benningtonstudents

[benningtonstudents]

fav dining hall meals?

Ooh great question! I asked everyone in the Admissions office:

Jules '25: Salmon BLT

Miriam '26: Beef Bibimbap

Kat '23 (our Visit Coordinator!): Tricky Chicky Sandwich, dolmas, and the meals Dhall staff makes for students who stay on campus for the holidays!

Mirza '22 (one of our Admissions counselors!): Bibimbap and the holiday meals, shrimp po boys

Stefanos '23 (one of our Admissions counselors!): Burger Day or the salmon filets they used to make with tomatoes

Liz (our Associate Admissions Director!): Tricky Chicky and the salad bar

Tonya (AVP of admissions!): daal, Baked Brie Day

Iris '24 (me!): Baked Brie Day, french toast sticks

#bennington college #college #student life #dining hall #college food #food

[benningtonstudents]

Good afternoon

Do you have any recommendations on what I should pack for the fall? I'm moving from a relatively hot state, and I know Vermont is an extremely cold state, but what kind of clothing items would work best for the winter or life in the state in general?

Thank you :) Have a nice day

Hello!

That is a great question! I think it depends on how cold you get as a person. I always bring one heavy jacket and thermals for when it is really cold, but you will also be here when the seasons are changing so you need some clothes for warm weather as well. As you come back each term, you will start to figure out what your essentials are. I like to have lots of clothes that I can layer with each other. Also being extra blankets to be cozy in your room. Let us know if you have any other questions!

-Faith '24

[benningtonstudents]

hi, I have a question about academics. if I am interested only in the arts & want to concentrate in say visual arts, music & creative writing, is it possible to *only take courses in those areas and still fulfill all your degree requirements?

Hello!

Because the Plan process is so individualized, it is very possible to only take courses you are interested in. That being said, your faculty will encourage you to study broadly, especially your first year, but that can look like a lot of different things. Also we have no specific degree requirements. I hope that helps answer your question!

-Faith '24

[benningtonstudents]

need pics from big thief at sunfest in 2017

Hello,

Unfortunately, I do not have access to those pictures. I would try reaching out to communications, the library, or other alums.

Best of luck!

-Faith '24

[benningtonstudents]

Hello! Do I need to submit proof of a meningitis vaccine? If so, how would I do that?

Hello!

If you are an admitted student, you will receive information about submitting your health forms over the summer! Meningitis is one of the required immunizations, and when you get those health forms there will be a complete list of the required vaccinations.

Let us know if you have any other questions!

-Faith '24

[benningtonstudents]

Hello, Can you tell me what percentage of the rooms are singles at Bennington?

Hello,

We don't have any specific info in terms of singles versus doubles as that is more of a Student Life question, but each house has a different layout so there are a mix of doubles and singles. As of right now, only seniors are eligible for singles, but it really depends on the year and the class size and each single room has a slightly different layout. If you have any more specific questions about housing, feel free to reach out to Student Life at [email protected].

-Faith '24

[benningtonstudents]

Hi, I’m planning to go on the upcoming spring Saturday visit, and I have a question that I’m not sure would be covered there so I’m asking here.

Are there services and/or accommodations for neurodivergent students? This can range from something small like seats that are moveable like spinny chairs or those circular wobble stools for stimming, to aids and learning plans.

Thank you! ^^ (I wasn’t expecting to see a college on Tumblr lol, it’s always interesting to see a legitimate professional blog on this hellsite(affectionate))

Hello,

That is a great question. We do have a series of accommodations for different students and their needs. I don't know any specifics but I would recommend reaching out to Diana Petschauer, who is in charge of accommodations, and she would be happy to give you more specifics or answer any of your questions! Her email is [email protected]. Also here is our page about accommodations and support.

Let us know if you have any other questions!

-Faith '24

[benningtonstudents]

Hi! I'm an accepted student in the process of making my college decision, and I'm really passionate about ceramics! I was wondering if you could share any specifics on the department (studio space/hours, equipment, etc)? Thank you!

Hello,

That's so cool you are interested in ceramics! Here is our web page that talks about the program and lists the faculty and current ceramics classes. For more specific information about spaces and such, feel free to email [email protected] and we can try to get you in touch with a current student or faculty member.

-Faith '24

[benningtonstudents]

Are there any services for religious students? I'm Christian and I was wondering if there would be any sort of Christian organizations/clubs avaliable on Bennington's campus and what they look like as well as how Bennington students generally respond to students of any faith :)

thank you!

Hello,

We do not have any specific clubs or groups for Christian students that I know of, that being said we have a very diverse population of students and it is very easy to start a club here. You just need you, another person, the idea for your club, and then you submit your proposal to Student Life and they give you a budget. If you have any other specific questions about religion on campus, I would recommend reaching out to our office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as they have all current information. You can email Alfredo Medina at [email protected] our VP of DEI. I hope that starts to answer your question and let us know if you have any others!

