Accepted to Berlin campus?

Hello,

So for context I am an international student who applied to Bard college (in New York, obviously).

In the update letter to my applicant profile, Bard explains that I was apparently a very qualified candidate but that they could not accept me because I asked for financial aid that surpassed the ability of its New York campus to afford, which is the answer I was expecting. However, it also states that the admissions office has decided to offer me a place at its Berlin campus instead for the sake of affordability. I was definitely not expecting this – I didn’t even know Bard had a campus in Germany.

If anyone who knows about Bard’s Berlin campus (or even better, attends it) would be so kind as to answer, I have several questions.

  1. what proportion of rejected students are given this alternative offer? Is this something that a large proportion of Bard's rejected applicants are offered, or are cases like mine unusual?
  2. The letter did not mention financial aid, only that the head of the Berlin campus would contact me shortly. Would I receive financial aid? (I asked for quite a lot in my application to the New York campus)
  3. I have a passing interest in German and can read and write it at a very basic level, but no further. How badly would this impede my ability to enjoy four years at Berlin?
  4. What is it like attending such a tiny school?

Thank you for your time.

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Hi Sir,

I am a Syrian student, I was studying Petroleum Engineering back in Syria, and I finished 8 semesters of my college, and was about to graduate, before things turned out to be just so bad in Syria.
I got accepted on a U.S. scholarship by IIE, and was about to travel to the U.S. to study a Bachelors, but because of the ban of Mr.Trump, I couldn’t. Bard Berlin also contacted me, and they offered a scholarship to study bachelors of Economics, Politics and Social Thought.

I did some research about the college, and I talked to some of the students over there, and I thought after that, this university is actually so good.

First, you will get a double bachelor’s, a German one, and a U.S. one. Second, you will be studying in an amazing city like Berlin, and actually, you don’t need German so much (Besides that you will be studying some electives of German language, which you might be already familiar with.) Third, this tiny school would give you a huge amount of attention, eand you will be participating in a larger amount of conversations.

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Hi Karam

Sorry to hear about your previous situation. I am glad that Bard has come through for you and I wish you a most pleasurable and productive time in Berlin.

After some consideration I personally have decided not to commit to Bard, but it was a difficult decision to make. I hope whoever goes in my place enjoys their time there.

Regards

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Have you seen this recent article about a current Syrian student at Bard Berlin: http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2017/0326/Life-in-a-new-land-a-refugee-s-journey?platform=hootsuite

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