<p>Im deciding between UChicago (im expecting to pay around 26k) and a full tuition at Vandy (with other scholarships, i'd pay around 10k a year).
Im considering economics, but I might just as easily do sciences. Any suggestions?</p>
<p>Vandy, that’s such a good deal…</p>
<p>Chicago is probably stronger in econ and sciences, but 10k at Vandy is a good deal too. What do your parents think?</p>
<p>freaking vandy and their freaking money…</p>
<p>throw in MMSS at Northwestern into that equation.
So Chicago vs. Cornelius Vandy scholar at Vandy vs. MMSS at Northwestern</p>
<p>I am trying to make a similar decision: CV Scholarship at Vandy vs. ISP at Northwestern vs. Harvey Mudd. I was waitlisted at Chicago, though…</p>
<p>As a Chicago grad, I would never minimize how important I think my years at Chicago were to becoming the person I am today. But that is quite a deal for a Vandy education, and I believe you would be well-suited professionally by attending either school. What you really need to ask yourself is, would attending Chicago make you that much happier to warrant the additional $64 in debt? If you are a hardcore Chicago-type person (and I hope you know what I mean), maybe so. But if you are more on the fence (i.e., you also would appreciate having a more traditional college experience), I would vote Vandy.</p>
<p>There is no stock answer here, because you are talking about two totally different college experiences.</p>
<p>Chicago is all about the life of the mind. While the “where fun goes to die” line is hyperbole, it’s not exactly a great party school. Sports and traditional rah-rah school spirit are not a meaningful part of the mix. Alumni talk about how it’s more like being a graduate student than a normal undergraduate, and there’s something to that.</p>
<p>Vandy is a totally different kettle of fish. It’s elite academically, but your average Vandy student doesn’t fancy himself as an intellectual. Fraternities and sororities pretty much dominate the undergraduate social scene. While the sports teams tend to get punked by the likes of Florida and Tennessee, it is an SEC school with major sports and traditional college spirit.</p>
<p>The kind of person who would really, really love the intellectual life at Chicago would not be thrilled by life at Vanderbilt; they could find their niche and academic stimulation, but the focus of the school is different. The kind of person who would wake up each day delighted to be at Vanderbilt would, similarly, be very disappointed at what would seem to be a one dimensional intellectual focus at Chicago.</p>
<p>Chicago and Nashville are both great towns, but, needless to say, also quite different.</p>
<p>No one else can answer this question for you. Given your family finances and career aspirations, how much does the money matter to you? Given who you are, which scholastic environment would be the one that would fulfill you?</p>