Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 14:48     Subject: Vanderbilt vs UVA?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:UVA OOS vs Vanderbilt? We are DC residents so get $15K off UVA from DC Tag.
This is a girl who is very mainstream in look and interests but is unsure about Greek life and does not want to be on a campus of only "preppy, wealthy people." (I realize both schools have an element of this but these are the choices she has).
Major is Neuroscience, pre-med.
Is Vanderbilt worth $15-25K more per year?
Thoughts?


Vanderbilt reports a higher premed first time acceptance rate to medical school than UVA has historically reported. Vanderbilt reported 78% in the link below. UVA does not currently provide a premed acceptance rate report on its website but has historically reported 52% to 60% acceptance rate.

Vanderbilt does have higher standardized test scores and higher test scores correlate to higher MCAT scores, so that could be a factor.

https://www.vanderbilt.edu/hpao/wp-content/uploads/sites/36/2024/06/2023-Annual-Report.pdf




Usually these differences are attributable to how acceptances are counted. Schools with higher numbers tend to look at acceptances only for kids who get the Med School Committee letter, which is a weed out process. Vandy and UVA are peer schools, both of which have excellent medical schools.


Both were for all first time applicants.


Please read what I said again, did it mention second time applicants? I don’t think you know what the committee letter is.


All applicants includes those with and without a committee letter. Yes, not getting a recommendation (either committee or directly from faculty) lowers likelihood of acceptance or likelihood of applying. Another thing schools do is include only those with GPA over 3.x. Both of these included all GPAs. I note again that UVA no longer publishes data, unlike Vanderbilt.


Your first statement is not correct, college’s have discretion on how to report.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 14:48     Subject: Vanderbilt vs UVA?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Again. The ignorant generalizations being made here are simultaneously hilarious and scary. Trump has succeeded in the dumbing down of America.

Vandy isn't full of rich southern Greeks. They are there but it is not a dominant force, particularly not now.

And anyone who badmouths Vandy, Brown, or any other top 50 school is a certified idiot and likely doesn't have the brain power to go to any of these schools.


Lady, you aren’t doing the school any favors with your over the top posts.


I have no connection to either of these schools. I know plenty of people who went to both and kids who are at both now. I honestly don't know which one I would pick - both have pros and cons (though the cons are generally not the ones being discussed here).

I just hate stupidity and disinformation. People are seeking honest, intelligent feedback and instead or being blasted with stupidity, ignorance, tired memes, and nastiness. I guess I am being nasty in my own way but it is to get us back to a place of decency.


In fact, you are the only one being nasty.


You sound like Pee-Wee Herman - I know you are but what am I.

I sincerely apologize to the OP who was seeking intelligent feedback and this thread has been derailed by know-it-alls, angry people (I admittedly am a bit angry myself now), poor, often dated information, and the like.

I'm out. TTFN.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 14:46     Subject: Re:Vanderbilt vs UVA?

Anonymous wrote:Vandy and UVA are both test optional with over 40% with test scores too low to submit.

Neither is serious.


Nor are you. People who use words like "serious," "mediocre," and "weak" are sad and actually personify the exact terms they are using. No one who went to a halfway decent school would write like that.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 14:46     Subject: Vanderbilt vs UVA?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Again. The ignorant generalizations being made here are simultaneously hilarious and scary. Trump has succeeded in the dumbing down of America.

Vandy isn't full of rich southern Greeks. They are there but it is not a dominant force, particularly not now.

And anyone who badmouths Vandy, Brown, or any other top 50 school is a certified idiot and likely doesn't have the brain power to go to any of these schools.


Lady, you aren’t doing the school any favors with your over the top posts.


I have no connection to either of these schools. I know plenty of people who went to both and kids who are at both now. I honestly don't know which one I would pick - both have pros and cons (though the cons are generally not the ones being discussed here).

I just hate stupidity and disinformation. People are seeking honest, intelligent feedback and instead or being blasted with stupidity, ignorance, tired memes, and nastiness. I guess I am being nasty in my own way but it is to get us back to a place of decency.


In fact, you are the only one being nasty.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 14:45     Subject: Vanderbilt vs UVA?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Again. The ignorant generalizations being made here are simultaneously hilarious and scary. Trump has succeeded in the dumbing down of America.

Vandy isn't full of rich southern Greeks. They are there but it is not a dominant force, particularly not now.

And anyone who badmouths Vandy, Brown, or any other top 50 school is a certified idiot and likely doesn't have the brain power to go to any of these schools.


Lady, you aren’t doing the school any favors with your over the top posts.


I have no connection to either of these schools. I know plenty of people who went to both and kids who are at both now. I honestly don't know which one I would pick - both have pros and cons (though the cons are generally not the ones being discussed here).

I just hate stupidity and disinformation. People are seeking honest, intelligent feedback and instead or being blasted with stupidity, ignorance, tired memes, and nastiness. I guess I am being nasty in my own way but it is to get us back to a place of decency.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 14:26     Subject: Re:Vanderbilt vs UVA?

Vandy and UVA are both test optional with over 40% with test scores too low to submit.

Neither is serious.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 14:15     Subject: Vanderbilt vs UVA?

Anonymous wrote:Again. The ignorant generalizations being made here are simultaneously hilarious and scary. Trump has succeeded in the dumbing down of America.

Vandy isn't full of rich southern Greeks. They are there but it is not a dominant force, particularly not now.

And anyone who badmouths Vandy, Brown, or any other top 50 school is a certified idiot and likely doesn't have the brain power to go to any of these schools.


Lady, you aren’t doing the school any favors with your over the top posts.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 14:14     Subject: Vanderbilt vs UVA?

