Alarcon595

University of Miami has done a lot to try to avoid the "party" reputation it once had. As a result, the campus is relatively strict when it comes to underage drinking.

But overall, college is what you make of it. It's up to you if you want to get distracted and let your grades plummet or if you want to take your academics seriously and do well in school. The power is in your hands, not the school's.

Most people only go out when they feel they can. If you have work, stay in.

My sister recently graduated from there and it really depends on yourself. It depends on your priorities. She had a roommate who went out late partying and as a result had to study very late and long hours too. My sister, on the other hand, was able to even graduate in two and half years as opposed to the traditional four! She went to parties, but none of those crazy college parties. The mass does not dictate who you are or how you have to act. (:

no matter where you go to college there will be parties. what matters is how you spend your time and how seriously to take your education

Great school. All are welcome

its 2012, you don't have to worry about that anymore

It shouldn't. My grandfather is AFRICAN, and he was accepted, and so was my aunt who is African as well. Race shouldn't affect your chances at a good education.

I'm not asking if it will affect my chances, I'm asking if it should affect my decision to go there or not. For instance, I might choose a school like University of Michigan instead because of the rumored lack of diversity at Vanderbilt. And the "It's 2012" argument is stupid, racism obviously still exists.

People give the South a bad reputation, but for the most part we are not racists. You shouldn't worry. Vanderbilt is a great school and I'm sure you'll fit in just fine.

Vanderbilt is very open and accepting of all races and backgrounds. Because the competition among private universities for qualified African Americans is fierce, you might not find as high a percentage of African Americans at Vanderbilt as at Michigan. However, Vanderbilt is truly diverse in many ways (open forum policy), it does a great job at making sure its freshmen blend (House system at Peabody campus), and it encourages volunteerism in the community (and Nashville is a diverse city). I believe you'd have a great college experience at Vanderbilt.

Do not worry, Vanderbilt has a progressive student body and takes the goal of campus diversification seriously.

Don't let it affect your decision. It is the south, but its in a big enough city that you wont find a lot of that stereotypical southern black racism. If you want to go here, you should still go here if you get in.

As far as racism in the south goes, it's based more on money and intelligence than actual race. Such a high percentage of people are African Americans that there are very few people who are true racists (i.e., against ALL people of one race) and they're located in very, very small towns. Nashville is not a small town. I'm saying this as a person who has lived in the south since I've been born. The town I live in is roughly 60% A.A., 35% white, 5% other. Most discrimination is against people who wear "ganster" clothes (baggy pants, oversized shirt, generally cheap clothes) and people who are loud, obnoxious, and have bad attitudes. The bad attitudes thing is a big one. People can easily tell if you have the "poor me" or "I'm-being-wronged" or "I hate the world" mentality and automatically stick you a category you don't want to be in. If you're African American and fall under these categories then YES, you will face discrimination. Since you're applying to Vanderbilt and aren't worried about your chances of getting in, I'm pretty sure you're not. If you're smart and act like it, wear decent clothes, and are friendly, you shouldn't have a problem. You might run into a little bitterness if you get a scholarship (because you'll be seen as benefiting from Affirmative Action), but that's the only other thing I can think of. That will go away within a few weeks once you make friends and do classwork. Don't let Vanderbilt's location affect your choice, because it is an AMAZING school. Apart from the benefits of attending, its reputation alone will give you an advantage once you graduate.

(Sorry for such a long answer, but I hope it helps)

If you don't get an interview, you could send in an additional letter of recommendation instead. But I think it's best if you take advantage of every opportunity you have. So if you really want to go to duke, you should try to get the app done by the 10th. If you're applying to Trinity, there's just a 2 paragraph essay (which is optional).

Go Here: http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/Prospect/Adm_fr/fracadrq.htm It will give you a run down of the a-g courses.

I think you have a decent application. Those tests are not required, so you shouldn't feel as though you have to take them. However, they are just one more way to demonstrate your strengths, so if you think they could improve your viability as a candidate it is certainly not too late.

there is no harm in trying

Your background only gives a slight edge if any. Last year Princeton had over 23,000 applicants many of whom had diverse(in terms of race and ethnicity) and many were rejected. No one ever gets in just because of their race so while you can speak in your essays about hwo your background has shaped you it's important to showcase other great qualities that I'm sure you have :)

Your background only gives a slight edge if any. Last year Princeton had over 23,000 applicants many of whom had diverse(in terms of race and ethnicity) and many were rejected. No one ever gets in just because of their race so while you can speak in your essays about hwo your background has shaped you it's important to showcase other great qualities that I'm sure you have :)

it does increase your chances. perhaps not dramatically, but it does help