2012-2013 Vanderbilt University Application Thread

[Frazier]

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Still trying to figure out those red X's for my LORs on the status page...

Anyone still have them that hasn't been offered an II yet?

 

[techie7]

.

 

[Cheezhead]

I do--that's actually why I just came to this thread! I uploaded letters through AMCAS in July, I don't understand...

Mine took nearly two weeks to change from an X to the check-mark... I don't know why it takes so long to be "official" in the system, but if you are concerned maybe you should call admissions just to make sure they have them?

 

[DokDakotaDok]

Sorry I am not able to elucidate the actual screens. I can say that the primary AMCAS application is reviewed first by a faculty, and then by a whole committee before receiving a secondary. This is a new addition from last year, meaning that it is likely that someone who gets a secondary this year would have most likely received an interview already last year. So consider the secondaries heavily screened.

Thanks for responding, Nymphicus!

I completely understand. It is great to hear they aren't stringing us along though, and I am extremely excited that they have liked my application thus far. I really hope they think I killed it on the secondaries as well.

Wish me luck!

Edit: Note for others, mine is also still a big boxed red X.

 

[Frazier]

So I am going to assume that the LOR status changes when you are going to be invited for an interview...

Thus far the sample shows:
People without red X's have an II in hand.
People with red X's do not have an II in hand.

Edit: DRATS! still red X's 😛

 

[DCSB6]

Blais -- all green on my end and no II.

 

[Frazier]

Blais -- all green on my end and no II.

Well, before you go and bust my myth...let's give it a couple days and see if an II coincidentally comes strolling into your inbox.

 

[med144]

Blais -- all green on my end and no II.

yep same..all green and no II. Also, I was in the second batch of secondaries, so they likely haven't looked at my app yet. Hoping the theory is somehow true though!

 

[DCSB6]

Well, before you go and bust my myth...let's give it a couple days and see if an II coincidentally comes strolling into your inbox.

👍

 

[Classof2013PreM]

I was in the second batch of secondaries (8/1), and my letters and application both have been received at this point too. No II yet though.

 

[DCSB6]

I am curious how heavily they screen post secondary for an interview, considering that previous years there was no such screen.

 

[PreMedOrDead]

I am curious how heavily they screen post secondary for an interview, considering that previous years there was no such screen.

Nympho said that they screen the secondary even heavier than they did in the past (in which they used to have secondary = interview invite). I can imagine that the post secondary screen is still tedious, but probably pretty lenient in comparison to the cutoff for non-screened secondary schools.

#hunch

 

[Guero]

Nympho said that they screen the secondary even heavier than they did in the past (in which they used to have secondary = interview invite). I can imagine that the post secondary screen is still tedious, but probably pretty lenient in comparison to the cutoff for non-screened secondary schools.

#hunch

*childish, Spy vs Spy laugh*

You might want to consider using a different abbreviation. Nympho carries a much different connotation than Nymphicus, or even Nymph. 😀

 

[eggs13]

secondary submitted! really have my fingers crossed for an II, would love to see this school! and get my country on!!

 

[PreMedOrDead]

*childish, Spy vs Spy laugh*

You might want to consider using a different abbreviation. Nympho carries a much different connotation than Nymphicus, or even Nymph. 😀

It was very much intended. 😉

 

[Guero]

It was very much intended. 😉

😳 And that, meine freunde, is why I insist that I must have damage to the area of my brain that's supposed to interpret facetious sarcasm. It's so, so much worse in real life, when the deadpan delivery should give it away. ::sigh:: Whatevs.

 

[PreMedOrDead]

Haha, don't worry about it. Most of my posts include some form of sarcasm, you get used to it 😉

 

[Nymphicus]

Nymphicus hollandicus

 

[NewYorker9]

Any other applicants interviewing 9/21 and want to meet up afterwards send me a PM. I should have some time to burn before my flight so I figure why not spend it with a potential classmate?

 

[PreMedOrDead]

Nymphicus hollandicus

May I ask you two questions?

Thanks.

I'm curious since interviews are coming up. What styling products do you use to keep your hair like that? Looks great! 👍

 

[Buttermellow]

Thinking about applying here, but is it even worth the money if I have a 3.95/31? I also have a 29 mcat, which they will be able to see.

