<p>I am currently debating the pros and cons between big and small universities. One issue that came up was research facilities. Generally, small colleges have lesser equipped labs than big universities, like NYU. I have heard that Vassar is big on math and science, so I am assuming that it has very good research labs. I was wondering if any Vassarians can confirm of disprove that?</p>
<p>although I am not a Vassarian (hopefully will be some day though), Vassar sent me a science booklet which contains specifics about the equipment they have. Vassar science labs seem to be pretty well stocked. </p>
<p><a href="http://chemistry.vassar.edu/facilities.html%5B/url%5D">http://chemistry.vassar.edu/facilities.html</a></p>
<p>here's a link to the equipment of the Chem building</p>
<p>Ah! Are you talking about the brochure that was sent just recently? It was really impressive.</p>
<p>As to the quality of Vassar's science department, I guess it's really hard to quantify how good a department the school has in comparison to another school, but Vassar's medical school acceptance rate, for example, is a bit higher than many other schools in its tier. I remember seeing Carleton's as being around 70% while Vassar's website says its is 85%. Again, I don't know how well the accomplishments of Vassar's alums stack up against those of other institutions, but (this coming from a prospective science major) I found it really exciting to flip through that brochure and see so many people going on to do grad work at schools like Yale and MIT or attending med school at places like Harvard of Johns Hopkins. Clearly name and prestige aren't everything, but it seems like the difficulty of being admitted to those schools is a good indicator of the type of preparation Vassar gives.</p>
<p>I'm not a Vassar student either, but I worked there last summer as part of the KNAC consortium. That's an Astronomy research consortium that passes around students from eight member LACs, but you probably don't care. I can tell you that Vassar has the (tied for) largest telescope in New York state and I enjoyed using it. My only experience with the Chem labs is having a pizza lunch and latex workshop in the Chem building on the one day that summer when it was 100 degrees outside.</p>
<p>What you do probably care about is the fact that I was housed with everyone from Vassar's URSI program (Undergraduate Research Science Institute). URSI happened to be in its 20th year, and let me tell you Vassar is EXTREMELY proud of their program. Another professor told me that it was frustrating because admissions tours didn't always emphasis how much science actually happens at Vassar.</p>
<p>So I wouldn't count Vassar or any other LAC out if you are a science major.</p>
<p>I graduated from Vassar many years ago, with a double major in the sciences. I did a senior research project/thesis, and was given everything I needed. I submitted my proposal, which required not only ongoing access to the labs, but required the purchase of animals and specially prepared diets. Everything was approved and provided without question. It was a wonderful learning experience. I now have a Ph.D. in the field, and still look back on my research experience as an incredible opportunity.</p>