<p>I've currently narrowed my colleges to just two--Vanderbilt and Notre Dame. I have grown up loving Notre Dame, cheering for them at football games, and visiting the campus every year, as my mom went there. However, I was offered a $30,000 per year merit scholarship to Vandy that is very hard to turn down, since I would pay the full cost of ND. I just visited Vandy for the first time yesterday and, while the community didn't seem as close-knit as ND (at least from the perspective of a first impression) and I don't like the prevalence of Greek life, I really liked it and could see myself enjoying it there. The academics have very similar reputations, and both have strong science programs. If I hadn't gotten any money from Vandy, ND would still have the edge in my opinion, but since I want to major in a science and eventually go on to medical school, I can't completely discount the money--yet I don't want to make my decision on the SOLE basis of money either. My head says Vandy, my heart says ND.....any advice?</p>
<p>You'd be nuts to turn down a considerable scholarship from Vandy to attend Notre Dame, imo. The $120,000 you're going to save is going to go far in paying for med school. I didn't like the presence of Greek life either, but it didn't seem to be as much of a deal as I thought it was when I visited. When the difference in $$$ is that striking and the other differences aren't, I think it makes sense to make the decision on money.</p>
<p>Please, choose Vanderbilt. Please.</p>
<p>BTW, where are you from? I'm assuming you went to the honors scholarship program, so I am trying to figure out who you are.</p>
<p>Follow your heart. </p>
<p>Otherwise you'll spend a lifetime kicking yourself about it.</p>
<p>Or you might spend a lifetime kicking yourself over that extra $120,000 you could have had.</p>
<p>Is money that big of an issue?</p>
<p>Is money that big of an issue? Yes and no. I did not apply for financial aid because I know I don't qualify for any. My parents are able and willing to pay for Notre Dame if that's what I choose, but with two other younger children's college educations and the rising costs of medical school, they will not contribute as much to medical school later down the road.</p>
<p>Hi,</p>
<p>Just to say I know someone who transferred from ND to Vandy after finding it completely unbearable. She's real happy here though.</p>
<p>Vanderbilt is a wonderful institution in a much better city than Notre Dame and has a lot of southern warmth even as they are attracting kids from other regions in the US. I know it is hard for you to give up a family attachment to the place competing for your choice but I recommend you embrace Nashville and Vandy as "your places." They can prepare you for med school, give you a good liberal arts base and expose you to massive amounts of cultural opps due to the grad schools and the fact that much talent passes through Nashville itself on tours. When my S did his overnight, the students were incredibly warm, from all over the US and he noticed full professors in the labs which is not something you will see at many good colleges. There are plenty of very cool people who don't go Greek and in a town like Nashville, your social life is not going to have to be tied up there. Good luck deciding.</p>
<p>full professors in the labs? if you're talking about intro chem, orgo, and bio labs, i think you're mistaken. In both chem labs, there is a full professor in charge of the labs, but the TAs are the ones that are in the rooms with the students. In Bio lab it's all one big room so there is the professor and four TAs. The professor, though, is pretty good at spreading himself around the room and is really helpful, but the TAs are the main people you go to with a question. if you mean the real research labs (like the ones in MRB), then you're right on.</p>
<p>and happygirl, greek life, for all it's talked about, isn't all that vandy is about. i have guy and girl friends who pledged and didn't pledge and we all get along just fine. you don't have to be part of a house to have a social life. in fact, everything is just peachy without pledging.</p>
<p>Faline, OP is from Atlanta, I'm sure she understands things southern and Nashville vs. other culture and South Bend. Her stats tell me she's sharp and wed be lucky to get her. But if she loves Our Lady, she should go and give it a whirl.</p>
<p>For once, I will agree with you on a point. Making a college choice based on the city is just silly, but it can be a decent tie breaker. This is a good example of Nashville winning. But please stop the Greek bashing; there are plenty of people who do and don't go Greek at Vandy that are cool people. The real beauty of great colleges is that there is a very low percentage of losers and un-cool people, Greek or otherwise. This holds for both schools.</p>
<p>happygirl..so you are from Atlanta..I also moved to Nashville from Atlanta--twice actually, once to study and once to work. Gone for 15 years but have friends on faculty at Vandy and visit often. Slipstream, I remember when you were trying to make up your mind last year...how has it gone for you for the first year?<br>
My son actually did meet and talk with a full prof working in an accelerated level Chem lab, but probably didn't realize that the TA's often do it solo. Teachers seemed approachable and to know so many freshmen by name by October. The mock election had just taken place and the student body had just split 50/50 Bush/Kerry. The level of debate going on in their college rags and papers has picked up as Vandy has become a national draw. Religious diversity is also part of the ethos of the Div School and student body and there is a new Jewish studies center. S attended two other classes among other things. Re "there are plenty of very cool people who don't go Greek and in a town like Nashville, your social life is not going to have to be tied up there" not meant as negative commentary on Greek life which is a choice that has been meaningful for my own son. What I like about the Vandy of today compared to my generation's undergrad scene there is that there are segments of the student body who choose to be independent and enterprising in other directions. Frat life is a choice that people make for better reasons than "there is nothing else to do in this town at night." Most of all, I like Nashville for field placements, first jobs, summer jobs, internships and exposure to a hospital that makes a big contribution to the welfare of the entire region.</p>