Applications & Assignments

Online Housing Application (will need to log in with your Columbia UNI)

The application is typically available starting in mid-May for the upcoming academic year. FY students admitted through Early Decision will wait to fill out the housing application with Regular Decision students starting in Mid-May.

The BCIT Student Computing Office will start to email students instructions for activating their Barnard & Columbia login accounts in mid-to-late May. Applications are not sorted by submission date, so there is no need to worry if you have not yet received your activation instructions.

• Fall enrolling FYs -- June 7, 2021
• Fall enrolling Transfers, & Visiting students -- June 14, 2021
• Spring enrolling VISP students -- TBA
• Spring enrolling Transfer & other Visiting students -- TBA

First Years

• Enrolling First Year students are guaranteed campus housing if they submit their housing application by the deadline above.
• Students who apply for housing after the deadline are not guaranteed assignment.
• Students are not required to live in campus housing, but are encouraged to live on campus for their first year to acclimate themselves to the College. Students who choose to live off-campus for their first year are welcome to apply for housing the following year, but would not be eligible to take part in the Room Selection process and would not have a guarantee of housing.

VISP Program & Spelman Exchange

• Students in the VISP program and Spelman exchange are required to live in campus housing as part of their program.

Transfer & Visiting Students

• While the College's goal is to provide housing to as many applicants as possible, space in campus housing is limited and unfortunately cannot be guaranteed for Transfer students (during their first or following years at the College).
• As incoming Transfers, students who apply for housing are prioritized by a combination of enrollment deposit date and geographic distance from campus. Transfers who apply for housing for their following years would be prioritized after the new entering Transfer student class.
• Typically the College does not know until early August (or late December) how many Transfers can be assigned to campus housing. If students are not able to be assigned, they can remain on a Wait List in case any additional space opens up for the semester.
• Because housing is not guaranteed, Transfers are encouraged to explore options for off-campus housing.  Some links to help students start their search are available at barnard.edu/reslife/housing-options/off-campus.

Students are not required to live in campus housing. However, typically 98% of first year students live on campus.

Close to 90% of students overall live in campus housing.

Any student with a diagnosed disability or chronic medical condition who may need an accommodation (ex. air-conditioning, accessible housing, strobe fire alarm, etc.) should contract CARDS to complete a Housing Accommodation Request, in addition to submitting a Housing Application.

First Year students are typically assigned to double-, triple-, or quad-occupancy rooms in Brooks, Reid, or Sulzberger Halls. A limited number of singles may be available and can be requested on the Housing Application.

All First Years living in campus housing are required to participate in the Platinum Meal Plan (First Year commuters are required to enroll at minimum in the Convenience Meal Plan).

Enrolling First Year students will be emailed with their room & roommate assignments on Monday, August 9, 2021. Information regarding room assignments and/or roommates will not be available before that date.

The First Year Focus (FYF) Program at Barnard is an extended orientation program for first-year students that continues throughout the year. It combines academic and co-curricular activities to assist first-year students in adjusting to college life, Barnard, and New York City. Entertaining and informative activities and workshops, ranging from informal weekly programs to larger formal events, are organized in the residence halls especially for first-year students.

Students will be emailed regarding the availability of campus housing starting in early August (early January for new students in the Spring).

Because housing is limited and cannot be guaranteed, students are encouraged to explore options for off-campus housing in the event that campus housing is not available. 

Students may apply to live in single- or multiple-occupancy rooms; however, the number of singles and/or rooms not requiring participation in the Flex 150 Meal Plan is typically limited.