Transfer Applicant Support - Page 2

MayDub · 02-29-2008, 07:05 PM

Thanks for everyone's advice regarding letters!

I still, however, have yet to ask anyone. Which is very out of character. I usually request things obnoxiously early. Perhaps some of you can help me with my very silly dilemma.

I am thinking of asking my winter term teacher for my rec. I took a class called "Jihad in a Historical and Global Prospective" and LOVED it. The teacher actually did undergrad and grad at Columbia and when I mentioned I was interested in Barnard he seemed supportive. He actually asked me why I wanted to transfer, because he thought I was a junior. When I expressed I was a freshman he said that was "very impressive." So I know he thinks I have some semblance of intelligence. I did well in the class and was really the only freshman, or even female to actually speak up in class. He told me that I should email him links to the programs I was looking into (poli sci and human rights) and that he would look up who was in charge of them and if he knew anyone who had any experience with them. He never got back to me. Surely it just slipped his mind. But I'm neurotic about the situation and take it personally. I am worried if I email him AGAIN asking him to do something that will take even more time, he won't exactly be willing.

Now, I'm fairly certain the reason I'm scared to ask him for a recommendation is because he's easy on the eyes and I probably have a mild crush. However, I am telling myself it's because he will not really be too into writing it since I only had him for a three-week course (which was fairly rigorous, three hour class everyday and 50-60 pages of reading a night and I got an A).

Would it be wiser to ask a teacher I had for an entire semester? As I said before, there is just so much at stake so I am having an impossible time just deciding who to ask.

(I had an article as the front page feature story in the student paper this week, and I was only excited because perhaps he would see it and remember "Oh! Right! I need to inquire about the course of that girl's entire future." No luck yet. )

Thank you!!

AmenoMusicista · 02-29-2008, 09:32 PM

Personally, I'd go for it. He was the one who volunteered to help out in the first place, so I think he'd be willing to do it if you e-mailed him again. Professors tend to be busy people, so I'm sure there's a good reason why he didn't e-mail you back. However, a good professor will usually always try to help their students if they can. You're prof sounds genuinely interested in what you're trying to do, and judging from your success in his class, I don't see any reason why he would refuse.

I know it's still scary, but I hope this helps. I was super shy about my rec too. I actually went down to my history professor's office the first time and chickened out and just walked back out of the building! But when I forced myself to go see her, she was so excited that I was looking at Barnard and was very encouraging.

MayDub · 02-29-2008, 10:12 PM

That's so helpful. I'm very grateful for your encouragement and I'm going to shoot him a carefully composed email sometime this weekend. So if I do end up at Barnard, it will be in part thanks to you!

Thanks again and GOOD LUCK TO YOU

Good luck to all of you!
Also, I'm currently at Elon University in NC.

dancer2436 · 03-03-2008, 09:47 PM

Hey re-nuh & anyone else who posted a question... sorry for taking a little bit to answer, I've been extremely busy lately, with midterms and all! But here goes...

In terms of integrating, it has been an absolute breeze. Barnard seems to really love transfers and the school does an amazing job of welcoming transfers into the community and really making us feel like we are a part of the school and our respective class (in my case, class of 2010). As a Fall transfer, I had lots of different orientation events that I was able to attend and the administration, faculty, students, etc. were very encouraging and welcoming to transfers. Within the first week we went through different events, we met our advisors and set up appointments with them to discuss our programs, etc. My RA was also really awesome in helping me feel at home at Barnard and confident in my decision to transfer.

All in all, I really do think that when I first moved in, (though I was nervous at first) Barnard helped me become excited rather than nervous about my decision to transfer here, and it really helped me kick off a great year as I had a very smooth and pretty successful transfer. I definitely would attribute this to Barnard's efforts to integrate transfers and give us a place in the school. I have many friends who are transfers, since I live in the dorm that has two floors completely filled with transfers (which was another upside, I live with people who understand what I am going through), but I also have lots of friends who came to Barnard as first years. I have friends who I met in class and a lot of my friends I have met through involvement in various organizations across Barnard and Columbia's campuses.

In short, I am VERY happy that I transferred!

