vanderbilt ingram scholarship essay

Vanderbilt University Merit Scholarship Essay Guide

In this Vanderbilt University merit scholarship essay guide, I will discuss some tips and tricks on how to respond to the 2020-2021 Vanderbilt University merit scholarship essays. Please keep in mind that you cannot apply to the Blair School of Music via the QuestBridge application. For more guidance on personal essays and the college application process in general, sign up for a monthly plan to work with an admissions coach 1-on-1.

For the Vanderbilt University Supplementary Essay Guide, click here .

Ingram Scholars Program

1. e. bronson ingram was known for his innovation in both the business world and through his philanthropic efforts. describe how you think innovation is best approached and how you have incorporated these principles into your own endeavors. in so doing, also describe how you will approach creating greater opportunities at the intersection of entrepreneurship and high impact philanthropy (250 to 500 words).

Part of the battle with this merit scholarship essay is that there are a lot of points to cover in 500 words or less. As you draft this essay, you should ensure that you are answering all three components of the prompt. The other part of the battle is understanding what “innovation” means to you. No one expects you to have found the cure to cancer or to have invented a device that stops global warming. Innovation can be finding a unique way to approach an everyday problem or identifying an issue and developing a method to address it.

As you write this essay, it would also be valuable to do some research on E. Bronson Ingram so you understand his approach to entrepreneurship and philanthropy. You do not necessarily need to include your findings; however, this research can help you understand characteristics that the Ingram Scholars Program values at Vanderbilt University.

2. Explore what you think it means for individuals AND businesses to, “serve the common good.” How might these commitments inform your personal career aspirations? (250 to 500 words)

When you explain your perspective on how both individuals and businesses should serve the common good, I recommend demonstrating your position through examples rather than a series of statements.

When you discuss the individual component, share an example of how you have demonstrated your belief throughout your own experiences.

When you discuss the business component, perhaps include an example of a specific company that showcases your position. This can then lead you into a discussion of your career goals. You don’t have to know exactly what you want to do; however, you can discuss characteristics you value in your future career beyond Vanderbilt University.

3. Describe a civic/community service project in which you have been involved that you believe may be scaled to greater benefit. In so doing, focus primarily on how that scaling could be achieved. (250 to 500 words)

With this prompt, briefly discuss the premise of your project while focusing on three or four characteristics that are vital for scaling the project to yield greater benefit. Depending on the project at hand, characteristics may include (but are not limited to) improving effectiveness, efficiency, and transmission to individuals. By focusing on a few characteristics, you have more space to better communicate how the scaling should be approached, while showcasing what you think is important to focus on when attempting to achieve more benefit.

Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholarship

Answer only one. If you are applying to more than one school, answer the question for your first-choice school only.

1. For applicants to the School of Engineering, Peabody College of Education and Human Development, and Blair School of Music: Recognizing that you have applied to a focused area of study, please comment on the reasons you are interested in your chosen academic program. In this context, discuss personal experiences, goals, and interests that relate to your choice of major. Please limit your response to 500 words.

The key to answering this scholarship essay prompt is to simply share the journey (past, present, and future) that led you to apply to the school of your choice. Since you are applying to a specific school, the admission committee just wants to make sure you have thoroughly thought about your decision.

To strengthen your essay, you can include specific information on aspects of Vanderbilt’s programs that interest you. However, do not only focus only on what Vanderbilt University can do for you. Use your journey and perspective to communicate how you can add to the community as well.

2. For applicants to the College of Arts and Science: The College of Arts and Science is a liberal arts school committed to introducing every student to a broad range of subjects in the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. How will you embrace the breadth of courses offered by the College of Arts and Science? How will this fit into your academic journey or life’s passions? Please limit your response to 500 words.

The best way to approach this merit scholarship essay is to get familiar with the broad range of classes that the Vanderbilt University College of Arts and Science has to offer. Based on your current interests and academic goals, it is valuable to find specific classes that could potentially support your exploration. For example, you may be a pre-medical student that plans to major in Biology and take a majority of classes in natural sciences, however, you can find classes in both social sciences and humanities that will help you grow as a future medical professional.

