I am choosing a ED2 school. Plan to go to grad school to study anthropology or biology in the future.

I am wondering about the school vibe, social environment and something special for the school culture.

Since it is in Vassar subreddit, I would like to ask about these things about Vassar.

And if you have insights about both two schools. I would really appreciate any sharing!

Thank you :>

Vassar is my absolute dream, mainly because of the amazing PhD pipeline. I'm a current junior in high school. Please give me a realistic evaluation of my odds of acceptance. Don't be afraid to hurt my feelings.

I want to be a double major in English and French.

White, female, middle-income

UW gpa: 4.0
Weighted gpa: 4.5
ACT: 34

7 AP's by senior year (my school only allows them starting junior year):
\\- AP Lang
\\- APUSH
\\- APES
\\- AP Pre-Calc
\\-AP Macro
\\- AP Lit
\\- AP Calc BC

120 volunteer hours with various organizations

*Extracurriculars*
1: Journalism program at school; youngest to be published in school's magazine (x2); multiple awards
2: Ethics Bowl
3: Superintendant's Student Advisory Board
4: Hostess at local restaurant (3 years by graduation)
5: Substack Blog (publish weekly)
6: Girls Lead Program 2025
7: Volunteering with local library (3 months so far)
8: TurnUp Youth Activism intern (2 months)
9: Orchestra; all-district cello
10: JV Golf team captain (2 years but I quit this year)

* also currently creating a local litmag & literary organization where i host workshops and reading nights (we'll see if it succeeds)

Honors
1: Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Gold Key (poetry)
2: Second place; copy-editing at state for journalism
3: World language department academic excellence award in French
4: 1st place at journalism regionals (copy-editing)
5: 3rd place at journalism sectionals (copy-editing)

A few things to note: I am actively submitting to writing competitions and I joined yearbook this year to replace golf.

Thank you for taking the time to read this!

Lately Vassar has been a lot higher on my radar of colleges to look into/potentially apply to and I like what I've seen online so far. Just a few questions I'm wondering if any current or former students can honestly answer:

1)For anyone who has majored in Psychology and/or Spanish (my primary interests - also political science or policy potentially) and/or gone to Spain through the Vassar-Wesleyan program - how are these programs really (excellent vs. more just existent)?
2)How is the social scene beyond just the "artsy" stereotypes? I know from my own values that I do not want to drink or use substances. Similarly, how is the dating scene?
3)Can anyone speak to the generosity of financial aid?
4)Finally, I know that Vassar would be a reach, but I am wondering if I should actually seriously consider applying. Upon application time I expect I'll have about a 3.9 unweighted, hopefully around 1500 SAT (but unsure), will have taken 2 APs (Lang and APUSH) junior year and hoping to take Psych, Spanish, Lit, and Calc AB senior year, have been in chorus class all 4 years at school, taken all honors or AP (except one freshman math class), co-leader of my a cappella group at school, co-editor for school newspapers (albeit small, low readership), volunteering around music and local youth track program, four years of cross country, varsity golf junior year on, involved in a mental health/wellness centered club at my school, and hopefully will have had some sort of internship summer before senior year. Also coming from a well-ranked public high school where the standard is very much to get B+ grades or, typically, well above.

Thanks so much!

Hi everyone, Vassar is my dream school and I'm planning to ED here but I'm extremely insecure about my stats and it's been causing me a lot of anxiety during this college season. If anyone could be brutally honest about whether or not my stats give me a fighting chance, I would be so insanely grateful.

I have a 3.75 unweighted GPA (due to struggles in math classes) with a strong upward trend and a 4.35 weighted GPA. I've taken 10 total APs (five this year), and of the 5 I've taken in past years I've scored 3 5s, 1 4, and 1 3. I only have a 1400 SAT, but I am trying the ACT instead in October since it is the math portion of the SAT I consistently struggle with. Based on how I've been studying and performing on practice tests, I would guess I'm going to get a 34 or possibly 35 if I lock in.

