Hi! I’ve been narrowing my list and have realized that Brown and Vanderbilt are definitely my top two choices, but I’m having trouble deciding where to apply ED. I’ve loved Brown since I started my college search, while Vanderbilt was more of a surprise, but now I’m kind of stuck. The problem is, I’ve visited both, but at Vanderbilt I wasn’t able to do an official tour so I don’t know if I was able to form as informed an opinion as I was for Brown. I was wowed by what I did see at Vanderbilt, while I wasn’t at Brown, but I think that might have been mostly based on my expectations going in. I know this is a personal decision that ultimately I will have to make, but I would love some insight on how best to make this choice. I just don’t want to end up hating the one I end up at (if either) and being like “what if”.
Here are the pros and cons for me of each if you’re interested:
Both:
Pros - Locations, D1 Sports (to watch, I don’t care if they’re good), Medium Size, Pretty Campuses
Brown:
Pros - Open Curriculum, Fun Traditions, Perfect Major, “Chill” Vibe
Cons - I’ve heard some negative feedback about it, Weather
Vanderbilt:
Pros - Campus is especially gorgeous, happiest student rating, freshman housing system, Weather
Cons - Course Requirements, Dominant greek life (not sure if I’d want to go greek), anti-semitism in the south
I know these are very different schools but any help choosing would be much appreciated. I know it would probably be wiser to wait and apply to both RD and decide based on Admitted Students Weekends if I am accepted to both, but I would really like to apply somewhere early (plus, I know it helps for Vanderbilt). Thanks!
Where do you fall politically? That might help you decide. Brown is known for having an extremely liberal and progressive environment. I don’t think Vanderbilt is necessarily conservative, but it is in the South, so it’s probably a lot more moderate and maybe slightly conservative leaning.
But honestly, based on your listed pros and cons, it sounds like Brown is a better fit. I don’t think having heard negative feedback is a legitimate con for Brown; all schools receive both positive and negative feedback no matter what (personally, I’ve heard more negative feedback about Vanderbilt than Brown). So unless weather is really important to you, I would go with Brown.
I agree that it would probably be wiser to wait until RD though.
If you have to ask, I think you shouldn’t apply early. You don’t have a clear first choice. If you’re worried about “What if,” imagine how you’ll feel in December if you get accepted to Vanderbilt and have to withdraw your application from Brown before you even know whether you got in or not (or vice versa).
But if you absolutely have to apply early knowing that it’s not the best choice for you, then the cynic in me says…it doesn’t really matter, right? If you are so torn between the two that you can’t choose and you think you’d be equally happy at either, then you can flip a coin and select which one to apply ED to. (If the idea of doing that makes you feel uncomfortable, then you definitely shouldn’t apply ED.)
I don’t think you’ll have to worry too much about anti-semitism in Nashville. And Nashville is a blue city in a county that usually goes blue; Vanderbilt (like most universities) is a pretty liberal place. I don;t think that should be a deterrent.
I do agree, though, that it sounds like Brown is a better fit: all of the pros you listed for Brown are things that you personally like about it, whereas most of the things for Vanderbilt are more abstract concepts you can read in an advertisement (happiest students, the housing system, campus).
Thank you both! @lalalemma I am liberal but not heavily so, so politics isn’t a huge concern. I forgot to mention that I automatically have a $5000 per year national merit scholarship (assuming I’m a finalist) at Vanderbilt, and will apply for their larger scholarships, which is a plus but not a necessity. I’ve definitely been leaning towards Brown for a long time and probably will apply early there, I basically just suck at decisions
Have you tried to identify other colleges that combine some of the pros of both Brown and Vanderbilt, but without the negatives? Other selective, small-medium sized schools located in areas with mild climates include the Claremont Colleges, Davidson College, and New College of Florida. Pitzer is a California college with no Greek system and a relatively flexible curriculum.
I agree with lalalemma that from your post it seems like Brown is the way to go for you. Vanderbilt is quite “formal” and “Southern” in it’s traditions. Wearing suits, pearls, etc. to activities northerners would normally wear jeans to is just one small indication of the social environment there. You will also be going to school with kids who live on family “farms” with slave quarters on them. Obviously there will be a diverse student population there but overall it will be a more structured social environment.
-Nobody on this site knows more about you than you do, so it is ultimately your choice.
-From your comments, it sounds like Brown is your #1
-If you are truly conflicted, can you visit both schools again this month? Spending a day at her two top choice colleges in the fall of her senior year helped my D to pick her ED school and made her feel very confident she made the right choice.
-You can also consider applying RD to both and re-visiting if you are accepted at both schools.
