Social Atmosphere

Colleges and Universities A-Z Vassar College
1

<p>Hello, and thank you to anyone who can answer my question!</p>

<p>I am seriously considering Vassar and, appropriately, I have tried to do my fair share of research. Part of this has involved learning about the social life on campus. </p>

<p>This probably seems a bit different (hopefully not "weird"), but I am asking about the social life from the perspective of someone who is generally pretty reserved. I certainly enjoy hanging out with friends and having fun, but I'm not a fan of big parties. In reading some of the other threads, I see there are a lot of dancing activities on campus; that is definitely something I would not be interested in, for instance. I don't want to come across as a loser; I'm not a loner or anything, I just tend to hang out in smaller groups in which I am more comfortable. Would I be able to have a good time at Vassar with preferences like these? </p>

<p>A couple of other notes about myself: I am a straight male, and I do not drink or smoke. </p>

<p>Thanks again!</p>

2

<p>Apart from the straight male thing, I can relate on a lot of levels. I don’t drink or smoke, I’m not big into dancing, and I’m not really a fan of big parties with people I don’t know. It was definitely more difficult to meet people freshman year, and wherever you end up I would encourage you to stretch your comfort zone in terms of social events, because I didn’t really and I’m sure I could have found a lot more people right off the bat if I did. That being said, Vassar makes a very big effort to get even the most reserved individuals connected from the start. I’m not sure how much you know about the student fellow group system, but after two years at Vassar, I would say it is one of the most unique and wonderful things about our school. When you arrive your freshman year you will be part of a group of 8-12 other freshman on the same hall, grouped together with one sophomore “student fellow” who is there to help all of you adjust. While everyone has different fellow group experiences, I think a lot of people, myself included, would say that their fellow group became their Vassar family. It’s a great safety net to have, and while I no longer hang out with my fellow group all that often, we had a couple of reunions this year, and I wouldn’t change anything about that aspect of my first year experience. I was so affected by my fellow group, in fact, that this year I acted as a student fellow, another great side of the experience.</p>

<p>Besides student fellow groups, I have found that much of your social group revolves around the activities and groups you are involved with. Though I don’t have a really tight group of friends at Vassar (although this might have something to do with the type of social scene, it’s mostly just me and my personality), my fellowees, my house team, and the quidditch team, have acted as my friends and family throughout my sophomore year, and I couldn’t have asked for better ones. Besides parties, there are plays and movies and activities galore which, although not quite the same thing, act as a great social outlet. Depending on how involved you are, which dorm you end up in, etc, your house may also play a part in your personal social scene. I know (weird, but,) I made a lot of friends in my dorm through watching TV and hanging out in the MPR.</p>

<p>So, to answer your question shortly, as a more reserved (but not introverted) person who doesn’t love to party, the social scene is definitely a little harder to navigate, but you can definitely still have a good (perhaps even better in some ways?) time at Vassar, or wherever you go. Mostly, I would just stress that you get involved in as many ways as you can, and be open at all times to meeting people, whether in class, your dorm, or the quad.</p>

<p>Not sure that was really what you were looking for, but I can relate a lot to your question, and I have had a blast thus far at Vassar. Looking forward to my junior year. Good luck!</p>

3

<p>My best friends at Vassar - and probably the best friends I will have the rest of my life - were all in my dorm. We generally did not spend our time at the bigger parties - we went to tons of campus events together in the evenings - shows, plays, concerts, improv - and we hung out with each other late into the night. But we generally stayed away from the big parties. I never felt like I was missing out on any part of campus life, in fact, I really felt like I was taking advantage of lots and lots of the active socializing that makes up campus culture - just minus the big dorm parties, which really is only a tiny segment of what people do together. </p>

<p>I had tons of other friends outside of my dorm too, and plenty of them also were not big partiers. People find each other. I can only speak from my own experience, but I didn’t think it was hard to meet people. I agree that your student fellow group can be a good place to start, and other organizations and clubs are important too. I was involved in Jewish life on campus, and Friday nights after Shabbat dinner it was easy to just go with the flow and see what the other folks were going to be doing. I would also encourage you to push yourself and go with the group (or a part of the group) to whatever activity it might be no matter what you think you are interested in - it’s too easy to just say “no” and go back to your room and be alone - if a group of people are going to a concert, just go. If they are going to a coffee shop, go. If they are going to a party, try it out for a bit. People - especially at the start of the year - will constantly be inviting you to do things, so be open minded. And if there is something you would rather do (see the improv group, have a Woody Allen movie marathon, bake some pies), ask your student fellow group - most people will say yes because everyone is so desperate to make friends.</p>

<p>I met one of my best friends while watching our favorite tv show in the dorm multipurpose room right at the start of school. I met another watching election returns. I met a third playing a giant game of hide and seek with the first’s student fellow group. I met another through Jewish life. I am still friends with people in my student fellow group. I am friends with an extended group of people I met through all these others. And, of course, I made friends through other activities, and classes. Once you get going, you start forming a web of likeminded people. It all works out. You will have a good time.</p>

4

<p>Wow, thank you both for your great responses. I can honestly say I feel much better than I did before I posted this! Of all the pieces of advice you offered, the one I think I will value most is getting involved with various clubs/activities on campus. Academically, I am most interested in writing, so things like the newspaper/literary magazine would definitely appeal to me. I think I remember reading briefly about those publications, but could either (or both) of you provide any more insight?</p>

<p>I think/hope I got the wrong idea about Vassar based on a few accounts of students’ experiences. Although I am well aware of the academic prestige associated with Vassar and I know it would not be labeled a “party school,” I still perceived that partying was sort of a central focus of the social life on campus. I am open to trying new things but, at the same time, I am fairly certain of the kinds of things I will and will not enjoy. I am happy to see there are plenty of other options to partake in.</p>

<p>Thanks again!</p>

5

<p>You should get involved with the newspaper if you think you are interested. They spend a lot of time together. Their office always has a few people doing something together (work? not work? who knows).</p>

<p>Two videos about the misc:</p>

<p>[YouTube</a> - The Miscellany News at Vassar](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bz4llCuEN94&NR=1]YouTube”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bz4llCuEN94&NR=1)</p>

<p>[YouTube</a> - Sam delivers the Miscellany News](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ulq-2lq5ag&NR=1]YouTube”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ulq-2lq5ag&NR=1)</p>

<p>There are a bunch of other publications too, but because the newspaper is put out every week it is more intensive from both a work-load and also social perspective.</p>