<p>I was wondering if anyone had details concerning the Vassar theater program, and also if Vassar excepts a certain amount of local high school students? They seem to have accepted a lot of local students in the past few years, I was just wondering if this is part of an admissions plan or something.</p>
<p>what are the sudio or fine arts like? we visited but i couldn’t get a take on art at vassar. thanks for any insight.</p>
<p>Know any students who were declined regular admission but were able to transfer in?</p>
<p>I suspect some of the usual student posters may be abroad this term as I have not seen them posting as often as in the past. I, a parent of a Junior, will try to answer your questions.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Elephantsweaters - Vassar does provide “no loan” aid to local HS students and encourages them to apply. That does not of course mean a particular number will be accepted. You should check with your Guidance counselor and call/visit the Admissions Office. See - [The</a> Miscellany News | Since 1866: Vassar eliminates financial aid loads for Poughkeepsie High School graduates](<a href=“http://misc.vassar.edu/archives/2008/02/vassar_eliminat.html]The”>http://misc.vassar.edu/archives/2008/02/vassar_eliminat.html)</p></li>
<li><p>Beryl11 I would call the Art department. My daughter tells me that Art History is a very popular course and Vassar has great library resources in Art History and a very nice small museum. I am sorry not to be of more help regarding Studio and Fine Art. I am sure the department or Admissions can help. On a side note, you might want to check out Bard in these areas as well.</p></li>
<li><p>Chelsea0011 - I would call the Admissions Department. I did look at the statistics a few years for my son who was rejected from HS and considered but did not apply to transfer to Vassar. I remember that there are usually only a small number of transfers admitted and it can be tough. Do the best you can where you go now and then if you still want to transfer try it out. A transfer in search of a different social environment worked out very well for my son, now a Senior, and it may for you as well. Check out - [Vassar</a> College || Transfer Students FAQ](<a href=“http://admissions.vassar.edu/applytransfer_faq.html]Vassar”>http://admissions.vassar.edu/applytransfer_faq.html)</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Hi, everyone.</p>
<p>I’m a high school student on my college search. From what I know so far, Vassar really stands out to me, so I’m interested in learning a little bit more about it. Any help provided is appreciated ! </p>
<ul>
<li><p>I’m not really into the partying scene, so would you say it would be hard to fit in at Vassar, or more difficult to make friends, if you don’t attend parties? </p></li>
<li><p>Generally, what is the campus vibe? Is it a laid back, where a lot of people know each other? </p></li>
<li><p>Do students travel on and off campus a lot? How often do students do students that live generally nearby (like New Jersey) visit home? </p></li>
<li><p>How is the science program at Vassar? Specifically, more information on the biology department and neuroscience and behavior program would be very helpful. </p></li>
</ul>
<p>thanks again !</p>
<p>Brie62–
I can’t answer all of your questions that well, since I’ve only been here for about six weeks, but I’ll take a stab at it.</p>
<p>–I don’t think it’s at all hard to fit in at Vassar if you don’t like parties. I don’t drink at all and I’ve had no problems with it. You make a lot of your friends through your fellow group, orientation, classes, and activities.
I do think it depends a little bit on housing though. There are some houses/halls that do more partying than others, but in general I think it’s easy to avoid. Everyone that I’ve met so far has been completely respectful about my decision not to drink.
There’s also wellness housing, if you want to think about that.</p>
<p>–I’d say the vibe is laid back. Everyone is busy, but it’s not really intense, which is nice. I’m still at the “getting to know you” stage of things, but everyone seems friendly and pretty open to getting to know new people.</p>
<p>–It depends on the student. There are some people that never leave or only travel around the local Poughkeepsie area, except for breaks. On the other hand, I have a friend who has already been away from campus for three out of the six weekends we’ve been here. I think he’s a bit of an anomaly though. In general, people stick around campus or occasionally go down to NYC. I know several people from New Jersey who have not been home yet and two who have been home once. I think it depends on how much traveling you want to do. One nice thing about Vassar is that we have October break. Most schools don’t have it, but we get a full week off in mid-to-late October, so after about two months of being away, you get to go home instead of waiting until Thanksgiving or a long weekend.</p>
<p>–I don’t know much about the sciences, I’m sorry. From what I’ve heard, they’re pretty good, but I can’t tell you much more than that.</p>
<p>If you’ve got any other questions, feel free to ask!</p>
<p>An alternative perspective for Brie62—</p>
<ul>
<li><p>On the weekend, parties can be a pretty big part of campus life, but they aren’t your typical Animal House frat keggers. In fact, most parties with alcohol are held by seniors in off-campus housing, so you’re not honestly going to be bothered by that culture unless you go out of your way to be so. Instead, the majority of students hang around campus for planned events (last weekend, for example, there was a musical, a lecture by Angela Davis, and a screening of Adventureland all within an hour of each other) and find other things to do late at night, including (and this happens at least twice every weekend) heading to the Acrop, a 24-hour diner just down the road.</p></li>
