Barnard College Top Questions

For some people, yes, for most people, no.

since there are no men there do seem to be many lesbians around, or at least a lot of women who are bi-curious. there are more traditional women than feminists and the women considered to be slutty aren't that slutty. women are very competitive at this school and will fight and do anything to get what they want. it's a tough school and women take pride in being a student at this school. there are very many intelligent beautiful strong women here at barnard regardless of what is said about the student body. i have found some amazing friends here.

We are not all lesbians Many of us are more attractive than Columbia girls Unsure if we are more studious, on average, than Columbia girls We are not just "wannabe" Ivy-Leaguers--we chose Barnard for a reason

The first of these stereotypes is mostly wrong. Over the years, Barnard has become increasingly diverse. As a liberal arts college with leading programs in various fields and a healthy relationship with Columbia University, Barnard has been able to attract students from all walks. As far as the financial status of their students, I would have to argue that because there is such an interactive environment for learning and the common goal of succeeding, financial status does not really make up a significant part of the college experience.

Clearly these stereotypes are false. Barnard women are just as intelligent as Columbia College students and we are all under the Columbia University "umbrella". Its a silly rivalry that some Barnard women may or may not encounter.

It is true that students are very smart and competitive, and they like to challenge themselves. It is not true that most students are feminists or lesbians, it is a place like any other, and being surrounded with many girls in classes does not mean you have to be a feminist-it is totally up to you.

not totally. yeah, there are lesbians. yeah, there are ditzy, dumb, and materialistic girls. but who doesn't have them? people who want to find them in our school, in order to prove a point, will. i just hate when people think we all applied to columbia and got rejected. i most certainly didn't apply there.

no

1) There is definitely a constant aura of Barnard pride. BUT, by no means do I think that Barnard are the crazy protesting feminists we are often depicted as. I, myself - and tons of my friends - did not apply to Barnard because it is a women's college. Barnard does not pressure you to fight for women's rights, or anything; Barnard wants you to embrace your identity, whatever that may be. 2) I grew up being best friends with all the boys. I vowed I would never apply to an all girls' school. Yet, here I am and I LOVE IT! There are plenty of boys in classes, in extracurriculars, wandering around campus, out in the nightlife scene, eating in our dining hall, and crashing our awesome Barnard events. It took me a little while to find them. That's the difference between a girls' school with boys across the street and a co-ed school. It takes a little more time and a bit more effort, but it's not as difficult as it may sound. 3) The beautiful thing about Barnard is that there is no archetypal "Barnard girl." I think we all love to learn and we are all intelligent women. Beyond that, there are so many different types of people here that there is a place for everyone. 4) Although Barnard students enjoy the benefits that Columbia University provides, Barnard is not a "loophole." It is a fantastic, challenging liberal arts college that is one of the four undergraduate colleges of Columbia University. Barnard students worked just as hard to get into Barnard as Columbia students did to get into Columbia and both student bodies continue to work hard. 5) Like every other university, class difficulty varies. There are easier classes and harder classes at both schools. It also depends on professors and departments. It is unfair to say that one school is easier than the other. It's just not true. 6) When I first got to Barnard, I did sense a bit of tension. But really, tension is created. I had been expecting it. It's not just there waiting for you; you have to put effort into making tension. So, I've found if you don't want tension or competition it won't be there. The tension between girls is the best joke at Columbia.

Like all stereotypes, they never describe everyone at Barnard. I have found that in general, Barnard women are much more helpful than bitchy and more motivated to do well in their classes than they are boy-crazy. As for the people that say that Barnard is the back-door to Columbia, they do not realize that there are many reasons why one would choose Barnard over Columbia. It is not that one is better than the other, but that one may fit a person's specific needs better. The Nine Ways of Knowing are more flexible than the core, the class sizes are generally smaller, and the entire environment of the college is smaller and more personal. Some people prefer Columbia, but as for me, I chose Barnard for Barnard, not to tell people that I go to Columbia.