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Applying to Bard

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How will you apply?

Select how you will be entering Bard by choosing one of the links below. These pages contain specific details, including deadlines. Scroll down for our overview of application methods.

FIRST-YEARTRANSFER BARD EARLY COLLEGEINTERNATIONALDACA/UNDOCUMENTEDHOMESCHOOLED  RETURN TO COLLEGEBARD CONSERVATORY

Did You Know?
Photo by Karl Rabe

Did You Know?

Bard College has been test optional for nearly 50 years.
You do not need to take the SAT or ACT to apply to Bard.

SAT and ACT scores should only be submitted if a student feels that their scores are an accurate reflection of their academic abilities. Submitted SAT and ACT scores are only used to inform our review process in a very small fraction of applications that include SAT or ACT scores. Students who do not submit their SAT or ACT scores are not penalized in any way during the application review process.

For more information about our test optional policy, please reach out to the Office of Admission at [email protected] or 845-758-7472. 

There is NO application fee to apply to Bard College!
 

What are the application options?

Choose only one!

Using the Common Application, candidates may apply to Bard through:
Regular Decision · Early Action · Early Decision · The Immediate Decision Plan*
*Interviews are optional, except for the Immediate Decision Plan (IDP) where interviews are part of the IDP process and day.

An alternative method of application is the Bard Entrance Examination, an online essay application.

See below for more details on each of these ways to apply to Bard!

Early Application Options

Apply by November 1

Early application options: Apply using the Common Application, except for the Bard Entrance Exam, which is an online essay application. Decisions will be posted by the end of December, and earlier for IDP candidates, on your Bard portal. In addition to receiving an admission decision of either accept or deny, a candidate can also receive the decision: defer to Regular Decision. Being deferred to Regular Decision is not an acceptance or denial decision; the Committee is postponing making a decision until it receives senior year data. Those who are not offered admission are usually required to wait a full academic year before reapplying. Students applying to the Bard Conservatory of Music must apply by Regular Decision deadline and are not eligible to apply early.

The following are Bard's Early Application Options (choose only one):

Apply with the Common App

  • Immediate Decision Plan
    IDP accelerates the admission process during a daylong session. 

    Immediate Decision Plan

    IDP accelerates the admission process during a daylong session. 

    The Immediate Decision Plan (IDP) is recommended for the accomplished student for whom Bard is the top choice. Applicants may choose for this process to be binding or non-binding. IDP candidates participate in a class with Bard faculty and then interview with admission counselors. Decisions are posted to applicant portals the next business-day evening (notification sent via email). For U.S. citizens, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and The College Board's College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS Profile) must be filed by December 1. For non-U.S. citizens, the International Student Financial Aid application, which can be found here, must be submitted by November 1.  

    Click for more information! 
  • Early Decision
    Highly qualified candidates for whom Bard is the top choice may opt to use the binding Early Decision process.

    Early Decision

    Highly qualified candidates for whom Bard is the top choice may opt to use the binding Early Decision process.

    Please complete the Early Decision Agreement form, available on the Common Application website. Decisions will be posted to your Bard Applicant Portal by the end of December. For domestic students, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and The College Board's College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS Profile) must be filed by December 1. For international students, the International Student Financial Aid application, which can be found here, must be submitted by November 1. 
  • Early Action
    Highly qualified candidates for whom Bard is a top choice may opt to use the non-binding Early Action process. 

    Early Action

    Highly qualified candidates for whom Bard is a top choice may opt to use the non-binding Early Action process. 

    Please clearly indicate your intent to apply Early Action on the application. Decisions will be posted to your Bard Applicant Portal by the end of December. For domestic students, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and The College Board's College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS Profile) must be filed by December 1. For International students, the International Student Financial Aid application, which can be found here, must be submitted by November 1. 
The Bard Entrance Examination
Photo by Pete Mauney ’93 MFA ’00

The Bard Entrance Examination

The Bard Entrance Examination is an online essay exam open only to high school juniors and seniors. The exam must be finished and submitted by November 1. Completion of the exam is equivalent to an application for admission. Applicants receive pass/fail notification of exam results by mid December.

