Vanderbilt vs UVA?

[Anonymous]

Confirmation bias.

That’s how people can sit in the same session and one says the faculty were great and another says they were boring.

You find that you what to find.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So…sat in on UVA admitted day. Christ—during the academic info sessions phones were beeping and buzzing during the entire 45 minute session, kids were talking to each other through the whole damn thing, getting up multiple times to walk in and out, loudly dropping things…I have not witnessed that at any of the other school admitted events we have attended (private, higher ranked). It was crazy. For people to not even put their phones on silence…wtf? Seriously, wtf?! Do they allow that in public HS? I mean the first time it happened I’m surprised an announcement wasn’t made from the stage to turn that sh@t off…and yet they kept dinging and beeping and ring tones going off the entire time. Mo shame.

The other noticeable thing was our tour guide and 4 of the 5 student panelists were all transfer students. That also seemed strange. Some flat out said they didn’t get into the school the first year.

I saw lots of cowboy boots at the Corner and frat row which was weird in such hot 87 degree weather. I kept thinking how bad their sweaty feet must smell in those things. It did give a very southern vibe. Kids dressed pretty much the same- southern prep look (polos and khaki shorts)- if not in cowboy boots.

I was there Sat too, and in the Engineering school presentations, there were no phones going off. Not one.

Arts & Sciences - it was constant.

DP. I attended an A&S session a few weeks ago and didn’t hear a single phone go off. My kid sat separately from me with a friend from HS and later mentioned that friend was bored and on their phone the whole time, but friend is going to an Ivy, so you don’t have to worry about that one dragging down the intellectualism at UVA.

We went to an accepted students event for UVA and my DC had the opposite reaction from PP. The extremely nerdy, intellectual factor was very high. My DC left panicked that there weren’t any more “normal” not awkward kids there. Eye of the beholder and all that….

Ha! So we went two years ago with our older kid and had your experience- nerdier. This go around it was a stark difference for us and was like the other pp- disengaged, looking for party more than caring about education vibe. My first ultimately went elsewhere so I can’t speak to it. I guess you will find both.

We’re noticing that even the smartest kids seem to think that strong academics and fun are mutually exclusive. More so than even a few years ago. Guessing it’s driven by social media?

Example: We were at Northwestern’s admitted students day, and kids kept talking about how they’re choosing between NU and USC or a state flagship. Why? Because they’re burned out from high school and want to “have fun” in college. Including my DC.

It’s a head-scratcher for me. These kids are clearly super smart but also surprisingly rigid in their thinking. They genuinely think it’s black or white - no fun (misery) vs. an endless party (joy).

College is what you make of it. In a school with 9,000 undergrads, if you want to go out, you can always find people to go out with you. True, it’s not a constant party in the freshman dorms, nor is the bar scene likely to be huge on a random Tuesday. But there’s more than enough for most 18 year old kids away from home for the first time.

Same. So true!!!

[Anonymous]

My kid was at UVA admitted student day last Saturday. She fell in love with UVA and decided to turn down an Ivy. We are OOS. She said it is a fun school, where she can enjoy college life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So…sat in on UVA admitted day. Christ—during the academic info sessions phones were beeping and buzzing during the entire 45 minute session, kids were talking to each other through the whole damn thing, getting up multiple times to walk in and out, loudly dropping things…I have not witnessed that at any of the other school admitted events we have attended (private, higher ranked). It was crazy. For people to not even put their phones on silence…wtf? Seriously, wtf?! Do they allow that in public HS? I mean the first time it happened I’m surprised an announcement wasn’t made from the stage to turn that sh@t off…and yet they kept dinging and beeping and ring tones going off the entire time. Mo shame.

The other noticeable thing was our tour guide and 4 of the 5 student panelists were all transfer students. That also seemed strange. Some flat out said they didn’t get into the school the first year.

I saw lots of cowboy boots at the Corner and frat row which was weird in such hot 87 degree weather. I kept thinking how bad their sweaty feet must smell in those things. It did give a very southern vibe. Kids dressed pretty much the same- southern prep look (polos and khaki shorts)- if not in cowboy boots.

