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74 out of 77 people found this review useful.
K from Atlanta, GA
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments Am learning a lot Vanderbilt is often confused with one of them Ivy League schools up in Connecticut or wherever, but with good reason. If you choose to attend the prestigious Vanderbilt University then you will receive a very fine education from professors who want you to succeed in acing their classes, reaching your goals, and finding your future. Professors will make time for you outside of class if you do not understand the material; they put themselves in our lives to teach us and they desperately want us to learn. The work at Vandy is not at all easy, but it is do-able. Plan on studying, reading, making notes, and attending classes regularly. That might sound miserable to you, but at Vandy many of your fellow students will be doing all this work right along side you...so you will never feel alone. A good GPA and any Vanderbilt degree will get you worthwhile internships and successful jobs. But, learning does not stop outside of the classroom at Vandyland. You can learn about your country and world by making friends from all over the earth, working with volunteer groups who build homes, spend time with refugee children, feed the hungry, play with kids in Vanderbilt's children's medical center, and even play with dogs at animal shelters. Nashville, TN itself provides opportunities to learn about music, art, and rich history of the United States. The learning never ends at Vandy, whether you're sitting in class, cheering at a sporting event, dancing at a party, wandering through an art museum, chilling to sweet music, attending a benefit for a charity, or roofing a home for needy Nashville neighbor. Fitting all these learning opportunities into your schedule can be difficult and at times mind-boggling, but the well-rounded education you will receive at Vanderbilt will help you develop into a more informed, greater, and caring individual than when you first arrived on Vanderbilt's campus.
Am enjoying being here Just read below and I think it will be more than obvious why I enjoying being at Vanderbilt University.
Bang for the buck Vanderbilt is currently ranked #18 in the nation, tied with Notre Dame and Emory. Many of you prospective students may be wondering, Why should I pay $37,000 per year for my college tuition? In order to attend an equivalently ranked school, you would only be paying about $700 less for Emory and about $300 less for Notre Dame.
But, please give me a chance to convince you that the experience and education that Vanderbilt has to offer is worth your $300 - $700 extra dollars.
1) Vanderbilt provides a great balance between work and play. Many students live by the motto: work hard, play harder...so if partying is your thing then you will find plenty of opportunities to reward yourself for all of your A's and your well-earned B's. But, the great thing about Vandy is that if you prefer not to hang around the party scene scattered with frat juice, black lights, the Ying Yang Twins, and party fouls, then you too are not alone. There are plenty of work-a-holics that can find pure joy and soothing happiness simply by correctly solving a differential equation, but don't want the buzz of a cool beer to help relax their nerves.
2) Vandy is a great place to make friends from all over the U.S. and the world. I had the opportunity to go to one of my state universities, but after visiting my friends there I realized how happy I was that I had decided to go to Vanderbilt instead. All of my friend's friends were the same people from our high school or other people from our state. They had learned nothing about other parts of our glorious country or world through their friendships. At Vanderbilt, I have friends from California, New York, Montana, Maryland, Wisconsin, Texas, Japan, Florida, India, North Carolina, Great Britain, Ohio, Missouri, Georgia, Virginia, West Virginia, Alabama, Mississippi, Massachusetts, Tennessee...do you get the point? I have friends living all over our planet...I mean, how awesome is that! Many students at Vanderbilt are open to having friendships with people of a different race, ethnicity, religion, etc. If I were to go to any major city in the U.S. right now, then I feel like I would have at least one person nearby that I would feel comfortable calling up if I needed help or needed a place to stay. My friends at Vandy are real friends. We care about each other's success and well-being.
3) Are you into music? I mean most people like some kind of music, right? Well, if you do like music then you are in luck because Vanderbilt is located in Nashville, TN...aka Music City, USA (or the Country Music Capital of the World). Okay, after reading that last part you probably had one of two reactions: ughhhhhhh I HATE country music! Game over...I will never go to Vandy. OR... You know I like my chicken fried, cold beer on a Friday night, a pair of jeans that fits just right, and the radio up. COUNTRY MUSIC HATERS KEEP READING 'cause I have good news for you: if you really despise country music then I promise you will do just fine in Nashville! There are tons of bars, concert halls, little dives, cafes, frats, and clubs where country music is not preformed. Many very talented starving artists have taken up root in Nashvegas and they too would absolutely love your support! So let all those Country-music lovers go support the rising country stars and songwriters in the Honkey-tonk part of Downtown and the rundown bluegrass bars. Just so you understand the wide variety of artists that play in Nashville here is a VERY small sampling of who I saw play last year, The Avett Brothers, Lil Wayne, Grassroots, The Wooten Brothers, the Flaming Lips, songwriters (for Garth Brooks, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, etc.), Santigold, N.E.R.D., Pat Green, the Ying Yang Twins (at a frat party...good times), the Blair school of music, K'naan, T.I. (his last performance before he went to prison), Sarah Watkins (from Nickel Creek), etc. Yeah, so if you like music, then you will LOVE Nashville.
