#vu2018

Y’all this is a long one, my apologies.

I wish I had had realistic expectations. Vandy classes were as hard as (or harder) my hardest class senior year of high school. Coupled with the adjustment to college life (i.e. make my own schedule, social access and freedom), the first few weeks can be rough. 

After the beginning I was not overwhelmed, but I coped with a lot of my stresses either by (a) ignoring them or (b) giving up super easily. I wish I had realized that I could do it. I can do it. You can do it. You just have to do it, if that makes sense? Like the effort you put in most often directly affects your performance and feeling in class. Go to the library, turn off the wifi, turn off your phone, don’t use your laptop in class, etc. Tbh Pinterest is great for study tips and methods, so check out some on there to see if you find a system you think will work for you. 

Lauren Cohan. I'M SO EXCITED I LOVED HER IN SPN I LOVE HER IN TWD I'M GONNA MEET HER

Guess who's gonna go over her tiny college budget for photo.

Firstly, let me assure you that if you choose to go Greek and join a sorority, then you will most likely have a great experience, regardless of tier. I personally choose not to believe in a tier system, primarily because tiers seem to be a dictation from the fraternities on campus, and I don’t really care what the fraternity community’s opinions of the sororities are. Secondly, being in a Panhellenic sorority is mainstream at Vanderbilt, it does not matter which house.

That being said, I totally understand wanting to fit-in on campus, and “top-tier” sororities are a great way to do that. Perceived tier structure is very important to some people, but I just want to reiterate that finding a house, regardless of placement in an assumed tier structure, with girls you relate to and can see being your sisters during college, and an organization you can have a potentially lifelong commitment to, is what is most important. People come into college in the fall and recruitment in the spring with totally different ideas than with which they leave. It is totally possible to join a sorority, and even one you consider “top tier,” but you may also end up deciding something opposite of these initial thoughts. 

Parting words of advice, stay open minded and try not to worry about it!!

I’m not going lie, SES is a huge factor at Vanderbilt. However, there is more diversity than you think, and I am often surprised to find out how much (or little) money people come from, at least in my group of friends.

Lots of Vanderbilt students have gone to private school, lots of Vanderbilt students have lake houses, and can afford $50 brunches (Also, you may have arbitrarily thrown out $50, but I want to alleviate some of your stress by telling you it is highly unlikely you’d spend that much money at Fido, unless you’re treating like four girls from your hall or something). But lots don’t!

Lots of people have jobs on campus, so that’s totally normal and is a way to make some spending money (as long as the money you’re making doesn’t go to tuition, but you’ll know if that’s you). The meal plan has a certain amount of meal money, so you can save it and use it at more expensive restaurants like Cabana or for brunch at places like Provence, so you can dine in style without worrying about paying out of pocket.  

You can do tons of stuff for free around Nashville for having fun beyond going out to eat, there is free admission with your Commodore Card to all kinds of sights, and going out on campus is free, too. VSG and VPB plan tons of stuff too, and student discounts are popular across Nashville.

It’s very easy to be overwhelmed by the money that is apparent on Vanderbilt’s campus, but while you’re being blinding by the neon of people’s Lilly dresses (tbh I didn’t even know what Lilly Pulitzer was until college, so) and salmon colored shorts, look for the less lavishly attired and accessorized. They’re out there, and there are a lot of them, and you’ll see there are way more than just trust-fund kids on campus. 

However, I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with shopping at higher end places or spending money on fancy brunch, but there’s also nothing wrong with shopping at outlets (I am a huge fan of J. Crew Factory—holla student discount and great sales) or Goodwill or wherever you want and eating brunch at Commons (omelets, chocolate croissants, biscuits and gravy—ugh). It will be what you make it, and while it may be overwhelming initially, you get used to it and can laugh it off, discover a long lost deceased relative who has left their entire lavish estate to you and suddenly become rich, or do somewhere in-between. Vanderbilt historically has been associated with the glamorously wealthy, but I think you’ll find that has changed—campus is rich in so many other ways, too.

Yes! I do not think in chemistry, but there is “baby” bio. However, it’s Vanderbilt “baby,” so it may still be difficult! However, if you’re seriously interested in science, the science major classes are the same as premed.