I was there Sat too, and in the Engineering school presentations, there were no phones going off. Not one.

Arts & Sciences - it was constant.

DP. I attended an A&S session a few weeks ago and didn’t hear a single phone go off. My kid sat separately from me with a friend from HS and later mentioned that friend was bored and on their phone the whole time, but friend is going to an Ivy, so you don’t have to worry about that one dragging down the intellectualism at UVA.

We went to an accepted students event for UVA and my DC had the opposite reaction from PP. The extremely nerdy, intellectual factor was very high. My DC left panicked that there weren’t any more “normal” not awkward kids there. Eye of the beholder and all that….

Ha! So we went two years ago with our older kid and had your experience- nerdier. This go around it was a stark difference for us and was like the other pp- disengaged, looking for party more than caring about education vibe. My first ultimately went elsewhere so I can’t speak to it. I guess you will find both.

We’re noticing that even the smartest kids seem to think that strong academics and fun are mutually exclusive. More so than even a few years ago. Guessing it’s driven by social media?

Example: We were at Northwestern’s admitted students day, and kids kept talking about how they’re choosing between NU and USC or a state flagship. Why? Because they’re burned out from high school and want to “have fun” in college. Including my DC.

It’s a head-scratcher for me. These kids are clearly super smart but also surprisingly rigid in their thinking. They genuinely think it’s black or white - no fun (misery) vs. an endless party (joy).

College is what you make of it. In a school with 9,000 undergrads, if you want to go out, you can always find people to go out with you. True, it’s not a constant party in the freshman dorms, nor is the bar scene likely to be huge on a random Tuesday. But there’s more than enough for most 18 year old kids away from home for the first time.

Northwestern is not known for being fun, still attracts very smart geeky kids from our private. Troll level off the charts lately with this forum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So…sat in on UVA admitted day. Christ—during the academic info sessions phones were beeping and buzzing during the entire 45 minute session, kids were talking to each other through the whole damn thing, getting up multiple times to walk in and out, loudly dropping things…I have not witnessed that at any of the other school admitted events we have attended (private, higher ranked). It was crazy. For people to not even put their phones on silence…wtf? Seriously, wtf?! Do they allow that in public HS? I mean the first time it happened I’m surprised an announcement wasn’t made from the stage to turn that sh@t off…and yet they kept dinging and beeping and ring tones going off the entire time. Mo shame.

The other noticeable thing was our tour guide and 4 of the 5 student panelists were all transfer students. That also seemed strange. Some flat out said they didn’t get into the school the first year.

I saw lots of cowboy boots at the Corner and frat row which was weird in such hot 87 degree weather. I kept thinking how bad their sweaty feet must smell in those things. It did give a very southern vibe. Kids dressed pretty much the same- southern prep look (polos and khaki shorts)- if not in cowboy boots.

I was there Sat too, and in the Engineering school presentations, there were no phones going off. Not one.

Arts & Sciences - it was constant.

DP. I attended an A&S session a few weeks ago and didn’t hear a single phone go off. My kid sat separately from me with a friend from HS and later mentioned that friend was bored and on their phone the whole time, but friend is going to an Ivy, so you don’t have to worry about that one dragging down the intellectualism at UVA.

We went to an accepted students event for UVA and my DC had the opposite reaction from PP. The extremely nerdy, intellectual factor was very high. My DC left panicked that there weren’t any more “normal” not awkward kids there. Eye of the beholder and all that….

Ha! So we went two years ago with our older kid and had your experience- nerdier. This go around it was a stark difference for us and was like the other pp- disengaged, looking for party more than caring about education vibe. My first ultimately went elsewhere so I can’t speak to it. I guess you will find both.

We’re noticing that even the smartest kids seem to think that strong academics and fun are mutually exclusive. More so than even a few years ago. Guessing it’s driven by social media?

Example: We were at Northwestern’s admitted students day, and kids kept talking about how they’re choosing between NU and USC or a state flagship. Why? Because they’re burned out from high school and want to “have fun” in college. Including my DC.

