Vandy vs William and Mary

Colleges and Universities A-Z Vanderbilt University
1

<p>Hi guys, I just got accepted off Vandy's waitlist (im an international student). But I've already paid my deposit to College of William and Mary, and even bought my flight ticket! Vandy says I have to reply them within 7 days. I'm now having a tough decision, so please help me!</p>

<p>I want to major in Engineering, but I really don't know if this is gonna change after I enter the college and explore new fields. I'm also interested in Accounting, International Relations and Psychology, so maybe one of them would become my future major.</p>

<p>Then here's the first problem:
If I choose Engineering as my major:
1.CWM doesn't have an engineering school, but she has a combined degree program with Columbia - if I fulfill certain requirements (GPA>3.3, 3 recs, etc), I can get guaranteed admission to Columbia, and in the end I can have one degree from CWM and another one from Columbia. But it takes 5 years or 6 to complete this whole program and a lot more money.
Here's the link: William</a> & Mary -*Combined Degrees: Engineering
2.Vandy does have School of Engineering, but it seems that their engineering program is not so good as that of Columbia. However, if I choose Vandy, it'll be only 4 years and less money.
So which is better? 5/6 years with double-degree or 4 year with one degree? I even doubt if double degree is really that practical...</p>

<p>Secondly, if I choose accounting/IR/psychology instead of engineering, the problem would be that Vandy does not have accounting for undergraduate students, and they don't have IR too. I know Vandy has far more majors, but they don't seem to appeal to me, at least not now.</p>

<p>Thirdly, the greek scene. Though I put this in 3rd, it really matters a lot to me!
I'm not the sort of girl who's crazy about greek, neither am I against it. I just don't want to be confined.
Personality: shy at first when meeting new people, but once we get to know each other deeper (a few talks maybe), I can be quite outgoing.
My teacher says that 50% of the girls are in sororities and I'm kinda worried. If I don't join the sororities, would I be isolated and make no friends at all? Can any current students/parents describe how exactly the greek scene is like? Are there really a lot of mean and material hot girls like the plots in movies? And people could be preppy? Really no offense, 'cause I have no idea about the reality at all. Sorry if my words are annoying!
I hear some say that greek dominates social life and it sucks if you're not a member, but some say you can be independent and make some friends but you'd still feel a bit out of place. Also people say international students tend to keep to themselves, I don't want to be like them. I want to go out and make friends with non-international ones - will they accept me? I mean, truly accept, not just treating you as a friend when you are around, but forget about you when you are gone.</p>

<p>Last concern: which school has better alumni networking? Which is better for a career-oriented student who wants seek a job right after graduation?</p>

<p>And a few tiny concerns: I have asthma, and it's better for me to AC in my dorm. Only 3 of CWM's freshmen dorms have AC, the upperclassmen dorms are better. All of Vandy's dorms have AC! Though if there's no AC, I'll be okay. But with ACs, things would be better. </p>

<p>Please please give me some advice! I'm totally freakin out now! Your advice would mean the world to me! Thank you so much!!!!</p>

2

<p>Anyone please?</p>

3

<p>Currently, I think WM and Vanderbilt have about the same reputation (even though Vandy is ranked higher). However, Vanderbilt’s prestige will continue to rise in the coming years. I think if there is the possibility of switching majors, WM will be better, since they are great in the humanities (and you get admission into Columbia with the program). However, if you really can’t pay for the 4+ years for WM, I would go to Vandy. </p>

<p>The greek scene does seem to dominate Vandy, but I think it depends on who you decide to hang out with.
Overall, I think WM will be the better bet, especially with the program. But that’s just my opinion. However, I think Vanderiblt’s Engieneering program is quite reputable as well.</p>

4

<p>I don’t know anything about William and Mary, but I can address a few of your concerns. Regarding majors at Vandy, they do have a strong poitical science department through which you can study international relations, if you choose. They also have a good psychology program, and I understand that the engineering program is good, too. They do not have an accounting major, but they do have a great economics program, if you would be interested in that.</p>

