<p>Hi everyone!
So I just got back from an official visit to vassar and I absolutely loved the campus, the professors, and the coaches. My only concern was how well I would fit in with the student body... I am very intellectually curious, and I enjoy social activism and having intellectual discussions outside of the classroom. However, I do not identify myself as the artsy/hipster and politically I'm only slightly liberal. I come from a super preppy catholic school in the south, and I've never liked the highly materialistic and homogeneous environment. Essentially I'm neither extremely liberal or conservative, and I'm not very preppy or alternative. So I'm just wondering if I'll find people similar to me at Vassar? </p>
<p>Can you expand a bit on what in your visit made you have doubts? </p>
<p>Obviously Vassar has a reputation as being very liberal and perhaps artsy (especially in drama and music), and just walking around campus would show you that the student body is not particularly preppy. It should be obvious that it is not ethnically homogenous but you might not realize how economically diverse Vassar is- it was recently ranked as the most economically diverse of the competitive universities. </p>
<p>Thank you for your response. When I visited it was somewhat of a culture shock, as most of the team and people I saw fit that liberal and artsy image. I know I want a diverse college experience, so I’m just wondering if I’ll find people who don’t fit that hipster mold… </p>
<p>If you are intellectually curious and want a place where people have intellectual discussions outside of the classroom as you wrote in your first post, then Vassar would be a good fit. There are some hipsters but there really is a mix of people there, Many are very creative and individualistic and they show it in their dress but they are not necessarily hipsters. Over the last several years, there seems to be a trend toward more focus on athletics and in a good way. Students, faculty and the college president attend athletic events and support their teams (not as in a typical D1 environment but as friends who are cheering for their friends and the team)…just as Vassar students attend the music concerts and theater productions to support their friends and all the hard work that went into making the concert or production. Every orchestra concert, the concert hall is filled with friends, family, faculty, the college president and even community people. If this atmosphere appeals to you, you will fit in at Vassar. Try to visit a few other schools and then come back to visit Vassar and see if it now feels like the place you want to be for your college years.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Excellent point! I know a number of students who exactly fit your description. </p>
<p>Have you looked at many colleges yet? if you are coming from a very homogenous / preppy background any college might be a jolt! (well, not every one- I can think of a few that will feel just like that…)</p>
<p>My D’s first year roommate came from nowhere Georgia and college was different in every aspect from her prior life. Her current roommate came from a rather gritty urban environment and it was a jolt to her too. </p>
<p>If you can, visit several different kinds of college campuses- it will help give you a broader base for comparison. It doesn’t matter if you have any intention at all of applying- it is good to visit a range. You may surprise yourself with what draws you.</p>
<p>@sts005 - When you start out with the fact that MOST liberal arts colleges tend to lean liberal (those that don’t make it a point that they don’t), you would find mostly liberal people on just about all small liberal arts colleges. Women especially in this age group are more liberal than men of the same age group, and it’s not uncommon to have 60-40 women to men at liberal arts colleges. That said, Vassar is clearly more liberal than the average. You say you are intellectually curious and socially active. That to me is a Vassar student. Vassar was just voted the most economically diverse student body (I see someone said that already), so it’s not just a bunch of rich kids there. If you like the campus and the professors and the coaches (I assume this means you want to play a sport there?), then that’s a good start. Vassar is getting more heavy into recruiting athletes, so depending on your sport, you may need to be on the coaches’ radar at this point. The days of just walking on to any team (unless you are a superstar) are becoming a thing of the past there for some sports. Good luck in your college hunt.</p>