February 15, 2010

Dear Timothy,

Each year we are humbled by the number of artists with clear talent and ambition who apply to Bard's MFA program; for summer 2010 we received nearly 400 applications. Our aim is to accept students whom we feel will most benefit from the specific energies and demands of the program. Sometimes we feel applicants have already advanced beyond the scope of our school; others are perhaps not yet ready for the intensity of the brief eight-week sessions followed by ten months of self-directed independent study.

The communal nature of Bard's MFA program necessitates an in-person interview prior to admission, and while we wish that we could hold such a conversation with everyone who applies, the volume of applicants makes that impossible. The faculty therefore were forced to narrow the field to approximately 12 interview candidates per discipline. I regret to inform you that the Painting faculty did not select you as one of those candidates.

Your application materials will remain on file for two years; letters of recommendation and transcripts may be used again should you decide to reapply to our program during that time period. Unfortunately, due to the number of applications received and the structure of our review process, our office is unable to provide comments on individual admissions decisions.

We send you every wish for continued good work and we thank you for your interest in Bard College.

Sincerely,

Arthur Gibbons
Director