BARNARD COLLEGE

BARNARD COLLEGE

3009 BROADWAY, NEW YORK, NY 10027. ADMISSIONS: 212-854-2014 FAX: 212-854-6220
FINANCIAL AID: 212-854-2154 E-MAIL: ADMISSIONS@BARNARD.EDU WEBSITE: WWW.BARNARD.EDU

STUDENTS SAY

Academics

Barnard College, the all-women liberal arts school associated with Coluj University, “offers students the best of both worlds: The seclusion and infix of a small liberal arts college within a tremendous research university and of the greatest cities in the world.” Women here explain that “because Barna students have complete cross registration privileges at Columbia, full access all of its resources and libraries, and upon graduation receive a degree from university, we enjoy the full benefits of an Ivy League education, without punishment of having to take Columbia’s core curriculum, pass a swim test, eat at the lousy Columbia dining room.” Students here also get more of small-college experience than do their Columbia peers; one student expla “While the Columbia professors can be arrogant and pompous, most of Barnard professors are really nice, down-to-earth people.” Administrators “unequivocally dedicated to finding rapid, individualized solutions to s dents’ problems.” Because the school is in New York City, “There are amaz opportunities here; the city really is our learning lab!” In short, “Barnard is r ly great as a small school to act as your home base. From here, you can expl the university and the city as much as you want. You have to take the initiati but if you do, you can find a way to do anything you want. And Barnard is supportive, you’ll be able to find someone on campus who’s willing to help.”

Life

“Life at school is dominated by studies.” Undergraduates agree that “most s dents here spend at least 60 percent of their week on schoolwork.” Still, to degree allowed by their academic workload, “Most undergraduates make a c scious effort to take advantage of NYC through internships, nightlife, muse and exhibits. Many of us love to just spend an afternoon walking dots Broadway and shopping.” The campus is a magnet for high-powered speak and prestigious events; one student reports, “There are always raffles or Icc going on that are highly attended. In the past year, Janeane Carofalo, Jo Edwards, Anna Quindlen, and Alice Walker have spoken on campus, to name few.” Barnard is located in Morningside Heights, “a neighborhood that thriv very much on the college community.” Students here miss out a bit on the c sic college experience, but they don’t mind; one undergrad explains, “Ba feels that since we are in the city they don’t need to create a community for Therefore, occasionally I feel like I’m just living in the city and taking classes. It’ definitely worth it, though, and my friends and I make our own college touch Women here also warn that “Barnard’s facilities could use drastic remodelin With the exception of a few recently renovated lecture spaces, the classrooms in need of major technological and aesthetic updates. New resident halls need be built because many of the existing buildings are too old.”

Student Body

Barnard, like its hometown, is a magnet for the idiosyncratic. One stud explains, “New York is a place that allows people to be anyone they want to You can wear a zebra-striped bikini in the middle of winter on a snow-cove street here and people would hardly look twice. . . because we go to school such an eclectic place, I don’t think it’s possible to describe a ‘typical’ Barna student.” Some here try all the same; they tell us that Barnard students a “driven, intelligent, cosmopolitan young women who come from every corn of the country and throughout the world, from different socioeconomic back grounds, and varying life experiences.” Because of a dual degree program wi the Jewish Theological Seminary “there are many Orthodox Jews here” wh “typically socialize only with other Orthodox Jews.” There’s also a large, le insular Asian population. There are “many feminists and lesbians, too, but fewer than one might expect.”

ADMISSIONS

Very important factors considered include: Academic CPA, application essay, character/personal qualities, extracurricular activities, recommendation(s), rigor of secondary school record. Important factors considered include: Class rank, standardized test scores, talent/ability volunteer work. Other factors considered include: Alun-ini/ae relation, first generation, geographical residence, interview 1 level of applicant’s interest, racial/ethnic status, work experience. SAT and SAT Subject Tests or ACT required; ACT with Writing component required. TOEFL required of all international applicants. High school diploma or equivalent is not required. Academic units recommended: 4 English, 3 math, 3 science (2 science labs), 3 foreign language, 3 history.

The Inside Word

As at many top colleges, early decision applications have increased at Barnard—although the admissions standards are virtually the same as for their regular admissions cycle. The college’s Admissions Staff is open and accessible, which is not always the case at highly selective colleges with as long and impressive a tradition of excellence. The Admissions Committee’s expectations are high, but their attitude reflects a true interest in who you are and what’s on your mind. Students have a much better experience throughout the admissions process when treated with sincerity and respect—perhaps this is why Barnard continues to attract and enroll some of the best students in the country

FINANCIAL AID

Students should submit: FAFSA, CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE, Noncustodial PROFILE, institution’s own financial aid form, state aid form, Business/Farm Supplement, parent’s individual, corporate, and/or partnership federal income tax returns, Regular filing deadline is February 1. The Princeton Review suggests that all financial aid forms be submitted as soon as possible after January 1. Need-based scholarships/rants offered: Pell Crant, SEOC, state scholarships/grants, private scholarships, the school’s own gift aid. Loan aid offered: FFEL Subsidized Stafford, FFEL Unsubsidized Stafford, FFEL PLUS, Federal Perkins Loan, state loans, college/university loans from institutional funds. Applicants will be notified of awards on or about March 31.

FROM THE ADMISSIONS OFFICE

“Barnard College is a small, distinguished liberal arts college for women that is affiliated with Columbia University and located in the heart of New York City. The college enrolls women from all over the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Caribbean. More than 30 countries, including France, England, Hong Kong, and Creece, are also represented in the student body. Students pursue their academic studies in over 40 majors and are able to cross register at Columbia University.
“Applicants for the Fall 2008 entering class must submit scores from the SAT Reasoning Test and two SAT Subject Tests of their choice, or the ACT with the Writing component.