Bard College is a beautiful small liberal arts school along the Hudson River, about two hours north of New York City by train. Bard is known for attracting independent thinkers, especially those who are passionate about art and the humanities. Students complete senior projects as part of preparing for graduation that require them to do independent scholarship, research, or another major expression of what they’ve learned at Bard.
Bard is also known for having a variety of dual-degree programs, both in the United States and with international components. These dual-degree programs empower students to graduate with both an undergraduate and a graduate degree in 5 years. There are options in economics, the decorative arts, environmental policy, and teaching. While the participants in these programs only account for a small percentage of the students at Bard, the concept of a dual-degree, and the idea of spending an extended period of time to become a true expert in a field, is central to the culture at Bard.
Another dual-degree program that Bard is particularly known for is the Bard Conservatory, which offers undergraduates access to a 5-year program that results in two undergraduate degrees — one in music, and one bachelor of arts degree in another field. The foundational goal of the program is to prepare students for a life in the arts, and the core concept is that great musicians must be great thinkers. Arts students outside of the Conservatory pursue architecture, art history, dance, film, photography, studio art, theater, and more.
Of course, not every one of the 1,800 undergraduates at Bard pursue an ‘art’ in a traditional sense, but most would consider themselves not just to be creative, but to be a creative. Over 85% of classes have fewer than 20 students, and students come from 40 countries to access to unique experience Bard offers.
As far as admissions goes, Bard is selective, but not incredibly difficult to get into. The acceptance rate has stayed between 50% and 60% in recent years, so we consider Bard a strong ‘foundation’ school on your college list if you are a strong student with a particular interest in the arts and humanities.
Below, we’ll break down how you should be spending your summers if you have Bard in your sites. They aren’t a ‘typical’ college, so you’ll notice that this advice is fairly different from what we’ve said in other posts, even for other small liberal arts school. Colleges are unique, so the best approach to admissions is, too!
If you’re a creative student looking for your perfect college, send us an email. We help students find — and get into — their dream schools.
What does Bard want to see from your summer?
Bard isn’t a cookie cutter kind of place, and they aren’t looking for cookie cutter people. So, there isn’t a ‘formula’ for what they want to see from your summers. There are, though, some broad guidelines you should follow and some big buckets you should fill. Below well break down three ‘buckets,’ but first let’s talk guidelines.
Bard wants students who are passion focused. This means that they aren’t just doing school to do school. They are pursuing a particular subject or area because they genuinely feel a strong connection to it. They also want students who are creativity driven. That doesn’t mean you need to think of yourself as an artist. However, as we said earlier, nearly everyone at Bard does think of themselves as ‘a creative.’ Even if they are studying what one might consider the driest and most boring political science or economics niche you could ever imagine, they are still approaching it with a creative mindset driven to find new pathways and ideas.
What Bard finds most exciting is when they see an application that spotlights how a student is charting their own path. Paying for flashy summer programs or going on fancy trips doesn’t get you bonus points at Bard. Being unabashedly yourself does. Now to the buckets.
Augment Your Academics
Bard doesn’t care a lot about you taking additional classes or doing academic programs over the summer unless you truly want to do that. But they do want to see you learning. Learning can come in lots of different forms, but you should look for ways to learn during the summer that underline what you are going to say that you want to study on your application (and no, you aren’t going to say ‘undecided’ on your application to Bard. While you can do that, you won’t. We forbid it. What Bard wants to see most is passion and direction.
So, use at least part of your summer to show this passion and direction. That could mean securing an internship with a local creative, artist, academic, or business leader, or it could mean doing independent research that you’ll go on to publish or present. If you aren’t sure how to get started on either of these routes, ask your favorite teacher if they may have an idea of someone who could support you in an internship or as a mentor through research.
Explore Your Art
If you’re considering applying to Bard, it’s highly likely that there is something you do related to the arts. Whether it’s music, painting, ceramics, photography, writing, or theater (or anything other art form), you should spend time over the summer pursuing it in an organized way. That could mean creating a body of work that you’ll later put on show, writing a story or essay for publication, or joining a local theater production or arts collective. Set a goal, and work towards it over the course of the summer.
Support Your Community
Bard likes students who give back, but they aren’t huge fans of ‘one-off’ or seemingly random volunteer work. When Bard sees volunteering in the activities section of your application, or on your resume, they want to feel like it fits in as one part of a bigger picture. So, find a way to engage with your community, whether through volunteering or a summer job, that makes sense with whatever else you do and prioritize in your life.
This may mean working at a summer arts camp, volunteering as a mentor, coaching a team, or volunteering or interning with a nonprofit related to your areas of interest. This could be anything, but a few quick ideas are nonprofits connected to addressing environmental issues, decreasing housing and food insecurity, or raising awareness of global issues at home.
Bard wants students who are independent thinkers, and who set a course driven by passion. They like focus, but they value creativity and hard work over a linear path. So don’t worry too much if your route hasn’t been smooth. Focus your attention during the summer on building your expertise in the areas that interest you, and doing so in a way that brings others along with you on your journey.
If you’re an out-of-the-box student looking for an out-of-the-box school, we can help.