<p>Alright so I’m applying to WashU, Vandy, American, Tulane</p>
<p>Got pretty good grades 3.7, an act of 31, hardest course selection, 34 college credits, amazing extra circulars- school president, sports, blah blah blah. anyway assuming i get into American and vandy (my two top schools) which one do i pick?</p>
<p>Here’s the dilemma, I probably like Vanderbilt more right now, that’s because its got that SEC southern, lets have fun and party all day atmosphere, but i want to go into foreign relations, and there’s no other experience like D.C. for that. Also I do enjoy the more intellectual atmosphere of American. Basically would I be making a bad decision to go to Vandy for fun for a couple years? Is there fun stuff to do at American, I haven’t visited yet. I want to be a diplomat some day so its like party now or better career later, hard choice. </p>
<p>My freshman son is having a great time, hangs out with a great group of kids who go to the 18+ dance clubs in DC on the weekend. This weekend he just told me about how the clubs charge more money for the under 21s because they aren’t going to make as much money on their drinks. </p>
<p>The alcohol policy at AU seems to be strict about bringing it on campus, although there are frats and one of the most common items on the police listing is drunk and disorderly.</p>
<p>His two roomates are in SIS, and love it. AU has great study abroad options and one of the highest percentage of kids who study abroad (I think it is 55%)</p>
<p>My son loves AU. He’s having a ball–always busy, always doing something fun. it’s just a different kind of fun than he would be having at a big school or an SEC school.</p>
<p>There are plenty of parties, some wild, some not so…like any other campus. It’s just that the kids at AU feel that at other campuses, parties are all there is…every night, every weekend–nothing but parties.</p>
<p>The kids at AU go to lots of parties…and lots of other things. They have choices that kids at other schools don’t begin to have. Restaurants…from holes in the wall to super fancy. Clubs…from grungy to chic. Concerts…from the Virgin rave to Ben Folds performing with the National Sumphony at the Kennedy Center. Sports…no college football, but my son visits a good friend at Maryland if he wants to go to a football game on a Saturday afternoon–but since he’s friends with a lot of the guys on the AU soccer team and the women’s lacrosse team, he often does that. And AU’s basketball team made the NCAA tournament last year.</p>
<p>His macroeconomics class has been to the World Bank, the Fed, The IMF, and several other institutions, and had some amazing guest speakers, in addition to having an amazing professor who has been unbelievable accessible and helpful.</p>
<p>He feels that he is already way ahead of his friends at more limiting schools. He feels that he has everything they have, plus a whole lot more.</p>
<p>thanks alot. in case your wondering, i think ive decided to go american over vandy. then theres also tulane which is fun and has a program where i can go to american for a semester… ugh its all so difficult! oh well most likely money will help make the decision.</p>
<p>If you think you have what it takes to be admitted to Vandy (GPA, SAT, EC, etc), why are you NOT considering Georgetown and George Washington. Both of these schools are in the DC area: both of them should be within your target range.</p>
<p>As for the foreign relations, Georgetown SFS is very, very, very highly regarded, and great academics: notch over American, for sure.</p>
<p>In terms of partying, you can party as much as you want no matter where you are. It’s matter of which crowd to pick and join.</p>
<p>My kid will apply to the DC trio (Georgetown, George Washington, American). GWU and AU are both great schools, but if he gets into all three, there is no doubt that he will attend Georgetown. However, Georgetown is a reach for him, and would Vandy be.</p>