<p>Hi, everyone! I'm a rising Junior at Barnard and found this thread tonight after a bout of boredom. I used to come here when I was applying to colleges. I've scanned through this thread and have found myself needing to defend good old Barnard and to settle this Barnard-Columbia thing once and for all as a Barnard woman. </p>
<p>First of all, I want to say that I am very, very proud to be a Barnard woman, and when I applied, I looked at Barnard before I looked at Columbia. Columbia was an added bonus, but I would've taken Barnard even if Columbia wasn't across the street. And many Barnard women would tell you the same thing. I guarantee you that the ones who find themselves pining for life across Broadway are in the minority simply because everyone values the close-knit community that Columbia, as a large research university, lacks.</p>
<p>Second of all, the relationship between Barnard and Columbia is only bureaucratically and administratively confusing and frustrating. The only main things that separate Barnard and Columbia students are meal plans and swipe access, which aren't that big of a deal in terms of life on campus. Other than that, Columbia and Barnard students have complete access to each other's facilities and resources. When you descend the ladder that extends from the Board of Trustees to the students, you will find that Columbia and Barnard students don't feel any different from each other. Yes, I have met hostile Columbia students who can't stand Barnard women, but they are in the minority. Most students from both schools get over these petty and pointless differences after the first year, just as most students stop asking each other what their SAT scores were. Sensible and serious people understand that Barnard and Columbia students are on equal levels because they take the same classes, write the same papers, dwell in the same libraries every weekend, take the same exams, and have the same professors. I have taken an equal amount of Barnard and Columbia courses, and in many of them, I can tell you that Barnard women excelled over Columbia students a lot of the times. We did not come in through the back door; we work just as hard, if not harder, than our Columbia counterparts. </p>
<p>Thirdly, in terms of our degrees, yes, our degrees say that we went to 'Barnard College, Columbia University'. Because we did. We took Barnard and Columbia courses and interacted with students and faculty of both schools. We didn't only go to Barnard or only go to Columbia. The most important thing about this is that future employers know this. (At least, for me, that's important.) Barnard women have an impeccable reputation with employers in major cities. Any reputable employer knows that a Barnard grad is just as good as a Columbia grad. We're bright, ambitious, and a force to be reckoned with -- just look at Martha Stewart (minus her jailbird days, lol). The only time I will say that I go to 'Columbia' is when I'm talking to someone I know has no clue where Barnard is. (A lot of the times they don't even know where Columbia is!) This is also for the sake of not having to explain this complex relationship to someone who really doesn't care. But if I'm talking to a prospective employer or someone who knows about prestigious education, I'll say 'Barnard' before 'Columbia'. Often times that is actually better because you never know where you'll meet a Barnard alumna who is eager to hire a Barnard student. (They're everywhere, I swear!)</p>
<p>Lastly, I just want to add that Columbia elitism is not the only elitism that exists in Morningside Heights. Barnard women can be just as elitist, if not more elitist, than Columbia students. We have a lot of pride for this school and the people who go/went here. The community spirit here is incredible; I've never met a body of women who cared so much for each other. If you go to our dining hall, you'll always find a few disgruntled students who are upset with the invading Columbia men who eat all our food. Or if you talk about Columbia's core curriculum and swimming test with a Barnard student, you'll surely get a scoff, a laugh, and a "I'm glad we don't have to go through that crap because we have more freedom in choosing our courses and fulfilling our requirements." We love our professors, our courses, and the campus staff, and we would choose them over Columbia faculty any day simply because our faculty is more approachable and friendly. I'm not saying that all Columbia professors are unapproachable by nature, but sometimes Columbia courses can be too big to really approach instructors. </p>
<p>And if I were an employer deciding between a Columbia and a Barnard grad, I'd choose a Barnard grad because Barnard women are just... different. You'll have to come here and meet us to know what I mean. :)</p>