<p>Well, I suppose someone whose idea of “something to do” is to find a way to drink, that might be the case. But since my d. wanted to be in NY to partake in all the city has to offer, she didn’t have to look for a bar scene as a way of having fun. (My impression was that if she wanted to sit & have a drink with friends, there were plenty of places on the upper west side where one can order a beer or a glass of wine, in any event. I would note, however, that she was 18 when she started college and did not reach her 21st birthday until spring of her junior year. My d. did drink socially – so I am not being self-righteous about that - but I doubt that her idea of fun or socializing was finding a bar. Rather, I think that the drinking was incidental to whatever else they might be doing. ). </p>
<p>Certainly my d. did “traipse” all over the city, uptown, downtown, all over, for all sorts of stuff… but that’s why she was there. NY has this really cool underground transportation system called a “subway” that makes the “traipsing” easy (and relatively cheap). So she “traipsed” down to Lincoln Center, across the park to the Met, to midtown for the MOMA. On cool fall days and sunny spring days she “traipsed” over to the rather endless variety of Central Park. Somehow along the line she managed to “traipse” to all the touristy stuff, like the Statue of Liberty and a boat trip around Manhattan. She traipsed out to restaurants and films and concerts and political gatherings and just about everything and anything that NY has to offer… and I figure that if you don’t want to traipse all around the city, then then there’s not much point in being in NY. </p>
<p>I think that USofArugula did an amazing and pitch-perfect job of describing the pace of city life and in sharing her experience of Barnard. </p>
<p>I don’t understand the hostile response to her post. </p>
<p>Quite frankly, if I had a kid who attended a NYC college and complained to me that there was “nothing to do” on weekends… well, I’d save my money and bring that kid home to attend the local community college. It is New York City! </p>
<p>And my d. didn’t have problems with affording stuff, either. (See Barnard Bartending thread – if you can make $90-$150, cash, for an evening’s work - it’s not all that hard to manage little bit of entertainment from time to time. Plus there’s all sorts of cheap stuff to do in NY, too. )</p>
<p>I agree that USofArugula did a fantastic job of articulating her experiences at Barnard and many of the qualities that make Barnard a unique and fantastic place to attend college. I also am confused about any reason at all for the hostility that seemed to emerge in response to her post. Nobody here is saying that there is anything “wrong” with an experience that one would have at, say, Cornell. But to suggest that all anyone attending Barnard would want to do for fun is “traipse downtown to a bar” is just silly.</p>
<p>For example, my D is a dancer and loves musical theatre. So Barnard and its location in NYC offered opportunities to see many Broadway plays for cheap or free (she worked in the college activities office and directed the program offering free tix to students, so she lead groups each semester…); to take dance classes at various studios with other professionals; to attend open auditions for Broadway productions and for the Radio City Rockettes (she LOVED doing this…no pressure to “get a job”, but lots of great dancing!!); to actually get a great summer job after her freshman year by attending an audition for a regional summer production.</p>
<p>There really is no way she could have done these things in any other location. And that is just a part of what made her experiences at Barnard so memorable. She spent time in museums; loved going to free events in Central Park, etc. I don’t know that she ever had a weekend plan that included traipsing downtown to a bar. </p>
<p>Is Barnard the perfect place for everyone? NO. But it does offer some pretty amazing and unique qualities in a college experience. </p>
<p>Just a side note: I think Calmom and I have a new favorite word: “traipse”.</p>
<p>This may be a bit off topic, but how hard is it REALLY to find a boyfriend at Barnard? I’m a really social person, but is there even a chance to meet guys? I’m thinking of joining a sorority.</p>
<p>Plenty of chances to meet guys. I dated one guy from a club I was in, and another who lived near a friend of mine at Columbia. Orientation really mixes the schools together so many of the friends you make during your first week are Columbia students. Unless you only join Barnard-specific clubs (definitely in the minority), you’ll be exposed to plenty of guys.</p>
<p>I don’t know how much joining a sorority will help you meet guys. Barnard is basically one giant sorority. Not to say you shouldn’t do it, though!</p>
<p>Barnard students usually don’t have classes on Fridays, but both Barnard and Columbia have intense academic expectations with a large amount of reading and studying. Neither is a “party” school in the sense that term is usually used. </p>
<p>If by “party” you simply mean to socialize and have fun, then certainly there is time for that on the weekends. But if you mean a full scale social event with a lot of guests, dancing, drinking etc. – I doubt that most students have the time or energy for that. You are going to need to spend part of your weekend readying and studying, preparing papers, etc. Certainly there is time to go out with friends and socialize – but there is a difference between going out to a party that is going to last until late at night and leave you worn out from partying the next day, and going out for a few hours with friends and then coming back to your room feeling awake (and sober) enough to spend an hour so reading before going to bed. </p>
<p>Anyway, my daughter is very sociable and outgoing, but I saw her spend a lot of time studying and I think one actual “party” per week would have been enough for her – if you mean the large-scale event type. But I remember that during her first year there was a Barnard/Columbia house where the students would have an open potluck dinner every friday night – and my d. enjoyed going to those. Obviously a big potluck is a friendly, social event which may have a fairly large group attending – if that also fits within your definition of “party” then I have no idea how often my d. was going out to socialize in that sense.</p>
<p>I don’t think anybody parties that often. Maybe once or twice a weekend, really depending on exams and assignments. Weekends are major homework periods.</p>
<p>Besides… drinking 3 times a weekend? Hellooooo freshman-15.</p>
<p>To hannahbanana94: there are definitely people who do go out/party/drink 3 nights a week. Most people, as mysteryflavored suggests, would find that to be unworkable with managing their schoolwork. Two times is definitely more common–I think you’ll find that most people who do “party” do so 1-2x per weekend, as their schedule permits.</p>
<p>As for the boyfriend issue, no. It’s not that hard to meet boys. What I think is slightly more difficult is finding the time, and a boy who also has the time and care. I know several women who have boyfriends on campus, several who have boyfriends off-campus (in the city or from home), and several women who are single. I think it mainly depends on your propensity to be in relationships, in general.</p>
<p>As for joining a sorority, that’s a totally viable option! I know a few sisters, and they all seem to appreciate the additional community, and different social opportunities that they offer.</p>
<p>Cornell is an internationally known Ivy school in the top 20 range and Barnard is not on the top 400 list. </p>
<p>Considering the world is smaller now with easy communications, if you are going to have an international career you know which one gives you more oppertunities.</p>
<p>Can I get into Barnard?
ACT: 30
GPA: 3.4
Take all IB classes. Diploma student. so not sure how ib diploma gpa gets weighted…
Honor Role student</p>
<p>EC’s/Activities</p>
<ul>
<li>Academic Games</li>
<li>Model United Nations</li>
<li>Piano diploma</li>
<li>Business Challenge winner at Heriot Watt competition</li>
<li>Tutor at school for 3 years</li>
<li>Senior editor of paper</li>
<li>Student Government</li>
<li>President of club</li>
<li>Researcher/secretary/vice president of 3 other clubs.</li>
<li>Studied 2 other languages than English</li>
<li>Best student award for debate and speaking</li>
<li>Runner up in an international art competition</li>
</ul>
<p>Work experience/Internships
100 + hours at a medical center
summer school at university
Volunteered at 3 orphanages</p>