<p>are these alike?</p>
<p>i think ive narrowed down to my top three choices.
they are listed from first to third in the title.</p>
<p>yes, in the sense that many people at vassar and bard wanted to go to brown</p>
<p>I would say so, as well. Or at least, the three schools have a tendency to get grouped together as schools at the "liberal" end of the socio-political spectrum, and thus having a similar overall feel. I don't know about Bard, but Brown and Vassar are also similar in that they have no real distributional requirements for graduation. </p>
<p>Of course, they are different in terms of ease of admittance. If Vassar is a good fit to semi-reach, Bard is going to be a likely to a low good fit and Brown is going to be a reach to high reach. But yes, I would say someone who likes one of those three schools, will more likely than not like the other two and that they also see a lot of cross-applicants.</p>
<p>My S applied to all three and was admitted to all three. He did not choose any of these because another school had captured his heart, but he did really love all three of them and would have been thrilled to attend.</p>
<p>My D#2 applied to Bard EA and just finished her first year there. Ups and downs but she's been home for less than a week and already misses it. She had so many unique opportunities in just her first year, we all know it was the right choice or her and she turned down many "higher-ranked" schools. It's all about the fit. Many at Vassar are awed by the art opportunities at Bard and the unique contact with professors has caught the eye of more than one from what we used to call that "arm-pit Ivy" in Providence. ;)</p>
<p>Seriously, all are great schools, but it's not too difficult to get a feel for which one suits you. They are unique in different ways. Brown will certainly be the more difficult from an admissions standpoint but from what I've seen Vassar is relatively easy, especially for guys. Bard is one of those schools that is so self-selective, the stats for admission really get tossed out the window.</p>
<p>"Bard is one of those schools that is so self-selective, the stats for admission really get tossed out the window."</p>
<p>Meaning admissions at Bard pays more attention to personal qualities than grades or scores?</p>
<p>It seems to me that Brown rejects go to Vassar and Vassar rejects go to Bard. I only applied to Vassar, because I kind of failed at college research, but I'd imagine that if you'd be happy at one, you'd be happy at all three.</p>
<p>
That's true, too, but what I meant was that normal stats don't quite cut it for Bard since most of those applying know what they're getting into and that self-selected applicant pool is quite different than those who apply to Brown simply because it's Ivy League, or top-rated in USNews. Acceptance rate for Bard and similar schools may seem high compared to "more selective" schools but the applicant pool is more filtered at the Bard-type schools because of their "different" reputation. Higher acceptance rate doesn't necessarily mean "safety" or less selective since the applicant pool is more focused to begin with. Bard knows what they want and who will thrive in its unique environment. If it appeals to you, then great.</p>
<p>Bard's acceptance rate and Vassar's have both hovered just below 30%, though I think this year Vassar was more selective.</p>
<p>Actually the year my D applied Bard's was lower.</p>
<p>Check it out. It's surprising. Of course, they're different pools so a kid rejected at Vassar may be accepted at Bard with slightly lower stats.</p>
<p>For what it's worth Sarah Lawrence is known to reject women who get into Harvard on occasion and not because of Tufts syndrome.</p>
<p>A good portion of kids at Bard are Vassar rejects. I'm personally friends with 12 (I just counted, that's actually really sad). Those kind of kids would have fit in at Vassar, but just didn't make the academic cut usually. The schools are similar, yes, but if you are looking for academics, I'd head to Vassar, and if you are looking for the arts, I'd head to Bard.</p>
<p>From the research I've done, it seems as though Brown's applicants vary very widely. It also seems that Brown accepts a slightly more academically diverse crowd. Some with super high stats are accepted and even some with act's below a 23 are accepted (I found this on their admissions stats page).
However, Brown is my second choice; not my first. I am applying to vassar ED1. I will apply to Brown ED2 if I am rejected at Vassar (very sad thought). Bard is the easy-reach school for me.
It took me my entire junior year, but I have found three schools that are all quite appealing to me. They all seemed to have that uniqueness that I wanted in a school, and they all seemed to possess a more liberal atmosphere which I wanted. I come from a very conservative private school in Kentucky and I want a change. A big one.</p>
<p>Bard's crowd is self selected. Several very good students I know were not accepted there. It is essential to visit, and you have to be a good fit for them to accept you. I think Oberlin is getting to be the same way. Vassar has more of a mainline crowd, in my opinion, as does Brown. Kids could be very happy at Brown, that may not be at Bard. Some good schools for Bard like kids are Goucher, Skidmore, Bennington, Connecticut College, Wheaton, Oberlin, Sarah Lawrence, Hampshire, Evergreen, Marlboro.</p>
<p>This is why Bard is the last choice of my reach schools. Im sure I will thrive there, but I dont think I will be nearly as thrilled to attend Bard as I would Vassar or Brown</p>
<p>The kids who went to Bard from S's school really are enjoying the experience. Another is going this year and is really psyched.</p>
<p>I have a friend who goes to Vassar and she absolutely loves it. She "recruited" me. She just finished her first year.</p>
<p>Connecticut College an Wheaton do not belong on the above list.</p>
<p>They are not alternative enclaves, nor is Skidmore.</p>
<p>i was denied from bard this year, and I had pretty good stats to get in. Everybody was extremely shocked that I didn't [I wasn't the MOST successful at math, and didn't go on to Calculus, so I guess that's why. They like well-rounded students.] </p>
<p>My best friend was accepted, on the other hand. She loved Bard, because she liked vassar a lot, and is also going to be an art major. Vassar's art program is kinda EHHHHHH, so Bard was a good match. She also applied to Brown, so I guess she fits into that field. </p>
<p>Bard is an amazing school, but it is def. not for anyone. It's NOT for slackers, from what I've seen visiting campus twice and being obsessed with it for 2 years. It's a school for people who are excited and passionate about learning, and who are interested in expanding their way of thinking, so to speak. Also, it is not for anyone mildly resembling a conservative. The entire place is a liberal shrine [WHOOOOH!!!!]</p>
<p>I applied to all three. When I had my Vassar interview he said that Bard kids were known to think Vassar as their "enemies". Maybe this has to do with the fact, that seemingly, most Bard kids are Vassar rejects?</p>
<p>I know a bit about both Bard and Vassar, having relatives at both right now. They get along fine. If there is some animosity toward either it is perhaps even the other way around, which may be indicated by an admissions officer having to make such a preposterous comment. I do know some Vassar kids are very jealous of the art program at Bard and the rigidity of program requirements that exist at Vassar but not at Bard. </p>
<p>My relative at Vassar never considered applying to Bard but Vassar was not the top-choice, either. The one at Bard never considered applying to Vassar but was accepted at many schools most here would rate at the top, certainly higher than Bard, but Bard was the first choice. Go figure. It's often been said before; Bard isn't for everyone. And for some, nothing else will do! It's all about "fit" and no one else can decide that for you. It's not a contest or a ratings game. It's personal. You'll feel it or you won't. </p>
<p>And there's always the possibility of transfer if you don't like your choice.</p>
<p>Bard has incredibly rigourous graduation requirements. Intense writing program before the freshmen year starts, First-Year seminars, Moderation, Senior Project. They have a non-traditional but elegantly designed curriculum. Bard also has stellar faculty for such a small school. The academic training at Bard is very very demanding and rigorous despite the "hippie" feel. Bard's Institue of GLobal affairs located in NYC offers a long list of amazing internship opportunities. I like all three and I think you may enjoy more freedom at Brown with the open curriculum, plus it's a much bigger school so the student body would be a lot more diverse. Vassar does attract a much more mainline application pool than Bard.</p>