<p>Spring has sprung and as I am sure you all know, decision letters have been mailed and delivered. Congratulations to everyone who was admitted. It was an incredibly competitive applicant pool this year, and we spent countless hours reading applications and making very difficult decisions.</p>
<p>Now it is your time to decide and we know you have choices. If you have any questions about Vanderbilt, please check out our brand new website at </p>
<p>My daughter has been accepted at Vanderbilt & is weighing all her options right now. Her financial aid package isn't the best she's received, but it could be do-able. She just isn't sure she wants quite as large a school as Vandy, and she'll have to make that decision on her own. Somewhere along the line, Vanderbilt slipped down her list ... but I would really like her to take a better look. I think she would love Nashville, and I would like for her to seriously consider a larger school than she has been considering ... if only to "be sure."</p>
<p>A couple questions ... the common perception of Vanderbilt seems to be one of beautiful, rich, well-dressed girls. My daughter is a nice-looking, middle-class, nicely-dressed (Yankee) girl. No eating disorder ... no need to work out constantly ... no highlighted hair or manicured fingernails ... no designer duds. Can a nice girl like my daughter find happiness among the pampered princesses at Vandy? I know it's a stereotype ... but I am wondering, just the same!</p>
<p>And the whole money issue is a bit of a concern. Just how diverse is Vanderbilt, economically speaking? I figure an admissions officer just might have some stats to offer. We are comfortable, but we'll be stretched to the max paying for school (especially since it's the only school that didn't offer her a scholarship --- so as I work harder to pay, grant aid for the future gets smaller --- Catch 22!). If "most" kids are full-fare, it might not be a comfortable fit.</p>
<p>And ... how is public transportation in Nashville? If she didn't need a car, that might help in terms of finances. </p>
<p>Those were just a few random questions --- thanks for helping me out!</p>
<p>I can answer the second question regarding money, and please know that in fact most kids are NOT "full-fare." Actually, over 60% of students currently at Vanderbilt are receiving financial aid.</p>
<p>I have spent four years at a boarding high school that also has its share of rich students. I was worried this would be an issue. I found that there were very nice kids with lots of money and very revolting kids with lots of money. Same with the kids on financial aid. Some very nice, some revolting. There were times when it was evident when my friends with money could go to Europe for Spring Break and I went home and worked. But if that had bothered me, it would have been my issue and not theirs. People with money who have class don't flaunt their money. And people with money who don't have class aren't the types that I would want to be friends with anyways.</p>
<p>Stereotypes are just that. Stereotypes. Vandy has people with money just like every other private school. More of an issue to me is if the campus is isolated with very few ways to find entertainment. Vandy has Nashville and what I hear is there is plenty to do.</p>
<p>I would try to look beyond the money. Some have it, some don't. That is the way I see it. I would worry if the school though favored those with money, for instance, if those power hitters got preferential class selection, policy enforcement, and recognitions. That would be wrong.</p>
<p>and Kelsmom, I'm a white, middle class student with blonde hair and nonmanicured fingernails. Most all of my clothes are from Target (I love Target clothes!). And when I visited Vanderbilt everyone was so nice to me. </p>
<p>One thing if your daughter does attend Vanderbilt - it is a tad bit offensive to refer to the students there as pampered princesses. Unless their entire admissions was purchased, which I doubt, they have grade points and SATs and earned their way in like everyone else. And they have their own life experiences to deal with. I know that I would hate to be referred to as a pampered princess. And I don't call my friends from the North Yankees either (except my one friend whose is related to Steinbrenner because he really is a Yankee), because most would find that term divisive. All of my friends who have lots of money are people who have feelings too. They get hurt by breaking up with boyfriends/girlfriends, they struggle in class, and because they have money, they have a harder time asking the teacher to give them a break, which I don't have any problem doing, but they know that someone will raise the issue that the teacher gave them a break because they had money. Most kids just want to fit in, and sometimes it is harder for them to fit in than ordinary people like me.</p>
<p>I'm sure your daughter would be just fine around these people, that is unless it is too much of a difference for your daughter to handle.</p>
<p>Actually, the pampered princess stereotype is from me, not my daughter! And I stated that I do know it's a stereotype --- but it's common enough on some college-rating websites to prompt me to wonder. </p>
<p>My daughter has gone to school for the past four years with some very well-off students who live with & attend school with mostly well-off people. What has struck her is the lack of understanding many of them have of how the majority of people live (even just a few miles outside their own town). We live in a socioeconomically diverse area, and she attended school in earlier years with a lot of students from different backgrounds. She would like to attend a college where --- even if people have quite a bit of money --- students have an understanding of the world around them. So, it's not so much a matter of "Are they nice?" (after all, there are nice & not-so-nice in every group). It's more a matter of "Do they have a clue about the world outside their own privileged world?" (not using the term privileged in a negative context). Some will, some won't --- but if there are a good number of those who will, then that's what she is looking for! </p>
