<p>So, I got into UNC EA, and received absolutely nothing else from them. No scholarship and no Honors, which is something I am still somewhat bitter about. I realize it is is kind of stupid to hold a grudge about that, especially after talking to some of my friends that are already in the Honors Program that do not like it because of how limiting the class choices are.
On the other hand, I got 3/4 tuition from Vandy and was accepted into their Honors program.
I have visited both schools, and I liked the feel of UNC better. It is also far away enough from home that my parents cannot come and drop by whenever they want to, which is a definite plus. I also liked the fact that there is so much to do there, even if I don't want to party.
However, the money from Vandy is kind of hard to ignore. The new dorms that they will have are amazing, but I don't like the rumors of the overwhelming Greek life and active party scene. It is also in Nashville, and I have been trying to avoid staying in the deep south, just because I've grown up there.
I'm just trying to get some unbiased opinions from people that do not really know me, to try to get a feel for what decision to make. I guess I am looking for a college experience with great academics and opportunities to enjoy all four years. It looks like Vandy and UNC are my final two. I got into Bama, Florida, Miami, Southern Cal, Emory, Washington in St. Louis, Duke, NYU, UCLA, and UC Berkeley as well, but I don't have too much interest in going to those financially speaking now. Anyway, all advice would be appreciated.</p>
<p>Well, I'm all for UNC but I'm a bit biased. :)</p>
<p>I did some math and it looks like Vandy will be roughly 10k cheaper every year for you, correct me if I'm wrong. That makes a big difference, especially if you are paying for college yourself. I guess what it comes down to is your financial situation. At UNC, also factor in the cost of traveling, since it sounds much farther away from your home than Vanderbilt.</p>
<p>The impression I get is that you would really prefer UNC for a multitude of reasons but are worried about the finances. Obviously. I don't know, if you are paying your own way, I would have to lean towards Vanderbilt. You would get a great education there, just as at UNC, and you would have that much less to pay back in student loans. I hate to say this, but I don't think UNC is worth all that extra debt. If you have some wiggle room however, I would spring for UNC, as it sounds like a better fit for you.</p>
<p>You can have an awesome experience at either place though.</p>
<p>My final college decision ended up coming down to UNC and Vanderbilt (and Davidson) also. I don't know much about your personality, but Vandy felt too "rich" and Greek for me. I've talked to people there and it seems that Greek life is basically the only social life. At UNC it's there, but there are plenty of other things to do.</p>
<p>I thought Nashville was kind of cool, but I love Chapel Hill and Franklin Street. In the end, it ended up coming down to where I thought I'd feel more comfortable. I am very laid back and decided that UNC was a better fit. Don't regret the decision in the slightest.</p>
<p>Also, I think in these cases, you really have to lay back and ask yourself before you make a decision: if you went to UNC, would you always wonder what your life would have been like at Vandy? </p>
<p>Also, to let you know, I am in the same situation- I got no money when I should have (but got into the UNC Honors Program). A part of me is still upset at UNC, but alas-now I have to choose between UNC and Georgetown.</p>
<p>My parents both went to Vanderbilt. They enjoyed their time there (my mom was into nursing and my dad did computer engineering) but from what they say it seems like the extremely preppy, greek life only, sort of thing is/was the rule rather than the exception. They were called TVCs - Typical Vandy Coeds. I also think that there's a lot to be said for a public school education in terms of finding socioeconomic diversity.</p>
<p>So, yes, I think that what you hear about Vanderbilt is actually probably true, as much as I and my parents would hate to say it. You can, though, get an outstanding education there, especially if you're interested in music. If the only reason that you're not into UNC is because you're angry at them for not offering you a scholarship and honors, that really just isn't a big deal. Honors is awesome, but you can get into it after you're here, and there are other scholarships here (for study abroad and research, etc) that you can apply for. If there are other reasons, though, I can't really help you out!</p>
