Our next stop on our college tour north of New York City was Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson. The campus is literally a 1000-acre fusion of three separate Hudson Valley historical estates. Academically, Bard has a rigorous core curriculum requiring one course in each of ten different categories. Bard is committed to introduing students to a variety of intellectual and artistic experiences and to fostering both breadth and depth across interdisciplinary pursuits. On our visit, we were told that in order to enjoy their experience at Bard college, a student has to be interested in being around the arts. I do think this is true. In addition to traditional programs in humanities, social sciences and STEM, Bard offers very strong programs in Architecture, Art history, Dance, Film, Photography and Theater. Bard also has a Conservatory of Music wherein students study for 5 years, culminating in a Bachelor of Music as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in another field. This underscores Bard's commitment to broadly educating students within the liberal arts and sciences in order to achieve their greatest potential. Regarding admissions, Bard has some very unique processes. They have an Immediate Decision Plan which is offered through both early action and early decision, whereby students participate in a virtual or in-person seminar workshop and interview. Students receive an admission decision within a day! Another option is to bypass the whole application process and pursue Bard's Entrance Examination. Through this platform, a student writes three 2500-word essays in each of three different academic areas. The prompts are not for the faint of heart. They are deeply esoteric, proving to me that Bard is looking for a very deep thinkers. Because those are the kinds of students you will find here.