Barnard College Top Questions

What is your overall opinion of this school?

Hannah

Barnard occupies a really unique place in the world of American colleges. On one hand, it's a small, private liberal arts school for women but on the other hand we have access to all the resources of a large Ivy League school - namely Columbia. So it is both a small school and a large one, both single-sex and co-ed. We have complete cross-registration privileges, which is amazing, but Barnard professors really are more approachable. And Barnard is full of amazing traditions. Possibly the best is the Midnight Breakfast: at midnight before exams begin, the entire school crowds into the gym and professors and deans and famous alumnae serve us breakfast. Similarly, each spring we have a Spirit Day which shows just how phenomenal Barnard spirit is and how proud we are of where we go to school. And being in New York City can only be considered a plus. We're on the Upper West Side, and the neighborhood - Morningside Heights - almost feels like a mini college town. But a ten minute ride on the 1 train brings you full stop into the middle of the city. So you can get away from all that insanity when it's just too much, but it's also amazing to be so close to everything that New York offers.

Marissa

I absolutely love Barnard! It is an environment where I have thrived and grown to call my home over the past three years. One of my favorite things about it is the overflow of support and nurture within this amazing group of bright women, inspiring faculty, and caring staff. Someone is pretty much always here for you at Barnard, whether it's your friendly RA, your warm advisor, or one of our many great deans. It's also a community in the truest sense of the term; it's a place where one can feel comfortable and secure while challenged to think outside of the box in and out of the classroom. It's a little gem that will expose you to some of the most phenomenal opportunities, professors, and even peers, whom are all incredibly diverse. But this diverse population is united by one thing: we are all "strong, beautiful Barnard women"!

Casey

I love that Barnard is a women's college that doesn't force women's activism on their students. By being here one is able to learn what it means to be an empowered woman without being forced in being a stereotypical "man-hater".

Kelsey

Best thing about Barnard is that you get the small college feel while attached to a big campus. Teachers generally know your name, your advisors generally know your work, your personality and your dreams and aspirations intimately. I feel that Barnard is very technologically archaic. I think it's ridiculous that the campus is not wireless and that things like housing selection, L course sign ups, Urban NY, etc are not done online. The administration at Barnard is extremely friendly, organized and well intended. They really are here for the Barnard student and work to ensure that they have the best college experience possible. There is very little school pride at Barnard. I think part of the reason is that the school tries to create school pride like a school with a lot of school pride would (say Florida State, Duke, or Notre Dame) but it's not authentic. It all seems forced. Barnard should embrace the fact that it's a college in the city rather than trying to pretend we are a rural school whose students enjoy running around on the campus...while Barnard students are generally very involved with on campus activities...the activities they are involved in are generally organizational, intellectually or creatively stimulating - it's not like Middlebury where they have a Quidditch team and a Streaking club...that's just not Barnard.

Alison

Barnard is a college with a rich, intimate community within New York City. Any hesitation I had about going to a women's college was eliminated when I realized I was forming relationships with other women that would be some of the most important in my life. My life here has been enriched by friendships that I don't think would be the same anywhere else. The pride I feel for this school is not dependent on sports, rankings, etc. I feel pride for our community.

Alexandra

Barnard is a wonderful size, there are professors who actually know your name here. In all my Barnard classes my professors seem truly interested in my progress as a student; however, Columbia classes are typically much larger and very impersonal. There isn't really a ton of campus activities because Barnard/Columbia students consider the city their college activities. We have amazing things in our city such as the Guggenheim and Wall Street that no other colleges can come close to having.

Casey

it can be frustrating going to an all girls school because sometimes girls can be a bit much. but i will never regret going to Barnard. I feel like I have a built in support system, and BArnard alumni are always there for the students. Also, the advising is soooo much better than Columbia's

