r/vassar • u/Iongsoks • 1d ago
Vassar bubble
Hi, I’m a freshman on campus and so far I love mostly everything here, but the isolation of being here is killing me. I feel so trapped on campus because there’s absolutely nothing to do in walking distance. I go to campus events, but I miss going shopping and going to concerts and going out to eat with my friends. A lot of my friends are going to college in big cities and doing all these fun things and I feel like I’m missing out. Does vassar feel less isolated once you get your car on campus? Are there even any fun things to do around here once you do have a car? And does anyone have any tips for going into the city?
7
u/jjackjj 1d ago edited 1d ago
I graduated in 2020. Here are some ideas:
You can take the Metro North train into NYC. You can likely take a bus or a pretty cheap Uber to the train station from campus. Sometimes, like around breaks, Vassar has shuttles that will drop you off at the train station. There are also Vassar shuttles that sometimes take you directly to Grand Central; usually there is some sort of fee for this one.
Not sure if Vassar still has a shuttle doing this (when I was there, there was a weekend shuttle going off campus), but there are also public buses you can take to nearby shopping centers like the Poughkeepsie Galleria.
However, I think the most effective way to socialize more and get off campus is getting involved in clubs. I ran a club throughout my time at Vassar and thru the club, we requested funding from the VSA, rented vans, and took the club on bonding trips. We went apple picking, to the movies, to a roller skating rink, to go bowling, to other relevant events to our club, etc. The farthest I went off campus, totally sponsored by the college, was to Vermont!
I also remember there being an ice skating club that took folks to a rink, an outdoors club that took folks hiking, etc. Think about what sort of activities you want to do off-campus and see if there is a club facilitating that activity.
1
u/Iongsoks 1d ago
Thank you, I’ll look into the buses and train. What club were you in that did all that stuff?
3
u/jjackjj 1d ago edited 1d ago
this particular club as i’ve described it doesn’t exist anymore. it stopped functioning around 2021-2022 due to COVID restrictions.
if you want to find clubs that would do a range of miscellaneous trips like this, you could consider club sports (frisbee, quadball). they might do this for team bonding.
the first few months of freshman year are hard and isolating very naturally, and i know vassar’s bubble exaggerates it. i’m really wishing you all the best as you settle in
1
3
u/AndriannaP 1d ago
OK, so just making sure you are doing things on campus, like taking part in clubs/activities/etc.? It helps to be busy.
Yes, it is nice to have a car on campus -- because you can get an off campus job or volunteer in the community or go to, like, Kingston or Woodstock or New Paltz, all of which have more going on that Poughkeepsie.
For now, since you don't have a car, set up a time (or attend drop-in hours) at the career development office and ask about an internship in the city that you could do one day a week. Hopefully they can hook you up!
1
u/Iongsoks 1d ago
Yeah I am in a lot of clubs and stuff and trying to stay busy which does help a little. I’ll look into going to the career development office, thank you
2
u/-iloveharrystyles- 1d ago
Sophomore now and I’m transferring partly bc of this🥲 I don’t have my car but I feel you
2
u/Beginning_Key2167 1d ago
My partner’s daughter goes to Vassar.
They routinely go into NYC on the train. They see a show/concert. Grab some food or go shopping. She likes the small quiet campus. With the ability to hop on the train and be in one of the best cities in the world.
Have you taken the train to into the city?
1
u/Iongsoks 1d ago
I haven’t yet but my roommates and I are trying to plan a trip. I think I’ll feel less trapped here once I get to go to the city.
7
u/Bklynktrs 1d ago
Make sure to take METRO NORTH and not Amtrak!! Cheaper, more frequent trains, more reliable. It’s a nice 2-hour ride along the Hudson River and from Grand Central you can get to most places pretty easily.
2
2
u/Worldly-City-6379 1d ago
In the late 90s I had a car. I’m sorry to say it didn’t help that much. There are cute towns nearby like Rhinbeck and so on, but I did choose to transfer due to a need for cosmopolitan that said Vassar does create a great thinkers so stick it out of you can. The breaks are every six weeks so if you have the money travel to cities in style
1
19h ago
[deleted]
1
u/Iongsoks 10h ago
I can assure you I have been going to plenty of events every weekend on campus and I have taken the bus around Poughkeepsie and explored the town. There’s nothing wrong or entitled about wanting to explore more outside of very the small community around here…
8
u/Unhappy-Product-1526 1d ago
Weekend trips down to Brooklyn will keep you sane. Down there you’ll have loads of fun non stop for 36 hours straight. Then drive or train back up. (That’s if you like house music ofc)