I’m an NJ resident (but still international due to issues with delayed greencard), and I’m really interested in Barnard College (going to ED). I’m currently a junior in hs, and I just wanted to ask if anyone could help me out with some of the questions I have. I’m looking to be a CS major, but I know that Barnard doesn’t admit by major. CS being super competitive nowadays, will this affect my admissions drastically in a negative way? Also, anyone who was admitted or is knowledgeable, what is Barnard really looking for? I mean in terms of community impact, strong academics (Ik as its a top LAC, obviously high grades are a must, but is a 1520 and 3.8 a make or break?), or lots of competition wins? Also, seeing as Barnard is need-aware for internationals, will it help me in any way that I am full pay? I will not be needing aid of any kind.
To some extent, you’ve answered some of your own questions.
As you’ve noted, Barnard does not admit by major. That means that your intended major is not a factor in the admissions decision.
As you’ve also noted, Barnard is need aware for internationals. That means that they reserve the right to use need as a factor in their admissions decisions for internationals. In this situation, being full pay can only help your application.
With regard to what Barnard is looking for, they tell you that answer in Section C7 of their Common Data Set, which you can access by googling “Barnard Common Data Set” or by doing a search for “Common Data Set” on the Barnard website. Select 2024-25 from the options presented as it is the most recent year.
What Barnard says are the most important factors for admission are:
- Rigor of Secondary School Record
- Academic GPA
- Application Essays
- Recommendations
- Character/Personal Qualities
Also Important but not as important are:
- Extracurricular Activities
- Talent/Ability
- Volunteer Work
- Work Experience
With regard to your 1520, Barnard says that it will consider test scores if submitted but that they are not important. Barnard is test optional and only half of this year’s freshman class submitted test scores of any kind (33% SAT, 17% ACT). 1520 was the 75th percentile for those who submitted SAT scores. But I think that we can assume that most if not all of those who did not submit test scores dis not have scores as strong as those who did submit. So 1520 is a very strong score, compared to this year’s freshman class.
With regard to your 3.8, this is much more important for the admissions decision. As mentioned above, class rank is also very important, so it would help if you could get this information to go along with the gpa. 89% of this year’s freshman class had a gpa of 3.75-4.00 and 53% had a gpa of 4.00. Your gpa is at the lower end of this range, so it is not a strong data point in your application, but it also does not eliminate you from consideration. It suggests that Barnard is a reach for you and that the other criteria noted above need to be strong. Given that Barnard admitted only 8% of its applicants last year, it is really a reach for anyone. 92% of the applicants are rejected, including many very strong candidates. There are simply not enough seats for everyone who applies.
All of the information which I used in looking at your SAT score and gpa is also available on the common data set. Beyond that, we know that Barnard evaluates its applications holistically. They look for students who are intellectually motivated, community minded, and excited about the liberal arts.
All of this suggests that you will need other colleges on your list. So, it would be helpful to know what it is about Barnard that appeals to you. Is it the fact that it’s a women’s college? Is it the fact that it’s part of Columbia? Is is New York City? Or that it’s close to home? Is it their CS program? Something else?
Being an autonomous women’s college but also being part of Columbia and having access to all of its resources is unique. There’s really nothing else quite like it. The only school which I can think of as at all comparable is Scripps College in Claremont, CA. It is part of a 5 college consortium with all 5 campuses immediately adjacent to each other as Barnard is to Columbia. Like Columbua + Barnard, the Claremont Colleges collectively have a high level of excellence. Students can cross register at the other 4 colleges and can even elect a major from one of the other 4 colleges if it is not offered at theirs and they can access each other’s other resources. Each of the 5 colleges has its own focus and Scripps is the women’s college in the group. Scripps had a 38% acceptance rate last year, so you have a much higher likelihood of acceptance there. Total undergrad enrollment of the 5 Claremont Colleges is about 6400. Not quite as big as Columbia + Barnard, but in the same general size category. Claremont is about 30 miles east of LA. I won’t go any further with this unless I know that you’re interested.
Even though a school might not admit by major, many do factor a student’s fit to their intended major via courses and ECs when evaluating the app holistically. Schools also can’t have an overweighted number of intended majors in one area (even though students can easily change majors at a school like Barnard, this is still an issue when building a class.) Barnard wouldn’t ask for the intended major on the common app if it were a meaningless detail (Barnard gives the opportunity to identify three majors of interest.)
For OP, I agree that not applying for FA will likely be an advantage as an international applicant. For the very basic information on how Barnard reads apps: Application Review Philosophy: First-Year Applicants | Barnard College
You should also visit campus for an admission session and tour, sit in on a class, and connect with at least one student. Visit Opportunities | Barnard College
Doing these activities will help you better understand what Barnard is looking for and give you insights as to how to complete the short answer questions on the app. I don’t know enough about your HS courses and rigor to give guidance as to how your 3.8 GPA might be reviewed (is that unweighted in core courses only?)
Do you have courses and ECs that align with a CS major?
