<p>Undecided major, and about the same cost after scholarships...where would you go??</p>
<p>i have the same exact problem. idk where i’ll go either. :/</p>
<p>Tough one. I think its more about fit and environment. Did you visit? I personally prefer the upper MW over the South, but some might enjoy the weather in the South over the snow. Academically, this is a dead heat, although I do think Vanderbilt has a longer trajectory of being an elite academic institution, whereas Notre Dame is more recent in that regard.</p>
<p>I used to live in South Bend, IN (husband was on the ND faculty). It was a long time ago, and we didn’t stay there long, but unless things have changed a lot, the town itself is not going to be a big positive aspect of your undergraduate experience. For many students, maybe even just about everyone at ND, that doesn’t matter because they enjoy the campus and its activities. But, if you think you want to get off campus and do things around town, I don’t think there is a lot there. (And I apologize to South Benders if I am out of date on this.)</p>
<p>My son attends Vanderbilt, and personally, I think being in a city like Nashville adds to the whole experience. It is a big, but not huge city. The campus is about a mile and a half from the downtown, pretty easily accessible. As at ND, the campus life is energetic and has a lot to offer.</p>
<p>So, I think part of the equation is how much you value being able to get off campus and do some things that are not strictly university-related.</p>
<p>Both schools offer very good, undergraduate-focused academics.</p>
<p>I think the preceding comments hit on the factors that should be at the heart of your decision: fit and environment. Both ND and Vandy are fantastic schools academically with relatively laidback and friendly students. Big differences of course are South vs. Midwest and the Catholic factor at ND. Not that it helps, but you can’t make a wrong decision. Where did you feel more comfortable, at home, excited when you visited?</p>