Northwestern vs Vandy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gosh these northwestern kids are so painfully awkward on these Wildcat days panels.

Having gone to multiple admitted students days this month, including Vanderbilt, it’s a very different student they are appealing to.

The same kid will likely not like both. This is a question of gut.

The Northwestern kids were so nerdy, my kid was ready to leave before the tour even started. Same at Cornell. These kids look like they don’t wash their hair or care about what they wear at all. I recognize this is harsh, but it was a bit shocking. Where do all the smart, super social kids go to school? Are Top 10s weeding the normal kids out? My DC is very smart, but not nerdy. He is into sports (playing and watching), socializing a lot, golfs, hangs out constantly with friends. He would like to join a fraternity. We thought Northwestern (wrong), Duke or Cornell. I am thinking maybe a big state school? UVA, UCLA, UNC, Michigan? Any Ivies fit the bill?

LOL !!!

Troll much ?

Have you been on campus at any of the top 10-15 schools lately?? There was such a weird, nerdy vibe at the 4 we visited. There are, of course, handfuls of more normal kids, but the majority are so awkward. I know our family isn’t alone is noticing this phenomenon!

Yes! We visited and couldn't believe the level of nerdy/awkward at most of the top 20 schools. Kids on the tours looked like they hadn't left their room in high school. Tour guides were strange. We spent entire days on campuses looking for mainstream kids only to see a small handful. My husband was a super geek in high school and even he was floored.
The worst: Cornell, Northwestern, Rice, Georgia Tech. My kids (jr and sr) didn't apply. We actually toured Cornell twice (2 months apart) to give it another shot and it was the same both times.
Schools with the least awkward element: UVA, UCLA, UNC, Vanderbilt, Boston College, Wisconsin.

Of note, we are not a white family and this is not a racial thing but an awkward thing.

This is because these schools aren't as selective and accept a broader cohort. UCLA has 900,000 people so you'll find everything and anything. Agree Cornell IS the worst. That and Emory. Such sad sack permeating vibes. I have no idea what the individual personalities are like, maybe they're each individually dynamic, laughing and fun-loving?

Emory has the best quality of life according to Princeton Review. Keep the lies to yourself.

Emory mom is back!

[Anonymous]

I agree the tour guides at Cornell are horrible. All are doing it for $$$ through their financial aid package. I think that's true for most schools. Its not like they actually WANT to be a tour guide.


Oh no - not financial aid kids who need to make money by being tour guides! No wonder people hate tours so often. Where are the wealthy and legacy kids to tour you around, so your kids can strive to be like them? In fact, it is very competitive to get a job as a tour guide at most schools - and definitely at highly selective schools. Will you sometimes get a crappy tour guide at any school? Sure, but that is someone having an off day or the admissions office doing a poor job in selection and/or training. I know a bunch of kids who are college tour guides and (around 50% of dd's friends - on FA and not - do it), and they all love the job and were proud when they got it because it was so competitive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gosh these northwestern kids are so painfully awkward on these Wildcat days panels.

Having gone to multiple admitted students days this month, including Vanderbilt, it’s a very different student they are appealing to.

The same kid will likely not like both. This is a question of gut.

The Northwestern kids were so nerdy, my kid was ready to leave before the tour even started. Same at Cornell. These kids look like they don’t wash their hair or care about what they wear at all. I recognize this is harsh, but it was a bit shocking. Where do all the smart, super social kids go to school? Are Top 10s weeding the normal kids out? My DC is very smart, but not nerdy. He is into sports (playing and watching), socializing a lot, golfs, hangs out constantly with friends. He would like to join a fraternity. We thought Northwestern (wrong), Duke or Cornell. I am thinking maybe a big state school? UVA, UCLA, UNC, Michigan? Any Ivies fit the bill?

LOL !!!

Troll much ?

Have you been on campus at any of the top 10-15 schools lately?? There was such a weird, nerdy vibe at the 4 we visited. There are, of course, handfuls of more normal kids, but the majority are so awkward. I know our family isn’t alone is noticing this phenomenon!

