<p>Hilsa, you sound like a nice person and it is obvious that you are trying very hard to be objective about Vanderbilt. You said you had a fabulous summer studying there–doesn’t that already say something about the school?</p>
<p>You need to worry less about your preconceptions and “what Vanderbilt needs” and more about what you need. Do the programs offered at Vandy have what you want and need? Did you like the people you already met, do you like the sports, professors, campus, etc?</p>
<p>Don’t listen to the ignorant posters with the exception of Silversparkles, who told you that she went there to study what she was interested in. You will make friends there–and don’t believe the b.s. about conservatives either. VandySAE does not speak for the conservatives at Vandy. My child is a religious conservative and has an extremely diverse group of friends, including basketball and football players of different races, internationals, gays, atheists and preppy kids. In my child’s opinion the conservatives are more open and tolerant of differences than some other groups that are ideologically doctrinaire and demanding. Some of the ideologically driven groups also keep very much to themselves because they falsely believe that they will not be accepted. A case in point are the internationals from Malaysia, who will not talk to the student community at large–so what’s the point of going to college?</p>
<p>If you want to function in the real world don’t expect it to change for your comfort. Put yourself out there–be who you are and be it well, as one of the saints says–and people will love you for who you are. Go for the college that seems like the most challenging and the most fun and give it your all. You will not fail wherever you go if you are as nice and open-minded as you seem.</p>