Transfer Applicants

Photo by Pete Mauney ’93 MFA ’00

Am I a Transfer Student?

A transfer student is defined as one who has officially matriculated into a degree program (associate’s or bachelor’s) at an accredited junior college, college, or university, and completed at least one semester (12 or more transferrable credits as determined by the Registrar) at that institution. Candidates who have taken college classes without being admitted into an institution's degree program are considered incoming first-year students, not transfer students. Bard also accepts international transfer students; the application requirements differ from those of domestic transfer students. Transfer students who are 24 years or older should apply directly to Bard's Returning to College Program (RCP). If you have any questions, please reach out to Josh Tyler, Director of Transfer Admission, at [email protected].

Photo by Pete Mauney ’93 MFA ’00

Transfer Orientation

Transfer students enrolling at Bard must complete an orientation program:

Fall transfer students complete the Language and Thinking Program, a two-week orientation and workshop in August, and Citizen Science in January.
Spring transfer students complete the Language and Thinking Program in January, and Citizen Science the following January.

Transfer students with fewer than 28 transferable credits:
All transfer students (fall or spring) with fewer than 28 transferable credits must also complete one semester of First-Year Seminar during their first semester enrolled at the College.

Housing Requirements and Eligibility

Students with first- or second-year status must live on campus. Students with third- or fourth-year status are not required to live on campus. Return to College (RCP) students and Bard Baccalaureate (BardBac) students are not guaranteed on-campus housing.

Transfer Credit

A student transferring from an accredited institution usually receives full credit for work completed with a grade of C or better in courses appropriate to the Bard curriculum. Specifically, no transfer credit will be given for courses that are dissimilar from those offered at Bard. For example, “fashion design” per se is not offered at Bard, therefore the Registrar's Office would not grant transfer credit for a fashion-design class. Also, credits will not transfer from online or distance learning classes, nor will they transfer from college algebra or lower level math courses. Regardless of course credit eligibility, a maximum of 64 transfer credits can be granted. Transfer students must complete a minimum of 64 credits at Bard, for a total of 128, in order to receive a Bard degree. Transfer credits for online classes are not accepted at Bard College.

Dates and Deadlines

	SPRING TRANSFER:	FALL TRANSFER:
Regular Admission Due	November 1	March 1
Bard College Aid Scholarship Applications Due (optional and if applicable)	November 1	March 1
Financial Aid Due	November 1	March 1
Decision Notification	December 1	Late March
Deposit Due	December 10	May 1

Application Options

Transfer Application Options

Transfer students may not apply to Bard through Early Action, Early Decision, Immediate Decision Plan, or the Bard Entrance Exam, but must apply Regular Admission. Application due dates also differ for transfer students (see "Dates and Deadlines" above).
Return to College Program (RCP)

If you are 24 years or older and have at least one semester's worth of college credits (12-16 credits) from a previous higher education program that can be transferred to Bard College, then you can apply through Bard's Return to College Program (RCP).
Bard Early College Opportunity and Preferred Admission Programs

Bard High School Early College graduates who choose to apply to Bard College's main campus now have the opportunity to apply to the Preferred Admission and Early College Opportunity scholarship (ECO) programs.

Bard Early College Opportunity and Preferred Admission Programs

Bard High School Early College graduates who choose to apply to Bard College's main campus now have the opportunity to apply to the Preferred Admission and Early College Opportunity scholarship (ECO) programs.

Preferred Admission students enjoy expanded orientation and preregistration, and can apply for ECO scholarships, which may cover up to full tuition. Transferring to Bard College offers BHSEC graduates the opportunity to complete a bachelor’s degree within four to six semesters. While some universities do not accept the college credits earned during the final two years at BHSEC, Bard accepts all credits. As a result, BHSEC graduates who transfer to Bard enter as juniors. They then have two semesters in which to complete the Moderation process and an additional two to four semesters to finish their Senior Projects. BHSEC transfers enjoy other benefits as well:

1) The option to apply for fall or spring term
2) Advanced notice of Regular Admission decisions (announced March 1)
3) Guaranteed on-campus housing
4) The option to participate in both the Language and Thinking and Citizen Science workshops

Applying as first-year candidates with the Common Application gives BHSEC applicants the choice to have a four-year college experience at institutions that do not accept the earned college credits, or fast-track to graduation in four to six semesters at Bard.

