Duke vs. Vandy w/ full Tuition

Faline2
Fri, 10 Apr 2009 09:46:18 +0000

I have a senior at Duke. Duke is tremendously fun and high spirited and international in outlook and mission. My son actually prefers Vanderbilt but chose to attend Duke for one reason: Vanderbilt’s music programs through Blair required more of him than he wanted to give…they are “too good” for people who only want to play casually a couple of nights a week…I speak of the Symphony at Blair which is superb, and elder son wanted to play in college. He is very happy in the Duke Symphony where there truly are not many music majors (he is not a music major but wanted it to be part of his week). Blair students play at a whole other level of commitment. The arts in Nashville are excellent, entertainment options in Nashville are excellent in every arena.

For sheer “things to do any night of the week” Vanderbilt and Nashville trump Duke.

He hated hated giving up life in Nashville for four years though. Life in Durham cannot compare to the quality of life in Nashville and the synergy between Vandy and Nashville has so many avenues worth exploring in careers as well as in the arts.

He is a die hard Blue Devil and declares his children will be going there. However, the stats at Vandy indicate that the student bodies are very very similar now, and Vandy is also a national draw university. Even their admission rates are quite similar now…Duke’s is only somewhat more difficult for admission. Duke is still getting a few thousand more applicants but Vandy applications are a national “story” in terms of increase in a few years’ time.

Vandy can get you anywhere Duke can in your career goals. Perhaps you ought to be comparing the schools in terms of the program you think you will pursue which you do not mention.

Have you checked out the costs of grad school in the direction you might be heading? We have and in many cases as parents we are required to give our income on FAFSA till sons are 28 years old…in other words…looks like we will be spending money on graduate schools beyond what we anticipated. Take a look at that angle too…your parents’ money might be better spent on grad school. If you won a merit scholarship, you should be able to get the most out of your Vandy education and head someplace else for the next step.

Congrats on your great offers.