Vanderbilt University | Student Reviews | Best College

Student Profile

Lauren

Class: Junior
Major: Other
Gender: F

High School: Roslyn High School
Transfer Student: N

Big Picture

The campus is stunning, and the students take full advantage. At the first hints of spring, students can be seen lying on the lawns and playing Frisbee. Last year, students set up a giant slip-and-slide on the hill of Peabody campus. ItÕs all straight out of one of those movies about college. An unusual amount of pastels can be seen on campus; the boys in pastel polos, and the girls often wearing pink. There is somewhat of an overemphasis on fraternities for nighttime entertainment, particularly when one is under 21 and cannot go to the downtown bars. There are surprisingly rigid social lines, as dictated by sororities and fraternities. A definite hierarchy exists amongst the 10 sororities. The student population is small enough that it is possible to feel like you know everyone, at least by face. When I tell people I go to Vanderbilt, I receive mixed reactions. Some people are impressed; while others ask me, ÒWhere is that again?Ó and proceed to ask me why I would choose to go to school in Tennessee. Most of my time on campus is spent in my dormitory in my suite (with 4 other girls). Friends are usually popping in and out at all times of the day. The area directly surrounding Vanderbilt is decent, but limited. There are some good casual eateries such as Panera and Bread and Company. There are also multiple Starbucks and several nice restaurants in the area. However, in order to get downtown, to the heart of Nashville, it is necessary to drive about 10 minutes. The community feeling is most predominant on campus, and most find that this is sufficient. Our previous Chancellor, Gordon Gee, was quite beloved. He could often be seen amongst drunken students at fraternities parties. He recently left, and was replaced by a new chancellor, Nicholas Zeppos. No news to report on this yet. Juicy Campus has created a school-wide controversy. This website provides an anonymous forum in which students have the opportunity to gossip (over-honestly) about other students and occurrences on campus. Sororities have been doing their best to encourage students to refrain from using this website, but little progress has been made. There is definitely a lot of school pride at Vanderbilt. We refer to it affectionately as ÒVandy.Ó Students wear Vanderbilt logos with pride. Stadiums are usually packed at sporting events, particularly football and basketball games. Our Housing department is known to be a hassle, and the director is widely disliked. The department is known to be rigid and apathetic to individual needs. Students also complain that there is not enough on-campus parking.

Academic Life

Vandy professors really seem to care about their students. Most professors make a strong effort to learn the names of their students during the first few weeks of class. As would be assumed, the smaller the class, the more quickly you are able to form a relationship with the professor. All professors are required to hold office hours, but most professors encourage students to stop by any time. Professors are also highly accessible via email. Class participation is mandatory in four of five of my classes. Even my Statistics class is highly discussion oriented. Failing to participate sufficiently usually hurts your grade (unless the class is a large lecture). Vanderbilt takes the phrase Òwork hard, play hardÓ to the fullest extreme. On one hand, students can be seen studying around the clock; while on the other, hardcore partying goes on every night of the week. We are pros at budgeting our time, knowing that working hard in the afternoon will allow for an evening of fun. Staying in to do work one night does not cause too much concern, as we know that the next big evening is just a day away. Peabody is VanderbiltÕs department of education and psychology. Its campus is separate from that of central campus; the two are connected by bridges that run over traffic. Peabody has somewhat of a stigma: it is looked down upon by those in Arts & Sciences who think that itÕs easy. HOD receives the worst stigma of all. This Peabody major, Human and Organizational Development, is actually the most relevant major to a real-life career, yet is made fun of for not being a real major. The academic requirements are reasonable. Most people finish their majors before senior year. It is common to double major or add a minor. It is difficult to get an A in a class, but most students pull off at least a B. Education at Vanderbilt is primarily geared towards learning for its own sake. The HOD major is one of the few that trains you for the real world. However, Vanderbilt provides its students with a solid education that its students can be proud of.

Student Body

There is a distinct population of hardcore ÒBible-lovers,Ó as they are called. These are people who claim to be waiting until marriage to lose their virginity (but whether this is too late is questionable). Most often, these are people who are adamantly against drinking, but eventually suc***b during sophomore year. Bible studies are common on campus. There is an entire fraternity, BYX, based on these ideals. The Jewish population is small, but increasing, as Vanderbilt recruits more and more from the North East. As a Jewish person, IÕve found is that most people do not possess prejudices, but anti-Semitic jokes or comments definitely slip out every once in a while in certain crowds. There seems to be a lack of racial or religious tensionÉalthough it would be nave to say it doesnÕt exist. VandyÕs culture is highly magneticÑit sucks in even the most resistant freshmen. I have a good friend who came to Vandy as a pot-smoking, long-haired, hippie. Finding that he didnÕt fit in (and was thus not experiencing the sugary excitement on campus), he returned from winter break with a shorter, more typically Vandy, haircut. The Bob Marley tee-shirts were soon nowhere to be foundÉand in their place, a large selection of polos. Characteristics of the ÒidealÓ Vandy girl: thin, tan, southern, blonde, wealthy, pearl earrings, pastel Lilly Pulitzer dresses, classy yet partys Characteristics of the ÒidealÓ Vandy boy: pastel polo shirts (Ralph Lauren), khakis, southern, wealthy While people do not speak about money in specific dollar amounts, there is a general assumption among most students that they will be wealthy.