What are my chances at Barnard College?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Barnard College
1

Hey everyone, I made this account to ask this question because I know Barnard are very holistic I don’t trust the online calculators, haha. Barnard is my dream school, but I have some unimpressive grades from early in high school due to a very debilitating, untreated (at the time) mental illness. I was hospitalized twice during sophomore year and got two C’s, so I’m afraid it’ll ruin my chances. My extracirriculars are pretty impressive, I think, and I do have a 504 plan and straight A’s other than my extremely difficult year, so if anyone knows whether they’d be willing to cut me slack, please let me know.

SAT: 1570 (retaking May 4 so hopefully will be higher)
ACT: 36 :slight_smile:
GPA: 3.86 unweighted, 4.65 weighted
Class Rank: 2/834

Intended Major: Political Science and Government

Extracurricular:

  • founder of a nonprofit startup (provides mental health care for adolescents and young adults who are not able to pay medicare copays–it’s small but already in action, serving 6 people through a local therapy center and is approved by the IRS) (11-forever)
  • local lawmaker-- I wrote the policy changes for my school district’s policies on LGBT bullying (all I did was change the language in the policies to include sexuality and gender expression under “protected groups,” but I was only a freshman at the time, so maybe still impressive?) and started, led, and spearheaded our project to renovate our defunct bathrooms into two gender neutral, single-stall locker rooms so that trans students could take PE, I wrote our new policy on mental health after a teacher was fired for mental illness (a big victory for mentally ill students and teachers and a very big deal, not to pat myself on the back but I do plan to highlight this)
  • Founder and president of my school’s Model Congress club (11)
  • National Honor Society (no leadership, though, I was busy with my company :confused: I regret not running but it’s too late because I will be a senior next year) (11-12)
  • Founder and president of the new Mental Health Advocacy Club, which will start operating next year (12?)
  • President of the Gay Straight Alliance (10)
  • Historian and secretary for the National Art Honor Society (11-12)
  • (first ever, but not founder) President of Mentor Club (a club to basically just…hang out with kids with intellectual disabilities, down syndrome, more severe autism, etc, to be their friend, make them feel more welcome in an environment with lots of hostile, mean kids) (11)
  • Rising Rural Leaders at UChicago (free, selective summer program for high achieving kids from low income rural families–I studied debate and law) (9)
  • Bernie 2020, founder and leader of our local chapter
  • some fairly unimpressive and minor things I don’t plan to include if nothing changes-- musical/competition theater as a freshman, technical theater as a sophomore, red cross club (just a member), JV lacrosse, diversity association (just a member), creative writing club

Awards: AP Scholar with distinction, Honor Roll, National Merit semifinalist, Best Delegate (model congress), 4 Gold Keys (scholastic art competition regional awards), National Honor Society, Salutatorian if that’s an award (our school bases class rank on a combo of grades and AP/SAT scores, so that’s why I’m 2nd even though my grades are bad), Published writer

Hooks: I’m mixed native american/white (I think native is a URM but I’m not positive), I’m rural, lower-lower middle class (65k for a family of 6), “disabled” (IEP and collegeboard accommodations for a learning disability)

I’m planning to write my CommonApp essay about my experiences with mental illness and hospitalization, and how the way my peers and I were treated inspired me to start my business and make a change to the local mental health laws. My counselor says that will be a good essay, because it shows my ability to overcome hardship, my passion, and my capacity for leadership. I’m going to include my explanation for my bad grades in the additional info section, but I don’t know if they’ll even read it.

What do you think? Is it worth applying? Will I have a shot if I apply early decision?
Thank you!

Edit: I also plan to mention that my family are not rich and I had to get a worker’s permit at 14 so I could work to help with finances. I’ve worked part time since 9th grade! My parents are great, but they’re not like those parents who help with homework and pay for expensive programs and all that. I’m a self starter :slight_smile:

Also, I’ve always taken the hardest classes offered in everything except for math.

2

Your GPA is fine for Barnard, especially given your class rank. From what yiou say, it sounds like you would have strong chances of admission.

