<p>My wife and I have four children. The older three children attended PAVE and a variety of summer programs at elite universities. Our youngest child will be attending PAVE 2011. Out of the seven pre-college programs our children attended, PAVE was absolutely the best experience for each of our children in a diverse community. The comprehensive binder was an extremely valuable resource for our older children during their senior year in high school and college years. Additionally, the University has always taken appropriate behavioral action and, when necessary, enforced a zero tolerance policy. As Vanderbilt alumni, this program is a true reflection of Vanderbilt and exceeded our expectations. We fully endorse PAVE and feel it is one of the best pre-college programs out there.</p>
<p>Attending PAVE was definitely the best decision Ive ever made in terms
of preparing for myself for the future. What I took away from my experience at
PAVE was a better idea of what I am interested in studying in college, and more
importantly how to actually learn. This program gives you a surprisingly realistic
glimpse into the life of a college student. This isnt just some summer camp. At
PAVE, you really do feel like you are in college, and there is really no better way to
prepare for college than to immerse yourself in this kind of environment. I had a
great experience at the PAVE program, and I would without question recommend
it to anyone looking to acquire a better understanding of themself, where they are
headed, and how they are going to get there. If you are serious about investing in
your future and preparing yourself for college, then consider coming to the Pre-
college PAVE program here at Vanderbilt. The PAVE program is such an amazing
experience, and I am so grateful that I was given the opportunity to attend such a
unique and beneficial program.</p>
<p>I am just finishing the PAVE program. PAVE is a great program for anyone going to college, whether you are interested in the humanities, sciences, or engineering. One of the great parts about PAVE is the healthcare experiences track. Through this track, you are able to see if your are comfortable in a medical setting before committing to the pre-med track as an undergraduate. My friends and I have participated in other universities’ healthcare and pre-college programs. We all agree that PAVE is the best program we have attended. PAVE is such a well rounded program its alumni feel confident and prepared going into college.</p>
<p>PAVE is discovery — self discovery through experience. The program is for anyone interested in attending a top university. PAVE is designed for everyone interested in pushing themselves academically and learning how to pace themselves in a true collegiate setting. Whether you want to come to to Vanderbilt for college, or would like to attend Harvard University, PAVE’s multi-faceted experience is perfect for you. The program will teach you independence, self discipline, and self motivation, all while keeping your summer fun, productive, and enriching. Come to PAVE for one of the best summers of your life.</p>
<p>Quite a few years ago it was a completely engineering program. The acronym stood for Preparatory Academics for Vanderbilt Engineers. It was designed as a way to “ramp up” into the worlds of college in general, rigorous college work in particular (believe me - a BS in engineering from Vanderbilt is no walk in the park!), living with more freedom than at home, and the rhythm of campus life. Academically, the time was split into three two-week sessions. As I understand it, the offerings have expanded greatly since I was there. My choices were mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and environmental engineering. 2 weeks was enough time for a brief introduction to the field, the basic knowledge required for a particular project, and then time to complete the project and submit it, paperwork and all. In addition to the 2 week mini-courses, there was also courses throughout the 6 weeks in computing (much more than mere computer literacy), technical writing, engineering mathematics, and general college skills. All taught by university faculty - the same ones that teach the courses you would be taking as an undergrad. </p>
<p>Don’t worry - it’s not all book work. You are issued a university ID, giving you access to all university facilities -including recreation. There are also events and trips available (not required) in evenings and on weekends. </p>
<p>As for lodging, it’s in college dormitories, with at least 1 RA per floor. Food is on a university meal plan. Any questions on other aspects, and I’d be happy to help where I can. </p>
<p>P.S. The head of the program, John Veilette, is VERY personable and open to the students. Everyone in PAVE knows him simply as “Doc V”.</p>
<p>I completely agree with the post from collcounselor. As a current undergraduate, I regret having my parents pay a large sum for the program. Although the academics are hard, there are no immediate repercussions for not doing well on tests. I struggled because I didn’t get to take trig until my senior year and the counselors are current Vandy students that are alums of the program. Counselors may not be majoring in math/science, mine was a liberal arts major and had some issues teaching during our afternoon sessions. </p>
<p>I also felt a little misled because the brochure marketed it as more of a general science program than engineering. Back then, I was interested in biochemistry and the like. I did not realize the coursework would have to do with computer programming until it was too late. I also had friends who did the program with the hopes of gaining better chances of admission to Vanderbilt. They also did not realize the program’s engineering tilt until it was too late and struggled. In regards to the final, it is a cumulative binder with all of your work. I have only used it for reference once and it was a bit of information I could have easily gleaned from the Internet. This binder did prove useful for one of my friends who is now an engineering major, so take what you will. </p>
<p>Some of my floormates who were more on the adventurous side disappeared for days at a time, even if it meant missing class. They didn’t get reprimanded at all. There was also one instance where someone used the basement practice rooms intended for music practice to party. There were no repercussions for the students and instead a carpet cleaner was summoned. I only met my RA twice and had more contact with my Vandy PAVE counselors, but I did not live on a floor with one. </p>
<p>My parents still sometimes get letters in the mail asking for donations to the program. The only reasons why I don’t completely regret going are because I was able to prove to my parents I could go to school far away from home (allowing me to apply to colleges further away) and because I got a taste of living away from my family for an extended period of time (along with its ups and downs). I also did get life skills from the PAVE that you can only get from living on your own. However, you may be able to learn these skills from a different, less costly program.</p>