To add to my post above, I’m reposting a couple of articles that have been mentioned in a different thread – as these really delve somewhat into the difference in advising and student-faculty relations at Columbia & Barnard (and are much more recent than my DD’s experience - one from 2016, another from 2017:
As a Columbia student, I can actually agree with the fact that Barnard’s advising on average is better than Columbia, if only because Barnard utilizes departmental advisors over general advisors, and Barnard has way fewer students than Columbia. However, as a John Jay Scholar, I’ve never had to deal with any of these issues since I have a “special” advisor who not only has fewer advisees, but actually has earned a graduate degree in my field of study. Not everyone can be so lucky, but, still, it’s not like everybody has a terrible experience with Columbia advising.
Other than that, though, I don’t think there’s any objective advantages. While Columbia’s administration is way more bureaucratic and byzantine than Barnard’s, this is because PrezBo (President Bollinger) is focused on his keystone Manhattanville expansion. So I don’t take his aloofness personally. The administration’s distance causes some real issues, but it also means that our school is less likely to accede to student demands and protests. Personally, I’m all for a conservative pace of administrative and cultural change, and seeing Barnard’s administration get so chummy with student activist leaders is distressing if you don’t necessarily agree with the direction in which those student activists are leading the school. Again, just shows that there’s always a silver living.
Barnard has “normal distribution” requirements , typical of liberal arts colleges generally.
Columbia has more stringent academic policies in that all students must take “The Core” a completely abnormal group of required courses that almost no place else in America is burdened with.
An advantage of Barnard is to have these “normal” requirements and not be forced to take The Core.
There is a small subset of students that do affirmatively want to take this particular group of required courses. That subset should certainly try for Columbia since that is virtually the only place in America they can get it.
The rest of humanity should avoid Columbia since these courses eat up a fair number of credits.
Most Barnard students fall into “the rest of humanity” and did not apply to Columbia. While otthers do apply.
Some Columbia students who are enamored with their college admission results are insecure enough to convince themselves that everyone wants to be them, and project this onto Barnard students since they are there. This is one of the less good aspects of being a Barnard student. IMO.
@Aurelian - What you characterize as the administration being “chummy” is what many students consider a welcome sign of respect and willingness to listen. That is alsosomething that may be particularly valuable for women, because women constantly experience being ignored, interrupted, talked over, and “mansplaining” in a variety of situations-- so that may be one reason that women’s colleges are experienced as being empowering.
The bonds that Barnard students form with faculty and deans has benefits that extend beyond the campus. As a first year student my daughter already had connections with several well known and influential faculty member who could write LOR’s for her summer internship and grant applications; and years after she graduated she was able to draw on that network for support for applications for fellowships and grad school,and also the range of contacts that are part of the process of networking.
I’m sure that as John Jay Scholar you also experience some of those benefits, but for a student who is attracted to the idea of a small liberal arts college who is planning to apply to one or the other ED, then that really isn’t an option - that is just special recognition you and a very small fraction of students are given after admission.
Barnard does live up to the promise of providing an LAC-type academic atmosphere. It is not “pure” because Barnard students will also end up taking larger lecture-type classes and deal with their share of grad student TA’s doing grading and leading labs and reciations, but Barnard students also have a measure of control over that in terms of choice of school and major.
It’s fine if you have a different preference and perspective, but it’s a mistake for you to project your own personal preferences and biases on others. When you say that there are no “objective advantages” that simply reflects the fact that you haven’t considered or explored the advantages. For example, my daughter enrolled in upper-level (3000 numbered) courses as electives from her first semester - and she had the flexibility to do that because of the flexibility of not having a core. So “no-core” has the objective advantage of “more flexibility in course choice.” – with a school like Brown being at the extreme end in terms of flexibility.
Are you male or female? I’m guessing male based on your user name – but the only reason I’m asking is that if you are male, you would have had no reason to explore the relative advantages vs. disadvantages of Barnard vs.CC, since that option was never open to you.
Hi @biochem26 ! Can you post some stats of people who got in last year? Also, what’s your favorite and least favorite part of Columbia?
Hi, @biochem26 ! I would also like to know about your favorite and least favorite parts of Columbia! Also, from your username I’m assuming you’re probably majoring in something STEM related? Are you or maybe some of your friends on the pre-med track at Columbia? I’m interested in applying to Columbia ED next year & being pre-med, but I’m not sure if the CORE taking up most of a Columbia student’s schedule will make it difficult to satisfy all the pre-med class requirements. Thanks!
