Student Program Eligibility
As part of your application to any PTY program, you will be given instructions to upload all necessary eligibility information at the time you apply. Eligibility requirements vary by program, so please review the eligibility section for the program(s) you are interested in applying. Your application is considered complete when you have uploaded the necessary information. Only complete applications can be processed, so we ask that you plan ahead of the application priority window to gather your qualifying documents. Having an incomplete application could negatively impact your chances of placement in a course.
Please contact our office (pty.peabody@vanderbilt.edu) with any questions related to qualifications.
PTY Online Academy (Grades 3-11) | Mentor Immersion at PTY (Grades 10-12)
Rising Expert: Mini Mentor Immersion (Grades 7-9)
SAVY (Grades K-6) and Career Connections at SAVY (Rising 7-8) |
PTY Online Academy (Grades 3-11)
Students who test around the 85th percentile on an ability test or in at least one content area on a standardized achievement test will find PTY Online Academy to be a good fit. While scores around the 85th percentile are typically a strong indication that PTY Online Academy is an appropriate curriculum match for a student, feel free to contact the PTY office for questions about scores that do not meet these criteria. We, at PTY, understand that there are additional ways to reflect a student’s academic knowledge and capacity for advanced academic coursework.
What if I do not have test scores for my student?
While PTY Online Academy accepts scores from a wide variety of assessments, we realize that test scores may not always be available. We understand that there are additional ways to reflect a student’s academic knowledge and capacity for advanced academic coursework. Please contact our office for more information about eligibility and alternative documentation options.
Mentor Immersion at PTY (Grades 10-12)
PTY’s Mentorship Immersion program is a rigorous program that requires a substantial and sustained time commitment of several months with an independent project component. Because of this, admission to the program is selective based on eligibility, with PTY’s most popular mentorships involving a competitive selection process. In order to determine if the PTY’s mentorship program is a good fit, all students are required to submit an application to the specific mentorship experience(s) they are interested in applying. The review process for selecting students for the program involves a thorough review of a student’s qualifying test scores OR educator recommendations, transcript, resume, and thoughtful essay response.
The components of the application listed below are reviewed together to determine fit and placement. PTY will consider all components of the application when making a determination about admission into the program.
Please note, students are asked to apply for specific mentorship experience(s) rather than the mentorship program overall. Students may rank order the mentorship experiences of most interest when applying. Students do not have to rank all experiences, only those of interest. If PTY receives more applications from eligible students than we have spaces available in a particular mentorship, placement will become a competitive selection process for that mentorship. In this instance, PTY will employ a holistic, context-aware review process to determine which students will be placed in the experience. Therefore, PTY recommends that students are thoughtful with their resume and essay submission regardless of the mentorship for which they are applying.
Here is a description of the four application components:
1. Test Scores or Educator Recommendations
At this time, due to the impact that COVID has had on testing availability and requirements, PTY is allowing for students who do not have test scores available to submit two educator recommendations in lieu of test scores. Selecting one option over the other will not help or hurt a student’s chances of placement.
Test Scores Option:
Please note that test scores in the 90th percentile and above for age group in one or more sections on an advanced achievement assessment (ACT, SAT, PSAT) OR any other nationally normed standardized assessment (such as state testing, MAP/NWEA testing, ITBS, or ERB) if advanced achievement assessment scores are not available suggests that VSA would be a good fit academically for a student. We also accept cognitive measures (i.e., WISC-V, CogAT, Otis Lennon, Stanford-Binet) and out-of-level test scores (i.e., ACT in 7th grade). Individual ability and/or achievement assessments from psychologists are also accepted. All pages of the individual evaluation and assessment need to be included. Test scores should be less than three years old.
When reviewing scores, we look specifically at strengths and accelerated achievement in the content area(s) for selected mentorship(s) of interest. For example, if a student is applying to a humanities mentorship, the PTY team is looking at reading/writing/ELA test scores.
Students may submit a screenshot or picture of an assessment as long as the student’s name is visible on the test results.
Educator Recommendations Option:
Please note, while submitting educator recommendations instead of test scores does not hurt a student’s chances of admission, PTY strongly encourages students to submit test scores if available.
