What would you do?

[615dawg]

I have a family member who bleeds maroon. He has a daughter who has been going to Starkville since she was a baby. All this to say, bigtime State fans.

Daughter is a 4.0 student who may be the valedictorian of her senior class in May. She is an excellent, all-state cross country athlete. Mississippi State has offered her a scholarship, as have several other regional schools (Troy, Georgia Southern, Georgia Tech, etc.)

She was set to go to State. The entire family was estatic. But here comes Vanderbilt, who has offered her a scholarship to run cross country. She is torn because she's always assumed she would be going to State, but she is academically excellent as well, and Vanderbilt is Vanderbilt. She is telling me that she thinks she wants to tell her dad she wants to sign with Vandy because of the opportunity. As far as quality of team, Vandy and State are comparable (3rd and 4th in the SEC)

She wants me to feel her dad out over the Thanksgiving holiday. I kind of feel like she needs to take the opportunity at Vandy. She's not going pro or anything, and a full ride at Vandy to do something she loves? She doesn't want to disappoint her dad, who is extremely proud of his Bulldog. He's one of the over the top fans too, but seriously what would you do? I think its much easier for women's cross country than it would be a son playing quarterback or something, but still its an interesting question.

 

[615dawg]

I have a family member who bleeds maroon. He has a daughter who has been going to Starkville since she was a baby. All this to say, bigtime State fans.

Daughter is a 4.0 student who may be the valedictorian of her senior class in May. She is an excellent, all-state cross country athlete. Mississippi State has offered her a scholarship, as have several other regional schools (Troy, Georgia Southern, Georgia Tech, etc.)

She was set to go to State. The entire family was estatic. But here comes Vanderbilt, who has offered her a scholarship to run cross country. She is torn because she's always assumed she would be going to State, but she is academically excellent as well, and Vanderbilt is Vanderbilt. She is telling me that she thinks she wants to tell her dad she wants to sign with Vandy because of the opportunity. As far as quality of team, Vandy and State are comparable (3rd and 4th in the SEC)

She wants me to feel her dad out over the Thanksgiving holiday. I kind of feel like she needs to take the opportunity at Vandy. She's not going pro or anything, and a full ride at Vandy to do something she loves? She doesn't want to disappoint her dad, who is extremely proud of his Bulldog. He's one of the over the top fans too, but seriously what would you do? I think its much easier for women's cross country than it would be a son playing quarterback or something, but still its an interesting question.

 

[615dawg]

I have a family member who bleeds maroon. He has a daughter who has been going to Starkville since she was a baby. All this to say, bigtime State fans.

Daughter is a 4.0 student who may be the valedictorian of her senior class in May. She is an excellent, all-state cross country athlete. Mississippi State has offered her a scholarship, as have several other regional schools (Troy, Georgia Southern, Georgia Tech, etc.)

She was set to go to State. The entire family was estatic. But here comes Vanderbilt, who has offered her a scholarship to run cross country. She is torn because she's always assumed she would be going to State, but she is academically excellent as well, and Vanderbilt is Vanderbilt. She is telling me that she thinks she wants to tell her dad she wants to sign with Vandy because of the opportunity. As far as quality of team, Vandy and State are comparable (3rd and 4th in the SEC)

She wants me to feel her dad out over the Thanksgiving holiday. I kind of feel like she needs to take the opportunity at Vandy. She's not going pro or anything, and a full ride at Vandy to do something she loves? She doesn't want to disappoint her dad, who is extremely proud of his Bulldog. He's one of the over the top fans too, but seriously what would you do? I think its much easier for women's cross country than it would be a son playing quarterback or something, but still its an interesting question.

 

[DawgatAuburn]

Is Vandy really handing out full rides for women's cross country? If so, someone should type up a long letter to the NCAA about the inequity of that versus, for example, baseball.

 

[615dawg]

the other half would be academic at both places.

She felt him out and he was "scared for her to be in the big city." She thought since I lived in Nashville for a while I could talk to him - but I'm with you, that shouldn't be my selling point. This girl has a chance to go to Vandy for free.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

[No message]

 

[diamond333]

It's important to remember different schools are better at different things. If she thinks she might end up being an industrial engineer, architect, etc then Vandy's prestige doesn't really outdo state's. But unless she knows she's going into one of the better State programs, Vandy kinda seems like a no-brainer.

