Early Decision Results and Challenges

Early Decision applicants received their admissions decisions via email last Thursday, December 11.  Letters were also mailed "snail mail" via USPS Priority or FedEx (depending upon the letter and the student's home address), so all applicants should now have the results of their hard work in hand.  And, truly, we do mean hard work.  Regardless of the decision, we can say with great admiration and wonder that we are impressed with each and every applicant's passion, involvement, and growth. Unfortunately, we cannot admit every applicant.

Undoubtedly, there were tears of joy and tears of disappointment. Having made decisions like these for years, we know that those who were not admitted will survive.  They will soon be able to separate themselves from the decision.  They may mourn the outcome for a time.  They may re-examine their college list.  And eventually, they will discover that they are going to be a great fit at another institution.  After all, in the formula of student + college, the student remains consistent.  Her path may change, depending upon the school she chooses, but she’s selected those schools on her list for good reasons.  By March, those not offered a space in the class will have other options, and by May one of those will soon become her top choice and her home for the next four years.

For those students deferred to be considered in the Regular Decision pool, there are more steps to take.  Applications of those deferred will be re-reviewed after February 1.  Between now and then, and as noted in their decision letter, applicants have the opportunity to add materials to their application file.  Semester or second trimester grades will be very important, but so will a letter from the students themselves.  A thoughtful, considered letter that helps to update us with new information and that goes beyond the 250 words you used to reply to our "Why Barnard" question may be the most important addition to the application.  For many students deferred in the past, this letter has made a big impact on our committee discussions.  Certainly, we would also welcome an additional letter of recommendation or a supplement of writing or other material.  Though, the voice of the student is often the most important addition in this stage.

Deferred students are often also experiencing difficult emotions upon the receipt of their letter.  It’s important for them to know that there isn’t and wasn’t anything wrong with them or their application.  In fact, we can easily say that we don’t defer huge numbers of applicants (usually 1/5 or 1/6 of the pool).  We don’t make these decisions lightly and we don’t defer students we don’t think would be competitive when reviewed in the regular pool.  The number of students we admit from those deferred differs from year to year, so it’s hard to give a sense of the chances that a student will ultimately be admitted.  However, we can assure those still awaiting a decision that we will read what you write very carefully.

Student Voices: I'm an International Student at Barnard

At just about 2,400 strong, Barnard's small student body offers an astounding diversity of thought and background. In addition to those students who represent almost all of the fifty states, about 10% of our students were educated abroad and students hail from 53 different countries around the world. While international students contribute their rich and varied experiences to the fabric of life at Barnard, they often face some unique challenges in adapting to life and education in the U.S. 

We asked some of our international students to reflect upon their transition to Barnard and how their experience has aligned with their expectations. Take a look at what they had to say.

Margot Théocharidès ‘16

Margot Théocharidès ‘16
Paris, France

Moving to New York and attending an American women's college wasn't as dramatic a change as I had expected. I was nervous to move away as I thought I could never live away from Europe – it had been my home for the past 18 years. I was nervous that I would be forced to integrate into a culture that was so different from mine. But I was relieved when I realized that was not the case. The professors and my peers are all fascinating, intelligent and cultured people who share the same curiosity for life as I do. I never felt alone or an odd one out. New York and its inhabitants embrace you the second you get here and you can't help but fit in among the hundreds of nationalities represented.

What is funny when you arrive in America, though, is that everyone you meet is so fascinated by the fact that you come from anywhere that isn't America. They question you and ask you if you know their one relative who lives in your country. But you smile and embrace it, because you know that you ask them the exact same questions about their homes. I'm as foreign to the state of North Carolina as my friend is to Paris, and those conversations have made me realize that most of us at Barnard - international or not - have left home to be here. Most of us have taken a big chance by moving somewhere new to experience this amazing college.

Maybe I have been extremely lucky because, except for having to get my F-20 visa stamped biannually, I have had the most wonderful experience here as an international student. The people are kind, the classes are riveting and I have never felt as if I struggled with a language barrier, nor have any of my international friends. Now that I am here I cannot imagine being anywhere else. New York, and specifically Barnard, is my home away from home.

