<p>my GPA is pretty average. i had a heavy courseload all throughout high school but my sat scores are horrible. i took them sophomore year and didnt study. i got into a school already. what im wondering is whether or not barnard really cares to see a strong high school record. can an average high school record/test scores be counterbalanced by strong freshman year academics?</p>
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can an average high school record/test scores be counterbalanced by strong freshman year academics?
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<p>Perhaps, but I am curious as to why you did not retake the SATs? </p>
<p>Certainly, you should concentrate during your freshman year upon doing very well in your studies and upon finding your niche at your school. Get involved and show that you have direction. I believe Barnard is looking for women who, as transfers, will be able to find their place among an academically strong and motivated class. </p>
<p>Of course, please know that I am a parent of a rising Senior at Barnard. NOT an admissions expert....</p>
<p>would it be a bad thing to take my SATs over the summer after senior has ended then?</p>
<p>hokie10--If you hope to transfer to Barnard as a sophomore, you will have to apply after you have only one semester of freshman grades, so it may be an uphill battle. You would probably be better off postponing your move until the fall of your junior year so that Barnard will see three semesters of college work before deciding your fate, not just one. In addition, the extra time will give you more chance to be involved in your college community and/or to delve into research, an internship or other activities that will make you a more attractive candidate to Barnard.</p>
<p>p.s. You can't take SATs in the summer. They aren't offered. You could take them in the fall, but for a busy college freshman, that might not be such a great plan. If you have three strong college semesters on your record and shoot for Barnard as a junior, your high school SAT scores will have little or no impact on your verdict.</p>
<p>barnard doesnt accept first semester freshmen students. they said i would have to attend my school for at least one year before i am able to apply. that really sucks because my school functions on a quarter system i would be able to meet the credit requirements after first semester (with the addition of my ap credits).</p>
<p>oh and another thing... barnard isnt all about the statistics right? i heard that they really look at the essay and reasons why the students wants to go there.</p>
<p>As I said above, you're probably better off aiming for your junior year to transfer because, with an "average" high school GPA, you will need to prove yourself elsewhere before getting good news from Barnard. If you apply to transfer as a junior, you'll have three semesters worth of college grades to show Barnard admission officials before they decide your fate.</p>
<p>thank you for all the helpful advice. i think i am going to apply during the spring of 2010 as a junior transfer. maybe my two years here will give me a chance to do exceptionally well and maybe even study abroad. when i get to barnard, hopefully ill be able to just focus on my gender studies/women studies major and psych minor :). i love new york!</p>
<p>You're welcome, hokie10. One more thing ... a quick word about studying abroad and transfers:</p>
<p>It sounds like you're planning to study abroad before you transfer, and that's a very good idea. Many colleges have two-year "residency" requirements. This means that, in order to graduate from that school, you need to spend at least two years at that school. ("Residency" doesn't mean that you must live on campus, only that you must be taking your classes on that campus and not through a study-abroad program or elsewhere.) So, if you hope to start at Barnard as a junior, you probably wouldn't be able to spend a term abroad once you transfer (except during the summer). As you map out your future, you may want to check with Barnard to see if you might be able to go abroad if you're just there for two years. But my guess is that the answer will be, "No," so you're wise to look into going away before you transfer. Good luck with all your plans.</p>
<p>Great advice, Sally. And may I say it's great to have you here on the Barnard board.</p>
<p>sally- i took all of that into consideration when ultimately deciding to study the summer abroad. most schools do have a 2 year residency requirement, so i wouldnt be surprised if barnard wouldnt let me. its better to plan ahead. :)</p>
<p>the more i read and hear about new york, the more i am falling in love with it. but barnard sounds great because its an all womens college with a great rep for my major. the fact that its on broadway just makes it that more amazing.</p>
<p>Barnard is on Broadway indeed but high up at about 116th Street, so it's not all that close to the "Broadway" that we know and love (well, at least I love it. It makes my husband nuts :) ) Public transportation can help you make all of Manhattan your own, but if you want a college that is really close to The Great White Way, check out Fordham University's Lincoln Center campus. You'll find Women's Studies and the other academic areas that interest you there.</p>
<p>Echoing Sally's observation: Barnard's neighborhood is the upper West Side of Manhattan and has a very different ambience than farther down around 42nd street or even the Lincoln Center area. Much quieter. More parks in the area. A much more residential feel. Yet, a fairly brief subway ride will put you in the thick of it all! You definitely need to visit Barnard to get a sense of the place!</p>
<p>well i will be coming from california with schools from the uc system, stanford, caltech, and the 5 claremont colleges, so i cant help but feel a bit skeptical about moving that far for college. would you say that barnard is on par with most of these schools?</p>
<p>Barnard has an excellent reputation and is certainly a peer of the nation's top colleges and universities. Barnard and neighboring Columbia University maintain strong ties, and students at each school can take classes at the other. See About</a> Barnard College</p>
<p>Barnard students often insist that their college offers a best-of-both worlds experience: the sisterhood and support of a women's school and the opportunity to take classes with men and have easy proximity to a coed social life. Famous Barnard alums range from Margaret Mead to Martha Stewart with many other well-known names on the list, too. See List</a> of Barnard College people - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</p>
<p>So, if you're willing to trade California sunshine for Big Apple action, definitely keep Barnard on your radar screen.</p>
<p>My situation was essentially identical to yours, and my suggestion would be to heed sally's advice. </p>
<p>I was probably at the upper end of average in high school grade-wise, with good SATs and stellar ECs. I applied after one semester of college coursework, with a 3.86 and a good start on leadership and internships and did not get in. Transferring is selective, to be sure, and my general feeling is that when someone like me is not as competitive as someone applying having done well for longer in a college setting. </p>
<p>I was so intent upon transferring after one year that I didn't take advantage of my current school's resources like I would have had I known I would be staying a minimum of two years. I had a "what's the point" attitude, especially after doing so well academically in my first semester. I thought I had Barnard in the bag. There's no harm in applying to transfer in as a sophomore, but I would recommend waiting so that way there's not so much keeping you from taking advantage of and thriving in your current situation. Wherever you're going in the fall, plan on staying two years. I wish I hadn't viewed my school as a temporary, sort of proxy-college for myself. Don't do that! Do the best that you can, and everything that you can for two years, and then go to Barnard! </p>
<p>Sorry I wrote a short story, but I really do regret not making more of my freshman year since I didn't think networking and things were going to be necessary for me. Don't make that mistake! Though it sounds like you're not planning to :)</p>
<p>may- thank you for such thoughtful advice. i am planning to make the most of my college experience. did you successfully apply to barnard after 2 years? you seemed like a very qualified candidate for the transfer. that worries me a little bit since i have good grades, an intense courseload, but average test scores.</p>
<p>I actually just wrapped up my freshman year, but I do plan to apply again next year! My grades kind of fell apart second semester (I mean, Bs..) cause I was campaigning hardcore for the Clinton campaign all during exams (in North Carolina, so suffice it to say, there was a lot of work to do!) But like you, I plan to go abroad before transferring, so I think everything is going to work out well this way!</p>
<p>MayDub-Your work on the Clinton campaign might have affected your GPA, but it should pay off at transfer-application time. Admission officials are always interested in students who are doing more than just school work, and applicants get extra "bonus points" when their passions take them beyond the boundaries of their own high school or college campus. Working for a candidate who didn't ultimately win might be an essay topic that is both interesting and entertaining.</p>