<p>This isn't about sides, people. Like bandmom said, there's room on this board and in life for all opinions.</p>
<p>Alum, we may disagree with the exact state of the social scene, but you are very right in that I get defensive when outsiders try to pigeonhole Vanderbilt into a broad stereotype. No stereotype is without basis, but that doesn't it's the absolute truth. All I have tried to do is dispel myth, not apologize for the way things are. I have never once denied that Vanderbilt has a partially preppy culture and attracts a segment of the "high society".</p>
<p>You, too, could help matters by factually stating the ways things are in your opinion without resorting to adopting the tone and attitude of an obnoxious Vanderbrat.</p>
<p>Perhaps a mom has a more thorough perspective than a new student. After all, she has most likely experienced all of college herself, has years of conversations with contacts about other colleges, has the input from her own children and their friends who are currently there, and has the information and perceptions she garnered from her recent visits and investigations of the campus itself. In my case, my own son, a Vanderbilt admittee, is not interested in posting because he is playing a varsity sport, performing in the school band and a local youth orchestra, taking 5 AP's, and going out with friends every weekend. However, my older son and daughter have filled me in on the college experience, with 4 campuses between them, counting undergrad and grad. Furthermore, I have spent plenty of time on campus, attended classes, eaten the dining hall food, talked to numerous students. There is no "secret culture" to which outsiders aren't privy, because people love to talk.</p>
<p>I think Dores hit a lot of good points on why Vandy girls allegedly are such a good-looking bunch. Why, you might ask, are not all top elite schools claiming the best looking girls? That's a simple geographic question --> Vanderbilt is in the South and in the South its warmer than up North. Thus, more time to sunbathe and wear less (which translates to increasing appeal). If you go to a school in the cold (i.e. Reed College in Oregon), you can't really tell how people look if they have all their winter gear on.</p>
<p>UVa has tons of hot girls too. Maybe even better than Vanderbilt... maybe. I've visited both schools; my mother and uncle are actually both Vandy alumi. At UVa, even the (female) student tour guide for the engineering school was hot...</p>
<p>I have a relative who went to UVA and I hung out in C-ville a few times. There is definitely a Vandy-vibe (pretty preppy, pretty Southern), but UVA is a public. Their Freshman Arts and Sciences class is the size of Vanderbilt total Arts and Sciences population. I believe their are over 16,000 undergrads in A&S. At Vandy we have 6,000 total. I think their are many great looking people on the UVA campus for many of the reasons Vandy has attractive people (parties, good school, etc...); however, the number of undergrads is also working in their favor, as well (probably a lower attractive ratio).</p>
<p>VUAlum, are you for real? During my four years at Vanderbilt, I've never met anyone nearly as pretentious as you. I don't really understand what it is that you're trying to prove. Your statements are just as ridiculous as saying that a preppy Greek culture doesn't exist. Some Vanderbilt girls do dress down, not being part of Greek culture isn't bad at all, I do fine as a liberal (there are a lot of us, although both groups are relatively inactive on campus.) Are you really trying to help people who are considering the school or has the image of a Lacoste-clad collar-popping Vanderbilt helped you in some way since graduation? Remember that the students on this board (while they certainly are not representative of all applicants) will be making up the student body, not you. Get over yourself. </p>
<p>Lay it out for us vatn, what's the true social scene? Show your hand, or do you just prefer to shoot arrows? I dislike bandmom because she has no idea what she's talking about most of the time, as do some of the other flowery posters who whack-a-mole a counter every time someone points out some of the actual underpinnings of Vandy's culture and social scene. </p>
<p>Since you've run through the four-year bubble, counterpoint me to death, save the scolding for your own children.</p>
<p>I have a problem with it. That sort of reasoning is the same reasoning as when someone says "Only the guilty have something to hide!" as justification for letting the government have some additional power. It's equally flawed logic. If Vanderbilt chooses to make it a school priority to only recruit beautiful people, then so be it. If not, and they currently -do- not (see current application form: focus on academics, non-preferences policies), then they should live up to their word.</p>
<p>No - a picture most definitely is not required...in fact, it is not even requested, or an option at all, on the application...not that I'd be opposed to that ;)</p>
<p>i applied ed to vandy and i guess i fit the aforementioned stereotypes. i attend an elite new england boarding school - plan on going greek etc etc. i'm just nervous about being a northerner at vandy.
because everyone has had such strong opinions in this thread... i was just wondering what you had to say about south vs north at vandy</p>