It is worthwhile to explain weaker grades in the “additional info” section – but if you were hospitalized twice that year — that is enough of an explanation. It’s up to you, but while the length of hospitalization might be relevant, you don’t have to disclose any more details about the reasons for hospitalization than you feel are comfortable with.

3

I think you have an excellent chance of admittance, especially given your strong EC’s and test scores. I’ve also struggled with mental illness and have had some bad grades, and I’ve been admitted to a number of T20 colleges. Keep working hard and you’ll get there!

4

With a 36 composite on the ACT, there is absolutely no need to retake a 1570 SAT. Consider that part of your college process over and very well done.

If you tell your story in your college essays anywhere near as well as you did in your post (and your guidance counselor and teacher recommendations enthusiastically support you and confirm your story) I think you have a significantly better than average shot at top schools.

5

I answered your other thread. You are a viable candidate for Ivies/T20 schools just based on your GPA and test scores. Add in URM, SES, and your story makes you a compelling candidate. Chicago would be a target for you and there should be an Ivy or 2 that would take you in a heartbeat.

6

@Hamurtle thanks for your input! Yeah, Columbia U has been my dream school for ages. I do still plan to apply, but it’s a reach for pretty much everyone, so I’m not getting my hopes up. I would be thrilled to go anywhere with a decent library and a PoliSci program, tbh. I don’t EXPECT to be admitted to Columbia/Barnard, but if I really do have a good shot…well, the element of surprise will just make opening that acceptance packet even sweeter! :slight_smile:

7

@collegegrrl don’t sell yourself short. You have the grades and a compelling story to tell. You write pretty well and I think you’re the type of student that Chicago or Princeton would be proud to have as a student.

Go for Columbia instead of Barnard. The schools that you should be considering are reaches for everybody at ~10% and lower acceptance rates. But my gut feeling is that you will have multiple Top 10 acceptances with significant financial aid. Keep everybody posted and good luck!

8

If Columbia is your dream school, you should apply! From what I’ve seen from our high school, Native American students are given a very very big advantage in admissions, although the two I know have been active in tribal organizations. But, both are from very affluent suburban families and have no reservation connections. I do disagree with the post above stating that you should only be looking at sub-10% acceptance rates. Very low acceptance rates do not always correlate to the quality of education or the experience you will receive on campus. I think you should apply to schools without worrying about how popular they are, but instead focusing on if they will give you what you are looking for, with an eye on schools that are generous with financial aid. For my daughter, Barnard is perfect because it has all the resources of Columbia University, but Barnard has smaller classes, a more nurturing feel, and she’s had much better direct access to faculty then her best friend at SEAS in Columbia. There are many great options that are strong in Political Science, and Columbia is certainly one of them, but so are LACs like Wellesley. I think you’re going to have some great choices to visit and really dive deep into so you can decide what is your best fit. Good luck!

9

You have strong credentials and you seem committed to activism and positive change. Big pluses. Your choice of essay topic is dicey. It could go either way depending upon tone, what you reveal and also the nature of the issues.-could be a plus or a minus.

10

@collegegrrl There is never any reason to retake an SAT of 1570. Period. A 1600 will not give you any better chances in any college, despite what anybody says. Besides, with a perfect ACT, why? As others have written, an explanation as to why your grades were low should help with any problems your GPA may cause.

I think that your profile is competitive for any college in the USA, and having a Native American parent does make you a URM, if you have support for this. Being rural and lower income also can count as a URM. However, depending on where you live, $65,000 for a family of 6 may not be considered “low income” for URM purposes.

Of course, colleges with single digit acceptance rates reject most of the competitive applicants. Even high stats URMs like you have extremely low acceptance rates. Not as low as their average of 6.6%, but still low enough that the many more are rejected than are accepted. So apply to Columbia by all means, just don’t expect too much. Barnard is a much better bet, and likely at least a high match. Of course remember that having a 50% chance at acceptance still means that you are just as likely to be rejected as to be accepted.

