Experiences with Colby, Wesleyan, Vassar

[Anonymous]

Recently hired a Colby grad for a writing/editing role. She is phenomenal and clearly got a great education. Engaged to another Colby grad in case that matters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a general comment on anthropology programs, those at colleges with distinct anthropology departnents tend to be stronger than those at colleges at which anthropology and sociology form a single department.

Personally, I'd include Haverford and Hamilton in this appealing mix.

For clarity, note that anthropology is a social science.

I didn't include Haverford and Hamilton, so I don't know why you brought them up. All of these schools have distinct anthropology departments, so it sounds like you just wanted to promote these two random schools, which isn't helpful.

Prickly

Honest and clear. I came with a proper question. Answer or go advertise elsewhere.

No need to be a dickhead about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a general comment on anthropology programs, those at colleges with distinct anthropology departnents tend to be stronger than those at colleges at which anthropology and sociology form a single department.

Personally, I'd include Haverford and Hamilton in this appealing mix.

For clarity, note that anthropology is a social science.

I didn't include Haverford and Hamilton, so I don't know why you brought them up. All of these schools have distinct anthropology departments, so it sounds like you just wanted to promote these two random schools, which isn't helpful.

Prickly

Honest and clear. I came with a proper question. Answer or go advertise elsewhere.

No need to be a dickhead about it.

I’m being honest, if you don’t like that, there’s other threads for you to rhapsodize on Hamilton and Haverford.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a general comment on anthropology programs, those at colleges with distinct anthropology departnents tend to be stronger than those at colleges at which anthropology and sociology form a single department.

Personally, I'd include Haverford and Hamilton in this appealing mix.

For clarity, note that anthropology is a social science.

I didn't include Haverford and Hamilton, so I don't know why you brought them up. All of these schools have distinct anthropology departments, so it sounds like you just wanted to promote these two random schools, which isn't helpful.

Prickly

Honest and clear. I came with a proper question. Answer or go advertise elsewhere.

No need to be a dickhead about it.

I’m being honest, if you don’t like that, there’s other threads for you to rhapsodize on Hamilton and Haverford.

Try google.

[Anonymous]

Beware of Colby stats because they have been really pumping up their numbers by making their application free and investing heavily in mailers.

[Anonymous]

Why the Colby hate? It’s pretty awesome, even though I am not outdoorsy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a general comment on anthropology programs, those at colleges with distinct anthropology departnents tend to be stronger than those at colleges at which anthropology and sociology form a single department.

Personally, I'd include Haverford and Hamilton in this appealing mix.

For clarity, note that anthropology is a social science.

I didn't include Haverford and Hamilton, so I don't know why you brought them up. All of these schools have distinct anthropology departments, so it sounds like you just wanted to promote these two random schools, which isn't helpful.

Prickly

Honest and clear. I came with a proper question. Answer or go advertise elsewhere.

No need to be a dickhead about it.

I’m being honest, if you don’t like that, there’s other threads for you to rhapsodize on Hamilton and Haverford.

Try google.

ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For a student like your daughter who is fully committed to the humanities—especially with a focus on History and Anthropology—Colby, Wesleyan, and Vassar each offer compelling but distinct experiences. Vassar stands out with its deeply ingrained liberal arts ethos and strong historical roots in progressive education; it's a haven for humanities lovers, with robust History and Anthropology departments and a student body that leans artistic, intellectually curious, and socially engaged. Wesleyan brings an interdisciplinary edge, pairing its strong humanities with a slightly more experimental, free-spirited vibe; its open curriculum and thriving arts scene attract independent thinkers who like to forge their own academic paths. Colby, while often associated with its environmental and global studies programs, has invested heavily in the humanities in recent years, with new faculty hires, research opportunities, and funding for the arts and social sciences—though the campus culture leans a bit more traditional and outdoorsy compared to the other two. All three schools provide rich academic resources for a double major in History and Anthropology, but for a student seeking a culture that lives and breathes the humanities, Vassar and Wesleyan might feel more like home.

I'd go with Vassar, due to its Institute for the Humanities and amazing resources to give a recommendation.

Chatgpt

+1. I'm getting to where I can spot it a mile away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a general comment on anthropology programs, those at colleges with distinct anthropology departnents tend to be stronger than those at colleges at which anthropology and sociology form a single department.