Students who do not submit test scores should request recommendations from two educators (teachers, administrators, or counselors) by sharing the link below. When recommenders complete the form, the completed form will be emailed to PTY. Students should not request that recommenders write a letter or submit a recommendation in any method other than the following form. The form takes 10-15 minutes to complete.
https://pty.vanderbilt.edu/PTY_educator_recommendation/
A student’s application will not be complete, even though it may be marked as 100% in our application portal, until PTY receives two educator recommendations.
2. Transcript:
All students are required to submit a current transcript. Grades of mostly As and Bs suggest that the mentorship program would be a good academic fit. Also, please make sure your transcript reflects particular required prerequisites for certain mentorships. Through the transcript review process, we are looking for students who are highly motivated since the mentorship program is rigorous and requires independent work outside of the weekly meetings. PTY also understands that extenuating circumstances might impact a student’s grades. Please make sure you provide additional information if you believe your grades do not accurately demonstrate your ability or commitment to academics.
Transcripts can be submitted as a picture or screenshot of a student’s unofficial record but must include the student’s name and show grades for the 2021-2022 school year and the fall 2022 school year.
3. Resume:
We want to know more about you! Submit a one-page resume as part of your application, so we have a better understanding of your interests and extracurricular activities. Knowing more about you helps PTY determine if this program is a good fit. The resume should include extracurricular activities, work/volunteer experience, awards, and honors, etc.
4. Essay:
Since PTY’s mentorship program is an intensive academic experience, please answer the following in less than 600 words: “Why you would like to make this commitment? Why you are interested in the particular mentorship that you have selected as your first choice?”
International Students:
Vanderbilt considers you an international student if you are a citizen of any nation other than the United States of America. You are not considered an international student if you are a dual U.S. citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident, refugee/asylee, or a U.S. citizen living abroad.
If you are an international student, in addition to the other qualification documents, you will be prompted to submit documents showing demonstrated proficiency in English.
Rising Expert: Mini Mentor Immersion (Rising Grades 7th -9th)
PTY’s Rising Expert: Mini Mentor Immersion program is a rigorous program that requires a substantial and sustained time commitment with a small independent project component. In order to determine if Rising Expert’s accelerated mentorship experience is a good fit, all students are required to submit qualifying documentation as part of their application.
Please note, Rising Experts does not compare one student to another in the admissions process. We review a student’s application in its entirety to ensure that the program will be a good academic fit for the student. Incomplete applications will not be considered in first-round reviews.
There are two application components:
1. Test Scores or Educator Recommendations
At this time, due to the impact that COVID has had on testing availability and requirements, PTY is allowing for students who do not have test scores available to submit two educator recommendations in lieu of test scores. Selecting one option over the other will not help or hurt a student’s chances of placement.
Test Scores Option:
Please note that test scores in the 90th percentile and above for age group in one or more sections on an advanced achievement assessment (ACT, SAT, PSAT) OR any other nationally normed standardized assessment (such as state testing, MAP/NWEA testing, ITBS, or ERB) if advanced achievement assessment scores are not available suggests that VSA would be a good fit academically for a student. We also accept cognitive measures (i.e., WISC-V, CogAT, Otis Lennon, Stanford-Binet) and out-of-level test scores (i.e., ACT in 7th grade). Individual ability and/or achievement assessments from psychologists are also accepted. All pages of the individual evaluation and assessment need to be included. Test scores should be less than three years old.
When reviewing scores, we look specifically at strengths and accelerated achievement in the content area(s) for selected mentorship(s) of interest. For example, if a student is applying to a humanities mentorship, the PTY team is looking at reading/writing/ELA test scores.
Students may submit a screenshot or picture of an assessment as long as the student’s name is visible on the test results.
Educator Recommendations Option:
Please note, while submitting educator recommendations instead of test scores does not hurt a student’s chances of admission, PTY strongly encourages students to submit test scores if available.
Students who do not submit test scores should request recommendations from two educators who know of the student’s ability in subject areas related to the mentorship(s) of interest. Students may request recommendation by sharing the link below. When recommenders complete the form, the completed form will be emailed to PTY. Students should not request that recommenders write a letter or submit a recommendation in any method other than the following form. The form takes 10-15 minutes to complete.
https://pty.vanderbilt.edu/PTY_educator_recommendation/
A student’s application will not be complete, even though it may be marked as 100% in our application portal, until PTY receives two educator recommendations. We encourage students to ask recommenders to submit their recommendation prior to the 48-hour priority application window to ensure that the application is complete at the end of the window.