Go with Vandy offers more opportunities and Nashville much better than Cville. At the end of the day UVA is still a state school no matter what their boosters say. Vandy and not even close.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 14:09     Subject: Vanderbilt vs UVA?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:UVA will have more of the preppy, wealthy vibe. It's present at Vanderbilt but the academic rigor is heightened a notch compared to UVA, which will bring in more normal work-hard play-hard kids. I would go for Vanderbilt.


I completely disagree. Apple Martin goes to Vanderbilt. There are kids with serious family money there. My child would not fit in in that environment. Greek life is huge and it’s in the south. In addition, you want to save money since med school is going to be so expensive. I’d go cheaper undergrad and UVA had an excellent med school.


Yeah my perception of Vanderbilt is unserious rich kids who want a veneer of prestige.


No, that’s Brown.


Untalented rich kids waltz into Vanderbilt. That doesn’t really happen at at Brown


All these fantasies about Vanderbilt are getting boring. Like it's some sorority school in 1985. Have any of you actually ever been to Vanderbilt? The student profiles aren't that different from any other top 20 school. And I would 100 percent take Vandy over UVA if money isn't a big issue. Vanderbilt is known for exceptionally good financial aid and most students are on it, so it's affordable to most if you can get in. It has less than a 6 percent acceptance rate. But continue with your fantasies about untalented rich kids waltzing into Vanderbilt.


Yes, Vandy mom, I’ve been there. I also know quite a few kids who have attended. It is in my mind, a T15-30 school just like UVA. Accordingly, given that op cares about cost and how “preppy” the school is, I would go with the cheaper, public school. In my opinion, UVA also has a prettier setting.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 14:06     Subject: Vanderbilt vs UVA?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:UVA will have more of the preppy, wealthy vibe. It's present at Vanderbilt but the academic rigor is heightened a notch compared to UVA, which will bring in more normal work-hard play-hard kids. I would go for Vanderbilt.


I completely disagree. Apple Martin goes to Vanderbilt. There are kids with serious family money there. My child would not fit in in that environment. Greek life is huge and it’s in the south. In addition, you want to save money since med school is going to be so expensive. I’d go cheaper undergrad and UVA had an excellent med school.


Yeah my perception of Vanderbilt is unserious rich kids who want a veneer of prestige.


No, that’s Brown.


Untalented rich kids waltz into Vanderbilt. That doesn’t really happen at at Brown


Maybe Brown circa 1985.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 14:01     Subject: Vanderbilt vs UVA?

Anonymous wrote:UVA will have more of the preppy, wealthy vibe. It's present at Vanderbilt but the academic rigor is heightened a notch compared to UVA, which will bring in more normal work-hard play-hard kids. I would go for Vanderbilt.


No it won't. UVA is a state school so it gets the smart donut hole kids whose parents can't afford privates like Vandy.

I'd go UVA. Both schools have some of this vibe she doesn't want (so not sure why she applied if she doesn't want that) But at UVA, can find her people. Look at the residential colleges, find clubs with her peeps, etc.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 13:51     Subject: Vanderbilt vs UVA?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:UVA will have more of the preppy, wealthy vibe. It's present at Vanderbilt but the academic rigor is heightened a notch compared to UVA, which will bring in more normal work-hard play-hard kids. I would go for Vanderbilt.


I completely disagree. Apple Martin goes to Vanderbilt. There are kids with serious family money there. My child would not fit in in that environment. Greek life is huge and it’s in the south. In addition, you want to save money since med school is going to be so expensive. I’d go cheaper undergrad and UVA had an excellent med school.


Yeah my perception of Vanderbilt is unserious rich kids who want a veneer of prestige.


No, that’s Brown.


Untalented rich kids waltz into Vanderbilt. That doesn’t really happen at at Brown


All these fantasies about Vanderbilt are getting boring. Like it's some sorority school in 1985. Have any of you actually ever been to Vanderbilt? The student profiles aren't that different from any other top 20 school. And I would 100 percent take Vandy over UVA if money isn't a big issue. Vanderbilt is known for exceptionally good financial aid and most students are on it, so it's affordable to most if you can get in. It has less than a 6 percent acceptance rate. But continue with your fantasies about untalented rich kids waltzing into Vanderbilt.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 13:51     Subject: Vanderbilt vs UVA?

Again. The ignorant generalizations being made here are simultaneously hilarious and scary. Trump has succeeded in the dumbing down of America.

Vandy isn't full of rich southern Greeks. They are there but it is not a dominant force, particularly not now.

And anyone who badmouths Vandy, Brown, or any other top 50 school is a certified idiot and likely doesn't have the brain power to go to any of these schools.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 13:43     Subject: Vanderbilt vs UVA?

UVA hands down. Vanderbilt is a huge old southern money school. UVA definitely has a southern tilt, but you have loads of kids from Va Beach and NOVA who are not into that. Also that $100k you are saving will be much needed for medical school.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 13:33     Subject: Vanderbilt vs UVA?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:UVA will have more of the preppy, wealthy vibe. It's present at Vanderbilt but the academic rigor is heightened a notch compared to UVA, which will bring in more normal work-hard play-hard kids. I would go for Vanderbilt.


I completely disagree. Apple Martin goes to Vanderbilt. There are kids with serious family money there. My child would not fit in in that environment. Greek life is huge and it’s in the south. In addition, you want to save money since med school is going to be so expensive. I’d go cheaper undergrad and UVA had an excellent med school.


Yeah my perception of Vanderbilt is unserious rich kids who want a veneer of prestige.


No, that’s Brown.


Untalented rich kids waltz into Vanderbilt. That doesn’t really happen at at Brown