It’s a head-scratcher for me. These kids are clearly super smart but also surprisingly rigid in their thinking. They genuinely think it’s black or white - no fun (misery) vs. an endless party (joy).

College is what you make of it. In a school with 9,000 undergrads, if you want to go out, you can always find people to go out with you. True, it’s not a constant party in the freshman dorms, nor is the bar scene likely to be huge on a random Tuesday. But there’s more than enough for most 18 year old kids away from home for the first time.

The most selective schools have the highest average GPAs though. Getting in is the hard part, not being there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So…sat in on UVA admitted day. Christ—during the academic info sessions phones were beeping and buzzing during the entire 45 minute session, kids were talking to each other through the whole damn thing, getting up multiple times to walk in and out, loudly dropping things…I have not witnessed that at any of the other school admitted events we have attended (private, higher ranked). It was crazy. For people to not even put their phones on silence…wtf? Seriously, wtf?! Do they allow that in public HS? I mean the first time it happened I’m surprised an announcement wasn’t made from the stage to turn that sh@t off…and yet they kept dinging and beeping and ring tones going off the entire time. Mo shame.

The other noticeable thing was our tour guide and 4 of the 5 student panelists were all transfer students. That also seemed strange. Some flat out said they didn’t get into the school the first year.

I saw lots of cowboy boots at the Corner and frat row which was weird in such hot 87 degree weather. I kept thinking how bad their sweaty feet must smell in those things. It did give a very southern vibe. Kids dressed pretty much the same- southern prep look (polos and khaki shorts)- if not in cowboy boots.

I was there Sat too, and in the Engineering school presentations, there were no phones going off. Not one.

Arts & Sciences - it was constant.

DP. I attended an A&S session a few weeks ago and didn’t hear a single phone go off. My kid sat separately from me with a friend from HS and later mentioned that friend was bored and on their phone the whole time, but friend is going to an Ivy, so you don’t have to worry about that one dragging down the intellectualism at UVA.

We went to an accepted students event for UVA and my DC had the opposite reaction from PP. The extremely nerdy, intellectual factor was very high. My DC left panicked that there weren’t any more “normal” not awkward kids there. Eye of the beholder and all that….

Ha! So we went two years ago with our older kid and had your experience- nerdier. This go around it was a stark difference for us and was like the other pp- disengaged, looking for party more than caring about education vibe. My first ultimately went elsewhere so I can’t speak to it. I guess you will find both.

We’re noticing that even the smartest kids seem to think that strong academics and fun are mutually exclusive. More so than even a few years ago. Guessing it’s driven by social media?

Example: We were at Northwestern’s admitted students day, and kids kept talking about how they’re choosing between NU and USC or a state flagship. Why? Because they’re burned out from high school and want to “have fun” in college. Including my DC.

It’s a head-scratcher for me. These kids are clearly super smart but also surprisingly rigid in their thinking. They genuinely think it’s black or white - no fun (misery) vs. an endless party (joy).

College is what you make of it. In a school with 9,000 undergrads, if you want to go out, you can always find people to go out with you. True, it’s not a constant party in the freshman dorms, nor is the bar scene likely to be huge on a random Tuesday. But there’s more than enough for most 18 year old kids away from home for the first time.

Sure, but the reality is Vanderbilt students are not out partying on Broadway on a Tuesday night. They are, generally, in the library Sunday to Thursday nights. Anyone that thinks Vandy is a 24/7 party school is going to be really disappointed. Yes, they are social and have the competitive sports teams - which is entirely new for Vanderbilt - but it's still overall a school of overachieving nerds, and they take the nerdiness seriously. They want to do well and have ambition.

UVA is much bigger so if students want the endless party, they are more likely to find it there. It's a big public school so you can find everything. Including a lot of students studying Sunday to Thursday like at most good schools. Pretty sure most students at USC are studying too during the weekdays.

