<p>I know this is slightly premature since we don't have an answer from Vandy yet but my son has been accepted at Notre Dame and we are trying to do some prelim work if he is accepted to Vandy. he is looking at engineering or business or both. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.</p>
<p>See the discussion on Vandy vs. Michigan. Many of the same comments apply.</p>
<p>Both are excellent. I think Notre Dame is stronger in business, but Vandy is stronger in engineering. </p>
<p>Prestige and reputation of the two is probably comparable.</p>
<p>I would make the decision based on fit… The two have a very different vibe and social life.</p>
<p>I wish your son luck at getting into Vandy, the RD acceptance rate this year is at about 10%.</p>
<p>How do you know the RD acceptance rate already? Can you expand on what the difference in vibe and social life is? I know they are about the same size so that makes them different from vandy/UofM.</p>
<p>Well, last year’s RD acceptance rate for RD was 10.8%, as reported by Vanderbilt. It’s definitely not going to be higher this year, so while I don’t specifically know this year’s, I would anticipate it is going to be in the 10-10.5% range. </p>
<p>Socially there’s a lot of differences and a lot to consider.</p>
<p>For starters, your looking at South Bend, Indiana vs Nashville. </p>
<p>Notre Dame’s social scene is almost entirely revolved around campus. This mean’s lots of drinking, and lots of school-related events. Notre Dame also doesn’t fair very well in terms of diversity. However, Notre Dame students do tend to thoroughly enjoy the experience their university affords them. Students are known to be very friendly and supportive, and ND is regarded as one of those universities where the friends you make there are your friends for life. </p>
<p>Vandy is in Nashville, which is a pretty exciting and vibrant city. The weather is also better than the weather at ND. Vanderbilt has a pretty big frat/sorority scene. Partying is pretty big at Vandy too, but make no mistake, students are serious about their studies. Some students are regarded as stuck up and shallow, but overal people seem to be friendly and outgoing.</p>
<p>Thanks for that insight reddog. i was a little concerned that I had missed his decision letter when you gave the 10% number haha. I have to be upfront and say my middle child will be graduating from ND this May. Your assesment is fairly accurate. They do have a pretty strong religious facet also and while not super diverse they come from all over the country.
One thing that you point out is the greek scene. ND does not have a greek system. How big of a deal is that at vandy and how do you fit in if you don’t do the greek thing? Also if you are into sports is that a big thing at vandy?</p>
<p>Haha no, I don’t think decisions come out for a few more weeks :P</p>
<p>43% of students at Vandy go greek. That is a lot, and greek life is a big part of the culture at Vanderbilt, but I do think there’s a scene for students who opt out of greek life too. </p>
<p>Sports are pretty big at Vandy, and students do often pack the stadium and cheer 'em on. But its not unanimous by any means. Plenty of students don’t engage in the school spirited sporting culture. Overal I’m not sure there’s a single typical Vandy student. You have the frat/sorority crowd who spend most of their 4 years engaged in their respective houses. There’s also a scene for students who love Nashville. They’re off campus every weekend exploring the city and getting lost in the music scene and rich culture the city has. There is also a more studious and intellectual bunch at Vandy too - The kids who turned down schools like Harvard and Stanford to come. But even the kids who like to party are very smart. Vandy is one of the best schools in the country after all. Overal Whatever you’re looking for at Vandy you’ll find it, and there certainly is a niche for everyone.</p>
<p>I had 2 kids graduate from Vanderbilt and the 3rd had Notre Dame as his second choice. He’s at Cornell. Both Vanderbilt and Notre Dame are amazing…Vanderbilt will have a southern feel and Notre Dame a Catholic, northern feel. Both are welcoming and fun. Sports? Could they be bigger than at Notre Dame? Vanderbilt has had success in basketball, baseball, and now football. Can’t beat the SEC. Notre Dame is moving to ACC, except in football. The dorm system at Notre Dame creates sort of a fraternity atmosphere without rush and pledging. Nashville is amazing - can’t be beat. South Bend is a drag…go to both (if they’re both options) WHEN STUDENTS ARE THERE!!! Business can’t be beat at Notre Dame. No business major at Vanderbilt. Both schools are awesome.</p>
<p>Swimmer - My son is deciding between UVa, Cornell (both accepted) and hopefully Vanderbilt. Seeing that your son is attending Cornell, can you comment on the student experience there as it compares to Vanderbilt? My son was accepted to the ILR school, but will take lot’s of math and science too. Thank you.</p>
<p>If your son was admitted to ILR ED doesn’t he have to go there? I don’t know how ILR works, since my son is an engineer. What will your son study at Vanderbilt if he goes there? They do not have the extensive curriculum that Cornell can offer. Where else is there anything else like ILR? Vanderbilt is wonderful and has excellent programs, but they are limited. Their engineering is great - my older son went specifically mechanical and i working. Our daughter went to the masters of nursing program after completing her undergraduate degree there in 3 years. Vanderbilt is VERY southern, Cornell is VERY northern. We are from Virginia and I couldn’t get any of my kids to apply to UVA - they all wanted to experience something new. I don’t know as much about UVA, except the cost is wonderful and I wish we had someone who wanted to do that.</p>