I am not completely sure about financial aid, but from what I hear, Barnard is great with providing for families who need it. You might want to call the financial aid office and talk to them. I know that they have a need analysis formula that takes into account all sources of income and other assets. I do know that Barnard gives need based financial aid only, and no merit scholarships. Definitely call the financial aid office... they are VERY helpful and nice! Maybe someone else with a little bit more knowledge will post on here. Sorry I can't help as much in that area!

Let me know if there are any more questions!

AmenoMusicista · 03-04-2008, 04:16 PM

Wow, Dancer. That takes a bit of the load off of my mind. I'm a pretty shy person, so I was kind of worried about how I'd be able to integrate myself at Barnard (willing that I get in, of course).

I don't really know if I have any pressing questions at the moment.

How's everyone doing on their applications? I'm pretty much done. I just have to submit my supplement, and I plan on getting my secondary school report when I go home for spring break next week. I'm kind of obsessing over the supplement essays though, because I get the feeling that they're kind of a big deal. lol

re-nuh · 03-04-2008, 07:26 PM

Thanks Dancer!

I am almost done with my application. I need to finish my Common App essay, give the rest of my professors the grade reports, and make course description copies. I hope Barnard doesn't expect professors to make in-depth comments on the grade report sheets. I go to a huge state school, so that's not possible in some of my classes.

rokiracoo · 03-06-2008, 03:15 PM

re-nuh--don't worry about the grade report sheets. i transferred to barnard from a large school as well, where 4/5 of my spring term teachers had no idea who i was...i'm pretty sure that the purpose of the form is just for the admissions dep't to make sure that you are keeping on track with your work and that your grades are up-to-par. the professors of your large classes will probably just ask you what you scored on their midterm, and use that as your grade report.

MayDub · 03-06-2008, 11:32 PM

To those that know how much of a fuss I made about asking my prof for a rec- I emailed him and didn't hear back for SIX DAYS. I was useless during the course of that week, I couldn't focus on anything.

I'm wondering how many of you are getting more than one professor to write a teacher recommendation. Would this be really inconvenient for admissions to go through and potentially hamper my chances?

I'd venture to say it can't be that bad, but if anyone has any insight on this, I would be very grateful.

AmenoMusicista · 03-07-2008, 12:36 AM

I'm sorry to hear that you haven't heard back from your prof after all that worrying.

I don't really think it would hurt your chances at all if you send more than one recommendation. Barnard does accept supplementary material like written work and stuff like that, so maybe they'd consider it a supplement to your first rec? I'm not entirely positive. I can't imagine that it would keep you from being accepted, though.

churchmusicmom · 03-07-2008, 08:22 AM

maydub:

first, consider that e-mails can get lost or for other reasons go unread. Go to the prof in person to ask for the rec if necessary, or just ask if they got your e-mail request. They just might be very busy or something. Don't worry about it...ask!

second, having a second rec would not hurt you, I am sure.

hang in there!

re-nuh · 03-12-2008, 03:34 PM

I have wondered about the housing situation, especially for transfers. I hear that there is a housing crunch and that housing is not available for everyone who needs it? Is there a possibility that non first-year students will have to find off campus housing? That seems like it would be tough in NYC...

abric1 · 03-15-2008, 12:05 PM

Anyone have information about how many transfer apps Barnard generally receives and the percentage that gets accepted?

tahitiKO · 03-18-2008, 12:24 PM

AmenoMusicista- dude, same situtation here. where are you coming from? i'm a Smithie so i thought for sure the seven sister bond would cut it- but no dice. fingers crossed for both of us this year.

AmenoMusicista · 03-18-2008, 05:27 PM

Abric, you can find information on this right here: Barnard College Admissions
It's from last year but hopefully it'll give you a general idea.

tahitiKO - It's cool to hear from another 2nd year transfer. Good luck to you too! I'm actually also applying to Smith, but Barnard is definitely my top choice. How come you want to transfer out?
I'm coming from a public school in PA - Kutztown University. It's super easy and I want a better variety of classes and more of a challenge. Sounds like you'll have a better chance than I do as you're coming from a more prestigious school but it'd be pretty awesome if we both got in.

re-nuh · 03-26-2008, 01:18 PM

I am also applying to Smith and would also like to know why you (TahitiKO) are transferring?