First-Year Applicants

Any Questions?

• Can I apply to Bard before I've completed high school?
  Yes. Candidates seeking admission before completing secondary school may be accepted if they have a strong high school record and the recommendation of a guidance counselor or principal. They must interview with an admission counselor and follow the Regular Admission process. Please contact us for more information.
• What is Bard's policy on advanced standing and college AP credits?
  Advanced standing or college credit for College Board Advanced Placement (AP) courses will be given for a grade of 5. Students who wish to request credit or advanced standing must submit the appropriate record of their grade to the Office of the Registrar.
  
  The following international diplomas may be accepted for advanced standing: International Baccalaureate, French Baccalaureate, Swiss Maturity, and German Abitur. A student may be allowed to accelerate for up to 32 credits (a normal full year) at the time of Moderation if the Moderation Board so recommends. Students who have earned A-level passes may enter with advanced standing. To be eligible for credit, IB students must score 5 or above in individual subjects. A-level students must have an A or A* to receive credit. 
  
  Any questions regarding exact transfer of advanced credit should be made after you have received an admission decision and directed to Peter Gadsby, the registrar (gadsby@bard.edu).
• How do I apply if I'm currently in a dual-enrollment program?
  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 are the Bard Educational Opportunity Programs?
  Bard College offers substantial academic support services and scholarship/financial aid awards to select individuals with Opportunity Programs Scholarships. BEOP offers Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) and Bard Opportunity Program (BOP) scholarships that provide support to students who have experienced educational and financial inequalities and who possess the desire, potential, and work ethic necessary to succeed in a liberal arts college environment. 
  
  The HEOP Scholarship is for New York State residents only while the BOP Scholarship is a nationwide initiative—students from all 50 states are encouraged to apply. To be considered for a BEOP Scholarship, you must apply to Bard College and also submit the BEOP supplemental form.

  BEOP Website
• What is the Bard Entrance Examination?
  The Bard Entrance Examination is an online essay test open to high school juniors and seniors. Completion of the test is equivalent to an application for admission.
  
  Application Checklist Required materials once you have completed and passed the Bard Entrance Examination (B+ or higher):

  • An official high school transcript (Homeschooled students may submit documentation of their curriculum in lieu of a transcript.)
  • A general reference letter from a high school counselor or another appropriate school official. 

  Bard Entrance Exam Information
• How do I apply if I was homeschooled?
  Bard regularly receives applications from students who have been homeschooled for some or all of their education. Since their experiences and curriculum vary tremendously, our requirements for homeschooled applicants differ somewhat from our requirements for more traditional high school students.
  
  It is hard to standardize these requirements, and we are willing to work with you to tailor the admission process. We recommend homeschooled students provide the following:

  • The full curriculum and documentation as to how the curriculum was met.
  • Names of textbooks or other books used and the content covered.
  • Indication of other experiences used to cover the curriculum and how the student was evaluated.
  • Results of any educational testing.
  • Grades from any courses taken.
  • Standardized test scores (SAT or ACT, optional SAT II).
  • An analytic paper.
  • Academic recommendations from non-parent adults who have worked with you: two required; English, science, or mathematics preferred.
  • An essay explaining why you chose homeschooling and your experience with your choice.
  • We strongly recommend a personal interview. Skype interviews available.
• What does it mean to be deferred to Regular Decision or waitlisted?
  Deferred to Regular Admission?
  
  If you have applied through one of the Early Application Options: Early Action, Early Decision, or through Bard's Immediate Decision Plan (IDP), the Admission Committee has three options: accept, deny, or defer to Regular Decision. If you are deferred to Regular Decision, your early application has been shifted to our Regular Decision pool of candidates (i.e., those who apply by January 1) and you will receive an admission decision at the end of March. In most cases, applicants are deferred to Regular Admission because the Admission Committee wants to see midyear senior grades (first semester, or first and/or second trimester) before making a 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. 
  
  
  Waitlisted? 
  
  It means that you are in a holding pattern in terms of an admission decision. Because the final outcome of your waitlisted status cannot be predicted, you should ensure that you have a place for yourself in the fall by meeting the deposit deadline at another institution. If you are offered admission, you will be notified by e-mail to check your Applicant Portal. You should be prepared to accept or decline our offer within two weeks. If you applied for financial aid, you will receive a financial aid package within 10 days after notification.
   
  Typically, admission from Bard’s active waitlist is offered beginning early May through mid-July. We do not rank our waitlist and the number of students admitted varies from year to year. By August 1, however, admission from the waitlist will be concluded and we will notify all remaining students.
• Do I have to resubmit an application if I've already applied in the past and would like to be considered for another application year?
  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 admission@bard.edu 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