Barnard - Second Generation Begins

Today as I fly off to France, my niece Chelsea begins her freshman year at Barnard College. Chelsea is not too happy about this, because Barnard is my alma mater, and she really would like me to be nearby, to share her experiences about the start of her college life. But I've thought, it's probably good that I will be far away (relatively); she needs to have her own experiences on the campus, just as I did as an 18 year old.

Over her growing up years, Chelsea was the recipient of much Barnard-logo'd merchandise, from t-shirts to sweatshirts (all of which she wore!). I think she really didn't hear many stories about my college life, there were certainly other things to talk about when I was with her! But when she started looking at colleges, I was fairly insistent that she put Barnard on her list, just to make her aunt happy. I have been an active alum at the college since I left it, culminating in 2001, when I became the President of the Alumni Association for a three year term, along with the perk of serving as an alumnae representative on the college's board of trustees (for a four-year term). So, it was no surprise that I might encourage my only niece to attend!

But it was Chelsea herself who became enamoured with the school, during a visit last July with her mom. I remember it well: I received a very excited telephone call from Chelsea as I was on the beach at Amelia Island, FL. She loved the school, it was her first choice! My sister got on the phone too, and said that she finally understood why the school was so special to me. That meant an awful lot to me.

So Chelsea applied to Barnard, along with a bunch of other schools that she was bound to get into (she's a top student, in her senior class top 10, with tons of AP exam results and extra curriculars and, yes, a junior year spent abroad in Italy). I was extraordinarily eager that Barnard recognize that my niece was applying to the college, but wasn't sure the protocol on making that known. So I spoke to the outgoing executive director of the Alumni Association, and she demanded that I write the Director of Admissions (who I knew), and write a note on behalf of my niece. Do it now, she said, don't wait! Make sure they know, when they have to choose, that Chelsea is a legacy!

So I wrote a note to Jennifer, highly recommending my niece as a woman who would fit perfectly into the Barnard environment, an independent, curious, world-savvy woman who knew what she wanted to do (study classical languages), and would contribute to the campus life in many ways. Jennifer responded to my email, thanking me for my note, and letting me know it would make it into Chelsea's file.

Admissions decisions are typically made by the end of March, so that the students can receive notice (via snail mail!) by early April. Chelsea's first acceptance was a scholarship to Brandeis, a very good school, incenting her to attend. Her family was very excited. But then, late one Thursday night, I received an email from Jennifer, with the subject heading "Confidential." It was a note letting me know that Chelsea was receiving a letter from Barnard admissions that would make her happy. OMG. I now knew that my niece was accepted to my alma mater, and I couldn't tell her! I had to wait until she received the letter herself! It was a very long weekend of holding onto that very exciting news, complicated by the fact that Chelsea was visiting her boyfriend in Florida that weekend, and wouldn't receive her mail until the next week. But on Monday (or was it Tuesday) morning, I got the telephone call from her - a very high-pitched voice full of excitement - that she was accepted to Barnard!! It was the top of her list. She was going to go to the school. It was a wonderful moment for me.

So, now she is, like me, on the verge of something new and exciting and that will affect her the rest of her life. I wouldn't want anything more for her. And I look forward to hearing her stories, as much as I look forward to sharing mine with her. And so it begins.