Anonymous
03/16/2026 09:31
Subject: top sports/weather trumps academics?
To address OP's actual topic-
DD's private has the same high interest in southern, fun schools. I attribute it to the absolute nightmare of the competitive private school experience, coupled with the absolute nightmare of the college admissions experience. They're burnt out having to be perfect and cure cancer in their free time. A fun SEC experience with good weather is the anecdote.
DD's private has the same high interest in southern, fun schools. I attribute it to the absolute nightmare of the competitive private school experience, coupled with the absolute nightmare of the college admissions experience. They're burnt out having to be perfect and cure cancer in their free time. A fun SEC experience with good weather is the anecdote.
Anonymous
03/16/2026 09:30
Subject: top sports/weather trumps academics?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Other than HYP, nobody cares about the Ivies. Duke has the entire package-world class academics, fantastic sports, best campus in US, and enviable weather.
Given that the admissions rate at Columbia, DCUM's most hated school, is lower than that of either Duke or Vanderbilt, I have to contradict you here. All of the Ivies except Cornell have 6% or under admissions rates and Cornell's is under 8. It seems like an awful lot of people care.
These daily posts about the sun and popularit of SEC schools are getting to feel like a methinks she doth complain too much situation. Pick Tennessee over Columbia if you want, please do. A lot of us do not care about the weather (wear a jacket for goodness sake) or college sports. Duke is a great school but I'll take Brown over it for my kids any day of the week.
Dp, the Ivies, including Brown, Dartmouth and Cornell, are far more popular at our private than Vandy and Rice. Duke, however, competes with them.
Anonymous
03/16/2026 09:28
Subject: top sports/weather trumps academics?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Vandy and Duke academics are just as good as Ivy so a no brainer.
I don’t think Vandy academics are as good as an Ivy. Duke, NW, Rice, Hopkins, CalTech, Chicago, MIT, yes.
Nobody doing any hiring says, “This Vanderbilt grad seems like exactly what we want. But let’s wait, maybe a Cornell grad will apply this week.”
I know quite a few kids who have gone to Vandy in the last decade and the outcomes are not particularly impressive. I don’t think it carries the same weight as Cornell.
Anonymous
03/16/2026 09:26
Subject: top sports/weather trumps academics?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Vandy and Duke academics are just as good as Ivy so a no brainer.
I don’t think Vandy academics are as good as an Ivy. Duke, NW, Rice, Hopkins, CalTech, Chicago, MIT, yes.
Close enough though.
Not really. But hey, your kid can hang with Apple and the daughter of the Holdernesses.
Anonymous
03/16/2026 09:05
Subject: top sports/weather trumps academics?
Anonymous wrote:from our NY HS, Duke is a really hard admit, you have to ED there.
the only kid from my daughter's crowd that isn't happy is at Vandy. what makes Vandy great for some kids makes it not great for others. the social scene leans very heavily to the blonde Greek life. which she is. but then of course it sorts those kids even within that group. that's not for everyone.
Agree, the southern social life can be exhausting and it can get old really quickly. All the "airs" to put on and keeping up appearances, etc. The drinking and football obsession gets old too, it's just all a marketing play anyhow for the $$$
Anonymous
03/16/2026 08:45
Subject: top sports/weather trumps academics?
from our NY HS, Duke is a really hard admit, you have to ED there.
the only kid from my daughter's crowd that isn't happy is at Vandy. what makes Vandy great for some kids makes it not great for others. the social scene leans very heavily to the blonde Greek life. which she is. but then of course it sorts those kids even within that group. that's not for everyone.
the only kid from my daughter's crowd that isn't happy is at Vandy. what makes Vandy great for some kids makes it not great for others. the social scene leans very heavily to the blonde Greek life. which she is. but then of course it sorts those kids even within that group. that's not for everyone.
Anonymous
03/16/2026 08:43
Subject: top sports/weather trumps academics?
Anonymous wrote:Other than HYP, nobody cares about the Ivies. Duke has the entire package-world class academics, fantastic sports, best campus in US, and enviable weather.
Given that the admissions rate at Columbia, DCUM's most hated school, is lower than that of either Duke or Vanderbilt, I have to contradict you here. All of the Ivies except Cornell have 6% or under admissions rates and Cornell's is under 8. It seems like an awful lot of people care.
These daily posts about the sun and popularit of SEC schools are getting to feel like a methinks she doth complain too much situation. Pick Tennessee over Columbia if you want, please do. A lot of us do not care about the weather (wear a jacket for goodness sake) or college sports. Duke is a great school but I'll take Brown over it for my kids any day of the week.
Anonymous
03/16/2026 08:27
Subject: top sports/weather trumps academics?
Other than HYP, nobody cares about the Ivies. Duke has the entire package-world class academics, fantastic sports, best campus in US, and enviable weather.
Anonymous
03/16/2026 06:49
Subject: top sports/weather trumps academics?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Vandy and Duke academics are just as good as Ivy so a no brainer.
I don’t think Vandy academics are as good as an Ivy. Duke, NW, Rice, Hopkins, CalTech, Chicago, MIT, yes.
Nobody doing any hiring says, “This Vanderbilt grad seems like exactly what we want. But let’s wait, maybe a Cornell grad will apply this week.”
Anonymous
03/16/2026 06:46
Subject: top sports/weather trumps academics?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Vandy and Duke academics are just as good as Ivy so a no brainer.
I don’t think Vandy academics are as good as an Ivy. Duke, NW, Rice, Hopkins, CalTech, Chicago, MIT, yes.
Close enough though.
Anonymous
03/16/2026 06:44
Subject: top sports/weather trumps academics?
Anonymous wrote:crazy the shift at my DCs private in terms of priorities. Seems like a palpable shift from DCs older sister, where her friend group all wanted ivies or bust. DC friend group seems to prioritize the “experience” and a fun good weather vibe. I guess I shouldn’t be shocked, but Duke and Vandy out in front of every school save HYPSM in terms of interest. Vandy resurgence in football and basketball not hurting - just flipped on espn and party scene at SEC bball finals in Nashville, Vandy kids living the life according to my DC. sigh
Would guys rather hang out with Hilary Rodham or Sophia Vergara?
Anonymous
03/16/2026 04:29
Subject: top sports/weather trumps academics?
Rice isn’t that similar to Duke and Vandy, other than being a southern T20 alternative to Ivy schools.
Anonymous
03/16/2026 01:49
Subject: top sports/weather trumps academics?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Vandy and Duke academics are just as good as Ivy so a no brainer.
I don’t think Vandy academics are as good as an Ivy. Duke, NW, Rice, Hopkins, CalTech, Chicago, MIT, yes.
+1
Anonymous
03/16/2026 01:42
Subject: top sports/weather trumps academics?
At the moment, Duke and Vandy seem to be attracting applicants who don’t have the test scores to submit to Ivies.
Anonymous
03/16/2026 00:39
Subject: top sports/weather trumps academics?
Duke is a special place.