4) Another cool thing about living in Nashville is the celebrity sightings. It's no L.A., but it's still fun, especially if you don't come from a celebrity-filled home town. Taylor Swift randomly shows up at the Bluebird Cafe to play along with other artists or can be seen grabbing some pancakes in Hillsboro's Pancake Pantry. Nichole Kidman also enjoys these infamous pancakes, and shows up with hubby, Keith Urban, at the Green Hills Mall movie theater. And one night while dining at the restaurant called Watermark, I sat a few tables away from the handsome James Marsden...he also ran the Country Music Half Marathon in April.
5) Vanderbilt is going green...yeah, I know, so in right now. Vanderbilt's campus is a national arboretum and over near the fabulous freshman dorms is the Commons Center. This grand building is Vandy's trofeewife. Vanderbilt could not be more proud of her flush down, flush up toilets, automatic everything, and green this, green that. Vandy still has a long way to go on the green side of things, but if being environmentally conscious/friendly is one of your passions then you will be able to really help change the Vandy world with your ideas of how to greenify our already fabulous school and beautiful campus. But, if you could care less about all this green talk, then hey at least you get to benefit from from the people that do care...so going to Vanderbilt is a win-win.
6) Vandy is part of the SEC...which is incredibly fun. We get to go up against big state schools like Alabama, UGA, Ole Miss, etc. Yeah, so us Commodores might not be exactly well known for our athletic programs, but we do surprise people every now and then. I mean, who would have though that Vandy would beat Auburn 14-13 last fall! So it's always fun to show up to the sporting events, not only because those huge SEC athletes that are making touchdowns, dribbling down the court, or hitting a home run are your friends, but because they will probably give you a good reason to cheer as a proud Commodore when you are least expecting it.
I believe and I promise that Vanderbilt University is a bang for the buck. If you're still reading at this point then I hope I have convinced you to come join me and my fellow students at Vandyland this fall. I would not trade my past year at Vandy for any other experience in the world...and yes, I know that statement sounds vague and slightly not believable, but it's the truth. I LOVE Vanderbilt. GO 'DORES!Tips for prospective students -well written and creative essays are key
-while your GPA and the SAT are important, they are by far not the only things that matters
-Vanderbilt seeks well-rounded students, who excel in several different areas of life
-Vandy stresses balance; while the school wants to help educate you, they also want you to take advantage of the social, volunteer, and local opportunities that Vandy and Nashville have to offer
-get to know your admission counselor and keep in touch with him/her...don't be annoying, but send an occasional e-mail reminding them about that one time you all met, or why you love Vandy so much
-try to come visit Vanderbilt when classes are in session, stay with a student for a night, and attend a class...this might give you a small taste of what Vanderbilt is like...it should be more realistic than taking a tour
-meet with a professor and ask him/her questions about a course or a majorGreat for these types of students -smart students, but that's a given
-really any kind of person though, but you MUST be willing to work and willing to pursue your dreams...there are many talented students at Vandy and they will outshine you if you do not put forth an effort and a desire to succeed
-Eager students; whether you're eager to make friends, make A's, or make yourself known for something...then come to Vanderbilt motivated
-students who thrive in fast-paced (intellectually and/or socially) environments
-energetic studentsLogin to rate or flag the reviews
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19 out of 20 people found this review useful.
R from MO
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments Am learning a lot Vanderbilt University is ranked 18th in the country for top universities. This means Vanderbilt takes pride in their ability to teach their students. There are a lot of classes to choose from and the professors are almost always willing to help outside of class if needed. I have only completed my freshmen year so far but I can say that I have never had a teacher decline to help me with something I didn't quite understand in the classroom. Other students can also be a great resource for help because everyone who gets into the school is smart in some way or another. You will learn a lot from the classroom, your peers, and Nashville if you attend Vanderbilt.
