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This is no more true of Vanderbilt than it is of Yale, Wesleyan, or Williams. Each of these schools has its own culture, but they aren’t “conformist.” Pretty smart people at all of them. Why would a student feel more compelled at Vanderbilt to change his/her identity than at any other school? There probably are some students at Vandy who judge others for not wearing polo shirts or designer jeans, just as there are students at Wesleyan who judge others for wearing them. I don’t see how this “forces” anything.</p>
<p>Sounds like you want to stir the pot, OP. As Vandy’s student profile becomes more diverse and even more accomplished, I wonder at what point the perpetuation of this stereotype about Vandy students will stop.</p>