Of course, the greatest benefit in transferring to Bard is the continuation of the academic environment BHSEC students have come to appreciate: small class size, seminar/discussion style of learning, close association and mentoring with faculty, and a depth and breath of knowledge that prepares Bardians for life after college.

Click here for more information.
Community College Pathways

If you are interested in applying to Bard from a local community college, Bard has partnered with community colleges in the Hudson Valley.

Community College Pathways

If you are interested in applying to Bard from a local community college, Bard has partnered with community colleges in the Hudson Valley.

Westchester Community College, State University of New York

Check back for more listings!

If you have any questions, please contact Josh Tyler, Director of Transfer Admission at [email protected]

Attention, Simon’s Rock Students:

Students applying from Bard College at Simon's Rock are required to complete the Common Application as a transfer student.

Bard College at Simon's Rock's policy is that students must be at Simon's Rock for at least two years before applying to Bard College in Annandale.

U.S. Citizens

Application Checklist for U.S. Citizens

Transfer Students

Required materials:

Apply using the Common Application.
The College Report and college transcript are also required. A high school transcript is required unless the candidate will have completed an associate’s degree by the time of matriculation at Bard.
Both academic recommendations should come from college faculty. However, for those who have completed only one or two college semesters in circumstances where the classes have been large and contact with professors minimal, we will accept high school faculty recommendations.
Artistic supplements are required for all transfer candidates seeking admission to the Photography Program. (Please click on the link below for artistic supplement details for this program.)

Photography Supplemental Requirements

Non-U.S. Citizens

Application Checklist for Non-U.S. Citizens

Transfer Students

Application Checklist:

Required materials:

Apply using the Common Application.
College Transcripts
High School transcript (If you have not completed an Associate's Degree or at least 2 full years of college credits)
College Report
2 Academic Recommendations
TOEFL exam or IELTS exam or Duolingo English Test are acceptable English proficiency tests. All international applicants for whom English is not their primary language must submit one of the accepted English proficiency tests. English proficiency test waivers are available for eligible students. Waiver requirements are listed below.
- Students who have attended a secondary school with full English instruction, for at least the 3 most recent years of their education, may request an English proficiency test waiver after they submit their Common Application. Once students submit their Common Application they will gain access to their Bard portal where an English proficiency test waiver form is available.
- Students who have grown up in a country where English is the primary language, may request an English proficiency test waiver after they submit their Common Application. Once students submit their Common Application they will gain access to their Bard portal where an English proficiency test waiver form is available.

Optional materials:

In addition to the TOEFL or IELTS or Duolingo requirement, we recommend participating in the optional English Proficiency supplements with one of our two service partners: IntialView or Vericant. (See below for more information.)
Completed Bard International Financial Aid application. (Required, if applying for financial aid. This form can be found on the Applying for Financial Aid as an International Student page.)
Standardized Testing We do not require SAT/ACT scores, but if you submit your scores we will consider them in making our admission decision. (Bard's CEEB code is 2037.)
- Bard College has been test-optional for nearly 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. Submitted SAT and ACT scores are only used to inform our review process in a very small fraction of applications that include SAT or ACT scores. Students who do not submit their SAT or ACT scores are not penalized in any way during the application review process. For more information about our test optional policy, please reach out to the Office of Admission at [email protected] or 845- 758-7472.
Portfolios and Awards Artistic supplements are not required for admission to Bard. Copies of awards or certificates for extracurricular achievements are not required for admission. If you decide to submit artistic supplements, you can upload the files on your Bard portal. Instructions on accessing your Bard portal will be e-mailed to you once you apply to Bard. To submit awards or certificates for extracurricular achievements include them in a resume along with your application.

