<p>I've heard from a few people that went to Vanderbilt that it seems...cold in terms of student body atmosphere. I was wondering how true this was or if there are any reasons for this since Vanderbilt seems like a university that I had previously wanted to go to. Specifically,
1) How large is the role of the Greek system in social life? Does it tend to alienate and divide people? Does the Greek system tend to dominate the other extracurricular activities on campus? Does the Greek system actually promote anything besides drunken revelry, i.e. community service?
2) How large are the classes in general and how personable are the students, professors, etc?
3) Just how preppy is Vanderbilt? I mean it is named after a bourgeoisie capitalist...no offense to prep kids or anything, but I just wondered if the prep kids there are snobbish, etc.
Thank you!</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Greek life is huge. It doesn't divide people along Greek/non-Greek or frat/sorority lines, I don't think, but rather along drink/don't drink and party/don't party lines. But, I guess that sort of divide would exist regardless of the Greek system. The community service seems like a front to give the Greek system a reason for existing other than drunken revelry, but I'm not Greek, so I could be wrong. There could be something productive coming out of the Greek system.</p></li>
<li><p>Intro classes and pre-med classes are, as one would expect, enormous. Higher level classes and classes in less popular majors (i.e. physics, religious studies) are generally smaller. My classes average about ten students, but I'm not taking pre-med or intro courses. The professors I've had have been a mixed bag so far. I never know if my math professor is going to rape me or talk to me about the next assignment (OK, I exaggerate, but he is scary), but the professors I've had in languages have been absolutely superb. In general, I haven't liked the professors in the math and physics departments, but that might have something to do with the fact that most math/physics people are socially defunct anyways. They're not just nerdy though (nerds are great!); some are downright creepy.</p></li>
<li><p>Vanderbilt is definitely preppy. Fake (and real) Rolexes and Kate Spades, Lacrosse, popped collars everywhere. Most people are really nice, and some really aren't, but that's life.</p></li>
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<p>From your questions I would bet that Vanderbilt is not the school for you. Even if you do end up here, college is what you make of it, even at a school you thought would be an atrocious fit.</p>
<p>1) How large is the role of the Greek system in social life? Does it tend to alienate and divide people? Does the Greek system tend to dominate the other extracurricular activities on campus? Does the Greek system actually promote anything besides drunken revelry, i.e. community service?
2) How large are the classes in general and how personable are the students, professors, etc?
3) Just how preppy is Vanderbilt? I mean it is named after a bourgeoisie capitalist...no offense to prep kids or anything, but I just wondered if the prep kids there are snobbish, etc.
Thank you!</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Greek life is pretty big, but its not as though you won't have friends if you aren't Greek...all freshmen start out as non-Greek, and friendships are formed there. Plus, it is pretty easy to go to parties and have fun regardless of whether or not you are Greek. While Greek life is pretty big, it won't alienate or divide anyone...its not as though those who are Greek don't associate with those who aren't, or vice-versa. Most frats/sororities are pretty big into community service, and there are some frats (and possibly sororities) that don't even host parties that have drinking (the parties are still great times, just no alcohol is to be found). </p></li>
<li><p>The students are really personable. One thing that Vandy has that other top universities don't is a group of students who would much rather be your friend than beat you on a test by a few points. It isn't cutthroat (with the exception of a couple pre-med classes). The students are awesome. I have yet to meet anyone that I do not like. The Professors will vary a bit...it really depends on the subject that you are studying. I have had great experiences in engineering, chemistry, and management. The mathematics teachers haven't been all that great thus far, but I hear the higher up you go in math, the better the teachers get. </p></li>
<li><p>Vandy is quite preppy, but not as preppy as its reputation would suggest. Several kids will wear a collared shirt (usually polo) around campus, but there are quite a few that don't. I have actually seen more t-shirts than collared, but there are definitely a noticable number of kids who wear nice clothing. Generally speaking, those who wear those types of clothes are pretty humble about their economic statuses...they aren't snobbish and don't go around flaunting their wealth.</p></li>
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<p>If you have any other questions, PM me...good luck with your college search!</p>
<p>-- Coming from the Northeast, I've found the student body to be extremely welcoming. People hold doors, smile, and are overall very friendly.
-- Vanderbilt has preppy kids, but there are lots of others types of kids too.
