<p>I just posted this in the Vandy thread but I think some people might see it out here and mightt be of some help.....</p>
<p>So I visited Vanderbilt a few days ago and loved it. The campus was great, the kids there all looked happy, I know it is academically strong, and somehow everybody there is really good looking.... wow, etc.... </p>
<p>However, now that I read up on it I am getting a bit scared. I am a liberal New Jersey boy. I am scared that Vandy is too conservative and that I might feel out of place. I am very accepting of any political/social point of view, but I just think that I might feel out of place being a tiny minority. I also hear that outside of the classroom people are not very.... academically oriented, like there is little political activism and there is a lot of apathy etc.</p>
<p>I also hear that the vandyguy is obsessed about social status, and frats, and the vandy girl is ditsy and only pays attention to frat guys. I don't know if I would want to join a frat, but if it the only way to have fun.... well that is an awkward position. Lastly, my mom's friend's daughter went to Vandy and she told me that all of her friends freshman year who were girls just talked about marriage 24/7... is this a southern thing. Sounds like they just came from a debutante ball....</p>
<p>I know that these are just generalizations that cannot be totally true. I really like Vandy, but I am scared of these things. What do you guys think?</p>
<p>Mike, although I wouldn't be surprised that there were kids who are exactly as you describe, you can bet that there are a lot of other types of kids that you will be able to relate to. My friend's son, who was a top student in a public high school, doesn't match this stereotype. </p>
<p>Bottom line: I wouldn't be overly worried about it. However, I would visit the college if I were you, and talk to a number of students there. Get a feel for the culture and for the type of kids that attend the school. If you don't get the "dubutante ball" feel, you probably are needlessly worrying.</p>
<p>As warblerboy said, vandy has been working hard for quite some time now to improve its image as southern frat boy school. But Im afraid to tell you that based on some anecdotal evidence (the key word is anecdotal, not evidence), that damnable social culture that you fear most is still alive and well- that prevalent culture of climbing up the social ladder.</p>
<p>I'll be stoned for saying this, but the one kid I knew who started at Vandy transferred out because he couldn't deal with the social atmosphere...His words, "It was too southern."</p>
<p>But, you know, every school has kids who leave because they don't like it. I'd recommend an overnight. And don't be wowed by a pretty campus - anyplace you visit.</p>
<p>I think Vandy is a lot less southern than it used to be. It is attracting a lot of northerners who want a strong academic school in a more moderate climate. There is still an element of the culture the OP fears, though. My office is not too far from Vandy and I go to yoga right near campus. I have definitely observed the "beautiful" people be-moaning the size of their butts (which barely exist) in their designer jeans and comparing acrylic nails.</p>
<p>I have a friend from NJ who's daughter is there as a freshman. The student loves it and said, "They're such gentlemen. They take you on dates and hold the door open for you and everything!" Take that the way you want to.</p>
<p>I have a son who, like you, is interested in Vanderbilt and also is a legacy at UVA. I know a lot about both schools (as well as Villanova which you have elsewhere expressed an interest in). Did you apply early anywhere? BTW, if you did apply early somewhere and are not accepted, are you aware that Vanderbilt has ED 2 which has a Jan 1 application deadline? </p>
<p>Re your fears of Vanderbilt, IMO the stereotypes that you are hearing are a bit outdated. Given the evolution of Vanderbilt over the past decade, Virginia may now be more "southern" than Vanderbilt. In any event, if you like the environment at Virgina (academic, social, aesthetic beauty of the school, etc), then I suspect that you will find many similarities at Vanderbilt, albeit in a school that is about half as large and which is located close to a major city. Both are fantastic schools which offer a terrific undergraduate experience and both are sufficiently large that you should be able to find your "group" of other students who have interests/motivations close to yours.</p>
<p>Wow, it's funny that you know all that about me. I applied to 4 schools early just because they are EA and I wanted to get them out of the way, and I don't have 1 clear cut favorite. I applied early to Boston College, Villanova, Georgetown and UNC Chapel Hill.</p>
<p>It's funny that your son and I have these things in common. Maybe we would have some good advice for each other. Keep in touch.</p>