How to Write the Vanderbilt Supplemental Essay (with an Example!) [UPDATED FOR 2024-2025]
Let’s talk about how to write Vanderbilt’s “Dare to Grow” supplemental essay....
How do you write the Vanderbilt “Dare to Grow” supplemental essay, Lisa? What are they asking for? I don’t know where to start!
The Vanderbilt supplemental essay for the 2024-2025 college application cycle is finally official! And even though the essay prompt isn’t new, it’s still a doozy!
Because the Vanderbilt supplemental prompt is one of the essays that I get asked about a lot (along with the NYU supplemental essay and the Stanford roommate essay), I’ve put together this guide to help you as you start tackling this challenging essay.
About Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University, located in Nashville, Tennessee, is a prestigious private research institution renowned for its rigorous academic programs and vibrant campus life. Established in 1873, the university offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees across various fields, including arts and sciences, engineering, business, law, and medicine. With a commitment to interdisciplinary learning and cutting-edge research, Vanderbilt fosters a collaborative environment where students and faculty work together to solve global challenges. The campus, situated in a beautiful urban setting, boasts a blend of historic and modern architecture, along with lush green spaces. Vanderbilt is known for its strong sense of community, academic excellence, and a rich tradition of producing leaders in various industries.
College admissions at Vanderbilt University are competitive, so the “Dare to Grow” supplemental essay matters!
About Admissions at Vanderbilt University
Admissions at Vanderbilt University are highly competitive, with the university seeking students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, intellectual curiosity, and a commitment to community engagement. The admissions process is holistic, considering not only academic performance but also extracurricular involvement, leadership qualities, personal essays, and letters of recommendation. Standardized test scores, such as the SAT or ACT, are optional, allowing students to apply without them if they feel their scores do not reflect their true capabilities. The Vanderbilt University offers both Early Decision and Regular Decision application options, with a strong emphasis on providing financial aid and scholarships to make a Vanderbilt education accessible to talented students from all walks of life.
The Vanderbilt Supplemental Essay Prompt [updated for 2024-2025]
So here’s the Vanderbilt supplemental essay prompt for the 2024-2025 college application cycle:
“Vanderbilt University’s motto, Crescere aude, is Latin for “dare to grow.” In your response, reflect on how one of more aspects of your identity, culture or background has played a role in your personal growth, and how it will contribute to our campus community as you dare to grow at Vanderbilt.”
(approximately 250 words)
Breaking down the Vanderbilt “Dare to Grow” supplemental essay…
How to Write the Vanderbilt “Dare to Grow” Supplemental Essay: a Breakdown
So where to start with Vanderbilt’s essay prompt?
Well, as all my students know, I first like to take a step back and think about what the college trying to get at with a question before trying to put together an answer.
The reason is because Vanderbilt receives almost 50,000 applications a year at this point, so if they’re asking a question, there has to be a good reason they want to read another 50,000 essays. There’s something specific Vanderbilt want to know about you, something important that’s going to help them say “yes” or “no” to your application.
College Essay Coach Pro Tip: Unlike personal statements prompts which are open to all kinds essays, supplemental essay prompts are asking you about something specific that they want to know about you. Supplemental essay prompts often ask you to tell the admissions committee something about your background, what you plan to do in college, or how you interact with people.
These are not theoretical questions. They actually want to know those specific things about you, so please don’t go off on tangents. You usually only have 150-300 words to answer the question!
Step #1 to acing any supplemental essay prompt is answering the question that the admissions committee is asking!
So What is Vanderbilt’s “Dare to Grow” Supplemental Essay About?
The Vanderbilt “Dare to Grow” essay prompt is one of those essay prompts that’s deceptively simple, but as you sit down to write it, it just seems to get more and more complicated.
And that’s because there’s a lot going on in this essay. The Vandy “Dare to Grow” essay is part growth essay, part identity/culture/background essay, and part community essay all at the same time. It’s a lot of ground to cover in an essay which is not very long at all, and that makes it really easy for students to get stumped in the writing process!
At its heart, the Vanderbilt “Dare to Grow” supplemental essay is about what you would be like as a student at Vanderbilt.
What does Vanderbilt Really Want to Know with the “Dare to Grow” Essay? Why Are They Asking You this Question?
At its heart, the Vanderbilt’s “Dare to “Grow” essay prompt is trying to get a sense of what you would be like as a student at Vanderbilt. How are you going to be a part of the Vanderbilt community? How would you grow during your time at Vanderbilt? And interesting parts of your background would you be contributing to campus?
These are all elements that weigh heavily in the Vanderbilt admissions committee’s evaluation of what makes you a better candidate to admit to their school that other candidates in the admissions pool. This essay gives you a chance to speak to those questions directly.
Let’s break down how to do that…
Writing the Vanderbilt “Dare to Grow” Supplemental Essay
Okay, all that being said, where to start with the Vanderbilt essay?