Learn More about the Bard Exam

Regular Decision Option

Apply by January 1
Photo by China Jorrin ’86

Apply by January 1

Regular decision option: Apply using the Common Application. Decisions will be posted to your Bard portal by the end of March. Candidates who are placed on the waitlist are invited to submit supplemental information. Those who are not offered admission are usually required to wait a full academic year before reapplying. 

Apply with the Common App

Applying for Financial Aid?

Required Financial Aid Forms for Bard College

Financial aid and scholarships based on need are available. (For some financial aid scholarships, students will need to fill out a form and submit that form at the same time their application to the College is submitted.) Both the FAFSA and CSS PROFILE forms are required by Bard for domestic students and are found online. For international students, the Bard International Student Application for Financial Aid is required and is to be completed and uploaded to their Bard portal with their application. All students receive access to their Bard Portal via email after submitting their Common Application to Bard College.

Deadlines for Submitting Financial Aid Forms

  • Non-U.S citizens who are applying through early application options: November 1
    • NOTE for Immediate Decision Plan (IDP) Applicants: November 1 is the deadline for financial aid forms for all IDP applicants (U.S. and Non-U.S. citizens) to receive early notification of the financial aid estimate.
  • U.S. citizens applying through all other early application options (Bard Entrance Exam, Early Action, Early Decision): December 1
  • Non-U.S. citizens who are applying through the regular decision option: January 1 
  • U.S. citizens who are applying through the regular decision option: February 1 

Financial Aid Website

Interviews

Interview Options and Requirements

  • Interview Deadlines and Options
    Only students applying in the current admission cycle are eligible for an interview.

    Interview Deadlines:
    • Early Action, Early Decision, and Bard Entrance Exam interviews: weekdays from September 5 through October 21, 2022
    • Regular Decision interviews: weekdays from September 5 through November 10, 2022
    • Spring Transfer interviews: weekdays from September 5 through October 21, 2022
    • Fall Transfer interviews: weekdays in February of 2023 

    Interview Options: 
    Both in-person and virtual interview options. We encourage students who live within driving or a train-ride distance to campus to take advantage of the in-person options and leave the virtual slots for students who can't travel due to distance from campus, among other reasons.
    REGISTER HERE
  • In-Person Interview Requirements
    All COVID-19 requirements MUST be adhered to:
    • Please bring a mask with you to the interview. You might be asked to wear it. You do not need to wear your mask to enter the admission building when you arrive. 
    • In advance of your interview at Bard College, we ask that you kindly monitor your current health. In the event you are not feeling well, we ask that you remain at home and reschedule your visit for another time.
    • If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or have been in close contact with a person with a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 in the past 5-10 days, please also remain home.
Video on Accessing the Bard Portal for Students 

Attention Parents/Families of Bard Applicants! 

Important Information About Your Student's Bard Portal

Once your student submits their Common Application, it may take 24-48 hours for us to confirm receipt of their application. Once we receive their application, they will be emailed a confirmation which includes the credentials to access their Bard portal. Students should login to their Bard portals regularly to view their application and, if applicable, financial aid checklists to make sure we have received all of their required materials and to see important messages we post there.

If your student submits their Common Application on the deadline date but still has required materials to submit, please note that they will have time to upload those application materials after that deadline date as long as their Common Application has been submitted. It is important, however, that they submit those final materials as soon as possible after the deadline has passed as the admission committee cannot read incomplete applications.

If your student applied via the Bard Entrance Exam (BEE) they will also receive a confirmation email from us noting receipt of their BEE application within 48 hours of submitting their application essays. That email will also provide them with access to their Bard portal, which they should view regularly.

We ask students not to mail or email any materials directly to the Admission Office unless instructed to do so. Your student is to use their Bard portal and go to their Application Tab to upload and view submitted materials. 

Your student should make a habit of visiting their Bard portal frequently to view their application and financial aid checklists and confirm that we have received all of the materials required to complete their application. We will also be posting information on their portal throughout the admission cycle so it is important for them to check their portal regularly.

