My Acceptance to Barnard

It was a long Thursday. Without a doubt, December 10, 2015, was the longest Thursday of my life. It was a never-ending day full of anticipation and anxiety because that Thursday was my Barnard decision day.

I applied early decision to Barnard in the Fall of 2015. The deadline for early decision applications is November 1st and I know I work best under pressure, so my plan was to turn in Barnard’s application on the day of November 1st. My father, the planner that he is, would’ve preferred that I turn in the application about 2 months prior. So after a thoughtful discussion, we compromised and turned it in on October 31st. More precisely, my dad woke me up early on October 31st, told me I couldn’t go to Barnard if I never sent in my application and said I couldn’t leave the house until I finished it.

So after a long day of work I had a complete Barnard application. A polished Common App essay, 3 thoroughly edited supplements, and a complete resume that showed the best of my abilities. But then I had to do it all over again for the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) application. The two applications put together would be what I sent to Barnard and JTS in the hopes of being accepted in the double degree program.

After that long day of work came many, many long days of waiting. Many long days of waiting for something from Barnard. Many long days of explaining to friends and family that no, I hadn’t applied to Bernard College or Barnyard College, it’s BARNARD. Many long days of explaining why I wanted to go to a women’s college (because it’s amazing that’s why). Many long days of sitting in high school hoping wondering if I would get in or not instead of focusing on my work.

Actual photo of me the day after I was accepted wearing all of my Barnumbia gear to school because I was so excited. Not pictured: my Millie the Dancing Bear socks, I highly recommend that you get a pair if you can.

After almost a month and a half of waiting, an email finally popped up in my inbox. Barnard decisions would be released the following Thursday at around 7:00 PM EST. And a week later I experienced the the longest Thursday of my life.

I waited patiently all day for 7:00 PM and when the time rolled around I checked my email and… nothing. I was constantly hitting refresh for what seemed like an hour before that little message from The Office of Admissions at Barnard College finally appeared. No joke, I cried when I saw the “Congratulations Paige!” at the top of the email. I called my mom on her phone to share the news, but she did not answer my call and instead sent me to voicemail. So I called my dad to tell him I had been accepted, who then requested I forward him the email because he didn’t believe me. But then my parents both came home with a celebratory burrito for me, because I love burritos, and we freaked out together.

Getting accepted to Barnard was an incredible feeling and with each day that I’m here at Barnard, taking classes, interacting with students and professors, and exploring New York City, I only feel better and better.

-Paige

pcm2126@barnard.edu