-Faith '24

[benningtonstudents]

hi! Are you aware when the bennington young writers awards winners will be announced/released?

Thanks for your time

Hello,

That's a great question! I believe the winners were announced earlier this week. You can check them out here: https://www.bennington.edu/events/young-writers-awards.

-Faith '24

[benningtonstudents]

hi, i just got accepted and saw i got awarded the "Bennington Priority Scholarship." what is this exactly? lol

Hello!

The admissions office does not have any info on specific scholarships, but I would reach out to the financial aid office. Their email is [email protected]

Let us know if you have any other questions!

-Faith '24

[benningtonstudents]

Did anyone running this account have to move a large distance to attend? Do you have any advice on how to deal with initial fear of separation? My biggest fear and concern with attending Bennington is feeling like I have abandoned everything and everyone I knew previously.

Hello!

That's a great question. I am from WA state, so Bennington was pretty much as far as it gets from my hometown. It's definitely hard to move far away from your home but I have found it gets easier with time and lots of students live far away and share that experience. I like to take time to connect with my friends and family from home by calling and when I am missing something important I like to do things with the friends I have made here. Also if you are able, lots of people go home for the winter and summer break and I have always reconnected with my old friends and felt like nothing much had changed in my hometown. I hope that helps a bit, and know you are not alone in feeling that way!

-Faith '24

[benningtonstudents]

what does admissions think about a transfer student that had to repeat like 3 classes but does extremely well in the classes for their major 😞 I flopped a bit last year in my studies but i’ve really gotten it together this year so far. I want to attend Bennington next spring & i’m afraid me getting my act together in such little time before i apply this fall will be a bad look on my app…

Hi there!

At Bennington, we review applications holistically, so we take note of everything on the application when making decisions, not just your grades. If you've improved your grades after they have fallen a little, it shows that you have drive and passion about what you are studying, and we love that! We would definitely take that into account in our decision. Thank you for your question!

Best wishes,

Miriam '26

#bennington college #bennington #vermont #admissions #academics #college

[benningtonstudents]

when do you think transfer decisions will start coming out? i'm so nervous i love this college i wish colleges did early decision/action for transfer students </3

Transfer decisions are rolling, with the first round being released early April!

-nawal'24

[benningtonstudents]

I’m a 24 year old that has been out of school for almost 10 years. What are the chances of getting accepted into Bennington with only a GED and such a large gap?

Hi! There are many non-traditional students at Bennington, and Bennington typically admits non-traditional students through the same process as traditional students. You would have to fill out the application as is normal and submit a transcript. For letters of recommendation, you can obtain those from anyone who knows your work well - a boss, mentor etc. If you have any application-specific questions for your case, you can contact our transfer counselor, Sam Prince, and he should be able to answer them for you!

I hope that clears things up!

-nawal'24

[benningtonstudents]

Move-out day is before Convocation, but I have friends graduating this year who I'd really like to be there for. What do I do if I want to stay on campus the extra day or two?

Hi!

Typically, you are supposed to move out before Convocation Day. However, the school will consider extenuating circumstances if you need some extra time in order to move out. Also, students who are working for convocation or helping with graduating ceremonies are expected to move out at the same time as graduating seniors. Hope that helps!

-nawal'24

[benningtonstudents]

hey!

I really want to go to Bennington, ofc. I’m a creative writing/history double major and I’m a total lit nerd. Everything about the social life and classroom set up sounds so perfect for me! I’ve just got two concerns.

I’m probably going to have to take out some crazy loans to go there - I’m from a pretty poor family and I can’t really afford how expensive Bennington is. Will the experience make up for how difficult it’s going to be for me later in life when paying stuff back?

i skipped a grade so I’m a year younger than the regular freshmen. It was pretty recent so I’m seen as the baby of the senior class lol. Will that affect my social life too heavily? I don't want to be seen as a

thanks!

Hi there!

In terms of financial aid, Bennington is pretty generous! 98% of students receive some form of financial aid, which include both merit-based and need-based, the average financial aid award is $54,636, and the average student loan debt is $25,361. I think that Bennington being worth it is dependent on the student and it is entirely what you make of it. Bennington is a place that really encourages you to be independent and pursue your passions, while also giving you many professional and personal opportunities for growth. Both of my FWTs, for example, have been incredibly enlightening for me, and as somebody who wants a career in theatre, those experiences have made my goals a lot more tangible to me, and I have already made so many connections that could lead to employment post-Bennington. If you want to make your Bennington experience worth it, you can, by taking advantage of everything the college has to offer you, and you will be given the support to do so.

As for your second question, there are many students here that are younger than the rest of their class because they skipped a grade, or their high school education started a year before students from other states, so you definitely won't be seen as the 'baby' of your class, and it won't affect your social life!

Thanks so much for your question, and feel free to reach out if you have any more!

Miriam '26

#bennington college #bennington #vermont #admissions #financial aid #student life