Vassar or Haverford?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hey all,
I need to make a decision by May 1st about which school I would like to attend in the fall. Any advice or info you can give me would be much appreciated! :) I have visited both Vassar and Haverford for their Accepted Student Days and stayed overnight at each. I enjoyed my overnight more at Haverford, but liked the Student Day a bit better at Vassar.</p>

<p>Here's a little more about me:
I enjoy all aspects of academics, but I am especially interested in humanities and social studies. Any information about the history departments at either school would be especially helpful. I'd also like to know about the American Culture major at Vassar and about how easy it is to create a similar interdisciplinary major at Haverford, should I choose to move in that direction. (I went to the department fairs and I enjoyed Vassar's...Haverford's was good but the history professor I spoke to was rather gruff and didn't answer my questions.)</p>

<p>I'd like to be involved in a literary magazine and possibly a poetry group. I also enjoy volunteering.
I'm contemplating becoming a teacher. Both colleges have certification programs if I decide I want to pursue that.</p>

<p>I'm not a big sports person (I might go to a game if I have a friend playing, but I really couldn't care less who wins or loses), but I enjoy going to a capella concerts and drama productions (I think both schools have plenty of each.).</p>

<p>I'm a fairly low key person and I really value having close friends. I do not plan on drinking , so it's especially important to me that I feel comfortable making that choice and have some friends who feel the same.
I would like to be able to go to church on Sundays. A Catholic service geered toward students would be preferrable.
I like small classes and a smaller student body, although I'm hoping that Haverford and Vassar don't start to feel too small after a couple of years. Vassar has a larger student body, but Haverford has the bi-college and easy access to Philadelphia, so I think it evens out.</p>

<p>I feel like both of these schools offer what I'm looking for, which makes it so hard to decide because I really love both! If anyone has any input or advice (especially about the academics, but anything helps), I'd love to hear it!</p>

2

<p>Son is a non drinking Catholic who enjoyed volunteering and graduated from Vassar. The a capella groups are huge there. He loved the access to NYC and museums etc. There is mass on campus for students and a large Catholic church nearby. He loved his time at Vasar.</p>

<p>You seem to be a person who knows their own mind and I believe you would probably be happy in either school.</p>

3

<p>Those are two great choices. I agree, you’ll probably be happy at either school.</p>

4

<p>Given how you’ve chosen to describe yourself, I think Haverford would be a great place for you.</p>

<p>You always have Bryn Mawr, Swat, and UPenn, and Philadelphia too.</p>

5

<p>I don’t think Haverford would start to feel small even after a few years. Not only would you have the consortium with Bryn Mawr and Swarthmore, but you would also be a train away from Philadelphia. It’s in a nice area (the Main Line) with several other colleges nearby (Villanova, Cabrini, etc.).</p>

6

<p>Thanks for the input everyone! :slight_smile: Haverford is really great because it has so many resources around–so much to do! But Vassar seems like a wonderful school–thanks for the information about the Catholic church, HeartArt.</p>

<p>I’m still feeling undecided, although I think I couldn’t go wrong either way, so any more opinions or information anyone has would be great. :)</p>

7

<p>I personally really really liked Vassar’s campus :stuck_out_tongue: So I guess i’d be a bit prejudiced in favor of that school. that said, haverford has a really great environment…so i think you’d be great in either
good luck!</p>

8

<p>poetrygirl: One thing to do would be to read descriptions of courses for the same department at each school. See which descriptions appeals to you more.</p>

<p>Both schools are lovely.</p>

9

<p>My brother majored in History at Haverford. He loved it.
They are basically equal in academic strength. I guess I can tell you to go with which one you felt most comfortable with on your visit, or if finances are an issue, the cheaper option.</p>

10

<p>You seem to be looking for a very particular fit. I would focus on the visits you did and the people you met, and then do some real soul-searching, gut-checking on which school will e the better fit. They are both elite LACs, but hey are not the same.</p>

11

<p>I think Haverford will begin to feel small. I went to an undergrad with 2300 undergrads, and it felt smaller and smaller every year. But I think any school will have that by-product as you get to know more people and do more things. And by the time it starts to feel too small, you’ll be out anyway.</p>

<p>I would pick Haverford. It’s closer to the city, and I personally like that and you seem as if you would, too. (Poughkeepsie isn’t a very large city and it’s 2 hours away from New York City.) Plus the other great LACs in the area are an attraction, especially with the reciprocal agreements.</p>

12

<p>… also, New York is an easy day trip from Haverford.</p>