Transfer Admission FAQs
Posted by watsonjh on Friday, January 7, 2011 in Transfer Students.
Tags: Academic Life at Vanderbilt, admissions, admissions blog, Admissions Deadlines, Admissions Statistics, Application Process, College Admissions, decision process, expanded aid, Financial Aid, Scholarships and Financial Aid, Vanderbilt Admissions Blogs, Vanderbilt Admissions Website, Vanderbilt Blogs, Vanderbilt University, Vanderbilt University Admissions
January 7th, 2011
Thanks for the overview! If I am applying as a transfer student, am I eligible for an alumni interview?
January 7th, 2011
Greg: Transfer students cannot complete alumni interviews.
January 11th, 2011
Is there a residency requirement? Particularly, can students who transfer after two years of undergraduate work go abroad without having to do an extra semester in residence to graduate?
January 12th, 2011
Claire: There is a residency requirement. Students must spend 60 credit hours (typically two years) on Vanderbilt’s campus in order to graduate.
February 3rd, 2011
Can students with one semester of college credit apply for transfer for the spring semester, or does Vanderbilt only allow students to transfer in the fall?
February 4th, 2011
Eli: We only accept transfer students for the fall semester.
February 5th, 2011
I read that your transfer admissions are “need aware.” Will be penalized based on my financial need?
February 6th, 2011
Beau: In our process, need-aware for transfer students means we reserve the right to consider aid in our decision. However, it does not mean we will consider aid factors. For many students it is never part of the discussion.
February 7th, 2011
I applied last year as a graduating high school senior. Do I need to resend my high school transcript, recommendations and test scores?
February 8th, 2011
Matt: Yes. You must resend everything for your new transfer file.
March 12th, 2011
Since the personal statement in the transfer Common Application has to be the same for every college that you apply to, and Vanderbilt does not ask for any additional information in the supplement, do you encourage students to send in a separate Vanderbilt specific essay? Is that necessary or just excessive?
March 13th, 2011
Theresa: It is not necessary to send in a separate essay for Vanderbilt.
March 13th, 2011
How much weight is given to high school records? If one performed poorly in high school but has since earned excellent marks would it jeopardize admission chances? Specifically for a junior transfer?
March 14th, 2011
Omar: We consider high school records, but the vast majority of our focus is on your collegiate record.
May 11th, 2011
are you able to transfer for the spring semester?
August 21st, 2011
I had a 3.5 GPA and a 26 on the ACT. What would you say my chances are of transferring to Vanderbilt with a 4.0 college GPA, membership in Phi Theta Kappa, and a host of activities?
October 7th, 2011
I am from Washington State and am a senior but go full time at college in a program called Running Start. I will be graduating in June from my high school and from my college with an Associates Degree. Do I apply as a transfer or Freshman?
November 27th, 2011
I noticed you have the Vanderbilt Profile (https://admissions2025.vanderbilt.edu/profile.php), but is there anyway to see that statistics for current students. For example, the average GPA of accepted and enrolled transfer students?
November 29th, 2011
One of the best reflections of our most recent class of admitted students can be found in the 10th Day Data post – https://admissions2025.vanderbilt.edu/vandybloggers/2011/10/10th-day-data-%E2%80%93-presenting-the-outstanding-class-of-2015/ – which was published last month on our blog. While it won’t answer your specific questions about GPA, it will give you great insight into similar benchmarks like class rank and standardized test scores, in addition to the strength of leadership seen in the class of 2015 prior to their entering Vanderbilt. For statistics related to transfer admission, you can refer to the Common Data Set: https://virg.vanderbilt.edu/virgweb/vucds.aspx.
January 1st, 2012
If you were previously admitted to Vandy and chose to go to another institution instead does this hurt or help your chances of transfer admission? Does the school still have a file on us? Should we write different essays? What if you were rejected the first time?
January 2nd, 2012
Hi Annie. Applying as a Transfer after you’ve already been accepted doesn’t hurt or help your chances of admission. In our review of your Transfer application, we’ll be looking at both high school and college transcripts, so it’s important that you’re performing well no matter where you are in your academic career. Also, we do keep copies of materials for freshman applicants, but the Transfer application is different so you would need to begin the process again, including writing a new essay.
