Does Vanderbilt try to recruit everyone?

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About28

About28

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Does Vanderbilt try to recruit everyone with emails or just people with gpas and MCATs above a certain point? I've gotten quite a few emails lately.
 
It's just based on MCAT. They wouldn't have access to GPA until you applied.
 
phunky said:
It's just based on MCAT. They wouldn't have access to GPA until you applied.
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Not necessarily true. Vandy (and other schools) pay AAMC (and AAMC has your GPA once you are verified) for lists of applicants that fit whatever particular criteria they would like to try and recruit (this could be based on MCAT alone, GPA and MCAT, socioeconomic status, race, or any number of other characteristics). I suspect that different "lists" cost different amounts, plus a school like Vandy that screens pretty hard (ie- gains nothing by getting applicants there is little to now chance of granting a secondary to) likely targets these emails to some group of applicants they are hoping convince to submit a primary application.
 
I'm pretty sure it's based on MCAT only. I got several of their emails; I have an okay MCAT but terrible GPA so I think they'd laugh if they saw my application.
 
3.7 and a 34, think it's worth applying?
 
I don't think it's just MCAT. I know people with 36+ MCAT scores who haven't received a secondary from them.
 
For the secondary, maybe it's GPA + MCAT?
 
ithd said:
For the secondary, maybe it's GPA + MCAT?
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No, because considering you receive an II as well as the secondary, they would have more than enough people that meet whatever GPA/MCAT cutoff to fill all of those interview spots. It also makes zero since to ignore the rest of the application that is included with the numbers as GPA/MCAT means next to nothing other than you do well on tests.
 
Is just MCAT. I only applied DO but still got recruiting materials from Vanderbilt after my MCAT came back. Without having an AMCAS application, the only way they could have found me was my MCAT.
 
Dr Turkelton said:
Yep, I have a 38 and haven't heard zilch from them.
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Do you have a 3.8+? Their auto-secondary screen is GPA ≥3.8 and MCAT ≥ 37. If you don't have both of these, your application is holistically reviewed before they decide whether to extend a secondary or not.
 
Goro said:
They sure seem to like the app fees that come with secondaries!
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Don't they prescreen? They would only get money from students who they were seriously considering, or am I hopelessly naive?
 
About28 said:
Don't they prescreen? They would only get money from students who they were seriously considering, or am I hopelessly naive?
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Goro said:
They sure seem to like the app fees that come with secondaries!
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Vanderbilt does not send secondaries to everyone. They only invite one third of those who submit the primary app to complete the secondary, so Vanderbilt is one of the few schools that is not guilty of milking applicants for secondary fees. Vanderbilt is also one of the few schools that doesn't require a deposit from you to hold a seat if you are accepted -- it's a school that treats applicants very nicely, IMO.
 
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Abstractions said:
Do you have a 3.8+? Their auto-secondary screen is GPA ≥3.8 and MCAT ≥ 37. If you don't have both of these, your application is holistically reviewed before they decide whether to extend a secondary or not.
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I still don't think they auto send secondaries if you make it past the screen. One of my friends had a 40 MCAT and 3.9 GPA and still didn't get a secondary from them. n=1 but I feel like anecdotes are enough to dispel such a claim.
 
Lawper said:
What? No they aren't.
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Claim: Vanderbilt automatically sends secondaries to everyone with a 3.8+ GPA and 37+ MCAT.
Anecdote: My friend with a 3.9 GPA and 40 MCAT did not receive a secondary from them.

I fail to see how this doesn't dispel the claim, unless Vanderbilt sends them in waves and my friend is part of a later wave.
 
Aerus said:
Claim: Vanderbilt automatically sends secondaries to everyone with a 3.8+ GPA and 37+ MCAT.
Anecdote: My friend with a 3.9 GPA and 40 MCAT did not receive a secondary from them.

I fail to see how this doesn't dispel the claim, unless Vanderbilt sends them in waves and my friend is part of a later wave.
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There are various factors behind your friend's case. We get nothing from anecdotes because we have no idea who your friend is, the specific situation/circumstances, time of application, etc. Anecdotes aren't backed up with anything, so they can't be used to disprove a claim.

Sure, automatic may be a misleading word to use, but the intent is understood.
 
Lawper said:
There are various factors behind your friend's case. We get nothing from anecdotes because we have no idea who your friend is, the specific situation/circumstances, time of application, etc. Anecdotes aren't backed up with anything, so they can't be used to disprove a claim.

Sure, automatic may be a misleading word to use, but the intent is understood.
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If we assume "automatic" is appropriate for the situation, then the "various factors" are irrelevant. The fact that my friend is verified at Vanderbilt and did not receive a secondary is enough to understand that Vanderbilt does not automatically send secondaries to people who make it past a certain screen. I still believe that they do a more holistic review before secondaries are sent out, regardless of numbers, unless the screen is even higher than my friend's stats or my friend somehow hasn't been screened yet.
 
