GRADUATE SCHOOL APPLICATION PROCESS

Application FAQs

The complexities of applying to graduate school can often lead to a few questions. Below we’ve compiled answers to some of the most common questions we receive.

Graduate School Application FAQs
Section Contents

Application Questions

  • What is the deadline by which I must submit my application?

    Application deadlines vary by program, so you must contact your program of interest directly. Please note that the servers of our application system are on Eastern Time.

  • Can I apply to more than one program for a term?

    You may apply to two programs per term. To start a second application, go to the Application Management or Homepage and click on the Start New Application link. 

  • I started/submitted an application last year but did not enroll. If I want to apply again this year, do I have to start over? 

    Yes, you will need to submit a new application. Much of the data on the application will be pre-populated for you based on what was previously entered/submitted, and you will have a chance to update any information that is out-of-date.

  • I am having difficulty completing the academics section of the application.
    • If your institution does not provide a grade point average (GPA), please put 0.0 in the GPA field and 0.0 in the on a scale of field. We will understand this entry to mean you do not have a GPA to report. 
    • You must enter an earned or expected degree for at least one of the institutions you list.
    • If you do not have a major to report, put N/A in that field.
    • Rank in class is not required. If you do not have a rank to report, you may leave that field blank or enter N/A.

    You should list all post-secondary institutions where you have attended. Institutions where you studied abroad are exceptions to this rule if the study abroad work is reflected, in its entirety, on the transcript of your primary institution.

  • What is the application fee? How do I pay for it?

    The application fee for Graduate School programs is $95 for Ph.D. and M.F.A. applications. Many graduate programs do not require an application fee. If your program does require an application fee, you will be prompted for fee payment once you have submitted your application.

    If you applied for a Ph.D. program and were not asked to pay the application fee, then the system may have granted you an application fee waiver based on your input in the application form. Most of the fee waivers will be managed automatically through our application system, so please complete your application to determine whether you are eligible for an application fee waiver. More information about application fee waivers is available under Application Requirements

  • How can I change information that I submitted on my application? 

    You can update some items from your Application Status page even after you have submitted your application.

    • Update your address: On the Application Status page, click on Edit Address.
    • Change your e-mail address: 
      • If you have not yet submitted your application, log in with your old email and open your application. Navigate to the Personal page of the application and scroll to your email address. Click on Change to update your email address.
      •  If you have already submitted your application, on the Application Status page, scroll down to Account Tools at the bottom of the page and click on Change Email Address.
      • Once you enter your new e-mail address, a new account activation link will be e-mailed to that address. It will be necessary to complete all steps requested to link your new email address to your account.
    • Send reminder e-mails to your recommenders: On the Application Status page, scroll down to the end of the application checklist section and click on recommendations page link.
    • Update "Right to Access" Waiver: Following submission of your application, if you wish to alter your waiver status for your "Right to Access" your recommendation you will need to "exclude" your recommender and resubmit them as a new recommender. There is no way to edit this information while retaining the original recommendation request, please be sure to double check your waiver status is accurate prior to submission. 
    • Test Scores: After submitting your application, only official test scores can be added. To add additional test scores, please have the testing agency send your test scores directly to Vanderbilt (1871).
    • To update any other information on your submitted application, please contact your program.
  • How do I check on the status of my application? 

    Once your application has been submitted, your login will take you to your Application Status page. Use the Application Checklist to verify which application requirements have been met and which are still outstanding. Information on the decision timeline for most programs is under Application Requirements.

  • If I choose to defer my admission offer, do I still have to pay the matriculation deposit?

    Yes, if you choose to defer your offer of admission, you are still required to pay the matriculation deposit for programs that require it.  Please contact your program of interest directly to confirm.

  • I do not see my statement of purpose in my application checklist. Did you receive it?

    The Statement of Purpose is not included in the checklist with other uploaded materials. The system will not allow you to submit an application without the Statement of Purpose, so if the application is submitted, your Statement of Purpose is included.

  • Are applications offered on a rolling basis?

    While every program is different, most programs do not offer rolling admission. For a student to get accepted outside of the admissions cycle, it requires special approval from the program and university leadership. The same applies for Ph.D. transfer students.

    If approved, applicants may apply via the Graduate School website. Applicants will not be able to choose the closed term nor be able to submit the final application without administrative assistance.

Account Setup and Password Questions 

  • I cannot complete my account setup.

    If you did not receive the email containing the URL and temporary pin, please be sure you are using the same email that you used to initiate the account. Also check your spam and quarantined mail folders for the email. If neither of these resolves the problem, submit your issue to graduateschooladmissions@vanderbilt.edu and a staff member will assist you. When completing the last step of your account setup, please be sure to use the same email address and birthdate to log in as you used when you initiated the account.

