So who is going to Bard?

nastynate0315 · 12-21-2008, 10:53 PM

Just wondering, has anyone decided on Bard yet? If so why?

heyalb · 12-22-2008, 01:26 PM

My daughter. It's the perfect spot for her, the only college she wanted to attend, and the only college she applied to.

It's a cerebral place, with smart, passionate students, but very quirky and different. Not preppy; no frats, no rah-rah football and basketball (and associated nonsense), beautiful campus, distinguished faculty, small discussion-based classes, and of course, Leon Botstein!!

lilygraces · 12-22-2008, 10:24 PM

I'm 95% sure I'm going to go to Bard. There's nothing I don't love about the school and I tend to sit at home on the website (or perusing through the course catalogue) figuring out what courses I want to take when I go there and what my options are for study abroad based on the languages I want to take.

...I'm a loser.

nastynate0315 · 12-22-2008, 11:51 PM

No, I do the same thing! lol. However, I'm still debating between schools.

lilygraces · 12-22-2008, 11:54 PM

lol. yea, I'm applying to other schools just in case I have a freak out moment (which I'm prone to having).

Skullduggery · 12-22-2008, 11:57 PM

If I am accepted, it's probably my first choice. But you know that already. ;]

aleksa · 12-23-2008, 01:06 AM

It's such a difficult decision...
I'm interested in creative writing and journalism and I feel like the writing-intensive environment at Bard would be really beneficial to me.
I loved Bard when I visited, but have been dissuaded by parents who've been reading reports of "Reefer madness"
is it really that bad? worse than any other liberal arts school?

nastynate0315 · 12-23-2008, 01:33 AM

Idk, but I feel you because I'm interested in Journalism also. Now here is my dilemma, do I go to Bard and have an intense secluded education, or do I go to a school like Fordham or NYU in the city and get a true hands on experience? The thing is I think Bard is a much better school in comparison to my other options, but for what I want to do it may not be the best fit. I just can't decide. This is probably the hardest decision I’ll ever make, because based on location alone my experience at each of these universities would be completely unique.

lilygraces · 12-23-2008, 10:56 AM

I'm interested in creative writing as well. The way I see it, Bard is a college, you can only go there for undergrad unless you major in one of the few graduate programs they have. NYU, Fordham, [insert university here] enable you to go there after undergrad if you so choose to go to a graduate program.

Not only that, but when I spoke to Leon Botstein, he told me that I wouldn't be able to get the same experience as a creative writing major at a university as I would at a small liberal arts college that focuses on writing (e.g. Bard, Grinnell, Kenyon, etc).

Also, I don't think that the "Reefer Madness" is all THAT bad. There will be kids who don't do it (while probably the minority), and I don't think it's a big deal if you DON'T do it there.

mairoula517 · 12-29-2008, 01:02 PM

I go there now, and the "reefer madness" thing is not a big deal. I think it's probably around the same level as other liberal arts colleges, the only difference is in general the administration is not too harsh about it. THey have a very realistic attitude about it, and though they definitely don't encourage it (and people do get punished for it) they also recognize that if it's not being sold and distributed, or if it's not in a room, it's really not the worst thing ever.

ps- I love Bard. It's not for everyone, but if it works for you it's an amazing place.

zefranzter · 12-31-2008, 11:29 AM

Just a note: I thought Bard didn't have a journalism department, so that might be the deciding factor there.
But as choosing the city over a secluded area I have the same predicament.

morvoren · 01-02-2009, 08:10 PM

Speaking as a journalist who has been in the profession for many decades, I never majored in journalism in college. In fact Harvard doesn't have a journalism major either, but its Nieman fellow program for mid career journalists is the best in the world. You learn journalism by doing it; the whole point of Bard is getting a real liberal education, delving into philosophy and science and writing, etc. There are plenty of one year masters programs in journalism at Columbia and other places...if you feel you need to specialize. The city versus country choice is a different issue. Much of that depends on what you have had and what would be new. We are Manhattan people so my son is very taken with the beauty of Bard.

nastynate0315 · 01-03-2009, 01:48 AM

I suppose that is what is making me lean towards Manhattan since I live in the middle of nowhere now.

mattman13 · 03-08-2009, 05:11 PM

ive been accepted and as long as i get decent financial aid, im going.
ive been reading the catalogue almost every night haha, it's good reading.
i probably wanna go for foreign language and acting...any one else?

sophiegoesto · 03-18-2009, 01:06 AM

I haven't heard yet i'm so scaaaaaaaaared! what i'm scared of most about going to bard: that everyone will be exactly like me, which i will not be able to stand!