Bard College vs. Connecticut College

<p>Hello. I am currently deciding if I am to apply to Bard or Connecticut with the Early Decision II plan. I come from Bosnia and Herzegovina; hence, visiting either campus is out of the question.
Now, there are two things I am taking into account: the quality of the film studies major (more important) and the financial aid they offer.
If anyone could compare their majors, or simply share their experiences and opinions about this major in any of the two schools, I would incredibly grateful.
Lastly, I would also appreciate if someone could comment on the position of LGBT students in these schools.</p>

<p>My daughter is at Bard. I don’t know anything about their film studies, but they have a wonderful performing arts program, so I wouldn’t be surprised if their film studies was good, too. I have the impression that their financial aid is only really good for those majoring in sciences, but I don’t know anything about that either. My daughter was offered very little. I am sure you would have much support from all the students regarding the LGBT community. The Bard kids are very accepting of everyone.</p>

<p>Bard, hands down. Their film program is excellent, and the LGBT community is exceptionally strong there. Bard is very supportive of international students. (My daughter just graduated from Bard with a photo/lit degree, so I 'm definitely biased.)</p>

<p>She also looked at Connecticut College, which seemed much more “mainstream” to her. It’s a good school, no doubt, and I’m sure their programs are excellent. To my D, it seemed like a more prep/jock type of atmosphere overall.</p>

<p>Bard’s film department is nationally known. It is also competitive - not every student who wants to moderate into the program for a major is accepted. The film department does have a particular aesthetic and focus, which as a prospective student you should research.[Film</a> and Electronic Arts | Bard College](<a href=“http://film.bard.edu%5DFilm”>http://film.bard.edu) Bard is also very welcoming to international students, and they do provide financial aid. This year’s freshman class is listed as 23% international/dual from 48 countries.</p>

<p>If you need financial aid, I don’t recommend applying ED anywhere. You’re committing without knowing whether you could get a better financial aid package elsewhere, and you have no bargaining power by comparing one school’s offer to another. Why not just apply regular decision to Conn College?</p>

<p>Thank you all for replying. SpiritManager, would you be so kind to elaborate a bit more about the competitiveness of the major? Didi you mean that there is a lot of competition during the admissions between students who put that they will enroll in the film, or are you talking about the competition between student who already got in, did their requirements, and are competing for a place in the program? Thank you for the link, but I already went through all the information provided on their website. It was actually the reason why I got so interested in Bard, because the curriculum and the courses are perfect for me and the college offers EXACTLY what I want to get out of my education in the cinematic arts.</p>

<p>Every student at Bard must moderate into their major towards the end of their second year, or beginning of their third. They must present their case, through essays or actual projects (such as in this case, film) to a panel of professors. The film department does not accept everyone who applies. If that is the case the student will have to choose a different major. Some majors at Bard are more competitive than others to be accepted to - but for all of them the student must make their case. This is quite different than most other American colleges, just so you know!</p>

<p>In the initial admissions process, you are not asked to declare a major, so it shouldn’t be a factor in admissions - unless a student is looking for a merit scholarship by declaring an interest in the sciences or economics.</p>

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<p>This, as SpiritManager explained. I’m not exactly sure how the film department works, but in the photo department, my daughter experienced cuts every semester, i.e. some people didn’t get the introductory class the first semester; of those who completed the first class, only a percentage were allowed into the second class in the sequence, etc. </p>

<p>If a student isn’t admitted into their first choice major at moderation, they can either reapply the next semester or apply to a different major.</p>

<p>For film studies and theory Bard has an amazing program. However, in terms of production classes, the film department is very biased in terms of experimental film.</p>

<p>Moderation with film isn’t as big of a deal as everyone makes it seem. My year about 25 people applied and, as far as I know, only one student was deferred and he was kind of a slacker. Also, know that you can moderate into either production or theory; the requirements are different.</p>

<p>Personally, I left Bard after I moderated for film and am now at NYU. While I’m glad I transferred, I definitely miss the film theory classes at Bard, which in my opinion are a million times better than at NYU.</p>