Northwestern vs Vandy

[Anonymous]

My daughter loved the Vandy revisit day. She connected with lots of kids and felt like it was the right choice. I didn’t get the cliquey vibe at all. It was a little nerdy, but also social.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid still torn after NW day. No unwashed hair but vibe was not what he was expecting. Struggled to connect with kids in his program. He’s an outgoing friendly kid that can talk about anything so he’s really bummed.

My kid initially felt that way at Northwestern, but then quickly found similarly situated “sociable” girls. Felt strong connection to quite quite a few after they went to the wildcat tailgate?? And then used personal connections and ended up meeting up with 10+ different female students (some freshman, some sophomores, and some juniors) across campus in various sororities for coffee/dorm/chapter house etc. Was eye-opening and a great experience.

Highly recommend touching base with older kids in your network at the college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter loved the Vandy revisit day. She connected with lots of kids and felt like it was the right choice. I didn’t get the cliquey vibe at all. It was a little nerdy, but also social.

Is your daughter blonde?

[Anonymous]

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!

[Anonymous]

Some of the better Catholic schools have the well-rounded, clean cut look. Notre Dame, Holy Cross, Villanova.

[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.

What do you mean Nashville isn't Atlanta?

[Anonymous]

At Vanderbilt, we hear that the wealthy and private school kids definitely stick together socially (particularly the girls). That dynamic may exist at other schools as well. Can’t comment on Northwestern bc don't know many kids there.

[Anonymous]

It would be Vandy for DC. Better social fit, plus Northwestern’s quarter system is a big negative in their book. YMMV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At Vanderbilt, we hear that the wealthy and private school kids definitely stick together socially (particularly the girls). That dynamic may exist at other schools as well. Can’t comment on Northwestern bc don't know many kids there.

100% correct.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid still torn after NW day. No unwashed hair but vibe was not what he was expecting. Struggled to connect with kids in his program. He’s an outgoing friendly kid that can talk about anything so he’s really bummed.

My kid initially felt that way at Northwestern, but then quickly found similarly situated “sociable” girls. Felt strong connection to quite quite a few after they went to the wildcat tailgate?? And then used personal connections and ended up meeting up with 10+ different female students (some freshman, some sophomores, and some juniors) across campus in various sororities for coffee/dorm/chapter house etc. Was eye-opening and a great experience.

Highly recommend touching base with older kids in your network at the college.

People should do this at any and every school your child is still considering. It's the only real way to figure out social fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At Vanderbilt, we hear that the wealthy and private school kids definitely stick together socially (particularly the girls). That dynamic may exist at other schools as well. Can’t comment on Northwestern bc don't know many kids there.

my DD is there, public school kid. Frosh year there are like 2 sororities that brand and market themselves as top tier, so many of the girls are pining for that path - and after a lifetime of achievement, academic / social / ec success and gaining college admissions against a 5% admit rate, feel that “top tier sororities” should be the goal. When in fact those sororities are extremely cliquey and not a fit for most of the public school “unconnected” kids, who usually find their path after rush whether in another sorority or not. My DC flourished after this experience, and found her peeps through other organizations - ironically with some of the girls in those top sororities.

[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.

5 min and decided the school is not good? I only know about NW very happy and well adjusted and several opportunities

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At Vanderbilt, we hear that the wealthy and private school kids definitely stick together socially (particularly the girls). That dynamic may exist at other schools as well. Can’t comment on Northwestern bc don't know many kids there.

my DD is there, public school kid. Frosh year there are like 2 sororities that brand and market themselves as top tier, so many of the girls are pining for that path - and after a lifetime of achievement, academic / social / ec success and gaining college admissions against a 5% admit rate, feel that “top tier sororities” should be the goal. When in fact those sororities are extremely cliquey and not a fit for most of the public school “unconnected” kids, who usually find their path after rush whether in another sorority or not. My DC flourished after this experience, and found her peeps through other organizations - ironically with some of the girls in those top sororities.

My private HS girl was turned off by the material /consumption culture of a few of the "top" houses at Vanderbilt. At Anchor Day, it seems like the girls were already "gunning" for those houses. Lots of goyard (Real not fake), van cleef, cartier love bracelets and GG shoes.

There's a mix of an East Coast and southern country club vibe that is hard to shake. You have to decide if you are in and okay with that scene and all that it entails (paying hundreds a month to park your car in a nearby apt and then going with "girls" to Barry's BootCamp, Barre classes, nail appts, hair blowouts and whole foods runs- and once in a "top" house, its a whole different game)....maybe it does get better. Then Broadway bars 2-3 nights a week (that gets old fast). One of the top houses is VERY blonde with one token non-white pledge each fall.

There was something exhausting about the entire prospect for my social private HS girl. It seemed almost too much.
I feel like it works for kids who get this vibe at their summer camps. They would thrive here.

[Anonymous]

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.

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.