Vanderbilt University Reviews

"I had a stimulating experience being in the materials science program being the first african american male finishing this program. Being the first PhD in my family as well as being the first african american male to finish the program it is well rewarding. Great education."

"The interdisciplinary materials science program has many useful tools, informative classes, and helpful staff. However, the communication and organization between administration, faculty and students needs a lot of work. There is often confusion about requirements and it is usually left to the students to figure it out using a very short and undetailed handbook."

"The BME community at Vanderbilt is uniquely supportive and friendly, both academically and socially. The proximity of the hospital also allows easy access for collaboration."

"The interdisciplinary nature of the program provides a broad spectrum of areas to work, and doesn't require your undergraduate degree to be the same (i.e. work in physics even though B.S. is in chemistry). Additionally, the size of the lab and the involvement of advisors varies greatly--so it's usually possible to find something that fits, and if it doesn't, it's possible to switch. Finding affordable housing close to campus is not easy. Nashville lacks efficient public transportation, so a car is necessary. Nashville is a flourishing city with a lot to offer in terms of outdoor interests, music, and food, etc."

"cons: little diversity, bad public transportation, pros: affordable living, safe environment"

"pros: affordable living, great reputation, great city to live in cons: little diversity, not very "pc""

"Our graduate program offers a unique interdisciplinary perspective and has a great student to faculty ratio."

"Pretty school campus and the faculty is good, too. Only the facilites on campus is not that ideal."

"First year student will spend lots of time and effort as a TA. You can choose any adviser affiliated with the program, although most incoming students will work with new faculty in engineering and science department."

"Nashville is expensive to live, but otherwise is the perfect city for graduate school. I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience."

"Pros: top notch faculty. Cons: Closed off from rest of campus and community; not much career counseling."

"The program is filled with stellar scholars who are surprisingly relatable - this includes professors and students. It's a good program for women in philosophy, and those can be hard to find. The professors demand a lot from their students, but are generally very supportive. It's a vibrant community with a lot to offer overall."

"Studying Divinity at Vanderbilt is an eye-opening experience. Much is expected from Day 1, including writing theology at a high academic level, counseling and providing care, and creatively crafting theological responses to community issues. Vanderbilt is very focused on social justice work, but also needs to listen more to students who don't always have the faculty's ears. Granted, Vanderbilt is very fair when it comes to listening to diverse voices, but I've faced a huge uphill battle trying to get any work done in the intersection of theology and critical disability study - despite the faculty agreeing in theory to it's importance. Overall, very challenging, very motivated, very justice-focused, but not always 100% attentive to ideas that the staff don't know how to address."

"This program is highly competitive in the best way possible. I take classes with intelligent, engaged peers who also want to make a difference in our country's education system and the lives of children. These classes are taught by exceptional professors who are top experts in the field, and who still commit themselves to students and teaching alongside their rigorous research. The program is two years, compared to other education policy programs that are 9 months, in and out, so I feel as though my knowledge base and technical skills in the field will be superior upon graduating. Additionally, the program involves a field practicum, lots of networking, and top-notch career services. Vanderbilt as a whole is a great learning environment, and Nashville is an incredible place to live and learn, especially in the education and policy spheres. This graduate program is expensive and time-consuming, however. Juggling classes, an assistantship or job, and a social life can be intimidating and difficult, but the people make it worth it. Additionally, Nashville is a hard city to get around without a car due to a lack of public transportation, and cost of living near Vanderbilt can be quite pricey. That said, the area surrounding campus is a great place for working young(er) adults to live, and an excellent community."

"I was accepted into both Harvard and Rice University to pursue my Master's Degree as well, but ultimately chose Vanderbilt because of a great combination of affordability, prestige, and locale."

"I feel that Vanderbilt's Nursing graduate program is staffed and headed up by very competent, approachable people. I am really appreciating how quickly the professors and coordinators communicate with me, and how informative the school is with requirements, immunizations, and other necessities that have to be completed prior to school beginning. The only complaints I would have so far, would be the financial aid is not very substantial at all, and the parking situation is horrible, from the unavailability and distance of parking, to the huge fees associated with parking passes that are not included in tuition."

"This program is extremely expensive (with minimal scholarship/grant money available), and can sometimes feel chaotically unorganized. That said, Vanderbilt consistently graduates top notch NPs and CNMs, so they must be doing something right."

"First-rate academic experience; will graduate with the confidence and skills to be an excellent nurse practitioner. The only disadvantage to this program is it's cost and the limited availability to financial aid/scholarships. However, the saying holds true, "you get what you pay for.""

"My program is great. All the opportunities are there for you. Vanderbilt is looking for the individuals that seek out these opportunities and share their love of research. If there is any con, it would be in the area of funding. The first year is a given, but the next four years are not. The student must seek out training grants to help fund the research. The students who work really hard succeed, the others don't."

"Peabody has both the power and the prestige of a Tier 1 research university and the opportunities for career building are omnipresent. Faculty are experts in their areas, which sometimes keeps them from being thoroughly engaged with students."