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Q: How many people applied to Vassar this year? How many were accepted?
A: 7361 students applied to Vassar this year. This is the largest applicant pool in Vassar’s history. We admitted 25% of those students.
Q: What is housing like?
A: Vassar has nine residence halls and three apartment complexes. Also, campus housing has increased with both new construction and renovation of existing residence halls. There are several new apartments, others have been renovated, and one residence hall has undergone a complete renovation. All students are guaranteed housing all four years. In fact, housing tends to be quite nice and somewhat spacious. Almost two-thirds of all housing assignments are single rooms. More on Residential Life
Q: What is the food like?
A: The food is actually pretty good. Dining services does a good job of providing a wide range of options. It’s not quite home cooking, but for feeding so many people every day, it is very fresh and well prepared. Visit Campus Dining to see what’s on the menu this week.
Q: Vassar is described as a small, highly selective liberal arts college. What does that mean?
A: With 2,450 students, Vassar is actually one of the larger “small liberal arts colleges.” Still, with an average class size of 17 and a 9:1 student to faculty ratio, it means you can participate, get feedback on your work, and get personal attention you won’t find at a larger university. After a few years, many of the faces will be familiar. It’s a nice feeling. However, it is not so small that you feel suffocated. The size is partially why we have such a tight-knit community here, and New York City is close enough to provide world-class cultural events for those who are interested.
Q: I want to play sports. Will I be able to balance athletics and academics?
A: Absolutely! We are an NCAA Division III school and firmly believe in an academic-athletic balance. Most opponents are no more than a few hours away. Practices are scheduled so that you will never miss class. The environment is flexible for academic work. Obviously, like other Div. III schools, academics always take priority. The term “scholar-athlete” is quite apt for Vassar College. More on Athletics
Q: Can I have a car on campus?
A: Yes, but there is really not much need to have a car on campus. The campus itself is easily walkable. There are all sorts of shops and restaurants within walking distance of campus. The college has a shuttle which goes to the supermarket and the malls. There is public transportation, and taxis are not very expensive. There are always students who are willing to give others a ride. Freshmen can have cars, though they are not encouraged. Parking in our student lot is $50 per semester.
Q: What is the female student to male student ratio?
A: The female to male ratio is about 60:40. As a student here, you won’t feel as though there’s a predominance of one gender over the other. It is worth noting that the national average for liberal arts colleges is 55:45. In general, there are more women than men in college these days.
Q: Is Vassar a big drinking school?
A: The administration expects that students make responsible choices for themselves and follow state laws. The reality is that binge drinking is not a part of our campus culture. Students definitely go to parties and have lots of fun, but there are so many options for fun, it doesn’t ever seem like there is a focus on alcohol. A report from the NIH found that binge drinking occurs on campuses where there is a social scene dominated by a Greek system. We have no Greek system on campus.
Q: Are Macs or PCs more prevalent on campus?
A: Neither really. The campus network supports both, with Ethernet and wireless access in every dorm room as well as public areas. The Computer Center Help Desk responds to requests for assistance with both Macs and PCs. Although it is not necessary to have your own computer, students here do find it to be a major convenience if they do.
Q: What is the ratio of students from public and private schools?
A: About 60% public, 40% private.
Q: What is the weather like on campus?
A: You will see four distinct seasons at Vassar; just look around the website for pictures. The campus is an arboretum with over 200 species of trees, so in the fall, the color show is spectacular. Winters range from no snow at all to ground covering of up to two feet. The campus is absolutely beautiful during and after a snowfall. Spring has beautiful, sunny days with temperatures in the 70s and clear blue skies, a few days of rain, and budding trees and green grass. By the time finals come around in the spring, temperatures are well into the 70s and often 80s.
Q: Can I test out of the freshman writing class with a 4 or a 5 score on the AP English Literature or Composition exams?
A: While many departments will give advanced standing to students who score well on AP exams, the English Department does not control the writing requirement, and the dean of studies does not believe that AP English exams reflect Vassar level work. Therefore, writing is required for everyone. The classes are rigorous and rewarding, even for those who consider themselves talented writers.
Q: How far is New York City? Is Poughkeepsie interesting?
A: NYC is 75 miles south of Poughkeepsie. Trains run every hour; the ride is under two hours each way and follows the Hudson River for the entire trip. Tickets are about $25 round trip. CoachUSA (bus) also stops at Vassar College, though it is listed as Arlington.