Yes! We visited and couldn't believe the level of nerdy/awkward at most of the top 20 schools. Kids on the tours looked like they hadn't left their room in high school. Tour guides were strange. We spent entire days on campuses looking for mainstream kids only to see a small handful. My husband was a super geek in high school and even he was floored.
The worst: Cornell, Northwestern, Rice, Georgia Tech. My kids (jr and sr) didn't apply. We actually toured Cornell twice (2 months apart) to give it another shot and it was the same both times.
Schools with the least awkward element: UVA, UCLA, UNC, Vanderbilt, Boston College, Wisconsin.

Of note, we are not a white family and this is not a racial thing but an awkward thing.

This is because these schools aren't as selective and accept a broader cohort. UCLA has 900,000 people so you'll find everything and anything. Agree Cornell IS the worst. That and Emory. Such sad sack permeating vibes. I have no idea what the individual personalities are like, maybe they're each individually dynamic, laughing and fun-loving?

Emory has the best quality of life according to Princeton Review. Keep the lies to yourself.

Emory mom is back!

That was not me and I am not "Emory" mom - my kid attends a SLAC. But my younger kid visited Emory and I was surprised how much we all loved it. I find so many things about DCUM College board helpful, but the thing I cannot understand why adults (I assume most of you are adults, in age if not in behavior) get off on anonymously bashing kids and their schools. Isn't it enough to just send your kids to the schools THEY love? Must you hate the ones they do not like or that reject them?

[Anonymous]

I am a NU grad married to a Vandy grad, with a nephew at NU, and recently visited the Vandy campus. The social commenters are correct - Northerstern is very cosmopolitan in that it draws from the coasts and the Midwest and a lot less from the south. It’s like the Harvard of the Midwest. It’s also a major Tier 1 research university. It’s also a much bigger campus than Vanderbilt. So hands down a far better science, engineering, and business school. Graduates go on to NYC, LA, DC, SF etc.

That being said, if your child is pre law and pre business and wants to live in the South, then go for Vanderbilt. It’s more recognizable in Atlanta, Nashville, Austin, Dallas. Also if your daughter wants to stay in that particular class of people that value Vanderbilt, then also go there, but Northwestern is a more well rounded education with more opportunities by far.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Gosh these northwestern kids are so painfully awkward on these Wildcat days panels.

Having gone to multiple admitted students days this month, including Vanderbilt, it’s a very different student they are appealing to.

The same kid will likely not like both. This is a question of gut.[/quote]

The Northwestern kids were so nerdy, my kid was ready to leave before the tour even started. Same at Cornell. These kids look like they don’t wash their hair or care about what they wear at all. I recognize this is harsh, but it was a bit shocking. Where do all the smart, super social kids go to school? Are Top 10s weeding the normal kids out? My DC is very smart, but not nerdy. He is into sports (playing and watching), socializing a lot, golfs, hangs out constantly with friends. He would like to join a fraternity. We thought Northwestern (wrong), Duke or Cornell. I am thinking maybe a big state school? UVA, UCLA, UNC, Michigan? Any Ivies fit the bill? [/quote]

LOL !!!

Troll much ?
[/quote]

Have you been on campus at any of the top 10-15 schools lately?? There was such a weird, nerdy vibe at the 4 we visited. There are, of course, handfuls of more normal kids, but the majority are so awkward. I know our family isn’t alone is noticing this phenomenon! [/quote]

Yes! We visited and couldn't believe the level of nerdy/awkward at most of the top 20 schools. Kids on the tours looked like they hadn't left their room in high school. Tour guides were strange. We spent entire days on campuses looking for mainstream kids only to see a small handful. My husband was a super geek in high school and even he was floored.
The worst: Cornell, Northwestern, Rice, Georgia Tech. My kids (jr and sr) didn't apply. We actually toured Cornell twice (2 months apart) to give it another shot and it was the same both times.
Schools with the least awkward element: [b]UVA[/b], UCLA, [b]UNC, [/b]Vanderbilt, [b]Boston College, Wisconsin[/b].