<p>cloying: Not to be coy, but if I figure correctly, your parents probably went to Vandy in the 70's or 80's??? Do you think a school can change it's image in 20-30 years? Yes, that WAS Vandy's image back then......Can you be sure it's still like that?</p>
<p>If money is a concern for you which it looks like it is after getting none from UNC, then I would go to Vandy with a 3/4 scholarship.</p>
<p>I'm laughing. I was just having a similar conversation a few days ago w/ a friend who's H graduated from Vandy about 25 years ago. They recently visited Vandy w/ their S who is a H.S. junior this year. Her husband said that he felt like he had jumped into a time machine and gone back to 1982. The clothes, the jewelry, the greeks, the atmosphere was just as he remembered. From their visit their son has ruled out Vandy.<br>
They also visited Carolina earlier this year, where she attended. She felt that a lot of things there, too were similar to her experience in the early 80's. My H who was also at UNC in the 80's agrees. The "pre-Greeks" mostly still live in Granville. The most studious students still live in North Campus. The extreme liberals, and/or extreme conservatives are still screaming in the Pit and TarHeel basketball is still #1.<br>
-Retro looking t-shirts, madras plaid, Sperry topsiders, and even Converse tennis shoes are back in style, it really is looking a lot like the late 70's-early 80's!<br>
---However, both my H and my friend agree that some things have changed at Carolina. There's much more diversity, and the student body as a whole is much more intelligent; both very good things!</p>
<p>rodney, no worries, that's not a bad thing to bring up. But, I visited Vandy just a year or two ago, and several of my friends turned it down because of the feeling they were getting from it.</p>
<p>Vandy is the closest thing you will get to Ivy League in the South. If you want a highly selective school in warmer weather than where the ivy's are, go there. If you want a good solid, highly rated public institution, much larger than an Ivy then UNC may be the place. Academically and socially I believe you find similar pockets of influence but overall I think they are different.</p>
<p>Again with the lies on the UNC board......In 2000, Vanderbilt's Jewish population was 2%, it is now between 12-15%. Vanderbilt also has the fourth largest African-American population among elite private schools and is second among top privates (only Columbia University) is higher. The Asian population is on the rise as well. This is not the same Vanderbilt of the 1980s.</p>
<p>60% of Vanderbilt students are on financial aid. Are there rich kids at Vandy? Yes. Are they the majority? No.</p>
<p>To me, the opinions of those with first hand knowledge of a school such as alums, children of alums and students who have visited are extremely valuable and certainly not to be dismissed as 'lies' just because one happens to disagree with them. </p>
<p>But, a few facts re: Vandy demographics:</p>
<p>The Office of Undergraduate Admissions' Freshman Profile provides some demographic data about the Class 2010, including the following information. See the Freshman profile for more details and other data. </p>
<p>Admission and Enrollment Rates: Of the 12,192 students who applied to Vanderbilt, about 13% of them enrolled as new freshmen. </p>
<p>Gender: More women (52%) than men (48%) are in the Class of 2010. </p>
<p>Ethnicity: Of the enrolled American students, 76.0% identified themselves as White/Caucasian, 9.8% as African American, 7.0% as Asian American, 5.5% as Hispanic/Latino, 0.4% as Native American, and 1.3% as "other." </p>
<p>Public/Private High Schools: Of the members of the class of 2010, 57% attended public high schools and 43% attended private high schools.</p>
<p>More here:
<a href="http://www.vanderbilt.edu/cft/resources/teaching_resources/interactions/vanderbilt.htm#demographics%5B/url%5D">http://www.vanderbilt.edu/cft/resources/teaching_resources/interactions/vanderbilt.htm#demographics</a> </p>
<p>and here:
<a href="http://www.vanderbilt.edu/Admissions/fastFacts.php#Profile%5B/url%5D">http://www.vanderbilt.edu/Admissions/fastFacts.php#Profile</a></p>
<p>Class of 2010 Profile </p>
<p>Number of applicants 12,911
Number of new freshmen 1,673</p>
<p>Female 53%
Male 47%
Minority Enrollment 24%
African American 9.8%
Asian American 7%<br>
Hispanic 5.5%
Native American 0.4%
Other 1.3% </p>
<p>High Schools Attended </p>
<p>Public 57%<br>
Private 43% </p>
<p>Middle 50% Range Test Scores </p>