Asami Odate '16

Asami Odate '16
Japan/Singapore

Coming from an international school in Singapore, I thought I was prepared. After moving schools three times in my middle school years, I thought I was prepared. After being in a place where no one spoke my language and surviving just fine, I thought I was prepared. But I thought wrong. As with any transition, there have been some ups and downs. I didn’t think I would miss my third culture kid community that much, but at the same time, I didn’t think I would fall in love with New York City so instantly. 

Despite being the source of endless bustle, it was Barnard that got me back on track after the transition. Barnard’s academic rigor kept me safely away from homesickness and the dance studios became my second home. It helped me a lot to join the dance community here at Barnard; to be able to continue my passion seriously and not just as a regular extra-curricular. Before I realized, I had my own spot on campus. When having a spot on campus is not enough, there is always a magical place called New York City, Mecca for any self-identified artists, to wander around for a while.

Photo credit: Asami Odate '16

Shezza Abboushi Dallal '16
Beirut, Lebanon

In November of 2011, when I sat down to write the supplement for Barnard, I found myself stuck on the question about what it was about Barnard that influenced my decision to apply. Essentially, that was because I had such grandiose expectations of the Barnard experience, and I didn’t know where to begin. 

Academically, I hoped that Barnard’s approach to liberal arts and sciences would recreate education for me as being—above all else—an interaction. Growing up in both Casablanca and Beirut, I was fortunate enough to be educated in excellent American and international schools. Still, my interactions with my classmates and teachers did not consistently maintain intellectual depth and substance. One of the most wonderful things about being a student at Barnard, as well as a resident of New York City, is that I find myself constantly challenged. I never stop being a student or stop being intellectually stimulated. For the first time in my life, inspiring conversations and learning opportunities are not just scheduled into an hour-long class. Instead, I find myself engaging on a day-to-day basis with a variety of insightful and worldly individuals—be that a professor, a guest speaker at a lecture, a classmate, or a friend.  

Shezza Abboushi Dallal '16

Socially, I did not know what to expect. At first, the experience of moving away from my family and hometown, no matter how grand the experience, seemed daunting—and it was. For several months of my freshman year I felt like I was an alien to American culture and too different to ever be truly integrated into Barnard’s community. The more people I met and opened up to, the more carefully I listened in class, and the greater the effort I made to immerse myself in campus-wide opportunities, the more I realized that this alienation was a construction of my own misconceptions. I started to realize that I was not just a large contributor to the international population at Barnard, but also a small contributor to Barnard’s immensely diverse population. 

In short, I would say that my experience at Barnard thus far has taught me two main things. The first is that global experiences and ethnicity do not create worldliness or diversity; individuals alone can do that—regardless of where they are from and how far they’ve traveled. The second is that education is a life-long endeavor. Barnard’s community, as I have experienced it, embodies both of these concepts and, as such, I am perfectly at home. 

Student Voices: Adapting to Life in NYC, Part 2

Last week, we had two current Barnard students share their memories about the experience of moving to New York City. This week, two new students share their personal stories about the transition. Take a look...

Abby Abrams '15

Abby Abrams '15

Hometown: St. Louis, MO

After growing up in what is described as a sleepy suburb of St. Louis, I came to Barnard looking for a change of pace. When I arrived at Barnard for orientation, I quickly realized that I had a lot to learn about New York City. The subway seemed like a foreign world at first, and I soon saw that although New York has every type of food imaginable, some home favorites, such as St. Louis Bread Company (more widely known as Panera Bread), wouldn't be as accessible.

Despite the many differences, I never once felt out of place. Everyone at Barnard was so kind and welcoming that I felt completely at home right away. Because Barnard students come from such a huge variety of places, I found plenty of people who understood when I felt homesick, who laughed when we discovered something odd about New York, and who were just as eager as me to explore all the city had to offer. Whether it was camping out to see Saturday Night Live, attending a campus event featuring Mario Batali, or stalking Arctic Monkeys after their concert in Brooklyn, my experiences here have constantly reminded me how lucky I am to attend such an amazing school in one of the most exciting places on Earth. I've made some of my best friends at school through our adventures exploring the city together, and the supportive community at Barnard has really made this my second home.

