Got a Question for a Current Student?

<p>I'm not a Vassar (or Oberlin) student, but one major difference is curriculum. Oberlin has fairly extensive distribution requirements, while Vassar only has two requirements (writing and foreign language) with an essentially open curriculum.</p>

<p>Question: Could anyone compare Oberlin and Vassar for me? I was just wondering if there are any major differences between them as I'm quite interested in both schools.</p>

<p>Answer: I've always viewed Vassar and Oberlin (and Wesleyan and Bard) as schools that are, for the most part, very similar. Keilexandra mentioned one difference in the open curriculum versus distribution requirements. Another that stands out to me is the fact that Oberlin has a music conservatory while Vassar's music program is more connected to the rest of the college in that it isn't a separate school. I would imagine that if you're interested in studying music seriously, Oberlin is probably a better choice. On the other hand; however, if you're interested in doing music on a more casual basis (joining an instrumental group, for example), Vassar might be a better choice because, with a large collection of highly trained musicians, getting involved could be pretty competitive.</p>

<p>Question: What are the requirements for all students, such as the foreign language requirement? </p>

<p>Answer: All students are required to take a freshman writing course (known as a freshman seminar) during their first year at the school. Freshman seminars are offered in a variety of different departments and are writing intensive courses designed to get you adjusted to writing at the college level. Vassar students are also all required to take one quantitative-type course in their four years of study. This could be anything from a math course in the math department to a lab course to a non-lab science course in a department like astronomy, earth science, or geology to intro. psychology to logic in the philosophy department. Lastly, all students are required to fulfill a general language requirement, which can be done in a number of ways: a 4 or 5 on an AP language/literature test (other than English, of course), a score of 600 or better on a language SAT II, one course of a language at Vassar (if you're doing an introductory course, this would be year long; however, most courses after the first year run for only a semester), or a passing score on a language competency test given by the Vassar language department at the start of each year. </p>

<p>Question: How difficult are introductory foreign language classes?</p>

<p>Answer: Introductory foreign language classes at Vassar are usually year-long and meet for 50 minute sessions 4 to 5 times a week. They're designed for students who have never studied the language being taught before so usually start out pretty easy (or, at least, they'd be easy for someone who'd taken the language before). If you decide to continue Spanish, I doubt that you'll end up in the first Introductory Spanish course... it's usually only open to students who have taken two years or less of high school Spanish. Instead, you'd be in the semester-long Intermediate Spanish course (HISP-205), which meets for three 50-minute periods a week and focuses on oral practice and writing skills. You would also, of course, have the chance to start a new language, if interested.</p>

<p>I'm taking Elementary Latin now and it's really not too bad (yes, Latin can count as your foreign language credit). The class requires nightly assignments; however, they can usually be done in, at most, 45 minutes. Unlike most of the other language classes at Vassar, it doesn't emphasize speaking and writing in the language as much (for obvious reasons), but instead focuses on learning how to read and identify different words and types of speech. Basically, you learn the rules of Latin grammar and a lot of vocabulary.</p>

<p>Also, keep in mind that Vassar allows you to take a non-recorded option (NRO) for four of your courses in your years at Vassar. NRO-ing a course is usually done if you feel that you're doing poorly in it after a month of the class and involves setting a minimum grade that you'd like to get. If you get above the minimum grade, the grade will appear on your transcript; however, if your score is below the minimum grade but a passing grade, you'll just get a "P" in the course. As long as you passed the language course, you'd fulfill your language requirement.</p>

<p>Question: How is the psychology department? Does anyone know how Vassar's compares to other top liberal arts colleges?</p>

<p>Answer: The psychology department here at Vassar is one of our largest departments. I don't have any stats I can give you to tell how good it is compared to other LACs; however, I can tell you that it's generally viewed as one of our stronger academic programs. I'm actually considering doing a double-major with psychology as one half of this, so would be happy to give you more details about the program (course requirements, what sorts of classes are offered, etc.). Just post another question in this thread if you're interested and I'll get back to you.</p>

<p>Thanks so much keilexandra and especially littleatheist. You were really helpful, and I feel much better about the foreign language req now.</p>

<p>I would be interested in more information about the psychology department, littleatheist. Thanks!</p>

<p>Question: I would be interested in more information about the psychology department.</p>

