Dd has narrowed it down to these 2 schools. We’re in-state for W&M. Vassar is $3000 more per year with financial aid hon loans). Kid loves tech theater and studio art but won’t major in them. Mom is thinking about cost and power of school’s name on her resume when she graduates. Your perspective is welcome!
Based on your daughter’s interests in dramatic and visual arts, Vassar would seem to represent her more compelling choice. With respect to value, Vassar was recognized by Forbes in this article:
If she won’t major in tech theater or visual art, W&M is a pretty powerful name at a great price.
What will her major be?
She’s thoroughly undecided.
Not too much to go on. There are some ROI / Value Add Analyses out there that might help:
https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/collegeroi/
https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/college-rankings/#interactive
Thank you! I had not seen the interactive ranking on earnings before. Interesting to be sure.
For an additional source, U.S. News includes data on early career salaries in its profiles:
Two excellent options. Does your D have a preference for a LAC or a mid-sized university?
My daughter has loved her classes at Vassar and the interaction with professors. She is an English major but loves theater and has enjoyed being part of some student-run productions. She was set to direct a show this spring but hopefully she’ll be able to do that next year. It’s a very creative environment.
The questions is how much loans do you need to take out for Vassar compared to W&M?
She likes the size of W&M better, but since we are from Virginia, she feels like she will see a lot of kids from her high school and she doesn’t want high school 2.0. Vassar takes her outside her bubble, but she is concerned about the size and Phoughkeepsie being less than ideal.
If it matters at all, note that Vassar places among the most challenging colleges in the country with respect to difficulty of admission.
Vassar would definitely get her out of her bubble, as it has tremendous geographic diversity. As for Poughkeepsie, the train into NY is less than 2hrs. She’d also be part of the Seven Sisters network. Vassar’s on our D21s list (we couldn’t visit due to Covid) and she’s from a small SW city and wants a diverse, creative, politically active community.
Vassar allows you to be in productions even if you’re not a major. They had auditions (check to see that this is the case but it’s been the case in the past.) Students attending Vassar often already are working in the City in theater and film, in the past, and not necessarily the majors in theater, either. As others have said, it’s a quick train ride into and out of the City from Vassar. It’s possible to make a day-trip of it. Vassar also has student productions and students, even if they are not of the theater department. often create (write) their own material and develop their own performances. It’s a vital, creative environment. It’s possible also to work in tech as campus jobs there, not just as part of the department. In fact, people who work in tech as campus jobs get very high levels of expertise because the people majoring do their requisite hours and then leave and most would rather be on the stage, in my evaluation, than work on lighting, costumes, etc. The people for whom it is their campus jobs are there year-round and they can really learn and grow. The ties to NYC theater are strong there and it’s possible (I’m not sure the current situation for how probable it is) to get internships in the theater in the City in tech. The film department at Vassar is also quite good but I’m less familiar with the practices.
Because their financial aid is very generous, the price difference is not a burden. So, cost is a factor, but not a deciding factor.
@Dustyfeathers that was great input. Every time I read something positive about Vassar it pushes me (on my dd’s behalf) in that direction. I love the idea her campus paid employment could be on the tech side of theater.
So my information is a few years old–and it’s important to check with the school for current practices. Fingers crossed for you guys!
LOL that pair were the final choice of one of our collegekids. We went to the re-visit days back to back (literally: a Saturday and a Sunday- not easy logistics!).
Re: the specific concerns:
- “she feels like she will see a lot of kids from her high school and she doesn’t want high school 2.0”
Really shouldn’t be a problem! it’s big enough that kids can find new people.
- “she is concerned about the size and Poughkeepsie being less than ideal.”
Also not a problem- if it’s the right place for her she won’t even want to do study abroad 
Mom can rest easy: the school names will have comparable CV power!
However, I do strongly, strongly suggest that you follow her heart: the advantage of being at both schools back to back was that it was obvious to both of us where she felt at home. As long as the money isn’t an issue, where she feels she at home is the biggest differentiator between the two.
@collegemom3717 great feedback. We were counting on those accepted students’ days because she hasn’t really paid much attention. I think, if we’d been able to go, she’d have a more solid sense.
Thank you so much for your input. I am ready to have her flip a coin and see how she feels depending on which side comes up.