how long should my vanderbilt essay be

• Get Started
• Join Our Team
• (212) 262-3500
• Initial Consultation
• IvyWise Roundtable
• School Placement
• Test Prep & Tutoring
• Early College Guidance
• College Admissions Counseling
• Academic Tutoring
• Test Prep Tutoring
• Research Mentorship
• Academic Advising
• Transfer Admissions
• Graduate Admissions
• School Partnerships
• Webinars and Events
• IvyWise By The Numbers
• Testimonials
• Dr. Kat Cohen
• IvyWise In The News
• IvyWise Gives Back
• IvyWise Blog
• Just Admit It! Podcast
• Admission Statistics

What Vanderbilt Admissions Officers Look for in Essays

If Vanderbilt University, also known as Vandy, is one of your top-choice schools, you may be wondering how to craft your admissions essay to help you stand out. Vanderbilt is incredibly selective, so they look for students who demonstrate what they can contribute to the diverse campus community academically and otherwise. Your response to these essays contributes to the holistic review of your application, so it’s important to put a lot of thought into them. 

Keep reading for more information about the Vanderbilt essays and some strategies for writing them, including tips from one of our IvyWise counselors.   

What Are the Vanderbilt Essays?

When you apply to Vanderbilt, you can expect to write at least two essays — additional essays are required if you apply for scholarships. The first essay is a response to one of the personal essay prompts on the Common App, Coalition Application , or QuestBridge, and the second is a response to one of two supplemental essay questions that are unique to Vanderbilt University . First-year and transfer students will have different personal essay prompts, but the supplemental essay prompts are the same for both.  

The Vanderbilt supplemental essay is designed for the admissions committee to get to know you on a deeper level and gain a better understanding of how you’ll fit in on campus. It’s important that your essay does not repeat information that admissions readers will find elsewhere in your application. However, it is in short answer format, so it needs to pack a punch. 

How to Write The Supplemental Essay Prompt for Vanderbilt

Unlike your personal essay from the Common App, Coalition Application , or QuestBridge — which is sent to every school you apply to —   the supplemental essay prompts are exclusive to Vanderbilt University, allowing you to tailor your response to Vandy’s unique culture. IvyWise Master College Admissions Counselor and former Admissions Officer at Vanderbilt University , Carolyn , shares these tips for writing the supplemental essay:

• Develop content ideas for both of the essay prompts, then decide which of the drafted topics would add the most new and positive information to your application. 
• Regardless of which prompt you choose, answer the provided questions directly and completely. 
• Draft a response that is close to the word limit (250) without going over. 
• Avoid repeating any information that is already evident from the other pieces of your application. 
• Get straight to the point , and include as much information in this small space as you can. 
• Proofread your final draft meticulously before submitting. 
• Remember that the supplemental essays are opportunities to add new and helpful information to your profile, but they are not nearly as important as the academic pieces of your application (such as your transcript and test score). In other words, make it good, but don’t spend too much time stressing out over it.

2022–2023 Vanderbilt Supplemental Essays — Analyzed

Vanderbilt University values learning through contrasting points of view. We understand that our differences, and our respect for alternative views and voices, are our greatest source of strength. Please reflect on conversations you’ve had with people who have expressed viewpoints different from your own. How did these conversations/experiences influence you?

This prompt is meant to assess how willing you are to engage with people who have opposite viewpoints from yours. Identify a time you had a difficult conversation with someone about a polarizing topic. Focus on the impact this conversation had on you —   if you walked away with a better understanding of their perspective or learned a better approach to having these types of conversations. Tie this into Vanderbilt’s culture of valuing and celebrating diverse perspectives.     

Prompt #2 

Vanderbilt offers a community where students find balance between their academic and social experiences. Please briefly elaborate on how one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences has influenced you.

This is a standard prompt about extracurriculars. In fact, you may see similar prompts on other college applications — but if you repurpose your answer, remember to change the name of the school! Choose an activity for this essay that you haven’t already mentioned in your personal statement. It must be meaningful to you, and you should be able to discuss how this activity helped you grow. For example, did it teach you leadership skills or direct you toward a new purpose and /or passion? Connect this example to what you hope to contribute to the Vanderbilt community. 

How to Answer Vanderbilt Scholarship Essays?

If you’re applying for any of Vanderbilt’s merit-based scholarships, you will need to write an additional essay for each one. The Vanderbilt scholarship essay prompts for fall 2023 admissions give you a good idea of what to expect, though the prompts are subject to change each year. 

Based on her experience reading applications for Vanderbilt, IvyWise Counselor, Carolyn, offers these scholarship essay tips: 

• Do your research on each of the three scholarship programs — Ingram Scholars, Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholars, and Chancellor’s Scholars — and apply only to the program(s) for which you think you would be a strong fit. 
• If you think you would be a strong fit for one of the more focused merit awards — Carell Family, Curb Leadership, or Fred Russell-Grantland Rice —   submit an application for the Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholarship, through which you will be considered for all other available awards. 
• Do not reuse essays or ideas from your Common Application. The scholarship committee will have access to both your scholarship and Common App essays. 
• If you are applying for the Ingram Scholars Program, make sure your passion for business, philanthropy, and innovation are evident in all of your scholarship essay responses, as well as in the various pieces of your Common Application.
• If you are applying for the Chancellor’s Scholarship, make sure your passion for and experience in bridging gaps across various communities within your school is evident in your scholarship essay response, as well as the various pieces of your Common Application.
• Submit both your admission and scholarship applications early (ideally by early November), even if you are applying Regular Decision. 
• Make sure your essays respond directly and completely to the given prompt and come close to the word limits without going over. 

How Long Should My Vanderbilt Essay Be?

For the supplemental application essay prompts, your response should be approximately 250 words. It can be a challenge to write a meaningful essay with such a limited word count, so it’s important to be as informative, focused, and concise as possible.   

The scholarship essays have varying requirements for word length — anywhere from 250 to 2,500 words depending on which scholarship you’re applying for:

• Ingram Scholars Program: 250 – 500 words
• Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholarship: 500 words
• Chancellor’s Scholarship Program: 500 words
• Curb Leadership Scholarship: 2,500 words maximum
• Fred Russell-Grantland Rice Scholarship: no limit specified, but 10 published sports journalism samples must be included 

Can I Get Into Vanderbilt With Low Stats but Good Essays and Extracurriculars?

Vandy is among the most selective schools in the U.S., so when considering how to get into Vanderbilt , your academic performance in high school will matter more than your college essays and extracurriculars. They receive thousands of applications each year and have an acceptance rate of approximately 7%. 

More than 90% of the students who are accepted graduate with in the top 10% of their high school class and tend to have high standardized test scores. As a prospective student, you would also need to submit a letter of recommendation from your guidance counselor and two from teachers who can speak to your academic abilities.     

Is Vanderbilt on your college list ? It can be difficult to gain admission, but our expert counselors are available to help you present yourself as a compelling and desirable applicant. All of o ur IvyWise counselors have worked as admissions officers at some of the top schools in the U.S., so they know how to help you stand out. Schedule an Initial Consultation today to see how we can help you gain admission to your top-choice schools. 

Related Topics

Related posts.

• Ways to Explore Journalistic Writing
• 2024-25 Common App Essay Prompts
• What Happens if You Are Not Accepted Early Decision
• Writing College Admissions Thank You Notes
• ChatGPT in College Admissions
• Admission Rates
• Choosing a College
• College Admission Advice
• College Planning
• In the Press
• Just Admit It Podcast
• Student Life

Home » IvyWise College Admissions Blog » College Admission Advice » College Application Tips » 12th Grade » What Vanderbilt Admissions Officers Look for in Essays

Think you can get into a top-10 school? Take our chance-me calculator... if you dare. 🔥

Last updated March 22, 2024

Every piece we write is researched and vetted by a former admissions officer. Read about our mission to pull back the admissions curtain.

Blog > Essay Advice , Private University , Supplementals > How to Write the Vanderbilt Supplemental Essays

How to Write the Vanderbilt Supplemental Essays

Admissions officer reviewed by Ben Bousquet, M.Ed Former Vanderbilt University

Written by Ben Bousquet, M.Ed Former Vanderbilt University Admissions

Key Takeaway

What are the vanderbilt supplemental essay prompts.

Vanderbilt has two supplemental essay prompts you can choose from. They do not have a preference for which one you submit, but you should consider which one makes the most sense for you. Both Vanderbilt supplemental essay prompts are fairly common topics, so you may find ways to “recycle” your writing and use it for other schools too.

This guide will walk you through our tips on how to write the two Vanderbilt supplemental essays from a former Vanderbilt admission officer.

How to Write the Vanderbilt Supplemental Essay

Supplemental strategy.

