Barnard Pre-College Program – NextGen Leadership Institute: Writing & Literature Track
Spend a summer at Barnard College in New York City! The NextGen Leadership Institute is for curious and passionate high school students who want to engage with complex topics and explore leadership, all through a feminist lens. As a student in the NextGen Leadership Institute, you’ll take a course within one of our four tracks — STEM, writing and literature, global humanities, or art, movement, and performance. You’ll see what leadership in action looks like, while developing your own leadership skills, with the support of Barnard’s Athena Center for Leadership. And you’ll get to explore New York City alongside your peers and program leaders.
The Writing and Literature track encourages writers to find their voice and share it with the world. Students will spend their mornings learning from Barnard instructors in courses such as Screenwriting, Dystopia in the Margins, and Poetry, on the same campus where writers like Greta Gerwig, Zora Neale Hurson, Jhumpa Lahiri got their start. Afternoons will be spent in intensives focused on developing a writing portfolio, getting published, and careers for writers.
Classes take place on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Office Hours, Junior Junction and Leadership in Action Workshops will be held on Monday and Friday.
Student life activities will be held in the evenings after class.
Location(s)
- Barnard College, New York, New York
Schedule
- June 29th - July 18th, 2025
Cost/Compensation
- Tuition (Residential): $10,171
- Tuition (Commuter): $8,160
Eligibility Requirements
- Completing academically rigorous coursework and maintaining strong grades
- Well rounded: able to excel in the classroom and in extra-curriculars, volunteer positions, after school jobs, community engagement, etc.
- At least 14 years old at the start of the program
Deadline
- April 15
Application or Entry Requirements
- Online Application Form
- Unofficial High School Transcript
- List of Extracurricular Activities
- Recommendations
- 500-Word Statement of Purpose
- Application Fee
Notifications of Decisions
- Decisions are made on a rolling basis starting mid-January. You should receive a decision within 15 business days of the office receiving a completed application.
Financial Aid Details
To be considered for financial aid, students must submit the required financial aid application and documents along with their Pre-College Program Application. Financial aid applications, like program applications, are reviewed on a rolling basis. Students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible if they wish to apply for financial aid. After a student is accepted to the program, they will receive a follow up email letting them know whether or not we are able to award them aid. Students who receive aid will have their package applied to their tuition balance after registration.
The deadline for financial aid applications is February 10th, 2025
Other Dates to Keep in Mind
- Applications open in December, and the application fee is waived for applications submitted before the priority deadline in Mid-February
Have other questions?
Barnard was founded in 1889 as the first college in New York City to offer degrees to women. Since then, Barnard College has aimed to provide the highest-quality liberal arts education to promising and high-achieving young women. The College is known for its rigorous academic programs, small class sizes, and collaborative environment dedicated to promoting women's education and leadership. Barnard students have the unique advantage of studying at an independent college which is also part of a major research university, Columbia University, located just across the street.
