TO admissions at Wesleyan, Vassar

[swallowtail]

Lots of Vassar friends accepted test optional! Seems like they’re going for about 50/50 to see what happens over the first few years of the policy.

On Poughkeepsie:

Puzzled about Vassar (and their admissions office)

Hey all, Vassar sophomore here. Just wanted to comment on surrounding communities, because that was mentioned here – if you’re looking for a “college town” that just exists as an extension of the school you’re going to, don’t come to Vassar. I like Poughkeepsie – it feels real, and is made up of wonderful, diverse communities… and yeah, there’s some grit too. I understand how some folks would feel more comfortable in a small college town, but want to note that I have a lot of friends who have expressed that they feel more comfortable in Poughkeepsie than they would in some kind of college town, as Poughkeepsie is full of communities that make them feel at home. I feel safe in Poughkeepsie, and have walked down Main Street plenty of times. Some of the critique of Poughkeepsie is in part class/ racially motivated. Not saying that’s anyone here, but I’ve heard it at Vassar a couple times. Some folks don’t get off campus much because there’s so much going on here on campus, and others are…

Agreed, it’s not for everyone, and it’s on the smaller side, especially when compared to Hartford. Saying that there’s nothing to do isn’t fair at all though. I mostly hear the “nothing to do” narrative from people who just have no idea what’s happening and aren’t making an effort to find out.

So I say this in part for other people who might be reading –
In the week before finals, groups from dorms went down to NYC to see Cirque du Soleil and a few different Broadway shows (paid for by Vassar). I know many others who went down to NYC for Christmas stuff – Rockafeller tree, etc. Another group took a trip to Bard to see an art installation. There are at least 4 galleries in Poughkeepsie currently showing art. The convention center has an ice skating rink that’s up right now, which orgs also go to. The mall is pretty lively, with movie theater, restaurants, etc. There were two different Christmas celebrations/parades – one in Arlington (right where Vassar is) and one in Poughkeepsie, which was a larger lighting-of the tree type thing. Students attended and volunteered with these. There were a few other volunteering things going on – with high schoolers, migrants, local food bank preparing for the holiday season, etc, that students were involved with, and more. Folks also can take the bus for free to nearby cute towns like Beacon and Rhinebeck, which decorate for holiday season.

I don’t say this trying to compare to Wes – Hartford looks awesome, and I have no doubts that there’s more going on there. I just don’t want other folks to read this and buy into the narrative that Poughkeepsie is a tiny dying empty place in the middle of nowhere.