Barnard Bound Reflection: Barnard Beginnings

Sophia and I have been BSARs for the past few semesters, and this past year we had the opportunity to help with Barnard Bound, a program we both participated in during our senior year of high school. While we experienced the program in different ways, me packing a suitcase and catching the train to campus while Sophia logged onto Zoom, we both got a great deal out of it. As we both get ready to enter our junior years here at Barnard, it's hard not to reflect on how Barnard Bound helped us envision ourselves on campus long before we ever arrived as students.

Why Apply?

Sophia

I learned about Barnard by chance after visiting my cousin-in-law at Columbia. Once stepping onto campus and seeing a Liberal Arts College for women, a school that also fit my needs but was part of a larger university umbrella, I realized that I wanted to learn more about Barnard. Once hearing they have a program for FLI students like other school Fly-In Programs, I wanted to apply to connect with other students from similar backgrounds and see how Barnard would best suit my needs. 

Ananna

Barnard first came onto my radar during the summer before my senior year of high school. As someone originally from New York City, I had spent plenty of time on the Upper West Side, having lunch with friends on Law Bridge at Columbia, walking around Riverside Park, and stopping by Hex & Co. Despite being familiar with the area, I didn't know much about Barnard itself. Applying to Barnard Bound felt like the perfect opportunity to learn more about the college and experience campus firsthand.

One Program, Two Experiences

Sophia

I participated in a virtual weekend event, with Zoom programming taking place over Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The programming sessions encapsulated all questions about student life, financial aid, and connecting with other prospective First-Year students. We had an Intro to Student Life (ITSL) sessions specifically catered to FLI students, panel series with current FLI Barnard students, an introduction to admission officers and the admissions process, and an explanation about the Financial Aid process. Although it was a virtual experience, we were still able to connect with students from across the United States, and I made friends with someone from California and even found out someone else applying to Barnard from Orlando. 

Ananna

I spent a weekend here at Barnard, throughout the day I attended a variety of information sessions covering topics such as application and supplemental essay writing case studies. I shared meals with other participants, which gave me the chance to reconnect with friends from other parts of the city while also meeting students from across the tri-state area.

In the evening, each participant was paired with both a roommate and a student host. My host was a junior living in 620, and she immediately made me feel welcome. I stayed in her suite alongside several other Barnard Bound participants whose hosts lived there as well. That night, our hosts took us on a tour of Barnard, Columbia, and the surrounding neighborhood. We stopped at Insomnia Cookies before ending up on the steps of Columbia, where we spent hours talking about everything and nothing at the same time.

That weekend ended up being the reason why I applied Early Decision to Barnard the following week.

Looking Back

Sophia

The experience solidified that Barnard College was the place for me in the next four years to come. I realized that the FLI community was fully supported here at Barnard, with plenty of resources and a supportive growing community of FLI Students, Alumnus, and even faculty members. 

As a current Barnard Student Admissions Representative, I was able to see other Barnard Bounders, and interact with them as they stayed on campus for the weekend. I was able to meet with a student coming from Connecticut who shared a similar upbringing as me, and I was able to see more personally how being a reflective mirror as a member of the FLI community here at Barnard. 

Ananna

What made the experience so impactful was how realistic it was. I ate in dining halls alongside current students, attended sessions in classrooms that I would later take classes in myself, and explored the surrounding neighborhood with students who called it home. Rather than simply hearing about student life, I got to experience a small piece of it firsthand. Barnard Bound helped me picture what my life here could actually look like.

Going from essentially role-playing a Barnard student for a weekend to becoming one has been a full-circle experience in many ways. My Barnard Bound roommate ended up being my freshmen year roommate in the Quad. My Barnard Bound host and I ended up reconnecting as we both worked at Columbia Athletics during my freshmen year and her senior year. I’ve met so many others here who attended Barnard Bound with me. And of course the most obvious, from being a participant in the program to helping work it.

Full-Circle

Now whenever a new Barnard Bound cohort arrives on campus, we are reminded of how important those first impressions can be. For me, Ananna, Barnard Bound wasn't just another admissions program; it was the experience that ultimately helped me decide that Barnard was where I wanted to be. For me, Sophia, Barnard Bound provided the reassurance that I needed to find a community of FLI students that connected me with my background and gave me support to brave higher academic pursuits.