<p>I've been doing research on the schools I applied to, but it just makes them all seem great. They each offer a quality education, great campuses, etc. I'm not sure what I want to major in or what career I want to pursue yet. I'm considering something in dentistry, psychology, or journalism.</p>
<p>So, how do University of Virginia (UVa), Vanderbilt University, and the University of Pennsylvania compare? There are other schools I'm considering too, but I'll just start with those.</p>
<p>I can't decide if I would like an urban setting or a college-town better; there are pros to each. I definitely want to have fun in college, so a social scene is pretty important. I'm not saying I want a huge alcohol, crazy kind of party school, but I want to be able to have a good time AND get a great education. I'm a southern girl, so I'm definitely not used to super cold weather, but is that something serious enough that I should take it into consideration? I'm also a little worried about being surrounded by elitist people, but that's probably just a stereotype for some of the higher-ranked schools.</p>
<p>This is such a big decision .. any help, advise, or first-hand experiences would be amazing! :) Thank you!</p>
<p>All three are great schools, so you can’t go wrong there. As someone who has spent a lot of time in the South and in PA, I can talk a little bit about the differences. The weather is going to be 5-10 degrees, if that, in the winter and pretty much no difference in the summer. Philly is not like New England in that regard and still has a humid subtropical climate, just like the the South. The culture is very different. While I am from the Philadelphia area and love a good cheesesteak and my Phillies and Eagles, I think that the South is more appealing, but that is a personal decision that is perhaps influenced by my political Conservatism.</p>
<p>You ultimately have to make the decision, but Vandy offers the best of both worlds between a city and college town. The area of Nashville right around campus is like a college town (and the campus very much feels like you are not in a city). But then, a short walk brings you to downtown Nashville. Also, the sports there are as fun as they will be at any top-tier school, save Duke and Stanford.</p>
<p>I’m actually looking at these three schools too, so I’ll just write about what I’ve seen/heard about them :)</p>
<p>UVA- Charlottesville is cute, parts of it looked a little run down, but the little town area is absolutely adorable. It doesn’t really have the cityness of UPenn though. Sororities are a big part of campus and is consistently called a “preppy” school. They have great school spirit (do the whole tailgate thing) and I’m pretty sure that their social scene is also pretty good.
UPenn- You’re in Philly so you have the whole city within a bus ride. It definetly gets cold at points so if you’re not into that, then maybe it’s not the school for you. It’s an ivy so the academics are of course fantastic. They have a prominent Greek life, but it’s apparently very different then southern Greek life (i.e. not as much parties).
Vanderbilt- Sororities are a big part of campus life (so there’ll be opportunities for parties), the academics are supposed to be good and the campus is beautiful. The setting is kind of mix between UVA and UPenn so that’s the nice and the weather will of course not get as cold.</p>
<p>Thank you both so much for responding so quickly! Both replies were really helpful! </p>
<p>I’m not exactly sure if I’m the type of girl who should join a sorority or not… do you think that would limit my social life at any of these schools if I didn’t?</p>
<p>I don’t think the weather is a huge factor in my decision, it’s just always something to consider. It’s good to know it’s not like New England, though. Part of me feels like it would be fun to try out a new environment like Philly for college because I’ve always lived in pretty small southern towns. But then another part of me kind of feels like Nashville is the perfect location for me because I actually grew up near there. It’d almost be like going home for college, even though that sounds cheesy! </p>
<p>I applied to Vandy and Penn, so feel free to ask me any more questions about them.</p>
<p>Philly is fun and there is always a new historical place to see or a big game going on. Plus, you have to go on the cheesesteak tour! Nashville, in the one night that I was there, seemed like a great place to go to college. The city was not huge, but there were a lot of places to eat and things to do near campus and the downtown was great (Philly does not have anything quite like it). I like the student life better at Vandy, but Wharton would be tough to pass up if I am admitted.</p>
<p>I have been told that there are many social things you can do when you aren’t in Greek life. You don’t have to be in Greek to have a good time, but it certainly helps. When you get there you will be able to explore what its like and then decide to take the opportunity if you wish.</p>
<p>I applied to a lot of schools; I definitely wanted options. I’ve been accepted to NC State, UNC Chapel Hill, and University of Virginia. I’m waiting to hear from Vandy, Penn, Cornell, Duke, Brown, Yale, and Stanford. I know it sounds crazy to apply to so many amazing schools, but I figured aim high and see what happens! The problem is… I like several aspects of all of them. It’ll definitely be a tough decision if I get into more than one of the ones I am waiting to hear from.</p>
<p>And as for sororities, I just never really pictured myself in one. I’m not closed-minded about the idea, though. I’ll definitely check out some sororities wherever I go to see how I feel about it. I’m just afraid if I go to a school with significant Greek life (like Vandy) and decide not to go Greek that it’ll effect my social life more than it would at a school that doesn’t place as much emphasis on sororities. </p>
<p>More than 50% of the students at Vandy are non-Greek. It should not be a big deal. On another note, forums exist on CC about every school on your list. You can get your concerns addressed there.</p>
<p>Are you in-state for any of your public schools? If you do live in ACC Country, remember that changing sides of a rivalry as intense as those on Tobacco Road can be difficult if you are a basketball fan. I grew up a Duke fan and could never have applied to Carolina for exactly that reason. Even after being rejected by Duke, you have no idea how much delight it gives me to see Carolina losing to FSU right now!</p>
<p>forgive me if you’ve mentioned this already, where does money figure into any of this decision-making? which schools are cheaper for you to attend?</p>
<p>From what she has said, it does not seem to be a huge concern.</p>
<p>Also, if you are a senior, why did you not apply to Richmond? It has most of what you are looking for, while being a little easier to get in. If you are a junior, look into it.</p>
<p>Okay, I’ll definitely check out some other forums, thank you! And yes, I am in-state for UNC Chapel Hill and NC State. </p>
<p>Well, the cheaper the school the better of course… but some of the more expensive schools definitely seem to be worth the cost for the education, campus, location, etc. </p>
<p>Thank you so much for the help everyone! It’s just overwhelming at times because when I look up a school like UVA, I get really excited and can completely imagine myself there… but then I feel the same way when I research other schools such as Vandy, Penn, Cornell, or Duke for example. </p>
<p>I definitely do not expect to be admitted everywhere, so being accepted/rejected will definitely help my decision. I’m just trying to get an idea ahead of time since I’ll only have a month between notification and decision day on May 1!</p>