Students are generally good-looking and Vandy seems to appeal to the "well balanced" student: kids who was well-liked in HS, captain of a sports team, and maintained straight A's. Despite some misconceptions, I would never consider Vanderbilt student students 'snobby' (actually its the exact opposite), most are very approachable and want to be your friend. Community service is also huge here (esp. Alternative Spring Break programs).
-- I've been very happy with the professors (esp. in the English/History/Philosophy departments). Definitely take a class with Lachs before you graduate, it will change your life. </p>
<p>edit: As for Greek life, I'm independent but I also have lots of friends who are in fraternities/sororities. the officers dont live in the houses, so its not really a big deal.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the help, guys. I suppose I should probably visit campus first to get a feel for the university, too, but it sounds cool from your responses. Vanderbilt might be the school that is strong enough academically to attend, but relaxed enough socially for me to enjoy the years I spend there.</p>
<p>It should also be noted that preppy does not always equal snobby...
- a non-Vandy student but someone who dresses preppy</p>
<p>I recently visited, and stayed overnight, at Vandy with a buddy. I think it is both preppy and snobby. There is a cliquey feel, and the top clique appears to be the really wealthy, white, southerners. As much as Vandy is trying to diversify, it still seems very segregated. My friend is Jewish and decided not to apply. He felt uncomfortable in general, and felt that he would have to hang out with only other Jews. He is not religious and has always had all kinds of friends, but he felt that there he would have to wave a Jewish flag or not really have many friends. I have been visiting other schools in the south (Duke, UVA, Uof Miami, Emory) and Vanderbilt just did not have the broad, or intellectual, feeling of the others. It still seems like a very regional, southern school to me.</p>
<p>While I can definitely see where the "preppy" stereotype comes from, Vanderbilt is not totally a "southern" school. This was something that I was actually very worried about when I was making my choices. I am personally from the North, from a family that isn't poor, but nowhere near as wealthy as some of these other families. There are plenty of students here who aren't rich and southern. While I'm not close friends with any of the super-rich kids, I've never had any problems with them being snobby. Everyone here is really friendly.</p>
<p>With regard to thesearch's comments on Jewish "integration" at Vanderbilt, I have to say his friend's perception is not representative of what my children have experienced with Jewish friends. One of S's best friends is Jewish and it was never any kind of issue. The friend is from Nashville and his parents are faculty, so he obviously had some experience with the social climate before choosing Vanderbilt. In S's group of friends, the largest "split" he had with anyone was among fellow Kentuckians over who was cheering for the UK Wildcats and who for UL Cardinals during basketball season!
D's original roommate could be detailed in the roommates from hell thread that is posted elsewhere, but she got a change in Feb. when a sister from her pledge class moved in with her. This sorority sister is Jewish and has made many good friends at Vanderbilt. D and the roommate knew they would not live together this year because the sorority sister had already committed to another friend who lives in Nashville. This friend invited both of them to Easter dinner at her home. A number of friends were invited and religion had nothing to do with this, only friendship.</p>
<p>I disagree with just about everything thesearch has said other than the fact that Vanderbilt has a more southern feel than most of the other top schools in the U.S. He/she mentions "seems" in his/her descriptions, which is apt considering he/she doesn't understand Vanderbilt's students. I'll just cite personal experience as evidence. Am I going to discredit the negative things he experienced? No, because I'm sure that's what he saw. Those types of people exist everywhere. Is it representative of the entire student body as a whole? Simple answer, No.</p>
<p>I have sort of another "culture" question. Do the sororities mix socially with eachother much. In other words is it cliquey or competitive, with some sororities thinking that they are better than others? Or do they pretty much get along?</p>
<p>Both. They are obviously competitive with each other as they are competing for the same group of girls. But girls in sororities will also have friends in other sororities & with independents.</p>
<p>sororities definetely do mix with others. Also to reply to other comments made. Yes Vanderbilt has a lot of southerners, but it also has a ton of New Yorkers. I am a freshmen girl from the north and I have never once felt uncomfortable or that I am outnumbered by southerners. A very large percentage of my friends are Jewish and love it here. Hillel is extremely active and is growing each year. Actually most girls on my hall or from the north or midwest so I really think that the stereotypes described earlier are incorrect.</p>