<p>I visited Vassar this past fall and had an underwhelming experience. I don't feel I got a good sense of the school. My tour guide was not at all noteworthy and she didn't emphasize what makes Vassar different or any better than any other North East LAC. I recognize that had I gone on another day or had a different tour guide my experience could have been very different. Vassar is beautiful, but so are many other schools. Vassar's student body is diverse, intelligent, liberal, and artsy, but so are students of many other schools. Basically, there was nothing offensive about Vassar during my visit, but there was also nothing I learned or felt that made me come away understanding Vassar as a unique place. I applied anyway and found out a few days ago I was admitted. As I was waitlisted at Wesleyan, a school I had a better visit at and felt I could belong at, I am trying to figure out what to do. </p>
<p>I want to like Vassar!</p>
<p>So, for those who know Vassar, what do you feel makes it distinct from other schools? What makes you like it more than its peer institutions?</p>
<p>If it helps at all, I am interested in Biology, PoliSci, and Languages. I am also a straight female, so the gender ratio is a concern as well.</p>
<p>I hope I don't come off as snotty or arrogant, as I am very thankful to be admitted to Vassar and I am not trying to put it down. Also, I'm sorry to anyone waitlisted/denied reading this, since it must suck to see a less enthused applicant admitted. I just need more information and perspectives before I can fall in love with the school.</p>
<p>I intend to do an overnight to get a better feel for the school, but I just want to get other people's opinions first. Thank you for the help!</p>
<p>CPing my reply to another thread. Vassar is all about the students and the professors. That’s it. Other schools have their own traditions, look pretty as well, etc. It isn’t these things or the school that makes Vassar, it really is the people in it. I feel like everyone here is very much aware of that, and it sucks that they can’t share that on tour.</p>
<p>Coming from the West Coast, the winters @ Vassar almost killed me. I almost transferred to Berkeley after my frosh year. The amazing and unique people that make Vassar great kept me here. You will never find another school like Vassar. I don’t know one person that doesn’t like being here. With how small the campus is, you basically know everyone after 3 years. There are some people here that I don’t like, and I know there is a large number of people here that aren’t fans of me. But I would throw down for anyone on this campus. It’s like a family.</p>
<p>You will get extremely personalized attention. Professors will mentor you and fight to get you, as an individual, internships/jobs/grad school placement if you work hard and put in the effort. I have eaten at 60% of my profs’ homes at one point or another over the past 3 years. That number goes up pretty high if you include coffee or individual meetings outside of class. I don’t have a lot of friends that have had that kind of experience</p>
<p>If you want to have a mind blowing experience, love learning for the sake of learning (the teachers here are insanely good at teaching. i’ve had material that i never thought that i would understand illuminated by these awesome people that truly care about you.), are passionate about something, and be apart of a pretty cool and unique community.</p>
<p>On the straight female issue, a lot of girls complain about it. Usually, those people don’t put themselves out there or make friends well. If you are sociable and make an effort to break into new groups, people will welcome you in. You make more connections => more dudes => more potential whatever you are looking for. Being an athlete or entering the hipster hierarchy makes it a lot easier for girls to hook up.</p>
<p>People over play the ratio. It definitely exists, but it shouldn’t really hinder anyone from making connections with the opposite sex. I think Vassar attracts a lot of introverts or not socially comfortable people. If you can put your insecurities away (or atleast pretend to) and make an effort to have fun and draw people out of their shells, you will be 10 steps ahead of everyone else and have a great time.</p>
<p>Bump! I really like this question and would like more answers :]</p>