<p>@MZ2009… To the best of my knowledge, freshmen aren’t limited on the amount of English courses they can take, although I think you’re urged to just do one 101 class because of the limited amount of Freshman Writing Seminars. There are a couple of limits, but they don’t have to do with number of courses you can take: freshmen who are using AP English to get into 200-level courses usually have to get special permission to sign up for the course and freshmen aren’t allowed to sign up for the Composition classes (I believe.)</p>
<p>@brandnewstate… I would say that this really varies from individual to individual. In the cafeteria (as an example), you’ll see some tables that fit the category of “self-segregated”; however, at the same time, you’ll see many others that are the total opposite. To me, this is really the sort of thing that’s up to you: if you want to have a diverse group of friends, it’s certainly possible (in my experience, regarding people as “the token _______ kid” doesn’t happen here), and if you want most of your friends to have the same racial background as you, that’s entirely possible as well. </p>
<p>As to the incident you mentioned… I’'ve actually never heard of it before. I’m only a sophomore; however, so maybe a junior, senior, or alum might know more about it…</p>
<p>I see your point, littleatheist. I suppose I jumped to conclusions when I read that on some college review website. I turned down one of my other schools because of the “self-segregation” and just worried I had somehow overlooked the same thing at Vassar. Luckily, that’s not the case! Thanks for clarifying :]</p>
<p>okay, this may sound like a silly question, but I’m confused by a previous post: Can freshman choose roomates, or are they assigned along with housing?</p>
<p>Hey, guys, this thread has been super helpful so far! After weeks of lurking, I decided to give it a shot. As an international student who isn’t really familiar with the college system, I’m pretty confused about… well, everything. Is there good counselling for people who don’t really know which classes to take?</p>
<p>Also, is it possible to live on campus during the summer or does the college closes? And if it is possible to stay, are there any work opportunities on campus or outside of it? I know that the Hebrew University, for example, is wide open in the summer for exchange students and students who need to retake tests, but I understand the American system is different… And if my parents want to come visit, where could they stay?</p>
<p>There is on-campus housing for students in the summer, but the housing is limited to students doing summer research, and students who are employed full-time on campus. These summer on-campus jobs are varied, and range from working in the library to working in an administrative office.</p>
<p>It is also quite possible to find an apartment for the summer off-campus. I did this when I was a student, and a number of us who were staying in Poughkeepsie for the summer rented a house very near to campus. It was quite affordable.</p>
<p>Visiting parents would have to stay in a nearby hotel, or at Alumnae House, a Vassar-owned inn right across the street from campus.</p>
<p>Hey all,
I’m an accepted student and I had a few last minute questions, if you all don’t mind!</p>
<ol>
<li><p>How are the history and American culture departments? I’m really interested in those two areas–I’m especially drawn to interdisciplinary majors and American Culture sounds amazing, so if you know anything about the classes/teachers, I’d love to hear it.</p></li>
<li><p>How do you get 1/2 a credit? Someone started explaining it to me at the Accepted Student Day, but we got cut off.</p></li>
<li><p>How were your experiences in terms of orientation freshman year? Did you feel like you made friends quickly and had good advising?</p></li>
<li><p>Are there any poetry groups on campus? How about literary magazines?</p></li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li><p>I am not majoring in either of those departments, but I have taken a few history classes. I think the History department is very good, my favorite professor EVER teaches in the History department. His name is James Merrell and he specializes in early American history, and you will not be disappointed if you take a class with him. He is amazing and your writing will improve so much. Look him up on ratemyprofessor, this guy can do no wrong, we even have a facebook group dedicated to him.
Anyway, aside from that, the history department offers a wide range of classes, part of me wishes I had been a history major. The other professors I have had have also been very very good, I have not had a bad experience in that department. I took Victorian Britain with Lydia Murdoch, and she is one of the nicest profs I’ve had, she really knows her subject. She also teaches in the Women Studies dept.
