Visit Report by Hindoo (Member since March 24 2006 with 736 posts) Visit Date - April 2007
Visit to Vassar College in April 2007 by Hindoo (Parent of Student, HS Class of 2007)
Visit Activities:
Admissions Interview:
No - Vassar only gives on-campus interviews for children of alums. If you care enough to spend time and money to travel across the country to visit, they should care enough to grant an interview. Information Session:
Yes - Informative, but fairly generic when compared to presentations made by other schools we visited. Campus Tour:
Yes - We had a funny, entertaining, very enthusiastic young man show us around. He was full of anecdotes and tales that really made this beautiful campus come alive—at least while we were with him. Classroom Visit:
No - Again, since classes were not in session, we had to forego that option. Vassar was part of an East Coast college tour we were taking, and this was the only time we could visit. Too bad for us.
Vassar College Campus:
Friendliness/Courtesy of Students: 4 - Very Good -
We encountered a few students, all of whom were either friendly, or benignly viewed us as a piece of the landscape. But our student tour-guide was a terrific ambassador for Vassar.
Friendliness/Courtesy of Staff: 3 - Good -
While they didn’t exactly roll out the red carpet for us, I really have little to complain about. Generally, the admissions people were polite, punctual, and informative.
Appearance of Campus: 5 - Excellent -
Vassar’s gothic beauty is simply stunning. This campus took my breath away in terms of sheer loveliness.
Building/Facilities Maintenance/Cleanliness: 4 - Very Good -
The library, which looks like something straight out of the Renaissance, was pristine. The interior of the classroom building we visited was comparatively uninspiring, but clean and functional.
Dormitories: 3 - Good -
The dorm we visited was pretty standard fare; neither bright and cheerful, nor dark and depressing. The rooms seemed pretty small—but aren’t they all?
Security/Safety: 4 - Very Good -
It was hard to tell on this one. I didn’t see any creepy types roaming about that day, and overall, Vassar felt like a place where a beloved daughter could spend four years in reasonable safety.
Overall Campus Impression: 4 - Very Good -
My impression was of almost surreal beauty combined with a sense of profound intellectualism. But it also felt a bit cold—possibly due to the break. Vibrancy is lacking when students are not around.
Off-Campus:
Area Immediately Around Campus: 3 - Good -
While Poughkeepsie is nothing to write home about, the area immediately adjacent to Vassar offered what appeared to be some nice, student-friendly dining options.
City/Town/Community: 2 - Fair -
Poughkeepsie is a mid-sized industrial town. I’m not sure what its crime rate is, but I wouldn’t want my daughter taking midnight strolls off-campus.
Campus Visit Notes for Vassar College:
Visit Description:
When all was said and done, Vassar was one of the last two colleges standing near the end of my daughter’s search process. She ultimately chose the other school because it felt like the proverbial “better fit” for her, but I have to think other issues were likely involved.
In fairness to Vassar, our timing was bad. I urge anyone seriously considering a particular school, be it Vassar or anywhere else, to make certain they visit when classes are in session. Laughing students strolling across campus, groups of kids studying under ancient trees, Frisbee players, professors on bicycles, crowded dining halls—all breathe life into a place. Without them, Vassar came across more a majestic fortress of cold stone and brick than a place pulsing with joy and energy. Again, that was not the school’s fault, but rather our unfortunate point of arrival. Timing is everything.
I remain somewhat resentful that Vassar does not offer on-campus interviews for sons and daughters of non-alums. Prospective students and their families have often spent thousands of dollars and traveled thousands of miles to see the school and show their interest. Vassar should at least do them the courtesy of an interview. While I’m sure they have their reasons for this, it doesn’t strike me as a good PR plan at all.
Instead of on-campus interviews, Vassar offers alumni interviews in or near your home town. This is all well and good if you can get one. We requested an alum interview, then waited in vain to receive a call from someone—anyone—willing to talk to my daughter. She contacted admissions several times regarding this and was assured each time that the call would come. Alas, it never did. While my daughter was accepted to Vassar even without an interview, it left me feeling negative about the way they conduct their business. Especially in light of how other equally prominent schools bent over backwards to show interest and be helpful.
On a more positive note, the campus is a lovely arboretum dotted with buildings of astonishing beauty. One can imagine that even in full session, Vassar would convey a sense of pastoral serenity conducive to peace of mind and learning at the highest levels. After a frenetic day spent visiting a school in New York City, my daughter found the grassy fields, flower gardens, and forest-like areas of Vassar to be a calming embrace. Plus, our charming guide entertained us along the way with fun human interest stories of past alums like Jane Fonda and Lisa Kudrow.
While Vassar is fairly rural, it is at the end-line of the train into Manhattan. So, while world-class cultural affairs may not be at a student’s fingertips in Poughkeepsie, they are just an adventurous train ride away.
Hotel/Lodging Recommendations or Comments:
We stayed at your basic Super 8 just down the road from Poughkeepsie. It was inexpensive, clean, and convenient, which is all that mattered.
Dining/Restaurant Recommendations or Comments:
Our family did not eat at or near Vassar. My impression is that food is readily available both on and off campus, even if dining options are limited.
Other Comments (Transportation, local attractions, parking, etc.):
We drove a rental car. Parking at Vassar was no problem whatsoever, but again, the campus was mostly empty when we were there.
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We encountered a few students, all of whom were either friendly, or benignly viewed us as a piece of the landscape. But our student tour-guide was a terrific ambassador for Vassar.
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While they didn’t exactly roll out the red carpet for us, I really have little to complain about. Generally, the admissions people were polite, punctual, and informative.
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Vassar’s gothic beauty is simply stunning. This campus took my breath away in terms of sheer loveliness.
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Poughkeepsie is a mid-sized industrial town. I’m not sure what its crime rate is, but I wouldn’t want my daughter taking midnight strolls off-campus.