Bard College at Simon's Rock — Local services in Great Barrington

I would NEVERRRRR suggest anyone investing their time into this school because the staff there are very inconsiderate and terrible at doing their job.. they will let you know things at the very last minute and don't care.. I was a junior graduate in high school who made mostly straight A's with a 3.5 gpa and decided I really would love to go to college a semester early.. so I invested my time and money into simons rock.. I was enrolled and really excited to start and so was my family! however I had to miss my state exams at my high school and my parents had to withdraw me from my high school as part of the process.. I didn't worry I was too excited about college! a day before my arrival at simons rock which is 14hrs away from home... im on the road to simons rock packed down with my stuff in the car when I get a phone call from Ellen the lady in admissions saying I needed to bring $6,500.00 with me when I arrive.. it was just UNBELIEVEABLE! she did not care if I didn't have it and she did not care that I was on my way.. angry and in tears I had to turn around and face that I would forever be considered a "Dropout" because I could no longer return to high school even if I did I would've been soooo behind and my gpa would've been sooo low. if only I would've known about the $6,500.00 when I applied and got enrolled things would've been much better! but again the staff didn't care about the messy situation that they had put me in.. so I don't suggest this...

I didn't go to Bard Academy and therefore shouldn't be writing this, but I feel the need to let potential applicants know about their financial aid awards and admissions. I put my heart and soul into getting into Bard, and for months I stressed and worked myself to the bone. And it paid off, I got in. I was elated, but of course, the financial aid grant was far from what my parents could make work. When Coronavirus 'arrived' and schools and businesses shut down, my mother lost her job, and my dad's business was hanging on threads. We tried explaining this to the Admissions/Financial aid team our situation, but instead of a response, were met with a couple thousand dollars knocked down from the massive price tag. We were very grateful for them to give us more, but were confused at the initial kind and welcoming admissions, to indirect communication and overtness. It became clear to my family and myself that as we waited and hoped for them to award us more money, that they don't usually get families coming from my financial background. I was heartbroken and frankly depressed for most of this summer. This was my dream school, I envisioned myself relating to all of these amazing experiences other students had, I envisioned myself thriving. It may have been naive on my family's part to apply to a school like this knowing where we came from. Either way, I can see where their priorities are, and unfortunately, my family wasn't the...

I am writing on this web site to implore the Bard College at Simons Rock to do something about the Lighting in and around the school. For years many parents, coaches and visitors have mentioned how dark and dangerous it is to walk around this college, especially from the parking lots to the athletic center. After visiting many school/colleges as my children have come to college age, First and foremost on everyones mind is safety, this does not seem to be the case at Simons Rock. On Dec. 20th 1992 this school had a shooting in which two people died and 4 were wounded, it seems so bizarre that this school has done nothing. They have even removed the security guard which use to be at the entrance of the school. While walking from the upper parking lot above the KAC on a rainy over cast night one can not even see the edges of the road let alone have enough light to put your keys in the cars door. The side walks are not level with the grassed edges, you can not see the edge of the sidewalks and often fall off them while walking. The side walks have frost heaves in which you can not see at night or of there is ice on them. It seems to me that Simons Rock College should be proactive in nature and install lighting and "blue boxes" for emergency, instead of waiting and having to be retroactive after someone get...