Photography Supplemental Requirements

What are the English proficiency requirements (TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo)?

Because we do not have a full-scale English as a Second Language program at Bard, it is critical that all students, domestic and international, have the appropriate level of English fluency before they arrive on campus. We read every application in full, placing particular stock in the writing, and recommendations and grades from English teachers.

TOEFL exam or IELTS exam or Duolingo English Test are acceptable English proficiency tests. English proficiency test waivers are available for eligible students. Once students submit their Common Application, they will gain access to their Bard portal where the English proficiency test waiver form is available for students to complete and submit.

Waiver eligibility requirements are listed below:

Students who have attended a secondary school with full English instruction, for at least the 3 most recent years of their education, may request an English proficiency test waiver after they submit their Common Application. Once students submit their Common Application they will gain access to their Bard portal where an English proficiency test waiver form is available.
Students who have grown up in a country where English is the primary language, may request an English proficiency test waiver after they submit their Common Application.
Other situations will be considered on a case by case basis.

All eligible students must complete and submit the English proficiency test waiver via their Bard portal. Waivers are reviewed on a regular basis and student’s will have their English proficiency application requirement waived if applicable. If students fill out the form and are not deemed eligible for a waiver, students will be notified by the Office of Admission via email, and will be required to submit English proficiency test scores.

Our test score guidelines are:

TOEFL score of at least 100
IELTS score of at least 7
Duolingo English Test score of at least 120

English Language Test Waiver Information

If you are an international student and believe you are eligible for an English Language Test Waiver, you will have access to a waiver form on your Bard portal after you submit your application to Bard College. The Admission Office will review your waiver form and, if you meet the criteria, the Admission Committee will waive the English Language Test requirement, and will notify you of their decision.

MUST READ: Bard Portal Information

Once you submit your Common Application, it may take 24-48 hours for us to confirm receipt of your application. Once we receive your application, you will be emailed a confirmation which includes the credentials to access your Bard Portal.

If you submit your Common Application on the deadline date but still have required materials to submit, please note that you will have time to upload those application materials after that deadline date as long as your Common Application has been submitted. It is important, however, that you submit those final materials as soon as possible after the deadline has passed as the admission committee cannot read incomplete applications.

Please do not mail or email any materials directly to the Admission Office unless instructed to do so. Use your Bard Portal and go to your Application Tab to upload and view submitted materials.

Please make a habit of visiting your Bard portal frequently to view your application and financial aid checklists and confirm that we have received all of the materials required to complete your application. We will also be posting information on your portal throughout the admission cycle so it is important to check your portal regularly.

MUST READ: Bard Portal Information

Submit your application materials to Bard College:

As an applicant, you will receive a login and a link to your Bard Portal. (Note: It may take 24-48 hours for us to confirm receipt of your application, after which you will receive a login and a link to your Bard Portal.) That portal gives you access to many tabs, one of which is your Application Tab where you will see your Application Checklist. Review your Application Checklist periodically to see if there are missing application materials. Upload all materials, including any supplemental materials you wish to share with us, to your Bard Portal. File formats we accept are listed on your Bard portal.
- Transcripts and recommendations submitted by your counselors and teachers will eventually appear with a green checkmark on your Application Checklist as they are received. If your transcripts and recommendations do not appear in your Application Checklist after you've requested them to be sent to Bard, please follow-up with your counselor, teachers and/or your school office. Please note that applicants must not upload any recommendation letters themselves as these must remain confidential and should be sent to Bard by the recommenders directly. We will also notify you, via email, if there are any missing materials.

Check your financial aid materials:

If you are applying for financial aid, once you've submitted all the required materials, go to the Financial Aid Tab in your portal to confirm that they have been received and to see if there are any missing materials. (Note: It can take from 48 hours to 3-5 days, depending on the form being submitted, before a green check mark appears next to each of the respective forms.)

