Barnard College Top Questions

You need to have thick skin to go to a women's institution. Smith, Wellesley, Bryn Mawr, and Mount Holyoke (the remaining colleges of the 7 sisters) all have the misogynistic labels of "whores" and "lesbians" as well. Stereotypes of these colleges have really hurt their image. For example, there is a bus that goes from wellesley to boston during the weekends for students, MIT/Harvard boys have referred to this as the "fuck truck". Smith is notorious for being the school for lesbians, when in reality their lesbian population is roughly the same percentage as other co-ed schools. Who knows how these labels are started... probably by a boys who were rejected by women from these schools or women who were jealous that "their" men were being "stolen" by women from these schools. But regardless of a basis in truth, they still exist. I would argue that it's even worse at Barnard, simply because we have to deal with Columbia being right across the street. This sterotype isn't dealt with only on weekend bus trips or on rare occasions they leave their beautiful, isolated campuses... it's dealt with everyday because we are very much a part of the columbia community. The barnard-columbia relationship is complicated... but what barnard students need to remember, is that they're amazing women that were accepted into the MOST selective women's college in the United States. It is a fantastic education in the world's greatest city. The opportunities are truly endless here... but that all said, you need to have or be able to develop the thick skin to deal with that kind of misogyny. It's no different than the "real world", but it's more hurtful because we're only college students. So although we don't burn bras here at Barnard, through out the four years every student develops pride in being a Barnard woman. The real question is, whether you think you can keep up with them. My FRIENDS have won the coveted Marshall prize, they have received the Fullbright scholarships, they have been recruited by McKinsey and Goldman alike, they are the future teachers in TFA, they are the brightest women I've ever met, and am proud to have known.

Basically, the only REAL critique I have of Barnard is that it NEEDS to define its relationship to Columbia better. Do I go to an ivy league school? Sort of.. .maybe. The point is I don't really know. Half of my classes are columbia, I get As in columbia classes just as often as my columbia counterparts, but still many snobby people at columbia talk about how barnard girls are not as smart because our acceptance rate is higher than at columbia. This is elitist bullshit mainly, but it still bothers me. Barnard also gets rated a lot as if its an island, without all the resources that columbia has. (it was rated something ridiculous in U.S News, something like 29 in the US) this just isnt true in terms of so many things, including academics and financial aid (financial aid is GREAT) they've helped my family so much. So Barnard needs to just go for it and package itself as an ivy league school, because it is! Its professors go through the same tenure process as columbia, we take many of the same class, many of columbia departments are even house at columbia! So my request to Barnard is just to figure this out and define us more against these snobby people who think Barnard women are not as intelligent because of the acceptance rate. In reality our acceptance rate would be just as difficult as columbia's except for the fact that we have only females applying and not males and females, and this cuts our application pool in half.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I LOVE MY SCHOOL BUT THESE FLAWS ARE INEVITABLE

There is some bs and arcane housing procedures and administrative processes. Living in Manhattan, space is limited and Barnard is just starting to create more housing for the larger class bodies. The administrative crap could be found at any school. No school is the perfect place for anyone and the only girls who I have known to transfer were looking for a school with more pride and spirit that is usually found at suburban and rural schools. I can't think of going to any other school other than Barnard and all of my friends are obsessed with it!

Do not come to Barnard if will be unhappy if you don't get social events on weekends handed to you on a silver platter. There are TONS of things to do every second in NYC, you just have to get out and do them. I think going to an all girls school is a bummer, because I am used to having lots of guy friends. But if you really work hard to make guy friends at Columbia you will probably be okay.

Barnard is a wonderful school. Although I felt it wasnt the school for me during the first semester I have come to truly love the environment and the girls and am so proud to call myself a Barnard student.

It's probably fairly obvious by now that I love Barnard. But I want to reiterate that: about twice a week I have a "Barnard moment," where it just kind of hits me that I'm so incredibly lucky to go to this school. It might be seeing President Shapiro walking her dogs (she's pretty much the coolest woman ever), or just walking by the gorgeous magnolia tree on campus. Or the free yoga sessions every Sunday night. Or the random events Barnard sponsors where they give you free food or massages or let you build a bear or make a giant sub sandwich spanning the length of Barnard's campus. Barnard can be intense, but the students never hurt each other to get ahead. It's more about doing your own thing, figuring out what you want to do, and there are plenty of resources to help you do that.

If you're a vegetarian, vegan, or kosher, Barnard is a good place to go. Although they sometimes confuse starch as a viable focus for a healthy meal, there is a kosher menu and vegetarian options each day, as well as a vegan grill for lunch and dinner.

Nothing really to say - however, just because Barnard is a small school doesn't mean that it has an awesome built-in support system. You have to be a pretty independent woman to go here and be happy/feel supported. Also you should probably like New York City as in a way you are giving up the campus feel in order to take advantage of living here.

Barnard is awesome...there was no better place for me. No regrets in the least. The most important thing is to find a place that fits with you...and you'll know it when you find it. Best of luck with your college search!!