Katie

Barnard really, truly cares about women, which is so important and which I love. Just being on campus makes you start to think differently about women's issues, society, and "the f-word" (feminism). It's a good size, and it's especially nice to have a small community in such a big city while still having access to the resources of Columbia. NO ONE ever knows what or where Barnard is, 9 times out of 10 you'll have to either explain or just say Columbia. Right now there is a massive hole in the middle of our campus where the student center used to be, but the new one is supposed to be finished when classes start in September 2009. I would say I spend most of my time on campus in my dorm -- we have a suite (like an apartment) -- or at Lerner (Columbia College's student center). New York is awesome. It can be overwhelming and expensive, but it's definitely worth it for the amazing range of experiences you get. Morningside Heights/the Upper West Side (the neighborhood where Barnard is located) is very different than most of the rest of Manhattan...so explore! I love West Village and Soho, sometimes I go there for no purpose except getting away from the UWS. There is a lot of tension between Barnard and Columbia, and a lot of disparaging remarks are thrown back and forth, but I've found it's better to just keep your head out of it. Yes, many girls go to Barnard because they didn't get into Columbia and still want to "go there," but there are just as many (if not more) for whom Barnard was the number one choice. Barnard has one of the best dance programs in the country -- that's why I'm here, so that I can get good dance training (in New York City, no less) while also getting an excellent academic education. There are plenty of personal reasons to chose where you end up at college; if you prefer comparing SAT scores to considering those other reasons, you would probably fit in better at Columbia (College) anyway. The food is fine; after your first year (unless you continue living in the Quad...where the dining hall is), you probably will end up cooking/eating out more than getting school food anyway. The desserts are AMAZING, the selection not so much, and the service is often downright rude. I think that for college this is about the best you're going to get.

Sandra

My favorite experience at Barnard was Midnight Breakfast, Fall semester 2007. Midnight Breakfast is one of the best things Barnard does: the night before exams start, the Activities Council hosts a breakfast at midnight served by alum profs and admins. It's absolutely incredible, and you can totally feel the barnard love going on in the gym. It's generally one big party with sporadic moments of freak-out over finals. Last semester, the DJ played "man i feel like a woman", and the entire room burst into a sing-out. It was an amazing moment not only of woman pride, but of barnard centered goodness. No one cared about what was going on across the street or the recent acts of hate the campus had suffered. It was just a good time, an experience I think tends to get lost in the shuffle of being the best.

Kelly

Half of the time, people say, "where is Barnard?" or "I haven't heard of it." I have to tell them it's Barnard College of Columbia University, but then I have to follow up with "it's what Columbia would be if it were all women and artsy." But that is only in a social setting. When applying for jobs, internships, etc. Barnard usually gets a respectable nod. It's a respectable institution and lots of famous alumni, and we all know it. The best thing about Barnard are the other women there. They all have something interesting to talk about. Each one is unique. They are an inspiring, beautiful group of people to be around.

laura

the best thing about barnard, by far, is it's unique situation. it is a small school as part of a large university, so you get the attention and help of a small school with all the facilities and opportunities of a large university. living in new york for four years really makes you grow up... leaving barnard i feel really ready to take on the world and not overwhelmed about living on my own. the campus life more or less sucks - i am part of a performing group and while we receive a lot of support from the college, the campus support is lacking. that said, there is always a lecture or a club or eight different silly meetings if you're into that kind of thing. i expected to hate that it was a women's college, only to find it's one of my favorite things about it. the education is really tailored to women.

KJ

Greatest thing about Barnard is the student population, very driven, bright, SO PASSIONATE, open, tolerant, sometimes can be too small, but Barnard is like a sorority within Columbia University. We have that small community feeling but we still have access to a major research university. So we have the best of both worlds. On campus, I spend most of my time in Butler Library or in my apartment. Barnard / Columbia is definitely situated in its own college town within New York City. We have our local college bars and we all go to the same stores and restaurants and the whole area is filled with familiar faces and students and professors. There is no Columbia pride, or Barnard pride. People don't come here for school spirit. They come here for the education and the connections to New York City. The Barnard Administration is useless and out of touch with the student population. Things are likely to change with the arrival of our new President.

Whitney

The best thing about Barnard is the community. I never planned on going to a small school, but Barnard really does have an amazing, close-knit community of students, faculty, and administration. Sometimes when I tell people that I go to Barnard they don't know what it is, so I usually tell them that it's part of Columbia. Morningside Heights is a college town in itself, but I would challenge all Columbia students to try and escape the Columbia bubble more often- all of New York City is at your fingertips. I came to Barnard in spite of its status as a women's college, but I really appreciate the emphasis on feminism that's inherent in a lot of the curriculum.

