Hey guys!
So i got into both, Vassar off the waitlist, and i’m having a real hard time deciding. Basically, I love McGill for the location, urban setting, people I know are going, Montreal, the weather, and the international reputation.
Vassar on the other hand is an amazing school to give up. I’m not sure how I feel about the campus based social scene, but I’m also attracted to the unique science, technology and society program.
Cost is not a problem, I guess it just boils down to Vassar having a different social setting and no engineering offerings. I really don’t know much about Vassar except its an amazing school so I was hoping someone here could shed light to help me address this dilemma.
Thanks!
What are you studying? Have you looked at the course offerings at both and tried to create a 4-year plan? My son found that to be a helpful exercise when deciding between schools. He wanted a place that had more courses that he wanted to take than he had time to schedule.
Tiny vs huge. Personal vs impersonal. Thousands of students,or a few thousand. You really have to decide what environment you are more drawn to. This is more like comparing watermelons to oranges, than apples to oranges. Both have strengths and weaknesses. Bear in mind that if you value peace and quiet t all, youwont get much of that at McGill. Both are good schools though. At McGill, no one will be looking out for you. At Vassar, your profs will know you. Where do you see yourself thriving?
Agree with @Lindagaf Two great schools – two very different environments. Go to the school you feel your academic interests will be met and where you feel you will be most happy and successful.
@Lindagaf. Well, let’s not go overboard about McGill’s large and impersonal nature. On a relative basis, presumably Vassar provides some more handholding. But there’s plenty of “peace and quiet” at McGIll, if you want that. And people indeed will be “looking out for you” at McGill, but perhaps you need to be more pro-active about seeking help, if you need it, vs. Vassar. That is just a function of the fact that Vassar only has 2,500 undergraduates, vs. 27,000 for McGill. But it’s not like there aren’t plenty of very nice, helpful professors, students and administrators at McGill, too. Some people might find such a small college as Vassar (which is no bigger than a large-ish high school) to be a bit confining and claustrophobic, especially given that it’s in Poughkeepsie (a town of around 45,000 people). Undoubtedly there are less nearby options for fun and excitement at Vassar; whereas at McGill, you can find lots of things to do (including fun parties, etc.). But, at McGill, they have nice libraries and other quiet places to study, and also lots of studious individuals, if you want to hang out with them. It’s apples and oranges. But many thousands of McGill grads (not me, but I do know a bunch) consider McGill to have been a wonderful time in their lives, with lots of academic and intellectual growth. McGill is not just a party school (though Montreal is a vivacious place to live). And many would dispute the view that it is impersonal at all. Given the surge of recent applicants from the USA, you also would have a lot of company from Americans, if you want to hang out and be friends with them.
If they are very different environments, it should be clear if you go with your gut instinct. You are not deciding what you are going to do for the rest of your life…just your next step. I remember feeling relieved that I did not get into the big, busy Ivy on my list. I would have been so intimidated, and so I put off that kind of urban university experience for later (graduate school). Choose as the person you are right now, what setting is better for you.
Regarding engineering we visited Dartmouth’s Thayer school of engineering and there were nine Vassar students doing the 2-1-1-1 program. It might interest you.
I have no input re. McGill except that I know people who went there and had a great experience, but they were Canadians from Montreal and so it may not have been as daunting an undertaking.
@Lindagaf. Well, let’s not go overboard about McGill’s large and impersonal nature. On a relative basis, McGill will clearly be a different experience than Vassar–as McGill has 27,000 undergraduate students vs. 2,500 for Vassar. But there will be plenty of friendly and helpful professors, students and administrators at McGill. The difference is just that you might have to be more pro-active in reaching out for help at McGill, vs. Vassar (if you need some extra help). At McGill, there indeed will be people “looking out for you”. But they won’t initially know you very well, to pro-actively reach out and help you, if you need some extra assistance. At Vassar, which is not much bigger than a large-ish high school, the professors presumably will get to know you without much effort on your part. However, some people might find such a small college as Vassar to be claustrophobic. In fact, some people might like to have a little bit MORE anonymity; rather than being back in a high-school-like environment all over again, where everybody knows your name and what you’re doing every day. At McGill, you will have more choice in classes, professors and friends; whereas you might not like the small cohort that you have at Vassar. (Who knows.) Also, there are nice quiet libraries at McGill, and other nooks where you can study. If you want to socialize, it’s there for you in vivacious Montreal; but there also will be plenty of intelligent, studious people for you to hang out with (in a mellow, quiet way), if that’s what you want to do. In the town of Poughkeepsie, where Vassar is located, there are only 45,000 people, so not too much going on there, if you’re a student looking for something fun and exciting to do. Back to McGill, I know plenty of people who went there and regard it as a highlight of their lives–having grown intellectually and academically. McGill is not all about partying. If you want peace and quiet, you can certainly find it at McGill (and also find plenty of people who like peace and quiet too).
^ Eh. Poughkeepsie isn’t exactly in the middle of nowhere.
It’s on a NYC commuter line.
That said, college life at Vassar will definitely be more campus-focused than uni life at McGill.
@commonapplicant, if you have any interest in attending grad school, Vassar is a top Ph.D. feeder school.
https://www.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/infographics/top-feeders-phd-programs
One cannot equate the social life in high school with one in a top small liberal arts college. In high school, your potential social circle usually consists largely of a small group that takes the highest level courses, maybe adding in some people from your teams or clubs. In college, everyone is a potential friend, and will be mixed into your classes. In fact, one other student from my high school went to Williams, and my path did not often cross his in college; we had had many more interactions in high school. Also,kids are more mature, welcoming and less clique-oriented in college.