Chancellor’s Scholarship program

1. create a chart listing activities in which you have participated or actions you have taken that show your commitment to building a strong high school community by bridging gaps between economically, socially, and racially diverse groups. for each listing, please include the following information: activity, role, responsibilities, years of involvement, hours spent on project..

As stated in the essay prompt, this is a simple chart listing your activities. Include only the activities related to the mission of the scholarship. Your complete activity chart from your admission file is part of the review.

2. The values promoted by the Chancellor’s Scholarship are leadership, scholarship, diversity, and citizenship. Please describe how one of your activities from the list above has contributed to your understanding of these values. Please limit your response to 500 words.

By now, you’ve probably noticed that I’ve been emphasizing sharing stories and examples rather than broad statements. A story better communicates your understanding and development, especially of the four values discussed in this prompt. You may not have the word count to share four different stories to address each value independently. Instead, you can share one or two anecdotes, then briefly highlight how they showcase your interpretation of these values.

I would also do some research on the Chancellor’s Scholarship itself in order to determine why these four values are important and to better grasp the purpose of this merit scholarship essay.

For the next two merit scholarships, you are encouraged to also submit the application for Cornelius Vanderbilt merit scholarship to ensure consideration.

Curb Leadership Scholarship

1. tell a story using a collection of 7 items that demonstrate how you have combined your creativity, entrepreneurship, and leadership talents to create a positive contribution to your family, school, or community. you may include in your document additional links or images that demonstrate creativity in action. please limit your response to 2,500 words or less..

While this merit scholarship essay emphasizes creativity, a good thing to keep in mind is that your 7 items do not need to be special or complex contraptions. They can be everyday objects or symbols, ones that can help communicate your story of positive contribution. Furthermore, the prompt says to limit your response to 2,500 words; however, you are not obligated to use all that space.

Fred Russel-Grantland Rice Scholarship

1. please explain how you plan to use your vanderbilt experience to develop your anticipated career in sports journalism. include no more than 10 published samples of your work within your document. (no word count included).

Similar to the Cornelius Vanderbilt merit scholarship essay prompts, it is important to do research on the Vanderbilt experience (academics, extracurricular activities, special programs, etc.) to guide your response. With the opportunity to share samples of your own work, think about how your previous experiences can help to enhance your experience at Vanderbilt University.

This Vanderbilt University Merit Scholarship essay guide was written by Rashmi Bharadwaj , Vanderbilt University ‘21. If you want to get help writing your Vanderbilt application essays or Vanderbilt University merit scholarship essays from Rashmi or other CollegeAdvisor.com Admissions Experts , register with CollegeAdvisor.com today.

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Ingram Scholarship Program

CHARACTER • LEADERSHIP • SERVICE • GIVING 

• Scholars in Service to the Community •

The Ingram Scholars Program sponsors students who demonstrate a willingness and ability to combine a successful career with a lifelong commitment to developing solutions to critical societal problems. It is distinguished by the requirement that the recipient not only volunteer regularly in our community, but also design and implement projects that address significant domestic and international needs. The program encourages Ingram Scholars to work with established not-for-profit and professional organizations to create projects that are durable, sustainable, and culturally responsive. Ingram Scholars act as ambassadors, carrying these values with them in their academic pursuits in nearly every undergraduate college within the university. Upon graduation, these students will become leaders in their respective fields, transforming their communities in informed and creative ways. Our active alumni network not only continues to demonstrate their commitment to incurring positive social change, but also strives to nurture the social sensibilities of others in their civic and professional spheres. Mentoring undergraduate students, assisting them with summer internships or job placement, and perpetuating vital community service are all ways that Ingram alumni will continue the work they began at Vanderbilt University. The Ingram Scholars Program is a unique and innovative example of how a university can prepare students for responsible careers and a lifetime of useful contributions to the well-being of others. If you are committed to generating positive social change, and if you possess the qualities of maturity, leadership, and initiative, you should consider this challenging and rewarding program.  

