Orientation

Welcome to Barnard College!

The New Student Orientation Program (NSOP) is an intentional and exciting program to welcome all of our incoming first-year, transfer, and international students to the Barnard community. New students are introduced to all of the resources that are available to them during their time at Barnard. NSOP is a great way to connect with your peers and your community prior to the start of classes and the academic year.

Follow NSOP on Instagram to stay connected!

New Student Orientation Program (NSOP)

Barnard’s traditional New Student Orientation Program (NSOP) is required for all new first-year and transfer students to help them learn about campus resources and build community at Barnard. Throughout NSOP you will be in a small orientation group led by a current Barnard student Orientation Leader (OL).

Barnard Orientation Fall 2025

Wednesday, August 27 - Sunday, August 31
Our student NSOP Committee Chairs are hard at work to create a unique orientation experience to introduce new incoming students to the Barnard community. Information related to your Fall 2025 experience will be shared directly with you via your Barnard email address. The official Fall 2025 NSOP schedule will be available in early to mid- August.

NSOP is required for all new students (including those who participate in a pre-orientation program), and students should plan to fully participate in NSOP during program dates. As such, please refrain from scheduling appointments / time commitments during the program dates. Some of our programs throughout NSOP are designed to meet requirements set out by federal and/or state law as well as Barnard College policy.

Students living on campus will move in the morning of Wednesday, August 27th and should plan to be in the city by that point. Students living off-campus should find a housing accommodation with a start date that allows them to come to campus by the afternoon of Wednesday, August 27th for NSOP programming.

Following move-in, NSOP programming is designed as a community-building experience for our new students to meet and bond with their peers. With that in mind, families are not able to participate in NSOP programming. Those that wish to explore the city with their Barnard student are kindly encouraged to do so prior to Wednesday, August 27th so that students can fully participate in NSOP programming.

NSOP features a mix of informational programming, social programming, and exploratory programming throughout the experience, including programs on evenings, Saturday, and Sunday that students should plan to attend. NSOP programming will conclude after Sunday, August 31st, with Labor Day (Monday, September 1st) off as a holiday before classes begin on Tuesday, September 2nd.

Welcome Home, Welcome Back

Welcome Home, Welcome Back is designed to bring together both incoming and returning students as the Barnard community celebrates a new semester and academic year. Welcome Home, Welcome Back programming will provide opportunities for students to connect and get to know their peers, introduce or reintroduce students to Barnard resources, services, and opportunities, and kick off a new academic semester. All students will receive more details about Welcome Home, Welcome Back programs in the days leading up to the start of the semester.

Questions about orientation? Email orientation@barnard.edu

Questions about move-in? Check out: Campus Housing or email housing@barnard.edu

Questions about parent orientation? Contact the Office of Family Engagement at parents@barnard.edu

Learn About Zines

Want to know more about the community you are joining?

Zines are an iconic part of the Barnard experience, and an NSOP Zine will be provided to all new students to teach them about their new community at Barnard during NSOP.

Explore the Barnard Zine Collection to learn more!

Resources for New Students

Check out some additional resources for new and visiting students!