<li><p>People tend to be pretty friendly here, and as a result, people get to making a lot of friends. I’ve been here as long as poetrygirl, and I’ve had conversations with a few hundred people already, all of whom are genuinely interesting and interested. As far as the “vibe” goes, only one adjective suffices: open. There truly is noplace more accepting than Vassar. It’s practically impossible to stand out in a negative way, because there’s at least half the student body waiting to applaud your individuality for it. People are unafraid to express themselves by any means. That said, things are pretty heavily liberal (socially and politically), which really speaks for itself.</p></li>
<li><p>Among my friends, those who live closest tend to head home pretty frequently. A buddy from North Jersey has spent three weekends out of the year so far at home, and it hasn’t seemed much of a hassle for him at all. Trips to New York City are fairly common as well. Upper classmen will tend to spend many a weekend in the city, and as a freshman I’ve already spent a weekend there for a concert. It’s deceptively easy to get around, and shuttles run through Poughkeepsie every day for shorter trips.</p></li>
<li><p>The science programs are, like most everything else at Vassar, fairly rigorous. The professors are brilliant (for the most part), and even the ones that aren’t make up for it by being entertaining, at the very least. That said, grading is tough and lab time can be a real pain in the neck when it comes after a full day of classes. Everybody seems fine with devoting themselves to the program despite the commitment involved, though, which says something. If there’s one complaint about the sciences, it’s that they (again, like most everything else at Vassar) are intensely theoretical, with little in the way of practical or pre-professional bases. Regardless, the admission rate to medical school remains fairly high (80-90%, depending on the year).</p></li>
</ul>
<p>Phew. Hope that helps.</p>
<p>I was just wondering how the creative writing and english program were doing. I saw that there have been cuts to the Creative writing program and even a save the creative writing program group.</p>
<p>Poetrygirl and Atomspatz, thank you so much 
</p>
<p>It’s great that everyone on this thread is willing to answer questions we have, and your information is very helpful! I’ll definitely post again if I think of anything else, which I most likely will. Thanks again.</p>
<p>This post is really awesome!! Thanks to all for your very detailed answers! It really confirms my belief of applying to Vassar this year! </p>
<p>Good luck to all Vassar applicants this year!</p>
<p>This is just a trivial question, but I might as well just ask.</p>
<p>Is there a place on campus to get food at odd hours? Like after midnight? I normally sleep quite late and find myself hungry after midnight quite often, so it’d be great to be able to get something to fill the empty stomach before going to sleep :p</p>
<p>Hey Atomspatz, I really liked your last post I found it quite helpful as I am considering applying to Vassar Early Decision. I was wondering if you could help me answer some more questions?</p>
<p>I’m a singer (bass) and I hear there are a lot of acapella groups on campus and that they are pretty competitive. Do you know anything about the acapella scene on campus? I would love to join an all guys group while at college but I’m worried I may be pressured into drinking. Do most of the acapella groups drink together?</p>
<p>I also read about this thing called serenading where the seniors throw ketchup and stuff at all the freshman and you have to stand and sing songs while they do this. As a freshman can you say if this true?? Were you forced to attend?</p>
<p>What concert did you go see in the city? jw</p>
<p>THANKS!!!</p>
<p>There is SO MUCH a cappella. The all-male group does kind of have an emphasis on drinking, but honestly, NOBODY at Vassar is going to pressure you into drinking. That’s one of the really nice things about the school - even in a group where lots of people do drink, nobody will judge you or try to get you to do something you’re not comfortable with in terms of substances. Also, a cappella is not THAT competitive because there are so many groups. (There are also like three choirs run by the music department if you’re interested in that.) </p>
<p>Serenading is also totally optional. Not being a fan of food substances being thrown on me, I have never done this… they changed it to water this year, but I still think it’s stupid. Some people enjoy it, though. It’s totally easy to avoid, no worries.</p>
<p>I’m very confused about where to go. I’ll probably major in biology with a concentration in pre-med. I don’t know whether to go to Virginia Tech or Viginia Commonwealth Univeresity. VCU is more organized in the medical area, but Virginia Tech has a better reputation, they are more prestigious. I believe VCU may give me more internships. Idk about VT, is there internships and volunteer experiences available for pre-med students? Is there alot of pre-med students at tech, i feel like everyone is there for engineering. Some information on Pre-med at VT would be nice or your opinions about where i should go.Can you please help me make the right decision. Your help is appreciated.</p>
<p>where do you go to ask a question?</p>
<p>a38153z</p>
<p>Try the “Ask Me Questions!” thread. It is more up to date.</p>
<p>bicycles at vassar </p>
<hr>
<p>daughter starts in fall 2010 as a frosh, don’t know which dorm, or where on campus she’ll spend her academic time or after, except that she will be swimming for V on the team.</p>
