Applying with funky schedule senior year

Colleges and Universities A-Z Barnard College
1

Hi,

I’ve got a question about admissions (and a little bit of a chance me- sorry :slight_smile: ). I’m starting my senior year next week, and I’m probably going to apply ED to Barnard. However, I am only taking three academic classes my senior year (IB History, IB English, and AP Statistics). This is because I have an abbreviated schedule and will be interning in DC- first semester at a law advocacy group, and second semester at the Library of Congress. Unfortunately I have to take a gym class, due to the fact that I was in an art magnet class my first three years of high school and could not fulfill my P.E. credit.

Given the context, will my schedule be held against me, or will Barnard like the fact that I’m doing an off-campus internship and have a strong art portfolio?

Some more information about me- 1500 SAT, 3.62 GPA (3.3 freshman, 3.6 sophomore, 3.9 junior so strong upward trend and much higher weighted), the most IB and AP classes I could take (no IB diploma because of the art program + internship), I have a lot of leadership positions in ECS (GSA 9-12 and now president, literary magazine 9-12 and now editor in chief, forensics 9-12 captain, students against state violence 11-12 founder and president, I had a paid internship with the Smithsonian sophomore year, I volunteer as an organizer with DC zinefest which is a local DIY publishing event that runs workshops too, I worked full time at an outdoor adventure camp this summer and will volunteer on their farm this year as well). I also know I will have very strong recommendations, and writing is probably my best ability, so I’m confident in my essays. I interviewed with the admissions officer for my area in June and it went very well.

I know there’s no certainty, but I believe I have an at least decent chance in ED-- I’m just concerned about my out of the ordinary schedule. I also have not taken Chemistry. Should I explain all this in extenuating circumstances? Will it be held against me? Thank you :slight_smile:

2

Yes, explain it all.

My Barnard-grad daugther spent a semester abroad in 11th grade, and because of scheduling issues had a very light schedule the other semester – and senior year involved picking up missed courses. No lab physics; no math beyond algebra 2. She explained her choices on her apps, and it didn’t hurt her for college admissions at Barnard or other selectives schools. So explain what you are doing in a positive way, emphasizing the value of those internships.

3

@calmom Thanks for your reply! Your posts on the Barnard forum have been really helpful in my college search process :slight_smile:

A follow up question-- I went in to talk to my counselor today, and it turns out I most likely will not be able to take the second year of IB History, and will have to take AP World instead due to my internship scheduling. Given the circumstances, will a dropped two year course hurt my application enough that the internship isn’t worth it, or can this also be explained?

4

As long as the dropped course is replaced, it can be explained, although depending on the reason why you cannot continue the IB course, you may be better served having the GC explaining it on the Secondary School Report.

5

How will you feel next spring if you drop the internship, keep the course, and still get turned down from Barnard?

Here is your dilemma: you can’t know what the decision will be.

Here is what Barnard says they look for:

“Barnard students change the world and how we view it. They are bold, thoughtful, analytical, intrepid and ambitious.”

From https://admissions.barnard.edu/apply-barnard

You are the only one who can decide whether the internship is “worth it” – and that really depends a lot on what the internship entails – and how much you really want to work with that organization.