<p>I'm a senior in high school who's been accepted to a few different schools. I can't afford most of them, but I received the CV scholarship (4 years tuition) from Vanderbilt and the NMF scholarship (5 years tuition, 1 year housing, $24,000 cash, $2000 study abroad fund, iPad) from Alabama, so either one of them is comfortably affordable. I plan to major in computer science and possibly double major in math. My parents want me to go to Vanderbilt. They have not made that a secret and they're unhappy that I'm strongly leaning towards picking Alabama. The main points of their argument:</p>
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<li><p>Vanderbilt's engineering school is better than Alabama's. I would receive a better education and have more job/grad school opportunities. I think this is probably true but I don't know if the gap is as significant as they make it out to be. I don't see how Vanderbilt could teach me anything different than Alabama could. Computer science is basically the same everywhere, and math is exactly the same everywhere. I've heard that with a degree like CS/Math, the undergraduate school doesn't matter that much.</p></li>
<li><p>A lot of other kids from my school who did worse than me in high school are going to Alabama. My parents think I'm better than those kids and that I shouldn't end up in the same college as them. I sort of resent that because I'm good friends with some of them.</p></li>
<li><p>Vanderbilt doesn't give out very many full tuition scholarships, and they think I'd be disrespecting the institution by turning it down. They say I should be thankful for the scholarship and that I shouldn't say no. I don't think that a university that is essentially a multi-billion dollar corporation will take personal offense to anything I do.</p></li>
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<p>The reasons I'd rather go to Alabama:</p>
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<li><p>I think I'd enjoy Alabama more. The football team is better, the dorms are nicer, I like the campus better, I'd get to stay in touch with some of my friends, and I could afford to study abroad a few times. Nashville is a better city than Tuscaloosa but I can't think of any other aspect of daily life where Vanderbilt is better.</p></li>
<li><p>I don't think I'd fit in well with the demographics of Vanderbilt. I think that it has a lot of extremely rich kids who weren't quite smart enough for the Ivy League. I think I'd have trouble connecting with people whose parents have no problem dropping a quarter of a million on their college. </p></li>
<li><p>I don't want to deal with the academic environment of somewhere like Vanderbilt. I'm absolutely sick of pressure from classmates and teachers and parents and I don't want to sign up for another four years of it. I worked extremely hard in high school and ended up ranked first in my class, and I realize now that I didn't have to work that hard. I don't really like learning and I feel like I'd hate being on an intellectual campus full of people who did.</p></li>
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<p>Is there any legitimacy to my parents' viewpoint? Is there anything wrong with mine? Would I be losing THAT much future opportunity if I went to Alabama? I'm trying not to make a near-sighted decision and damage my future, but I can't make myself agree with them on this one. I feel like I'd be trading my current happiness for a chance to eventually buy my happiness with a more valuable degree if I went to Vanderbilt. </p>
<p>Congratulations on two very good options! The NMF scholarship at Alabama also includes admission into the Honors College, which has a good reputation. But, I would not pass up the CV scholarship at Vanderbilt. Also, while I note your sports concerns, Vanderbilt still is in the SEC and has won 9 games two years in a row (not 3 of the last 5 national championships, but still). But, if you really feel that you do not fit in at Vanderbilt, even with the scholarship, then go with Alabama (and free up a waitlist spot at Vandy for me!). The honors college is excellent, and it is one of the five schools I am still considering if I do not get off the waitlist at Vanderbilt.</p>
<p>Woah did you just say that “you don’t like learning”? If that’s the case, then I’m glad you’re being honest and think you would be better off going to Alabama where you don’t have to study that much and still get good grades. Vanderbilt will be a lot more competitive academics-wise and if you’re not up to that challenge and want to have a more relaxed college experience, then going to Alabama might be the credited response.</p>
<p>V1: quality of engineering school is rather irrelevant. Computer science is not really engineering, even if the major is housed within the engineering school of a university. You are correct that you would learn essentially the same things at either school. </p>
<p>V2: someday one of those “lesser” kids will be a millionaire, or maybe even your boss. Parents shouldn’t be so quick to think your friends are inferior just because you got an extra A or two.</p>
<p>V3: no school will take offense if you turn them down, and if that’s your decision, don’t look back. That said, a full scholarship from a top school is very compelling. </p>