Supplemental essays are very important to the Vanderbilt admissions process. Vanderbilt is an extremely highly-selective school, so making admissions decisions based on academics alone isn’t enough. They want to understand and assess your impact and engagement outside of the classroom as well.

Vanderbilt admissions also wants to understand who you might be as a community member on their campus. Remember, Vanderbilt students live on-campus in the residence halls all four years. Community fit in their diverse community in Nashville is exceptionally important to them too.

These values—extracurriculars and embracing a diverse community—are reflected in the Vanderbilt supplemental essay prompts.

How long should Vanderbilt supplemental essay be? 250 words? 400?

Oh, one more thing. Vanderbilt asks you to “Please provide your answer in approximately 250 words”, but you’ll notice that the box allows you to submit up to 400 words. Many students ask if it is okay to write more than 250 words.

It is okay to write more than 250 words for the Vanderbilt supplemental essays. As always, you should find ways to be concise and direct when writing this style of supplemental essay. Vanderbilt changed their word count policy in the 2022-2023 school year, which is also when they added the second prompt. They give the space to write up to 400 words, and you may use as much of that space as you need.

Vanderbilt offers a community where students find balance between their academic and social experiences. Please briefly elaborate on how one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences has influenced you.

This has been Vanderbilt’s supplemental essay for years, and you are likely to see similar prompts at other schools. It's a classic extracurricular activities essay .

To start, make sure you clearly describe the activity and your role. Some activities might take a bit more explanation than others. Admission officers likely know what a baseball pitcher does or what a debate competition might look like. Still, you may have had an informal leadership role. If you are writing about something more distinctive like an internship, research program, school club, or family responsibilities, be clear about your role. Have someone else read it and make sure they can accurately recite to you their understanding of your activity.

Remember, Vanderbilt wants to understand your impact outside of the classroom and the context and breadth of any achievements you have. (We have a whole post about extracurricular magnitude and impact , if you're interested.)

Vanderbilt admissions also wants to know that you are reflective enough to write about the impact your chosen extracurricular activity had on you. What did you learn? How did you change? Perhaps you were part of a research team and gained a greater understanding of how individual scientists are integral parts of a lab. Maybe your work with children on the autism spectrum is the reason you want to go into education. Show how you’ve learned and grown.

Additionally, Vanderbilt (and pretty much any school) wants to understand how your experiences will positively impact others now and in the future. Remember, they are recruiting not just students for the classroom, but community members for four years. Be sure to tell them how your experiences will translate to the next chapters of your life.

By the way, students often worry about being too direct. While you don’t want to write with zero style or emotion, know that writing clearly about your impact can help your admission officer understand your point quickly. Your admission officer is on a time crunch. It is okay in a supplemental essay to explicitly connect the dots between what you have done in high school and what you will do in college.

Which brings me to my last point—feel free to sneak in something specific at Vanderbilt that relates to your extracurricular activity, something you’d like to join once there. Whether that is research, service, marching band, or the rocket team, it is appropriate to let them know an aspect of the community you’d like to join.

Vanderbilt University values learning through contrasting points of view. We understand that our differences, and our respect for alternative views and voices, are our greatest source of strength. Please reflect on conversations you’ve had with people who have expressed viewpoints different from your own. How did these conversations/experiences influence you?

This second prompt was new for Vanderbilt in the 2022-23 school year. They do not have a preference for which prompt you choose, so don’t let that discourage you from addressing this one.

Most of my guidelines from the extracurricular essay apply here as well.

This prompt is a somewhat distinctive take on a diversity essay . Instead of directly asking you to address diversity or a community, Vanderbilt asks you to reflect on conversation(s) you’ve had where your viewpoint wasn’t shared.

Just like the extracurricular essay, don’t make the careless mistake of not setting the scene for the conversation you describe. You don’t have to (or want to) spend half your essay describing the parties involved, but don’t skip the setup either.

Then, give details of the encounter. Some students opt for the more conservative route of taking a stance of neutrality in the disagreement—describing a scene without stating their own opinion. Perhaps a controversial reading in class brought out differing opinions and resulted in an argument. Other (probably most) students will choose to reveal their own viewpoint or “side” of an argument and describe the scene where they were challenged. Either approach is okay, as long as you…

Share how the conversation impacted you. Perhaps your opinion was changed when you realized someone else has more direct experience with a topic and they swayed you. Maybe the person with whom you disagree dug their heels in based on a proclamation of unshakable faith. The lessons one learns from these encounters would be different, and you need to make sure that lesson is revealed.

Again, you want to leave the admission officer with a sense of who you are as a community member through this story. Maybe you are open-minded, or empathetic, or a great listener, or a skillful but caring debater. Let them infer (or tell them directly!) how this will manifest on the Vanderbilt campus.

With both essays, make sure you set your reader up to understand the situation or extracurricular activity. Don’t leave them guessing or assume they’ll understand something. Then, open yourself up to enough reflection to demonstrate your capacity to learn and grow, and be forward-looking enough that they can picture you on their campus.

For more advice about applying to Vanderbilt, be sure to check out our Vanderbilt Common Data Set post and How to Get into Vanderbilt guide. See you there!

Liked that? Try this next.

The Incredible Power of a Cohesive College Application

How A Selective Admissions Office Reads 50k Applications In A Season

12 Common App Essay Examples (Graded by Former Admissions Officers)

"the only actually useful chance calculator i’ve seen—plus a crash course on the application review process.".

Irena Smith, Former Stanford Admissions Officer

We built the best admissions chancer in the world . How is it the best? It draws from our experience in top-10 admissions offices to show you how selective admissions actually works.

Writing Studio

Writing application essays.

In an effort to make our handouts more accessible, we have begun converting our PDF handouts to web pages. Download this page as a PDF: Writing Application Essays Return to Writing Studio Handouts

Although writing application essays can be daunting, you do not have to have saved the world or cured cancer to write a good personal statement. As long as you have passion and show you have developed and experienced personal growth, you have a story to tell.

Below you will find a set of question that effective application essays will take into account.

Questions to Take into Account for Your Application Essay

What is the prompt asking.

How many parts are there? Does the question naturally suggest a structure for the essay? Make sure you understand what is to be covered.

For whom am I writing?

Ask yourself who will be reading the prompt and what they may be looking for. For example, if you are writing for a scholarship, learn about the person for whom that scholarship is named, and consider how your merits may be a good match for the award.

How will this opportunity help me get where I want to go?

Why should the committee select you? Try to show how events in your life have led you to pursue this step and how it will help you further your personal and professional goals.

Application Essay Tips

• Use an arresting image or phrase to make the first few sentences attractive to the reader.
• Try the “formative, transformative” moment structure. Take two significant events and describe them in detail. The formative event describes how you became interested in the opportunity and the transformative one describes what gave you the extra motivation or experience to apply and commit to the project.
• Make the most of a limited amount of space. Focus on your main ideas and cut out filler words and description that is not central to understanding your story.
• Write about moments or activities not explained in other parts of your application. This is your chance to provide new information.
• Remember that this is an essay about you, not your parents or teachers. Your essay should present you in a positive light and highlight your energy and passion for whatever opportunity you are seeking.
• Steer clear of clichéd phrases like “This scholarship will help me pursue my dream of…”
• Ask a trusted adviser, peer, or writing consultant to look over your essay for clarity and general appeal. Proofread it several times for both grammar and organization.

This handout was adapted from the Vanderbilt Office of Honors Scholarships, DePauw and Duke University Writing Centers, and scholarshiphelp.org.

Last revised: 07/2010 | Adapted for web delivery: 05/2021

In order to access certain content on this page, you may need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader or an equivalent PDF viewer software.

The Ivy Coach Daily

• College Admissions
• College Essays
• Early Decision / Early Action
• Extracurricular Activities
• Standardized Testing
• The Rankings

August 1, 2024

Vanderbilt University Supplemental Essay Prompts: 2024-2025

Vanderbilt University has released its 2024-2025 supplemental admissions essay prompts for applicants to the Class of 2029. This year, in addition to The Common Application ’s Personal Statement, Vanderbilt requires applicants to answer one supplemental essay prompt in approximately 250 words. So what is this year’s prompt? Wonder no more!

2024-2025 Vanderbilt Essay Question

Vanderbilt’s supplemental essay prompt for applicants to the Class of 2029, which applicants are to answer in about 250 words, is as follows:

Vanderbilt University’s motto,  Crescere aude , is Latin for “dare to grow.” In your response, reflect on how one or more aspects of your identity, culture, or background has played a role in your personal growth, and how it will contribute to our campus community as you dare to grow at Vanderbilt.

Vanderbilt’s admissions committee has posed a hybrid question of applicants to the Class of 2029: it’s a part background and part Why Vanderbilt prompt.