Can I request educators submit recommendations before a program application opens?
Educator recommendations can be submitted at any time. Before requesting educators complete the recommendation form, please create a SchoolDoc account (free) by visiting https://app.schooldoc.com/register/vanderbiltpty. As your educators submit recommendation forms, they will be internally associated with your account.
If I submitted educator recommendations for a previous PTY program application, do I need submit new recommendations for future PTY program applications?
You are not required to submit new recommendations if PTY has recommendations on file from the previous school year. We ask that you submit new recommendations if your previous submission is older than the previous school year. If we have current recommendations on file, you are welcome to request additional recommendations from educators who may be able to provide more recent assessments of your academic performance. Our admissions team may reach out to request additional recommendations depending on the content area of your top-ranked course or the date of your previous recommendations.
2. Transcript:
All students are required to submit a current transcript. Grades of mostly As and Bs suggest that the mentorship program would be a good academic fit. Also, please make sure your transcript reflects particular required prerequisites for certain mentorships. Through the transcript review process, we are looking for students who are highly motivated since the mentorship program is rigorous and requires independent work outside of the weekly meetings. PTY also understands that extenuating circumstances might impact a student’s grades. Please make sure you provide additional information if you believe your grades do not accurately demonstrate your ability or commitment to academics.
Transcripts can be submitted as a picture or screenshot of a student’s unofficial record but must include the student’s name and show grades for the 2022-2023 school year.
International Students: Vanderbilt considers you an international student if you are a citizen of any nation other than the United States of America. You are not considered an international student if you are a dual U.S. citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident, refugee/asylee, or a U.S. citizen living abroad. If you are an international student, in addition to the other qualification documents, you will be prompted to submit documents showing demonstrated proficiency in English.
To learn more about eligibility, please refer to the PTY Eligibility page or call 615-322-8261.
SAVY (Grades K-6) and Career Connections at SAVY (Rising 7-8)
SAVY (Grades K-6)
Students who test around the 90th percentile on an ability test or in at least one content area on a standardized achievement test typically find Saturday/Summer Academy at Vanderbilt for the Young to be to be a good fit. We accept any standardized achievement or ability test including, but not limited to, the following: RIAS, CogAT, ERB, Stanford Achievement Test, OLSAT, Woodcock Johnson, WIAT, WISC IV/V, ITBS, Iowa and MAP/NWEA. We also accept a variety of state achievement tests and select progress monitoring assessments (AIMSweb, STAR, Fastbridge testing) for provisional placement. Out-of-level standardized assessments (e.g., Explore, SCAT) are also accepted.
While scores around the 90th percentile are typically a strong indication that SAVY is an appropriate curriculum match for a student, feel free to contact the PTY office for questions about scores that do not meet these criteria. We, at PTY, understand that there are additional ways to reflect a student’s academic knowledge and capacity for advanced academic coursework, and alternative documentation may be accepted. Please contact our office for more information about eligibility and alternative documentation options.
Still have questions about SAVY eligibility? Contact our office at 615-322-2664 or email savy.pty@vanderbilt.edu
Career Connections at SAVY (Rising 7-8)
The eligibility requirements for Career Connections are slightly different from SAVY. The eligibility options for Career Connections are the same as those for VSA (PTY’s rising 7th -12th grade residential program).
In order to determine if the program’s accelerated courses are a good fit, all students are required to submit qualifying documentation as part of their application.
There are two eligibility documentation options. Below is a description of each option.
Both options are considered equally when determining admission placements. Therefore, selecting one option over the other will not help or hurt a student’s chances of placement. All complete applications will be reviewed based on PTY’s admissions process and placement for Career Connections. Please carefully review the eligibility information below along with information about the admissions process and placement for Career Connections.
Please note, staff for Career Connections does not compare one student to another in the admissions process. We review a student’s application in its entirety to ensure that the program will be a good academic fit for the student. Incomplete applications will not be considered in first-round reviews.
