Admissions and Financial Aid Questions
General Questions
Bard International Student Life Questions
Questions and Answers
Admissions and Financial Aid
Questions and Answers
Does
Bard offer financial aid to international students?
Bard is
one of the few American colleges and universities that offers
financial aid to international students. Scholarships, which
are based
on need, range from several thousand dollars to full-tuition coverage.
The billed cost of attending the college — tuition, fees, room and board
— per year are approximately $50,000. Books and personal expenses are estimated
at $2,500 per year. The average financial aid grant is $28,900. The financial aid
budget is not unlimited; the college will only admit a student
if there
are resources—personal funds, college grants,
loans — adequate
to pay for his or her expenses. Please see
the Financial Aid for International Students webpage.
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Who is eligible for a full-tuition scholarships?
Bard
College offers full-tuition scholarships to a limited number
of students who are interested in studying in the area of science
(math, physics, biology, chemistry or computer science) or
in
the area of economics.
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How do I apply for the science scholarship?
Distinguished
Scientist Scholars Program (DSS) requires a separate application
form which is part of our application packet.This is a scholarship that can offer up to
four years full-tuition for students committed to studying Natural
Science
and Mathematics. It is awarded to 10 students each year.
All students
applying for the DSS will still need to pay approximately
$13,000
per year for room and board and fees plus books and personal expenses. Students who demonstrate
they are unable to meet this cost will not be offered a
DSS scholarship.
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How do I apply for the economics scholarship?
The
Levy Economics Institute Scholarship is a discretionary scholarship
awarded to academically outstanding high
school seniors who show
a keen interest in pursuing the study of economics. There
is no specific application form for this scholarship
but students
who
wish to be
considered for a Levy Scholarship should clearly state
their area of interest in their application. Potential Levy
scholars can use
their application essay to address an issue in economics
that they have studied or that is of particular concern
to
them.
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How do I apply to Bard?
There are two ways
to apply to Bard College. Students may use the regular Bard
application or they can use the Common
Application form. All students using
the Common Application must submit a supplementary
essay.
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Is there a special application for international
students?
No. There is no special application for international
students BUT, all international students MUST fill out the Foreign
Student Declaration of Finances form even if they are not
applying for financial aid. No admissions decisions will be made
until this form is received by the admissions
office.
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If
I need financial aid what forms do I fill out?
You will need to
fill out both the Foreign
Student Declaration of Finances form
and the International
Student Financial Aid form.
Please see Financial Aid for International
Students page.
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Are there any scholarship forms
I need to fill out?
The Distinguished Scientist Scholars (DSS) program requires
a
separate application
form. This is a scholarship
that
can offer up to four years full-tuition for students committed
to studying
Natural Science and Mathematics. It is awarded to 10 students
each year.
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What supporting materials, if any, should I include
as an international student?
Bard College recognizes and is familiar
with many different grading and educational systems used around
the world. Any
significant
achievements and awards should be listed clearly on the application
or on a separate
sheet. It is NOT necessary to include copies or translations
of certificates or awards you have received. Students taking
A, AS
or O level equivalent
exams may just send in the official results not copies of
the certificates. You may send up to 10 slides of any artwork you
have done but it
is not necessary for admission.
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Are their any other guidelines
for international applicants?
Bard College understands you may be
applying to many other colleges but it is most helpful to the
admission committee
if you use
your application to tell us why you specifically think
Bard is a good
match for you.
Remember to look closely at our curriculum and academic
programs before you answer this question.
As standard paper
sizes differ from country to country Bard requests
that where
ever possible all materials sent to Bard College be
printed on paper
8.5" by
11" (21.5 cm X 28cm). All recommendations and
essays should be typed where ever possible. All e-mail
addresses should be typed or written CLEARLY.
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What are the deadlines
for application?
All first year applications must be completed by January
15 for entrance the following Fall semester. Transfer student applications for Fall semester
are due March 15. Transfer
applications for the Spring semester are due on November 1.
International students are NOT eligible to apply for our Early
Action program.
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Can I receive
credit for IB or A level courses?
Students may receive credit for
IB and A level courses, as well as other international high school
programs,
as determined
by
the Registrar,
to a maximum of one year of credit. This credit
cannot be used to satisfy degree distributional requirements.
