Perhaps the answer lies in facts more than a few friends:
- Minorities represent 33.5% of the student body
- 52% are from the South and Midwest
- 97% first-year retention rate (maybe Princeton Review’s assertion of the happiest students isn’t far off)
- 91.3% of students are in the top 10% (of schools that rank)
- 11.7% admit rate (RD is lower. This is skewed by higher ED rate.)
- Approximately half of the class is filled binding ED (so Vanderbilt is a top choice for at least 1/2 of the students)
- 100% of their ED accepted students have multiple honors or significant leadership roles
The bottom line is Vanderbilt is very competitive for everyone, regardless of race/orientation. They do seem to be making an effort to increase diversity in many areas, but the stats demonstrate that diversity and achievement aren’t mutually exclusive.
BTW-My daughter, and several of her friends, were accepted and fit the stereotype you prefer–white, straight, southern and affluent. You didn’t say affluent, but “genteel,” which to me seems pretentious and code for PLU (not saying you meant it that way, but perhaps your comments were perceived as offensive and resulted in what you also perceive as offensive replies). One of her friends who was accepted is a minority, and Valedictorian, who despite her race has more in common with them than not. I think I feel the opposite of you: I prefer my children be exposed to more diversity.