Re-post from another thread, but here’s a story about some of S’s “jock” friends who are in one of the bands @chemusic is refering to:
http://alums.vassar.edu/news/features/2015-2016/160331-rock-band.html
Like S, two of the guys in the band are from California. In fact, CA is just behind NY in the number of students it sends to Vassar. S says the dorm system (Vassar calls them “houses”) really facilitated making friends his freshman year, and that while you can definitely get involved in social causes if you want to, most of the time students spend their time just being students (when they’re not fencing and playing in a band).