<p>I'm a senior who only has 3 days left to decide between schools and am unfortunately at a dead stop in my selection process. As a New Jersey student interested in mechanical engineering, I have visited both schools and have had a very difficult time figuring out which one I'd rather go to. The engineering schools are of similar quality, but I'm also interested in studying outside my major. Money is not of concern in my process, and I'm just looking for some overall opinions and answers to some questions:
1) Would you say Nashville is a good place to go to school?
2)How is the housing and food?
3)How does the size of the school affect student life and/or do you like the size of the school?
4)Is the social scene all party based?
5)Do you enjoy your professors?
6)Lastly, if you know about both schools where would you go and why?</p>
<p>The student bodies at both schools are very similar. Vanderbilt will have more geographic diversity and the benefits of a private institution (better student:faculty ratios). Also, Vanderbilt is near a fun city with lots to do.</p>
<p>I’d be happy at either school, but I definitely prefer Vanderbilt between the two.</p>
<p>The housing is decent but the Commons freshman area is really great. Gives a really cool community experience that most schools can’t offer. MSNBC recently rated us #6 in dining. I don’t know how accurate that is, but the food is great here. It gets mundane after a while, but there are still a lot of options and it’s all good stuff.</p>
<p>How you feel about the size is totally based on your personal preference. I found Vandy’s size to be just right, so that you’re always seeing familiar faces but also always meeting new people. Some people like bigger/smaller schools though. </p>
<p>The social scene is pretty highly focused on the Greek community and partying, but there is absolutely a social scene outside of it. Over half the campus isn’t Greek and rarely goes to Greek parties. </p>
<p>The professors are incredible. There are some lame professors in lower level classes, because teachers tend to want smaller/more advanced classes rather than the large/low level intro classes. But there are so many incredible professors here. That can probably be said for a lot of schools, but it’s definitely true here.</p>
<p>UVA vs Vandy was pretty much what I had my choices narrowed down to. The financial packages were really similar, and overall, the schools in general are very similar (particularly in engineering). I think it was the size, the Commons, and just the overall prestige of Vandy that ultimately convinced me.</p>
<p>Pancaked, can I ask what state your from? The big concern for me is that as a New Jersey kid, Tennessee seems very south and I just want to know if you felt that way at all</p>
<p>Nick, I’m from the Northeast and it feels fine. Actually, outside of Tennessee, New York is the most represented state (I think):</p>
<p>Edit: <a href=“http://admissions.vanderbilt.edu/images/Enrollment_Map_Fall_11.jpg[/url]”>http://admissions.vanderbilt.edu/images/Enrollment_Map_Fall_11.jpg</a></p>
![http://admissions.vanderbilt.edu/images/Enrollment_Map_Fall_11.jpg[/url]](http://admissions.vanderbilt.edu/images/Enrollment_Map_Fall_11.jpg%5B/url%5D){kind=link}
<p>We are Virginians whose son picked Vandy although the costs were also cheaper for him at Vandy than at UVA. The engineering school at UVA does have some benefits re a sense of its own identity on the UVA campus which helps some, intro classes are tough and Charlottesville is a chill town with a great deal to commend it.<br>
But in my humble opinion, you will have a much stronger across the board experience at Vanderbilt. I wouldn’t say this if your major was public policy or international relations because the huge influx of DC kids and access is very fine indeed at UVA. But you have seen the stats? </p>
<p>Your class at Vanderbilt is ultra strong re stats and diversity and the Vanderbilt name will carry you far in the job searches around the country. I do know some UVA and VA Tech engineers who landed work in Northern Virginia (NoVa) even in the recession…and you will be OK either way. But class sizes are decidedly smaller at Vanderbilt.<br>
While not a liberal arts type college situation…my son has had nothing but praise for every teacher he has had and has had access to all of them. It is more challenging to spend time with UVA profs, you will wait your turn in large classes and you will see sections led by TAs. Even so, UVA feels almost as cozy as Vandy which says a great deal about how it is well managed.
