<p>How is the school, as in what are its positives/negatives? Also how is the city of nashville?</p>
<p>Vanderbilt just caught my eye and I wanted to learn more about it before I consider adding it to my list.</p>
<p>haha that's vague. this isn't really the best question to attack via a forum.</p>
<p>have you been to any sessions held by admissions officers? do you know anyone that is a current or recently graduated student? these are the best people to talk to. the reason i mention that this isn't the best question for a forum is vanderbilt students tend to be very passionate about this school. i've spoken to seniors at my old high school and our conversations generally last anywhere from 30 minutes to a couple hours.</p>
<p>some of the positives that most people will tell you:
weather, nashville (music, hospitality, culture, food, perfect size, etc...), academics, the fact that there are no other schools in the country as well rounded as it (i went to a very academic secondary school and therefore have friends at most top uni's in the country, the only colleges that seem to come anywhere close to vandy in this aspect are USC (southern cal.) and notre dame), it is in the SEC, professors, freshman experience (look up "the commons"), etc...</p>
<p>negatives? parking can be a little tough especially as a freshman but you won't find a soul that will say you need a car freshman year probably because you don't. i'm stuck on this one.</p>
<p>I have a daughter currently attending and one that went to undergraduate and graduate school at Vanderbilt.
Pros:
Campus spirit and culture is inspirational
Students get a great education and have lots and lots of fun
Professors really care and mentor
Nashville is an unrecognized crown jewel of a city
Not too small or too large
Cons
You can only be an undergraduate for four years</p>
<p>A somewhat trivial pro: You get a full week off for Thanksgiving</p>
<p>My daughter can't say enough about the faculty. She's a junior and has found her professors to be exceptional teachers and mentors who happily extend themselves to advise, write recommendations, use their contacts on behalf of students, etc. It's not just an admissions brochure promise - the faculty deeply cares about undergraduate learning.</p>
<p>My d is from New York, middle class, and moderately liberal in her politics and philosophy. She has found a comfortable niche for herself at Vanderbilt, which she tells us is far more diverse than its reputation, and she enjoys the exposure to a more southern mindset. She also loves Nashville - it's a marvelous city!</p>
<p>I think what makes Vanderbilt stand out among other top 20 schools it the social scene. I challenge you to find a school where the students get such a great education and have a lot of fun at the same time. Vanderbilt is said to have the best social scene out of the top 20, and after almost 1 semester I can definitely understand why. I have a lot of friends at other schools (washu, duke, bc) and their weekends don't even compare to mine. So if you are really into getting a great education and having an awesome time, Vandy is seriously the place to come.</p>
<p>i applied ED to princeton and wasnt even considering applying to vandy until my school counselor encouraged me to apply when i got deferred in december
i ended up getting an invitation to be interviewed to join the college scholars program and got a full tuition scholarship but if i had gotten no money i still would have ended up at vandy
everything about it is absolutely amazing..i knew as soon as i walked on campus for my interview (i never visited during my college trips) that i wanted to go here
classes are difficult and interesting/professors are accessible, great weather, nashville is such a fun city, tons of stuff to do/ ways to become involved, everyone here is so nice (not at all a completely southern school...while granted there are lots of kids from the south its not overwhelming..i have friends from New England, Hawaii, California, etc.), good frat/sorority scene, great athletic</p>
<p>cant really think of any complaints (prob only the housing issues for sophomores next yr) ps: the Commons (where Freshmen will live after this yr) is amazing</p>
<p>Yeah. The Commons is pretty sweet, and from what I have heard from, Rand is going to be renovated this summer. Can't wait for SEC conference basketball play. Ogilvy and Foster are amazing.</p>
<p>can freshman bring cars? at the summer preview they said they could not....</p>
<p>Freshman may not obtain permits for cars. Freshman who bring cars typically pay for permit parking at local hotels. The cheapest option for S in fall of '02 was about $700 at Embassy Suites about 1/2 mile from the 21st St. end of campus. Marriott and Lowes also offered parking at considerably higher rates. Unless you live nearby and will be driving home for fall break, holidays, etc., you don't need a car. You can get cab cash off your card for off campus trips downtown and the school occasionally provides shuttles to groceries, Target, etc.</p>
<p>Even if you could, you would have to park it so far away from your dorm you would need a cab to get there! Cabs are really cheap here in Nashville, and there are just enough students from the Nashville area that they can usually get someone from home to bring them a car to use for necessary trips out.
We only live 12 minutes from campus and I am hoping my daughter will want to go to Vandy. Best friends son is a senior now and he has loved every minute there.</p>