u/polandspringwater12

*Demographics*

Gender: Male

Race/Ethnicity: Lao-American

Residence: Tennessee

Income Bracket: Middle-Class

Type of School: local state university (transfer applicant)

Hooks: First-gen, Veteran (8 years U.S. Navy)

Intended Major: Mechanical Engineering

*Academics*

GPA: 3.9 at my local university

23 on my ACT 10 years ago

3.5 GPA in high school (all IB/AP)

(I gave up trying my junior year when I decided I was joining the military)

*Extracurriculars*

U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman: held multiple leadership positions, department head for three years, managed medical readiness for active duty personnel, medic for Marines, command fitness leader at my command, served as a tutor during my time in the military and at my university

*Awards*

Junior Sailor of the Quarter x2

Junior Sailor of the Year x1

Navy Achievement Medal x3

*Essays*

Wrote about growing up as the child of Lao refugees and how my parents’ sacrifices shaped my drive. Connected that to my military service and my decision to pursue engineering as a first-gen student.

*Decisions*

Acceptances:

Colorado School of Mines

Oregon State University

NC State

Cornell

Rejections:

Brown

Duke

Vanderbilt (last cycle and this cycle 🥲)

Waitlisted:

UVA

For those waitlisted, did yall write a LOCI? It doesn’t really state we NEED to, or even mention one at all. Sorry if this might be a stupid question. I’m not too familiar with admissions and never been waitlisted before.

I just found out I was rejected again as a transfer applicant.

I applied first as a second-year then again as a third-year transfer student from MTSU. I put countless hours into writing and rewriting my essays. I wrote about my experience as a medic in the military, my upbringing as the son of war refugees, my time at MTSU and my reason for wanting to transfer (MTSU doesn’t offer mechanical engineering).

I also worked with Service 2 School for mentorship on my application and essays, had multiple people review everything, and worked tirelessly to maintain a 3.9 GPA as a mechatronics engineering major.

I get it, Vanderbilt is extremely competitive, and I understand that admissions can come down to factors outside of an applicant’s control. But honestly, I’m struggling to understand what else I could have done. What does it take? I’m so confused, frustrated and disappointed in myself. Has anyone else been in a similar position, especially as a transfer applicant?

I got accepted as a transfer student. I’m deciding between here and a few others that are around the same tier and am wondering what yalls experience is like as engineering majors. How has your experience been with the program? Are the professors helpful? How manageable is the workload? Do classes fill up quickly or make it hard to graduate on time? Also, for transfer students, did your credits apply cleanly or did you end up having to retake a lot?

Overall, do you enjoy the program? Any regrets or things you wish you knew before choosing UTK?

I got accepted as a transfer student. I’m deciding between here and a few others that are around the same tier and am wondering what yalls experience is like as engineering majors. How has your experience been with the program? Are the professors helpful? How manageable is the workload? Do classes fill up quickly or make it hard to graduate on time? Also, for transfer students, did your credits apply cleanly or did you end up having to retake a lot?

Overall, do you enjoy the program? Any regrets or things you wish you knew before choosing OSU?