Bard College (BC)

Bard College, located in the picturesque Hudson Valley, is an institution that truly pushes its undergraduates to "think critically, ask questions...and follow those questions through." Students love the "small and intimate" class sizes, and they consistently find their course materials to be "intriguing, relevant, and challenging." Indeed, the academics are rigorous and culminate in a senior project "required by all students." Many undergrads truly appreciate this requirement, noting it's "a phenomenal opportunity to get hands-on experience working with professionals in the field," and "students end up producing amazing pieces of literature, theater, music, art, [and] scientific research." Bardians also benefit from professors who are "extremely invested in what they are teaching and really want the students to learn as much as they can from them." That means that the faculty "expect a lot from all students, in their assignments, in the depth with which they explore the material, and in the level of discussion." Fortunately, it's "rare to find a teacher that doesn't have time to sit down with the individual student to discuss class work and personal matters." Professors are "well connected in their given fields, they are also great resources for research, internships, and networking." As one student aptly says, "The classes at Bard and the professors are truly amazing."

When asked about their classmates, students quickly assert that "the only thing consistent from one Bardian to the next is that they will always surprise you." Nevertheless, while they may be "incredibly diverse in terms of [their] interests and passions," there's still plenty that unites these "creative and brilliant" individuals. To begin with, they tend to be "deep thinkers." As one undergrad explains, "If you're the kind of person who liked to think about big ideas in high school and felt left out when people around you were not moved by them, then Bard is the perfect place [for you]." Students are often described as "very accepting and liberal. They try to make everyone feel included regardless of gender, sexuality, race, etc." Another student concurs, adding, "Bard students are activists; we revel in politics, culture, education, and human rights." Undergrads appreciate that "there isn't much competition between students when it comes to grades or classes. People are just supportive of the projects their peers are working on." Ultimately, Bard is a place where "you can be a musical mathematician or a written arts and economics major, you can dance, sing, paint or be an athlete or none or all of the above, and people will be excited to hear your story."

Given the emphasis on academics at Bard, it's not unusual to find students enjoying "intellectual conversations and...rehashing class topics" even after class. However, there is also plenty of extracurricular fun to be had. "There are always events happening on campus, including concerts, dance performances, student theater pieces, community dinners, guest lectures, and yoga classes." One student sings the praises of the music scene, noting it's "terrific, both in terms of student bands and outside acts that perform on campus." Of course, "there are also various student clubs like the Surrealist T raining Circus and the Bard Free Press that meet weekly." Bard's drinking scene is fairly low-key; "on the weekends you can find "some parties, but if you have a good group of friends, you'll often stay in with wine or beer and listen to good music." As this student explains, "Bard is a place where often the best night out is time spent with friends." For those who appreciate spending time outdoors, the school is "in the middle of a forest in the Hudson Valley, so there are some absolutely gorgeous spots and hiking trails on campus." There's even one that provides "easy access to our own private waterfall!"

While Bard's educational philosophy does stress learning for its own sake, it places equal emphasis on making sure that what is learned is useful. The Career Development Office offers counseling, job guidance, and career events that include an annual recruiting consortium in New York City. Informal talks, career-specific panels, and formal symposia take place throughout the year. Bard's proximity to the city makes for “incredible opportunities for internships,” and professors are so “well-connected in their given fields” that they act as “great resources for research, internships, and networking.” While Bard believe a college education is more than a pre-professional path, the school does everything it can to help students translate their liberal arts education to the workplace.