Bard vs. Wheaton

<p>I am trying to decide between Bard and Wheaton. I know that Bard is more academically prestigious and more reputable than Wheaton but I think that I am a better “fit” for Wheaton. As Bard harbors very distinctive intellectuals immersed within the arts, granted I want to study something within the humanities, I am apprehensive of how I would “blend” with the avant garde student population. Wheaton also gave me a better merit scholarship and is obviously much cheaper. Bard’s tuition is 60,000 whereas Wheaton’s is 40,000. My reluctance in attending Wheaton is that it’s an “okay” school that is not as well respected as Bard. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.</p>

<p>How much would you have to borrow/spend per year to attend Bard over Wheaton?</p>

<p>For the most part, the difference in academic reputation between the schools isn’t going to make all that much of a difference.</p>

<p>Go with the cheaper one, especially if you like it better, and use the money you’d save to study abroad and live somewhere cool after you graduate and start off running.</p>

<p>The two cultures are VERY different.</p>

<p>I received 17,000 in merit from Wheaton along with a bit of FASFA so it would be around 20,000 total, and then I received around 20,000 from Bard w/merit/financial aid making it 40,000 total. </p>

<p>(And just to clarify this is Wheaton MA)</p>

<p>And thankyou Barrington for your input, I completely understand what you mean about going to the cheaper college/the academic reputation not being as significant as I may be considering it to be, it’s just difficult to go to a college with a relatively high acceptance rate after killing myself in highschool to get into a “good college.” But in contrast to the enormous debt that I would inherit from Bard it would obviously be more practical to go to Wheaton</p>

<p>Also, Turntabler, will you expand upon that? Personally I am not all that artsy, I am quite nerdy in the academic sense, although I’m not really a part of the media/social subculture that exists in a place like Bard. (Although I would like to consider myself open-minded in the sense that I am very liberal and also an atheist) I do not however embrace the drug culture</p>

<p>Just went to look at the Wheaton cost of attendance because I was surprised a private school could be that low. The estimate COA is $55,166. [Tuition</a> & Fees – Admission | Wheaton College](<a href=“http://wheatoncollege.edu/admission/tuition-fees/]Tuition”>http://wheatoncollege.edu/admission/tuition-fees/)</p>

<p>Seems pretty comparable to Bard which in 2011/20912 for first year students with the extra costs of L&T and Citizen Science was $56,962. [Payment</a> Information | Bard](<a href=“http://www.bard.edu/admission/finances/payment.shtml]Payment”>http://www.bard.edu/admission/finances/payment.shtml) </p>

<p>Are you sure you’re comparing apples to apples? Seems to me you’re being offered the same amount at both schools, and Bard would be only slightly more expensive. What am I missing?</p>

<p>Wheaton is a good school and it was on my daughter’s list had she not gotten into Bard. We did not get as far as visiting though, so I don’t know how it would compare. From what I’ve seen at Bard, there are all types. My daughter’s roomate is quiet and studious, and my daughter is a risk taker and pushes the limits. In other words, a perfect match. Seriously; they love each other. The question is, do you want to go someplace where you feel comfortable or someplace you feel challenged? Both are perfectly good choices.</p>

<p>Well, Wheaton is affiliated with a church, for one thing, whereas Bard ranks on the Princeton Review’s least religious schools. One of the most famous persons to attend Wheaton: Reverend Billy Graham; at Bard this would probably be members of Steely Dan or one of the Beastie Boys (Dylan used to hang out there as well).</p>

<p>If you’re an atheist, you might have to adapt a bit, though the student body is probably generally tolerant of disbelief. I know I couldn’t attend an affiliated school, but you may be different. Random (really!) review from u-nigo: “Wheaton College is all about serving God. Whether it’s through pursuing academics or extracurriculars, the students and faculty have God’s glory in mind whatever they are doing. It’s a small school so interpersonal relationships are important and easy to maintain.”</p>

<p>As far as “academically nerdy but not artsy” goes, I think you’d fit in fine at Bard. I get the sense that there are a bunch of academic people as well as a bunch of artsy people there.</p>

<p>I think you’re confusing Wheaton in MA with Wheaton in Illinois.</p>

<p>You are so right, and I do apologize. I thought that was a weird combination of schools!</p>

<p>Thank-you all for your input, I really appreciate it. And I did mean Wheaton (MA) …I am indeed an atheist! Just to clarify, I received 17,000 merit from Wheaton, full tuition is actually 55,000 and 12,000 merit from Bard, I received 8,000 in student loans from both. </p>

<p>And Danceclass, you brought up a really good point that really resonated with me; that whole idea of being comfortable versus being challenged really articulated the difference between the two schools. I definitely think I would be comfortable at Wheaton, but Bard would obviously be more challenging. </p>

<p>I think I am beginning to lean towards Bard. Statistically comparing the schools, Bard is better, 28% acceptance rate of the class of 2015, ranked around 50 whereas Wheaton is around 60% I realize that in the grand scheme of things rankings and acceptance rates are not the determining factor of my college experience and that it’s up to me to embrace all of my opportunities. Yet in the same breath, it is difficult to let that sort of mentality supersede my desire to go to a “good” school like bard</p>

<p>I don’t think you should let rankings or acceptance rates be your determining factor. What it probably does tell you, however, is that the majority of your peers in the student body will be closer to your academic and intellectual level at a school which both accepted you, and is more selective. A less selective school is more likely to accept students who are at varying levels - which is not to say you won’t find likeminded peers. Does that make sense? You are the only one who can decide if you will flourish more in an environment where you are comfortable, or one where you feel challenged and a bit on edge.</p>

<p>In terms of finances then - it seems that Bard will cost you about $7,000 more to attend each year - do note that after a few years you can always move off campus at either college which usually reduces the cost of attendance. Is the money an issue for your family? If you only received merit grants and loan offers, can we assume your family has money available? What do your parents think?</p>

<p>I was surprised at the variety of people I found at Bard. There are a fair number of musicians and artists but I know many more people who have majors in the social sciences. As far as drugs, there are people who do and don’t participate and it’s not hard to choose not to. People also tend to do work and study so there’s not a huge party culture, only if you make an effort to be part of it. </p>

<p>As far as money goes keep in mind that the current trend for private liberal arts schools is to increase tuition by a thousand or two each year.</p>

<p>There <em>are</em> a lot of people at Bard who don’t drink/smoke weed/whatever. That said, the pretty big majority of kids at Bard do drink/smoke, and the people who don’t have a tendency to fall into a couple of broad stereotypes, which you may or may not find appealing. Not smoking or drinking <em>will</em> restrict your social life, especially if you’re the kind of person who doesn’t enjoy the kind of room parties you get here (and I really don’t know many people who do when they aren’t tipsy/high).</p>