<p>Hello. I’m a current sophomore in high school who is very interested in Barnard. I plan on applying early decision when the time comes. I was on the Barnard website and was looking at the pre college programs that the school offers. There is a one week mini course as well as a four week one. It also says financial aid is available, which I would be counting on.</p>
<p>I was wondering if anyone here had attended one of these summer courses (or a daughter who has). I’d like to know how competitive the admission process is, how much financial aid individuals have been rewarded, and if the young women who were a part of this found it to be a rewarding and helpful experience.</p>
<p>Thanks, I really appreciate it!</p>
<p>-iato_nycgirl</p>
<p>oh my gosh...the pre-college program was the BEST five weeks of my entire life...the people that i met there were friends that i will keep for a lifetime...so here is the lowdown:
-i applied REALLY early...the day that they opened up for applications...i was really excited about it and i got the letter that i was accepted the day after i sent in the application
-i did not apply for financial aid ( i worked really hard so that i could go)...i really did not talk to people who had received it, sorry :)
-i definitely say go for it (the admissions is not that competitive, but if you want specific classes then you should apply early so that you get first choice)...
-i did the five week program, which was AMAZING...i actually heard a lot of the one-weekers say that one week was not enough time to fully soak up the city, but i did not talk to one person who was dissappointed with the five week program...
-the classes were challenging but not outrageous....i took a psychology class: Madness and "Genius": discusses the fine line between genius and insanity; i also took a literature course: From Little Women To Mean Girls: Growing Up in Fiction and Film: it was also really really cool
-workload:
for the psychology course i had to write a 10 page research paper
for the lit course i had to do a group project
i also started and organized a volunteer project when i was up there...it was a project to help the homeless of New York City...it was a lot of work but it was totally worth it and A LOT OF FUN!!!!
-i really think that you should do it because it is an experience that you will never forget (one of my closest friends up there did it two years in a row)
-also there is a lot of geographic diversity (not much gender diversity but it IS coed)...umm...i was the only girl from Alabama though (which was fun)</p>
<p>well good luck and hope that i helped!!</p>
<p>Those classes both sound really cool; I'm envious. Are you interested in those subjects beyond the summer program? You should check out Janna Levin's new book, A Madman Dreams of Turing Machines, about Godel and Turing. Also, Janna Levin is AMAZING and is entirely my hero.</p>
<p>Thanks for all your help, barnargal! I will definitely apply early and for the longer course if my schedule allows. Thanks again!</p>
<p>thanks for the tip about the new book...i will definitely check it out!!</p>