[quote=“Mwfan1921, post:3, topic:3689661, full:true”]
Even though a school might not admit by major, many do factor a student’s fit to their intended major via courses and ECs when evaluating the app holistically. Schools also can’t have an overweighted number of intended majors in one area (even though students can easily change majors at a school like Barnard, this is still an issue when building a class.) Barnard wouldn’t ask for the intended major on the common app if it were a meaningless detail (Barnard gives the opportunity to identify three majors of interest.)[/quote]
________________________________________________________________________
Good point.
Now let’s look a little closer. The OP’s question is:
“With CS being super competitive nowadays, will this affect my admissions drastically in a negative way?”
I’m going to take this apart:
- The OP is reacting to the fact that CS is generally super competitive. But the more relevant question is whether CS super competitive at Barnard. The biggest majors at Barnard for which degrees are awarded are Social Sciences (29%) and Biological/Life Sciences (13%). Barnard awards 6% of its degrees in CIS and it is one of half a dozen majors clustered in the 4-7% range.
- Nationally 77% of CIS majors are male. So, the 6% number at a women’s college seems consistent with that trend.
- Barnard is unique in its relationship with Columbia in that students can take courses at Columbia and even complete a major at Columbia, so there is a safety valve if there is a sudden surge in interest in a particular major.
So, the way I see it, you are correct in pointing out that Columbia will take a look at applicants’ intended majors. It would be irresponsible for them to take in a freshman class who were all interested in visual and performing arts, for example. Given that they encourage their students to explore and consider a variety of interests, I think it is also to be expected that they live with the reality that students will not necessarily pick the major that they stated as a high school senior when they applied. They do in fact live with that uncertainty.
Specifically in regard to the OP’s question, will an intended major in CS drastically affect her admissions in a negative way? In response to “drastically”, the answer is a resounding “NO”. In response to “in a negative way”? Not at all - at least not more than the statement of any other intended major. I am expressing my opinion specifically in light of the fact that CS is not a high demand major either at Barnard or for women nationally and in light of the fact that Barnard doesn’t have to worry about being overloaded with CIS majors because of the availability of courses and even the major itself at Columbia.
Do you have access to info about past applicants from your school who were and were not admitted (e.g. through Naviance). Being full pay will help for sure. Over the last 5 years our HS, competitive, private, (not in NJ) has only had one person admitted to Barnard from among the 6 that applied. The one who was admitted applied ED and was deferred then admitted. She is a friend of my D so I know a little of her info…she was not in top 10 percent but very likely top 20 percent (our HS only notifies students in top 10 percent). UW 3.85. High rigor. 1480 SAT. Full pay. If you look at the Barnard CDS you will see that about 1/3 of the admitted students had UW GPA between 3.75 and 3.99. Most have 4.0 UW. So 3.8 is on the lower side of what is typically admitted but still in the mix. And ED and full pay will help. Good luck!
Thank you, this was very helpful! I will look into the Claremont schools as well.
Thank you for the reply! Yes, a lot of my ECs are CS oriented, and a lot of them have to do with inclusion and education, especially for girls.As for my courses, it is a 3.8 unweighted GPA out of 4 for all classes taken minus physical education, and I have a 4.8 out of 5.3 weighted (It is not possible to get above a 5.1 with the restrictions on classes you can take, so I don’t know why it is weighted that way at my school.) I will have taken 15 APs and 15 Honors classes by the time I graduate, which is the highest level of course rigor my school offers, as we have 4 levels: CP, A, and H. It is also safe to say that I am in the top 10% of my class (out of 500), but my school does not report class rank. I have also already visited multiple times and sat in on classes, and I am friends with a lot of current students. I just have a lot of anxiety around the whole process. I appreciate you taking the time to reply, and your answers were very helpful!
It’s a plus that your ECs are focused on CS and inclusion. Hearing that, I expect that not only will CS not be a negative, but it could be a positive. Barnard wants to promote women in technology, which is probably why they offer the CIS major in the first place. The challenge for them is that there aren’t a lot of women interested in this field. But you are! And your ECs show the depth of your commitment!! Not only should you not worry about this being a negative, but you should feature this in your essays. And don’t feel shy or apologetic about. Just the opposite. Brag a little bit about it.
Let me add that being in the top 10% of your class is a positive - especially given the rigor that you described. GPA by itself is important, but class rank adds to that by showing that your gpa is not the reflection of grade inflation. (Top 10% is a kind of ranking even though your school doesn’t report all the details.) also, Barnard expects their accepted students to be in the top 10%. And while SAT isn’t a particularly important factor for Barnard, they will look at it and it represents additional confirmation of your academic abilities.
I am very encouraged by this new information. As I said earlier, Barnard is a reach for anyone because of its 92% rejection rate. But the combination of your interest in CIS, your related ECs, and your advocacy for girls in this field describe a picture that I think they’ll be very interested in. Go for it!
(Let us know what you think of Scripps and the Claremont Colleges. Is California too far from home?)
If you like the idea of a women’s college which is part of a larger university system, consider Mt Holyoke and Smith which are both in the Five College Consortium.
Also look into Bryn Mawr which has Haverford as a partner school.
Good suggestion. 
Bryn Mawr also has cross registration privileges with Swarthmore and Penn in addition to Haverford via the Quaker Consortium.