Eligibility Documentation Options
Option 1: Submission of Test Scores
Students applying to Career Connections at SAVY who select this option should submit qualifying documentation at the time of application. Please note that test scores in the 90th percentile and above for age group in one or more sections on an achievement assessment that is nationally normed (such as state testing, MAP/NWEA testing, ITBS, or ERB) suggests that Career Connections would be a good academic fit for a student. We also accept cognitive measures (i.e., WISC-V, CogAT, Otis Lennon, Stanford-Binet) and out-of-level test scores (i.e., ACT in 7th grade). Individual ability and/or achievement assessments from psychologists are also accepted. All pages of the individual evaluation and assessment need to be included. Test scores should be less than three years old.
When reviewing scores, we look specifically at strengths and accelerated achievement in the content area(s) for selected course(s) of interest. For example, if a student is applying to a humanities course, the PTY team is looking at reading/writing/ELA test scores. PTY does not have cutoffs for standardized test scores in order to apply to the program. Also, please note that scores above the 90th percentile do not automatically guarantee admission into the program based on a randomized admissions processs.
**If a student submits test scores slightly below the 90th percentile, we encourage a student to submit their transcript as well. This additional information is useful when determining fit for the program. We also ask that all students who apply for classes with prerequisites make sure to submit a transcript. Transcripts can be submitted as a picture or screenshot of a student’s unofficial record but must include the student’s name and show grades for the 2021-2022 school year and the fall 2022 school year.**
If a student’s test scores fall significantly below the 90th percentile in the area of course interest, students should select the portfolio option as this option provides additional information for staff to use when determining if placement in the program would be a good academic fit.
Students may submit a screenshot or picture of an assessment as long as the student’s name is visible on the test results. Please contact us at savy.pty@vanderbilt.edu if you have questions concerning your test scores.
Option 2: Portfolio
At this time, due to the impact that COVID has had on testing availability and requirements, Career Connections at SAVY is allowing for an option that does not require test score submission to determine program eligibility.
Please note, although selecting the portfolio option does not hurt a student’s chances of admission, Career Connections strongly encourages students to submit test scores (option 1).
Required Portfolio Components (3 Components):
1. Transcript: Grades of As and Bs in the most academically advanced courses offered at the student’s school typically suggest that the Career Connections at SAVY program would be a good academic fit. Through the transcript review process, we are looking for students who are highly motivated. PTY also understands that extenuating circumstances might impact a student’s grades. Please make sure to provide annotation if the student’s grades do not accurately demonstrate their ability and motivation to participate in an accelerated academic environment.
Transcripts can be submitted as a picture or screenshot of a student’s unofficial record but must include the student’s name and show grades for the 2021-2022 school year and the fall 2022 school year.
2. Two Educator Recommendations: Students should request recommendations from two educators (teachers, administrators, or counselors) by sharing the link below. When your recommenders complete the form, the completed form will be emailed to PTY. Please do not request that your recommenders write a letter or submit a recommendation in any method other than the following form. The form takes 10-15 minutes to complete.
https://pty.vanderbilt.edu/PTY_educator_recommendation/
An application will not be considered complete, even though it may be marked as 100% in our application portal, until PTY receives two educator recommendations.
3. Resume: Submit a one-page resume as part of your application, so the Career Connections admissions team has a better understanding of your interests and extracurricular activities. Knowing more about you helps program staff determine if this program is a good fit. The resume should include extracurricular activities, work/volunteer experience, awards, and honors, etc.
The three portfolio components are reviewed together to determine whether Career Connections would be a good fit for a student. PTY will employ a holistic, context-aware review process to determine a student’s likely academic fit at Career Connections. Therefore, PTY recommends that students are thoughtful with their resume submission. Additionally, please be aware, all components of the portfolio, including educator recommendations, must be submitted for an application to be considered complete.
WAVU (Grades 7-12)
In order to determine if WAVU’s accelerated academic experience is a good fit, all students are required to submit qualifying documentation as part of their application.
Please note, WAVU does not compare one student to another in the admissions process. We review a student’s application in its entirety to ensure that the program will be a good academic fit for the student. Incomplete applications will not be considered in first-round reviews.
There are two application components:
1. Test Scores or Educator Recommendations
At this time, due to the impact that COVID has had on testing availability and requirements, PTY is allowing for students who do not have test scores available to submit two educator recommendations in lieu of test scores. Selecting one option over the other will not help or hurt a student’s chances of placement.
