Hi! (I only have 5 days to decide!)
I recently got off the Vanderbilt waitlist and now I am deciding between Brandeis and Vanderbilt. I am planning on going Pre-Med but am not 100% sure. Brandeis would offer me a closer relationship to professors, easier access to research opportunities, and maybe better grades due to the smaller size. Vanderbilt would offer me a great well rounded academic, probably a lot of research opportunities, but my grades may be worse than if I went to Brandeis. I know GPA matters a lot for Medical school so I am having trouble in deciding. I may also end up not doing pre-med so I guess Vanderbilt’s reputation may give a better job? I am not sure. However Brandeis has an amazing faculty and econ major. I really need help choosing.
Thanks!
How’s the financial aid like at each?
If the money is the same, I’d go to Vanderbilt. Loved my time there as grad student. Loved city of Nashville (not from South). I wouldn’t choose a school based on where I think I would get better grades. Fit is important and it is possible Brandeis could be a better fit for you, but I think most people would select Vandy.
Pretty sure med schools know perfectly well how each school that sends them applicants hands out grades and factors that in to their decisions. Choose the school you are most likely to thrive at. (And can best afford.) THAT is what will make a difference in your med school chances.
I think you have hyped up Vanderbilt’s size a little too much. While they do have about twice as many students as Brandeis, their student to faculty ratio is smaller than Brandeis’- 8 to 1 versus 10 to 1. I wouldn’t say that your grades would be worse either. Unless you’re dead-set against going to the South, I would go with Vanderbilt. It’s consistently ranked one of the happiest schools in the nation!
I would choose Brandeis because you are getting the benefits of a great education in the same kind of atmosphere as a liberal arts college. Andy is a great school, but its size and sports/frat vibe wouldn’t work for me. Also, being near Boston would be a plus for me.
Was there a school you preferred from the start? If so go there. Both will offer excellent and likely comparable academics. Think about the environment you want to spend next for years…which city do you prefer? do enjoy like big time sports? Greek Life? etc. You can’t make a bad choice.
See I’m really confused! Sometimes I feel that I want to go to a small school with a less party scene but then sometimes I want to go to a school with sports scene. I’m also taking into consideration in terms of being able to stand out in an amazing school. I am not sure if I can stand out at Vanderbilt. What do you think? Also im afraid in terms of getting good grades and getting in graduate school as well.
Getting into an amazing school in an indicator that the admissions committee has faith in your ability to stand out. You have absolutely no reason to not have faith in yourself. You got into Vanderbilt and you have all the tools to be successful there.
If cost or fit makes you sway towards Brandeis, then fair enough, but please don’t let fear be a reason to not attend Vanderbilt.
@cupcake9363: Your original post was in BC vs Brandeis, I’m glad you were taken off the waitlist at Vanderbilt, just curious did you turn down BC?
Vanderbilt offered me 5k more than Brandeis. @Homeless2Princeton
And yes I turned down BC. Ahhh I’m so confused. @Massmom2015
I think you’re too worried about being behind academically at Vanderbilt. If the school thought that you would struggle, you would have been flat out rejected. Being waitlisted means “you are academically qualified for this school, but unfortunately we don’t have enough beds.” You would succeed there if that was the path you choose to take.
how many did vandy take off the waitlist? and are they going to do it again?
What? Vandy’s also more financially sound? I would take Vandy and run with it. It’s an incredible campus combined with top notch academics and is in a thriving city. This is an amazing opportunity being handed to you on a silver er, $5,000 platter. The research opportunities will look inticing on your application to med school and they have outstanding support and tutoring so that you don’t fall behind. Don’t worry about the grades, just do your best. If I hadn’t been wait listed, I would’ve seriously considered attending Vandy over some of the ivies I was accepted to.