I didn’t see another thread so I decided to start one… my daughter will be entering as a 1st year in Fall 2018. We would love to hear from current or recent Vandy parents and students regarding life at Vanderbilt. What are the pros/cons for each of the 1st year dorms? Do you feel like you/your child gets good advising for staying on track with classes for major? Do you need to bring a printer or is it easy to just use those on campus? What has been the biggest disappointment? What has been the best aspect of the Vandy experience? Are the students REALLY the happiest and why? How competitive are the clubs and EC activities; do you have to interview to be a part of them or just sign up? What is the best value hotel closest to campus? How much ‘extra spending’ is there on food outside of the meal plan (there are fab restaurants we know! but then again… budget!)? How easy is it to get laundry done? Favorite and worse thing about being in Nashville? Basically any advice or information you wish you had before coming or would give a 1st year coming to campus… post it here!
Hi… I have a child there and I can only say fantastic things. The dorms will be great or fine whatever one your daughter gets. As you know, there are older ones and newer ones in the Commons. I know some of the older dorms have larger rooms too. It is all done randomly, so honestly it doesn’t matter to compare or think about. I find the kids get what they get and are happy. My child is very independent so she figures out her classes with her advisor and things she learns on her own. She did not bring a printer and uses the ones on campus - very easy. I do think that clubs could be competitive, it just depends on which ones. There are SOOOO many. If it is something that is more specialized like MUN or debate, I am sure there are tryouts. Or a capella groups, or the like. For many clubs, you sign up and attend. I think they have a club/activities fair in the very beginning of school. It is very easy to sign up and then start going to things. Laundry easy–either in the dorm, or in the case of the older dorms (I forget which ones) that don’t have laundry, you just go to the next door dorm. very easy. no issue. Extra spending money will depend on your child wanting to eat out and uber. I think the beginning of school many kids uber into downtown as they are not allowed to go to fraternity parties for the first month of school - or something like that. If your child loves, food, then they will need extra money. Also, some kids travel during breaks—especially spring break and that will be extra spending money. Not sure if your daughter will rush 2nd semester, but that is another paragraph in itself! Greek life seems very alive on campus. A great way to have a “home” besides the wonderful kids your daughter will most likely meet on her floor the very first day of moving in! The best part about move in is the “move-in Crew” Vandy has that process down to a science. You won’t lift a finger moving her in. Just drive up and the crew unloads you and moves you in.
@ASKMother also there will be a Vandy send off in your city sometime in the summer. Highly recommend going. AND, there is probably already set up a Vandy parents FB group you can join. It is a closed group and you have to ask to join. A great wealth of information your first year 
About-to-graduate senior chiming in!
- Commons is a great community like Hogwarts, but some dorms are better than the rest in terms of space.
- Yes, advising is generally ok, but you need to take the initiative to make the best use of the liberal arts curriculum at Vandy and define your passions. No advisor can do that. Upperclassmen are less diplomatic and more honest advisors. Use them!
- Do NOT bring a printer. Printing is very easy on campus using VUPrint.
- Biggest disappointment: not exploring Nashville more as an underclassman. I am rushing to complete my bucket list!
- The best aspect of my Vanderbilt experience has been the mentorship I have received from my professors and friends, who have been there for me even when they were not obligated to.
- We hate that term to be honest. Happiness cannot be ranked, and we all feel that the tag is more of a burden to live up to. But yes, Vandy students are generally more well-rounded and maintain a good balance between academics and social life. School spirit is really strong, and most people are collaborative and warm.
- Some clubs are competitive to get into, but most are open to all. Please don’t fall into the trap of joining a club just because it’s seen as better. Many times, smaller and underrated clubs do so much more to improve campus life. Join what you’re passionate about, not what appears lucrative on social media.
- Hmmm maybe Aloft?
- I hardly eat off campus even though there are many places nearby. You can also use your pre-added meal money to eat off campus at certain restaurants (Taste of Nashville).
- Yes, and don’t waste money on getting someone else to do your laundry. It takes less than 90 minutes to do laundry once a week. I find doing my own laundry oddly calming!
- Favorite thing about Nashville is that it’s very vibrant, least favorite is the fact that public transportation is really bad and shady. Let’s hope that there’s a favorable vote on the upcoming transit plan!
