Candidates may apply to Bard's undergraduate program using either the Bard Application or the Common Application through the following plans:

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Application Plans

Early Action

Highly qualified candidates who are certain that Bard is their top choice are encouraged to apply by November 1, using the Bard Application or the Common Application. Applicants will be notified by January 1. Please clearly indicate your intent to apply Early Action on the application. The application fee is $50.

Regular Application

Candidates apply using the Bard Application or the Common Application by January 15 and are notified of a decision in early April. Candidates who are placed on the wait list are invited to submit appropriate supplemental information. Those who are not offered admission are usually required to wait a full academic year before reapplying. The application fee is $50.

Immediate Decision Plan

The Immediate Decision Plan (IDP) is designed to help students develop a more informed opinion of the College and to accelerate the admission process during a daylong session. Candidates participate in a seminar conducted by a Bard faculty member and meet with an admission counselor. Most recently the IDP seminars have focused on the study of mathematics and science in the liberal arts context. The admission committee will mail decisions the following workday. Note: Only the College makes an immediate decision; accepted candidates may wait until May 1 to notify the College of their enrollment plans. For IDP, the $50 nonrefundable application fee is required to be sent in with the reservation form. more

Transfer Students

Transfer students are expected to be familiar with Bard's distinctive curricular components, particularly Moderation and the Senior Project, and should anticipate spending three years at the College. Students who wish to transfer should apply using the Bard Application or the Common Application by March 15 for the fall semester (notification in May 15) or November 1 for the spring semester. A student transferring from an accredited junior college, college, or university usually receives full credit for work completed with a grade of C or better in courses appropriate to the Bard curriculum. The application fee is $50.  more

International Students

Bard College is authorized under federal law to enroll nonimmigrant alien students. The College encourages applications from foreign nationals and from U.S. citizens who have completed their secondary education abroad. International students may apply using the Bard Application. Candidates whose first language is not English must submit the result of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 600 (paper based) 250 (computer based) and 100 (internet based). Bard College also accepts the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a minimum band score of 7 in the academic module.   more

Graduate Programs

Graduate Program applicants do not apply using the Undergraduate Application, but should contact the individual programs or Graduate Admission Office for details, 845-758-7895.  more

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Applying Options

Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP)

Bard accepts a limited number of students from historically economically disadvantaged groups through its Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP). One objective of the program is to assist students who, by reason of inadequate early educational preparation, do not compete with the average Bard applicant in high school grades, class rank, and College Board scores, but do possess the ability and motivation for successful study at Bard. Students considered for this program must be residents of New York State.   more

Early Admission

Candidates seeking admission to Bard before completing secondary school may be accepted if they have an exceptionally strong high school record and the recommendation of a guidance counselor or principal. They must have an interview with an admission counselor. For more information about Early Admission contact the Office ofAdmission at 845-758-7472 or e-mail admission@bard.edu. The application fee is $50.

Advanced Standing

Advanced standing or college credit for College Board Advanced Placement courses will be given for the grade of 5. Students who wish to request credit or advanced standing must submit the appropriate record of their grade to the Office of the Registrar. The following international diplomas may be accepted for advanced standing: International Baccalaureate, French Baccalaureate, Swiss Maturity, and German Abitur. A student may be allowed to accelerate for up to 32 credits (a normal full year) at the time of Moderation if the Moderation board so recommends. Students who have earned A-level passes may enter with advanced standing.

Special Requirements for Homeschooled Students

Bard regularly receives applications from students who have been homeschooled for some or all of their education. Since their experiences and curriculum vary tremendously, our requirements for home schooled applicants differ somewhat from our requirements from more traditional high school students. It is hard to standardize these requirements and we are willing to work with you to tailor the admission process. We suggest that you review the regular Admission requirements on this page.

Generally, homeschooled students are required to provide the following:

1. The full curriculum and documentation as to how the curriculum was met
2. Names of textbooks or other books used and the content covered
3. Indication of other experiences used to cover the curriculum and how the student was evaluated
4. Results of any educational testing
5. Grades from any courses taken
6. Standardized test scores (SAT, or ACT, optional SAT II)
7. An analytic paper
8. Academic recommendations: English, Science or Mathematics recommended
9. An essay telling us the reasons why you chose homeschooling and your experience with your choice
10. We strongly recommend a personal interview