How competitive is admission to Vanderbilt University?
Posted on Jan 11, 2026 / Travel
Getting into Vanderbilt University is pretty competitive because lots of strong students apply each year. Admissions review focuses on academic achievement, leadership, essays, and extracurriculars rather than one single number. Vanderbilt uses a holistic process, so they look at the whole applicant rather than just test scores or grades. Demonstrated interest isn’t considered as part of the admissions review, even if students visit or reach out to the university. Applicants can apply through Early Decision I, Early Decision II, or Regular Decision, and sometimes Early Decision applicants will be deferred to Regular Decision. There’s no interview requirement through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, but optional video submission options exist through partners like Glimpse and InitialView. Legacy status doesn’t guarantee admission — it’s just one factor among many. Because of this holistic and selective approach, strong applications usually combine high academic performance with meaningful activities.
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