Mark a survey and Inform Staff

Peer Review:
66.41.254.109:invalid:Content Useless, :This person admits that they did not GO TO BARD.
69.182.209.109:invalid:Malicious Intent/Faked, :this person did not go to Bard; therefore has no idea since she is commenting only after one tour.
50.113.155.206:mislocation:Content Useless, Malicious Intent/Faked, :Huh...it seems like this person is too stuck up.
5.45.80.218:valid:Content Nonsensical, Duplicate Survey, High Vulgarity, High Grammatical Error, Probably Admissions, Content Useless, Malicious Intent/Faked, SPAM, :1
5.45.80.218:valid:Content Nonsensical, Duplicate Survey, High Vulgarity, High Grammatical Error, Probably Admissions, Content Useless, Malicious Intent/Faked, SPAM, :1
5.45.80.218:valid:Content Nonsensical, Duplicate Survey, High Vulgarity, High Grammatical Error, Probably Admissions, Content Useless, Malicious Intent/Faked, SPAM, :1
5.45.80.218:valid:Content Nonsensical, Duplicate Survey, High Vulgarity, High Grammatical Error, Probably Admissions, Content Useless, Malicious Intent/Faked, SPAM, :1
5.45.80.218:valid:Content Nonsensical, Duplicate Survey, High Vulgarity, High Grammatical Error, Probably Admissions, Content Useless, Malicious Intent/Faked, SPAM, :1
5.45.80.218:valid:Content Nonsensical, Duplicate Survey, High Vulgarity, High Grammatical Error, Probably Admissions, Content Useless, Malicious Intent/Faked, SPAM, :1
5.45.80.218:valid:Content Nonsensical, Duplicate Survey, High Vulgarity, High Grammatical Error, Probably Admissions, Content Useless, Malicious Intent/Faked, SPAM, :1
5.45.80.218:valid:Content Nonsensical, Duplicate Survey, High Vulgarity, High Grammatical Error, Probably Admissions, Content Useless, Malicious Intent/Faked, SPAM, :1
5.45.80.218:valid:Content Nonsensical, Duplicate Survey, High Vulgarity, High Grammatical Error, Probably Admissions, Content Useless, Malicious Intent/Faked, SPAM, :1
5.45.80.218:valid:Content Nonsensical, Duplicate Survey, High Vulgarity, High Grammatical Error, Probably Admissions, Content Useless, Malicious Intent/Faked, SPAM, :1
5.45.80.218:valid:Content Nonsensical, Duplicate Survey, High Vulgarity, High Grammatical Error, Probably Admissions, Content Useless, Malicious Intent/Faked, SPAM, :1

Statistical Analyzer: ,BLANK_SURVEY_NODATA

I am not a Bard student. I had an interview scheduled, and after my tour and info session I decided not to follow through on the interview. By all means go and experience the place for yourself.

Bard is one of those places that projects a great big fat image that says: we are special, we are smart, we are creative and artistic and deep. We are so special, as are our teachers, there are probably no others in the world like us.

Okay, so here's the thing: Lots of colleges and universities have impressive faculty who publish highly regarded books. Bard "people" seem to think that their faculty alone is gifted enough to do this. Bard exudes this feeling of such "specialness" that it is very tempting to try to get in and go there and join the brigade of special people. (Does that mean I can be special, too?)

There is just something about the philosophy of the place that seems too precious, too full of itself. We were told that at Bard, studying abroad is assessed very seriously. For example, why does the student want to study abroad? To see Paris? Or because an educational opportunity exists there that doesn't exist anywhere else. Give me a break. I can just imagine all these students and professors thinking up brilliant rationales for studying abroad. What's wrong with going abroad to see Paris? Studying abroad is an enriching experience that seems to provide students with a new outlook, even new skills, and a new feeling of independence. But at Bard, there is this quirky little philosophy that you have to go abroad because you need to study something there that can only be studied there. What about making more people into global citizens?

Bard has this weird thing called "moderation" that involves the "process" whereby (don't you just hate it when everything has to be a "process?") the student "decides" on what they want to major in. The student writes a couple of papers, including an evaluation of one's goals, one's experience, yada, yada, yada. Then a panel of THREE FACULTY review what you've written, review your work, review what you'd like to major in, and then TELL YOU what they think. They give you "constructive criticism" and talk about your strengths and weaknesses. I can just imagine how "objective" every single one of these meetings is, and how these genius faculty can brilliantly decide what future is good for a student. (Imagine your high school teachers sitting down and evaluating you in such a personal, probing manner. And they'd all be helpful and objective and caring and accurate? They won't have any preconceived notions about you? Or incorrect impressions of you? Some of the most popular kids in my school are loved by teachers for…..who knows what reason. The teachers treat them as if they can do wrong. The faculty at Bard are the same imperfect humans that the teachers in your own school are. Teachers can be mean to kids! And this NEVER happens at Bard?

Also a weird thing: for such an artistic, creative, alternative, independent school, why did I see people there wearing uniforms? Okay, so they were uniforms of tight jeans and moccasins. (And what's with the high heels? I think this was the first campus visit I've been on where the students were all decked out in high heels. It was a little weird, surrounded by all this beautiful nature to hear the clicking of high heels on the pavement).

The campus is gorgeous. No doubt about that. I guess this is where rich and or special people go to feel more special. Do they accept ugly people into Bard. Or fat people? Or people with acne?

Maybe I should just do like my parents did and go to a trusty old state school.

And if these people are so independent and such deep thinkers, what's all the emphasis on AP classes about?

I'd love to hear from people—in a balanced way—who had bad experiences at Bard.