<p>I liked Vanderbilt when i visited but i heard its really snobby (yes and that the girls actually dress up/have dates for football games...as a northerner this is completely foreign to me).
Any opinons?</p>
<p>I'd like to hear some opinions on this, too. We loved our visit and everyone seemed very open and welcoming. I didn't notice much dressing up among the girls (our guide wore jeans and a t-shirt), but everyone did look "nice" - didn't see anyone with that "rolled out of bed/chewed some toothpaste/crammed feet into muddy sneakers" look.</p>
<p>I've read differing opinions on CC about the atmosphere at Vanderbilt. Some say it's becoming more diverse, and I recently read a press release stating that political beliefs on campus are split evenly between conservatives and liberals. Others say its reputation for being an insular southern school is well deserved; however, nothing we saw supported that viewpoint. The 50% participation rate in sororities is troubling - how out of it are you if you don't rush?</p>
<p>Still, it was a great visit. (Plus, the Loew's Hotel across the street is my favorite in the world, so I would love to go back!!!) hilary, there are some threads on this topic on the Vandy board, including this one:</p>
<p>A Southerner here who visited Vandy, and knows a number of students there. Vandy is big on tradition. Administration is reaching out to make the uni a more "national" school.
By tradition I mean a big Greek presence, and yes, Greeks dress up for football games (shirt and tie, skirts for girls) it is a tradition, some independents dress up, too, some don't. With a big Greek presence, there will be a number of different sororities/frats, frankly some will be very "snobby", others won't. All will have what I would call "understood dress codes", it is a tradition. AN analogy I can think of is riding the subway in NYC - there are certain understood codes of behavior, "street smarts" that help keep you safe, and one of the crowd. A knowledgeable roommate could help.</p>
<p>It is a friendly place, but it is preppy, and kids falling far from the mainstream - Goth, for instance, would perhaps feel out of place.
Also in the South in general, people are more formal and dress up more, so that accounts for everyone looking "nice". Also, guys in general I think would be less affected by this, and probably would appreciate all the girls.
In summary, I think an iconoclastic young lady from the North would feel very out of place, a real Pravda babe would be right at home, and the large number in the middle would adjust just fine, but there might be some adjustments, depending on the group she fell in with.</p>
<p>Vandy seemed a lot like my high school; you dress nice but nobody judges you based on income. Politeness trumps class differences, however they don't go unnoticed</p>
<p>thanks guys :)</p>
<p>Vanderbilt strikes me as a school in transition - from a traditional southern school to a much more cosmopolitan environment. As an example, the school still has a "homecoming queen", but this year a male student tried out for the honor. He wasn't elected but he did serve on the queen's court.</p>
<p>interesting..</p>
<p>There are snobby people at every school, Hilary, except maybe Berea. I'm sure there are plenty of down-to-earth people at Vandy and it's a great school.</p>
<p>oh just by the way guys, the reason im asking this is the first place is that a girl from my school is transferring because she says its very "rich, white, snobby, everyone always dresses up and is superficial... like [our town, also rich white somewhat snobby, but in mass.] times 100"...and this comment worried me. she said she loved it at first but it just got old really quickly. and i've heard similar stories from otehr people....</p>
<p>i have never found a person who didn't like Vandy to the point of having to transfering. There are alot of rich white kids this is true.....but they are down to earth, not snobby</p>