Of course, the “identity, culture, or background” aspect of the prompt is in line with the moves of many elite colleges following the Supreme Court’s ruling outlawing Affirmative Action . Since these schools are no longer permitted to ask about a student’s race on an application, they’ve instead taken advantage of Chief Justice John Roberts’ loophole by encouraging applicants to write about their identity, culture, or background in their essay writing. When they can glean a student’s race in this essay (in so far as it relates to the student’s narrative), Vanderbilt’s admissions committee can work to admit a diverse cohort of students to the Class of 2029.

For the second part of the prompt, the Why Vanderbilt component, students should showcase how they’ve done their homework on Vanderbilt by including sentences that only apply to Vanderbilt’s activities and culture — not to any other college in the land. Students should not approach the Why Vanderbilt component of this essay like a game of Mad Libs in which they replace specifics of one college for Vandy specifics. Instead, they need to show they’ve captured Vanderbilt’s enduring specifics and demonstrate how they’re contributing their unique identity, culture, and background to these enduring specifics. For example, if a student is a member of the LGBTQ+ community, what LGBTQ+ organizations will a student get involved in at Vanderbilt, and what kind of work will they do through such organizations?

Ivy Coach’s Assistance with Vanderbilt Essays

If you’re interested in optimizing your case for admission to Vanderbilt by submitting the most compelling essays possible, fill out Ivy Coach ’s consultation form , and we’ll be in touch to delineate our college admissions counseling services for seniors.

You are permitted to use www.ivycoach.com (including the content of the Blog) for your personal, non-commercial use only. You must not copy, download, print, or otherwise distribute the content on our site without the prior written consent of Ivy Coach, Inc.

Related Articles

The Ultimate College Essay Guide: Prompts and Writing Tips

September 12, 2024

The Most Popular College Essay Prompts for 2024-2025

September 11, 2024

10 College Admissions Essay Pet Peeves from Ivy Coach

MIT Supplemental Essay Prompts: 2024-2025

September 10, 2024

On Using Colloquial Writing in College Admissions Essays

September 2, 2024

How to Make Your College Essays Not Boring

August 28, 2024

TOWARD THE CONQUEST OF ADMISSION

If you’re interested in Ivy Coach’s college counseling,
fill out our complimentary consultation form and we’ll be in touch.

Fill out our short form for a 15-minute consultation to learn about Ivy Coach’s services.

The Common App is Open! Get your application done over a weekend with the College Application Booster​®.

Command Education Guide

How to write the vanderbilt university essays, updated for 2024-2025, essay prompt:.

Vanderbilt University’s motto, Crescere aude, is Latin for “dare to grow.” In your response, reflect on how one or more aspects of your identity, culture, or background has played a role in your personal growth, and how it will contribute to our campus community as you dare to grow at Vanderbilt.

Please provide your response in approximately 250 words.*

Explanation:

This prompt can be a bit tricky, since it actually touches upon not one, but two topics. First, it asks you to meditate on how various aspects of your identity have shaped your growth. Then, it asks you to tie your individual growth to the university’s growth-oriented mission, sharing the specific ways in which you hope to contribute to the campus community as a student. As you choose an aspect of your identity to focus on, consider something that is not only unique or central to who you are, but that you have also actively engaged with. For instance, your family may be Russian Orthodox, attending services and celebrating holidays, but if you have not truly thought about your relationship to your faith or incorporated the theology and practices into your own growth over time, it is likely not the strongest topic to explore.

After you describe the way in which this facet of your identity has shaped your maturation, consider how you will use the lessons you have learned to make an impact within the Vanderbilt community. Focus on action rather than ideas. Research student organizations, extracurricular opportunities, and other outlets at Vanderbilt that will enable you to use your experiences to make the campus a brighter and more vibrant place.

Remember that aside from your main Common Application essay, this is your only opportunity to share your voice with the Vanderbilt admissions officers who read your file, so take advantage of it. Your values, personality, and passion should shine brightly off the page. In the process, however, don’t try to overstuff your response with a variety of experiences—it will prevent you from getting into the descriptive depth you need to address the primary topic, especially since 250 words makes for a rather short essay.

Nah tek yuh mattie eye fuh see.

This phrase would dance from my grandmother’s lips in conversations with her friends, admonishments to family members, and in one of our final conversations before I left my home in Guyana at the age of fourteen. “See for yourself.”

For so much of my life, I’ve felt in between worlds. Khichri, bhaji and Chutney unite me with my Indian roots, while pepperpot, gilbaka, and Soca inspired pride in the land that raised me. Urdu speakers would be shocked by my Caribbean accent, while Trinis curious about my island of origin were surprised to hear my homeland was contiguous to South America. As whispers consumed the eighth grade classroom regarding my background, I grew sullen and disconnected, alone within my new world.

I wished they could hear my grandmother’s mellifluous voice declaring her favorite proverb. Although I eventually learned how to shine and overcome the isolation and misconceptions I experienced, I never forgot how it felt and have since vowed to do everything I could to liberate others from it.

Vanderbilt’s community offers the perfect place for me to encourage tolerance. NICExVU grants me the perfect opportunity to uplift Nashville’s first-gen communities through service while Narrative 4 Vanderbilt’s mission of healing divisions through writing deeply resonates with me. Furthermore, the Latin American and Caribbean Student Association will be a second home for me to embrace my culture, while Opening Statement will enable me to bond with other aspiring first-generation lawyers.

• Privacy Overview
• Strictly Necessary Cookies

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognizing you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

• Search All Scholarships
• Exclusive Scholarships
• Easy Scholarships to Apply For
• No Essay Scholarships
• Scholarships for HS Juniors
• Scholarships for HS Seniors
• Scholarships for College Students
• Scholarships for Grad Students
• Scholarships for Women
• Scholarships for Black Students
• Scholarships
• Student Loans
• College Admissions
• Financial Aid
• Scholarship Winners
• Scholarship Providers

Student-centric advice and objective recommendations

Higher education has never been more confusing or expensive. Our goal is to help you navigate the very big decisions related to higher ed with objective information and expert advice. Each piece of content on the site is original, based on extensive research, and reviewed by multiple editors, including a subject matter expert. This ensures that all of our content is up-to-date, useful, accurate, and thorough.

Our reviews and recommendations are based on extensive research, testing, and feedback. We may receive commission from links on our website, but that doesn’t affect our editors’ opinions. Our marketing partners don’t review, approve or endorse our editorial content. It’s accurate to the best of our knowledge when posted. You can find a complete list of our partners here .

How to Ace the 2023-2024 Vanderbilt Supplemental Essay

Ginny Howey is a former content writer at Scholarships360. Ginny graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in May 2022 with a degree in Media and Journalism (Advertising/PR focus) and minors in Entrepreneurship and Spanish. Ginny’s professional experience includes two summers as a writer intern at global creative consultancy BCG BrightHouse. More recently, Ginny worked as a content marketing intern for Durham-based software engineering bootcamp Momentum, where she gained SEO skills. She has also written freelance articles on emerging tech for A.I. startup Resultid.

Learn about our editorial policies

Bill Jack has over a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. Since 2008, he has worked at Colby College, Wesleyan University, University of Maine at Farmington, and Bates College.

Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.

Vanderbilt University is a very competitive private school with a 7% acceptance rate . If you hope to gain acceptance into this top-tier school, you must have an exceptional application. Do not underestimate the importance of a stand-out Vanderbilt supplemental essay!

Let’s break down Vanderbilt’s prompt and how to craft a response that’s sure to impress. 

Also see: How to write an essay about yourself

What to expect from the Vanderbilt supplemental essay prompt

Vanderbilt University expects applicants to respond to one personal essay prompt and respond to one short answer question. However, do not worry because you actually only need to write one response for Vanderbilt! The personal essay they require of students is the Common Application or Coalition personal essay so there is no need to write anything additional for Vanderbilt’s personal essay requirement. 

There are two short answer questions you can choose from and only one needs to be answered. Regardless of which essay choice you choose, they need to be answered in approximately 250 words . 

Short answer choice #1

“Vanderbilt University values learning through contrasting points of view. We understand that our differences, and our respect for alternative views and voices, are our greatest source of strength. Please reflect on conversations you’ve had with people who have expressed viewpoints different from your own. How did these conversations/experiences influence you? (250 words)”

Try and think of a time in which someone had a different perspective on a topic you discussed or argued. Write about this conversation by detailing a narrative of what exactly the conversation was about. Describe your thoughts and feelings about the conversation and how it was resolved (if it was!). 

It does not have to be a life-changing argument about a controversial topic. Rather, it can be just a discussion in which someone has expressed viewpoints that differ from your own. 

Be careful not to focus too much on the negatives of this experience such as negative emotions towards the other person or group but rather you should discuss your feelings objectively. 

Once you have described this conversation and the admissions officer now has context, it is important to focus on how you dealt with this conversation and what you learned from it. Describe your emotions during this conversation and what you might have done differently if given the opportunity. 