January 14th, 2012
I listed vandy as my first choice school for national merit scholarship but was wait listed last year. I am now applying as a transfer student. Is there any way that the $5000/year I qualified for as a NMS finalist last spring (I received a letter from vandy re. This) could still apply? It was always my first choice and still is!
January 16th, 2012
Hi Gina. Thank you for your continued interest in Vanderbilt.
To answer your question, we do not offer merit-based financial assistance to transfer students (this includes the National Merit Scholarship) – only to incoming freshman.
January 29th, 2012
My situation a little unusual. I’m concerned about SAT and ACT requirement. I moved to the US a year ago and I’ve been enrolled at a community college ever since. I graduated from high school outside US back in 2006. I’m 23 years old now and will be applying as a transfer student for fall 2013. Can this requirement be waved in my case? Thank you in advance for you reply.
January 30th, 2012
Hi Gayla. In this situation, it would be best to contact your admissions counselor, who will be better able to address your questions. Our counselors can easily be contacted through the following page on our site: https://admissions2025.vanderbilt.edu/your-counselor/.
Please let me know if you need additional assistance!
February 16th, 2012
Is the Mid-term report required? If so, by what date should it be submitted?
February 16th, 2012
Hi Matt. The Mid-term report isn’t required, however you are certainly welcome to send it in if you want. If you do, you should send it in ASAP.
March 15th, 2012
Hi,
So, I’m a bit confused…it has passed March 1 already, but do you guys still accept applications? How would I know if it’s still open?
What are my chances if I had a slow start in college due to various reasons: culture shock and depression? My college transcript does not look so good, but it does not truly reflect my ability. My high school record was very good. I just had a rough start in college, and now am looking to pick it up! So far this semester, I’m doing a lot better, but that would not show on the transcript until the end of this year.
I’m a sophomore in college with a cumulative GPA of about 3.2. My high school record was really good, I was really involved in leadership positions and extra curricular activities. I’m starting to get back on track now in college as well…starting to hold president positions of an organization and started a club (and am its president).
I know that my GPA is extremely low…does that mean my chances are gonna be very low then?
Thank you so much in advance!
March 16th, 2012
While our priority deadline for transfer admission was March 15, we continue to receive and review transfer applications until our transfer class is closed. We begin sending offers of admission in mid-April, and continue to do so throughout the spring until the class is full. We will review both your high school record and your college record in order to make an admission decision. You can use the “additional information” section of the Common Application to fill us in on extenuating circumstances which may have affected your academic record.
June 3rd, 2012
Can I apply For spring admission as a transfer student.Much appreciated.Dennis.
June 4th, 2012
No, at this time we only accept applications for fall admission.
June 4th, 2012
Transfer students may only apply for fall admission.
June 7th, 2012
Do I still have a chance to apply for the next fall semester as a transfer student? Thanks.
June 7th, 2012
Are you asking about Fall 2012?
June 8th, 2012
Yes.
June 8th, 2012
You are welcome to apply, but we cannot guarantee your application will get the same consideration as it would have had it been submitted closer to the priority deadline (when we had more spots available in the transfer class).
June 13th, 2012
Does Vanderbilt forgive students? I am a upcoming sophomore at a large state school, but my GPA was not terribly great. If I improve my GPA to a 3.75 or higher, after retaking a few courses, will Vanderbilt review this improvement with much praise or am I eternally doomed?
June 14th, 2012
Just like with our freshman students, we use a holistic review process when evaluating transfer applications. We will look at your test scores, high school transcript, essay, recommendations, and activities along with your college performance. That being said, the majority of the emphasis will be places on what you have been doing at the college level. Upward grade trends are always helpful, and you will not be “eternally doomed” for any one part of your application, but it will be very important that you work to improve those grades as much as possible.
August 10th, 2012
I am currently in a private college in Alabama. My GPA is 3.9 and I’ll earn more that 60 credit hours by next year. Do I still need to take the ACT? if so, what is the minimum I can make to be admitted? My dream is to be at Vanderbilt, and I really want to form part of Vanderbilt.
