<p>These stereotypes are pretty silly. Nashville may host many country bands in the Honky Tonks downtown, but Nashville is known as Music City, not just Country Music City. It’s the place where practically every big band of every genre stops on tour. “Hillbilly” is just absurd. It is a large urban center and a bastion for healthcare and entrepreneurship.</p>
<p>In 2013, the city ranked No. 5 on Forbes’ list of the Best Places for Business and Careers – does that sound “hillbilly” to you?</p>
<p>Vanderbilt just does not have a strong southern culture. So often people visit campus expecting southern accents, cowboy hats, and country music playing from loudspeakers across campus. While you may see a bit of that downtown, the fact is, the Vandy campus is almost indistinguishable from any elite campus in the northeast, except that we tend to dress better, have nicer weather and more trees. </p>