Kiana Davis '17

Kiana Davis '17 
Hometown: Ellisville, MS / Booneville, MS

 
Moving from my small town in Mississippi to Barnard in New York City was by far the most major transition I have ever had to make. I won't lie, it has not been easy, but what I can say is that it has been completely worth it. 

I plan on moving back to the South after college; obtaining a degree from Barnard and Columbia University will make me stand out among all other possible employees and the fantastic education will leave me well prepared for my career. What I love is that, even though I am in one of the largest cities in the world, when I am inside Barnard's gates, it feels as if I am in a small town again. Aside from adjusting to the outside transitions, my internal change has been something else I have noticed. I am still the same laid-back, hospitable Southern girl, but I am also adding new "city" characteristics to myself. That should make for an interesting mix. 

It was hard not knowing people at first. In small towns, it's normal to know everyone you come into contact with, so I had to adjust to not knowing every face I would see. Also, I have a boyfriend who I've been with for over two years. He's more than seventeen hours away from me, so learning how to have the full college experience and be in a long-distance relationship is tough. I have to time manage: class, homework and studying, exploring the city, clubs and extracurriculars, talking to friends and family at home, working, and taking care of personal needs and errands.

 

Student Voices: Adapting to Life in NYC, Part I

As the largest city in the United States, New York City is home to more than 8 million people, which is over 4 million people more than the next largest city. It occupies over 300 square miles of territory and offers the busiest subway system in the U.S., with over 34 different lines. As many as 800 languages are spoken. Even to a native New Yorker, these numbers can feel dizzying. But even if you are from a far or less urban - even rural - area, you can still find a home among the rich, diverse neighborhoods of New York.

We asked four current Barnard students how they transitioned from quieter homes far away to life in the Big Apple. Take a look at what the first two had to say:

Rumana Kasime '17

Rumana Kasime '17
Hometown: Sioux Falls, South Dakota

My decision to go to college was a big deal for my family because I would be the first to pursue education after high school. What was an even bigger deal was my choice to leave South Dakota to attend a women’s college in New York City. In South Dakota, people don’t walk anywhere, or take taxis, or even ride subways (mainly because they don’t exist).

New York City was another planet. I knew it would be a big change from the life I was used to and I came in with so many negative preconceived notions. New Yorkers were all mean. There were no trees in the city except for in Central Park. But when I arrived on campus, it was the complete opposite. There were beautiful trees and grass everywhere. The Barnard campus is a community of its own. Students were smiling at me when I walked by, and it was honestly the most comforting feeling I had ever experienced. I say this so often and to some it sounds like a cliché, but when I stepped on Barnard’s campus, I knew it was the place for me.

In the first couple weeks I felt homesick, but it slowly went away. That transition phase was not easy. But Barnard is so diverse, with students from all over the U.S. and other countries as well, and it’s really nice to realize that there are other students experiencing the same feelings of homesickness as you. With the support of one another, you get through it. Plus, from the small classes to the big events on campus, Barnard’s community always has an intimate, comfortable environment. There are a variety of support groups and mixer events for students to de-stress. It’s amazing to be in an environment with women who focus on building up one another instead of being competitive.

Kenzy Seifert '16

Kenzy Seifert '16
Hometown: Lebanon, Oregon

When I came to Barnard, it meant moving from a small Oregon town of 15,000 to a thriving metropolis of over 8 million. I expected to deal with some culture shock when I got to New York, but really, it wasn't nearly as bad as I imagined it. The first morning of student orientation was the first time I had ever seen Barnard's campus in person, and from the second I stepped through the gates with Orientation Leaders clapping and cheering my arrival, I felt at home. 

When I'm at school, I do miss my family and my friends and especially my two dogs at home, but all it takes is a walk across Barnard's campus, or across the street to Columbia, or a quick subway ride to Times Square and I remember that I live in one of the most incredible places on the planet and it doesn't feel so bad to be so far from home. 
.

