Bard College in New York, USA offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in various fields such as Architecture, Music, Biology, Computer Science, Political Studies. It admits students from all over the globe and 17% of its total student population is of international origin. Although it has about 6000 students enrolled in various courses, Bard College has an excellent faculty to student ratio of 1:10.
1882 undergraduate students and 325 graduate students were enrolled in Bard College during Fall admissions. For undergraduate admissions of Fall, Bard College received 4912 applications out of which around 3000 students were selected. Thus, with an acceptance rate of 65%, admission at Bard College can be moderately selective.
- Students interested in studying in the USA may apply to Bard College for Fall and Spring sessions.
- Admission notification is released by the end of December for Early Decision and by the end of March for Regular Decision
- International students must apply before November 1 and January 1 for Early Decision and Regular Decision undergraduate admissions respectively.
- Applicants for graduate courses must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to be eligible for admission. However, GPA requirements can vary depending on each course.
- International applicants must apply for scholarships at Bard College before November 1 and January 1 for Early Decision and Regular Decision admission process respectively.
- Bard College does not require SAT or ACT test scores because it follows a Test-Optional Policy.
- Bard College offers an entrance examination to high school juniors and seniors, which can bypass the conventional admission process. The decisions of the admission test are published by the end of December.
- Students unable to receive their transcripts, documents can apply through the Bard Entrance Test. They need a grade of B+ or better to be eligible for admission.
Highlights
| Application Portal | Common Application / Bard College Application Portal |
| Application Fee (non-refundable) | 50 USD (undergraduates)/65 USD (for graduates) |
| Acceptance Rate | 65% |
| Average SAT score range | 1248 - 1420 |
| Average ACT score range | 27 - 31 |
| Academic Calendar | Semester wise |
| Mode of Payment | Online or Wire Transfer |
| Intake Sessions | Fall and Spring |
| Work Experience | Required for some courses |
| Financial Aid | Available as grants, scholarships and loans |
| Admission Helpdesk | admission@bard.edu |
Bard College, USA Deadlines
International students should be aware of the admission cycles and intake sessions of the US colleges. They have to complete the application and submit all the required documents well before the deadlines to be considered for admission.
Undergraduate international students applying for admission at Bard College should apply by the following dates. Admission notification is released by the end of December for Early Decision and by the end of March for Regular Decision.
| Undergraduate Admissions | |
| Applications | Deadlines |
|---|---|
| Early Decision | November 1 |
| Financial Aid Early Decision | November 1 |
| Regular Decision | January 1 |
| Financial Aid Regular Decision | January 1 |
The deadlines for applying to graduate courses vary depending on each course. Some of these courses have a rolling admission process. Here we have mentioned the deadlines for some popular graduate courses at Bard College.
| Course Name | Application Deadline |
|---|---|
| M.S. in Economic Theory and Policy | Early Decision: November 15 Regular Decision: January 15 |
| MBA in Sustainability | Early Decision: January 15 Regular Decision: March 1 Final: May 15 |
| M.S. in Environmental Policy and Education | Early Decision: January 15 Regular Decision: March 15 Final: June 1 |
| M.A. in Music | Early Decision: December 1 Standard Application: January 5 |
Bard College, USA International Student Admissions
Bard College welcomes students from all over the world for admission to 35 undergraduate and 20 graduate degree courses. International applicants who do not require financial assistance can apply as Early Application after submitting a Certificate of Finances. The Certificate of Finances declares that the student is financially sufficient to bear the cost of attendance. So, international students should be aware of the college tuition fees and cost of living in the U.S, before applying to Bard College.
International applicants can apply as a freshman, transfer student or graduate student. Application process is online and the general requirements are similar for domestic and international students, except a few additional criteria.
Application Portal - Common Application (undergraduate) and Bard College Application Portal
Application Fee – Common Application is free. Bard College Application fee is 50 USD for undergraduates and 65 USD for graduates
Admission Requirements
Apart from the undergraduate and graduate forms, international applicants must submit the following:
- Official high school and college transcripts
- 2 Letters Of Recommendation (English or Humanities instructor and Mathematics or Science instructor)
- School report
- SAT/ACT scores for undergraduates (optional) and GRE/GMAT for graduates (no particular score is mentioned as the college accepts a range of score)
- English Language Proficiency Score (required scores are mentioned in the next section)
- Financial Aid form/Certificate of Finances (as applicable)
- Passport and Visa
- Personal statement, resume. (for graduates)
The admission process may be followed by an optional interview.
English Language Proficiency for International Students
International applicants with any other language other than English as their mother tongue must submit proof of English language proficiency to be eligible for admission. Applicants submit the scores of any one of the following language proficiency tests:
Note: The English language test scores required for graduate courses can differ for each course. This has been mentioned course-wise later in the article.
Visa Process for International Students
International students will require an F1 or J1 visa to study in the United States. To apply for a student visa, applicants will need a Form I-20 or DS-2019 issued by the college. Students can receive the form only after the institute confirms their admission. Bard College sends both the Form I-20 and Letter of Admission to selected candidates via Fed-Ex.
After receiving the I-20 or DS-2019, international students need to apply for the visa at their nearest US Embassy. They can schedule an interview only after submitting the following documents.