 

[missouridawg]

When I first read it, the only reason you'd go to State over a free ride at Vanderbilt is because of the major. Vanderbilt is a great school, but State has a better engineering school and probably has a better architecture school.... not sure what else we have that compares to or beats Vandy.

Does she know what she wants to major in yet?

 

[JimHalpert.nafoom]

It's not the dad that is getting the education or living the life.

As much as I hate State and LSU, if my kid wanted to go there, especially with a full scholarship, they would have my blessing because their happiness and opportunities are more important than my fanhood.

 

[DawgatAuburn]

While the quality of the education provided by State is solid, my observation is that those of us who went there tend to overrate the quality. I haven't the time nor the inclination to research it, but I suspect in the unbiased rankings readily available all over the place that Vandy is consistently going to be equal to or greater than State in all disciplines, engineering included.

My vote for her is Vandy.

She is also more likely to see a Sweet 16 men's basketball team there.

 

[Maroon Eagle]

I was set to go to grad school at the University of Tennessee but USM called late and offered me a graduate assistantship, so I followed the money.

 

[GhostDawg.sixpack]

I was set to go to grad school at the University of Tennessee but USM called late and offered me a graduate assistantship,<span style="font-style: italic;"> so I followed the money</span>.

And then UT turned in U$M for recruiting violations...

 

[JimC1097]

[No message]

 

[MedDawg]

Kenny Rogers can get her a better deal.

 

[mstateglfr]

They are completely opposite schools. Comparing them is pretty tough to do.

State school versus private.
midsized undergrad enrollment at MSU versus small undergrad enrollment at Vandy.
As rural as it gets at MSU versus major metro living at Vandy.

To compare the two is just nuts and in every way whichever she feels most comfortable at she should take.

I would say the LAST thing she should consider is the cross country programs at both. Anyone that has no chance of going pro in their sport really needs to take a step back and not let athletics influence their college choice as much as always seems to do.

Vandy has the immediate name respect, that cant hurt. But if you arent comfortable with the people or the area, forcing yourself to live it for 4 years is tough.

 

[GratefulDawg.sixpack]

If she wants to stay in Mississippi, I'd say State. If she wants to live anywhere else, I'd go with Vandy.

 

[Maroon Eagle]

[No message]

 

[jbulldog]

go where you want to go..not where your dad wants you to go!</p>

 

[Dan Druff]

hands down....It doesn't even matter what you study. If you have the words Vanderbilt across your diploma, you will get a great job anywhere

 

[anon1751035439]

One has already been made. She needs to know which school fits her needs. My son also did very well in high school. Last year he attended Tulane and was majoring in biochemistry. He did very well there (left with a 4.0). But he decided to follow his passion which is classical guitar. He now is enrolled at USM which is a much better place for him.

Secondly, where a person attends college as an undergrad shouldn't hold them back. If you are capable you will go far no matter where you attend. A recent example of that is Shad White. He attended Northeast Jones high school and had a lot of options out of high school. He chose to go to Ole Miss. After graduation he was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship and is now studying in England. He is in his second year there. He has applied and has already been accepted into Harvard Law School. Don't be led into thinking that MSU or any other school will necessarily hold you back.

 

[mls490]

I am retired with B.S. and MBA from State. I have had several Vandy graduates work for me and they were all good EMPLOYEES! Tell your daughter to follow her heart but do not get hung up on where her degree will be from. Cream rises to the top!

 

[saltslugs]

I'd say Vandy, but keep in mind Vandy has no business school program and there are many other programs that would make State a good program.

 

[patdog]

I can't believe this would even be an issue for her father.</p>

 

[Optimus Prime 4]

issues. That's a 40k a year scholarship, at a prestigious school. If she wants to go there, help her pack. I know starting salaries of my sister's friends from Duke, and they're a hell of a lot more than those from OM or State.

Unless of course she's set on engineering or something, but that doesn't seem the case, not to mention she'll probably change her mind three times before she graduates.

