Vassar College Top Questions

The best thing about Vassar is the fact that there are so many opportunities to explore in a wide variety of departments without feeling like a big school. The size is great for me, but if you're looking for a school where you can just blend in with the crowd, stay away. People that know of the school are always impressed, and tend to hold it in high regard. I spend a lot of time in my room, but the student's center is a fantastic place to hang out. Poughkeepsie is not a college town, but there are a number of great restaurants within walking distance of the campus. I think that the Vassar administration runs very smoothly as a bureaucracy for the most part, but I know of several students who have been neglected or misinformed by school administrators. The biggest recent controversy on campus was a debate over whether gender-neutral housing should be introduced next year. There is some school pride here, but not quite as much as I would like to see.

Vassar likes to project the image that we're a very happy, diverse community of students, workers, and professors. There are some amazing things that this college and its organizations do that make Vassar unique -- slam poetry readings, cross-dressing parties, readings by famous authors (David Sedaris, Tim O'Brien, Lydia Davis), INCREDIBLE theater (the plays are unbelievable), speakers on topics anywhere from "The Seven Chakra Orgasm" to "Hip-Hop Culture and Misogyny," etc. I would never deny that I have had some amazing experiences as a result of being at Vassar; the campus is also beautiful and a national arboretum with a lake and hiking trails. I would also never deny that this school has some serious and complicated problems with racial and economic tension. The surrounding area of Poughkeepsie is a relatively poor community with which Vassar has a superficially happy relationship. There are programs in place for volunteering and working in the community but the general attitude on campus is one of apathy. Students frequently refer to the "Vassar Bubble" - the school's small population and lack of political diversity make it occasionally feel isolated from the real world.

What's wonderful about Vassar is that it's a small, cozy community where you can meet and really get to know a ton of people, and where people will know you. It's difficult to remain anonymous. Also, the administration is very responsive to student concerns. Because it's not a large research university, the environment at Vassar is all about the students (and not about, say, how prestigious a professor is or what's come out of the university press recently). That being said, some people can find Vassar too small, but it's just a matter of personal taste. There's no way to avoid running into people you know absolutely everywhere. The town of Poughkeepsie where Vassar is located is nothing special. There's a sad lack of public transportation and no movie theaters or Target-type stores within walking distance, but campus activities tries to make up for the lack of things to do in Poughkeepsie. There is always something to do on weekends including movie screenings and parties sponsored by a college organization, and no one depends on Poughkeepsie for much of anything. Almost everyone at Vassar is absolutely, head-over-heels in love with Vassar, which is nice because it means the people are content and therefore also nice. There are a few, however, who lament what we call the “Vassar Bubble,” meaning that our campus is too small and sheltered and there are not enough “real-world” experiences to be had. That is probably the most frequent complaint from students.