Anonymous
Post 04/08/2025 21:27     Subject: Re:Vanderbilt (Full Ride) vs Harvard ($18k/year) vs Yale ($14k/year) vs Duke ($19.5k/year)
Anonymous wrote:If it was sticker price at any of those schools verses Vanderbilt, then the choice should be Vanderbilt. But the opportunity cost of an undergraduate Harvard, Yale, or Duke education is definitely worth $14-$20K more than Vanderbilt in my opinion. I'm sure it's a great school, but Vanderbilt has always struck me as a bit overrated in comparison to its selectivity and general academic reputation. The fact that their chancellor always is writing Op-Eds and sending out emails when the school falls in the U.S. News rankings also doesn't really look good. Your child might try negotiating with Harvard, Yale, or Duke with the Vanderbilt full ride to see if they respond with more aid.


+100
Anonymous
Post 04/08/2025 21:26     Subject: Vanderbilt (Full Ride) vs Harvard ($18k/year) vs Yale ($14k/year) vs Duke ($19.5k/year)
Anonymous wrote:My kid was lucky enough to be admitted to all three of these colleges. We are debating between the three. He was dead-set on an HYP outcome and managed to get into two of them! He also got into Duke, which was very high on his wish list! However, he got into Vanderbilt and we were stunned when he won a full merit scholarship. We aren't rich, but applied for financial aid and got good funding for all of his favorite choices. Vanderbilt was never at the top of his list, but a full scholarship makes it very tempting. He might go to law school after college, and saving the money would be really helpful for him in the future. However, I am not sure if we are going to regret turning down the Harvard, Yale, or Duke brands.


What program?

I would pick Yale in a sec.
Anonymous
Post 04/08/2025 21:25     Subject: Vanderbilt (Full Ride) vs Harvard ($18k/year) vs Yale ($14k/year) vs Duke ($19.5k/year)
harvard. this is a no brainer.
Anonymous
Post 04/08/2025 21:23     Subject: Vanderbilt (Full Ride) vs Harvard ($18k/year) vs Yale ($14k/year) vs Duke ($19.5k/year)
Harvard or Yale duh. Why would you even consider Vandy. It’s for dumb rich kids. Duke is slightly better but still a big drop below HY
Anonymous
Post 04/08/2025 21:22     Subject: Vanderbilt (Full Ride) vs Harvard ($18k/year) vs Yale ($14k/year) vs Duke ($19.5k/year)
Call Harvard and Yale and mention the Vandy full ride. They might be willing to give you more financial aid. If you can get H or Y to go under $10k/year, then go to one of them. If they aren't willing to budge, take the full ride to Vanderbilt and save your cash.

Personally, I'd rule out Duke. I'd also eliminate Harvard, because it's very close to Yale in prestige and not worth any price difference.

I'd pick between a cheap Yale or free Vanderbilt. Personally, I'd go with free Vanderbilt. If your kid's going to law school, then undergrad doesn't matter.
Anonymous
Post 04/08/2025 21:21     Subject: Re:Vanderbilt (Full Ride) vs Harvard ($18k/year) vs Yale ($14k/year) vs Duke ($19.5k/year)
If it was sticker price at any of those schools verses Vanderbilt, then the choice should be Vanderbilt. But the opportunity cost of an undergraduate Harvard, Yale, or Duke education is definitely worth $14-$20K more than Vanderbilt in my opinion. I'm sure it's a great school, but Vanderbilt has always struck me as a bit overrated in comparison to its selectivity and general academic reputation. The fact that their chancellor always is writing Op-Eds and sending out emails when the school falls in the U.S. News rankings also doesn't really look good. Your child might try negotiating with Harvard, Yale, or Duke with the Vanderbilt full ride to see if they respond with more aid.
Anonymous
Post 04/08/2025 21:21     Subject: Vanderbilt (Full Ride) vs Harvard ($18k/year) vs Yale ($14k/year) vs Duke ($19.5k/year)
Harvard.
Anonymous
Post 04/08/2025 21:19     Subject: Re:Vanderbilt (Full Ride) vs Harvard ($18k/year) vs Yale ($14k/year) vs Duke ($19.5k/year)
Harvard or Yale.
Anonymous
Post 04/08/2025 21:19     Subject: Vanderbilt (Full Ride) vs Harvard ($18k/year) vs Yale ($14k/year) vs Duke ($19.5k/year)
Harvard or Yale depending on the major. Congratulations!!!
Anonymous
Post 04/08/2025 21:19     Subject: Vanderbilt (Full Ride) vs Harvard ($18k/year) vs Yale ($14k/year) vs Duke ($19.5k/year)
Yale 100%. Has the most clout.
Anonymous
Post 04/08/2025 21:19     Subject: Vanderbilt (Full Ride) vs Harvard ($18k/year) vs Yale ($14k/year) vs Duke ($19.5k/year)
Anonymous wrote:It’s all dirt cheap so whichever


++
Anonymous
Post 04/08/2025 21:18     Subject: Vanderbilt (Full Ride) vs Harvard ($18k/year) vs Yale ($14k/year) vs Duke ($19.5k/year)
It’s all dirt cheap so whichever
Anonymous
Post 04/08/2025 21:17     Subject: Vanderbilt (Full Ride) vs Harvard ($18k/year) vs Yale ($14k/year) vs Duke ($19.5k/year)
I'd rule out Duke
Anonymous
Post 04/08/2025 21:14     Subject: Vanderbilt (Full Ride) vs Harvard ($18k/year) vs Yale ($14k/year) vs Duke ($19.5k/year)
If this is a real post take the full ride.
Anonymous
Post 04/08/2025 21:07     Subject: Vanderbilt (Full Ride) vs Harvard ($18k/year) vs Yale ($14k/year) vs Duke ($19.5k/year)
My kid was lucky enough to be admitted to all three of these colleges. We are debating between the three. He was dead-set on an HYP outcome and managed to get into two of them! He also got into Duke, which was very high on his wish list! However, he got into Vanderbilt and we were stunned when he won a full merit scholarship. We aren't rich, but applied for financial aid and got good funding for all of his favorite choices. Vanderbilt was never at the top of his list, but a full scholarship makes it very tempting. He might go to law school after college, and saving the money would be really helpful for him in the future. However, I am not sure if we are going to regret turning down the Harvard, Yale, or Duke brands.