Vanderbilt Thriving In Trump Era With Apolitical Atmosphere: Bloomberg

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone who sends a kid to a Tennessee in this political climate is a sucky parent especially a dd

Keep your little Karen in training out of the south land!

This is an interesting perversion of the Karen insult. Started out meaning white women calling the police on black people for no good reason, now this poster is using it to mean people who care about reproductive rights?

If Yankees are so in need of abortion parlors for their unmarried daughters they should stay in their urban areas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you believe all the anti-Asians, Vandy will soon lose its luster with the crowd that supposedly is the subject of this article as the Asian population is now approaching 20% and rising.

Yes, and then the high achieving whites who want to balance academics with a robust social scene will move elsewhere and another school will become hot and then it too will change over time.
It happened at Duke and Northwestern. My freshman is at Dartmouth and it's happening there too---the crowd has really changed since a cousin attended 5 years ago.
The smart but socially-oriented kids will move on. Probably next to somewhere like Wake Forest or back to University of Chicago (which is becoming more chill).

I know people will say this is just racist but it's just kids trying to find a place of balance.

Yup. I know some legacy kids who started at Duke in the past few years (including some Asian-Americans) and they were amazed at the huge Asian population. And it isn't Asian that is the issue. It is the non-assimilated Asian kids who don't want to go to games, don't want to go to parties, and don't socialize like other kids. Again, there are plenty of very well assimilated Asian kids who do do this. And I'm not saying that every kid at a school needs to be 100% assimilated and exactly the same. But at some point you hit a tipping point where the culture changes.

Stereotypes exist for a reason. Most of them aren't mean or nasty - they are just based on lived experience.

Interviews, essays, recommendations and activities are used to tease these things out. All those who want schools to be a "meritocracy" based solely on grades and test scores don't get this and don't appreciate this. It does not lead to a lively, fun, interesting campus community.

And no, I'm not racist. This applies to plenty of other groups, but is most prevalent in Asians. I'm Jewish and it applies to the stereotypical orthodox kid, but they tend not to attend these schools as much and there aren't as many of them so is not as applicable. I'm "nerdist."

I think this is what plagues schools like Emory, just too Asain. But if.ypu want to raise test scores where else do you go?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems like Vandy is trying to carve a niche as an Ivy-alternative for politically moderate or conservative families that want elite academics without the intense left-wing political atmosphere. The incessant protests at many elite colleges spooked a lot of families, especially Jewish families.

Vanderbilt is leaning into their southern, apolitical, athletic, socially balanced image because they know it's an asset in an era where people are tired of being inundated with progressive agendas.

Vandy has always been conservative. There were confederate flags on campus when I was there.

Heritage not hate! Our families fought under that beautiful banner.

It's 2025. What are the conservatives doing for vandy now except costing them a lot of money?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you believe all the anti-Asians, Vandy will soon lose its luster with the crowd that supposedly is the subject of this article as the Asian population is now approaching 20% and rising.

Yes, and then the high achieving whites who want to balance academics with a robust social scene will move elsewhere and another school will become hot and then it too will change over time.
It happened at Duke and Northwestern. My freshman is at Dartmouth and it's happening there too---the crowd has really changed since a cousin attended 5 years ago.
The smart but socially-oriented kids will move on. Probably next to somewhere like Wake Forest or back to University of Chicago (which is becoming more chill).

I know people will say this is just racist but it's just kids trying to find a place of balance.

Agree.
I personally like wake forest, Washington &lee, or even UVA, as long as white is the dominant majority, it’s fine.

White is the dominant majority at nearly all schools.

It’s funny how the mediocre white folks are coming out of the woodwork. No pretense that they can compete anymore so just retreat.

BTW, UVA is 31% Asian…also continuing to rise.

You mean 'compete' by posting a 1600 superscore and a couple of "national" EC accolades that were purchased by your dad in Seoul and perfected over a period of 15 years? Sure.

Turns out there are myriad other important factors for winning the long game, and the Harvard lawsuit document dump put those out there on display for the world to see.

