All candidates may use either the Bard Application or the Common Application. A complete application includes two essays, letters of recommendation from at least two of the student's junior- or senior-year academic teachers (one of whom should be a mathematics or science teacher), the guidance counselor recommendation and school report, and a transcript with grades from the senior year.

Bard Applications

• Download the complete Bard Application Packet

  You may also download PDFs of the individual application components below:

  • Application Instructions
  • Bard Application
  • Secondary School Advisor's Evaluation
  • Academic Reference

  Supplemental Applications

  • Transfer Candidate School Report/Dean's Evaluation
  • Transfer Candidate Questionnaire
  • Opportunities in the Sciences
  • Conservatory of Music
  • Distinguished Scientist Scholars (DSS) Program
  • Bard Education Opportunity Programs (HEOP and BOP)
  • Immediate Decision Plan (IDP) Reservation Form
  • Immediate Science Research Opportunity Program (ISROP)

The Common Application

These are a single set of forms that can be completed online by the student and his or her counselor and sent as the application for admission to any of the colleges and universities participating in the Common Application Program.

Completed forms and fees should be received by the Admission Office prior to January 15. Candidates are notified of a decision by April 1 and have until the standard candidate's reply date of May 1 to respond to an offer of admission.

• Link to the Common Application online.
  

If you are applying Early Action, CLEARLY indicate that at the top of your application.

If you are using the Common Application or the Universal College Application you must submit the Supplemental Essay Question shown below (Personal Statement #2 from the Bard Application).

• Download the Supplemental Question

Supplemental Essay Question
Choose one of the following:
a) In the wake of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the possibility of requiring universal military service through a draft has once again come under consideration. Write an essay arguing your position, for or against the draft. Your argument may or may not include a discussion of a system of national service that extends beyond military service. Please note, this is not a litmus test regarding political views; Bard seeks diversity and originality, not conformism.
 
b) If you were given a grant to research a scientific or medical issue that you deem important to the world, what would it be, why did you choose it, and what kind of research do you think has the greatest chance of being productive?

c) Write an essay defending the role and place of the arts, especially those forms that are not commercial in our society.  In answering this question, feel free to focus on one particular art form.

or

d) Submit a graded paper (a thousand words or less) written in your junior or senior year (transfer candidates: from a college class).

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Financial Aid Forms

• Foreign Student Financial Aid Application
• Foreign Student Certification of Finances
• Business/Farm Supplement Form
• Link to U.S. Department of Education FAFSA Form
• Link to CCS/Financial Aid PROFILE Form

Immediate Decision Plan (IDP) Readings

• Plato's The Republic
• Galileo's The Starry Messenger

Matriculation Forms (Accepted Students)

• Enrollment Agreement Form
  
• Parent Information Form
• Athletic and Recreation Profile Form
• Bard Housing Profile Form
• Disability Registration Form
• Health and Counseling Services Letter
• Student Health and Counseling Form
• Medical History Form
• Physical Examination Form
• Meningitis Form
• Measles Brochure
• Medical Insurance Form
• Physical Examination Form
  
• Money Matters
• What to Bring to Bard
• Computing at Bard
• Residence Hall Amenities Chart
• Campus Map

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