<p>I don't know what to do! Should I early decision to Vanderbilt? I know for sure that I want to apply to University of Michigan. I have visited both schools and I love them both. My dilemna is that I feel that I need to Early Decision in order to get into Vanderbilt (I do hold the option of ED II but many students are applying from my school). My GPA is a 4.13 weighted over 4 and my course load is very heavy - I have many AP classes. My Sat's don't match up as well: 700 Reading 700 Math 670 Writing. My other assests include my international exposure; I spent 3 years living in Taiwan during middle school. </p>
<p>Though I love Vanderbilt, I feel that Michigan offers more opportunities. Am I correct in sayingthis? Meanwhile, Vanderbilt offers direct individualized attention and beautiful weather. </p>
<p>Other information that might help you to help me:
I'm interested primarily in Business (Administration and Managment) but I would also be content in Marketing, Sociology, or International Relations.</p>
<p>I'm also curious which school holds a better reputation overall, both domestically and internationally.</p>
<p>Also, please let me know if you think that my scores/gpa are high enough that I can Regular decision or ED II to Vandy </p>
<p>Thank you guys so much in advance, this is killing me.</p>
<p>you didn’t say if money is an issue. Are you OOS at Michigan? Can you afford your Estimated Cost of Attendance? Do you know Vandy has a no loans financial aid package? Are you aware that many people with your scores didn’t get into Michigan last year–so it can’t be viewed as a sure bet? Doesn’t Michigan have Early Action? Used to…</p>
<p>Also, Vanderbilt and Michigan have little overlap in terms of social experience and size. So you really ought to be thinking about your personal fit needs but don’t neglect to look at financial aid first. </p>
<p>Vanderbilt is the opposite of a sure bet in ED or RD so if you want Vandy, you should do ED and write your heart out in your essays and focus on your letters of reference. </p>
<p>Please focus on a sure bet school that will be thrilled to get you in the RD rounds should ED not work out for you.</p>
<p>Yes, I am out of state for Michigan. I know that Vandy has no loans, but I know they do give financial aid on a need basis. I will be asking for financial aid but my priority at the moment is deciding if i should ED. While I realize that Michigan is not a sure bet, I think my resume as well as my essay will both be well tailored towards Michigan.</p>
<p>Let’s put tuition out of the picture for the time being, which undergraduate school would you choose? I just want your opinion and reasons</p>
<p>I don’t think the no loans aspect of Vanderbilt was understood, sorry. I mean if you ECA Estimated Cost of Attendance assigned to your parents is 32,000 dollars, then Vanderbilt will give you the balance (I haven’t looked up cost of VAndy this year but am sure it is at least 57 thousand) in grants and not force you to take out subsidized and unsubsidized loans for the balance between 32 grand and 57 grand for example. You may still opt to take out loans to address the other 32 grand assigned your parents but their grant ability is higher than most colleges ability to offer grants. Only a short list of colleges in the USA put together packages with no loans. Most can’t afford to do that. You should compare Michigan’s Cost of attendance and reliance on grants vs loans for attending students. </p>
<p>I don’t agree that money comes second to choosing your ED school. Money estimations and ED decisions must be made together. </p>
<p>I am not sure you are competitive for Vandy Early decision…no one is unless their references and essays shine, so I can’t estimate your chances at all.</p>
<p>If you want to use your ED on a school that is harder to get in, Vanderbilt is harder to get in than Michigan Regular Decision.</p>
<p>If you want to graduate with only 1600 people in your class, Vandy is your best choice. Nashville is a wonderful city with a vibrant business community. Class sizes are amazing…better than Duke even in large intro classes, and many upper level classes are downright small. </p>
<p>I am sure that Michigan has more breadth in class selection and majors and minors, as well as more breadth in the student body due to its huge size. </p>
<p>Breadth vs depth? Vandy wins on depth re intimacy in class perhaps. However, Michigan, Chapel Hill and UVA and Berkeley are communities that are hard to replicate and that garner life long loyalties for alum. They have strong student bodies that have students who tend to master material without a lot of hand holding and individual attention. </p>
<p>If you love sports, Michigan has some advantages for big time fandom for a lifetime. Personally, I like liberal arts colleges and Vanderbilt has some aspects of a liberal arts college (hybrid experience re small school and big school) in some classroom experiences that I find important if you want mentors in your life from the ages of 18-23 from professors.</p>
<p>Vandy and UM are very, very different schools. UM is our state flagship, and many of my D’s friends went to school there. My D went to Vandy. Her friends loved UM, but she didn’t even apply there. There is so much difference between the two that I am wondering if you have looked very carefully at the schools. I am very curious as to why these two schools are the top two on your list. What is it that draws you to these schools, of all the schools in the U.S.?</p>
<p>Vanderbilt isn’t exactly the best place to be if you’re interested in the admin/management side of business, unless you want to major in economics (which is extremely viable for anyone going into business anyway).</p>
<p>The schools that i am looking at are scattered all over the place, I think I’m just looking for schools that provide a good balance between good academics and a good social life. To be honest, its the intangible things that really draw me towards a school. Reputation, internship opportunities, the connection that are made with the kinds of people that are there… I know they are stark contrasts but I cant help loving both of them!</p>