<p>I know that Vandy has a reputation for beautiful girls. So if you're fairly attractive but not gorgeous, and you dress nicely but simply, and you don't bother with makeup or other glamour, is it intimidating or annoying to attend Vanderbilt? Like is it hard to get a date, to rush a sorority, to make friends with other girls?</p>
<p>Also: I am Asian-American and I have a friendly, easygoing personality, but I'm not one of those super outgoing people who instantly charms a room. I'd say I'm sort of extroverted. Would racial segregation be a problem for me? Or is the racial segregation mostly self-imposed? (i.e. if I want a diverse group of friends then I'll be just fine?)</p>
<p>I would encourage you to work on getting in to Vandy and your other college choices and to not worry about Vandy’s reputation for beautiful girls very much at all. There is always a kernel of truth in stereotypes but Vandy has undergone a huge huge Game Change in the last five years and diversity racially, economically, in religious background, and geographically has arrived at Vanderbilt. </p>
<p>Everyone was a top student in high school and everyone is serious about their educational goals. For some, they had fab high school social lives. For others, they were grinds in high school and are just getting started in college in exploring their social lives. Many people who were nerds in high school will blossom. Many people who were social butterflies in high school will get serious and choose to craft their social lives differently. Everyone will surprise you and everyone is a work in progress.</p>
<p>40-50% of girls will not spend time in Greek life and the numbers of males not in Greek life are higher. You can make a life for yourself either way. Freshman year when rush season is on, you may feel more keenly conflicted on which way to go…but independent students make full lives and have busy weekends. Nashville is a great host town. Our son is WASP but his friends are from many many other national origins. He went to NYC last summer and visited in a home of a Jewish friend, a Filipino friend and his family and with Chinese American friend, caught a meal with a Polish American friend among others. He also opted to live in a Mayfield Lodge sophomore year which provided him with housemates (male and female) and all single rooms. His roommates were from 10 different places and several of them were bilingual and were first and second generation from Asian countries, but they still had very different political and economic backgrounds. There is some variety in upperclass housing that will offer you places to go if you choose to not go Greek. I would recommend that you read up on the housing options on the Residential Services pages to recognize that Vanderbilt can be whatever you imagine it to be.
When April comes, don’t make your decision based on anxieties. Our son was very worried about Vanderbilt’s reputation in guide books or whatever and he did not really want a campus with a highly focused Greek life but he got his best offer from Vandy financially. Vanderbilt has been extremely generous and positive for him in terms of study abroad and summer internships and things that really matter in the long run. Freshman year and the pressures of that year come and go quickly and pass quickly. It is wise to stay open-hearted to all when you arrive and to maintain with your freshman dorm mates even as you all disperse to different housing on the main campus. Take a look at Alternative Spring Break for instance…our son does this every spring and loves meeting a new set of friends annually. Greeks and non Greeks do this together just as they do everything on campus together.<br>
The working world is so demanding and harsh these days that learning to cope with some alone time and with the stress and ups and downs of finding a set of true friends is part of what will get you ready for the work force.<br>
one of the great things about Vandy is that you have 6000 undergrads in one place. Every week presents new opportunities for meeting people. Have confidence in yourself and in others and you will love college.</p>