Skip to main content

September, 2010

Secrets from the Admissions Office

Sep. 15, 2010—While I know everyone reading our Vandy Admissions Blog loves hearing from me, I want to point readers today to a Newsweek Education article.  Our Dean of Admissions sat down with Newsweek Education and answered critical questions we hear everyday in OUA.

Read more


Writing a Personal Statement

Sep. 13, 2010—Last year I was responsible for approximately 1,000 applications.  Numerically, far too many of my students look identical.  It’s the intangible pieces: essay, letters of recommendation, and extracurriculars that set one student apart from another.  The essay is my personal favorite.  I love a good story.  I know, though, that this can be a stressful...

Read more


Meet Andrew Moe

Sep. 10, 2010—My hometown is Janesville, Wisconsin. I am the admissions counselor responsible for Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina, Central America, and South America.

Read more


Major Changes. Literally.

Sep. 9, 2010—A week ago I met with my new academic advisor for the first time. This summer I changed my major, officially transferring from the College of Arts & Science into the Peabody School. (Vanderbilt has four schools, including the Blair School of Music and School of Engineering). As a first year student I entered Vanderbilt...

Read more


Theme Words

Sep. 9, 2010—I hear about colleges all day long.  It’s (obviously) what I do for a living.  I know from my own college search experiences and my day-to-day job that many institutions begin to blend together and sound exactly alike.  Students and families seek to understand what’s different about Vanderbilt.  How does Vanderbilt set itself apart from...

Read more


Alas, Senior Year

Sep. 8, 2010—Alas, it’s senior year.  So strange… It’s so strange to ruminate on what was, what is, and what will be.  You look at the people you stayed close to, and the ones who have drifted away.  You start asking yourself where the time went and wonder if it could get any better than this. So...

Read more


When in Rome?

Sep. 7, 2010—OUA counselors and student tour guides are frequently responding to myths about going to college in the South.  Perhaps most often we’re asked, “Is it true that girls wear dresses and guys wear button-ups to football games?!”  I find myself, fellow counselors, and student guides falling over ourselves trying to explain the tradition.  Sometimes our...

Read more


Weekend at Vanderbilt 9/3

Sep. 7, 2010—What a weekend. So much was going on and around campus this weekend. In Melodores news, we just inducted new members into the group after an impressive showing of talent. Congratulations to them all! In football news, while we didn’t pull off a W, there was a LOT to be said about the game. The...

Read more


Senior Year Begins with a Jump into the “Real World”

Sep. 7, 2010—Well… it’s happened… I have officially started my senior, and last, year at Vanderbilt University. Is it a bad thing that I was (and still am) extremely jealous of the freshman moving into their dorms a few weeks ago? Is it bad that I didn’t want everyone to come back to campus from their summer...

Read more


Inside Dores

Sep. 3, 2010—We’re currently working on developing a new landing page for our Black and Gold Bloggers.  In the mean time, don’t forget to check out our student blog, Inside ‘Dores!  We’ve got some great new material posted this week.

Read more


Meet Maria Ornelas

Sep. 3, 2010—My hometown is Denver, CO. I am the admissions counselor responsible for Eastern and Middle Tennessee (except Davidson, Williamson, Rutherford, and Montgomery Counties) and Ohio (except Cincinnati/Dayton).

Read more


Arts & Science Update

Sep. 1, 2010—I intended to write about the Commons today.  I’ll talk plenty about the first-year living experience throughout this blog.  However, today I want to relay information from Dr. McIntyre, an Associate Dean in the College of Arts and Science.   Admissions counselors sit through hours of update meetings from various departments across campus at the...

Read more