Would I fit in?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Vassar College
1

<p>From what I hear, Vassar tends to be a lot less preppy than, say, Middlebury or Bowdoin. The typical student--and correct me if I'm wrong--is described as "quirky, hipsterish, hippyish," etc. I, however, am more preppy myself. Not in the pop-the-collar, new prep, lax bro type preppy, but I go to an independent/prep school in New York City, tend to wear traditionally "preppy" brands, and like to vacation in New England. I'll wear boat shoes, but typically with jeans or khakis and a button down shirt--not obnoxious rhubarb or lime-green pants. </p>

<p>I know this is a massive generalization, but in my experience, it seems that people who share many of the same traits as the typical portrait of a Vassar student seem to have some sort of visceral reaction of disgust or hatred to what they call the "preppy, elite snobs" who "have never had to work for anything" and "think they're better than everyone else." I try my hardest not to seem snobby or anything, I've had to work for things, and I don't think myself better than anyone, but it seems inevitable that, while talking to people of different backgrounds, they call me a snob or roll their eyes when I simply answer their questions about what part of the City I live in, what school I go to, or where I last vacationed.</p>

<p>What I want to know is if it is popular at Vassar to hate on people with whom I share similar traits. Would I fit in or be ostracized by my peers?</p>

<p>I'm gay, if that helps. I'm also a white Hispanic--you couldn't tell by looking at me--but my family has lived in the City since they immigrated here in the late 1800s.</p>

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<p>As a white Hispanic who wears boat shoes and is attending Vassar is the fall, I really don’t think you’ll have a problem there. There is a stereotype (like there is at virtually every school) but from the students I’ve met and spoken to, the stereotype is really JUST a stereotype. As in, I’ve met and spoken to people who do range from lax bros to hipsters to stoners to math geeks all going to Vassar.</p>

<p>If anything, I can tell you a good portion of Vassar students really are rich or well off, white, and really haven’t lived a rough life in the least, myself included. I don’t think that sort of background is going to put you on any sort of back burner.</p>

3

<p>You really will have NO problems fitting in, based on that description. There’s plenty of people like you, you’ll find that the stereotypes about Vassar are largely about a small (socially prominent) minority, who by no means dominate campus. You have nothing to worry about =)</p>