August 13th, 2012
Hi Sergio, all transfer applicants must submit an SAT or ACT score when applying to Vanderbilt. And our admissions committee does not employ score cutoffs as it concerns those tests. Rather we look at the whole portrait of a student’s application (test scores, letters of recommendation extracurricular interests, etc.) when considering a student for possible admission. Learn more on our Quickguide: https://admissions2025.vanderbilt.edu/quickguide/.
August 24th, 2012
What is the average SAT score among transfer applicants? Also, if an applicant has great college credentials will their lower high school credentials play a large role in the decision?
August 28th, 2012
While we do evaluate every applicant’s high school academic record and test scores, the majority of the transfer evaluation will focus on the college transcript and involvement. Because of this, we do not calculate standardized testing averages for our transfer applicant pool. These tests will be taken into consideration, but they are not as central to the process as how the student has performed at the college level.
September 3rd, 2012
are you able to transfet for the spring semester having been on the wait list for the fall semester and really desiring to attend Vanderbilt
September 4th, 2012
No, we only accept transfer applications for the fall semester. If you would like to reapply as a transfer, you may do so by the March 15 deadline for entrance in the fall of 2013.
September 19th, 2012
Hi! I was curious to whether you guys accept sophomores as a transfer students?
September 19th, 2012
Hi Hyeonji. Yes, students are able to transfer in to Vanderbilt as sophomores.
September 24th, 2012
Hello, I have not been to any university yet because I had a tremendous course load during my senior year so I want to join uni. in the spring? Is it possible, considering that I would still be a “freshman”?
September 24th, 2012
Hi Dee, no, we only admit students for fall admission at Vanderbilt.
November 4th, 2012
Does Vanderbilt accept online class credits? Thanks.
November 6th, 2012
Hi Kevin, our office doesn’t evaluate credit. Each school decides what credit they will/won’t accept once a student has been admitted.
November 25th, 2012
Hello I’m currently attending a community college in Alamosa, Colorado. I’m getting all A’s this semester and I should be off of academic probation by december or january. If I continue to do this good next semester I should have a 3.6 to 3.7 at least, it will never be a 4.0 or above no matter how well I do since I was on academic suspension. I also volunteer at the La Puente homeless shelter in town every other sunday, and I’m also heavily involved in Phi Beta Lambda and the student leadership club. So what I’m asking is, what are my chances of getting accepted. I’m 25 by the way, I don’t know if that matters or not.
November 26th, 2012
Thanks for your question. We can’t comment on your “chances” without reviewing your application, but it’s important to note that – as stated in the Application Quickguide – Vanderbilt uses a holistic admissions process in which all parts of a student’s application are considered. We do not employ cutoffs for standardized testing or grade point averages. Rather we look for students who have demonstrated strong academic skills and intellectual curiosity, and who have engaged in activities outside the classroom that have nurtured their growth as leaders. Most successful applicants have taken a very rigorous course load and have challenged themselves at the highest levels of the available curriculum.
January 7th, 2013
Will the Fall 2013 admission decision be made after or before you have seen the student’s spring grades?
January 7th, 2013
Hi George,
We do not require students to submit their spring grades before admissions decisions are made. However, you are welcome to send your current grades to us, if you think they will strengthen your application. Additionally, your admissions counselor may contact your high school to inquire about your senior year performance, if we feel this information would be helpful.
January 10th, 2013
how long can you wait to apply as a transfer student?
January 11th, 2013
Priority deadline for transfer applications is March 15. We will begin sending decision letters on a rolling basis beginning in mid-April.
February 14th, 2013
For the SAT or ACT score, can I turn in the one I did about one year ago in high school? Or do I have to take the test again now (I’m now attending community college) and turn in that new score?
February 15th, 2013
You can submit scores from any test that has been taken in the last 5 years. Of course if you feel that a new score would strengthen your application, you are welcome to retake the test and submit those scores when they are available. The majority of our transfer review, however, will be focused on your academic performance in college.
February 19th, 2013
Thank you very much Carolyn for fast reply!
I have another question here!
Is is possible for an international student to get a whole or half scholarship from Vanderbilt?
