Transfer Applicants

Transfer Applicants

Bring your credits. Finish your degree at Bard.

Find your path.

Most transfer applicants start with the first card. If that isn't you, try one of the other paths.
Transfer student
You've started college. Finish at Bard.
 
✓ Enrolled in a degree program at an accredited college or university
✓ Completed at least one semester, with 12 or more transferable credits
✓ Under 24 years old

International students are welcome to apply as transfers. See the international transfer details.		 Not quite? Try these.
Returning to College Program →
For applicants 24 or older with at least 12 credits. An interview is required.
Bard Early College graduates →
Preferred Admission and Early College Opportunity scholarships.
College classes, no degree program →
Took college classes in high school, or without enrolling in a degree program? You likely apply as a first-year.
Community college partners →
Westchester Community College has a transfer agreement with Bard.
Apply with the Common App Apply with Scoir

Pick your start term.

Spring entry or fall entry. Every date, interview, and orientation in one place.
Spring entry
Nov 1
Application due
 
○  Sep 8 – Oct 30 Optional interview with an Admission Counselor. Sign up by Oct 30.
○  Nov 1 Aid forms: CSS Profile (U.S.) or BISFAA (international). Optional scholarship application.
○  Early Dec Decision
●  Dec 11 Deposit due
○  January Three-day orientation
Fall entry
Mar 1
Application due
 
○  February Optional virtual interview, Monday to Friday. Sign up by Feb 26.
○  Mar 1 Aid forms: FAFSA and CSS Profile (U.S.) or BISFAA (international). Optional scholarship application.
○  Late March Decision
●  May 1 Deposit due
○  August Three-day orientation
FAFSA: file as soon as it opens in December, and no later than Feb 1.
 
Annandale-on-Hudson, New York

Your credits, in numbers.

What transfers, and what you'll still earn at Bard.
64
transfer credits, at most		 + 64
credits from Bard, at least		 = 128
credits to graduate
 
12 credits to apply
Complete at least one semester with 12 or more transferable credits.
C or better
Credit is given for grades of C or higher in classes similar to ones offered at Bard.
28 credits to skip
First-Year Seminar
Transfer students with fewer than 28 transferable credits must complete one semester of First-Year Seminar. With 28 or more, you are exempt.

Your application checklist.

Required and Optional Materials
Send all of these
Required
 
✓ Application
Transfer Common App or Scoir.
✓ College report and college transcript
Both are required.
✓ High school transcript
Required unless you will have an associate's degree by the time you enroll.
✓ Two academic recommendations
From college faculty. If you've completed only one or two semesters of college and have had limited interaction with your professors, recommendations from high school faculty are acceptable.
 
Applying to the Photography Program? Artistic supplements are required. See the Photography Supplemental Requirements.

Transcripts and recommendations must come to Bard directly from your school or recommender. Please do not upload them yourself.		 Send any that you like
Optional
 
○ A “Why Bard?” reflection
About 250 words, in your own voice, on why Bard is on your list.
○ SAT or ACT scores
Bard has been test optional for over 50 years, and not sending scores is never penalized. Self-report them in the Testing section of your application, or upload a score report to your Bard portal. Our CEEB code is 2037.
○ Portfolios and awards
Not required. If you send artistic supplements, upload them on your Bard portal.
International applicants
Applying from outside the U.S.?

You follow the same application process and deadlines, with a few additional requirements.

If English is not your primary language, you must submit an accepted English proficiency test score unless you qualify for a waiver. Waivers may be available to students who have attended a school where English is the language of instruction. Transfer applicants must have completed at least four semesters of college coursework to qualify under this criterion. You can request a waiver through your Bard portal after submitting your application.

If you are applying for financial aid, you must also submit the Bard International Student Financial Aid Application.

An interview is strongly recommended for transfer applicants.

See International Transfer Details

Thinking about an interview?