Am enjoying being here I am from a small rural town in MO and that is not my style of living. I prefer to live in suburbs or a city and Nashville offers a great mix of both. Exploring the city while you have free time is always great because there is always something new to discover. The music scene is great as well and should be - considering Nashville is known as Music City, USA. Vanderbilt University is a very nice looking college. There is so many plants and trees around you that you honestly feel like you are walking through a park on your way to class and that provides for a great atmosphere. The buildings are mixed with old style architecture and modern buildings, also pleasing to the eye. The greek scene is pretty huge. Many of activities and community service to do.
Bang for the buck Vanderbilt always has great events on campus. All kinds too - comedians, music groups, magicians, dancers, sporting events, and many more. Last year we had guests such as Lil Wayne, T.I., The Flaming Lips, a comedian that appears on Chelsea Lately occasionally, and the co-author or the great book 'Freakonomics'. The education is top notch, just make sure they have your intended area of study and take a look at the class offerings. The financial aid services at Vandy are excellent and the staff is incredibly nice. The only reason I gave it 4 stars was because I wish the school was a little bit less expensive but it is worth it.
Tips for prospective students Check out the majors and classes and make sure you will like what they have. The Commons for freshmen living is amazing. Everyone at Vandy is nice for the most part so ask any questions you have, don't hesitate.
Great for these types of students If you want to go greek you picked a great top-notch education school that still has a good greek system. However, if you don't go greek there is still plenty to do. I am not greek and I still enjoy myself and have plenty of friends who did not go greek.
The work load can be demanding, so be prepared for some extra studying if you want to do well.Login to rate or flag the reviews
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15 out of 15 people found this review useful. 1 person found this inaccurate.
Cayla from Bradenton, FL
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments Am learning a lot Vanderbilt’s classes are as diverse as they are interesting. Class topics range from “Ancient Mayan Civilization” to “The Meaning of Life” to “Special Topics in Nanophysics,” providing students with a plethora of options for enrichment. Most classes are small and discussion-based, with the larger, lecture hall science classes averaging around 200 students. With four undergraduate schools, and three graduate schools, Vanderbilt has the breadth of resources and quality of educators to equip the student with engaging and informative material. The University ensures that students will experience Vanderbilt’s diverse and varied class offerings by requiring it of them. Axle, short for “Achieving Excellence in Liberal Education,” requires that students take two to three classes in each of the six distribution categories: Humanities and the Creative Arts, International Cultures, History and Culture of the United States, Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Perspectives.
Am enjoying being here Vanderbilt students enjoy a quality of life rare for college students. Nashville culture is quintessential to Vanderbilt life. The school’s alma mater proudly proclaims Vanderbilt to rest “on the city’s western boarder,” but the evolution of the city has drawn downtown right up to Vanderbilt’s back door. “Midtown” Nashville and the distractions it offers are a welcome relief for arduous students, allowing them to enjoy the conveniences of a big city, and the atmosphere of a small town at the same time. There are over 100 restaurants, bars, and clubs within walking distance from campus, but the hustle and bustle of big city life is absent for the most part. Commodore pride runs rampant and football, baseball, and basketball season draw a crowd. Greek life is big on Vandy campus, with over half the student population affiliating themselves with either a fraternity or sorority. If anything, the Greek houses loan to Vanderbilt’s tried and true slogan, “Work hard, party hard.”
Bang for the buck With the yearly tuition hovering around $40,000
(+ $10,000 for room and board) a Vanderbilt education can be a bit pricey. However the University continues to enact progressive financial aid initiatives and other forms of student assistance to make Vanderbilt affordable for everyone. The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships claims that over 60 percent of students receive aid. The question is: four years and $200,000 later are you any better off than when you started? The answer is yes. Thanks to the well-equipped Career Counseling Center, Vanderbilt students enjoy top placement into competitive internships and sought after job fields.Tips for prospective students Students applying should visit the school and connect with a professor in a field they are interested in. Although it is true that colleges in today’s world are looking for “well-rounded individuals,” catering too much to that notion may make it difficult to stand out from the other 20,000 applicants. It is also important to have a well-developed interest and evidence that you are doing everything in your power to turn that interest into a strength. This is why speaking with a Vanderbilt professor, even if by email, and recording that professor as a reference in your application is a sure-fire way to get your application the attention it deserves. Also, visit the school to be sure that Vanderbilt’s atmosphere is what you are looking for in a college experience. Introverted students need not apply as campus life is fast-paced and you may get left out of the hustle and bustle.
