<p>environmental science was available as a minor for a certain number of years, including when I was a student. I think they ended it because it started to seem very redundant with environmental studies an earth science/geology/geography available, and frankly more cohesive programs.</p>
<p>vegirl - Vassar isn’t really isolated from the community (with a fair amount to do in Poughkeepsie), but the fact that things are very vassar-centric is an important part of what makes it a great place to be a student. If you want to have really really strong campus feel, lots and lots of campus events that are extremely well attended, and students who live on campus, than Vassar is a great place. If you want to be in the middle of a big city, then it might not be what you want. But you also lose a lot at schools that are surrounded by a large city. I LOVE big cities. But I didn’t want my college experience to be in the middle of one.</p>
<p>Also, I would really disagree with the students posting on the Reed board that Reed is more “academic” or “intellectual” than Vassar. I think the students I met at Vassar were some of the smartest, well rounded, and driven students I have ever met. I’ve never been to Reed, so I can’t comment on the students there, but as med student I know interact in an academic setting with people from schools all over the country, and have really yet to meet the kind of people I lived with at Vassar. I’m sure Reed students are great too, but I think they are misrepresenting Vassar students over there.</p>