<p>I don’t smoke (pot or cigarettes or anything), I don’t drink, I don’t do any hard drugs- the question is, would I fit in at Bard? Is there the constant smell of pot/smoke? Because I honestly can’t handle that. I don’t care if people do drugs, but I prefer them not to do them around me- it makes me feel uncomfortable. I understand that there are certain amounts of drugs at any college, but does it dominate the social scene there? I’m just trying to weigh my options, I’ve been wondering the same about Hampshire… can anyone here compare the two as far as the drug scene goes? I’m interested in the openness and the alternative atmosphere both can offer, but worried about if I’ll fit in with drug use.</p>
<p>I have the same question. We are West Coast. Is the reputation of Bard similar in regards to Reed with drug use (Reed has a bad rep for this)?</p>
<p>I don’t use drugs or drink either and I am also considering Bard. I have also read quite a few posts with a similar concern, so your not alone on this one.When I visited I didn’t smell any pot smoke and many of the students were sitting around reading or doing homework. I asked this same question of a ad rep and she said Bards reputation as a “druggie” school is blown out of proportion and that it depends on who you talk to. I personally believe that the reason Bard has such a reputation is due to the fact that the school is obviously very liberal, thus drug use is more excepted then it would be at other schools. Thus, it may appear that Bard has a large drug scene, but in reality it is just more noticeable then at other schools, not bigger. Substance free housing is also available, which I am looking into. I hope this helps!</p>
<p>Lots of cigarette smoke but smokers go outside.</p>
<p>My understanding is that the drug reputation is inflated, based on D’s experience (her drug of choice is ice cream).</p>
<p>My D is considering the substance-free housing at Bard bec. she likes to hang out with people who aren’t into drugs or smoking. But I’m wondering if it’s mostly filled with students whose parents made them choose substance-free housing? i.e., it’s not really substance-free, and the other types of housing offered at Bard would just as good for students like her?</p>
<p>Mom of another straight edge potential student next year!</p>
<p>My guess is that perhaps pot use is higher at Bard relative to other schools, but that beer drinking is lower, and that the total substance use is therefore not much different than most colleges. This is just a guess, though, not based on any experience.</p>
<p>[Myths</a> and Realities | Bard](<a href=“http://www.bard.edu/admission/about/myths.shtml]Myths”>http://www.bard.edu/admission/about/myths.shtml)</p>
<p>Look at myth #5.</p>
<p>Now sure, you’re saying “but *of course *they’ll say that!” However, the fact that they actually address it says a lot more.</p>
<p>I’ve been to Bard many times, and emerica is spot-on correct. It’s a liberal school, it has a rich history, and the drug use is blown way out of proportion. In fact, I think people enjoy perpetuating the myth, because it adds to Bard’s mystique.</p>
<p>Is there pot smoking? Sure. [There’s pot smoking at Furman too…and the University of Alabama…and Grinnell…and Haverford…and (gasp!) MIT, believe it or not.]</p>
<p>That’s reassuring. I’m not afraid of a little pot- some of my best friends aren’t as straightedge as I am, and I’m okay with that, and I’m aware that there’s a drug presence pretty much everywhere. I just want to make sure the social scene isn’t dominated by it.</p>
<p>There are definitely lots of drug users and drinkers here, but it’s very easy (at least in my own experience and observations) to be straight-edge. It’s a very “non-pressured” situation and depending on who you’re friends are and where you are on campus, it’s often an atypical party scene, at least for some portion of the night in that it tends to not be “frat-ty” and more Socratic (i.e.: let’s have a few glasses of wine and discuss philosophies we learned in class this week/issues we have on our mind, etc.)</p>
<p>People here are very generous and want others to have a good time. You’ll be offered drinks and joints, etc. but if you say no, no one here will ask “why not?” or bring attention to it. It’s more of a “that’s cool” kind of thing and then they go about doing their own thing.</p>
<p>I have friends here who are straight-edge who don’t have issues with it. I also find it easy to take “easy” nights and not party but still hang out with my friends.</p>
<p>This really depends.</p>
<p>It is definitely possible to be straight-edge here. But you have to be prepared for a certain amount of sitting in your dorm at night as a result.</p>
<p>The truth is, nearly everyone here does smoke pot, drink, or do other things. There are people who don’t, yeah, though a lot of them are just the sort of semi-antisocial people who aren’t too much fun to hang out with.</p>
<p>It’s definitely possible to go to parties without getting drunk, but most people around you will be drinking, and drunk by 11. It doesn’t hurt too much, but it’s definitely there.</p>
<p>And then there are a fair number of people who do harder things, like coke or speed. You generally know who they are, but they definitely exist.</p>
<p>This is very much a drug school, however much the administration downplays it. It’s just not exclusively one.</p>
<p>^^ You go to the same school as my very close friend (whom I’ve visited many, many times), and my experience with Bard is quite different.</p>
<p>My friend doesn’t drink, doesn’t smoke, nor use drugs. And she definitely does NOT sit around in her dorm room on Friday nights either!</p>
<p>During my many visits, we (she and I, and dozens of her straight-edged Bard friends) have:</p>
<ul>
<li>hiked the Catskills</li>
<li>checked out the exhibit at Hessel Museum of Art</li>
<li>hosted a radio show</li>
<li>attended a concert at Fisher</li>
<li>um, yeah, studied</li>
<li>just chilled with friends (sans drugs)</li>
<li>seen a documentary film on campus</li>
<li>worked out, swam in Bard’s great pool</li>
<li>dined out with friends in Red Hook</li>
<li>attended one of many dance performances</li>
<li>attended one of many parties (sans drugs)</li>
</ul>
<p>Do we sound anti-social? </p>
<p>Running out of room, and time. But there is a wide variety of people who attend Bard, and there are plenty, PLENTY, who enjoy their time there without drugs. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.</p>
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<p>Lots of things to do other than get mood altered at Bard. This is not to say if you go to a big party on Saturday night you will not be around quite a few people who are “happy”. That is no different than at other colleges now or many years ago when I was in school. Ask any of your parents if they ever went to a Frat party back “in their day”. Just to see what they were like of course…</p>
<p>Bard students, like my straight senior Son, are very laid back sorts and all kinds seem to be very welcome. There is not a frat culture at all so most parties are smaller events than at larger schools.</p>
<p>The rural nature of the school does limit where you can go out to party but there seems to be quite a bit of smaller gathering with lots and lots of conversation. No doubt many other things also go on as is appropriate for young adults.</p>
<p>S got into Harvard and Columbia for Graduate school this week so Bard take you anywhere you want to go.</p>
<p>Good luck</p>
<p>Congrats to your son! That’s great!
What major, i.e. what will he study at grad school?</p>
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<p>He is a history major concentrating in Amercian History. He wants to be a HS Social Studies teacher so will be doing a one year education masters degree that includes teacher certification at either Bard’s MAT program (they do have graduate courses in education just not undergraduate courses), Columbia Teachers College, or Harvard (urban education).</p>