At this level of schools, there are no round the clock party schools. Anyone that tries, flunks out or transfers. If you want to go to a top 30 school, you're still going to have to study - at all of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So…sat in on UVA admitted day. Christ—during the academic info sessions phones were beeping and buzzing during the entire 45 minute session, kids were talking to each other through the whole damn thing, getting up multiple times to walk in and out, loudly dropping things…I have not witnessed that at any of the other school admitted events we have attended (private, higher ranked). It was crazy. For people to not even put their phones on silence…wtf? Seriously, wtf?! Do they allow that in public HS? I mean the first time it happened I’m surprised an announcement wasn’t made from the stage to turn that sh@t off…and yet they kept dinging and beeping and ring tones going off the entire time. Mo shame.

The other noticeable thing was our tour guide and 4 of the 5 student panelists were all transfer students. That also seemed strange. Some flat out said they didn’t get into the school the first year.

I saw lots of cowboy boots at the Corner and frat row which was weird in such hot 87 degree weather. I kept thinking how bad their sweaty feet must smell in those things. It did give a very southern vibe. Kids dressed pretty much the same- southern prep look (polos and khaki shorts)- if not in cowboy boots.

I was there Sat too, and in the Engineering school presentations, there were no phones going off. Not one.

Arts & Sciences - it was constant.

DP. I attended an A&S session a few weeks ago and didn’t hear a single phone go off. My kid sat separately from me with a friend from HS and later mentioned that friend was bored and on their phone the whole time, but friend is going to an Ivy, so you don’t have to worry about that one dragging down the intellectualism at UVA.

We went to an accepted students event for UVA and my DC had the opposite reaction from PP. The extremely nerdy, intellectual factor was very high. My DC left panicked that there weren’t any more “normal” not awkward kids there. Eye of the beholder and all that….

Ha! So we went two years ago with our older kid and had your experience- nerdier. This go around it was a stark difference for us and was like the other pp- disengaged, looking for party more than caring about education vibe. My first ultimately went elsewhere so I can’t speak to it. I guess you will find both.

We’re noticing that even the smartest kids seem to think that strong academics and fun are mutually exclusive. More so than even a few years ago. Guessing it’s driven by social media?

Example: We were at Northwestern’s admitted students day, and kids kept talking about how they’re choosing between NU and USC or a state flagship. Why? Because they’re burned out from high school and want to “have fun” in college. Including my DC.

It’s a head-scratcher for me. These kids are clearly super smart but also surprisingly rigid in their thinking. They genuinely think it’s black or white - no fun (misery) vs. an endless party (joy).

College is what you make of it. In a school with 9,000 undergrads, if you want to go out, you can always find people to go out with you. True, it’s not a constant party in the freshman dorms, nor is the bar scene likely to be huge on a random Tuesday. But there’s more than enough for most 18 year old kids away from home for the first time.

Sure, but the reality is Vanderbilt students are not out partying on Broadway on a Tuesday night. They are, generally, in the library Sunday to Thursday nights. Anyone that thinks Vandy is a 24/7 party school is going to be really disappointed. Yes, they are social and have the competitive sports teams - which is entirely new for Vanderbilt - but it's still overall a school of overachieving nerds, and they take the nerdiness seriously. They want to do well and have ambition.

UVA is much bigger so if students want the endless party, they are more likely to find it there. It's a big public school so you can find everything. Including a lot of students studying Sunday to Thursday like at most good schools. Pretty sure most students at USC are studying too during the weekdays.

At this level of schools, there are no round the clock party schools. Anyone that tries, flunks out or transfers. If you want to go to a top 30 school, you're still going to have to study - at all of them.

Who flunks out of college any more? When was the last time you saw an athlete ineligible due to grades?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So…sat in on UVA admitted day. Christ—during the academic info sessions phones were beeping and buzzing during the entire 45 minute session, kids were talking to each other through the whole damn thing, getting up multiple times to walk in and out, loudly dropping things…I have not witnessed that at any of the other school admitted events we have attended (private, higher ranked). It was crazy. For people to not even put their phones on silence…wtf? Seriously, wtf?! Do they allow that in public HS? I mean the first time it happened I’m surprised an announcement wasn’t made from the stage to turn that sh@t off…and yet they kept dinging and beeping and ring tones going off the entire time. Mo shame.