Question About Ingram Scholarship for Vanderbilt University

Does anyone know if the Ingram Scholarship Admissions committee has access to your regular Vanderbilt admission essay? The essay prompts both are about community service so I wanted to use some of the same parts. thanks

Why not call and ask? My D went to Vandy, and their financial aid office is great.

Hi Kelsmom! (we were contemporaries as Vandy parents). climb2thetop, in my opinion, your essays need to be totally distinct. The standards for being selected for a merit scholarship are very high. Your regional adcom may flag you for consideration --and your main applicant essays are part of that rationale. Your essay for the Ingram should be a distinct essay. You can certainly reflect on the same community service you wrote about before but go after a whole new angle.

Assume that your entire regular application is something that they can all read on their laptops while also looking at your Ingram essay. If you are RD you can switch things up and use a core essay other colleges are getting in a new edited version for the Ingram…and write a new subject core essay for your General App.

If you are going RD, you may need an extra essay in the mix to switch up and re-slant for various college apps and scholar apps.

I applied last year and they said all the merit scholarships had access to and looked at your regular app

Thank you! stvea349 did you win?

http://www.vanderbilt.edu/ingram/apply/highschoolapplicants.php

“Be advised the Ingram Scholarship Program does not read applicants’ Common Apps or supplemental admissions materials as a part of the evaluation process.”

Nope but I did get the CV @climb2thetop But if the website says that now I would definitely listen to that and not my info from the past

Just to clarify: For Cornelius Vanderbilt & Chancellor’s scholarships, the website says the whole application + scholarship essays (and letter of reference for Chancellor’s) are considered. For Ingram, just the scholarship essays + recommendations are considered (not your general Vandy application).

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Ingram Scholars Program celebrates 30 years

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Nov 9, 2023, 1:12 PM

A transformative scholarship program at Vanderbilt University is celebrating its 30th anniversary.  

The Ingram Scholarship, one of three signature merit-based scholarships for undergraduates at Vanderbilt, provides recipients with full tuition, all required fees and the value of on-campus housing each year.   

The highly selective program also grants a summer stipend for the student to create and execute a service-learning project, which can be used to meet the Immersion Vanderbilt graduation requirement.   

Vanderbilt celebrated the program’s milestone with a private 30th Reunion dinner at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on Nov. 4.  The celebration brought together alumni of the Ingram Scholars Program and paid tribute to the donors whose generosity has touched the lives of so many Vanderbilt students and alumni.  

The Ingram Scholars Program was founded in 1993 by E. Bronson Ingram, chairman of the Vanderbilt University Board of Trust from 1991 until his death in 1995. The Ingram family’s generosity has led to transformative experiences for many Vanderbilt students, who have in turn given back to Nashville and to communities around the globe.  

Scholarship programs such as this are the impetus behind Vanderbilt’s Dare to Grow campaign—a $3.2 billion comprehensive campaign and the most ambitious in university history. By providing tuition support, Vanderbilt expands access for students, attracting the best aspiring professionals in a range of fields and positioning them to lead discovery and discourse in their local communities and globally. Learn more at vu.edu/daretogrow .  

 Members of the Ingram family, along with current scholars and alumni, attended the Nov. 4 celebration , where the theme highlighted the program’s  “30 Years of Impact.”   

30 Years of Impact

Here’s a snapshot of some students whose Vanderbilt experiences were positively shaped by the generosity of receiving an Ingram Scholarship and whose service projects are making a difference in communities across the world.  

Name: Grace Jones  

Service Partner:   Mano a Mano International, Cochabamba, Bolivia

Date of Project:   June–August 2023  

Description : Bolivia has the most severe rural poverty rate in South America, is in a drought, and is vulnerable to extreme events. Jones traveled to Bolivia to partner with Mano a Mano, an organization focused on health and education, roads and water, ecological agriculture training, aviation, and international partnerships.  

