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Vassar College, a small, 鈥渁cademically challenging鈥� school, offers a 鈥減erfect liberal arts feel,鈥� blending intellectual rigor with a collaborative, creative spirit. Known for its multidisciplinary learning, Vassar encourages students to expand traditional academic boundaries and connect ideas across fields鈥攁 hallmark of its open curriculum. With no core requirements, students have the freedom to forge their own educational paths: 鈥淎 great opportunity for students to explore anything they want before settling into a major,鈥� attests one student. The college excels in the humanities, sciences, and arts, with particularly strong programs in Art History, English, Drama, and Biology. Students describe classes as 鈥渧ery discussion-based,鈥� and that extends to the campus, where it鈥檚 said 鈥渘o problem goes undiscussed.鈥� The 鈥渁mazing鈥� and 鈥渟uper accessible鈥� professors help to model this idea, by being 鈥渇ully engaged in the total Vassar community鈥� and 鈥渟pectacular at illuminating difficult material,鈥� as well as 鈥渨illing to meet you outside their office hours.鈥� Another distinguishing feature is that classes are taught exclusively by professors. This creates a much-appreciated mix of 鈥渉igh academics鈥� and 鈥渁 more relaxed environment.鈥�

Vassar College is characterized by many degrees of freedom, not just its open curriculum. Students describe a freedom of expression that鈥檚 鈥渁ll about being unique and letting your quirky characteristics shine.鈥� They also speak to an intellectual freedom filled with thriving 鈥渙pen-minded鈥� individuals. There鈥檚 also a degree of financial freedom, as 100 percent of demonstrated financial need is met, which leads to 鈥渨ide socioeconomic diversity鈥� on campus. These freedoms mean that 鈥測ou can definitely find at least one other student for every obscure interest you have.鈥� Whether it鈥檚 in an inclusive first-year orientation that鈥檚 鈥渁 great way for people to make friends鈥� or the ways the school fosters community and connection, the 鈥渓eft-wing, artsy, intelligent鈥� students feel genuinely supported.

Students find Vassar鈥檚 accredited arboretum campus to be 鈥渟tunning,鈥� and note that its mix of Gothic and futurist buildings starts to feel like home very quickly. The school is filled with magnificent sights, like a multifloor stained glass window in the library, but also accessible: 鈥淭he vibe of the whole school is so chill,鈥� and there鈥檚 a 鈥渧ibrant extracurricular scene.鈥� Vassar is 鈥渂ursting at the seams with orgs鈥�: intramural sports, a cappella, comedy, ice skating, ceramics, performing arts, politics, and 鈥渂asically anything else you can think of.鈥� The 鈥渃lose-knit dormitory communities鈥� and an emphasis on being 鈥渉yper-socially aware鈥� shape a student body that is 鈥渆xcited to be with each other, which creates this school spirit that isn鈥檛 necessarily based on sports.鈥� Although there is no Greek life, 鈥渢here are always parties you can go to if you want,鈥� and with New York City just a train ride away, students enjoy easy access to world-class exhibitions, performances, and nightlife. Intellectual conversations abound at all hours, and students spend 鈥渟ignificant time thinking about the state of the world and what鈥檚 going on within the campus community.鈥�

The Career Development Office at Vassar 鈥渉elps students and almumnae/i envision and realize a meaningful life鈥� after graduation. To that end, the CDO provides career and major exploration, sets up information interviews, and will even help students put together a four-year plan to maximize their college experience. Both Handshake and The Vassar Alumnifire network provide job and internship listings for summer and post-college. Typically, more than 96% of Vassar graduates report having employment, graduate school, or fellowships within six months of graduation . PayScale.com reports that the starting salary for recent grads is a median of $56,300 and that 50 percent of grads visiting their website believe their work makes the world a better place.