Hi, if like to hear student experiences regarding courseload, greek life and the campus vibe. I have heard vanderbilt isn’t “southern” anymore and I think that’s a shame. My Midwest D likes the idea of being in an academic challenging yet genteel school. Friends say it’s too caught up in Being PC and copying the ivies.
And if anyone does respond, I’d love to hear where you are from and if you agree/disagree that vanderbilt has become too multi-cultural, perhaps intentionally favoring LGBT candidates and ethnicities over more lively. Engsged
***over more lively and socially engaged students who actually want to be there and are not ivy rejects.
Overly multi-cultural? Please, the answer to such a question can simply be answered by looking at the current ethnic demographics of the school. If it, Georgetown, and Notre Dame are “too” multi-cultural, than so is everywhere else. Also, Vanderbilt, much like other privates, has like 50% of the class coming in through ED and is clearly preferred over some competitor schools as its yield is very solid. Students applying RD may very well have been denied admission to Ivies, but they clearly like Vanderbilt more than other even similar choices or else Vanderbilt’s yield would not be so high (and students there claim they are happier than do students at other institutions in surveys, so I’'d say they’re pleased in general even if such surveys should be taken with a grain of salt. Students at other schools may just be more demanding or inclined to complain for various reasons). As for LGBT candidates and ethnicities? I don’t understand why that came up and why they would be less lively and socially engaged or wouldn’t want to be there. That’s like throwing some weird jab at those groups. Those groups seem to do fine at competitor institutions and contribute plenty to the vitality and intellectual atmosphere of campus regardless of it whatever the school was a first choice or not. The statement also suggests that schools that have more academically engaged students are a problem and cannot be as “lively”. This is just a weird way to set up a question.
Also note that Yale, Dartmouth, or Brown which I would consider slightly similar in terms of the type of social vitality are also very multi-cultural. I don’t think it did any damage to their atmosphere. Just sayin’. If anything, Dartmouth could perhaps afford a little more of it to diversify the social scene some (Apparently very Greek dominated).
I am quite familiar with vanderbilt and other southern academic schools. I have heard many people “in the know” say that vanderbilt now seeks (and even admits they do) having a diverse class, even rejecting equally qualified white-bread southerners and mid-westerners to achieve that end. I am not promoting a lily white school and am all for diversity… But I do know that they have gone overboard and that the campus vibe is not what “surveys say.” As for the LGBT community, I support that too but do not think that should be a criteria for admittance. And it is. The highest scholarship at tulane was just granted to a cross-dresser. More power to him, I suppose. Ask any native Nashvillian and they will tell you, it’s just not the same. I hope the students are happy… I just wanted to hear that from some.
“I am not promoting a lily white school and am all for diversity…”
Really? Your words and your tone suggest
otherwise.
“The highest scholarship at Tulane was just granted to a cross-dresser”
Do you think a transgender person is not worthy of the highest scholarship??!! Just maybe that person WAS the top candidate,??!!
Sheesh
I’m going to give up. I would like to hear from a wide array of happy students. I hope I do! And yes, maybe that trans-gender student was the most qualified out of every single tulane applicant. Just thought it interesting that had to be pointed out unlike every other scholarship recipient.
Where was it pointed out and by whom? Did Tulane point it out? Is it somewhere on their website? I would agree pointing out that fact is unnecessary.
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Saw it on a Facebook link and you tube. He is a drag queen (his own words), idk if trans-gender. Yes, both he and tulane publicized it. Just will conclude my words here, which are obviously not popular on CC, that it has become increasingly difficult to get in these schools for the academically gifted, non-ethnic, “non- labeled” student. It just has.
The highest scholarship I can find on their website is the “Stamps Leadership Award,” which “recognizes and rewards exceptional students who exemplify leadership, perseverance, scholarship, service, and innovation.” If that’s the one you’re talking about, surely it’s not so much of a stretch to see how someone who is transgender (and probably an activist of some sort? That would certainly make it relevant) could exemplify leadership, perseverance, and service, at the very least.
Is this the You Tube video? If it is, this person seems extremely intellectual with A LOT to offer society. https://youtu.be/If9QoqTOMMY
Yes, that is it. I agree, he is very well-spoken and creative. It’s a neat story. Why do we not hear of the other recipients though? What were their submissions? Again, I think my original point was lost. I give up:) good luck to all.
Your post seems to reflect that you are having many cognitive dissonances over picking a school. If your daughter wants a school that has a polite, synonym for genteel, atmosphere, the school will also be politically correct. And if you happen to look at the Common App, you will see that there is no way for a college to know any students sexual orientation, straight or LGBT+, without the student telling them. This might be done because a student thinks it may create a great part of an essay or supplement as it is part of their identity and they may have some experiences from it. Any student can absolutely have a wonderful essay without bringing in their sexual orientation. To do this, I would suggest being “lively” and “engaged” with the world with, most importantly, an open mind.
That appears to be posted to YouTube personally by the student, not Tulane. Other students have an equal opportunity to publicize their submissions
Your original point is not lost. I see EXACTLY where you’re going. Good luck to you and your daughter.
Okayy, my original point was that I have friends whose children are NOT happy at vanderbilt and I wanted to hear from students who are. I also have friends whose children have been rejected by vanderbilt with almost perfect ACTs , outstanding extracurriculars and the reason is that vanderbilt specifically states (in their magazine) that their goal is for a multi-cultural campus and that is considered. I’m not going to debate. I’m outnumbered.
@ohmtmom My son does not attend Vanderbilt, but he applied last year and we did an overnight visit (in a hotel). We both loved it! He is a top student from the northeast and I felt he would be very happy there. We spent some time with a freshman there who was just really happy and friendly, and showed my son all around. We talked to many students and they all seemed happy. I also noticed that many of them had applied ED, so since it was a clear first choice maybe it’s not surprising that they were happy. Our tour guide was from PA and spoke about how she chose Vanderbilt because of the balanced life it gives. As a mom, I was wishing I could pick it up and move it a little closer to home. But the airport is actually very convenient. Anyway, it’s all hearsay but maybe it helps! Good luck!
That is helpful and I appreciate the feedback without lecture.
@ohmtmom just so you know, the scholarship that kid won was one of 75 of the same full tuition scholarships to Tulane (in addition to another 100 of a different full tuition scholarship and 5 of a full ride scholarship). I won the same exact scholarship he did, and I am white, upper middle class, and did my project on my academic interest. Just wanted to clear up that his project was not selected as “the best” but simply as an outstanding project, as, I suppose, was mine.
To your original question - while I’m not a current Vandy student, I got in ED and will be going there next year. From what I can tell from the ED1 and 2 kids, everyone is really excited about the mix of social life and academics Vandy will offer, in a more typical collegey way than the Ivies. I personally can’t wait! Best of luck to your daughter.
What is it like for students who are not accepted into a fraternity or sorority? Is it cliquey like high school where certain social groups are considered more valued than others?
greek life is big here and certain things are much harder to do outside of greek life (depends on preference though). It’s easier for a girl to not be in greek life than a guy based on what I hear from others
that said greek life is inclusive as a whole although some of the better fraternities/sororities are very selective because too many of vandy’s students rush