Impact: Jones worked to expand the organization’s capacity by publishing a weekly bulletin detailing local events, designing brochures about hydroponic farming systems, producing a seven-part video series and writing articles. She also helped build organizational frameworks and researched innovations on sustainable agriculture and organic farming.

In her own words: “ Having the opportunity to work with Mano a Mano International was so transformational. The staff and volunteers welcomed me with open arms, and getting to know these incredibly devoted and hard-working individuals has had such a profound effect on my priorities since returning to campus. I returned with such profound gratitude and deep friendships that I know will continue for years to come. Throughout the Ingram Scholars Program, we devote a considerable amount of time to considering what effective and meaningful service looks like, and having the opportunity to see this theory put into action through Mano a Mano and contribute toward this mission was so inspiring. Whether in how Mano a Mano’s team roots every project directly in the voice of the community, or how they seek to expand capacity through projects built for long-term sustainability, I am so honored to have had the opportunity to get to work alongside Mano a Mano’s supportive team and contribute toward their mission-driven work. I long for the day when I can return.”  

Name: Kyle Vallone Service Partner: Aspirnaut, Nashville, Tennessee, and Wynne, Arkansas Date of Project: May–July 2023

Description: High-poverty counties in the U.S. are disproportionately rural. One pathway to help rural students out of poverty is to help them pursue science, technology, engineering and math careers, which pay more. Vallone sought to develop more approaches to recruit high school students from rural backgrounds into STEM fields. He partnered with Aspirnaut, a program on Vanderbilt’s campus that brings students across the country to campus in the summer. He served as a residential counselor, developed and taught an ACT prep class, wrote and implemented an impact survey that assessed changes in students’ self-confidence in their science skills, and designed a state-of-the-art Aspirnaut chemical biology research lab, which is being built as a temporary campus for students in Wynne, Arkansas, where their school was destroyed by a tornado.

Impact: Vallone’s research through surveys found high school students who attended Aspirnaut programs left with increased self-confidence about their scientific ability and sense of belonging within the scientific community. The lab will support multi-year discovery experiences for high school students in Wynne.

In his own words: “ Working with Aspirnaut this summer was a wonderful experience and a chance to finally fulfill a vision I’ve had since before I came to Vanderbilt. I was able to watch and support an amazing group that entered as high schoolers and left as young scientists possessing research, communication and life skills that will last a lifetime. My first brush with scientific research was equally transformative, so it was extremely meaningful to be able to share this experience with others and help the next generation of diverse scientists find their “spark.” This project reinforced my desire to become a biology professor in the future so that I can continue to help students from nontraditional backgrounds thrive and feel empowered to persist in STEM fields. The benefit of working with an organization that was only a few feet away at VUMC and so closely aligned with my field of study here at Vanderbilt is that I’ve been able to continue working with Aspirnaut through the academic year as well.”  

Name: Charu Balamurugan  

Service Partner: FLY, San Francisco Bay area  

Date of Project: May–June 2023  

Description: California has one of the highest youth incarceration rates in the country. Balamurugan partnered with FLY, a nonprofit that serves youth who are involved in the juvenile justice system by connecting them with positive mentors and role models and supporting them to become leaders. The project brought mental health support through music and wellness to youth reentering society after time incarcerated.  

Impact: Youth who had recently spent time in juvenile halls and/or correctional facilities completed an eight-week “Music and Wellness: Introduction to Songwriting” program. Youth learned how music can affect emotions, resilience and mental health as a whole. Participants gained basic digital songwriting skills and produced a youth album at the end of the course titled The FLY album: Volume 1 . Clinicians within the behavioral health system have agreed to use the course.  

In her own words: “ My summer service project at Fresh Lifelines for Youth (FLY) was an incredible experience. It taught me how to be perceptive to both implicit and explicit needs within underserved populations, such as these justice-involved youth.

