Bard College Top Questions

I love the Political Studies department, and most of my friends have similarly positiva academic experiences. The people are great, too, but I have no reason to think they're worse other places. There's about 1800 people now. When I applied in 2005, it was more like 1400. Still growing. When I mention Bard to other people, they either haven't heard of it or (especially recently) are impressed. Our renown is still sort of building. I can't say there are any real hot spots of social activity--usually when I hang out with people it's in the dining hall or someone's dorm. There is no town of Annandale-on-Hudson. We. Are. Out. In. The. Middle. Of. The. Woods. There are some towns within a few miles, but I'm not crazy about any of them. New York City is two hours away one you get on the train (And the train station's not within walking distance), so keep that in mind. A lot of the lower-level people in the administration, but they can also be heavy-handed about "making sure you're OK"--i.e. breaking up parties and forcing people who show signs of depression to take semesters/years off (no refund). It's past time for Leon Botstein and most of the other high-level people to move on. There was some controversy last spring about the budget for student clubs, which leaders of some groups for students of color were dissatisfied with. The budgeting process has since been changed. There is no school spirit. If you are an athlete, be prepared to play before crowds of as few as five. I don't think Bard is nearly as unusual as it's made out to be. It has its quirks, but so does every other school. Students complain a lot about the food (expensive, inflexible meal plan) and housing (old, ill-maitained dorms and no real theme housing).

too small students are not interested in studying

Bard is about doing what you want. If this means you want to study really hard and learn alot then that is what you will do. If you want to use the resources at Bard to raise money for orphans, then that is how you can spend your time. Most Bard students try to do multiple things, including music, sports, academics and social projects. Bard allows students to take control of their education. They get out exactly what they put in.(Please pardon the cliche it happens to apply).

What’s difficult about being a first year student is jumping into the white-water rapids of Bard. A lot of the requirements for particular majors are so involved you almost need to know exactly where you're going as soon as you get there. No room for idling around means more motivated and passionate students, however. A quirky event at Bard that I feel portrays the attitude of the institution well is class registration. A mass of people swamps the mailroom to get their registration card then take off to various classrooms around campus to be the first in line for a popular class, or to make sure you get all the classes you want before they're filled up. All while this is happening, we're meeting new people in the swarm of people and bursting into a few songs to lighten the mood. Bard's a great place.

The best thing about Bard is it's intellectual stimulation, both in and outside of class. The professors are some of the best here. I'd change paying for laundry, making the shuttles run more frequently, making the food better, and put a study space on north campus. Bard's size is just right. People think I'm some free-wheeling liberal druggie hippie when I tell them I go to Bard. Even though I'm really not. I spend most of my time on campus, either in the library, the theatre building, the campus center, or my dorm. The surrounding towns close at like 7pm, but they're cute and fun and have what you need. The administration is fairly good, but there are some people who I don't think really do much of anything. They need better budget people. The most recent controversy on campus was when someone wrote anti-Semitic and homophobic remarks outside the dining hall, which offended the majority of the school. There's really not much school pride as far as sporting events go. I love the waterfalls on campus! I know that sounds really random, but just bear with me.