<p>ACT 29–32
SAT CR 640–730
SAT M 660–740
SAT W 630–720 </p>
<p>Recognized Scholars</p>
<p>National Merit 149
National Achievement 19
National Hispanic 21</p>
<p>There are three types of liars: liars, damned liars, and statistics.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Admission and Enrollment Rates: Of the 12,192 students who applied to Vanderbilt, about 13% of them enrolled as new freshmen.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>You are ridiculous. Most kids applying from top schools are REJECTED. Its hard for kids to attend a school if they don't get in. Vanderbilt's yield rate is over-double what you suggested. Saying only 13% go is extremely misleading, the yield rate is significantly higher (at least over 30%).</p>
<p>Anecdotal evidence of a school from over twenty years ago, is completely useless. Vanderbilt is a vastly different community now.</p>
<p>From previous posts by theoc89:</p>
<p>
[quote]
Vandebilt -- Vandy dominates socially. Popular/Goodlooking Preps vs. Socially Awkward Nerds</p>
<p>UNC-Chapel Hill.....great social scene, down to earth kids
[/quote]
</p>
<p>
[quote]
Vandy has a large party scene with lots of extroverted (and better-looking) kids.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>
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Vanderbilt, like Harvard, has a reputation for being old money and popular with NE Prep Schools
[/quote]
</p>
<p>
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Also, the UNC troll is completely delusional about the better social scene. Playboy ranked Vanderbilt in the top 25 and UNC didn't even make the cut.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>TheOC89, I'm note sure how to reconcile these quotes with your claim that people are lying or that have been some signicant change in the social scene at Vandy. If I read your posts correctly, your quotes seem to confirm the opinions some have expressed. Would you like to clarify?</p>
<p>Sure.</p>
<p>Vanderbilt does have a faction of old-money kids. I have never denied this. Senator Majority Bill Frist has a son at Vanderbilt, Ross Perot's son and grandson went/go to Vanderbilt, and so did the children of the billion dollar Ingram Fortune. The world's youngest billionaire (according to Forbes), John Arnold is also a Vanderbilt alum.</p>
<p>Since Vanderbilt has this faction of wealthy students, lots of people assume you need to be wealthy to enjoy the Vanderbilt experience. However, this couldn't be further from the truth. As I said before, over 60% of Vanderbilt students are on financial aid. The overwhelming majority love the campus community (very, very few students transfer).</p>
<p>Fitting in at Vanderbilt isn't about name brands. But there are a lot of students who dress nicely for class. Personally, I like it when people shave/look professional instead of kids who roll out of bed in their pajama pants. It gives the classroom discussions -- a different feel. People actually do the reading and frequently contribute. Schools like UNC (and other large publics) have much worse student-faculty ratios and more lecture halls.</p>
<p>Vanderbilt has a great social scene and extroverted student body. This is a constant. But Vanderbilt has become a much more diverse student body. THIS IS A MAJOR CHANGE (making the anecdotal information here inaccurate). Geographically, less than half of the students are from the south and there is much more religious/ethnic diversity than previous years and is one of the most diverse schools out of elite schools (Source: The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education).</p>
<p>I appreciate your comments, which are a little more useful than your observation
[quote]
Again with the lies on the UNC board
[/quote]
</p>
<p>My point is that your own observations and opinions of Vanderbilt roughly coincide with some of the opinions expressed in this thread, including some made in your most recent post. You certainly have not pointed out anything that would make those observations a lie. The fact that Vanderbilt has more diversity than it had a few years ago has little bearing on the issue. Given your own observations as expressed in your quotes, to imply that those people are lying is disingenuous at best. </p>
<p>Vanderbilt is a fine school and I dont see anyone here saying that it is not. However, it does have a different feel to it than does UNC and a lot of people that like Vanderbilt would not like UNC, and vice versa. That is not a knock against either school. Simply a recognition of the differences between the schools.</p>