<p>Regarding the Greek scene, as you say, half of the girls join sororities. That means that half do not. During your freshman year, you would be offered many opportunitites to socialize and meet people outside of the Greek scene. The dorms each have many social events, including free trips to cultural events around Nasvhille (my daughter attended a play, can’t remember which one), and even trips to Memphis and other places outside Nashville. They have weekly mixer-type events in every freshman dorm, and the heads of the houses usually host students for weekend events, too. (The head of my D’s dorm hosted a board game night every Friday night for students who were into that sort of thing. Lots of students went every week. They also hosted students in their apartment for big sports events, like the Super Bowl, and for other special things.)</p>

<p>But, I wouldn’t rule out Greek life until you try it out. There are many different sorority houses, each with a different personality. My D has found that joining a sorority has really helped her expland her circle of friends beyond the girls she met in the dorm. Forget about the stereotypes of sorority girls–you can find a house with a group of girls you feel comfortable with. I would encourage you to go through rush, just to see if it might work for you. But, if you don’t, you will still find many opportunities to socialize with others and to have fun. </p>

<p>Regarding your question about being an international student, that will really be up to you. Students come from everywhere at Vanderbilt and, if you don’t isolate yourself, you’ll find plenty of friends. No one will exclude you because you come from somewhere else. Most people go to Vandy to meet people from other places!</p>

<p>Good luck with your decision.</p>

5

<p>A couple more things–William and Mary was last ranked 33 bu US News and World Reports, while Vanderbilt was ranked 17. WM admits about 30% of its applicants, while Vanderbilt admits 12-15%. Also, since WM is a state school, you will not see the diversity of students there that you will find at Vanderbilt (at least in terms of where they are from). A high percentage of students at WM will be from Virginia.</p>

6

<p>Lenny has a point, though I don’t think Vandy is diverse in terms of international students ( somewhere around 8%). WM does have more students from VA. I heard that both schools are more on the conservative side, though you can definitely find people on both ends.</p>

<p>I think Vanderbilt sums it up pretty well:
[What</a> ?Type? Are You? | The Vandy Admissions Blog | Vanderbilt University](<a href=“http://admissions.vanderbilt.edu/vandybloggers/2011/10/what-“type”-are-you-2/]What”>What “Type” Are You? | The Vandy Admissions Blog | Vanderbilt University)</p>

7

<p>Hello!</p>

<p>I chose Vanderbilt over W&M last year, and strongly believe that I made the right choice.
W&M is a great school and offers a great experience as well, though, so I can understand picking either choice in this dilemma. Some things to consider:</p>

<p>1) Yes, Vanderbilt’s engineering school is ranked below Columbia’s. As you’ve stated, however, the five-year joint program between W&M and Columbia will be more expensive and will require more time to complete than Vanderbilt’s traditional, four-year program. Additionally, the differences in the quality of engineering programs are much less than differences in rankings would lead one to believe, barring a few schools. MIT, Stanford, Cal Tech, and a few others are clearly the best, but after these select few programs, there are many schools (Vanderbilt and Columbia included) that provide roughly equivalent educations and opportunities to their graduates. </p>

<p>2) The two experiences are very different. W&M is located in colonial Williamsburg – a small, quaint, peaceful city. Vanderbilt, on the other hand, is located in Nashville – an urban city with a much more dynamic atmosphere. You will have to decide which setting suits you better. Williamsburg is peaceful, but Nashville will provide more opportunities for internships and is definitely more exciting. </p>

<p>3) We don’t have accounting, but we do have minors in managerial studies that cover similar content. One such minor is Financial Economics, which you can read about here: [Curriculum</a> : Managerial Studies : Vanderbilt University](<a href=“http://www.vanderbilt.edu/managerialstudies/curriculum/financial.php]Curriculum”>http://www.vanderbilt.edu/managerialstudies/curriculum/financial.php).</p>

<p>4) You will be able to make friends with many different types of people at either school. If you choose not to join a sorority at Vanderbilt, you will still have no trouble making friends with girls who do choose to go Greek. The social scene is inclusive and the students here are extremely friendly. You will by no means be isolated. </p>

