I don’t know which college to go to, and I’m struggling with the fear of being extremely secluded if I attend Vassar. There doesn’t seem to be a lot going on with Poughkeepsie, though I know that Arlington is also in the area: either way, I’m concerned about finding jobs or internships. New York City is 1.5/2 hours away by train, though. I think the art and music scene at Vassar is probably better, and those things are very important to me, considering I’m going to be an English/Psych major and I’m planning on continuing on with my music related hobbies. I’ve also heard a lot about students being very close to professors in small classes, which I like, but they kind of both have that. Vassar is the more selective school and in this case it’s also going to be cheaper for me. Smith is an all girls school, yes, but it’s connected to the Five College Consortium so I could take classes at four other colleges, and it’s a college town- Northhampton is right on its doorstep- so the fear of seclusion isn’t there. The main fear for Smith for me is a lack of diversity both in terms of general population of students and their opinions, but again, both of their student bodies are going to be extremely progressive. It would seem that Smith is predominantly white women and it’s important for me to meet people from different walks of life. I could be wrong about some of this, I don’t know, and I have really limited time to make this decision, and I could use all the help that I can get. These schools are both great but Im struggling to choose. Thoughts?
I think you’re off base.
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Smith is 53% white and Vassar 55%…but yes there’s a man/female differential. I think you need to research vs. just assume.
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Jobs today are mainly found online - interviews to hire - you meet your team on the first day you show up - so whether in Alaska or Poughkeepsie it doesn’t matter. Your majors do though - and you getting an internship or job will depend on your hustle -but also utilizing school resources.
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Smith is part of the consortium but not close to the other schools - so would you take advantage?
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I’ve not spent time at Vassar but I’ve read many on here who say there is more than enough activity, all the time. You’ll find no matter where you go, many kids mainly stay on the fringes of campus.
Choose the one that is best for you - but make sure you are using accurate info to choose.
I’ve linked the Vassar career page for you. It’s not great - but I would contact the career center and ask for the latest career report. Same with Smith - generic info - ask for the specific outcomes - they’ll have them.
No wrong choice here - but money does matter (if you have affordability issues). Being selective (or not) doesn’t…
Explore Outcomes ← Explore Vassar ← Admission ← Vassar College
I appreciate the honesty, thank you for the response!
I agree with the post above. From what you’ve written, it seems you prefer Vassar. I’m wondering if you have visited both.
I live not far from Vassar. Secluded doesn’t even come to mind. Beacon is nearby and is a very cool and arty place, full of transplanted city hipsters. There are a lot of towns. If anything, I feel Smith is more secluded, though I think it’s a good school. And it’s not like you can walk between the colleges there, except for Amherst and U Mass.
I think this is right. I know for a fact that they have a great radio station. I often listen to it when I’m on my way to central NY state. Poughkeepsie is nothing special, but neither is Amherst, though it’s cute. There are a lot of interesting tourist sights in the Hudson Valley (and a lot of tourists) and I am sure Vassar offers students ways to visit some of the attractions. They probably provide shuttles to various places at the weekends.
I’m not sure where you’re getting some of your information, but Vassar is well connected to NYC in terms of jobs and alumni. I get the sense you’re avoiding making a decision, but to me, your preference for Vassar seems pretty clear.
In terms of where I’m getting my information, I have been on so many websites and so many forums in the past few days I’ve lost track. Some of the websites were probably old and outdated, and at this point all of the information is so jumbled up in my head there are definitely things I’m flat out wrong about. I appreciate the insight about the area that Vassar is in, and yeah, you’re right, I definitely have a preference for it, but I’m putting off making a decision because I’m scared that it’s not the right one. I appreciate your insights, thank you!
Sounds like you are overthinking. If you prefer Vassar (and it is more affordable) send in your deposit, order a hoodie, and celebrate your success.
I actually attended Vassar and visit frequently for a variety of reasons. @Lindagaf is offering a description consistent with what I experienced and continue to observe.
FYI a lot of job recruitment at smaller schools (like Vassar or Smith) does take place initially on campus and is followed up in person (particular in NYC). Specifically I was part of a panel of Wall Street veterans that would return to campus annually to host a Women in finance symposium that would include recruitment teams from our various financial institutions. I can’t speak to Smith but in the case of Vassar the proximity to NYC does help with career placement and internships.
I remain in touch with two professors in spite of having graduated over 30 years ago. One came to my wedding having inspired me in a direction I never would have considered without her support. In this regard Vassar is a very special place (and I am sure Smith is as well). This is a hallmark of small LACs.
One last point and difference Vassar’s campus is enormous relative to the number of students at 1,000 acres while Smith is 147 acres. Vassar students can play golf on the campus course, enjoy the Vassar farm, jog around Sunset lake, explore Shakespeare Gardens or just lounge on “the beach”. There is in fact a lot to do.
You’re selling me more than I was already sold. I love to hear the insights from alumni, and it’s good to hear that location-wise NYC is utilized and the connections between the places are strong. Thank you for the thoughtful response, I really appreciate it 
I don’t want to over sell the proximity to NYC but it certainly was a great escape valve.
