Well, my original point was about New Haven as a day trip specifically and I’ll stand by it. If you are saying that downtown Poughkeepsie is likewise “bustling and attractive”, then I’ll have to take your word for it.
We had just come from The University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign UIUC! (specifically school of engineering) Also has UC Berkeley and UC Santa Barbara to consider. Like comparing apples and oranges, these large public research institutions and small liberal arts colleges!! He likes different aspects of both! Eeek!
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I totally get that. I went to a huge public school and kind of wish I’d gone to a small liberal arts college. My daughter seriously considered it, but during her visit to UCLA, she turned to me and said: I love it here. And that was that. I hope your son has a moment of clarity before May 1 
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Just an interesting tidbit that put Vassar off the list for us. They do not have first year dorms Everyone is jumbled together. Some kids will love this, but mine wanted that true freshman dorm experience. Bummed me out, because the campus was gorgeous!
At Wesleyan, I think the first-year dorms are that way by default. There are also some predominantly sophomore dorms, but by-and-large, it’s because upper-class students have a lot more housing stock to choose from.
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So interesting because this is actually what I think gives Vassar an advantage. Students are assigned a “house” and most kids stay in their house the first three years. Kinda like Hogwarts - instant community, with students of all grades mixed together. Big house olympics competition at the beginning of each year. A family lives in each house (often with kids/dogs, etc). Almost like being a member of a big club/sorority/fraternity but without having to go through a selection process. For my DS who is the type to likely find it hard to find his “people”, this type of house system seems much preferable than being in a dorm of all freshman and then everyone scattering to the winds into tons of different housing options the next year.
My husband and I both went to Vassar and were actually in the same house but I have tons of friends from other houses. And almost all of my close friends were on sports teams so while there is no football team, I was at almost every men/women’s soccer game, basketball game and volleyball game and there was a ton is school spirit at those games!
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At smaller colleges, freshmen can be housed in several dorms, not just one.
Thanks everyone, so much, for all your thoughts and observations! Our son weighed it all and committed to Wesleyan yesterday! Though he really liked Vassar too. Best to you all!
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Our son made the same choice today. It was b/t Grinnell, Vassar & Wes
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Correct me if I am wrong but wasn’t Noyes always a dedicated Freshman only house for those that wanted that experience (total bedlam😀). I lived in Davidson as a freshman and enjoyed meeting upperclassman and benefiting from their “maturity”. Meaning I was underage to buy booze and they weren’t but I digress.
Congratulations! He’ll love it, I’m sure–go Wes!
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