I was recently accepted to Stanford University REA, and I also was awarded the CV scholarship and invited to the College Scholars Honor Program at Vanderbilt. Money aside, which do you think will offer the most opportunities for internships, close connections with professors, prestige, research, etc. If anyone has any experience as a College Scholar, could you please tell me about your experience? Do you feel it really gave you a leg up when applying to grad schools or securing a job/internship?
Stanford for sure. Congratulations!
I would not go to Stanford full price vs free tuition at Vandy. I would save those dollars to give me more power of choice for my graduate education, unless there is a pathway quite specific to Stanford that sets a national standard that is irresistible.
My son was a Vandy College Scholar- but not as an admitted freshman. He was a Chancellor’s Scholar who applied for admission to College Scholars after his first semester concluded when they do accept applications for a few more seats. (He had been admitted to three wonderful liberal arts colleges but matriculated to his best financial offer.) I would definitely say he thrived on intimate discussions and lectures led by lead professors. For him, the seminars were the classrooms he might have experienced at the liberal arts colleges that had admitted him.
There was not much regard to the age of the student in the seminars. You are mixed in with upperclassmen. There is no regard really for limiting level of difficulty either. The professor is usually enjoying the freedom to go in depth into one subject in the seminars. Sometimes, you could choose a topic that you select under the topic of the seminar to pursue in your writing. My son had done well on test scores in quantitative subjects but he didn’t pursue high level courses in math and science at Vandy. He knocked off some science and some other categories of core credits done via these intimate lectures where reading and writing and discussion are emphasized. If you are premed for instance, your class choices are not this flexible in sciences.
I think he took one Scholar course per semester except when abroad. These courses made his heart sing and took the drudgery out of knocking off the core curriculum for him. The seminars turned a regional research mid-sized powerhouse into an intimate liberal arts college for a few hours a week. He fully completed the College Scholars program as his way of graduating with honors. He didn’t apply for Phi Beta Kappa because he didn’t do one of their required academic standards.
The most important thing to fully grasp is that Vanderbilt has created multiple paths to graduate with distinction and honors for every student in your class. You will have time to catch your breath, change your direction, plan and regroup. Each Vandy freshman should study the pathways for distinction, and mull over what appeals to you. Some students double major. Some give all their fealty to one department and dig deep therein. Some are caught up in the arts. Some earn the GPAs for the cum laudes and so on. Some are selected for Phi Beta Kappa. You can also choose to graduate with departmental honors within your chosen major if you choose to do the work required.
hope that helps
@1stTimeThruMom Thank you!!
@Faline2 Yes, that was very helpful, thank you very much!
I am currently a CV at vanderbilt and I have to tell you that I have been able to interact with professors and research in very meaningful ways in just my first semester at Vanderbilt. I am currently doing a research project in on tourism on the Black Sea with a professor in the history department. Many of my friends are already involved in labs. Most professors here are very engaged with students. All first years live in dorms with a faculty member and their family, and this is someone who is very committed to building relationships with students. Ultimately, the honors seminar professors are also very interested in working with talented undergraduate students. In particular, the title of a CV is huge in many things on campus. It is an instant identifier that vouches for your ability to a professor.
What academic area are you interested in?
@morningJanet Thank you this was very illuminating!
@MYOS1634 I am technically undecided, but I am leaning towards biology and/or political science/public policy. Maybe even economics. I am looking for a school that gives me some room to explore and possibly double major.
At Stanford, you will be one of many. Go to Vanderbilt undergrad.