<p>A few months ago, we were just like you, browsing this forum and the internet looking for answers about Vanderbilt and other schools.</p>
<p>Well, we've been on campus for a few weeks now, so feel free to ask any random questions you might have for the freshmen who chose Vandy.</p>
<p>I know that this is a pretty vague question, but what made you choose Vandy over all of the other schools you looked at? Do you think you made the right decision?</p>
<p>I was just wondering what kind of GPA, SAT or ACT scores did you have to get into Vandy. Also what EC’s did you have? Im looking at Vandy and Wash U in St.Louis, but I heard Vandy is easier to get in.</p>
<p>what is the student body truly like? are there people from the midwest at all?</p>
<p>how big of an influence do the fraternities/sororities have on campus?</p>
<p>is it even possible to have a social life if you aren’t in a fraternity?</p>
<p>ill join in on this. im also a freshman.</p>
<h1>1. why choose vandy= financial aid was amazing, the weather is (normally) amazing, and its a greattt party school ;)</h1>
<h1>2 3.3 gpa (UW), 2300 SATS (1600), ECs were alot of volunteer/national merit/guitar stuff. HOWEVER…im (it seems) like the most underqualified student here, so there is some serioussss competition. Dont think that vandy is even closeee to easy to get into.</h1>
<h1>3 there’s people from everywhere, and honestly no one seperates into their own little “cliques” of their own regions or anything like that. No one really hates on you if you’re different than anyone else either, its all really nice (at least for now).</h1>
<h1>4 Every friday, saturday, sunday, and sometimes weekdays ive been going to the frats. This doesnt mean im going to eventually join the fraternity, but you can damn garuntee im rushing at least 1 semester (if not multiple). If you’re a guy…rushing is important to get into the frat parties, meet the brothers, and solidify connections to get into the parties. if you’re a girl…you’re fine. For a guy, besides maybe going to clubs and stuff (which i cant do), its mostly pregame in dorm, then go hit the frats.</h1>
<p>You go to frats on Sundays? That’s literally the one day I’ve never been to a frat in my 3 years here…(unless you count after midnight on Saturday as Sunday). Oh and to whoever asked, you don’t have to go to frat parties to have fun. Most upperclassman hang out in suites then go downtown, or even stay in and hang out.</p>
<p>not last sunday cause i didnt feel well. but rush events happened the sunday before so i went.</p>
<p>and yeah i mean theres alot of pregaming and stuff in dorms, and then some people go to clubs. its just still hard because you may need to “be” 21</p>
<p>Is there people in your classes that you wonder, “How did they ever get accepted to Vanderbilt?” Or is everyone that you meet on campus a diabolical genius with perfect standardize test scores?</p>
<p>Is there many transfer students? If so, are they looked down upon?</p>
<p>“but what made you choose Vandy over all of the other schools you looked at? Do you think you made the right decision?”</p>
<p>Finaid was incredibly generous, and was one of the highest ranked schools I got into. Perfect size, great weather, lots of focus on undergrads, really great freshman experience/culture, nice atmosphere, beautiful campus, etc. I mean, it’s all that I was looking for in a school.</p>
<p>“I was just wondering what kind of GPA, SAT or ACT scores did you have to get into Vandy. Also what EC’s did you have? Im looking at Vandy and Wash U in St.Louis, but I heard Vandy is easier to get in.”</p>
<p>Check statistics websites for the numbers but you obviously need to be a strong student. Personally, I was a varsity athlete and involved in a few clubs/leadership roles. Work experience and a long list of random awards/honors. For the record I was waitlisted at WashU, but they aren’t need blind, and I know that hurt my profile there. I rarely hear good things about WashU other than their rank, not to bash them or anything.</p>
<p>“what is the student body truly like? are there people from the midwest at all?”
It’s just as diverse as any other elite campus. There are a lot of people from the east coast, but there are also many from Cali and Texas and everywhere else. Tons from Tennessee too of course. The two people sitting in my room right now are both from Missouri, and I’m from Texas. The student body as a whole kinda “looks” like an upper middle class atmosphere because that’s just the Vandy culture, but when you actually meet people, you’ll find there’s just a wide range of cultures and financial backgrounds and whatnot (in fact Vandy was praised for it’s economic diversity this year, despite the stereotypes about the typical Vandy student). Also, to dispel any rumors, Vandy culture is not at all a part of Nashville’s western, country music culture, though we do take pride in living in Music City. Geographic diversity is NOT something to worry about. </p>
<p>“how big of an influence do the fraternities/sororities have on campus?
is it even possible to have a social life if you aren’t in a fraternity?”</p>
<p>If you are into partying, frats definitely dominate the social scene. But then again, you don’t even have to be in the Greek life to go to most frat parties, and there are non-frat related parties that go on, though they are usually more upperclassman-oriented. It’s absolutely possible to have a social life outside of it. Under half the student body pledges, so that leaves just as many people who are NOT pledging. There is kinda some pressure to go out and drink, depending on who you hang around, but I have found that there is no pressure to join Greek life. Some kids are into it, and some are not- even a lot of us who love to go out and party aren’t wanting to pledge. Anyways, the entire fall here is “rush” for guys, so you really will get a feel for the social scene LONG before pledging comes. Rush for guys is really informal too, so that’s cool.</p>
<p>**"Is there people in your classes that you wonder, “How did they ever get accepted to Vanderbilt?” Or is everyone that you meet on campus a diabolical genius with perfect standardize test scores?</p>
<p>Is there many transfer students? If so, are they looked down upon?"**</p>
<p>I have yet to truly come across one. There are people who act really stupid in social settings, but in terms of academics, everyone here is qualified. We’re all normal kids, who love to have a good time and hang out, we just happen to have done really well in highschool. You’ll make friends with someone and have no idea how intelligent they are and later find out that they were valedictorian with a 2400. Everyone comes from the top of their hometowns so it’s a really interesting experience to be humbled by all the people around you in class- even the people you don’t expect to be intelligent end up being intelligent. That all being said, it’s not a swarm of geniuses; this is Vanderbilt, not CalTech. Obviously, some are clearly not as intelligent, but they still leaps and bounds ahead of those kids who you shook your heads at in highschool.
I’ve been really pleased that the academic rigor doesn’t spill into the social life. Like I said, we’re smart AND like to have fun. It’s not a bunch of nerds going out partying like you might find at other schools. It’s a bunch of cool people having a good time, who all just happen to be really intelligent. It’s really easy to have intelligent conversations, and it’s easy to make friends, when you’re all in a similar level intellectually.</p>
<p>Not much I can say about transfer students yet as a freshman. All I can tell is that the faculty treats them really well. I’ve heard that it’s a lot easier to get in as a transfer, so they may earn a rep for that, but I don’t really know yet.</p>
<p>Well, that was wordy.</p>
<p>Thank you for your prompt and well written response, good sir!</p>