To be
eligible
for credit
students
must score 5 or above in IB subjects, and C or
better in "A" level
examinations.
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Is the TOEFL required?
Yes, students who have not
grown up in an English speaking household are required to take
the TOEFL
and score
100 on the internet based test, 250 on the computer
based test or 600 on the paper test. Bard also accepts an IELTS score of 7 in the academic module.
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What about SATs ? Or ACTs?
You do not need to take either. Bard
College doesn't not require
any sort of standardized testing other than the TOEFL,
but you are more than welcome to submit this information as
well if
you have
taken these exams.
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General Questions and Answers
What is a college of Liberal
Arts and Sciences?
A private college of the Liberal Arts and Sciences
which confers the Bachelor of Arts degree (BA) is a type of institution
that exists only
in the United States. These institutions are based on
the idea that to successfully participate in the global workplace
students need
to have studied across a broad spectrum of subjects.
They
must
be able
to think critically and see the connections between disciplines
in both the sciences and the humanities. This program
of study offers
both breadth and depth. A degree from a rigorous college
of Liberal Arts and Sciences is the preferred preparation for
students wishing
to enter competitive graduate programs in business, medicine,
doctoral research or law. Most prominent corporate executives
and international
political figures have graduated from a college of liberal
art and sciences.
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What academic degree would I receive
from Bard College?
In four years you would receive a Bachelor of
Arts (BA) degree. This is the degree that all students who graduate
from a
college of Liberal
Arts and Sciences in the United States receive. A
BA is the first step for any students wishing to continue
their
education
at
a graduate or professional level. Almost all graduate
and professional schools
in the US require a BA for admission.
What subjects
are offered at Bard College?
Bard has over 40 academic programs
in four academic divisions, the Arts, Social Studies, Languages
and Literature, and
Natural Science
and Mathematics. See the Undergraduate Programs page.
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Can I work on campus?
Yes, there are many jobs available
on campus. All international students, with a few exceptions, are allowed to work on campus
and
some have ‘Campus
Employment’ as
a designated part of their financial aid ‘package’.
A student who recieves a Campus Employment award will have priority over
international students who are not designated
as “Campus
Employment”. Howerver, most international
students find work during the academic year.
There are a limited number of jobs available
for students
during the summer and winter breaks. International students are
not allowed to have jobs off-campus without special authorization.
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How are
such things as visas handled?
The Certificate
of Eligibility for non immigrant (F-1) student status (I-20 form) will be sent to you by the International
Student Advisor
after you
accept our offer
of admission
and show that you have the financial resources to cover all the cost of your first year of study in the US. You will present this form
to the nearest
U.S.
Consulate in order to apply for the F-1
student visa and all other required documentation. Check the website of the consulate
for procedures. If you have questions
or concerns about visas please contact
Janet Kettler, the International Student Advisor
at jkettler@bard.edu or by calling
845-758-7430.
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Bard International Student
Life Questions and Answers
How many international
students attend Bard?
In the 2007-2008 academic year of the first
year class
hold 14% F-1 students on J-1 exchange student visas.
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What countries
do the students who attend Bard come from?
Bard
students come from all over the world, most recently we have had
the largest concentration
from China, Bulgaria
and Bangladesh. The
following is a list of countries
currently represented by Bard students:
Australia, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China,
Cuba, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Ethiopia, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala,
Hungary, India,
Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Kosovo, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malaysia,
Morocco,
Myanmar (Burma),
Nepal, Netherlands, Pakistan, Peru, Romania,
Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand,
Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Venezuela, and Vietnam.
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Is
there a way to contact a current international student?
Yes, please
send an e.mail to Janet Kettler and
she will you.
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Is there an International Student
Organization?
Yes, the ISO is one of the most popular
clubs on campus, they are well-known
for their
events, which
include
a food festival,
cultural
show, ISO
formal, and movie screenings.
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Where
is Annandale-on-Hudson?
Annandale is a small village, which
is made up mostly of Bard College
related facilities,
classrooms,
dormitories
and faculty
housing.
The fusion of two historic
estates, the
park-like campus covers about
250 hectares of fields and forested
land bordering the Hudson River.
