I went to Nashville just a few weeks ago and Vanderbilt is alive and well. Weather was great and campus was beautiful. If you like the social structure of Nashville and Vanderbilt more, then go there. I have my personal qualms with Northwestern and Chicago (traffic, social conditions, city conditions, etc etc) but consider the location that you choose as a solid beginning to life as a young adult - both schools can provide a great education but the locations are vastly different.