Ultimately, Vanderbilt doesn’t want to hear you attack and berate someone for their differing perspective, rather they want to see that future Vanderbilt students understand that everyone has diverse experiences and perspectives. Use this essay as an opportunity to highlight how you are able to learn from and work with others even if they have different beliefs. Additionally, describe how you would use what you have learned from this experience to better your time at Vanderbilt. 

Questions to consider: 

• How did this conversation impact how you will communicate with others in the future? 
• What did you learn from this experience? 
• What will you do differently at Vanderbilt? 

Short answer choice #2

“Vanderbilt offers a community where students find balance between their academic and social experiences. Please briefly elaborate on how one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences has influenced you. (250 words)”

Unlike some schools’ intimidatingly broad prompts, this is as straightforward as it gets. Vanderbilt wants you to describe a particularly meaningful involvement you’ve had. However, it can be tricky when more than one engagement comes to mind. 

A good way to start is by looking at the Activities section on your Common Application. Highlight the experiences that have been most impactful to you. Jot down what you enjoy about each one and what they’ve taught you. Describe any anecdotes that you associate with them. Be sure to highlight progression throughout your participation in this activity, such as being elected to a leadership position. 

Since this is the only supplemental you will be responding to, be strategic with which activity you choose. If your intended major is computer science, it may be wise to discuss a related experience. You could describe the robotics club you were a member of in high school. It would be a great time to flex any awards you received at a robotics competition, too. 

On the other hand, you may want to showcase a different side of your personality that speaks more about your character. For example, discussing a volunteer experience that inspired a cause you now champion would also be a great avenue. 

Above all, pick an activity that is special to you, not what you think admissions wants to hear. Writing what you find important about your background will come across sincerely and ensure your voice can shine through. 

After you have chosen the perfect activity or work experience to write about, make sure you focus on how it has influenced you. Has this activity become a staple in your life? Do you hope to pursue this activity at Vanderbilt? Has this experience helped you realize what you want to do in your life? 

Ultimately make sure you are detailing an extracurricular activity or work experience that means something great to you and has influenced you in any way. 

Questions to consider:  

• Did you hold a job that solidified why you want to pursue your intended career path? 
• Has one of your hobbies taught you a new skill you cherish? Or allowed you to find community? 
• What has devoting much of your K-12 life to playing a sport instilled in you?

Next steps for students

After our deep-dive on the Vanderbilt supplemental, we hope your ideas are flowing. Get your thoughts out and don’t be afraid of a rough first draft. You can revise for writing quality and word count later, so get started!

Additional resources

As you apply to colleges, there are a lot of decisions to make in order to ensure you end up at the right school for you. Luckily, we can help you make them! Check out our guide on what looks good on college applications , how many schools to apply to , how to find safety, reach, and match schools , and how to schedule college visits . We can also help you fill out the Common App Additional Information Section and offer you an inside view of what happens inside an admissions office .

Finally, once you get your admissions decisions back, we can help you narrow down your choices. Try out our guide to making a college comparison spreadsheet , how to interpret your financial aid award letters , and how to appeal for more financial aid . We can also help clarify the differences between public and private schools and offer you some insight into making your final choice of a college . Good luck on your educational journey, and don’t forget to apply for all the scholarships you are eligible for!

Start your scholarship search

• Vetted scholarships custom-matched to your profile
• Access exclusive scholarships only available to Scholarships360 members

Scholarships360 Recommended

10 Tips for Successful College Applications

Coalition vs. Common App: What is the difference?

College Application Deadlines 2024-2025: What You Need to Know

Trending now.

How to Convert Your GPA to a 4.0 Scale

PSAT to SAT Score Conversion: Predict Your Score

What are Public Ivy League Schools?

3 reasons to join scholarships360.

• Automatic entry to our $10,000 No-Essay Scholarship
• Personalized matching to thousands of vetted scholarships
• Quick apply for scholarships exclusive to our platform

By the way...Scholarships360 is 100% free!

Are you seeking one-on-one college counseling and/or essay support? Limited spots are now available. Click here to learn more.

Vanderbilt Supplemental Essays 2024-25 – Prompts and Advice

August 23, 2024

With an acceptance rate of just 5% for the 2024-25 entering class, Vanderbilt has become one of the more selective schools in the United States. It’s easy for prospective applicants who can claim a 99th percentile score and a position near the top of their high school class to feel overly confident when applying to a university of this ilk. Yet, it is critical to realize that, in 2024, the median SAT at Vandy is over 1500, and just about every admitted student finished near the top of their high school class. This brings us to the topic of this blog – the Vanderbilt supplemental essays.

(Want to learn more about How to Get Into Vanderbilt? Visit our blog entitled:  How to Get Into Vanderbilt University: Admissions Data and Strategies  for all of the most recent admissions data as well as tips for gaining acceptance.)

When applying to Vanderbilt, you can’t just rely on your fabulous grades and test scores to carry you toward an eventual acceptance letter. You need those credentials, of course, but you also need to pour every ounce of effort into other components of the application in order to separate yourself in the eyes of the admissions committee. The Common App and supplemental essay present just that opportunity.

Below is Vanderbilt’s supplemental essay for the 2024-25 admissions cycle along with our advice for composing a winning essay.

Vanderbilt Supplemental Essay Prompt

Vanderbilt University’s motto, Crescere aude, is Latin for “dare to grow.” In your response, reflect on how one or more aspects of your identity, culture, or background has played a role in your personal growth, and how it will contribute to our campus community as you dare to grow at Vanderbilt.

Please provide your response in approximately 250 words.

Look, if you had one shot, or one opportunity (Eminem beat starts to ramp up)…While many highly-selective colleges offer two, three, or even more supplemental prompts, Vandy only offers this single essay. In it, they want you to briefly discuss how an aspect of your identity, culture, or background has influenced you (and how it will enable you to contribute to Vanderbilt). So, the question is, how to make your response to such a basic prompt really count?

Firstly, take note of the wide-open nature of this prompt. You are essentially invited to talk about any of the following topics:

• A perspective you hold
• An experience/challenge you had
• A community you belong to
• Your cultural background
• Your religious background
• Your family background
• Your sexual orientation or gender identity

Vanderbilt Supplemental Essay — Continued

Although this prompt’s open floor plan may feel daunting, a good tactic is to first consider what has already been communicated within your Common App personal statement and activities list. What important aspect(s) of yourself have not been shared (or sufficiently discussed)? The admissions officer reading your essay is hoping to connect with you through your written words, so—within your essay’s reflection—be open, humble, thoughtful, inquisitive, emotionally honest, mature, and/or insightful about what you learned and how you grew.

You’ll then need to discuss how your background/identity/experiences have influenced how you hope to contribute to Vandy’s social or academic community. For example, perhaps growing up in Northern California has made you passionate about post-wildfire ecosystem restoration, which you hope to pursue further through Vanderbilt’s environmental science program. Or, perhaps your experience as a tutor has made you interested in continuing that effort at Vandy , or the discrimination you watched your sibling face after revealing their gender identity has informed your desire to be part of initiatives, events, and trainings facilitated by the K.C. Potter Center for LGBTQI Life .

To that end, be sure you address how you will take advantage of Johns Hopkins’s immense resources. These resources could be inside and/or outside of the classroom. You can accomplish this by citing specific  academic programs ,  professors ,  research opportunities , study abroad programs ,  student-run organizations , etc.

How important are the Vanderbilt supplemental essays?

The essays (both the Common App essay and supplemental essay) are “very important” to the Vanderbilt admissions committee . This places them in the same category as: GPA, standardized test scores, class rank, the rigor of your secondary school record, extracurriculars, and character/personal qualities. In short, the Vanderbilt supplemental essays are among the most important factors to the University when evaluating your application.

Want Personalized Essay Assistance?

If you are interested in working with one of College Transitions’ experienced and knowledgeable essay coaches as you craft your Vanderbilt supplemental essays, we encourage you to get a quote  today.

Looking for additional writing resources? Consider checking out the following:

• Common App Essay Prompts
• 10 Instructive Common App Essay Examples
• College Application Essay Topics to Avoid
• How to Quickly Format Your Common App Essay
• Should I Complete Optional College Essays?
• How to Brainstorm a College Essay
• 25 Inspiring College Essay Topics
• “Why This College?” Essay Examples
• How to Write the Community Essay
• College Essay

Andrew Belasco

A licensed counselor and published researcher, Andrew's experience in the field of college admissions and transition spans two decades. He has previously served as a high school counselor, consultant and author for Kaplan Test Prep, and advisor to U.S. Congress, reporting on issues related to college admissions and financial aid.

