Currently deciding between Notre Dame and Vanderbilt. I appreciate that these schools are very far from each other in numerous regards (weather, greek life, local area etc) but I wanted to hear your views. I’m not from the US so I have a couple of queries. First, how are both schools viewed? Is one significantly more prestigious than the other? Are their reputations mainly regional or nationwide? Is one much better than the other for internships/job prospects at top banks/consulting firms/other TNCs or placements at top grad schools? I’m also not really sure what both schools are known for academically. I want to work hard at college and do well but I’m also a sociable guy. I have some concerns about the social life at ND but I’m not sure if that is justified. Great to hear your thoughts…
They are very similar in overall reputation. ND has a higher proportion of undergrads, however. Notre Dame has a top undergraduate business school that in the Linked In rankings put ND on top of Vanderbilt.
Both are very much national universities and both are very much reserved for the Top 1-2% of all students. Not sure why you think they have regional reputations. Every Notre Dame football game is on national TV.
Notre Dame has one of best alumni networks of any school in the USA. In the Forbes Ranking of most powerful Alumni, ND is #5 nationally and Vanderbilt is #27. In the Forbe’s Grateful Graduate Index ND is #10 nationally and Vandy is #36. This index ranks schools by alumni giving, a measure of affinity for one’s school.
While Vandy is a very wealthy school, ND is far wealthier, with an endowment 3.3 times larger per student.
ND is one of only 25 schools with a yield over 50%. Yield is what percentage of accepted students actually attend.
The social climates of each school are similar, we call it “work hard, play hard”.
In either case, you have a choice 98- 99% of all students do not have.
Academic quality differences are not significant. What could be an issue is Notre Dame is in town that doesn’t have much else going on, while Vanderbilt is.in interesting city. ND’s students tend to be Catholic , often from Catholic high schools. Vanderbilt has wider variety of backgrounds. (Not slamming ND here…I’m very Catholic and have degrees from 2 Catholic colleges).
OP, to answer your questions, 1) Both schools are viewed as top schools in the US, and both are nearly equally regarded in terms of reputation and prestige. Both are known nationally. 2) I think Notre Dame is well known in several areas, I think Mendoza ( undergrad business school) is extremely well regarded, plus I know that pre meds are accepted to medical school at very high rates, between 80-85% per year. I know Notre Dame Career Center has a phenomenal reputation. (I should tell you that I have a student at Notre Dame, not Vanderbilt and I don’t know much about Vanderbilt)
However, I would say most programs at both schools are exceptional, and will serve you well. Your choice is really about fit.
If you are interested in more post graduation plans, and what postgraduates do here’s the links:
From Notre Dame Career Center: http://careercenter.nd.edu/students/success-stories-data/first-destination/
From Vanderbilt Career Center: http://www.vanderbilt.edu/career/images/Life-After-Vandy-Class-of-2013-Infographic_final.png
Your final question about social life at ND. What is so funny about this is that Notre Dame has a reputation of both being a party school, and having no social life. Both reputations can’t be true. I think there is a healthy social life at Notre Dame. There are no Greek organizations, but the dorms develop strong community ties and their are interhall competitions and events. I think each dorm has a formal dance as well. I know that there are some concerts and performers that are brought in to town for shows.
Of course, football season leads to a lot of social activity, home games and away games involve parties and gatherings. I don’t think any school can compete with Notre Dame in excitement and fun of Notre Dame football games.