<p>The weather at Cornell is something to get used to if you’re from the south. My son wanted cold and he got it. There are 40 fraternities at Cornell, so they are much more diverse than they are at Vanderbilt. From what we experienced, the fraternities at Vanderbilt number around 12 or so, depending on how many have been kicked off campus at any given moment. I would say that fraternity life is important at both places, even though less than half the students join at both schools. Cornell has 7 colleges and students studying so many different things. Vanderbilt has 4, I believe, so it’s not as diverse. Cornell has lots of kids from NY, since 3 of the 7 colleges are state schools. You just have to visit both when students are there to get the feel of them. Vanderbilt is working hard on its diversity and is doing a good job. Cornell has that covered. Cornell has nationally known engineering, computer science, business, architecture, hospitality, vet, agriculture programs. That being said, the student population is STRONG - your son would be surrounded by some of the best! Nashville is amazing, especially once a kid turns 21. Ithaca is a nice town with everything you need, but it’s not Nashville.</p>
<p>heels82 ~ if he ends up with the choice, do a preference test - he has to answer very quickly: What do you like cake or pie? The color red or blue? Southern or Catholic?</p>
<p>Thanks, Swimmer. Cornell issued some RD ILR acceptances on 3/4, so my son isn’t committed. He isn’t sure what he wants for a career, but possibly the business side of healthcare. So at Vandy he would likely study math and science with some economics. At Cornell he would round out ILR with some business math. Honestly, he wants to explore various disciplines wherever he ends up. We are from the rural Midwest, so either school would feel diverse. Putting specific programs aside, he wants a well rounded college experience. He is a hard worked and not a party kid. Out perception of Cornell is that it is a grind leaving very little space for the clubs and sports he will want to pursue. Do you have any advice on this aspect of the two schools? Thank you.</p>
<p>I don’t know anything about Cornell but I can tell you a few things about Vandy. The students there are very,very smart–and getting smarter with each new class. But, they are also mostly well-rounded, with interests in sports, parties, music, and such. Of course, there are some kids who stay in all weekend and study (probably the ones making straight As) but many of them enjoy their weekends. The school offers lots of clubs and activities for those who don’t want to participate in Greek life (and for those who want to do both). Several of my D’s friends participate in club sports, and she is friends with baseball and football players.</p>
<p>These are my DS top 2 choices - and if he is fortunate enough to get into both, his decision will be made by FA. Anxiously waiting to hear from both in the next 2 wks!!</p>
<p>I know from a mom with a son in ILR, that the program isn’t hard, but its very time-consuming and requires a lot of reading. I can’t speak to the kids in that program as a whole. Engineering, architecture, and some A&S majors are a grind. That’s where the reputation comes from. My son came home for spring break last night and has an assignment due by midnight tomorrow. He said he will work all week to get ready for the next set of tests. Engineering is a grind. They say Cornell is the easiest ivy to get in to, and the hardest to graduate from. Vanderbilt is challenging, as well. The increased quality of the student body has created a competitive environment. My son and daughter were, however, never as stressed as my son at Cornell. You could be a student at both places and not party much. Those kids are everywhere and there are more of the, than people realize. They just don’t get any press!</p>
<p>Anything in biology or biomedical engineering at Vanderbilt is amazing. 6 out of every 100 biomedical engineers in the world graduated from Vanderbilt. …or so they told us at engineering orientation.</p>
<p>“He isn’t sure what he wants for a career, but possibly the business side of healthcare. So at Vandy he would likely study math and science with some economics.”
Appzilla…If your son is interested in health care management, I think it is fitting to give Vanderbilt huge props. Keep in mind that Vanderbilt and its hospitals are a huge boon to the region…not the city. Also keep in mind that the Commons is named for the Ingrams. Mrs. Ingram served as Chairman of Vanderbilt’s Board of Trustees for years and their gifts are all over campus including in Blair performance halls. The Ingrams are connected to Hospital Corporation of America which has a big profile in Nashville. Although there is lots of joshing about the “easy life” of Peabody HOD students compared to those in Chem or Engineering majors, a student can put together a mean impressive curriculum at Vandy in Health Care management. Like lots of colleges today…the track on Medicine Health and Society has many fully enrolled classes with waitlists and is closed to students who aren’t pursuing health care related courses. And it is a viable track at Vandy especially if you add in a cluster of courses in the business course category in arts and sciences…you can find the business and management clusters online. </p>
<p>Vanderbilt’s students are extremely able and Vandy is in a great corridor for applying for health care management employment. Vandy recently added in a one year post grad accounting program…Duke also did something like this in the recession when liberal arts majors were struggling in the job market and students were willing to go on and get more skill set oriented courses done by the time they were 22 and newly graduated.</p>
<p>^ Excellent post! my daughter started in A&S at Vanderbilt, switched to HOD at Peabody, finished in 3 years, then did her masters of nursing in 2 additional years. Vanderbilt carries a LOT of weight in the health care field. It’s not to be overlooked. I don’t believe that Notre Dame has anything like that. Nashville will give tons of opportunities to explore this field, along with internships and part-time work. HCA headquarters is in Nashville. With health care changing daily and the government eventually taking over pretty much all of it, this would be a great starting point for someone who wants to be in health care administration.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Agree with above posts. They are peer U’s in most ways. It comes down to:
- Cost?
- Do you want to live in Nashville or South Bend for 4 years?
- Do you want greek life?
- Catholic U or not?
- Fit/feel for you?
Visit both schools and spend time on campus and in town.</p>
<p>^^^^ REALLY important you spend time on the campus when students are there!</p>