<p>5) Vanderbilt has much better dorms. There really is no comparison.
In general, the facilities at Vanderbilt will be better. This is in part because Vanderbilt is wealthy, and in part because W&M is a state school that is dependent on state government funding. Vanderbilt simply has more resources to allocate to its students.</p>

<p>Obviously, I am biased, as I attend Vanderbilt. I do believe that both schools are excellent, but I also think that Vanderbilt will provide the better overall experience. Good luck!</p>

8

<p>Here’s a little video about Vandy Greek life that gives a little glimpse into what it’s all about: [Vanderbilt</a> Greek Life Fall 2011 Recruitment - YouTube](<a href=“Vanderbilt Greek Life Fall 2011 Recruitment - YouTube”>Vanderbilt Greek Life Fall 2011 Recruitment - YouTube)</p>

9

<p>Guys sorry for replying you this late… Cuz when I post the thread yesterday it was already midnight in my country, so I went to bed soon.
@musicsweetie
Thank you so much!!! Money isn’t a really big issue; I’m more concerned about majors. Do you know how important/useful it is to have double degrees? And which is better for me to find a job, double bachelor degrees or a bachelor degree and a master degree?</p>

10

<p>@lenny 2
Thank you for the long long reply! It really helps!! I talked to a friend’s daughter who goes to Vandy today, and she said basically the same thing as you did, like staying independent can also be fun and lots of activities. And yeah, about rushing, maybe I can give a try if I go to Vandy (now I pretty much decided to). About diversity - I understand that being a state school can be less diverse, but I’ll be fine with that. Now I’m just wondering how SOUTHERN Vandy can be? Do people speak(accent) and act in a sort of different way from northerners?</p>

<p>@musicsweetie: Thanks for the link! Can you describe the idea of “conservative” for me? Not that I don’t understand the word, but I just doubt if people from different countries may have different opinions over that word. THX again!!!</p>

11

<p>@Commondore15</p>

<p>First thanks a million for your comprehensive reply!!
Your opinion about engineering really changed my mind, and I think you really have a point!
It’s hard to say which environment fits me better: Williamsburg or Nashville. Lucky that I’m quite adaptive, so both are fine.
Did you join any frats/sororities? Can you tell me about some impressive experiences?
And one last question: are most classes taught by professors? or do teaching assistants teach class too? I really hope that professors can get more involved in undergraduate education!</p>

12

<p>Regarding your question about Vandy being “southern,” take a look at this video from move-in day last year, and you will see that the students at Vandy come from all over the place: [Common</a> Place — Hanksters - remember Move-In? Check out Tate’s take. Have you changed?](<a href=“Vanderbilt University”>Vanderbilt University) Most are not “southern” at all. My D’s roommate was from California, and her best friends from the dorm were from Michigan, Boston, and New York. But, the “southern” atmosphere does come through to some extent in that the people in Nashville are some of the warmest and friendliest you will ever meet. I think that spills over onto the campus, where the students seem to be friendly and helpful, too. My D reports that the guys open doors for the girls and pay for cab fare. The “southern-ness” also comes through to some extent in the way people dress. Many girls wear sundresses to the football games, and the boys dress nicely, too. I find these things to be nice.</p>

<p>Regarding your question about classes, by far most are taught by professors. I think my D had one teaching assistant during her first year, but the professor also taught the class.</p>

