Zmayes, once you get your college responses, if you get the offer from Vassar and it is one of your top choices, go to the admitted student day. More than many colleges, imo Vassar is a ‘fit’ college- not on the usual lines of liberal/conservative or artsy/not-artsy, but on temperament.
On my D’s hall 1st year there was everything from LAX bros to 2 (unrelated) students with same-sex parents, to a girl from deepest huntin’ shootin’ Georgia to another from the gritty side of San Francisco- and a bunch more besides. Really defied stereotypes But, they bonded pretty well over campus activities (whether house competitions, sports events or performance events), study breaks, academics, etc. All of them stayed in the same house for 2nd year, and half of them even stayed on the same floor. Obviously, ymmv, but a visit will really help- there is a ‘vassar vibe’ that either works for you or it doesn’t.
What a poster up there said: they are deliberately recruiting people out of the military now, and I cannot believe those individuals are not being treated with respect. However, it would not shock me if any particular student might want to discuss the pros and cons of supporting the U.S. military – because Vassar students definitely think and talk about such subjects. i.e. there is not going to be much “thank you for protecting us and preserving our Freedom” bumper sticker homilies being tossed about in that type of sophisticated intellectual environment.
DD2 is a junior and we are starting to look at schools. Can a current student or parent tell me about the homework load at Vassar?
DD1 is currently in an engineering CS program at a top school and says that she averages 40 hours of homework and 20 hours of class,recitation and labs for a total of about 60 hours per week on a non-test week.
Can you give me an idea of about how Vassar compares to that? DD2 is interested in Chemistry.
So I’ve just been accepted to Vassar and am super excited. I do have a worry, though. I know Vassar is supposed to be incredibly open-minded and accepting, but I wanted to know, as a Christian, how well accepted I would be on campus. I consider myself to be pretty liberal. I’m absolutely pro-gay rights and don’t feel that I am judgmental of people who aren’t Christians. I pretty much take the stance that if you respect me for my beliefs, I will respect you. Would I be comfortable at Vassar and respected as long as I afford others the same respect?
Much2learn (and oh, yes, we all do have much to learn!), it is really hard to compare between students. Did your D’s do similar amounts of work in secondary school? my didn’t, yet they got fairly comparable results. Similarly, my D2 is doing physics + math @ Vassar and works very hard- but not, I think 60 hours in a non-test week (I know she doesn’t have 20 contact hours a week for a start, and since she does other activities, I am guessing she doesn’t do 40 hours of homework!). On the other hand, her Beau, who is doing just maths @ Vassar, probably does do 60 hours a week- and they are getting similar (excellent) results. Some of it is different work & learning styles, but some of it is that her beau does all kinds of extra learning just b/c he loves his subject so much (he is doing math research over the summer- who knew that was a thing?!).
Not sure what sort of answer you were looking for- does D2 not care to do 60/hours a week?
Oh yes- I just remembered that Intro Chem labs are long- both intro chem & intro physics labs are scheduled for 2 hours, and D2 was a bit smug that the intro physics always got out early & intro chem got out late. That was a one-off- they seem to have evened out in 2nd year & be doing more similar amounts of work. The Beau took a chemistry of cooking class that was apparently great (he had planned to do chemistry + math, but there were just too many exciting math classes and he had to give up something if he was going to fit them all in- guess it takes all kinds!).
Hope that helps…
Oh, and LemonLyman, as HiToWaMom & otisp have said- it is a live & let live place. The students I know/hear about seem to be extraordinarily conscious of letting people be who they are- as long as they aren’t trying to make other people be like them. Have a wonderful time!
Definitely looks lovely to me. I believe @jym626 was referring to the name. Seems to me the point is that if you must try to find something negative about Vassar, about the worst thing is that name…but I imagine you already knew that didn’t you @CrewDad
I don’t think it was an epic fail at all! I suspect CrewDad knew exactly what your point was.
I must say that I have read almost everything about Vassar on here, hard to find anything negative. My daughter will apply ED this fall if she sticks with her current plan. She has visited twice already and loves it.
blush Zingggggggg, right over my head.
I’m certainly thankful my Vassar kid inherited her mother’s intelligence and not mine.
I do—all the more reason for feeling foolish for not grasping the joke.
Although, the fact I never equated the street name with a profession has to count for something. Qui?
Tufty, thanks for trying to save me from my embarrassment. You’re very kind.
Does Vassar have intramural or club tennis for boys? Is there a JV team? How hard is it to make the varsity team? If you play singles in high school but do not have a high USTA ranking, do you have a chance of making the team?
Vassar is the 19th ranked team in the NE region of DIII, so it’s not super competitive! There is also intramural tennis. I would contact the coaches- they are very welcoming.
When going to Route 9 from Vassar. I often go Raymond to Hooker, which turns into Montgomery. The street has very has nice, well maintained houses, etc. Perhaps Hooker Ave has experienced a renascence since you attended Vassar. 
