<p>Each is a private university, away from home.</p>
<p>Each has sports, spirit, and strong academics
Vandy has perhaps less prestige (and alumni networking?), but has SEC competitive sports and is spirited.
Penn is the "spirited ivy" but makes up for the lesser sport enthusiasm with academics and name recognition perhaps.</p>
<p>There's more I think but what do you think are major similarities? major differences?</p>
<p>And why Penn over Vandy?
or Vandy over Penn?</p>
<p>Opinions/suggestions are welcome and appreciated!</p>
<p>The environments are quite different. Vanderbilt has much less of a “city” feel, even though it is in the middle of Nashville (my favorite city). The college life is awesome, and SEC sports are the greatest thing ever. There is a distict Southern frat vibe, but not to the point where you would hate it if that isn’t your thing. It is a BIG part of Vandy, though. Penn also has a much bigger frat scene than you would expect.
I have a lot of familiarity with both schools (S is at Penn and D is a Vandy grad student with a lot of interaction with undergrads) and know a few kids who transferred from Vanderbilt to Penn (and one who almost went the opposite direction). The students think Penn has the edge academically with a generally brighter student body, but Vandy kids are, obviously, top students, too. Then there’s the weather…
If you think you want to live and work in the northeast when you “grow up”, Penn might be the better choice. If you come to Vandy, you will want to stay in the south, though. :)</p>
<p>Vandy is in a much nicer part of Nashville than the area of Philly where Penn is. Vandy’s campus seems more spread out and nicer to me. I’m in higher education, and I know Vandy mostly for its Peabody College, which is a top education college. The business school at Vandy is very well regarded regionally at least, but obviously not as prestigious as Wharton at Penn. Sports at Vandy are far superior at Penn, though conference championships are very few and far between given that they’re in the SEC.</p>
<p>I think this would you depend on your major. For example, if you wanted to specialize in business, obviously Penn would be the better choice. Research both sites and compare the subjects you’re interested in.</p>
<p>Thanks for the vote of confidence bagel. One thing I surely commend about Penn students is their mentality across the board of when someone asks this school or Penn…why Penn, they’re like we don’t need you, (f off, but not rudely of course). This in fact is an admirable quality.</p>
<p>And in fact, my debating in this question is because I will likely ED to one, so thats why I’m trying to thoroughly reasearch and am looking for opinions :)</p>
<p>Vandy is more fun. I’ve spent time on both campuses and know students from both campuses. Penn’s party scene is the best in the ivy league, but ivy league partying is like ivy league football: it will never be the best. </p>
<p>Also, keep in mind that Vandy and Penn aren’t peer schools. Penn is tougher to get in to, and the Penn degree will carry more weight with employers.</p>
<p>^ The last statment (weight with employers) is only true in regional and industrial contexts. In the South, the Vandy name will carry more weight (outside the finance industry). Most people down here think Penn is a public university and have no idea it’s a member of the Ivy League. Vandy, on the other hand, they know.</p>
<p>^^Agee with MOWC on this. Maybe if you are from Boise, you think everyone else wants to go East Coast urban, but it isn’t true.</p>
<p>popnpoper, I would suggest you go to school where you will enjoy the whole college experience.</p>
<p>My experience with Philadelphia is quite limited, but I think Nashville is a great place to be a college student. </p>
<p>BTW, for those who don’t know, the acceptance rate at Vanderbilt has plummeted over the last couple of years, and was below 19% this year. No doubt still a bit higher than UPenn, but not a world of difference.</p>
<p>selectivity isn’t all about acceptance rate. and i live in north jersey(and originated in Brooklyn). the boise—>hogwarts thing is supposed to be ironic.</p>
<p>^^^Yes, well I figured the Hogwarts thing was not to be taken literally. There <em>are</em> actually people who grew up in Boise, however. The one I know best moved to London a long time ago, but not to Hogwarts.</p>
<p>Let me be a bit clearer about the last line in post 17: the “stats” of accepted students at Vanderbilt have increased considerably over the last 3 years, AND the acceptance rate has plummeted. Hence, Vanderbilt has become more “selective”.</p>
<p>I’m not suggesting the OP make a decision about where to attend with those facts in mind.</p>
<p>Well in that case I can rescind my F off and tell you to use your ED on Penn if you think you have a good shot at getting in. As far as Ivies go it has a great deal of school spirit. It may not manifest itself as intensely as Vandy (except for basketball games, especially Penn-Princeton), but sports is only one way in which Penn people show pride in their school (others being alumni donations–Penn pulled in the 4th largest gob of money among all schools last year–and the number of people like yours truly who come to these forums and tell people how much they too should love Penn :))</p>