In the late 19th century, when Vassar was a small, recently

Question

In the late 19th century,  when Vassar was a small, recently founded women ’ s college, founding professor and astronomer Maria Mitchell taught as many Astronomy majors in a given year as there are today, when  Vassar is a much larger, coeducational college.

A) when Vassar was a small, recently founded women ’ s college, founding professor and astronomer Maria Mitchell taught as many Astronomy majors in a given year as there are there today, when
B) when Vassar was a small, recently founded women ’ s college, in a given year, founding professor and astronomer Maria Mitchell taught just as many Astronomy majors as there are in a given year today, when
C) while Vassar was a small, recently founded women ’ s college, founding professor and astronomer Maria Mitchell taught a number of Astronomy majors in a given year such as there are today, when
D) while Vassar was a small, recently founded women ’ s college, founding professor and astronomer Maria Mitchell taught such a number of Astronomy majors in a given year as are there today, whereas
E) when Vassar was a small, recently founded women ’ s college, founding professor and astronomer Maria Mitchell taught a number of Astronomy majors just as large in a given year as the number that is there today, while

OA:  A

I don't like the second "when" for some reason. I don't dispute the answer, but why is the present (today) referred to "when" and not "while" (which implies concurrence)?

serbiano · Answer

This question was already debated:

sc-vassar-college-20473.html?highlight=when+Vassar+was+a+small

In regards to when and while... Think about it - you are given a specific time - late 19th century. So you should use when.

DestinyChild · Answer

A
goes for concision and in keeping as many as correct...!

In the late 19th century, when Vassar was a small, recently

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