FAQ

The Immediate Decision Plan is a hands-on, in-person application path that allows students to receive their college admission decision one business day after attending an in-person admissions event.  The event will be split into two parts: a seminar with a BCB professor and an individual interview. The goal of this plan is to allow students the chance to experience a BCB class, as well as the opportunity to show and discuss their artwork or discuss their academic passions with faculty and staff members of the Admissions Committee. Each student will be evaluated on their submitted application, as well as their participation throughout the day of the event. They will receive their final decision the following Monday, and will have until May 1st, 2027 to accept their offer if admitted.

Early Action: IDP is an option for any Early Action (November 1st) applicant who has submitted a complete application to Bard College Berlin and is able to attend an in-person, all-day event in either Brooklyn, NY, or Los Angeles, CA. 

Regular Decision: IDP is an option for any Regular Decision (January 15th) applicant who has submitted a complete application to Bard College Berlin and is able to attend an in-person, all-day event in Berlin, Germany.

Students arrive and are greeted by BCB's Head of Admissions, Stephanie Hausotter. Parents are welcome to attend this portion of the event. Then students will attend a 1-hour seminar led by a BCB Professor. Afterwards, they will have a scheduled interview time. If there is a gap between the seminar session and the interview time, students are free to leave the IDP event site and return for their interview. 

Students who opt for the IDP path will have the chance to interact face-to-face with the people who are making their admission decision, including the directors of their program of interest at Bard College Berlin. During interviews, Art students will have the additional opportunity to present their artistic work in person, Politics and Economics students will have the chance to discuss current events, and Humanities students will have the chance to discuss historic artworks. They will also get to experience a BCB seminar and will know their admission decision over a month earlier than other Early Action applicants. 

Bard Berlin offers IDP in different cities in order to meet students closer to their homes! The structure, evaluation, and team behind IDP will be the same in all locations. Students can only register for IDP at one location. 

All students who register to apply with IDP must submit an application by November 1 for the Early Action application round. Registration for IDP closes on the same day, or when capacity is reached. Students are encouraged to register as early as possible. Please note that you may only register for IDP at one of our three locations. 

Los Angeles:

Students will attend an event in Los Angeles, on Saturday, November 7th. They will receive their admission decision on November 9th. 

New York City:

Students will attend an event in New York, on Saturday, November 14th. They will receive their admission decision on November 16th. 

Berlin: 

More information coming soon.

Students who register to apply using IDP must complete all application requirements for the Early Action round, including (for APS applicants) submitting samples of their artistic practice. They must register for IDP at their chosen location by November 1st at the latest, however they are encouraged to register earlier, as capacity might fill. Students should prepare for the event per instructions, which will be emailed out after registration. If you intend to apply via IDP, please do not schedule a virtual interview with BCB.

All students who apply to the APS program are required to submit a digital portfolio as an application material. Students who apply through the IDP Pathway will be invited to choose one work from their portfolio to present to the Admissions Committee in their IDP location. They are encouraged to bring the original work to the event, or to prepare a presentation to view it on screen. During their individual art presentation, students will be asked to present this work in conversation for 10 minutes, and then will be interviewed regarding their artistic practice and application to BCB for another 20 minutes. 

IDP HAST and EPST Applicants will be required to interview in-person. The interview is a great chance for students to elaborate on any aspect of their application, to discuss their academic passions, and to introduce themselves to an Admissions Counselor and a BCB professor. Applicants to either program may be asked to come prepared to discuss a certain topic, art work, or political issue ahead of the interview. Registered students will learn more after completing their application.

This fall, both IDP events will offer two interdisciplinary seminars; one which focuses on political science, and the other on art history and cultural studies. Students can indicate their preference on their registration form. Seminar topics will be sent out to students after they have submitted their complete application. 

IDP Applicants apply for financial aid using the same process as other applicants, which you can learn about here. If admitted through IDP, students will receive their financial aid award decision with the Early Action admit pool, in mid-December. Please note that US citizens are required to submit the FAFSA.

No, IDP is not binding. Students have until May 1st, 2027 to accept their offer of admission, following IDP.