Oberlin vs NYU vs Vassar?

College Search & Lists
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<p>Also, keep in mind that if your son also has the option of attending NYU as a grad student after going to 4 years at Vassar or Oberlin. Many strong departments in GSAS along with a stellar law, medical, film, and business schools. Heck, Amandakayak is one good example. </p>

<p>In fact, doing so may not only be a better financial decision assuming he gets scholarships/financial aid, but also possibly a better academic choice as the attention/mentoring he can get at the smaller liberal arts colleges is comparable or sometimes even better than what grad students get at the larger research universities like NYU.</p>

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<p>I have kids in both Bard College and Vassar, so I guess I can offer some unique perspectives on both institutions.</p>

<p>My daughter (Bard '12) tried ED at Vassar and was shot down. She had a weighted GPA of 4.23 3.77 unweighted), but her one shortcoming was her math SAT – 580. (The cr was 750 and the w710)She really had her heart set on Vassar, and it was a big blow to be refused.</p>

<p>She finally settled on Bard, and absolutely LOVES it. Finaid leaves a little to be desired, but the campus environment she just loves, and the easygoing distribution requirements are a plus. Very creative community, in spite of being in a beautiful rural setting on the Hudson. NYC is a little more than an hour away by train.</p>

<p>In the regular admissions derby, she was wait listed at 5 colleges. The only reason I could think of was that they were all ‘need-aware’ colleges and would have accepted her if she could write the check.</p>

<p>My son (SAT’s m730, cr800, w710, and GPA 3.89 unweighted) eschewed ED entirely, and applied to Columbia, Swarthmore, Vassar, Oberlin, Wesleyan, Trinity & Brown was accepted everywhere except wait listed Columbia and Brown. Very generous 100% of need fin aid everywhere except Wesleyan. Chose Vassar because there his fin aid would cover continuing his study of piano. Loves Vassar.</p>

<p>Some points read in previous posts merit correction or amplification:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Vassar is next to a cute area called Arlington, with coffee shops, etc., but its connection to the city of Poughkeepsie is very thin. The campus is very very lively on weekends, and my kid is really enjoying the social life.</p></li>
<li><p>The endowment per enrolled student figures cite4d somewhere above are way off the mark, I guess Wikipedia needs an update in view of the economic slump! </p></li>
<li><p>Don’t apply ED unless you’ve really got your heart set bigtime on going somewhere, because that puts you way behind time with other colleges if you get denied ED admission.</p></li>
<li><p>Try overnight visits at every college on the short list, because that will be a big help in deciding. Mine didn’t get to Oberlin, but did try Vassar, Wesleyan and Trinity (my alma mater).</p></li>
<li><p>If financial aid is going to be a factor, that would also mitigate against ED. Best bet is to apply to as many ‘need-blind’ colleges as possible.</p></li>
<li><p>Bard should not be overlooked if you are thinking in terms of liberal arts. Their program is excellent, and the president, Leon Botstein, is a luminary in higher education generally. The college has a beautiful campus on the Hudson, a full-fledged conservatory and a gorgeous concert hall. (Great for us, because Bard and Vassar are only about a half-hour drive apart!)</p></li>
<li><p>Check out princetonreview.com for admissions stats. Very useful!</p></li>
</ol>

<p>chaz43</p>