Great for these types of students Most of Vanderbilt’s student body is comprised of valedictorians and the crème of the crop from their respective high schools. That being said, not every brainiac is cut out to be a Vandy student. The typical Vandy student is engaged with the world around them, went to a private high school or boarding school, lives an active lifestyle, and enjoys large sporting events and Greek life. If you like to spend most nights curled up in bed sipping herbal tea and reading a good book, look elsewhere for your perfect college experience. Vanderbilt’s dual-med program and prestigious medical school attracts aspiring doctors; the top-notch English program, Engineering School, and Music School also draw a crowd. Need not be a country music aficionado to apply.
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10 out of 10 people found this review useful.
L from Chicago, IL
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments Am learning a lot Last semester, my 3rd at Vandy, was the first time I began to understand This is why I am at Vanderbilt. Never have I been as challenged intellectually. As an education major, it was important for me to see that Vanderbilt's high rankings were more than just for show. My professors were among the best in their field, cited endlessly in notable research, yet they were able to make their knowledge accessible to undergraduate students. Furthermore, most of my major courses averaged 8 people per class, allowing me to develop close relationships with professors and creating much time for discussion of classes or for help and clarification. At Vanderbilt, I'm learning more than remedial tools and knowledge for becoming an educator; I'm learning the importance of using the individual students as the basis for my instruction and taking a research-based approach to implementing practices in the classroom. The course readings were not pages I skimmed as I crammed for tests, only to forget them a short while later. Instead, they are materials that are practical and applicable, that will no doubt aid me in the future as a teacher. Vanderbilt makes sure you're well-rounded and not just focused on your major. Other classes I have taken include American Popular Music, History of Fashion and Costume Design, and Avant Garde Cinema.
Am enjoying being here Greek Life is a big part of Vanderbilt social life and being in a sorority has absolutely enhanced my college experience. Not only have I made some of the best friends in my entire life, it has been the best asset in networking with people for jobs and studying for classes. Vanderbilt has a programming board which brings top artists for concerts (such as O.A.R and Jay-Z this year) and has random free events such as Casino Night. When I am not in the Vandy bubble, I am probably using my Vandy Card to go eat at the many restaurants that Vanderbilt allows you to eat at using your student ID! I love that Vanderbilt is in Music City, USA because there are always great concerts in Nashville. My favorite this school year- Regina Spektor! My biggest gripe with the school is that school spirit at sporting events is typically low. Maybe it's due to the fact that most students wear sundresses and khakis to football games? Also, there are sooooo many organizations and intramural sports here, and many students start their own clubs to continue high school interests.
Bang for the buck A top-notch research university
+ a work hard/play hard mentality
+ renowned faculty
+ a great city with lots of cultural avenues
= a great bang for your buck!Tips for prospective students VISIT! VISIT! VISIT!
To be honest, Vanderbilt looks a lot like any other top university on paper. Coming to this campus sealed my decision. The students were so friendly, and the campus was beautiful. Come to campus, sit in on a class, and ask if you can stay a night in a dorm room, you'll really get a feel for the campus.Great for these types of students The average Vanderbilt student believes in balance and although they're working hard to have good grades for med school and are president of their favorite volunteer organization (for example), they're not going to miss the opportunity to party most weekends (and weekdays.) The Vanderbilt student is usually highly motivated and outgoing.
WARNING: The average Vanderbilt student does not care about sports. This is not your Big Ten/SEC let's-dress-up-fanatically-in-our-school-colors school. If that is one of your biggest criterion, you will be highly disappointed.Login to rate or flag the reviews
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8 out of 8 people found this review useful.
Go 'Dores!
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments Am learning a lot As a student at Vanderbilt, you will have the opportunity to take classes from some of the leading researchers and scholars in the nation. I never cease to be amazed by the incredible depth of intelligence my professor's possess. And what's so great about them is that they truly go out of their way to get to know you, in both and academic and personal setting. It is not uncommon for professors to go out for lunch, coffee, or coffee with their students and engage in intellectual discussions, as well as just taking up the opportunity of getting to know their students better. For example, I met one of my professors out for lunch for help on a paper, and we ended up discussing not only my paper but delving into political theory for an hour and a half. I have gone into my chemistry teacher's office, a class of about 200, and she knew my name individually and asked me questions about my future, my major,etc and ended up giving me some of the best academic (and life) advice I've received.
