Can I get into Vanderbilt?

Faline2
Fri, 23 Aug 2013 10:25:45 +0000

I don’t think our kids would have gotten “lost” at our fine state colleges, but I can count the number of good students we know who did go to our flagship and underperform/get lost/never speak to a teacher etc. Apts with faculty members are a big deal at the flagships and there is a “get in line” aspect plus many courses have small group discussion led by teaching assistants. Totally diff experience from Vandy although our state schools in Virginia have tons of fine students who are highly motivated and are a benefit to grow up alongside.

The small classrooms at Vanderbilt were very positive and son got to know at least 8-10 faculty members over the years, enough to secure personal letters of reference. He had a high opinion of 99% of his Vandy teachers whether or not the class was larger or small or he was anonymous or known. Son had a good deal of contact with his teachers if he initiated…but no coddling or intimacy as he might have received at a fine liberal arts college where more personal relationships are standard. When you are in a big institution like Vanderbilt, you do have to be a self directed person just as you must be at a flagship college. But you get the bigger playground, the broader peer group, the grad schools and the massive resources Vandy provides.
Regarding grad school entry, I think that Vandy itself will carry a great deal of weight when lenny2’s daughter graduates. She is going to school with tippy top students for four years. That alone will hone your survival skills and keep you working at your top ability. She will probably find the same chutzpah that got her the test scores to get into Vanderbilt when she takes grad school exams.
Duke son graduated with a B average and that was his absolute best effort in a quantitative degree. Probably would have managed an A average at other optional colleges, but son has the good quality of liking being around excellence even when others are more gifted. The toughening up he had keeping up with the highly gifted was probably a great secondary benefit since he is in business where quantitative moxy is highly prized and used daily.
Both sons are active in their alum networks and to be fair to Duke where we as parents overspent in 05 to 09…the Duke alum network was directly responsible for two of his job opportunities/interviews as well as for a support network of friends where he lives now. Vandy son graduated in 13 and has already attended Vandy alum events in two major cities.
I think both of them needed what Duke and Vandy had to offer when they were 18…breadth and depth of peers and an institution of dreamers and highly motivated people.