Taking advantage of the city and all it has to offer really helped me to make the transition to school in the city. Every time I walked down Broadway, those times I got to see The Daily Show and The Colbert Report, or the time I went to the movies and saw Jake Gyllenhaal - it was all just a reminder that some people dream about visiting NYC for their entire lives, and I was getting to live here for four years. Going to Barnard is a really special experience, and I have never regretted being here for a single moment. 

Stay tuned for our second installment of "Adapting to Life in NYC" to read two more student perspectives!

Reading, reading, reading

'Tis the season for admissions officers to be holed up in their offices and living rooms reading essays and letters of recommendation, and reviewing data, scores, and transcripts. While we know many of you have had some frustrations with the Common Application, including pdf previews, missing green checks, recommender complications, essay format issues, and that doesn't even begin to address editing essays, researching colleges, prepping for interviews, and taking all those tests. Whew!  If you submitted your application Early Decision, we hope you're feeling at least a little bit of relief.  And, if you're planning on Regular Decision, maybe some of the following will help you keep the stress to a slow boil.

Imagine the application as a collage of a student’s effort and experience. Transcripts provide evidence of her hard work, within a context, as defined by the school and counselor. Test scores add a layer of data, a broader standard contributing another puzzle piece to the evaluation. Chosen teachers weave stories of the classroom, writing letters that aim to set the applicant apart from her peers. Activities reveal how she spends her time beyond the classroom. And, the depth of her application essay and short answers reveal how she thinks, topping off the collage and reflecting her unique perspective.

The bottom line, of course, is that the collage, when thoughtful and authentic, will help admissions officers evaluate multiple things about that student: how she might engage in a seminar class, participate in a research lab, create on a performance stage, or join in the life she develops within her residence hall. It will help an admissions committee understand how she might fit into the college community.

So, how does this kind of fit emerge for Barnard, outside of the metaphor?

Transcripts, curriculum, recommendations, writing, and test scores all tell us how you have engaged academically in your environment. These are crucial factors to us, given the type of student who would thrive on the Barnard campus. While there is no typical Barnard student, a few adjectives can capture the description of many: focused, inquisitive, thoughtful, savvy, mature, collaborative, passionate, ambitious, interested, aware, self-assured…we could go on. Think about how your traits will emerge through your application as you finalize your responses.

Numbers don’t capture characteristics, so do your best to show us your true colors.

Tell me about the arts at Barnard

Through all of the arts programs at Barnard, students earn a bachelor of arts degree (a BA or AB if you are writing the Latin abbreviation), so our programs will not require portfolio reviews or auditions or separate evaluations of performance or talent as part of our admissions process. The pursuit of majors like these within a liberal arts setting like Barnard will be very different than what you would find in a stand alone conservatory or school of performance, art, or music within a university setting. Flexibility and the ability to pursue more than one area of focused study are likely the most common descriptors used to describe the advantage the liberal arts model can provide.

If you are a dancer or an actor at Barnard, classes will have individual level assessments or class/production auditions at the start of the term. Students who wish to pursue creative writing classes may do so even if they are not English majors, but they may need to submit a writing sample to be considered for these courses and then must apply to the concentration. Prospective architecture majors do not need to submit a portfolio, but will take studio classes as a major, allowing them to build an excellent one and be prepared for some of the best graduate programs.  Finally, prospective music majors will have the opportunity to take lessons (offered at Barnard and Columbia) and will audition for these during the first few weeks of classes. Ask us more about the opportunities available through our lesson exchange with the Juilliard School and our cross registration program with the Manhattan School of Music.

Students in the arts at Barnard also have very rich opportunities for involvement in artistic communities outside of the academic departments.  Nearly a dozen theatre groups, about the same number of a cappella groups, dozens of other musical groups, dance organizations, etc. are available to all Barnard students to join. And, most of these are open to all students at the University. So, the arts are alive and well at Barnard.