Of note, we are not a white family and this is not a racial thing but an awkward thing. [/quote]

This is because these schools aren't as selective and accept a broader cohort. UCLA has 900,000 people so you'll find everything and anything. Agree Cornell IS the worst. That and Emory. Such sad sack permeating vibes. I have no idea what the individual personalities are like, maybe they're each individually dynamic, laughing and fun-loving? [/quote]
Emory has the best quality of life according to Princeton Review. Keep the lies to yourself. [/quote]

Emory mom is back! [/quote]

That was not me and I am not "Emory" mom - my kid attends a SLAC. But my younger kid visited Emory and I was surprised how much we all loved it. I find so many things about DCUM College board helpful, but the thing I cannot understand why adults (I assume most of you are adults, in age if not in behavior) get off on anonymously bashing kids and their schools. Isn't it enough to just send your kids to the schools THEY love? Must you hate the ones they do not like or that reject them?[/quote]

Emory does have a reputation for not being a particularly social school. To some, that is valuable information. FWIW, not the poster you were responding to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a NU grad married to a Vandy grad, with a nephew at NU, and recently visited the Vandy campus. The social commenters are correct - Northerstern is very cosmopolitan in that it draws from the coasts and the Midwest and a lot less from the south. It’s like the Harvard of the Midwest. It’s also a major Tier 1 research university. It’s also a much bigger campus than Vanderbilt. So hands down a far better science, engineering, and business school. Graduates go on to NYC, LA, DC, SF etc.

That being said, if your child is pre law and pre business and wants to live in the South, then go for Vanderbilt. It’s more recognizable in Atlanta, Nashville, Austin, Dallas. Also if your daughter wants to stay in that particular class of people that value Vanderbilt, then also go there, but Northwestern is a more well rounded education with more opportunities by far.

What if you don't want to live in the south (Chicago or NYC, in that order), but want a "fun and social" college experience? Including college game day? Is Vanderbilt worth it then? What is a "particular class of people"?

[Anonymous]

NU

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a NU grad married to a Vandy grad, with a nephew at NU, and recently visited the Vandy campus. The social commenters are correct - Northerstern is very cosmopolitan in that it draws from the coasts and the Midwest and a lot less from the south. It’s like the Harvard of the Midwest. It’s also a major Tier 1 research university. It’s also a much bigger campus than Vanderbilt. So hands down a far better science, engineering, and business school. Graduates go on to NYC, LA, DC, SF etc.

That being said, if your child is pre law and pre business and wants to live in the South, then go for Vanderbilt. It’s more recognizable in Atlanta, Nashville, Austin, Dallas. Also if your daughter wants to stay in that particular class of people that value Vanderbilt, then also go there, but Northwestern is a more well rounded education with more opportunities by far.

You make a lot of subjective claims (“well rounded”? Cosmopolitan?)
Vanderbilt is a R1 institution that is internationally known for medical and adjacent research. It does not have a business school; it’s a target for consulting. NU is stronger in engineering.

Vanderbilt’s campus is significantly larger than NU’s, not smaller. Its graduates also migrate in large numbers to the coasts, where many of its students originated. Because its not 1963 anymore.

[Anonymous]

NU is stronger for consulting and banking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Chicago/Northwestern seems to have a more open vibe socially than Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt is still a wealthy conservative Southern university and Nashville isn’t Atlanta.

You really need to get out more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chicago/Northwestern seems to have a more open vibe socially than Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt is still a wealthy conservative Southern university and Nashville isn’t Atlanta.

You really need to get out more.

+10 a swing and a miss

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NU is stronger for consulting and banking.

Eh. I think the founders of Bain and BCG went to Vanderbilt. Placement for consulting is very good. Definitely better than Northwestern today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NU is stronger for consulting and banking.

Eh. I think the founders of Bain and BCG went to Vanderbilt. Placement for consulting is very good. Definitely better than Northwestern today.

It’s an HOD gimmick. Ask around a bit more. There’s more than meets the eye.

[Anonymous]

I can't think of a single field Vandy outperforms Northwestern in.

The poster saying Vandy is better for consulting doesn't know what she's saying.

[Anonymous]

Anyone making this decision instead of just picking UVA must have received a summary rejection from Charlottesville, I would just give up at this point