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!

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?

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.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Not the PP to whom you're responding, but: OP said her DD liked both MHC and Vassar. OP did not ask for rankings, ratings and assessments of which is a "harder admit." OP and her DD can look up those things for themselves. If you have something useful to say about either college OP asked about, based on actual experience with it and not on some magazine's or journal's rankings, please weigh in. If not, you're not helping OP.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if Sarah Lawrence might be a good one to consider? I've heard they have a very strong alum network

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.