<p>@braveone, Vassar is a great college and congratulations to your D for finding the right fit for her. But that does not make Wellesley any less wonderful.</p>
<p>In Sept 2011, Newsweek rated Wellesley the #17 happiest school and Vassar was not on the list. [College</a> Rankings 2011: Happiest Schools - Newsweek and The Daily Beast](<a href=“http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/features/college-rankings/2011/happiest.all.html]College”>http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/features/college-rankings/2011/happiest.all.html) In 2012, neither school was on the happiest list. </p>
<p>My point is we should not encourage future applicants to give much credence to “happy” rankings. There are lots of happy students at both schools.</p>
<p>The best way to determine fit is to visit. In my D’s process, initially she did not even want to apply to Wellesley. (She had little expectation of finding her best fit at a women’s college, but her mom and I encouraged her to apply.) After acceptances and visiting, D concluded she would be happier at Wellesley–with its intellectual, quirky, and cooperative approach–than at several of the “happier” schools to which she was admitted.</p>
<p>That said, best wishes to your D at Vassar!</p>
<p>p.s. Sorry for adding to this necrothread.</p>