How to Apply to Life Sciences and Pre-Health Study at Barnard College: A Women’s College Where You Apply to the College and Declare a Major Later, Biological Sciences with Five Areas of Focus, Neuroscience & Behavior, No Nursing Major in the Catalog We Read, and the Path for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

Barnard College is a women’s liberal arts college in New York. Its catalog says the College offers about four dozen majors across the humanities, languages, natural sciences and social sciences, plus mathematics and computer science. There is no pre-med major in the United States; at Barnard, health professions advising is run by the Beyond Barnard office. This guide summarises Barnard’s published information for fall 2027 entry for U.S. applicants, international applicants and applicants from China, followed by transfer students. The pages we read list no nursing, public health or kinesiology bachelor’s program.

1. Relevant undergraduate majors

• Biological Sciences major: offered by the Biology Department with five areas of focus: General Biology, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Physiological and Organismal Biology, Ecological and Evolutionary Biology and Computational Biology; there is also a minor.
• Neuroscience & Behavior major: the Academics page lists Barnard’s top five majors as Economics, Neuroscience & Behavior, Computer Science, Psychology and Political Science. The department offers a major but no minor.
• Chemistry and Biochemistry: the Chemistry Department offers majors in Chemistry and in Biochemistry, plus a Chemical Engineering 4+1 focus.
• Environmental Biology major: its own catalog entry, with courses from Environmental Science and Biology.
• Others: the catalog also lists Cognitive Science, Environmental Science and Science and Public Policy; we did not read them in detail.
• Degree title (BA or BS) and whether these majors are STEM-designated are not stated on the pages we read; ask admissions (admissions@barnard.edu) or the Registrar.
• There is no nursing major, and the program list we read has no public health or kinesiology program. Whether any combined bachelor’s/medical-degree program exists is not stated on the pages we read.

2. Admission: apply to the College, declare a major later

• Applying: you apply to Barnard through the Common App, not to a major. The application pages we read do not say whether you name an intended major or whether biology or neuroscience has its own standard; ask the admissions office.
• Declaring: for Biological Sciences you submit a major declaration form on Slate and the associate chair assigns an advisor; students who have not declared can contact the associate chair with advising questions. Each Neuroscience & Behavior major is assigned an advisor from the department. The year by which you must declare is not stated on the biology and neuroscience pages we read.
• Entry conditions: the biology, neuroscience and chemistry pages we read state no GPA threshold or cap; ask the departments.
• Biological Sciences requirements (catalog): areas of focus 1–4 need at least 51.5 credits: 13 credits of introductory biology and genetics, five upper-level lectures (15 credits), three upper-level laboratory courses (9 credits), 4 credits of senior capstone (8 if the year-long thesis sequence is chosen) and 10.5 credits of general and organic chemistry. Area of focus 5 (Computational Biology) needs at least 41 credits, replaces chemistry with introductory computing and statistics, and requires one upper-level lab.
• Capstone: either one semester of the Senior Seminar in Biology (BIOL BC3590) or the year-long Senior Thesis Research and Seminar (BIOL BC3593–3594). Departmental honors go to seniors whose major GPA is in the top 20% of the graduating class.
• Neuroscience & Behavior requirements (catalog): at least 13 courses: five core neuroscience courses, three introductory courses from other disciplines (one must be Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology, BIOL BC1502 plus lab BC1503), three electives (one a 3000-level seminar), the year-long senior research seminar (counted as two courses), and a senior thesis. At least four of the five core courses must be taken in Barnard’s Neuroscience & Behavior department; no more than one may be taken elsewhere. The department says it grants no major credit or exemption for AP scores.
• Biochemistry major: the catalog says at least 63.5 credits (43.5 in chemistry, 5.0 in biology, 6.0 in math, 9.0 in physics), including Calculus I and II, mechanics and electricity & magnetism physics, Intro Cell and Molecular Biology with lab, and Biological Chemistry I and II; seniors choose an honors thesis or guided research.