February 19th, 2013
Thanks for your question! Please see this page for more details on aid/merit aid for international students: https://admissions2025.vanderbilt.edu/financial-aid/international.php.
February 19th, 2013
Thnk u very much!
February 27th, 2013
I would be transferring as a junior this fall. I know I need to send in an ACT score, however, I’m not scheduled to take it until April 13th. How could I resolve my issue?
February 27th, 2013
Hi Morgan, your application will remain incomplete until the score is received. That said, our process for transfers is rolling, so we will continue to review apps until we fill our transfer class.
March 20th, 2013
are high school transcripts required for transfers?
March 20th, 2013
Yes, high school transcripts are required as is the secondary school report.
March 28th, 2013
how much do SAT scores and Freshman and Sophomore High School grades factor in consideration for Sophomore Transfers.
March 28th, 2013
Hi Eric,
While we do take high school grades and standardized test scores into consideration for our transfer applicants, we place much more emphasis on each student’s academic performance at the college level, and an upward grade trend is a strengthening factor for any application.
April 8th, 2013
I have a question. My son has applied as a transfer student for fall 2013. Do you place any emphasis on the intended major?
Also, he has had to request his HS transcript to be re-sent as it was not received the first time. His email did not indicate that his secondary school report was missing, but since it was sent with the high school transcript we assume you didn’t get it either? I believe his high school is sending another copy of that as well.
Thank you.
April 8th, 2013
Hi Lori Beth, due to the specific nature of your questions, I think it would be best if you reached out to your specific admissions counselor.
April 8th, 2013
Okay, does that apply to the first part of the question, too? About how intended majors play into the application decision? Thanks again.
April 9th, 2013
As part of our holistic process, we consider an applicant’s fit for their intended major. Typically, transfer students have explored various academic options and can speak to their intended academic path.
April 19th, 2013
Have any transfer decisions been sent yet?
April 19th, 2013
Beginning today we will mail out transfer decisions weekly on a rolling basis.
July 5th, 2013
Hi. If a transfer student was accepted for Fall 2013, can they defer until January 2014?
July 5th, 2013
Hi Ellie,
We only grant year-long deferrals. If you are admitted as a transfer for Fall 2013, you can defer until Fall 2014, but not for spring.
September 4th, 2013
Hello! If someone is applying as a sophomore transfer, how rigorous does the first year coursework be? Would mostly introductory 101 classes hinder one’s chances, or would evaluations mostly be based on performance in class. Thank you for your time.
September 5th, 2013
Hi Eric,
The evaluation will focus on both your curriculum and your performance. As with high school students, we will always take into account the context of your current institution – what is offered, expected, allowed, etc. We certainly do not expect you to over-exert yourself your freshman year, but we will want to see that you have challenged yourself. If you feel your transcript needs additional explanation, you may do so via the extra information section of the Common App.
October 23rd, 2013
How heavily does a single alcohol related high school suspension weigh on a freshman transfer applying as a sophomore? If everything else on a student’s freshman college record is stellar, can the single high school incident weigh heavily enough to hinder the student from acceptance?
October 24th, 2013
In our transfer admissions process, we evaluate both high school and college records within the context of the overall application. In other words, it’s one factor that will be considered within your whole application. We accept and certainly appreciate an explanation for any disciplinary incident, and the context of the situation will be considered. Thanks for asking!
November 8th, 2013
Hi,
I am an international student currently enrolled outside U.S. (at Singapore Management University), and am interested in applying as a transfer student to Vanderbilt University.
I mainly had 3 doubts in this regard:
1. What is the acceptance rate for non-US students, and are the requirements (GPA, ECA, SAT score etc.) stricter than those for U.S. International/local students?
2. I am already in my junior year and am about to take exams for Term 5. Is there a possibility to still transfer in the junior year at VU, given I meet the min. CUs and don’t mind paying losing on 1 term/2terms of study at my current university.
3. Are the SAT scores mandatory, as I took SAT more than 3 years ago and may have expired. However, the SAT score was used to admit me to my current university – SMU, Singapore. Also, since my medium of education since primary schooling has been English, do I need to take TOEFL?