The other noticeable thing was our tour guide and 4 of the 5 student panelists were all transfer students. That also seemed strange. Some flat out said they didn’t get into the school the first year.

I saw lots of cowboy boots at the Corner and frat row which was weird in such hot 87 degree weather. I kept thinking how bad their sweaty feet must smell in those things. It did give a very southern vibe. Kids dressed pretty much the same- southern prep look (polos and khaki shorts)- if not in cowboy boots.

I was there Sat too, and in the Engineering school presentations, there were no phones going off. Not one.

Arts & Sciences - it was constant.

DP. I attended an A&S session a few weeks ago and didn’t hear a single phone go off. My kid sat separately from me with a friend from HS and later mentioned that friend was bored and on their phone the whole time, but friend is going to an Ivy, so you don’t have to worry about that one dragging down the intellectualism at UVA.

We went to an accepted students event for UVA and my DC had the opposite reaction from PP. The extremely nerdy, intellectual factor was very high. My DC left panicked that there weren’t any more “normal” not awkward kids there. Eye of the beholder and all that….

Ha! So we went two years ago with our older kid and had your experience- nerdier. This go around it was a stark difference for us and was like the other pp- disengaged, looking for party more than caring about education vibe. My first ultimately went elsewhere so I can’t speak to it. I guess you will find both.

We’re noticing that even the smartest kids seem to think that strong academics and fun are mutually exclusive. More so than even a few years ago. Guessing it’s driven by social media?

Example: We were at Northwestern’s admitted students day, and kids kept talking about how they’re choosing between NU and USC or a state flagship. Why? Because they’re burned out from high school and want to “have fun” in college. Including my DC.

It’s a head-scratcher for me. These kids are clearly super smart but also surprisingly rigid in their thinking. They genuinely think it’s black or white - no fun (misery) vs. an endless party (joy).

College is what you make of it. In a school with 9,000 undergrads, if you want to go out, you can always find people to go out with you. True, it’s not a constant party in the freshman dorms, nor is the bar scene likely to be huge on a random Tuesday. But there’s more than enough for most 18 year old kids away from home for the first time.

Sure, but the reality is Vanderbilt students are not out partying on Broadway on a Tuesday night. They are, generally, in the library Sunday to Thursday nights. Anyone that thinks Vandy is a 24/7 party school is going to be really disappointed. Yes, they are social and have the competitive sports teams - which is entirely new for Vanderbilt - but it's still overall a school of overachieving nerds, and they take the nerdiness seriously. They want to do well and have ambition.

UVA is much bigger so if students want the endless party, they are more likely to find it there. It's a big public school so you can find everything. Including a lot of students studying Sunday to Thursday like at most good schools. Pretty sure most students at USC are studying too during the weekdays.

At this level of schools, there are no round the clock party schools. Anyone that tries, flunks out or transfers. If you want to go to a top 30 school, you're still going to have to study - at all of them.

Who flunks out of college any more? When was the last time you saw an athlete ineligible due to grades?

Seriously? Lots of kids flunk out of college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So…sat in on UVA admitted day. Christ—during the academic info sessions phones were beeping and buzzing during the entire 45 minute session, kids were talking to each other through the whole damn thing, getting up multiple times to walk in and out, loudly dropping things…I have not witnessed that at any of the other school admitted events we have attended (private, higher ranked). It was crazy. For people to not even put their phones on silence…wtf? Seriously, wtf?! Do they allow that in public HS? I mean the first time it happened I’m surprised an announcement wasn’t made from the stage to turn that sh@t off…and yet they kept dinging and beeping and ring tones going off the entire time. Mo shame.

The other noticeable thing was our tour guide and 4 of the 5 student panelists were all transfer students. That also seemed strange. Some flat out said they didn’t get into the school the first year.

