StudentsReview :: Bennington College - Extra Detail about the Comment
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Bennington College

How this student rated the school
Educational QualityB+ Faculty AccessibilityB
Useful SchoolworkB Excess CompetitionB
Academic SuccessF Creativity/ InnovationA-
Individual ValueB University Resource UseC-
Campus Aesthetics/ BeautyA FriendlinessB-
Campus MaintenanceC+ Social LifeC
Surrounding CityD+ Extra CurricularsD-
SafetyB-
Describes the student body as:
Arrogant, Broken Spirit, Snooty

Describes the faculty as:
Helpful, Arrogant, Self Absorbed

Female
ACT:27
id='quarter' class='snapshot' style='color: #977500; line-height:80px';float:left;
SAT1890
Quite Bright
Lowest Rating
Academic Success
F
Highest Rating
Campus Aesthetics/ Beauty
A
She cares more about Academic Success than the average student.
Date: Apr 22 2009
Major: Art & Design Department (This Major's Salary over time)
Like any other college it's about what you put into it. If you want to have an fulfilling academic education you can do it here. The big problems with the academics though would be the limit of teachers in each discipline. If your interested in the dance program don't be. It's a bunch of people running around to crappy music telling people it's modern. If you want a real dance education go to Purchase, Julliard etc. Most people doing visual arts are super pretentious and personally I feel if you want to study visual arts you may as well go to an arts school and get a really solid education. Bennington academics are geared more towards liberal arts and humanity type majors.

The social scene is on campus. You can find something to do almost any night that's if you want to party. Otherwise it's mostly about hanging around with your group of friends. The campus has lots of things going on bands, concerts etc. It gets pretty isolating though since your pretty much in the middle of nowhere. People go down to the city a lot. I had a car and I still felt trapped. The students are off beat to say the least.

Dealing with the administration is impossible. There are nice and caring individuals within it though but everything is tied in red tape so it's hard for anything to get done. They deal poorly with mental issues and sexual harassment. The school being so small makes most personal situations a lot worse then necessary.

I didn't hate my experience it was simply to intense. If I hadn't had so many personal issues to deal with I might still be there. But I am happy I left cause I've realized that their are plenty of off beat and interesting colleges, most of them a lot less $. If your not positive you want to go to Bennington don't go and I highly suggest having your classes graded if you do go. It is nearly impossible to transfer credit which is a big waist of money. It's a hit or miss college.

 
Responses
questionHi, I'm a prospective transfer student to Bennington (just looking into it as a possibility). I would really like a school that is more interdisciplinary, creative and student directed but being from LA I do know and hate the snooty private school crowd and the crazy prices of these schools. What schools do you know of that have a similar philosophy to Bennington but are cheaper like you said in the review?? I would REALLY appreciate your insight, i'm so stressed about the whole college research thing!
responseI'm in the same situation as you and I even live in the same area haha. The colleges I'm applying to are all quite pricey like Bennington is, but I would say don't worry about it. Check out Hampshire and Sarah Lawrence, they are very similar in philosophy to Bennington. Don't worry about the price because all of these schools are well known for giving very generous financial aid (Sarah Lawrence sometimes pays more than half of tuition AKA my number one choice).
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