- I-20 form or DS-2019 form
- Letter of Admission
- Proof of financial support, reflecting 79,254 USD/year
- Copy of Passport photo ID page
- Copy of current U.S. visa stamp page
- I-901 Confirmation SEVIS fee receipt
- DS-160 visa application form
Note: Due to COVID-19 situations the U.S Government had temporarily frozen issuance of F-1 visa, a decision which has now been revoked. However, students should keep checking the college website and the United States Citizenship & Immigration Services in case of any changes.
Bard College, USA Undergraduate Admissions
Bard College offers undergraduate degrees in more than 35 programs across various departments like Arts, Literature, Social Studies, and Science and Interdivisional programs. Some of the popular majors are Architecture, Dance, Music, Theatre, Written Arts, Biology, Psychology, Computer Science, Sociology, Political Studies, Economics, etc.
Undergraduate applicants should have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and studied at least four years of English, social studies, mathematics, laboratory science, and a foreign language to be eligible for admission. Bard College follows a test-optional policy, which does not require mandatory submission of SAT/ACT scores. However, these scores are considered during the evaluation of application if a student submits them. The application process is conducted online.
Application Portal: Common Application or Bard College Application Portal
Application Fee: Common Application is free. Bard College Application fee is 50 USD
Admission Requirements:
Applicants require following documents for Bard College admission process:
- Official school and high school transcripts
- 3 Letters Of Recommendation (English instructor, Mathematics instructor and Guidance counsellor)
- School report
- SAT/ACT scores, portfolios and awards, resume, extracurricular certificates, etc. (optional)
- Financial aid application (FAFSA for domestic applicants)
- Proof of English Language Proficiency (for international applicants)
Bard College, USA Graduate Admissions
Bard College offers graduate degrees in over 20 courses across various departments like Arts, Literature, Social Studies and Environmental programs under four different schools. Some of the popular courses are M.S in Economic Theory, MBA in Sustainability, M.A in Music, M.A in Teaching, M.S in Environmental Policy and Education, etc.
Applicants should have a GPA of 3.0 to be eligible for admission. The application process is online and the eligibility criteria may vary for different courses. Also, the mailing address for official transcripts will differ depending on the departments.
Application Portal: Bard College Application Portal
Application Fee: 65 USD
Admission Requirements
The table below shows the specific academic requirements for admission to some of the popular graduation programs at Bard College.
| Course | Requirements | English Language Proficiency Score | Official Transcripts Mailing Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| M.S. Economic Theory and Policy | Official transcripts; 2 LORs; Resume; Minimum GPA of 3.3 or GRE score; Writing Sample; Statement of Purpose | TOEFL - 100 IELTS – 7.0 |
Levy Economics Institute of Bard College, Graduate Programs in Economic Theory and Policy, PO BOX 5000, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504 |
| MBA in Sustainability* | Official transcripts; 2 LORs; Resume; Minimum GPA of 3.7 or GRE/GMAT scores; Personal Statement; Interview | N/A | Bard MBA In Sustainability Admission, 30 Campus Road, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504 |
| M.S. Environmental Policy and Education | Official transcripts; 2 LORs; Resume; Minimum GPA of 3.7 or GRE scores; Personal Statement; Interview | TOEFL - 100 IELTS – 7.0 |
Bard Center for Environmental Policy, Office of Graduate Admission, 30 Campus Road, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504 |
| M.A. Music | Official transcripts; 2 LORs; Resume; Auditions video; Personal Statement | TOEFL - 63 IELTS - 5.5 Duolingo - 90 |
Longy School of Music, Office of Admissions, 27 Garden St, Cambridge, MA 02138, United States of America |
| M.A. Teaching** | Official transcripts; 3 LORs; Resume; GPA 3.0; GRE scores; Personal Statement | N/A | Master of Arts in Teaching Program Bard College PO Box 5000 Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504 |
*MBA in Sustainability is available for international applicants who are lawful permanent residents, temporary residents, asylees, and refugees and possess certain nonimmigrant statuses. Students with an F-status visa do not qualify for the course.
**Bard College will begin accepting applications from October.
International applicants must apply 3 months before the course start date to provide time for the visa process. It may take up to 2-3 months for the arrival of a decision. After admission, students need to pay an enrollment deposit by May 1 to confirm their enrollment. The deposit can be made by credit card, check, or money order.
FAQs
Ques. How do I apply to Bard College?
Ans. Students can apply to Bard College online through the Common Application or Bard College Application Portal, fill up the application form and submit all the required documents.
Ques. How to check the status of my application after applying?
Ans. Students can check the status of their applications by clicking on the “View Update” button on the Applicant Portal. Upon selection, applicants need to accept the Offer of Admission on the portal by clicking on the red “Reply” button.
Ques. How many students are enrolled in Bard College each year?
Ans. Over 2200 students are enrolled in Bard College annually.
Ques. What is the acceptance rate of Bard College?
Ans. The acceptance rate at Bard College is 65%.
Ques. Does Bard College offer any financial aid to international applicants?
Ans. After admission into Bard College, merit-based scholarships, grants and loans are provided to international applicants.
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