So, you have a decent shot at Columbia, and I think a good shot at Barnard. You probably have a good are decent shot at most top colleges. You also need safeties, meaning above 90% chance of acceptance (check out your school’s Naviance, if you have it). While the colleges with the lowest acceptance rates have generous financial packages, safeties or low matches will often be generous with financial aid and merit aid with high stats kids.

So you need a list of colleges, not just those two. All of your colleges need to be need blind and meeting full need.

Are you in a Posse city? They are Atlanta, the Bay Area, Boston, Chicago, DC, Houston, LA, Miami, New Orleans, and New York.

Definitely look into Questbridge, and check out the different scholarships that are available to Native Americans and other URMs.

Also - look at College Horizons: http://www.collegehorizons.org They help Native Americans in the application process, and connect them with college recruiters. I’m not sure how much it helps with acceptance, but it sure doesn’t hurt.

11

@MWolf Thank you for being honest!

And I did say that I don’t expect to be admitted to Columbia or Barnard–my list is not “just those two”. I’m not crazy :smiley: I have quite a few safety schools in mind. My school guidance office says I have almost a 95% chance of being admitted (I’m from VA) to Virginia Commonwealth U, George Mason U, and James Madison U, unless I am convicted of a crime within the next year or fail a bunch of classes the fall of senior year, which I definitely don’t plan on doing! :slight_smile:
I’m not from a posse city, I was born in rural north carolina, then lived in cicero in the chicago area until I was 12, then moved to a small town in rural virginia.
And I think I am considered low income by the CommonApp’s standards because I’m on free/reduced lunch, but I don’t know for sure.

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@lostaccount oof. my counselors told me to write my essay about all that. What types of issues would hurt my chances? I have bipolar disorder and I’ve never had legal trouble or been violent towards anyone

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@collegegrrl Excellent choices for safeties. Are you likely to advance to NMF? If so, that opens a whole new set of colleges to which you could get full tuition covered.

If you’re looking at political science, you may want to look at a Georgetown as another low reach/high match, and Bowdoin as another low reach/high match if you want a Liberal Arts College and you don’t mind the cold. LACs also like political activism and tend to be very progressive.

I actually would recommend that you not write your essay about your struggles with mental illness. You definitely should mention them in your application to explain your Sophomore grades, and point to your stellar success in Junior year as proof that you are in control. However, you don’t want to create the impression that you feel that your mental illness defines you.

I disagree with your counselor. I think your essay should focus on your passion and your non-profit, not your struggle with mental illness. The “I struggled with adversity” is a narrative which is common enough. Remember, while this is something that has consumed part of your life, your application is just one of thousands that the admissions people will read. talk about how you want to change things for others. You can also talk about your art, about your passion for LGBTQ rights. That’s what you want the admissions people to see, not just another kid who struggled against hardships and persevered. Your application, and hopefully your letters of recommendation, will showcase your struggles. You should highlight your achievements and accomplishments in your essay. Those are my 2¢ anyway.

Definitely put the fact that you have worked since 9th grade in your resume. Having that as part of an EC set which is as varied as yours will look pretty good, IMO. Your art should be there, since you did win several national awards

I live right next to Cicero, BTW.

14

@collegegrrl – there is always a risk in choosing an essay topic that highlights health issues or a learning disability. That doesn’t mean that you can’t use that as your essay – it is just something to consider. There is a stigma that is attached to mental illness – something you must have become aware of with your advocacy work. (It’s wrong, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist). And the ad coms are looking for students who will flourish and succeed at their school – so in a very competitive college admissions environment, when you are focused on explaining and sharing, an admissions reader might read another concern. A lot depends on facts that are very personal to you – and should definitely not be shared online in a public forum – so it may be that whatever risk is entailed in the topic choice is outweighed by the benefit you get in being able to convey a very powerful story of who you are and what you will bring to the college you attend.

So I agree with @lostaccount – they didn’t say it was a bad choice, just possible pluses and minuses, and it would really depend on the overall tone and message that was conveyed. No college is going to purposefully discriminate against you for issues tied to health status — but you could inadvertently plant seeds of doubt depending on what you end up writing. Not something that would cause anyone to reject you, but perhaps something that would cause them to choose a different applicant over you.