So my final choice really boils down to Wesleyan vs Vassar. I know there are a lot of threads on this topic already. I have read every single one. But I’d still like some new/updated info from current students or recent grads.
Here is a bit about me/my criteria:
- I want to major/double major in either studio art, political science(govt. at Wes), film, English or comp.sci.
- I am artsy (I like a good music/art scene), feminist, liberal and straight. Not ultraliberal though. I'm not into sports.
- I want a strong campus/dorm community life in which I can make lots of friends.
- I want a broad education. Quality of teaching is very, very important to me, even in areas which aren't in my interest areas. For example, I've heard Vassar has a bad math department. Is this true? Could anyone maybe shed some light on the comparative teaching quality in other subjects as well between Wes/Vassar? Is it true that Vassar's English department is better than Wes's?
- I'm into design and journalism. I'd love to work for a campus publication. I was also hoping to sort of join group projects with programmers for making apps and games. I understand that since these schools are artsy, such things will be less prevalent, but would you say that either Vassar or Wes is stronger?
- I want to go to a good grad school, maybe in business or a science
- Finally, I want to date at college. I'm a straight girl so am slightly worried about the skewed Vassar m/f ratio and the abundance of gay men (got absolutely nothing against them - but since dating is important to me, I see it as a point of interest at least).
I will be eternally grateful to anyone who can provide any information regarding what I’ve said or talk about their experiences at either school.
Am also going to post this on the Vassar boards.
My S is down to the wire to commit too and Wes and Vassar are both on his list though he has already eliminated Vassar for various reasons. So we have been researching this a lot lately. A few points relevant to your specific comments:
– Wes’s student paper publishes twice a week. This is far more frequently than almost any other school it’s size. So if you anticipate doing that activity keep that in mind. I don’t recall how often Vassar publishes but many of the LAC peers are only once a month.
– Wes has a great student community for app entrepreneurialism. I work in NYC and interact with a lot of tech companies and VC’s and whenever I listed my S’s short list they always jumped on Wes as their vote as they have all funded start-ups from Wes grads or hired them for tech jobs. I didn’t have a single one call out Vassar for this.
– Wes is one of the best colleges in terms of rate of matriculation into PhD programs. I don’t recall the exact stat or if it applies to professional programs too.
– You mentioned film as a possible double major. Wes hands-down has a reputation as the best film program within the elite LAC’s and the industry alums to prove it. On the other hand, this has made it an incredibly popular double major at Wes and as a result they don’t accept everyone into the major. But if you get at least a B+ in their 2 prerequisite classes they will guarantee your admission.
– Wes is a bit more sporty than Vassar because it competes in the NESCAC and has a higher ratio of student varsity athletes. But it’s still less than 25% of the student body so it’s not dominated by jocks (by comparison Williams is over 40%).
Since I don’t attend there and neither does my son, I’d defer any answers on the campus and student housing community and culture, dating scene, etc.to someone who does. I assume you have cross posted this in the Vassar forum and will likely get posts there that are more Vassar-centric.
Both great schools so you will be in good shape either way.
@citivas Thank you so much, your insights really helped me out. The point about the tech entrepreneurialism is really interesting, I had no idea. Also I didn’t know about the Argus publishing so often! Thanks!
@stresseddad I have seen those but thanks anyway 
My daughter attends Wesleyan and is really happy. She is an English major but has taken quite a bit of film in history classes. She doesn’t date per se but she has had two significant relationships with Wesleyan students lasting at least one year each, and her circle of friends are also in long-term relationships with other students.
The Vassar library is gorgeous though, and the campus is generally prettier.
The math department at Vassar is not terrible (though it is true that there is a general level math class with a terrible teacher, which probably feeds that perception). I know 2 current math majors, both of whom are blissfully happy, both of whom have had great -paid!- research internships (who knew that there was such a thing?!) every summer (one has just gotten one with the NSA).
My straight D at Vassar has not found a shortage of guys, though she has been going out with the same one for 2 years now and hasn’t really been looking recently
BUT: imo, you are past the stage where additional data points can help you make the decision. The bottom line is that both schools will provide you with abundant opportunities and can prepare you exceptionally well for whatever you want to do after college. Both schools can make you very happy, and both schools will at some point disappoint you (b/c there is simply no college in the world where some stupid rule or policy or bad teacher or whatever doesn’t get in your way).
So, there is no ‘right’ decision and there is no ‘wrong’ decision here: at this point you have to go with your heart. When you visited, when you sat in on a class, when you spent the night: where did you feel ‘at home’? Go with that school*. The moment of decision is hard, but it is really just the end of one process, and the beginning of a new adventure.
*and remember, although you should really commit to the decision once made-if you get there and it isn’t great, both schools will keep your application on hand in case it doesn’t work out at the other place.
Vassar’s campus is nicer.
Both schools have their share of quirky and artsy students.
Wes might have a small advantage in academic rep, but they’re both very good overall – you will not exhaust the knowledge of your profs at either school
I would continue looking at academic fit (majors, classes offered, faculty quality, graduation and program requirements, outlets for your creativity, etc.). I think you should also look into housing/food and the surrounding areas – you will spend most of your time on campus, probably, but when you do venture outside of the bubble it’s nice to have cool options.
These are both excellent LACs with plenty of quality and rep. You’re on the right track to deciding which offers the better fit for you.
Wesleyan is closer to downtown and there are certainly options for dining and mixing with the citizens of Middletown. I highly recommend a brisk morning walk to the North End where a hearty breakfast at O’ Rourke’s Diner will cure all that ails you. A Starbucks is opening in the Fall. However, most students don’t have the cash to splurge off-campus and for them the best thing about living downtown is that Wesleyan owns virtually everything west of High Street, including two square blocks of wood frame houses totally devoted to graduating seniors. This enables small groups of students to party as much (or as little) as they like. And, with so many kitchens everywhere there is a thriving “foodie” culture going on just under everyone’s radar. It’s this interesting mixture of urbanity within all the hallmarks of a small rural college that gives Wesleyan its unique flavor, IMO.
@Submarina, so what did you pick?