So far, as incoming freshmen we have felt welcomed by the Bard High School Early College community. We were interested in knowing, however, what other ninth grade students felt about their experiences thus far at BHSEC and what suggestions they had.

After asking some of our fellow ninth graders what they thought about the school's positive aspects, we received a range of responses. The majority agreed that they felt embraced by the BHSEC community. Some commented that they appreciated the positive attitude of the teachers and their apparent enthusiasm for teaching. For many students, the teachers in their previous schools were not as enthusiastic or caring.

Many students also said that the small class sizes were beneficial. One student however, Zoë Noyse, said that while she likes the extra attention she receives from the teachers, it can feel "socially degrading" at times if all eyes are focused on you. She also said that, while the workload is light, she thinks it will probably become more challenging towards the end of the semester. Commenting on the workload and students' responsibility, she stated that "The more you work, the less you sleep, the less you sleep, the more of a b***h you are."

On the other hand, students also seem to respect that the teachers are demanding, because it lets them feel comfortable that they are getting adequate preparation for the future. Students feel that the teachers at BHEC are unlike their previous teachers because of their approach to teaching. One student said, "The teachers in this school don't give us answers, they teach us how to go and look for the answers on our own and that's a great thing.”

Another thing the students liked were the clubs at BHSEC. Some of the clubs available to students include: the newly founded Dance Dance Revolution club, The Horizon newspaper club, the Philosophy club, Q-word, A Deep Breathe (the literary magazine club). On the other hand, many students also complained that there still are not enough clubs. Diocelyn Batista, a 9th grader at BHSEC, said that he would like to found a math club.

When asked what she would suggest to a prospective student considering enrollment at BHSEC, ninth grader Briel Gradinger stated that "one must be prepared and willing to work, be open to learning from both teachers and students, and be active in class." Another student answered that students and faculty alike at this school are open to sharing new thoughts and ideas. This element seems to be what the ninth graders value the most. It's the fact that everyone has diverse opinions and they feel comfortable sharing them with their classmates that makes BHSEC unlike other schools. "The environment in this school is very liberal and I can express my opinions without fearing that other people will reject them," says another ninth grade student.

Not having enough clubs and sports teams, along with the small size of the gym room, seemed to be the main complaints. One student also mentioned that the long commute to school is bothersome. Even this student though, insisted that since this school is exceptional, he is willing to make the commute. Other than these minor concerns, complaints did not dominate the opinions of the new ninth graders.

Overall, it can be concluded that BHSEC is successfully satisfying the expectations of its newcomers.