Barnard College is a really unique school, it is an all-women’s college located within the purview of Columbia University. Even when you graduate, your diploma will say Columbia, which we feel is a slight dig to Barnard itself but we understand. If you’re here, you were probably waitlisted by Barnard, and you wanna see what you can do to get off the waitlist and into Greta Gerwig’s alma mater.
In 2023, 2524 students were offered a spot on the waitlist, and 1597 accepted a spot on the waitlist. Out of those 1597, 66 students were eventually admitted. To compare to 2022, 1904 students accepted a spot on the waitlist, and 104 were accepted. Waitlists are a lot more ambiguous than first-year admissions, the numbers can change every year, and sometimes no students are accepted off the waitlist, and sometimes a decent chunk are. Instead of panicking and wallowing, we are all about taking action — so here are some concrete steps you can take to improve your chances of getting off the waitlist.
Step 1: Accept Your Place on the Waitlist
Barnard will reach out to you and ask you if you’d like to accept a spot on their waitlist. You should say yes. they will either give you instructions on your admissions decision letter or potentially email you afterward. This will probably be done through their admissions portal.
Step 2: Secure Other Plans
As you know, it’s hard to get into Barnard, and it’s probably harder to get off the waitlist. We are risk minimizers, and while we do believe you should do everything in your power to get off the waitlist, you should also secure a spot at a university that you were accepted to and would be happy to attend.
Once you do that, it’s time to update Barnard!
Step 3: Update Barnard
Barnard does not have a ton of information on their website about waitlisted students (annoying!), but here’s what they do say:
“Students who apply through Regular Decision may be admitted, waitlisted, or denied. If admitted, Regular Decision applicants must reply to Barnard's offer of enrollment by May 1. If waitlisted, Regular Decision applicants will be re-reviewed throughout the spring and summer should room arise in our class. Applicants will be given the opportunity to submit additional materials, such as an expanded essay explaining their interest in Barnard.”
The expanded essay thing is new, and while we don’t have access to the expanded essay prompt yet, you should also send a letter of continued interest. We imagine the prompt will be similar to a Why essay. So let’s talk about both.
The Letter:
This is a bit different from your typical deferral letter of continued interest, but it's essentially aiming for the same goal. Now, since this is your last shot at chatting with admissions, you need to make it count. The letter should be professional and polished, but give off a confident vibe—no need to come off too desperate.
Header: Start your update with something like "Dear Admissions Committee" (or drop in the name if you know your regional admissions counselor). Take a moment to reintroduce yourself to Barnard, sharing your genuine excitement about the idea of studying there. Let them know you're still really interested in the school.
Body: The body is where the meat of your content goes. This is your space to fill Barnard in on what's been happening in your life since you applied. Not every tiny detail, just the noteworthy stuff. If you've tackled a big project, made a substantial improvement in your grades, or have any other exciting extracurricular or academic updates – spill the beans here. While we understand the temptation to share personal life updates, this might not be the ideal spot for that.
Closing: Wrap up your letter with the same level of professionalism you kicked it off with. Imagine you're composing this letter for a prospective employer.
The Why Essay:
The Why essay serves as proof you’ve done your research and know you’re excited about Barnard. It should follow this format:
Origin story (your lightbulb moment for your major)
Declaring your major
List 1-2 upper-level classes + why they’re good fits for you
A professor or two you want to research with
Academic extracurriculars
Step 4: The Waiting
Plan to send in your update in early spring, likely around April. Also, take a moment to ensure Barnard gets hold of your most recent grades from your school—just touch base with your school counselor for that.
Now, for the part that's out of our hands. Unfortunately, you'll have to play the waiting game. Anticipate hearing back from Barnard starting in May, but it might stretch as far as July. Resist the urge to hound the admissions committee—your letter does the talking.
While you wait, give your full attention to perfecting the letter and consider having a backup school in mind. Best of luck!
If you’re on a waitlist and feeling anxious, we can help! Please reach out to us today if you need help with your waitlist letter.