Immediate Decision Plan

Photo by Chris Kayden

The Immediate Decision Plan (IDP) is recommended for the accomplished student for whom Bard is a top choice.

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. Students applying through IDP participate in a seminar-style workshop followed by an interview with a member of the Admission Committee; parents/families can participate in a Q&A session with a senior administrator. This early application process can be binding or non-binding. On the Common Application, if you choose Early Action II - Immediate Decision, the decision will be non-binding and you have until May 1 to let us know your decision. If you choose Early Decision II - Immediate Decision, the decision will be binding, which means that we expect you to enroll if admitted to Bard within one month of receiving our offer of admission and financial aid package if applicable. Regardless of your choice, you’ll receive our decision the next business day after your IDP appointment. If you apply Early Decision II - Immediate Decision, you cannot apply Early Decision to another institution. Please complete the Early Decision Agreement Form, available on the Common Application website.

There are two steps to this process:

1. Register for an IDP date before November 1. (Registration opens in mid-September)
2. Submit the Common App indicating IDP by November 1

2022 IDP dates and registration information below.

Note that there are in-person and virtual IDP dates available. However, the virtual IDP dates are reserved for students who are unable to visit campus in-person. For those with the ability to travel to campus for an in-person IDP date, please select from one of the four in-person date options upon registering.

The Immediate Decision Process

Candidates participate in a class conducted by a Bard faculty member and then interview with an admission counselor. The Admission Committee will release decisions the following business-day evening.

NOTE: Beginning in mid-September, IDP dates and the registration form will become available. Step 1 is to register for an IDP date even before you submit your Common Application by November 1. Please read the details below on the IDP process:

1. Complete the online registration form. You will immediately receive an email confirming your registration. For your records, keep your registration confirmation email. You can also edit your registration through a link included in that email. If you find it necessary to change or cancel your registration date, you can do so in the registration confirmation email you received from us, or notify the Admission Office as soon as possible at 845-758-7472 or [email protected].

2. Submit your complete application using the online Common Application. Please select "Early Action II - Immediate Decision" or "Early Decision II - Immediate Decision" for your preferred admission plan on the Common Application. Your complete application must be submitted to the Admission Office by November 1. The materials required for a complete application are the school report; the high school transcript, including senior courses; two academic references; and the Common Application essay.

3. If you have an in-person Friday IDP date, check-in is at the Admission Office (Hopson Cottage) between 9:00 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. If you have an in-person Saturday IDP date, check-in is at the Reem Kayden Center (RKC) between 9:00 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. After check-in, you will participate in the class, then head to Admission (Hopson Cottage) for your interview. The day ends around or before 2:00 p.m. depending on your interview time. Please note the class is not graded. It exists so you can experience a discussion-based class at Bard. While students are participating in the class, there is a Q&A by a senior administrator or the President of the College for those who accompanied students to IDP.

4. Sometime during the afternoon, you will have an interview with an admission counselor. The Admission Committee will meet later in the day and decisions will be posted to your Bard Portal the following business-day evening. (You will be notified via email that there has been an update to your portal.)

5. If you have a virtual IDP date (Friday or Saturday) students and families will use zoom links provided to access student classes and family Q&A. These zoom links will be provided in advance of a students IDP date, along with a schedule of the days events.

6. The College requires early commitment from accepted Early Decision II - Immediate Decision participants. If you are offered admission through Early Decision II - Immediate Decision, you must accept our offer of admission and make your deposit within a month after receipt of our offer and/or financial aid package. If you are offered admission through Early Action II - Immediate Decision, you have until the standard candidate's reply date, May 1, to inform the College of your enrollment decision. If you apply Early Decision II - Immediate Decision, you can not apply Early Decision to another institution.

2022 IDP Schedules

In-Person Sessions:
Friday, November 4 Saturday, November 5 Friday, November 11 Saturday, November 12

Time (Eastern Time)	Session
9:00 am – 9:45 am ET	Check-in For Friday sessions, check-in will be at Hopson Cottage (Admission) For Saturday sessions, check-in will be at the Reem-Kayden Center (RKC)
9:45 am - 10:00 am ET	Welcome Opening remarks by the Director of Admission, Mackie Siebens '12
10:00 – 11:00 am ET	Student Classes During this student-only session, students will break out into their assigned classes.
10:00 – 11:00 am ET	Parent/Guardian Q&A While students are participating in the class, there is a Q&A by a senior administrator or the President of the College for those who accompanied students to IDP.
11:30 pm – 2:00pm ET	Interviews Students will return to Hopson Cottage waiting room until a counselor calls them back for their interview. Each interview is about 20 to 30 minutes long.

