🍦What excites you about college? (Nov 27)

Good morning folks! Here’s what we have today:

1. Link Lounge Refresh: someone say 10k scholarship for designing greeting cards?

2. Daily Deep Dive: Vanderbilt University

3. Hear From Your Peers: Our conversation with Ryan, part 2/2

HEADS UP!
TOMORROW: we have a banger interview with an Assistant Director of Admissions @ UC Berkeley!

Yes, you read that right! Tomorrow, check your inboxes for part 1/3 of our conversation with Mr. Marcus McGhee, Assistant Director of Admissions & Black Community Liasion at UC Berkeley—some great insights are on the way!

TRIVIA
Guess the college!

📚 Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, was one credit short of earning a Master’s degree from this California college when he joined NASA in the early 60s. After successfully landing on the moon, went back to give one-hour seminar on the technical aspects of landing Apollo's lunar module to receive his Master’s.

Think you know which school we’re talking about? Find out if you’re right at the bottom of today’s newsletter!

LINK LOUNGE
WEDNESDAY—New Resources! We got a fun one today!

(NEW) Gallery Collection Greeting Card Scholarship - win $10,000 by designing a birthday, holiday, or general purpose greeting card

(NEW) UC PIQ Guide - the official UC guide to writing strong PIQs

Burger King Scholarships - win scholarships for academic and community excellence from your favorite fast food restaurant

McDonalds’s AIPA Scholars - up to $20,000 scholarship for exceptional Asian or Pacific Islander students

DAILY DEEP DIVE
Vanderbilt University

What’s Vanderbilt’s essence?

Vanderbilt is where excellence meets a welcoming embrace. It’s a place where ambitious minds thrive not just in their own achievements but through connection with others. Nestled in the heart of Nashville, Vanderbilt combines the energy of a global research university with the warmth and camaraderie of a tight-knit community.

This is a university that values balance: academic rigor paired with personal growth, collaborative learning alongside individual leadership, and deep-rooted traditions coexisting with forward-thinking innovation. The residential college system, the Immersion Vanderbilt initiative, and its interdisciplinary approach to education all reflect a commitment to fostering well-rounded, curious, and engaged students.

Vanderbilt’s culture is marked by a spirit of discovery and inclusivity. Whether it’s cutting-edge research in engineering, entrepreneurial projects inspired by Nashville’s vibrant startup scene, or performances shaped by the city’s musical legacy, students here find opportunities to merge their academic pursuits with their personal passions. It’s a community where being ambitious doesn’t mean going it alone but rather building something bigger together.

How do I show Vanderbilt Admissions that I embody this balance?

To demonstrate your fit with Vanderbilt’s dynamic culture, your application should highlight your intellectual drive, collaborative spirit, and eagerness to engage deeply in both academics and community. Here’s how to align your story with Vanderbilt’s values:

1. Tell a Story of Growth and Engagement: Vanderbilt values applicants who can articulate how their background has shaped their aspirations and how they’ll actively contribute to its community. In your essays, focus on how you’ve learned from your environment and used those experiences to make an impact. For example, if you started a local tutoring initiative inspired by your own academic challenges, explain how that reflects your desire to connect with others while pursuing excellence.

2. Showcase Interdisciplinary Curiosity: Vanderbilt students aren’t confined by rigid academic boundaries. Use your application to show how you explore multiple interests, whether it’s a combination of economics and environmental studies or psychology and music. Highlight specific programs like Immersion Vanderbilt, which will allow you to weave together your passions through research, internships, or creative projects.

3. Focus on Collaboration and Community: Vanderbilt’s residential colleges are central to its culture, creating spaces where students live and learn together. Reflect on experiences where you worked collaboratively, supported a team, or built community. Whether it’s organizing a charity event, leading a debate team, or mentoring younger students, these moments can show how you’ll thrive in Vanderbilt’s communal environment.

4. Connect to Nashville: Vanderbilt is inextricably linked to its location in Music City, with its mix of artistic energy, cultural diversity, and entrepreneurial spirit. If relevant, discuss how Vanderbilt’s unique setting excites you. For example, if you’re passionate about music, talk about how Nashville’s creative energy will enhance your studies and extracurricular pursuits.

5. Be Specific About Your Fit: Vanderbilt isn’t just looking for talented students—it’s seeking those who will make the most of its unique offerings. Research academic programs, professors, or extracurricular opportunities and tie them directly to your goals. For instance, if you’re excited about sustainability, you might connect it to research at the Wond’ry Innovation Center or the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences.

Final Tips for Your Application

• Be reflective: Vanderbilt values depth and intentionality. Use specific anecdotes to connect your personal journey to Vanderbilt’s culture and resources.

• Highlight your balance: Show how you balance ambition with collaboration, intellectual curiosity with personal passion, and academic focus with community engagement.

• Demonstrate research: Incorporate details about Vanderbilt—its programs, traditions, and location—that resonate with you. Avoid generalizations by tying your interests to specific aspects of the university.

