What makes Vanderbilt special? Well, there’s more than one answer to that questions. First, the music culture of the city of Nashville infiltrates and flourishes within the university. Not only is there the highly respected Blair School of Music but music permeates the social life. There’s the Quake music festival in the Fall and the Rights of Spring 2 day out door music festival right before finals. And these are not country music extravaganza’s. 2/3’s of the music in Nashville is not country. Sony recording studios are literally right next door.
A second distinction and more important to many, is the fact that the school is one of very few in the U.S. that is a need blind, no loan school. What does that mean in english? The school accepts students without considering their financial position at all and then guarantees financial aid through grants and scholarships, not loans, meaning the financial aid received beyond the parents contribution (EFC) does not have to be repaid.
In addition, the school has a strong commitment to community service. Over 2/3’s of the student body participate in community service. A popular activity is Alternative Spring Break where students spend their spring break doing volunteer work nationally and internationally. Over 50% of the student body participates in this at least once.
A final distinction is their commitment to research, particularly undergraduate research. Last year the school received over $57 million in research grants involving 120 centers, institutes & laboratories. They rank 20th in federal research and development funding.
These strengths only begin to scratch the surface as to what makes Vanderbilt special. There’s so much more to this little oasis in a metropolitan city.
