<p>I'm somebody who is Jewish, from Long Island, NY, and very liberal. I was wondering would somebody like me feel comfortable at Vandy? Would I fit in so to speak? I've heard things like people wear only polos and get dressed up for football games. Is it everyone/most people? I am seriously considering applying EDII.</p>
<p>Thanks ahead for your responses.</p>
<p>I don’t go there, but from what I know you should be fine. Just keep in mind it’s an SEC school so football/conservatism/frat life is HUGE there, but there are a lot of people that aren’t like that (you) so don’t sweat it. Remember, it’s considered the Ivy of the south so majority of the students are actually well-educated.</p>
<p>According to the fast facts listed on Vanderbilt’s website, as of fall 2010, there were 532 students from NY, 251 from NJ, 140 from CT, 163 from PA, and 204 from MA. My son (from CT) is comfortable there.</p>
<p>I’m not too familiar w/ Vanderbilt except some of the stereotypes I’ve heard about. (50% conservative, huge greek system, people get dressed up for everything, etc)</p>
<p>Nonetheless I would never apply to school ED or EDII if I haven’t visited the school. There is a huge difference between your actual thoughts of the campus and the views of posters on these boards.</p>
<p>There are a ton of jews from Long Island and Westchester at Vanderbilt and like 20% of the students are from the tristate area. You will fit it fine.</p>
<p>I’m from NJ, and I think you’ll be fine as long as you keep an open mind.</p>
<p>I’m a jew from NJ who got accepted ED1
You should be fine. I mean, i’m not liberal, but I know that you’ll find tons of kids who are, and even if not, it doesn’t much matter. Definitely visit first, or apply RD and then visit if you get accepted.</p>
<p>no, you wouldn’t, stay home and never expose yourself to anything else</p>
<p>We have no problem with northerners or jews. It’s the very liberal part that will stick out the most.</p>
<p>Liberal is fine. Sure, there are plenty conservative Christians, but Vandy is not an overwhelmingly political campus, anyway. It seems to be more of a “whatever” type of place … while students feel a certain way, they aren’t so concerned with their way being the “only way.” You may be in the minority, but you will find friends who feel as you do & you will be in the majority in your own group.</p>
<p>I’m also liberal and just got accepted, I don’t know how that’ll go but I’ve been told the southern hospitality is great :). As for being Jewish and from NY, they have students from all over and the admissions recruiter from my area told me that the school is something like 20% Jewish. I’ve heard the same about the football games and such. I figure that seeing how I’m not too keen on dressing up for football games that there have to be others who feel the same.</p>
<p>Vanderbilt is nowhere nearly as Southern and “SECish” as it used to be. It used to be a lot more similar to schools like Alabama and Ole Miss, but now, it’s much more like Penn. In fact, as a Southerner at Vanderbilt, I seemed to have met more Northerners so far (a ton of Jewish kids from NY/NJ area).</p>
<p>Haha agree with waylay. Sure, it’s still a pretty white, Southern, conservative school (especially on game days), but when it really comes down to it, no one is discriminatory or anything. You’ll find the right niche. People are nice.</p>
<p>Thanks for all your inputs. Really. I definitely have a better feel of what it’s like on campus. I’m sure I would find my niche somewhere. When I say “very liberal” I’m talking more politically. Though, I’m not into the whole conservative popped collar thing either. I don’t want to have to throw away all my Jimi Hendrix/Bob Marley shirts for polos Ha.</p>
<p>You should check out Brown</p>
<p>“conservative popped collar thing”? What does that even mean? Based on what you’ve been saying, you probably won’t fit in at Vanderbilt.</p>
<p>Really? Based on …? Are you a student? If so, I imagine Optimistic wouldn’t fit in with your group, but probably wouldn’t want to. Live & let live. There is room for more than one kind of person at every school. The more open minded students who decide to come to Vandy, the less we will see the “Will I fit in?” questions. That’s not a bad thing.</p>
<p>You sound like you might “fit” here at Emory. I don’t know. Come check it out. Unless its rank isn’t good enough or something. I assure you the education is on par with Vandy, but the campus is certainly more political (though not like GeorgeTown, Berkeley, or Tufts). The campus is among the more liberal schools honestly. You’ll see tons of Free Tibet things, and Tibetan Monks taking classes here (one of the coolest things ever admittedly), and There is this anti-Iraqi war drum circle that comes every Tuesday. Very open-minded campus. And the campus is like 33-35% Jewish (basically, almost all of our white students are Jewish). I think Vandy is like probably like 15% (this probably more like 20-25% of whites at Vandy). Unfortunately, if you love the sports oriented social atmosphere, you’re screwed at Emory.<br>
Vandy is really nice too. Make sure to check it out even if you are concerned.
Despite your quest for prestige, I think Emory’s worth at least a peek.</p>
<p>I agree that you should definitely visit. Though I’m sure you’d find your niche at Vanderbilt, I do know people who have transferred from southern schools because they felt that they didn’t fit in. If you want to be involved with Jewish life you should consider that too, because even though ~16% may sound like a decent amount, the Jewish life might not be as active as you want it to be (I’m a liberal Jew from New Jersey). I agree with bernie12 that Emory might be a better fit than Vandy. I was really considering Colgate but ultimate decided not to go, largely because I was intimidated by the "preppiness’ and lack of Jews. Though some would say those reasons sound a little silly, they really are factors that could affect your next 4 years!</p>
<p>i looked at your other posts and I applied to quite a few of the same schools as you - Emory, Lehigh, Binghamton, UMich, and Maryland. I got waitlisted at Emory & in to the other common schools. I ended up at the Honors college at UMD…if you have any questions PM me!</p>
<p>Vanderbilt has students who are conservative and some who are liberal - it’s a nice mix and no one has problems with people being different from themselves. I heard the chancellor talking about representatives from both the Bush and Gore campaigns coming to Vanderbilt once while I was there. He said that both activities were equally attended and equally respectful. The Vanderbilt population is probably like America in terms of politics - 50/50. We are from the south, but my son’s best friend was from New Jersey. We are all Americans and it’s good for people to learn about those who don’t come from the same backgrounds. a great school in a fabulous town…</p>
<p>Some of the fraternities are actually more “northern” than others. Being from the North doesn’t put you in any sort of minority. It’s really a nice mix.</p>