Aerus said:
If we assume "automatic" is appropriate for the situation, then the "various factors" are irrelevant. The fact that my friend is complete at Vanderbilt and did not receive a secondary is enough to understand that Vanderbilt does not automatically send secondaries to people who make it past a certain screen. I still believe that they do a more holistic review before secondaries are sent out.
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Again, it may be the case, or it may not. I don't know. No one (besides the adcoms of course) knows. All I'm saying is, you can't disprove a claim by using an anecdote that may or may not be true (it certainly can be true in your case, but it doesn't have enough backing to disprove the automatic claim).
 
Lawper said:
Again, it may be the case, or it may not. I don't know. No one (besides the adcoms of course) knows. All I'm saying is, you can't disprove a claim by using an anecdote that may or may not be true (it certainly can be true in your case, but it doesn't have enough backing to disprove the automatic claim).
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I don't even think we're debating the same thing. This discussion was supposed to be on whether Vanderbilt auto sends secondaries past a certain screen or not. You're talking about whether someone's anecdote is believable or not because this is the internet. Fair enough. You don't have to believe me. I don't see the need to further discuss this anymore, though, as we're risking to stray off topic.
 
Aerus said:
I don't even think we're debating the same thing. This discussion was supposed to be on whether Vanderbilt auto sends secondaries past a certain screen or not. You're talking about whether someone's anecdote is believable or not because this is the internet. Fair enough. You don't have to believe me. I don't see the need to further discuss this anymore, though, as we're risking to stray off topic.
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FWIW, it seems so far that Vandy secondary screen is automatic for the high stat applicants (why it's not the case for your friend is odd and doesn't disprove anything since there's no way to prove it, unless n=1 becomes like n=100 or something similar).
 
Lawper said:
FWIW, it seems so far that Vandy secondary screen is automatic for the high stat applicants (why it's not the case for your friend is odd and doesn't disprove anything since there's no way to prove it, unless n=1 becomes like n=100 or something similar).
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Because "it seems" is a much stronger claim than "it doesn't because my friend". Do you see why it's better to err on the side that "Vanderbilt doesn't because there are exceptions" than "Vanderbilt does and your friend is just some error in the computer system"?
 
Aerus said:
Because "it seems" is a much stronger claim than "it doesn't because my friend". Do you see why it's better to err on the side that "Vanderbilt doesn't because there are exceptions" than "Vanderbilt does and your friend is just some error in the computer system"?
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Because FWIW there've been more instances this cycle and apparently previous cycles that verify this claim (barring other factors). However, we know nothing of your n=1 case, so unless n=1 becomes something like n=100, it's hard to question the claim.
 
Goro said:
Forgive me for using you as a straight man, but secondaries are often a tax on the hopelessly naïve!
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That is a very deceptive practice! I wish they'd stop doing that...
 
Lawper said:
Because FWIW there've been more instances this cycle and apparently previous cycles that verify this claim (barring other factors). However, we know nothing of your n=1 case, so unless n=1 becomes something like n=100, it's hard to question the claim.
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Automatic is an absolute claim. It doesn't matter how many "instances" make it seemingly automatic. If there is an exception, then it's not automatic. The "auto-secondary" is purely speculation and will only hold water as long as there aren't exceptions. Furthermore, from their website, they state this:

Applications are reviewed in two stages. First, a group of specially trained screeners who represent the diversity of our community review the material provided from AMCAS. Each application receives three independent evaluations. This enables us to do a holistic review of the competitive strength of the applicant's credentials. We take into consideration the following factors:

  • Academic accomplishment
  • Motivation
  • Personal qualities
  • Leadership skills
  • Educational background
After this first screening, the most competitive applicants are offered an opportunity to send a secondary Vanderbilt-specific application and to come to campus for a personal interview.
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This already suggests that there isn't an auto-screen. Even if we take into account the possibility that they are misrepresenting themselves on their own website, it's still much more believable that they don't automatically send secondaries because exceptions exist and their website says so than to go off of "multiple instances that seemingly suggest it".
 
Aerus said:
Automatic is an absolute claim. It doesn't matter how many "instances" make it seemingly automatic. If there is an exception, then it's not automatic. The "auto-secondary" is purely speculation and will only hold water as long as there aren't exceptions. Furthermore, from their website, they state this:



This already suggests that there isn't an auto-screen. Even if we take into account the possibility that they are misrepresenting themselves on their own website, it's still much more believable that they don't automatically send secondaries because exceptions exist and their website says so than to go off of "multiple instances that seemingly suggest it".
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Ok, now you're getting more legit :naughty:

So it seems if that were the case, everyone would be pre-screened equally. The results don't appear to be the case since more often than not, the higher stat applicants are selectively given preference compared to lower stat applicants with comparable ECs from what's it seen in the school-specific threads (assuming similar start date). There's something more to this algorithm, I agree, but I wouldn't rule out automatic screening completely.
 
