Getting ready to visit Bard

Colleges & Universities Bard College
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<p>My daughter was intrigued with Bard after reading about it and viewing thier website…soooo…we are visiting on Wednesday this week.</p>

<p>Was wondering if anyone can tell me how to best be prepared for the visit, get the most from it, what do you wish you would have asked or seen at campuses you toured that you didn’t and what did you ask or see that was the most helpful?</p>

<p>I know this time of year is not the greatest to visit but hopefully there will be enough to get a first time feel of the school. It’s the only time we can go for now.</p>

<p>Anyone who attends have any tips for us?</p>

<p>She wants to study English and has a passion for art and photography.</p>

<p>What can you tell us about the student body? The school is depicted as “unconventional” with a large gay community in the books…is this true? </p>

<p>After reading through the lines of the info posted on thier website…it seems they really value a strong math student applicant…my daughter is strong academically in all subjects but Math…should we be concerned this may sway a decision?</p>

<p>I would be happy to post our impressions and info we learn when we return if anyone is interested.</p>

<p>( we are also visiting Vassar, Marist and Fordham on this trip…any info for these schools will be appreciated too…thanks!)</p>

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<p>How did your visit turn out?</p>

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<p>Bard was a fascinating and unconventional place at once.</p>

<p>Intellectualism to the point of euphoric standards in an idealistic educational goals. Philosophy of the school and what it strives for is intriguing and impressive.</p>

<p>My D was happy with the academics and the programs.</p>

<p>The layout of the campus is really different from any campus we have seen so far.</p>

<p>when we pulled up( we had entered the south entrance) we saw bumper stickers that read “friends don’t let friends vote for Bush” and other such humorous logos. And everything was woodsy and rustic. We saw some kids just hanging around in the trees and asked them where the admissions building was. Everyone had a laid back attitude and the place reminded me kind of a throwback to a commune in the 1970’s.</p>

<p>Many people looked the part of an unconventional campus and the whole place seemed like a big summer camp in the woods. Toaster dorms were interesting.</p>

<p>But do not let this fool you…thier science programs are top rate as does the rest of the programs appear to be as well. Many students are from NYC and LA. Everyone was very friendly.</p>

<p>When we left there we were all speechless and grinning both because we were not sure of what to make of it and fascinated at once.</p>

<p>My D grinned @ me when our guide pointed out the meditation garden to our right( just a few boulders in a field) and how many students grow thier own vegetables next to thier dwellings on campus. </p>

<p>Academically we were blown away…especially the writing programs…the campus, at least the South campus was …um…different. If you love the woods this is the place for you. Bard is very ecologically aware and sensitive to nature. Science programs reflect this.</p>

<p>The north campus is beautiful…old mansions overlook the Hudson River and the performing arts center is amazing…you would have to see it to believe the design.</p>

<p>If we could move Bard to an urban setting my D would be thrilled. She liked the school very much because thier interdisciplanary registration policy called “moderation” which takes place end of sophmore year offers students the opportunity to sample many courses. She is undecided although she likes writing and the humanities while also wanting to advance in her artistic endeavors( photography especially) they even give art students thier own private studio to leave work set up and come and go from whenever they want.</p>

<p>But in the end she says she prefers to live in a city. </p>

<p>Bard is intriguing and academics are excellent but you must love the woods to live there for 4 years!</p>