<p>ok i know the obvious, like how vandy is more of a "rich kid" stereotypical southern school...etc. blah blah its a huge frat/sorority scene, etc. any REAL insight as to how ppl who arent particularly southern but still like to party fit in here? and how the academics compare?</p>
<p>My S looked very seriously at Chapel Hill (we spent a weekend down there, he did apply) and the only real issue he had was the abundance of in-state students. He thought it would be a better experience to attend school with people from all over the country/world. With the North Carolina charter they have to admit 80-some% of their incoming freshman class in-state. I've heard that for some OOS kids, it works out fine but I've heard for others they get frustrated with the big groups of HS friends and lots of kids going home for weekends.
The other issue (I know the UNC board people get very up-tight with this one) is about the admissions standards for those in-state kids. As an OOS kid, being admitted is almost akin to an ivy league acceptance. Thus, you are at the top of the acedemic pool. Alot of those IS kids did not need the kind of "stats" OOS kids need. Not a huge deal, but certainly different than Vandy where the majority of the freshman class was held to the same admissions standards.</p>
<p>You can probably argue the academics issue for years and never come up with a real answer. They are probably very comparable. I think the bigger difference would be in class size (large lectures, TAs, prof availability, etc.). Obviously, Vandy will offer a smalller environment. </p>
<p>The party scene issue gets so much attention on this board, you really have to decide that one on your own. I still believe that with a 6k+ student body, anyone can find their niche. How many current students post on here? Just a handful - hardly repesentative of 6K kids. I dont pretend to be an expert on this issue but the students I know from our area (not the south) love Vandy and they are certainly not the "stereotypical souuthern" kids. Just smart, nice, fun, very typical college kids.</p>
<p>What is a "stereotypical southern" 'kid'?</p>
<p>ummm likes country a lot, wears southern fashion (costa del mar, afco shorts or whatever theyre called, cowboy boots a lot, designer clothes--probably more of a girl thing, polo ralph lauren, lacoste, etc), probably pretty conservative politically, honestly just kind of "cookie-cutter."</p>
<p>not a lot of diversity, but i mean culture-wise. not like racial or anything.</p>
<p>I agree with the poster above who pointed out that the credentials required for in-state students are much lower that those required these days for admission to Vanderbilt. Knowing students who are current freshmen at both institutions, I'd have to say the academics at Vandy are a good deal more rigorous--definitely so in the sciences and mathematics--and the grading much tougher as well.</p>