Choosing between Barnard and Princeton

My daughter believes that Barnard may have more congenial and supportive, less competitive culture.
She is interested in medicine, loves to learn and is very intellectually curious, without having a clear idea which major to choose.
She is a hard worker, but having attended a rural high school may not have as strong study skills as kids coming from top public or boarding schools.
We live in the Midwest and have visited and enjoyed both NYC and Princeton in the past.
Our family is not well off financially and even though Barnard has been very generous, it will be a great challenge to afford to go there. The Princeton financial aid is truly amazing.
Thank you for your thoughts.

Princeton because, in your case, it is affordable. Princeton offers easy access to NYC.

There is much to recommend in both schools - but I’d go with the comfortably affordable option in Princeton.

My sons were among the many applying for Class of 2022. They were within the range grades/scores (as so many are) but it was a no. The reputation, beautiful campus and incredible financial aid were all factors. The chance for minimal college debt, awesome opportunity.

Princeton!

I usually push for Barnard because my D goes there and loves it, but I think Princeton is the right choice for you. NYC is a very expensive city as everyone knows. Socialization in the city quickly add up. If you want to stay in the city for the summer for internship, the cost of the housing is a pain in the sphincter.

I push for more affordable option.

Princeton is rough if medicine is the goal - high GPA’s are not easy, even after they’ve gotten rid of the official grade deflation policies.

Another vote for Princeton. I’ve lived close to campus for the past 2 decades and have worked for the University. It is a truly special place. To be able to earn a Princeton degree and come away with minimal debt is the opportunity of a lifetime. Incredible alumni network, great campus, easy access to both NYC and Philadelphia. If you need any info about the area, DM me. Best of luck and congrats to your daughter on such great options - I’m sure she’s worked hard for them!

The academic environment is generally congenial and supportive. In science labs students frequently work as a team. Premeds can choose between multiple majors. Most popular majors for Princeton med school applicants are Molecular Biology, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Chemistry, Psychology, Chemical & Biological Engineering, Anthropology, Woodrow Wilson School, Economics, History, and Sociology.

All Molecular Biology undergraduates are given the opportunity to become fully integrated members of cutting-edge research laboratories. One indication of the success of the program is the number of research publications with undergraduates as authors. Since the inception of the department in 1985, over 160 undergraduates have co-authored significant research papers.

I went to a high school in the Midwest. Your daughter will quickly develop good study skills because she will enjoy her classes and her her friends will be studying. Students in NYC tend to go clubbing and need money for entertainment. Princeton students stay on campus because there are so many campus activities (300 student organizations, 35 varsity sports, 70 to 80 musical groups). Princeton students have a very high med school acceptance rate. Visit for Princeton Preview so that your daughter can talk to premed majors.

Princeton. Why would you pay more for Barnard? That doesn’t make sense to me.

Run the numbers here: http://www.finaid.org/calculators/awardletter.phtml Then talk them through with her. Be honest about what the differences mean for the family and for her in particular.

Both the Princeton and Barnard admissions teams believe that she can be successful at their institutions. Yes, both would require adjustments given her high school background, but she will bring so much to the classroom because her background is different. Encourage her to have faith that she is not an admissions mistake.

I can understand her preference for Barnard. It might have been mine too at her age. However, it looks like it isn’t really affordable for your family. So unless she has other options on the table (or unless Barnard can increase her aid because of the offer from Princeton), Princeton is the better choice.

On CC.

Princeton vs. Superman, Thor, Wonder Woman and Michael Phelps.

Princeton. Lol.

Tells you how great Barnard is - some posters compared them practically.

But I have to agree in your situation it should be Princeton despite OPs love for Barnard.

^ That’s probably not too far off the mark…

I agree w/ Princeton. My D seriously considered Barnard last year and my D spent time there with a student she knew. It’s a very ‘go go’ campus and students can be pretty intense. Not a lot of quiet places to escape to. Great place – don’t get me wrong – but w/ more affordable Princeton on the table which offers everything, I say go for it.

She can take the train to NYC very easily – get a summer internship there, etc. She’ll probably meet people from NYC she can go home with…

Congrats to your D for all her hard work and success!!

Princeton, definitely. It’s the more affordable choice. Don’t go into debt for Barnard.

I went to Barnard, and my daughter is a Princeton senior. Both Barnard and Princeton emphasize undergraduate teaching, but Columbia College does not, and Barnard students generally take courses at both Barnard and Columbia. I did enjoy my Barnard courses, but my Columbia courses- not so much (and most of the latter were taught by graduate students).

Princeton offers a lot of academic support at no additional cost (e.g. workshops, tutoring). Google The McGraw Center and The Writing Center (Princeton) for more info. A student who works hard and takes advantage of these academic resources and professor office hours will be successful!

I would strongly suggest Princeton for a better education and experience. I have heard complaints that Barnard can feel too small and impersonal. I am not sure I have heard a legitimate complaint against Princeton.