<p>I got off both schools' waitlists recently, and I'm totally stuck between them with time running out. I'm not totally sure about what I want to do in the future, but I'm interested in business (NOT investment banking on Wall St. btw) and I want to maybe get into proprietary trading after college. I'll be studying econ/math at Vandy and business at UNC. </p>
<p>UNC is cheaper than Vandy by 20k/year, but money isn't particularly a big issue and my parents are willing to pay for Vandy full price if I go there. Both schools seem to have around equal name-recognition and job opportunities after college, although Vandy might be a little more prestigious. Both schools also have pretty active sports scenes, social environments, and school spirit. </p>
<p>What I'm worried about for Vandy is the overwhelming presence of Greek life. Although I'm not against it or anything and I'll probably consider rushing, I just feel a little uneasy about the fact that the social scene is completely dominated by Greek life. I'd really prefer if a school has a strong Greek presence that doesn't dominate the social scene but is available for those who are interested. </p>
<p>What I'm worried about for UNC is that it won't be nearly as geographically diverse as Vandy. I really want to be able to meet people from all over the country/world in college, and it seems harder to do so in UNC's 82% in-state population as opposed to Vandy's ~10%. Also, UNC's a lot bigger, and I'm a little worried I might get lost if I'm not really disciplined. </p>
<p>Basically, here the advantages/disadvantages that I can think of for each school:</p>
<p>Vandy's advantages over UNC
-Much more geographically diverse
-Slightly better academics
-Stronger student body
-More attention/smaller classes
-Size is around perfect for me (6-8k undergrads is around optimal for me)
-Arguably better name recognition</p>
<p>UNC's advantages over Vandy
-Better sports/school spirit
-More laid-back
-Greek scene doesn't dominate the social scene (this is a really important factor for me)
-Strong business school
-Easier to adjust to
-Really nice surrounding area
-80k cheaper</p>
<p>Can you guys offer some opinions, especially on job/recruitment opportunities for both schools? And feel free to correct me if you feel I'm wrong in any of my thoughts about either school. Thanks!</p>
<p>D1 had the same dilemma as you. In the end, she chose UNC. She had a fabulous experience, and felt very quickly that she had made the right choice. However, I don’t think you can go wrong either way, really. </p>
<p>Sorry I can’t really help you here. You have a nice problem. :)</p>
<p>Based on your post, it appears Vandy might be where your gut is choosing. </p>
<p>First, you started the post with Vandy vs UNC, next your advantages started with Vandy. </p>
<p>As Nrdsb4 said you cant go wrong either way. Additionally there are no financial constraints, so go with your gut!!</p>
<p>Have you visited both schools? </p>
<p>Congrats!</p>
<p>S2 had the same dilemma. He chose UNC. It was the right choice for him.</p>
<p>There is a lot of Vandy social life not Greek centered. Also, SEC sports are amazing and there is a lot of excitement around Vandy football right now. Baseball and basketball are usually strong. Nashville is a great city and there is so much to do. </p>
<p>You have 2 excellent choices, but I think Vanderbilt is worth the money.</p>
<p>Let’s see… In order of importance :)</p>
<p>South: check
Decent basketball: check
Good schools: check</p>
<p>Go down individual departments’ offerings and see what courses and profs they have that may stand out. Compare degree plans and see how your ideas for a future would fit into either school’s plan of study. </p>
<p>Consider your academic strengths and weaknesses and see how they play with the schools’ available resources (i.e. if Vandy or UNC requires a foreign language - as an example - and you hate learning a language, or if you need tutoring, or this or that. Look for study abroad opportunities, dorm life, things that may not be so obvious at first)</p>
<p>Since econ/math sounds analytical and computer based also look at how many free electives you will have to pick up computer skills and the like…</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for your input. </p>
<p>nrdsb4 and eastcoascrazy, were your children who picked UNC over Vandy OOS or instate?</p>
<p>Just wondering, what are the reasons your daughter chose UNC over Vandy?</p>
<p>My D just loved the atmosphere of UNC. She felt like it had much more socio-economic diversity. She had spent her entire life in affluent private schools, and Vandy just seemed too familiar. Even though UNC is a “large” private, compared to our state flagship (48,000 students), it is much smaller and never seemed “large” to her. Chapel Hill is small, the quintessential college town. Nashville is fabulous as you know; I mean, it’s Nashville. :)</p>
<p>Don’t get me wrong, she was admitted RD to Vandy and was happy and prepared to go and would have done well there. She is a bloom where you are planted type, but UNC had been her number one choice, so when she came off the waitlist, she didn’t hesitate.</p>
<p>Being out of state at UNC can be a little daunting at first. She rushed, so she had her sorority for the first year, then decided that though the girls were great, she didn’t have time to do that as well as all the other things she became interested in. Ironically, her closest friends are probably 90% other out of state kids, though she certainly did make friends with other NC kids. At Vandy, most students would have been other OOS kids, so you probably don’t have as much of the clustering in the old high school crowd syndrome that you get in the early weeks at UNC. That does change at UNC, though, as students begin to settle in and venture outside of their comfort zones.</p>
<p>Lastly: the fact that she got in off the waitlist was a non issue. She is about to graduate with highest honors, Phi Beta Kappa, etc. She was VERY well prepared academically to handle the rigors of UNC.</p>
<p>Sorrry I didn’t look at this thread earlier today.</p>
<p>We are OOS for UNC. UNC was my son’s top choice from the beginning. He loved the “vibe” of the place, loved the town, loved the size, loved the location. He was a little concerned about some of the same things you have voiced about Vandy: mostly the very strong Greek presence, and the “vibe” of the school. Our impression of the Greek life at Vandy was based to a great extent, on the experiences of a couple of kids we knew who are at Vandy. Both said, when we asked, that the Greek presence is very strong there. Both are involved in fraternities there, and are very, very happy at Vandy. My son was, and still is, on the fence about joining a fraternity. He very well might join one at UNC next year, which would be fine with us. He didn’t want to feel as though his entire social life would depend on it, though, and that was the impression he got when he asked the kids he knows who are at Vandy. It may not be an accurate impression, but you have to base decisions on something. </p>
<p>We, his parents, were concerned about Vandy’s price. He was accepted outright to both, not waitlisted, and received a nice institutional grant from Vandy, but it would still have been more expensive than UNC. UNC has been generous with work study opportunities, and he received a grant from the business school to offset some of the costs of a trip to South Africa this summer. </p>
<p>He has met many, many other OOS students at UNC, and many, many NC natives. UNC does not feel like a large school. When he walks across campus he usually runs into friends along the way. The school has a very open, welcoming feel.</p>
<p>There really isn’t a bad choice either way for you. But the two schools do “feel” different. Both are terrific, just different.</p>
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<p>OOPS! Large PUBLIC. My bad. :o</p>