Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vandy and Duke academics are just as good as Ivy so a no brainer.

I agree with your comments on the academics. There are many schools with undergraduate academics just as strong as the Ivies.

However, the increased interest in the Southern schools isn't happening at the expense of elite NE schools. This is easy to see because applications at top NE schools aren't dropping in any significant manner as the applications to the Southern schools goes up. and, those getting into elite NE schools are far more likely to choose them over Southern schools. It is nice to see Vandy, Rice, and Duke get the recognition that they deserve but to think that they are in any way being favored relative to top NE schools is naive.

How “top” though? MIT and Yale, you’re probably right. Tufts, Cornell and Dartmouth? I respectfully disagree.

My n of 1 sample size — my kid — picked Vandy over Columbia. They do not regret this choice and are taking advantage of the excellent academic experience AND greek life and the fun music/ bar/party culture of Nashville

I agree with this. I have two kids that made similar choices. I don't think many students are saying no to MIT, Stanford, Harvard, Yale, or Princeton. But it's not a surprise that a lot of students prefer the southern alternatives to the Ivies. No one is giving up anything by choosing Duke, Vandy, or Rice over Dartmouth, Columbia, Cornell, Brown, or Penn. And sports and weather may very well be part of the calculation.

Why are you adding Rice? Culturally so much different than the premise of the thread.

NP how is Rice different culturally? Is it on par with Duke, Penn or Brown academically?

Penn>Rice>Duke>>Brown as far as the academic intensity of the student culture of the schools.
The dominance of Duke basketball fandom creates a different culture that Penn/Rice/Brown/other ivies do not have. It makes it hard to compare campus culture on a whole.
Duke sports culture combined with the academics/intellectual intensity makes it most similar to Northwestern.
Stanford is sporty too, but more intense than Duke, on par with most of the ivies.
Rice's location in Houston makes it completely different than most of the ivies(HPPYC): northeastern-corridor in/within an hour of NY/Phil/Boston. Houston culture is very different than the northeast. Durham is different too, but with such a large group of students from the northeast corridor, Duke does not feel as different culturally as Rice in Houston does.

Most of you have not had a student at Duke lately. Duke is nothing like Vandy. If they ever were close as far as the peer group they are not now. Duke is intense and academic, very similar to 3 or so of ivies, less intense than the other 5 ivies. Fewer students participate in undergrad research at Duke than most of the ivies and Stanford, but moreso than Vanderbilt.
Vandy students are simply not on the same level as ivies/Duke/Hopkins kids they just are not, even before test optional.
Vandy is also not the same level as the fun southern schools: if you thing Vandy is going to be like Clemson or Tennessee or Auburn you are in for a culture shock. Vanderbilt students are intense compared to those schools, but lackadaisical compared to Duke and most ivy kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vandy and Duke academics are just as good as Ivy so a no brainer.

I agree with your comments on the academics. There are many schools with undergraduate academics just as strong as the Ivies.

However, the increased interest in the Southern schools isn't happening at the expense of elite NE schools. This is easy to see because applications at top NE schools aren't dropping in any significant manner as the applications to the Southern schools goes up. and, those getting into elite NE schools are far more likely to choose them over Southern schools. It is nice to see Vandy, Rice, and Duke get the recognition that they deserve but to think that they are in any way being favored relative to top NE schools is naive.

How “top” though? MIT and Yale, you’re probably right. Tufts, Cornell and Dartmouth? I respectfully disagree.

My n of 1 sample size — my kid — picked Vandy over Columbia. They do not regret this choice and are taking advantage of the excellent academic experience AND greek life and the fun music/ bar/party culture of Nashville

I agree with this. I have two kids that made similar choices. I don't think many students are saying no to MIT, Stanford, Harvard, Yale, or Princeton. But it's not a surprise that a lot of students prefer the southern alternatives to the Ivies. No one is giving up anything by choosing Duke, Vandy, or Rice over Dartmouth, Columbia, Cornell, Brown, or Penn. And sports and weather may very well be part of the calculation.

Why are you adding Rice? Culturally so much different than the premise of the thread.

NP how is Rice different culturally? Is it on par with Duke, Penn or Brown academically?

Its not, would you send your child to Rice for business/econ over one of those schools?

I would not unless my kid was a quirky introvert who would thrive at Rice socially and perhaps struggle at the others.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vandy and Duke academics are just as good as Ivy so a no brainer.

