Academic Life at Vassar College
Founded in 1861 as a women’s college, Vassar College is a private liberal arts college with an acceptance rate of 23.7%. Vassar is one of the top tier coeducational institutions with an impressive 8-to-1 student/faculty ratio and an average class size of 17 with about 67% of its classes having fewer than 20 students
The college is located about 75 miles from New York City in Poughkeepsie, New York. The college’s campus includes over 100 buildings, picturesque gardens, and a farm.
Popular majors at Vassar College include: Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Social Sciences, Visual and Performing Arts; Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics; and Psychology. Student satisfaction rate is impressive at 96%.
Vassar College Majors
Major | Bachelor’s |
---|---|
Research and Experimental Psychology, Other | 48 |
Economics, General | 48 |
Biology & Biological Sciences, General | 46 |
Political Science and Government, General | 40 |
Neuroscience | 30 |
Computer and Information Sciences, General | 29 |
English Language and Literature, General | 27 |
Mathematics, General | 26 |
Drama and Dramatics & Theatre Arts, General | 22 |
Film & Cinema & Video Studies | 20 |
Mass Communication & Media Studies | 20 |
History, General | 19 |
Science, Technology and Society | 19 |
Urban Studies & Affairs | 18 |
Art & Art Studies, General | 18 |
Sociology | 17 |
Biochemistry | 16 |
International Relations and Affairs | 16 |
Cognitive Science | 15 |
Chemistry, General | 14 |
Philosophy | 13 |
Physics, General | 12 |
Music, General | 11 |
Environmental Studies | 11 |
Anthropology | 7 |
Spanish Language and Literature | 6 |
Education, General | 6 |
African Studies | 5 |
Italian Language and Literature | 5 |
American & United States Studies & Civilization | 4 |
Women’s Studies | 4 |
Chinese Language and Literature | 4 |
Astronomy | 4 |
Religion & Religious Studies | 3 |
Asian Studies & Civilization | 3 |
Ancient Studies & Civilization | 3 |
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other | 3 |
Latin American Studies | 2 |
German Language and Literature | 2 |
Social Sciences, Other | 2 |
Japanese Language and Literature | 2 |
French Language and Literature | 2 |
Geography | 1 |
Multi- & Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 1 |
Jewish & Judaic Studies | 1 |
Geology & Earth Science, General | 1 |
Medieval and Renaissance Studies | 1 |
Grand Total | 627 |
The College is known for its strong sense of community, which is apparent in and out of the classroom. The idea upon which the college draws its strengths from is “it’s all about being unique and letting your quirky characteristics shine.” One of the students had said “We’re asked to critically think about the world we live in and how our privilege plays into these systems. This is the main reason why everyone here is excited to be with each other, which creates this school spirit that isn’t necessarily based on sports.”
Read Also: Carnegie Mellon University Acceptance Rate In 2021
Acceptance Rate
During the admissions cycle Fall 2019, Vassar College had an acceptance rate of 23.7% in Fall 2019, and a total undergraduate enrollment of 33%. Meaning out of every 100 students who applied, 23 students were admitted, making Vassar’s admissions process highly competitive and selective.
Admissions Statistics (2019) | |
Number of Applicants | 8,961 |
Percent Admitted | 23.7% |
Percent Admitted Who Enrolled (Yield) | 33% |
The school’s setting is suburban, and has a campus size of 1,000 acres.
Vassar College runs a semester-based academic calendar. Vassar College’s ranks #13 in the 2021 edition of Best Colleges is National Liberal Arts. And the college’s tuition and fees stand at $60,930.
SAT Scores and Requirements
Vassar College requires that all candidates applying to the institution should have SAT or ACT scores. For instance, in the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 69% of admitted students submitted SAT scores. 40% of admitted students also submitted ACT scores. Therefore, applicants’ chances can only be increased if they also submit SAT or ACT scores.
SAT Range (Admitted Students) | ||
Section | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
ERW | 680 | 750 |
Math | 690 | 780 |
Based on recent studies, the college SAT scores of the admitted students lie in the range of 1370-1520. While the ACT score admitted students lie in the range of 31-34.
ACT Range (Admitted Students) | ||
Section | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
English | 32 | 34 |
Math | 28 | 33 |
Composite | 31 | 34 |
Vassar College’s admissions deadline is January 1, 2020 and understand that the SAT scores are mandatory for them to be considered for admission by the university. The average SAT score of students who get into college is 1445. But, that does not mean that those with SAT scores of 1370 or below won’t be accepted in some cases. But note that about 69% of the applicants who were admitted into the college submitted their SAT scores in order to be considered for admission by the university.
The institution follows a simple application process that includes a total of 4 steps, which are as follows:
First, a candidate is required to apply to the college as part of the admission procedure at Vassar College.
The second process is where the VC accepts applications. Applicants must have submitted their form and deposited the enrollment fee, they would be required to submit certain documents to receive an admission decision. An applicant must submits the following documents at this stage:
- Essay writing – a personal statement, the essay submitted by an applicant offers them a unique way to showcase their achievements and personality. This must also include personal experiences as well as anecdotes.
- Transcripts – submitting the necessary high-school and college transcripts is an important part of the evaluation process. An applicant can use Parchment (or similar platforms) to submit the same.
- Official Test Scores – by submitting SAT or ACT scores, a candidate can make a stronger claim for securing a seat at Vassar College. This is not a mandatory requirement but once the college finishes with applications, additional documents or information might be requested.
The third step is the financial Check-In of housing. It involves reviewing and verifying the summary of Accounts and Financial assistance, choosing a lodging option, selecting a payment plan, and making the first payment, too. Applicants are also required to complete the Math and English assessments, before proceeding to register for classes.
The last step includes registration for classes where candidates have to register for courses once all the processes mentioned above are completed.