<p>I am choosing between Wesleyan, Bowdoin, and Vassar. What's the difference: academics, social scene, etc.?</p>
<p>facing the same dilemma…and also Haverford to consider…really a tough decision…</p>
<p>For what it’s worth, I’m very familiar with Bowdoin and Wesleyan and with Haverford to a lesser extent, and would pick Bowdoin in a heartbeat. It’s a fantastic place, really.</p>
<p>I think the main advantage Wesleyan has is the number of full-time faculty</p>
<p>Wesleyan - 339
Vassar - 298
bowdoin - 228</p>
<p>Although all three schools have lots of small classes, personal attention and renowned faculty members, the number of faculty taken in context with the size of the student body doesn’t necessarily indicate that Wes is the leader on that stat. Using your full time numbers without double checking them, I get:
Wes 339 FT faculty, 2,940 undergrads = 8.67/1
Vassar 298 FT faculty, 2,406 students = 8.07/1
Bowdoin 228 FT faculty, 1,778 students = 7.80/1</p>
<p>Teacher faculty ratios aren’t the entire concern. A number number of faculty members may mean that more courses are taught in a particular department or there is an alternative if a particular faculty member doesn’t click with a student.</p>
<p>My S was interested in Classics, and some schools have only one or two faculty members, whereas his school, a small LAC, had four or five. It did impact his experience, even if those classes might be a bit larger. And in some cases that would be an advantage too because classes under 10 students (unless a designated tutorial) often lack enough conversation.</p>
<p>That should not be the sole determinant of attendance, but neither should faculty/student ratio.</p>
<p>These three schools are all fine schools, and I don’t see how a student could go wrong choosing any of them, or choosing Haverford either.</p>
<p>There were all schools (with the exception of Haverford) my S applied to and would have been thrilled to attend had he not been accepted at his first choice.</p>
<p>I echo that they are all fine schools. I think you really need to step on the campuses to decide which is right for you as reasonable minds will have different views. My son did not consider Bowdoin: it was on paper a bit too small and too far north for his taste - but maybe if he visited he would have discovered none of that mattered, so visit. He did visit Vassar and found (again, only ONE person’s view) that it was a bit too hipster and had a very obvious female heavy student body which he felt would negatively impact his experience. I did have a friend’s son who went there and did complain of the ratio, but he made friends and felt he got a great education. Vassar is a walled campus a mile or two from the closest town so the town is not an extension of the campus (which town is in itself pretty aweful), but on the other hand, Vassar has MUCH better access to the train (and hence NY) than Wes - students at Wes aren’t hopping to NY regularly (although no one seems to complain of that because there is some much going on at Wes apparently). Vassar is also a STUNNINGLY beautiful campus for what that is worth. S has been very happy at Wes, but really there are no wrong choices - you need to consider what you want: as for academics, consider what the core requirements are (I think Vassar has none, and Wes has suggestions but not requirements) as this will impact the experience, consider the strength of the departments you are most interested in, and consider how YOU feel about the vibe and social scene. Best of luck.</p>
<p>I think that also, at WES, if you want to get “honors” when you graduate, you have to do their “recommended” requirements…if that is an academic consideration for you</p>