Congratulations! Great choices!
You can’t go wrong here, and I would argue that the three are more similar to than different from one another.
Vassar:
- Artsy, liberal vibe. Great theatre. Famous alumni in the performing arts.
- Lovely buildings and grounds.
- Coed now, but its history as a women’s college still affects the feel of campus, from the male-female ratio to a female empowerment vibe.
- Suburban, whereas the other two are rural.
- Nearest of the 3 to a major metropolis (NYC), but still not very close (approx 2 hours).
- Specific academic requirements are pretty loose/ flexible, although not as much so as Hamilton.
- Nice socially, making a home away from home, due to living in the same dorm for three years.
- My spouse is an alum. He loved it! He has maintained friendships all these years.
Hamilton:
- Seemed to have the friendliest folks of the three on first impression, although you will find friends at any of the three.
- The “dark“ and “light” sides of the campus (dark is modern building old Kirkland campus, light is classic architecture old Hamilton campus) are also reflected in a student body that reflects both an artsy side and a jock/frat/prep side.
- It is the only one of the three choices to have fraternities and sororities. That may be a plus or a minus for you.
- Probably the most comfortable for a conservative of the three, although all three are more liberal than not.
- The only one of the three, and indeed one of the few colleges in the nation, with a completely “open” curriculum. A major plus!
Middlebury:
- The mountains!
- Arguably the most breathtakingly beautiful, and indisputably the best-maintained campus, of the three.
- Most isolated of the 3.
- The most distribution requirements to meet of the three colleges.
- Want to major in a foreign language? Go here!
- Best dining/ food of the three.
You can’t go wrong with three such great choices. Make a choice and don’t look back. Good luck!