Bard College — Local services in Town of Red Hook

Bard does really have a STUNNING campus. And the performing arts programs are some of the best that a smaller college can offer. I STRONGLY considered Bard, but was mainly focused primarily on New England colleges, and I favored Sarah Lawrence MUCH more than Bard as it was closer to the city (which is where I'm originally from) and also Reed College out in Portland, Oregon with it's "small campus feel" in a major urban area was a huge draw for me as well.

The three colleges are VERY similar though, in terms of academics and student life, but I found Sarah Lawrence & Reed overall to be a bit more in line with what I wanted. In the end I chose Hampshire College in Amherst, MA over everywhere else I had applied or was considering applying to (it had the unstructured interdisciplinary curriculum I ultimately needed) and it had always been my top #1 college choice.

Bard's campus though, is absolutely BEAUTIFUL. I was also a New England Masters League Downhill Ski Racer, and competed quite frequently at Hunter Mountain, which is VERY close by to Bard, so it was good to know skiing was right near by, though Bard itself did not have a downhill racing team. However, neither did Hampshire, so I founded one there, and I'm sure I would have done the same at Bard.

I really was attuned to a lot of the structure of Bard's academics, being a big fan of First Year Seminar & the Writing Requirement. Bard and Hampshire have a lot in common academically and socially as well, except Hampshire was quite a bit smaller at 1,400 students and was in New England, which was where I ultimately wanted to attend college.

Along with Skidmore and Sarah Lawrence though, Bard was one of the upstate NY colleges that got my serious consideration. Had the Fisher Center been built back in the early 90's when I was applying to colleges and had Bard's film program been what it is now (Hampshire's was better back at that time), I believe Bard would have then been in my top three or five choices. And, as it was, Bard made my...

Very romantic place...❤Have really warm, cozy, and happy memories about this place. The nature is great. It's really pretty and peaceful.

It's always nice to belong to such community. I'm so proud of being Bardian, of this pretty campus, picturesque nature, and just wonderful people.

I loved studying there, loved taking walks, and having deep conversations with my professors. Honestly, I just love this school.

I loved going to the theater there and watching different plays, listening to TOP orchestra.

I do think that the dorms could be upgraded and more soundproof though.

The food was really tasty for the campus food. It could be better. But what is really good about this place is that they are striving for excellence. Every year the food quality improves. They now have organic milk and absolutely amazing granola at Klein.

This place is totally worth visiting, walking around, and studying. One of my best memories in life are around this place....

Every girl here is weird they all bald ain’t no baddies here, you try to talk to them and they either hiss or look at you like you have 1 eye in the middle of your head. The food here is decent but it forces you to eat unhealthy. The student center is probably the best part of the campus besides for the vending machines upstairs just taking your money and not giving you any snacks. The gym is dummy hot, and they don’t clean the tables in the dining hall whatsoever. Also this stupid spinning swing is a death hazard for people ages 10 and below. You would have to give me a full ride plus pay me 1000 a week for me to consider attending this campus for 4 years and even then it would be a 10% chance of me coming. There’s no store within a 1-2 mile radius so if you don’t catch the student center snack store before 2pm then you’ll starve until you eat the mid breakfast...