The Harvard lawsuit showed how much Harvard was discriminating AGAINST Asians.

Yes that was my point. And some of the things AOs sought, instead of 1600 superscores and pay-to-play STEM ECs, were subjective traits like moxie and poise. Which many interpreted as “white.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems like Vandy is trying to carve a niche as an Ivy-alternative for politically moderate or conservative families that want elite academics without the intense left-wing political atmosphere. The incessant protests at many elite colleges spooked a lot of families, especially Jewish families.

Vanderbilt is leaning into their southern, apolitical, athletic, socially balanced image because they know it's an asset in an era where people are tired of being inundated with progressive agendas.

Vandy has always been conservative. There were confederate flags on campus when I was there.

Heritage not hate! Our families fought under that beautiful banner.

Fought and lost

[Anonymous]

My 2nd gen Asian-American kid considered Wake, Furman, Vandy, and several other majority-white colleges in the South and opted for someplace with a bigger concentration of Asian-Americans, mainly due to their social preferences (not interested in sports or Greek life). (They didn’t get into Vanderbilt). I agree that Asian kids should make an effort to integrate and be part of the campus community-go to games, not self-segregate in the dining halls and dorms, etc. Most of them do make every effort to integrate socially.

[Anonymous]

Kids at vandy are academically engaged, social, and happy. The school is well run and very appealing to smart, northeast kids these days. Our older kids/peers all wanted prestige ivy schools. Interestingly, our last kid/peers (who are equally smart or perhaps more academically gifted) are gravitating toward Vandy, Duke, Stanford and certain flagships. These kids want academics + lifestyle. They want to get a great education but also want sports, weather, social vibes, etc. For ivy schools, penn has become popular as kids call it 'the social ivy'. Trends change over time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 2nd gen Asian-American kid considered Wake, Furman, Vandy, and several other majority-white colleges in the South and opted for someplace with a bigger concentration of Asian-Americans, mainly due to their social preferences (not interested in sports or Greek life). (They didn’t get into Vanderbilt). I agree that Asian kids should make an effort to integrate and be part of the campus community-go to games, not self-segregate in the dining halls and dorms, etc. Most of them do make every effort to integrate socially.

Strongly agree.

As long as it's dominantly white it's fine. Having some Asian on campus is good for maintaining white privilege, particularly Asian girls.

Wake, Furman, Vandy are very fine colleges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 2nd gen Asian-American kid considered Wake, Furman, Vandy, and several other majority-white colleges in the South and opted for someplace with a bigger concentration of Asian-Americans, mainly due to their social preferences (not interested in sports or Greek life). (They didn’t get into Vanderbilt). I agree that Asian kids should make an effort to integrate and be part of the campus community-go to games, not self-segregate in the dining halls and dorms, etc. Most of them do make every effort to integrate socially.

Strongly agree.

As long as it's dominantly white it's fine. Having some Asian on campus is good for maintaining white privilege, particularly Asian girls.

Wake, Furman, Vandy are very fine colleges.

So now Furman is entering the conversation. I guess that’s where the mediocre kids will try to claim “it’s the new Vandy”.

[Anonymous]

Agree unfortunately about the latest trend at Duke. Student attendance at basketball games and football is significantly down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand most of these articles. Nearly every top 100 school has seen a big jump in applications over the last 5 years.

You could write the exact same article about every top 20 school and just find and replace a couple of location-specific comments.

The one hard truth is that test required always results in fewer applications. Brown applications were through the roof through 2023 and then dropped 15% when test required. MIT applications dropped 25% when back to test required.

You will see similar drops with the other schools re instituting test required.

You clearly aren’t in the same finance/PE circle I’m in. Or private school circles. And yes many in this circle are centrist Dems too.

This article was in Bloomberg. Not somewhere else. The school is actively cultivating Wall Street (NY and Palm Beach campuses?) along with donors.

No one in my circles is talking about any other college right now for their kids - ED - other than this. People are looking for private counselors who specialize in Vanderbilt. In some ways I think it’s like the Dartmouth of the 1990s. A little insulated bubble that’s fun and studious.

