Williams vs Vandy

[Anonymous]

It’s really a matter of fit, but for our kids Williams would be preferred.

Congrats!

[Anonymous]

I don't understand why so many on DCUM feel the need to bash one school in order to "prove" what is great about the other. It's why I hate these X vs Y posts - which would otherwise be useful. Also, for those saying they cannot imagine a kid applying to both these schools - many kids apply to an assortment of colleges. Not everyone visits every school they apply to ahead of time - plus certain kids (my older one included) would be perfectly happy in either setting, especially if there are certain things (academics, majors, other programs) they like about one over the other. At the end of the day, you look at your acceptances and pick whichever you think will be best for you - and for many kids, that decision does not feel real (and indeed isn't) until you have to make it.

[Anonymous]

A- (A minus) student : go to Williams
B- ( B minus) student: go to Vandy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^Probably not much demand for sundresses in Williamstown.

You can imagine why a straight male would find this to be a big issue

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A- (A minus) student : go to Williams
B- ( B minus) student: go to Vandy

Are we in 1980? A B-minus student won't get anywhere near Vandy today. Get a clue, geed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It puts me in the actual depths of despair that a kid who got into Williams is thinking of going Vanderbilt instead.

Maybe the kid actually cares about foyine girls like a normal 18-year-old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a private school near me (Philly) that is sending ten kids to Vanderbilt. TEN!

I don't believe this for a moment.

OK, I was wrong, in that it’s not the school I thought it was. But this school has ten kids going to Vanderbilt:

@pc25schools_

This is a Florida private school with two campuses, and 2700 students. Not sure how you would confuse that with a school near you in Philly. Anyway, I wonder if the admission rate to Vandy was affected at all by the fact Vandy plans to open a secondary campus in the same area of Florida.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why so many on DCUM feel the need to bash one school in order to "prove" what is great about the other. It's why I hate these X vs Y posts - which would otherwise be useful. Also, for those saying they cannot imagine a kid applying to both these schools - many kids apply to an assortment of colleges. Not everyone visits every school they apply to ahead of time - plus certain kids (my older one included) would be perfectly happy in either setting, especially if there are certain things (academics, majors, other programs) they like about one over the other. At the end of the day, you look at your acceptances and pick whichever you think will be best for you - and for many kids, that decision does not feel real (and indeed isn't) until you have to make it.

Thank you. Exactly. This place is so often a real cesspool

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why so many on DCUM feel the need to bash one school in order to "prove" what is great about the other. It's why I hate these X vs Y posts - which would otherwise be useful. Also, for those saying they cannot imagine a kid applying to both these schools - many kids apply to an assortment of colleges. Not everyone visits every school they apply to ahead of time - plus certain kids (my older one included) would be perfectly happy in either setting, especially if there are certain things (academics, majors, other programs) they like about one over the other. At the end of the day, you look at your acceptances and pick whichever you think will be best for you - and for many kids, that decision does not feel real (and indeed isn't) until you have to make it.

Yup, choice is almost always between two great schools and there are always hyper partisan posters only one or the other school is the right choice. Of course, probably better not to seek dcum input at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Williams is not really well known outside New England and Vanderbilt is a name known nationally and internationally.

Neither of those schools is known internationally. Both are well known domestically, but have different reputations. I or our kids would never choose Vandy over Williams, but another family would feel the opposite. Our kids are cerebral, athletic, love the outdoors and seasons, and don’t care for Greek life (and neither did I).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^the risks of being in a very red state-Yikes. Sure Vandy will survive.

+1. That part made me chuckle. People on here act like living in a red state is on par with being in Tehran.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Williams is not really well known outside New England and Vanderbilt is a name known nationally and internationally.

Neither of those schools is known internationally. Both are well known domestically, but have different reputations. I or our kids would never choose Vandy over Williams, but another family would feel the opposite. Our kids are cerebral, athletic, love the outdoors and seasons, and don’t care for Greek life (and neither did I).

omg your kids sound so perfect and amazing! You are right, Vandy is so beneath them!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Williams is not really well known outside New England and Vanderbilt is a name known nationally and internationally.

Neither of those schools is known internationally. Both are well known domestically, but have different reputations. I or our kids would never choose Vandy over Williams, but another family would feel the opposite. Our kids are cerebral, athletic, love the outdoors and seasons, and don’t care for Greek life (and neither did I).

I'm not internationally known. But I'm known to rock the microphone.

Who cares if they are internationally known. I want a job in America. At a top tier bank/law firm/consulting firm/etc. Not in Jakarta or Oslo. Or Taipei.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Williams is not really well known outside New England and Vanderbilt is a name known nationally and internationally.

Neither of those schools is known internationally. Both are well known domestically, but have different reputations. I or our kids would never choose Vandy over Williams, but another family would feel the opposite. Our kids are cerebral, athletic, love the outdoors and seasons, and don’t care for Greek life (and neither did I).

I'm not internationally known. But I'm known to rock the microphone.

Who cares if they are internationally known. I want a job in America. At a top tier bank/law firm/consulting firm/etc. Not in Jakarta or Oslo. Or Taipei.

Such low expectations. Every Williams grad does the same 3 paths, it might as well be an economics school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Williams is not really well known outside New England and Vanderbilt is a name known nationally and internationally.

Neither of those schools is known internationally. Both are well known domestically, but have different reputations. I or our kids would never choose Vandy over Williams, but another family would feel the opposite. Our kids are cerebral, athletic, love the outdoors and seasons, and don’t care for Greek life (and neither did I).

Almost 80% of Vandy students do not participate in Greek life. A not-small % of the undergraduates are likely “cerebral,” given the extremely high academic threshold one must cross to be admitted to Vandy in 2025. Nashville has four true seasons, which does include some snow in Dec-Jan. There are mini Appalachia mountains right in Davidson County and taller mountains in the next county over, as you head to the Great Smoky mountains. Athletic opportunities? Are probably one thing the SEC schools do better than any others.

Williams is undoubtedly a fine institution. I wouldn’t know. Similarly it seems you don’t know so much about Vanderbilt, Nashville/ Davidson County or Tennessee so it’s not clear why you write as if you do.