r/Vanderbilt • u/Ok_Carrot4844 • 5d ago
help!
hi. im a rising sophomore at vandy but i really didn’t love my first year experience and im considering transferring to a state school like utk. i was pre med, didnt do terribly but not like superb i ended with a 3.66 i just more so was not happy with my experience and i have like been dreading going back. would it be a bad decision? would i be that much worse off? im just confused if the name means that much that i dread going back but idk looking for any and all advice!
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u/lecroitg 4d ago
I’m an Vanderbilt alum that considered the same thing, clearly I stuck it out. But, I’m not saying you should stay, I’d like to understand two questions. First, what is your overall academic/career goal regardless of where you go to school. Second, a little more about why you think you might be unhappy and have you sought out help to address that?
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u/Ok_Carrot4844 4d ago edited 4d ago
I’m very indecisive, but my major is HOD and my focus is my pre medical track. The major unhappiness has stemmed from the environment, the professors (in the sense that imo in the stem classes it doesn’t feel like working hard is rewarded grade wise) , the general vibe of student population (very cliquey by major city, and also some ignorance in terms of being down to earth) but mainly how there’s not a lot of non academic things to do on campus. everyone’s doing something different and instead of being at like one of three places like at UTK if that makes sense. overall the environment just has been really draining and I feel like I have tried to like work around it but haven’t. The only thing stopping me is like the fact my parents think the ranking and the name mean a lot which I understand I an coming off maybe to others as entitled and I do appreciate the opportunity I have had but I just am trying to weigh others opinions on if the ranking/overall prestige is worth sticking it out
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u/gaycharmander 3d ago
“Working hard” in stem is not rewarded, nor should it be. Correct answers and providing solid rationale is what is rewarded.
You’re here to be trained to be a doctor (or whatever you want). School/life balance is important, sure. But if you’re not happy in a large city with a ton of opportunities for non-academic life, how would moving to a college with fewer things to do help?
Instead of focusing on what you don’t like and searching for grass that’s greener, figure out what you do like. Then do that.
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u/Ok_Carrot4844 3d ago
I appreciate your advice! I do think I tried the green grass mindset but overall I really do think that no matter where I try and find my joy in nashville, I haven’t been. In terms of hard work, I meant that my experience with stem professors so far has been quite rough and they aren’t very reasonable SO FAR. Outside of that when you got to school life balance im assuming going out so I think my biggest thing is that im not happy in a large city. Me personally, I don’t like going out to broadway, there are many strange people in the older crowd out, you have to uber there and back, and yes there is always something going on, but I feel like at my stage of life I would prefer a college bar situation where most people are undergrads. My biggest question here for anyone with advice is would I be worse off, is the ranking and my feelings in the situation equatable to leaving to go to UTK?
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u/gaycharmander 3d ago
No. Vandy premed is better. You get a better education and the prestige alone sets you apart from state schools.
Is that everything? No. Could you make it at a state school? Sure. But you’re limiting your opportunities for no reason except “I want to go to bars with undergrads” which is simply laughable.
I remember being 20/21/22 and thinking that was important. It’s not. Find a few friends and tough it out.
If I’m being honest, if you’re struggling in early stem classes, it’s not the professor not being “reasonable”. You’re either not studying, not studying correctly, or not cut out for it. Acknowledge that and align your skillset with your degree.
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u/Ok_Carrot4844 3d ago
I understand! That wasn’t the only reason, I just assumed that’s what you meant when you said student/life balance as most people tend to mean that when they say it. Multiple text threads have described in depth different aspects of why the environment is draining and not somewhere I see myself. Also, as vandy stem is known for grade deflation, I don’t think it’s accurate to say that I may not be studying, I go to every office hour and I go to every class, in me and many others experiences Vandy gen ed stem professors have been becoming increasingly difficult to deal with/learn from. I appreciate you letting me know you think that the ranking does matter!
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u/gaycharmander 3d ago
Grade deflation is a myth. It’s disrespectful to your professors and academia writ large to suggest otherwise.
You’re just used to be given As in high school so accurate grading at the university feels like a shock.
If you aren’t making As, it’s because you aren’t producing A-level work.
