<p>Vandy's got a lot going for it, but what are its main drawbacks? What do you wish you had known before going there?</p>
<p>I’m going to bump this because I’d like to hear a answer to this too!</p>
<p>I am a parent of 2 recent graduates and we were thoroughly pleased with everything at Vanderbilt. One of my kids was in A & S, then switched to Peabody to do the pre-nursing program. My other kid was an engineer. The programs were small enough that both of them got to know their professors and felt very comfortable going for help. They experienced great working relationships with all their professors and I would say that was a highlight. the classes are small enough that they both got that personal experience. Facilities are amazing, as well. Nashville is a great town to be in for college. The campus is park-like, but there is so much to do just beyond its borders. SEC sports are a lot of fun to follow. The football team was strong during my older kid’s time there and the new coach will bring it back! Basketball and baseball are always good. The rec center is GREAT! Housing for freshmen is very nice, but it’s also good for upperclassmen, too. We like the fact they tried to house all undergraduates - makes for a nice community. Greek rush is the negative (see hazing thread). It’s tough and disorganized for boys…freshman year can be tough for guys who don’t get bids, but they do recover and find other like them (the majority). Kids for just about every state in the country come to Vanderbilt, as well as many from other countries - makes for a very broadening experience. I would also say the liberal/conservative populations are 50/50 - so that is very reflective of the general American population. Both sides are tolerant of the other. Would have been happy for our youngest to go, but he chose something else. Nothing’s for everyone.</p>
<p>Another parent of two Vandy kids responding. The problem with the question is that Vandy’s negatives aren’t really unique to Vandy – they are just the drawbacks of any school in its category. #1 is the cost. The education is great, but you can buy just as good an education at any state flagship. If I say grading is tough, parents of a few exotic geniuses will respond on this site that their kids whizzed through with all A’s. But my kids have had a very hard time with grades. They get a lot of Bs (and some Cs)and were A students in high school. That hurts when you’re applying to graduate school. I am not a fan of frats and sororities. M d joined a sorority and hasn’t liked it very much, son did not join a frat. The Greek system dominates social life and the overall vibe of the campus. That can be hard on the MAJORITY who don’t belong. That is the whole problem – they are the majority, and they don’t “belong.” The kids don’t like living on campus all 4 years, but the rule makes for a relatively good university community. Forcing everybody to live on campus allows lowerclassmen to meet upperclassmen and vice versa. Both of my kids say emphatically that if they had it to do all over, they would definitely choose Vandy again. There is tremendous school pride.</p>
<p>Parent of a graduating senior here. I would second the comment about the grading. D will spend a year after graduation taking classes to bring up her GPA and get science prerequisites for grad school applications. She has been a 4 yr student athlete and is just happy to be graduating with a B- average. </p>
<p>Vandy is a great school, but if you need a “nurturing” environment you might look elsewhere. There is no hand holding. To me, there seems to be a survival of the fittest atmosphere in everything from academics, to athletics, to social life. </p>
<p>D2 is at a women’s college which I find to be quite different. It provides a real nurturing environment. To each his own.</p>
<p>Third parent of 2 Vandy kids, now grads (actually one back again in professional school). Academics were, in most cases, amazing. The advising process is not. It is definitely a survival of the fittest scenario as far as both of mine were concerned and a good friend with a D who is now a sophomore has found the same thing. That said, students who are smart enough to be admitted to Vandy should be persistent enough to figure it out and acquire assistance from a capable faculty member which may mean knocking on multiple doors. One child was Greek, the other not. Both were happy with their niche in the school, so I know you can have a wonderful experience either way.</p>
<p>I totally agree with Lion’s summation of the academic environment with one addition. A normal course-load at Vanderbilt is 5 courses per semester. As the parent of a h.s. senior who’s just been through the college shopping process again, this is unique. Almost every other school we’ve encountered has a normal course load of 4 courses per semester. When you consider the rigor of the coursework and add labs to that–that’s a significant difference to consider.</p>
<p>All that said, my junior daughter is very thriving. It took her a couple of years to find the right balance and figure out how to be successful, but she’s done it. I also think she’s working a lot harder than many of her h.s. pals at other schools.</p>
<p>to add on to what my wife minoafrau said, h.s. D2 intends, who is applying to 8-9 schools all in USNWR’s top 30 colleges, intends to major in biology, which with all the labs involved will surely have an easier, more enjoyable life than she would at vandy, and I’m a Vandy alum myself.