I saw lots of cowboy boots at the Corner and frat row which was weird in such hot 87 degree weather. I kept thinking how bad their sweaty feet must smell in those things. It did give a very southern vibe. Kids dressed pretty much the same- southern prep look (polos and khaki shorts)- if not in cowboy boots.

I was there Sat too, and in the Engineering school presentations, there were no phones going off. Not one.

Arts & Sciences - it was constant.

DP. I attended an A&S session a few weeks ago and didn’t hear a single phone go off. My kid sat separately from me with a friend from HS and later mentioned that friend was bored and on their phone the whole time, but friend is going to an Ivy, so you don’t have to worry about that one dragging down the intellectualism at UVA.

We went to an accepted students event for UVA and my DC had the opposite reaction from PP. The extremely nerdy, intellectual factor was very high. My DC left panicked that there weren’t any more “normal” not awkward kids there. Eye of the beholder and all that….

Ha! So we went two years ago with our older kid and had your experience- nerdier. This go around it was a stark difference for us and was like the other pp- disengaged, looking for party more than caring about education vibe. My first ultimately went elsewhere so I can’t speak to it. I guess you will find both.

We’re noticing that even the smartest kids seem to think that strong academics and fun are mutually exclusive. More so than even a few years ago. Guessing it’s driven by social media?

Example: We were at Northwestern’s admitted students day, and kids kept talking about how they’re choosing between NU and USC or a state flagship. Why? Because they’re burned out from high school and want to “have fun” in college. Including my DC.

It’s a head-scratcher for me. These kids are clearly super smart but also surprisingly rigid in their thinking. They genuinely think it’s black or white - no fun (misery) vs. an endless party (joy).

College is what you make of it. In a school with 9,000 undergrads, if you want to go out, you can always find people to go out with you. True, it’s not a constant party in the freshman dorms, nor is the bar scene likely to be huge on a random Tuesday. But there’s more than enough for most 18 year old kids away from home for the first time.

Sure, but the reality is Vanderbilt students are not out partying on Broadway on a Tuesday night. They are, generally, in the library Sunday to Thursday nights. Anyone that thinks Vandy is a 24/7 party school is going to be really disappointed. Yes, they are social and have the competitive sports teams - which is entirely new for Vanderbilt - but it's still overall a school of overachieving nerds, and they take the nerdiness seriously. They want to do well and have ambition.

UVA is much bigger so if students want the endless party, they are more likely to find it there. It's a big public school so you can find everything. Including a lot of students studying Sunday to Thursday like at most good schools. Pretty sure most students at USC are studying too during the weekdays.

At this level of schools, there are no round the clock party schools. Anyone that tries, flunks out or transfers. If you want to go to a top 30 school, you're still going to have to study - at all of them.

Who flunks out of college any more? When was the last time you saw an athlete ineligible due to grades?

Seriously? Lots of kids flunk out of college.

+1. NP and yes, lots. It isn't announced publicly or anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So…sat in on UVA admitted day. Christ—during the academic info sessions phones were beeping and buzzing during the entire 45 minute session, kids were talking to each other through the whole damn thing, getting up multiple times to walk in and out, loudly dropping things…I have not witnessed that at any of the other school admitted events we have attended (private, higher ranked). It was crazy. For people to not even put their phones on silence…wtf? Seriously, wtf?! Do they allow that in public HS? I mean the first time it happened I’m surprised an announcement wasn’t made from the stage to turn that sh@t off…and yet they kept dinging and beeping and ring tones going off the entire time. Mo shame.

The other noticeable thing was our tour guide and 4 of the 5 student panelists were all transfer students. That also seemed strange. Some flat out said they didn’t get into the school the first year.

I saw lots of cowboy boots at the Corner and frat row which was weird in such hot 87 degree weather. I kept thinking how bad their sweaty feet must smell in those things. It did give a very southern vibe. Kids dressed pretty much the same- southern prep look (polos and khaki shorts)- if not in cowboy boots.

I was there Sat too, and in the Engineering school presentations, there were no phones going off. Not one.

Arts & Sciences - it was constant.

