I am a rising sophomore transfer student and I have narrowed my selection down to these two options. For context, I am from a working-class family from a rural area in the Northeast and I plan on majoring in math/statistics. I already decided to commit to Rochester among a few other options weeks ago. Vanderbilt was the only school I hadn’t heard back from which I wrongly assumed was a looming sign of rejection. However, I was surprised a few days ago with an acceptance. Here’s where I stand now:
Vanderbilt
Pros:
- Cost (9k/year!). I’m paying for my own education, and yet I could likely attend debt-free.
- Smaller class sizes
- Perhaps a greater ROI with its prestige/networking?
- Weather is more moderate which is a big deal for me
- Will likely take a few more transfer credits (easier to graduate?)
- On-campus housing is guaranteed & included in aid
Cons:
- Major: no dedicated statistics/data science majors. Would have to be a math major, although it is quite flexible
- Significant gen eds (who knows how well they’ll transfer over)
- Farther from home (15 hours by car, would most likely fly in which is $)
- Campus culture: skews wealthier and preppier, worry about fitting in from my background
- Greek life is quite prominent
- Committing means losing my Rochester deposit (almost $1k) which would suck
Rochester
Pros:
- Dedicated statistics & data science majors- more breadth in study options
- Open curriculum leaves a lot more legroom
- Closer to home (4 hours by car/train, could visit more often)
- Seems to have more socioeconomic diversity & more people from my area
- More diversified social scene
- I’ve already committed, which makes the transfer process smoother to navigate
Cons:
- Cost (17k a year)- Manageable, but would graduate with significant debt (all federal loans though)
- Class sizes are often larger
- Not as prestigious, although it is more well-known locally
- Weather is very tough, I’ll be there most of the winter and can’t escape it when I go home either
- On-campus housing for fall semester is looking unlikely as they have a shortage. I’m worried about acclimating if I’m not living there next year.
I’m stuck. Vanderbilt is prestigious and more financially accessible, but academics aren’t as specific and some of the culture reminds me of what I’m trying to leave. Rochester could be a better “fit” in academics and socially, but I’d be left with a significant amount of student loan debt and I have to deal with lake-effect weather at its worst.
Thoughts on where to go from here? Thank you!
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Things I wouldn’t worry about with Vandy:
Wealth, perceived preppiness, social scene. 20 years ago, I would have worried about these things. Schools with a preppy/Greek reputation have evolved. There is much greater economic and social diversity today and most of these campuses are going through an Anti-Greek Life (AGL) movement. I think you will find your people at a school like Vandy
I also would not worry about the incremental travel costs and such at Vanderbilt. Your cost of attendance is substantially lower. This more than offsets things like travel costs.
What I would be concerned about: your ability to create the data science/stats curriculum you seek. I would look very carefully at how your Gen Ed credits tie in and the degree to which the lack of a dedicated program can be overcome by assembling the math and other courses you need to turn this into a data science degree.
If you can graduate on the same timeframe AND you can get the courses you need fit your concentration, I’d pick Vanderbilt. Otherwise, Rochester.
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Thanks for your input! I’m kinda starting to think the same way.
Regarding travel, it definitely would still be cheaper taking flights into account. Because of where I live I’m 90 mins each way from the nearest airport, plus I have a lot of dorm stuff I would likely need to sell and rebuy. The costs aren’t great but you’re right that it’s pennies on the dollar compared to Rochester.
I’ll definitely do more research on the academics and see what I could piece together at Vandy. I definitely would have enough credits to graduate based on what they’ve told me, it’s more a matter of flexibility within those remaining years.
To me…Vandy is a no brainer. It is a much more known name, it’s far cheaper and the weather is better which is important to you. Allegiant, Spirit and Southwest fly here so you’ll find reasonable flights most likely. Some fly from ‘off’ airports. Maybe one is closer to you. And they have a data science minor to couple with math or any other major. It doesn’t have to be math.
Vandy will be more social and has D1 sports…if that matters to you or not.
Good luck.
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Regarding your interest in math and statistics, this topic may be of interest: For Students Seeking a College Strong in Mathematics.
I don’t know enough about either school to have specific advice, but if you decide on Vanderbilt at least ask if Rochester would consider refunding your deposit. They can always say no, but they might say yes. I have heard of schools refunding deposits before, so a thoughtful request to the right person on the right day would be worth the attempt.
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Congratulations on your acceptances! I don’t know enough about either school or that major, but if Rochester’s major is more in line with what you want, I’m wondering if you can ask Rochester to raise your merit and/or financial aid to come closer to Vanderbilt’s?
And even before they answer you (or before you even ask them), ask yourself – if they cost the same, which school do you think best suits you? Good luck!
Thanks for the helpful feedback, everyone.
I’m sending many emails to both institutions before their offices reopen tomorrow. I’ve decided, tentatively, that if University of Rochester doesn’t budge with finances or transfer credit that I’m going to try Vanderbilt.
I realized that I probably wouldn’t have such a predicament if I hadn’t already committed and received a late-wave decision. There is some emotional (and obviously financial) ties I’ve established with Rochester already that was clouding my judgement in the initial fallout from this new decision. But I’ve come to realize that there’s no reason I should settle for tens of thousands of student loans, as well as compromises in housing, weather, etc. if I can help it. It’s tough to let go, especially from a financial standpoint, but I think it might be what gets me ahead.
Is there anything more I should do or ask for from either institution? Am I missing something in my situation?
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Both meet need. Is your aid all need or need + merit. If need, they likely won’t budge but you can ask how it was calculated…ie why is Vandy’s richer.
If they meet Vandy’s cost, are you going to Rochester? If not, no reason even to ask in my opinion. Sounds like you’d go Rochester but I still sense indecision. Both are great so jump all in with the one you choose.
Rochester is merit + need whereas Vandy is all need. The difference is due to how each calculates aid, I think- Vanderbilt only calculates custodial parent income, whereas Rochester requires CSS info for both of my parents. If Rochester reconsidered completely, which is a Hail Mary at this point, I’d probably lean more their way. I really like the place (I committed there initally, after all) but it isn’t worth so much more of a financial burden, especially when up against a place like Vandy.
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The problem with the Gen Eds could result in a 5th year, which could eat up a lot of your “savings” from going to Vandy, especially if you include the opportunity cost of having to enter the workforce a year later. You need to get what will transfer nailed down before you commit to either school.
I think Rochester is a better fit for your interests and it is very prestigious within the quant community depending on what your interest is post college. I generally recommend against going to a school that doesn’t have the major you want, especially if money is driving your decision. Not having the major you want could end up being a problem in non-obvious ways, even if the school has some classes to compensate. If a school doesn’t offer a major it means they are not committed to that discipline, and that could have implications on quality of professors and resources in the classes you want.
The only really serious “pro” for Vanderbilt is the cost. See what Rochester would do to match Vandy. I think $24,000 (which I am calculating as the total difference between the two schools for 3 years) is manageable debt for post-college, but only you know the answer to that.
Only you know what you want in terms of culture, but Vanderbilt is the South and is different if you are not used to it.