Virtual Day: Friday, November 18
In order to accommodate students from different time zones, there is an Eastern Time (ET) afternoon start IDP schedule (Friday, November 18) and Eastern Time (ET) morning start IDP schedule (Saturday, November 19). The virtual IDP dates are reserved for students who cannot travel to campus for an in-person visit.

Time (Eastern Time)	Session
12:00 –12:15pm ET	Welcome Opening remarks by the Director of Admission, Mackie Siebens '12
12:15 –1:15pm ET	Student Classes During this student-only session, students will break out into small-group workshops
12:15 –1:15pm ET	Q&A with the President Parents, families, and guests are welcome to join Bard College President Leon Botstein in an open question-and-answer session
1:30pm – 4:00pm ET	Interviews Admission counselors will email the students they are interviewing with the online interview link and the time of the interview at least one business day before the IDP date. Each interview is about 20 to 30 minutes long
1:30pm – 4:00pm ET	Waiting Room Visit the “Waiting Room” before or after your interview to chat with our tour guides, who can share their Bard experience and answer your questions

Virtual Day: Saturday, November 19
In order to accommodate students from different time zones, there is an Eastern Time (ET) afternoon start IDP schedule (Friday, November 18) and Eastern Time (ET) morning start IDP schedule (Saturday, November 19). The virtual IDP dates are reserved for students who cannot travel to campus for an in-person visit.

Time (Eastern Time)	Session
10:00 am –10:15 am ET	Welcome Opening remarks by the Director of Admission, Mackie Siebens '12
10:15 am –11:15 am ET	Student Classes During this student-only session, students will break out into small-group workshops
10:15 am –11:15 am ET	Q&A with the President Parents, families, and guests are welcome to join Bard College President Leon Botstein in an open question-and-answer session
11:30am – 2:00pm ET	Interviews Admission counselors will email the students they are interviewing with the online interview link and the time of the interview at least one business day before the IDP date. Each interview is about 20 to 30 minutes long
11:30am – 2:00pm ET	Waiting Room Visit the “Waiting Room” before or after your interview to chat with our tour guides, who can share their Bard experience and answer your questions

2022 IDP Dates and Registration

All IDP sessions are now full. See more ways to apply here!
In-Person Dates:
Friday, November 4th, starting at 9 AM ET
Registration for November 4 is now full.
Saturday, November 5th starting at 9 AM ET
Registration for November 5 is now full.

Friday, November 11th starting at 9 AM ET
Registration for November 11 is now full.
Saturday, November 12th starting at 9 AM ET
Registration for November 12 is now full.

Virtual Dates:
Friday, November 18th starting at 12:00 PM ET
Registration for November 18 is now full.
Saturday, November 19th starting at 10:00 AM ET
Registration for November 19 is now full.

Please note, for the virtual IDP sessions, parents/guardians are invited to attend a welcome and Q&A with the Director of Admission, Mackie Siebens '12, and President of the College, Leon Botstein. Registration is required.
Friday, November 18th starting at 12:00 PM ET
PARENT REGISTRATION VIRTUAL NOVEMBER 18
Saturday, November 19th starting at 10:00 AM ET
PARENT REGISTRATION VIRTUAL NOVEMBER 19

Important COVID Information

Current campus COVID protocols are subject to change based on local and national rates and cases

We expect all visitors to campus to be fully vaccinated and to bring a mask with them in the event that they are asked to wear a mask during their visit. You do not need to wear your mask to enter the admission building when you arrive. Visitors who are not fully vaccinated must receive a negative COVID test result before arriving on campus. In advance of your visit to 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.

Immediate Decision Plan

Who should apply via IDP?

The Immediate Decision Process

2022 IDP Schedules

2022 IDP Dates and Registration

Important COVID Information

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