This learning experience does not stop in the classroom, however. First of all, you are among some of the smartest students in the country. Students are not competitive and legitimately enjoy helping each other, resulting in study groups as well as close friendships. Being around peers of various backgrounds who've had their own unique experiences has been a learning experience in and of itself. Vanderbilt also offers students several one-on-one opportunities with scholars from all around the country. The school hosts seminars and lectures from experts in every field, allowing students to get up close and personal with people such as international diplomats, former presidents, famous writers, and medical experts.Am enjoying being here I could not be happier in my college experience than I've been at Vanderbilt for the last year and a half. Vandy offers students rigorous academics, an engaged student body, and an active social scene all located in one of the most exciting locations, Nashville, Tennessee. What I like most is that Vandy is all about balance-a work hard, play hard mentality. Vanderbilt students are some of the brightest in the country, but you would have a hard time finding any that are not involved in AT LEAST two or three extracurricular activities, ranging from volunteering to student government to Greek life to multi-cultural clubs. Vandy students are very engaged in their community on and off-campus, and their passionate, outgoing personalities balance the challenging academic load wonderfully.
Bang for the buck The resources and opportunities available to you as a Vanderbilt University graduate are definitely worth the hefty tag. First of all, the financial aid and scholarship program are fantastic! The new expanded aid program assures no student graduates owing the university any money, a huge relief to students planning to continue to graduate school, and to me, a great indicator of how important the quality of life is to university administration.
Tips for prospective students Getting in to Vanderbilt is certainly not easy, but definitely worth striving for. You will need a well-written essay that reflects your interests and personality in a way the rest of the application does not. Your standardized scores and high school record are important as well. Make sure you demonstrate that you have taken every opportunity to challenge yourself in your high school career. The admissions office will take into account the high school you went to and the opportunities that were available to you, so be sure you show that you took advantage of what was available. Finally, be sure you demonstrate your well-rounded qualities. Vanderbilt students are more than just academic, so admissions wants to see that you were involved outside of your schoolwork, including your volunteer activities, leadership positions, and extracurricular involvements.
Great for these types of students Vanderbilt is ideal for students looking for more than an academic experience in college. Sure, you will receive on of the best educations available (#18 in the country to be exact), but if you plan on sitting in your room and studying all of the time, not taking an active and participatory roles in on-campus organizations or off-campus opportunities, Vanderbilt is not the school for you.
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15 out of 22 people found this review useful. 4 people found this inaccurate.
Michelle from Roswell, GA
Reviewer is Researching this school. Reviewer has been to campus.
Categories Rating Comments Will learn a lot Small class sizes. Student to faculty ratio 9:1. Also the prestige of the school is well known.
Will enjoy being here A beautiful secluded campus and great atmosphere. In city so plenty to do off-campus.
Tips for prospective students It's expensive but so are most top Ivy League schools.
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2 out of 2 people found this review useful.
Calvin from Edmond, OK
Reviewer is Researching this school. Reviewer has been to campus.
Categories Rating Comments Will learn a lot I attend a different school but Vanderbilt was on my short list in the final decision process and I visited the campus. Vanderbilt has brilliant students and top professors so you will absolutely learn a lot if you want to. To be honest, I was not too impressed with the students. I sat in on a government class and I felt like it was a high school class. The teacher had to beg the students to answer questions and to discuss topics in class, and this was an upper level class! I was not impressed by that, but nonetheless you will definitely learn a lot at Vanderbilt no matter your field of study.
Will enjoy being here I absolutely loved the campus. If you thrive in an academic environment, you will love being here. Beautiful campus, good sports program for a top school and a great city atmosphere.
Bang for the buck Vanderbilt is absurdly expensive, but for the priviledge of having Vanderbilt on your resume for the rest of your life, I almost think you're getting off easy.
Tips for prospective students Visit campus early and apply for early amission if you really want to get in. Keep your grades up and keep taking the ACT over and over and over until you get the best score you can possibly imagine yourself getting. Then take it again. (Or SAT for East and West Coast people).
Great for these types of students Academics, driven students, people wanting an adventure and to make something of their lives.
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2 out of 2 people found this review useful.
Ryan from Bowling Green, KY
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments Academic Rigor Saying classes here are hard is an understatement. You can take all the AP courses you want, but they still don't compare. College is all about learning how to study and maximize your intellectual potential.
Am enjoying being here I'm convinced that Vandy combines education and social life better than any school in the nation.
Bang for the buck Their financial aid packages are absolutely incredible. Some schools are canceling this helpful assistance, but Vandy is holding strong to it. Many would never imagine going here without it.
Tips for prospective students Show Vanderbilt that you are a student who can add something to this community. How can your uniqueness help others and the campus as a whole?
Great for these types of students Amazing for anyone who isn't afraid to dive into diversity and compete with some of the most well-rounded students I've ever been around.
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1 out of 1 people found this review useful.
California girl headed to Nashville
Reviewer is Accepted here and planning to attend soon. Reviewer has been to campus.