I agree with your comments on the academics. There are many schools with undergraduate academics just as strong as the Ivies.

However, the increased interest in the Southern schools isn't happening at the expense of elite NE schools. This is easy to see because applications at top NE schools aren't dropping in any significant manner as the applications to the Southern schools goes up. and, those getting into elite NE schools are far more likely to choose them over Southern schools. It is nice to see Vandy, Rice, and Duke get the recognition that they deserve but to think that they are in any way being favored relative to top NE schools is naive.

How “top” though? MIT and Yale, you’re probably right. Tufts, Cornell and Dartmouth? I respectfully disagree.

My n of 1 sample size — my kid — picked Vandy over Columbia. They do not regret this choice and are taking advantage of the excellent academic experience AND greek life and the fun music/ bar/party culture of Nashville

I agree with this. I have two kids that made similar choices. I don't think many students are saying no to MIT, Stanford, Harvard, Yale, or Princeton. But it's not a surprise that a lot of students prefer the southern alternatives to the Ivies. No one is giving up anything by choosing Duke, Vandy, or Rice over Dartmouth, Columbia, Cornell, Brown, or Penn. And sports and weather may very well be part of the calculation.

Why are you adding Rice? Culturally so much different than the premise of the thread.

NP how is Rice different culturally? Is it on par with Duke, Penn or Brown academically?

Its not, would you send your child to Rice for business/econ over one of those schools?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

So you don’t think Duke and Vandy offer strong academics?

Right? I would put Duke and Vandy in the same category as Ivy academics when compared to actual SEC flagship schools like Alabama (which also have their own value.) The distinction is small in the broader picture.

Dp, Duke and Vandy aren’t peers. Vandy on the same level as Wash U and Emory, Duke as Hopkins, NW, Chicago.

They are all peers, they are all peers with any of the Ivies as well. The constant attempts at granular slicing and ranking are nonsensical yet you persist.

That’s rich, I wasn’t the one who started this thread. Sorry if it makes you sad, Vandy mom, but the majority of the world doesn’t see Vandy as a peer to the Ivies or Duke. It’s still a very good school as is Wash U, Emory, Georgetown, etc . . ,

Vandy, Emory, WashU, Georgetown are peers with Cornell and Dartmouth. You can see that on Parchment..

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The TikTok effect when it comes to college admissions is very real.

Yes, the dumbing down of our culture. The true academics aren’t wooed by sports and weather as a deciding factor. That being said, I see the appeal for less serious that want more balance. Spots and Greek life/parties aren’t everyone’s chosen fun though. I’d say the top students still want the usual suspects at our school.

Same, and they do have plenty of fun/parties at ivies, just not the sports-craze fun.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

So you don’t think Duke and Vandy offer strong academics?

Right? I would put Duke and Vandy in the same category as Ivy academics when compared to actual SEC flagship schools like Alabama (which also have their own value.) The distinction is small in the broader picture.

Dp, Duke and Vandy aren’t peers. Vandy on the same level as Wash U and Emory, Duke as Hopkins, NW, Chicago.

They are all peers, they are all peers with any of the Ivies as well. The constant attempts at granular slicing and ranking are nonsensical yet you persist.

Saying Harvard is peers to Cornell is not accurate. Same applies here.

Anonymous wrote:Why are Vandy moms so insecure that we have this exact thread at least once a month? Almost as bad as Emory mom.

Agree 100%. Vandy is a great school, but it has never been a peer of Duke. Posting the same drivel over and over about prestige “slicing” is embarrassing.

(I have no dog in this fight - my DC toured both but didn’t want to apply to either).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vandy and Duke academics are just as good as Ivy so a no brainer.

I agree with your comments on the academics. There are many schools with undergraduate academics just as strong as the Ivies.

However, the increased interest in the Southern schools isn't happening at the expense of elite NE schools. This is easy to see because applications at top NE schools aren't dropping in any significant manner as the applications to the Southern schools goes up. and, those getting into elite NE schools are far more likely to choose them over Southern schools. It is nice to see Vandy, Rice, and Duke get the recognition that they deserve but to think that they are in any way being favored relative to top NE schools is naive.

How “top” though? MIT and Yale, you’re probably right. Tufts, Cornell and Dartmouth? I respectfully disagree.