Interviews aren’t required for transfer applicants, but we recommend them. Only students applying in the current admission cycle are eligible.
WORTH A CONVERSATION IF…
Only students who fit one of these should consider interviewing:
 
○ The application doesn't give you enough space to fully explain important life or educational experiences. ○ You want to add context to something in your application that is better explained in an interview. ○ You want to share something with Admission that you don't plan to include in your application.
 
Spring entry
In person & virtual
 

Sep 8 – Oct 30
 		 Interview window
 
Both options are available. If you live within driving or train distance of campus, please choose in person and leave the virtual slots for students who can't travel.
Fall entry
Virtual only
 

February
 		 Monday through Friday
 
Fall transfer interviews are virtual only.
 

ㅤ

Housing requirements and eligibility.

Housing is guaranteed for transfer students, with the exception of RCP and Bard Baccalaureate.
First- or second-year status
Must live on campus
Third- or fourth-year status
Not required to live on campus
Return to College (RCP) and Bard Baccalaureate (BardBac)
Not guaranteed on-campus housing

Must read: Bard Portal information.

Once you apply, your Bard Portal is where you upload materials and check your application and financial aid checklists.
INSIDE YOUR PORTAL
Application, Financial Aid, Dashboard, Events
Can’t find your login? Email [email protected].
STEP 1
Submit your application
It may take 24 to 48 hours to confirm receipt. Then we’ll email your Bard Portal login.		 STEP 2
Upload on your portal
Use the Application tab. Please don’t mail or email materials unless instructed to.
STEP 3
Check in often
View your application and financial aid checklists. We’ll post updates there all cycle.		 STEP 4
Missing something?
You can still upload after the deadline, but we can’t read incomplete applications. Send everything soon.

Required financial aid forms.

Financial aid and scholarships based on need are available.
Spring transfers Fall transfers and Return to College Program (RCP)
U.S. CITIZENS
Nov 1  CSS Profile
FAFSA: as soon as it opens in December, and no later than Feb 1.		 U.S. CITIZENS
Mar 1  CSS Profile and FAFSA
 
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Nov 1  BISFAA
Upload it to your Bard portal with your application.		 INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Mar 1  BISFAA
Upload it to your Bard portal with your application.
 
Meeting the Nov 1 and Mar 1 dates lets eligible students receive a financial aid package alongside their admission decision.
Financial aid and scholarships based on need are available. Questions? Email [email protected].
 
Transfer orientation.
Transfer orientation.

Transfer orientation.

Transfer students enrolling at Bard must complete an orientation program.
SPRING ENTRY
Three days in January		 FALL ENTRY
Three days in August
FEWER THAN 28 TRANSFERABLE CREDITS?
All transfer students, fall or spring, must also complete one semester of First-Year Seminar during their first semester enrolled at the College.

Any questions?

The most common questions about applying as a transfer student. Click one to see the answer.
  • If I'm currently in a dual-enrollment program, how do I apply?
    Credits from college classes taken during high school will transfer to Bard if the college/university provides a transcript and if the student earns a grade of C or higher in classes similar to ones offered at Bard. Students participating in dual enrollment programs who expect to complete their associate’s degrees at the time of high school graduation should apply to Bard as transfer candidates. However, some colleges and universities do not accept these college credits and expect these students to apply as first-years. Since students can only submit one Common Application (either first-year or transfer), if they choose to apply to Bard as first-years, we will shift their applications to transfer status.
  • What kind of housing is available for transfer students?
    Housing is guaranteed for transfer students, with the exception of RCP and Bard Baccalaureate. 
  • Do I have to resubmit an application if I've already applied in the past?
    All applicants must submit an application for the current application year, including students who have previously applied to the College. Students who have applied within the past 2 years may request to have previously submitted recommendations, transcripts, or supplemental materials transferred to their new application by submitting this request form to the Office of Admission when they re-apply. Email [email protected] if you no longer have your applicant portal login information; this is what you will use to submit your request form.

    Note: If you already have a Common Application account, you may want to use account rollover to re-submit your application. See Common Application Rollover