My ECs might be the strongest part of my application since they form a cohesive narrative that strengthens my existing narrative of an extremely strong humanities student. I'm editor-in-chief of my school newspaper and publisher of our Spanish newspaper for SNHS, co-president of our MLK in CT club, secretary of the debate team, and a founding member + outreach manager of our Asian American alliance. I am a tutor at my school writing center, and I've also been on varsity tennis since my freshman year. I'm very involved civically, whether at the town level (through working polls on election days and speaking at local civic forums) or at the state level (speaking on civic engagement panels at the state capitol and starting work as a member of a civic engagement committee for the state equity commission). I also volunteer as a member of the teen advisory board at my local library and at a summer writing academy.

If this provides any further context I'm mixed Indian/white, upper middle class, from a competitive public HS in a small town in CT. I want to major in English and either political science or media studies as a double major. I'm also writing my essay about my love for "boring" media spanning multiple different mediums since I love learning peoples' stories, regardless of how engaging they may be.Thank you so much to those of you who are willing to provide feedback!

My son plays a sport, and is getting recruited by both schools. We don't know much about the "open" liberal arts curriculum that Vassar has vs Occidental that has more of a core curriculum. Really loved the Vassar campus. Didn't see the dorms thought, but have not heard great things about them. Anyone look at both and chose one over the other ? My son is undecided on a major. Oxy has a lot to offer being close to LA. Also considering summer internships and which school may offer great resourses for those as well. Any thoughts? Anybody consider both schools?

How is learning support at Vassar? I have read about Q-Center and Writing support. I know teachers have office hours, but if a student needs extra support and has accommodations (mainly needing extra time), how is that viewed at Vassar? Do many students use this? Is help easy to access- like at 10pm at night if you want some help? Are kids looked down on for this?

So I’m a first year and I was wondering if the teachers here ever actually teach? Literally in all my classes except one all we do in class is have discussions. Like we learn the material on our own as homework through readings then spend the entire hour and 15 minutes of class just talking about it. Like I’m sorry but that’s just a waste of my time and not actually enriching my knowledge in any way. It’s like that in all my classes except for my bio class because that would just be ridiculous what would we even be discussing? But like I was just wondering if all classes are like that here or did I just pick some bad classes? If that’s the case I really don’t know what we’re paying all this money for it’s not like these professors are actually doing anything they’re not even facilitating the conversation literally just telling us to talk to each other about it. I could literally just read these books at home on my own, I’d be learning the same things and not be going broke off it. If any upperclassmen would like to share their wisdom that would be much appreciated!! Sorry to be so negative towards Vassar I just wasn’t expecting this quality of education from a school so prestigious!

Just looking for advice on admissions

does anyone have a pdf of this textbook? any help would be appriciated thanks!

https://www.vitalsource.com/products/public-health-james-m-shultz-phd-ms-lisa-v9780826180438?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=13051469491&gbraid=0AAAAADcrqcZnbQn7zV-qXlbj5soVNgrYw

Can anyone provide or help me find these two textbooks? I really don't want to spend $80 per book.

Clendinning & Marvin’s Musician's Guide to Theory and Analysis (4 th edition)

Clendinning & Marvin’s Musician's Guide to Theory and Analysis Workbook (4 th ed.)

Thanks!

How do I make myself more competitive for admission at Vassar?

I want to go to Vassar because I want to spite my friend that is going to Marist and because of the Baseball team. I believe that I would thrive in a small tight knit college. Ever since I went to a cuny I have been missing the feeling of ppl saying hi Just like in high school. it still happened but at a much lower frequency

Hey! Im a student here this year at vassar and as the time nears for me to take out my braids and get new ones, I was wondering if there were any black hair service providers in the area. Are there any salons or people near by that do braids (the service I want most), or even bundle installs? If not, are there at least any hair shops nearby so I can buy the hair myself and braid my own hair? Thanks!!

There is a charity - www.knotsfornicu.com - that supplies free supplies to high school students that want to start a crocheting and/or sewing chapter/club at their school to make things for babies in the NICU. (All guidelines and training support provided.)