Lawper said:
Ok, now you're getting more legit :naughty:

So it seems if that were the case, everyone would be pre-screened equally. The results don't appear to be the case since more often than not, the higher stat applicants are selectively given preference compared to lower stat applicants with comparable ECs from what's it seen in the school-specific threads (assuming similar start date). There's something more to this algorithm, I agree, but I wouldn't rule out automatic screening completely.
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Yes, there might be some automatic screen in the middle, but I'm sure it's before secondaries are sent out, since automatic screens can't really distinguish between EC's. But the fact that EC's are taken into account means that the secondary screening is pretty holistic.
 
Aerus said:
Yes, there might be some automatic screen in the middle, but I'm sure it's before secondaries are sent out, since automatic screens can't really distinguish between EC's.
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Well, unless the algorithm has a built-in "hours-checking" requirement (I strongly doubt it). Also, I think that this stats-checking algorithm is tied in with the primary verification. Now, if your friend applied on time and is already verified, I'm not sure what would be the case.
 
Bro, Harvard Medical School sent me a physical letter in the mail encouraging me to apply there. I assure you my combined mcat and gpa were at least 8 points below the appropriate LizzyM, and I am not URM. Don't fall for it. I never applied. This was the only school that fished for me outside of the Carribean. The school I am matriculating to is my state MD.

I kept the letter.
 
NickNaylor said:
No, because considering you receive an II as well as the secondary, they would have more than enough people that meet whatever GPA/MCAT cutoff to fill all of those interview spots. It also makes zero since to ignore the rest of the application that is included with the numbers as GPA/MCAT means next to nothing other than you do well on tests.
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Vandy stopped pairing II's with secondaries at least as early as last year; it's not that way this cycle.


Sent from my neural implant using SDN Mobile
 
gettheleadout said:
Vandy stopped pairing II's with secondaries at least as early as last year; it's not that way this cycle.


Sent from my neural implant using SDN Mobile
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Ohhhhh, interesting. Well then I take back what I said. Guess they're going Mayo style then.
 
FWIW, I was verified around 7 AM and around 2 PM the same day I received a secondary invite. 37+/3.8+

It appears the 3.8+, 37+ auto-screen may be correct (I know n=1, but see the Vandy thread for more examples).
 
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jaga1603 said:
FWIW, I was verified around 7 AM and around 2 PM the same day I received a secondary invite. 37/3.85c/3.80 sci.

It appears the 3.8+, 37+ auto-screen may be correct (I know n=1, but see the Vandy thread for more examples).
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5 hours is plenty of time for someone to at least get a 10-20 minute look at your application. I'm on the side of the non autoscreen camp. They may have different people looking at different applications depending on an arbitrary cutoff. The people with higher stats may be prioritized over others and immediately looked at as they come in (similar as to how the most severe cases are prioritized in the ER), but if there is anything that is a red flag in the person's primary that just didn't go well with the reader, it may be put side aside temporarily or thrown out altogether. For people with lower stats, there may be multiple readers, readers may be required to take more time, maybe after only a certain date can they be looked at - whatever the case, we can only speculate as to why it takes longer for them to get secondaries.
 
I got emails from Vanderbilt, but not from my GPA lol. I had a 3.54 GPA and a 36 MCAT. I applied, interviewed, and wait listed. They took months for a reply but by February, I already decided where I wanted to go and withdrew my application.
 
FutureOncologist said:
I got emails from Vanderbilt, but not from my GPA lol. I had a 3.54 GPA and a 36 MCAT. I applied, interviewed, and wait listed. They took months for a reply but by February, I already decided where I wanted to go and withdrew my application.
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We are stat twins. I haven't received even a secondary from them.
 
many schools send out recruitment emails (I'm not counting the Carib and for-profit schools) to specific groups of students. When I was applying last cycle, I got emails from Georgetown, Vandy, and a few others. I didn't bother applying because I figured they sent it to everyone to collect money and My MCAT score didn't come anywhere close to their medians. Apply if you are interested and if you believe you have a realistic shot of receiving an interview. Otherwise, put your money into other schools.
 
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Leslie_Knope said:
We are stat twins. I haven't received even a secondary from them.
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Early in the cycle they auto send people applicants that have stats they're looking for. After a certain date they look at the applications individually to see if they send you a secondary or if they reject you. Don't worry, it is very early in the application cycle.

Editted. My bad
 
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FutureOncologist said:
Early in the cycle they auto send people applicants that have stats they're looking for. After a certain date they look at the applications individually to see if they reject you or if they reject you. Don't worry, it is very early in the application cycle.
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Man, that's depressing 🙁
 
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