3. Pre-med: what the pre-health office says

• Health professions advising at Beyond Barnard serves students and alumnae and names medicine, nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine, optometry, physician assistant and physical therapy among the professions it covers.
• Process: attend a Prehealth Overview Session first (held regularly each semester, registration through Handshake), covering academic preparation, building experiences, recommendation letters, Barnard’s Committee Letter of Evaluation and resources; afterwards you can book a 30-minute individual appointment.
• Course notes: the Biological Sciences catalog says first-years who want to fulfil major, minor or pre-health requirements should take the 1500-level sequence (fall: BIOL BC1500 with lab BC1501; spring: BC1502 with lab BC1503); BIOL BC1001 and similar non-majors courses do not fulfil biology major or premedical requirements. Many biology courses are marked “suitable for fulfillment of premedical requirements”. The Chemistry Department says non-majors interested in the health professions should choose chemistry courses with the pre-health advisor.
• AP/IB and pre-health: the biology catalog says AP and IB credit neither fulfils the science general-education requirement nor exempts a student from any introductory course.
• Committee-letter criteria, medical-school admission statistics and any limits for international students applying to U.S. medical schools are not stated on the pages we read; email beyondbarnard@barnard.edu.

4. High school preparation

• The catalog’s “Secondary School Preparation” says applicants should present a college-preparatory program from an accredited school; the most competitive applicants have taken four years in each of English, math, science, foreign language and social science, with advanced, honors, AP or IB courses where available. This describes the most competitive applicants, not a requirement specific to life-science majors.
• The pages we read do not list required high school math, chemistry or physics for these majors. The introductory biology course descriptions say a high school biology background or equivalent is highly recommended.
• First two years: the Biological Sciences introductory sequence is BIOL BC1500/1501 and BC1502/1503 plus BIOL BC2100 Molecular and Mendelian Genetics (recommended, not required, right after the 1500-level sequence); the chemistry requirement is at least one semester of general chemistry (CHEM BC2001, offered in fall only) and one of organic chemistry (CHEM BC3230 with lab BC3328). For chemistry and biochemistry, the department suggests first-years take CHEM BC2001 and organic chemistry with lab and start or continue calculus.
• AP / IB credit (catalog “Admissions”): strong AP scores can earn up to 16 points of degree credit; an IB diploma earns the points shown on the diploma, up to 16, and without the diploma credit is considered for individual Higher Level scores only; A-Levels are evaluated one by one. AP and IB cannot satisfy general-education requirements. The score-by-score chart is on the Registrar’s site, which we did not read; not stated on the pages we read.

5. Rounds, deadlines and materials

• Early Decision (binding): 1 November; decisions in mid-December.
• Regular Decision: 1 January; decisions in late March.
• The pages do not print a year; check that the dates are for the fall 2027 entry cycle.
• Supporting materials: for Early Decision, school report and counselor and teacher recommendations by 20 November and first-quarter grades by 25 November; for Regular Decision, school report and teacher recommendations by 15 January and mid-year grades by 28 February.
• Platforms: Common App; Barnard also takes QuestBridge. Application fee $75, with fee waivers.
• Materials: transcripts and school profile, two core-subject teacher recommendations (10th-grade teachers accepted), a counselor recommendation, two Barnard short answers (for 2026–2027: a “bold question” in up to 50 words and 200–250 words about a woman whose views differ from yours), and English proficiency scores if needed. Barnard does not interview.
• Testing: SAT/ACT optional; scores may be self-reported and Barnard superscores them; enrolling students submit official scores; the ACT science and writing sections are not required. The international page says the optional policy applies through the 2027 first-year and transfer cycles.

6. U.S. applicants

• Cost: Barnard is private and lists one tuition with no in-state rate. 2026–27: tuition $73,120 ($36,560 per semester), comprehensive fee $2,472, student health insurance $5,126 (waivable with other coverage), first-year housing in a multiple or single room $14,054; a meal plan is required (prices are on the fee page). No extra fee for biology or neuroscience majors appears on the pages we read.
• Aid: Barnard is need-blind for first-year U.S. citizens and permanent residents and meets 100% of demonstrated need. All aid is need-based; there are no merit awards. In 2025–26, 35% of students received need-based aid and the average total need-based grant was $68,562.
• Aid deadlines: 1 November 2026 for Early Decision and 15 January 2027 for Regular Decision, with the FAFSA, CSS Profile (code 2038) and supporting documents.
• Research: biology students can join the Summer Research Institute (with a stipend) and earn credit for research during the year; a thesis research sequence is a capstone option. Numbers of placements are not published.