Categories Rating Comments Will learn a lot My academic counselor has already taught me much through our emails back and forth. He's been very helpful, and I got into all the classes I needed, plus a few interesting ones! The professors I met while visiting were both friendly and knowledgeable. I'm looking forward to learning a lot in all my classes and interacting with the professors.
Will enjoy being here The current students I met while visiting and the other incoming freshmen I've met on Facebook have all been awesome. There's so much to do on the beautiful Vanderbilt campus and in Nashville; I'm sure I'll never be bored!
Bang for the buck Vanderbilt is really expensive, but they do give out scholarships! I got one! I think room and board is a little pricey, but I don't live there yet, so we'll see.
Tips for prospective students Apply for their scholarships, even if you don't think you'll get one. You just might! Also, try for a really good SAT score before applying.
Great for these types of students Well, I don't know entirely because I haven't met everyone there yet, but I'm assuming people like me (top academically but also enjoy life and do a lot of extracurriculars) will be attracted to Vanderbilt like I am!
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1 out of 1 people found this review useful.
Vivian from Nashville, TN
Reviewer is Researching this school. Reviewer has been to campus.
Categories Rating Comments Will learn a lot You'll get to meet a lot of people from different backgrounds. The difficulty level of the classes depend on which ones you take. It's fun, really really fun.
Will enjoy being here It's an awesome campus, very beautiful and in the middle of the city, so there's always something going on.
Bang for the buck The financial aid package is pretty awesome.
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2 out of 3 people found this review useful.
Cody from Antioch, IL
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments Am learning a lot I have never felt more worked in my life. Learning takes place every where. I have learned more in one semester here then all of my years of previous education.
Am enjoying being here Great parties, people, and housing, atleast for freshmen, whats not to love. Very greek and fratty.
Bang for the buck Great financial aid. Cheaper then public's for me.
Tips for prospective students Be almost perfect... or atleast be as bright as you can be.
Great for these types of students Who like to learn and have fun at the same time. Most people love to rage here. its a party hard thursday friday saterday and of course tuesday schhol. there is plenty if you dont. But if you want it, it is here. you must also manage your time excellently.
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1 out of 2 people found this review useful.
Bethany from Bakersfield, CA
Reviewer is Researching this school. Reviewer has not been to campus.
Categories Rating Comments Will enjoy being here My friend goes here now and she loves it!
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0 out of 2 people found this review useful.
Hannalore from Murray, KY
Reviewer is Researching this school. Reviewer has been to campus.
Categories Rating Comments Bang for the buck I just went to a Information Session at Vanderbilt and everything was so nice. What really got me was the financial aid guarantee. In such a struggling economy, paying for college is on many of prospective student's minds. Vanderbilt will pay for 100% of the student's demonstrated financial need. Pretty cool!
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0 out of 3 people found this review useful. 1 person found it offensive.
Sarah from Nashville, TN
Reviewer is Researching this school. Reviewer has been to campus.
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0 out of 5 people found this review useful. 1 person found it offensive.
Andrea from Smyrna, TN
Reviewer is Researching this school. Reviewer has not been to campus.
Categories Rating Comments Great for these types of students I have a meeting here on July 11th and I plan on eating lunch in the Commons Hall I'm not sure if they have and Honors Hall at Vandy but if so I'd love to be enrolled here.But I'm still kind of worried about my ACT score it was a 25 but that was my first time so I'll probably take again twice before I apply here. However, does anyone know if they superscore or not?
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1 out of 19 people found this review useful. 1 person found it offensive. 1 person found this inaccurate.
Jessica from Franklin, TN
Reviewer is Researching this school. Reviewer has been to campus.
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2 out of 22 people found this review useful. 1 person found it offensive. 1 person found this inaccurate.
Gabrielle from Newark, DE
Reviewer is Researching this school. Reviewer has not been to campus.
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Z from Nashville, TN
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments In three sentences If you're not rich, it's totally a different world you will be living in. (the Vandybubble) It's annoying but the experience and education is SO worth it. WE BLEED BLACK AND GOLD- LET'S GO DORES!
Tips for prospective students Have fun but DO NOT FORGET TO DO YOUR WORK. Either you can be pulled into the fun of the frats or be stuck too much in your books and miss the best years of your life.
Academic Rigor It is hard. We aren't a top school for nothing. You will pull your hair out, hate yourself and the world and wish you were never born...and only in your freshman year. But College isn't supposed to be hard!