<p>I did find out that she actually has been thinking about Vandy a lot lately, and she is very interested. She thought it was too much more than other schools to consider, so she didn't say much. When I told her we can do it (I do choke as I say that, but we'll find a way) --- well, we are road-tripping this weekend for the CAS open house!</p>
<p>By the way, MM2007, my own nephew --- born & raised in Georgia --- calls us Yankees! We are from way above the Mason-Dixon Line, after all. We have spent years visiting a town that flies the Confederate flag in its downtown. Yankee hasn't been used as a put-down; it's more of a description. If it's politically incorrect, I apologize.</p>
<p>I have just a minute. But I agree, it is so important to appreciate what we have and help those who have less. Service is a big part of my life and from my work with an organization called Americas Promise, I've learned how many students don't have the basic support mechanisms they need to do well in school. Vandy is strong in community service. This is one reason I am leaning towards this campus. You can work with atrisk students, or help teenagers plan for the SAT and college apps, and there are many other areas of service. I don't plan to be a teacher, but they have a strong program in childhood development and I think you can work with autistic children or handicapped children. I also know that Nashville is a very strong community service oriented city. There is the Hands on Network there, and Americas Promise, and so many other ways to get involved in the local community. That is one way that I think Nashville has a lot to offer.</p>
<p>Glad you feel comfortable with the Yankee label. I'm not saying it is politically offensive, but I do know that there are still some who may find it divisive. That's all. It may not be anything to you, and another person might read a lot into the label Yankee. But then again, I'm a teenager, and I have formed my impressions from other students I go to school with. This may not be representative. </p>
<p>Good luck to your daughter in her decision. I am 90% Vandy but not there all the way yet. Have one more school to look at.</p>
<p>MM2007, thank you for your thoughts on Vandy's (and Nashville's) service orientation. That is just the kind of info that my daughter is looking for. She actually had Vandy at the bottom of her list ... she basically applied with the hope she might be considered for Ingram Scholars. When that didn't happen, she focused on other schools. As a result, she didn't look into Vandy as closely as she looked at several other schools. For several reasons, Nashville seems to be a great place for her ... not the least of which is her interest in emerging artists & contemporary Christian music ... and she has been increasingly drawn toward the school. She has a bit of catching up to do now! </p>
<p>You still are not decided, either? My daughter just wishes she could figure out what she is going to do & get on with it! Almost all her friends have known what they are going to do for some time now ... but there is no point in rushing an important decision. She'll have it all figured out in the next 2 weeks. Good luck to you as you make your decision.</p>
<p>Hi--I was in the same position you are in a few weeks ago! I am from Maine and was gung ho set on going to Clemson, until I was accepted into Vandy. I was really scared too about being able to fit in in a predominantly Southern and wealthy school. I'll be honest--my mind completely changed once I was accepted, I just felt like I couldn't turn down a top-20 school b/c that's where I felt like I had worked so hard to get into, and for my major (biomedical engineering), the opportunities available to me are unparalleled.</p>
<p>Needless to say, I officially enrolled a little over a week ago. I joined the Facebook group for Vandy 2011 and have met many people. As far as the "Yankee" label is concerned, I was so very surprised to see how many people are attending next year from New England! I guess they weren't kidding when they said this year's class is the broadest geographically. Furthermore, every single Southerner I have met attending next year either 1. is originally from the North and has moved South (usually due to the weather lol) or 2. lives up here during the summer--I have felt no hostility at all! But I'll be honest, there are some kids who go out of their way almost to prove they have money, but for every person like that, there is at least another who is the total opposite and is just as worried about "not fitting in" b/c of their financial situation. Overall though, I just say let the people who want to segregate themselves financially do so and let everyone else (the majority from what I see) enjoy each other, because they are nice, and ambitious--that's what got them in, not their last name!</p>
<p>Jelybo could you please do me a link to facebook. My son just decided last nite after the admitted student reception in atl. that he is going to vandy. Made my wife and brother both alums of vandy very happy.</p>
<p>Everyone is very nice and feel free to add people as friends--it's a great way to meet people and it has definitely made me feel a lot better about my decision! :)</p>