<p>A1: Alabama football is better now, but that might not be the case when you attend. Vanderbilt is no longer a doormat in the SEC. Oh, who am I kidding. Bama will always rule (Roll Tide!). I have no doubt that you would love either campus. </p>
<p>A2: this is a valid concern, though not everyone at Vandy is like that, and you will still find plenty of rich kids at Bama.</p>
<p>A3: if you think you can skate through Bama as a CS/math double major, your quite mistaken. You might not be competing with those Vanderbilt geniuses during college, but you certainly will be competing with them at job time. If you’re sick of pressure, I suggest an attitude adjustment. You’re about to enter the real world.</p>
<p>You and your parents may be very surprised how many smart kids choose not to apply to the Ivies and chose to go to attend Alabama and Auburn, and not even for financial reasons. I have learned this year that FIT is probably the biggest factor in a student’s success. If you don’t like the environment or the students, you’re not going to be happy - probably not successful and then you’ve lost your freshman scholarship offers if you decide to transfer later. If you are happy your campus becomes your new home, you join clubs, get involved and have a fun new life with new people you chose to be around. It’s a wonderful growing experience.</p>
<p>Auburn is my favorite but honestly, Alabama will give you more money. </p>
<p>I’d always advocate happiness over prestige. After all, a bottom rung Vandy and Alabama grad are no different.</p>
<p>That said, I did meet the valedictorian of bama’'s art and science program. she’s in a large consulting company that hires from every type of school. Some doors will inevitably be closed to grads from large state schools</p>
<p>Vanderbilt is significantly more prestigious than Alabama. If you won Cornelius Vanderbilt, you likely got into other Ivy-caliber schools that might be a better fit for you. In the northeast, I’d say Vanderbilt’s peers are schools like Georgetown and Notre Dame. Alabama may have more regional prestige, but its not highly regarded in northeast (e.g. comparable to schools like Ole Miss, LSU, etc). </p>
<p>Plenty of people who work hard can have successful careers from any school. Here’s an example:</p>
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<p>And there’s plenty more like him. You’ll have no trouble getting a successful career outside of Alabama. That being said, the people that are among the most well connected in the country tend to go to a similar set of schools, which include some of the ivies, some private schools, and some state schools. I’m not familiar enough with either Alabama or Vanderbilt to tell you if either of them falls into this category. But if i were forced to guess, I think I could say with high confidence that Vanderbilt has a better chance of being that type of school than Alabama does.</p>
<p>One advantage of going to an elite school is networking. You’ll be able to network and connect with peers from very successful and well connected families. This can confer advantages in lots of different ways from internship opportunities to jobs. However if your current family is already well connected, the point is moot.</p>
<p>FWIW, I think you’re being a little hard on Vanderbilt (and I’m not particularly fond of the school either.) If you’re going to be going on stereotypes, then Alabama is just some dumb sub-par state school for kids in the south who either really like football or didn’t do well in HS. But we know that isn’t true because, for example, you don’t fit that profile, and neither do many other students who go there. Similarly, there will likely be several people of more modest means at Vandy and they’ll probably be looking for friends like you as well.</p>
<p>I also don’t think you have to kill yourself academically. And unless you’re really interested in going to graduate school I wouldn’t recommend it. I did so as an undergrad, and it was excruciatingly difficult to get one of the few handful of As handed out in every class. However, you should have no problem putting a fair (but not extreme) amount of studying and pulling off some B+s/A-s. (in my experience, A-s were significantly easier to get than As.)</p>
<p>If you really hate Vandy, then certainly don’t go there. I think I agree with the others that it’s providing a wonderful opportunity. However, if the institution will end up being detrimental to your education (which it sounds like it might) you should avoid it at all costs.</p>
<p>Look man, you and I are just alike, I cannot stand school, the difference between you and I is that I didn’t really care in high school and I still don’t care now. Bama would be perfect for you. You’d have a great time, awesome social life and still get a high quality education. The girls are prettier at Bama than Vandy so that would sell it for me. Good Luck!</p>
<p>Vanderbilt. You are going for an education and eventually a career. Vandy has sports. But be prepared to study. Seems you know how to excel so plan to do so at vanderbilt.</p>
<p>You and your parents both have valid viewpoints, but unless you get the chip off your shoulder and get a serious attitude adjustment, you likely won’t be very successful at either place. You can’t do this, unfortunately, but if you could, I’d advise taking a year off and then deciding between the two. Sounds like you need a break, no matter where you go.</p>