Okay, long story short. I previously attended Amherst College but decided to withdraw and apply to transfer elsewhere. I absolutely loved the small school setting and close relationships I had with my professors. However, I was extremely miserable to the point where it was affecting my mental health. The school was way too preppy and homogenous, and I just couldn’t fit into the really social atmosphere that exists there, which is very “work hard, play hard” in my opinion.
I committed to Rice, which I was extremely excited for. No frats or sororities. Very undergraduate focused. I love the residential college system, the diversity, the campus—basically everything about it seems to fit me. And it’s very prestigious as well.
However, today I was also accepted to Vanderbilt, which does have Greek life and is more homogenous. But I think it’s a bit more prestigious than Rice and is known more overall.
I want to major in PoliSci with the intent of either going to law school or graduate school and ultimately work in the northeast. I don’t know if I should risk giving up Rice to go to Vandy.
Any advice helps.
First off, I’ve been accepted to Rice as a transfer for this Fall, and I also applied to Vandy (haven’t received a decision), so I have knowledge of both schools. I think all the things you liked about Amherst are prevalent at Rice. It’s also very diverse, not preppy, and more nerdy/quirky than Vandy. It’s also more similar in size to a LAC. When I think of Vandy, I think of SEC greek life and a work hard/play hard attitude. It only sounds like you’re considering Vandy because you think it’s more prestigious. Honestly, both schools are T20s, and their “prestige” is really dependant on the location and job sector you’re talking about. If your plan is law school, both of these will give you a great opportunity at acceptance into a top law school. Your job will be maintaining the grades and getting the LSAT necessary to be competitive.
I think Rice fits you much better based on the info from your post. If both are similar in price, I’d choose Rice. Also, Vandy is requiring transfer students to live off-campus for 20-21. I think that’s a big negative because integrating into the school will be that much more difficult. I believe Rice guarantees housing for transfers.
My vote is Rice.
Rice seems like the better fit for you. Grad & law schools will recognize both are equally prestigious.
If Vanderbilt requires transfers to live off campus–as written in post #1 above–, then Rice is the easy answer.
If you are able to live on campus at Vanderbilt, then 6,800 undergraduate student Vanderbilt becomes an attractive option due to variety of activities and of students. Vanderbilt is much more diverse than your opening post suggests. But, Greek life has a very significant impact on social life at Vanderbilt.
Rice University has just under 4,000 undergraduates and no Greek life.
It is unclear whether you will be entering these schools as a freshman or as a sophomore transfer since your posts only shares that you “withdrew” from Amherst College to “transfer elsewhere”.
It would be helpful to understand more about your dissatisfaction with Amherst College.
Is weather a concern ?
Tell Vandy to go pound sand. They had their chance. ?
Seriously for all the reasons stated by others Rice sounds like it will be more to your liking and it’s reputation is every bit as good as Vandy’s. Both of these schools have had articles written about them in recent years, nominating each respectively as “The Harvard of the South”. (Duke might have something to say about that.) The only thing you’ll be missing if you go to Rice is that great Nashville music scene.
Go with the one that’s the better fit. Academically they’re peers.
It would be good if you shared whatever you could about Amherst as Publisher, mentioned but imo, Vanderbilt is more preppy and homogeneous than Rice, so I would go with Rice. good luck!
You should go to rice, I have a friend who goes there who LOVES it, and I know people who go to Vandy who are miserable there. I think rice is also more prestigious than Vandy. Good luck next year!
@kmmysrdscrnnm:
But why do they love Rice ?
And why are your friends miserable at Vanderbilt ?
My daughter just finished her freshman year at Rice and loved it so I’m a little biased, but Vanderbilt was one of her top choices and I totally understand the appeal.
My D loves the diversity at Rice and the very accepting atmosphere. Transfers do live on campus and participate in O-Week which I think helps a lot with the transition. O-Week helps you get to know the other transfers and freshman and a decent number of student advisors who volunteer for the week.
I think both are prestigious and will be seen as so by grad schools and employers so I personally don’t think that is really a factor in your decision. I personally think you should focus on the environment that you think is the best fit. You already know how much a school that is a bad fit can impact you!