Vanderbilt University Top Questions

This is Vanderbilts weakest area. I know some GLBT students have been discrinated against very harshly in recent years. I also feel that the amount of interaction between people of different races, socioeconomic backgrounds, relgigious beleifs is fairly low. Some people go their whole lives without interacting with someone who isn't wealthy then at Vanderbilt then they get involved in greek life and completely insulate themselves from the rest of campus. I don't think it is wrong to be involved in greek life but it is very important to make sure that there are other things going on in your schedule. People don't talk about how much they will make because it is assumed that most people who go there are going to do pretty well. Politically, most students are conservative but there is room for all viewpoints.

I associate socially with greek members which are almost always WASPs of some variation, with a good amount of Catholics and Jews. There are some asians, blacks, and latinos in the greek system but they all act white. In general other races segregate themselves. Students who are really liberal, poor, artsy, etc. would feel out of place. Most students wear jeans and a frat shirt and a north face in the winter and pastels in the spring/fall. Four tables in the dining hall: second/third/fourth tier greek members (first tier doesn't eat on campus), minorities, engineers, and ugly people make the other three tables.

Vanderbilt has a strong Greek system, but it is easy to take the independent path and still make plenty of friends and have things to do on any night.

Religion was a shock for me. At times it is very clear that we are in the center of the bible belt and there are alot of people who do not drink or have sex for religious reasons. They tend to be friends with each other, and often Greek houses will be divided by who is very religious and who is not. Everyone gets along - there is never any big problems, but the bible belt exists. Most students do not dress up for class. You will be looked at strange if you show up for your 9am in a dress with heels - or at your 3pm. Casual dresses are fine because it does get very hot here in the beginning and end of the year. At first I thought it was a sign of the school following its stereotype of being stuck up and southern, but skirts and dresses really are helpful when its 90 outside - or maybe I just got caught up in the culture. It is definitely thought about , and sometimes talked about how much people will earn. You do not go to school for 40,000 a year if you cant earn it back!

i feel that all the groups are very segregated but by having all of the specific organization it leads to more spereation because those people are close to the people in the groups so it becomes a clique. in the dining hall, there are the athletes, the social people, the not social people, and smart people. alot of the student body is rich and i find most people live off their parents money though a good amount are on scholarship. alot of people are from atlanta and texas also. not alot of west coast people i noticed. i think most people are conservative but im not that sure.

There is a distinct population of hardcore “Bible-lovers,” as they are called. These are people who claim to be waiting until marriage to lose their virginity (but whether this is too late is questionable). Most often, these are people who are adamantly against drinking, but eventually succumb during sophomore year. Bible studies are common on campus. There is an entire fraternity, BYX, based on these ideals. The Jewish population is small, but increasing, as Vanderbilt recruits more and more from the North East. As a Jewish person, I’ve found is that most people do not possess prejudices, but anti-Semitic jokes or comments definitely slip out every once in a while in certain crowds. There seems to be a lack of racial or religious tension…although it would be naïve to say it doesn’t exist. Vandy’s culture is highly magnetic—it sucks in even the most resistant freshmen. I have a good friend who came to Vandy as a pot-smoking, long-haired, hippie. Finding that he didn’t fit in (and was thus not experiencing the sugary excitement on campus), he returned from winter break with a shorter, more typically Vandy, haircut. The Bob Marley tee-shirts were soon nowhere to be found…and in their place, a large selection of polos. Characteristics of the “ideal” Vandy girl: thin, tan, southern, blonde, wealthy, pearl earrings, pastel Lilly Pulitzer dresses, classy yet partys Characteristics of the “ideal” Vandy boy: pastel polo shirts (Ralph Lauren), khakis, southern, wealthy While people do not speak about money in specific dollar amounts, there is a general assumption among most students that they will be wealthy.

Some of the religious groups on campus try too hard to convert people. Minorities might feel out of place at Vanderbilt. Most students wear nice clothes to class. Most Vanderbilt students are from the south, but more are from the north in recent years. The financial backgrounds of the students are varied, as many studends need scholarships but there is also a lot of southern-wealth. Students are not too politically active, and not so much right OR left. Students do not talk about earnings.

I fit in very well with the "typical" vandy kids. However, I know that as an international student, it might be very hard to adjust to the mainstream vanderbilt lifestyle. Some people don't at all and live in McTyiere. It's a personal preference. Most students wear jeans and a teeshirt (often greek) to class. Some girls dress up a lot, but I tend to be REALLY casual especially when it's cold. You can see Vandy's emphasis on brand named apparel. I don't feel like different types of students interact unless they are forced to through some type of class that requires group work or some organization like ASB. The first table is the group of blonde sorority girls who are all dressed up. The second table is a group of atheletes wearing their atheltic stuff. The third table is a group of freshmen who feel really out of place. The fourth table is a group of girls from an NPHC organization. Vanderbilt students are from everywhere - I'm from TN but the majority of my friends are from the Northeast. I feel like the majority of people are come from middle income families; they are well off but not swimming in money. There are exceptions but that's how I see it. I think students are politically aware but not active. I know that with the election it has been great to argue with people. Vandy has the stereotype of being conservative; I've witnessed a lot of liberals around me. I think it's just hard to tell.

Although it is getting better, there is alot of racism on campus- not as open as many think , but snickering comments behind closed doors. there are also places certain people just know not to go to because they are not southern whites. Minorities would feel most out of place at vandy if they are actually interested in social life, academically, they will be fine. most students are right winged, but the northerners vandy has been recruited the past couple of years are left winged.

students that might feel out of place at vandy are goths; we really dont have that many.