<p>Hey, guys!</p>
<p>I was wondering if you could compile some type of list regarding the pros and cons of Vanderbilt. I've done some research, but I don't think I know enough to solidify my decision to apply just yet...</p>
<p>(I love the CC Board. Haha.)</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Well, I certainly can't claim to have first hand experience but my S applied ED1 and was accepted so I can tell you what we learned in the selection process after researching and visiting other top universities.</p>
<p>PROS:
1. Excellent acedemics
2. Beautiful campus and facilities. Beautiful brand new freshman dorms, The Commons.
3. Residential college-housing all 4 years. In my opinion this creates a vibrant living environment for students. Never a feel of a commuter school. Although there is a strong Greek system, only the officers live in the fraternity/sorority houses. Everyone else is on-campus.
4. Perfect size undergraduate and graduate schools
5. Nashville is a very fun city. Certainly provides an outlet for off-campus fun. I find this important as college students get older. Some other top schools we visited were so secluded I thought having only on-campus activities gets a bit old after 2 or so years. Its nice to have options.
6. Great sports.
7. Students seem to enjoy a very healthy balance of strong acedemics and fun. After all, these are some of the best years of your life -- you might as well enjoy them -- you can't get those years back! We adults certainly know that!
8. Etc, etc...</p>
<p>Cons:</p>
<p>I can't really say yet as my S isn't a student yet. No school is perfect, so I'm sure others will have an opinion.</p>
<p>Thank you =)</p>
<p>Do you happen to know if freshmen are allowed to have their cars on campus? Or is there public transportation provided?</p>
<p>I know that Rice freshmen don't drive their cars, as they have free access to the MetroRail and everything.</p>
<p>Freshman are not permitted to have cars on campus, but can rent parking spaces are hotels adjacent to campus for a fee. This year the campus has implemented the use of Zip cars for those without cars.</p>
<p>Can someone help me choose between Vandy and Emory? Want to major in business.</p>
<p>Vanderbilt has a better Greek scene.
" is in the SEC.
42.
Taylor Swift loves Vandy.</p>
<p>^ That last one seals the deal for me ;)</p>
<p>Also, I think 99% of knowledgeable people would agree that Vandy is much sexier than Emory......Take that how you want.</p>
<p>For business I'd say go for Emory. I don't think Vandy has an undergraduate business program, while Emory has a pretty good one (Gozieuta) or something.</p>
<p>Not only are freshmen not allowed parking spaces ... sophomores aren't, either. Of course, if money is not a concern, you can buy a reserved space and the fact that they aren't allowed won't apply to you.</p>
<p>The 4-year residential requirement is good in some ways & not so good in others. Some of the dorms at Vandy are absolutely awful ... definitely NOT worth the money charged. It's good to have guaranteed housing, but the housing itself is luck-of-the-draw. Some students are allowed to live off campus, but I don't know how that works. </p>
<p>The academics really are excellent, although it's a good idea to avoid large classes (grad graders) when possible.</p>
<p>No idea whether or not freshman can drive, but sophomores are in fact allowed parking spaces. They apply through the same system that we all do and to my knowledge all of them get them.</p>
<p>There are also plenty of parking garages within a short distance of campus that charge manageable fees. Think of it like a season pass. Plenty of freshman do this.</p>
<p>The dorms at Vanderbilt are pretty average for a college of its kind. Supposedly all of the Commons is just eXtreme Super Duper also, but hey, if you're even reading this you probably have about 8,000 pamphlets or whatever to that effect.</p>
<p>It is very easy to be exempt from mandatory on campus housing, and almost any senior that wants it gets it, as well as plenty of juniors. You can get it for all the standard reasons or just make up a learning disability because it would not be PC to refuse you a nice quiet off campus house with such a predicament. In the event that you don't know how to work the system, there are also plenty of people that just pay for on campus and off campus housing simultaneously and use the dorm as a big closet.</p>
<p>Not all sophomores are guaranteed a parking space. It is first come, first served ... my D did not get one, since her transfer credits did not get posted until later in the day on the day parking passes were available on line. She missed out. Several sophomores she knows with cars paid for the reserved spots - anyone can get those, but they cost a ton.</p>
<p>For those whose parents do not open their wallets & give you whatever you want, you will have to actually follow the rules. You might get to have a car freshman/sophomore year, you might get to live off campus ... but you might not. It's good to understand this beforehand, because there are enough stressful aspects of college. If you know what's what, it's easier to accept things that aren't "perfect" --- like if you get stuck in one of the really bad dorms (there are some - and they cost as much as the good ones).</p>
<p>How is the campus life? Is it boring on weekends? Is there a lot to do in the surrounding area?</p>
<p>Personally, I'm not a fan of Nashville. It's an ugly city, and Vanderbilt is in a sketchy part of it, so the surrounding areas aren't safe to be out in at night. Vanderbilt takes all possible steps to keep its students safe though (Vandy Vans, the blue light system, escorts, etc). </p>
<p>On the upside, there's certainly a lot of stuff to do, even if you're not into country music (I'm certainly not).</p>
<p>I really need to disagree with the poster who described Nashville as an ugly city and the area around Vanderbilt as sketchy. As someone who lives in Nashville and also works at Vanderbilt, those comments have no basis in reality whatsoever. Vanderbilt is in a "hamlet" bordered by the famous Music Row with tons of recording studios, attorneys offices,etc which are housed in many older Craftsman style homes as well as modern small office buildings on one side and the other sides bordering it are tons of boutiques,restaurants, music stores,etc. What is "sketchy" about that?
We have visited the following schools(Rice,WashU, Baylor,Duke,UNC Chapel Hill,Wake Forest,UVA, College of William and Mary) and none of them (except for Rice,perhaps) have so many really fun places within walking distance as Vanderbilt does.
And did I mention that the campus itself is absolutely gorgeous and is a national arboretum?</p>
<p>And country music is NOT the only thing written,played or recorded here. Due to the wealth of local musical talent here among session singers and musicians as well as songwriters, many artists from all categories choose Nashville to not only record their music, but many have homes here as well.</p>
<p>Any place with two upscale steakhouses (Fleming's and Ruch Chris), not to mention untold other upscale eateries within a couple of blocks from campus is anything but "sketchy." Those top restaraunteurs don't do sketchy.</p>
<p>please say fleming's is on the commodore card.</p>
<p>lol</p>
<p>One meal would be more than the amount you get each semester for off campus dining! :)</p>
<p>Sketchy? I also have to disagree what that description. I had never been to Nashville before we visitited the campus this past spring and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the city. I thought it was vibrant and fun and the area around Vandy was very nice, hardly sketchy! We too, visited MANY campuses up and down the east coast and I remember thinking how pleased I would be to leave my son at Vanderbilt because it was so nice and offers so many things to do.</p>
<p>nashville definitely exceeded my expectations. tons of restraunts/coffee shops/etc withing walking dist. Vanderbilt really encourages prospective applicants to visit campus, and for good reason.</p>