Hi - my daughter is accepted for Fall 2024, and we’re concerned that college won’t actually open for the fall. Are you doing distance learning at the moment? How are you finding it? Are professors actually holding classes or just posting assignments / reading? Any info or advice you could give we would really appreciate. She doesn’t want to take a gap year but distance learning is not the start to her college experience she was hoping for. 
Hi @ridiculous99 : my son’s a current sophomore. Yes, they are distance learning.
I’m not going to say he loves it because he would MUCH rather be in his classes with his professors and classmates, but it’s going fine. They’re holding classes as they normally would through zoom. He had a pre-recorded lecture this week - the profs do recognize that not everyone is on the same time frame (many all over the world) so sometimes that’s easier to pre-record than expect everyone to be on at all hours.
He had a professor with a family emergency so a class or two was canceled for a week, but otherwise, he’s been on zoom for lectures, and has 4 papers due in the next week which I’m sure he’s thrilled about - haha.
His profs have all been very accomodating thus far. He’s had several meetings with his professors in his major as well as his dept. head and advisor. Everyone has been very accessible, and as a parent I’ve overheard some of the conversation and I’m left feeling as if he has true connections with the faculty - they seem wonderful.
He has meetings with his house team and clubs as scheduled, and he and his friends are most definitely keeping in touch. Thank God for Facetime…
I think your concerns regarding the fall are valid really anywhere - especially the Northeast right now. We did receive an email the other day from President Bradley regarding the fall. Not sure where you’re from, but we live outside NYC and it’s just been terrible in the metro area. She did say that they are exploring many different scenarios one being an October start, the other with adding a possible special winter term, and finally distance learning - I’m sure that is certainly not what they want… but that we’d hear an update no later than 7/3. As a parent, I trust her judgement, and the communication is given when they have something to convey.
We’re keeping our fingers tightly crossed that the fall (even an October fall) happens…Vassar is a special place 
Wishing your daughter all the best!
@ridiculous99 Hi! So sorry for the late reply, but we are doing distance learning. Currently, professors are holding classes online via Zoom and are posting assignments on sites like Moodle. Although the work is not as intensive as actually being in class, it is still a good way to learn and stay on top of things in class. It also depends on the professor because each one is handling online learning differently, but for the most part, all of the classes are functioning as normally as possible. I totally understand that this is not what she was wanting for her first semester, but the professors are doing the most that they can and they are always willing to listen to students concerning class and assignments. Also, Vassar has been speaking about opening in the Fall, but this is a small possibility as of now, sadly.
@kjs1992 and @anesidora , thank you so much for your thoughtful replies!! It made DD feel a lot better, in that even if it’s distance learning it won’t be a total waste of time…and she feels like this last part of her senior year has been such a waste she just wants her life to start moving FORWARD. We live outside NYC as well - I’m starting to feel a little more hopeful that the numbers are dropping, and really appreciate that President Bradley is on the commission that will help determine the guidelines for re-opening the state.
So we plunked down our deposit and committed to Vassar for the fall…God help us all! 
Yes, thank you got that email as well, just helpful to get feedback as to the quality of the distance learning as DD was considering if it made sense to take a gap year. But then what could she actually DO with a gap year if she can’t travel or do any kind of meaningful work? And so we are just going to prepare for the worst, and hope for the best.
D21 is not class of 24, but I have a question for a current student if that’s ok. How is Vassar for a “non-theatre” kid? It seems like most of the people who post have kids who fit that mold.
Lots of things seem like a good fit for D21 at Vassar but she definitely doesn’t fit that stereotype. She isn’t artistic at all. It’s not that she looks down on the arts or people who have that as their passion, but it just isn’t where her interests or talents lie. Would she struggle to find her people there? Is she going to be the only one who isn’t that into the arts?
I am not a current student, but am one who majored in the sciences. Many of my friends were also sicence majors, also English , history and philosophy majors. The arts are storng, but so are the other departments. The personal attention you get from the faculty in every department is incredible.
@dadof4kids my son is not artistic nor a theater kid AT ALL (although perhaps he would like to think he is sometimes). Sadly, I had to explain who Meryl Streep is seeing she donated a classroom he spends a lot of time in…I consider that an epic parent fail. Once I mentioned, “The Devil Wears Prada” he figured it out (queue the face palm emoji).
Anyway, he found his people almost immediately…some of them in the arts, some athletes, some interested in writing or the environment. It’s a really eclectic group of kids and whatever their interest, from what he tells me, they’re all passionate.
His interests lie in athletics and with the environment and sustainability - he’s had no problem finding groups that mesh with his interests, but he does enjoy supporting his friends in the arts. I will say: Barefoot Monkeys show is a must do if you get a chance.
@ridiculous99 glad to help. It’s a fantastic community of kids. Congrats to your daughter. Keeping our fingers crossed for the fall…
@dadof4kids I think your child will have a great time, despite how artsy or not artsy they might be. Vassar really is the type of place for all students. The only ‘type’ at Vassar, is open-minded and respectful. I found that at Vassar, all types of majors, athletes, and student groups interacted quite easily and I had friends across all spectrums. Good luck to them.
The facts are that there currently is a great deal of tension between athletes and non athletes. Athletes (who by the way tend to be full pay students) are getting attacked by non athletes. Whats going on there is a reflection of the divide in the country with the athletes being called everything from privileged to sexual predators. Do some real research on this issue if you are looking to go there