<p>We are looking at many options for college and Barnard has been suggested. I wasn’t considering an all girl school, but the options sound great. Can current students please comment. My d thinks she might want a coed school, however, wants a campus in NY. Columbia is across the street and I hear there is a lot of mixing.</p>
<p>This is a mom, speaking! Welcome!</p>
<p>My d has just finished her second year at Barnard and she absolutely loves it. She had NO ideas about going to a women's college, but "found" Barnard in her search for an environment that offered both excellent academic opportunity and excellent dance training. She is still dancing but is currently a neuroscience major and is finishing up a 10 week fellowship/lab internship in NYC at the Columbia Med Center. </p>
<p>I say that to illustrate the fact that Barnard offers, in my opinion, unparalleled opportunities. These opportunities are the result of excellent academics, incredibly engaged and supportive faculty, very personalized advising, and a very stimulating environment comprising the Columbia University campus. Ramifications of the all-women nature of Barnard are not really felt in the "social" realm, as one might expect, as there are males in almost all "Barnard" classes and cross registration with Columbia is pretty much seamless. Rather, the benefits of this female-centric environment come in the guise of increased confidence, a broadened perspective on what the student is enabled to achieve, and an incredible support system that seems to last well beyond the college years.</p>
<p>I know I sound pretty much like a Barnard cheerleader and I suppose I am. I cannot stress enough what a positive impact this school has had upon my daughter!</p>
<p>You and your daughter should visit Barnard (preferably during the school year) to see that the concerns about not having a co-ed environment are really not founded in this case! And, more importantly, to just experience it for yourselves.</p>
<p>Best to you and your d in her college search!</p>
<p>london4: Hi! I am in the same situation as churchmusicmom who expresses my thoughts exactly. I'd jjust like to add that D just laughs at people who say Barnard is the "back door to Columbia." She points out that she didn't appoly to Columbia and would not willingly transfer now. That pretty much says it all.</p>
<p>BTW: Our family (including me) has a history of being boy crazy, so the chance to focus on studies is welcome. She has a long distance boyfriend at WashU, and this seems perfect for her. Barnard is very demanding academically and she is happy to be able to "give it her all".</p>
<p>churchmusicmom: She had a wonderful trip to Atlanta even though there was much rain. The greatest novelty was a drive-in movie theater! She also attended the midnight showing of Harry Potter.</p>
<p>Mythmom, glad your d enjoyed atlanta! The rain is a welcomed thing around here as we have been in a drought situation. I just finished one of my twice-weekly grass-cuttings! I like it, though...</p>
<p>And to the OP: Mythmom has a point about the boy situation at Barnard in that it seems you can be as focused on them as you want to be, or not. And Barnard IS academically demanding!</p>
<p>Most of my daughter's new college friends are boys. They come from all over -- Columbia, NYU, CUNY, Julliard. However, since she is at Barnard, she has managed to meet and make friends with a few girls. She does say she wishes there were more boys in her classes. I did attend a class with her at Barnard when I visited and there were boys there, though not many. </p>
<p>Anyway, its Manhattan. The town is crawling with boys. </p>
<p>My d. isn't even interested in dating - she is quite loyal to her boyfriend of 2+ years, who attends college in Boston. </p>
<p>Anyway - the point is, the Barnard environment is manageable. My daughter would never have considered a stand-alone women's college -- I don't think she can function without males in her life. She has had one or two classes at Columbia every semester and also participates in some student organizations -- so while I don't want to diminish the fact that Barnard is a female-dominated environment, I think the real focus should be on whether the school is a good academic fit. From what I can see, the academic environment really is central to college life there -- as it is Manhattan, a good deal of social life takes place off campus, and the academics are quite demanding. Students at Barnard and Columbia tend to be serious about their studies and work hard during the week, then go out on the town on weekends. The campus itself seems relatively quiet in comparison to what I experienced at a large state public -- this is true of both Columbia and Barnard.</p>
<p>D1 is very happy with Barnard, and she's not a person who is easily pleased. D2 is starting at the end of the month.</p>
<p>D1 is very happy with Barnard, and she's not a person who is easily pleased. D2 is starting Barnard at the end of the month.</p>