<p>I spent a lot of time on this site last year when my d was a senior and hoping to attend Vandy. Now she is a freshman. I had many reservations about the school, mostly financial and cultural. I am writing this in hopes of assuaging any fears people like me -- Jewish, liberal, from the Northeast, with pretty serious intellectual aspirations for our kids -- may have about this university. Although only six weeks into the first semester, I could not be happier with her choice and actually feel that my money -- about $50,000 of my hard-earned money-- has been well-spent. I worried that with all my d's AP classes, freshman year would not be challenging academically. I worried that the campus and its social life would have a southern country club vibe that would make my daughter feel left out. I worried about all the partying and the fact that my d is very social but doesn't drink or do drugs at all, and avoids those who do.
So far, all my worries were groundless. She went to a VERY demanding and competitive high school, and finds all her classes very stimulating, challenging, and extremely different from high school. She studies a lot in her dorm room ( a single), but also has fun socializing in the dorm every day and night. When my husband and I went for parents' weekent, we loved everything we experienced, from Salmon Rushdie's talk to the football game to the architectural tour to the Hillell bagel brunch. It's all been positive. If you're at all like me, don't hestitate for one minute to allow your child to consider Vanderbilt. It really does seem to combine the best of a liberal arts atmosphere that really focuses attention and resources on undergraduates with an urban vibe and a major research university with outstanding faculty. I am a very happy customer!</p>
<p>Very good to hear, not that we had any doubt..We are visiting in November for an overnight to check out the school...Any suggestions? Also, since Vandy does not have a supplemental essay, how did your daughter express her true interest in attending? This seems like one place where it it very driven by numbers, given that the only essay they see is the common app personal statement and fav activity....</p>
<p>mirimom, I am also the parent of freshman, and I am happy to report that my son is very pleased with Vanderbilt. We are not from the south, have little in common with "the country club crowd", and my son is definitely a serious academic. He is quite sociable, but not in the drinking/drugs vein. We are very pleased with his choice, and I have been trying to talk up Vanderbilt at every opportunity with those who have some very outdated assumptions about the school.</p>
<p>rodney, I can't really address the question of how one goes about expressing an interest in attending on the application, but since your s/d is visiting, and perhaps interviewing, that is a good chance to show some interest. Have you thought about making an appointment to visit with the undergraduate director of a program that is of interest? Asking about sitting in on a class? I think there is something called "Dore for a Day" this year, in which prospective students are matched with current students to look around. Perhaps you could inquire about that through the admissions office, if you haven't already.</p>
<p>I think admissions is not purely numbers driven. The record of out-of-class activities, recs, etc. are probably significant. Perhaps a current applicant can say more about that.</p>
<p>rodney, did you arrange the overnight with the school or are u staying at a nearby hotel?</p>
<p>Rodney -- as I'm sure you've heard, admissions to the "top 40-50 schools" can be a bit random. There were kids rejected from Vandy from our public high school and nearby private schools whose SATs and grades were higher than my daughter's. But then again, maybe they weren't being truthful about their scores! My daughter wrote a very good essay answering the "Why Vanderbilt" question. She had around 2100 SATs, 700's on SAT II's, and a 3.8 GPA unweighted, with 6 AP courses, and 4s and 5s on her AP tests. Her ec's were average -- nothing like what you see on College Confidential. She applied ED and was thrilled to be accepted. She visited once, and did the overnight, not that she needed any convincing at that point. I don't know why she got in when others did not, but I'm glad she did.</p>
<p>Midmo: The day we are going is a pre-vu day; most of the day is scheduled, but maybe a meeting with a dept person would make sense</p>
<p>AngelT841: No, we did not schedule an ON visit (not sure they are doing that anymore)...We are staying at a hotel</p>
<p>Mirimom: How weird....My d stats are almost identical to your daughter's....Unfortunately, there is no "Why Vanderbilt" essay this year on the supplement (unless I am missing something)...We are probably applying RD (given my d's inability to commit to one school right now)...Still hoping that one of these campus visits leads her to tilt towards ED, but right now, not happening....</p>
<p>Thank you for all of your posts!</p>
<p>Also, Midmo: Dore for a day is only in the spring this year, so it would probably only apply to those already accepted or juniors at the beginning of the process....thank you though...</p>
<p>Rodney,
I'm also a Vanderbilt parent, but not a new one. This is my 6th year to have a child at Vandy (thankfully, not the same one!). I've seen the school without its make-up, so to speak, and still have many, many kind words for it. Teaching is wonderful in many disciplines, but problematic in some others; though, after following the foreign professors thread on the parents board though, I'm convinced VU is proactive in adressing some of those issues based on older child's experience. Both kids have experienced some really passionate professors in their classwork and have developed into wonderful critical thinkers (but, of course, I'm a little biased).