Jenna

As a first year at Barnard, life is pretty terrifying. The city is scary, the prestige of the school is intimidating, and the freshmen dorms emanate a summer camp feel. Once you adjust enough to emerge from your small room, though, you are forced to become an independent, opinionated, and confident woman. The small size of the school creates a heightened sense of academic competition while providing a more comprehensive student support system than larger institutions. Like any city school, the social life on campus is lacking because students tend to venture off campus and into the city. This diminishes school spirit a bit, but by the time senior year approaches, students feel a deep reluctance to leave Barnard. Seniors graduate from Barnard well prepared for the real world, demonstrating a sophistication and level of professionalism unparalleled by other liberal arts schools.

Jamie

As you will read in any pamphlet from the Barnard Admissions Office, it boasts of being a unique institution that contains the best of all worlds- a nurturing, small liberal arts college for women that has access to the resources of Columbia University, and further beyond that, all of New York City. This sums it up in a nutshell. At Barnard you will feel safe and comfortable and cared about, without feeling stifled or as if you could ever outgrow the school. It's pretty "just right." Barnard is in Morningside Heights, which is a quaint little part of the city chock full of restaurants, grocery stores, and babysitting jobs galore. Morningside Heights is also home to the rest of Columbia University (grad schools included), Manhattan School of Music, and Union Theological Seminary- so there are always a lot of students/young people wherever you go. The 1 train is right outside your door when you go to Barnard, and all the basic things you could ever need are walking distance away. As far as the "wow" factor your grandparents will enjoy when bragging about you to their friends, Barnard packs a mean punch among educated people in the tri-state area, but otherwise there is a good chance people won't know what it is. Don't let this deter you- people who know what it is will think you're a little smarty-pants (if that's what matters to you).

Evan

Best thing about Barnard: a small liberal arts college located not in a corn field, but in New York City, with access to a large research university. Best of both worlds, period. If I could change one thing about Barnard, I'd try to create a stronger sense of community among all students. With about 2400 undergrads, I feel that Barnard is just the right size. Just when you feel like you know everyone in your year, you meet someone new. Generally, if you tell someone from the East Coast that you go to Barnard, they know what you are talking about and be impressed. Anywhere else, besides maybe California, you might have to explain that Barnard is in New York City, is affiliated with Columbia, etc. When I'm not studying or in class, most of my time on campus is spent hanging out in friends' apartments or dorm rooms. Currently, there is not a student center on Barnard's campus -- construction of "The Nexus," Barnard's new student center, is underway and set for completion by Fall 2009. The design is beautiful, so it should be a great addition to campus. New York poses a unique atmosphere in which to attend college. A more typical college town may offer a warmer sense of community and connection between the college and other residents, nothing could match New York City’s pace, diversity, and cultural offerings. Also, it's important to remember that there are TONS of students here. Therefore, there are a lot of advantages the city provides, such as student discounts for Broadway, ballet, opera, concert, or movie tickets. Barnard students, as well as students of other New York colleges and universities, also get free admission to most of the city's museums. Barnard's administration is pretty great - generally quick to respond to complaints and/or queries, visible, and cares about the students. In response to one of the most common student complaints about the antiquated course registration procedures, the administration launched a pilot program to test a new system. The students were informed by email about the pilot program, and told that if it is successful, the change will be instituted by next year. The biggest controversies on campus this year were actually more focused on the Columbia side than at Barnard. As this year demonstrates – Iranian Prime Minister Mahmoud Ahmedinejad coming to speak in the Fall, several hate crime incidents (a noose hung on a Black professor's door and several racist messages scrawled on bathroom stalls), and a week-long hunger strike by several students protesting Columbia's expansion into Manhattanville and lack of a strong Ethnic Studies program – the campus is never short on political controversy. Barnard is definitely less "ra ra" than the average big-ten university because people do not really care about the sports teams, which all exist through Columbia. Although Barnard students do participate in Varsity sports, there is not a lot of interest from the rest of the student population. The school spirit of Barnard comes out most at events like Midnight Breakfast, to be explained later. I think the most unique aspects about Barnard are its location, existence as a college devoted to women in the 21st century, and its relationship with Columbia University. If you want a small liberal arts college in the middle of one of the greatest cities in the world, a warm academic environment, and access to a premier research university's resources, Barnard is the only place to get it.