Several times a year friend groups would go see concerts at MSG or overnight at a particular NYC students home (that had lots of room) and go to Mott street for amazing Chinese food. It wasn’t ad if we wanted to be off campus frequently because there was a lot to do but it was nice to have as an option.
Frequency increased as we became upper class men and women and many had cars on campus.
Vassar is an easy trip to NYC. Northampton is definitely better than Arlington/Poughkeepsie, but Vassar is less isolated overall.
I don’t think you can go wrong with either. My Vassar kid took music lessons and continued to play all 4 years.
Smith is probably very well connected to Boston.
OP, making a big decision as a 17 or 18 year old seems daunting, for sure. But you have to trust your gut at some point. Face your fear and move forward. You won’t go wrong with either, for sure. You would probably be very happy at both schools. But, if Vassar is speaking to you, listen. Good luck!
It’s always tough when you make a decision. One truly never knows - til you’re there. Maybe you have a bad roommate or bad professor or get home sick. Maybe it’s just too small.
You don’t know - but let’s say you panic and pick the other - the same situation applies.
It could very well be that both work out for you - one never knows.
But go with your gut - what you feel right now says Vassar and as a bonus, it’s cheaper.
Life is long. Hopefully it works out and it likely will (I read on a third party site that retention is 96%) but if for some reason it doesn’t, that’s ok too. Life is long and full of the unknown - and that’s what makes it exciting.
You’ve got two great choices here but it’s clear you prefer one - and I’d be there. If it makes you feel better, it’s got much better “cache” in the name too - at least in my opinion.
Good luck.
My child (sophomore) at Vassar participated in a special career connections program in January just for Sophomores, where they came back to campus early and had a few days of meetings with lots of alums from so many different fields; the students were given a book with all of the contact info, and lots of opportunities to build connections and learn. There was a huge contingent of folks (alums) from NYC, but others from all over.
The summer after my son’s freshman year, Vassar gave him a grant to go to Peru and work on his Spanish all summer through a program that they recommended for him (he is not a Spanish major, but wanted to improve his fluency). This coming summer, Vassar is giving him a grant to work with a non-profit as an intern (the non-profit couldn’t afford to pay him, so Vassar is paying him instead). He has found Vassar to be very helpful in so many ways - but he did have to proactively go and ask.
You should go with Vassar and go ahead and buy the beautiful pink and grey sweatshirt my daughter got when we visited (even though she ended up going somewhere much larger) to seal the deal and celebrate in your senior pic! You should be very proud; it’s a great school.
those who got into vassar on a regular decision are you people getting emails from them like general info about college ?
This.
And also: in some ways, you have an active part in making it be the “right” or “best” decision. As others have pointed out, there are a lot of elements that go into how you land - at any school. There are good and bad teachers, people, schedules, etc at every school. Your reaction to both will be a critical factor in how happily you land wherever you go. So, remember that every path has it’s puddles, and when you find yourself in one (as you pretty certainly will- it’s the rare life that encounters no puddles over 4 years, especially as a young adult! - have confidence in your ability to figure out how to move through and out the other side. Learning to trust yourself to choose a path, and to trust your ability to handle it if it turns out that it’s time to choose a new path is one of the big jobs of adulting. You’ve got this!
Sometimes having more than one excellent option can be unexpectedly challenging. I remember that my S found it a bit tough to decline offers from a couple of colleges he was admitted to and really liked. But in the end you can only accept an offer from one college.
Again, you say you prefer Vassar AND it is less expensive. I will say that once you make a final decision, never look back!
My husband and I both graduated from Vassar and I wouldn’t use secluded to describe it. Actually, we recently visited Hamilton, Connecticut College and Bates with DS and neither of those campuses could you walk anywhere. Vassar has a coffee shop, a pizza joint, various other restaurants, a bank, a grocery store, post office, etc. literally a block or two off campus. Poughkeepsie has a mall, Target, Marshalls, etc a 10 min drive from campus. I never had a car (I’m from the midwest) but friends did and I could borrow it when I needed a mall trip. Also, Poughkeepsie has lots of restaurants, the walkway over the Hudson, and isn’t far from the Culinary Institute of America, Beacon, Rhinebeck, great hiking, etc. And a train directly to NYC. But there is plenty to do on campus to never need to leave on the weekend. I did field work at the local hospital’s NICU and in a 1st grade classroom. So if your worry is seclusion, I would put that aside! Happy to answer any other Vassar questions!
There are also Zip cars on campus these days!
I’d like to add that the train trip along the Hudson River between Poughkeepsie and NYC is beautiful. Particularly going north at sunset🌄.
Walkway Over the Hudson is also A+, and if you like history at all, FDR’s house and museum at Hyde Park are outstanding.
Vassar was my D19’s second choice although she ended up wanting a bigger school. It would be my S24’s first choice if he thought he had a chance at admission!