As I mentioned, this is one of those essays which students can unexpectedly get stuck on and then end up being really bogged down in their application process. I think that’s because there are so many moving pieces (background! growth! community!) to it, and unless you really sit down and think this through ahead of time, it’s easy to start it and then realize that what you’ve started writing isn’t going to work.
Vanderbilt “Dare to Grow” Supplemental Essay: Step #1
To save you that aggravation, I strongly suggest that you start with the end of this question (which is essentially, “How will you contribute to the Vanderbilt community and grow in the process?”). Then you can work backwards to the parts of your essay addressing your background and its role in your growth so far, but you will already have an idea of where your essay is going to go.
The Vanderbilt “Dare to Grow” supplemental essay asks you how you will contribute to the Vanderbilt community.
Your Contribution to the Vanderbilt Community
So, what do you envision your student life at Vanderbilt looking like? How will you be an active, participating member of the Vanderbilt community? Remember, although the admissions committee wants to know that you’re going to be a good student, it is also vitally important that they can see you out-and-about, interacting with fellow students, faculty and members of the Vanderbilt.
One of the most important things that Vanderbilt (or for that matter, any school) is trying to get out of your essays is a clear sense of who you’re going to be on their campus landscape. Will you be a political activist? Community service organizer? Maybe a vital member of one of their musical ensembles? Or maybe there’s something you haven’t tried before?
If you haven’t already, I encourage to do some legwork as you’re thinking about this. Spend some time on the Vanderbilt website, and start identifying some organizations, activities, and/or groups that you would want to be a part of at Vanderbilt. What are interests that you want to pursue further? And are there new interests that you’re itching to explore in college?
Jot notes down on what you’d like to do and how these could be a contribution to the Vanderbilt community. Are there any that might be unique or unusual? Are there any contributions that might particularly stand out from the pack?
As part of the “Dare to Grow” supplemental essay, Vanderbilt also wants to know about how you will grow as you contribute to their campus.
Vanderbilt “Dare to Grow” Supplemental Essay: Step #2
Once you’ve thought about some different ways that you could contribute to the Vanderbilt community, how would you grow from the experiences? How would you develop as a student, a leader, and a person?
Of course, this is going to be deeply personal to you, but think about how you might meet new people and learn about new perspectives, explore new areas, and/or lead a new project.
Selective schools like Vanderbilt care about your growth and your attitude towards growth because it’s an indicator of how you will take advantage of the opportunities that will be available to you in college. It also says a lot about how you’re going to approach your career and other endeavors after college. A school like Vanderbilt definitely does not want to hear about how you’re going to do the same kinds of things you’ve always done with the same kind of people!
Think about how you might challenge yourself!
Vanderbilt “Dare to Grow” Supplemental Essay: Step #3
Okay, now that you’ve gotten an idea of an idea of the vision of your life at Vanderbilt that you want to pursue, think about what’s led you to this point. What is something in or about your identity, culture, or background that has challenged you and/or encouraged you to grow in some way?
This is probably going to take some brainstorming, but think about what the major influences in your life have been. How have they played a role in your development into the person you are now, the person who is about to leave for college? And think about whether any stories that you may have about how they helped you grow?
After you’ve brainstormed on this for a while, take a look at what you have and see what connections there may be between what you have in these brainstorming notes and your vision for what your life at Vanderbilt will look like. These connections are what are going to form the crux of your essay.
Let’s take a look at one example….
Let’s take a look at an example of the Vanderbilt “Dare to Grow” supplemental essay!
An Example of the Vanderbilt “Dare to Grow” Supplemental Essay
[COMING SOON]
Writing the Vanderbilt “Dare to Grow” Supplemental Essay: Last Thoughts
Above all, remember, the Vanderbilt admissions committee needs to be able to see you as a student at Vanderbilt and participating as a vital, growing member of their community. Paint that picture for them!
How would you engage with your fellow Vanderbilt students, and what of your experiences can give them some indications of what that would be like?
If you can start from there, you will be well on your way to acing the “Dare to Grow” essay!
Need more help with your college essays?
Check out my college essay coaching!
And for additional help with your college applications, check out my college admissions consulting and college interview preparation and coaching.
Are you applying to NYU? Check out my blog on How to Write the NYU Supplemental Essay (with an Example!).
Are you applying to the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn)? Check out my guide: How to Write the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) Supplemental Essays (with Examples!)
Are you applying to the University of Southern California (USC)? Check out my guide: How to Write the University of Southern California (USC) Supplemental Essays (with Examples!)
Or How to Write the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill (UNC) Supplemental Essays (with Examples!)
Are you applying to Carnegie-Mellon University (CMU) ? Check out my gude to How to Write the Carnegie-Mellon (CMU) Supplemental Essays (with Examples!).
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How to Write the Perfect Hook for Your College Essay
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9 Good Questions to Ask During Your College Interview
What Not to Write About in Your College Essay
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