<p>I have been accepted to both Bard College and Sarah Lawrence College. I really like both of them, but I can’t decide on which I should attend. I know Sarah Lawrence is closer to the city and seems like a great location, but I love Bard’s campus. Is Bard too isolated?</p>
<p>I want to double major in Photography and Art History. How are the programs for these majors at each school? Does Sarah Lawrence have a good photography program that I can major (concentrate) in?</p>
<p>One more thing, I am considering joining the Equestrian team because I used to ride. I know both schools have a team. Anyone know anything about them?</p>
<p>Any other advice/comments about the schools would be really helpful! Thanks.</p>
<p>I’ve been accepted to both of these schools as well, and from what I hear, Bard is more academically rigorous, while Sarah Lawrence is more laid back. </p>
<p>Both are great art schoolsI feel like Sarah Lawrence is good if writing is your passion, while Bard has an excellent all around arts program.</p>
<p>I’m flying out to NYC today to visit them both again on their respective open houses.</p>
<p>We live very close to Sarah Lawrence so my daughter wouldn’t even consider it and is going to Bard. SL is in a very suburban neighborhood while Bard is in the country. SL would be a good choice if you plan, and can afford, to spend a lot of time in the City. My daughter goes to high school there so its lost some of its charm. You can still get to the City from Bard, but it would take more of an effort.</p>
<p>Both are good choices. Look carefully at the curriculum at both. While SLC has a rep for “do your own thing”, it’s actually very rigerous–almost all small classes with a lot of writing and reading. THe reputaion comes mostly from the fact that there are no formal majors–you make up your program with close faculty help, but the classes themselves are pretty intense.</p>
<p>What people said about NYC is true. SLC is a half hour commuter train ride. Bard is a lot bigger deal to get to NYC, but the trade-off is the rural campus.</p>
<p>Bard has one of, if not THE best, photography department in the country. The school is famous for writing and photo. I don’t find it that isolated here, but I come from downstate so I’m not exactly itching to see the city all the time because I can do that whenever I’m home. Art history here is also excellent if you’re into it. I’m not, but everyone who likes art history has said it’s great. We have an equestrian team? Cool! I’m sorry I don’t know anything about it.</p>
<p>Going back about the isolation, it’s not THAT hard to get to the city from here, but it’s expensive if you take Amtrak from Rhinecliff, and MetroNorth is in Poughkeepsie which is 30 minutes away. You can usually get people to give you rides for free to Rhinecliff and typically for $20 to Poughkeepsie unless they’re good samaritans and do it for free. </p>
<p>But Bard’s a beautiful rural campus that’s ~600 acres. Lots of trees and waterfalls and hiking trails and fields. We’re in our own town so our only “law enforcement” is security unless local law enforcement is called for serious problems (emergencies, legal problems like theft, etc.). We’re like a little intellectual, collegiate bubble in NY. We also have shuttles that go to the surrounding towns, Tivoli and Red Hook many times a day, and shuttles going to Kingston, Rhinecliff, Rhinebeck, and Poughkeepsie a couple times a week. It’s not hard to get off campus by any means.</p>