So I got into both Wesleyan and Bard, and those are the two I’m really between. I was really really sure about Wes, but now I’m having second thoughts. Bard gave me a good grant ($37k), and I haven’t heard back from Wes’s financial aid yet. I visited Wes and loved it, I loved the people and the atmosphere, and I’m visiting Bard this month (and also probably going to WesFest). I really want a good school with like interesting intellectual discussions and everything not all cookie-cutter academics. And I want to do writing, but it’s hard to get a sense of what the writing courses are like on paper without sitting in on one. Could anyone give information about just like the general vibe of the student body and what the writing courses are like? And any other little things? Bard’s pretty remote and I’m not sure I want that, and is also I think a little more alternative than Wes, though I’m not sure if I’d want more or less alternative to begin with. I just want to really love my school and love the learning that goes on there. Any thoughts?
So basically I want to know about English/Writing, the vibe of the student body (weird just for the sake of being weird? genuinely interested and excited people? I’d like some mix between hippie and nerd without crossing into disaffected hipster?), the intellectual quality, and also majors, I don’t know what I want to do aside from writing but definitely something humanities or humanitarian based, like education or activism or museum work, and just like general vibes I guess? I’m a pescetarian/ aspiring vegetarian so food’'s important, and I’d like a place where I can feel close to nature, but also where there’s a lot of like exciting things to do (not parties, just interesting things). Also wondering about study abroad options and grad school/job opportunities.
I know it’s a lot but I just want to have as much info as possible. Pretty please and thanks a bunch! (I’m posting the same thing in the Bard section to get a breadth of opinion).
Just an intuitive read: Bard sounds like a great match for you.
I’ve been to Bard during the summer. And, I’m old enough to remember when, believe it or not, Leon Botstein was once on the shortlist for president of Wesleyan (this was before he was offered the presidency of Bard!) Frankly, I think you’ll do well at either; it’s hard to find a bad English department among top schools. Unfortunately, being close to nature and being isolated sort of go hand in hand (think, Williams, Middlebury, Dartmouth, etc.) There are some diversions close to Wesleyan (a popular swimming hole, orchards, a former quarry turned into a rock climbing venue) but there’s nothing quite like being located in the middle of a woods the way Bard is.
In Wesleyan’s favor is the fact that you’ll probably find it easier to be a vegan there; the customer base is larger and the menu gets relatively high marks. And, the place definitely produces writers: the creator of Mad Men; the guy who coined the phrase, “perfect storm”; the guy who (for better or worse) gave us Jason Bourne; Amy Bloom is a faculty member. But, compared to Bard, Wesleyan is practically a university, which means you’ll be surrounded by people doing and majoring in many more things (for example, Wesleyan produces more scientific research than any other top LAC in the country.)
I think, in the end, it’s going to boil down to a choice between finding your niche at one place (Wesleyan) and having your niche at the other (Bard).