<p>I've been admitted to both The University of Virginia and Vanderbilt, and I'm having a terrible time deciding between them. What are your opinions on their relative merits? I'm interested in prestige, how graduate schools and potential employers will view the same degree from both schools, and general quality of life and teaching.</p>
<p>Thanks so much! Persuade me!</p>
<p>My daughter was faced with the same choice 2 years ago. Congratulations - you'll be getting a great education whichever you choose. When my d was torn between the two, several people online and IRL pointed out that the schools are quite similar in terms of social environment (though I imagine there's more diversity at UVA, because it's larger and a public school) and the academic strength of their student bodies.</p>
<p>As to prestige - I think that both schools are highly regarded in the south. As to the northeast, we found that many people we know weren't aware of either school (but those aren't people who are hiring college grads for great jobs). </p>
<p>I can say that my d has had great mentoring from faculty members at Vanderbilt and recently got a terrific internship because of some really nice recommendations. I'll be interested to see what others who are more tuned in to hiring and grad school admissions have to say.</p>
<p>Vanderbilt and UVA are similiar. Both schools have D-1 sports and attract socially-balanced students. The major difference between the schools is UVA is public and Vanderbilt is private. Although UVA will have some OOS students, its really nice making friends from all across the country. </p>
<p>Vanderbilt also has the more urban location and smaller classes. Visit both schools and see which place feels like home, you cant go wrong.</p>
<p>I am also trying to make the same decision (although I also have William & Mary added to the mix). You definitely have to consider that UVA is about 2/3 Virginians, while Vanderbilt has students from all 50 states. But UVA actually has more diversity, which is somewhat surprising to me. It seems to me that the student body and atmosphere is very similar. I would like to know more about the academics of each school. I'm sure both are excellent, but there must be some differences. I'm going to visit Vanderbilt over spring break to find out more for myself.</p>
<p>My top two choices were Vanderbilt and Virginia. The schools are a lot alike and the kids that I met at both schools were intelligent, fun, easy to be with, down-to-earth and I was impressed by the diversity at both schools. All of the stereotypes that you hear on both schools are outdated. The academic reps of both schools are great and getting better. I think the Vanderbilt student body is a little more consistent and a little stronger. I liked the smaller enrollment size of Vandy and saw first-hand the differences in class sizes during my visits to both schools. Because it is bigger, Virginia probably offers greater choice, but Vandy's flexibility in structuring majors really appealed to me. I don’t know yet what I want to study so I didn’t focus on department differences. From what I hear, the graduates from both schools do very well in a variety of jobs and many go all over the country. My guess is that Vandy has a tiny advantage in job placement and grad placement, but I’m pretty confident that you can do great from either one. Both schools play big-time sports (which I enjoy watching), but I think UVA is on the cusp of really breaking out athletically (lax, b-ball and tennis all have a legitimate shot at national titles this spring). The UVA alumni are really loyal. I don’t have any experience with the Vandy alumni. Socially, they are nearly clones with frats/sororities playing an active role in the social life, but there are plenty of non-Greek alternatives at both schools. Both schools are big enough to accommodate a bunch of different student types. The women at Vanderbilt are well known for their class and beauty and brains. Ditto for the women at UVA. One big difference is the cities. Both the campus at Vanderbilt and the grounds at Virginia are beautiful. Nashville is cool with all of the music stuff, but it is a decently big city and Vanderbilt is kinda separate and mostly does its own thing. Charlottesville is the quintessential college town and UVA really dominates the area. </p>
<p>I am a multiple legacy to UVA (granddad, dad, uncle, several cousins now there) and have been exposed to UVA sports and pulling for the Hoos since I was a little kid. Despite this, and after a lot of back and forth, I decided on Vanderbilt, applied ED, got accepted and will be going there in the fall. </p>
<p>I will always love Virginia. I think I'm gonna love Vanderbilt. I'm pretty sure that I could've been really happy at either.</p>
<p>You really have excellent choices and in the end it will come down to where you feel you will be happiest and either way you will get a great education. I can echo much of what the other posters say regarding Vanderbilt. </p>
<p>Our D wanted a school that "isn't Northern Virginia" which doesn't make sense to me because IMO UVA has students from all over Virginia and a varied OOS population. That said, she got a school that definitely was not here and with it came many great things and one really bad thing-it is very far from home. We are a close family and occasionally she wonders if UVA would have been a better choice. H's observation is that sentiment is felt about three hours before she gets on the plane to go back and we don't hear it again until the next return to Nashville. That one negative aside, there are many great things about Vanderbilt.</p>
<p>She has friends from all over the country-Alaska, California, Idaho, Texas, Georgia, Nebraska, New York, Massachusetts-and they are fun interesting kids with a very wide range of potential majors-all freshmen are housed together so Peabody, CAS, Engineering and Blair are mixed. Almost half are Greek but it has not been an issue. She is not Greek but she goes to parties with friends who are Greek. 60% of the students on financial aid means that most of her friends aren't from wealthy families and many are from small towns which is an interesting contrast to our area of metro DC. Classes have ranged from very small (15)-english, writing seminar-to large (150+)-econ, history of WWII and American Presidency. The latter classes are intro and or extremely popular. Roy Neel, Al Gore's former chief of staff is a Vanderbilt alum and adjunct professor who team teaches the Presidents class-guest speakers have included Harold Ford Jr, Newt Gingrich, Howard Dean, George Stephanopolous, Pat Buchanan, etc.-very interesting observations on the presidential race. Frazzled is right about mentoring. Several professors have gone out of their way to personally advise and encourage her. There are loads of opportunities to get involved and I would have never predicted D's enthusiastic response to some of them. </p>
<p>Have you been able to visit? I strongly encourage a visit to both schools on one of the admitted students days.</p>
<p>I also chose Vandy over Virginia and struggled with this same decision. In my opinion, they are very different schools in terms of environment, but both seem to offer an incredible undergrad experience. UVA really is the prettiest campus I have ever seen. Vandy is gorgeous in its own right, but UVA is like the quintessential, perfect college. I felt very much that UVA was how the ideal college should look. Yet, I chose Vandy for a variety of reasons: smaller school, felt private to UVA's public, closer to a major city, transfer in the fall rather than the spring, etc. Plus I was worried that with 83% in-state kids, I would have a hard time adjusting as an OOS transfer.</p>
<p>Also, the Charlottesville airport is TINY. It was incredibly hard for me to get down there because I had to drive 2 hours to a different airport to get a direct flight, even though I live 15 minutes from a major airport. I didn't want to have traveling drama every time I went to UVA, and I can get to Nashville from my home aiport in less than an hour with no drama. A little thing I guess, but it would've made me mad anytime I went home.</p>
<p>As others have said, you really don't have a bad choice to make here, as both schools are top-notch!
Mal :)</p>