<p>Answer: The psychology major is an 11 unit major at Vassar (each class is worth one unit). All psychology majors begin with PSYC-105. Introduction to Psychology: A Survey. I personally recommend that you try to take this in your first semester at Vassar, if you're planning on a psychology major, seeing as it's the prerequisite for all other courses in the department (without special permission). The course is, as its name suggests, an introduction to the field of psychology which touches upon everything from neuropsychology to developmental psychology to behavioral psychology to social psychology. Basically, it's designed to give you a taste of everything so that you can develop a sense of what interests you most right off the bat.</p>

<p>Following this introductory course, you have a lot more options on what you're able to take... the department offers about 25 200-level (intermediate) courses as well as another 10 or so advanced, 300-level courses (these are usually for juniors and seniors only). At the 200-level majors are required to take a cross-section of courses. All majors are required to take PSYC-200. Statistics and Experimental Design, which is a course on statistics designed especially for use in psychological studies, and a Research Methods course in which you apply the statistics you've learned in PSYC-200 to actual research in the field. The Research Methods Courses are offered in Social Psychology, Cognitive Science, Learning and Behavior, Developmental Psychology, Physiological Psychology, and Personality and Individual Differences. </p>

<p>In addition to the Statistics and Research Methods courses, psychology majors are also required to take several other courses at the 200-level. The 200-level courses are divided into six different categories: social psychology, cognitive psychology, learning and comparative psychology, developmental psychology, physiological psychology, and individual differences in personality. Psychology majors are required to take classes from four of these six 200-level categories. Lastly, during senior year, psychology majors are required to take two units at the advanced (300) level in seminar courses. </p>

<p>The psychology major at Vassar requires no senior project (although you are able to do one, if you'd like to), so it's pretty easy to double-major or earn an education certificate while majoring in psychology, if desired. So far, my experience in the department has been very positive. I've had two professors who are involved in primarily developmental psychology and one whose interests lie in social psychology, and they've all been solidly good to excellent professors. The difficulty of the classes varies a lot, but based on the two classes I've taken so far, I would say that it's possible to get an A, but you really have to earn it. Most students seem to get anything from the B- to A- range, although I do know students who have gotten below a B-.</p>

<p>Hey! First of all thank you littleathiest for creating this thread! It really provides lots of helpful info about Vassar. </p>

<p>I'm an international student and need help choosing LACs. I wonder if you guys can help me out with this. </p>

<p>Well, i've shortlisted 5 schools: Middlebury, Carleton, Vassar, Davidson and CMC and need to choose two from them. All five are great schools with great reputation. But i'd like a school that is more friendly and accepting, and people of different backgrounds (international students, students of different racial and ethnic background,etc) mix well. I also want a college that does' have a very dominant party scene. </p>

<p>As i said i'm an international student and i need FA to go to an LAC. Is it very difficult to get FA at Vassar? I heard that a large proportion of the FA offered by Vassar is made up of loans, is this true?</p>

<p>For now i'm more interested in applying to Vassar and Middlebury. But i thought you guys attend LAC and should know better about LACs, so maybe you can give me further advice on choosing the right LACs? Thank you!!!</p>

<p>P.S. I read from a book that says there's a lot of drinking at Vassar. I'm a non-drinker so will i fit in well?</p>

<p>Not the OP, but since I'm inordinately interested in Vassar (enough to follow this thread), I shall chime in. Out of your five schools, Middlebury has the most reputation for drinking, followed by perhaps Carleton and Davidson. All 5 are very diverse, but international FA is difficult no matter where you apply. Is there a specific reason you have to choose 2? I'd recommend applying to as many as possible (as long as they're good fits) for the best chance of aid.</p>

<p>Question: Well, I've shortlisted 5 schools: Middlebury, Carleton, Vassar, Davidson and CMC and need to choose two from them. All five are great schools with great reputation. But I'd like a school that is more friendly and accepting, and people of different backgrounds (international students, students of different racial and ethnic background,etc) mix well. I also want a college that does' have a very dominant party scene.</p>

<p>Answer: Well, I'm biased as a current Vassar student, but I would be happy to give you my input on the schools you've listed above and how they might fit or not fit for you. </p>

<p>I would say that Davidson doesn't sound like your type of school so much. It's the only school out of the five you've listed with Division I sports and a large Greek life system, both of which seem to promote a lot of partying. I have a high school classmate who goes to Davidson who loves it, but she's definitely more of the "party hearty" type.</p>

