Ask a Current Student a Question

Colleges & Universities A-Z Vassar College
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<p>Question: My question has to do with the optional interview-- how important is it in the application process? Interviewing is a strength for him, so am I correct in assuming that he should therefore request one?</p>

<p>Response: I got in Regular Decision without an interview, so they’re definitely not required for admission. I’m not sure whether or not interviewing gives you much of an advantage in the admissions process to Vassar. I’d say, however, that it would be in your son’s best interest to have an interview seeing as they certainly don’t hurt one’s chances and that he’s particularly good at them.</p>

22

<p>Interviewing has practically no impact whatsoever on admissions. I say this as an active alumna interviewer. :(</p>

<p>Interviews are regarded primarily as a locus for applicants to speak with an alumna/us, and to ask questions about programs/opportunities/resources at Vassar. Interviewers do send their impressions of each applicant to Vassar, but these impressions really do not impact admissions decisions. I can testify to this as having transmitted a stellar evaluation of one recent applicant, and a very disappointing evaluation of another. The former applicant was denied admission, and the latter was admitted.</p>

23

<p>Thanks for the replies. I actually have another question: S has what I think is a fairly strong application, with great essays, wonderful recommendations, a strong academic record and some very, very unusual EC’s. He has. however, one SAT II which is fairly abysmal. He will take this over this Saturday, but none of us holds any great hope that his score will improve much.</p>

<p>Any sense of how much this one test score matters in the scheme of things? His other SAT’s are solid, though not stellar.</p>

24

<p>Should I be right in thinking that if I’m going to need serious financial aid I cannot apply early?</p>

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<p>Question: S has what I think is a fairly strong application, with great essays, wonderful recommendations, a strong academic record and some very, very unusual EC’s. He has. however, one SAT II which is fairly abysmal. He will take this over this Saturday, but none of us holds any great hope that his score will improve much. Any sense of how much this one test score matters in the scheme of things? His other SAT’s are solid, though not stellar.</p>

<p>Response: This is really a question for the Admissions Office, however, I’d say that as long as he has enough other SAT II scores to satisfy Vassar’s requirement for SAT IIs (I forget at the moment if it’s two or three… it probably says on the website at any rate), he doesn’t need to worry about his one bad score. I believe that most schools usually look at your top two or three scores,depending on how many SAT IIs they require, and pay less attention to the rest, but I’m not entirely sure.</p>

<p>Question: Should I be right in thinking that if I’m going to need serious financial aid I cannot apply early?</p>

<p>Response: Vassar is need blind so your financial situation won’t affect your chances in the least. At the same time, however, there is something to be said for not applying early if you’re in need of financial aid. What if you got accepted and then found out that you didn’t get enough financial aid for you to realistically attend the school? That’s just my opinion on the situation; if you want a more concrete answer to this question, I recommend talking to the Admissions Office.</p>

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<p>Great thread, keep it going</p>

27

<p>Professor X, i am an international student. dosent the alumni interview have any impact 4 me?</p>

28

<p>I am also a freshman (that is nor a non-partier or a hard partier) so I thought I’d give my input on various things. As far as the typical friday night/saturday night, it really depends on what you’re into. My floor is really into partying and probably parties at least four nights a week. I sort of had low hopes for Vassar because assumed everybody was like that but after meeting people outside of my floor I realize it’s all really different. Personally, I’d rather have chill parties where not everybody is packed into a room and nobody gets sent to the hospital and those are easy to find. If you’d rather the latter then those are pretty easy as well. If you don’t drink and/or smoke pot, don’t worry, there are gatherings for that too. Vassar is a very social college so you don’t have to worry about trying to find people who like to hang out on the weekends. The whole sipping coffee and debating philosophy does happen. Can’t say that I do EXACTLY that but there are plenty of times where I’m laying out on the quad discussing history/philosophy/politics/etc. People here aren’t afraid of being labeled “dorky”. I know at my high school smart people would “play dumb” to seem cooler… that definitely does not go down here AT ALL which is quite nice. </p>

<p>People kept telling me I’d hate Vassar because of the male:female ration (I’m female by the way) but I don’t see it at all. The national average is 40:60 so you won’t find too many schools that differ that drastically. Do I ever feel like there is a lack of testosterone? Nope. Never. I kind of agree with the stereotype of the very large gay community. No, not the majority of guys are gay, but there definitely is a sizable amount. The nice thing is that if you are homophobic at the least, you will be verbally smacked not only by the GLBT students but the straight students as well. Also, I think the stereotype is sort of blown out of proportion because a lot of the guys are ASSUMED to be gay. If you are looking for the muscle bound football player, don’t come here. Vassar seems to attract the more sensitive and caring guys who don’t feel the need to show their overt masculinity all the god damned time. Definite plus!</p>

<p>The academics are tough… but not impossible. You will have essays due all the time, and you will have a ****load of reading every day but it’s all manageable. Plus if you go to the library around 10 or so, you will most likely run into somebody from your class there… along with about 10 other people you know. Vassar is not competitive at all. People are just competing with themselves. People won’t ask what your SAT scores are, what your GPA was, or what you got on the latest exam. It’s quite refreshing.</p>