Dorm Life Truthfully, Vandy is full of people who have never encountered the real world before so it's kinda interesting and slightly annoying putting up with the rich folk who have never known poor people. BUT you will find amazing people that you will swear that you've known all your life.
Food and Dining The food on campus is good. Not a lot of on campus restaurants compared to other campuses but we have a good amount of food places. And the food around campus isn't as legit or varied as I'd like for the South, but there is always somebody good open!
What to do for fun That's hard to answer. It depends on what you want to do. Downtown is not far away, parties are every day, events are every day....you have to pick and choose
Bang for the buck Vandy is extremely expensive in my opinion (but I'm used to living under the poverty level so I can't judge) but the education is worth it. And graduating from the Harvard of the South will take you places you can only dream of. We have a extremely supportive Alumni base, amazing teachers and...just....I don't like the upscale-ness but other things make up for it.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus The First Year Walk: when incoming freshmen walk from Commons (freshman dorms) to main campus.
.....Everyday is unusual. At least from my view. Stuff is ALWAYS happening.Great for these types of students Rich or well off, predominately white.
It's not racism, it's the truth. But there is a community of most major minorities at Vandy that is extremely strong and it's just amazing. I didn't expect any minorities and we don't have a insane amount but there is somebody who can relate to you, don't worry.Clubs and Activities Not a lot of Multicultural programs comparatively to other colleges, but there are tons of things to do and participate in. I'm biased because I'm in most of the Multicultural clubs but the Multicultural clubs are the best and the most hype!
Greek Life OFF THE CHAIN. Always Live at night, especially on the weekends. Something is always going on.
NPHC membership isn't big because it VANDY IS NOT A MINORITY SCHOOL, but they still can be hype!Campus Safety The Campus is relatively safe and there is always breaches in safety, as in with other campuses. But it's pretty safe (to the point that it gets annoying because many girls think that the real world is just like this.). We get occasional scary things to happen, but nothing extremely severe.
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M from PA
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments In three sentences Great place to be if you are academically competitive and especially if you are inclined to go Greek. Small-school feel with research opportunities of a large school. Nashville is an interesting city, though much of the student body's socializing happens on-campus (frat houses or nearby bars) due to the residential requirement.
Tips for prospective students It can be tempting to build a social life which revolves around Greek row, though the most content people I know have balance which includes sorority and fraternity based activities, and spending time with people they have gotten to know more organically.
Academic Rigor As challenging or as difficult as you make it. Pre-med, engineering, and other programs are notoriously challenging. Some students who are attracted to the school for these programs do find other programs more suitable- for instance, the school's Human and Organizational Development prepares students to pursue a wide variety of business or management- based careers, or to continue on to their MBA.
Dorm Life On campus residential requirement means dorm life is awesome, especially if you land in the right dorm. Dry rules on the freshman campus can be strict, but it really depends on the RA.
Food and Dining Residential requirement comes with a mandatory meal plan for freshman and sophomores (last time I checked) but there are lots of options. 2 main dining halls, a pub, 2 Quizno's, a barbecue restaurant, and several convenience-store-style Munchie-Marts (with selections catered to the college crowd ie next to the Cheetoes is Veggie Booty, and the Ben and Jerry's pints are neighbors with Amy's Organics frozen entrees) keep the selection wide and interesting.
What to do for fun Live music. Especially country. Explore Nashville! It is truly an incredible city with a ton going on. Very interesting arts scene in East Nashville, awesome museums and clubs. It isn't missing much.
Bang for the buck Very expensive, but given the combination of the good-looking students, academic rigor and competitiveness, social life, and the city of Nashville, I do not know that any other college offers and balanced and stellar of a college experience.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus Half of women go Greek, and one third of men do too. Also, I lot of people put on their preppy best - men in pastel pinks, yellows, and blues button-down shirts and khakis or sear-suckers and women in sundresses- for athletic events or parties. If you don't have a costume to match a frat party's theme, preppy is always an acceptable option.
Great for these types of students Nerds. Jocks. Preps. Bro's. Betches.
Clubs and Activities Wide variety of clubs and organizations, constantly offering activities and events to keep an interested student busy!
Greek Life Read the rest of the review.
Campus Safety Vanderbilt police is on the ball. They work closely with the Nashville Sheriff's Office and Police, and I have never seen them respond in any way other than stellar.
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Sarah from Burke, VA
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments In three sentences Vanderbilt is a prestigious university academically and growing athletically. It is becoming an overall power house university in the South Eastern Conference and with in the Entire country. The size and location of the college offer a wide range additional growth as a developing adult.
