<p>I'm really stuck! It's very close to a free ride for me at either school, and I would consider myself a hippie (Reed) before I would consider myself a hipster. One thing that really worries me about Reed is the intense workload, and I want to have time for extracurriculars. I really like that Vassar has an emphasis on art and I've heard that its music programs aren't bad, but I'm interested in environmental science and I'm worried that the program isn't that strong. I'm also a vegetarian (I would imagine both schools would have decent food, but I don't know...). I am going to visit Vassar soon, but unfortunately I don't think I will get a chance to visit Reed (although I am kind of sold on their lookbook...)</p>
<p>Any input would be greatly appreciated! (will probably also post on Reed forum)</p>
<p>So Vassar doesn’t have environmental science. They do have environmental studies, which is a multidisciplinary major, and is extremely well loved by students. But it’s not all science all the time - it’s also political science, international studies, english, earth science, geography, sociology… etc etc etc. If that’s what you are interested in, then it will be fantastic. They also always have trip classes, which are really popular and interesting!</p>
<p>I’d take a look at a few different departments to see if what they offer is what you want. All of these programs are great.</p>
<p>^^^^ Strange response, vossron. There are a lot of similarities between the 2 schools, but one glaring difference is their location. Why not consider things that set the schools apart? No one said that was how to choose a school-- it is simply a variable to consider (if it matters to the OP, dont know where he/she lives) and is another data point, and I was simply asking a question. Students have based their school selection on what might seem to some to be far less important criteria. Was your post supposed to be helpful to the OP? Is this issue any more/less relevant than your hippie/hipster distinction?</p>
<p>If the OP plans to stay on one coast or the other, the familiarity with the school can be a helpful variable in job placement. Vassar has, IMO, a stronger name recognition than Reed, especially in the east. Vassar is plenty rigorous academically and does well placing students in med/law/grad school. Also, at Vassar you can create your own major, so if you don’t feel the environmental studies major is exactly what you are looking for, you can create your own, pulling in more courses fromthe biological sciences, etc. Good luck!</p>
<p>Sorry to ruffle. Being the only issue you mentioned, I assumed you gave it major importance. It also seems (to me) like something the OP would automatically consider, not needing to be pointed out.</p>
<p>It was simply a question, and didn’t call for what came across as a snarky response, IMO. Don’t know what the OPs thoughts are on location, and future plans without asking, as it wasn’t stated. Moving on…</p>
<p>BTW, OP, take a look at this [News</a> Archive from Thursday, April 8, 2010 - Steven Hamburg '75, chief scientist of EDF, discusses the science behind environmental policy, 4/15 - - News - Info - Vassar College](<a href=“News - Info - Vassar College”>News - Info - Vassar College) Here’s an example of where a Vassar education can get you in your field. He was a classmate of mine (I think I aged more gracefully, LOL). I was also pretty sure that VC had an environmental science major (or course sequence within the Envt Stuudies program), but perhaps they changed it, as the coursework I found in on line is from an old catalog [Vassar</a> College: Environmental Science Courses](<a href=“http://catalogue.vassar.edu/oldcatalogue01_02/envirosci.html]Vassar”>http://catalogue.vassar.edu/oldcatalogue01_02/envirosci.html)</p>
<p>I love the west coast, but Portland is on the rainy side (I like the sunshine). I visited Vassar and it seemed really isolated, so i’m just really on the fence right now. Any input on the issue of diversity? A lot of the people I met didn’t seem to acknowledge that other races/cultures exist outside their realm.</p>
<p>Portland will provide regular cold drizzle from November to April, usually with a dusting of snow here and there. Poughkeepsie will have more total inches, coming more in showers, but with more sun, a colder winter and more snow.</p>
<p>environmental science was available as a minor for a certain number of years, including when I was a student. I think they ended it because it started to seem very redundant with environmental studies an earth science/geology/geography available, and frankly more cohesive programs.</p>
<p>vegirl - Vassar isn’t really isolated from the community (with a fair amount to do in Poughkeepsie), but the fact that things are very vassar-centric is an important part of what makes it a great place to be a student. If you want to have really really strong campus feel, lots and lots of campus events that are extremely well attended, and students who live on campus, than Vassar is a great place. If you want to be in the middle of a big city, then it might not be what you want. But you also lose a lot at schools that are surrounded by a large city. I LOVE big cities. But I didn’t want my college experience to be in the middle of one.</p>
<p>Also, I would really disagree with the students posting on the Reed board that Reed is more “academic” or “intellectual” than Vassar. I think the students I met at Vassar were some of the smartest, well rounded, and driven students I have ever met. I’ve never been to Reed, so I can’t comment on the students there, but as med student I know interact in an academic setting with people from schools all over the country, and have really yet to meet the kind of people I lived with at Vassar. I’m sure Reed students are great too, but I think they are misrepresenting Vassar students over there.</p>
<p>Could you guys elaborate on the diversity on campus (since I only spent a couple days there)? And thanks so much for the information so far-- it’s really nice to get these opinions.</p>
<p>Although I do think that Reed is a very intense school, I think it is overblown since I don’t think the massive amount of work is something to necessarily brag about…</p>
<p>i came from a hs that was 60% african american so to me, vassar is definitely lacking in racial diversity. in that department, vassar makes a big effort to increase the number of students of color each year and they do a good job at this, but the numbers are still nowhere near where they should be. you can find the exact racial breakdown of the school somewhere online. however, this breakdown is very consistant in many LACs, none are outrageously racially diverse. vassar has a large asian community and fairly sizeable hispanic community though. the african american community continues to be less than 10% of campus</p>
<p>however, vassar has a lot of diversity in other ways, which makes up partially for this. i have never met such interesting people with such passionate, yet different interests. there is also a lot of geographic diversity here which really gives the campus a global feel. </p>
<p>to sum it up…racial diversity on campus leaves a bit to be desired. but diversity in other senses of the word is definitely present on campus.</p>
<p>Vassar:
Socio-economic Make-up of Students
18% of students at Vassar come from families who make less than $60,000 per year.
10% of students at Vassar receive Federal Pell Grants, which typically go to students whose family incomes are below $40,000. </p>
<p>Reed doesn’t necessarily brag about the massive amounts of work it involves, it merely emphasises it because a lot of people want an easy, laidback college experience which Reed does not provide. It’s just the way things work at Reed-there are massive amounts of work, and there’s no running away from that. Reed was built by a man who believed colleges didn’t put enough emphasis on academic preparation, so it’s unique in its mission to fully push students to their academic limits, often at the cost of other activities. It works for some people and it doesn’t for others, but it’s not bragging; it’s just what sets Reed apart from most other colleges. Intellectualism is a different matter though.</p>
<p>“Although I do think that Reed is a very intense school, I think it is overblown since I don’t think the massive amount of work is something to necessarily brag about…”</p>
<p>The work load is pointed out so that applicants know what Reed is like. When those who left Reed early were asked why, the most common answer was that Reed wasn’t what they expected. There are 19 mentions of Hum 110 (the freshman course with the huge reading list) in the view book. I think there is a reason!</p>
<p>definitely Vassar. are you saying you would want to transfer though? if you seriously plan on transferring out of Vassar/NYU/Reed after the first year you are better off going to a state school or even community college for your first year. its a bit strange to be going into a private college already planning on transferring…</p>
<p>Well it’s basically a free ride (about the same as my state school). I had initially thought of going to Vassar, but I visited but really didn’t like it. I’m hoping that will change though, as I’m really considering attending since they gave me the best aid.</p>