Personally, I'd include Haverford and Hamilton in this appealing mix.

For clarity, note that anthropology is a social science.

I didn't include Haverford and Hamilton, so I don't know why you brought them up. All of these schools have distinct anthropology departments, so it sounds like you just wanted to promote these two random schools, which isn't helpful.

NP. Because someone is trying to be helpful to you. I was going to comment but with your attitude I won't. Good luck to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a general comment on anthropology programs, those at colleges with distinct anthropology departnents tend to be stronger than those at colleges at which anthropology and sociology form a single department.

Personally, I'd include Haverford and Hamilton in this appealing mix.

For clarity, note that anthropology is a social science.

I didn't include Haverford and Hamilton, so I don't know why you brought them up. All of these schools have distinct anthropology departments, so it sounds like you just wanted to promote these two random schools, which isn't helpful.

NP. Because someone is trying to be helpful to you. I was going to comment but with your attitude I won't. Good luck to you.

To you too!

[Anonymous]

I'm not getting the big deal against OP, they asked a question, so people should answer it. I hate threads where no-one actually answers OP and just bickers about random colleges that were never mentioned.

Now to answer OP's question, I think Vassar is exactly what you're looking for. They have a podcast series "Conversations @ the Salt Line" which you might want to look into at the Institute for Liberal Arts. Wesleyan also has the Center for Humanities. Vassar is better for a student who is okay with a heavy tilt gender ratio, likes a defined campus space separate from the town, and maybe has some interest in an occasional trip to New York. Wesleyan is also amazing and has graduate resources. Colby is a bit of a strange mix with these two, so I'm interested in why there's interest, OP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those three can all work for a student like your daughter. Colby is preppy, Vassar and Wesleyan are artsy. Take your pick.

Exactly. Colby is also the most remote of the three. Poughkeepsie and Middletown are not exactly thriving cities, but you can get to a decent sized place relatively easily. Colby is pretty far out there (I have spent a lot of time in the area and love it, but to each his own).

I think Wesleyan has a larger contingent of less artsy kids than Vassar does. Sports are a little bit bigger there which draws some more sporty kids and there is a critical mass of them. As I understand it (but I am not sure of it), they co-exist reasonably well with the more stereotypical Wesleyan kids.

[Anonymous]

Not exactly on topic but my DS did a summer program at Colby and it was very remote - he said he definitely did not think he could spend 4 years there. I know not every kid is the same, but I would check it out in person.

[Anonymous]

My kid is an Anthropology major at Wesleyan (along with a second humanities major) and is having a great experience. I think it’s particularly strong for cultural anthropology (my kid’s area of interest). Professors have been great, classes are small and engaging (as I assume would be the case at any SLAC).

Also, don’t misunderstand SLACs—they are also very strong in sciences and math, which are part of the liberal arts. Wes, for example, is about to open a big new science building, and many of my kid’s friends are hard sciences majors (sometimes with a humanities double major).

Wes is a little bigger than most of its peers (3000 undergrads with a few hundred grad students) and is in a good-sized town, so it feels lively and diverse; it has a wide range of students and is welcoming to all. And it doesn’t feel terribly clique-y; my artsy kid is dating an athlete.

My kid also liked Vassar; I think there are a lot of cultural similarities. I don’t know anything about Colby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is an Anthropology major at Wesleyan (along with a second humanities major) and is having a great experience. I think it’s particularly strong for cultural anthropology (my kid’s area of interest). Professors have been great, classes are small and engaging (as I assume would be the case at any SLAC).

Also, don’t misunderstand SLACs—they are also very strong in sciences and math, which are part of the liberal arts. Wes, for example, is about to open a big new science building, and many of my kid’s friends are hard sciences majors (sometimes with a humanities double major).

Wes is a little bigger than most of its peers (3000 undergrads with a few hundred grad students) and is in a good-sized town, so it feels lively and diverse; it has a wide range of students and is welcoming to all. And it doesn’t feel terribly clique-y; my artsy kid is dating an athlete.

My kid also liked Vassar; I think there are a lot of cultural similarities. I don’t know anything about Colby.

Why did you feel a need to bring this up?