<p>What can you tell me about single sex dorms? Specifically all girls? Are the rooms nicer, larger, the dorms in a better location? In short, are there any reasons that one should strongly consider living in them as opposed to a co-ed dorm? I am just fact gathering, please no flames!!!</p>
<p>There is only one single sex dorm at Vassar. That is Strong which is all female. My daughter and her friends tell me that, generally speaking, it is quieter than the other dorms and the bathrooms are cleaner. </p>
<p>The room layourt are roughly the same in all four of the Quad dorms at Vassar though it is possible that there may be more singles in Strong in some years. Probably not next year due to Davison being closed for rennovation. Some students get put into Strong due to the luck of the draw and those students are perhaps not as happy about being there as some others.</p>
<p>No doubt the students who follow this group will be able to provide more details and correct me if my second had impressions are wrong.</p>
<p>Question: What can you tell me about single sex dorms? Specifically all girls? Are the rooms nicer, larger, the dorms in a better location? In short, are there any reasons that one should strongly consider living in them as opposed to a co-ed dorm?</p>
<p>Answer: First of all, there's only one single-sex dorm: Strong. It's located on the residential quad and is, aside from Main, the dorm most centrally located on-campus: it's across the street from Main (the major campus center) and ACDC (the main cafeteria) is right down the road from it. CtParent2006 is right in saying that it's one of the quietest dorms on-campus along with the cleanest. She is also correct in saying that the room layout is just about the same in Strong as it is in the other quad dorms: Raymond, Lathrop, and Davison (although this will change next year with Davison's renovation). The quad dorms have what I believe are some of the most generously-sized doubles on-campus (Joss's may be bigger) and more singles per residents living in the dorm than in some of the other residential house. Even with Davison closed next year, for example, all juniors and most sophomores living in the quad dorms received singles, while sophomores in some of the other dorms were primarily restricted to doubles. Some other things about Strong... there are plans to renovate the dorm following the renovation of Davison, Lathrop, and Raymond. So basically, it might be the oldest dorm, aside from Main, but it's architecturally-speaking the quad dorm in the best shape.</p>
<p>I'm pretty active, and weather was a concern coming from the west coast.
I don't like being inside all that much but i can deal.
Does anyone feel like their activity level has decreased because of weather?</p>
<p>Question: I'm pretty active, and weather was a concern coming from the west coast. I don't like being inside all that much but i can deal. Does anyone feel like their activity level has decreased because of weather?</p>
<p>Answer: I do have more trouble motivating myself to be active during winter months, but that's mainly because I'm not a fan of gyms and made the mistake of not joining any of the fitness classes the winter of my freshman year. That being said, the weather during the winter varies a lot in Poughkeepsie, and you won't be stuck inside every day. There are days when going for a run outside or hiking is a definite possibility, while there are others where this isn't the case and going to the gym, swimming, or using the indoor tennis/basketball courts are pretty much the only options for staying active. If you're used to being outside all-year, every day, being in Poughkeepsie will take a bit of getting used to... every so often, you'll have to change your outdoor routine to an indoor one. That being said, you can definitely stay active all year round if you're able to motivate yourself to do so. The amenities to do so are certainly present with a fitness center, indoor tennis courts, an indoor track, an indoor pool, a gym, and fitness classes.</p>
<p>Strong's triples are REALLY nice. And though I would have scoffed at living there this time last summer, I kind of wish I had had the peace and quiet that the Strong girls enjoyed while I was listening to drunken screeching outside my window at all hours of the night... if you're into partying, you can ALWAYS find somewhere else to do it. And the plus side of living in Strong (or a quiet or wellness hall) is that after that, you can come back and sleep peacefully. </p>
<p>Or at least as peacefully as you can on the quad. haha. </p>
<p>The doubles in Lathrop are BABY. Very little. The Joss doubles are HUGE (I had one of the biggest freshman doubles this year, at least according to popular opinion, and it was really nice). Jewett's doubles are also really, really small. I've only seen one double in Raymond and it wasn't bad...</p>
<p>I know you said that you're not a fan of gyms, but how does the equipment look? Nice? Old? I visited but didnt get a chance to run in and take a look.</p>
<p>thanks</p>
<p>i have to choose a meal plan on my housing form. i was just wondering whether standard or enhanced plan would be better. and i noticed that on the housing form, next to the housing forms it had like the amount of money next to it?
like Enhanced - $2,390 - 193/365
Standard - $2,110 - 166/290 and like that.
i was wondering if the meal plans were included in the room and board, or if we had to pay the extra $2,110 for the meal plans.
