Caroline Koppelman
Rejected Early Decision from Columbia 2023

Getting a rejection in the Early Decision round is definitely not easy. But the good news is, it’s really just the start, and that one rejection has no bearing on how you’re going to do with other, similarly competitive schools. The thing about Early Decision is it comes alone and it comes first. It’s sometimes easier to tolerate a rejection when it’s preceded by several acceptance letters. College admissions are extraordinarily competitive these days and the Ivies are just more competitive than any other time or place in history. That’s it. It doesn’t get harder. And Columbia in particular has just a 4% acceptance rate! So, if you’ve been rejected in the Early Decision round, don’t despair. We have some advice about how you might go forward. (And don’t worry, it’s really not that much more work!)

Caroline Koppelman
Deferred by Harvard — Now What? (2023-24)

If you’ve been deferred by Harvard, you are not alone. Harvard is notorious at this point for deferring an enormous percentage of early admission applicants. While most elite colleges with early admissions programs, like early decision and early action, only defer students they are seriously considering for the next freshman class, the statistics Harvard has released on early admission suggest that they take a very different approach.

Caroline Koppelman
Writing the “Why This College” Essay

Even though every college has slightly different supplementary application materials, you’ll likely run into a variation of one question more than any other: “Why do you want to attend this school in particular?” It’s every institution’s way of saying, Let’s cut to the chase. Why us?

Caroline Koppelman
How to Write an Amazing and Unique Common App ...

If you’re here, you’ve likely already taken a look at the Common App essay options, felt a little bit of existential doom, and fought the urge to take a long nap (and honestly? Relatable).

Caroline Koppelman
The Best Guide to College Application ...

No two college supplements are the same, but there is one question that shows up again and again. Why our school? If you are applying to multiple schools with supplements you will probably have to write multiple essays on this exact topic (no, you can’t just reuse the same one). While word counts and specifics can vary, these essays always follow a similar structure and goal. After reading this blog post you’ll be set to answer all of them.

vanderbilt

Applying to Vanderbilt University as an International Student

Vanderbilt is a private research university in Nashville, Tennessee that is home to 7,152 undergraduate students. Vanderbilt is known for balancing work and play. The students there are super smart, and they also know how to have a good time. There are more than 475 student groups and intramural and club sports, and Nashville is a bustling city known for live music, amazing food, and outstanding opportunities for launching a career. The university matches innovation with tradition, and they strive to build a diverse, inclusive, and equitable community. The students on campus agree, and there is a deep commitment to community. More than half of Vanderbilt students participate in community service, and first-years form deep bonds by living together in a cluster of houses, the Martha Rivers Ingram Commons.

What to Do if You’ve Been Waitlisted by Vanderbilt University 2024

Vanderbilt University is a top 20 private research university in Nashville, Tennessee. It’s a school that seeks to bridge differences through a common goal of academic excellence, and the campus brings together great minds from around the country — and around the world. There are a little over 7,000 undergraduate students and a 7:1 faculty ratio that encourages deep inquiry and broad exploration. After many years as a bit of a hidden gem that was still fairly accessible for top students, the Vanderbilt acceptance rate has plummeted over the past few years, from 18% in 2010 to less than 10% today. In the 2021-2022 application cycle, the overall acceptance rate was 6.7%. In 2023, the regular decision acceptance rate dropped even further to 4.2%.

Transferring to Vanderbilt 2023

Vanderbilt is ranked at #13 in the country for National Universities, and is an enormously popular school for students who want a combination of top-tier academics and a pretty raucous social life. All undergraduate students at Vanderbilt are required to live on campus — including transfers — and Greek life places a huge role. Around 20% of students are involved in Greek life, and more are in its orbit through events, fundraisers, and parties.

Vanderbilt University Legacy Admissions Guide

Vanderbilt seems like a school where legacy admissions would run rampant. Something about the south, a great baseball program, and a $10.9 billion endowment just makes it feel like Vandy is a place that would care about legacy admissions. We work with legacies all the time and get constantly asked about legacy admissions at Vanderbilt. Unfortunately, Vanderbilt is extremely tight-lipped when it comes to legacy admissions data. Nevertheless, we wanted to break down what they have said about legacy admissions, what we know, and tips for getting in as a legacy.