I’m an (indecisive) international applicant from Canada looking at liberal arts colleges. I’m mostly interested in visual art and social sciences, but I’m eager to explore everything. I think I’ve narrowed down my pool to three schools. Here are my thoughts:
Vassar
I love: the visual art program, easy access to New York/airport, diversity of student body
Not sure about: potentially overpowering ‘artsy’ vibe, skewed male-female ratio
Colgate
I love: gorgeous campus, great academics
Not sure about: preppy/homogeneous student body, isolated campus
Hamilton
I love: the open curriculum, friendly student body
Not sure about: small size, isolated campus
Am I right about these assumptions? Anything to add? Any advice about any of the schools would be much appreciated.
I wouldn’t say the access to NYC from Vassar is easy. It simply is not. Can you do it on the weekends, sure, but count on 2.5 hours each way not counting getting to your destination.
Thanks for your input! Yep, 2.5 hours isn’t exactly ideal. However it is a little bit less in the middle of nowhere than the other schools I’m looking at, which makes travelling easier.
If you are looking for the best mix of location Bates and Bowdoin offer more. Close to the Maine coast, Portland, Maine is fantastic and 30 mins away, and lots of neat towns like Freeport, Camden, etc. Boston is a weekend trip. Close to Portland airport.
I didn’t end up applying to those schools. I’ve gotten accepted to the three listed above, so those are the schools I’m considering right now. Thanks though!
My husband had five very close friends at Vassar with whom he has kept in touch. Only one of them was very into the arts and none of them would be considered a hipster. Same is true of another relative who graduated a couple of years ago. There are diverse viewpoints and styles and interests at Vassar and you would find your niche (or move among many niches).
Of note: Vassar does not have fraternities. Colgate and Hamilton do.
Oh im sorry. I like Colgate best. Been there twice and the campus is beyond beautiful and I love the little town of Hamilton. Hamilton a close second. The train to NYC IMO would not be a reason to go to Vassar. Colgate and Hamilton aren’t far from Syracuse. Syracuse is not the prettiest place but it’s a very fun college town.
TheGreyKing - Thanks for sharing! Good to know!
OnTheBubble - You’re right. Small towns do have their charm. I do like that Vassar is in a bit of a bigger city, but at least Colgate and Hamilton are close to Syracuse!
@scanada, three great schools, as you already know!
Is there a significant cost difference among the there? Even when funds are “unlimited,” I like to weigh relative “value” when I’m confronted with a tough choice.
@LucieTheLakie the tuition varies a little, but cost difference isn’t really enough to be a factor in my decision. Always a good thing to be aware of though!
You've probably touched on only a minor fraction of the distinguishing features among these three schools.
Check the train schedules from Poughkeepsie to Manhattan. Different posters appear to have had different experiences with their travel times.
It's probably unhealthy for a student who regards a school as being "in the middle of nowhere" to attend that school. "The woods are lovely, dark and deep." Should you not agree with Frost -- at least to the extent he's expressed an experience to which you are open -- then consider this aspect of Hamilton and Colgate carefully.
A few points on Hamilton
Their curriculum is evenly balanced across sciences and math, humanities and fine arts and social sciences. This is a decided strength of the college.
They may have the nicest theatre and studio arts building in the country. Though the fine arts are strong there, the school is certainly not oppressively "artsy." The students could just as easily be described as "athletic," or by some other characteristic entirely.
Their college-run shuttle connects the campus to a nearby suburban area which includes an indoor mall.
By enrollment size, they are the only classic LAC in your group. In this sense, the school is perfect for those who are decisive in their preference for this.
@merc81 That was aimed at me. Here is the deal with the train. It is about an hour and forty minutes plus you would have to leave Vassar about a half hour early. So you are up to two hours and fifteen minutes just to get to Penn Station in NY, assuming the train is on time.
Plus let’s assume the final destination in Greenwich Village. That adds 15 - 20 minutes.
So assuming everything is on time, 2.5 hours door to door. This is Amtrak not the Shinkansen.
@OnTheBubble: Some posters who appear to have made the trip make it seem quicker. In any event, it’s a pretty easy ride. Not doubting you, though, just thought the OP should double-check.
@OnTheBubble: I’ll say to you as well that I would have commented fully on all three schools had I had the time. The Po-town/Vassar comment was probably only included so that I’d have said something about the school, however brief.
Vassar may be close to NYC, but the city of Poughkeepsie is really unpleasant, and that’s what you will have access to on a daily basis. Have you visited these schools? How would you describe yourself? That might help with getting advice
Another option is to take Metro North to Grand Central. It leaves from the same station and is a ~2 hour ride. Once you get to NY you do have to continue on (by walking, subway, bus, or taxi) to your destination(s). That’s part of the fun.
Some would argue that there are but a handful of real cities in the US, so being a relatively easy 2.5 hours from one of them is not bad. Poughkeepsie is not a winner though.