anonymouss101

Satisfied So Far

Its only my first semester at Vanderbilt, but I have not been unsatisfied with my classes and professors. They all have offered office hours and so have the TAs. The only time a TA taught a class is when the discussion was relevant to his graduate thesis, so he was more knowledgeable than the professor about the subject. The teachers all seem very excited about teaching, and I have found even in my 130 person lecture I can still relate to the teacher and he can engage the whole class.

I found that ratemyprofessor.com was really helpful and pretty true and I used it extensively for chosing my classes both semseters.

However, I'm mostly in social sciences and I know friends in math classes have not been so successful or happy with their professors and TAs.

Its Getting There...

The campus definitely seems more diverse than it used to be, and my class boasts the most diversity yet. I have never met so many people of different religions, and people are coming from all over. There is definitely an acceptance of racial minorities. Most people seem pretty wealthy, and if they are poor they don't really show it. However, I don't think there is any bias based on economic background. As a liberal, I feel like there is definitely a more conservative overtone around campus, and I tend to not speak out about being liberal. However, most of my friends are conservative and I have never felt that I was singled out because of my political beliefs nor excluded. The only problems I have seen is with sexual orientation. There are rumors of a fraternity for homosexual men being started next year, which I think is excellent, and most people do accept gay students. However, there are some fraternities that will discriminate against people of minorities being allowed in and such. I have a gay friend who is thinking of transferring because of the lack of other gay students on campus, so the social aspect is just not there for him. However, he doesn't feel as though he is persecuted, just excluded from a very small portion of the social life, maybe one or two frats.

One of a Kind

I found very few schools like Vanderbilt, and I don't think I would be as happy anywhere else.

Vanderbilt is a national arboretum in the middle of a major metropolitan area. Therefore, you have a beautiful, stereotypical college campus with a big-city feel. Also, the graduate schools, such as the medical school, are top rated. I always feel that I am at a very impressive place when I hear the medical helicopters transporting people to and from our impressive hospital and childrens hospital.

The freshman program is really special at such a large school. We have our own campus, a five minute walk to the other campus on the other side of the road, we also have a freshman program called VUcept, which is the group that you are with during orientation and meet with once a week with for the first semester. Its a really nice way to be introduced to the school and a good way to ask questions, for there is a faculty and student leader assigned to each group.

The athletics are division one, however the athletes are not isolated from the rest of the school. I have had classes with, and sit next to athletes at meals and such.

Finally, the party-hard, play-harder atmosphere. The party scene is great, I feel safe and secure on campus. The fraternities hold open parties, and I have a great time every weekend. The tailgates were always my favorite, and they are so good most of the students never end up going to the football games. However, when it comes time to study, the students do study. Its a really smart school, but full of kids who like to rage.

Its the best balance of city/school, party/work, extracurriculars/free time that I could ever imagine. Balance is truly the key word. Its a perfect number of students, not too big but not too small, its a global player, but you don't feel like you are a number. Vanderbilt is truly a unique and fantastic school.

Don't Get Down There as Much as I Want

I love nashville, however I have found myself stuck in the vanderbubble most weekends. Although, I know people who have seen a live show once a week for the whole semester, and the bars downtown are really fun to go to, I just can't seem to motivate myself because the parties on campus are so fun, and free. The local atmosphere is full of professionals, however there is some nashtrash. However, that comes with the honkytonks. However, if the country-thing isn't your scene, you can easily avoid it.

Safety isn't the best, but i've never felt endangered and Vanderbilt does a good job of warning students about whats happening off campus.

I've Called Them for a Ride.

The Vanderbilt police are awesome. I lost my wallet at a club this past semester, and because I had no money for a cab, I called the Vanderbilt Police and they escorted me back to the club to look for it. They then filed a police report, and my door lock was changed that morning at five as I was sleeping because I had lost my key as well. However, I don't lock my door. To get into the building, you need a card access, and to get onto a hall key access is required as well. At certain times you are restricted from buildings and halls, therefore I feel completely secure. I haven't had anything stolen by another vanderbilt student and the police are always visible, therefore i feel secure, safe, and watched over. Plus, the security staff are really nice and I've had great conversations with them before about things that are irrelevant to their job.

Some Places Need Improvement

Some places need improvement, like some of the upperclassmen dorms. However, the freshman campus is brand new and fantastic. The Commons Center is gorgeous and eco-friendly, and the dorm rooms are large for the most part and gorgeous as well. The student center and the dining hall on the main campus are the center, and they have little to complain about. There is a ballroom in the student life center and plenty of events are held there. I am very impressed with the hospitals. The only thing about the school buildings that I don't like is the Stevenson center. Some of the buildings are really nice, some seem a little older. Its also very confusing to navigate at first, however I have become really comfortable with it throughout the semester.

Not a lot needs to be updated, however, there are some places that need a finishing touch.

Repetative, but Yummy

The commons dining room, which is the freshman dining hall is very good. The main campus dining hall isn't always open, so a lot of the upperclassmen will come to the commons to eat dinner, because it is so good. However, the menu repeats every week and can get a little repetitive. Although, I heard that the menu switches each semester which is good. Also, there are some special days where the dining service will do something different, they are very responsive to suggestions and easy to work with. They want to make the experience the best they can.

The options at the other dining hall are great, but it gets very crowded. Also, there are special events over there, like the holiday dinner, which was amazing this year.

Your Vandycard also works at off campus locations, not as a meal, but with meal money. Therefore, you can use money that is on your card and not out of your pocket at some great restaurants off campus.

The meal plan is a little confusing to deal with at first, however after a week or two, its easy to understand.

The diversity of on campus locations is great, there are two dining halls, a vegetarian place, two quiznos, a barbeque place, starbucks, and great cafes. If you don't want dining hall food, there are plenty of other places to go, and most off campus places you can walk to.