Hello everyone,
I’m an economics major and I would like to work in a city when I graduate (not necessarily New York, not investment banking). I’m deciding between Cornell and Vanderbilt. The financial aid is about the same and I don’t really care about the weather because I’m from the north anyways. I’m leaning towards Vanderbilt because I feel like students have a happier experience there, but I have already passed up on Stern so it’s hard to give up Cornell as well because I have heard that it’s harder to get a job outside of the south at Vanderbilt (I’m not sure if this is true?). Cornell has a better name but a lot of kids from my high school go there and I feel like I would be too shy/embarrassed to try anything new whereas I don’t know anyone at Vanderbilt and I would be more likely to be outgoing there. I just want to be happy but also have the best tools to actualize my potential. I’m not sure what to do.
Of course we hope you come to Vanderbilt. However, life experience has shown me that using the presence of students from your high school on campus as a deterrent…is really a bit of a false fear. A common concern though, and one we hear often. I hear a lot of people voicing this when they are still seniors in high school. Reality is that people tend to drift away from the familiar at colleges…and I think this is true at Cornell and at Vandy. I believe you could get privacy so you could do some testing the waters socially on your own timetable and on your own pathway unnoticed either place. Both schools are big enough so that you can actually shift groups socially or academically and you don’t have to be with the same people for four years. You are allowed to alter your interests and activities from year to year. If your instincts are positive for Vanderbilt, and finances are equal, I would go with Vanderbilt. Plenty of people make that final decision on a gut level feeling. You will work hard in either school. Nashville itself has a creative and lively feel to it which can offset the drudgery of academic pursuits. good luck deciding!