<p>While ldmom06 can certainly speak for herself, the fact you disputed (i.e. that roughly 13% of the applicants to Vanderbilt actually enrolled) is, in fact, true. The acceptance rate last year was roughly 33% and the yield was approximately 39%. She never implied that the yield from accepted students was 13%. I dont know what point you were trying to make, but too call someone ridiculous for citing verifiable, factual information is worse than ridiculous, its rude and disrespectful.</p>
<p>
[quote]
extremely preppy, greek life only, sort of thing is/was the rule rather than the exception. They were called TVCs - Typical Vandy Coeds
[/quote]
</p>
<p>cloying made a comment from anecdotal evidence that Vanderbilt is Greek Life ONLY. This is largely inaccurate. Vanderbilt has 1/3 of people in fraternities and less than half of the student body is involved in greek life. If the majority of a student body is not involved in greek life – how is the school ‘greek life only’? </p>
<p>uncwife, argues both schools are very similar to the student bodies of the 1980s. But then comments that UNC has diversified over the years. Also very misleading – considering Vanderbilt has diversified faster than any other elite school.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Cloying again makes a ‘useful comment’ – “I visited Vandy just a year or two ago, and several of my friends turned it down because of the feeling they were getting from it”.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Wow, her specific details are overwhelming. </p>
<p>
[quote]
Ldmom06, “Of the 12,192 students who applied to Vanderbilt, about 13% of them enrolled as new freshmen”.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Technically, this may not be inaccurate (although her numbers are outdated, Vanderbilt gets way more than 12k apps now) but its EXTREMELY misleading. It seems like only 13% decide to attend Vanderbilt when the number is at least double that figure (closer to 35%). Vanderbilt’s has a very good yield and retention rate.</p>
<p>Any person reasonably familiar with Vanderbilt has to acknowledge that the social scene is pretty well dominated by the fraternities and sororities. There has been some effort, largely unsuccessful to date, to change that over the last several years. I think it is fair to say that when 42% of the student population (35% of males and 49% of females) belong to a fraternity/sorority, the Greek system is pervasive on the campus. Those percentages are not dissimilar to the percentages in the 70’s and 80’s and may well explain why Vanderbilt has much the same “feel” now as it had then.</p>
<p>I have a suggestion. Given the title of the thread and since you are apparently a Vanderbilt student, why don’t you do something positive and articulate the things about Vanderbilt that someone should know about Vanderbilt before making a decision to attend, both positive and negative. That would be a lot more productive than trying to criticize other posters. I really don’t see what point you are trying to make, as I don’t think anyone has said anything really negative about Vanderbilt. It is a good school. Its particular culture and social scene is just not for everyone.</p>
<p>Several decades ago, Vanderbilt's fraternity membership was over 50%. The number has plummeted to around 33%. I think this is a very noticeable change. Second, the UNC posters didn't just say Vanderbilt had a large Greek life, but that the school was "greek life only". This is ludicrous. If the majority of campus is not involved in Greek Life, the school is not "greek life only". Does it have a large presence on campus? Yes. Can you have an amazing Vanderbilt experience without it? Absolutely.</p>
<p>You are taking Cloyings' use of the phrase "greek life only" out of context. She did not say that the only social life at Vanderbilt is oriented around the Greek system, just that it seemed to predominate. I am having trouble understand why you disagree with that.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Not one person has said that you cannot have a good experience at Vanderbilt without being in a fraternity or sorority. It is certainly possible as Vanderbilt is a fine school and Nashville is a great place. Notwithstanding that, when 42% of the students are involved in fratermities or sororities a large part of the campus social scene will revolve around around those organizations and affect how the university appears to others. Some people prefer a different environment. That is an observation, not a criticism of Vanderbilt.</p>