American Culture I’m a little less familiar with, but have heard good things. I believe the American Culture program has just introduced a correlate in Native American studies as well. If you are thinking of doing some sort of interdisciplinary major, Vassar is a great place for that. They really encourage working outside your major, and a lot of seniors do their thesis on some sort of interdisciplinary subject.</p></li>
<li><p>Okay, 1/2 credits. There are two types of 1/2 credit courses that I know of. The first are courses that last only 6 weeks (half the semester) Some of these courses are offered in the first 6 weeks of a semester, and others in the second 6 weeks. They are usually much like regular classes, except that they last shorter and usually have less work outside of class. Examples of this: Introduction to stagecraft (freshman Drama course, introduces you to the practical aspect of theatermaking), also I recently took a class on Global Warming that was only 6 weeks.
The other type are courses which last the whole semester but have very little or no work outside of class, these are usually dance or phys ed classes.
Another way to earn 1/2 credit is through field work (basically internships)
1/2 credits are pretty much always pass/fail (I think) and do not receive a letter grade.</p></li>
<li><p>Orientation is great. It is only you, your fellow freshman, and orientation leaders on campus during this. Here at Vassar we have student fellow groups, which consists of the other freshman who live near you in the dorm. Your fellow group will have a student fellow leader (usually a sophomore). You will spend a lot of time with this group during orientation and will probably attend most activities with them. Additionally, you will attend interest meetings for different majors and activities, and will meet students with similar interests. You will definitely make many new friends at orientation, people who will stick with you throughout your time at Vassar.</p></li>
<li><p>We have quite a few literary magazines here on campus, the one I hear about most frequently being Helicon. But there are other various groups on campus who produce yearly magazines featuring student poetry, short stories, and artwork. There is always someone seeking out submissions for a magazine it seems.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I’m a history major! Merrell is a fantastic genius and I’m taking his class for the third semester in a row next semester. Although my term paper for Revolutionary America is currently the bane of my existence, I look forward to his class every Monday and Wednesday. Seriously, the colonial and revolutionary periods are my least favorite in American history and I STILL do all the reading, etc. His lectures are like little books in themselves. I could seriously rave about him for hours. </p>
<p>I considered switching to American Culture, then I didn’t get into a required class, so I’m sticking with history… </p>
<p>I made friends quickly at orientation and I don’t hang out with ANY of them anymore, except my former roommate. No joke. But I’ve always felt included and comfortable and have never really wanted for companionship. </p>
<p>The conclusion of this: be a history major!</p>
<p>Professor X - Thanks so much for the info! I really hope to be employed at Vassar full time during the summer. I prefer an administrative job, personally, but it’s also good to know there are other options. How is employment in Poughkeepsie anyway? Any job opportunities?</p>
<p>Another question I had is about dorms - what does “wellness” mean? I like the idea of a clean dorm hall but it… seems a little odd to put such emphasis on it. How are the other dorms? How are the all-girl dorms?</p>
<p>hey simplylilly,
Wellness halls are halls that are available every dorm and they are alcohol/drug free, and 24hr quiet halls.
[Wellness</a> Corridors - Residential Life - Vassar College](<a href=“Office of Residential Life – Vassar College”>Office of Residential Life – Vassar College)
We have one all-female dorm on campus (Strong), and the rest of the dorms are coed. I think the dorms are all pretty nice and clean, and they all have a very familial feel to them- each dorm has a parlor and MPR (multi-purpose room) which is where we watch TV, have a pool table, etc.
I lived in Josselyn House for my three years as an underclassman (I’m a senior now, living in the Town Houses) and I loved it there.
