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 in September or October
2. Submit the Common App indicating IDP by November 1

2022 IDP dates, registration form, and readings to be posted by mid-September.

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, registration form, and readings will become available. Step 1 is to register for an IDP date even before you submit your Common Application on 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. Read the texts for the class. Careful study of the readings is essential for participation in the class. (Texts are posted prior to the IDP dates.)

4. If you have a 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 a 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 return 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 for those who accompanied students to IDP.

5. 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.)

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 make your decision within a month after receipt of our acceptance 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. If you apply Early Action II - Immediate Decision, we recommend that you do not apply Early Decision to another institution.

Immediate Decision Plan

Who should apply via IDP?

The Immediate Decision Process

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