• 2-Year Colleges
• ADHD/LD/Autism/Executive Functioning
• Application Strategies
• Best Colleges by Major
• Best Colleges by State
• Big Picture
• Career & Personality Assessment
• College Search/Knowledge
• College Success
• Costs & Financial Aid
• Data Visualizations
• Dental School Admissions
• Extracurricular Activities
• General Knowledge
• Graduate School Admissions
• High School Success
• High Schools
• Homeschool Resources
• Law School Admissions
• Medical School Admissions
• Navigating the Admissions Process
• Online Learning
• Outdoor Adventure
• Private High School Spotlight
• Research Programs
• Summer Program Spotlight
• Summer Programs
• Teacher Tools
• Test Prep Provider Spotlight

“Innovative and invaluable…use this book as your college lifeline.”

— Lynn O'Shaughnessy

Nationally Recognized College Expert

College Planning in Your Inbox

Join our information-packed monthly newsletter.

Vandy Bloggers

Writing a Personal Statement

Posted by Kylie on Monday, September 13, 2010 in The College Essay .

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 part of the college application process. Below I provides some hints, suggestions, and notes.

When I was on the road recruiting this past week there seemed to be some confusion about the essay/personal statement requirement.  Vanderbilt only requires one essay and it is the essay found on the Common Application.  The CA provides six topics and number six is a “topic of your choice”.  At Vanderbilt we refer to the essay as your personal statement.  So, there are not two separate essays, but we’re hoping you’ll take the opportunity provided by the Common App to teach us more about you.

• Free writing is a great exercise.  Just write words, phrases, or snippets in a notebook.  Eventually something will spark your imagination.
• Make a list of items you talked about at lunch with your friends.  Some items may be inappropriate (don’t write about those!), but some stories you tell your friends are uniquely YOU.  Tell me those stories.
• There are 21 admission counselors in my office; you couldn’t possibly know what we “want to hear” on any given day, so just write what you want to say.

Suggestions:

• Students are more interesting than parents.  Your parents can be great proofreaders, but make sure the content is still you.
• Sarcasm, dry humor, and irony are wonderful story telling devices, but not great for the college application essay.  They come across as bitter or mean.
• Grammar is important.  However, I’m more interested in what you say than how you say it.  Feel free to be creative.
• About a month ago I picked up a copy of the book, “50 Successful Harvard Application Essays”.  I was not impressed.  Some were good, some were okay, and some were terrible.
• We don’t expect you to cure cancer or travel the world by the time you’re 18.  One of the best essays I read last year was about how a student’s car smelled like dirty shoes.
• I can tell when you reuse a paper from AP English .

As you’re completing your college application essay, think about the individuals on the reading end.  Admissions counselors are frenzied in the winter as we read through lots of files.  Students who make me laugh, cry, or just say “wow” move to the forefront of my mind at a time when my mind is quite muddled.  Don’t stress out, though.  We’re going to look at you holistically.  If your essay flops, there’s many other factors we’re considering.

Tags: admissions , admissions blog , Application Process , College Admissions , decision process , Early Decision , Early Decision at Vanderbilt , undergraduate admissions , vanderbilt , Vanderbilt Admissions , Vanderbilt Admissions Blog , Vanderbilt Admissions Blogs , Vanderbilt Admissions Committee , Vanderbilt Admissions Website , Vanderbilt Balance , Vanderbilt Blogs , Vanderbilt Early Decision , Vanderbilt University , Vanderbilt University Admissions

September 14th, 2010

Thank you for the practical advise!

“However, I’m more interested in what you say then in how you say it. ”

Um… that should be “than”, not “then”.

Otherwise, a very helpful post!

Ironic! Thanks to all the grammar police out there ;-) I do appreciate the help! Keep the feedback/comments/thoughts coming!

September 15th, 2010

“Free writing is a great exercise.” Amen. After 14 drafts on 14 different subjects, I think I finally found one that I’m pleased with!

September 23rd, 2010

Thanks for the advice! I was pleased to find out that our lives don’t have to be extraordinary in order for our essays to be good. I was worried I’d have to create world peace in order to get noticed! ;)

December 16th, 2010

Any tips for perspective grad students?

Kelsey: It really depends on the graduate program. My best advice is to talk to students already taking coursework in your field! Best wishes.

December 20th, 2010

The common app doesn’t provide a word limit. How long should our essay be? 500 words? 1500? Does it even matter?

December 21st, 2010

Tyler: No word limit.

December 28th, 2010

Would attaching an additional essay to my application strengthen it? Or do you prefer that students limit themselves to the 1 essay required by the common app?

Phil: It really depends on the student. Do what you think will best represent you and make your application strong.

April 20th, 2011

June 27th, 2011

Vanderbilt is my absolute number one choice for college, I have always excelled in school, except mathematics, I have struggled alot with it, but it’s my only weak subject. I write essays very well. If my essay is outstanding as well as my ACT score will they deny me because of my math struggles?

May 30th, 2012

Students are more interesting than parents. Your parents can be great proofreaders, but make sure the content is still you.

September 21st, 2012

I just want to wrtite my essay at the current moment. How do I view the essay topics for this year without having to go through all the trouble of going through the Common Application process?

September 24th, 2012

You can find a PDF version of the application on the CommonApp website ( https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/DownloadForms.aspx ). Simply download the Application (student form), and you will find the essay topics on the last page.

July 9th, 2013

[…] college entrance website’s like Vanderbilt’s.   Share this: Pin […]

April 7th, 2014

A great and direct piece of information. Hats off to the author for gathering so specific and spot on information. the applause in the comments do the justice. Great piece of information.

September 14th, 2014

can you please give me an example

September 17th, 2014

Are you asking for an example of a personal statement, Bharat? Because the nature of personal statements are so individual (so personal ), I don’t think sharing an example would be much help. I can point you to another great post with some good resources, though: http://admissions.vanderbilt.edu/vandybloggers/2013/09/how-to-write-your-personal-essay/ .

Again, thanks for the question!

September 9th, 2016

Where can you find the essay topics?

September 20th, 2016

Jaden, thanks for your question. You can find the essay prompts online at the web site for each application. For instance, here is a link to the essay prompts for the Common Application: http://www.commonapp.org/whats-appening/application-updates/common-application-announces-2016-2017-essay-prompts

Your Vanderbilt

• Current Students
• Faculty & Staff
• International Students
• Parents & Family
• Prospective Students
• Researchers
• Sports Fans
• Visitors & Neighbors

Quick Links

• PeopleFinder

Vanderbilt University 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Early Decision: Nov 1

Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 1

Vanderbilt University 2024-25 Application Essay Question Explanations

Vanderbilt decided to keep it short and sweet, so we’ll follow suit. A one-question supplement means you’ve got one shot at perfection. No pressure, though.

The Requirements: 1 essay of 250 words

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Community ,   Diversity

For both first-year and transfer applicants, we ask you to complete a short answer essay (approximately 250 words) based on the following prompt:

Vanderbilt university’s motto, crescere aude, is latin for “dare to grow.” in your response, reflect on how one or more aspects of your identity, culture, or background has played a role in your personal growth, and how it will contribute to our campus community as you dare to grow at vanderbilt..

Vanderbilt wants to know what has made you into the person you are today. What you focus on here can really run the gamut, but it should be something that you feel will not only speak to your personal growth journey, but also help you to contribute to Vandy’s community in a unique way. Is there anything you can teach your classmates about your culture, identity, or background that they might not already know? What has influenced your identity? What do you believe and how will your life experiences bring something of value to the community at Vanderbilt? To make an impact, you’ll want to take some time for reflection before you begin writing this essay. How have you dared to grow in the past, and how will you continue embodying Vandy’s motto on campus? 

About Amanda Amah

View all posts by Amanda Amah »

Look no further!

"She got into her ED - Vanderbilt. Obviously she (and we) are very happy. You have been very helpful and I will certainly recommend you to next year's crop of students."

– CEA Parent, Vanderbilt, Class of 2025

"With all the hugs and congratulations, everything has been such a whirlwind since 7pm. However, I can't forget what a tremendous help you were. Thank you once again for all your help, I truly believe my essays were a key component in my acceptance. I'm forever grateful."

– CEA Student, Vanderbilt, Class of 2027

Contact us for information on rates and more!

