Vanderbilt or Bowdoin?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Vanderbilt University
1

<p>hi everyone! this is my first post so bear with me. i really want to apply ED to either bowdoin or vanderbilt because i love both schools, but i really just can't decide which one, and i'm kinda running out of time. both schools are academically about the same, but are completely different in every other way. here are my list of pros and cons for each school: i'm a female from new york, btw.</p>

<p>Vandy pros:
in nashville
fun greek life
bigger school
more well known
more diverse
very different from my home
weather</p>

<p>Vandy cons:
a little superficial (very concerned about clothes, fashion, etc)
greek life could be overwhelming
far from my home</p>

<p>bowdoin pros:
beautiful coastal campus
laid back students
smaller, more intimate student body
i could potentially run xc and track there because its d3
close to home, and wouldn't be a culture shock
hot guys!! (or so i hear)</p>

<p>bowdoin cons:
middle of nowhere, not near a city
really small, potentially claustrophobic student body
no greek life
everyone will be from the New England area, like me
Not as well known (I think)
potentially boring??
bad weather</p>

<p>anyways, i'm still really torn. to let you know a little bit about me, i like to party so i wanna go to a school with a fun social life. also, we're financially well off so financial aid isn't an issue, we probably wouldn't receive anything. i'm also completely undecided about my major. so basically what i'm asking is, is bowdoin claustrophobic and can it get boring? does the social scene get old? or is vandy too superficial? like is it exhausting for girls to constantly have to keep up appearances and brand names?</p>

2

<p>I think, from your self-description, Vandy may be a better fit than Bowdoin, at least with respect to the ED app. If you don’t get into Vandy ED you can apply to Bowdoin RD. But, despite Bowdoin being considered by some people to be “preppy” and despite its putative drinking culture, Bowdoin is very much a New England liberal arts school. So the preppiness and the party culture is very different from, say, a large southern university. I was making a similar decision years ago between Bowdoin and UVa (a school fairly similar to Vandy) and having visited both campuses, I can tell you that Bowdoin seemed more intellectual and bookish and UVa more “fun”. Those are just my impressions. Personally, I think that if you’re attracted to a Greek scene - that if this is a positive aspect to Vandy - then Bowdoin is less of a fit than Vandy is.</p>

3

<p>Your thought process is good and it is important to work out these questions over the next few months. Ask yourself where do you want to live for the next 4 years?
A few more Vandy points: SEC sports, merit scholarships, freshman dorms, school spirit, happy students.<br>
No, all the students are not into the fashion thing.
Now is the time to visit the schools. Trust your judgement and make the best choice for you. Good luck, it’s a fun time in your life.</p>