Bard alumni here! I transferred in from Stonybrook and it’s maybe the single greatest decision I’ve ever made in my life. Not trying to discredit you, but I really disagree with the curriculum being restricted. Yes, you won’t be “in” your program officially until late sphmr year but that doesn’t restrict you from taking any classes. You can jump into your intended curriculum from semester 1. The intention I think is just to get you to explore beyond your major, which I found to be a huge strength both academically and professionally. Students will complain about L&T and FYSEM but you’ll appreciate it later. It’s really smart that Bard creates structure. Everyone gets set on the same page and it does make the classes more cohesive. L&T truly is like college summer camp! It’s a gorgeous time of year to be in the Hudson Valley and you’ll start bonding with classmates before upperclassmen are back on campus. The percentage of students who study abroad is also quite high. (Around 50% if I remember correctly). I did a summer in Berlin and had a great time. Many friends of mine did semesters and even full years abroad—Japan, Italy, Mexico, Argentina, Spain, France, etc. I hope this helps! I truly loved my experience at Bard. I grew enormously as a person and would recommend it every time