Vanderbilt vs. Bowdoin vs. UVa

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'm an asian/white girl who grew up in Asia. I want to major in Public Policy/Economics and want to eventually work in the East coast and maybe go to graduate school. I like studying but I also like to go out and have fun and party. Like, I want to be able to go to a school that knows how to let loose and have fun as well. Going to a "fun" school is really one of my top priorities. I love debating and doing scholarly things but I also love pop culture. I want a balance between these two. I also want to go to a school that has really good sports and really good academics. I also want a school that fosters really good relationships between teachers and students. I'm thinking that I want to join a sorority in college, but I'm not so sure though. How hard would it be for a US citizen who grew up abroad to join one? I'm also really looking for the traditional, American college experience with the beautiful campus and quirky campus traditions, with the college green and everything. I also want to go to a school with all 4 seasons and a great college town. I love the thought of being immersed in a school's "bubble" wherein most students stay on campus (and not go to a "commuter" school). I also want a school with a strong alumni base in the East coast.</p>

<p>Cost is not a factor. Please let me know where you think I'll have the best college experience among these 3 schools.</p>

<p>VANDERBILT
Pros:
- Big academics
- Liberal arts feel
- SEC Sports
- School spirit
- Ingram living and learning communities
- “Preppy” campus
- Research opportunities, large funding per student
- Good study abroad
- Greek life. Not sure about rushing though.
- Food
- Weather
- Fun campus!!
- Southern culture that I haven’t been exposed to
- Fun school
- Campus in the middle of a great city like Nashville
- School is expanding</p>

<p>Cons:
- Not sure about going Greek at this point, how will not being in a sorority affect me
- Alumni base and internships: is it just me or are they not as strong as the other two on the East coast? I plan on working in the East coast so I’m not sure
- Nashville: how hard will it be to adjust</p>

<p>UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
Pros
- Very well known in my country
- School spirit
- Traditions!! What I really looked for in a college
- Poli Sci department good
- Alumni base in the East coast
- Fun school as well (but not as fun as Vandy, I’ve heard)</p>

<p>Cons:
- Heard that everything is super competitive here
- State funding. USA’s recession means that UVA will definitely spend less than the other two schools
- Super big size. I don’t want to have classes with over 100 or 200 people
- Study abroad is difficult?
- Food
- Freshmen dorms (no a/c)</p>

<p>BOWDOIN</p>

<p>Pros:
- Best undergraduate teaching of the 3
- FOOD!!!
- Great relationships between teachers and professors
- Graduate placement
- Hot guys
- In the east coast, so very good alumni connections</p>

<p>Cons:
- Being in a class of just 300 ish will make me feel suffocated
- Monotonous after being around the same people?
- Not much to do in Maine compared to other schools
- Seems a lot less fun than the other schools
- Weather…</p>

2

<p>Shamelessly bumping this for more replies</p>

3

<p>UVA and Vandy better fit your expectations of college life. Both excellent schools, the sports and play will be better at the southern schools than the Maine school. Your question about sorority acceptance of non-whites I cannot answer, but you can reach out to the greek councils at both schools or the dean of student affairs office. I’ve heard that not being in a sorority can slow down the night life at Vandy. It may be the same at the other two, but I haven’t heard that because I don’t pay as much attention to those two.</p>

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<p>and there was a thread about asians at Vandy either here or on the Vandy forum this year.</p>

<p>[edit: why does this spell checker change Vandy to candy when you don’t use an upper case V?]</p>

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<p>@jkeil911 Thanks so much for your response. I’m actually a mix of asian and Hispanic (not american white) but attended an international school in Asia for all my life. I don’t think I’d have a problem assimilating into these cultures. However, since I want to work in the East coast, do you think U.Va. or Bowdoin will carry a greater weight for employers? I understand that Vandy is steadily increasing in terms of name value and prestige, and attracts the best students, but how will this play out in terms of job opportunities?</p>

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<p>I was suggesting that you were not white, OP, and if you don’t “look white” some greeks have barred such students from joining them. Certainly in VA there’s a lot of support for UVA graduates. They’re very well thought of. I think you’ll find less support as you remove yourself from VA. It’s still quite strong here in DC metro, but VA is just across the river from us. In PA and DE and NYC it is weaker yet. Vandy is going to be increasingly welcome outside of VA. I should not think that one school or the other is going to prevent you from being an attractive candidate for employment in the midatlantic states or northeast. </p>