There’s a weird frenzy about Vanderbilt in the top .1%. My kids private school this senior class - 10% are ED to Vanderbilt. Including class president with 3.95uw and 35.

Note: my kid doesn’t attend Vanderbilt but did get in and turned it down for a T10. Still wondering if made the right decision.

You're very self-impressed, Ms. Humblebrag. Why don't you focus on enjoying your yacht rather than blessing us average, ignorant folk with your wisdom?

This is such an exaggeration. There is some minimal basis in truth, but not much. Ironically, it actually sounds more like Duke to me, though even Duke is not this extreme.

Not a Ms.
Just because you don’t see it doesn’t make it false. This is my reality. It might not be yours.

You’d be surprised if you asked around what the Vanderbilt feedback is amongst a certain generation of managing directors. It has changed remarkably since our time.

“a certain generation of managing directors.”

lol
I work in finance, perhaps part of precisely the same cohort, and this makes you sound like such a tool. Who talks like this?

Vandy is a good school but unfortunately does not register on any radar I have ever come across in 25 years on Wall Street.

[Anonymous]

Also alumni giving rate has fallen off the cliff at Duke. Wonder why? They lost their way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand most of these articles. Nearly every top 100 school has seen a big jump in applications over the last 5 years.

You could write the exact same article about every top 20 school and just find and replace a couple of location-specific comments.

The one hard truth is that test required always results in fewer applications. Brown applications were through the roof through 2023 and then dropped 15% when test required. MIT applications dropped 25% when back to test required.

You will see similar drops with the other schools re instituting test required.

You clearly aren’t in the same finance/PE circle I’m in. Or private school circles. And yes many in this circle are centrist Dems too.

This article was in Bloomberg. Not somewhere else. The school is actively cultivating Wall Street (NY and Palm Beach campuses?) along with donors.

No one in my circles is talking about any other college right now for their kids - ED - other than this. People are looking for private counselors who specialize in Vanderbilt. In some ways I think it’s like the Dartmouth of the 1990s. A little insulated bubble that’s fun and studious.

There’s a weird frenzy about Vanderbilt in the top .1%. My kids private school this senior class - 10% are ED to Vanderbilt. Including class president with 3.95uw and 35.

Note: my kid doesn’t attend Vanderbilt but did get in and turned it down for a T10. Still wondering if made the right decision.

You're very self-impressed, Ms. Humblebrag. Why don't you focus on enjoying your yacht rather than blessing us average, ignorant folk with your wisdom?

This is such an exaggeration. There is some minimal basis in truth, but not much. Ironically, it actually sounds more like Duke to me, though even Duke is not this extreme.

Not a Ms.
Just because you don’t see it doesn’t make it false. This is my reality. It might not be yours.

You’d be surprised if you asked around what the Vanderbilt feedback is amongst a certain generation of managing directors. It has changed remarkably since our time.

“a certain generation of managing directors.”

lol
I work in finance, perhaps part of precisely the same cohort, and this makes you sound like such a tool. Who talks like this?

Vandy is a good school but unfortunately does not register on any radar I have ever come across in 25 years on Wall Street.

He went to Fairfield, works middle office or back office at a bank and claims to be an “investment banker” and thinks he is cool in his sleeveless banker bro vest. He shares the elevator with actually revenue generating MDs and acts like he knows them. We all know the type.

These are the people who act like they are experts on Ivies and high society around here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also alumni giving rate has fallen off the cliff at Duke. Wonder why? They lost their way.

Source? I call BS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 2nd gen Asian-American kid considered Wake, Furman, Vandy, and several other majority-white colleges in the South and opted for someplace with a bigger concentration of Asian-Americans, mainly due to their social preferences (not interested in sports or Greek life). (They didn’t get into Vanderbilt). I agree that Asian kids should make an effort to integrate and be part of the campus community-go to games, not self-segregate in the dining halls and dorms, etc. Most of them do make every effort to integrate socially.

MOST kids at college - including Duke and Vandy - never go to a game. True now. True always.

There’s not one right way to go to college.