Vanderbilt University Top Questions

I LOVE the size of Vanderbilt. I enjoy walking to class and being able to see at least a few people I know and am able to wave and say hello. At the same time I can walk into a class and never have seen a majority of the students there but it definitely feels like a nice sized community. I hate that people where I'm from know nothing about the academic prestige of Vanderbilt and don't know where it is. The social life here is phenomenal and I couldn't imagine fitting in better anywhere else, I love seeing people from my classes who are at the top of the class but at the same time they were at a party the night before.

There are a lot of cool people here, everyone is pretty happy, the classes and teachers are overall interesting, and I feel like I am getting a good education. The school is smaller than you think it is at first. Juicycampus.com has been an interesting recent controversy on campus, go there if you want the down and dirty about what some people on this campus think, though you may be fairly disgusted by how superficial it is. The Vandygirl stereotype is true to some extent, a lot of people find that there is a lot of pressure to get perfect grades, look super put together and cute all of the time, be very involved, and very social which is difficult. The atmosphere can be very superficial at times.

One thing I would change is the new focus on the "freshman experience" -- the administration is reorganizing all of campus and disrupting our traditions, losing sight of the upperclassman experience. As a junior, I am glad I'm leaving before the changes will really affect me. Nashville is an awesome town! It took me a while to get comfortable leaving the "Vanderbubble", but I love this city now. You can find any variety of live music any night of the week -- it's not just country! I think there's a lot of school pride here, but not the same sense as some other schools. We're kind of a school of fair weather sports fans -- people rarely stay for the whole football game or are too drunk to pay attention while they are in the stands. This year our basketball team is really good, so you're seeing a lot more spirit around campus especially during March Madness. We love the SEC, though, and are really proud to be in our conference.

I love the South. I love that I came to school in a place that is totally different from where I grew up. I love going out with my friends, both to the frats and downtown. What I'll remember most are random moments with my friends (mostly drunk) where we just laugh for hours

I would change the meal plan. The school is a medium size, meaning that while you won't know the majority of people, you will always run into someone you know, for better or for worse. Adults are usually impressed by hearing about Vanderbilt, while other college students don't seem to really care. I spend the most time in my dorm. In a big city. The administration can be good, but needs to pay more attention to students. There is some school pride, not at football games, but definitely at basket-ball games. In Vanderbilt your stuck inside the Vandy bubble, meaning you rarely leave campus and are almost always around other Vanderbilt students.

The best thing about Vanderbilt are that it's a great academic school and we have great sports. The size is perfect. A lot of people from the Northeast haven't even heard of Vanderbilt. Those people who have heard of Vanderbilt are very impressed that I go here and often say that it is the "Harvard of the South" There is a good amount of school pride considering our small size compared to the large size of the public schools in the SEC. I will always remember tailgating for football games.

The one thing I would change about Vandy is the toilet paper. The stuff we have is pretty rough, and with how much we pay to go here, we should have better.

Living in Nashville is great. Restaurants, nightlife, shopping, cultural activities, and resources for future careers are fantastic. People in town love Vandy students! The HUGE Greek scene on campus is both a blessing and a curse. Having such a strong Greek presence means that there are always great parties on the weekends, and often cool events during the week too. However, the competitive nature of the fraternity and sorority system can put a lot of pressure on students to look and act a certain way, and to not step outside the "Vandybubble" to experience the rest of Nashville. My best advice for a new Vandy student? Always wait a moment or two before crossing West End at 21st Avenue. There will ALWAYS be two or three cars that run the red light. It's the easiest place to get killed if you aren't careful.

I think the best asset that Vanderbilt has is its professors. Granted, there will always be bad teachers at any school, but by in large the teachers here are amazing. It is great that they are willing to make an effort to go both get to know you and help you out beyond the classroom. I also think that Vanderbilt is very fortunate to be located where it is with such a beautiful campus, and Nashville is a fun college town and city on the whole.

The best thing about Vanderbilt is the charismatic community, and the balance between work and play. I would change the housing situation. I love being a Peabody student because I get the priviledge of small individualized attention, but also get to take various Arts and Science classes as well. People are always very impressed that I go to Vanderbilt as the school as a very prestigious reputation. I spend most of my time during the day in between Peabody and Central campuses - I go to the library a lot or eat lunch at the Cafe's in between breaks. The rest of my time I typically spend around Branscomb with the other freshman. I love Nashville. It is the perfect college town and has so much to offer! In 5 minutes you can go from the beautiful oasis of the park-like campus to the bustling streets of West-end or 21st ave with dozens of restaurants to choose from. There is always something fun to do. I think Vanderbilt has a very qualified and dedicated administration. I think that they really care about their students which is important, although sometimes I find that grading or getting help from a professor is a bit of a challenge. The biggest controversy on campus was over housing for next year. They want to move everyone on campus but in the mean time the rising sophmores are getting put in freshman housing again which is really unfair. I think their is a lot of school pride and everyone loves it here. I wish their was more spirit though. I think Vanderbilt's location in Nashville (southern charm) sets it apart from many other ivy-tier schools. I will definitely always remember founders day walk and processing in with my new classmates.