• I am a * Student Parent Potential Partner School Counselor Private College Counselor
• Name * First Last
• Phone Type Mobile Landline
• Street Address
• Address City State / Province / Region Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos Islands Colombia Comoros Congo Congo, Democratic Republic of the Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Curaçao Cyprus Czechia Côte d'Ivoire Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Heard Island and McDonald Islands Holy See Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macao Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Macedonia Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestine, State of Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russian Federation Rwanda Réunion Saint Barthélemy Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Sint Maarten Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Sweden Switzerland Syria Arab Republic Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania, the United Republic of Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Türkiye US Minor Outlying Islands Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Viet Nam Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, U.S. Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Åland Islands Country
• Which best describes you (or your child)? High school senior High school junior College student College grad Other
• How did you find CEA? Internet Search Podcast New York Times Guidance counselor/school Social Media YouTube Friend Special Event Delehey College Consulting Perks at Work Other
• Common App and Coalition Essays
• Supplemental Essays
• University of California Essays
• University of Texas Essays
• Resume Review
• Post-Grad Essays
• Specialized Services
• Waitlist Letters
• Private School Essays
• General College Counseling
• School list with priorities noted:
• Anything else we should know?
• Phone This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

School Stats:

• Agnes Scott College
• Alvernia University
• American University
• Amherst College
• Babson College
• Bard College
• Barnard College
• Baylor University
• Bennington College
• Bentley University
• Berry College
• Bethany College
• Boston College
• Boston University (BU)
• Bowdoin College
• Brandeis University
• Brown University
• Bryn Mawr College
• Bucknell University
• Butler University
• California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
• California Lutheran University
• Capitol Technology University
• Carleton College
• Carnegie Mellon University (CMU)
• Catawba College
• Centre College
• Chapman University
• Claremont McKenna College
• Clark University
• Clemson University
• Coastal Carolina University
• College of Charleston
• College of William and Mary
• College of Wooster
• Colorado College
• Colorado School of Mines
• Columbia University
• Cornell University
• Culver-Stockton College
• D'Youville University
• Dartmouth College
• Davidson College
• Dickinson College
• Drexel University
• Duke University
• Earlham College
• Elon University
• Emerson College
• Emory University
• Flagler College
• Fordham University
• George Mason University
• Georgetown University
• Georgia State University
• Georgia Tech
• Gonzaga University
• Hamilton College
• Hampshire College
• Harvard University
• Harvey Mudd College
• Haverford College
• Hillsdale College
• Hofstra University
• Howard University
• Illinois Institute of Technology
• Illinois Wesleyan University
• Ithaca College
• Johns Hopkins University
• Kalamazoo College
• Lafayette College
• Lehigh University
• Lewis and Clark College
• Linfield University
• Loyola Marymount University (LMU)
• Lynn University
• Macalester College
• Manchester University
• Marist College
• Mary Baldwin University
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
• Meredith College
• Monmouth College
• Moravian University
• Morehouse College
• Mount Holyoke College
• New York University (NYU)
• North Carolina State
• North Park University
• Northwestern University
• Occidental College
• Oklahoma City University
• Olin College of Engineering
• Pepperdine University
• Pitzer College
• Pomona College
• Princeton University
• Providence College
• Purdue University
• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• Rice University
• Roger Williams University
• Saint Anselm College
• Saint Elizabeth University
• Santa Clara University
• Sarah Lawrence College
• Scripps College
• Seattle Pacific University
• Seattle University
• Smith College
• Soka University of America
• Southern Methodist University
• Spelman College
• St. John’s College
• Stanford University
• Stevens Institute of Technology
• Stonehill College
• Swarthmore College
• Syracuse University
• Texas A&M University
• Texas Christian University (TCU)
• The College of Idaho
• The George Washington University
• The New School
• Trinity College
• Tufts University
• Tulane University
• UNC Wilmington
• University of California
• University of Central Florida (UCF)
• University of Chicago
• University of Cincinnati
• University of Colorado Boulder
• University of Florida
• University of Georgia (UGA)
• University of Illinois Chicago (UIC)
• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• University of Maryland
• University of Massachusetts Amherst
• University of Massachusetts Lowell
• University of Miami
• University of Michigan
• University of Minnesota
• University of Mississippi (Ole Miss)
• College of Mount Saint Vincent
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)
• University of North Carolina at Charlotte
• University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• University of Notre Dame
• University of Oklahoma
• University of Oregon
• University of Pennsylvania
• University of Pittsburgh
• University of Richmond
• University of Rochester
• University of San Diego
• University of San Francisco
• University of Southern California (USC)
• University of Texas at Austin
• University of Tulsa
• University of Vermont
• University of Virginia (UVA)
• University of Washington
• University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Vanderbilt University
• Vassar College
• Villanova University
• Virginia Tech
• Wake Forest University
• Washington and Lee University
• Washington University in St. Louis
• Wellesley College
• Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)
• Yale University

Want free stuff?

We thought so. Sign up for free instructional videos, guides, worksheets and more!

One-On-One Advising

Common App Essay Prompt Guide

Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

• YouTube Tutorials
• Our Approach & Team
• Undergraduate Testimonials
• Postgraduate Testimonials
• Where Our Students Get In
• CEA Gives Back
• Undergraduate Admissions
• Graduate Admissions
• Private School Admissions
• International Student Admissions
• Common App Essay Guide
• Supplemental Essay Guide
• Coalition App Guide
• The CEA Podcast
• Admissions Stats
• Notification Trackers
• Deadline Databases
• College Essay Examples
• Academy and Worksheets
• Waitlist Guides
• Get Started

Vanderbilt Supplemental Essays 2023-24

The Vanderbilt supplemental essays form a major part of the overall Vanderbilt admissions process. Your Vanderbilt essay helps to provide crucial context to your application. It can also help the admissions office better understand how you’ll fit on campus. Overall, the Vanderbilt supplemental essays work to build a more holistic picture of your identity and background. The Vanderbilt essay can feel intimidating, but CollegeAdvisor is here to help!

This guide will break down the Vanderbilt essay prompts and provide tips on how to write the Vanderbilt supplemental essays. We’ll explain the Vanderbilt essays and provide some inspiration for your own Vanderbilt essay.

For students wondering how to get into Vanderbilt, a strong Vanderbilt essay is a must. So, keep reading to learn more about the Vanderbilt supplemental essays! 

Vanderbilt Admissions: Quick Facts

Vanderbilt university: quick facts.

Acceptance Rate for Vanderbilt : 7%, according to U.S News  

Vanderbilt Essay Requirements : 

• Personal Essay ( Common App or Coalition App prompts)
• 1 (250 word) Short Answer Question 

Vanderbilt Application: Students must submit their application to Vanderbilt through the Common App, Coalition App or Questbridge. Your Vanderbilt essay will be submitted alongside your larger application. 

Vanderbilt Deadlines : 

• Early Decision 1: November 1 st
• Early Decision 2: January 1 st
• Regular Decision: January 1st

Vanderbilt Essay Tip : Be sure to pick the Vanderbilt essay prompt that will highlight something not already communicated through your personal essay or elsewhere on your application. The Vanderbilt supplemental essays should add to your overall application, so take the opportunity to showcase something you’re proud of!

Please note that essay requirements are subject to change each admissions cycle, and portions of this article may have been written before the final publication of the most recent guidelines. For the most up-to-date information on essay requirements, check the university’s admissions website.

Does Vanderbilt have supplemental essays?

Yes, Vanderbilt has two separate supplemental essay prompts. Students will only pick one of the Vanderbilt essay prompts to complete.

The Vanderbilt supplemental essays form a mandatory part of the overall Vanderbilt requirements . It’s important to take the Vanderbilt supplemental essays seriously, as they can greatly enrich your application. The Vanderbilt essay prompts allow you to pick which Vanderbilt essay to write. As the admissions site states, Vanderbilt doesn’t necessarily care what you write about—as long as your essay is all about you! Choose the prompt that allows you to best highlight your unique skills, interests, and experiences.  

The Vanderbilt supplemental essays are a crucial part of your application. As an integral part of Vanderbilt’s holistic review process, you can use your essay to show admissions how you align with Vanderbilt’s values. This guide will provide a deep dive into how to approach each of the Vanderbilt essay prompts.

How many essays does Vanderbilt require?

While there are two Vanderbilt essay prompts, only one supplemental Vanderbilt essay is required. Vanderbilt will also receive your Common App essay.

The Vanderbilt requirements detail that students must submit a personal essay via the Common App or Coalition app as well as the supplemental Vanderbilt essay. The longer personal essay will be sent to multiple schools via the application platform of your choice. However, the Vanderbilt supplemental essays are unique to Vanderbilt. 

Students must pick between the two Vanderbilt supplemental essays. Each Vanderbilt essay has a limit of 250 words, so you should think carefully about your response. The Vanderbilt essays help admissions officers understand you better and can boost your overall application. And, since applicants don’t have multiple Vanderbilt essays to shine, you’ll want to make this one count!

For help on your personal essay, you can read our College Essay Topic guide here , as well as our guide on the Coalition Essay Prompts here . 

Vanderbilt Supplemental Essays

There are two different prompts for the Vanderbilt supplemental essays. Students must pick only one of the two Vanderbilt essay prompts to respond to.  As such, you should pick the right Vanderbilt essay prompt for you.

So, how do you know which Vanderbilt essay to choose? We’ll detail both Vanderbilt essays here and provide some tips on how to approach them later in this guide. 

