<p>You do know that Columbia and Barnard are two different institutions, right? Sure, they are affiliates and have very close ties, but it doesn't mean they shouldn't have their own identities. Those who applied to, were accepted in, and enrolled at Columbia over Barnard did so for a reason (other than their gender status). Same thing goes for Barnard. According to the info session and tour I went to today, there are only 1000 students per class and a total of 5000 undergraduates. That is much smaller than almost all of the other Ivies. The campus is very close-knit, not spread out. If you're referring to the students venturing out into the city, well, that's inevitable in any urban area. It actually sounds like you're looking for an isolated school, but with opportunities and entertainment closeby. I'd recommend Dartmouth and Brown.</p>
<p>Actually, I'll add Princeton to the list as well. I live right next to it, and I can tell you that it definitely does have a homey feel to it. It feels like one of those old villages where everyone knows their neighbors and trusts everyone around them. It's where all the local young adults go, since the next closest locations are Philadelphia, Atlantic City, and anywhere else down the shore. Of course, there are always those Jersey punks skating around Palmer Square (ironically) across the street from Coach and Banana Republic. In any case, you'd only have to worry about running into deer (which is, unfortunately, a serious problem in this area), not students wandering away from the main campus. It really is a beautiful place, and I definitely recommend that you visit.</p>