More specifically, throughout my time at FLY, the most useful and sustainable deliverables I have created have been those not previously outlined in my initial proposal and simply arose from conversations I had with FLY staff and leadership. In addition, I now believe even more in the potency of music and wellness programming in improving youth mental health, especially seen through the extremely personal songs, synthesizing their experiences, created by girls at the Margaret J. Kemp Camp, such as “Beautiful Struggle,” now privately available in the form of a three-song album within FLY. In addition, I am extremely gratified by the level of trust I earned among these vulnerable populations throughout my time at FLY. For example, incarcerated youth initially uninterested in music and wellness programming began to request to participate in my sessions during their free time by the end of my time there. Consequently, this summer service project has had lasting impacts on FLY’s workings in the form of music and wellness activities that case managers will continue to use with re-entry youth—something that they previously have not done—as part of fulfilling their Social Emotional Learning goals, for example. Their Law Program, currently implemented within middle schools and high schools in 48 Bay-area cities, is also in the process of being modified with the creative wellness curriculum I created with my project, which speaks volumes for the level of focus on mental health that FLY plans to implement after this past summer. Overall, this project taught me how to identify need, generate creative and novel solutions, and sustain impact via multifaceted action.”  

By the Numbers

The total amount of tuition dollars awarded to Ingram Scholars over the past 30 years stands at an impressive $39,899,608.

An additional $66,000 has been awarded in philanthropy stipends to scholars, funding a remarkable 434 projects, spanning 221 domestic, 202 international, 10 remote and 70 Nashville-based initiatives.

Over the last 30 years, the 333 Ingram Scholars have volunteered more than 153,180 hours, which is 6,383 days, serving the Nashville community.

STAY TUNED Watch for additional student stories about Ingram Scholars Program participants in the coming months on Vanderbilt’s Instagram page.  

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Merit-Based Scholarship Application Information

Aug 1, 2023 • knowledge, information.

A separate application is required for the Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholarship; you must apply to be considered. For the Ingram Scholarship Program and for the Chancellor's Scholarship, the application is strongly encouraged; preference is given to those who apply. Application deadline is December 1, 2022. These applications will be available via your MyAppVU portal after you have applied for admission. To learn more about our merit scholarships, and the merit scholarship application process, visit vanderbilt.edu/scholarships .

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Meet the nine new Ingram Scholars

CORRECTION: This article was corrected on Aug. 1, 2023, at 9:58 a.m. CDT. The article initially indicated that the Ingram Scholars Program has not selected incoming sophomore scholars since 2019. A representative of the program clarified that four sophomores were offered the scholarship in 2022, with the selection occurring after the initial press release that had announced the Class of 2026 Ingram Scholars. 

Vanderbilt announced at the end of June that five incoming first-years and four sophomores were selected for the Ingram Scholars Program out of over 1,000 applicants. Scholarship recipients receive scholarships covering tuition and housing and a $7,000 stipend to complete a summer service project. 

This scholarship is awarded to students who display both academic excellence and a commitment to service. The program was founded in 1993 by former chairman of the Vanderbilt University Board of Trust E. Bronson Ingram and is currently led by faculty director Dr. Brian L. Heuser. 

“Academically, they’re the most prepared class we’ve ever had,” Heuser said. “We prioritize the program-fit scholars who are incoming, very high achieving students with superior academics who want to dedicate their professional careers in some way to a life of service and want to spend four years combining their academic pursuits with service.”

This year’s selection contrasts 2020 and 2021, where only incoming first-years were awarded Ingram Scholarships — 10 in the Class of 2024 and seven in the Class of 2025 . Heuser cited “shifting patterns of the university” during the COVID-19 pandemic as the reason for the temporary change to admit solely incoming first-year students into the program in 2020 and 2021. Though the press release announcing the Class of 2026 Ingram Scholars listed only incoming first-years, Ingram Scholars Program representative Kelly King told The Hustler that four rising sophomores — Halle Eviner, Zachary Klinger, Emerson Pereira and Soumia Vellanki — were also invited to the program in 2022.

“We’re returning to more of the model from a few years ago, like pre-COVID,” Heuser said.