Tips for prospective students Do not take on so much work or challenges as a freshmen. Start of light and in different educational topics because you want to start off successfully and find something you want to major in with less stress later.
Academic Rigor Depending on how much work you put into your classes, it can even be a challenge to just receive average grades
Dorm Life There is brand new living spaces being developed and I'm sure they will being amazing as the Commons they built 4 years ago.
Food and Dining Great food and meal options and MANY options of places to eat right on campus
What to do for fun There is typical partying and going out to eat at the many restaurants in Nashville. Also since the school is a top division 1 South Eastern Conference school there is many sports events to attend. Also the urban location of Vanderbilt is close to downtown Nashville which has so much going on as well.
Bang for the buck Vanderbilt has a meal plan system where you can use your meal card at a lot of good restaurants around town!
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus The Commons living for freshmen was amazing place to be my freshmen year.
Clubs and Activities A lot of clubs
Greek Life Greek life is very big here
Campus Safety Vanderbilt has their own police department that you can see patrolling the campus daily and nightly
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VUengineer
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments In three sentences vanderbilt has the most beautiful campus. the university has the academic rigor of a northeastern school with comfort and hospitality of a southern school. a great place to be.
Tips for prospective students from the people i have met on campus everyone has some sort of story that makes them special. try your best to show your personality and what makes you different in your application. test scores are only going to get you so far with vanderbilt.
Academic Rigor opinions on academic rigor are going to vary depending on program. so my review will really be based on my experience in first-year engineering/ premed classes. if possible, it is best to use ap or ib credits to get out of the infamous weed-out courses, chemistry and math. the average for those classes are made to be around a c+ for math and around a c c- for math.
Dorm Life nothing bad but nothing super fantastic either. in first-year housing the dorms try have some sort of weekly or monthly activity to encourage community in the dorm. my hall is really respectful as far as noise is concerned and gets a long pretty well. as a first year-student most of the fun that is had goes on outside of the dorms.
Food and Dining the food is fantastic and vanderbilt dining offers a lot of options for students. i've never heard any one complain about being tired of the food because the dining halls always try to have variety and you can always order food from the partner restaurants around campus with your meal money account. some of the complaints i have heard come from those who are on a kosher diet or vegetarian/vegan diets. of course they aren't going to have as many options but dining does their best to accommodate them by having grins (the vegetarian restaurant) and some sort of vegetarian option in all the dining halls.
What to do for fun the city of nashville has a ton of different activities to do, and you don't have to be a country music fan to enjoy them.
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Nadine from Spring, TX
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments In three sentences vanderbilt university is the ivy league of the south. this school has the best balance of academics and social life.
Tips for prospective students do your work, and embrace all of the opportunities available here.
Academic Rigor the classes are incredibly difficult, depending on what college you are in. engineering is the hardest and peabody is the easiest.
Dorm Life the commons are the nicest dorms, and housing gets worse as you progress in year.
Food and Dining the food is amazing, and vanderbilt really puts our parents' money to use with special food events.
What to do for fun go downtown! ! !
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Emily from New Jersey
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments Am learning a lot There are a lot of rigorous classes; the rush for the easy AXLE courses makes it hard for everyone to end up with the easy classes. The science/math courses are especially hard. Even if the material is simple, the averages of tests tends to be in the 70s (without a curve).
Am enjoying being here Great balance between work and play.
Bang for the buck Their financial aid package is incredible. Without their grants and scholarship, I wouldn't have been able to attend this school.
Tips for prospective students It's definitely a competitive school, keep up your GPA, make sure you get involved, have a 2000+ SAT score at the least.
Great for these types of students Great for students who love to party, but also know that they need to work hard.
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Myra from Douglaston, NY
Reviewer is Researching this school. Reviewer has not been to campus.
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Katrinia from Grimsley, TN
Reviewer is Researching this school. Reviewer has not been to campus.
Categories Rating Comments Will learn a lot This school has inspired me to only learn.
Will enjoy being here If I work hard enough, most definitely.
Bang for the buck I would bang this place for more than just a little buck or two.
Tips for prospective students Know the difference between what you want and what you need.
Great for these types of students Anthropology, Astronomy, Biology, Business-Management and Administration, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Communications, Computer Science, Design Arts-Industrial Design/Graphic Design/etc, Economics, Education, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Department, English, Fine Arts-Painting/Sculpture/Photography/etc, History/Histories (art history/etc.), Language-French/Spanish/etc., Math, Mechanical Engineering,Music-Performance, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, PreMed and Medical, Psychology, Religion/Religious, and Sociology
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