Dance, Theatre, Music, Architecture, English (and Creative Writing), Art History (and Visual Arts)

College Fairs: Some advice Part 2

'Tis the season for college fairs for both juniors and seniors. We've even seen some sophomores and first years attending these programs over the last few weeks, so it's not too early to begin your exploration or too late to conduct some research.  College Fairs are an opportunity to meet a representative from colleges you are considering and even learn about a few new ones.  Some tips may help you get the most of your fair:

1) Be strategic.  If you can get a list of the colleges who will be attending the fair in advance, you can focus your attention first on those colleges that are already on your potential list of colleges.  Look over your notes/spreadsheet/calendar/naviance comments and see if you have questions that might be best answered by a live staff member or alumna.

2) Use your time wisely.  On occasion, we get students who are clearly going up to every table to ask if they have a particular major (like nursing, fashion design, criminology) that most liberal arts colleges will not have.  A quick search on a tool like this one, https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/ might help to narrow or broaden your list.

3) Keep an open mind.  Especially if you are at the start of your college process, you will encounter many colleges that don't ring a bell when you hear their names the first time.  This doesn't mean that they are not awfully good colleges and ones that may merit your consideration. After all, popularity or selectivity aren't the best indicators for great fit. Ask your counselor for some suggestions to aid in your exploration.

4) Take the reins.  We can't tell you how many times we see students deferring to their parents when it comes time to ask questions at college fairs.  It's okay for you to both ask questions and for them to have different questions sometimes.  However, it is also really important for you to flex your inquiry muscles and open your own line of questioning.  No question is a bad one.

Should I apply Early Decision or Regular Decision?

Pumpkin spice lattes have made their annual reappearance. K-Mart has lined its shelves with the latest assortment of pirate and witch costumes. You know what this means: we are inching closer and closer to this year's new Early Decision deadline: November 1st.

As you may know already, Barnard offers two application deadlines: November 1st for Early Decision (ED) and January 1st for Regular Decision (RD). The key difference between the two is that ED is a binding commitment: if you're admitted, you are expected to come to Barnard. The benefit of ED is that you receive your decision - and therefore determine your future plans - by mid-December of your senior year. The benefit of RD is that you get some extra time to "play the field" and think about which college is really the best fit for you.

In other words, RD is dating. ED is marriage.

So how do you decide which of these plans is right for you?? When making the ED versus RD choice, there are two major factors to consider:

Finances
Are you applying for financial aid? If so, you should make sure to understand Barnard's financial aid policy before making the commitment of ED. For instance, it's important to know that, while our financial aid packages meet 100% of demonstrated financial need, we do not offer merit-based scholarships. So it's crucial to have an idea as to whether or not your family will qualify for need-based aid and, if not, how they will make the cost work.

It's worth taking an evening to plug some thoughtful, well-informed financial data into our Net Price Calculator, which will spit out an estimate of what you can expect to pay, given the financial aid package you would receive at Barnard. If, after this exercise, you feel like you need to compare our final financial aid package with schools, especially those that offer merit-based scholarships, then ED is not the right fit for you.

Love
Aside from finances, it all boils down to one question: will you be happier within Barnard's gates than at any other college? If you have done your research on Barnard, have thought about what you would decide on 5/1, should you apply and be admitted to all colleges on your list, and the answer to this question is still yes, *and* you have worked through the finances (see above), then go for it! It sounds like ED is perfect for you.

If there is any doubt in your mind about attending Barnard - maybe there is another college equally high on your list, or maybe you just haven't finished doing your research about us yet - then it doesn't make sense to make the commitment of ED. Barnard is a complex place and, for some students, it can take time to understand and fall in love. If you're not there yet, then give yourself the freedom of RD. We're confident you'll come around by January 1st.

Scheduling an on-campus interview!