Last month, the university announced the conclusion of Heuser’s faculty directorship this upcoming December, after which he will return to his faculty role in Peabody College alongside “new research and teaching opportunities.” Heuser has directed the program since 2017 and, in May 2023, wrote an opinion editorial in Inside Higher Ed that criticized Chancellor Daniel Diermeier’s stance of principled neutrality on political issues. 

The publication of the op-ed came after the internal decision to search for a new program director, according to a source being kept anonymous for protection from retribution. Heuser said he was unable to comment on why he is leaving his role, though he stated he has “mixed emotions” about leaving in the middle of the academic year. 

“I think ending in the middle of the year, there are probably benefits but also costs, and I haven’t quite figured them out. My strongest thought about that is what’s best for the student scholars,” Heuser said. 

Reflecting on his term as faculty director, Heuser said he sought to transition the program to be more inclusive of various academic and professional disciplines and to rethink service during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“I feel very good about the fact that our capacity as a program, our resources as a program, have never been greater in the history of the program. Our human resources and other resources are greater now, and I hope that I’ve built significant capacity for the next director,” Heuser said. 

Heuser said he hopes that the new director will continue the program’s commitment to its original mission and values. 

“I hope the new director will just simply listen to students and meet them where they are in their pursuit of the original mission and mandate,” Heuser said

Class of 2027 scholars 

Ron Asoulin-Handelman of Dallas, Texas, Caden Cyr of The Woodlands, Texas, Naomi Porter of Ranchos Palos Verdes, Calif., Kevin Song of Clarksburg, Md., and Ş efika Öztürk of Antalya, Turkey, comprise the Class of 2027 Ingram Scholars. 

Many of these students demonstrated initiative in entrepreneurship and civic engagement through their interest in STEM. For example, Öztürk pursued service through her passion for engineering and past experience with robotics. Concerned about environmental issues affecting her coastal hometown of Antalya, Turkey, she led a project to design an underwater robot to observe sea pollution.

“We wanted to do something fun, and then we realized that what we thought would be fun could also be very helpful for society, and we didn’t want to miss the chance to do that as well,” Öztürk said.

Similarly inspired by technology, Song’s experience in a computer science club that he started in middle school taught him about inequities in STEM education among low-income students and underfunded school districts, particularly in coding. As a result, he founded DevelopIT, a nonprofit that provides free computer science courses to underserved students to help them jump-start their careers in technology.

Like Song, Asoulin-Handelman worked to make STEM education more accessible. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Asoulin-Handelman began tutoring his little brother in math and quickly recognized that many students were struggling through online classes. After expanding his one-on-one tutoring to other students in his brother’s school, he reached out to the nonprofit UPchieve, which connects math tutors with underserved students on a digital platform. 

“Now, I’m able to reach those students in my local community and students in different states, which has been super awesome in maximizing the impact that I can have,” Asoulin-Handelman said.

Asoulin-Handelman also incorporated his passion for technology in his service by moving the registration system for a local mobile food pantry to an online platform so food bank visitors did not have to wait outside in the Texas heat. 

Similarly, Cyr and his sister started the nonprofit Project Love, which aims to help the homeless population in Texas by collecting donations and making bags with necessities like socks, toothbrushes and hot meal gift cards. Cyr also combined his passions for business, sneakers and service by hosting a sneaker drive in high school, which partnered with his school’s National Honor Society. 

“I wanted to figure out how I could cover my two passions, business and sneakers and just give back to the community around me,” Cyr said. 

Likewise inspired by the promise of entrepreneurship to combat social problems, Porter founded an initiative that teaches young students about entrepreneurship, launching social ventures and business skills. She said she was inspired by the lack of entrepreneurial and financial education around her. 

Serving on campus

The remaining four incoming Ingram Scholars were selected during their first year at Vanderbilt, so their service was conducted on campus, largely through student organizations. Aryan Garg of Cupertino, Calif., Sharmila Adapa of Fairfax, Va., Brinda Ambal of Chesterfield, Mo., and Shree Kodavatiganti of Frisco, Texas, complete the Ingram Scholars’ Class of 2026.

As a first-year, Garg was a manager of Change++ — a role previously reserved for upperclassmen — and helped build an app for the For Peter’s Sake Cancer Respite Organization. He managed the relations between the nonprofit and the Vanderbilt students involved in the software development. 

“It was really fun, being able to combine my software engineering and computer science skills with helping nonprofits and other people succeed,” Garg said. 

Ambal similarly used design and innovation to serve others. After taking a Commons iSeminar on sustainable adaptive fashion, she collaborated with other students and the Wond’ry — Vanderbilt’s innovation center — to create a raincoat for a woman with disabilities and is currently working on expanding this personalized, adaptive fashion to more people in need.

Ambal also conducted research with the Stress and Early Adversity Lab at Peabody College, which she hopes will result in earlier intervention and more equity measures in education for children who have experienced adversity.

“Hopefully, [my research] helps lessen the gap between children who come from adversity and adverse backgrounds and children who have had opportunities come a little easier to them,” Ambal said.  

Likewise interested in addressing adversity in Nashville, Adapa’s background in service before her time at Vanderbilt led her to join Habitat for Humanity at Vanderbilt, where she helped serve the homeless community in Davidson County. She said her experience with Habitat for Humanity taught her about service beyond campus and in the greater Nashville community. 

Similarly, Kodavatiganti gardened with the Heimerdinger Foundation to provide organic meals and harvests to disadvantaged groups in Nashville. He was also a member of Vanderbilt Students Consulting for Nonprofit Organizations, for which he helped a theater nonprofit — Unscripted Improv — teach drama to underprivileged communities.

Choosing Vanderbilt

All nine of the new Ingram Scholars interviewed for the scholarship program in early 2023. Incoming first-years were hosted by current scholars on campus, and all were able to connect with students and faculty in the program. 

Asoulin-Handelman reflected on the friendliness of the Vanderbilt and Ingram Scholars communities when he visited campus. 

“Everyone there is just really kind and welcoming and committed to making you feel like a part of the Vanderbilt family. It seemed like that positive attitude really creates an awesome environment for school and for what learning can take place,” Asoulin-Handelman said. 

Porter further spoke about the culture of the Vanderbilt campus and Ingram program, as well as the mentorship opportunities from faculty. 

“[Vanderbilt] just felt like the right collaborative student environment that I wanted to be in and so that really stood out to me. Also, the faculty director and the program directors are some of the kindest people I’ve met,” Porter said. 

Through the selection process, Ambal said appreciated the program’s search for authenticity.

“From the moment that I read the essay questions on the application, I realized that they’re not just looking for people who have done something that looks good on paper,” Ambal said. “They’re looking for people who want to make an impact on their community and are focused on deliverables.”

As a Turkish international student, Öztürk also spoke of the Ingram program’s courtesy in the wake of the Turkey earthquakes in early 2023, which prevented her from attending Ingram’s on-campus welcome weekend and interview process. 

“They told me if I couldn’t get my visa appointment, which was canceled because of the earthquake, they could schedule a Zoom interview for me. They were just so caring and so understanding, and I really loved that,” Öztürk said. 

A legacy of service

Ingram Scholars must complete four service hours per week throughout their time at Vanderbilt, as well as a one-time summer service project. 

Asoulin-Handelman said he wants to continue to tutor in the Nashville community through on-campus student organizations like Teach the Future and Youth Encouragement Services. Additionally, he looks forward to further exploring the intersection of technology and service. 

Cyr hopes to continue helping the homeless population in the broader Nashville area while also being involved in Greek Life. 

Beyond her future service at Vanderbilt — which she hopes will take her abroad as part of the Alternative Spring Break Program, Porter is confident that she will pursue a career in public service. She added that she hopes to get involved in ministry at campus, a business fraternity, VSG and Women in Government. 

“The kind of person I want to be at the end of these next four years is exactly what senior Ingram scholars and junior Ingram scholars are like,” Porter said. 

Like Porter, Ambal said she knows service will play a large role in her future. Adapa, a pre-medical student, similarly hopes to continue her service beyond Vanderbilt through a career as a physician.  

“I really hope through this program to foster or to be a part of a connection to another community. The Vanderbubble is real, and any chance you can to learn more about the community around you is important,” Adapa said. 

Like Garg, Song said he is interested in working with Change++ to continue using technology as a tool for service. He is also interested in joining the Nashville Entrepreneurship Center to pursue his next startup. 

“In the future, I want to step into the realm of utilizing technology, specifically software and hardware, to help make products that help different communities around the world,” Song said. 

Similarly, Öztürk said she is excited to engage with the Wond’ry to pursue her passion for engineering and entrepreneurship.

Garg said he looks forward to branching out and potentially pursuing another major in the social sciences, while also joining more service-oriented organizations on campus, especially those that can incorporate his passion for teaching. 

Kodavatiganti also plans to join more service-oriented organizations, such as joining Students Promoting Environmental Awareness and Responsibility (SPEAR), which he hopes furthers his passion for sustainability. 

“My education here at Vanderbilt and what Ingram is helping me with is going to shape me as a person,” Kodavatiganti said.

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Class of 2028 Regular Decision Summary Statistics

Posted by Jay Watson on Thursday, March 28, 2024 in General Information , VU Admissions Statistics .

Vanderbilt’s culture of innovation and discovery relies on each of these new students contributing their abilities and perspectives and working together to solve the world’s most complex problems. We are eager to see what they are able to accomplish at Vanderbilt!

Our admitted students were selected from an exceptionally talented applicant pool of over 45,000 applicants. Even for those of you who did not receive good news from us today, we are honored that you took the time to submit your application, and we recognize your hard work in the applications process. This strength of our applicant pool, and our commitment to enrolling 1,600 students, means that our process must be highly selective. It is precisely because these decisions are so difficult to render that we put so much time such careful consideration into our selection process.

Below, we provide a brief statistical summary of the results of our Regular Decision admissions plan for the Class of 2028.

Regular Decision applications:  41,336 Admitted:  1,512 Admit Rate:  3.7%

Regular Decision Class of 2028 Admitted Student Profile Number of U.S. States represented: 48 Number of citizenships represented: 59 Percent international: 13.4% Percent who identify as first-generation: 18% Percent from a rural or small town: 10.6% Percent of students in the top ten percent of their graduating class:  90.8%* SAT Middle 50% Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 750-800** SAT Middle 50% Math: 780-800** ACT Middle 50%:  34-36** *based on high schools that provide rank **based on students who submitted testing

We’re grateful to everyone who applied, as well as to the parents, teachers, counselors, and others who supported applicants through their advocacy. Thank you.

To the newest Vanderbilt Commodores, we say congratulations! We invite you to our admitted student programs to join your future classmates and explore all that Vanderbilt has to offer.

• Anchor Day Saturday, April 13 – Celebrate becoming a Commodore, connect with faculty and new friends, and learn how you’ll grow at VU!
• MOSAIC Weekend + Anchor Day April 12-14 – The MOSAIC Multicultural Student Recruitment Program is an overnight visit program for a select group of admitted students from diverse backgrounds, offered in conjunction with Anchor Day.
• Coffee with the Commodores Learn more about topics including academics, student life, Nashville, and more.
• ’Dore for a Day Shadow a current Vanderbilt student for an afternoon: attend class, eat lunch, and explore campus.
• Vanderbilt and You Connect with other new Commodores from your area while chatting with VU alumni and admissions representatives.
• Online Admitted Student Events Learn more about topics including academics, student life, Nashville, and more.

We’ve also been excited to see many of you sharing your news on social media with the hashtag #vu2028 – we can’t wait to see more!

From everyone at the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, congratulations and welcome to Vanderbilt!

Tags: admissions decisions , admitted students , Anchor Days , Class of 2028 , College Admissions , regular decision

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