<p>So, I've recently done some research on colleges I'd love to go to, and JHU, Vanderbilt, and Northwestern have made the list. My chances of getting into any are slim to semi-none, but what do I have to lose....besides my dignity....</p>
<p>Anywho, I want to know which of these is the most generous with the financial aid. I looked up a recent stat on Vandy and noticed that of the roughly 12,000 applicants it had last year, about 34% were accepted, and of those accepted only 39% matriculated. I immediately thought of a lack of generosity on behalf of Vandy's financial aid department, but I'm still doubtful. With a reputation such as Vanderbilt has, I would think that there's a different reason why so few who are accepted actually choose to go there. </p>
<p>Hopkins. My first pick. <em>Begins sobbing uncontrollably</em>...get it together man....Ok. 35% acceptance rating. 30% actually choose to go. Why?? I will be utterly heartbroken if money is the reason. My life's goal (besides being the first middle-class man to afford a 6 bedroom home on Long Island) is to go to Johns Hopkins. I admire its students too much. Comments?</p>
<p>Northwestern. 29% accepted. 41% go. And of those 41%, 60% will get financial aid. So, let's put this in a realistic fashion. NW has 16,000 students applying each year (rough estimate) with the number on the rise as the population increases. If 29% are accepted, that's about 4,800. If, of 4800, 41% actually go, that means about 2,000 enter. Why would more than half of the accepted applicants choose not to go? Northwestern?? Once again, I return to finances. Please leave a comment, however irrelevant it may be!</p>
<h2>For what its worth, my family doesn’t make much and Vanderbilt paid basically 100% of my tuition. They are completely need blind.</h2>
<p>The reason why matriculation rates are lower nowadays is because kids are applying to 7+ colleges. The yields you posted are normal, its not because the schools have bad financial aid.</p>
<p>JHU is really cutthroat dude. students will stab each other in the back just for the grade. i don’t know why you’d admire this behavior so much…</p>
<p>I admire it because of their dilligence. It sounds mentally exhausting, but I want to be in an environment where competition will drive you insane. Not that I wouldn’t mind being the best in my class, but I thrive off of others who want to achieve the best they can. Unfortunately, I have a very stubborn and jealous attitude towards other students who are far better academically than I am. I want to make the most of the 100 years I’ve been given to live. Besides, I think that JHU students would be very suitable friends for me. I like being around students who work very hard. JHU is just one of the many schools like this though. I’m not sure how Vandy and Northwestern compare competetivly-speaking.</p>
<p>Vanderbilt is not cut-throat at all. If anything, its the complete opposite. People are more than willing to share notes and help each other out.</p>
<p>Northwestern is probably somewhere in between Vanderbilt and Johns Hopkins (in terms of competitiveness).</p>
<p>So, TheOC89, what you’re saying is that even though some students are accepted to any of these three, they still have better matches which they have been accepted to?</p>
<p>vandy is much more social than any of the other schools so expect a completely different environment. i guess if the “survival of the fittest” attitude is your thing then jhu may be right for you.</p>
<p>Think about it – how many colleges are you applying to? All the schools you turn down will lower their yield rate. Most colleges have yield rates much lower than Johns Hopkins, Vanderbilt, and Northwestern. People are sending applications to way more colleges nowadays.</p>
<p>If possible, I would try to visit the schools. Its four years of your life.</p>
<p>Vanderbilt draws very social, gregarious students. JHU draws math/science geeks. Northwestern is in the middle.</p>
<p>I’m actually visiting JHU in the next few weeks, hopefully before school starts. Vandy might be hard to visit, but I will definitely try. I’m still not sure if Northwestern is right for me. I came across a few things which I’m not so pleased with… I like the east coast, even though Vandy isn’t on it. I like being around social people more than students who are brainiacs but total outcasts (no offense to Hopkins peeps…I’m just like you!..err..sorta…). So, Vandy put in perspective: Is Vandy just as hard to get into as JHU?</p>
<p>Vanderbilt is a little more holistic; JHU is slightly more numbers based. I’d say getting into Hopkins is slightly harder though. Both schools are known to have grade deflation so you will have to work hard to get A’s at both schools.</p>
<p>Yeah…I don’t mind southern culture though. Being in NY makes me want a different atmosphere. NY is way too jerkish…My neighbors are buttholes, and it’s SO expensive. I want a feel for a different environment, and besides, it can’t be 100% south. I’m sure there’s at least two or three other New Englanders who go to Vandy…so 98% southern is more than tolerable. :)</p>
<p>Dude, you have the most awesome name. MIT pawns noobs. That’s like my old online gaming tag. “BenPwnsNubs”…good times..good times…</p>
<p>Behnam, I’m from New York too. Less than half of the students at Vanderbilt are from the south and NY is one of the heaviest represented states.</p>
<p>Nashville is no New York City in terms of culture, but the girls are way more attractive and there are lots of fun places to hang out.</p>