Mount Holyoke or Vassar
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Anonymous
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DD loved both visits. Wants to go into book publishing where alumnae network seems strong from both. Campus and surrounding area at MT Holyoke seems nicer; but Vassar has benefit of being co-ed.
DD also looked at but did not especially like the vibe of Smith during her tour. Anyone have insight into either school? DD is very artsy, not sporty, outgoing. |
Anonymous
| Vassar has a mix of kids. About 1/4 of their incoming class are sports recruits. There are plenty of artsy kids - mostly theater/film at Vassar. There are a good amount of pre med and pre law kids too who really focus in on their academics. Basically, I’m trying to say Vassar has a mixed bag of kids. She will find her people there. |
Anonymous
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My kid visited and liked both schools MHC is in a nicer area (for college students). With easy access to other campuses and schools. It really prides itself in making female leaders (which I think is cool). I feel like a young woman would come out of that place very well educated and confident. We also got the sense that the community is less competitive (in a good way) than Smith or Wellesley (though there is a lot of stress, still, which appears to be self-driven).
I have also heard that the 7 sisters college network (which still exists, even though the network has evolved) is super strong, when it comes to career support, alumni connections, etc. Vassar was too artsy for my science kid-- just her impression. Might be perfect for your child. And there is easy access to NYC on the train (though I heard in reality, students don't go in often). MHC has a very strident contingent, regarding what they call "marginalized genders." That may or may not appeal to your DC. My DD decided she preferred a coed environment. Best of luck, they are both great schools. |
Anonymous
I thought that book publishing was a dying industry (I hope that my impression is incorrect). Should be an easy choice between MHC and Vassar as one is single sex while the other is more artsy. |
Anonymous
| Academically Vassar is clearly stronger. MHC is one of the weaker former Seven Sisters. |
Anonymous
| Chocolate |
Anonymous
Do not underestimate this. I'm a Wellesley alum and while I got a great education there and made wonderful friends, the single sex social scene was weird. |
Anonymous
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One of my DD went to MHC while two went to Penn and other Wash U. I thought/think of the three experiences MHC was the most transformative. My DD grew in confidence and poise and matured. My Penn girl (who then went onto Columbia) had what we all expected from an Ivy-a solid experience with a predictable outcome. Wash U was expensive and I kind of think it’s become more ‘vocational’ and promises good employment. The one thing to look at at MHC is that while my DD got grants - the endowment isn’t huge. Penn of course has lots of money and it certainly flowed. Vassar didn’t appeal to any of my kids - including my middle arty one. It seems like it’s had better days.
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Anonymous
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Vassar!
If interested in book publishing then being somewhat in the NYC area will be helpful. Metro north to NYC - long ride (2 hrs) but doable for visits. |
Anonymous
Where on earth would you get that idea? Definitely not true. |
Anonymous
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I know someone in the book publishing industry who went to Vassar!
I think it comes down to whether your child prefers a co-ed environment or a historically women's college and/or cost. Mount Holyoke also gives merit aid, while Vassar does not, at least not when my daughter applied. Both are great schools! |
Anonymous
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I think it comes down to whether your child prefers a co-ed environment or a historically women's college and/or cost. Mount Holyoke also gives merit aid, while Vassar does not, at least not when my daughter applied. Both are great schools! +1 |
Anonymous
| I wonder if Sarah Lawrence might be a good one to consider? I've heard they have a very strong alum network |
Anonymous
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OP, my DD is about to return to Vassar in a few days for senior year. She didn't tour or apply to MHC so we can't compare the two, but she has been immensely happy personally and challenged academically at Vassar. This is true of many LACs, not just Vassar: Professors really get to know students as individuals, which is terrific and creates opportunities for special projects, references, and just getting to know profs as people. DD did a special semester-long project for one prof (not a class project, a separate, big event she helped run for him, and he got her academic credit for doing it)--I doubt that would have happened at a big school with grad students around looking to do those things. Many students seem to do majors and minors (called "correllates"), majors with two minors, and/or double majors if they want. The "open curriculum" structure makes it more doable to take enough classes in your subjects to minor in them or even double major. Look up the open curriculum as Vassar uses it; it was one thing that really attracted our DD. Vassar provides housing all four years so there really is no need to think about finding off-campus housing in upperclassman years. DD likes not having that stressor, since she has friends at huge state schools who are always stressed about where they'll live the next year, etc. There is a lot going on, on campus, on weekends so there isn't really a culture of going out bar-hopping etc. You're right that the surrounding part of Poughkeepsie is not a "college town" with tons of restaurants and bars and nightlife-- which is fine with us and with DD as well. There are a handful of small restaurants, a small grocery store etc. right off campus. (Bonus for parent visits and students with cars: The Hudson Valley is lovely and has so many historic houses and sites and parks it's well worth visiting.) Re: NYC, yes, it's 90 minutes by train but in reality students don't seem to hop down there socially as far as DD knows; it's time consuming and $$$ to do things there. DD has been down to the city a lot more on Vassar sponsored field trips for classes (to see plays) junior year and anticipates doing that in senior year. Usually on Vassar transportation for field trips, rather than by train, though she's done a few train trips. DD has friends who are athletes, friends who are science students, friends who are drama or film students, history majors. Folks seem to mix freely though yes, there's an athletic culture if you really look for it, and many athletes tend to self-select and live in one part of campus; but since there are no gigantic money-maker sports (no football at all), the athletic culture is present but definitely not overwhelming. No Greek organizations at all. Lots of student organizations, performing groups, campus events, etc. An aside: Vassar did an excellent job of getting students back to campus in person in fall 2020, with a mix of virtual-on-campus and in-person classes on campus, when DD's friends at large colleges were still at home doing remote classes in fall 2020 and beyond. Overall the pandemic response there has been good and cautious, and DD says the student body has been serious about following masking/distancing/testing/quaranting rules because they would rather be on campus than at home. I bring up the pandemic response because I feel it shows the school is not just well run, it's also got pretty responsible students, overall. OP, any questions? |
Anonymous
I'm the Vassar parent from the overly wordy post above. OP, if your DD is interested in Sarah Lawrence, I can't stress strongly enough that she should visit there. DD did visit SLC and had an older friend who went there and loved it, and SLC put on an excellent "prospective students' day" we attended. DD immediately felt it seemed far too small and insular, almost like a prep high school. Hard to pinpoint why, but the vibe wasn't like college for her. Really needs a visit if a student is interested in the academics. Again, full disclosure, DD's friend had a very good experience there, so YMMV. |