Vanderbilt University

School mission (as provided by the school):

Comprised of four undergraduate schools and six graduate programs, Vanderbilt University offers college students a world-class liberal arts education that includes both a high level of intellectual engagement and a myriad of extra-curricular opportunities. Vanderbilt students speak often about maintaining an excellent balance between academic challenge and campus involvement. Vanderbilt's undergraduate students hail from all 50 states and 30 countries and 23% represent minorities. With nearly 400 student-led organizations, campus is always buzzing with activity. The full gamut of political viewpoints is represented in both the student body and among activities held throughout the year. Hip-hop concerts and programming by the Black Cultural Center and Vanderbilt Hillel co-exist with Southeastern Conference football and basketball games and the traditional fraternity and sorority scene as social centers. Designed to foster a sense of community, The Commons offers a living-learning residential experience for first-year students. Seven of The Commons buildings have been LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified, making The Commons one of the largest collections of LEED-certified buildings planned on a single campus site in the southeastern United States The complement to the Commons is Vanderbilt Visions, a university core program bringing together first-year students, peer mentors, and faculty advisers to discuss the challenges and opportunities of the college experience. Vanderbilt's study abroad program offers more than 65 direct-credit programs on five continents. Host countries include Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Chile, Italy, South Africa, Israel, Spain, France, England, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, and China, among others. Students at Vanderbilt, the birthplace of the service-oriented Alternative Spring Break, engage with the local and global community through a large number of volunteer programs. Greek organizations provide an active social scene, and approximately 42% of students participate in Greek life. Well-known speakers and musical acts always draw a crowd on campus; a favorite Vanderbilt tradition is Rites of Spring, a music festival that takes place on the main lawn. Indeed, Vanderbilt's location in Midtown Nashville, in the heart of Music City USA, provides something for pretty much everyone: a rich supply of country, rock, and other music, and an abundance of restaurants, theaters, shops, museums, and brewpubs, all within walking distance of campus. Tennessee is home to the Great Smoky Mountains and state parks with picnic facilities, beautiful lakes, and skiing in the winter. The best road trips are to Memphis (home of Elvis), New Orleans (for Mardi Gras), Louisville (for the Kentucky Derby), Atlanta, and Manchester, Tennessee (for the annual Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival). Vanderbilt practices a need-blind admissions policy for all domestic applicants. In addition, the university promises to meet 100% of demonstrated need for all admitted students. As of fall 2009, students' financial aid packages will not include need-based loans. Instead, students' need-based aid will include a combination of grant monies and federal work-study funding. Vanderbilt also offers merit aid to approximately 5% of applying students. The three signature merit programs--Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholarship, Ingram Scholarship, and Chancellor's Scholarship--require a separate application and each award includes full tuition plus a summer stipend.