UVA students have issues if you are not Echols with frustrations with class assignments…delays in getting into classes they want that can be frustrating…and the usual problems that come with a larger student body and state funding problems in the General Assembly. UVA does a magnificent job with its resources and nobody I know who went there really wanted to leave after four years, but Nashville is a thriving commerce center with many in town places for internships and on site learning.</p>
<p>We live in Virginia. Our S completed a mechanical engineering degree at Vanderbilt in 2010 and his best friend was from NJ! He loved the school and being in Nashville. The social scene for many people does include Greek life, but that becomes less of an issue by junior year. Then, there are SO MANY amazing places to go in town. Kids use cabs and there’s downtown or mid-town. You will love the party scene. Is there any sports conference better than the SEC? With an up-and-coming new football coach, the team is set to really take off. Basketball, baseball - they are solid competitors in most sports. Facilities are amazing, the engineering building is fabulous, only professors teach small classes. On-campus housing available all 4 years! only 6 people live in each fraternity house, so people are always mixed within the student body for living. Everything is walkable in 15 min. or less. - usually less. Nashville has the Titans and the Predators. Yes, Vanderbilt students attend their games! You will love the music scene.</p>
<p>UVA is a great school - but budget cuts for state schools have resulted in TA’s teaching and facilities on the weaker side. It is a state school and for in-state students, it’s an amazing deal. If you can afford Vanderbilt, our family would recommend that. Kids from all over the country are there!</p>
<p>I’m from the southwest but not a “sothern culture” area at all. I was raised in basically a middle/upper-middle class suburb. </p>
<p>What worries you about a “southern” school? I don’t really consider Vanderbilt particularly southern, at least in the stereotypical way. While Nashville is pretty southern, Vanderbilt is in a bubble with a culture all its own. The culture here is going to be pretty different from what you’re used to in NJ (depending on where exactly you’re from), but not very different at all from a school like UVA or any other top school. Nashville’s culture rarely/barely infiltrates campus grounds, though we do probably play a little more country music (but only the good stuff).</p>
<p>my husband went to Vandy grad school in the 80s and he was born and raised in Central NJ…we loved Nashville so much we accepted jobs there twice and our son was born there. Nashville is a very friendly place with a stunning amount of things going on within walking or quick taxi distance every weekend. was just reminiscing about some bang up Rites of Spring from our era…we loved seeing foreign films at the Belcourt, Asleep at the Wheel, Doc Watson, BB King, Barishnikov dance, current political speakers always swing through plus you get the benefit of top drawer graduate schools and all the events and speakers that come to each of them steps away…not on another campus across town. Art festivals at Centennial Park, festivals down by the River downtown…now a drop dead world class Symphony Hall that reminds me of Boston’s, and yes, I did see someone carry George Jones drunk out of a lunch joint one day and saw Amy Grant buying milk at Krogers in a yellow sweat suit and Minnie Pearl visiting people in the hospitals, and the Judds at my hairdresser’s.
Sports venues are super fun in Nashville. I understand your anxiety about the south but you just won the lottery, son. :)<br>
Vanderbilt is one of the greats and they picked you. Why don’t you show up and give the college a little of whatever it is that is so special about you to the class of 2016. Bring them a little Jersey and go back to the NE if you want for grad school or work. You and a few hundred other New York area people will be in your class. My son’s roommates were from NYC, New Jersey, California, Pakistan, China, Ohio, Florida, Poland, Arkansas and on and on. So sad for the Texans and Atlantans who used to dominate and for the alum who no longer can reasonably count on admission for their own sons and daughters like they could back when selectivity was not this intense.
Nashville is one of the great third coast cities. Some people say this about Austin, St. Louis, Santa Fe or Cincinnati. Nashville is a full on good city.</p>
<p>Select UVA : Prestigious - excellent environment - competitive</p>
<p>Only admit 30% OOS - well rounded - will prep you for getting along and</p>
<p>working with other people.</p>