Attention Parents/Families of Bard Applicants! 


Submitting application materials to Bard College: 
  • As an applicant, your student will receive a login and a link to their Bard portal. (Note: It may take 24-48 hours for us to confirm receipt of their application, after which they will receive a login and a link to their Bard portal.) That portal gives your student access to many tabs, one of which is their Application Tab where they will see their Application Checklist. Students are encouraged to review their Application Checklist periodically to see if there are missing application materials. We instruct students to upload all materials, including any supplemental materials they wish to share with us, to their Bard portal. File formats we accept are listed on their Bard portal.
    • Transcripts and recommendations submitted by their counselors and teachers will eventually appear with a green checkmark on their Application Checklist as they are received. If their transcripts and recommendations do not appear in their Application Checklist after they’ve requested them to be sent to Bard, your student needs to follow-up with their counselor, teachers and/or their school office. Please note that applicants must not upload any recommendation letters themselves as these must remain confidential and should be sent to Bard by the recommenders directly. We will also notify you and your student, via email, if there are any missing materials.
Checking financial aid materials: 
  • If your student is applying for financial aid, once they’ve submitted all the required materials, your student should go to the Financial Aid Tab in their portal to confirm that they have been received and to see if there are any missing materials. (Note: It can take from 48 hours to 3-5 days, depending on the form being submitted, before a green check mark appears next to each of the respective forms.)
Viewing admission decisions and notifications:
  • Your student will receive an email from Admission stating that there has been an update to their Bard portal. Your student is to log in to their portal and click on their Dashboard Tab where all decision letters and correspondences from the College are displayed. 
  • Offers of Admission can be accepted, declined, or deferred, within the Bard portal. Enrollment deposits can be made using a credit card, or your student can indicate that their payment is forthcoming via a check or money order. 
Viewing events:
  • Any events hosted by the Office of Admission will be displayed in an Event Tab on their portal.
Here's what displays on their portal after your student enrolls at Bard:
  • Once your student’s enrollment deposit is processed, within a week, their Bard portal will display new tabs. The Enrollment Tab will display their personalized enrollment checklist. There will also be a Special Admitted Events Tab.

Discover More

Bard College is a Partner of Golden Door Scholars

Bard College is a partner of Golden Door Scholars, an organization supporting access to college for undocumented students. Golden Door Scholars selects their student scholars through a rigorous selection process that takes place before students apply to college. Golden Door Scholars who apply and are admitted to Bard receive financial and wrap-around support from both Golden Door Scholars and Bard College. Students who have not already been selected as Golden Door Scholars before applying to Bard are not eligible for this scholarship. To learn more about Golden Door Scholars please visit their website. 

Yellow Ribbon Program

Through the Yellow Ribbon Program, colleges and universities enter into a voluntary agreement with the Veterans Administration to cover the cost of tuition and fees in excess of the amounts payable under the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. The Yellow Ribbon Program financially aids veterans, and those eligible for veterans benefits, to make a Bard education more accessible regardless of a student's socio-economic circumstances. 

For more information about the Yellow Ribbon Program, please contact Josh Tyler at [email protected]. 

The Bridge Program

  • An enrichment program for high school juniors and seniors
    High school juniors and seniors who have met or are currently fulfilling their high school requirements and would like the opportunity to participate in a higher-level educational experience are invited to participate in up to two 100- or 200-level classes at Bard to broaden their educational development. 
    Learn More

 

Notice of Availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report

 

Bard College is committed to assisting all members of the community in providing for their own safety and security. The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available on the Office of Safety and Security website.

If you would like to receive a hard copy of the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report which contains this information, you can stop by the Office of Safety and Security Office at the Old Gym, 30 Campus Road, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504, or you can request that a copy be mailed to you by calling 845-758-7460.

The report contains information regarding campus security and personal safety including topics such as: crime prevention, public safety authority, crime reporting policies, fire safety, disciplinary procedures and other matters of importance related to security on campus. The report also contains information about fire statistics in Bard residential facilities and crime statistics for the three previous calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by the College; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus.

This information is required by law and is provided by the Office of Safety and Security.

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