Poughkeepsie has Vassar College, Marist College, and Dutchess Community College as well as the renowned Culinary Institute of America. Within an hour’s drive are West Point Military Academy and Bard College. Poughkeepsie itself is a city of 100,000 and is part of the scenic Hudson River Valley with wilderness and outdoor activities like hiking, skiing, hang-gliding, and rock climbing. Just north of the city are the historic sites of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s home and the Vanderbilt and Mills mansions. Within a half hour’s drive of Poughkeepsie are four movie theaters (two are drive-ins!), countless restaurants and venues for live music, the oldest opera house in the state and other fun and interesting destinations. There are many opportunities to volunteer. The Children’s Media Project, the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater (an environmental organization), or the campus farmers market are all great places to start. There are also many options for field work and internships. Students often work for local government agencies, art galleries, law firms, the Poughkeepsie Journal, etc. More about our location
Q: Is it difficult to get into the classes I want?
A: Absolutely not. Most students have no difficulty getting into classes. If there is great demand, multiple sections of the same class are offered. In the rare instance you are unable to register for an upper level class as a freshman, you will easily be able to do so by the time you become a junior.
Q: Are there social events on campus?
A: Vassar students work very hard, but they play hard, too. If by “social events” you mean parties, there are several all-campus dances/parties a semester, sponsored by various student organizations and residence halls. “Heaven and Hell” and “Bidormal Formal” are two that come immediately to mind. One big event at the beginning of the year is Serenading. We can’t explain that in 10 words or less — you’ll have to experience it for yourself. And Founder’s Day in the spring (celebrating the birthday of Matthew Vassar, the college founder) is huge. Of course, informal gatherings take place as well, and there are plenty of places to hang out — the cafe in Students’ Building, the pub (Matthew’s Mug).
Q: What is the gay/lesbian population on campus?
A: None of the administrative departments on campus track any such statistic. It would be inappropriate for the college to ask students to identify their sexual orientation. Various student organizations representing GLBTQ students play an active role on campus, as do many other groups dedicated to community, diversity, respect, and education.
Q: What majors are the most popular?
A: Vassar is a liberal arts college. All our programs are strong; however, our most popular departments include English, biology, economics, history, political science, and psychology. Vassar is unique in that it offers a number of multidisciplinary and interdepartmental programs, and is very encouraging of focused students who wish to design their own course of study.
Q: I hear each of the residence halls has a kind of personality. How do I know if I will be put into the “right” residence hall?
A: While it is true various residence halls do gain some personality-like characteristics, those vary greatly from year to year, based on the students living there at the time. Residence hall placement is somewhat random (roommate matching is a much higher priority), so no residence hall ever stays the same. Vassar has never had you as a resident before, so the personality of your residence hall also depends on what you bring to the community.
Q: I’m an international student. Will I be able to interact successfully with the rest of the student body?
A: Vassar’s sense of community is fundamentally defined in the celebration of diversity, including what you will bring as an international student. We have a variety of advising programs that support our international students as well as a student-run group called VISA. Vassar’s international students are not left to feel out-of-the-loop. Except for special functions for international students (there’s usually a dinner for international students the first week of school, and several other get-togethers over the course of the year), they are welcomed in the same way any other new student would be. International students do form a tight-knit group, but they all make just as many friends outside of that group. You may meet a few people right away, and gradually meet more and more and become closer to those with whom you have similar interests or who may surprise you with interests you may never have considered before. More on International Services
Q: Is Vassar a good place to start a medical career?
A: Vassar students are very successful when applying to medical schools; not only are the science programs well regarded and rigorous, but students are well advised. A pre-med advisor is assigned to ensure that you are taking the right preparatory classes, tests, etc. Many of our science students also have the opportunity to do graduate level research with professors on campus through the URSI (Undergraduate Research Summer Institute) program. That makes them particularly desirable to medical schools. The acceptance rate into medical school is significantly higher than the national average. Roughly 70-90% of the Vassar students who apply are accepted by a medical school. Incidentally, some schools beef up their rate-of-acceptance statistics by limiting the number of applicants they support in a given year. Vassar does not limit the number of applicants in a given year. More on Preprofessional Advising
Q: Can I stay overnight with a current student in a residence hall?
A: Yes, and we encourage you to also make arrangements to sit in on a class when you visit. Our hosting program runs Monday through Thursday, typically from late-September to mid-November (open only to high school seniors), and again in April (open only to admitted students). Space is limited in this program, so please make your reservations well in advance. See the Visit section for an overview and to make online reservations for both overnight visits and class visits.
Q: When do I have to declare a major?
A: Students have until the end of their sophomore year to declare their major.
Q: What are the arts programs like?
A: Whether your interest is in dance, drama, music, or art, Vassar offers many opportunities to get involved in the arts. Some organizations include the Vassar Repertory Dance Theatre, the very popular Philaletheis (drama society), and music groups ranging from a cappella to the college choir and orchestra. Art students can take classes in both art history and studio work (such as painting, drawing, and sculpting). The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center is open to the public with a variety of exhibitions as well as an exceptional permanent collection. Perhaps the best part of Vassar’s arts programs is that they are open to everyone regardless of major.
READ MORE FAQS
International Students FAQ
Prospective Students FAQ
Transfer Students FAQ
Financial Aid FAQ
