Vanderbilt c/o 2016 Applicants (2012-2013 Cycle) Forum

[TheThriller]

Got the viewbook.

Haven't had the interview yet and they are holding off until I retake in Feb.

[North]

Question: I requested an interview on November 11. Vandy says to contact them if I haven't heard from my interviewer within two weeks. Well, it's been two weeks. Should I account for the Thanksgiving holiday and wait a few more days before letting them know or should I do it now? The interview request deadline is December 1.

[alwayssunnyinfl]

Question: I requested an interview on November 11. Vandy says to contact them if I haven't heard from my interviewer within two weeks. Well, it's been two weeks. Should I account for the Thanksgiving holiday and wait a few more days before letting them know or should I do it now? The interview request deadline is December 1.

Contact them

[North]

Question: I requested an interview on November 11. Vandy says to contact them if I haven't heard from my interviewer within two weeks. Well, it's been two weeks. Should I account for the Thanksgiving holiday and wait a few more days before letting them know or should I do it now? The interview request deadline is December 1.

Contact them

Yup. Typing it up now, thanks Sunny.

[harveyfan]

Interviewing on Friday. Any good advice from those who have already interviewed?

It's an alumni interview in the DMV area.

[DoveBodyWash]

Interviewing on Friday. Any good advice from those who have already interviewed?

It's an alumni interview in the DMV area.

Interviewed with vandy alum twice in the course of my two cycles. Once with an in-house counsel in Syracuse and another with a WilmerHale partner in Boston.

Both spent a lot of time trying to sell me on Vandy's community-feel and national portability (placement), so I'd definitely mention those things when they ask you the "Why Vandy?" question.

Also they asked:
Why law school?
What was the most rewarding experience you've listed on your resume? (or which experience taught you the most) etc..
What type of law would you like to practice?
(The WilmerHale partner specifically asked if i was interested in transactional or litigation)

They also both asked what other schools were my top choices in addition to Vanderbilt...I was honest both times and just said Northwestern, but i'm not sure if it was wise to do so..or why they ask.

But other than that I think most ppl would agree that it was pretty relaxed/casual. I would definitely prepare a lot of questions about the profession and the actual practice of law because I think they use your questions as a proxy to determine how critically you've thought about it..or how diligently you've researched the profession.

Good luck! Hope this helps

EDIT:: They'll also ask if you've ever visited Vanderbilt..if you have, be prepared to express your thoughts

[10miler]

It depends on interviewer. My interviewer asked me on items in my resume.

[FallingHigher]

Interviewing on Friday. Any good advice from those who have already interviewed?

It's an alumni interview in the DMV area.

I had an alumni interview awhile back and it was really relaxed. I got the standard questions:

Why Law School?
Why Vandy?
Where do you see yourself in 8 years?

Then it just got really casual. She talked about Vandy and why she loved it and why I would as well. Then she asked if I had any questions about Vandy or Law school.

Just be sure and research so you have some good questions.

[arklaw13]

Applied 11/5, went complete on 11/7. I didn't request an interview because I didn't want to wait around for it to be scheduled. They sent an email asking me to reconsider, so I requested an interview :/

At least I know I probably won't get dinged, haha.

[alwayssunnyinfl]

Applied 11/5, went complete on 11/7. I didn't request an interview because I didn't want to wait around for it to be scheduled. They sent an email asking me to reconsider, so I requested an interview :/

At least I know I probably won't get dinged, haha.

Do it on campus! It was definitely worth it.

[florida1949]

Applied 11/5, went complete on 11/7. I didn't request an interview because I didn't want to wait around for it to be scheduled. They sent an email asking me to reconsider, so I requested an interview :/

At least I know I probably won't get dinged, haha.

Got this e-mail too, probably gonna do it even though I feel as if there's not a very good chance I end up at vandy

[shntn]

Applied 11/5, went complete on 11/7. I didn't request an interview because I didn't want to wait around for it to be scheduled. They sent an email asking me to reconsider, so I requested an interview :/

At least I know I probably won't get dinged, haha.

Got this e-mail too, probably gonna do it even though I feel as if there's not a very chance I end up at vandy

Don't rule anything out. You may find out you love the place.

[Jaqen]

Applied 11/5, went complete on 11/7. I didn't request an interview because I didn't want to wait around for it to be scheduled. They sent an email asking me to reconsider, so I requested an interview :/

At least I know I probably won't get dinged, haha.

Got this e-mail too, probably gonna do it even though I feel as if there's not a very chance I end up at vandy

+1

[Gisney]

Had my interview today. Really casual convo style. Only two formal questions were Why law and Why Vandy.

[2012Split177]

Checking in - Applied 11/20, Complete 11/26, email 11/28 recommending I do an interview, interview set-up in my home town (Richmond) for 12/3

I'm liking the efficiency so far.

[BSC]

Checking in. Went complete on the 26th. Have a question though.