  • I have forgotten my password.

    To reset a password:

    • Go to the login page and click on Log in.
    • Once the login page opens, click on the Forgotten Password option.
    • Follow the instructions to reset your password.
  • The program I am interested in is not listed or does not have the term option that I want. 

    If a program is not listed on the program dropdown, that program is not currently accepting applications. Please check the program’s website for further information about your program’s entry terms and application deadlines. 

  • My recommender is not receiving the system generated email. 
    • Please have your recommender check his or her spam email folder for the email. The subject line of the email will be “Recommendation Request from for Vanderbilt University. 
    • Have your recommender add mailer@technolutions.net to his or her safe sender list. 
    • You may resend the email from the recommender page of your application if the application has not been submitted or from your Applicant Status page if your application has been submitted (look for the link at the bottom of the page). 
    • Report continued problems to graduateschooladmissions@vanderbilt.edu and a staff member will assist you. 
  • Can I delete a recommender?

    You can exclude, rather than delete, a recommender. Recommenders can be excluded from the Recommender section list before a recommendation has been received from that recommender, by clicking Edit next to the name. The recommender will still appear on your list but will be marked as excluded. After all recommendations have been received, you cannot edit your recommender list.

  • What does it mean to waive my right to see recommendations?

    If you choose to Waive your right to see the recommendation, this lets the recommender know that whatever comments they submit will never be seen by you. If you choose to Not Waive your right to see the recommendation, this lets the recommender know that you intend to obtain a copy of their comments at some future point. Most applicants choose to waive the right to view the recommendation. Some applicants believe the recommender will give a more candid appraisal if they know that the applicant will not see the recommendation in the future. It is your responsibility as an applicant to enlist recommenders who will give a favorable and honest assessment of your academic capabilities. The option to waive or not waive is offered near the bottom of the box where you enter information about your recommender.

Other Common Questions

  • Does the Graduate School conduct campus tours?

    The Graduate School does not conduct general tours of campus; this is done through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, and you can contact them to schedule a campus tour at 615-322-2561.

  • Am I automatically considered for financial aid?

    Applicants who are admitted are automatically considered for departmental support, but it is your responsibility to research other possible sources of financial aid.  More information on that is available on the Vanderbilt Student Financial Aid site: http://www.vanderbilt.edu/financialaid/

  • My application was denied. Where can I find feedback on my application?

    Admissions decisions begin at the program level. Please contact your program of interest directly for feedback.

  • Can you send me a copy of any of my application material?

    Under no circumstances can any application materials submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions and Enrollment be returned to the applicant or forwarded to another college, university, or third party. All records submitted in support of an application for admission become property of Vanderbilt University’s Graduate School, Office of Admissions and Enrollment.

  • Are three-year degrees recognized by Vanderbilt?

    The decisions about equivalency of degrees as appropriate for admission to Graduate School are made on a case-by-case basis. The main input into this decision is that of the department/program. If a student with a certain degree has the qualifications that a department considers appropriate for admission, then the department can make the case to the Graduate School. The Graduate School cannot make a blanket statement regarding types of programs that are acceptable because many may not be. We advise you to continue with your application, but it would be wise to contact your department of interest directly to discuss the relevant issues.

    You can find a list of Graduate School programs here: https://gradschool.vanderbilt.edu/academics/department-contacts/

  • What happens if I do not respond to my offer of admission?

    If you are admitted into a program and do not communicate your decision with the program in a timely manner, your offer will be rescinded. 

  • I accepted my offer of admission, but I have not received a confirmation email.

    For programs that require it, you must pay your deposit for your status to update. If you have already paid your deposit or none is required and you are still having issues, email graduateschooladmissions@vanderbilt.edu.

  • How can U.S. military veterans learn about available VA educational benefits such as the Yellow Ribbon Program?

    For information about the Yellow Ribbon Program and other VA educational benefits, please visit the Veterans Educational Benefits page.  Questions regarding VA educational benefits should be directed to the VA School Certifying Official in the Office of the University Registrar at: VASCO@vanderbilt.edu.

  • Does Vanderbilt offer CPT?

    Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is an off-campus employment option available to F-1 students when the training experience is considered to be an integral part of the established curriculum and directly related to the student’s major area of study.

    Vanderbilt University does not have any academic programs that require immediate participation in CPT. In other words, there is no “Day 1 CPT” at Vanderbilt.

    More information is available on the International Student and Scholar Services website.