 

[Nandrolone]

Thinking about applying here, but is it even worth the money if I have a 3.95/31? I also have a 29 mcat, which they will be able to see.

idk what to tell u...i have a 3.75, 36S, and I'm considered a URM, and still haven't even gotten a secondary (been almost a month now)...so I'm assuming i got rejected.

 

[Buttermellow]

idk what to tell u...i have a 3.75, 36S, and I'm considered a URM, and still haven't even gotten a secondary (been almost a month now)...so I'm assuming i got rejected.

Wow. Yeah, I definitely feel like I have no chance. I think when they see my mcat, my gpa won't even make up for because they'll assume I took easy classes or something. @!*%#*$ MCAT is so mis-representative.

 

[Nandrolone]

Wow. Yeah, I definitely feel like I have no chance. I think when they see my mcat, my gpa won't even make up for because they'll assume I took easy classes or something. @!*%#*$ MCAT is so mis-representative.

but don't let that discourage u...if u like the school, by all means, apply, u have competitive stats.

 

[Buttermellow]

but don't let that discourage u...if u like the school, by all means, apply, u have competitive stats.

Yeah, I might as well go for it. It's my only reach school.

 

[PreMedOrDead]

idk what to tell u...i have a 3.75, 36S, and I'm considered a URM, and still haven't even gotten a secondary (been almost a month now)...so I'm assuming i got rejected.

You'll get one soon. It took over a month to get mine. Similar stats, non-URM.

 

[Tophs]

Thinking about applying here, but is it even worth the money if I have a 3.95/31? I also have a 29 mcat, which they will be able to see.

It's not ALL about stats. ECs/research/leadership/ etc. count for a lot in this process as well. It took about 2 weeks for me to receive the secondary and my MCAT is below their average (granted my GPA is above average, like yours). I think my ECs had a lot to do with it, so consider how the rest of your application matches up to the school.

 

[Buttermellow]

It's not ALL about stats. ECs/research/leadership/ etc. count for a lot in this process as well. It took about 2 weeks for me to receive the secondary and my MCAT is below their average (granted my GPA is above average, like yours). I think my ECs had a lot to do with it, so consider how the rest of your application matches up to the school.

Yeah, I was reading about their admissions selection process and they (like every other school) said they assess applicants holistically. Being a reapplicant who couldn't even get accepted the first time with a 4.0, I'm not sure the rest of my app is that strong. The 29 mcat probably had a lot to do with that though. Might as well apply and hope for a miracle 🙂

 

[yellowfish]

Yeah, I was reading about their admissions selection process and they (like every other school) said they assess applicants holistically. Being a reapplicant who couldn't even get accepted the first time with a 4.0, I'm not sure the rest of my app is that strong. The 29 mcat probably had a lot to do with that though. Might as well apply and hope for a miracle 🙂

I would say apply. There's no use sitting around trying to figure out whether you have a shot. If you have to ask that question, then there's enough chance that it's worth the effort to see if you get in.

Also, like Tophs said, stats are just one aspect of the application folks. Never forget that.

 

[eefen]

So I got the "application received" email on 7/11, have decent stats (36, sci and cum 3.96+), good clinical ECs, no research. Would be very interested in attending here...but I still haven't even received a secondary. Would it be a bad thing to call/email the office and see if I've been screened out? Or am I just being impatient?

 

[phigam]

I haven't received anything yet either. I called and they said it could take 4-8 weeks to get the secondary. It's kinda pushing 8 so at this point I have no idea.

 

[DokDakotaDok]

So I got the "application received" email on 7/11, have decent stats (36, sci and cum 3.96+), good clinical ECs, no research. Would be very interested in attending here...but I still haven't even received a secondary. Would it be a bad thing to call/email the office and see if I've been screened out? Or am I just being impatient?

You could call. However, I think Vanderbilt extensively screens for their secondary applications. I got mine not two weeks ago and was verified around the same time as you. Trust me, if you wouldn't make the cut into the Interview stage, the secondary is a beast and you would probably rather not do it. With your stats you have nothing to worry about, however. The lack of research might be killing your top tier applications, though. Less than 1 in 10 accepted students to top tiers did no research in undergrad. Vanderbilt itself is about 1 in 20 students do not have research.

 

[eefen]

*kicks self for not doing research*

Yeah....I do wish I had done some research. *sigh*

 

[eggs13]

anyone have any idea when the next round of II's will be out???

