2 Weeks Until COMMITMENT DAY and no closer to a decision!!!

I’ve been accepted to Northeastern Scholars Program and Vanderbilt, and I don’t know what to choose. I got a similar amount of aid from both schools. I want to major in biomedical engineering.

Northeastern:
Pros:I like everything that Northeastern does to promote the Scholars Program and all the opportunities for co ops, study abroad, volunteering, and research,
Cons: but I’m worried it’s almost too practical and not as prestigious. Also it’s so cold!

Vanderbilt:
Pros: I know Vanderbilt is higher ranked, but I’m not sure how much that should matter. Vanderbilt is a smaller beautiful school, and it seems to be a more traditional college experience.

Cons: I’m a white female, and not super social, but from what I’ve read most whites and most females join sororities. I think I could like sororities and a party school, but as of second half of senior year, I haven’t gone to many parties and I’m worried about making friends and getting in to a sorority. I’ve also read that there is a lot of pressure for women to be skinny.

Any advice? Which school should I choose???

At this point I wouldn’t worry about prestige. You are into two very good programs.

I’ll try to address your concerns about Vandy. I’ll just preface this by saying I’m a guy. Most white girls do join sororities at Vandy. You should have no problem getting into one, even if you are not super social. Literally any girl is guaranteed a bid unless they screw up big time (the same is true for a guy although the rush process is very different). As far as being skinny most, but not all, girls in the top sororities are skinny. In the lower-tier ones that is not always the case. The sorority system at Vandy can be described as superficial, and looks do play an important part in the rush process.

If you have any more questions/concerns about Vandy please ask.

choose Vanderbilt. The engineering program is hard but also has a lot of camaraderie. And you should be looking at job prospects and networking, unless you prefer the job placement outcomes at Northeastern–I am not going to look at those reports as you have probably done so. The decision to rush or not to rush can wait as you will have formal and informal ways to gather information on this decision when you arrive.

I think you would really like the freshman Commons experience. It’s a big improvement for the college as a whole for first years. Vanderbilt is also a varied and traditional social experience for an engineering student. (That is amazing that your financial offers are equal.) You did well indeed. Lots of top and very driven students in high school are worried about how they are going to manage re their social lives at Vanderbilt right now. Not everyone had a fabulous high school social existence, and they are wondering, just like you. Trust yourself. The admissions committee picked you. Trust them. Everyone at Vandy is really a “Scholar” admittedly so you won’t have that separate designation, but there is some freedom in knowing that all your peers have the goods to use their four years very well. I admire kids who come from a long distance to Vandy. My kids have some familiarity with the area so they were really not as “brave.” best wishes as you decide