By far the most common question we receive during this time of year is how to request an interview. So how exactly does one go about scheduling one? The process is actually quite simple, and having and scheduling an interview isn’t as daunting as one might think. First, there are 3 types of interviews:

1. an on-campus interview with a Senior Interviewer – this means you will interview with a Barnard senior who has undergone extensive training with the Admissions team.
2. an off-campus interview with a Barnard alumna in your area – this means that you will interview with an alumna in your area who has also undergone extensive training with the Admissions team (more information on that can be found in the previous blog post regarding how to request an alumnae interview!)
3. a Skype interview – this option is only available when it isn’t possible for a prospective applicant to be matched up with an alumna in her area, or for her to come to campus for an interview. What then happens is that we will work with you to figure out the best time to have a Skype interview with one of the Senior Interviewers during the regular interview slots.

Interviews are an optional part of the first-year application process, and the three different interview options are given the same amount of consideration. For the purposes of this post, however, we will focus only on how to schedule the on-campus interview process.  To schedule an on-campus interview, you will call the Office of Admissions at 212-854-2014, Monday – Friday, between the hours of 9 AM – 5 PM EST. Our weekday interview slots are Monday – Friday at 9:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 2:00 PM, 3:00 PM, and 4:00 PM. We also offer weekend interviews on select weekends throughout the fall (and the dates are available on our website). 

When you have a set date and time in mind, you should call the Office of Admissions to book your interview. If your preferred slot is already filled, then you may request another slot (and unfortunately, there is no waiting list for a specific day and/or time slot). Once your interview is booked, you will receive a confirmation email two weeks before your interview, with instructions on where to go and how to get here. You do not need to bring anything with you to your interview – just yourself!

Interviews are your chance to truly connect with us on a personal level and add another dimension to your application. Do not be nervous – it is your opportunity to make us see just how dynamic and well-rounded you are!

College Fairs: Are there better questions I can ask? Part 1

Every fall and spring, admissions officers at Barnard travel to the four corners of the map to visit high schools, meet with alumnae, and staff college fairs.  Having attended a fair last night, we wanted to give some advice on how to make good use of your time (and ours!)

College representatives are generally pretty friendly people – we are very good generalists and try our best to know some specifics about various aspects of the college experience, including academic programs (and sometimes what makes them unique in their approach), support resources on our campuses, and just about everything to do with the admissions process.

You don’ t have to know everything about our schools to ask good questions, nor do you need to know exactly what you’re looking for when you get there.  Many students who look at Barnard will initially not know all about us, nor will they know exactly what their major is going to be.  And, we are not going to be offended if you ask us some basic questions.  

It is going to be a better use of your time, though, if you refine your preliminary questions.  If you’re just learning about the schools you’re approaching, it is okay to ask us general questions, but it’s hard to have a succinct answer to “tell me about your college.” See what you can glean from our brochures, start with a question about your major or our location.  And, rest assured, we will fill in much of what you need to know about us.

Ideally, if you have the opportunity to obtain a list of the colleges attending the fair, do a little research on those that interest you so you can ask informed questions.  And, keep your mind open to those you don’t know, since you may find that your best “fit” is not the school that just won a championship or ranks at the top of a magazine’s list or is the school your best friend is interested in attending.

Can't make it to campus? Interview in your area!

Every year, Barnard's reach seems to extend farther around the globe. We are thrilled to see that Barnard continues to attract such a diverse group of women from so many different places. However, we know that being from Idaho, India, or even upstate New York can pose its challenges. For many Barnard applicants, it may simply be impossible to visit campus -- or return to campus more than once -- to take advantage of an on-campus interview.

Not to worry! Interviews are truly an optional piece of your application to Barnard. However, they are available to all first-year applicants and can be an excellent way for you to showcase a more personal side of yourself, alongside the academic and written materials in your application.

So what do you do if you can't make it here? As with all other aspects of the Barnard experience, you can benefit from our hearty and widespread alumnae network. The Office of Admissions works directly with alumnae around the world to conduct interviews that are more convenient for you. This is not only a great opportunity to have an interview when you otherwise couldn't, but it also gives you the chance to gather more information about Barnard from someone with yet another perspective.

Some important things to remember:

• Each applicant can only interview once, so be sure to choose the one option -- on-campus or off-campus -- that is best for you.
• Plan ahead! The deadline to request an alumnae interview is October 15th for Early Decision applicants and December 20th for Regular Decision applicants.

