<p>Hi, I am a junior in hs this year and ever since I was a freshman I have thought I wanted to go to Vandy. Recently, though, I have been hearing so many negative things about it that I am not sure anymore. Can anyone who currently goes there tell the real truth? I don't just want a glossy sell job, I want to know what it is really like there. I wouldn't be so concerned but the same things keep popping up in all different settings and forums, so I am really starting to wonder! The issues I keep hearing about are:
drugs (particularly heavy cocaine use)
eating disorders
racism
elitism</p>
<p>There are some others, but these are the ones that concern me the most. What can I expect if I go there? I'm really hoping more than one current student answers, so I can get some perspective. Thanks.</p>
<p>Wow this post honestly concerns me! As far as drugs and eating disorders, if they are going on here then I thankfully don't know about them. I can see where the racism stereotype is coming from, but it's not really accurate. Vanderbilt is not the most diverse school out there. It seems like the minorities we have seem to stick together more. It's not that everyone is racist or something, but people tend to be friends with those who have similar beliefs, values, and tradition. Not entirely sure what you mean by elitism. I hope this helps. I'm a freshman at Vandy and I absolutely love it! I'm not into the whole greek scene, but I find plenty to do on campus and in Nashville. Good luck with your college search!</p>
<p>Drugs --- Vanderbilt is definitely more a drinking school. There are lots of parties but the drug scene is pretty small.</p>
<p>Eating Disorders -- I personally do not know of anyone with an eating disorder. However, Vanderbilt has lots of good looking kids who are in very good shape so I can see how there might be pressure to lose weight. However, if you are have a strong self esteem and confidence I wouldnt worry too much. </p>
<p>Racism -- Theres little to no racism, although social interaction between different groups could be improved. </p>
<p>Elitism -- If you are talking about intellectual elitism, I'd say most people are not arrogant about their intelligence. As for social elitism, there is a small faction but overall most people are very friendly.</p>
<p>Agree with nymets11 on these rumors. Please don't buy into them, if any of them were as bad as they sound, I would NEVER have chose to come here! If you want to know anything more specific or have questions for me, please PM me.</p>
<p>I know quite a few kids at Vandy (my mom lives in the Nashville area) and I have to tell you for the most part they all are doing really well and it has been a positive place for most everyone I've seen. Remember, you find what you are looking for, and if you have strong self confidence, none of these issues should be a big factor. There is a lot more "positive" peer pressure then negative, and if you want to work, stay away from drugs, and keep a healthy self image- there are more people there to support this then not. </p>
<p>I have a friend who's a junior, she is one of the officers in her sorority, works at a rape intervention clinic, is a part of one of their small acappella group, and was asked to be a part of a 5 year undergrad/grad program since she's done so well in Poly Sci. These are interests she developed at Vandy (they were new to her, except that she was in a large choral group in high school). So for every situation where you hear about someone going the wrong direction, there are quite a few of kids who have gone the right direction. I sometimes think the mark of a good school is one where you grow and develop more interests, and from what I've seen Vandy does a good job.</p>
<p>As a Vandy alum and the father of two who recently seriously considered the college (it was my elder D's second choice), I believe it is like any campus with all sorts of positive and negative aspects. Its reputation is more as a drinking rather than a hard drug culture, but the student body is generally well off and have disposable income so I'm certain that drugs are available (as they are at most other campuses). As for eating disorders, that is something present at all competitive colleges (it is the result of the type of student that choses to attend a school like Vanderbilt). From my knowlege of several young women attending the school (who are not druggies or Nicole Richie thin) they love it. </p>
<p>My only concern with the school involves the push by the administration toward political correctness. Vanderbilt has traditionally been considered a southern school (as evidenced by the fugitive and agrarian writers such as Allen Tate and Robert Penn Warren) as contasted to a school like Duke which is southern in location only. The recent hirings of the radical Professor Houston Baker of the Duke 88 infamy in the lacrosse rape hoax would concern me regarding the direction that Vanderbilt is going. I worry that excellence is being compromised to political corectness. Unfortunately that is the norm in most "elite" universities these days.</p>
<p>Wow! Studentsreview actually just made me MORE nervous, I hadn't even seen that, but it confirmed some of my worries. I couldn't understand what information I could glean from the ratemyprofessors website.</p>
<p>Studentsreview? I feel bad for noticing this, but there is a trend: guys give Vandy positive ratings and girls give Vandy negative ratings. I really do love Vanderbilt, but I'm having a hard time coming up with explanations for this that aren't weird.</p>
<p>Maybe it has just a little to do with the fact that the girls here are better-looking than the guys and thus have to compete more at a higher level to achieve less, although that wouldn't account for everything.</p>
<p>most of the supposed good looking girls at vandy are wealthy "southern belles" who work hard on their image. i don't really think girls here are any better looking than any other place and it would seem rather elitist for them to think so. </p>
<p>as for the other rumors, they are only as true/false as for any other private southern school such as emory or duke.</p>
<p>Thanks for all of your help guys, and especially for the honest responses from those of you who pm'd me. I have another question--can anyone give me an idea about the different social 'cultures' of the various sororities?</p>
<p>our high school has a lot of attractive girls. I mean they're A LOT. But nearly all of them are ultra conservative, extremely religious, adores Bush, hates gay, lesbian. In other words, not open minded. oh, and they're all pretty wealthy. But apart from their stuningly beautiful faces, all i see is a very narrow-scoped girl, and I feel sick whenever i see them. I hope Vandy hott girls are not those kind. I also like to address that i hope those hott girls are not the typical blonde hair , blue eyes, plastic looking facial features, wears hollister, AE, A&F type girl.</p>
<p>that's all fine and dandy, betterday, but according to your other post, you're not even applying to Vandy, so why do you "hope Vandy hott girls are not those kind"?</p>
<p>When people say that Vandy girls are hott, or Emory girls are hott, i hope most of them don't fit the category that i mentioned above. Because I don't find those overall personality attractive at all. I was just rambling my thoughts. I know that I'm stretching the definition of hottness to something that is not based on "physical apperance."</p>
<p>betterday, go to Webshots.com and type 'Vandy girls' to get an idea what the undergraduates look like. Vanderbilt is half liberal so not all girls will be ultra-conservative and adoring Bush.</p>
<p>Also -- I've never seen "Emory Girls" and Hot in the same sentence. My friend who goes there says he has to put on the Emory goggles at parties.</p>