Ehhh…I plan to apply to Barnard next year and I never even knew that it was affiliated with Columbia. I was just looking for LAC’s besides Spelman that were in a great area!
yess can any undergrad students post their stats??
also the supplements stay the same right?
Hey guys! How’s everyone doing? Let’s do this!!!
Whatever happened to the group chat idea let’s make one
Hey so who’s started on their why columbia essay, do you think it’s ok to talk about how much i think i love the city of new york in it. i am from texas btw
Just a quick piece of parental advice - I don’t know how much impact a “why this college” essay has in the long run, but the college ad coms couldn’t care less about how a student feels about a college – they want to know why they should want that student to come. What will student X bring to the college that other students won’t? So if you write about things you like … you are wasting the opportunity to tell the college what they should like about you. So try to picture what you will be doing when you get to college that is particular to your interests and talents, and write about those. For example, a student musician might mention Columbia’s music performance opportunities; a student interested in journalism might write about the quality of the Columbia Spectator; if you want to major in something less common, you might write about the strength of the school’s departments or particular professors or research the school is known for. Your goal is to make yourself stand out – “I love NY” doesn’t do that… unless you want to major in something where the NYC location confers a special advantage, such as Urban Studies (though important to note that the Urban Studies major is housed at Barnard).
I’m so excited to apply and see how everyone does!
hey guys i’ve been posting in quite a few places, but if anyone has any questions, let me know. Although I’m not attending Columbia (going to Princeton), I was accepted last year. I can check essays and other supplement info b/c I truly believe my essays are the reason why I got into the schools I did (3.29 unweighted, lol)
@hodge812 You must’ve had a helluva life story…
@Yarnweaver sorry this is so late! But, as for stats, the Class of 2021 profile is available at the link below. I got in with a 1520 on the SAT, 33 on the ACT, 15 AP exams (I am excessive), and an AICE (Advanced International Certificate of Education) Diploma from Cambridge University. My favorite part(s) of Columbia are obviously NYC (don’t come here if a big city does not appeal to you), the opportunities for research, internships, and even paid jobs both within Columbia and in the city, and the overall fast-paced yet friendly atmosphere.
http://undergrad.admissions.columbia.edu/classprofile/2021
Edit: I forgot to add the link
@savinglives You are correct! I am planning to major in Biochemistry in Columbia College. I will be on a premed track. In regards to your concern about the Core Curriculum taking up most of your classes, IT DOES NOT. Sure, your first year consists of two Core classes (Lit Hum and either UWriting or FroSci), but after that, it is basically one class a semester. Contemporary Civilizations (two semesters like Lit Hum) is taken in your sophomore year. And you can spread out your Global Core requirements, Physical Education, and Art/Music Hum (both one semester) throughout your 4 years here. Most people are done with the Core by their junior year. I have mapped out each semester of my 4 years, and I did not have any issues fitting in all of my major requirements, core classes, and electives.
In regards to pre med, the Preprofessional Advising staff is PHENOMENAL here. They will work with you from your first day of NSOP to whenever you choose to apply to med school, whether it’s your junior and senior years or 3 years after graduation. I can speak from personal experience that they are some of the kindest and most knowledgeable people on Columbia’s campus, and you will have no problem doing a pre med track and any major that suits you (all while fulfilling the Core Curriculum requirements).
In short, the Core will not take up most of your time here, nor will you have a problem scheduling STEM classes here.
Btw, the new credit cap starting the 2017-2018 school year is 18 credits, which is somewhat harder to fit multiple STEM classes into, but not impossible. I’m taking 6 classes this semester:
Lit Hum
UWriting
Calculus III
Intensive Organic Chemistry for First-Years (requires a placement test)
Intensive General Chemistry Lab (requires a placement test)
First-Year Seminar in Modern Biology (super cool to meet faculty researchers!!)
Really excited - I’m thinking about applying ED to columbia, I love the city so much! And, controversially enough, I actually quite like the core curriculum set up.
^ I agree Nicholas that the core curriculum does seem VERY interesting and I’m super excited. I visited campus a few days ago and the info session was really informative and the whole campus seemed SO scholarly and peaceful despite being in a loud and bustling city.