Barnard is a women’s college under the umbrella of Columbia University. It is a liberal arts college with a dual emphasis on a well-rounded education and access to deep research experiences. They receive nearly 12,000 applications, and the acceptance rate for the Class of 2028 was only 7%.
The relationship between Barnard and Columbia can be confusing, but we’ll try to make it simpler. Barnard is a college with its own application process, and its own administration. It is part of Columbia University through a partnership based on the historic relationship between Barnard and Columbia. Columbia has a number of undergraduate colleges in addition to the iconic Columbia College. Barnard is not thought of, generally, as part of the Ivy League, but if you play a sport at Barnard, you are playing for Columbia. If you sign up for classes at Barnard, you will almost undoubtedly register for classes that are within Columbia College, perhaps even inadvertently. And that’s ok. The course lists are synced, and all tenured Barnard professors are also tenured Columbia professors.
However, the requirements for graduation from Barnard are different from those at Columbia College, and there are some courses exclusive to Barnard students or exclusive to Columbia College students, most often related to the required Columbia Core vs. Barnard Foundations.
When you graduate from Barnard, your degree will say Columbia University in big letters at the top, and Barnard College below it.
Barnard is test-optional for the 2024-25 application cycle. If you wish to submit your scores, you can self-report. About 50% of accepted and enrolled first-year students at Barnard submit scores. What does this tell us? You don’t have to submit scores, but they can help if they help. You want to have an SAT over 1500 or an ACT over 33 if you are going to submit your scores.
This post is really focused on a different part of your application, though: the supplements. So, let’s dig in!
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The Barnard College supplement is a critical part of their application, even more so than most other colleges. This is because opting-in to an all-women’s learning environment is a big decision for a lot of students. Unless you’ve already been in an all-women’s learning environment, it can feel like a big leap! (Although, remember that the classes are nearly entirely integrated with Columbia, so it’s rare to have a classroom of all women.) Barnard filters out people who are not ideal for what they offer through the supplements, so presenting yourself as someone ready to embrace the Barnard ethos is essential.
First, though, you need to have a resume. The resume piece of the application is technically optional, but we don’t consider this optional at all. If a school offers you something optional and you don’t do it — you’re telling them something. Namely, you’re telling them that you don’t care that much. But you do care, so do the resume. We even have a handy guide to help you here.
Once you’re done with the resume (and we do suggest doing it first, as it will help you distill your priorities), it’s time to start the supplement.
Barnard College is an extraordinary community of women committed to fostering curiosity and the exploration of new experiences and ideas. By utilizing the resources of our campus, our Foundations curriculum, and New York City, our students expand their world and discover their own capabilities. How do you envision these intersecting components of Barnard shaping your academic and personal journey? (200 words)
This is Barnard’s “why us?” We recommend starting by setting a time for 45 minutes and diving deep into the Barnard website. Even if you think you ‘know’ Barnard, you should learn more. Go to the webpage for your potential major and look up what courses are offered. Research the professors and explore any special opportunities, like study abroad partnerships or internships. Then, look at the Foundations curriculum. What do you like about it? Pick a few things, and, again, dig deeper.
This research will give you the information you need to answer the question: “How do you envision these intersecting components of Barnard shaping your academic and personal journey?”
Don’t start the supplement, though, by just jumping into the results of your research. You need to start by framing your educational goals within an experience — inside or outside of the classroom — that speaks to what you want to study at Barnard in a close, zoomed in way. For example, if you want to study history it could be an experience studying a subject and all the pieces of the ‘puzzle’ coming together.
Next, you’ll introduce what you want to major and follow it up with a course or two you want to take, a professor you’d like to study under and why, and a program you’re excited about within the major.
Finally (and we know you’re probably getting tight on space), you need to pull back and relate this to the Foundations curriculum and how the interdisciplinary nature of a Barnard education will deeper your experience and launch you towards a future that will positively impact others.
Barnard College students engage in the bold questions that define their generation. Choose one question that you have about the world around you, and explain why it matters to you. (150 words)
This is a short supplement, but that doesn’t mean it’s simple. This should be obvious — the question is BIG. Don’t overthink it though. If you try to come up with the most ‘intellectual’ or ‘impressive’ question possible, it won’t resonate as authentic to who you are. Instead, set a time for 5 minutes and write as many questions that you have about the world as you can in that time. Then, assess your list. Narrow it down until you have one that you feel connects to who you are and what you want to study or do professionally in the future, and share why.
In college, you will encounter others with diverse viewpoints and experiences. Describe an instance where you engaged with someone who held a different opinion and explain how it shaped your perspective on the issue. (150 words)
This supplement can be a landmine. We’ve seen students take it a tad too far and end up with a response that feels pointed or aggressive. Instead, you want the reader to come away feeling like you are someone who looks for common ground and understanding, even in a tough or contentious situation. And, while “engaged with” could mean a short, one-off conversation, we highly recommend focusing on an experience with someone closer to you such as a family member or peer.
If you are going to go straight to college after high school, you’re now done with your supplement. If you are considering a gap year, though, and hope to enroll in the fall of 2026 there is an additional question that you’ll need to respond to.
In the box below, please indicate if you are considering a deferral to Fall 2026 if you are offered admission for Fall 2025. Please note that admitted students will be required to submit a deferral request form with a detailed outline of their plans by February 2025 (if admitted through Early Decision in December) and by April 2025 (for students admitted through Regular Decision).
While this supplement could be answered in a simple yes or no, they give you 250 words so that suggests to us that they want a little more. If you are planning to defer, you should have a reason and/or a plan. If your plan isn’t certain yet, you should at least have a theme or a few options you are considering. We advise applicants to share the framework of your plan for a gap year here, but don’t spend much time advocating for the merits of a gap year. They know a gap year can be good, you don’t have to convince them of that.
Before starting your application, there is one thing you may want to look into. Since Barnard is a college for women, they do define ‘woman’ in a specific way. If you are curious if you are eligible to apply, we encourage you to look at the Barnard transgender policy.
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