Test Scores Option:
Please note that test scores in the 90th percentile and above for age group in one or more sections on an advanced achievement assessment (ACT, SAT, PSAT) OR any other nationally normed standardized assessment (such as state testing, MAP/NWEA testing, ITBS, or ERB) if advanced achievement assessment scores are not available suggests that VSA would be a good fit academically for a student. We also accept cognitive measures (i.e., WISC-V, CogAT, Otis Lennon, Stanford-Binet) and out-of-level test scores (i.e., ACT in 7th grade). Individual ability and/or achievement assessments from psychologists are also accepted. All pages of the individual evaluation and assessment need to be included. Test scores should be less than three years old.
When reviewing scores, we look specifically at strengths and accelerated achievement in the content area(s) for selected mentorship(s) of interest. For example, if a student is applying to a humanities mentorship, the PTY team is looking at reading/writing/ELA test scores.
Students may submit a screenshot or picture of an assessment as long as the student’s name is visible on the test results.
Educator Recommendations Option:
Please note, while submitting educator recommendations instead of test scores does not hurt a student’s chances of admission, PTY strongly encourages students to submit test scores if available.
Students who do not submit test scores should request recommendations from two educators who know of the student’s ability in subject areas related to the mentorship(s) of interest. Students may request recommendation by sharing the link below. When recommenders complete the form, the completed form will be emailed to PTY. Students should not request that recommenders write a letter or submit a recommendation in any method other than the following form. The form takes 10-15 minutes to complete.
https://pty.vanderbilt.edu/PTY_educator_recommendation/
A student’s application will not be complete, even though it may be marked as 100% in our application portal, until PTY receives two educator recommendations. We encourage students to ask recommenders to submit their recommendation prior to the 48-hour priority application window to ensure that the application is complete at the end of the window.
Can I request educators submit recommendations before a program application opens?
Educator recommendations can be submitted at any time. Before requesting educators complete the recommendation form, please create a SchoolDoc account (free) by visiting https://app.schooldoc.com/register/vanderbiltpty. As your educators submit recommendation forms, they will be internally associated with your account.
If I submitted educator recommendations for a previous PTY program application, do I need submit new recommendations for future PTY program applications?
You are not required to submit new recommendations if PTY has recommendations on file from the previous school year. We ask that you submit new recommendations if your previous submission is older than the previous school year. If we have current recommendations on file, you are welcome to request additional recommendations from educators who may be able to provide more recent assessments of your academic performance. Our admissions team may reach out to request additional recommendations depending on the content area of your top-ranked course or the date of your previous recommendations.
2. Transcript:
All students are required to submit a current transcript. Grades of mostly As and Bs suggest that WAVU would be a good academic fit. Through the transcript review process, we are looking for students who are highly motivated. PTY also understands that extenuating circumstances might impact a student’s grades. Please make sure you provide additional information if you believe your grades do not accurately demonstrate your ability or commitment to academics.
Transcripts can be submitted as a picture or screenshot of a student’s unofficial record but must include the student’s name and show grades for the 2022-2023 school year.
International Students: Vanderbilt considers you an international student if you are a citizen of any nation other than the United States of America. You are not considered an international student if you are a dual U.S. citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident, refugee/asylee, or a U.S. citizen living abroad. If you are an international student, in addition to the other qualification documents, you will be prompted to submit documents showing demonstrated proficiency in English.
Still have questions about WAVU eligibility? Contact our office at 615-322-8261.
VSA (Rising Grades 7-12)
In order to determine if VSA’s accelerated courses are a good fit, all students are required to submit qualifying documentation as part of their application.
There are two eligibility documentation options. Below is a description of each option.
Both options are considered equally when determining admission placements. Therefore, selecting one option over the other will not help or hurt a student’s chances of placement. All complete applications will be reviewed based on VSA’s admissions process and placement. Please carefully review the eligibility information below along with information about VSA’s admissions process and placement.
Please note, VSA does not compare one student to another in the admissions process. We review a student’s application in its entirety to ensure that the program will be a good academic fit for the student. Incomplete applications will not be considered in first-round reviews.