 

[publicschooler]

I haven't received anything yet either. I called and they said it could take 4-8 weeks to get the secondary. It's kinda pushing 8 so at this point I have no idea.

I'm also getting worried, but surely there will be another round of secondary invitations...

 

[Nandrolone]

^^just got a secondary...literally 5 mins ago.

 

[justhanging]

^^just got a secondary...literally 5 mins ago.

Ahh, I want one.

 

[iceprincess4189]

i just got the secondary as well, and received the "application received" email on 8/7. hope you guys receive yours soon as well!

so just to clarify, the consensus is that vanderbilt still DOES screen, but just not as heavily as previous years when secondary=interview? if so, does anyone know to what extent they do screen?

 

[iceprincess4189]

This year, for the first time, it goes like this:

Primary --> SCREEN --> Secondary ---> SCREEN ---> Interview



This is correct.



They are hoping to give out around 500 interviews, roughly half the amount of last year.

Hmm if they're hoping to give out 500 interviews, any idea how many people receive the secondary invite?

 

[stkjhu]

Just received the secondary as well!

 

[DokDakotaDok]

Hmm if they're hoping to give out 500 interviews, any idea how many people receive the secondary invite?

He said that if you receive a secondary this year, you would have received an II last year.

That means the II is even stricter than in the past, but the secondary screen is likely about the same as in the past, or a bit more strict.

Hopefully that makes sense and I didn't just explode your brain.

 

[iceprincess4189]

He said that if you receive a secondary this year, you would have received an II last year.

That means the II is even stricter than in the past, but the secondary screen is likely about the same as in the past, or a bit more strict.

Hopefully that makes sense and I didn't just explode your brain.

Thanks! The MSAR says that ~1000 were invited to interview last year, so I guess that means there's somewhere between 500 and 1000 secondaries given out.

 

[DokDakotaDok]

Thanks! The MSAR says that ~1000 were invited to interview last year, so I guess that means there's somewhere between 500 and 1000 secondaries given out.

I would assume yes. Nymph would have to confirm.

I haven't gotten an II since Pitt gave me one early last month, so I'm really hoping Vandy pulls through for me. I would love to see it in person, I've only heard great things. 😍

 

[Buttermellow]

So I got the "application received" email on 7/11, have decent stats (36, sci and cum 3.96+), good clinical ECs, no research. Would be very interested in attending here...but I still haven't even received a secondary. Would it be a bad thing to call/email the office and see if I've been screened out? Or am I just being impatient?

I only have 2ish months of research (full time). I also have 3.95+ cum. and sci, but only a 31 :/ So I've got a snowman's chance in hell of getting a secondary, or invite.

 

[leeyuhang]

3.6/35 and received a secondary today! +1 for the low gpa crowd
My app was received 8/7

 

[PreMedOrDead]

I only have 2ish months of research (full time). I also have 3.95+ cum. and sci, but only a 31 :/ So I've got a snowman's chance in hell of getting a secondary, or invite.

Did you apply and are you URM?

Vandy is pretty picky, but if it's your dream school at least you'll know you gave it a shot.

Sounds like the third round of Secondaries came out today. Congratulations everyone!

 

[Nandrolone]

3.6/35 and received a secondary today! +1 for the low gpa crowd
My app was received 8/7

low gpa?🙄

 

[PreMedOrDead]

low gpa?🙄

3.6 is Vandy's 10th percentile, so technically, he's right. 😛

Edit: Since I know people will ask...

cGPA
10th: 3.601
Median: 3.851
90th: 3.991

MCAT
10th: 31.1
Median: 35.1
90th: 40.1


Estimated Cuttoffs for c/o 2017

> 5,500 applications
< 1,000 secondaries (18%)
~ 500 interviews (9%)
104 person class (< 2%)

 

[BoneDoc91]

Just got the secondary as well!!

 

[Buttermellow]

Did you apply and are you URM?

Vandy is pretty picky, but if it's your dream school at least you'll know you gave it a shot.

Sounds like the third round of Secondaries came out today. Congratulations everyone!

Nope, I'm as non-URM as they come (except I'm not a dude 😛 ). I did indeed apply, figure $34 isn't too much of a waste, because I probably won't get to the secondary stage.