The most accurate AI grader for Vanderbilt essays.
Kolly was built and calibrated on hundreds of thousands of essays from students who actually got into Vanderbilt University and the rest of the T20.
Vanderbilt essay prompts for 2025-26
Copy the prompt you are answering into the prompt field above, then paste your draft, so the readers grade the answer against the question it has to answer.
These are the most recent Vanderbilt prompts Kolly has verified, checked . Vanderbilt may have updated them since, so check Vanderbilt University admissions before you submit.
Crescere Aude / Dare to Grow
Vanderbilt University's motto, Crescere aude, is Latin for 'dare to grow.' In your response, reflect on how one or 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.
250 words max · Required
Activity Influence
Vanderbilt offers a community where students find balance between their academic and social experiences. Please briefly elaborate on how one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences has influenced you.
250 words max · Required
All Vanderbilt supplemental essays, with word limits and the published source.
How Kolly grades a Vanderbilt essay
The grade covers the same six dimensions as every Kolly read: hook, theme, detail, authenticity, reflection, and writing, each scored from 0 to 5. The big number is a percentile that shows where your draft lands among accepted essays of the same type from top US schools. Vanderbilt readers, like their counterparts at peer schools, read fast and form an impression in the first paragraph. The verdict quotes the line that lands and names the weakest moment, so you know what to fix first.
Why Kolly instead of a ChatGPT read
ChatGPT and other general models grade against writing in general, which is not what Vanderbilt readers do. Kolly grades against essays that got in, and four readers argue over the draft before they vote, so a polished answer that says nothing specific gets called out instead of praised. The quick read is free without an account. A free Kolly account adds the full review: a stronger scoring model, notes on each paragraph, and a fix-it plan.
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Use the main college essay grader for a Common App essay that goes to every school on your list. For acceptance rates, test scores, and cost, see Vanderbilt University admissions.