Vassar Alumnae/i Admissions Program Newsletter



May 2009 Volume 1, Issue 2

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Alumnae/i Admissions
Program

Admitted Student Data

This year, Vassar received 7577 applications, about 200 more than last year. We admitted about 24% of those who applied and are currently offering admission to a small number of students on the waiting list. Here are some other preliminary stats about our admitted students:

On average, students had an A- unweighted GPA.
The middle 50% of students who were admitted had a combined SAT Critical Reading and Math score of 1340 to 1480. For the ACT composite school, the middle 50% range was 29 to 33.
More than 41% of those admitted are students of color.
About 10% of those admitted hold foreign citizenship.
Candidates were admitted from 49 states, DC, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and 55 nations. In order, the top states with admitted students are New York, California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Maryland, Texas, Florida, and Illinois.

At the end of the summer, we will have more information to share with you about the students who will be enrolling in the fall.

Interview Stats

This past November through February, AAP volunteers have conducted over 2,600 interviews! This is about 60% of the total requested (4,400). Interviews took place in 46 states and 23 countries. Thank you to the thousands of volunteers who helped us reach out to students personally during the admission process.

FAQ of the Month

Question: What's Going on with the Waiting List?

Answer: We are currently using the waiting list to fill a handful of places in the Class of 2013. Here is some information about the waiting list at Vassar:

Vassar does not rank students on its waiting list. Instead, we review the candidates who have chosen to remain on the list after the late April response date.
The earliest students will hear from us about the waiting list is early May, and the latest is July 1.
Over the last several years, we have enrolled as many as 80 and as few as zero from the waiting list.
Students can help their chances for admission by writing us to let us know if Vassar is their first choice.
They can also submit additional information (new grades, new scores, honors earned, etc.) for the admission committee to review. However, it is never a good idea for students to embark on a "campaign" to gain admission (e.g., by soliciting numerous letters of support or asking friends and teachers to call). We also do not conduct interviews with students on the waiting list.
All students who have filed the appropriate forms, demonstrate financial need, and are offered admission from the waiting list will receive financial assistance.

April Yield Events

During the month of April, the Office of Admission focused its efforts on activities to encourage admitted students to choose Vassar. Last month, our office was open for tours and information sessions on weekdays and Saturdays, and we offered admitted students the opportunity to stay overnight and to sit in on a class. We also hosted two special Admitted Student Open Houses with full-day programs to give students and their families a closer look at Vassar, as well as our annual Focus on Vassar weekend, a 3-day program for students of color. Thank you to the alumnae/i who called accepted students to extend their congratulations and who assisted with local receptions for admitted students.

Community-Based and Not-for-Profit Organizations

The Office of Admission currently works with a number of organizations that focus on increasing access to college, such as A Better Chance, QuestBridge, and Prep for Prep. Assistant Director of Admission Nicole Savage is working to expand the number of organizations with which we work. If you have contacts for organizations in your area, please email Nicole at nisavage@vassar.edu.

Alumnae/i Admissions Program
Pamela Tan
Sam Charner
Maureen Norcross
Vassar College, Box 10
124 Raymond Ave
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
845-437-7300
vcaap@vassar.edu