<p>I’m still choosing between Wellesley and Barnard (not much time left haha!). Since I love them both so much, I’m trying to make my decision on more quantifiable data. I’m interested in art history and definitely want to pursue graduate school. I’ve been able to find statistics on Wellesley’s graduates ([Admit:</a> Outcomes](<a href=“http://www.wellesley.edu/admission/academics/outcomes.html]Admit:”>http://www.wellesley.edu/admission/academics/outcomes.html)) but haven’t been able to find anything on Barnard. Could anyone give me some information on this?</p>
<p>Thank you so much!</p>
<p>If you have anything you think I might not know about Barnard that could help me make my decision it would be great!</p>
<p>My daughter faced the same choice and went with Barnard, but it was basically a gut feeling. Since they each have so much to offer, I was sort of sick to think of having to give one of them up. Why don’t you call the Barnard admissions office to see if they have the stats you want? I did note that the about page <a href=“http://barnard.edu/about/at-a-glance”>http://barnard.edu/about/at-a-glance</a> claims “Barnard ranks third among liberal arts colleges in graduates who earn a Ph.D.” I didn’t think they were that high, based on some list I saw. It’s late, but you might want to try emailing or talking to someone in the Art History Departments at both schools. One advantage Barnard might have is access to more art museums with outstanding collections. I have no more experience with the two schools than you do, though, and probably less. Good luck.</p>
<p>There are many field where I would favor Wellesley, but Art History seems to me to be a no brainer for Barnard. The Met is one of the three top leading art museums in the world. It has just about 3 million holdings. Admission is free for the entire Columbia community. I was just there on Friday being “taught” but my son who is a grad student in Art History. He was viewing Turner’s “The Whale Ship” and writing about it.</p>
<p>My D is not particularly interested in Art History, but she went to the Met almost once a week. It was her Friday walk through the Park.</p>
<p>Reproductions can not hope to capture the original works. Yes, from Wellesley you can go into Boston, but the Boston Museum of Fine Arts is not an institution of that scale.</p>
<p>And then past the Met you have MOMA, The Frick, The Whitney and The Guggenheim, and others.</p>
<p>And the downtown galleries.</p>
<p>Manhattan has been the center of the art world after Paris when Abstract Expressionism was all the rage. I don’t know whether it still is, but it certainly is still important.</p>
<p>Oh, and there is Sotheby’s and Christie’s too.</p>
<p>If you have a gut pull toward Wellesley, I would never discourage you. I am sure you can progress in Art History from Wellesley, too. But I think researching outcomes may be over thinking the process. You need only one outcome: yours!!!</p>
<p>It’s true that the art world in NYC is very hard to turn down! I’m from DC so I love cities and NY in particular. I loved my visit to Barnard. The students I met were wonderful, the class I visited was great, and the campus is lovely. My main concern (and probably what’s holding me back from saying yes right away!) is Barnard’s relationship to Columbia. Going to a small school is very important to me. I think having smaller class sizes really allows you the opportunity to form relationships with professors and I find that environment to be more inspiring/motivating as a student. That’s why I was excited by the prospect of Barnard in the first place, it being the only small, liberal arts school in NYC. I’ve talked to current students and to faculty from the Art History Department. It seems since Columbia has SUCH a strong art history department (which I’m totally not complaining about) Barnard’s department isn’t very strong/large. This means I would be taking a lot of my classes at Columbia, which I’m not sure I’m comfortable with. </p>
<p>That is pretty much my only qualm about Barnard though. As I said I love the city and I loved Barnard when I visited! Plus, my sister is currently attending Wellesley and though I love Wellesley for its academics, sisterhood, campus, and proximity to Boston, I do feel it would be cool for me to have the experience of going off of on my own. And in NYC no less! How romantic!</p>
<p>D1 was an Art History major, now in law school. She had a wonderful experience. She worked for Barnard’s department and had mentor’s on both sides of the street. In addition, she attended two operas, six concerts and six musicals during her first year. She spent every Saturday afternoon at the Metropolitan museum.</p>
<p>OP: I mean this in the kindest possible way. From your post it strikes me that you really want to go to Wellesley and would be happier there but feel you should do something different than your sister.</p>
<p>You shouldn’t feel that way. It’s quite an accomplishment to get accepted into both schools, and if a small environment is that important to you, I think you should choose Wellesley.</p>
<p>Barnard is cozy and welcoming, and Barnard women always have their own little campus to come home to, and their own department (in most cases.) Your thesis will be done from your department and you will have a close relationship with those professors.</p>
<p>However, in general, Barnard women are grateful for the opportunities both NYC and Columbia University bring into their lives. Most describe it as “the best of both worlds” small liberal arts college and opportunities of a larger university." If you don’t feel that way, perhaps Wellesley is the better choice.</p>
<p>From the beginning your orientation will be with Columbia Students and your orientation will introduce you to NYC. There is nothing cloistered about the experience.</p>
<p>My D found this exhilarating, although she was always grateful for her Barnard home. You might feel differently.</p>
<p>Good luck. You really can’t make a bad choice.</p>
<p>Anyone who wants can have free admission to the Met. </p>
<p>They ask for a “recommended” donation at the entrance, and the signs make the suggested donation amount look like a fixed charge, but you don’t have to pay them anything, and they will certainly gladly accept a reduced donation if you aren’t able to pay the full recommended amount.</p>
<p>I do think that the CUID will also provide free admission to many other museums without charge-- but I just want others to know that they can gain access to the Met without paying the suggested $25 per adult entrance fee.</p>