Shopping Period and Waitlists 101!

Hi all and welcome to a very helpful and super informative post about waitlists and the shopping period!

Please note that before the shopping period, registration is open Friday, September 1st from your registration time until 9:45 pm ET and Saturday, September 2nd from your registration time until 9:45 pm ET. It will then reopen for the shopping period on September 5th; registration will end on September 15th.

Columbia’s Womxn in Computer Science club (WiCS)!

Hello First-Years!

Columbia’s Womxn in Computer Science club, which has many Barnard students involved, has asked if we might share the following with incoming Barnard students:

Columbia’s Womxn in Computer Science club (WiCS) is an organization that promotes the success and advancement of women in computer science. They offer mentorship programs, technical workshops, and networking opportunities to build a supportive community. Many Barnard students are involved and have found it extremely valuable. 

If you’d like to be kept informed about their upcoming events and activities, subscribe to their newsletter at this signup form: https://github.us7.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=ac3335ff9b24ea3a1110a3608&id=a8678db7b5

Best,

The First-Year Team

One Book, Two Books, Red Book, Green Book: What are Course Readings and How to Find Them

 

Let’s talk class readings and course books. In college, it’s a given that there is a ton of reading to do. We’ll break down what your readings are and how to find them.

2023 New Student Jargon List

 

Welcome to a comprehensive list of terms you may hear in relation to all things Barnard-- social, academic, financial, you name it! Email us at first-year@barnard.edu with any questions!

Introducing: Barnard Study Group Padlet!

Hi First-Years,

Having some difficulty in a course? Looking for a study buddy? Want to form a study group for one of your classes? The First-Year Team is excited to share that we have created the new Barnard Study Group Padlet!

The Barnard Study Group Padlet is an online source that will allow students to connect with others in their classes for finding study buddies and creating study groups. The Padlet has listed all of the Barnard departments in alphabetical order by their respective Department Codes, and under each Department Code, students are able to add a post that is public to all first-year students. Students will be able to get in contact with their peers in whichever class they are taking under that department. 

When writing contact information, it is recommended that students write their Barnard email to be able to connect with others. Please add a post for a class under the correct Department code, and include the name and course number.

The link to the Barnard Study Group Padlet is here.

With any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to first-year@barnard.edu.

We hope this padlet is helpful for you all!

Best,

The First Year Team

FAQ on Work-Study and Jobs on Campus

What’s the difference between Federal Work-Study and a Barnard College Job Award?

Federal Work-Study (FWS) is funding awarded by the federal government for students to have a job. With FWS, you can work at Barnard, Columbia, or at a variety of off-campus non-profits.

Barnard College Job Award (BCJ) are funds awarded by Barnard College. BCJ can only be used for jobs at Barnard, not Columbia or off-campus. If you have a BCJ, you can still work at Columbia as a “casual worker”, meaning that your pay isn’t coming from your work-study award, or at an off-campus job.

AP/IB and Transfer Credits: What Counts?

Test and Transfer Credits! Something I am sure many of you have been curious about. Here is a brief overview of how Barnard handles AP, IB, and transfer credits.

The Student Side: Move-In, Dorm Decorations, and What to Bring to College

Room assignments have been posted and we’re sure many of y’all have already begun to plan your dorm decorations and what you’ll be bringing to college. It really is super exciting to plan your dorm room.

We’ve moved in and decorated dorm rooms a few times now, and we’re here to impart some knowledge about the move-in process, dorm room decorating, and what to bring to college.

Life at Barnard: Dining Halls on Campus

Hey First-Years,

Welcome to the final installment of this week's Life at Barnard Blog series! Today's post is going to be about something I’m sure is on all of your minds…

FOOD! As some of you may know, there are eight main dining halls on campus. Two at Barnard --Hewitt and Diana -- and six at Columbia: Ferris Booth, John Jay, JJ’s Place, Faculty House, Chef Mike's Sub Shop, and Chef Don's Pizza Pi. We’re going to break down for you some info about those dining halls, other cafes on campus, and dietary restrictions. LET’S GET STARTED.

Life at Barnard: Commuting!

HELLO and welcome to Part 4 of our Life at Barnard Blog Series: Fabiha's (Hopefully) Comprehensive Guide to Commuting at Barnard!

This one's for all my commuter friends. We're a small (relative to the size of the BC/CU community) group. I see you and I'm here to tell you all the tips that I've found useful from my last two years of commuting to Barnard.

Can you still have an amazing Barnard experience without being on campus all the time?

YES! You definitely can and I hope these tips do help.

Get ready because I've got A LOT to say.

Pack your passport! What to bring to Barnard if you plan to work this Fall

Whether you’re planning to work in a campus role, a paid internship, or off-campus at the local coffee shop, all new employees are required to complete a federal form called the I-9 within three days of being hired. This form is completed in two parts, including presenting both identity and work authorization documents in-person.

Which documents can you present? A passport is easiest, but you can also present specific combinations of documents that prove both your identity and your authorization to work legally in the US. Click here to view acceptable documents, but please note - they must be originals, not copies. Add these documents to your packing list, and you’ll be all set!

Life at Barnard: Be Like State Farm (AKA Be a Good Neighbor)

Hey First-Years,

Welcome to the third installment of our Life at Barnard blog series! Today's theme is all about being a floor-mate in the quad. Beyond your room, you’ll also be living on a floor with other people. You’ll share bathrooms, a floor lounge, and a laundry room with your floor mates. Let’s talk about proper etiquette and how to be respectful of these shared spaces:

Life at Barnard: Being a Good Roommate

Hey First-Years,

Welcome to the second installment of our Life at Barnard Blog Series: Being a Good Roommate! In college, you’ll spend a lot of time in the dorms. It doesn’t matter if you live on campus or not, you’ll most likely be hanging out friends, studying, and going to events in the dorm buildings. So let’s talk about how to be the friendly roommate, floor-mate, and neighbor that Mr. Rogers always wanted you to be.

(more after the break)

Life at Barnard: Dorm Sweet Dorm

Sample Room in Sulz

(All rooms don't look like this.

Look at ResLife's website to see other sample rooms.)

What I Wish I Knew:

For those living on campus next year, congratulations, You've applied for housing! Whether you picked your own roommate or Barnard will be hand-picking your roommate(s) for you, this marks the beginning of a new phase in your life. Living with a roommate taught me so much about myself and made me so much more self-aware. Living in the quad allowed me to forge so many beautiful relationships with people from all over the world! Now that you've applied, here are some tips/things I want to share with you that I wish I knew: