<p>I was recently accepted at Bard, and it’s far and away my first choice. I’ve read a lot of things I love about Bard, but other things… I’m not so in love with. I recently found this video, and I felt like it summarized all the bad things I’ve heard about Bard, which are things I really really don’t want as a part of my college experience. <a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjhrxIgqMjE[/url]”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjhrxIgqMjE</a></p>
<p>However, I love so much of what I’ve heard about Bard. I want to major in English and I’m planning on taking Russian and German as a undergraduate. I know that Bard has an unbeatable writing faculty, and has exchange campuses in Russia and Germany. I also love what I’ve read about civic engagement at Bard, especially the Bard Prison Initiative. And Leon Botstein definitely strikes me as a wonderful, highly intelligent man. So, I suppose my question is: at the end of the day, are the stereotypes at Bard (especially the ones contained in the above video) true, and if so, do they counteract are the other great things about Bard?</p>
<p>@camdencollegekid, almost every college campus (if not every college campus) has some drugs. My S is at Bard (a sophomore) and does not do drugs. None. He has plenty of friends there who do not do drugs. I went there in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and I didn’t do drugs, and I had plenty of friends at Bard who didn’t do drugs. Most kids do not show up to class under the influence. Are there kids at Bard who like to hear themselves talk? Sure. Same is true for all colleges…even the Ivies (maybe especially the Ivies). Is Bard expensive? Absolutely. I know because I write them checks several times a year to pay for my S’s tuition. But will you get an amazing education? Yes. Does Leon Botstein just want your money? No…he was president when I was there. He truly cares about the campus, the students, and the quality of the education. He wants you to succeed. Are there hipsters there? Absolutely. But not everyone is a hipster. </p>
<p>The bottom line is that you can make your Bard experience anything you want. You have to work your tail off to get decent grades at Bard, and you will get out of it what you put in. Are the stereotypes in the YouTube video true? Those people exist, yes. But it is not like everyone at the college is like that, and the positive parts definitely outshine the negative. I would urge you to go there and talk to existing students. Get a good feel for the students and the campus vibe. I think you’ll find that you will love it.</p>
<p>Let my start by saying Bard is also my first choice and I am so thrilled to be accepted. I was wondering about the ‘trailers’ at Bard (I think they’re called St. Stephen’s halls or something). How many freshmen (maybe others?) have to stay in them? I’ve looked, but the only thing I’ve read is something from Gawker and I’m not sure that it was entirely true. Are there any current or former students who could tell me about them?</p>
<p>Re the trailers - they are only dull to look at from the outside (think of them as portables like at many schools) - they’re actually one of the nicer dorms on campus inside because they’re mostly new - the rooms are big, each room has individual temperature controls, and they have a nice communal area with kitchen which is a great way to make friends the first year. They may also have lovely views from the dorm window. My son lived in Hudson Freshman year and loved it. Now he’s in scenic Stone Row in a single and wishes he were still in a trailer.</p>
<p>That makes me feel a lot better!</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/members/windylights-440653.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/members/windylights-440653.html</a></p>
<p>Same name as the person who uploaded the video on youtube haha.</p>
<p>Just remember: there are people who enjoyed their years at Bard. The old “college is what you make of it” cliche seems to apply here. I think (and I’ve seen this a lot) people who had a negative experience with a college tend to project the same experience on to everyone else, as in “if I felt this way, it must be true for everyone!”</p>
<p>LeCorbusier, You can request, and maybe get, housing. My daughter requested Cruger because it’s halfway between the center of campus and the performing arts center, and has been happy there.</p>
<p>And as a freshman, my son LOVED the toasters. He’s in South Hall this year and does not like it. I spent 3 years in Robbins and loved north campus…it’s all a matter of what you are looking for!</p>
<p>My son wishes he were still on North Campus. First year Hudson, second year New Robbins, and now on Stone Row. He misses the expansive views on the north. He wouldn’t mind living in the Villages though…</p>
<p>D2 spent first year in the toasters (loved it), second in the Village (meh), a semester third year studying abroad and a semester in Stone Row (loved her room), and now has a single in the toasters for her last year (loves it, even though her friends are located elsewhere on campus).</p>
<p>Daughter was in the Alumni Houses freshman year and loved it, and is in South Hall this year and loves it there as well. She was thinking of living off campus with some friends next year, but they all decided to live on campus instead.</p>
<p>That video is funny because it makes fun of the students that people THINK go to Bard. We do, of course, have people like that here, but far more who aren’t.</p>
<p>The dorms (Hudson and Catskill) are called trailers because they’re temporary. They’re pretty nice. The only real negative thing I’ve heard about them is that the walls are kind of thin… But that’s a problem in a lot of dorms. But the views are fantastic from those dorms and the kids in Hudson and Catskill seem to create a tight-knit community every year.</p>
<p>SpiritManager, I also wish I was still on North Campus. I was in Cruger freshman year, New Robbins sophomore year and am now (also) in Stone Row. For being a dorm that’s in the middle of everything, I’ve never felt so isolated on campus (though that probably stems from the fact that all of my friends live on North Campus).</p>
<p>Lilygraces - my son feels the exact same way as you about Stone Row. Funny, isn’t it? You probably know each other - he was in New Robbins last year. (Although, unlike the smaller trailers - there isn’t quite as tight knit a community) Top floor, I think it was- with a spectacular view of the river and the Catskills. He also misses having a roommate! Bard did a fabulous job of matching him up freshman year with someone who will now be a lifelong friend.</p>
<p>Chances are, I do know your son, at the very least by face. I feel the same about my former roommate. She and I roomed together freshman and sophomore year and still talk all the time. Definitely one of the closest friends I’ve made at Bard.</p>
<p>Lilygraces - do you go to Contemporaneous’ concerts? If so, you know my son. :)</p>
<p>SpiritManager - I have yet to make it to one, but I’m 99% sure I know who your son is. We actually talked (for the first time ever) briefly the first day of school this year about getting stuck in Stone Row because we were TBA-ed during room draw.</p>
<p>Honestly, it just comes down to whether or not you think you’ll be a good fit for Bard. Sometimes you don’t really know, and you just have to get out there and experience it for yourself. The youtube video does make some valid points, like the cost of going to Bard. I know that international students here get a LOT of money from Bard, but the same can’t be said for domestic students. After all of my financial aid, I’ve still had to pay $25,000 a year to attend Bard. To put that into perspective, I had enough financial aid last year to go to a UC for free. Since I see that you’re from the bay area, I suspect that the costs could be quite steep for you also. </p>
<p>The youtube video, in general though, is more for comedy’s sake than for a completely accurate portrayal of Bard and its students. Ultimately, if you can, take a trip to Bard and go with what your gut instinct tells you. I have a feeling that you might like Bard more than I did.</p>
<p>Because the college is FULL of people - from all over the country and all over the world. “Hipsters” do NOT make up the college. Intelligent, curious, interesting, NICE kids go to Bard. Don’t believe everything you read and when you read, do it with a discerning eye. The stellar faculty at Bard wouldn’t stick around if the kids were all the same. Visit. You’ll see.</p>
<p>They are not trailers, they are called temporary housing. There IS a big difference. The pluses are the big rooms and airconditioning (a bonus as many dorms do not have airconditioning). Many first year students like them because it is easy to meet folks if you live in Hudson or Catskill (their names).</p>