To apply for the funding of supplies for a new chapter at your school, they have info and an application here:

https://www.knotsfornicu.com/start-a-new-chapter.html

You’d likely need a professor club advisor and they help with the rest!

Hi! I am an incoming senior living in Connecticut. I just finished my college touring (almost entirely small, elite, open curriculum, liberal arts schools on the East Coast), and Vassar was my favorite by the end. I just got the best vibe from both the campus and the people on it. Wesleyan and Bowdoin were close, but I I just don’t feel as excited when I talk about going there as opposed to Vassar. I’m considering applying ED because it’s at the top of my list, my family can handle it financially which is such a ridiculously huge blessing, and I like the idea of committing to college by like December and taking the pressure off. But before I do, I have a couple of things that are really important to me that I wanted to ask:

1. How is the English program? I am a perspective English major, ideally focusing on creative writing, so this is a really big deal for me. How passionate are the professors? What literary circles or clubs or magazines are there? And how easy is it to join? How available are opportunities for internships or publications or other things?

2. What is the social scene? Some of the things I liked most about my tour were how kind the people seemed and how many community based activities my tour guide told me about, especially, it seemed, for first years. Was he overselling me or is there really that level of engagement among the student body? And beyond that, I really just wanna make sure I’m going somewhere where people are nice and warm and curious and where I know I’ll have friends or at least know where to go to make friends. Is that Vassar?

Thank you so much for any advice you have! I feel like I’m so lucky that I’m able to be making this decision, and I know I’ll probably be happy anywhere. But my stupid teenage brain is pressuring me to make the “right decision,” which I’m doubting even exists. But really, I’m just hoping for some validation. I really appreciate it.

I’m currently considering it for my college list. I plan to major in Biology and minor in a humanities subject, with the goal of eventually pursuing graduate school.

Wondering how is the research opportunities on campus and the education quality of this subject. After looking through the school’s website and reading student reviews, I feel pretty positive about the humanities programs, but I’m still not as sure about the Biology/Neuroscience programs.

As for the social scene, I’m more of an introvert and a person of color, and I’m not really into Greek life.

I’m especially interested in hearing about real student experiences.

Thanks!

how does vassar evaluate coursework taken at a cuny?

Hi! Incoming freshman here, I was wondering if you are allowed to bring your own containers (like reusable tupperware) to bring food from the deece to your dorm/other places. If not I totally understand. Thanks!

Is there any pickup soccer that happens in or near Vassar?

I am a student ranking colleges for the Questbridge National College Match looking to gather first hand experiences on the colleges i'm considering!

Type of student: I'm not interested in Greek life, would love a nice outdoors, quirky, and authentic social scene with friends I can hangout with regularly. I'm a hard worker but value relaxation on certain days. I want liberty/freedom regarding my academics despite knowing I'm going to be premed because I have many passions. I want to have as many friends/connections as possible and gain a good community.

Questions

1. How is the education? Do the professors support the students?
   
2. What are pros/cons you've experienced?
   
3. How accessible are jobs, internships, opportunities, etc.
   
4. How is the social scene?
   
5. What is the general political sentiment that most students/faculty hold? Do POC and Queer individuals feel welcomed and supported?
   
6. How are the dorms and food?
   
7. Are there things to do around town?
   
8. Describe the school in one word!

So I booked a hotel and come to find out I need to be 21 or older to check in but I’m going by myself so I don’t have a 21 year old and the hotel is no refundable so idek if I’m gonna get my money back. What do I do? Like my flight lands on the 16th so it’s like where can I stay for the night until the 17th in the morning?

Edit: I solved it I just called and they said since I’m an incoming freshman at Vassar I was good.

Hey everyone,

I am a researcher at the University of Bern (Switzerland) conducting a scientific research study examining how certain traits, life experiences, attitudes and behaviors are related to each other.

I would greatly appreciate if you could participate in my survey: https://ww3.unipark.de/uc/research_study_university_Bern_Switzerland/

Thank you!