View admission decisions and notifications:

You will receive an email from Admission stating that there has been an update to your Bard Portal. Log in to your portal and click on your Dashboard Tab where all decision letters and correspondences from the College are displayed.
Offers of Admission can be accepted, declined, or deferred, within the Bard portal. Enrollment deposits can be made using a credit card, or you can indicate that your payment is forthcoming via a check or money order.

View events:

Any events hosted by the Office of Admission will be displayed in an Event Tab on your portal.

Here's what displays on your portal after you enroll at Bard:

Once your enrollment deposit is processed, within a week, your Bard Portal will display new tabs. The Enrollment Tab will display your personalized enrollment checklist. There will also be a Special Admitted Events Tab.

Interviews

Only students applying in the current admission cycle are eligible for an interview. We do not require interviews for transfer applicants but we do recommend them. We require interviews for Return-to-College (RCP) applicants.

Interview Requirements

Spring Transfer Applicants
In-Person & Virtual
Only students applying in the current admission cycle are eligible for an interview.

Interview Deadlines:
- Spring Transfer interviews: from September 5 through October 21, 2022
Interview Options:
- Both in-person and virtual interview options.
Interview registration link to be posted in mid August 2022.
IN-PERSON INTERVIEW REQUIREMENTS
All COVID-19 requirements MUST be adhered to:
- Please bring a mask with you to this event. You do not need to wear your mask to enter the admission building when you arrive but you might be asked to wear it at specific points during your visit.
- In advance of your interview at Bard College, we ask that you kindly monitor your current health. In the event 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.
Fall Transfer Applicants
Virtual Interviews Only!
Only students applying in the current admission cycle are eligible for an interview.

Interview Timeline:
- Fall transfer interviews: Monday through Friday during the month of February 2023.
Interview Options:
- Fall transfer interviews will be VIRTUAL only.
Interview registration link to be posted in January 2023.

Applying for Financial Aid?

Required Financial Aid Forms for Bard College

Financial aid and scholarships based on need are available. (For some financial aid scholarships, students will need to fill out a form and submit that form at the same time their application to the College is submitted.) Both the FAFSA and CSS PROFILE forms are required by Bard for domestic students and are found online. For international students, the Bard International Student Application for Financial Aid is required and is to be completed and uploaded to their Bard portal with their application. All students receive access to their Bard Portal via email after submitting their Common Application to Bard College.

Deadlines for Submitting Financial Aid Forms

Non-U.S citizens who are applying through early application options: November 1
- NOTE for Immediate Decision Plan (IDP) Applicants: November 1 is the deadline for financial aid forms for all IDP applicants (U.S. and Non-U.S. citizens) to receive early notification of the financial aid estimate.

U.S. citizens applying through all other early application options (Bard Entrance Exam, Early Action, Early Decision): December 1

Non-U.S. citizens who are applying through the regular decision option: January 1

U.S. citizens who are applying through the regular decision option: February 1

Financial Aid Website

Any Questions?

Please click the questions below for answers to the most common questions asked about applying to Bard as a transfer student.

If I'm currently in a dual-enrollment program, how do I apply?

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?

What kind of housing is available for transfer students?

Housing is guaranteed for transfer students.
What does it mean to be waitlisted?

What does it mean to be 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?

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

Transfer Applicants

Transfer Orientation

Housing Requirements and Eligibility

Transfer Credit

Dates and Deadlines

Application Options

Bard Early College Opportunity and Preferred Admission Programs

Community College Pathways

Attention, Simon’s Rock Students:

U.S. Citizens

Application Checklist for U.S. Citizens

Non-U.S. Citizens

Application Checklist for Non-U.S. Citizens

What are the English proficiency requirements (TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo)?

English Language Test Waiver Information

MUST READ: Bard Portal Information

MUST READ: Bard Portal Information

Interviews

Interview Requirements

Applying for Financial Aid?

Required Financial Aid Forms for Bard College

Any Questions?

If I'm currently in a dual-enrollment program, how do I apply?

What kind of housing is available for transfer students?

What does it mean to be waitlisted?

Do I have to resubmit an application if I've already applied in the past?

Keep Exploring