Description of Bard experience

<p>Hi.
I am seeking any and all descriptions about the experience of attending Bard College, from enrolled students and their parents. Some of my questions (although responses about all aspects are very welcome):
What has your academic/intellectual experience been like? Have you been gratified, disappointed, etc.?
Could you describe the Thinking and Learning experience? Do you feel that it was a big help in preparation for college level work?
Do you feel that the administration/professors nurture (not in an infantilizing manner) the students?
What has your experience been with professors?: level of involvement, inspirational teaching, etc.
Has it been fairly easy to be admitted to the classes that you choose, or has this been difficult?
Is the intra-student atmosphere supportive?
What is social life like?
What is the situation like regarding drugs and alcohol?</p>

<p>Thank you!</p>

<p>D2 is a junior. Her academic experience has been “above expectations,” starting with L&T. Her professors, for the most part, seem to be there because they are good teachers and enjoy teaching, and she has found a good group of friends and participates in activities. She drinks, but does not, to my knowledge, do drugs. Some people do, but Bard’s reputation far exceeds its reality in that area.</p>

<p>I was hoping that some students would chime in - but not alot of current Bard students frequent this site.</p>

<p>So here’s what I hear from my son - intellectually and academically it has exceeded his expectations. His friends all love to read books for the sheer pleasure of it, and like to share the books and the pleasure in them with each other. He and his friends actually do all the reading for their classes - they don’t use Spark Notes or skim. His professors have been very demanding, and very inspiring. He has deliberately chosen the ones who have that reputation. He has had only one class with a less than stellar professor, but loved the subject so much that he still got a lot out of it. One other class the professor was just good - not brilliant like every other of his professors which is now his standard. (For reference, he’s finishing his second year now and has taken predominantly classes in music, classics and English.) Yes, there has been lots of involvement with the professors - including invitations to dinner, lunch, trips to NY, and one professor, with whom he has no classes, is choreographing and performing in a piece by his ensemble.</p>

<p>As for L&T - he did not want to start college that early. He even considered ruling out Bard because of it. But he loved every minute of it, was entranced and uplifted by the professor, and ended up choosing his second degree field because of it.</p>

<p>As for being admitted to classes - one has to petition the professor of the class for admission. Sometimes precedence is given to the more senior students, or those in the major. One time my son did not get a course he wished to. Some classes, as at any school, will be more popular than others, and harder to get into.</p>

<p>Drugs and alcohol - my son isn’t into that scene so I don’t hear much about it. I’m sure it’s there if you want it, and not there, if you don’t want. He and his friends enjoy themselves in other ways - hanging out in each others’ rooms, seeing movies, contradancing, playing music, listening to music, doing crazy art projects, watching tv shows on their computers, cooking food, hiking, exploring… Pretty much the way he enjoyed himself with friends here at home - except now he’s surrounded by friends 24 hours a day.</p>

<p>Not sure if I can add anything beyond what’s already been posted here, but here goes:</p>

<p>Not a student and only a parent of a current Bard student (though I know you’re looking for student feedback). But so far, my D has been working very hard at her studies (and more so this semester than last), but she enjoys all of her classes and teachers.</p>

<p>Like SpiritManager mentioned, Bard is <em>not</em> a place you want to go to, if you expect to rely on Cliff Notes to get by on the reading.</p>

<p>It’s my impression that students are very intentional on their education and carefully pick & choose the classes they want to be in. Yes, some classes tend to be more popular (my daughter tried to get into an art history class her first semester last fall but they were all full). But she was assured of getting into a class this semester, which she’s taking right now.</p>

<p>There are tons of opportunities to get involved in almost any area you can think of, and I think my daughter is actually learning a lesson of over-committing to opportunities this year. :-)</p>

<p>She too was not hot on the idea of shortening her summer and coming to L&T in early August, but looking back she loved the experience, and loved having her L&T teacher even more.</p>

<p>Can’t say too much on the drug & smoking scene since my D doesn’t do either, and she hasn’t felt left out in the least.</p>

<p>My academic/intellectual experience here has been pretty great, though I will say, as great as the classes are, I’m much more impressed by the social intellectual atmosphere than the academic one because I’ve found that that’s where students’ share everything–yes, EVERYTHING–they know about anything. Everyone has their own specialties and thus brings forth those perspectives and things they know about those subjects to the conversation. I could be talking about something I read in a Hemingway novel and a friend of mine will compare it to something she learned in her biology class and another friend will chime in on a related passage in a book he read in his classics class.</p>

<p>But the classes are pretty fantastic, too. Small, some classes are more engaging (and have more students willing to engage) than others, but as a whole are pretty great.</p>

<p>Unlike the others, I actually really liked the idea of L&T… that is until it came closer and closer to happening. But I loved it. My professor was amazing, engaging, nurturing, and allowed us to run with our ideas–we even made a stop-motion film to present at the weekly L&T presentations. It definitely helped me transition to lots of reading, however, my two roommates last year barely had any reading to do. But it also helped me gear my mind into the close reading Bard wanted me to do as well as help hone my thoughts in an academic environment.</p>

<p>Depending on the professor, yes. Most are available to talk at any given time (email, phone, office hours, appointments) and are willing to help you even if it has nothing to do with the class and just need to talk to someone. I’ve asked past professors who I felt comfortable with advice and they were very helpful. However, it’s mostly your advisor’s job to nurture you and help you with anything.</p>

