Bard Chances?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Bard College
1

<p>I’m a junior, graduating 2012. I would go to Bard as an Art History major.</p>

<p>My (weighted, my school does not give unweighted) GPA is a 3.4 for my fresh + soph years but due to the amount of AP classes I am taking this year I am very confident it will rise to at least a 3.5. The school I go to is a very good school, it’s public but it is a Blue Ribbon School and has been ranked in many best highschools in the US lists in magazines.</p>

<p>I just got my SAT scores and I got a 1750. Hopefully, it will go up.</p>

<p>All of the AP/Honors classes I have taken/will take:</p>

<ul>
<li>Honors French 3,4,5 (I entered high school at a high level)</li>
<li>AP U.S. History, AP European History, AP Government (for next year). </li>
<li>Honors English Fresh + Soph year, AP Language and Composition this year, AP Literature (for next year)</li>
<li>AP Art History </li>
</ul>

<p>I have been writing for the school paper since Freshmen year and am currently the Editor-in-Chief and will be next year as well. I am also the top student in charge of costuming for my school’s theatre productions. I have worked on every show (six so far) and will continue my senior year.</p>

<p>I have taken three summers of various art classes at Moore College of Art and this summer I am doing the Pre-College program at RISD for Graphic Design.</p>

<p>I also have a successful fashion/art/music/culture blog that has garnered a nice readership, and am on a first-name basis with some of the most popular fashion bloggers that are around currently.</p>

<p>I have also done four lemonade stands for Alex’s Lemonade Stand with my family. My brother is a cancer survivor and the organization is something that is actually special to me, I am not just using it to “look good.” I will continue to contribute more to the organization over time.</p>

<p>If my GPA DOES go up to a 3.5 (or even a 3.6, hopefully) and I apply Early Decision I, does anyone think I have a shot at Bard?</p>

2

<p>First off, you have a great track record of grades, ECs and other things. As an admitted student, I think you have a good shot! Although Bard doesn’t have an Early Decision plan, they have the Immediate Decision Plan (which I did and it is basically like a non binding ED, go to their website and read more about it because I think you would be a great candidate for it!), Early Action and Regular Action. Two questions, what are your standardized test scores and is Bard your first choice/how much do you want to go there?</p>

3

<p>I feel like you’re a good shot. Write a good essay and do your best to keep your numbers on the upswing.</p>

4

<p>To make your application stronger, I wouldn’t send your test scores. They’re certainly not bad, but I think they’re the weakest part of everything you’ve stated and Bard discourages prospective students from sending test scores unless they’re spectacular and thus will make an application look brilliant (or if someone’s on the fence, having good test scores will help them make the cut).</p>

<p>But that’s just my opinion.</p>

5

<p>Yes, definitely don’t submit your scores. Just forget about them. If you’re really serious about wanting go to Bard, register for IDP. It consists of a seminar and an interview, and gives both you and Bard a good look at each other.</p>

6

<p>I think you do sound like you have a pretty good chance because of your course rigor and gpa. I have somewhat lower stats then you but good test score and strong extra curriculars do you think I have a bit of a chance.</p>

<p>GPA: 3.2</p>

<p>ACT score: 32</p>

<p>Extracurriculars: head of Out-of-the-Box club (a club where we have very out-of-the-box speakers come in and talk about their professions. very kooky, like hypnotists/realitty tv shows/people who think they are vampires/werewolves)head of Calliope(our schools award winning creative arts magazine) i have a pretty solid midwest ranking in tennis and our varsity team won states. I also love filmmaking/video art. I went to away film programs and took video art class for 3 years. I am going to send them a portfolio.</p>

<p>Other Facts: I have taken chinese for the past four years. I also am part of a selective program called IGSS at my school. I have heard bard knows it and really likes it. Its english, history, and science together. Its a school within a school. Very global learning style. Less structured. </p>

<p>I also went to China with my chinese class last summer. I have experience being a camp counselour. I am part of a club called sassafrass which is a program involved in trying to stop bullying in elementary school, middle school and high school. we host names program and two other programs. I also never took physics.</p>

<p>APs: IGSS does not in include AP classes. But I am taking AP environmental science and AP psychology on top of IGSS. </p>

<p>I have read a lot about this college and I really feel as if it is the perfect fit for me. But do you think my lack of APs and GPA will have them not accept me???</p>

7

<p>Your GPA is a little low, but you sound like you have an interesting background. I believe they like unique. It’s a good idea to send a portfolio of your film work. Demonstrate that you have lots of intellectual curiosity and energy. I don’t think your lack of lots of APs will hurt. My d had only one and was accepted.</p>

8

<p>Thanks!
I was actually unaware that you didn’t have to send your scores to Bard.</p>

9

<p>To be honest, NYU is my number one school but I really, really doubt I will get in. I have read a lot about Bard and love what I’ve heard. I have not visited yet, so I wonder how I’ll feel about it after I visit. The only thing is that I am not a small school person, when it comes to colleges I am more attracted to very large schools in urban areas. Bard is obviously not that, but I feel like what I’ve read and heard about campus life has assured me that I could definitely be happy there.</p>

