Vassar College Top Questions

My classmates are very liberal, intelligent, academic, and diverse group of people, with many experiences, interests, and goals.

Many students are politically active (liberal), but you don't have to be. I was a member of the Vassar Dems my first year, but discovered it wasn't really for me. We have so many clubs (more than 100), so if you are a club person, there is probably one for you (or you can start your own club). I would say most people feel at home at Vassar (probably not far right people or people who are super religious- this is probably not the right school for you). However, there are always concerns about a lack of diversity, racially and ethnically. But for the most part, Vassar is an accepting place, especially for the LGBT community.

There is a plethora of groups available at Vassar. You will find a spot.

VERY WHITE AND NORTHEASTERN. There is some diversity, but not as much as we'd like to see. Republicans might feel out of place. You can wear anything you want--mix and match crazy colors, wear pajamas. Anything goes.

For the most part, the Vassar community is a great place for diversity and tolerance. All the groups interact really well, and I've never heard of any big cliques within the school. People have their friend groups, but there's not the emphasis on specific groups. Students mostly wear whatever they think is comfortable. The hipster style runs rampant at Vassar (even though it's not the only kind of style). I've also seen people wear sweat pants to class. It just depends. Most students are left, however.

Liberal to the point of being dogmatic. Don't do Republican here---they'll find your head on a stake in the quad. Seriously.

Mostly white. Lots of gays. Mostly rich. Some pretentious. Compared to other schools, there are a LOT of hipsters. on the other hand, there are lots of "mainstream" kids, who mostly get along well with the more artsy kids. if you hate people who listen to indie music, vassar is not your school.

One complaint I do have about Vassar is that the racial and socio-economic diversity is not as high as many believe. Students tend to be artsy and bohemian and do not care much about what others think of them. People dress very diversely, but a preppy student would feel the most out of place. Most students are politically active and very liberal.

It is difficult to describe a typical Vassar student, which isn't to say that we don't have a lot in common. The majority of students are from a very comfortable financial background, and there are certainly some who are filthy rich. But there are also plenty of students who are in neither of those situations. Vassar is definitely very open in terms of sexual orientation. I think that in general people feel pretty comfortable here expressing their sexuality. Someone who was very conservative in this regard would probably not feel comfortable here, and we probably wouldn't feel very comfortable with them. In terms of what people wear to class, pretty much anything goes. Sweatpants are not noteworthy in any way, and neither is a well-put together outfit. There are definitely different types of students, they aren't totally integrated, but I guess thats what makes them differnt types of students. It is hardly as though people don't interact with people who don't dress the way they do.

We have a very very strongly liberal campus. I'd say that the most out of place person on campus would be someone who is strongly conservative, not to say that they wouldn't be completely accepted...they would just be in the vast minority. We also have a large and very visible LGBT community. We have lots of events on campus every year to promote awareness of that community. A lot of kids on campus are affluent, but we have such a good financial aid program that no one should feel that they can't afford Vassar.

During my time at Vassar, I have noticed that the campus is relatively diverse.. as these types of small liberal arts colleges go. All students interact, though as with most places, schools, workplaces, etc., students of similar races tend to befriend each other. As for the political demographics, the majority of the student body leans toward the left, however, there is a group on campus dedicated to non-liberal students.

We had to have a "Keep Vassar Weird" day two years back to try and convince the admissions department that we all came to Vassar to get away from the Preppy Jock culture. ... it didn't really work... 4 tables: Drama hipsters, A sports team, international students, quiet/shy alternative (?)

The Vassar student body is very diverse. There are many people from different backgrounds and ethnicity. Students definitely interact with each other especially since our dorms are not divided by class year. There is a large population of LGBT, so people feel very comfortable expressing who they are and what they feel. Being a girl in such environment is sometimes difficult since most males are gay, but it's a great way to learn from different people. Politics at Vassar: Very Liberal.

This is a diverse campus. All kinds of students interact. Everyone gets along. No one judges.

Students here are generally laid back, casual, and candid. Most backgrounds and viewpoints can tend to be homogeneous, for better or worse. Students with very conservative viewpoints would tend to feel out of place at Vassar. Conversation among students rarely focuses on making money out of college, but does often center on life goals, and how students will apply their academic passions after graduation. Students are very active in social and political movements and demonstrations. Generally, you can find at least one "political" table in the college center on any given day.

Great people. I found that Vassar's commitment to diversity isn't quite as serious as is published, but then, I went to a very diverse high school, and I don't think there are many colleges that could have matched my high school in diversity. I did find a huge commitment to gay and women's rights, and a campus where anyone and everyone from whatever background could feel comfortable.

Two things shocked me about Vassar's student body: the number of LGBT and rich kids. I have never been around gay people before, so I was a little surprised to see so many at Vassar acting in such an open manner about there sexual orientation. However, after a while, I got used to it and began to embrace and appreciate their attitude. Vassar would definitely not be the same without the LGBT community. Some of the richest kids in the world go to Vassar. None of them really brag about it, but it shows in what they wear, what they drive, and what they talk about. Everyone dresses up at Vassar. I wold feel uncomfortable wearing sweat pants to class or the dining hall.

Vassar has a groups on campus for everyone, covering different religions, races, sexual orientations, political leanings, whatever. When students talk about how much they will earn one day it is usually to say jokingly that they will be living on a box in the street with a double major in art history and classics from Vassar. There are no fraternities or sororities, though certain groups definitively hang out together- the hipsters, some sports teams, etc.

somewhat economically, racially diverse. very sexually diverse. big hipster clique.

There people of all types at Vassar, but it is not racially diverse despite what people are told. Almost everyone is white.