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.
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
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
