Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Nashville, TN · Private · MD

Class size: 99
Tuition: $73,028 (per year)
Out-of-state applicants: Welcome

Deadlines

AMCAS deadline: Nov. 1, 2026
Secondary deadline: Nov. 15, 2026

Essays

What makes you who you are (800 words)

Please reflect on the upbringing, background, and experiences in your life that have shaped who you are as a person and will help define the person you want to be in the future. In other words, what makes you who you are?

Someone different from you (600 words)

Tell us about a time when you interacted with someone who is different than you. What did you learn? Would you do anything differently and if so, what?

Asking for help (600 words)

It is important to understand that everyone needs help at various times in their lives. Reflecting on the last five years, describe a time you asked for help and what you gained from that experience that has influenced your approach to asking for help.

Activities since graduation (200 words)

Optional: Please briefly summarize your activities since graduating from college. If you are still enrolled in undergraduate studies, please comment on any new projects, roles or initiatives undertaken since submitting your AMCAS application

Editor's notes

Apply early and treat the secondary as the real application. This cycle's posted counts show 5,561 secondary invitations from 6,752 verified applications, but the school expects to interview about 600. The three required essays add up to 2,000 words, long for a secondary. The prompts are public, so draft them before July.
Two of the three essays ask you to look back critically: what you'd do differently, and a time you asked for help. Vanderbilt is testing self-awareness, not polish. Answers that make you the hero of every scene miss both prompts.
The interview has an asynchronous piece as well as one long faculty conversation. Practice answering to a camera with no one reacting, because that's a different skill from a Zoom chat.
Don't let the $119,046 first-year budget decide for you. Every admit is considered for merit awards up to full tuition, with no separate application, and 68% of the Class of 2028 got a Vanderbilt scholarship. If you'll need need-based aid, get the CSS Profile with your parents' data ready.