13

<p>you are lucky to have gotten into both Wm and Mary and into Vanderbilt. Our son is a Virginian and he chose Vandy over Wm and Mary and UVA because he won some merit money at Vanderbilt. If Vanderbilt costs tons more than Wm and Mary…go to Wm and Mary in this economy and excel. Wm and Mary is a very respected place.
I will add that lots of students with the 3/1 plan re going to Columbia etc…don’t actually go…because they become emotionally attached to their friends and to their college. Of course Columbia is a great university but you can also get a masters right after college if you like.
Although 70% of Wm and Mary are Virginians…Virginia has the suburbs of Washington DC which means that a ton of extremely geographically diverse sons and daughters of Northern Virginia (NoVa) come to UVA and to Wm and Mary. Their parents are usually not from Virginia but came for work, perhaps for our government. The top high school in the country Thomas Jefferson Gov School and many top public high schools feed into UVA and Wm and Mary.<br>
William and Mary’s Government and Political Science programs are nationally respected as is their access to DC for internships etc.
In my opinion, with the vast changes in Vanderbilt’s selectivity, the student body at Vandy now is more rigorous re test scores and national/international footprint than Wm and Mary. However, the student body of Wm and Mary is extremely serious about academics. They are great kids. The campus is historic in a really authentic way deep in American history. I have the greatest respect for Wm and Mary.</p>

<p>Vanderbilt has much much more depth in funding. Therefore the facilities are better from food to residential rooms to academic resources. Vanderbilt is in a charming Third Coast city in America…a great medium sized city with a friendly relationship between college and city citizens. </p>

<p>Vanderbilt is a rare experience these days for admittance and I hope you strongly consider Vanderbilt. The Greek scene is a big deal for half the girls but you have to be strong and row your own boat. Our son is Independent. Nashville as a city has added a great deal to his education but he also has done a semester abroad and has had great internships in DC.</p>

<p>take care! You can’t lose. you are a lucky person with this choice.</p>

14

<p>Two great schools, both are Southern Ivies. From what you describe and what you want to study W&M is a better choice for you personally. If you have asthma you can have a window AC unit at W&M. W&M is more intellectual like a Chicago/Brown of the South. VU has larger Greek scene and better D1 sports. W&M will be more diverse re class/socio/economics. Also attracts student from all over. Many VA residents spent a large part of their life in another state and recently moved.</p>

<p>Two great schools. Be true to yourself and you cant lose.</p>

15

<p>@faline 2, swish14 Thank you guys! Thanks a million for inspiring me! I now have a deeper understanding of both schools! After considering more aspects and talking with my parents, I choose Vandy at last.</p>

<p>Thank you all again! You helped me made the decision! I really appreciate all your thoughts and advice!!!</p>

16

<p>Elandanrock. Since you know very little personally about both places, I will weigh in. I’m a southerner transplanted to Northern Virginia - now for about 25 yrs. My D was accepted to Princeton, Yale, and Vanderbilt. (along with other prestigious schools including UVA). </p>

<p>Vanderbilt was the most generous and her decision was tough. Princ or Van? Both are extreme opposite in culture. She chose Van.</p>

<p>Money was a huge factor. She’s not into Greek scenes, nor big team sports (although I’m hoping she will enjoy a few college SEC games), prefers jeans and sweats over sun dresses, and plays cello and not guitar. She would have fit in at Prince well, but is looking forward to her next 4 years at Vanderbilt Due to its friendly atmosphere and warm weather. </p>

<p>As for diversity, W&M is very diverse simply because NorthernVirginia is that way. My D is AA, but many of her friends are American born with parents from China, Korea, India, and Africa. Very few are AA. As for Williamsburg, it’s a smallish town with tourism it’s main industry. There is an amusement park (Busch Gardens) that’s very nice. It is very pretty for the most part, however, I know being there can get monotonous. </p>

<p>In my opinion, UVA is the best Virginia school. </p>

<p>As for Nashville, there are about 8 universities in Nashville with Belmont very close. The airport will be more convenient to you because it’s closer (not necessarily big). The nearest international airport to W&M is Dulles some 3 to 4 hours away. </p>

<p>Lastly, you are concerned with the same things as my daughter. - the southern factor. She’s very liberal but tolerant. I know she will be extremely annoyed with seeing Fox news in public places and she has, as do I, gay friends. Vanderbilt has been very assertive in their news issues and web sites on the issue of diversity. I feel the school is trying very hard to build their image on being inclusive. She’s willing to accept this. </p>