4. Are there any need-based aid/scholarships available for International transfer students?
May thanks for your help.
Kind Regards,
Abhishek
November 11th, 2013
Thank you for your interest in Vanderbilt, Abhishek. Since your questions are detailed and varied, I think it would be best to ask your individual admissions counselor. Check https://admissions2025.vanderbilt.edu/your-counselor/. Looks like your counselor is Mary Comfort Stevens. She would be happy to help you.
November 13th, 2013
Thanks a lot for your reply and for directing me to the contact at Vanderbilt for future correspondence. I am already in contact with her and will be sending in my application very soon. Thank you. 🙂
November 26th, 2013
how many hours are required in order to apply for transfer?
November 26th, 2013
Thanks for your question, Daniel. Students must have completed at least 12 semester hours of credit to be considered for transfer. You can read more about transfer admissions at Vanderbilt at https://admissions2025.vanderbilt.edu/prospective/transfer.php.
December 19th, 2013
Hi! Attending Vanderbilt has always been my dream and I am planning to apply as a to transfer there after sophomore year. But unfortunately i have been going through a family crisis and got a “C” in a class in the most recent semester. Im really concerned that this one C could be the difference between getting in and not getting in, despite the fact my record in college is consistently “A”. I know Vanderbilt is a very competitive school, will one C make that much of a difference?
December 23rd, 2013
Thank you for your question. We use a holistic approach to application review (evaluating all aspects of your application), so we will evaluate your grades along with the rest of your application. The context of your grades does matter to us, and you should use the space available on your application to let us know the reasons you feel this C grade is uncharacteristic. We will take that kind of information into account when considering your grades. If you have more questions, please feel free to contact your admissions counselor. And again, thanks for your question!
December 31st, 2013
Hi I can’t find a lot of information for transfer students with an associates degree. Do people with and engineering associates degree from an accredited 2 year college have guaranteed acceptance if they have a certain GPA? It is an associates from another state (NM). Or would it look better to do 2 years at UNM (a 4 year university) and then apply for transfer?
Thanks for your help in advance!
January 10th, 2014
Thank you for your questions Stephanie. We do not guarantee admission to students with an engineering associates degree (or anyone else, really). The admission process is very competitive, and we review all aspects of an applicants file. We tend to find students who come schools similar to VU
(residential, four-year etc.) to be the most competitive because what they’ve
done most closely translates to what they’ll experience at VU. However,
we do admit students from 2-year schools each year that stand out due to their
high level of accomplishments. We evaluate the cumulative body and quality of academic work – focusing on the college coursework. You should also know that if you are admitted, it is then up to Vanderbilt to determine what credits will transfer. In most cases, the full two year amount of credit will not transfer. You can review our course catalog online to find similar courses and estimate what might transfer.
If you have more questions, I’d recommend that you contact your specific admissions counselor at https://admissions2025.vanderbilt.edu/your-counselor/.
June 25th, 2014
When will you begin to accept applications for undergrad transfers? Would it be a best to submit an application as soon as possible?
June 27th, 2014
This year the priority deadline for transfer applications will be March 15, 2015. You’re certainly welcome to submit your application sooner, thought decisions won’t be available until mid-April. Watch our site over the summer for updates about when applications will be available. Thanks for your interest!
October 2nd, 2014
Dear Kylie,
I am applying to the department of Psychology and Human Development for the Cognitive Studies Undergrad program- what address should I send my transcript to?
October 2nd, 2014
Thanks for your question, Krista, and for your interest in Vanderbilt. Please use this address:
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
2305 West End Avenue
Nashville, Tennessee 37203
October 2nd, 2014
OK great! Also, if I apply now can I send an updated transcript after a new semester has been completed? Then the previous transcript will be omitted?
October 3rd, 2014
Hi Krista. Yes, you can submit a new transcript for consideration after this semester concludes. You can also wait to apply until the spring, if you’d like — the transfer application deadline isn’t until March, and there’s not an advantage to applying now. Either way, it will be good for you to submit a transcript that shows fall semester grades. Thanks.
