I am a prospective student who just applied to Barnard College through Early Decision. I am currently on a gap year (for those who are unaware of this, it’s taking a year off from college), and I have and am spending the year traveling, volunteering, and working. I decided to take a year off because my sister passed away during the summer before my senior year and I was unable to focus on my college process then.
Immediately after my high school graduation, I traveled to South Korea and stayed there for five weeks immersed in a Korean Language and Culture Program. I received my graduation certificate from the program, was awarded the Best Student award, and earned my certificate for having a cooking lesson at the Blue House. After I came back, I got hired at Aloha Gelato and continued volunteering at a nearby preschool. My intentions for working at Aloha Gelato and volunteering at the preschool is so that I can utilize my trilingual skills (English, Korean, Japanese) and also because I enjoy those activities!! My GPA is set since I graduated–it is 3.65 unweighted. My highest SAT score is 1920 (Superscored) and I just took the October ACT test. I am scheduled to take two subject tests, Korean and Math II, on Saturday (11/7) because Barnard requires either SAT Reasoning w/2 subject or the ACT w/writing. Barnard is truly where I want and wish to be and would like to hear your opinions on my chances to this school. I actually visited Barnard three days ago! I am from Honolulu, Hawaii and traveled to New York to visit the campus! I received a tour, sat in Professor Scott’s Anthropology class, and had an interview with a current Barnard senior student.
I know that I may not be a star student, but I am hoping and praying for my acceptance!
According to Barnard’s online freshman admissions profile, your GPA and SAT are lower than the college’s middle-fifty percent, so I think you’re at a bit of a disadvantage.
If you really, really show the admissions officers your passion for the college through your essay and interview, (if you decide to have one,) you can hopefully improve your chances of getting in
First off, my condolences to you on the loss of your sister
While your SAT is a bit low for Barnard, being from Hawaii is a hook and your language skills make you an interesting candidate. As for your GPA, it is very solid but a lot depends on the rigor of your high school and the classes you took. But I do think you can present yourself as a unique candidate and can get a serious look
Good luck
@ctyer2017 Thank you for your response!
I saw on a website that the absolute lowest GPA that Barnard accepted was 1785. However, I’m sure that candidate had high test scores, GPA, and wonderful essays that allowed her acceptance. Yes, I spent a lot of time and put in my utmost effort into those essays so hopefully, they show admissions my love for Barnard. @wisteria100 Thank you. It’s been a hard year since she passed on.
I really, really hope that you’re right. I graduated from Punahou School, which is a college preparatory school so the classes I took were challenging. In the course of four years, I took 3 years of Honors Japanese, 3 years of Honors Science (Biology, Chemistry, and Physics), 2 AP classes (Biology and Psychology), 2 years of art (choir), and other electives such as Anatomy and Physiology. I hope that I prove to be a unique candidate to Barnard! Thank you for your opinion!
Update:
I also received my ACT Score, which came out to a 28. Does this score seem to be in the range of what Barnard accepts? I researched online and saw that I am in the 25th percentile as Barnard considers ACT scores from the minimum of a 28.
There’s only a month left before I receive my letter from Barnard since I applied ED, and I can’t help but to worry with receiving scores like these. I’m happy with this score because this was my first time taking it, but I know I could have done better. I would really appreciate your responses–thank you so much!!!
First of all – I’m sorry about your sister. That’s tough.
I wanted to respond to some your comments:
I’m not sure what you mean “from the minimum” – a 28 ACT is at the 25th percentile mark, which means that 1 out of every 4 students admitted to Barnard has lower ACT. From the most recent common data set I can find, approximately 35% of students (more than a third) have ACT composites in the range of 24-29; 4% have 23 or under, so I’d look at 23 as probably being the dealbreaker number.
My daughter had an ACT of 28, at best (I don’t remember if that was the composite of a single score or superscored from two tests where she had a 27.) She didn’t submit SAT’s, but she had 1200 combined math/CR, a somewhat higher writing score. Barnard did get her SAT score from somewhere – though she didn’t submit it, it did show up on some sort of records Barnard had after she was admitted. So maybe GC sent it anyone. I don’t know.
Anyway, I can’t speak to chances but I think you should emphasize your strengths and the thing that set you apart. The information you provided in your OP is something that that you can be confident is different from what other applicants present - not amazing, but certainly something that is positive and that the ad com will note and remember when reviewing your application. The year traveling, studying and volunteering shows a level of maturity and experience that sets you apart. The fact that you are also tri-lingual is also a net positive, and Hawaii is somewhat of a geographic diversity factor – and because you are from Hawaii, your on-campus visit and interview will be given more significance as well.
Bottom line: Barnard is a reach. But not an impossible reach. Some students with even weaker stats than you will be admitted, and many students with much stronger stats will be turned away. It’s not about the stats – it’s about the whole person, and you seem to be the type of person that Barnard likes to have.
@calmom: Thank you so much for your response!!! I truly hope that your opinion about me will apply to Barnard as well. After submitting my application, I am constantly anxious about the result I will receive next month. Fingers crossed that I will get accepted, but I understand that Barnard is a difficult school to get in. I know that Barnard has a holistic process, which is one of the reasons why I love this school. I love that Barnard looks at the whole person rather than solely looking at the statistics of the student. Hopefully, they understand and accept my story, my background, and character and allow me to prove my worthiness during the next four years!
