Barnard is very strongly focused on women’s issues, but it is definitely not an all-female environment. Feminist, yes. Female-dominated–yes. But if you attend, most of your Barnard classes will have some men in them, although they are likely to be predominantly women; and you will probably find yourself taking at least some of your classes at Columbia, if for nothing else to fill all the 9-ways-of-knowing requirements. On the other hand, with an arts & humanities focus, you will probably find that you will be able to get most of the classes you want at Barnard, and that even classes you take at Columbia will tend to have more women than men.
At Barnard, you will live in a large corridor-style women’s dorm the first year, but there will be frequent male visitors to students living there – so even if you don’t invite them over, you are going to be seeing men in the elevators and common areas. If you want to be active in various student organizations-- then almost all are shared with Columbia and include men – though you could opt to join a sorority, which may be a way to help strengthen bonds with other women socially. But if “highly activist” means community or political involvement - then those sorts of activities will definitely draw plenty of men as well.
The campus is teensy – it would probably feel very constraining to spend all your time on campus – especially when you are in NYC with all it has to offer --but as soon as you leave campus you are outside the college bubble in a very diverse and vibrant city, so you will be surrounded by masses of people of all ages, ethnicity and genders.
Looking for a great education: – go to Barnard. Strongly want “all women’s” …it just doesn’t work that way.
I think you really are going to have to make a choice between urban and “all” women.
However, I’d add that I think that Barnard does offer the benefits associated with a women’s college – whatever those are. There’s a little bit of of hype and romanticizing there as well - but certainly Barnard is strongly focused on women’s issues.
I have never been to Smith but I have never heard it described as “barren” – it is in a small, vibrant city - Northampton - see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northampton,_Massachusetts for details. So “middle of nowhere” or “isolated” wouldn’t apply.
As to your statement, " I have never been of great wealth and do not want to feel like a second class student at my own college." I am assuming that you have not yet been admitted to any of the colleges, it and may be that your decision will be made for you by admission results and financial aid packages. So it might be premature to be worried about this. However, if you are very much reliant on financial aid, you may find that you feel like a “second class citizen” at any private LAC. I think that dynamic exists everywhere-- the way to avoid that is to attend a public college of university. (Basically, that’s where most middle and lower income students are to be found).
I can tell you that Barnard, being urban, offers plenty of opportunities to earn money. NYC offers plenty of opportunities to spend it.
Financial aid is likely to be stronger at Wellesley or Smith than Barnard – and Smith offers some merit aid, which gives them the flexibility to also give preferential packaging to some students.
I would just say - wait and see where you get in. Don’t make your decision based on stereotypes --instead look at college as a time to expand your horizons and challenge yourself. Part of the challenge will be letting go of the idea of a perfect or dream college, and recognizing that wherever you go, you are in charge of your own life and have the ability to shape your own experience.
Smith has a good art department with nice studios. Smith and Mount Holyoke (close by, free bus connecting them) have terrific art museums.