DP. I attended an A&S session a few weeks ago and didn’t hear a single phone go off. My kid sat separately from me with a friend from HS and later mentioned that friend was bored and on their phone the whole time, but friend is going to an Ivy, so you don’t have to worry about that one dragging down the intellectualism at UVA.

We went to an accepted students event for UVA and my DC had the opposite reaction from PP. The extremely nerdy, intellectual factor was very high. My DC left panicked that there weren’t any more “normal” not awkward kids there. Eye of the beholder and all that….

Ha! So we went two years ago with our older kid and had your experience- nerdier. This go around it was a stark difference for us and was like the other pp- disengaged, looking for party more than caring about education vibe. My first ultimately went elsewhere so I can’t speak to it. I guess you will find both.

We’re noticing that even the smartest kids seem to think that strong academics and fun are mutually exclusive. More so than even a few years ago. Guessing it’s driven by social media?

Example: We were at Northwestern’s admitted students day, and kids kept talking about how they’re choosing between NU and USC or a state flagship. Why? Because they’re burned out from high school and want to “have fun” in college. Including my DC.

It’s a head-scratcher for me. These kids are clearly super smart but also surprisingly rigid in their thinking. They genuinely think it’s black or white - no fun (misery) vs. an endless party (joy).

College is what you make of it. In a school with 9,000 undergrads, if you want to go out, you can always find people to go out with you. True, it’s not a constant party in the freshman dorms, nor is the bar scene likely to be huge on a random Tuesday. But there’s more than enough for most 18 year old kids away from home for the first time.

Sure, but the reality is Vanderbilt students are not out partying on Broadway on a Tuesday night. They are, generally, in the library Sunday to Thursday nights. Anyone that thinks Vandy is a 24/7 party school is going to be really disappointed. Yes, they are social and have the competitive sports teams - which is entirely new for Vanderbilt - but it's still overall a school of overachieving nerds, and they take the nerdiness seriously. They want to do well and have ambition.

UVA is much bigger so if students want the endless party, they are more likely to find it there. It's a big public school so you can find everything. Including a lot of students studying Sunday to Thursday like at most good schools. Pretty sure most students at USC are studying too during the weekdays.

At this level of schools, there are no round the clock party schools. Anyone that tries, flunks out or transfers. If you want to go to a top 30 school, you're still going to have to study - at all of them.

Who flunks out of college any more? When was the last time you saw an athlete ineligible due to grades?

Seriously? Lots of kids flunk out of college.

+1. NP and yes, lots. It isn't announced publicly or anything.

Many don't finish. Few flunk out.

[Anonymous]

OP here.
Thank you for all your thoughts!

Ran the exact numbers and Vanderbilt would be $54K more over 4 years vs. UVA.

Would you pay this?
Kid prefers Vanderbilt but likes UVA too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here.
Thank you for all your thoughts!

Ran the exact numbers and Vanderbilt would be $54K more over 4 years vs. UVA.

Would you pay this?
Kid prefers Vanderbilt but likes UVA too.

Yes. 54? Yes. 354? No.

Vanderbilt parent whose kid had UVA on his list

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here.
Thank you for all your thoughts!

Ran the exact numbers and Vanderbilt would be $54K more over 4 years vs. UVA.

Would you pay this?
Kid prefers Vanderbilt but likes UVA too.

So roughly $10,000 per year for Vanderbilt over UVA?

Would take it in a heartbeat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here.
Thank you for all your thoughts!

Ran the exact numbers and Vanderbilt would be $54K more over 4 years vs. UVA.

Would you pay this?
Kid prefers Vanderbilt but likes UVA too.

So roughly $10,000 per year for Vanderbilt over UVA?

Would take it in a heartbeat.

yes. It's a total of $54K more over the course of the 4 yrs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here.
Thank you for all your thoughts!

Ran the exact numbers and Vanderbilt would be $54K more over 4 years vs. UVA.

Would you pay this?
Kid prefers Vanderbilt but likes UVA too.

Yes, absolutely worth the extra money if your kid prefers, you can pay, and it’s an objectively better school than the second option.