<p>I know that in recent years Vanderbilt has shot up in rankings and reputation. How good do you think Vanderbilt's reputation and prestige is in 2012? And how long do you think it will take for it to be at the level of Duke/lower ivy league schools?</p>
<p>Soon, Grasshopper. Very soon.</p>
<p>Schools like Cornell and Brown benefit from the social prestige associated with the ivy league, and so most automatically assume that they are top-flight academic schools (they are). Vanderbilt is arguably more well-known than either Cornell and Brown, although this would be because of its sports programs and Cornelius Vanderbilt.
I make the above points because I think that Vanderbilt is already as prestigious as some of the lower ivies. It may not be as well-known among the general population for its academics, but those who know enough about top universities will more than likely agree that Vanderbilt is the academic peer of Cornell, Brown, Northwestern, Rice, and others. It is important to distinguish between name recognition and prestige endogenously. For example, Cornell may be less well-known than Vanderbilt, but it may be more well-known to be a top academic institution. However, those who are familiar enough with both universities would likely equate the prestige of the two. </p>
<p>As for the future, I cannot say. Vanderbilt appears to be constantly spreading its name and reputation much as Duke did years ago (Duke’s regional constraints are undoubtedly what held it back), but rankings are relatively solidified at present. Despite extreme improvements over the last five years, Vanderbilt’s ranking remains unchanged. One could argue that, despite rankings, Vanderbilt has become increasingly well-respected and esteemed as one of the true great universities in the world, but such statements are hard to support without rankings as substantive proof.</p>
<p>I think it’s already at the level of Duke/lower Ivies (or at least Cornell). It was rated the best school in the South, ahead of Duke.</p>
<p>I think it already is, in all honesty. If you look at Vanderbilt’s acceptance rate for this year’s class (12.02%, although it will go up a tad as students come off the waitlist), it is already significantly lower than most of the peers probably have in mind, including UPenn (12.3%) and Cornell (~16%, from what I remember). Northwestern, UChicago, WashU, Rice, Emory, and other schools traditionally compared to Vanderbilt were significantly less selective (Emory, for example, is 26%). We’re still a small bit behind Duke (Duke is around 11%), but I’d be surprised if Vanderbilt’s ranking doesn’t finally shoot up in the next year or two, especially since I think this is the first year we’ve been more selective than an Ivy besides Cornell. Granted, selectivity isn’t everything, but it’s very much a cycle; tiny boosts in the ranking drive more applicants and interest, which drive lower acceptance rates, and so on and so forth. Vanderbilt is very much on the way up, and I would be very surprised if Vanderbilt doesn’t surpass Duke in terms of selectivity next year. It might take another few years before the rankings reflect Vanderbilt’s rise, but I have a good feeling that it’s coming.</p>
<p>Edit: Duke’s admissions rate was only 11.9%, essentially the same as Vanderbilt’s 12.02%.</p>
<p>Vanderbilt is part of the “New Ivy Schools”. That list includes Vanderbilt, Stanford, Duke, Rice, Notre Dame, Northwestern and So. Cal. The “Old Ivy Schools” have only academics. The “New Ivy Schools” have great academics plus school spirit, enjoyable social outlets on and off campus, and top sport teams in the top conferences. Students today want the whole package.<br>
When you visit the new ivy schools it’s exciting. The students have their school shirts on, there is an electricity in the air, the students are happy and having fun. When you visit the old ivy schools and observe the students it’s like going to a funeral.<br>
The USNR will always be years behind what is happening but Vanderbilt is clearly an up and coming school.</p>
<p>If the “New Ivys” were better than the “Old Ivys”, you would not be referring to them as such. You would make a league for them all of its own that would signify to the collegebound population the same thing as Ivy. Alas that is not the case.</p>
<p>I believe Vandy’s acceptance rate was 13.3%, at least according to the NYT. The 12.02% represents RD only if I’m not mistaken. Either way, still impressive and trending down.</p>
<p>mhmm: Well, things are always compared to the “accepted” or “established” standards…for example, even Muhammad Ali was measured against Sonny Liston, and George Foreman, and found wanting. Just before he knocked them out.</p>