<p>I just went onto collegeboard.com to look up how many international students at Claremont McKenna College received financial aid and was surprised to see that the website listed that only five international students fell under this category. If this is indeed the case (and you should do research into that, because it could very well be wrong), I wouldn't recommend you apply to CMC... it sounds like financial aid for international students is HIGHLY limited there.</p>

<p>That leaves Middlebury, Carleton, and Vassar. Of these, I'd pick Vassar for sure (there's the bias!), but I'm not sure whether I'd go for Middlebury or Carleton... I know people who go to both schools and who love both of them. </p>

<p>Question: As I said I'm an international student and i need FA to go to an LAC. Is it very difficult to get FA at Vassar? I heard that a large proportion of the FA offered by Vassar is made up of loans, is this true?</p>

<p>Answer: According to my boyfriend, there are definitely going to be some student loans you'll have to pay; however, most of the cost is taken care of by Vassar through special grants, scholarship funds, etc. As for level of difficulty, well, here's what the Vassar College International Student FAQ has to say about things: "Each year, over 700 international students apply for admission and financial assistance, and 50-60 are admitted with funding. Clearly, therefore, while Vassar’s international aid budget is substantial, competition for this assistance is quite keen. For those foreign citizens with financial need who enrolled in the class of 2011, the average scholarship was approximately $37,472, plus a Vassar student loan of $3,500, and eligibility for a campus job earning $1,720, for a total average financial aid award of $42,692. Of course, each individual student’s financial aid package will depend on his/her family’s financial circumstances" (Vassar</a> College || International Students FAQ). </p>

<p>Question: I read from a book that says there's a lot of drinking at Vassar. I'm a non-drinker so will I fit in well?</p>

<p>Answer: Although there are certainly plenty of people who drink at Vassar, there are also plenty who do not, or who drink rarely. You'll certainly be able to find other students who choose not to drink (I'm one of them). In addition, one of the nice things about Vassar's social life is that the school really does make an effort to provide students with things to do on weekends. There are dances, movie nights, dinners sponsored by different campus clubs, musical and theatrical performances, and sports events, all of which are either entirely alcohol-free or alcohol-free for underage students.</p>

<p>littleathiest, thanks so much for the reply! i hope i can get in... there are so many students applying to Vassar this year. anyway you are really nice and helpful. thanks!!!</p>

<p>How large of a factor is your essay on getting in with Early Decision 1 if your ACT score is only a 29? What kind of chance would I have of getting in there?</p>

<p>Also, do you feel that Vassar is intellectually stimulating enough for you, too easy, or too difficult?</p>

<p>Thanks for your help :)</p>

<p>Question: How large of a factor is your essay on getting in with Early Decision 1 if your ACT score is only a 29? What kind of chance would I have of getting in there?</p>

<p>Answer: I'm not an admissions officer, so I really can't give you a very good answer to this question. That being said, I'd say that a 29, while a bit lower than desirable, isn't going to stop you from getting into Vassar. I believe the 25-75% range of ACT scores is 29-32, so there certainly are people that get in with a ACT score at or below 29. Whether or not you end up being one of these people really depends on your extracurriculars, high school grades, and application essay. If you're solid in these three criteria, I would say that you've got a very good shot at getting into Vassar.</p>

<p>Question: Do you feel that Vassar is intellectually stimulating enough for you, too easy, or too difficult?</p>

<p>Answer: Overall, I feel that classes at Vassar are at a very good academic level for me; however, this does vary a bit by department and professor. Most of my classes, for example, feature engaging lectures and discussions; however, at the same time, I've also had one or two classes where the discussion was less-than-impressive. The same goes for grades: I've had classes where most students got As, classes where very few students got above a B+, and a class where the vast majority of the students in it received below a B-. Generally speaking though, I find Vassar to be at a good level, difficulty-wise.</p>

<p>Since this thread is getting rather long, I thought it would make sense to post a reference guide to where information about different topics are. The numbers listed below correspond to the post number in the thread (the post numbers are listed in the right hand corner of the top of each post).</p>