Someone said earlier that Juniors get a single room for sure, that isn’t true. The dorms are being remodeled one by one (right now Davison house is being renovated) so there is a bit of a housing crunch so most people (regardless of your year) will be in at least a double. I wouldn’t stress too much about that though because all of our double and triple dorm rooms on campus are fairly large (the single rooms are the smallest and most claustrophobic).</p>
<p>Thanks so much smarie and dc89! That was very helpful. I think I’m leaning toward Vassar at this point (and I need to decide by tomorrow…). I have a few more questions, if someone doesn’t mind:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I’m Catholic (although a very liberal one) and I’d like to be able to go to church on Sundays. Are there any student church services or Catholic groups on campus? Are people fairly open/accepting in terms of religion?</p></li>
<li><p>What are the bathrooms like in terms of size/cleanliness? I’m fine with coed bathrooms, but I’d prefer if they were fairly clean. (This isn’t a very important question, but I figured why not ask.)</p></li>
<li><p>Someone may have asked this already, but do you ever really notice the difference in M/F ratio or feel like it’s at all an issue?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>YOU ROCK littleathiest !!!
I cannot begin to describe how helpful you are:D
SERIOUSLY</p>
<p>anyway, my question was…</p>
<p>I have heard that vassar likes a strong academic class schedule.
However is 7 AP’s and striaght a’s okay too?(2-soph,3-jun,3-senior)
I don’t want to build up on 4-5 aps right now, as I am stressed with my extra curricular and commitment to my other passions.
is that okay or does vassar want a student to just take a risk?</p>
<p>I’m from the west coast and I’m getting to NY on the 24th…is there anywhere I can stay that night before orientation? Will dorms be open by then and I can stay there? Also, which airport is closest and what is the easiest way of getting from the airport to Vassar? Train? I heard Vassar has a shuttle that runs from an airport to campus, which airport is it and how does it work? </p>
<p>Also, what is the easiest way to get all my stuff over? My friend suggested shipping it all the day before I leave and just taking a few things with me.</p>
<p>Harvey33 - I’m not sure, but it seems like for freshman year, you mostly cram in as many introduction classes as possible. Don’t take my word for it, though, since I have little to no idea…</p>
<p>afaceinspace, the best airport to fly into would be stewart international. its in newburg, ny, about 35 min from vassar. a really easy way to get to campus is to set up a car ride with the car service called “visconti,” located in the airport. they give a great student discount. including tip, my ride was only like $44 or something. thats what i used when i visited, but i will be driving up in the fall from kentucky so that i will have a car. as to staying the night on the 24th, i am not sure. i would really like to know myself.</p>
<p>According to the admitted page, dorms are opened as of the 25th. Then again, for the international students it says dorms will be open as of the 22nd, so… confusing?</p>
<p>Airports, etc: I used to fly into Stewart, but last December I got caught in a snowstorm and my flight got cancelled and I was there for 16 hours and it was THE MOST BORING EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE because it’s tiny and everything closed and we had to stay in the bag claim the whole time and the wireless that I paid for didn’t work. However, it is fairly convenient. JFK is also convenient when you don’t have a ton of baggage, i.e. coming back from winter and spring breaks, but I wouldn’t suggest it for move-in because you have to take shuttles and trains and whatnot. </p>
<p>You can’t get into the dorms until they officially open on the 25th (if that’s what it is this year). I would suggest staying at a hotel the night before. Simply Lily, international students have an earlier orientation, so that’s why they have an earlier move-in date. </p>
<p>There’s a shuttle to and from the airport after some breaks, but I don’t think they’ll have it around move-in. When I fly into Stewart, I just take a cab from the airport - it’s $63. When I fly into JFK, I take a cab between Vassar and Poughkeepsie Train Station and a shuttle between Grand Central and JFK. Once I got lucky at Stewart and caught a ride with a student back to Vassar. </p>
<p>Hope all you 2013ers are getting excited! I’m moving in early and will be performing at the BEST orientation event. </p>
<p>Oh, and fun fact for all you musical theatre kids that are coming in: drama department is doing Rent next semester!</p>
<p>Cool! Any chance you can tell us it’s you? Lol, I imagine not, but it would have been cool.</p>
<p>How many classes should you take in the very first semester of year? 5-6-7? Is it better to take fewer classes or get a fair amount of annoying prequisits (100 level) classes out of the way?</p>
(I’m an international student seeking FA, btw.)</p>