<p>Wow, Kenthomas, I don’t know where to start…“city of broken dreams”… really? where did you get that? can’t say I’ve ever heard Nashville called that. is that a line from a bad country music song maybe?</p>
<p>I agree with all the points that Bud123^ makes. Nashville is a very nice city and is one of the “pros” for attending Vanderbilt (it may not be the quintessential college town the original poster was looking for–it has too much else going on for that (Bud’s points 3-5 above)). </p>
<p>Just out of curiosity Kenthomas–are you a current student/resident of Nashville or is all your hating based on past, out-dated experiences?</p>
<p>With 7 post total and most of those on this thread, I do believe that 1kenthomas has an agenda. </p>
<p>Like all large cities, there is poverty and unsafe neighborhoods. But you will find that in Atlanta, Chicago, and even New York. As for the education, I personally know students who have graduated from Nashville Public Schools. They went to IVY league schools and were successful. Most statistics about Nashville populations and schools are skewed as many parents choose to send their children to one of the 30+ private schools in Nashville. I don’t think a city of poverty could support that many private elite schools.</p>
<p>BTW my illiterate, poverty stricken child scored a 34 on the ACT.</p>
<p>Honestly, one of the best things about Vandy is Nashville. Nashville is the perfect size for an urban area imo. Broadway is always busy. There is a decent amount of sports teams although you could argue we’re not the best ;)</p>
<p>The best thing about Nashville is obviously the music scene. Concerts everywhere, all those small bands you always wanted to hear live? They’re always going to come here once a year. All the little stores in Hillsboro are amazing, and a lot of the restaurants here are also quite nice. Also, if you have a car, shopping is pretty sick as well with Opry Mills and Green Hills.</p>
<p>Nashville is also a pretty safe place imo. I mean, I haven’t been mugged or anything so far ;)</p>
<p>Also, galaxyfigment, what does your child have to do with any of this? Nobody cares. Thanks for stalking the random guy on the internet.</p>
<p>I merely stopped by with an LSAT question and offered some frank, somewhat neutral assessment from an somewhat external perspective.</p>
<p>With comments like “my illiterate, poverty-sticken child got a 34 on the ACT” (big deal, BTW) I think my point is made. Tennessee’s literacy rates are what they are, and perhaps the biggest disadvantage, is local citizens’ willingness to turn a blind eye to problems that are quite different than elsewhere in the US and abroad.</p>
<p>“Tech jobs?” I have to guffaw at that; you’re either kidding or uninformed. Nashville should develop a tech sector, certainly, but what it has now is … nascent at best.</p>
<p>“Plenty of PhDs?” Mayor Dean has identified increasing the PhD % as a goal, because it’s low comparted to comparable metros, which is why I mentioned it. The problem is, why would a PhD want to live in Nashville ?</p>
<p>You’re offering personal anecdote in place of evidence. (One of the wonders of the South is its surviving personal, oral culture, but it does lead to this kind of substitution error).</p>
<p>I live one block north of campus, and am very aware of the local crime map. It’s one of the hottest areas in Nashville for violent and property crimes (for exactly the same reasons that the tourist areas of Mexico City is), and compares disfavourably to other high-crime areas with much worse “raps” (I’m thinking East Oakland). Despite what others say above, I’d say there’s a lot of social and racial tension under the surface. </p>
<p>To what extent this affects the OP’s question, I’m not sure. Ultimately for someone in OP’s position, it will come down to a series of choices and comparison between places, not “whether Nashville is good/bad.” Or as we assert at Williams about college choice in general, it’s not about how good the college is but about how good a fit the college is with you.</p>
<p>We’ve visited Nashville many times since my D started there as a freshman last year, and every time we go, we remark on how warm and nice the people are there. I’m not talking about the students (who are nice and friendly, too). I’m talking about the people who work in the stores and restaurants, who work for the moving companies, and who install your cable and internet. Everybody. They are just nice people. There is a good vibe there.</p>
?</p>