Virtual Immediate Decision Plan

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

Virtual Immediate Decision Plan Schedule IDP Dates & Registration

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 virtual seminar-style workshop and then will participate in an online 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.

Who should apply for IDP?

We expect applicants to have pursued a rigorous course of study including honors and/or advanced classes if offered at their secondary school. In addition, a well-balanced program of study is considered the best preparation for succeeding at Bard. Such a program should include, if possible, a full four-year sequence in English, social sciences, and mathematics; study of at least one foreign language for three, preferably four years; and three to four years of study in the laboratory sciences. The Admission Committee is interested in the entire high school record, with junior and senior year courses being especially important.

The committee also considers achievement, motivation, and intellectual ambition outside of school; appraises the standards of the secondary school curriculum; and carefully reads the application essay and recommendations. We suggest that recommendations be from both an English/humanities teacher and a math or science teacher from the junior or senior years. Students are advised to contact the Admission Office, or have their college counselor call to speak with an admission counselor if they have any questions about whether IDP is appropriate for them. Please note that transfer students are not eligible to participate in IDP, except for Bard High School Early College students.

Virtual Immediate Decision Plan Process (link expands with more information)

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

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 admission@bard.edu.

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 workshop. Careful study of the readings is essential for participation in the workshop.

4. Pick an IDP date that works for your timezone.

If you register for IDP on Friday, November 6; Saturday, November 7; Friday, November 20, or Saturday, November 21, you will be registering for the morning start schedule.
If you register for IDP on Friday, November 13 or Saturday, November 14, you will be registering for the afternoon start schedule.

5. Prior to your IDP date, an Admission Counselor will email you with a link to your online interview.

NOTE: 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.

IDP Information

Due by November 1: Your completed Common Application must be submitted to the Admission Office in order to be considered for IDP. Please select one of these two choices as your admission plan on the Common Application:
- Early Action II - Immediate Decision (non-binding)
- Early Decision II - Immediate Decision (binding)
Students must register for an IDP date.
IDP registrants must do all short readings for their workshop before their IDP date. The workshop is an important part of IDP. Applicants are expected to attend the workshop and discuss the associated readings in order to get a clear sense of what a Bard class is like. This workshop is not graded and does not factor into the admission process - its purpose is to provide IDP applicants with an authentic Bard College experience!

Scroll down for schedules and registration links.

Virtual Immediate Decision Plan Schedule

In order to accommodate students from different timezones, there are Eastern Time (ET) Morning Start IDP Sessions and Eastern Time (ET) Afternoon Start IDP Sessions. PLEASE CONSIDER THE MORNING SESSIONS IF YOU ARE IN THE EASTERN TIME ZONE OR OTHER APPROPRIATE TIME ZONE FOR THESE SESSIONS. THE AFTERNOON SESSIONS WERE CREATED TO ACCOMMODATE U.S. WEST COAST AND U.S. MOUNTAIN TIME ZONES.

EASTERN TIME (ET) MORNING START IDP SESSIONS :
Friday, November 6 and Saturday, November 7; Friday, November 20 and Saturday, November 21

All times below are in Eastern Time (ET)

Time (Eastern Time)	Session
10:00–10:15 am ET	Opening Remarks by Director of Admission
10:15–11:15 am ET	Student Workshops During this student-only session students will break out into small-group workshops.
10:15–11:15 am ET	Parent/Family Q&A Parents, family, and guests are welcome to join Bard College President Leon Botstein in an open question and answer session.
11:30 am–2:00 pm ET	Interviews Admission Counselors will email the students they are interviewing with the online interview link and the time of interview by 1 business day before IDP date—or sooner. *Each interview is about 20 to 30 minutes long.*
11:30 am–2:00 pm ET	Waiting Room Come in and out of the "Waiting Room" where you can chat with our tour guides who can share their Bard experience or answer your questions.
2:00–3:00 pm ET	Live Campus Tour Join Bard Campus student tour guides and visitors from around the world on a live campus tour.

PLEASE CONSIDER THE MORNING SESSIONS IF YOU ARE IN THE EASTERN TIME ZONE. THE AFTERNOON SESSIONS WERE CREATED TO ACCOMMODATE NON-EASTERN-TIMEZONE STUDENTS.

EASTERN TIME (ET) AFTERNOON START IDP SESSIONS:
Friday, November 13 and Saturday, November 14

All times below are in Eastern Time (ET)

Time (Eastern Time)	Session
12:00–12:15 pm ET	Opening Remarks by Director of Admission
12:15–1:15 pm ET	Student Workshops During this student-only session students will break out into small-group workshops.
12:15–1:15 pm ET	Parent/Family Q&A Parents, family, and guests are welcome to join Bard College President Leon Botstein in an open question and answer session.
1:30–4:00 pm ET	Interviews Admission Counselors will email the students they are interviewing with the online interview link and the time of interview by 1 business day before IDP date—or sooner. *Each interview is about 20 to 30 minutes long.*
1:30–4:00 pm ET	Waiting Room Come in and out of the "Waiting Room" where you can chat with our tour guides who can share their Bard experience or answer your questions.

IDP Dates and Registration

Friday, November 6 starting at 10:00 am ET
Saturday, November 7 starting at 10:00 am ET

Friday, November 13 starting at 12:00 pm ET
Saturday, November 14 starting at 12:00 pm ET

Friday, November 20 starting at 10:00 am ET
Saturday, November 21 starting at 10:00 am ET

PLEASE CONSIDER THE MORNING SESSIONS IF YOU ARE IN THE EASTERN TIME ZONE OR OTHER APPROPRIATE TIME ZONE FOR THESE SESSIONS. THE AFTERNOON SESSIONS WERE CREATED TO ACCOMMODATE U.S. WEST COAST AND U.S. MOUNTAIN TIME ZONES.

Registration is required for students and for parents/families. Student and parent/family registration is separate. Students, pick a date and time that works for you and your parent/family.

REGISTER NOW!

STUDENTS: REGISTER HERE
PARENTS/FAMILIES: CLICK ON RED BAR BELOW TO REGISTER

READINGS FOR IDP

STUDENTS: IDP registrants must do all short readings before their IDP date, which are below. Remember, these classes are not graded and are not considered in your application. The class experience has been created especially for you so you can gain a better sense of what it feels like to be a student at Bard College.
IDP Reading: "Carbon" by Primo Levi
IDP Reading: "To Write in a Foreign Language" by Etel Adnan