do a huge range of things for fun, [from] attending a movie showing in student center cinema [to] having an Apples to Apples or Pictionary tournament." Additionally, "student groups also organize campus-wide events regularly." Hometown Nashville also serves "as a playground for infinite fun for Vandy students." The city has "a great nightlife" and students frequently take advantage of both the restaurant and the arts scenes.

Students Say - Student Body
A sophomore admits, "The stereotype of a typical Vandy student used to be wealthy, conservative, white, southern, etc." However, he continues, "While some still fit the stereotype there is much more diversity on campus. Political views are now split about 50/50 [between] liberal [and] conservative. Students come from all over the country. There are just as many East Coast students as there are students from the South." A psych and English double major concurs adding, "The ratio of typical (white, wealthy, Protestant) students is visibly decreasing every year." And importantly, if you push past the surface, you'll find an undergraduate population that's "hard working, sociable, and enjoys having fun." Indeed, many Vanderbilt students "definitely fit the 'work-hard, play-hard' personality type." An "overachieving" and "accomplished" lot, undergrads at Vanderbilt are "very involved in something, be it a sorority or fraternity, dance group, [or] religious group." As another sophomore shares, "This is not a school where students lock themselves in the room to study 24/7. It's rare to find a student who is involved in only one club or not involved in anything." And one impressed junior adds, "The commitment to community service at Vanderbilt is incredible. The amount of time, effort, and innovation my fellow students put into serving others truly astounds me."

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