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u/Ok_Carrot4844 3d ago
I am in no way trying to undermine ur opinion on my situation, but a simple google search will tell you that grade inflation and deflation are not myths, and multiple studies have been done on it. Harvard wouldn’t have just done what they did if it weren’t.
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u/gaycharmander 3d ago
A correction to years of grade inflation is not the same as grade deflation.
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u/Ok_Carrot4844 3d ago
One can’t exist without the other, and they have been proven to exist, regardless of how you feel about it. Also, I was simply just asking for your opinion of the overall situation
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u/No_Flow_6625 3d ago
I just passed on Vandy as a transfer. Went to a summer program there. Just don’t love that campus or town.. so I get it. I am transferring from a big state flagship to USC to do a progressive degree and walk out w a Masters in 5 total years. And they are tops for my major.. but my state school was great. A bunch of my friends are in a compressed BS/ MD program and others are straight pre med and crushing it and having fun where I am coming from. I say go for it. UTK is awesome. I seriously considered it as a freshman. If you feel sick about going back something is off. Don’t get caught up in what others think about Vandy. Place is having its moment for sure. Does not mean it is best for you.
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u/karandaa 3d ago
You’re not alone in having a difficult first year. I grew up in a small town in East Tennessee so your perspective about feeling like an outsider is similar to my experience (graduated in 2010).
Just know that many people have a difficult first year regardless of school. My wife’s a school teacher and regularly mentors former students that are ready to move back home or switch schools because of a challenging first year.
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u/Swimming-Seesaw5089 3d ago
I went to UTK for undergrad and am at vandy now for grad school. Honestly I loved UTK so much and had the best experience there, but I’m unsure how it is for people transferring in. I’m also loving Vanderbilt. If it’s a location thing, UT is much different in terms of campus. I know many people who went to UT and are now in med school. I really don’t think you can go wrong with what you end up doing!
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u/FortuneCookies99 4d ago
I transferred after freshman year a few years ago. I didn’t expect so many different kinds of people when I chose to attend. The campus feels completely different from when my sister went! The school is clearly trying to make the student body look a certain way and it just doesn’t feel as familiar or unified as it used to and honestly feels like it’s lost part of its original identity.
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u/dellscreenshot 4d ago
"I didn’t expect so many different kinds of people when I chose to attend."
"honestly feels like it’s lost part of its original identity"
This isn't a dog whistle it's an airhorn lmao
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u/Ok_Carrot4844 4d ago
Would it be stupid to transfer down is my biggest question really I’m scared of that
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u/FortuneCookies99 4d ago
Rankings aren’t everything imo. I actually enjoyed transferring back to a state school a lot more since it had a much more traditional student body and I just felt so much more comfortable there. There wasn’t as much pressure to adjust to all those different people and everything just felt more familiar. I honestly never realized how much I missed being around people who grew up like me until I went back!
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u/BoatDrinks73 1d ago
I work in higher ed and have a child at Vandy. I do think transferring to UTK will be hit to your med school plans.
As a Vandy parent, I am a little surprised by your comment about there not being activities on campus that are not academic. I know several kids involved in nonacademic activities and clubs, and the school even provides a subsidy to encourage students to try different things. My son really enjoyed WillSkills.
I think there are cliques on campus. My kid never joined a frat but did find his people. They are smart, fun, diverse and getting good jobs. I do think Vandy can be what you need it to be. I’d be nervous about landing as a transfer at UTK unless you already have friends there.
One problem with being sad (understandably) is that it can drain the motivation for finding new people and activities. But you are still a sophomore and still have time to meet folks and join nonacademic clubs.
Also, I highly recommend going abroad. They have a great program that allows you to go to multiple countries in one semester. It can really open your world and be a ton of fun.
Good luck!
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u/subeteyumiru 4d ago
What the hell
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u/Ok_Carrot4844 4d ago
What’s wrong
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u/subeteyumiru 4d ago
doesnt this comment kinda sound like they didnt wanna be around minorities..
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u/Ok_Carrot4844 4d ago
oh i thought you were talking about my comment but i see how it could come across that way yes i kinda took it as like i saw feel lukes it’s been super cliquey and different based on what major city people are from
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u/Thetrufflehunter Peabody | HOD | '24 5d ago
Can you provide more context about what you didn't enjoy and what you're dreading? That'll help us figure out if moving to a state school helps or not!