Life after Vanderbilt

<p>I thought it would be nice to read about the successes of some of our graduates and/or almost graduates. We like to know that Vandy alums are finding good jobs and are getting into graduate schools, right? After all, parents and students who post on CC are usually pretty invested in Vanderbilt--and I'm not just talking about money here.</p>

<p>Earlier I posted that I would tell how it went with S2 after he applied to grad schools since I really couldn't add to the conversation at that time about how likely graduates would get into top programs--a thread which was begun by a prospective student. I am sure there are statistics concerning careers and grad schools on Vandy's website; as a matter of fact, Vandy alum stats are on "My Favorites." I am just too technologically challenged to add the link here, I am embarrassed to say. Therefore, I see my FIRST THREAD EVER as anecdotal. (This is a big deal for me. I just hope it appears...) We just heard from one mom whose senior son got into a top 25 medical school. Congrats, ibnhf1, to you and your son. </p>

<p>My senior son is going to the Master of Public Policy Program at Georgetown University for its two-year program--one of his top two choices. (Duke was his other choice, but he was waitlisted. That's a continuing theme with him and Duke haha.) He is an economics and poli sci major at Vandy, and at Georgetown he hopes to work on fiscal policy and eventually work on Capitol Hill. We are especially excited because he got some funding, as well as an acceptance. His letters of recommendation from Professors Oppenheimer and Nacol were integral, we are sure. We are, of course, thrilled with Vanderbilt right now, but then, we have been all four years because S2 has been so happy there.</p>

<p>D graduated in 2011, with a degree in Medicine, Health & Society. She had originally planned to go into an unrelated field but decided after graduation NOT to pursue a job in that field. She had prepared for that field through internships, but once she had TIME (in short supply during school!) to really think about what she wanted in life, she realized that she wanted to move in a different direction. It took her 9 months before she landed a professional job (she worked as a barista in the interim). Because she remained in Nashville, she went to a couple meet-and-greets put on by the Career Center. She was offered a job as a result of a meet-and-greet, but she was offered another, better job at the same time … one she got on her own, although she is certain the fact that she graduated from Vanderbilt was an important factor in getting the job. She works as a consultant in the healthcare industry, and she earns more than I do. She is happy, healthy, and well adjusted … what more could a parent want?</p>

<p>Congratulations to both of you proud moms! </p>

<p>My daughter, a 2009 alum, graduated with a double major in classical languages and political science. She did TFA in the DC metro region for two years, teaching 1st grade, and had great results - I was so proud of her for her hard work. The principal asked her to be the head first grade teacher for her third year, but she was frustrated by the many restrictions placed on classroom teachers and hoped she could have a more lasting impact on child welfare by becoming a lawyer. She had a great law school admissions cycle in 2011 and is now at UVA Law with a generous merit scholarship. She’s had some wonderful things happen for her there, as well. Right now she’s in their Child Advocacy clinic and has had several opportunities to represent poor children in conflicts with their school systems. Her take on law school so far is that it is not as difficult as standing up in front of 28 6-year-olds every day, and that law students would be better off if they worked more and complained less. So she will always be a teacher at heart. :)</p>

<p>During the law school admissions cycle, and again during the on-campus interviewing process for summer associate positions, she found that Vandy alums were always available to her and warmly encouraging. </p>

<p>Nice idea for a thread and I hope other Vandy parents will also report.</p>

<p>My D just graduated last May from Vandy with a Biology/Spanish double major and a Chemistry minor. She is currently a very happy and successful first year med student and feels that her Vanderbilt experience has prepared her very well for success in med school. She was also one of two students in her med school class selected to represent her class on the curriculum committee of her medical school. Her responsibilities there include providing the board with feedback from the students and making her own recommendations for what improvements can be made to the curriculum to better serve the students. I truly believe her Vanderbilt credentials played a large part in her selection for that position.</p>

<p>S was hired for his post-undergrad job with a DC consulting firm around Thanksgiving prior to his graduation (different economy/different world). He returned to VU Law in fall of 2008 just as the economy collapsed and the legal market changed dramatically. Since his GF (now wife) had a job already lined up in a state that doesn’t transfer bar results, he joined her here in the sunshine (I’m visiting as I type) and didn’t find a job for quite a while. VU Law was good about providing him with a small public service stipend so that he could gain work experience and they could count him as employed in a job requiring that he be an attorney at the benchmark date for law school rankings. He loves the position he accepted last March. They have a fair number of colleagues here from VU and participate in VU alumni events regularly. One of D’s former roommates actually lives in their building, so it is a small world.<br>
D worked in an AmeriCorps postion for a year after graduation and, while it paid less than minimum wage, it provided her with valuable experience that helped her land her current job. She’s back in Nashville working for one of the state’s largest employers and will start grad school part-time at Vandy this fall. She also has stayed connected to her VU classmates and made new friends through active participation in young alumni events.</p>

<p>Thank you, frazzled1, for your congratulations. Everyone has really good reports on his/her Vandy graduates, I’m pleased to see. Those who have just been accepted (and their parents) may enjoy seeing such posts as well, so I am using my post to bump up this thread for them and for those who have gotten on this site for the first time in a long time so that they can post. </p>

<p>kelsmom, thank you for your post. S2’s senior girlfriend is an MHS major, so I loved reading about your daughter’s journey to healthcare–and the reference to her salary haha.</p>

<p>Of course, I never said that I am overpaid! ;)</p>