Each year, the class of entering undergraduates hears from administrators and admissions alike that theirs is Vanderbilt’s superlative class. The staggering numbers for the class of 2012, however, may redefine the national perception of the university.
Given the 12 percent plunge in the overall acceptance rate for the university, with the simultaneous advent of The Commons, a rise in the U.S. News and World Reports rankings seems likely, even if it is just a notch or two up. In the most pragmatic sense, these developments only strengthen the value of our own degrees for our future beyond Vanderbilt. We certainly appreciate that reinforcement of our degrees, especially since more than one member of the editorial board doubts slightly whether they would have been outright accepted into the class of 2012 were they high school seniors.
The acceptance and application statistics also reflect the continued shift towards a diversified, nationally oriented student body, rather than a regional one composed of those of a more homogenous stripe. Beyond the diversity of the class lies the sheer academic excellence of the class.
Critically, though, the statistics must translate into actual well-rounded individuals prepared to contribute to the vibrancy of the Vanderbilt campus. While the editorial board has the utmost faith in the Office of Admissions — after all, they let each one of us in — the editorial board hopes in earnest that the rise in applications derives from a desire of applicants to be a part of the Vanderbilt community and The Commons experience, and not because of the elimination of the “Why Vanderbilt?” essay from the application.
As with each entering class, we must genuinely embrace this diversity of origin and ideology, while demonstrating some of the shared traits that make this campus unique: the commitment to service and, for many, faith, as well as the ever-popular balance between rigorous academics and a hearty social life.
If its past excellence is any indication, the class of 2012 should have no difficulty in continuing Vanderbilt’s dynamic ascent on the national scene.