<p>The people at Vassar are really chill, and love to get to know each other. I’m a very shy person and within a couple of weeks there would be a few people I’d now stopping and say hi during just a 5 minute walk to class. People are uber friendly here and it’s nice to see a familiar face every time you leave your dorm as oppose to those bigger universities. Plus if you finished all your homework and the sun’s still out and you don’t know what to do, all you have to do is sit outside your dorm and you will most definitely get a couple people coming by and sitting next to you to chat.</p>

<p>In conclusion, come to Vassar… HELL YEAH!</p>

29

<p>I would love to. I really do think that Vassar could be everything I want in a school. open minded people, tough but do-able work load, close to my favorite city in the world, and an amazing looking campus. I can’t wait to visit in November.</p>

30

<p>Oh yes, and it’s really easy to get into the city. It’s a few minute taxi ride that picks you up at your dorm for a flat fee of $4-$6 (depending on which service you use) and $25 round trip for the train that lets you off either in harlem (uhhh?) or Grand Central. I’ve already been in a couple of times this year and it couldn’t be easier.</p>

<p>Also, not only is Vassar open-minded to those who deviate from the norm, but they are actually open-minded of EVERYBODY. It’s not like at Wesleyan where you’ll be lynched if you’re christian, you’ll only be lynched at Vassar if you tell somebody they’re going to go to hell. Everybody seems to give everybody a listen, it’s nice.</p>

31

<p>^Apparently Christians can die of natural causes too, at Wesleyan.
<a href=“The Wesleyan Connection | University News”>The Wesleyan Connection | University News;

32

<p>Let me rephrase that, Christian students. I don’t think students at many colleges would be disrespectful to professors. No, I am not basing this on every single member of Wesleyan (it’s hard to interview that many kids), I’m basing it on the sentiments I heard while overnighting. I also heard some of the students complaining about racist chalking although that I didn’t see at all. I was 50/50 with Vassar and Wesleyan (like quite a few people who looked at both schools), perhaps favoring Wesleyan a bit more, but after overnighting both of them, I put Vassar light years ahead.</p>

33

<p>^I know. Complaining about racism is such a drag.</p>

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<p>You totally missed the point. It wasn’t the complaining that was bad, it was the fact that there was somebody who felt the need to scribble their racist ideas for the whole public to see on Wesleyan property.</p>

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<p>Oh. In that case, I sincerely hope you never run into any untoward graffitti or anti-christian lynch mobs while at Vassar. :)</p>

36

<p>Well, I have a question, too. Wut is the food like at Vassar? How many eating places are around on campus and how much do people enjoy it? :slight_smile: Thanks</p>

37

<p>I know that Vassar has many interesting study abroad options in both junior year and various summers. Does Vassar pay for these programs themselves?</p>

38

<p>Question: What is the food like at Vassar? How many eating places are around on campus and how much do people enjoy it?</p>

<p>Answer: I personally find the food to be pretty good, overall. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised when I first arrived on campus. The “main” cafeteria is the ACDC (All Campus Dining Center) which offers the following areas: stir fry your own food station, home cooking station, grill/fried food station, wrap station, personal pizza station, quesadilla station, salad/soup bar, bakery, vegan station, sandwich station, cereal bar, chef’s table, bagel bar, and frozen yogurt machine. The second main eatery on campus is the Retreat which offers pizza by the slice, a grill and sandwich bar, a frozen yogurt machine, and a variety of packaged/refrigerated foods. Other food/beverage places on campus include upCDC (coffee, smoothies, milkshakes, baked goods), the Kiosk (starbucks coffee/beverages, baked goods, fruit), a coffee place in the library (which I haven’t been to yet, so don’t know what else is served there), and a smoothie bar in the athletic center. Also, occasionally, visiting chefs come to Vassar and cook for students in the ACDC which adds some extra variation. The one negative I’ve found is that there’s a lot of fried food, but the school is currently in the process of trying to provide healthier options for its students, so that problem is well on it’s way to being solved. Another nice thing about the dining service is that they’ll actually listen and respond to the students’s suggestions (there’s a suggestion box in the ACDC where you can drop of your request). </p>

<p>Question: I know that Vassar has many interesting study abroad options in both junior year and various summers. Does Vassar pay for these programs themselves?</p>

<p>Answer: As someone who’s not planning on studying abroad, I don’t know this offhand, but I believe the information you’re looking for is here on the Vassar College website: <a href=“International Programs – Vassar College”>International Programs – Vassar College;

39

<p>However, the dining hall WILL close an hour early during break without telling students. Then you’ll try to go get dinner at 7:15 and find yourself without a single “real food” option on campus and be forced to order pizza instead… true story, kids. </p>

<p>There also isn’t a Starbucks within walking distance… which is good for my weight/wallet but bad for my Frappucino-loving heart.</p>

40

<p>Okay, another weird question…</p>

<p>From what I’ve read, Vassar seems to have a diverse social scene. Hmm, see, I like Vassar alot, but I’m kind of nerdy…Is there a nerd contingent at Vassar? Or is everyone into indie chic-ness and partying?</p>