Tips for Transferring to Barnard College from Community College

I'm aiming to transfer from my community college to Barnard College. What's the process like, and how competitive is it to get in? Any current or former students who can share their experience or offer tips?

From a college admissions perspective, Barnard College accepts a small number of transfer applicants each year, and indeed, the process can be quite competitive.

Firstly, you'll need to submit an application through the Common App, which includes your academic and extracurricular information, personal essay, and Barnard’s supplement. In the supplement, you'll address why Barnard is the right fit for you, so be very specific about why you want to transfer there and how the college aligns with your academic and personal goals.

Remember to submit all your transcripts from your community college(s) and high school. The Admissions Committee not only uses your overall GPA for making decisions, but also how you've progressed academically over the years. Barnard does require a college instructor’s recommendation, so build a good relationship with your professors to get strong letters. If you have taken time off between high school and college, you need to explain that gap.

Secondly, demonstrate your engagement with extracurricular activities. Barnard values well-rounded students who will contribute to the community in diverse ways. The college uses the concept of the "Four Tiers of Extracurricular Activities" in evaluating candidates. However, remember to emphasize quality over quantity.

Lastly, the transfer process often gives weight to students who have good reason to transfer from their current situation. Students who share personal and thoughtful reasons in their essays might have an advantage. Some common good reasons to transfer are wanting to challenge yourself at a higher academic level, wanting specific academic program only offered at Barnard, or wanting the women’s college experience that Barnard offers.

In terms of competitiveness, Barnard's transfer acceptance rate ranges between 20 and 25 percent. It varies each year depending on the number of available spaces, so it's certainly viable, albeit competitive. It's crucial to maintain a strong academic record, as the median GPA of admitted transfer students ranges around 3.8.

Bear in mind that Barnard does not have an articulation agreement with any community college. General education or major courses at one institution may not necessarily fulfill the requirements at Barnard, so make sure to utilize the Barnard Bulletin and the Transfer Credit Evaluation Guidelines to understand how your community college credits might translate at Barnard.

I encourage you to reach out to the admissions counselors at Barnard; they're typically more than happy to help prospective transfer students understand the transfer process.

Remember, every transfer story is unique and what worked for someone else might not work for you. So, it might be advantageous to gain insights from other people’s experiences, but remember to stay true to your own path.