<p>Admissions: 55, 57, 58, 59, 61, 63, 167, 168, 199, 210
Art Department: 12, 16, 145
Banks & ATMs: 155, 187, 189, 191
Bard College v. Vassar College: 40, 41
Bikes On-Campus: 182, 183
Brown University v. Vassar College: 33
Campus Feel: 4, 6, 16, 21, 22, 149, 176
Carleton College v. Vassar College: 206, 207
Claremont McKenna College v. Vassar College: 206, 207
Classes: 29, 142, 210
Classics Department: 51, 52
Clubs: 18, 176
Cognitive Science Program: 94
Crew: 66, 68, 76, 77, 79
Curriculum Requirements: 44, 202
Cushing House (dorm): 162, 163, 164, 171
Davidson College v. Vassar College: 206, 207
Diversity: 180, 197
Dorm Supplies & Life: 49, 71, 72, 73, 74, 115, 118, 147, 152, 154, 158, 160, 164, 167, 168, 169, 174, 177
Financial Aid: 207
Food & Meal Plans: 90, 96, 97
Guest Lectures & Special Events: 21
Gym: 89, 90
Health Insurance: 140, 145
Intellectualism 27, 29, 210
International Students: 207
Jewett House (dorm): 126, 128
Language Departments: 133, 202
LGBT Community 18, 34
Main House (dorm): 124, 128
Male/Female Ratio & Relations: 18, 25
Middlebury College v. Vassar College: 206, 207
Music: 66, 103
Noyes House (dorm): 133, 135, 137, 138
Oberlin College v. Vassar College: 201, 202
Poughkeepsie: 111, 147
Psychology Department: 202, 204
Safety: 185, 193
Size of School: 113
Social Scene & Drinking: 25, 38, 41, 147, 207
Strong House (single-sex dorm): 82, 83, 86, 149, 150
Transfer Students: 195
Transportation & Cars On-Campus: 5, 6, 13, 23, 46, 106, 111
Weather: 85
Wesleyan University v. Vassar College: 36</p>

<p>A few questions:
I'm a huge theatre lover and I've been pretty active in productions in high school but I don't plan on majoring/minoring in drama. Can a non-drama minor try out for productions? Are there any student run shows? </p>

<p>Also, for the optional photograph upload in the suppliment - what do the adcoms expect? My senior portrait or a funny snapshot with my friends? I'm thinking of just not uploading anything.</p>

<p>ps: littleathiest, I was interested in Vassar before but now I think that I am definitely applying.</p>

<p>You can audition for drama department shows if you've taken Drama 102 (Intro Theatre-Making) and Drama 103 (Intro to Stagecraft, a six-week course). Preference is definitely given to theatre majors, though. There are TONS of student-run productions; there are multiple straight theatre groups and a musical theatre group. Theatre is really popular at Vassar. I'm active in the MT group and have a lot of friends who are active in the department and in the other groups. Let me know if you want to know anything else.</p>

<p>I have a question for past ED1 applicants - I'm applying to Vassar ED1, so I just wanted to know if the placements usually come out before December 15 or on December 15?</p>

<p>Question: I have a question for past ED1 applicants - I'm applying to Vassar ED1, so I just wanted to know if the placements usually come out before December 15 or on December 15?</p>

<p>Answer: This sort of thing really varies year to year. If you look through some of the threads from last year's applicant pool on College Confidential, you should be able to get an answer. The link to one such thread is: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/vassar-college/432560-letters.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/vassar-college/432560-letters.html&lt;/a>. I didn't apply ED I to Vassar; however, my roommate from last year (an international student) did. I believe she said that she received an email (because she's an international student) telling her she was accepted on December 15th; however, I could be mistaken.</p>

<p>This has already been asked, but not answered and I'm curious for the answer - </p>

<p>What type of photo should I submit - like a snaphot of me doing something with my friends or team or whatever or like my senior portrait?</p>

<p>Question: What type of photo should I submit - like a snaphot of me doing something with my friends or team or whatever or like my senior portrait?</p>

<p>Answer: Sorry for not answering this one before... I noticed that your first one had been answered, so thought the second one had been as well. Anyway, the photo is supposed to be of you; however, there's no real "rule" about how formal the picture should be. The idea behind it is that it makes your application more personal... it allows admissions officers to attach a face to a name, so to speak. That being said, I would recommend that if you do submit a photo, make sure that it's clear who you are and what you look like in it. I would thus not recommend you submit a photo of yourself with a sports team or of you skiing down a mountainside because it won't make it easy for them to figure out which individual you happen to be in the picture (or what you look like, in the case of a skiier). The photo is entirely optional, and really doesn't have any impact on your application, from what I know at least.</p>

<p>ED 1
Last year letters were received in New York City the Saturday before Monday the 15th. SEGA</p>