If you are going to be a senior this year, now's the time to sign up! The form to request an alumnae interview is live on our website, and our team of alumnae is waiting to meet you.

Request an Alumnae Interview Here

Should I send any additional recommendation letters?

When it comes to sending any recommendations in addition to the two we require, it is best to be very thoughtful and selective. Sending additional recommendations is not required, and for some students it is unnecessary. However, there are those students who feel their application would be incomplete without a letter from an additional person; the dancer who spends hours in the studio each night who wants to get her dance teacher to write on her behalf, the student who works a part time job and has grown close to her boss, the Editor in Chief of the school newspaper who works tirelessly on each issue and wants a letter from her newspaper adviser. 

A few things to carefully consider with additional recommendations:

1.       Is the person going to say something about me that hasn’t already been said? Do they know me in a way that is different from my other two recommenders?

2.       Is this letter really going to add to my application and help an admissions counselor understand more about who I am?

Remember to give your teachers ample time, and don’t be afraid to remind them of the deadlines. (You might do so in the form of a thank you!)  We look forward to reading what they have to say!

Who should write my recommendation letters?

Students often ask us who should write their recommendation letters, and this is always a tough question to answer because ultimately you know your teachers much better than we do! However, we can provide you with some things to consider when trying to decide who it might make sense to ask.

The first thing to do is make sure that the two teachers you chose fit into our requirements—they need to have taught you in eleventh or twelfth grade in a core academic subject (math, science, social studies, foreign language, or English). Next, think about the teachers you have the closest relationships with and the ones you think would have a lot to say about you. What classes have you most enjoyed? Is there something—a project, a paper, a presentation—that you are particularly proud of and would like a teacher to discuss? Have you experienced something with this teacher that makes you memorable? When considering this final point, think outside the box. While you might not think about asking your chemistry teacher to write you a recommendation letter if chemistry was a class you struggled with, that teacher may be able to speak to your incredible work ethic, your curiosity about unfamiliar material, and your positive attitude.

Ask yourself: what do I want the person reading my application to know about me, and which teacher will communicate that best?

What is HEOP?

If you attend a high school in New York State, chances are that one of your counselors has mentioned something called H.E.O.P. Maybe he or she has even recommended it as a good option for you. Barnard’s HEOP Scholars Program is the perfect fit for certain applicants, so we think it’s important to spend some time talking about what HEOP means and who it serves best.

Click here to watch a video about Barnard HEOP Scholars
Program, featuring Barnard staff and alumnae!

The acronym “HEOP” stands for the Arthur O. Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program, a program established by the New York State Legislature in 1969 to help economically and academically disadvantaged students pursue a college education. Several independent colleges and universities across the state have since developed HEOP programs, and Barnard was one of the first. Barnard’s HEOP program looks for students with all of the most “Barnard” qualities: enthusiasm, drive, curiosity, spirit, work ethic, etc. Our HEOP students exhibit all of these qualities and achieve academically, despite having experienced significant academic and financial barriers.

The HEOP Scholars Program at Barnard serves as an extra layer of support for these students in the transition to college, offering an intensive 5-week academic prep program during the summer prior to college, free tutoring at Barnard, laptop loans, a lending library, and a supportive HEOP staff. In addition, HEOP students, like all Barnard students, benefit from a generous financial aid package which meets 100% of a student’s demonstrated need.

In order to be considered for Barnard’s HEOP Scholars Program, you must first meet both the academic and financial guidelines. The financial guidelines are designated by the state and are the same at every HEOP chapter. The academic guidelines are different at each college or university and are based on the average GPA and SAT/ACT scores for each school. Please refer to our website to find out if you meet these basic qualifications for HEOP at Barnard.

Do you meet the guidelines? If so, you might be a good fit for Barnard’s HEOP Scholars Program. The Admissions and HEOP Scholars Offices will review your application and determine whether they would like to interview you for a seat in this competitive program. If so, you will be contacted for an interview with the HEOP Scholars Office.

