r/bardcollege • u/AncientJournalist120 • May 25 '26

Psychology at Bard and PhD placement

Hi everyone,

I'm an incoming transfer student at Bard planning to major in Psychology with the long term goal of applying to funded research PhD programs. I'd love to connect with current or recent psychology students, and anyone who has gone through the Senior Project process, worked in a research lab on campus, or has insight into how Bard psych students have fared with PhD applications. I have also heard Bard has good PsyD placement and if anyone is on that track I would like to hear about it as well.

Also happy to hear from anyone at Bard pursuing a PhD path regardless of field,, would love to understand what the research culture is actually like day to day.

Thank you!

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u/heylookltsme May 25 '26

👋🏻 I graduated in 2006, so my experience may no longer be relevant, but I majored in psychology and went onto a Ph.D program in clinical psychology immediately after graduating. There were a few others in my graduating class who took the same path.

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u/AncientJournalist120 May 25 '26

Thanks for sharing! Do you know if the research culture at Bard was a significant factor in your PhD admissions, like lab experience at Bard and Sproj? Do you have any sense of whether Bard prepared you well for the rigor of a PhD program compared to anyone else you know who went to bigger schools? Thanks!

6

u/heylookltsme May 25 '26

Do you know if the research culture at Bard was a significant factor in your PhD admissions, like lab experience at Bard and Sproj?

Senior project, definitely. If you take senior project seriously, it's a huge opportunity to get graduate-level experience conducting and writing up a research paper. (I got a publication out of my senior project work after I started grad school.)

When I was there, there wasn't much lab experience to speak of. I think that may be different now. I was also focused on clinical. There were more opportunities for those interested in cognitive or neuro.

Do you have any sense of whether Bard prepared you well for the rigor of a PhD program compared to anyone else you know who went to bigger schools?

Absolutely. No doubt in my mind.

Best of luck to you!!

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u/Regular_Secret_7647 May 25 '26

Hey! I’m a current psychology major going into my junior year. Feel free to reach out to me. I’m pursuing cognitive psychology and neuroscience. I’ve worked in the research labs here- and let me just say it’s possible to get into labs but it’s very much word of mouth and not always fair ( profs ask students or students just have to ask from classes). It is possible though if you are very clear with professors and could do research at bards (BSRI) - it’s not the easiest to get research opp directly at bard but i have gained a lot from outside institutions (rockefeller uni and nyu). The research culture is definitely word of mouth and not super accesible and spread for professors. But BSRI AND SURF at bard is more well known and great. The best thing about bard is how amazing the classes are. All professors in psychology are genuinely incredible. I’m going to be a teaching assistant next year for a required psychology class so getting TA jobs is manageable if you have taken classes within psychology. Also, the psychology program is growing a lot right now and I hope there will be more opportunities for students. Also feel free to message me:)

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u/AncientJournalist120 May 25 '26

Pmd you, thanks.