-Also I believe Vandy has ED2 (check the school website) which would still be an option if you don’t get into Brown ED.
@tk21769 It’s actually funny that you say that because I just got back from a weekend at pomona (which was for a long time my third top choice) and I liked it but not as much as I liked the other two. I also looked at davidson and ended up deciding against it for several reasons.
@happy1 Yes, I am fortunate to be able to pay for either. Unfortunately, because I live on the west coast, it would both expensive and difficult timewise to visit both again. Also, I know that Vanderbilt has ED2 but at my regional information session they said that the admission rate is higher ED1 but not ED2, so if I apply early I’m inclined to apply ED1.
Brown has a grade-optional policy which can make it difficult to attend grad schools if you don’t elect to take a class for grades. It can make undergrad GPA’s meaningless if you choose the option frequently. This comes up occasionally when Brown students apply to some medical schools.
Hmmn, can you clarify on that difficulty with Brown grads getting into either grad and/or professional school. Is this an anecdotal comment, or is there something more detailed via numbers that you can submit. I have a number of both friends and students (MBA/Law School) that graduated from Brown, and have never heard it as an actual impediment.
As for #8, if that is a concern just take your classes for a grade and not S/NC (pass/fail). I recall some writing classes being only S/NC but most you have the option.
@TooOld4School In terms of the grade optional policy, any student at Brown (or any other school for that matter) would be unwise to take many classes S/NC Students should recognize that too many S/NC classes would be hurtful for grad school admissions and job hunting. It is fine to use that option now and again particularly for interesting classes outside of a student’s comfort zone (ex. a chem major taking music theory etc.) and students at many other colleges use a P/F option for a class in a similar fashion. Just because the option is there at Brown, it does not mean that students must or should use it.
CC has a slight obsession with Brown and Stanford and widespread ignorance of southern colleges, particularly the lesser-known ones – something to keep in mind. You’re the best person to judge the best fit for you.
This article from Vandy’s student newspaper last year discusses Jewish life on campus and the tremendous strides the university has taken in the last 10 years.
I agree that RD may be the way to go. Glancing over your stats, you’re a competitive applicant for the RD round, though it’s admittedly usually more competitive.
More suggestions are likely the last thing you need, but I’m surprised Wash U, Rice, and Duke haven’t made your list of colleges to consider (in more or less that order).
@warblersrule Thank you for commenting! I actually added Wash U a few weeks ago. I visited Rice on the same trip as Vanderbilt and hated it, and after researching Duke and going to an information session I concluded it wasn’t the right place for me.
Here is my opinion after reading your comments. I think that you seem to prefer Brown but very much like Vanderbilt. There is no issue of anti-semitism on the Vanderbilt campus to reassure you. My son’s best friend just graduated from Vanderbilt, and was the President of one of the Jewish fraternity. The only problem that he had was actually leaving Vandy and Nashville because he loved it so much. Both are excellent schools with high powered academics and opportunities that many can only dream of. You can not go wrong though there are no guaranteed admits to either of these places even for the best and brightest.
Early Decision is like a marriage - you are going to the altar with that college. If you are unsure, then you should not be applying ED. Maybe it would be best to apply to your whole list, and see where the chips fall. Often times, what a person is 100% sure of in the fall of their senior year changes by the time admissions roll around in March. My son had his heart set on Northwestern for a number of years - school, location, and program. By the time March rolled around, he was hoping that he did not get in so he could attend another school that he realized was a better fit during the course of senior year (this is where he attended and just graduated from). Maybe you should give yourself that time.
Why do you think the south would be anti-Semitic? Active Jews might be a smaller percentage of the population in the south, but that does not mean that people are anti-Semetic.
@Zinhead I have Jewish friends in the south (Georgia and Florida) who have dealt with anti-semitism throughout high school. I also know that recently someone spray painted a swastika at Vanderbilt. I hope that even if I do end up in the south, it won’t be an issue, but from what I have read and heard it can be an issue.
My advise is to NOT apply ED anywhere unless you are very, very sure it’s the place for you. That means you have researched it, visited/toured, saw classes, ate there, slept there. Seriously. It’s just too risky and you’ll wonder about the other possibilities. Also, don’t apply ED to a big reach unless you are OK with the risk. ED is much better used at a place where you are a good bet to get in, and visited in depth and really liked it/ loved. This is advise from a mom whose S used the ED card and it worked out the best it could ( because 17year olds are still getting to know themselves).
BTW, I find that usually the student attracted to Brown is not attracted to Vanderbilt. And maybe vice versa? I have toured both and the vibe is very different. My D also toured both (different times) and had that reaction.