(In my student budget analysis, it says Room Charge-Standard 4820.00 and board allowance 4500.00)
and i was also wondering if we have to pay for like different kinds of rooms?
i know at like cornell there's like specific prices for singles, doubles, triples where singles are the most expensive.</p>
<p>sorry for the massive amounts of questions! and thank you for answering!</p>
<p>Smoke&Mirrors, the gym is very nice. Kind of little, but it's a really nice facility. I don't know about the lifting equipment but all the cardio stuff is new and functional and whatnot. </p>
<p>suejinxp, no, the dorms are all the same price, except for senior housing. I think the meal plan is extra, but I'm not sure.</p>
<p>Question: I know you said that you're not a fan of gyms, but how does the equipment look? Nice? Old? </p>
<p>Answer: I agree with dc89... the gym is quite nice and new-looking, if a bit crowded at certain times of the day (late afternoons). There is also a nice range of equipment offered for both weight training and cardiovascular work.</p>
<p>Question: I have to choose a meal plan on my housing form. i was just wondering whether standard or enhanced plan would be better. And i noticed that on the housing form, next to the housing forms it had like the amount of money next to it? Like Enhanced - $2,390 - 193/365, Standard - $2,110 - 166/290, and like that. I was wondering if the meal plans were included in the room and board, or if we had to pay the extra $2,110 for the meal plans.
(In my student budget analysis, it says Room Charge-Standard 4820.00 and board allowance 4500.00). And i was also wondering if we have to pay for like different kinds of rooms? I know at like cornell there's like specific prices for singles, doubles, triples where singles are the most expensive.</p>
<p>Answer: Well, the meal plan is new for next year, but based on last year, I would say that enhanced is the best choice if you're into having your three squares (or two and a coffee/snack), while standard is good for people interested in eating two meals in the cafeteria per day. I believe that you get charged for the standard meal plan as part of your housing fee, and that if you decide to get an upgrade to enhanced the difference between the two is added to your total (but I'm not 100% sure of that). And no, as dc89 said, all residence hall rooms cost the same... it's only fair, seeing as you have no choice as to whether you'll be living in a single, double, or triple.</p>
<p>Do the enhanced plan</p>
<p>I've recently been drawn to the Cognitive Science major at Vassar...it looks really interesting! Do you have any comments about that (maybe you know a cogsci major or something...)?</p>
<p>thank you for the answers!</p>
<p>Question: I've recently been drawn to the Cognitive Science major at Vassar...it looks really interesting! Do you have any comments about that (maybe you know a cogsci major or something...)?</p>
<p>Answer: Well, I don't have a friend whose a Cog-sci major, but I do know someone who took Introduction to Cognitive Science and recommended the course highly. That's about all I can say though, aside for the fact that the major is one of the interdisciplinary ones offered by Vassar. If you haven't already done so, I'd recommend you check out the cognitive science program website... Cognitive</a> Science - Vassar College.</p>
<p>Can you shed some light on why you recommend the enhanced meal plan? My child almost never eats breakfast but would likely have a lunch with a late afternoon coffee and snack then a late dinner.</p>
<p>Is there something I'm missing that would lead me to choose the enhanced meal plan? Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>My son started with the basic plan (not enhanced) and found it was not enough. Apparently you pay for everything individually at the dining hall and it is expensive. He does eat three meals a day however. You can always upgrade to the enhanced meal plan if it is not enough. Sounds like that might be the best thing to do.</p>
<p>Question: Can you shed some light on why you recommend the enhanced meal plan? My child almost never eats breakfast but would likely have a lunch with a late afternoon coffee and snack then a late dinner. Is there something I'm missing that would lead me to choose the enhanced meal plan?</p>
<p>Answer: I would recommend the enhanced meal plan, as well, because I too found the standard plan to be insufficient. I ate either three meals a day or, more commonly, two and a light snack or coffee and had to add extra money to my account several times throughout the year. Of course, how much you spent depended a lot on what you chose... I might have selected thing that were, on average, more expensive than the standard plan allowed for. Also, keep in mind that next year the serving style in the main cafeteria is going to be changed from an a la carte to an all-you-care-to-eat system, so it's hard to say which plan will be better... my recommendation of picking the enhanced plan is based off of this year, and things could change next year with the new system in place.</p>
<p>In the past, freshmen have gotten until fall break to change their meal plans. Go with the standard and if it seems like it's not enough, change to the enhanced before fall break. Just be sure to keep an eye on the dates that changes in meal plans have to be done by.</p>
<p>I think twinmom has the right idea and it is great that they are going to the "all you care to eat" system. The current system has not been good in terms of value for your money.</p>
<p>I agree, barbie123. I think the "all you eat" system is much better, though it is a set amount of meals per day depending on your plan. They are even allowing returning students a chance to "play" with the new meal plan for a few weeks and then determine which one is best for the individual student.</p>