Good location and spacious apartments for rent in the area. Older complex, so not as updated. No overhead lighting in bedrooms (lamp required). Safe neighborhood with young resident population.

I am a current graduate student at Vanderbilt University and I live in an apartment complex called The Metropolitan and it's about 3 miles from the School of Nursing on campus. I would recommend this apartment complex highly to anyone looking for a more laid back apartment complex, with lots of greenery and trees around. I am extremely close to campus (takes me between 10-15 minutes to drive to campus depending on traffic) but I feel like I am truly getting away from the school and city scene every day when I come home. I have always felt extremely safe living here, including parking my car and walking to my apartment in the dark. There is a very nice pool and a small gym, perfect for what I need. I live alone but there are also 2 and 3 bedroom options which I am sure are just as great!

I have lived at the Metropolitan for 3 years now, and overall, it's been a very good experience. My apartment is a 700 sq-ft 1 bed/1 bath that I share with my fiance and our cat. All the apartments have been renovated within the last ~5 years or so, with good appliances. The complex is clean (I have only ever seen 1 cockroach in the past 3 years!) and pretty quiet. We aren't particularly close to any restaurants and bars, but we have Publix, Kroger, and Target about 2 min away. Vandy is 15-20 minutes away in rush hour traffic, 5 in regular traffic. Everything else in the city is within 10 minutes driving. If you don't have a car, there is a bus stop right in front of the complex. There is a pool and a small "gym" for all residents to use as well, and lots of room to walk your dog on the property.
This place doesn't have all the amenities that newer buildings do. However, your money goes pretty far in terms of size and quality of the apartment, and location.