I checked the collegeboard profile for Bard. They gave out ~$4.9 million for 112 International students, putting it an average of $44k per student against a CoA of ~$62k. That’s an average value, some people get full rides, some get under 50%. 92% of the determined need is met (72% applicants applied for aid, 97% of those were determined to have the need). Of those, 32% got their full need met.
This certainly is a good financial aid policy. You could very well be among those whose full need is covered. Besides, most of the colleges have similar statistics, Lafayette, Carleton, Colgate, F&M, etc. There are very few need-blind institutions, and they are ultra competitive to get in to. I would think twice about not applying to Bard because you think their financial aid policy isn’t good.
@Wormont As far as i remember, i came across nearly 6-7 students who are applying to Dickinson and 3-4 students applying to gettysburg but i do not have any idea about F&M
@sixstringsrocker While I understand where you are coming from, I totally disagree with you and the way you are making sense of the statistics. You should keep in mind that there are many variables at play. Again, I suggest it is best if you make sure yourself by talking to the college directly.
Of those ‘32% who got their full need met’, did you think about how much their need was? Maybe the student was paying 55k out of the required 62k CoA. Just think about it. I am talking from a perspective of an average Nepali (3-10k per year) applicant, not someone who is able to furnish a ‘significant’ portion of the cost to attend Bard (**see below). Also, I am talking based upon experience. A very close friend applied to Bard with an intent to pay 20k per year (which is higher than what an average Nepali would pay), and he got rejected solely for his inability to pay. They wanted him to pay 32k at least. And this was explicitly stated on the admission decision letter. His stats were well above average for Bard and please note that he applied early as well, so them running out of funds was out of the question. As for me, I had been talking to Bard’s financial aid office and they were clear that they would require me to pay a lot so I’d kicked it out of my list. My friend however, wanted to try his luck though I’d warned him.
**I did post this initially but read it again:
“The financial aid budget is limited. The College will only admit a student if there are resources—either personal funds or College grants and loans—adequate to pay for his or her expenses. International students are expected to furnish a significant portion of the cost to attend Bard. The average scholarship for an international applicant was $38,866 for the 2012-13 academic year. Please note: it is Bard’s policy not to offer admission to any international student who is unable to demonstrate sufficient funding.” – http://www.bard.edu/financialaid/international/
So in conclusion, a message to Nepalis wanting to apply to Bard: if you need lots of financial aid, Bard will be a waste of time as Bard’s financial aid policy/funds are pretty much the same this year. You don’t want to waste a 1/20 spot from your Common App list, do you?
@sixstringsrocker You go to Lafayette right? I think I’ve seen your earlier posts. I am wondering what kind of financial aid award you received from Lafayette? A lot of people discouraged me to apply based upon a supposed fact that Lafayette includes a lot of loan in their financial aid awards. Lafayette seems like a great place but I don’t want to graduate with debts. What are you thoughts on this?
@Xenonex I understand what you’re saying. However, you don’t know what that 32% actually includes. It’s equally likely that it includes students who got full rides. The statistics were very similar at Lafayette the year I applied (2009), and even though the average was no where near full CoA (from the eyes of a Nepali student who couldn’t afford to pay more than 3k), I was still offered a place with my full need being met.
As for your friend’s stats being above average, that doesn’t do much. You can’t simply be just above average as an international student. You have to do WELL above average. The mean SAT scores for international students are generally higher than that for domestic students. Moreover, you can’t just have good grades and good standardized scores, you must have a strong personality. If all that match up to what the school is looking for in a student, you’re in. Else, you’re out. If there’s at least a possibility that Bard offers a full ride (even if it’s just to a few students), and you sincerely believe Bard is a great fit for you, then you should apply to Bard.
Lafayette details: ~$3500/yr loan, rest is grant. $14k debt at graduation is not bad if you get a job after graduation. You have 10 years to pay it, at 6% interest. Payment deferred for 5 years if you’re continuing education after graduation.
@sixstringsrocker Congratulations on you acceptance to Lafayette! Seems like a great deal. I agree, 14k debt is not much. I’d heard upto 15k loan per year.
As for the Bard comment:
Stop stating the obvious man. I’m sure everyone who is here on CC by now already knows what all it takes to get into a good college. And it seems like you did not read my comment clearly. It was explicitly stated in his admission decision letter that he was rejected because of his inability to pay. He was very welcome to Bard should his financial condition change and he be willing to pay 32k per year. You should also be informed that his stats were indeed WELL above average (3 A*, outstanding essay, ECAs, work experience, etc.) and he got accepted in to a school with a much much much lower acceptance rate, and more highly ranked than Bard (though I don’t always believe in rankings).