140 kilometers
(90 miles)
north of
New York City,
students
have easy access
to one of the world’s great
cities by car or train, yet have
the advantage of a secure and
relaxing campus.
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What's the weather
like?
While the weather is always
in a state of change, students at
Bard
experience
four
distinct and
beautiful seasons.
On average
one
can expect to see the following
seasonal temperatures:
Fall
(September – November)
Average highs: 17C (62 F) /
Average lows: 7C (45F).
Winter
(December – February)
Average highs: 3C (36 F). Average
lows: -7C (19 F).
Spring (March – May)
Average highs: 16C (61 F).
Average lows: 3 C (38 F).
Summer
(June – August)
Average highs: 28 C (82
F). Average lows: 16C (60
F).
In
general students can expect to see a wide variety of weather
throughout
the
year from
hot sunny afternoons
to
very cold
and snowy winter
days. Fall foliage is particularly
beautiful in the Hudson Valley.
Winter brings the opportunity
to snowboard
or
ski at several nearby mountains
and spring provides
all kinds
of natural beauty.
To
see what the weather is
like at Bard today
click here and enter the Annandale zip code 12504 at the top of the weather page.
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What should I bring?
As an international student
it can be difficult
to bring all
the items
you
may want. Often international
students will have
packages shipped
to them ahead of
time so
that they are
here when they arrive.
The
College provides
multiple shuttle trips
to the various stores and malls
in
the area during
the Language
and Thinking orientation
in
August.
International
students are encouraged
to bring any special items from
home such
as traditional
clothing
and cooking
recipes. You will need
these for the International
Students Organization
(ISO) cultural show
and the ISO food festival. You
are encouraged to bring
the basic supplies
you will need to get set up in
your room such as:
one
set of sheets,
and
a towel and
buy the
rest
of these items
once you
get here.
Coats,
heavy jackets,
gloves, and warm
boots are essential in the winter and can
be bought locally.
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What
are the residence hall accommodations
like?
Doubles,
singles and suites
can be found
in the 49
residence
halls currently
located on
the
Bard campus.
All first
year students will
live in a
double and most transfer
student
accommodations
are
doubles.
Each building
has
at least
one Peer Counselor
(a student
who has
been trained
by the Office
of Residence
Life) who
is there
to help
the residents
with any
problems,
questions or concerns
that they
might have. All residents
have
their own
phone
line and
internet
access.
All residence
halls are smoke free and some
have been
given designated
themes
like alcohol
free,
24-hour quiet
and women
only. To find
out more,
click here.
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Is housing guaranteed?
Bard College guarantees
housing for all
first and second
year students,
as well as any
student who
has not moderated
into
an academic division.
85% of our students
live on campus
for all four
years.
What about housing
during academic
breaks?
When classes
are not in
session, residence halls
are closed,
with the exception
of those set
aside
for students
working
at the College
during
break. If a
student is not working
on
campus
during a break,
they MUST make
arrangements
to live elsewhere.
The buildings
that remain
open
are announced
before the
end of the
term; reservations
for
a room
must
be made
in the Office
of Residence
Life.
Over
the December
Christmas break,
no students
are allowed
to remain
on campus.
During this time,
international
students who
are not returning
home are encouraged
to
visit family
and friends
in the states.
There is also
a program
which offers
opportunities
to stay
with an American
host family
over the
Christmas holidays.
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If
I need to
send a package
to Bard
where
do I send
it?
UPS and
FedEx, will not
deliver
packages to P.O.
box numbers
so the
following address is
needed
when shipping
via either
of these
methods.
You may ship packages
CLEARLY
addressed
to yourself
by addressing
as
follows:
Your
Name
Bard College
30 Campus
Road
Annandale-on-Hudson,
New
York, 12504
When
sending
regular
mail,
you
should use the
following
address:
Your Name
P.O.
Box
5000
Bard
College
Annandale-on-Hudson,
NY
12504
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Do I
have to
purchase health
insurance?
The required
Bard health
plan only
provides minimal
coverage. The
College offers a Supplemental Insurance Policy and strongly recommends that all international students purchase it.
If you
have
questions about
health insurance, e-mail healthservice@bard.edu.
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