All department session recordings are now available!

Hello First-Years!

We are excited to share the complied list of all of the department sessions that took place this week from June 22nd - June 26th, which you can find in this document here!

We also included a contact list of faculty and staff representatives from each department in that document for you if you have any follow up questions you have from the sessions or would simply like to get in touch with them!

Also, in case you happened to miss it earlier this month, here is the recording of the General Advising Webinar that was presented by the First-Year Class Dean, Erica Siegel, along with the powerpoint slides from the presentation.

We hope you have a good weekend and we will be back soon with another email with some information about registration that will be helpful for you as you approach your first Barnard registration period this July!

.........We may also be sending your FYE and PE assignments very soon.....Stay tuned! 🙂

Best,

The First-Year Team

First-Year-Friendly Class List Now Available!

Hello, Class of 2030!!

We’ve told you that a list of first-year-friendly classes would be sent, and we finally have it! You can access it here, but make sure that you’re using your Barnard email. There are also a few things to keep in mind:

1. If you look now, Vergil may show these classes as full, but if a class is on this list, it has held seats for first-years, and spots will become available before you register in July. 

2. When you go to register in July, some of these classes may fill up quickly. Please be sure to create a long list of alternates from this list so that you have options ready to hand. Remember, you can stay on a maximum of three waitlists, and there is a good chance of fluctuation in enrollment as we get closer to the first day of classes.   

3. Please plan to build a full schedule (minimum 12 credits) from this list. If you are hoping to take a Columbia class that is an approved exception (such as a language course not offered at Barnard), you will have to wait until the second registration period on September 4th to sign up.

More information about registration will be provided in the coming weeks! For now, please have a look at the list of classes and plan to attend any information session next week that looks interesting to you.

Our best,

The First-Year Team

New course offered by the French Department (in English) for Fall 2026! ~ FR BC2456 (Paris in the Belle Époque)

Hello First-Years!

Please see the flyer down below for a new upcoming course by the French Department (offered in English) available for First-Year students to take this upcoming term!

Best,

The First-Year Team

Neuroscience Labs Available in Brand New RD Science Center

Happy Friday, Soon-to-Be First-Years!

If you're a humanities major looking for a lab, or a potential Neuro major looking to get your feet wet, see the flyer below for more information on two Neuro labs!

Best,

Sophia Brown 

2026 Department Information Sessions from June 22nd-June 26th!

Hello First-Years!

We wanted to share the schedule for our upcoming Department Information Sessions, which will take place on Zoom from Monday, June 22nd - Friday, June 26th! All of the Zoom links for each session are attached below.

These are group advising sessions presented by department chairs and directors, and they are the perfect opportunity for you to ask questions related to majors/programs, department course offerings, and more!

Monday, June 22nd:

• Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Science, Biology (10AM-11AM EDT)

• Economics & Math (11AM-12PM EDT)

• Architecture, Urban Studies, Psychology (12PM-1PM EDT)

Tuesday, June 23rd:

• Political Science, Education, Sociology (10AM-11AM EDT)

• English, Theater, Art History, History (11AM-12PM EDT)

• First-Year Experience (12PM-1PM EDT)

Wednesday, June 24th:

• Philosophy, Religion, WGSS, Foreign Languages, French (11AM-12PM EDT)

• Computer Science (12PM-1PM EDT)

Thursday, June 25th:

• Cognitive Science & Neuroscience (10AM-11AM EDT)

• Pre-Health Advisor (11AM-12PM EDT)

Friday, June 26th:

• JTS/Barnard Double Degree (11AM-12PM EDT)

If you will not be available to attend any of them, don't worry! They will be recorded and distributed to all students to watch at your own convenience.

Best,

The First-Year Team

BIOL 1009, Plants in Life and Laboratory ("Plant Life") Fall 2026 course for First-Years!

Hello First-Years!

Please see the flyer down below for an upcoming biology course available this Fall term--BIOL 1009, Plants in Life and Laboratory ("Plant Life")--to incoming First-Year students!

It is designed to be friendly to incoming first-years, and generally is a lecture+lab option for non-majors. This would be an appropriate option for students connected with HEOP, Access Barnard or others who may want a gradual and more welcoming on-ramp for exploring a variety of STEM majors. It would prepare such students well for the rigor of pre-requisites such as the Fall or Spring halves of our 1500-level sequence. Transfer students would also be very welcome!

If you have any questions about the course, please contact Professor Hilary Callahan at hcallaha@barnard.edu

Best,

The First-Year Team

Children's Literature

Hello, Class of 2030!

Professor Monica Cohen is teaching a lecture called Children's Literature. It satisfies an Arts and Humanities Requirement, and it can satisfy a "Thinking About Social Difference," "Thinking Through Global Inquiry," or a "Thinking with Historical Perspective" Requirement! See below for more details!

