With this being my 150th review, and 2011 being Vassar's sesquicentennial year, I thought it would be fitting to dedicate this "milestone" review to my alma mater. Unfortunately, I don't really know what to write. I spent four incredible years here, during which I...
...was an English and Psychology double major who also almost finished the Classics/Latin major (a thesis and two classes short, lame!)
... attended small classes on a variety of subjects with professors who were available, friendly, and open-minded, and classmates who provided thought-provoking, mature, and sometimes out-of-left-field bizarre conversation. My smallest (and most terrifying) class was a Latin translation class with two other students. I got to take a seminar specifically on personality disorders and their placement in the upcoming DSM-V. And a half-credit, for-non-majors course on relativity that only required me to listen to a professor with the coolest name ever -- Morton Tavel.
...made the best friends ever, with both students and professors. I love that I am still in touch with so many of my classmates, I love that I am still welcome back, and I love that I have been on a first name basis with my advisors for years now.
...didn't have to take math or science. Aside from major requirements, Vassar only has three core curricula requirements: one semester of foreign language (which you can test out of/sub out with AP scores), one semester of "quantitative analysis" (which I took Intro to Psych to satisfy), and one freshman writing course (which "teach" you how to write/are available in almost every department).
...had the weirdest/coolest/nerdiest job ever (Campus Patrol) that let me make mad cash. (My roommate told me that my review of Vassar should just be "the best part of Vassar was Campus Patrol so make sure you join it when you get there.)
...got to study in (and work for a summer at) the most beautiful library ever.
...did what I wanted, when I wanted, where I wanted. Ok that's not entirely true, but the school has tons and tons of organizations, teams (Division III and intramural), events, speakers, campus wide parties, plays, etc. There was always something to do. Sometimes there was too much to do.
...ate a lot of good food. Campus dining wasn't too shabby, surprisingly, while I attended. Senior year I got to make food in my sweet on-campus apartment. And there was always a bunch of off-campus dining options (at least one of each: Chinese, Japanese, Mexican, soul food, Vietnamese, Indian, Middle Eastern, diner, etc.), many of which took V-Cash (money accessible through your V-Card, which is not just for virginity anymore!)
...lived in great rooms. Seriously, I had the biggest and awesomest dorm rooms ever at Vassar. My freshman room was narrow but long (8-by-24) and split by myself and one roommate. My sophomore year I shared a suite with two other girls. That was my smallest room (and weirdest... my room didn't have a window to the outside, just a window to the hall) but the common area more than made up for it. My junior year was spent in a single that was nearly as large as my freshman room (9-by-19 or 20), but it was all for me (obviously, being a single and all). (Seriously I had all of these things in that room: college provided desk, dresser & bed, along with a couch, an armchair, two bookcases, a coffeetable, a fridge, and another set of storage shelves). And then senior year was spent in an old Terrace Apartment, one of three on-campus apartment-style housing options available to the senior class.
...visited NYC occasionally, as it was an hour and a half or so away by Metro North.
...honestly had the best time of my life. If you're a prospective student and want to talk more about the school, feel free to message me on Yelp, I will absolutely respond.
PS... there are free condoms and safer sex supplies all the time. read more