October 2nd, 2014
I’m going to apply to Vanderbilt for the Fall of 2015, but my college GPA is a 3.0 because I am an engineering major and I’ve had to take some really hard classes. Also my community college doesn’t really offer that many activities. I was in every club my high school had to offer and the president of a few as well. I was just wondering if I still had a fairly good chance of getting in since I don’t have a very high GPA and no extra activities.
October 3rd, 2014
Hi Brittney, thanks for your interest in applying to Vanderbilt. The transfer admission process, like first-year admission, is very competitive at Vanderbilt. Because we evaluate the full application in a holistic manner with no GPA, test score, or activity cut offs, it’s hard for me to tell if a student would be competitive by just looking at GPA or activities. If you’d like to know more about what makes for a strong application and your fit as a transfer applicant, I’d suggest getting in touch with your admissions officer. Speaking with him or her personally will give you a much better understanding of the process. You can find your counselor at https://admissions2025.vanderbilt.edu/your-counselor/.
Again, thanks for your interest in Vanderbilt!
October 9th, 2014
Jay,
Do we also send out our Letter or Recommendations to this address? Also, do they have to be confidential?
October 14th, 2014
Hi Krista, The letters of recommendation should come through either the Common Application or the Universal College Application, depending on which method you are using to apply. I believe that Common App calls these the “Academic Evaluation” and UCA calls them the “Professor Recommendation.” Your professors will complete these through the system (through an email prompt, I believe). Let me know if you have any other questions!
October 15th, 2014
So, if I have a supervisor from an internship write a LoR, would I still put this as “Academic Evaluation” via the Common App even though she is not evaluating my academics? There doesn’t seem to be any other choices in the drop down menu…
October 15th, 2014
You can send an additional, non-academic letter of recommendation directly to your admissions counselor. You can find your counselor and contact him or her at https://admissions2025.vanderbilt.edu/your-counselor/
January 17th, 2015
Where can I find the one page Vanderbilt supplement that we must complete?
Thanks, Krista
January 22nd, 2015
Hi Krista. We no longer use an application supplement – this post is now 4 years old, and our process has changed slightly. Please use the application checklist on the Transfer student page here: https://admissions2025.vanderbilt.edu/prospective/transfer.php
Thanks!
February 12th, 2015
Is the secondary school report required?
February 12th, 2015
As transfer student, we do not need a secondary school report from your high school. Instead, we request a Transfer College Report from the institution you are transferring from. Thanks for your interest in Vanderbilt, and please let me know if you have any other questions.
February 20th, 2015
Thanks! is the mid-term report required for transfer students? if not, is it recommended?
February 23rd, 2015
Hi, and thanks for the question. No, the mid-term report is neither required nor recommended for transfer students. Simply complete the required elements listed on the transfer application checklist at https://admissions2025.vanderbilt.edu/prospective/transfer.php#checklist
February 20th, 2015
Is there a minimum ACT and SAT score for acceptance?
February 23rd, 2015
Hi Grace, thanks for your question. No, we do not use minimum or cut-off scores for admission. You can learn more about our selection process at https://admissions2025.vanderbilt.edu/apply/selection-process.php
March 4th, 2015
Hi, could you tell me what is the acceptance rate for transfer students?
September 25th, 2015
I’m a senior who has decided to switch career goals. Does Vanderbilt accept senior transfers?
September 28th, 2015
Hi Lauren, thank you for your interest. Vanderbilt does not admit senior transfer students. The University requires students be enrolled for at least 4 semesters in order to receive a degree, which means students need to transfer before their junior year.
November 20th, 2015
Hi, I am applying as a transfer student for the Fall 2016. I would like to know if you would rather the personal statement in first person or third person (academic)? In addition, I had a subpar high school GPA; however, my college GPA is a 3.76 will this help me or harm me?
November 23rd, 2015
Hi Adrian, thank you for your question. You may write your personal statement either way you prefer. We don’t have a preference. As for your academic record, for transfer students we place an emphasis on college GPA over HS. Your college record will be a more significant factor in evaluating your academic record than your high school. I hope this adds some clarity. Again, thanks for the question!