And dude, you should know that Bard doesn’t require SAT scores (shouldn’t you know this when you’re so passionately talking about Bard? lol). The thing is, there is ZERO possibility for a full ride at Bard for an international student. ZERO. Bard is a great school, and I’m sure many (including me) would love to attend but it is simply not possible given their financial aid policy. Too bad. Bard is not going to give you lots of aid, and that is the hard truth. There is a difference between what is possible (including exceptions), and what is not at all possible. Talk to Bards financial aid office if you want to.
Also, you simply cannot compare the statistics of Lafayette and Bard. Ridiculous! They are two different schools with two different stories. End of story.
P.S. I don’t mean to disrespect you in any way. I am just defending what I know through experience and thorough research.
@Xenonex Lafayette DOES NOT offer more than $4k loan per year to international students. You can call them and ask if you don’t believe me.
As for the rest. My entire point is if you really want to go somewhere, and there’s even a slight chance, jump at it. I have no allegiance to Bard. I simply disagree that you shouldn’t not apply because you haven’t seen a case where people have been offered full ride. Your friend might have 3As and whatever else. Colleges routinely pass a 4.0 student in favor of someone else who might be more interesting. It’s based on what they want their class to look like - people wise, not solely on how high of an average GPA they want their incoming class to have.
I highly doubt you can guarantee the “zero possibility” argument you’re making. Unless you have it in written form from their FA department, that argument doesn’t hold much merit. College might like student A a lot, hence offer a full ride, but doesn’t like student B, hence they aren’t willing to spend $240k. It’s as simple as that. There’s a fixed pool of money for students each year. They make the best out of it. They get ~1000s applications for a few hundred spots in the international student pool. A lot of them are qualified to attend, but not everyone is accepted. Some are qualified, and are more interesting - so the school’s willing to spend more money for them. Others, not so much.
I’m not only speaking about Bard, but any school a student might want to apply to. I don’t want people not to even try for the fear of failure, specially when it comes to college admissions. No one here knows what goes on. If you don’t apply, you’ll never get in.
I am not stating anything against Lafayette or not believing you, I was telling you what I had heard, that is all. Thanks for the information! I am in fact applying to Lafayette.
Again, you are stating the obvious to me. End it with what/how a college chooses its students and gives 'em FA.
It is actually you who brought the full-ride debate up. I did not say you shouldn’t apply to Bard because I haven’t seen a case or what-so-ever, I said what I said based upon what the financial aid department at Bard had to say to me through emails last year. If anyone disproves me, I will happily apply to Bard again. While I understand why you are doubtful, you/anyone is welcome to talk to Bard as I did. I will again. I am all for taking chances as well, but I repeat, what is possible (including exceptions) is possible, and what is not possible is not possible. For example, you simply cannot expect need-based financial aid from an institution that does not offer need-based financial aid. So the probability of receiving need-based aid from that institution is zero. Simple maths. That is all.
I am all for taking chances and agree with you on all other points that you made.
And for the record, the year your applied, 2009 was it? That is almost/more than 6 years ago. I’m sure you know, a lot could’ve changed during that time.
@Xenonex Bard does apply need based aid. it says so on their website.Yes, things might have changed, but neither of us can guarantee that Bard will not offer a full ride to a qualified candidate.
Good luck to you, on Lafayette. I had a great time there, it was absolutely awesome. A piece of unsolicited advice: focus on who you are, and why you’re so different from the rest of the applicants. Lafayette receives 50+ applications from Nepalis each year (and contrary to what you may have heard, “this year” is not the hardest year. It’s the same each year). Lafayette seeks out students who are a good fit for them, (as do almost every other college). Tell them why you are the right candidate for the next class, and what makes you special. Tell them about what unique perspective you bring to the campus.
@sixstringsrocker The need-based aid bit was just an example unrelated to Bard. And true, neither of us can. But I was just sharing my thoughts, based upon the few emails I’d exchanged with the FA office at Bard. However, there is no denying that Bard is not going to give you a lot of aid. I suggest everyone thinking of applying to check with the financial aid office before they apply.
And thank you, your advice is much appreciated.
Sorry if I may have hit you on the wrong note. I am having a bad day… By the way, it’s really nice of you to be still be here helping kids like us. Another big thanks you to you!
Bard offers competitive full tuition scholarships in the sciences, music, and economics, which need to be applied for with a supplemental application. These scholarships are open to international and domestic students.
so whoever took the SAT how much did ya’ll get? i got a much better score than last time (though last time’s is already a good score) feels like i should ED to stanford but no my grades really suck
@vacillatemuch I really enjoy where I am now. However, I always wonder what if I had applied to Stanford. I really wanted to go to Stanford, but I didn’t apply - thinking I wouldn’t get in. If you really want to go to Stanford, the first step is applying.
