<p>Here's the deal: I'm a kid from New Jersey interested in majoring in politics or business. I've gotten into both of these schools.</p>
<p>So what makes Vanderbilt a better choice than the University of Virginia?</p>
<p>The schools are very similar.</p>
<p>The biggest difference is Vanderbilt is private while UVA is public.</p>
<p>--- Vanderbilt will have lots of students from all around the country (and the world), while the vast majority of students at UVA will be Virginia residents.
--- Vanderbilt has smaller classroom sizes/less large lectures. At Vanderbilt, I've had classes that felt like a family and getting to know professors is always a plus for getting recommendations for grad school
--- UVA is isolated in the middle of nowhere. Vanderbilt is a mile from downtown Nashville with lots of great restaurants, bars, clubs, etc. Thursday night is "college night" at Vandy where many kids hang out in the city.
--- Vanderbilt's "Rites of Spring" Festival is one of the best funded college festivals in the country. For Homecoming this year, Kanye West came. Vanderbilt goes out of its way to make the best undergraduate experience in the country.
--- If you want a tightly-knit community, Vanderbilt is the way to go. You will be the first year to use the "Freshmen Commons", brand new residential-college type dorms.</p>
<p>I wouldn't say UVA is "isolated in the middle of nowhere." ... Charlottesville is a great town.</p>
<p>waitlisted at both so i dont care</p>
<p>sounds like UVa might be the better fit, at least coming from NJ.</p>
<p>You're interested in politics or business? I think Vanderbilt has the edge on national prestige, which frankly, is important in both those fields. I'll give you the opinion of a California kid. Out here, none of my friends talked about or even considered UVA. Vanderbilt, however, was highly respected and brought up in many conversations. (But then, what do we Californians know?)Still, that's something you might want to keep in mind when you are thinking of your future. Ultimately, it's where you fit best, so I hope you get to visit both schools. Good luck!</p>
<p>UVa may be better at politics and business (with the relative closeness of DC), but Vanderbilt has the overall better package IMO. It's a mid-sized private, rather than large public, school, and is located in Nashville, with plenty of off-campus opportunities compared to Charlottesville. UVa is within a day's drive of Jersey, while Vandy is not, but I don't know if you'd rather go to a school closer or farther from home.</p>
<p>I have visited both campuses and Vanderbilt was the clear winner in my eyes. If you have not visited already, do so. If nothing else, you'll get to see the new dorms being opened for the class of 2012.</p>
<p>My friend is choosing between UVa and Vandy as well, and is visiting both right now. He's already in the honors program at UVa, but if you make good grades, you can take honors seminars at Vanderbilt during spring of your freshman year, and do an honors thesis in your department during your senior year. </p>
<p>I know a lot of really smart, cool people who are going to Vandy, myself included ;), and I hope you choose it as well!</p>