Senior Year

Applying for Fellowships or Scholarships

Exciting postgraduate opportunities exist. For further information, please visit the Dean of Studies website or contact David Shein, Dean of Studies, Sottery 110, [email protected], 845-758-7045.

Deadlines for Fellowships Requiring Bard's Nomination or Endorsement

Mid-September

• Thomas J. Watson Fellowship (Statement of Intent)
• British Marshall Scholarship
• George Mitchell Scholarship
• Rhodes Scholarship

Early October

• Thomas J. Watson Fellowship (Full Application)
• Fulbright Student Program

Mid-December

• Carnegie Junior Fellowship
• Coro Fellows Program in Public Affairs
• National Security Education Program (NSEP) David L. Boren Undergraduate Scholarship and Graduate Fellowship

Mid-January

• Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship
• Harry Truman Scholarship

Mid-February

• Morris K. Udall Scholarship

Mid-March

• Jack Kent Cooke Graduate Scholarship

Mid-April

• Bard Junior Fellowship

Postgraduation Career Plans

During your last academic year at Bard you will have plenty of time to develop your post graduation plans if you start in the fall and schedule an appointment in the Career Development Office (CDO) with Elisabeth Giglio, the designated senior career adviser and CDO director. Please e-mail [email protected], call 845-758-7539, or visit Campus Center 201 to schedule an appointment with her to discuss your career possibilities and job search plans.

The Bard Basic Job Guide is downloadable at www.bard.edu/cdo/students. This publication contains sample resumes, cover letters, and important tips for your job search. Before meeting with Elisabeth please try to write a draft of your resume to take with you when you meet with her.

The timetable for starting your job search depends upon the field you want to enter, the type of position you desire, and when you hope to start work. Most of you will find that starting your job search shortly after submitting your Senior Project in April is an appropriate time to look for a job if you are ready to start work in the summer. On average, once an employer advertises a job, it takes at least a few months to fill an entry-level position for a recent college graduate. Keep in mind that government jobs, teaching opportunities in independent schools, and business and financial positions may have application deadlines as early as the fall. Postgraduate paid internships at prestigious organizations are competitive and also have early deadlines. Make sure you are aware of deadlines if you are considering these employment fields.

The job search requires focus, commitment, a positive attitude, an ability to articulate clearly the type of position you want, and the inclination to connect with people and tell them about your career goals. Being able to describe the type of work you are looking for, including job titles is very important in your job search. For example, “I just graduated from Bard College and I am looking for an entry-level position in a nonprofit arts organization as an administrative assistant or coordinator of projects or programs.” People can better help you in your job search if you are able to express to them a succinct goal. The clearer you are about what you would like to do, the more likely you are to be successful in getting a job that suits you and sustains your passion and interest. CDO can help you identify and state your career goals, as well as coach you through your job search. Networking, although very important to your job search, is only one way to discover job opportunities. Don’t underestimate the effectiveness of applying for jobs posted at websites and in the newspaper classifieds of your future hometown. CDO subscribes to a number of websites that post jobs in specific fields. You can pick up this list of resources in our office as well as Bard tailored web sheets for particular professions. We hope you will utilize all of our resources.

CDO offers two Bard-specific websites:

www.collegecentral.com/bard discover Bard friendly employers with leads to jobs, internships, and volunteer opportunities, as well as CDO’s online calendar.

www.bard.edu/cdo find the Bard Basic Job Guide with sample resumes, the Vault Online Career Library, and more.

We hope you will use CDO to support you in your job search during your senior year. Drop by our office at Campus Center 201 or e-mail to schedule an appointment.

Questions?
Need more information? Contact: Elisabeth Giglio, Director, Career Development Office, [email protected], 845-758-7177, Campus Center 201

Senior Class Gift

As you begin to prepare for the transition to life after Bard, you have the opportunity to join in many traditions of Bard alumni/ae. One of these traditions is the Senior Class Gift.

The Senior Class Gift marks the transition from being an active student to an active alumnus or alumna. Participation is very important! Not only does it show to the College community how much you, as students and soon to be alumni/ae, appreciate and value your Bard education and experience, but alumni/ae giving is also included in rankings, such as U.S. News and World Report, to show a much broader audience how much those closest to the College value it.

The Senior Class Gift is a great way to demonstrate your appreciation for the education you have received at Bard. It is also to show past and future classes the strong commitment you have to the success of our College.

Giving is simple, and there are many options:

• You can give today on Bard's secure online giving form. Note in the comments section that the contribution is for the Senior Class Gift.
• Mail in the pledge form you receive in the mail with your check made payable to Bard College. Write "Senior Class Gift" in the memo area of your check.
• Mail in the pledge form you receive in the mail with your credit card information filled in. You can make a pledge at any time, and you have until June 30 to fulfill it.

Questions?
Contact Robert Laity, Assistant Director of the Bard College Fund, at 845-758-7315 or [email protected].

With your support, your Senior Class Gift campaign can be a great success!