Otherwise, Vandy is located in a great city, great freshman dorms, rec center, and pretty good food choices on and off campus, lots of party choices, especially for girls.
Definately a work hard play hard atmosphere
Our Vandy daughter is getting great guidance from her Psych mentor, Dr. Schlundt. Not great guidance in her other major, Spanish</p>
<p>My D is a senior. She transferred in after freshman year. She was accepted in her senior year of high school, but she chose an LAC, instead. For various reasons, she decided to transfer to Vandy. Finding her niche socially was challenging. It took awhile to get to the point where she is comfortable in that regard … but the struggle to find her place in the Vandy world is something that has actually really been beneficial for her in the “real world.” </p>
<p>She has an excellent GPA, but it has taken a lot of hard work. She has learned to talk to her profs when she has a question about something. She has gotten to know some of them well, and she ended up doing research for one last summer (with a good stipend).</p>
<p>The student body is changing, I think, so I don’t want to perpetuate the whole Vandy student stereotype. I do think that some young people might feel a bit like they are back in high school with the cliques. However, part of growing up is learning to live & let live … yes, some students think they are better than others, but we all have coworkers & neighbors who are like that. As adults, we just say “whatever” and focus our energies on others whose company we prefer.</p>
<p>There really are so many great things to say about Vandy … it’s not perfect, but the pros may well outweigh the cons. Only you can decide what will work for you, though.</p>
<p>Current student. Well… I like Vandy. You don’t come here for the amenities though–a lot of state schools probably have better meals, housing, other facilities (everyone complains about the health center and rec center). For all we pay, they will count the croutons on your salad. I wouldn’t go anywhere else though–I love it here.</p>
<p>My D has spent enough time at the health center for me to know that it is far superior to any of our state schools’ health centers (and superior to the health center at the LAC she attended freshman year). Believe me, you don’t get free care like that at many schools. (not that it is actually “free,” as it’s built into the cost)</p>
<p>I have to chime in and agree with Kelsmom. My D is a Vandy student and they have been a great resource for her when she has been struck with the occasional sinus infection and even some more serious issues. They were insistent that she follow up with them after treatment if she was not better. Most student health centers would give you your prescription, send you on your way, and hope to never see you again. I wish it was a 24 hour clinic, but you can’t have everything.</p>
<p>I’d also like to add that the food is pretty good. My D has no complaints, although cafeteria food after 3 1/2 years gets a little repetitive. There are some favorites that she actually looks forward to seeing on the menu.</p>
<p>The football team could be better…but it looks like that might be changing with our new coach!</p>
<p>^ That would make our freshman very happy. 
