<p>So this is something I've been thinking about for a little while now. I'm a recruited athlete to Vassar but I'm slightly concerned about whether or not I will fit in. </p>
<p>I come from a pretty conservative area and a very conservative family. My dad is a preacher in the Christian church and I've grown up a Christian my whole life. I've never really been around a group as openly accepting as Vassar and I just worry whether I will enjoy my time there or not. Is anybody else in the same boat? And does anybody have any insight on my situation?</p>
<p>Basically what I mean is that, from what I’ve heard, Vassar is very open and accepting to the gay community. I’m not used to that. Most of the people from my area don’t really accept that type of lifestyle. I don’t necessarily share the same feelings as many people in my area, but since I’m not used to being in that type of environment, I just wonder if I’m going to fit in.</p>
<p>My son is planning to attend as an athlete and he is definitely not gay. Although he is attending a traditional prep day school, respect for others is emphasized and everyone found a way to fit in to the academic community. I do think you should discuss your concerns with the Vassar coach.</p>
<p>I don’t know anyone my age who’d say they’d have “trouble with that”. At my high school, no one would admit to it. Do you share the same feelings as people in your area or not? Tell the truth. What will you do if your roommate is Jewish, atheist, Muslim, or is a non-church attending Christian? Try to get them to view the world the way you do and to accept Jesus and go to church on Sunday? What will you do if your roommate is gay?</p>
<p>Also, I thought Vassar did not recruit for athletics. As long as the coach wants an athlete, does the athlete just have to be “in range” to get in? What’s “in range”? Why such favoritism toward athletes at a hipster school like Vassar?</p>
<p>um, ariadne2014, almost every single college has recruited athletes. since we’re D3 we don’t give out athletic scholarships, but if a coach wants someone and the admissions committee likes them, then they’ll get in. that’s how college admissions works.</p>
<p>you’ll be fine at vassar as long as you aren’t a bigot. vassar isn’t just “accepting of gays”; overall, vassar has a strong sense of social justice. are there some bigots here? yup, and they have their friend groups, but most people here are “PC” in the sense that no, we won’t let you say obviously homophobic/racist/sexist remarks. other than that we’re pretty diverse in terms of interests, personalities, etc. so you won’t have any trouble fitting in.</p>
<p>This athletic recruitment stuff makes me want to focus on real hipster schools like Reed. I’ve had my fill of athletes and their sense self-importance in high school.</p>
<p>vell28, do you work for the admissions office? When an admissions officer comes to my high school and talks about how everyone who is qualified to attend can find a place there, because the college is a diverse place and lots of people have lots of different interests and so on, I leave the room if I can.</p>
<p>After talking with my parents and really thinking about it, I think Vassar is a place that I will thoroughly enjoy my time at. Thanks for all the replies!</p>
<p>To Crewdad: I’m already finding the college admissions process very stressful. So very sorry to offend you by saying that I hate it when admissions officers push their colleges on everyone, and try to tell everyone that their colleges are the best place for all applicants. It’s all for the rankings. Are you the type of sadistic grownup who thinks this is appropriate? </p>
<p>And, yeah, I’m tired of athletes who have special recruitment weekends, get “tipped” by coaches, and feel entitled to it all, as long as their academic credentials are “in range”. I’m tired of the athletes I know. These non-academic programs add to the cost of a college education. College tuition is already too high. Why should I have to pay for expensive athletic programs in an academic institution? </p>
<p>I’m a musician. Does Vassar have a recruitment weekend for musicians?</p>
<p>Were you, Crewdad, a college athlete? Are your children college athletes? I bet the answers are “yes”, and that’s why you feel so incredibly superior to me.</p>
<p>Enough said. I’ve decided not to apply to Vassar. I don’t need the kind of garbage Crewdad decided to dish out to me.</p>
<p>Vassar is a great school! It seems that it’s a special place where all types of people not only get along, but thrive in all aspects of their lives and can agree to disagree on many things with a great deal of respect for each other.</p>
<p>I wasn’t offended. What gave your that idea? But I’ve never known an admissions officer who professes that their college is the best place for “all” applicants. Admission officers certainly can sugarcoat various aspects of their institution, but I’ve never known them to lie.</p>
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<p>No to both questions. </p>
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<p>Seriously? My post did not in the slightest indicate that I feel superior to you.
