Barnard vs UIowa Honors for English major with tract in creative writing?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Iowa
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<p>Hello! I am well into my college process and it has narrowed down to two schools that I'd like your opinion on. I plan to be an English major with a tract in Creative Writing and two notable schools have entered my radar: The University of Iowa and Barnard College of Columbia University. Both excellent. Both different in many ways. If I undergrad at Barnard, I will surely go to Iowa Creative Writers Workshop. If I undergrad at Iowa Honors, I plan on going to Columbia's MFA program. I, however, don't know which tract to choose.</p>

<p>UIowa pros: a real college feel that I won't get any other time in my life; school pride, great campus; I'll probably get As more easily; the honors programs is fabulous; I visited there and feel like a queen; I am an NCAA Div 1 athlete and I'm getting money for both merit and athletics.</p>

<p>UIowa cons: almost EVERYONE there is from Iowa, and I am from the northeast so it will be hard to get home or have people relate to me in terms of being homesick and not able to drive to my house (I'd have to take a plane with a connection), it's in the middle of nowhere (compared to New York); I'm not sure about job opportunities afterward.</p>

<p>Barnard pros: it's in the middle of New York, it's small and (though this sounds trivial) they pick my roommate by hand; I can relate to the girls there (they are smart and feminist like me!), Columbia is right across the street; job opportunities afterward are endless, beautiful campus; the diversity is endless and there are people from all around the country and world</p>

<p>Barnard cons: it's expensive; classes are HARD and I'm not sure how that will lay the groundwork for me for graduate school; there's not a true, college sense surrounding there (no football, huge parties, men running around being, well, MEN)-- I KNOW there are Columbia guys there, but they are not like other college kids</p>

<p>I want to write books and be happy and possibly find a boy of my dreams. I'm a novelist, so even though that sounds cheesy, that's the only thing I really imagine for my future. I'm afraid if I choose one that I'll lament not choosing the other. So, any guidance is appreciated!!</p>

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<p>Very interesting post. I think your approach to your analysis, and your plan/idea to start at one school and then finish at the other makes perfect sense. </p>

<p>I can comment on some of your concerns. Our kiddo is currently a freshman at Iowa and loving it, as far as I can tell. She grew up in California, but wanted to try something different, so focused on midwest and east coast (coincidentally, Columbia was on her radar, but Iowa as a better match for her).</p>

<p>She has actually found Iowa to be the best of both worlds. Surprisingly diverse, as the number of OOS and foreign students is way up recently (see their new freshman statistics from the UIowa registrar web site – linked via the A-Z search on the home page). And she is really enjoying the traditional college experience, school spirit, very friendly people. Meeting lots of nice people from all over the US and beyond, including people from many backgrounds and cultures – her circle of friends seems as diverse (or more so) as compared with what I’d expect in NYC. Iowa has been trying to attract people from the coasts and overseas with great results. I think the # of California freshmen went from ~20 to ~50 in one year. </p>

<p>Regarding getting there, the Iowa City airport makes getting there more convenient than many colleges - Fly to Chicago, then a short flight to Cedar Rapids (easy airport to get through - very small), and then a 30 minute personal shuttle door - to door. Contrast with Indiana – a scheduled bus from busy Indianapolis that leaves every 2 hours, takes 75-90 minutes, and then you have to get to your dorm. Also, there is bus service to Chicago to get your weekend big city fix. </p>

<p>Others here can comment on the Honor’s program, but I hear it is great. With test scores that get you into Columbia, apply to Iowa early and you can probably get a great scholarship or two (specific scholarships you can apply for). </p>

<p>Now, all this said, Iowa is not Columbia and the NYC/Ivy experience, so only you can assess the tradeoffs for you personally. Also, our Happy Hawkeye revels in diversity – At Iowa, you can find diversity or avoid it. At Columbia, you are immersed in it. </p>

<p>I hope this helps – please bounce back if you have other questions about Iowa – several great regulars here who will also probably share their perspectives.</p>