If you don’t meet those academic and financial guidelines, don’t worry. Even if you don’t qualify for HEOP, you will still be considered for regular admission to Barnard. Even if you do qualify for HEOP, but are not selected for the program, you will still be considered for regular admission. The most important thing is to submit all of your application documents and financial aid documents on time, so that we can make the right decision for you.

Still have more questions about HEOP? Take a look at our website. Also, feel free to contact Kelly Sutton-Skinner, our HEOP Admissions Coordinator, at 212-854-2014 or ksuttons@barnard.edu. 

Will someone be visiting my school?

At most colleges during the fall months, admissions staff visit high schools around the county and around the world. At Barnard in particular, we travel to regions far and wide to visit with students and counselors in their schools, we staff college fairs (and sometimes our alumnae do as well), and we do some interviewing while we're away from campus. Unfortunately we can't travel everywhere we'd like to, so we have to make some tough decisions about regions, budget, and high schools we visit.  Still, our admissions staff really tries to cover a lot of ground!

If you're attending a school where we haven't visited in a while (or ever), do not despair. even though we haven't visited your campus, we will be able to learn about your school in other ways. Your high school will send us a School Report Form, completed by your counselor, along with a copy of your school's profile to ensure we are informed about the curriculum offered at your school, the grading scale utilized, and additional information like rank, average test scores, etc. If we haven't admitted someone from your school in recent years, it may mean we haven't found one who would be the right fit, so maybe you'll be the one.  After all, we don't admit schools, we admit students.

Check here for updates toward the end of the month of August after we've solidified more of our travel plans. We'd love to meet you!

Essay writing -- are there "right" responses?

Applicants often ask what topics will elicit the "right" responses in the minds of application reviewers and committee members in the Barnard Admissions Office.  The challenge in responding to that question is that, in reading lots of applications each year, we have seen many responses that have been repeated and even many that might be considered "cliche." It would be shortsighted, however, to say that a student can't take a new viewpoint on what's been heard before. In fact, she may take a topic in an entirely new direction, based on her own experiences.

Students within the same day-to-day environment may have very different reflections to share. And, those with dissimilar backgrounds can take very different turns in their observations. For the purposes of college admissions, those differing experiences (as highlighted in an essay or writing supplement), in addition to the experiences faculty may share in their recommendations, are not only interesting and useful, but they allow us to think about when and how students might make their mark in an academic classroom at Barnard. Through your writing, we gain some insight into who you are and how you think about things.

If you asked readers in our office, we'd probably agree on some basic things:

1. We'd like to see you write about something in which you can be a reasonable expert, or at least a topic that is familiar or has meaning to you, but doesn't feel like a research paper.  Often the closer you feel to a topic, the better you will be able to express yourself in your writing.
   
2. We would like for you to truly (really) reflect on the topic you are choosing.  Write your response and take some time to both answer the question and be thoughtful about why you chose this topic and how what you're writing about has impacted you.
   
3. We are not expecting to hear the wisdom of a 50-year-old, looking back on her life.  It is okay to not have all the answers and it's far better to write in your own voice, rather than in a voice you'd expect we want to hear.  Be genuine and authentic.

The Common Application is available: a soft launch.

For those who have been eagerly awaiting the launch of the Common Application this year on August 1, we imagine that because it's the first time you've applied to college, some of you may not realize what a big endeavor it has been for those involved.  The online form (used by 517 colleges this year and exclusively used by Barnard for, well, forever) is a brand new reconfiguration of the application.  Questions, format, delivery--pretty much everything is different this year for those member colleges and for the staff of the organization that's been working hard to put it all together. And, for the first time, the application is only going to be available online.  It's a pretty big deal.

We just put some final touches on our Barnard-specific questions (including some instructions we thought might be helpful as you fill them out) and expect to be able to release those and the writing supplement as early as next week. If you're eager to begin writing your responses to questions asked on our writing supplement, we encourage you to take a look at last year's supplement (posted here on our website for now).  The questions have not changed.  You will have a 250 word limit, so be sure to work on refining and editing your work to make sure we get to see your full response.