N.B. Work on your reading comprehension.</p>
<p>So to Ariadne2014, I understand where you are coming from. My son is at Vassar and a music major. Your post could be from him!!! Never played a sport and would have loathed a school with a major sports vibe. And yes there are meat head athletes at Vassar and he was definitely looking for a school without that “bro” mentality. He looked at Reed but preferred the music program at Vassar. Although Reed probably doesn’t recruit, Vassar will not accept a student unless they can get in and fit in on their own merit. I don’t think he finds that athletics dominate the environment and he loves the music scene. Applying to college is ridiculously stressful. Awful, Terrible and the Worst!!! Admission officers and the process can be demoralizing…I sincerely hope you find the school that makes your heart sing. It will be worth it!</p>
<p>Really? Is always amazes me what people take from a post. Obviously there are “meat heads” in every facet of life. Did you read the thread of posts? What is the point of posting on this site if every word and nuance is scrutinized? My apologies if something struck a nerve - I was trying to be helpful</p>
<p>Yes, I read the complete thread. No nerve struck, it just sounded like you were buying into another poster’s ridiculous stereotyping of a certain segment of the student population. If a kid doesn’t want the jock scene at a school (my daughter certainly does not), or the artsy scene, or the hipster scene, that’s perfectly understandable. But IMO, using a pejorative like ‘meat head’ doesn’t come across as helpful.</p>
<p>I never met a real artist who was a meathead. No such person exists. </p>
<p>Thanks MandMom.</p>
<p>I have a 3.75 GPA and 2260 SAT scores. My GC tells me its not ridiculous for me to apply to Vassar, but I probably wont get in. He said Vassar cares mostly about raw GPA. I did not have to take a full load of AP classes that brought down my grades. Vassar wants to see students challenge themselves but not if they are going to get a B. </p>
<p>I started music lessons in first grade. I was selected to play in the regional high school orchestra, but Im not kidding myself that I could make it as a professional musician. Let me remind you before you criticize me that the athletes at Vassar arent good enough to be professional either. Still, these athletes posting on CC seem so sure that theyll be admitted so long as they apply ED and are in range. I wonder if they’ve taken as many APs as I have. </p>
<p>He he he. My detractors in this thread dont like being told that its easier for athletes to get into Vassar. No one has answered me. What’s in range? Does “in range” mean having near straight A’s in several year’s worth of AP classes, high SAT scores, high subject test scores, etc, etc, etc?</p>
<p>The sappy comments about Vassar being one big happy community of diverse people who all get along famously while pursuing their myriad interests and encouraging each other to boot are ridiculous. Excuse me for being a cynic.</p>
<p>Expanding on the music at Vassar - Ariadne mentioned ‘recruiting’ visits for musicians. You can create your own visits. Here is a sincere ‘sappy’ story. S1 visited Vassar twice and both times attended a rehearsal of a musical group he was interested in. After 5 minutes, he turned to us with a huge smile and we knew he knew Vassar was his school! The music is excellent at Vassar. That said, you still need to attend concerts or rehearsals at whichever school you are interested in to hear for yourself. Definitely submit an arts supplement of your music. Vassar music faculty will listen to the music supplements and advocate to admissions on your behalf similar to the coaches - however a huge difference between Vassar and some other schools is that both musicians and athletes have to meet the academic standards (be ‘in range’) or they will not be admitted. The ranges are usually included in the Common Data Set. Think of retaking the ACT or SAT one more time in the fall of senior year. S2 did and his ACT score hugely improved so it can be done. So don’t give up and I hope you find the college that is best for you.</p>