Mount Holyoke or Vassar

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
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?

Thanks for inviting me to your TED talk!

It is SO not your place to criticize other people's posts. I (a NP) think it was VERY nice of a parent with a current student at the school to write up this detailed summary. You, on the other hand, provided nothing useful to the discussion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
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?

Thanks for inviting me to your TED talk!

Ha! Yeah, it's long. Hope it's useful to OP and her DD. If it's TL, well, DR!

NP. I have a son who’s interested in Vassar and found this post very helpful. Thank you!

That's nice to hear, PP! If he hasn't visited yet, do try to visit. He could contact departments of interest in advance and see if someone in the department(s) will meet with him briefly on the day he visits (separate from the official campus tour). My DD did that, got swift responses, and ended up sitting in on one class at the professor's invitation, then the prof took her around and showed her the whole building; an administrator in another department also toured her around that facility one on one. I can't say that could happen every time -- we were there on a pretty quiet day overall (a Friday, fewer classes in session, October), which helped, but I'm sure someone might at least talk to him if he asks in advance. That response is what I think sold our DD on the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
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?

Thanks for inviting me to your TED talk!

It is SO not your place to criticize other people's posts. I (a NP) think it was VERY nice of a parent with a current student at the school to write up this detailed summary. You, on the other hand, provided nothing useful to the discussion.

Who said it was a criticism? It was a compliment.

A TED talk is normally seen as something that is provocative and enlightening. PP needs to get around and have something more than anonymous platforms to feed her soul.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

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.

And yet you chose it.

She could not know how it would feel in advance, loser.

And, yet, as I said, I got a great education and made wonderful friends, so I made a good choice, though not a perfect one. Since Wellesley women are nothing if not polite, I won't call you a loser, but I will thank the PP who responded to you for getting it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
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?

Thanks for inviting me to your TED talk!

It is SO not your place to criticize other people's posts. I (a NP) think it was VERY nice of a parent with a current student at the school to write up this detailed summary. You, on the other hand, provided nothing useful to the discussion.

+1 -- And just adding, you're not as witty as you think you are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

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.

And yet you chose it.

She could not know how it would feel in advance, loser.

And, yet, as I said, I got a great education and made wonderful friends, so I made a good choice, though not a perfect one. Since Wellesley women are nothing if not polite, I won't call you a loser, but I will thank the PP who responded to you for getting it.

The loser poster was sticking up for you (in response to what seemed like a snarky comment).

[Anonymous]

back to the question! Was a while ago, but my mother loved MHC and took classes at Amherst. I know Poughkeepsie well (not the best, although not the worst, town), and Vassar is beautiful and certainly well regarded. Couldn’t go wrong!

[Anonymous]

One factor to weigh is that Vassar, while co-Ed, has a very skewed sex ratio (like a lot of artsy LACs). This has unfortunate effects on the dating scene (such as rendering it almost nonexistent) and skews much more towards hook-ups. I’m a man who went to Vassar and as much as we want to say that people can just engage each other on their own terms, dating practices are highly culture-bound, which makes it very difficult to go a different way without boycotting the whole thing. My wife went to Holyoke, and she said one of the advantages it had was that it was a single sex education but so many other colleges around that it was easy to find co-educational experiences on your own terms. I think there’s something to be said for that.

Also Poughkeepsie is terrible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One factor to weigh is that Vassar, while co-Ed, has a very skewed sex ratio (like a lot of artsy LACs). This has unfortunate effects on the dating scene (such as rendering it almost nonexistent) and skews much more towards hook-ups. I’m a man who went to Vassar and as much as we want to say that people can just engage each other on their own terms, dating practices are highly culture-bound, which makes it very difficult to go a different way without boycotting the whole thing. My wife went to Holyoke, and she said one of the advantages it had was that it was a single sex education but so many other colleges around that it was easy to find co-educational experiences on your own terms. I think there’s something to be said for that.

Also Poughkeepsie is terrible.

My kid (who takes school pretty seriously), liked that at MHC you could get away from the crazed aspects of college on their little campus, but when you wanted to mingle with a wilder crowd you just jumped on the bus and head into Amherst. She felt like MHC was its own little refuge when needed. (Note this impression was based on visits, not attendance)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

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.

And yet you chose it.

She could not know how it would feel in advance, loser.

And, yet, as I said, I got a great education and made wonderful friends, so I made a good choice, though not a perfect one. Since Wellesley women are nothing if not polite, I won't call you a loser, but I will thank the PP who responded to you for getting it.

The loser poster was sticking up for you (in response to what seemed like a snarky comment).

I know that -- that's why I'm thanking her for getting it, though I don't like to call people losers.

[Anonymous]

Rocky Road.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
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?

Thanks for inviting me to your TED talk!

Ha! Yeah, it's long. Hope it's useful to OP and her DD. If it's TL, well, DR!

NP. I have a son who’s interested in Vassar and found this post very helpful. Thank you!

That's nice to hear, PP! If he hasn't visited yet, do try to visit. He could contact departments of interest in advance and see if someone in the department(s) will meet with him briefly on the day he visits (separate from the official campus tour). My DD did that, got swift responses, and ended up sitting in on one class at the professor's invitation, then the prof took her around and showed her the whole building; an administrator in another department also toured her around that facility one on one. I can't say that could happen every time -- we were there on a pretty quiet day overall (a Friday, fewer classes in session, October), which helped, but I'm sure someone might at least talk to him if he asks in advance. That response is what I think sold our DD on the school.

We have a visit planned for the fall, but our schedule won’t allow us to do much more than take the tour. We’ll go back if he loves it.

[Anonymous]

MHC is a transformative school and is generous with merit aid. My niece loves it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Academically Vassar is clearly stronger. MHC is one of the weaker former Seven Sisters.

Where on earth would you get that idea? Definitely not true.

Name a weaker Seven Sisters school than 30th ranked MHC.

Mount Holyoke has always been ranked high for excellence in undergraduate classroom experience. It is a fantastic place to get a liberal arts education, including in science. It supports all students in paid internships. It has many international students. It has the benefit of cross enrollment with the other four local colleges. Easy to hop a free bus for classes at UMass and Amherst. It has so many leadership opportunities for students.

It does not have proximity to NYC and that could make a difference in publishing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MHC is a transformative school and is generous with merit aid. My niece loves it.

Any idea what stats you need for merit?