</p>
<p>He loves Vanderbilt and is having a really good year. Basketball games have been awesome. The health center has been very responsive to his needs (allergies, cough, cold) and the food has been okay for him. He loves The Commons, is involved in many activities there, and has made many friends. I hope he’s studying enough…</p>
<p>I think the OP asked about drawbacks…so instead of listing the obvious positive aspects here are some thoughts…</p>
<ul>
<li>Greek life dominates social life on campus, especially during fresh and soph year. Anyone who tells you otherwise is lying. This can be very difficult for people not involved in the system because it feels extremely consuming the first two years. It also begins to feel extremely shallow, materialistic, and high schoolish. I went to a public high school and had the real HS experience, but sometimes Vandy feels to have a HS mentality when it gets caught up in the Greek scene.</li>
<li><p>just to further comment on how consuming Greek life can be. I am an independent, but still when I go out or meet other students, one of the first questions that comes up is what sorority I am in…(kind of obnoxious). Also, when referring to someone else, people literally use the sorority/frat they use as an identifer… ‘oh do you know jill, shes in tridelt?’</p></li>
<li><p>I’m not really a big fan of southern culture (being from the North). however, that has nothing to do with Vandy as a school. yes, people come from all over, but in reality there is most definitely still a southern vibe on campus.</p></li>
<li><p>lack of finance recruiting (clearly this one is specific to me)</p></li>
<li><p>lack of finance courses (also specific to me)</p></li>
</ul>
<p>nicole, Your argument is not strengthened when you call people liars because their experiences differ from your own.</p>
<p>“just to further comment on how consuming Greek life can be. I am an independent, but still when I go out or meet other students, one of the first questions that comes up is what sorority I am in…(kind of obnoxious). Also, when referring to someone else, people literally use the sorority/frat they use as an identifer… ‘oh do you know jill, shes in tridelt?’”</p>
<p>every college campus i’ve been to with a Greek system is like that. i agree that it’s annoying, but it’s not unique to vanderbilt.</p>
<p>Differentiating myself from the other nicole…</p>
<p>But I’m going to stand by my comments on the food and health center. A correct diagnosis for a cold is a 50:50 shot, and they just give you Mucinex anyway. They are very nice, and they want to make sure to cover all their bases, but they are quick to jump to blood draws for serious medical conditions when its flu season anyway. Also, the health center is not free… it’s on the card, but you still pay for meds and tests. I think only follow-ups are free?</p>
<p>And don’t get me wrong, I like the smoothie shop, I like tortellini tuesday, you can find things you like. But only Rand brunch on weekends is all you can eat, when my friends’ dining halls at state school don’t have the ridiculous lines and are all-you-can-eat 24-7. Just saying, dining here isn’t everything you’d dream of. And only 2 dining halls for 6000 undergrads, so it’s hard to get a seat sometimes.</p>
<p>dtothejustin-
I completely agree that the way the Greek system operates at Vandy is not unique to Vandy. However, Vandy has a very strong Greek system in comparison to its peer schools. I think the administration tries to play down the Greek scene. It’s a fact that one of the reasonings behind the commons was to get freshmen off Greek row (now they are very far away). When I was a freshmen,my dorm was literally ON Greek row(branscomb). Am I saying you will have a terrible time at Vandy if you do not go Greek? No, not at all. But its important to realize that it does play a significant role in the social scene. </p>
<p>I also received a PM from a user stating that I was not being fair in calling other liars, and just wanted to clarify and post the message that I sent back:</p>
<p>I am a student at Vanderbilt and I have a much better, and deeper understanding of campus life than you have. Not to discount your son’s experience, but clearly when I’m posting I am using my own perspective.</p>
<p>I honestly believe that Vanderbilt intentionally plays down the Greek system. The reason I may be coming across as share is because I feel that I was not given an accurate representation of how Greek life affects the social scene here at Vandy. I am also from New England, so I was overall very unfamiliar with the scene. Vandy is very unique in that it does have a strong Greek system when compared to peer schools, which is another reason I believe that prospective students should know about it. </p>
<p>I do not think it is correct for you to accuse me of not clearly understanding the social scene at Vandy. Have you lived on a floor of 50+ freshmen girls going through rush? Were you there when they got cut from the ‘top’ tier sororities and cried the rest of the week? I can honestly say that I have seen the reality of the Greek system, first hand…and it can be pretty harsh.</p>
<p>other nicole: I agree that the Greek system here is harsh on those who get cut and that going Greek is made into a life-death scenario during rush week. I don’t think that’s unique to Vandy and is pretty common in the South (which I think you also mentioned).</p>
<p>I am not Greek (in neither the panhel nor Mediterrean sense), but after maybe the first month following rush, things mellow out. I have plenty of both Greek and non-Greek friends. I don’t feel excluded from Greek activities. All of the IFC parties are open to the public, and you still can be invited to sorority parties. It’s an intense rush week, but anywhere in the South, that’s how it is.</p>
<p>To all prospees: The Greek system here is a big part of campus life, but it’s not the most cutthroat you will find. It’s actually a nice balance to the academic rigor of the school for a lot of people. I think it’s awesome how well balanced Vandy is between work and play.</p>