<p>I'm puzzled by the statistic that says that 40% of the student body comes from private schools. What does that translate to? Is it a preppy/rich environment?</p>
<p>Prep schools can pick and choose who they accept. Also since prep schools are expensive, many over-achievers choose them. OTOH public schools are required to accept all students regardless of ability or motivation. So needless to say the public schools have less resources to devote to the few overachievers who happen to attend. </p>
<p>Of course it is a preppy, rich environment. The cool thing about it though is that you can boot-strap your way in by working your butt off in high school, since admissions is (almost) need-blind. Once you get there, everyone is considered to be of the same social strata.</p>
<p>if you compared to your high school cliques, there are few preppy, but mostly indie.</p>
<p>Your statement is ridiculous. First of all, public schools are not “required to accept all students regardless of ability or motivation.” I attended an elite public high school with a ~10% acceptance rate that has a better college acceptance record than most schools in the country, private or public. Also, Vassar’s atmosphere does not feel like a “preppy, rich environment” – most of my hallmates are on financial aid (including many who went to private high schools and received financial aid there). In the end, the fact that 40% of Vassar students came from private high schools doesn’t really mean anything. It has no bearing on the friends you make or on the overall social scene.</p>