In order to increase their yield rates (the proportion of admitted students who matriculate), colleges are increasingly adding second rounds of Early Decisions.
Therefore, applying to a school with ED2 can still be beneficial if your goal was to increase your chances of being admitted by applying early and you had been declined or deferred from ED1.
The only thing left to do is choose a reputable ED2 university, and I’ve listed some of your top options along with who should give them serious consideration. I’ll respond to a number of the most frequently asked questions about early decision 2 later on in this post.
Vanderbilt University’s: Overall Acceptance Rate – Class of 2026
The acceptance rate was 6. 1% for those vying for a spot in the Class of 2026 There were 46,717 total applications received. The Regular Decision rate was only 4. 7%.
Vanderbilt University Early Decision Acceptance Rate – Class of 2026
Anyone considering applying via binding early decision should do so if Vanderbilt is their top choice. This school offers an ED1 and ED2 option. The Class of 2026’s acceptance rate for ED 1 was 24. 1%, a much higher figure than the ED II acceptance rate of 10 3%.
Vanderbilt University Admissions – SAT, ACT, GPA, and Class Rank
Students enrolled in the Class of 2025 received ACT Composite scores between 34 and 35 and SAT scores between 1480 and 1570. In one recent cycle, 80% had an unweighted GPA of greater than a 3 75 and all but 6% earned at least a 3. 5 GPA. The average GPA of all entering first-year students was 3. 86 and 89% placed in the top decile of their graduating class; 97% landed in the top quartile
Admissions Trends & Notes
- Tests won’t even be required at Vanderbilt until at least the class of 2028.
- The acceptance rate declined slightly from 6. 7% to 6. 1% for the Class of 2026.
- 56% of students submitted test scores with their application and 61% of those admitted did so
- The Class of 2026’s accepted students came from all 50 U S. states and 27 countries around the world.
- The middle-50% SAT range for accepted students was nearly identical in the regular and ED rounds
- The Class of 2025 included 144 National Merit Scholars.
Who Actually Gets Into Vanderbilt University?
Let’s examine the student population at Vanderbilt University’s demographics:
- South: 34%
- Midwest: 15%
- Mid-Atlantic: 8%
- West: 9%
- Southwest: 9%
- New England: 14%
- International: 10%
The states with most current undergrads are:
- Tennessee: 692
- Florida: 498
- Illinois: 460
- New York: 490
- Texas: 484
- California: 487
- Georgia: 357
- New Jersey: 380
- Ohio: 214
- Massachusetts: 220
Competition is fiercest for applicants from states with an abundance of qualified candidates, as is the case at any highly selective university (the entire Northeast). Your geographic location is more likely to improve your admissions chances if you are from a sparsely populated state like Alaska, North Dakota, or Montana. The states with the fewest current Vanderbilt undergrads are:
- Wyoming: 2
- North Dakota: 0
- South Dakota: 2
- Alaska: 3
- West Virginia: 3
- Montana: 3
- Idaho: 8
- Vermont: 1
The distribution of all current undergrads, when considering ethnic identity, is as follows:
- Asian American: 18.7%
- Hispanic: 11.1%
- African American: 11.5%
- International: 8.8%
- Multiracial: 5.7%
- White: 39.5%
All current undergraduate students are almost evenly divided by gender:
Recent freshmen attended one of the following high schools:
Yield Rate
Vanderbilt University%E2%80%99s yield rate%E2%80%94the percentage of accepted students who elect to enroll, divided by the total number of students who are admitted was 40% for the Class of 2024 For comparison, many other top private universities have superior yield rates such as Notre Dame (58%) Northwestern (55%), Duke (54%), However, Vanderbilt has a higher yield than USC (36%), Carnegie Mellon (37%), and Emory (29%)
How Vanderbilt University Rates Applicants
Tens of thousands of applications are submitted to Vanderbilt to enroll its roughly 1,600 first-year students. At Vandy, at least two readers review each application. These are typically admissions officers assigned to your region, but occasionally other officers offer their opinions on applicants from outside their usual jurisdiction. Readers “look for students who have performed well within the context of their high school’s most demanding academic programs” in this genuinely holistic process. We assess extracurricular activities in terms of level of commitment, roles and responsibilities, and leadership. Through the application essay and short answer, we additionally assess applicants’ writing skills. ”.
The rigorousness of secondary school records, class rank, GPA, standardized test scores (test-optional for high school Class of 2022), the essays, extracurricular activities, and character/personal qualities are seven factors that are rated as being “very important” to the Vanderbilt admissions process. Application components deemed “important” are recommendation letters and talent/ability. The admissions interview (more on this in a moment), first-generation status, alumni status, place of residence, state residency, race/ethnicity, and volunteer work are all “considered” factors. It certainly helps if you are chosen for one of the 14 Division I sports teams at Vanderbilt University. Over 350 undergrads are varsity athletes. Sports talent can give applicants an advantage during the admissions process.
Tips for Applying to Vanderbilt University
You should be aware of the following if you intend to join the 47,000 Commodore aspirants for the upcoming admissions cycle:
- Vanderbilt University offers Early Decision I and Early Decision II. ED acceptance rates are typically double those of the Regular Decision round, as was mentioned earlier in the blog.
- Vanderbilt University does offer optional alumni interviews. The majority of these interviews are informational in nature through the Commodore Recruitment Programs, but an evaluation of the interview is included in the student’s application file.
- In the admissions process, Vanderbilt University does not take “demonstrated interest” into account. Still, given that their yield rate is under 50%, it is still worth taking the simple steps of following them on social media, signing up for a virtual tour, or emailing an admissions officer with any questions you may have
- Make sure to devote enough time and effort to the supplemental essay that Vanderbilt requires. In the 2021-22 cycle it is as follows:
Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. (200-400 words).
Visit our blog at Vanderbilt University Essay Prompt and Tips for comprehensive tips on how to approach this essay.
Should I Apply to Vanderbilt University?
With overall acceptance rates as low as 6. 1% in recent years, Vanderbilt is a school that is looking for students that are at the 97th percentile or above on standardized tests and among the very top of their high school class Just about all “A”s in an AP-heavy curriculum is expected. If Vanderbilt University is your goal, be sure to also include a number of other institutions on your list where you have a greater chance of being accepted. Each student should make sure to create a list of potential colleges that includes both “target” and “safety” schools. Additionally, you should definitely seek the advice of your counselor throughout this process.
College Admissions: Inside the Decision Room
FAQ
Is it harder to get in ED2 than ED1?
This can be helpful, particularly if you’re applying to a highly selective college or university. However, between the two early decision programs, ED1 typically has better admissions odds than ED2.
Does applying ED2 increase chances?
The biggest benefit for applicants to ED II is that it can increase their chances of admission. Applying Early Decision or Early Decision II won’t help you get into a school you aren’t qualified to attend, but it can put you ahead of the hundreds or thousands of applicants who applied via regular decision and had comparable qualifications.
What is early decision II at Vanderbilt?
If a student is committed to attending Vanderbilt if accepted, Early Decision I and II are appropriate for them as binding decision plans.
Are ED2 acceptance rates lower than ED1?
Even though Early Decision 2 admission rates are lower than Early Decision 1 admission rates, they can still offer a very helpful bounce. Though, not all schools that offer ED1 also offer ED2, so be cautious. Make sure to check with your college counselor or do some advance research to find out which schools offer an ED2 option.