<p>The administration, not really, no. It’s not that they aren’t particularly nurturing, but they’re geared more towards you being an individual with responsibilities that you have to deal with like an adult. That isn’t to say that they won’t help you with any problems–that’s certainly not the case. The administration as a whole is pretty chaotic so it’s hard for them to be nurturing, I guess.</p>

<p>As stated before, professors are available to students all the time. They want you to be successful. Most are fantastic here, some are good, others are okay. But no matter what the class or who the professor is, I always get something out of each class, even if it’s just exposure to new and interesting books that I enjoyed.</p>

<p>Depends on the class, level, department, etc. I would say the hardest to get into are the classes in the arts because of a) the amount of people applying and b) it’s based on your body of work rather than you signing up for it. I’ve gotten into all of my first choice classes in some semesters, and none (or only a couple) of my first choice classes in others. It’s relatively easy if the class you’re trying to get into is in your department, especially if you’re an unmoderated student/about to graduate (as they have to get their requirements out of the way), but as a whole, it’s fairly easy. People tend to email the profs of classes they want to get into/stop by their office during their office hours to express interest in the class which also helps.</p>

<p>I’d say yes, however I know some people who would say no. It all really depends on if you find your niche. But everyone seems to root for everyone else.</p>

<p>The social life is multifaceted. There aren’t parties all the time, but there are a decent amount on campus and off. I haven’t nor have heard of any peer pressure problems. Kids usually ask if you want something and won’t harp on it if you don’t. We’re also not as one-note in our style as people seem to thing. Yes, lots of hipsters here. But we also have jocks, musicians (from folk, to opera, to rock, to gypsy-punk, to latin jazz, to just jam sessions, etc), hippies, etc. Each comes with its own culture and a willingness to share it with everyone else.</p>

<p>Both are here. And, with the exception of this year (we’ve had rise in the amount of alcohol-related medical incidents), everyone has seemed to be able to handle both in moderation. It’s not a problem if you do both, one or the other, or neither, socially. People here just want you to have a good time, no matter what you drink, take, or don’t do. I think the administration has a good policy on it. They don’t condemn the acts; they don’t want you to make dumb decisions. I kind of view the way the administration deals with it the same way my parents did–do what you want, just know that drugs are illegal, alcohol is illegal if you’re under 21, don’t get sick, don’t make a mess, don’t do something stupid (i.e. drink and drive), clean up after yourself. The main concern is that whatever you do, you’re safe and okay. And if you’re not, they’re going to do everything they can to make you safe and okay. </p>

<p>This is not them condoning the acts, but rather encouraging that doing anything, while irresponsible in and of itself, is done with responsibility and not in excess. They do not condemn experience, but if you’re caught (which honestly, is pretty hard UNLESS you’re doing stupid stuff), you’ll have to deal with the consequences (I’m not entirely sure, but I think the first time you’re caught you just have to talk to your area coordinator [the person in charge of an entire living area. Like a Super-RA] about it, the second time your parents are called and will probably be put on social probation [though SOPRO has been given on the first time, too], and the third is a meeting about how to curb the problem/stop the development of a problem [i.e. taking time off from school, rehab, etc. that not exclusive. I just don’t know what else kids have gotten]. Some kids have gotten community service hours as a consequence as well). </p>

<p>Also, they don’t look too kindly upon students who get into trouble and don’t have good academic standing. It’s a problem if it’s interfering with your work and Bard’s mission is to help us engage with the world as actively, passionately, and independently as we can. You can’t do that if you show up to class all the time drunk or are too messed up to even come.</p>

<p>Sorry for my novel of a response!</p>

<p>lilygraces, Your answers are refreshing honest. I happy to read that you don’t have to be a super student who never does anything wrong to learn something at Bard. My daughter tends to ask lots of questions of her high school teachers. She’s constantly getting in trouble-just for asking questions! I’m hoping that there are some professors at Bard that understand that that’s her learning style. Thanks again.</p>

<p>Another things that’s great about the administration is that every “problem” that a person has (from consequential to a student having personal difficulties) is treated on a case-by-case basis and on an individual level. Bard understands that no two people are the same or go through the same things in the exact same way. It’s really nice to know that it isn’t just an iron fist with a set of standard rules of how to deal with problems. I think it is truly rare for a college to at least try to treat so many people as an individual with specific situations that pertain to that person alone.</p>

<p>lilygraces. thanks so much! i THINK your ‘novel’ of a reply just helped me to seal the deal and send in my deposit. thanks! apreciate it!</p>

<p>lilygraces</p>

<p>oh and btw would you be able to tell me anything about their ‘design your own major’ program? i’ve read about it on several unofficial sources (college books, forums, etc.) but have yet to be able to find any official web page or anything on it.</p>

<p>thanks.</p>

<p>I honestly don’t really know anything about designing your own major but I know about designing your own class and I would assume it’s a bit similar.</p>

<p>In order to “design” anything, you have to have a professor to work with and help you out. Basically whether it’s a class or a major they help outline the body of work you should take/what you want to take. Essentially you’re given all the tools and vague guidelines but you’re left to take from what they give you as you will. I would also assume that it has to be something that can’t be fulfilled by either a double or a joint major.</p>

<p>ah, i just heard from elsewhere that its a rather informal thing that you need to talk to and work with a professor to make happen.</p>

<p>thanks for the speedy reply, btw :D</p>