Anybody go/went to Bennington?

[Pemulis]

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I've already done a search on this, and can't find much info at all. I wrote the school an e-mail, but haven't heard back yet. So I'm curious if anybody here knows anything firsthand about their post-bac program, and if so, could comment on it. Some specific things I'm looking for:

1. Attrition rate
2. Rate of acceptance for those who do complete it
3. Overall thoughts on the quality of the courses and advising
4. The difficulty of the classes (I notice on their website that they have their post-bacs do 4 classes per semester, instead of 3 as at Bryn Mawr, Goucher, etc., and am wondering if this is really feasible for most people, or if their classes are a bit easier than at the others).

I'm probably going to be doing my post-bac at a state school, but this is one of the few private programs I'm still considering, mainly due to geographical factors.

Muchos gracias to anybody who replies to this.

 

[Febrifuge]

I've already done a search on this, and can't find much info at all. I wrote the school an e-mail, but haven't heard back yet. So I'm curious if anybody here knows anything firsthand about their post-bac program, and if so, could comment on it.

I could find hardly a peep about it either, when I was looking... but I'll be in the Bennington PB starting next June. So... hi. 🙂

Some specific things I'm looking for:
1. Attrition rate

Unknown, at least in terms of a percentage or a number... but I doubt it could be terribly high. Much like med school itself, a top-tier postbac is not something you start and then don't finish. The financial consequences are too sad to think about.

I do know there is good support; if a student is struggling, it will not be one of those last-minute surprises. Classes are small, feedback is frequent, and resources are good. Maybe the plan might change and someone could decelerate from the one-year option to the two-year. When I asked about this, I was told that yes, sometimes people do discontinue... but it's a last resort, and it's the student's idea. If you can hang with it and apply yourself, I wouldn't worry about being cut or anything like that.

2. Rate of acceptance for those who do complete it

Over 90%. And for the last few years, 100%. Keep in mind, with only about 8 to 12 people a year in the Bennington program, I consider this a better record than a program that graduates 200 each year and has 20 not accepted.

3. Overall thoughts on the quality of the courses and advising

The very best I found, and I looked at a lot. I also took a road trip out there in July, so this is recent info. The Postbac is the main place within the College where faculty scientists -- and they have to be working researchers, not just academics -- work with students. There are few if any undergrad Bio or Chem majors, so you do NOT compete with them at any time. And since this is a dedicated Pre-Health program, the fact that you are not a Bio or Chem major does not muddy your relationship with faculty. They are there to help you do the very thing you are there to do. Many of the other programs I looked at, even the 'big name' ones, can not say that.

4. The difficulty of the classes (I notice on their website that they have their post-bacs do 4 classes per semester, instead of 3 as at Bryn Mawr, Goucher, etc., and am wondering if this is really feasible for most people, or if their classes are a bit easier than at the others).

Classes may be different, and I can't say if they're easier since I haven't sat in on 3 hours each of Cell Bio and Chem at the other schools. It seemed tough enough to me.

I'm probably going to be doing my post-bac at a state school, but this is one of the few private programs I'm still considering, mainly due to geographical factors. Muchos gracias to anybody who replies to this.

It's really very unlike much of what seems to be available. No disrespect to the Hunter people in the other thread, but I would shrivel and die in an environment where there are ever more than 25 people in a classroom. Eight to ten seems about right, for me, if I'm gong to do any real learning.

 

[Pemulis]

Febrifuge,

Thanks so much for the info. Starting next June, eh? Perhaps we'll be classmates. Do you have the contact info of anybody at Bennington? I wrote an e-mail to their admissions office last week, and never got a response.

 

[Febrifuge]

Thanks so much for the info. Starting next June, eh? Perhaps we'll be classmates. Do you have the contact info of anybody at Bennington? I wrote an e-mail to their admissions office last week, and never got a response.

Classmates would be cool. As far as I know, my deferral from now to next June makes me the first one in my class. It would be nice to know who's joining me.

About the email, don't worry. Not only is it right after a holiday, this is the first week of the Fall semester -- so there is a lot for them to do with the new 2004 undergrads. I'm sure you'll hear back when they can give you undivided attention. But if you get antsy or don't hear back, the Admissions person for the Post-Bac is Rachel Emmons-Bradley. You can email again and put her name in the subject line, or call in to the Admissions 800#, and speak with her or one of the other counselors.

I think you'll find the Bennington Admissions people take you and your program quite seriously, but they are also rightly proud of having a great environment and they don't let the stress show. Plus they work in a beautiful converted farmhouse and have Green Mountain Coffee right there, so compared to the college admissions office I used to work in, life is pretty darn good. 🙂

Send me a PM with your real name, if you like, and I could send along an e-mail of my own, to give Rachel a heads-up.

 

[Pemulis]

Febrifuge,

OK, I've pm'd you.

 

[Bennington]

I've already done a search on this, and can't find much info at all. I wrote the school an e-mail, but haven't heard back yet. So I'm curious if anybody here knows anything firsthand about their post-bac program, and if so, could comment on it. Some specific things I'm looking for:

1. Attrition rate
2. Rate of acceptance for those who do complete it
3. Overall thoughts on the quality of the courses and advising
4. The difficulty of the classes (I notice on their website that they have their post-bacs do 4 classes per semester, instead of 3 as at Bryn Mawr, Goucher, etc., and am wondering if this is really feasible for most people, or if their classes are a bit easier than at the others).

I'm probably going to be doing my post-bac at a state school, but this is one of the few private programs I'm still considering, mainly due to geographical factors.

Muchos gracias to anybody who replies to this.

Hi. I am the coordinator for the PB Program at Bennington College, you can contact me with your questions directly. (I don't want to advertise on this site, just offer information.)

I've been lucky enough to also participate in science classes at Bennington, and can answer questions from the perspective of a former student as well.

You can also find more information on the college website. Try these two links:

http://www.bennington.edu/main.htm

(and then go to graduate programs, and then Post Bacc)

http://faculty.bennington.edu/~science/

I hope this helps. Also, let me know if you still haven't received information from us - we had some glitches with our front office email, and I know a lot of our graduate program inquiries were lost.

-Rachel EB