 

[Optimus Prime 4]

scared for her "in the big city" she probably needs to go to that big city. Just a hunch.

 

[NashvilleBulldawg]

If she wants to stay in Mississippi, I'd say State. If she wants to live anywhere else, I'd go with Vandy.

Look at you and me, dude. I've been in TN since graduation many moons ago. A State ed doesn't handcuff one to the state. I think quite opposite.

 

[patdog]

And if he's scared for her "in the big city" she probably needs to go to that big city. Just a hunch.

if it's worse than the gang rapes in Starkville with Sunday alcohol sales.

 

[NashvilleBulldawg]

Jack happens in Nashville. Same jack happens in Starkville. I agree that a Vandy ed would be VERY nice, but if she excels at State, that would be just as nice. I firmly believe a good education is what one makes of it. Unfortunately, the Vandy name carries a lot of weight. The connections made there could be worth much more potentially in the future. Either way, sounds like she'll be a Dawg for life. Just one with a Vandy ed.

 

[615dawg]

she really has no idea. She's always concentrated on running which is why she has this opportunity. She's leaning toward teaching - which a Vandy education really means little, but its still a Vandy education.

I told her that I think she would be wasting an opportunity if she went to Vandy and majored in secondary education. If she chose Vandy, I hope she would consider a track that would lead to a college professor if she wanted to teach. She's not committed to anything. She considered journalism, but the way newspapers are going, she's decided against it.

Its a tough decision. On one hand a Vandy education, on another, if she wants to teach high school, I'm fairly sure that the MSU College of Education/running cross country would not be as big of a challenge as running cross country/taking anything at Vandy.

She has zero interest in engineering, pre-med, or anything like that.

 

[boomboommsu]

She needs to know that if she goes to Vandy, she needs to graduate in 4 years. One extra semester at Vandy costs the same as 4 years at State.

If dad wants her to go to State that bad, then he can pay for grad school there. Or summer school, to lighten that 4 year course load (some of you old farts may not realize college majors aren't actually designed anymore to be completed in 8 semesters).

 

[whistlerdog]

if that's where she wants to go and it is the right fit for her interests and what she wants to do. We have a daughter graduating from MSU in December and it was right for her. Her brother is a freshman at Belmont, next door to Vandy - he loves it and Nashville and it was the right fit for him as far as what he wants to do (music).

 

[GratefulDawg.sixpack]

to the state, but the name and the connections that she'd get at Vandy might take her a little bit further. I live in New York, and Vandy is thought of just the same as the Ivies. Folks ask me all the damn time if State is Ole Miss up here.

 

[jcdawgman18]

And if she's not sure, I'm not sure that Vandy is a good choice, either. Like someone else said, one extra semester there will cost what the whole thing would at State.

If you want to be successful at a place like that, you need to have the end in mind and focus on that. Not a place to feel things out.

 

[Maroon Eagle]

if we're to believe wikipedia (at least in 2009).

 

[missouridawg]

I do know someone who got their Masters from Vanderbilt (as well as undergrad) in Education... She's still looking for a job.

 

[Maroon Eagle]

School districts firing teachers is bad... I've been asked by friends of friends who've lost teaching jobs for some leads in the past few months.

BTW, if 615's running family member is at all interested in (as well as talented in math and science and with a 4.0 average, she at least has the grades), I'd suggest she'd look into math or science education if she wants to be a teacher.

 

[shsdawg]

Vandy would be very hard to pass up academically unless she wants to be an engineer. I saw an article the other day Vandy is one of the top 5 most expensive places to go to school in the country. </p>

 

[holydawg]

And now have a daughter who goes to Rhodes and cheers for State.

 

[thatsbaseball]

many never get it in a lifetime. If she doesn`t have a professional school in her future where she attends undergraduate school won`t effect her education enough to sacrifice her happiness. Vandy has a totally different atmosphere from State and her own personality needs to be taken into account big time.

 

[MonkeyCheese]

I think that's a huge part of it all. She'll be spending the majority of her time with her team/coaches. Does she favor one over the other? I know that Vandy is Vandy in terms of academic prestige, but I'd hate to get a great, free education and hate the people I spent hours with every day.