Students must pick between these Vanderbilt essay prompts: 

Vanderbilt Essay Prompts #1

Vanderbilt university values learning through contrasting points of view. we understand that our differences, and our respect for alternative views and voices, are our greatest source of strength. please reflect on conversations you’ve had with people who have expressed viewpoints different from your own. how did these conversations/experiences influence you.

This Vanderbilt essay asks you to reflect on conversations you’ve had with people who express different viewpoints than your own. This Vanderbilt essay gives you the chance to share a topic you’re passionate about, and, most importantly, discuss how you’ve engaged with others who may feel differently. If you’ve ever found yourself in a passionate debate or have had a meaningful conversation, then this may be the best Vanderbilt essay for you! 

Vanderbilt Supplemental Essays # 2

Vanderbilt offers a community where students find balance between their academic and social experiences. please briefly elaborate on how one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences has influenced you..

This Vanderbilt essay allows you to elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. Make sure to pick something you don’t highlight in other areas of your application, such as your personal essay. This is a great prompt for students who want to provide more context to their resume, as well as highlight something that they’re proud of. If you have an extracurricular activity or work experience that has greatly influenced you and your goals, this may be the better of the two Vanderbilt essays for you. 

Regardless of which of the two Vanderbilt supplemental essays you pick, make sure to focus on all parts of the prompt. Both of the Vanderbilt essays ask you to reflect on how your experiences have influenced you, which will help admissions officers better understand how you’ve changed over time. Therefore, no matter the prompt, your Vanderbilt essay needs to get personal, not just recount an experience.  This means you should do all you can to choose the right prompt for you. Let’s check out some tips on how to do so.

Choosing the right Vanderbilt essay for you

Picking the right Vanderbilt essay prompt can feel intimidating. As you prepare to write, you should think about how Vanderbilt admissions officers evaluate applications.

Overall, it’s important to know what Vanderbilt looks for in applicants. However, your essay shouldn’t read as something you think admissions officers want to read. Still, you can use these evaluation points in order to keep you on track when writing about your personal experiences. Additionally, reading Vanderbilt essay examples can help you think through which prompt best suits your needs. While the Vanderbilt essay prompts may change from year to year, reading Vanderbilt essay examples can still be extremely helpful to jumpstart your writing process. 

Comparing the two Vanderbilt supplemental essays, students can either detail the ways they’ve engaged with their community or highlight an important extracurricular activity. Choosing the best Vanderbilt essay will mean thinking through your high school experience and deciding which prompt lets you share what makes you proud.

Prompt #1 

If you’re involved with a student activist group or political group, or have brought what you’ve learned in the classroom to your family and friends, the first Vanderbilt essay may be the best option for you. The first prompt allows students to share their personal values and beliefs as well as how they engage with other people who may not share those values. 

If navigating differences has been a major part of your high school experience, this prompt is a great opportunity to share that experience with Vanderbilt. These Vanderbilt supplemental essays can help the admissions office better understand what you stand for and how you navigate conflict. No matter what instance you write on, make sure that self-reflection and personal growth take the forefront. For example, maybe you didn’t handle the conflict in the best way but learned how to do so in the future. Even if you don’t have an instant connection with this prompt, if you can think of a time that challenged your values, this Vanderbilt essay might suit your needs.

The second Vanderbilt essay allows students to elaborate on an extracurricular or work experience. Many schools have an extracurricular activities essay prompt, so it’s likely that you have come across similar questions.

This prompt is a great choice for students who wish to highlight an experience they believe has greatly influenced them. If you’ve been heavily involved with a student club or sport or want to reflect on your work experience, this may be the prompt for you. 

This prompt works best for students who can connect their extracurricular activities to their development and goals. Out of the two Vanderbilt supplemental essays, this prompt allows students to focus on how their involvement in a wide range of activities have shaped them. Similar to the first prompt, your essay should center your personal growth and self-reflection. If you feel that you would not have been the same person without a specific activity/work experience, this may be the Vanderbilt essay for you! 

How to write the Vanderbilt supplemental essays

Once you’ve decided which of the two Vanderbilt supplemental essays to tackle, it’s time to write your first draft! Starting the writing process can be difficult, so we’ve compiled some tips for each of the two Vanderbilt essays in this section. 

Out of the two Vanderbilt supplemental essays, you can interprep this prompt in a number of ways. While you may assume most students would talk about a political issue, this prompt can also apply to personal preferences. Students can get creative with this prompt and think broadly about how they define “difference.”  You still want to get to the heart of the prompt and discuss how these conversations have influenced you, but don’t feel like you’re limited to hot-button topics—different points of view come in all shapes and sizes. 

Once you’ve chosen a topic, briefly set the stage. Bring the reader into the moment where you expressed a different viewpoint. Who were you talking with? How did the subject come up? What makes this memory stand out to you? Don’t spend too much time setting the reader up, as you want to focus on how this experience has influenced you. 

When thinking of how this difference of opinion has influenced you, really dive into the consequences of the interaction. Did it shift your perspective? Do you understand different points of view in a deeper way now? Were you able to influence other people with your opinion? Try to spend more time delving into the impact the exchange had on you. 

If you have space, try to weave in your research about Vanderbilt here as well. The Vanderbilt supplemental essays aim to help admissions officers determine if you’re a good fit for the school, so connecting your Vanderbilt essay to your goals can be helpful. You can reflect on how this experience will help you debate with classmates or collaborate with your peers at Vanderbilt. Try to be specific to your major or area of study —a little research can go a long way! 

Many students applying to Vanderbilt will have impressive extracurricular activities, so try to highlight what you’re most proud of in this Vanderbilt essay. Focus on an activity that you don’t discuss elsewhere, such as your Common App essay. Take this opportunity to shine a light on any unique or memorable activities you’ve been involved with. These activities can be anything from student clubs, religious organizations, or a part-time job. 

Once you’ve decided what to focus on, detail it for the reader. Is there a specific memory or story you want to anchor your essay? How long have you been involved in the activity, and how did you get started? What do you like about it? These details will help the reader understand the context for the rest of your essay. 

Much like the first prompt, this Vanderbilt essay focuses on how you’ve been influenced by this extracurricular activity. What qualities do you see in yourself that you can directly connect to this experience? Have your public speaking, organizational, or interpersonal skills improved?? Do you now have a better sense of your career goals? Did you gain valuable work experience, or are you better at working collaboratively? Break it down for the reader to highlight how this activity has impacted you. 

Many schools have an extracurricular activities essay prompt, so making it unique to Vanderbilt is a great way to show your interest.  Spend some time researching the extracurricular activities offered at Vanderbilt and try to integrate 1-2 student clubs or organizations you’re interested in. Be sure that they align with what you’ve already discussed in the essay—this will help the admissions officers see how you will fit into Vanderbilt’s community.

Does Vanderbilt care about essays?

The Vanderbilt supplemental essays illuminate what the admissions office values in a student body. And since the university has such a low acceptance rate, you can be sure that the Vanderbilt essays factor into the evaluation process. So, it’s essential to take them seriously. With the highly competitive Vanderbilt acceptance rate, the Vanderbilt supplemental essays are crucial to your overall application narrative. 

In looking at the Vanderbilt essay prompts, we can see that Vanderbilt values students who are able to navigate differences and students who are involved with their communities. The Vanderbilt supplemental essays are the best opportunity to highlight the ways in which you embody these values, as well as how you’ve been shaped by your experiences. Your Vanderbilt essay is your opportunity to speak directly to the admissions office. It can help provide context to your application, and should paint a more robust picture of who you are as a student. In short, Vanderbilt does care about your essays, so be sure to spend adequate time on them!

What is Vanderbilt looking for in essays?

The Vanderbilt supplemental essays are an opportunity to share additional details about your experiences to help add to your overall application. To get a sense of what Vanderbilt is looking for, reading Vanderbilt essay examples can be extremely helpful. While the prompts may differ, you can get a great sense of the writing style, creativity, and content that have been successful in the past. 

In addition to Vanderbilt essay examples, you can find other essay examples that capture the essence of the Vanderbilt essay prompts. For example, you can read our guide on Extracurricular Activities Essay prompts here . 

Overall, the Vanderbilt supplemental essays aim to capture your personality. Admissions officers use the Vanderbilt essays to gain a deeper understanding of each applicant, so your essay should communicate your character traits. The most successful Vanderbilt supplemental essays have a strong voice and complement the rest of a student’s application. Writing multiple drafts can help you establish your voice as a writer while ensuring that your personality comes through. 

When is my Vanderbilt application due?

Your application deadline for Vanderbilt will depend on your decision plan. Vanderbilt offers first-year applicants Early Decision I, Early Decision II, and Regular Decision deadlines. Since Early Decision is a binding agreement, students considering applying this route should conduct deep research on Vanderbilt and its programs. You can read more about Early Decision on Vanderbilt’s website . 

