Northwestern vs Vandy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is your kid the "sorority princess" or "captain of the cheerleader squad" archetype? If so, then Vandy is a perfect fit. If she's introverted and not a social bee, then she might find it a frustrating place. Vanderbilt has always been known for having a very hierarchical social structure akin to a high school. Greek Life is a huge deal on campus for white kids, and students are sorted into specific social status lanes rather quickly.

This is a very outdated view of Vanderbilt. It's a lot nerdier than people assume. And a lot less Greek. I think what's feeding this perception is that the Paltrow kid goes there and that gets mean girl social media noise. It's generally a school for smart, ambitious, and extroverted students. It certainly does not have a "hierarchical social structure." It does have some rich kids but so does every top 20 school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here:

Kid still torn after Vanderbilt anchor day (admitted students day).
Hearing stories of cliques. Socially competitive atmosphere at Vanderbilt among girls.

Can anyone confirm?

This is true! The social atmosphere at Vandy is toxic, elitist, and destructive. Also, add in racism and a dose of white supremacy elements to the equation. Vandy is a good school, but Northwestern is academically superior in every way. Northwestern has a nice cohort group of students and it's easier to established friendships.

By the way, you will never see this on the streets in Evanston.
https://youtu.be/YJSCcKkwrmg?si=9w21lMN8Nft0-eV0

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any good pizza in Evanston?

Chicago style deep dish!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our dc visited both schools and within 5 minutes said not going to either and committed to a large pubic ivy. Wanted more of a school spirit campus culture and more fun diversity student body. She is very social and can make friends with anyone and can hold variety of conversations. We tried to convince her to go wildcats. But she vehemently opposed.

Smirk. Public Ivy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd pick the better weather, personally.

What if the people kind of suck? Super cliquey?
Will that make you miserable to have to wear dresses to class/full makeup, get a blowout a few times a week and strivery environment?

1980 called and wants its stereotypes back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is your kid the "sorority princess" or "captain of the cheerleader squad" archetype? If so, then Vandy is a perfect fit. If she's introverted and not a social bee, then she might find it a frustrating place. Vanderbilt has always been known for having a very hierarchical social structure akin to a high school. Greek Life is a huge deal on campus for white kids, and students are sorted into specific social status lanes rather quickly.

My kid actually attends at this moment and none of this is true. The university has been trying to destabilize and drive out Greek life for a decade. It’s dying on the vine and females who want to can go to any party on campus. Non-greek activities dominate and if you’ve been to Nashville in the past several years you understand this.

The southern Belle / beau thing is long over and the oncampus vibe in 2025 is not substantially different than the vibe at other T15 schools packed with academic winners from all over the US and abroad. My kid’s entire dorm floor 1st year was Asian kids from NY/NJ and white STEM nerds from California.

There are 3-4 greek houses where legacy and Bama rush nonsense still carries the day but that is a drop in the bucket of a 7,000-enrollment undergrad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here:

Kid still torn after Vanderbilt anchor day (admitted students day).
Hearing stories of cliques. Socially competitive atmosphere at Vanderbilt among girls.

Can anyone confirm?

This is true! The social atmosphere at Vandy is toxic, elitist, and destructive. Also, add in racism and a dose of white supremacy elements to the equation. Vandy is a good school, but Northwestern is academically superior in every way. Northwestern has a nice cohort group of students and it's easier to established friendships.

By the way, you will never see this on the streets in Evanston.
https://youtu.be/YJSCcKkwrmg?si=9w21lMN8Nft0-eV0

This poster seems toxic and uninformed. I am very familiar with Vanderbilt, and this poster’s description doesn’t fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is your kid the "sorority princess" or "captain of the cheerleader squad" archetype? If so, then Vandy is a perfect fit. If she's introverted and not a social bee, then she might find it a frustrating place. Vanderbilt has always been known for having a very hierarchical social structure akin to a high school. Greek Life is a huge deal on campus for white kids, and students are sorted into specific social status lanes rather quickly.

My kid actually attends at this moment and none of this is true. The university has been trying to destabilize and drive out Greek life for a decade. It’s dying on the vine and females who want to can go to any party on campus. Non-greek activities dominate and if you’ve been to Nashville in the past several years you understand this.

The southern Belle / beau thing is long over and the oncampus vibe in 2025 is not substantially different than the vibe at other T15 schools packed with academic winners from all over the US and abroad. My kid’s entire dorm floor 1st year was Asian kids from NY/NJ and white STEM nerds from California.

There are 3-4 greek houses where legacy and Bama rush nonsense still carries the day but that is a drop in the bucket of a 7,000-enrollment undergrad.

Yes, but DC saw it in action yesterday at anchor day. The private school kids from NY/CT, LA and Chicago were quickly in their own circle.
There are 2-3 top sororities, and these girls want to be in them all. You could see it happening. All the Asian kids are outside Greek life. Automatically.

Nice boys don't get into frats. And it sucks. Saw it in action with older kid from our HS.

[Anonymous]

My friend’s DD from Boston went to Vandy and didn’t love it. Very Daisy duke/Southern belle and not as intellectual as she has hoped. I plan on discouraging my DD from applying anywhere in the south.

[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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our dc visited both schools and within 5 minutes said not going to either and committed to a large pubic ivy. Wanted more of a school spirit campus culture and more fun diversity student body. She is very social and can make friends with anyone and can hold variety of conversations. We tried to convince her to go wildcats. But she vehemently opposed.

what is a pubic ivy?

College of William & Mary (Williamsburg, Virginia)
Miami University (Oxford, Ohio)
University of California (applies to the campuses as of 1985: Berkeley, Los Angeles, San Diego, Irvine, Davis, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, and Riverside)
University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of Texas at Austin
University of Vermont (Burlington)
University of Virginia (Charlottesville)

Don’t forget Pitt!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our dc visited both schools and within 5 minutes said not going to either and committed to a large pubic ivy. Wanted more of a school spirit campus culture and more fun diversity student body. She is very social and can make friends with anyone and can hold variety of conversations. We tried to convince her to go wildcats. But she vehemently opposed.

what is a pubic ivy?

College of William & Mary (Williamsburg, Virginia)
Miami University (Oxford, Ohio)
University of California (applies to the campuses as of 1985: Berkeley, Los Angeles, San Diego, Irvine, Davis, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, and Riverside)
University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of Texas at Austin
University of Vermont (Burlington)
University of Virginia (Charlottesville)

Don’t forget Pitt!

And UMD, GT, UTA, and UWash.

[Anonymous]

^ Ah, missed seeing UTA's already listed, as it should be.

[Anonymous]

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?

[Anonymous]

Does your school have kids who attend? If so, have them spend time with those kids on an overnight at campus. For example, Cornell has 40 fraternities.

I think it’s really important to spend time at the schools not on the tour. The tour is often set up by kids who are doing the service on a paid basis as part of their financial aid package and not necessarily because they want to. My kid found “normal” kids at Vanderbilt, Cornell and Northwestern.