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<p>My son is loving Iowa but he grew up in Illinois so he’s not having any culture shock. You’ll have to make that decision as to where you would be happy. He seems to be excelling academically (he’s only a first semester freshman though so no grades yet) so there’s something to be said for going to a less competitive school. It’s not easy though, he is working very hard. Also, I’m sure that being in English/creative writing, you would tend to be with some of the more liberal, feminist students and professors if you are afraid of being in a too conservative environment.</p>

<p>Another thing we like about Iowa is its price tag, especially after merit aid. That would be a huge advantage over Barnard. We live in a college town and students here complain about it being in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of cornfields, etc. Well, duh, it is, but I can go for days without seeing corn if I don’t leave town and there is a ton going on on campus so I’m not sure where else they would want to go. Just make sure if you go to Iowa, the fact that there are plenty of cornfields around won’t make you unhappy.</p>

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<p>Smart, it sounds like you’ve visited both schools at least once and have picked up on the vibe of each. Listen closely to your response to those vibes - analysis is great and necessary but at some point in the process you’ll have to trust your gut and instincts. There’s no escaping that moment of closing your eyes and jumping off the cliff.</p>

<p>RWE’s right in his description of the student body at Iowa. This year’s freshmen class has fewer IA residents that OOS’ers. It would be incorrect to say “everyone is from Iowa.” More importantly, Iowa will actually have a more diverse (intellectually) population than Barnard specifically because it IS a large public university. Barnard will cut a much smaller slice of the population - far more valedictorians, top 10%ers, 32+ ACT scorers etch. But in real numbers, Iowa is likely to have the same - it’s just that along with them you will have ordinary kids of ordinary backgrounds and yes, some will be from Iowa farms. You are, after all, looking at 25k undergrads or something. I’d say that if it’s essential that everyone on your floor be conversant in Faulkner or Kant, maybe Iowa’s not for you. If the idea of your roommate being from a farm freaks you out, take heed. But if you live in Daum as a freshman (Honors dorm) you will find your intellectual equals and won’t have to go far to find them. </p>

<p>If you’ve been to Iowa and met with the Honors program, you know about the tremendous flexibility it allows you to “craft” your own education. You know about the enormous resources there to help you find the right internship or study abroad opportunity. Honors at Iowa is entirely about charting one’s own course.</p>

<p>As for distance from home, you will find that the vast majority of kids stay on campus on the weekend, regardless of their home town. And Iowa City is a very progressive college town. To write it off as a hick town would be a mistake (not to say you have).</p>

<p>I hope you’ll keep us posted on your journey. My sense is that you’re a bright girl really wrestling with the real-world atmosphere of Iowa with the, well, elitism of Barnard. And with that elitism there no doubt comes a nice chunk of prestige - I’m not saying elitism is all bad. It ultimately boils down to your values.</p>

<p>Good luck. Let us know.</p>

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<p>Thanks so much for everyone’s help and information! I think I’m going to go ahead and apply ED to Barnard and, if I don’t get in, I will go to UIowa. If I don’t try for Barnard, I’d be kicking myself in the butt while at Iowa. I know that I will eventually work my way into the Iowa Writer’s Workshop and, reflecting on the atmosphere and crossing it with my own personality, I think I will be able to prosper at Barnard just as easily as I will at Iowa, though they are two different types of brands. I wish you all (and your children) a successful journey in this college process!</p>

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<p>Thank you for letting us know what approach you are taking. Sounds like a solid, well-reasoned plan to me. Good luck, and please let us know how it turns out for you.</p>

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<p>Sorry to bump up this thread, but since you guys wanted to know my track, I thought I’d update you. I have applied Early Decision to Barnard College of Columbia University and have officially gotten in. Iowa would’ve been a fantastic place for me and I will do anything to get in there for graduate school. I think Barnard will prepare me well, and I will still cheer for my hawkeyes. Thank you all for your kind guidance! Best of luck.</p>

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<p>Congratulations on your acceptance to Barnard! That is quite an accomplishment. I’m sure you will be very happy there.</p>

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<p>Congratulations on your acceptance to Columbia – thank you for letting us know, and good luck! I’d enjoy hearing about your impressions after your first semester – I’m confident you will be very happy there, and we’ll look forward to seeing you in Iowa City in ~2015!</p>