Located in the Music City (Nashville, TN, for the uninitiated), Vanderbilt University is a private research university that was founded in the wake of the Civil War by railroad tycoon Cornelius Vanderbilt. The school is extremely popular with students looking for a work-hard, play-hard environment and with students who want to study business or law, and has become incredibly competitive over the last few years. In 2024, their regular decision acceptance rate was 3.7%, and their ED acceptance rate was 15.2%. But if you’re here, you probably know at least some of this, because one (or both) of your parents went to Vanderbilt and you’re looking to follow in their footsteps.
Legacy admissions has been facing growing scrutiny in the wake of the affirmative action Supreme Court decision, but it’s still a factor at Vanderbilt. If you're a legacy applicant, the key is making sure your application rises above the rest – you don’t want to give them a reason to reject you. Let’s break down what you can do to make the most of your legacy status and truly stand out in Vanderbilt’s competitive admissions pool.
What’s up with Legacy Admissions?
Legacy admissions, much like affirmative action, has come under increasing public scrutiny in recent years. According to Forbes, the number of colleges factoring legacy into admissions decisions has been cut in half over the past decade. Meanwhile, states like California, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, and Virginia have taken legislative steps to ban or limit the practice, which they claim to be due to wanting more equity and transparency in the admissions process.
Still, at many highly selective universities, legacy status remains part of the admissions equation. Some schools, like Notre Dame and Duke, care deeply about legacy. Others, like MIT and Johns Hopkins have banned it outright. At private colleges, especially southern private colleges, we find that legacy is still a big deal, and it definitely is at Vanderbilt. Plus, we think it would be disingenuous for Vandy to not have legacy admissions, since their family generated the greatest nepo baby alive: Anderson Cooper.
Here’s what Vanderbilt has to say about their legacy admissions:
“The admissions process at Vanderbilt uses a holistic approach to review applicants. Our process primarily includes review of applicants' academic achievement, community engagement and leadership, personal essay, short answer, and letters of recommendation. An alumni affiliation is merely one data point out of many data points considered during the application review process. Vanderbilt does not hold spots for students who have an alumni affiliation. Legacy applicants are held to the same standards of admission and are part of the same process as all other applicants. At all times, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions is looking to enroll the most highly qualified class who bring a wide array of talent and perspectives to campus, and who will foster a welcoming and highly engaged Vanderbilt community.”
The idea that legacy students are held to the same standard should be a given – we see this at most other top colleges – but it’s not because Vanderbilt believes in creating a more equitable process. It’s because you, as a legacy of a Vanderbilt alum, probably attend a private school or top public school, probably have access to tutors for school and standardized tests, and generally have the privilege to become high-achieving without as many barriers.
What’s interesting about Vanderbilt is that they did not consider legacy for a few years – 2005-2007, but they eventually brought it back. It’s weighed as heavily as things like volunteer and work experience and first-gen student status, so while it might be “just a data point,” it’s certainly a significant one. According to Dean of Admissions Douglas Christiansen, Vanderbilt likes legacies because “they accept our offers at a higher rate than others, and the whole family usually has an affinity for the school,” which to translate for you, means they positively impact their yield rate (making them more competitive) and probably donate money on a regular basis – more on that later. In Vanderbilt’s Class of 2023, Christiansen claims that 14.3% of students were legacy and says that’s on “the low end.” We think schools purposefully report fewer legacies than they have, if they report them at all, and in that case, it’s probably not the low end.
Now, let’s be extremely honest with you. The vast majority of legacy applicants are not getting into Vanderbilt – just like how the vast majority of non-legacy applicants are not getting into Vanderbilt. It would not be a smart practice for them to just let every legacy in; it wouldn’t create a dynamic campus, and it would be bad PR. So, let’s talk about what you can do as a legacy to stand out and increase your chances of admission.
What Can You Do?
Let’s clear up a common misconception about legacy admissions – it’s not a backdoor for underqualified kids of wealthy alumni. Legacy students who get into top schools like Vanderbilt are held to the same high standards – that means top-tier grades, strong test scores, and standout extracurriculars. Legacy might give you a slight boost, but only if the rest of your application is already exceptional.
Grades
Every year, we work with legacy applicants to schools like Vanderbilt, and nearly all of them have near-perfect GPAs. It’s no surprise; many come from well-resourced backgrounds where private schools, academic support, and connections with impressive extracurriculars abound.
The best way to stand out is to take the most rigorous courses available at your school and get all As.
Class Rank of the Class of 2028
As you can see, the vast, vast majority of the students accepted to Vanderbilt last cycle were not just in the top 25% of their graduating class, but the top 10%. And for those in the bottom half and quarter, we’re willing to bet those were absolutely not legacy students – they were probably student athletes.
Scores
Vanderbilt is remaining test optional through 2027, but that does not mean you shouldn’t submit. And while they do superscore both the ACT and SAT, we also don’t think that’s your best strategic move. As a legacy student, you need to prove you deserve to be there, and you’re also fighting for spots that other legacy and well-connected students are vying for. Vanderbilt has one of the highest mixes of middle-50s we’ve seen from non-Ivy and Ivy-adjacent (Duke, MIT, UChicago, Stanford) schools – with the average student getting between a 750-800 on the SAT writing and 780-800 on the SAT math sections and between a 34 and a 36 on the ACT. And again, that’s not even the top 25% – every student in the 75th-100th percentile is getting a perfect score on their standardized tests. So, if you want to stand out? Submit scores. Submit perfect scores.
Admitted + Enrolled Students Submitting Test Scores
Extracurriculars
Being a legacy applicant to Vanderbilt doesn’t mean you can coast on a list of generic activities. Just joining a few clubs at school or captaining a sports team won’t cut it. Admissions officers know you have connections, and they want to see what you bring to the table. If you say you’re passionate about political science, but there’s no sign of that interest outside of class, like working on a campaign or interning for a city council member, they’re not going to take your word for it. The same goes for any academic focus, whether it's computer science, biology, or history. That’s why we work with legacy students starting as early as freshman year – to help them shape a compelling, authentic narrative backed by real experience and commitment.
Apply Early
If you're genuinely aiming for Vanderbilt, especially as a legacy, applying early is one of the smartest moves you can make. Skipping ED may signal to admissions that you're not fully committed, or worse, that Vanderbilt is your backup after being rejected elsewhere. In a competitive landscape, that perception matters! Like we told you before, one of the reasons Vanderbilt likes legacies is because they enroll in higher numbers – and if you apply ED, you’re going to enroll. If you want to show Vanderbilt you're all in, applying early is the clearest way to do it.
Stay Involved
Parents, if you're hoping to see your child carry on your Vanderbilt legacy, your involvement matters more than you might think. The legacy families who see the most success aren't just those with high-achieving students – they’re the ones who stay actively connected to the university. That could mean helping with admissions interviews, volunteering for fundraising efforts, serving on an alumni board, donating money on a regular basis, or finding other ways to engage meaningfully. If Vanderbilt is the dream, showing your long-term commitment to the school can make a difference. If you want to set your child up for success, let’s chat about how to align your family’s efforts with your student’s goals.
If you're a Vanderbilt legacy and truly committed to attending, your application needs to be airtight. Think top grades, strong test scores, and a set of extracurriculars that reflect real passion and initiative. Legacy status might get your foot in the door, but it won’t carry a weak application. Give the admissions team zero reasons to reject you.
If you need help crafting an application that helps you stand out among the crowd, reach out to us today. We can help.