There are three BEST THINGS about Bard: 1. The professors are incredible. Sure, many of them are relatively famous, but I've found that names and prestige don't always matter. I have a wonderful relationship with my academic adviser and the Dean of the college. I can drop into either one of their offices just to hang out for ten minutes and chat before my next class, and they're always there to help and support me. The largest class I've ever been in had 40 students in it. That kind of ratio is just wonderful -- professors know your name, you always have the chance to participate in class or ask questions, and you don't have to take classes with TAs. I know I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for the personalized attention I have received. 2. The campus is absolutely gorgeous. We've got a huge tract of land right on the Tivoli Bays and the Hudson River. Our campus extends right to the edge of the water. Just earlier today, now that the weather's nice, I decided to take the short walk from my dorm down to the water's edge, sit and do my homework. There are trails all over the woods you can hike, complete with cool ruins and old buildings. I love this place. 3. The people will never bore you. Bard is full of a lot of people with great enthusiasm for both fun and learning. It's not uncommon to walk through Kline (our dining hall) and hear people having debates about material they've been learning in class. It's just as common to have one of these said debates with someone while you're both wasted at a party on a Saturday night. I've found that most Bard students are very intelligent and free-thinking, but have some characteristic that makes them far less mainstream than any of the people I went to high school with. I can guarantee that you will have to work hard to find someone who bores you on this campus. When I tell people I go to Bard, they either say "Oh, Bard. Yeah. Um. Where's that?" or, "Oh my GOD, you go to BARD?!!?!?! That's such an amazing school! Do you know Leon Botstein? I just love the American Symphony Orchestra . . ." I spend most of my time in the following places: 1. My dorm. I live in a suite, so I sit on my couch with my suitemates doing work or playing videogames for hours every day. 2. In the woods / outside. As I mentioned previously, the campus is absolutely gorgeous. 3. Kline. Because we have only one dining hall on campus, you can "Kline it" (ie: sit in Kline all day) and see every single person you know in a space of six hours. 4. Olin Language Center. I'm taking Spanish right now, so I have class there four days a week. 5. Blum. Blum is the music building. As a viola player, sometimes I feel like I live there. Bard's administration is amusingly and sometimes frustratingly disorganized. To their credit, they're always trying to improve, and they're very approachable, even if they can't always get things done in an expedient fashion. The experience I will always remember is Spring Fling, the weekend after Senior Projects are due and the weekend before finals start for the rest of the college. It's a three-day-long celebration of beautiful weather, Bard, and friendship. A large tent is pitched in the campus center quad, people lie out on blankets, smoke pot and drink beer all day, vendors hock their thrift-store-craft-style wares, and Bard bands play 24/7. On Sunday, there are also lots of inflatable rides (so fun!).

Bard's population is quite small compared to most colleges and universities, but somehow the size feels appropriate for the campus, which is pretty big for the number of students that live there. It's hard to imagine most Bardians going to a school that is much bigger. It is common to hear a lot of complaints about the lack of things to do or places to go or the endless winters that are common for New York State. These complaints aren't necessarily justified; there are always one or two events happening somewhere or another and after attending school in the Northeast, one would be expected to get accustomed to the seasons, so dissatisfaction usually stems from a lack of personal initiative to find activities or to accept the state of things. Sports at Bard seem to exist merely for the enjoyment of those who take part in them, as audiences never seem to surpass a couple dozen and many pervasive sports are obviously lacking, such as football, baseball, and lacrosse. Above all there seems to be some consensus that the food offered by the college is lacking in quality and preparation and it is smart to get used to cooking for yourself or heading to the two nearby towns of Red Hook and Tivoli for some better quality cuisine.

Bard has a lot to offer to the liberal arts student who is interested in music since the president, Leon Botstein has pushed the college in an increasingly musical direction by establishing a conservatory, constructing a performing arts center and putting on a music festival every summer. The student body has been expanding over the past several years creating housing shortages and swelling the once diminutive class sizes. Recently, tensions have been running high due to allegations of racism against the student government. During the budget allotment process this semester when the various student clubs received funds, the ethnic groups felt that they received less than they deserved. Their response was to hurl accusations of racism at the student planning committee responsible for the allotments. The crisis is being resolved now in talks between the administration and the student government.

Bard is a bit like an isolated utopia. This is bad in the sense that students do not always know how to directly relate thier studies to the rest of the world because they are isolated form resources one would find in the city. However, the environment is beautiful and relaxing and therefore conducive to self-exploration. Bard does not run in a very democratic way.There needs to be more open dialogue in decision making processes between staff and students. Our president, Botstein, has the final say for most policy designations and his opinion rules out over the objections of staff and students. He acts as a benevolent patrilineal figure who knows what's right for his children even if they disagree with his policies. For all the ideals of liberalism he promotes, he does not operate democratically.

bard is a small liberal arts school