7. International applicants

• Profile: Barnard says that as of fall 2024 international students were 16% of students, from 60 countries.
• Documents: official transcripts and exam results are sent by the school through e-docs or by mail; certificates and copies of certificates should not be submitted; non-English documents need certified English translations; students who took external national or board examinations should send results plus transcripts for each year of secondary study and state the certificate they expect and when.
• English: TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo are required unless waived (English as a first language, English-medium secondary school throughout, an IB Diploma or English-taught A-Levels, SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 700+ or ACT English or Reading 29+). The most competitive applicants generally have IELTS 7.5, TOEFL 105 (at least 5.5 on the new scale for tests taken on or after 20 January 2026) or Duolingo 135. Scores are valid for two years; TOEFL Essentials and MyBest are not accepted.
• Interview: Barnard does not interview; international applicants may pay for an InitialView or Vericant video interview, due 1 November (Early Decision) or 1 January (Regular Decision).
• Admission and aid: citizenship is not a prerequisite, but Barnard is need-aware for non-U.S. citizens and non-permanent residents. It awards a small number of need-based scholarships to international students in each entering class; you must apply for aid when you apply for admission to be eligible in later years. Submit the CSS Profile (code 2038); applicants from certain countries may use the ISAFA instead. There are no merit scholarships. Barnard notes its cost estimators are not intended for international students.
• Any limits on international students in lab or clinical placements: not stated on the pages we read.

8. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the international pages we read do not mention the Gaokao or give separate guidance for China. Not published on the pages we read; contact the international admissions contact (international@barnard.edu).
• Transcripts and exams: the general rules above apply: official transcripts from the school, certified English translations, no certificate copies. The page asks for results of “external national or board examinations” but does not name any Chinese exam.
• English: IELTS 7.5, new-scale TOEFL 5.5 or Duolingo 135 are the levels described as most competitive.
• Barnard gives no separate math and science expectations for the Chinese curriculum; follow section 4 and confirm with admissions.

9. Transfer

• Eligibility: 24–60 transferable credits earned after high school at an accredited institution; with fewer than 24 credits, apply as a first-year.
• Deadlines: fall entry 1 March (mid-term report 1 April); spring entry 1 November (mid-term report 15 November). The transfer page says rolling notification after 1 May and after 1 December; its FAQ says decisions typically come in mid-December (spring) and early to mid-May (fall). The pages do not print a year; check it.
• Materials: Transfer Common App, $75 fee, final high school transcript and all college transcripts, College Report, Mid-Term Report, one academic recommendation from a college instructor, course descriptions; testing optional; no interview.
• Credit: grades of C- or better; at most 60 external credits toward a degree; 121 points are needed to graduate. Barnard does not pre-evaluate credit; admitted students receive a Transfer Credit Evaluation.
• Into biology or neuroscience: credits are first evaluated for elective credit by the Registrar, then departments consider them for the major. Biology asks for the syllabus by email to the associate chair plus a degree-audit change request on Slate, and requires at least six semester courses of the major in residence at Barnard. Neuroscience & Behavior allows at most one of the five core courses to be transferred, with the vice chair’s approval.
• Aid: institutional aid is available only to fall transfer applicants who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents (Barnard is need-aware for them); spring and international transfer applicants receive no institutional aid.

Checklist

U.S. applicants:

• Early Decision 1 November or Regular Decision 1 January; testing optional; aid documents due 1 November / 15 January
• Start the BIOL BC1500–1503 sequence in the first year; attend a Prehealth Overview Session first

International applicants (including China):

• English levels described as most competitive: IELTS 7.5, TOEFL 5.5 (new scale), Duolingo 135; InitialView or Vericant interview optional
• Request aid on the application itself; confirm how the Gaokao is treated with admissions

Transfer students:

• Fall 1 March, spring 1 November; C- or better transfers, up to 60 credits; no institutional aid for international transfers

Sources: Barnard College, Academics; First-year applicants; The application process; International applicants; Transfer applicants; Costs and aid; Apply for aid; 2026-27 tuition and fees; Biology Department; Neuroscience & Behavior Department; Prehealth support (Beyond Barnard); Catalog: Admissions; Catalog: Programs of Study; Catalog: Biological Sciences; Catalog: Neuroscience & Behavior; Catalog: Chemistry; Catalog: Biochemistry; Catalog: Environmental Biology. Information is for fall 2027 entry (costs are 2026-27 figures). Check Barnard for the latest details.