Is your child interested in earning admission to Bard College? If your child marches to the beat of their own drum, Bard might just be the school for them. Bard is tucked into the Hudson Valley (and located right along the Hudson River!), a scenic hideaway for artists of all stripes and brimming with more hiking spots than can fill four years. With only 1,900 undergraduates, Bard is a tight-knit community known for its forward-thinking students. 

Just over half of applicants to Bard College receive admission. Let’s discuss what separates those students from the fifty percent who do not get invited to the quaint campus. 

About Bard College 

Bard is ranked #70 in liberal arts colleges, according to US News & World Report. Though this might not be on par with a small school like Williams or even Vassar, Bard’s strength in the arts, international programs, enviable location (just a two-hour drive from New York City), and unique campus feel make it a place that students are proud to call home. 

Bard College’s Theater and Performance Program has churned out notable alumni like Chevy Chase, Gaby Hoffman, and Todd Haynes. The Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Bard is perhaps the crown jewel of Bard’s reputation for integrating professional-level artistry with undergraduate education: Bard students get the unique opportunity to work with visiting artists and contribute to professional productions. If a paint and easel is more your bread and butter, Bard is also home to the Hessel Museum of Art and the Center for Curatorial Studies, where students can learn the art of curation. 

If your child is a nomad, they’ll have plenty of opportunities to get out of rural New York: Bard College also has a campus in Berlin, Germany, where students can study for a semester or even a full year. Bard College Berlin specializes in offering students intensive study of core texts in the European canon as well as Western political theory and social thought. 

Bard College Admissions Requirements

There is no copy-and-paste formula for getting into Bard, or for getting into any college for that matter. Bard maintains a holistic admissions review process, which means that they’re considering each student as a whole person and in the context of their own individual experiences. That said, admits to Bard do share some familiarities. Looking at them will help us understand how Bard separates the wheat from the chaff. 

What Kind of GPA Is Necessary To Get Into Bard?

The following is the GPA breakdown of the members of Bard College’s Class of 2026, as reported in Bard’s 2022-23 Common Data Set (the most recently published Common Data Set available to the public, and the only such report in which student GPA data was reported). These numbers should provide more clarity on the academic qualifications for future Bard applicants.

GPA	Percentage of Bard College’s Class of 2026
4.0	5.30%
3.75-3.99	45.10%
3.5-3.74	31.15%
3.25-3.49	12.30%
3.0-3.24	2.87%
2.5-2.99	2.46%
2.0-2.49	0.82%
1.0-1.99	0.0%

While these numbers do shed a good amount of light, it’s important to keep in mind that Bard admissions officers review GPA in the context of the quality of the high school and the rigor of the coursework. Since some high schools weight GPA and others do not weight GPA, any single figure listed as a GPA needed to get into Bard would be misleading.

Are Bard’s Admitted Students Typically At or Near The Top of Their High School Classes?

Bard doesn’t release any official class rank data, but, with 50% of admits having a 3.75 GPA or higher under their belt, it’s safe to assume most Bard admits rank quite well within their high school graduating class. 

What Kind of SAT or ACT Scores Are Needed To Get Into Bard College?

Bard also hasn’t released any data about standardized testing for its recently admitted classes. But one should note that, while other colleges have only recently become test optional, Bard College was ahead of the curve when they went test optional over fifty years ago. “SAT and ACT scores should only be submitted if a student feels that their scores are an accurate reflection of their academic abilities,” Bard says. 

What Classes Do Students Need to Take to Get Into Bard?

According to the Bard admissions office: “Typically, Bard students have prepared for college by taking honors or advanced placement courses in a curriculum that includes four years of English, social studies, mathematics, laboratory science, and a foreign language.” 

What Kinds of Extracurriculars Does Bard Like To See?

Depth over breadth is the name of the game here! Bard admissions officers seek students who demonstrate a depth of involvement in a singular pursuit: be it a sport for which they’re being recruited,  award-winning science research, prize-winning poetry, you name it.

There’s an old wives’ tale that admissions officers at top schools want “well-rounded students.” We’ll put it bluntly and tell you that’s hogwash. What they really want are singularly talented students who, when taken together, will form a well-rounded class.

There’s no specific extracurricular Bard seeks in its applicants. After all, if every admitted student did the same kinds of activities, they’d have admitted a very boring, uniform class. It’s less about which extracurricular you choose and more about how accomplished you become with that extracurricular. 

Bard Application Requirements

Bard accepts The Common Application or The Coalition Application with Scoir. Bard applicants are asked to submit two letters of recommendation and to complete the short 250-word Bard supplement. There’s also an option to submit an additional letter of recommendation from a guidance counselor or other advisor. 

Who Should Students Ask For Letters of Recommendation For Bard? 

Bard applicants should ask two teachers, ideally two junior year teachers in core subjects. Obviously, the applicant should have a good relationship with the teacher or at least have performed well in their class. In addition, at least one of the recommenders’ subject area should be related to the student’s hook: if a student’s singular hook is studying fruit fly DNA, it wouldn’t make sense if their recommenders were their History and English teachers. 

Does Bard College Require An Interview?

No, Bard does not require an interview. In fact, for first-year applicants, they only offer what they call “conversations:” thirty to forty-five minute online meetings with admissions officers to learn more about Bard and to briefly share more context about one’s application. “There’s nothing to prepare; just bring your questions,” Bard says. They add: “Choosing not to schedule a conversation will not disadvantage your application.” 

What Are Bard’s Supplemental Essay Topics?

In the past, Bard has asked only one supplemental essay question: Why Bard? For more information about how to respond to this prompt (or to any other “Why College” question), please refer to our in-depth blog post on Why College essays.

When Are Bard’s Application Deadlines?

Bard’s early application deadline is Nov. 1 and its regular decision deadline is Jan. 15. Bard offers both binding and non-binding options for early admission. 

How Ivy Coach Helps Students Get Into Bard College

If you’re interested in discerning if your child has a shot of getting into Bard, we recommend setting up Ivy Coach’s Strategy Session. Not only will you find out if your child has a chance of getting into Bard, but you’ll receive a game plan of how your child can optimize their admission to the best school possible.