Film Studies Program Planning Meeting!

 

Political Science Major Program Planning Meeting on November 5th!

Hello First-Years!

The Barnard Political Science Department will be holding a Major Program Planning meeting next Wednesday, November 5th from 5:30-6:30PM in 203 Diana Center for prospective majors if you are interested!

Please take a look at the flyer down below! You can RSVP here or use the QR code! Refreshments will be served!

Best,

The First-Year Team

NSBV Meeting for New and Prospective Majors on November 6th!

Hello First-Years!

The Barnard Neuroscience & Behavior (NSBV) Department will be hosting a meeting for new and prospective majors on Thursday, November 6th from 1:10-2:00PM in Milstein LL0001, which will be their version of a "program planning" meeting.

If you are not able to make it in-person, you can attend the meeting virtually over Zoom by using the Zoom ID 752 261 8457 to join remotely!

After the meeting, students will be able to meet with NSBV faculty, learning about major requirements, discuss recommended sequences of courses, and more!

First-Year Seminar Workshop Spring 2026

Hello First-Years! 

If you are taking First-Year Seminar (FYS) in Spring 2026 for your FYE, please take a look at the information down below regarding two sections of FYS "Workshop" being offered next semester if you are interested!

Best,

The First-Year Team

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To students taking First-Year Seminar in Spring, 2026:

This spring, the First-Year Seminar (FYS) Program is offering two sections of FYS "Workshop," a four-credit version of FYS designed for students who feel they would benefit from extra support with critical reading and academic writing skills. FYS Workshop fulfills the FYS requirement and is equally as rigorous as FYS. There are three main differences:

· In addition to regular seminar meetings twice per week, FYS Workshop students meet one-on-one with a Writing Fellow for one hour every other week, giving you an opportunity to get feedback from and discuss your ideas with a trained peer throughout the semester.

· Each section of FYS Workshop is worth 4 credits (instead of 3.)

· Each section of FYS Workshop is slightly smaller (capped at 14 students.)

If you think you would benefit from the extra writing support FYS Workshop offers, please fill out this short application by Wednesday, November 5th at 5PM. You will be notified (via email) about whether we can offer you a spot before the registration period begins in November. You will receive special sign-up information at that time.

 

See course descriptions below.

 

If you have any questions about the FYS Workshop Program, feel free to email Professor Condillac at vcondill@barnard.edu.

 

FYS BC1001.001: BORDER STORIES (WKSHOP)

Francesca E. Austin Ochoa

The topic of this Seminar course takes an interdisciplinary approach to thinking about, and traversing, the constructs of the border. The U.S.- Mexico border delimits more than nations; it is both a political and a social geography, marked by bodies of water, mountains, walls, ideologies, repression, and resistance. The crisis currently taking place at the border is an unfolding story with many narrators. We will study literary texts: fiction, poetry, and memoir written by those who know the border, and borderlands, intimately. We will also engage histories, social movement doctrine, and media coverage to mine the stories they tell.

 

 

FYS BC1001.002: DEAD AND UNDEAD (WKSHOP)

Penelope Usher

What does it mean to be dead? Why the fascination—across time and culture—with conceiving of ways in which the dead can become un-dead? And how is being undead different from being alive? To investigate and trouble the boundaries between life and death (and un-death), we will analyze works from various genres and media, discussing near-death experiences, beating-heart cadavers, and a range of figures including zombies, ghosts, and other revenants. Objects of study include texts by Zora Neale Hurston, Ovid, Montaigne, Shakespeare, Edgar Allen Poe, Nalo Hopkinson, and Mary Shelley; music by Camille Saint-Saëns; artwork by Hans Holbein and Breughel; television and film (Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Tim Burton’s Frankenweenie); and more.

First-Year Class Dean 2025-2026 Walk-In Hours!

Got a quick question?

Need to talk to a dean ASAP?

If you have something complicated or want to be sure you can talk at length, please make an appointment via Dean Siegel's online scheduler.

Mondays 3:30-4:30pm Eastern Time

• Enter waiting room via this Walk-In Hours Zoom Link or visit 105 Milbank,
  
• We will see students on a first-come, first-served basis. 
• If we run out of time and can't see you, we apologize for the inconvenience and encourage you to schedule an appointment, to try walk-ins on a different day, or for time-sensitive matters, to call the office at 212-854-2024 during business hours.

Fridays 3:30-4:30pm Eastern Time

• Enter waiting room via this Friday Afternoon Walk-In Hours Zoom Link or visit 105 Milbank.
  
• We will see students on a first-come, first-served basis. 
• If we run out of time and can't see you, we apologize for the inconvenience and encourage you to schedule an appointment, to try walk-ins on a different day, or for time-sensitive matters, to call the office at 212-854-2024 during business hours.

How do you find your unofficial transcript?

Hey First-Years,

Looking to access your college transcript, but don't know how to find it? Here are the steps to find your unofficial transcript:

1) Go to Student Planning, and click on 'Unofficial Transcript'

2) Once you click on 'Unofficial Transcript', you will see the following image. All you have to do it click on the 'Student COPY Transcript' document and your transcript will download! Then you can access it. Mission accomplished! :)

If you have any questions feel free to reach out to first-year@barnard.edu or registrar@barnard.edu.

Best,

The First Year Team

Languages Fair on 10/27!

Hello First-Years!

Please take a look at the flyer down below for the upcoming Languages Fair taking place on Monday, October 27th from 12-2PM in the Diana Center Event Oval if you are interested!

