<p>I am not a prestige whore, and is genuinely applying ED to Vanderbilt for other reasons, but I still wonder how recognized Vanderbilt is. I'm from Korea, and here very few people will have heard of Vanderbilt. Naturally, Vanderbilt will be known in the South, but how is it in the other regions?</p>
<p>There are 4 people in the freshman class from South Korea. If you look at the map on this</a> website you can see that Vanderbilt isn't just a school in the South anymore. We may not have the most people from the west, but there are increasingly more people from New England and the Ohio Valley. Vanderbilt's definitely looking to expand its geographic diversity, so I would wager that Vanderbilt, although it is still considered to be at least partly regional, will only become more widely known as the years pass. Also, Vanderbilt's rocketing selectivity will have a reinforcing effect on increasing its national appeal.</p>
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<p>If you're looking for international name recognition, Vanderbilt's not the strongest. It was ranked by the British (which isn't as pro-American universities as in say, Asia) as #156. Some of their top American universities are Harvard (#1), Berkeley (#2), MIT (#3), Caltech (#4), Stanford (#7), Yale (#8), and Princeton (#9) which I think you would admit are pretty much recognized anywhere in the world. The website for their listing is: <a href="http://www.thes.co.uk/worldrankings/%5B/url%5D">http://www.thes.co.uk/worldrankings/</a></p>
<p>I heard the Korean government has connections with vandy and sends a lot of their officials to study econ here at vandy so it has good connections within the Korean govt. I dont know if that's true but since I heard it from a korean economist, I'll take his word. </p>
<p>As for name-rec, vandy is good for a second-tire ultraselective university. We obviously can't compete against the big 10 but it can hold its own against places like Norte Dame, Rice, or Carnegie. </p>
<p>About diversity, it's not as bad as many people think, and it is clearly growing exponentially. I really admire Chancellor Gee for encouraging growth in Vandy community. He's only been here for a few years but under his leadership, I think Vandy will go far. I bet my education on it.</p>
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<p>I am very impressed with Chancellor Gee and the changes he is implementing for the school. I have recently received the viewbook, and although it's not the best viewbook I've received, it contains a wealth of information that attracts me more to Vandy. I personally think Vandy should include a beautiful bird's eye view of the campus, but it only shows pictures of people.</p>
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<p>Is it true they are incorporating more Asian diversity now....I ask this in the sense of whether applying as an Asian can be a hook in any way?</p>
<p>yea, its a hook.</p>
<p>I don't agree with Vanderbilt being "good for a second-tire, ultraselective university." Even if it were true it would be second-tier, not second-tire. Vanderbilt is an exceptional university, that is rated #18 according to US News and World Report. Given the hundreds of universities in America, I find it hard to believe that Vandy is in the second tier.</p>
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<p>Isn't first tier referred roughly to the top 50 universities?</p>
<p>Vanderbilt is definitely 1st tier and I predict it will continue to rise in both the rankings and in name recognition in the next few years.</p>
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<p>Who really knows where to draw the line for 1st tier colleges? It's a matter of opinion I guess. I agree with you Bridie, that Vanderbilt will continue to rise, especially under Chancellor Gee's leadership.</p>
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<p>Are both of you current students at Vandy? If you are, can you describe the social and academic life there? Thanks.</p>
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<p>Kimfuge: I'm the mom of a current freshman. I don't know many details but I do know that he is having a great time at Vandy, has made friends from all over the country, goes to football games, frat parties on the weekends and hangs out with the kids in his hall. he's been in downtown a couple times and really likes Nashville! (We're from NY).</p>
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<p>Vanderbilt is becoming increasingly selective. The grad schools add a lot of depth to the school without overwhelming it. The Peabody Teacher's College is ranked I think...third in the US, the Blair School of Music is great, and they are building their engineering program. The student body is becoming more nationally representative instead of regional, and the access to full professors is amazing considering this is not a small LAC. The quality of life in its location in Nashville is hard to duplicate..Vanderbilt is the number one employer in a bustling, progressive city where there are a lot of jobs in many fields. The economy adds an element of energy to the campus and offers many work and internship options. Nashville is one of those Third Coast cities that people on the East and Western coasts feel uncertain about till they get there. But it is in fact a melting pot city with a strong African American leadership base in local historic colleges, a lot of out of staters there for employment, a regional Hospital with many fabulous departments, people dedicated to classical, bluegrass, country and New Age cutting records up and down Music Row and in the Blair School of music, and a sort of Old South meets the Midwestern Big City blend of friendliness. Every act "plays" Nashville in every music venue and there is always something going on without the gridlock of larger cities to contend with.</p>
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<p>I'm also the mother of a first-year student from New York who is very happy with her lot. Hi, Bridie - I'd agree with your assessment of the social scene for students. There is always so much to do that choosing becomes difficult - as does (sometimes) devoting the optimal amount of time to schoolwork.</p>
<p>kimfuge, since you asked about the academic life at Vandy, I'll share what my daughter has told me - she finds the quality of her professors and her classmates outstanding. She has already met several times with a few of her profs, emailed all of them for clarification on assignments, and they have been unfailingly responsive and supportive. She was a driven student in hs (val), not afraid of hard work, who was frustrated by the "just marking time" attitude of many of her classmates despite the school's top reputation in our area. At Vandy, she finds herself challenged as she's never been before, and she feels she's landed in the ideal environment for herself as a student.</p>
<p>Faline, I want to thank you for your excellent, articulate post about Vanderbilt/Nashville, and for the similar posts you've written in the past. When my d was making up her mind about college last spring, your posts were quite reassuring for a northern girl (and her mom) considering making the jump from what she knew to something so entirely different. She tells me there has indeed been a culture shock, but that it's all been eye-opening and certainly fun. She loves Nashville, as do we (if only we could go more often).</p>
<p>For some reason the excellent quality of academics at Vandy is often overlooked on CC, overshadowed by the school's rich, white, Greek reputation. What a shame - it's an amazing place. And Chancellor Gee is an amazing guy to have in the top spot - long may he reign!</p>
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<p>Frazzled1, so happy your D found my posts to be accurate once she made up her mind to accept her admission to Vanderbilt. I spent a lot of time on campus and in the work force related to some programs in Vanderbilt Hospital, and Nashville attracts very competent adults from all over the USA and draws in a lot of businesses. This is just a plus for a college town. It links the ivory tower with working adults the whole time. Many of our finest colleges contend with "nothing to do", and isolation from cultural institutions or depressed neighborhoods, or town/gown tension. Vandy offers students the intimacy of a Liberal Arts experience..meet your full professor in the Lab! for instance...in a city where real people are working at real jobs all around you. Quality of academic life has so much to do with access to profs in my opinion. Vandy's southern aspects are being diluted with the new make up of the student body in the respect that frats and sororities are still important...more for girls than guys but by no means dominant anymore. There is simply tons of options for Saturday night besides frat parties and therefore other social groups are thriving. One aspect of Vandy's southern roots that I found intact...there is a "speaking tradition" atmosphere. People say hello and are warm...but then that is also what it is like to eat in the deli or the fancy bistro off-campus, too. My S did overnights at three fine schools and attended classes at more. The students at Vanderbilt were the most friendly and gallant, making a big effort to make sure he got around well and went above and beyond introducing him to people.</p>
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