<p>We visited Vandy in the Spring. D loved everything about the school but is very concerned about the intensity of the greek social scene. We told our D that she was probably wrong about the greek scene, but the CC thread on sororities and rankings makes me very uncomfortable. It really does sound as if Vandy girls are judged on their looks and being in the "right" sorority. Please tell me that Vandy is a place that accepts all types and appreciates women's intellect and passions and not just their hair and makeup. This is 2010, but the threads on the sororities makes it sound as if Vandy is operating in the 1950's.</p>
<p>You sound like a feminisit :)</p>
<p>Feminist… On my iPod</p>
<p>I understand your concerns, nervous1. They’ve been echoed by a number of posters. When my d entered Vandy in 2005, I was perhaps too dismissive of posters who asked these important questions, applying my own middle-aged values and thinking that of course students who were such intelligent high achievers wouldn’t judge others solely on their footwear, handbags, or nail polish. Well, some do - but so do some intelligent, high-achieving students elsewhere, probably even everywhere. </p>
<p>As to the Greek rankings - they seem to be very important to people in Greek life (1/2 the women and 1/3 the men at Vanderbilt), especially in those top tier and middle-tier sororities and fraternities. My d had the advantage of being in one of the less highly-ranked houses. It was an advantage because she could see that she didn’t have to define herself as an ABC (which I hope isn’t a real house). She could enjoy her sisters, all the social events and traditions, the philanthropic activities, etc., and know that there was nothing second- or third-rate about her or her chapter.</p>
<p>If your d is particularly sensitive on this score, or is still building social self-confidence, Vanderbilt’s social scene might pose a challenge. My d has a thick skin (endured years with a crabby ballet teacher) and plenty of confidence in her own opinions. If people would think less of her for not being in a top house, she’d think less of them for making such a superficial judgment, and move on. She didn’t have a lot of money, but she dressed well and if someone thought less of her because of the handbag she carried, she’d think their taste was questionable, not hers.</p>
<p>Greek life is an important tradition at Vanderbilt. I have friends whose daughters didn’t participate, loved everything about their Vandy experience, and enthuse about the school every time I see them. But there unquestionably are some people who are intense about the Greek scene and are comfortable judging women on their appearance.</p>
<p>This does not mean that Vanderbilt is “operating in the 1950’s.” It is an exceptional school with an exceptionally talented, nurturing faculty. The opportunities for students of both genders are outstanding. There are so many reasons to explore what Vanderbilt offers its students. It’s not for every student, just as Wesleyan and Michigan and Rice and Smith aren’t for every student. (And, at all of those terrific institutions, there are those who judge others on superficial qualities.)</p>
<p>Thank you frazzled1, that was thoughtful and honest input.</p>
<p>I have a D who is a senior at Vandy. She has never had the slightest interest in the greek scene … didn’t rush, doesn’t attend fraternity parties, etc. She has friends who are in sororities; she just isn’t interested. She has not felt personally affected by the admittedly predominant greek scene. She has found plenty to do that interests her.</p>
<p>As far as feeling judged by others goes, she isn’t interested in the people who WOULD judge her, so it’s not a problem for her. She holds a couple leadership positions on campus, so it hasn’t affected the social life she wants. </p>
<p>My D was a bit concerned about the social scene herself before she got there, so I won’t discount that it was a consideration. She has found that there is a place for everyone … it’s a big enough school, and an even bigger town.</p>
<p>I honestly think the social scene at the big state schools I’ve visited are much more intimidating than at Vanderbilt.</p>
<p>i have to agree with that. At Vanderbilt, the students don’t live in their sorority houses and while my D’s sorority is part of her life, it is not the be all and end all. The fact that they join during 2nd semester gives the students a chance to form friendships in their dorms, classes, activities and clubs before they rush. My D has a big group of best friends that all met at the very beginning of freshman year. They are all in different sororities but that hasn’t changed anything. Some of her friends, who go to other schools, had to move right into their sorority houses and since then socialize almost exclusively with their sorority sisters. This is definitely not the case at Vanderbilt, at least in my daughters case. </p>
<p>It seems different for the guys. My son also attended Vanderbilt and his frat brothers were def. his social circle. They hang out in their houses all the time together, plan lots of social events etc. whereas the girls don’t.</p>
<p>Hi, Bridie! I agree that the deferred recruitment approach at Vanderbilt is a good one. It helps kids get their feet on the ground and make some decisions about what they want out of social life at Vandy before jumping in to all the pressure of rushing. I’ve read that, in certain large SEC schools, entering freshmen actually arrive early just to participate in the rush process - which sounds like a pretty grim orientation to me.</p>
<p>I think that sorority recruitment at Vanderbilt is as enlightened and freshman-friendly as the process is likely to get.</p>
<p>Like most things, its what you make of it. If you choose to Go Greek, great! If not, you’ll still have a great time, Vanderbilt has an extremely happy student body. or thats what i hear, but im not even in high school…</p>
<p>There is a Greek scene and a non-Greek scene and a combination scene. Definitely try out Greek life–you have nothing to lose in testing the waters. If you love it, great! If not, it doesn’t matter. Also, any school with Greek life is going to have a rankings list. Don’t pay attention to rankings–they’re made by frat guys, and being in a sorority is not about frat boys. It’s about your sorority.</p>
<p>Re: “Vanderbilt has an extremely happy student body… but I’m not even in high school…” </p>
<p>Haha, this is definitely the Vandy attitude! Don’t even worry about colleges yet–another overachiever in the making! Ha.</p>
<p>Vandyland is a happy place… A stressful place, but a happy place once you get used to it.</p>
<p>Yay!!! I LOVE vanderbilt. yeah i agree ^^ i never pay attention to the stupid ratings. I mean how conceited to judge someone just how they look??? ugh…it angers me 
i tottally [ 1 t or 2? ] believe that beauty is only skin deep.</p>
<p>Also the “rankings” are not entirely true. There are girls in “bottom tier” sororities who are much more attractive, personality-wise AND physically, than those in “top” houses. If you’re just joining a sorority for the prestige, you’re joining for all the wrong reasons. Nobody is going to judge you for being an XYZ rather than an ABC, and if they do, they have questionable taste-forming skills in the first place. I am in a “lower tier” house, and I have friends in literally every sorority, I live with all GDI’s, and I have guy friends ranging from the “top” house to the “bottom” house. It’s such an arbitrary system, but if you go into it for the right reasons (sisterhood, friendship, networking, fun), you’ll have a great experience no matter what.</p>