<p>On Greek life, she’s not interested. I’m Greek and I know it’s still very, very segregated. Not at all the way she was raised. She’s there to study Engineering. I believe the social Greek organizations with the strong desire to “fit in” will be distracting. However, I feel Vanderbilt is big enough for everyone. </p>

<p>Choose Vanderbilt.</p>

17

<p>Also, a few other things that is good about Vanderbilt. They require their students to stay on campus all 4 years, and therefore gaurantee housing. No pressure to get an apartment.
You get the full campus experience. </p>

<p>Just to be fair on the transportation, another important issue to us, W&M does have train accessiblity and you can’t beat the east coast for the trains. The midwest train situation is terrible in comparison. You can go up and down from the Chicago to St. Louis, but when you go further south, America’s train system is pitiful. </p>

<p>Example, Washington D.C. to Nashville doesn’t exist by train. So when you are in Nashville, you are in a great city with much to do, but you are pretty much in a bubble. Someone posted Memphis as a go to city from Nashville. I grew up around that area, and it’s okay, but it’s no comparison to going to New York. </p>

<p>For the most part, you can always do grad school at Columbia.</p>

18

<p>Congratulations on your decision to become a Dore. I think you received much good advice here and fair and even praise for William and Mary’s special assets. I like to say that you can’t “buy” what William and Mary has…because it is such an excellent university that is very affordable for in state students and because you have that East Coast access and connections to Washington DC via the student body and geography. Wm and Mary and UVA are colleges very close to the foundation of the United States government and they carry out a proud tradition of excellence in public college education. They are pacesetters in state universities in our nation.</p>

<p>However Duke, Rice, Vanderbilt, Emory…the most important southern schools founded on great personal fortunes (very different historical beginnings) are universities with hospitals you can get to on foot, and in the case of Duke, Vandy and Emory, the special benefits of graduate schools on campus. Our son attends lectures anytime he wants to for special speakers brought into the schools of law, medicine or divinity. You get a sense of what is coming next at Vandy with 6000 graduate students engaged in work there. Nashville has tons more places for internships near campus. You will have a fuller experience therefore in terms of working in local places as you get further in your major. There is so much to do in Nashville itself on weekends! There are Maymesters to DC and very good internship options in DC and abroad. </p>

<p>Vanderbilt has a vast influence over its region of the USA, just as Emory serves Atlanta and Duke serves the Carolinas. Our son does not attend Greek events although I do not suggest you ignore sororities as an option. They can be a place to have a sense of belonging on campus. But I believe that the women in the college of engineering form their own sense of community. </p>

<p>At least half of our son’s friends are international students or first generation Americans. I agree that Nashville is a bubble geographically speaking…just got home from there actually and lived there twice. The state legislature of Tennessee is even more conservative politically than Virginia’s and Nashville is therefore a bit of an anomaly in its state. This can be an interesting place to see a state government in action. Nashville is full of artists and college professors and musicians and medical leaders–Nashville has three historically African American colleges…but just outside of Nashville are more southern small towns. Nashville has a lot of recent immigrants and some very interesting big corporations for business students. Peabody is number one in advanced teaching and publishing in education so Vandy students are all over Nashville working in educational settings. </p>

<p>I have to admit that I like the East Coast a lot and am not as keen on middle America but it is also fair to say that Williamsburg is very limited as a college city. The students and the professors are what make William and Mary so exceptional. The place has real integrity and history.</p>

<p>I will also add that class sizes are unusually personal at Wm and Mary but it is a state university. There are so many perks at Vanderbilt that are related to funding. Starting with the amazing number of classes you will attend that are quite small in size for a research university. Our son has had many classes where discussion is part of the experience at Vanderbilt yet you are not in a small claustrophic town or college. You can shift change and grow…make a different circle of friends each semester there.</p>

<p>I recommend that you look up Vanderbilt Alternative Spring Break. Many many students Greek and Independent choose to spend their spring breaks this way and it is a nice way to make friends you would never have otherwise run into on campus.</p>

<p>celebrate! you will be attending a college with a fine reputation to carry forward in life.</p>