• Keep your voice authentic: Vanderbilt values students who are genuine. Let your personality shine through, whether in the form of a heartfelt story or a touch of humor in a short prompt.

By crafting an application that reflects your enthusiasm for interdisciplinary learning, collaboration, and growth, you’ll demonstrate that you’re ready to contribute to Vanderbilt’s vibrant, supportive, and high-achieving community.

INFO ZONE
ICYMI: New information sessions from USC and Rice!

Here’s some upcoming school virtual information sessions. These are great opportunities to learn more about school’s programs to determine if the school is a right fit for you. It’s also great to learn more about the school’s vibe and possibly what admissions officers are looking for. All the times listed are below are already converted into Pacific.

Penn Admissions Virtual Information Session - Monday, December 2, 2024 at 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM

(NEW) USC First-Year Admission Information Session - Monday, December 2, 2024 at 3:30 PM until 4:30 PM

Georgia Tech Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts Webinar - Tuesday, December 3, 2024 at 2:00 PM until 3:00 PM

Columbia University Info Session - Friday, December 6, 2024 at 7:00 AM until 8:00 AM

(NEW) Rice Virtual Admission Information Session - Wednesday, December 11, 2024 at 2:00 PM until 3:00 PM

HEAR FROM YOUR PEERS
Our conversation with Ryan Li about everything college applications and more! (Part 2/2)

Hear From Your Peers is a section we do about once a week, where we interview a fellow high school senior to understand what is going through their mind during this application season. Here’s the second half of a great conversation we had with Ryan, a senior from Fremont. If you like this and want to see more, be sure to check out yesterday’s mailing for Part 1.

How do you think your experiences outside of the classroom have prepared you for life after high school?

Research has definitely been huge, especially because I plan to focus my undergrad, and later grad school, on similar fields. Apart from that, last summer I got the opportunity to join the Coolidge scholarship community after being named a Senator. Interacting with so many people that have accomplished so much, especially in such a formal setting, has helped me learn how to speak with sophistication and be more professional. I used to get super nervous during interviews and other formal events and I would say Coolidge has definitely helped me overcome that fear. Not to mention, it’s also given me a great professional network.

I also think leading and teaching in my school’s math club has been pretty important. Learning how to deliver content has not only strengthened my own understanding but has also prepared me to possibly do something like TAing in college.

Another thing, summer programs are huge. You learn so much about how to live on your own and what you need to work on in order to be not just self sufficient but successful in college. Definitely participate in at least one if you get the chance.

If you could give your freshman self one piece of advice about high school, what would it be and why?

Probably that starting early makes a huge difference. Research, in particular, takes a long time to see results come to fruition, and it’s not something you can rush. Early projects often lead to more opportunities. For example, I worked on a project at Algoverse, which led to my participation in an EMNLP workshop. That opened up connections for future collaborations, which I can build upon further. Same thing applies with summer programs, experience always compounds.

I’d also say it’s much easier to break into the “upper echelon” of high schoolers as an underclassman and then build on that momentum. It’s harder to catch up later when you’re competing with people who already have significant experiences. For me, I got lucky. Qualifying for the AIME every year since 8th grade helped people recognize my potential, which offset my initial lack of research experience. That said, if I’d started research even a year earlier, I could’ve used those publications to secure a research assistantship at Stanford or MIT before starting college. Everything worked out in the end, but starting sooner would have opened even more doors.

What are you most excited about when you think about your future in college and beyond?

I’m really excited to get opportunities to build things that can actually make an impact in the world. Right now, the research projects I work on are pretty small scale. But as I gain more experience, resources, and mentorship in college, the idea of creating something that truly makes a difference is definitely something I’m looking forward to.

I’m also looking forward to meeting a more diverse group of people. Going to a school where our graduating class is literally 48 people, I feel like I’ve been living in a bit of a bubble, so getting to know people from different backgrounds and perspectives will be super refreshing. Also I can’t wait for the college sports games and all the school spirit that comes with them. Our school is pretty low-energy when it comes to that kind of stuff, so I’m really looking forward to the “hype” events and a much livelier atmosphere.

TRIVIA ANSWER
Looking for the answer to our fun trivia question up at the top?

The correct school for Neil Armstrong’s Masters would be the University of Southern California (USC). Neil Armstrong did go to Purdue University for his undergraduate studies. You can read more here.

DAILY DEADLINE UPDATES
Get cracking on those UCs!

In the Daily Deadlines section, we will keep you updated on upcoming deadlines in the college admissions world. Remember to not procrastinate and stay ahead of these deadlines!

UC Deadline: December 2
December SAT: December 7

THE ARCHIVE
Looking for past mailings?

You can view all our previous posts at our website at https://scholarscoops.beehiiv.com

IDEAS COME FROM EVERYWHERE
Have an idea for the newsletter?

Is there a question you’ve been dying to have answered related to college admissions? Or, is there something just nagging you about Scholar Scoops that you want to see fixed soon? We want to hear from you. You can submit feedback at https://forms.gle/7Rj2eBCiauEc5oNV8. Thank you so much!