Anonymous
Post 04/18/2026 11:41     Subject: Vanderbilt vs UVA?
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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


Omg, are you serious? The international wealth, in particular, is staggering. Esp from the Middle East and kleptocratic former Soviet bloc countries.


Plus all the celebrity kids. Coincidently, Apple’s brother, Moses, attends Brown. SJP and Matthew Broderick’s son. Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones have kids at Brown. Stephanopolis daughters at both Vandy and Brown (one may have graduated by now). I could rattle more off, but you get the idea.


That just gives them an edge. It doesn't replace the rigor needed to be a viable admit or thrive there. The ones we know have talent and do the work. Brown is not a slack school. They do have some work/life balance, but my kids are studying/working most of the time an involved in some artistic/athletic/club endeavor the rest.
Anonymous
Post 04/18/2026 11:35     Subject: Vanderbilt vs UVA?
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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.


The lack of self awareness with this one s truly off the charts.


They actually seem like the most self-aware person here. I agree with them and appreciate their willingness to admit some fault, unlike everyone else here who acts like an expert and views everything as very black and white.


NP. Ditto that. Was thinking the same
Anonymous
Post 04/18/2026 10:27     Subject: Vanderbilt vs UVA?
Vanderbilt’s placement outcomes for business (finance and consulting) are out of step with its admissions difficulty. It’s a low target.

Also, while the Greek system is relatively low participation, it has high influence on outcomes. For example, the finance bros target recruits to add to the network before they set foot in campus, the fraternities have shared test banks to help lift GPAs, etc.
Anonymous
Post 04/18/2026 06:31     Subject: Re:Vanderbilt vs UVA?
Anonymous wrote:My child goes to Vanderbilt and the experience there is very different from what is described here. If you have a chance to walk around campus, I think you’ll get a strong feel for it — very hardworking, serious students. I do think that pre-med/engineering seem to be among the most intense courses of study. I don’t know much about UVA so can’t really juxtapose the two. I think Greek participation at Vanderbilt is around 25%.

Since grades are really important for pre-med you may want to also consider which school has more grade inflation.


I don't want any doctors who got by through grade deflation.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 23:41     Subject: Re:Vanderbilt vs UVA?
Anonymous wrote:
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.


She has a point.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 23:34     Subject: Vanderbilt vs UVA?
Anonymous wrote:The two schools are remarkably similar. UVA is bigger and more rural. Which has pros and cons that are pretty personal. Vandy is private which also has pros and cons. Student bodies are quite similar. If you are from the DMV then Vandy will feel a little more like "going away" to college. Though there are benefits from being closer to home.

Anyone who tries to definitively say one is significantly better than the other is adding zero value. The world is not that black and white.


Pretty sure most people have said schools are basically equivalent, therefore not worthwhile to pay &80,000 more for Vandy, which was the question presented by op.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 21:39     Subject: Vanderbilt vs UVA?
Anonymous wrote:Vandy no comparison. Privates don’t answer to meddling Governors and state legislators.








Only to meddling Presidents. . .
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 20:35     Subject: Vanderbilt vs UVA?
Vandy no comparison. Privates don’t answer to meddling Governors and state legislators.






Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 19:23     Subject: Vanderbilt vs UVA?
My daughter decided between Vanderbilt, UVA OOS and Rice. She chose Vandy and loves it! Smart kids, fun social life, good weather, decent sports, etc.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 19:10     Subject: Vanderbilt vs UVA?
Save the money for med school.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 17:55     Subject: Vanderbilt vs UVA?
For pre-med, Vanderbilt ranks 27th for percentage of grads that go on to medical school. UVA ranks 84th.

https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/adam.hearn4686/viz/TopFeederstoMedicalSchool/TopFeeders-Med5

Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 17:18     Subject: Vanderbilt vs UVA?
Anonymous wrote:UVA has limited appeal outside of DMV. Nice state school but not much more.


Completely false.

Signed,

Fairfield County CT Mom
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 17:16     Subject: Vanderbilt vs UVA?
Anonymous wrote:The two schools are remarkably similar. UVA is bigger and more rural. Which has pros and cons that are pretty personal. Vandy is private which also has pros and cons. Student bodies are quite similar. If you are from the DMV then Vandy will feel a little more like "going away" to college. Though there are benefits from being closer to home.

Anyone who tries to definitively say one is significantly better than the other is adding zero value. The world is not that black and white.


This.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 17:15     Subject: Re:Vanderbilt vs UVA?
My child goes to Vanderbilt and the experience there is very different from what is described here. If you have a chance to walk around campus, I think you’ll get a strong feel for it — very hardworking, serious students. I do think that pre-med/engineering seem to be among the most intense courses of study. I don’t know much about UVA so can’t really juxtapose the two. I think Greek participation at Vanderbilt is around 25%.

Since grades are really important for pre-med you may want to also consider which school has more grade inflation.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2026 17:09     Subject: Vanderbilt vs UVA?
The two schools are remarkably similar. UVA is bigger and more rural. Which has pros and cons that are pretty personal. Vandy is private which also has pros and cons. Student bodies are quite similar. If you are from the DMV then Vandy will feel a little more like "going away" to college. Though there are benefits from being closer to home.

Anyone who tries to definitively say one is significantly better than the other is adding zero value. The world is not that black and white.