Yes, of course! I glanced at OP’s posts and saw high income but that means nothing if parents aren’t willing to pay the +$60,000 a year without significant debt.
@goingnutsmom and @smokinact , thank you both for commenting! I agree it is a little strange that I love two schools that are so different but after extensive research and visits to both, I have found that they each fit me really well. I also am very lucky to have wonderful parents who are willing to pay the full price if I attend Brown. I know ED is a risk but I have a lot of schools on my list and would love to save the time and money of applying to all of them if at all possible. I also believe that while obviously Brown is a reach for anyone, I am qualified and have as good a chance as anyone of getting in, so because I love it I think it’s worth it. I really do wish I could visit Brown and Vanderbilt each one more time before ED but as I mentioned flying cross country is really not possible for me right now timewise.
Then if you have researched it, your parents back you up financially for ED, and you have a good chance to get in, then why are you hesitating? It seems that if someone suggests to not ED you reply that you want to ED to Brown. Then do it.
Also, the ED thing to Brown is puzzling me. My D was invited to a workshop that had Brown and 4 other selective schools (Cornell, Johns Hopkins, Barnard, Bryn Mawr) and she asked about ED. The admissions rep said that applying ED would not be an advantage to Brown because it is mainly used for athletes. She was very discouraging. There were about 12 kids with their parents there. Others here on CC have said that it does provide an advantage. Their website says that 26% ED are athletes. Others on CC say that legacies and faculty make up the majority of the rest. Others say it does provide a strong advantage. Who knows? But whatever school you are 99.9% sure about, apply ED. BTW, my D is not applying ED anywhere. She isn’t in the 99.9% sure category.
I meant to say the kids of faculty members.
I have visited both campus and for what it’s worth, here are some key similarities and differences I see. This is not an exhaustive list by any means.
Similarities:
Both have beautiful campus that integrate well into the surrounding urban environment. My impression is that Brown is much more compact
Undergraduate population is sized similarly (but grad population is roughly 2x as big at Vanderbilt)
Both highly selective (Vandy slightly less so) but both under 10% acceptance rate.
Both offer a great education and have a diversity of academic programs.
Nashville has an amazing music scene; the cultural amenities of Providence and Boston are also mighty fine
Differences:
Vandy offers some merit based scholarships - they are extremely competitive but they exist. Brown is need-based only.
Vandy has a significant Greek scene. Brown is phasing out Greek life.
Enthusiasm for college sports seems more vibrant at Vandy
South vs. NE: given that you are from California, you might be more comfortable on the east coast than in the south. Granted, both schools draw from all over the country. However Brown will have relatively more urban/suburban/NE students and Vandy will have a more southern-inflected student body. I think that Vandy might take you a bit more out of your comfort zone socially and culturally. That can be a good or bad thing, depending on what you seek in your college experience.
As mentioned by somebody else, Wash U at SL seems more comparable to Brown than Vandy and I’d put it on your list. WUSTL also has a sizable Jewish population if that’s important to you. I think it’s worth a closer look.
My recommendation: I’d only apply ED if I had a clear first choice that was also viable financially. Sounds like you’re not quite there yet but are leaning towards Brown.
Good luck!
@goingnutsmom I have been given the impression that ED doesn’t help for Brown (although I know it does for Vanderbilt) but it would be nice to know early and even if I get a possible disadvantage I believe they defer about 60% of ED applicants so I don’t think it would affect my chances all that much.
@mamaedefamilia thank you for your response! Is Brown actively phasing out greek life? I thought it was just small. I am actually applying to Wash U, but I don’t like its campus and several of the other things I know about it as much as I like the same things at Vandy.
If you’re interested, my non-academic “wishlist” of sorts is
*Near or in a city, but with most life on campus
*Preferably, most students live on campus
*Minimal core requirements
*Medium size (5000-8000 ish)
*Housing system (a la Harvard/Yale or Vandy’s first year housing system)
*Not too cold
*Fun campus traditions
*Good sports to warch (football or baseball, I don’t like basketball)
As you might be able to see better from this, Vanderbilt hits more of these points but I still think I like Brown better, so I think that’s where my dilemma is coming from.
Yeah, it does seem Vanderbilt hits most of those above points. What holds you back from ED to Vanderbilt? Is it the prestige factor of an Ivy? Finding a great fit is much more important than prestige. You mention that your parents are willing to pay for Brown full pay. Are they not willing to pay full pay to Vanderbilt if it comes down to that (you may likely get merit from them) but not a sure thing)?
@goingnutsmom the things that brown hits of these points, it hits in general better than Vanderbilt, but as a said Vanderbilt hits more of them so that’s why it’s a little hard. My parents are willing to pay full pay at Vanderbilt as well, although assuming I become a National Merit Finalist I would have at least a $5000 a year scholarship.
Then do what intelligent people do and toss a coin. My H used this method to decide about work/PhD stuff. Notice your reactions.
Or just apply to Brown using ED.