My n of 1 sample size — my kid — picked Vandy over Columbia. They do not regret this choice and are taking advantage of the excellent academic experience AND greek life and the fun music/ bar/party culture of Nashville

I agree with this. I have two kids that made similar choices. I don't think many students are saying no to MIT, Stanford, Harvard, Yale, or Princeton. But it's not a surprise that a lot of students prefer the southern alternatives to the Ivies. No one is giving up anything by choosing Duke, Vandy, or Rice over Dartmouth, Columbia, Cornell, Brown, or Penn. And sports and weather may very well be part of the calculation.

Why are you adding Rice? Culturally so much different than the premise of the thread.

NP how is Rice different culturally? Is it on par with Duke, Penn or Brown academically?

Anonymous wrote:At the moment, Duke and Vandy seem to be attracting applicants who don’t have the test scores to submit to Ivies.

This! Vandy is 50% TO.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vandy and Duke academics are just as good as Ivy so a no brainer.

I agree with your comments on the academics. There are many schools with undergraduate academics just as strong as the Ivies.

However, the increased interest in the Southern schools isn't happening at the expense of elite NE schools. This is easy to see because applications at top NE schools aren't dropping in any significant manner as the applications to the Southern schools goes up. and, those getting into elite NE schools are far more likely to choose them over Southern schools. It is nice to see Vandy, Rice, and Duke get the recognition that they deserve but to think that they are in any way being favored relative to top NE schools is naive.

How “top” though? MIT and Yale, you’re probably right. Tufts, Cornell and Dartmouth? I respectfully disagree.

My n of 1 sample size — my kid — picked Vandy over Columbia. They do not regret this choice and are taking advantage of the excellent academic experience AND greek life and the fun music/ bar/party culture of Nashville

I agree with this. I have two kids that made similar choices. I don't think many students are saying no to MIT, Stanford, Harvard, Yale, or Princeton. But it's not a surprise that a lot of students prefer the southern alternatives to the Ivies. No one is giving up anything by choosing Duke, Vandy, or Rice over Dartmouth, Columbia, Cornell, Brown, or Penn. And sports and weather may very well be part of the calculation.

Why are you adding Rice? Culturally so much different than the premise of the thread.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

So you don’t think Duke and Vandy offer strong academics?

Right? I would put Duke and Vandy in the same category as Ivy academics when compared to actual SEC flagship schools like Alabama (which also have their own value.) The distinction is small in the broader picture.

Dp, Duke and Vandy aren’t peers. Vandy on the same level as Wash U and Emory, Duke as Hopkins, NW, Chicago.

100%.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

So you don’t think Duke and Vandy offer strong academics?

Right? I would put Duke and Vandy in the same category as Ivy academics when compared to actual SEC flagship schools like Alabama (which also have their own value.) The distinction is small in the broader picture.

Dp, Duke and Vandy aren’t peers. Vandy on the same level as Wash U and Emory, Duke as Hopkins, NW, Chicago.

They are all peers, they are all peers with any of the Ivies as well. The constant attempts at granular slicing and ranking are nonsensical yet you persist.

That’s rich, I wasn’t the one who started this thread. Sorry if it makes you sad, Vandy mom, but the majority of the world doesn’t see Vandy as a peer to the Ivies or Duke. It’s still a very good school as is Wash U, Emory, Georgetown, etc . . ,

It’s still always ranked way ahead of all these schools too interestingly

I thought you were opposed to "granular slicing." In any case, I'm sure that if we were to average rankings for a five year period, that isn't so.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

So you don’t think Duke and Vandy offer strong academics?

Right? I would put Duke and Vandy in the same category as Ivy academics when compared to actual SEC flagship schools like Alabama (which also have their own value.) The distinction is small in the broader picture.

Dp, Duke and Vandy aren’t peers. Vandy on the same level as Wash U and Emory, Duke as Hopkins, NW, Chicago.

They are all peers, they are all peers with any of the Ivies as well. The constant attempts at granular slicing and ranking are nonsensical yet you persist.

That’s rich, I wasn’t the one who started this thread. Sorry if it makes you sad, Vandy mom, but the majority of the world doesn’t see Vandy as a peer to the Ivies or Duke. It’s still a very good school as is Wash U, Emory, Georgetown, etc . . ,

It’s still always ranked way ahead of all these schools too interestingly

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

A better way to put this is “would you prefer to spend time with intellect, influence, and long term growth or waste a bit of time on a depreciating asset?” Your answer says much about you and your child.

So again, your position os that there’s no “intellect” at Duke, Vandy, emory, Rice, UT? My colleagues in medicine will be anxiously awaiting your hot take