Advising is not particularly a strength, but comparison with friends who have children at similar schools yields the same comments. I teach at a community college and I know we provide more personalized advising. That said, my job is teaching and advising only.<br>
Opportunities to hear a broad range of speakers are plentiful. My personal favorite Vanderbilt presentation is the Impact series each spring where notable political speakers are featured. Last year's series (over 3 nights) was Lou Dobbs, Newt Gingrich, and Harold Ford, Jr. Ford was a visiting professor last spring and liked it so well that he continues in the role this fall. One of D's best friends was in his spring class and loved it. I've attended Impact twice and been "wowed" by the speakers and the student participation.
Study abroad opportunities are plentiful, as are internships. The career center seems to be working to provide a more organized experience for seniors. S had a job offer prior to Thanksgiving of his senior year, but I'm aware of several kids who have had challenges with employment in their fields (often fields where employment is tough to find with only a BA). Graduates seeking professional schools have had wonderful offers based on the experiences of both childrens' suitemates, sorority sisters, etc.
I hope this post doesn't sound negative, but offers an objective opinion based on a long experience with the school. My best endorsement is that based on what I know of the strengths and weaknesses of Vanderbilt, I often encourage bright kids I know in our community to apply and to attend, if accepted.
As for demonstrated interest, even though the comman app has been adopted, eliminating the very important Why Vandy question, there may be other ways to work strong interest into the application file. If GC or teachers are receptive to personalizing their recommendations, they could indicate in a sentence or two the student's particular response to VU based on a campus visit. If you have the opportunity for an alumni interview, try to schedule after a campus visit so they can "connect" on campus experiences. Both my kids had an additional letter of recommendation from a Vanderbilt alum, although at the time of their applications alumni interviews weren't offered. It's not a bad thing to meet the regional rep for their school when your student visits or if they aren't on campus, send an e-mail indicating the visit and the attempt to meet with some kind of personal reaction the campus visit.</p>
<p>Thank you for the ideas.....My d did contact the regional rep and hopes to meet during our visit....Personalized GC rec is not going to happen (not b/c she doesn't know my d, just because of #'s)....We have not had a Vandy applicant in the last 5 years..Not sure before that.....We will await word about an alumni interview, though......</p>
<p>I think alot of this will come together when we visit....Our experience at other schools has proven this out......</p>
<p>Rodney, they do have the 'Dore for a Day program during the Fall, my son is going to do it on 10/26.</p>
<p>And thanks for your post, Mirimom, we're pretty much in the same boat and background as you. My older d is in her third year at Colgate (which seemed an odd choice at first too, but has turned out wonderfully). Still, my son's interest in going down South to Vanderbilt took me back at first. </p>
<p>However I took him down in July and although there weren't many students around, he liked it very much. If his visit in two weeks turns out as he is confident it will, he plans to apply ED.</p>
<p>Now if I can only figure out a way to get him to also visit the Hillel....</p>
<p>mhc48: One incentive - the food at Hillel is great including the food in the cafe there (called Grins). My daughter often goes to Shabbat dinner (which is free) but skips the service. Better then not going at all! BTW, if you are looking for a school in the South with a large Jewish population of similar size to Vanderbilt, you might look into Emory.</p>
<p>mhc48: Ugh! Thank you....I wish I knew that before I booked 11/5, but either way we will get to see the school...I guess believing what you read on the website is not always the best idea...see paragraph 3</p>
<p>'Dore for a Day
This is your chance to spend a day on campus “shadowing” a current Vanderbilt student. The prospective student meets their Vanderbilt host in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at 12:30 pm CT on the day of the visit. </p>
<p>A voucher for lunch on campus will be provided. The host will dine with the student on campus, then escort the prospective student to one or two classes and spend time with the student exploring areas of interest on campus. Prospective students should plan to be on campus until about 4 p.m. CT. </p>
<p>This program is available Monday through Friday, from January to mid–April, when classes are in session. 'Dore for a Day is open to current juniors and seniors in high school; the month of April is reserved for admitted seniors only.</p>
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<blockquote> <p>My daughter often goes to Shabbat dinner (which is free) but skips the service. Better then not going at all! <</p> </blockquote>
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<p>Hmmm....Is this a Friday night Shabbat Dinner? .....maybe I could tell him that he could "pre-game" legally at the kiddush? (I'd resort to almost any sort of inducement or trickery I could to get him to at least stop by)</p>
<p>We thought about Emory but he wants the sports and general campus ambience of Vanderbilt. I'm actually embarrassed to admit that I had never realized exactly how far West & South Nashville is. That's already far enough away without considering Atlanta.</p>