Vassar College Visit Report by mathmom

Visit Activities:

Information Session: Yes - Covered both academics and what we are looking for and admissions statistics. Had both an admissions officer and student talking.

Campus Tour: Yes - Long tour, saw classroom buildings, library, student center, dorm lounge (but not student rooms). Lots of funny anecdotes. Sat in empty classroom and had lots of questions answered.

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Campus:

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We didn't talk to students, but could see plenty of interaction in the dining area.

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Lovely specimen trees (with labels), well shoveled walkways, an interesting very eclectic collection of architecture.

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Some gorgeous interiors - love the library and the chapel. Clean carpets. Pleasant big classroom spaces.

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We only saw common area. It had a Steinway piano (as does every dorm) and comfortable sofas, nice carpet. Felt like a pleasant living room.

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Every college says the same thing about their security. Blue lights, campus security, people who can walk you home late at night.

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The campus is both well defined, and right adjacent to shops and restaurants in the town. Upkeep is good, buildings are nice. Students looked happy. Lots seems to be going on.

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Off-Campus:

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The area immediately adjacent to campus seemed pretty nice, though much of Poughkeepsie is a bit seedy and run down.

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Shopping and restaurants are closer to campus. Further afield you have access to good hiking, some historic sites and one of the best Culinary Schools in the US.

Campus Visit Notes for Vassar College

Visit Description:

We had a very personable tour guide who was a media studies and Chinese double major. In addition we heard from another student majoring in psychology and economics at the information session. I thought the campus had a very nice feel to it. Lots of old fashioned building with blackboards and wooden furniture, a gorgeous drop dead library with a huge stained glass window and beamed ceiling, and a smattering of interesting modern buildings. All very eclectic. The campus was a little confusing, partly because we never actually looked at a map. There's a main residential quad and then various other centers.

Academically Vassar is one of the few colleges that lets you determine your curriculum. There are three requirements. 1. Freshman writing course 2. a 4 or 5 on an AP language or 600+ on an SAT language or a one year basic course or one semester advanced course in language 3. One "quantitative" course (not necessarily math, but one that uses math - lots of offerings in other fields like science, econ and psych.) Lots of double majors.

Dining/Restaurant Recommendations or Comments:

Culinary Institute of America is not far away. Vassar's pizza in their eatery in the student center was good enough to satisfy my kid. (They had a Starbucks there too.)

Other Comments (Transportation, local attractions, parking, etc.):

Five minutes to Metronorth for a 90 min ride to NYC. Numerous comments that being the last stop meant you could safely fall asleep on the train!