Eligibility Documentation Options
Option 1: Submission of Test Scores
Students applying to Vanderbilt Summer Academy who select this option should submit qualifying documentation at the time of application. Please note that test scores in the 90th percentile and above for age group in one or more sections on an advanced achievement assessment (ACT, SAT, PSAT) OR any other nationally normed standardized assessment (such as state testing, MAP/NWEA testing, ITBS, or ERB) if advanced achievement assessment scores are not available suggests that VSA would be a good fit academically for a student. We also accept cognitive measures (i.e., WISC-V, CogAT, Otis Lennon, Stanford-Binet) and out-of-level test scores (i.e., ACT in 7th grade). Individual ability and/or achievement assessments from psychologists are also accepted. All pages of the individual evaluation and assessment need to be included. Test scores should be less than three years old.
When reviewing scores, we look specifically at strengths and accelerated achievement in the content area(s) for selected course(s) of interest. For example, if a student is applying to a humanities course, the VSA team is looking at reading/writing/ELA test scores. PTY does not have cutoffs for standardized test scores in order to apply to the program. Also, please note that scores above the 90th percentile do not automatically guarantee admission into the program based on VSA’s randomized admissions process.
**If a student submits test scores slightly below the 90th percentile, we encourage a student to submit their transcript as well. This additional information is useful when determining fit for the program. We also ask that all students who apply for classes with prerequisites make sure to submit a transcript. Transcripts can be submitted as a picture or screenshot of a student’s unofficial record but must include the student’s name and show grades for the 2021-2022 school year and the fall 2022 school year.**
If a student’s test scores fall significantly below the 90th percentile in the area of VSA course interest, students should select the portfolio option as this option provides additional information for VSA staff to use when determining if placement in the program would be a good academic fit.
Students may submit a screenshot or picture of an assessment as long as the student’s name is visible on the test results. Please contact us at vsa.pty@vanderbilt.edu if you have questions concerning your test scores.
Option 2: Portfolio
At this time, due to the impact that COVID has had on testing availability and requirements, VSA is allowing for an option that does not require test score submission to determine program eligibility.
Please note, although selecting the portfolio option does not hurt a student’s chances of admission, VSA strongly encourages students to submit test scores (option 1).
Required Portfolio Components (3 Components):
1. Transcript: Grades of As and Bs in the most academically advanced courses offered at the student’s school typically suggest that the VSA program would be a good academic fit. Through the transcript review process, we are looking for students who are highly motivated. PTY also understands that extenuating circumstances might impact a student’s grades. Please make sure to provide annotation if the student’s grades do not accurately demonstrate their ability and motivation to participate in an accelerated academic environment.
Transcripts can be submitted as a picture or screenshot of a student’s unofficial record but must include the student’s name and show grades for the 2021-2022 school year and the fall 2022 school year.
2. Two Educator Recommendations: Students should request recommendations from two educators (teachers, administrators, or counselors) by sharing the link below. When your recommenders complete the form, the completed form will be emailed to PTY. Please do not request that your recommenders write a letter or submit a recommendation in any method other than the following form. The form takes 10-15 minutes to complete.
https://pty.vanderbilt.edu/PTY_educator_recommendation/
An application will not be considered complete, even though it may be marked as 100% in our application portal, until PTY receives two educator recommendations.
3. Resume: Submit a one-page resume as part of your application, so the VSA admissions team has a better understanding of your interests and extracurricular activities. Knowing more about you helps VSA staff determine if this program is a good fit. The resume should include extracurricular activities, work/volunteer experience, awards, and honors, etc.
The three portfolio components are reviewed together to determine whether VSA would be a good fit for a student. PTY will employ a holistic, context-aware review process to determine a student’s likely academic fit at VSA. Therefore, PTY recommends that students are thoughtful with their resume submission. Additionally, please be aware, all components of the portfolio, including educator recommendations, must be submitted for an application to be considered complete.
Are there additional requirements for international applicants?
VSA welcomes students from across the globe to apply for and participate in our summer residential program. Vanderbilt considers you an international student if you are a citizen of any nation other than the United States of America. You are not considered an international student if you are a dual U.S. citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident, refugee/asylee, or a U.S. citizen living abroad.
To learn more about eligibility requirements for international students, please visit the VSA International Student webpage.
Still have questions about VSA eligibility? Contact our office at 615-322-8261.