<p>so what’s up, if anything, with bikes at vassar? 1) does anyone ride them? is it needed or useful, ie is the campus that spread out? is it seasonal, ie not winter, or all yr long? for instance, at USC, which seems compact, actually quite a lot of students bike. and at stanford (which is very spread out) not only that but the university has a subcontracted bike shop right on campus, plus volume purchasing on a functional multigear bike, mountain bike style, upright etc. and, if everyone’s riding the same functional (read: cheap) bike, then the urge to steal, liberate, misappropriate, find, etc. anyone’s particular bike is lessened. and a bike shop right there, for repairs and whatever else you need a bike shop for. 2) i know vassar has ‘use/borrow a bike’ whereby i believe pink colored bikes are free to be used by anyone. of course, if you used it to get to somewhere, you couldn’t count on it being there when you were done to get elsewhere, so does this work? maybe your own bike is better? 3) what facilities are available for bikes, ie locking them up at various school buildings, ie racks, and storage at dorms? 4) does the college make you register them, get a tag? cost $? 5) overall, necessary? useful if not necessary? hassle but useful? more hassle than they’re worth? totally a millstone, like an auto in NYC?</p>
<p>any advice would be greatly appreciated. also, most school bikes i have seen, except for sunny USC, were, because of the weather, beaten up, rusted chains, etc. from being left out in all kinds of weather and basically not taken care of. plus, again, lessens chances of theft i suppose. is this what one should aim at? you can buy a lot of bike nowadays at walmart or wherever for under $200. </p>
<p>how about off campus riding opportunities, both sight seeing and serious mountainbiking? trails? bike clubs or trips? weekend stuff? </p>
<p>and, recommendations on bike shop at or near vassar, ie in town? thanks.</p>
<p>Hi, I’m a rising senior and very worried about paying for a college.
My parents are average middle class, but they can’t afford all of the tuition and there’s a very little chance that I will get a FASFA. I’m not the brigtest student at my school but I’m one of the top 20 at my school. Not sure the exact rank but most likely at the bottom of the 20. I don’t think I can get enough scholarship just with my grades.
Is there any other options to afford my college??</p>
<p>Ahyoung–Financial Aid</p>
<p>First of all I am not a student a Vassar and have absolutely no connection to the school, so take this information with a grain of salt. Since no one else replied and I do have extensive experience with financial aid both as a dependent and as an adult, I hope you find my contribution helpful.</p>
<p>FASFA: in order to apply for financial aid at Vassar you are required to complete the FAFSA. There is also other documentation that is required. The list is here: [Vassar</a> College || Apply for Financial Aid](<a href=“http://admissions.vassar.edu/finaid_apply.html]Vassar”>http://admissions.vassar.edu/finaid_apply.html)</p>
<p>Also Vassar is (almost) need-blind which means that any student who is accepted should be able to afford to attend based on Vassar’s calculations. After you are accepted and have applied for financial aid (you generally submit your financial aid application at the same time as your application for admission) The school will send you a financial aid offer. If you depend on your parents for financial support, the offer will include three parts: Student contribution (the amount of the cost of attendance that you are responsible from your savings and work-study) Parent contribution (the amount of the cost of attendance that the your parents are expected to provide) and aid (includes scholarships obtained through the financial aid office, grants and loans). If your parents are unwilling or unable to pay the parent contribution the student is also responsible for that part of the package, so if you don’t have savings that will likely preclude you from attending, parental unwillingness to pay, will not cause the aid to be increased. </p>
<p>The reason that Vassar is not truly need-blind is that if you are not admitted initially, your financial status is taken into account when/if wait-listed students are selected for admission. </p>
<p>If Vassar is the only school you would like to attend, apply for Early Decision. If you have several schools in mind go ahead and apply for them all during the regular decision period. Also with financial aid, your high school guidance counselor is a great resource. Applying takes a lot of patience and paperwork your counselor has lots of experience with the process so he/she could be really helpful in making sure everything is done correctly.</p>
<p>ahyoung, dont worry about financial aid at Vassar</p>
<p>I was accepted and have absolutely no savings or any money at all. my mother doesn’t work and my father wont help pay, and despite this, Vassar awarded me a full scholarship.</p>
<p>They dropped the parent contribution and they even lowered my student contribution by $500. </p>
<p>So, although I’m sure that the previous poster thought that the parent contribution would go over to the student should the parents refuse to pay, that is NOT always true, so don’t worry. </p>
<p>Also know that Vassar doesn’t do academic scholarships, this is simply because every student who gets into Vassar would qualify for even the strictest of those. </p>
<p>I would also encourage you to apply to other schools, although Vassar may be your first choice it is still VERY important to apply to a wide variety of schools. A lot of the Ivy League school have a no loan/need blind policy, so if your grades, SAT scores, activities ETC, are up to scratch, I would recommend schools like that.</p>
<p>hope this helps! GOOD LUCK!!</p>