Hi guys,
I was wondering if any of you guys knew anything about Barnard’s lesson exchange program with MSM, because I can’t really find much information on both websites, other than the fact that it is only for lessons.
I play cello and I will be applying to college Fall 2015.
Thanks 
I do…or rather I knew from when our son applied because that was a big issue for me (note: not a big issue for my son). I wanted my son to have access to liberal arts classes at a top tier university or college. What I was told was that students could take classes at Barnard (boys included) but only after they have completed their second year. I know girls at Barnard who tell me that there are indeed boys and girls from MSM taking classes there but again they have to be at least Juniors.
I don’t know if you found these links (one from the Columbia website and one from the MSM website), but I think they explain the program and process for applying in a fairly straightforward manner:
http://www.music.columbia.edu/programs/undergrad/bc/msm
http://www.msmnyc.edu/Instruction-Faculty/Programs/Special-Programs/Barnard
A Barnard student who is admitted to the program takes lessons at MSM and gets 2 credits at Barnard (a typical academic course is 3 or 4 credits). My son is at Columbia and takes lessons for credit at Columbia (Columbia students are not eligible for the MSM program), but he spends a lot of time playing with MSM students. It’s a terrific school.
Well, I can appreciate your need for info because when my daughter was looking into it as an applicant to Barnard (a couple of years ago) no one at Barnard ever seemed to know anything about it! They could not connect her with anyone who was participating in it at the time. I almost got the impression that it was advertised but not really something that any Barnard women actually did. Of course, I could be wrong, just my opinion. The application info is on the website, that’s true. She did submit all her materials and was admitted to Barnard but not MSM…but there was never any communication regarding that piece of it. The submission of video audition to MSM was somewhat technical and there were issues with the site at the time. In general, it’s my understanding that instrumental pursuits are at Columbia and voice is housed at Barnard. When we looked at the makeup of the orchestra at the time, it was all Columbia students and one Barnard woman. Still, loved Barnard…a terrific school. Just didn’t work out for her musical needs.