Come discover the languages taught at Barnard, including new offerings in Chinese, Korean, Italian and American Sign Language!

Learn about the language requirement at Barnard!

Explore the possibilities for study abroad!

 

Enjoy international candy as well!! 

Best,

The First-Year Team

Education Program Open House on 10/21!

Hello First-Years!

Are interested in pursuing education studies or urban teaching? The Barnard Education Program will be hosting an open house for students on Tuesday, October 21st from 7-8PM in Milstein 614, so if you are interested, take this wonderful opportunity to attend their session!

Please see the flyer down below:

Best,

The First-Year Team

How do I withdraw from a class with a W by the Nov 13 deadline?

 

 

The deadline to withdraw from a fall 2025 class is November 13. Withdrawn classes will not affect your GPA and you will not earn credit for them, but they will remain on your transcript, and a W will be entered in place of the final grade. 

Note: You may not withdraw from a class if doing so would leave you with fewer than 12 credits.

 

To withdraw from a class, use this online form , following these steps:


1. Consult with your adviser.

2. Get an email from your adviser confirming they approve you to withdraw from this specific class.

3. Download that email as a PDF or save a screenshot of it.

4. Complete and submit the online W form on or before the W deadline, uploading your adviser’s confirmation email when prompted to do so.

5. You will receive an email confirmation once your W request is processed, ordinarily within two business days. 

6. Within a week or so, you will see a W next to the class on your transcript.

Midterm Season is Upon Us...

Hi First-Years,

It's about that time of the semester... Caffeine consumption is increasing, while hours of sleep are decreasing. More meals are starting to look like you, your kettle, and a pack of instant noodles. We've all been there and we're all in this together! In the stress of it all it's easy to forget about all the resources that could make your life a little better right now, so I'm here to remind you today :)

Before we get into it, just a quick reminder: YOU GOT THIS! You are doing your best and you will make it through! <3

If you're looking for academic support you can visit these links: help rooms, peer tutoring, peer academic coaching, writing fellows, speaking fellows, the Center for Engaged Pedagogy, and the Empirical Reasoning Center. If you need help with an essay or a presentation, you can reach out to the writing and speaking fellows. If you're having trouble understanding course concepts for Biology, Computer Science, Economics, etc, you can reach out to peer tutors. These, and other, academic resources are all at your disposable for various different needs that may come up.

On the other hand, if you're feeling down or stressed overall, no matter the cause, you can also reach out to Furman Counseling for individual or group therapy sessions. 

Please remember that you are never alone. These resources are here for you and as always The First-Year Team is here for you. Don't hesitate to contacts us at first-year@barnard.edu with any questions or concerns. 

How to drop a class by the Oct 7 deadline!

Friday, 9/12/2025 was the deadline to add a class, but you can still drop up to the October 7 deadline (after the drop deadline, you can withdraw with a W on or before November 13)

Follow the easy online steps below to drop a class on or before the deadline. 

1. Contact your adviser to discuss and obtain their approval

Best practice is to have an advising conversation where you discuss options and any possible implications of this drop on your full-time status or your graduation progress, but depending on how much you and your adviser have already discussed things, they may agree to review and approve your form without such a meeting

2. Submit the online Drop Request Form

You will only be able to drop online if your adviser has granted this permission. Be sure that you are not attempting to drop below 12 credits unless approved via CARDS or as a final-semester senior  -- the system will not allow drop below 12 credits without additional approval.

 

3. As soon as your adviser grants permission, you will receive an email informing you that you have permission to drop the class(es) discussed.

While this adviser permission is for the specific class you request, functionally it reopens your ability to drop in general, so be sure to drop the right class and nothing else.

 

4. Log into Vergil to drop the class within two days and on or before the October 7 deadline.*

If you don't drop within the 2-day window, you will need to request permission again. 

*Note that you must drop on or before the drop deadline if you want the class removed from your transcript.

 

FAQ: I filled out the form and it was approved. Why is the class still on my record?

A: The form/permission does NOT drop you from the class; it just temporarily reopens your ability to drop a class yourself -- don't forget to do step 4 above!

 

FAQ: I dropped the class and it was removed from my transcript, and I just noticed that it is mysteriously back there now?!?! 

A: This is rare, but there is a known technical glitch that sometimes causes this to happen. If you notice a previously dropped class has returned to your schedule, please email registrar@barnard.edu. 

Study Abroad Workshops!

Hello First-Years!

Are you interested/thinking about studying abroad during your time at Barnard? Please take a look at the flyer down below for more information!

First-Year students should attend a workshop prior to booking a study abroad advising appointment. Here is the link to the rest of the Study Abroad Workshops for the semester.

If you have any further questions, feel free to be in touch with Krista Rockholt, Director of Study Abroad, at krockhol@barnard.edu

Best,

The First-Year Team

Upcoming Annual Majors Fair!

Hey First-Years!

Exciting news... Our Annual Majors Fair is happening in about 1 week! Many of you may not know what you'd like to major in just yet, which is completely normal. Take this opportunity to learn more about the different departments to get closer to making that decision :) 

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to email us at first-year@barnard.edu!

Best,

The First-Year Team

Take Part in a Research Study!

Hey First-Years,

Come help out by taking part in a research study currently being conducted by a PhD student at Northeastern! Check out this flyer for more info... 👀

Also, feel free to fill out this form here!

Best,

The First Year Team