Sarratt/Rand

The concept of "balance" permeates the undergraduate experience at Vanderbilt. Students balance academics, student activities, and social life in an environment that brings students, faculty, and staff from differing backgrounds, viewpoints, and life experiences together as one.

Vanderbilt celebrates a rich diversity of thought and identity. We believe a residential community provides the opportunity for a well-rounded academic and social experience. Our students, faculty, staff, programming, and community initiatives all demonstrate Vanderbilt's commitment to diversity. We strive each year to recruit a highly qualified first-year class from a variety of populations.

"We recognize that top students can be found among all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups, and our recruiters work hard to identify them and to make them aware of the opportunities available to Vanderbilt students," says Dr. Douglas Christiansen, Vice Provost for Enrollment Management and Dean of Admissions.

Vanderbilt is located in the heart of Nashville, home to a diverse population of 1.6 million and marked by its unique blend of cosmopolitan flair and small-town appeal. Nashville is an important political, cultural and commercial hub in the South, and is often referred to as Music City because of its rich musical history and the fact that it plays hosts to thousands of concerts each year in every conceivable genre. Aside from music, the city's major industries include publishing, technology, higher education, finance, auto production, and health care management. Nashville is also home to a booming and increasingly renowned food scene, one which relies heavily on sustainable practices and local farmers.

More than 475 student organizations, including Alternative Spring Break, Asian American Student Association, Association of Latin American Students (ALAS), BhangraDores, Black Student Association, Dodecaphonics, Habitat for Humanity, Manna Project International, Melodores, Middle Eastern Student Association, Momentum Dance Company, Muslim Student Association, Orthodox Christian Fellowship, Project Dialogue, South Asian Cultural Exchange (SACE), Spirit of Gold Marching Band, Swingin’ Dores, Vanderbilt College Democrats, Vanderbilt College Republicans, Vanderbilt Hillel, Vanderbilt Off-Broadway, Vandy Taal, Voices of Praise, and many more!

The Dining Hall in The Commons Center offers everything a hungry first-year student could want. With choices from the chef's table and the grill, and handcrafted bowls, to wok, vegan, and vegetarian options, first-year students never have to go very far to find a great meal. Campus Dining also includes seventeen dining halls, markets, and cafés across campus that are open to all students, faculty, and staff.