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Main Image for Fall Open House

Fall Open House

Photo by Savannah Williams
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Fall Open House in Annandale-on-Hudson
We are hosting our Fall Open House on Saturday, October 7, 2023. The day centers around activities that allow students and their families to explore the campus and experience the excitement of Bard College classes. Check-in is at the Reem-Kayden Center (RKC), where students will be directed to their classes in various campus buildings. All other visitors will attend a Q&A with Bard College President Leon Botstein. Campus tours, including a residence hall tour, will be offered in the late morning ending at lunch, which will be served on the beautiful Blithewood lawn, with views of the Hudson River and the Catskill Mountains. At lunch students will be able to meet with faculty and staff. Following lunch, a variety of optional drop-in facility tours will be available.

*Fall Open House 2023 is currently full. If you would like to join the waitlist, please register below!
REGISTER FOR WAITLIST

COVID-19 PROTOCOLS:

COVID-19 PROTOCOLS:

In advance of your visit to Bard College, we ask that you kindly monitor your health. In the event that 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.

Details about the Day

Download Fall Open House Schedule

Schedule

October 7, 2023, 9:00 am – 3:30 pm (ET) 
Annandale-on-Hudson

Time (Eastern Time) Session Location 
9:00–9:45 am Check-In
Grab-and-go coffee and breakfast items.
Reem-Kayden Center (RKC)
9:45–10:00 am  Introduction to the day's events Reem-Kayden Center (RKC)
10:15–11:15 am Classes
(Students only)

During this student-only session, students will break out into small classes assigned upon arrival.
Various Campus Spaces (Students will be assigned upon arrival)
Q&A with Bard President, Leon Botstein
(Parents/Families only)

Parents, families, and guests are welcome to join Bard President, Leon Botstein, for a Q&A session.
Olin Auditorium
11:30 am – 1:30 pm Campus Tours
The tour features these facilities: Reem-Kayden Center (RKC), Kline Commons (Dining), Stevenson Athletics Center,  Fisher Studio Arts Building, Campus Center, Residence Halls, and ends at Blithewood with lunch.
For students: Tours depart from classrooms. 
All other guests: Tours depart from Olin Auditorium.
1:30–2:15 pm Lunch and Faculty/Staff Meet and Greet Blithewood Lawn (Tent)
2:30–3:30 pm Music and Conservatory Facility Tours (optional drop-in tour)
Music and Conservatory program staff will lead a tour throughout the facility while answering questions.  
Bitó ’60 Conservatory Building
(A short walk from Blithewood Lawn)
2:30–3:30 pm Dance and Theater & Performance Facility Tours (optional drop-in tour)
Dance and Theater & Performance program staff will lead a tour throughout the facility while answering questions.
Fisher Performing Arts Center (Luma/Studios/Sosnoff)
2:30–3:30 pm Science, Mathematics, and Computing Facility Tours (optional drop-in tour)
Science and Mathematics and Computing program staff will lead a tour throughout the facility while answering questions.
Reem Kayden Center (RKC)
2:30–3:30 pm Architecture Facility Tours (optional drop-in tour)
Architecture program staff will lead a tour throughout the facility while answering questions.
New Henderson

Fall Open House Classes

The Fall Open House (FOH) classes are designed to reflect the mission and power of Bard's liberal arts and sciences education, which intentionally provides opportunities for students to dive deeply into existing passions and requires students to explore brand new fields. FOH students will be randomly assigned to one of six classes at check-in, each taught by a member of the Bard faculty from one of the College's four main divisions (the Arts; Languages and Literature; Social Studies; Science, Mathematics, and Computing). The faculty leading the FOH classes will curate hour-long sessions themed by a division that is accessible to students with varying degrees of experience with the subject material.

Rhinecliff Train Station Shuttle Service

The following information is for students (and their guests), who will be taking the Amtrak train to campus on the morning of October 7, and taking the Amtrak train back that afternoon from campus.

Local Transportation Notice
Please note the campus is located approximately 9 miles north of the Rhinecliff train station. Ground transportation options are limited at the Rhinecliff train station. If not utilizing the Bard shuttle service, please plan accordingly.

We will provide shuttle service between the Amtrak Rhinecliff train station at the beginning and end of the event only (details below). Registration is required to reserve a seat on Bard's shuttle service. 

AM Shuttle Service:
We will provide shuttle service from the Rhinecliff train station to the event for those taking the 7:15 am Amtrak train from New York City’s Moynihan Train Hall/Penn Station, arriving in Rhinecliff at 8:58 am, or the 8:10 am Amtrak train from Albany-Rensselaer, arriving in Rhinecliff at 8:52 am. 

PM Shuttle Service (Departing the RKC at 3:15 pm)
We will provide shuttle service from the event to the Rhinecliff train station for those taking the 3:54 pm Amtrak train back to New York City’s Moynihan Train Hall/Penn Station, arriving in NYC at 5:46 pm, or the 4:00 pm Amtrak train back to Albany-Rensselaer, arriving in Albany-Rensselaer at 4:49 pm.

If you plan to travel outside of these allotted times, we will provide the number of a local taxi service.

Transportation Assistance Program
Bard offers a Transportation Assistance Program for our in-person Fall Open House for prospective students from the New York Metro Area and New York's Capital Region. Qualified students (and up to two guests) will be given train tickets to and from Bard for this event. The transportation assistance program is subject to transportation availability and eligibility requirements. See further details in the Fall Open House registration form.

Fall Virtual Events

Join faculty, staff, and current Bard students for conversations on a range of topics during the Admission Fall Virtual Event Series. The Bard community prioritizes equity and inclusion, and this series has been designed with our longstanding tradition of open discussions in mind.
View Virtual Events Here!

Faculty Connections

Faculty Connections

Prospective students who are interested in connecting with a professor should email [email protected] expressing the specific professor(s) they would like to meet with or the division(s) they are interested in, details about their availability and travel, and if they are taking a tour during their visit. We will respond within 3 business days with a confirmation of your request and details about your visit. 
Please make your request at least five business days before you plan to arrive on campus.

There are Many Ways to Apply to Bard!

There are Many Ways to Apply to Bard!

Bard College has been test optional for over 50 years.

You do not need to take the SAT or ACT to apply to Bard. SAT and ACT scores should only be submitted if a student feels that their scores are an accurate reflection of their academic abilities. Students who do not submit their SAT or ACT scores are not penalized in any way during the application review process.

There is NO application fee to apply to Bard College!
Learn more about applying to Bard. We have some unique application options in addition to the regular methods of applying to college. 

Find Out More About Applying to Bard

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Phone: 845-758-6822
Admission E-mail: [email protected]
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