@sarapheena Here’s the info on Bard’s Alternative Admissions process. It bypasses grades and test scores, but it’s intense: http://www.bard.edu/admission/bardexam/
“The examination is composed of 20 essay questions in four categories: Social Studies; Languages and Literature; Arts; and Science and Mathematics. Applicants are required to complete three 2,500-word essays; each must be in answer to a question from a separate category, thereby covering three of the four categories.”