Children's Literature

ENGL BC1349

T/R 2:40-3:55

M. Cohen

Much of who we are as adults --what makes us cry and what makes us laugh--

began in the first stories that absorbed us and gave us so much pleasure. Return

to that pleasure from an analytical perspective, exploring fairytales and

folktales, coming-of-age stories, domestic fiction designed to educate girls,

adventure romance marketed to boys, and fantasy. Readings may include

The Adventures of Pinocchio; Little Women; The Lion, the Witch, and the

Wardrobe; Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry; Treasure Island; Harry Potter;

and selections from the Arabian Nights and European fairytales.

Welcome to Barnard!

 

Dear Barnard College Class of 2030, 

We are so excited to welcome you to our community and help you start planning for the fall and for

your four years here! Before that happens, we hope to provide a rundown on most things academic as well as advise you on other aspects of the college experience in preparation for your arrival at Barnard.

So what is Beginning at Barnard?

Beginning at Barnard is the umbrella term used to refer to the content delivered by us here in the

Dean’s Office for Advising and Support, as well as other offices such as Access Barnard, during

the summer to help the First-Year class transition smoothly to the College. Over the next three

months, we will communicate with you frequently via emails, our class blog, and our Instagram page to keep you informed of relevant and timely information.

Who’s on the First-Year Team?

• Erica Siegel (Associate Dean for Academic Assistance and First Year and Junior Class Dean)

• Lauren Quach (Administrative Assistant to the First-Year and Senior Class Deans)

• Sophia Brown (Student Assistant to the First-Year Class Dean)

You can expect to hear from us often!

What is coming up?

On Monday, June 8th at 7 PM EDT, we will hold a General Advising Webinar over Zoom. This session is required of all new students and aims to provide an overview of academic life at Barnard College and to prepare you for Fall 2026 registration in late July. If you are unable to attend, we will send out a recording after the event. 

In the email we sent to the class today, you will find the Academic Planning Guide for your First Year at Barnard College 2026-2027 attached, which contains important information about advising, our curriculum, course selection for the first semester, registration, and how to start thinking about majors. Please review it in advance of the General Advising Webinar on June 8th. You can also access the Guide through this link here!

Next Steps:

  1. Please RSVP to the General Advising Webinar in advance of the event (Monday, June 8th, 7PM EDT). After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to join the webinar. 

2. By Friday, June 12th at 5PM EDT: Please be sure to fill out and complete the following forms using your Barnard email address

• Pre-Major Advising Questionnaire  
• First-Year Experience Course Preference Form 
• Physical Education Requirement Preference Form

3. June 12th is the deadline for students with a disability who would like to request housing accommodations to submit the application and documentation with the Center for Accessibility Resources and Disability Services (CARDS). Any questions should be directed to cards@barnard.edu.  

4. Please also fill out this form to let us know your preferred t-shirt size. 

Where should I go if I have any questions?

We are here to help! If you have any questions or concerns, you can email us at first-year@barnard.edu, and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Be sure to keep an eye on your Barnard email regularly throughout this summer so you don’t miss any important information!

Sophia will host virtual walk-in hours over Zoom (links attached) on the following days every week to answer your questions:

• Mondays (1PM-2PM EDT) 

• Tuesdays (9AM-10AM EDT) 

• Thursdays (5PM-6PM EDT)

In addition to the guide, the First-Year Blog (this site) is a great place to look for information! Much of what we send via email will also be covered in blog posts, as another point of reference throughout the summer and your first year at Barnard. 

You can follow us on our Instagram page at @barnardfirstyear and, last but not least, you should continue to log on to the Enrolling Students Portal for the full list of enrolling documents and for information related to move-in, orientation, financial aid, Access Barnard, and non-academic summer programming.   

We look forward to getting to know the class over the next few months and helping make your transition to Barnard run as smoothly as possible! :)

Best,

The First-Year Team

P.S.: Your class color is yellow!

Class of 2030 emails and blog posts begin June 1st!

Dear Class of 2030,

You are about to wrap up your senior/gap year and begin your college journey. Congratulations!

The First-Year Team at Barnard is especially eager to welcome you virtually (and in-person come September!) Please expect the first wave of helpful academic planning information with further details to arrive by email from us at first-year@barnard.edu on Monday, June 1st. This blog will also go live on the same date.

We know you all have really great questions and we look forward to providing answers! Please hold on to your questions a bit longer though as the information heading your way is likely to answer most--if not--all of your queries.

We will be communicating with the class regularly throughout the entire summer, so keep an eye out on your Barnard inboxes and bookmark our class blog and Instagram page to stay up to date with information that will be helpful for you this summer and throughout your first year at Barnard! Stay tuned and we'll see you soon!

With best wishes,

The First-Year Team