Vanderbilt vs. Tulane

College Search & Selection
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<p>These are two colleges that I feel strongly about as I think both deserve far greater positive recognition on the national scene. </p>

<p>I think that Vanderbilt is finally getting noticed by students all over the country as a result of the moves by the college beginning about a decade ago to expand the student body well beyond its southern-oriented base and heritage. The results have been nothing short of fantastic as students all over America are waking up and realizing what a fabulous place Vanderbilt is. This is no longer a school for southerners only-far from it. Vestiges of the Vanderbilt stereotypes may still remain, but this college is so much more today than the historical stereotypes. Folks who visit Nashville and see the school first-hand will see this and also one of the prettiest campus in the country (and yet it’s located only about a mile from downtown). I write often about great academics, great social life, and great athletic life and IMO, when measured in this way, only Stanford and Duke exceed what Vanderbilt has to offer. For students who want to be challenged academically with great professors and great classmates in an undergraduate environment that appreciates the value of a good time and in a city that is surprisingly interesting, and with an excellent Division I sports program with several nationally prominent teams, then Vanderbilt is your choice. </p>

<p>By contrast, Tulane is a school that is somewhat in transition. Obviously, the Katrina impact was HUGE. The conditions following Katrina forced a reduction in the faculty as the school narrowed its focus to its strongest departments (and of course there was the predictable backlash from the academics), but Tulane is now back and running strong. Located uptown in New Orleans (about 4 miles from the major hurricane-affected areas), Tulane sits in a beautiful neighborhood with a working streetcar (trolley) ready to take you down St. Charles Avenue to downtown and the French Quarter. The intellectual caliber of the campus has always been underrated and that remains the case today because people always assume that you only go to Tulane and to New Orleans to party and have a good time. Right? Well, no, Tulane is much, much more than that. Perhaps most visibly, I really admire how they have faced up to and pitched in to help with the aftermath of Katrina. For a student interested in service opportunities, Tulane might be the single best college choice in the country as the 9th Ward of New Orleans is one large, open-air, laboratory for you to work in. And Tulane’s social life is likewise a great strength of the school as the students do as good a job as anywhere that I know of in their country with balancing their academics with their fun. </p>

<p>The average student is probably stronger at Vanderbilt, but one can have an exceptional college experience at either and each has unique advantages over the other, eg, the sports scene at Vandy dwarfs what Tulane has to offer, but if you like the distinctive nature of New Orleans, then you can only find that at Tulane.</p>

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<p>HOD with managerial studies at Vandy - GREAT program!!!</p>

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<p>I have to go with MOWC and others here. While I have friends with kids who have graduated from Tulane or are current students there (and loved it), I have strong connections to Vanderbilt, too. (Administration and students.) Vanderbilt is just an academically superior school at this point. All else being equal for you, I think it's Vanderbilt hands down based on the academics.</p>

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<p>New Orleans certainly offers a lot of service opportunities. I actually participated in one during a legal conference, and I was impressed with the Tulane kids and faculty who were at the Habitat build with us.
However, the reality is that not many kids choose their college for the community service opportunities. There are plenty to be found in Nashville as well. Nashville has a very strong Habitat organization and there is always need for volunteers.
I am not knocking Tulane, and if there were a big financial advantage to going there, I could support it. In this instance it seems to be Vanderbilt hands down.</p>

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<p>Greatescape74, can you comment on the HOD and managerial studies program? What makes it great? What kind of jobs do graduates get and with what types of companies? How do employers view it? Also, I've read a lot about grade deflation at Vandy. Do you find that in HOD and managerial studies as well?</p>

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<p>Jumping in to respond to MOWC's post # 9. I think Hawkette did a great job comparing/contrasting the schools. There are plusses and minuses to both. For us, while I would perhaps have preferred, all things being completely equal (which, unlike ERPMom, they are not-- congrats to her child!) that s picked Vandy over Tulane, it is for silly reasons:
1) Vandy is closer to home for us-- just a few hours driving distance. Easier to get to and from.
2) I think there are more off-campus stores, restaurants, bars etc. within walking distance to Vandy than to Tulane.
3) I think Vandy is a slightly prettier campus than Tulane, and I think it is safer to walk around off campus in some of the area immediately surrounding Vandy than Tulane.
4) The brand spanking new freshman residence college at Vandy sounds wonderful. The freshman dorms at Tulane are a bit, shall we say, underwhelming. The main dining hall also seemed nicer at Vandy than Tulane. There were plenty of other dining options at both, but comparing the main ones to each other, Vandy's was newer and "prettier", if that matters.
5) I agree, Vandy is probably more "prestigious" than Tulane, but I was pleasantly surprised by the faculty, undergrad and grad students that I met at Tulane. I truly believe serious student will make it fine, and seek out what they want, almost anywhere they go.
6) Though both schools are Div I schools, sports are bigger at Vandy than Tulane.</p>

<p>OK - as for Tulane:
1) While Tulane has a greek life (30% of students are greek at Tulane), it is less omnipresent than at Vandy. Tulane seems more laid back than Vandy-- less social "pressure" . My s plans to enjoy the frat parties, but may not pursue the greek life. This seems more do-able at Tulane (JMO)
2) Personally, I prefer jazz to country music, so if I had to choose with respect to off campus/city resources, give me jazz over country music (sorry mowc!)
3) For us, and my s, the required community service at Tulane is a draw. He is very involved in Community Service here and plans to continue it in NOLA. The fact that every student is expected (aka required) to participate in Community Service brings a sense of community to the school, and just feels right. You don't have to "seek out" opportunities. The community service programs are very well established at Tulane.
4) The way the campus is laid out at Tulane, there is a main "drag" (McAllister) where the students walk/bike from dorms/dining hall to many classes or the bookstore or to the new (beautiful) exercise facility, etc. It is a "natural" emmersion of the students. While there are classrooms and facilities elsewhere, it is less "spread out". The way it is set up, students will naturally run into each other a lot more often with the design of Tulane than at Vandy, where the dorms are more spread out, the freshman campus is several minutes awey, etc. At one point, walking up McAllister to the academic quad was like walking on the streets of NYC. Very vibrant- some hustle bustle, some laid back, some on bikes, some walking, but the momentary "congestion" between classes was actually enjoyable. That was something my s talked about wanting to experience-- frequently running into people he knew while walking around.
5) Tulane,while suffering some of the academic/staff losses after Katrina in 2005, is certainly bouncing back, and the sense of community is very strong. Even though after next year (graduating class of 2009), none of the students on campus will have been there at the time of Katrina, there is a clear, stronger sense of community. It isn't a sports team kind of community, it is a "we've been trhough a lot" ind of community, if that makes sense.
6) NOLA is clearly a quirky city. Interesting people, food, culture, language, etc. Quite unique. When we were there, there wa as HUGE funeral gong on for the founder of Popeye's chicken/Copelands/Cheesecake Bistro who had unfortunately just passed away. The funeral was at a Church that was part of Loyola (just next to Tulane) and it was quite a spectacle. There had also just been a Tennesse Williams Festival in the French Quarter, with lots of characters yelling "Stellaaaa!" in all sorts of garbs and get-ups. Just a hoot. From waht I understand, with the exception of Mardi Gras (for which the University actually closes for 2 days and encourages the students to experience) , Tulane students don't spend much time down in the French quarter. Its touristy and expensive. that said, with the trolleys runing again (they are so cute and always full) transportation is easy with little need for a car.</p>

<p>There is probably more, but these are the first that come to mind. Hope this helps!</p>

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<p>The Commodores ship easily cruises over the green wave......</p>