10

<p>Good for you for being able to go out of your comfort zone (big schools in cities) and consider other options! I’d recommend visiting Bard to see if a quirky little school in the country (the “big town” nearby, Red Hook, has a population of 10,000) could work for you. Stay for longer than the tour/info session to really get a feel for the place.</p>

<p>I have a daughter at Bard who doesn’t mind the small/rural aspect, but it would have driven my son crazy. Between his personality and his career interests, he really needed to go to school in a big city.</p>

11

<p>The only thing I am worried about at Bard is being too isolated. Don’t get me wrong, I fit the Bard stereotypical student (crazy liberal, loves art, movies, etc.) and I know I will definitely have a fun time on campus but I wouldn’t be surprised if I found myself going to NYC every weekend or so. </p>

<p>Although I live in the suburbs, I spend a lot of time in Philadelphia (only 15 minutes away.) For any Bard students, how common is it to go into NYC? I’d have a car on campus and would be willing to go to the train station to get there.</p>

12

<p>Depending on the people (and amount of money people have to spend), going to NYC can be a frequent thing to a never thing (but as a down state NYer, NYC has little appeal to me because I go there all the time when I’m home so maybe that’s just me). Amtrak is $30 one-way to Penn Station from Rhinecliff, Metro-north is $30 roundtrip from Poughkeepsie, but Poughkeepsie is 25-40 minutes away depending on the traffic.</p>

<p>Both my brother and I were nervous when we were looking at Bard to come here (he’s older so I was a little less worried about it by the time I actually applied, but when I was thinking about it the size through me off. It’s barely larger than my high school). But as my dad explained (who also went to a small school) that 500 kids leave every year, and 500 new kids come every year. You will never know or even see every person on campus. Campus is INCREDIBLY spread out. 500 acres for ~2000 students, most of which are woods and trails. The main campus itself is spread out over about 2 miles with dorms on northern and southern extremes. </p>

<p>I don’t feel isolated here at all and I think it’s mostly due to how spread out everything is, the little pockets of communities within the college, and the fact that the campus is VERY open. If I went to Vassar, I’d probably feel claustrophobic.</p>

<p>Also, when I was looking at schools I was attracted to cities, but I’m SO happy that I went to a small, rural school instead. Professors know you and care about you. Everything is incredibly individualized. The campus is BEAUTIFUL with amazing art installations throughout campus and it overlooks the Catskills. Cities still hold every bit of as much thrill for me as before, but I’m glad that while I’m learning and growing and figuring out my own life, I’m doing it in an unrushed (though at times it feels very rushed) place that focuses on what’s best for me and where professors and advisors know me well enough to recommend paths to follow.</p>

<p>Also, even “big” departments are pretty small given the small size of the school. More research opportunities, internship opportunities, networking opportunities are available to you than many know. Everyone you work with here is an expert in their area, most of whom are famous in their area. I know that I’m incredibly awed by the fact that I get to not only have my writing read by famous poets and fiction writers, but I get to STUDY under them and when I graduate, I know I can email them if I need help getting into the writing world. I know that you can’t necessarily do that at a large, urban school.</p>

13

<p>tigertiger: You will get in if you show them that you really want to go, end of story. I had a 3.4 GPA, barely any extracurriculars or APs and I got in because I convinced them that it was the place that I wanted to be. </p>

<p>I’m from a Philadelphia suburb too (also 15 minutes away) and Bard seems rural at first but it’s really not that inaccessible. People go to the city all the time, and what would you really be missing out on on a daily basis? There are boutiques and diners and restaurants and a CVS 5 minutes away from campus. There’s a mall 20 minutes away. It’s not that rural, I promise.</p>

14

<p>I have a 3.6 GPA and have taken various AP classes. I have a good amount of extracurriculars and overall Bard is where I want to be. I am a junior and have already written my two essays. My concern is my SAT, I got a 1720. I will be retaking it at the end of this month and should go up but most likely only to an 1800. I understand that Bard is SAT optional, would sending in my SAT scores work negatively towards my chance of admissions?</p>

15

<p>When I was looking at Bard (granted, this was 5 years ago), the admissions office seemed to discourage sending standardized test scores UNLESS they were exceptional. I did not send my SAT scores and I had a similar transcript and I was accepted. I think you’re probably better off not sending them, not because they’re not good scores (they are) but because of the way Bard is. Everything outside of your SAT scores is more indicative of your abilities as a student.</p>

16

<p>Wow, lilygraces - are you graduating on Saturday? If so, best of luck with your next adventures. (My son still has his fifth double degree year to go.)</p>

17

<p>Yes, I am graduating tomorrow. Thank you so much! Good luck to your son in his final year!</p>

18

<p>Congratulations, lilygraces. I wish you all the best.</p>