November 23rd, 2015
Thank you, I have two questions, this one the ACT. I never really had to take the exam so is it alright if I use a score of an ACT taken after college? The next is on the essay, again. Can I use a self made entry like a poem or quote to help compare a film to my life situation that I want to write about?
November 24th, 2015
Adrian, you can submit either the SAT or the ACT scores you used to apply to your current college. You may also submit new scores. As for your essay, yes, you can include a poem or a quote if they help you to express your point of view. For more detailed answers on these or other questions, I’d encourage you to contact your Vanderbilt admissions counselor who can tell you more and address your specific situation. You can find your counselor at https://admissions2025.vanderbilt.edu/your-counselor/. Thanks!
December 8th, 2015
Hello! I am interested in applying as a transfer student for the Fall 2016. My college GPA is going to be around a 3.2 and I currently attend Fordham University. I know HS stats are taken into account, though I did pretty poorly in HS. Would it matter if I came from a highly ranked merit-based high school? Is my college GPA enough to demonstrate a upward trend? And also, would a withdrawal from a course affect my chance of acceptance? Thanks.
December 8th, 2015
Hi Richard, thanks for your interest in Vanderbilt. Specific questions like these are best addressed by your Vanderbilt admissions counselor. I’d suggest you get in contact with him or her so that you can talk more about the specifics of your circumstances. Visit https://admissions2025.vanderbilt.edu/your-counselor/ to find your counselor.
December 8th, 2015
Hey! Unfortunately, my admissions counselor did not respond the first time. Someone named Jan Deike responded in his place, but when I tried to ask her more questions, she also stopped responding. I’m not sure who else I can turn with these questions, so I decided to ask here.
December 11th, 2015
My apologies for your difficulty in reaching your admissions counselor, Richard. Jan Deike is one of our admissions counselors, and it is possible that your message was routed to her by mistake or she may be your counselor. We assign admissions counselors to transfer students based on where you attended high school, not where you currently go to school or reside. I’d encourage you to reach back out to your counselor again, because your questions are better addressed individually than on the blog. Thanks!
December 28th, 2015
Hi, I applied to Vanderbilt last year with pretty average ACT (29) and SAT (1920) scores. However, I had a 4.3 GPA, took almost all of the APs my high school offered, and was involved in numerous clubs. I was rejected, but Vanderbilt is still my dream school. I am currently in the honors program at the University of Miami, and I finished first semester with a 4.0. I am not as involved as I want to be, but I am looking to join more clubs next semester. I am wondering if the fact that I was rejected last spring will hinder my chances of being admitted as a transfer.
December 30th, 2015
Thank you for your question and your interest in Vanderbilt, Mel. As a transfer applicant, the fact that you were not admitted as a first-year applicant is not a negative. In fact, each year a number or transfer admits are students who were not admitted as first-year applicants. If you have more questions about your particular application, feel free to reach out to your Vanderbilt admissions officer. We’re here to help!
October 23rd, 2016
Does Vanderbilt accept transfer applications to start as a second-year or may I only apply after completing two years?
October 26th, 2016
Thanks for your question, Shelby. Yes, Vanderbilt admits transfer students who will be starting as second-year students. To learn more about transfer admissions, visit https://admissions2025.vanderbilt.edu/prospective/transfer.php or contact your VU admissions counselor (we assign counselors based on where you attended high school). Thanks!
November 10th, 2016
If I go in as a transfer student with my AA do I still need the ACT/SAT scores?
November 16th, 2016
Thanks for your question. Official SAT or ACT scores are required for all transfer applicants.
March 24th, 2017
Is a high school student who, through concurrent enrollment, completed an Associates of Science at an accredited community college at the same time as high school graduation considered a transfer student?
March 27th, 2017
Monica, thanks for your question. Typically dual-enrollment does not count towards transfer status as long as the credits were being used to graduate from your high school program. I suggest you contact your Vanderbilt admissions counselor to talk about the specifics of your situation. Thanks for your interest in Vanderbilt!
April 20th, 2017
Thanks for your question. Historically the large majority of our transfer enrollment comes in as sophomores. The specific distribution changes year to year based on the available space and the transfer applicant pool.