Vanderbilt University

In 1873, on the heels of the Civil War, "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt gave $1 million to the university that now bears his name, with the hope that it would "contribute to strengthening the ties which should exist between all sections of our common country." Since then, Vanderbilt has consistently enrolled highly talented students and challenged them daily to expand their intellectual horizons in an inclusive environment based on open inquiry and respect. Vanderbilt's comprehensive interdisciplinary approach to education allows students to pursue a wide array of academic and curricular interests outside of their main focus of study, and the university's Opportunity Vanderbilt financial aid program ensures that it is often cited among the country's best values. Consistently ranked among the top 20 universities in the country by U.S. News & World Report, Vanderbilt is a private research university that features ten schools, four of which have undergraduate programs. Each year, 1,600 first-year students join the university, bringing the total undergraduate population to approximately 6,900 students, more than half of whom collaborate with professors on research across disciplines. The university's 7:1 student-faculty ratio gives students access to faculty members of prominence in every area of academic study. Faculty members provide a challenging, comprehensive education that encourages broad perspectives and critical thinking.

Vanderbilt undergraduates come from all 50 states and 52 countries, 51% are female, 49% are male, 41.0% are minority students and 8.8% are international students. Vanderbilt is recognized for an active campus life, where students balance their academic lives with enriching experiences outside the classroom. Students can select from among 430+ student-run organizations, including pre-professional, cultural, religious, political, recreational, and social clubs. Elected representatives of Vanderbilt Student Government work in conjunction with other student leaders and faculty to bring noted speakers, events, and musicians to campus. Vanderbilt also has a thriving college athletics program. A founding member of the SEC, Vanderbilt has 16 Division I teams that have won four national championships and 30 individual and team league championships since 2000.

Vanderbilt has “a very interesting student body that blends traditional Southern students and culture with very distinct Northern influence,” and students say that “you can find such a diverse group of people here…not just racially or ethnically or economically, but also in personality.” The typical Vandy student is “well-rounded, engaged” and “committed to both learning and to extracurriculars.” There’s an atmosphere of collaboration rather than competition, students say: “People here don’t worry about scoring higher than the person next to them. We’re all in this together.” While some say that “many fit the stereotype of rich, White, and upper class,” most counter that Vanderbilt has “a diverse student body” and “students come from all over, and the freshman experience does a good job making us a united class.”

“Everyone here knows how to be a student when it’s time to be a student, and a college kid when outside of the classroom.” Students say there’s an “academic environment” but Vandy students “take the work hard/play hard mentality to heart when it comes to weekend activities.” As one student puts it, “Everyone is outgoing and friendly, that’s why we came to the South!” There is “a vibrant Greek [life] community” on campus and students say the social scene is inclusive and interwoven: “It is not unusual for a student to be a tour guide, RA, Fraternity officer, and still kill it in the classroom.” The “beautiful” campus provides the “perfect balance between your classic college campus and big city school” and the students are “passionate, caring, [and] genuine.” Even though “academics are usually at the top of everyone’s lists,” there’s “always so much to do on campus or downtown in Nashville,” with one student adding that it’s also fun to “visit one of the many state parks that are close by, or go to one of the thousands of concerts Nashville has annually.” On the whole, the atmosphere is “friendly and welcoming” and students say their peers are “clearly of high intellect, they are not competitive with each other academically and enjoy other things besides school.”

Vanderbilt's stellar Career Center does its utmost to help students meet their professional goals and dreams. Right from the beginning, undergrads can meet with a Career Coach assigned to work with their specific major. What's more, the Center makes meeting with said coach incredibly easy; you can get together in person, via Skype, or speak over the phone. Students can also tap into numerous online resources, taking career assessments, searching for internship listings, etc. Additionally, the Career Center sponsors a myriad of events throughout the academic year. For example, the office hosts industry specific “slams.” These operate as fun, casual networking events wherein companies pitch themselves to students in rapid-fire rounds and then set up tables so interested individuals can further the conversation. Of course, students can rest assured that there are more traditional career fairs as well.