chances . . .

landisnear · 06-21-2007, 06:19 PM

Hey everybody,
I just wanted to know what my chances at Bard are (I'm applying EA btw). Here are my stats:

ACT: 27 (I didn't study)
SAT: I'll be taking them in October
GPA: 3.8 unweighted, 4.1 weighted
Class rank: top 25%

My (important) senior classes:
AP Psych
AP Calc
AP Physics
AP Lit
Advanced Photography
French IV

Other AP's I've taken:
AP Environmental
AP English Language

EC's:
2006 local film festival nominee
2007 local film festival winner
president of vegetarian club
head of film lit club
french tutor
volunteered at elementary school (freshman year)
lit mag
organized charity event at highschool

I don't have very many EC's that have taken place at my school just because I live far away from it and I don't own a car, so it's hard to travel to and from school. I try to do things outside of school, photography wise, so maybe that will help??
My other schools are University of Oregon and Ithaca, maybe Hampshire, which are all safties or matches probably.

Thanks!

MLEVINE07 · 06-22-2007, 06:49 PM

Class rank may hurt...what kind of courseload have you been taking? Why so low?

landisnear · 06-23-2007, 01:51 AM

Well, I'm not exactly sure what my class rank is right now, but I just put up top 25% just to be safe. I go to a pretty competitive school so I just estimated. It might be better than top 25%. I've taken a somewhat normal courseload until my junior and senior years. I have taken "accelerated" math classes, but they aren't AP so I didn't put them up there.

landisnear · 06-25-2007, 07:49 PM

anybody else???

Dennis173 · 06-26-2007, 10:42 PM

Post this in the college admissions area , b/c as you can see little of us have great intrest in attending Bard.

mythmom · 06-28-2007, 11:28 PM

Bard does not require standardized testing. GPA is fine. Submit films along with application. Hampshire is less selective. Look at Sarah Lawrence and Bennington, too.

landisnear · 06-29-2007, 12:55 AM

Would they even look at my films, I mean, would they have the time? I definately will now though. I've been looking into Bennington; I like what I see so far. Thanks for the help.

educated · 06-29-2007, 02:20 PM

I know that both Hampshire and Bennington would look at your films. They make a big point of asking for that kind of material if you have it.

Dennis173 · 06-29-2007, 09:50 PM

I am sure that if you send you films to Bard they will view them. Remember Bard isnt all about GPA and SAT they want to see that you are truly involved in your passions, so of course they will take major interest in your films.

Proud Dad · 07-14-2007, 04:47 PM

Showing Bard that you have a passion for a specific extracurricular is what will get you in. My daughter sent enough material to support her art, theater, and vocal interests and that seemed to be the ticket. They'll want recommendations from a math or science teacher as well as one from the humanities. They're not looking for padded resumes fluffed with vapid ECs, or even top class rank or GPA. Your courses and GPA look well within their parameters. 1300 or better on SATs will put you in range. Bard wants students with a thirst for knowledge and a demonstrated interest in something beyond high-school academics. Mostly they (President Botstein) understand that the last two years of high school are a joke. They don't disrespect you for trying, or doing well, but they know the way it's taught doesn't fit with many intelligent students and they're looking for something more that shows you to be a real person with more mature interests. It sounds like it may be a good fit for you. My daughter just got her dorm assignment for this fall and is excited about going. Good luck. EA is a great way to apply. I have another daughter, a National Merit winner, who transferred to Sarah Lawrence from one of the top 25 schools and loves it there. Either school can be a great fit for the right student. Check them out and see for yourself if you can. You'll likely fall in love with one.

landisnear · 07-14-2007, 07:03 PM

cool thanks. yeah i've read the other "chances" posts from before in this forum, and i really felt like i wouldn't be as competitive as other candidates, which i am not, but hopefully, through my love of photography and film, that will be what sets me apart from other applicants.

there's one part in the application, the "what awards or academic honors have you attained" part: what counts as an award or an honor? i've never been apart of any science/math related competitions, so will that hurt?

mythmom · 07-14-2007, 07:34 PM

No. Bard in particul,ar should be interested in your photography? Do you know work of other photographers? I can think of wonderful essays about how the person looking through the lens changes the picture taken.

landisnear · 07-14-2007, 08:52 PM

awesome...i think i might take that from you, if it's alright. or maybe there are some variations of that i might be able to work from, like how does the PICTURE change the PERSON. yeah, i have some favorite photographers that i really admire, and what's even more admirable is that many of them never had a formal photography education.

also (i have so many questions!) do you think that my location would hurt my application at all?? because i've heard that bard doesn't really do much to accomodate people from outside of NY in terms of like visiting and stuff like that. i'm from Portland, OR, and i don't have much money to go visit anytime soon. i was just wondering if they tend to accept people from the east coast more than those from the west.

Proud Dad · 07-14-2007, 11:02 PM

Bard likes geographic diversity and that would probably work to your advantage, too, as most are from the east coast if not the NY area. As for awards, you've got your films. The awards and honors can be in ECs, too, not just academics. Do an inventory of your last three years and see what sounds like an honor or award, even if it's academic honor roll. Just be honest, but list everything.

Bard is not very accommodating for visitors no matter where they're from, and most places to stay aren't very close by. Sorry. On the www.bard.edu site look under admissions for the link to "bard on the road". That will update to show Bard visits to your area and give you an email contact for the admissions person assigned to your area. Drop them a line and you'll be surprised how helpful they can be.

landisnear · 07-14-2007, 11:54 PM

thanks so much, you guys are all so wonderful to me!! i'll try each and every one of your suggestions, and i'll let you know how it goes mid-december!