College Road Trip Day 5: Vassar & Princeton Visit: Vassar College, (Poughkeepsie, NY)
Presentation by Director of Admissions (Photos here)

• 2,500 undergrads
• Faculty advisor until you declare a major
• 34 units to grad
• 11 units needed for a major (declare in soph yr)
• 1000 classes to choose from
• Psych, English, PolSci, Bio, Econ top majors
• Dbl major or maj/min
• 52 majors - many are multidisciplinary
• Small classes avg is 17. Major undergrad courses avg 21
• Only 6 classes have 50 students
• Registrar helps keep seats available for popular classes
• 9:1 student faculty ratio
• No course or distribution requirements
• 70% of Faculty live on campus
• 14 families in dorms
• Research opportunities - research required of faculty means undergrads are needed
• Study away (45%) most Intl
• 1 semester away is typical Jr yr.
• 3.0 gpa for study away
• Language requirement & Study away must align with maj/min
• Internships are available within 5 mil of campus
• 60% of students participate
• 8 hrs/wk minimum. Paper/journal required (this is a class)
• Transportation available for students
• 10% of internships in NYC (train 1-1/2 hrs)
• Residential campus 98% 4 yrs
• All grades are in all dorms
• No Greek or Affinity housing
• 1 of 9 single gender dorm
• Campus apts for Sr class
• 20% students are on varsity sports
• 1500 events/yr.
• 40 plays / 6-8 theatre plays/ 10 acapella groups / 2 Dance groups / 3 art studios
• All audition based performances
• 120 student groups
• 7800 apps/650 spots
• 23% admit rate
• Priority given to Early Dec (35%)
• HS transcript grades/class load/subj balance
• ACT/writing
• SAT & 2 suj test
• AP 4-5 given class credit
• What do you have that we want?
• Quality of your extracurricular
• Talent/passion/commitment
• Quantify your ability
• Teacher reco- what makes u a good student?
• Essay. Tell us about you we won't learn from other sources.
• Your Space. A little extra about you.
• Interview not needed. Alumni conversation helps you.
• 20 min to read your file, then discussed by all 10 admission advisors
• FinAid need based
• No scholarships based on ability
• 62% aid avg $39k
• Family income under 60k - no loans
  

Tour Notes:

• Library closes 1:30 wk 10:30 wknd
• Alum: Jane Fonda, Meryl Streep, Lisa Kudrow
• Typical student goes to NYC 1-2/term for entertainment
• Fellow Group frosh yr. One upperclassman included to help navigate VC
• House fellow (faculty) for your dorm
  
• All buildings are locked. Student ID allows access to all dorms and your major bldg
• Parlor and comfy rooms in each dorm
• Laundry & kitchen in each dorm
• Bed desk dresser wardrobe provided
• Doubles typical for Fr/So.
• Jr/Sr guaranteed singles
• 1-2 baths per floor
• ACDC variety of foods (vegan/kosher etc) Meal plan per meal or declining points.\

Visit: Princeton University, (Princeton, NJ)
No formal visit. (Photos here)
It was a 20 mile detour to see Princeton. We've seen Harvard and Yale, why not Princeton too? Another fantastic college setting. The buildings are large and architecturally interesting. We caught the last part of a tour, and while many of the things said were the same as other tours, it was the final wrap up that was interesting. Princeton has all alumni visit for graduation. They have a P-rade, starting with the oldest alums, and ending with the next graduating class. There is a really powerful bond between Princeton alums - not to say other schools don't have it, but the annual gathering makes for greater intergenerational connections and opportunities.

Trip Log
Location: (Fishkill, NY)
Departure Time: 10:20 AM
Destination: Vassar College
Mileage: 350
Breakfast: Quality Inn (Fishkill, NY)
Lunch: Vassar Snack Shop (Poughkeepsie, NY)
Dinner: Michael's (DE)
Lodging: Marriott Washington Wardman Park (Washington D.C.)

Labels: college

  ¶ 9:30 PM