Well, here’s why.
Both Columbia and Barnard saw a huge increase in applications for the incoming class of 2025. Barnard saw around a 10% increase, with over 10,394 applicants. Barnard also reported a record low acceptance rate of 11%. SEAS and Columbia College saw a 51% increase in applicants, with over 60,000 applicants in comparison to the previous year’s 40,084.
Despite the record low acceptance rate, however, Barnard still seemed to over enroll, as did many other schools. Schools such as Duke, the University of Colorado Law School, and Columbia miscalculated the amount of students who would actually attend. The enrollment rate at Barnard increased from 54% to 64% from 2020 to 2021. This explains why, despite accepting less students, they still experienced over enrollment. The reason why, however, still remains a mystery.
One reason more students may have applied is due to the lift of the standardized test requirement. For the first time in Barnard and Columbia history, the standardized tests requirement was lifted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This exception was made for the students applying in the 2020-2021 cycle, and enabled many more students to apply to more academically rigorous schools. It is a well-established fact that the SAT and ACT requirements unfairly reaffirm the wealth gap. Being successful at standardized testing is expensive: earning a high score often depends on the ability to invest in tutoring or attending a well-established school district that provides adequate testing training. The elimination of standardized testing for this admissions cycle meant more students were able to apply as competitive candidates for this year’s college selection process.
Now, when you have to wait twenty minutes in line at Hewitt Dining Hall — you can blame the miscalculation of the acceptance algorithm on Barnard’s part.