Vassar College

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Hallmarks and Quirks

Things I'm Good At:

Financial aid. It leaves many of my peer institutions in the dust. Over 60% of my students are awarded financial aid, which is unbelievable. (Until you do the math and realize that around 40% pay the full-price for this education. Mind = blown.)
Trees. I'm a designated arboretum and no, I won't stop bringing it up.
Quidditch. It's a lot of pressure, honestly. Possessing such a perfect mascot as to make the name "Butterbeer Brewers" possible (I know—it is actual magic) draws a lot of eyes.
Protests. I'm as socially active as they come. My students strive to question and re-question various social issues, and they don't shy away from demanding that society/our administration/students are held accountable for remaining complacent in a failing and harmful system. Phew.

My Top 5 Must-Haves:

Snow boots. Each year seems snowier than the last, and with 1,000 acres to cover in between classes, those Doc Martens just aren't going to cut it.
Camera. I cannot stress this enough: I'm pretty. I'm really, really pretty.
Break plans. Oh, did I forget to mention that October Break lasts for a week, Winter Break is typically over a month, and Spring Break spans two weeks? Time to organize a road trip to the Ben & Jerry's factory in Vermont. Dreams really do come true.
Mattress pad. Let's not mince words: you won't be sleeping on a Tempur-Pedic. My mattresses tend to be on the "firm as a wooden board" side, so I'd recommend investing in this small but magnificent thing.
Acceptance and love. My campus strives to be inclusive and to create an accepting and nurturing space for all. In fact, I'm proud to say that I'm often referred to as one of the most LGBTQ-friendly colleges in the country.

Why You Might Have Heard of Me:

Co-ed Bathrooms. I am always bombarded with questions about this—like, is it so strange to have students of the opposite sex brush their teeth together? I think not. (Honestly, it's difficult to remember that separate men's and women's restrooms are a thing outside of the Vassar Bubble.)
Meryl Streep is our unofficial mascot. She's also on our Board of Trustees, so we catch a glimpse of her every so often when she visits. This year, celebrity sightings have included Stephen Colbert, Liam Neeson, and Ethan Hawke (to name a few), but nothing incites pandemonium quite like getting a visit from this golden-headed goddess.
Quidditch. Yes, Mom and Dad, students really do run around and chase each other on broomsticks. No, I'm not "making it up." Sheesh.
"Oh, you go to that women's college, right?" Yes—er, no. It's complicated.
Thompson Memorial Library. Look it up. Right now. Stunning, am I right?

On a regular Saturday night, you can find me...

I'm likely enjoying a night of music and laughter with my friends. Weekends are filled with performances. I can begin my evening by watching the Vassar Devils make beautiful music, follow that up with an hour of brilliant stand-up comedy courtesy of Indecent Exposure (my all-female comedy group on campus), and finally grab a bite to eat at Pizzeria Bacio across the street.

Of course, I'll also have to make an appearance at any one of the plethora of after-parties going on in the Townhouses and Town Apartments.

After a really hectic week of writing my women's studies paper and studying for my upcoming astronomy exam, I might just lose all sense and reason and meander down into the dark depths of Main Building to let loose in The Mug (our underground student-run "night club").

Favorite Hangouts:

The Retreat. When I've had enough dining hall food to last me a semester, the Retreat (with its homemade soups, coffee, pizza, and Chili Wednesdays) offers some nice respite.
UpC (the top floor of the dining hall, ACDC). This is a hot hangout spot for when I'm in the mood for delicious smoothies, vegan cookies, late-night ping pong matches, and other forms of general debauchery.
The grassy lawn of the Quad. This open space between five dorms (Jewett, Lathrop, Strong, Davison, and Raymond) fills up with sunbathing, Frisbee-throwing, guitar-strumming, and juggling students when it's warm out.
The Mug. I've said it once, and I'll say it again: it's dark, it's crazy, and sometimes—just sometimes—it's the perfect way to end a night. Attending "Middle School Mug Night" is practically a rite of passage here.

Quirks:

Football…or lack thereof. I own a popular t-shirt that reads: "Vassar football, undefeated since 1861." I was founded in 1861. I'm proud, okay?
No Greek system. If you're looking forward to becoming a "little" and eating a goldfish to prove your loyalty to a fraternity/sorority, I might not be your perfect match.
Unique rituals. I believe in punctuating important events. Sometimes, this means screaming at the top of my lungs for a full minute to mark the beginning of Finals Week. Other times, streaking is maybe involved. Hey, I said "maybe."
I've been protested by the Westboro Baptist Church. I mmean, do you need more evidence that I'm doing something right?

Famous Alumni:

Meryl Streep. She is everything and more.
Lisa Kudrow. That's right, this talented actress and "Smelly Cat" songstress went here.
Elizabeth Bishop, an incredibly talented poet and short-story writer, Poet Laureate of the U.S., and Pulitzer Prize recipient
Grace Hopper, computer scientist and all-around amazing human being
Andrew Zimmern. He's a chef and television personality. It's hard to believe he once ate the mystery meatloaf served by the Deece (campus dining hall).
Sua Lan Wu, a particle physicist who was on the team that discovered a boson containing the predicted characters of Higgs boson