<p>can i just ask why you’re already thinking about your wedding? like, youre going to UNDERGRADS</p>
<p>it was my parents suggestion. they also said the $ in my fund could go to a huge trip to europe, grad school, etc.</p>
<p>zoey–i do have one comment about your post:</p>
<p>legacy status is a REWARD for their mom/dad going there
AA is just because</p>
<p>yes, they are out of the applicant’s control, but its kind of like comparing apples and oranges</p>
<p>There are no legacy admissions at Vandy. Soley based on your own merits.</p>
<p>Not in the slightest…</p>
<p>i would hardly consider legacy a reward…the fact that someon’es parents go to vanderbilt does not automatically make them qualified to be there and in the same way neither does AA</p>
<p>Just my take: lulumobile, I have seen your posts on the Vanderbilt forum for months now, and you consistently show interest in our school. My suggestion is simply to apply and see what happens. Four years ago I was in a very similar situation as you are now. I’m graduating on Friday and, while my dad is glad to have paid his final $50,000/year tuition check, after paying for 3 Vanderbilt degrees–2 undergraduate and 1 masters–he is still the first to say it was worth every penny.</p>
<p>WHEN you receive acceptance letters next year and whether Vandy is included in those letters, or not, just trust your instincts.</p>
<p>“I would not go to Vandy at a premium over Tulane or UNC unless the school just feels so much like home to you that you know that it’s the place to be. Or if there is some other outstanding reason.”</p>
<p>I agree with this.</p>
<p>“There are no legacy admissions at Vandy. Soley based on your own merits”</p>
<p>– If this is true, why is a large part of the application dedicated to listing legacy relationships?</p>
<p>That is the $50K question many are asking about schools in that price range. I know those who have said, absolutely YES, and are there. But I know this year it was an excruciatingly painful decision for some who were accepted at UNC, Tulane or other schools where there was a $20-30K difference in cost. I know kids who after thought went for the cost differential, yes, regretfully, but $100K can buy you ever so much. Son’s close friend ended up at Fordham with a $20K scholarship over first choice Holy Cross. It hurt as he really loved HC and had so hoped to get in there and was elated at acceptance, but $80K over 4 years was just too much money. He’s splitting it with his parents and figures that they can put away $40k more for their old age and they are setting up a specific account to do this so the money does not just get nibbled away, and his split will go into a designated stock account that he will invest and hopefully make a nice nestegg for graduation. THere is simply no way he could save even $20 over 4 years if he went to a full pay school. This way he can work and save some money and with the savings actually earmarked and put away, he will have a nice pot of money to start his out of school life.</p>
<p>Sorry to go off on a tangent, but what kind of financial aid does vandy offer? Is it kind of a forgone conclusion that nobody gets much aid from vandy?</p>
<p>From what I have seen Vandy gives good fin aid and also gives merit scholarships. But there are schools with just as good aid and more merit money and lower sticker prices. UNC, Tulane, Fordham are such examples. Emory too. I know someone who is an Emory Scholar who turned down a nice award from Vandy, which was first choice initially because the Emory award was much more generous. Had it been close, she would have gone to Vanderbilt but the differential was more than she felt Vandy was worth.</p>
<p>“Sorry to go off on a tangent, but what kind of financial aid does vandy offer? Is it kind of a forgone conclusion that nobody gets much aid from vandy?”</p>
<p>Couldn’t be more wrong. If you have demonstrated need, Vandy will set you up with a package most likely uncomparable to most other schools you apply to.</p>
<p>Just my opinion, but I don’t think that ANY school is worth $50,000/year out of pocket. $200,000 for a bachelor’s degree is an enormous amount of money.</p>
<p>“There are no legacy admissions at Vandy. Soley based on your own merits”</p>
<p>False.</p>
<p>Vanderbilt gives great aid however.</p>
<p>How you spend your money is your own choice but I would suggest that there is not a school anywhere worth $50k per year. </p>
<p>To believe otherwise one must think they have a patent on academic’s or have a collection of secrete textbooks that are not available at other institutions. </p>
<p>Now if you were a student back in the 15th century then it might be worth paying a substantial premium to go to a certain institution but this is the 21st century and knowledge tends to spread rather quickly. You can do great at many different colleges.</p>
<p>Ahh, but good friends of our has son who picked Emory hands down over Vanderbilt. Some feel Duke, UVA, UNC are better picks. Depends on the person. When you throw a substantial cost differential into the mix, it really can make a difference.</p>
<p>small nit, but the real question should be is a private college (such as vandy) worth the marginal costs over an instate public. For example, attending UC Berkeley instate is $25k/yr. To attend a private college is twice that. Of course, $100k is real money, but the point is that it is not a $200k differential. (Of course, UVa is a bargain instate, and others state publics could be near free to NMFs.)</p>
<p>I have paid full tuition for both of my daughters to attend Vanderbilt; while my wallet wishes they attended our state university, on a personal level, the payback has been tremendous. The reason, the campus culture, spirit and social environment: people are excited to attend and learn at Vanderbilt. I have visited numerous campuses and very few schools seem to exude the positive energy among students, faculty and admininstration.</p>
<p>Aid depends on your personal situation. We found it to be excellent. Others may not find that to be true. I am just comparing it with other offers D received, and the bottom line is actually better than several less expensive schools that offered good merit scholarships. Much depends on your situation. If your EFC is $60k, you aren’t going to be pleased unless you get a merit scholarship, because you won’t have a “need” at any school.</p>