I did not request an interview. I figure since it's optional, it wouldn't hurt not to. Plus I'm not really a borderline candidate, so I'm not looking for an extra boost.

But I just got an email starting with, "Upon initial review, the committee expressed interest in your application and noted that you have not elected to have an admission interview." Telling me to reply saying if I want an interview or not, and ending with a P.S saying there are a lot of alums in my city.

Would it really hurt me not to do the interview? I just want to avoid any possible uncomfortable situations that may negatively impact my application. But at the same time, would they turn me down if it looks like i'm not interested? I'm applying for the scholarships and stuff, so it should look like i'm interested.

Also, if I DO decline the interview, what should I say in the email?

Thanks in advance

[nickb285]

.

[Fitz51]

Checking in. Went complete on the 26th. Have a question though.

I did not request an interview. I figure since it's optional, it wouldn't hurt not to. Plus I'm not really a borderline candidate, so I'm not looking for an extra boost.

But I just got an email starting with, "Upon initial review, the committee expressed interest in your application and noted that you have not elected to have an admission interview." Telling me to reply saying if I want an interview or not, and ending with a P.S saying there are a lot of alums in my city.

Would it really hurt me not to do the interview? I just want to avoid any possible uncomfortable situations that may negatively impact my application. But at the same time, would they turn me down if it looks like i'm not interested? I'm applying for the scholarships and stuff, so it should look like i'm interested.

Also, if I DO decline the interview, what should I say in the email?

Thanks in advance

I'm just passing through, didn't apply to Vandy and don't know too much about it (so I may be a terrible source)...but looking at your numbers it looks like you're headed straight for a waitlist due to yield-protection if you don't interview.

[florida1949]

I'm just passing through, didn't apply to Vandy and don't know too much about it (so I may be a terrible source)...but looking at your numbers it looks like you're headed straight for a waitlist due to yield-protection if you don't interview.

Yup

[teiswei]

Spent the weekend in Nashville (the immediate area surrounding the campus) and had my on-campus interview Monday. It was incredibly informal (on some couches in the lobby type area) and I did not receive any unexpected questions. I went even better than my Northwestern interview and I thought I crushed that one. The tour was only of the law school but I thought it was on par with what I have seen at UCLA, USC, and NU.

The interviewer was kind and attentive and seemed pretty impressed by what I have accomplished. He did seem a little discouraged by my 3.3 LSAC GPA but maintained that my much higher GPA in the latter two years of my undergrad ( 3.8 ) would help mitigate it, but not much. I am taking December's LSAT and he said I should be competitive with a median score when coupled with my softs.

Overall, a positive experience and it's a place I could definitely see myself studying law, although the Southern thing would take some getting used to. If you have the time or the resources to actually get out there and schedule an on-campus interview, I highly recommend it. For me, location is one of the critical factors in choosing a law school, and I would much rather see it first-hand. Further, I feel like I was able to make a lasting impression on someone who actually factors into admissions decisions. Although, I am sure alumni interviews are valuable and count the same, they don't make the choices, the admins do. Putting a face to your application can only help in this process.

Edit - Just want to add that I was not asked any why Vandy questions. The only formal question was what I wanted to do with a law degree.

[BSC]

I'm just passing through, didn't apply to Vandy and don't know too much about it (so I may be a terrible source)...but looking at your numbers it looks like you're headed straight for a waitlist due to yield-protection if you don't interview.

That's what I was afraid of. I guess it comes down to how much I want to get into vandy.. Or I should just suck it up and do it..

Thanks for the replies!

Edit: Looking on their law school numbers graphs, it doesn't look like they do much YP.. Anyone have any information about this? Am I a YP candidate? (169,171, 3.88)

[Volunteer]

I'm really curious how many people get the we want you to interview email and how many of those are ultimately accepted. Should have mine in the next couple of weeks so thanks for all the info.

[DoveBodyWash]

I'm really curious how many people get the we want you to interview email and how many of those are ultimately accepted. Should have mine in the next couple of weeks so thanks for all the info.

I don't think the interview email isn't necessarily an indicator that they want you, I think it's just sent out to applicants who didn't schedule an interview as part of their original app. It's not like Harvard's JS1 where you need to be invited to an interview. Any vandy applicant can schedule one

[rebexness]

[DoveBodyWash]

I'm just passing through, didn't apply to Vandy and don't know too much about it (so I may be a terrible source)...but looking at your numbers it looks like you're headed straight for a waitlist due to yield-protection if you don't interview.

That's what I was afraid of. I guess it comes down to how much I want to get into vandy.. Or I should just suck it up and do it..

Thanks for the replies!

Edit: Looking on their law school numbers graphs, it doesn't look like they do much YP.. Anyone have any information about this? Am I a YP candidate? (169,171, 3.88)

Not at all. If anything you're like they're dream candidate (numbers wise)