All Vanderbilt requirements must be submitted by: 

• Early Decision I: November 1 st , 2023
• Early Decision II: January 1 st , 2024
• Regular Decision: January 1 st , 2024

For students applying for Vanderbilt merit scholarships , applications must be submitted by December 1 st , 2023. For students applying for financial aid , the deadlines for the CSS Profile and FAFSA are: 

• CSS Profile: November 2 nd , 2023
• FAFSA: February 1 st , 2024
• CSS Profile: January 4 th , 2023 

It’s important to give yourself enough time to complete your Vanderbilt supplemental essays before the application deadline. Consider the time it will take to complete multiple drafts and receive feedback. Starting your Vanderbilt essays early will ensure you submit the best versions possible. 

How do I make my Vanderbilt application essays stand out?

With such a competitive admissions process, many students want to make sure their Vanderbilt supplemental essays stand out. For students wondering how to get into Vanderbilt, having stellar essays is a crucial step. In order to write standout Vanderbilt supplemental essays, it’s important to break down exactly what you’re trying to communicate. 

Reading Vanderbilt essay examples can give you a sense of the writing caliber needed to impress the admissions office. You want your Vanderbilt supplemental essays to both capture your personality and tell a compelling story. Crafting an essay that brings the reader into your experience is hard and can take some time if you’re not accustomed to the writing style. Experiment with your approach to the essays–don’t be afraid to think outside of the box. Get feedback from your peers, mentors, and teachers as they can provide a crucial perspective to make sure your essays pop. 

While the Vanderbilt supplemental essays do not focus on Vanderbilt specifically, it’s a good idea to research the program you’re applying to. If you’re close to campus, try to book a visit to Vanderbilt. Taking a tour can help you detail your connection to campus. Additionally, CollegeAdvisor has many resources on Vanderbilt, including two Vanderbilt panels (you can watch them here and here ), as well as a guide on the Best Colleges in Tennessee . You can also read Forbes and the Princeton Review for more information on Vanderbilt. Basically, the more you know about Vanderbilt, the better your chances of writing an impactful and detailed essay. 

Vanderbilt Supplemental Essays – 5 Takeaways

The Vanderbilt supplemental essays are a crucial part of your application, as such it’s important to take them seriously. For students wondering how to get into Vanderbilt, the Vanderbilt supplemental essays are a big piece of the puzzle. Here are the main takeaways you should keep in mind when writing your Vanderbilt essay: 

1. Pick the right prompt

Picking the right prompt is the most important step in writing your Vanderbilt essay. Choose the prompt that will allow you to tell the best story to the admissions office–or the prompt that will provide more context to your application. The admissions officers are looking for a better understanding of who you are. Therefore, choosing the best prompt for you will ensure they have a more robust picture of your experiences. 

2. Let your personality shine 

The Vanderbilt supplemental essays are the best opportunity to demonstrate your personality to the admissions office. Ideally, your essay will also show personal growth and self-reflection. Make sure your essay adds to your overall application and showcases your unique experiences and story. To have the most success, work on your writing style and develop your personal voice–it will make your Vanderbilt essay stand out among a pool of qualified candidates! 

3. Think outside the box 

With such a competitive application process, it’s important that your Vanderbilt essays capture the attention of the admissions office. While the Vanderbilt essay prompts are straightforward, don’t be afraid to take a different approach to them. Think creatively and experiment with your approach. Don’t just simply answer the question; tell your story in an engaging way that captivates the reader. 

4. Start early 

It’s a good idea to start writing both your Vanderbilt essay and personal essay early. This will allow you enough time to edit, experiment with your form, and really hone your ideas. Rushed essays rarely communicate ideas effectively, and can contain spelling and grammar mistakes. Start your essays the summer before your senior year so that you have enough time to perfect them! 

5. Write multiple drafts 

The editing process can feel like a drag, but it’s crucial in ensuring your Vanderbilt supplemental essays shine. Writing multiple drafts will help you establish your voice as a writer and will help strengthen your overall message. After your first draft, ask for feedback. Incorporate that feedback and reflect on how you can approach the prompt in a different way. You’ll be surprised to see how different your drafts can be!

This essay guide was written by senior advisor, Jess Klein . Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.

Personalized and effective college advising for high school students.

• Advisor Application
• Popular Colleges
• Privacy Policy and Cookie Notice
• Student Login
• California Privacy Notice
• Terms and Conditions
• Your Privacy Choices

By using the College Advisor site and/or working with College Advisor, you agree to our updated Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy , including an arbitration clause that covers any disputes relating to our policies and your use of our products and services.

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

How Long Should Your College Essay Be? What Is the Ideal Length?

What’s covered: , personal statement length vs. supplemental essay length, are college essay word limits hard, what if a college essay word count isn’t given, what if you need to submit a graded paper, where to get your essays edited.

Students often spend hours agonizing over the best topics for their college essays. While it’s natural to wonder whether your personal statement is original or compelling enough, there’s one aspect of the process that shouldn’t cause you undue stress—how many words should a college essay be? Fortunately, with a little research, you can uncover the ideal college essay length for all your applications.

Unlike high school assignments, which typically have a strict page requirement, most colleges provide a word limit or word range for their application essays. This practice helps ensure that essays are the same length regardless of font or formatting. A good guideline is that students should strive to get as close as possible to the upper limit of the word range without exceeding it. Keep reading to learn more about best practices for college essay length.

How many words should a college essay be? Personal statements are generally 500-650 words. For example, the Common Application , which can be used to apply to more than 800 colleges, requires an essay ranging from 250-650 words . Similarly, the Coalition Application , which has 150 member schools, features an essay with a recommended length of 500-650 words.

650 words is the most common limit for your personal statement, but some schools may ask students to write more or less. For example, ApplyTexas , a platform used to apply to Texas public universities and other select colleges, requests essays with requirements that vary by school. For example, students applying to UT Austin will need to submit an essay of 500-700 words, along with three short-answer questions of 250-300 words each.

On the other hand, the University of California (UC) application includes a Personal Insight section with eight prompts . Students are asked to respond to any four of these prompts, with each response topping out at 350 words.

Additionally, some schools request a few supplemental essays, which are typically shorter than a personal statement. These questions are designed to gain more information about a student’s interests and abilities, and may include topics like your reasons for wanting to attend their school, your desired major, or your favorite activity.

Most schools require 1-3 supplemental essays, though some may require more or none at all (see our list of top colleges without supplemental essays ). These essays tend to be around 250 words, but some may be just as long as your main essay. For example, Cornell requires applicants to write a second supplemental essay (of 650 words max) that is specific to the program they’re applying to. The exception to this is the Cornell College of Engineering, for which applicants are required to compose two supplemental essays of 250 words max each.

For best results, keep your essays within the word range provided. While you don’t have to hit the count exactly, you should aim to stay within a 10% difference of the upper limit—without including fluff or filler. For example, if the school requests 500 words, try to ensure that your essay is between 450 and 500 words.

For the Common App, try to stay within 550-650 words, even though the given range is 250-650. Any submission shorter than 500 words will make it look as though you simply didn’t care enough to give your best effort. An essay shorter than 500 words won’t be long enough to truly share who you are and what matters to you.

Exceeding the word count isn’t an option—the application portal cuts off anything over the maximum number of allowed words. This is something you want to be particularly careful of if you’re drafting your essay in a Word or Google document and pasting it into the application.

Although most schools provide applicants with a specific word count, some offer more general guidelines. For example, a college may ask for a particular number of pages or paragraphs.

If you aren’t given a word count, try to adhere to the best practices and conventions of writing. Avoid writing especially short or overly long paragraphs—250 words per paragraph is generally a safe upper limit. If you’re asked to write a certain number of pages, single- or double-spaced, stick to a standard font and font size (like 12-point Times New Roman).

In the event that the college doesn’t offer any guidelines at all, aim for an essay length of around 500 words.

While essays are the most commonly requested writing sample, some colleges ask for additional pieces of content. For example, Princeton University requires students to submit a previously graded paper for evaluation .

Princeton offers guidelines that cover length, but if another school requests an old paper and doesn’t offer length requirements, a paper ranging from 3-5 pages should yield the best results. The goal is to select a paper long enough to showcase your writing skills and unique voice, but short enough that the admissions officer doesn’t get bored reading it.

Is your essay effective while staying within the required word count? It’s hard to evaluate your own writing, especially after rereading it numerous times. CollegeVine’s free Peer Essay Review provides an opportunity to have your essay reviewed by a fellow student, for free. Similarly, you can help other students by reviewing their essays—this is a great way to refine your own writing skills.

Expert advice is also available. CollegeVine’s advisors are prepared to help you perfect your personal statement and submit a successful application to your top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts