Vanderbilt University ACT Scores

Hey guys! I'm planning on applying to Vanderbilt University, and I'm curious about the average ACT scores of accepted students. Can anyone share some insight on what score range I should be aiming for?

Of course! Vanderbilt University is a highly selective school, so having a competitive ACT score is essential. In recent years, the middle 50% ACT composite score range for accepted students has been between 34 and 35. This statistic means that 25% of students scored below 33, 25% scored above 35, and 50% scored a 34 or 35. To be a competitive applicant, you should aim to fall within or above this range.

However, keep in mind that test scores are just one part of the application, and Vanderbilt, like many other schools, considers other components such as GPA, extracurricular activities, essays, and letters of recommendation.

If you want tips on how to strengthen your overall application to Vanderbilt, check out this blog post from CollegeVine, which breaks down how to tackle their school-specific supplemental essays: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-vanderbilt-university-essays/. At highly selective schools like Vanderbilt, the essays are often just the thing that distinguish one academically talented applicant from another.

It's also worth noting that Vanderbilt is officially test-optional, so you actually do not have to submit an ACT (or SAT) score. However, you're smart to still be thinking about a target score, as at competitive schools like Vanderbilt, you generally want to showcase your strengths in as many ways as possible, so submitting a test score would likely still be a good idea. For detailed guidance on how to navigate test-optional policies, check out this blog post from CollegeVine: https://blog.collegevine.com/does-test-optional-mean-test-optional

Overall, achieving a strong ACT score alone does not guarantee admission to a school as selective as Vanderbilt, but it is definitely an important factor! Best of luck with your application!