- Few pieces of advice: don’t plan too much in advance. My career goals have sort of stayed the same since end of sophomore year, but I’ve learned about so many new opportunities along the way. My life has taken a very different track than what I had imagined for myself four years ago. Also, don’t force yourself to like something academically or socially. Be true to who you are rather than conform to other people’s expectations.
@Sophie1295 thank you so much! Showing this to my daughter. I wondered about the bus system - our cousins live in Franklin area and couldn’t really give good advice to that (they are mostly suburb people!) Love your advice about clubs/activities on campus! She’s not much of a ‘do what’s popular’ kind of girl but she would like to get involved - service projects especially those helping children and environmental issues are her passions coming out of high school. If you don’t mind, would you tell me what clubs you are involved in or have been involved with in the past?
@askmother - There is one parent group on Facebook and for class of 2021 there is a separate group and probably someone already started class of 2022 group.
@srk2017 yes, thank you for your reply. I’m already plugged into two FB parent groups - the main one for all Vandy Parents as well as the one just for Parents of 2022 class(incoming 1st yrs). I just thought I would ask here as well to get the most information we can. People tend to be a little more open when they are ‘anonymous’. We were hoping for the ‘real’ scoop not just what the tour guides and brochures tell you. D18 is torn between two choices. She loves both but Vanderbilt is the slightly better financial fit (we still have 2 more to put through college!) so I’m just trying to gather as much info as I can before we make the deposit next week!
I would highly recommend Vandy SPEAR (the environment club) and Vanderbilt Student Volunteers for Science (tutoring middle schoolers) for your daughter!
@ASKMother D a freshmen there. Vandy as the dream school came in for her and is still felt the same way with only a few weeks left for her first year. She loves her humanity classes and found science classes are all quite challenging. Lots of outside class activities there, so she had to cut some off and only keep those she want to participate long-term. Many kinds of students there, so D has been meeting new ones all the time and found a few as her close friends. Agree with the above posts, don’t bring a printer, public transportation is not good, but Uber can get you to where you need to go. Some students have tons of money to spend, some don’t, and that’s a lesser deal to D now than when she first started there. Haven’t found and disappointment yet.
@Sophie1295 thank you for your quick response - excellent ideas! She’s actually going to major in Chem so perfect suggestion! @amNotarobot that is so great to hear that she has been happy at her dream school. Vandy was our D’s dream too for the longest time but while we were waiting for RD decisions (the longest wait ever!) she fell in love with two other schools where she was accepted EA. However she is 99.9% committed to Vandy and we just have to make our deposit. Good to know about the printer… just one less thing to stick in those tiny rooms! What dorm did your D have this year and what did she love/not love about it?!
Sutherland. It is the newer one. It is further away from the Commons Center (dinning) than other buildings. Her only complaining about the dorm was she had to wear sandals for taking showers, but I think she would have to do that at any other places too.
@ASKMother thank you for starting this thread. My D is going to Vanderbilt in the fall. She finally decided yesterday!
I have also joined some of the Vanderbilt FB parent pages, so will likely "see’ you there too!
And thank you everyone for the great tips
@NYsaxmom thanks for joining the conversation! Hopefully we can pick up on some good tips from those already in the trenches. Will your D be in Blair?! My D will be in Peabody.
@askmother what are the other 2 schools your daughter is considering?
@ASKMother yes she will be in Blair!!! (did my photo give it away? :)) )
@LvMyKids2 she was accepted EA to University of Richmond and UVA (we are OSS). So she has had 3 months to really think about those schools and the idea of being a student there. Vandy was her first love but that waiting for RD to come out is just brutal … unfortunately for her it became an out of sight out of mind thought process vs absence makes the heart grow fonder. So now I’m trying to gain as much of a sense of the campus life as I can in the short amount of time before May 1st!
@NYsaxmom maybe a little 
Congrats to your D, Blair is exceptional!
@ASKMother great choices. Not sure the cost difference you have (sorry maybe you mentioned above) and if that would make a difference. I find that UVA and Vandy are 2 selective schools and would be hard to pick one. Especially UVA OOS. Good luck!
Update: D18 has Anchored Down and is excited about attending Vanderbilt this fall.
Congrats @ASKMother My D is just finishing up her freshman year there…could not be happier!