<p>Hey all, I’m a current Barnard first year student on winter vacation. So while I’m very bored at home, I would be very happy to answer any questions regarding academics, dorm life, etc. Ask away, for once the second semester starts, it’s going to be hard to do much of anything! :)</p>
<p>Hey! I certainly have quite a few:</p>
<p>Im actually applying as a transfer student so Id love to get as much insight as possible:</p>
<p>1)Whats the Barnard social scene like? What is the student body like in general?
2)I know that academics at Barnard are challenging but I wonder if its extremely difficult to get A’s in classes and the like?</p>
<p>3) I don’t know if you know anything about this but what are the stats for law school admission from Barnard? </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Sure! Let me try to answer these to the best of my ability!</p>
<p>1) The Barnard student body is unique - I think that’s what makes it Barnard. You have girls who are interested in so many different things academically and socially, and I find that to be very refreshing. Some people have complained in the past that it’s hard to find a group of friends right off the bat, but I don’t necessarily think that it’s different at other colleges. Eventually, you fall into your group of friends and you’re off - joining clubs definitely helps this, because you are with a group of people that share the same interests as you. As far as going out and things, you really only see it on the weekends. It is, after all, a challenging school. People certainly do go out, contrary to the belief that the students are only chilling in the library. And there are so many things to do - it is New York. So there are always people going to clubs, bars, restaurants, parties, you name it. And there are of course people who aren’t into the party scene and hang out together and talk/watch a movie or something. It’s really up to you and how you want to spend your time.</p>
<p>2) Barnard is certainly challenging, and so is Columbia (although my Barnard classes were harder, to tell the truth). This is such a generic answer, but you really get out of your classes what you put in. I think that it is certainly possible to get A’s (I did) just by staying on top of your stuff. You’re already in college so you know how easy it is to procrastinate and let everything pile up. It’s also influenced by the classes you are in. I’m sure that it’s a lot harder to get an A in orgo for some people than it is to get an A in say, a sociology course. That is how it would be for me, but everybody is different. You make it work, and I think that the majority of the professors are really there to help you. Also, they really do notice who goes to class and who doesn’t. Attendance can definitely affect your grade. </p>
<p>3) I’m really not sure about the law school stats are for Barnard, but I know that if you are really interested in law school you can get Dean Kuan Tsu to help you out with planning.
here’s a little blurb on that:
[Barnard</a> College, Online Course Catalogue](<a href=“http://www.barnard.edu/catalog/ac_advising.php]Barnard”>http://www.barnard.edu/catalog/ac_advising.php)</p>
<p>Did that help at all? Can I be more specific on anything?</p>
<p>No those were really helpful responses, thanks alot! I’m in the process of finishing up my application as I write this so I’m kind of tense right now reviewing my essays and all haha</p>
<p>Good luck! Barnard is a great place, and if you come next year I hope you enjoy it just as much as I do!</p>
<p>Did you find students from Columbia to act “superior” towards you when they found out you were from Barnard, or was it really not that big of an issue??</p>
<p>I feel like if that happened at all, it was during orientation week when everybody was out for themselves and wanted to seem cool. But, haha, no, I have not felt that way at all. There are jokes about Barnard, but plenty of jokes about SEAS, and even some about CC, so it all works out in the end. I love my Columbia friends!</p>
<p>yayy!!! hahaha thanks for answering my question! I have another one! Kinda random but I got in ED, I really want to buy Barnard Gear! but someone told me that during orientation week, they give a bunch of free stuff. Is that true or should I just start buying things?</p>
<p>Hi! I recently finished my common app and I really want to get into Barnard. (My # 1 choice!) I have one question… but it’s really ridiculous…
I found out that I made a grammatical error on my personal essay. Should I contact the admissions office or one of the staff members? (I have e-mailed them a couple times before about other Q’s). I know it sounds silly, but I’m kinda freaking out about this! ><</p>
<p>Also, what’s Barnard like? I live in Cali, but I visit NY every year to see my family and I stopped by Barnard once… I didn’t get to see the whole campus.</p>
<p>Thanks in advance! :)</p>
<p>No problem guys, I know what it’s like to be really excited about Barnard!</p>
<p>As far as the Barnard gear goes, you get some free stuff during orientation. From what I remember you get a first year focus tote bag and a free lanyard for your keys, and then on the first day of classes the deans give you something with your class on it…this year we got tote bags with our class year on them, and I think students have received water bottles in the past. Things like that. So you don’t really get clothing. If that’s what you want, go ahead and buy a sweatshirt or something!</p>
<p>Haha pasteleaves, I think you are fine. We’re all human, just take a deep breath and relax. They won’t be reading for grammar, they just want to get a sense of who you are as a student and what you would bring to Barnard. I really don’t think a small thing like that would make or break your admission decision. </p>
<p>Well, as to your last question it’s kind of hard to answer. I live in New England, so I’m used to the weather getting cold. Barnard is a great campus, but it’s very small. Something like 4 acres? Not large at all, but we do have our own patch of grass! The neighborhood it’s in, Morningside Heights, is a great place to be in NYC. It’s really safe and although it is relatively quiet compared to other neighborhoods like the Village, there are always things going on. Um, what else? Our new student center is opening at the beginning of next semester, so that should really bring people together (not to mention the required meal plans that are being instated for every class starting next year, but you don’t need to worry about that). Maybe a more specific question regarding what Barnard is like may help - do you want to know about the campus itself, or the dorms?</p>
<p>What are some of the traditions Barnard has? I became super interested in this aspect of student life after reading about the Midnight Breakfast… I love how community oriented and supportive Barnard is :D</p>
<p>What’s a typical school day like?
Like…when you get up…where you go for breakfast…when your first class is and how long it is…is there very much class discussion…when classes finish…what do you do afterwards…how late you stay up…that sort of thing:)</p>
<p>Oh and what was the huge subway sandwhich thing like?</p>
<p>Barnard has a lot of quirky traditions, but they’re fun. Midnight breakfast is one, where all the administrators and deans serve you breakfast around midnight the night before finals begin, and there’s music and fun stuff like that. It’s always themed - this year was a disco theme. There’s also big sub, which Katy refers to. That’s early on in the semester when MacAc gets a huge sub that wraps around the entire campus, and everybody from BC/CU comes out. You can’t take it before the actual hour it starts, but within 2 minutes the entire thing is gone! There’s a lot of stuff revolving around food at Barnard and Columbia. Let’s see…there are lots of BBQs to go to. There are also things revolved around the deans, like knitting with Dean Denburg (this past semester SGA had doll making with Dean Denburg, and all the dolls were given to a local hospital). Let me try to think of more!</p>
<p>Well, a typical school day differs for everyone. This isn’t high school, remember, so everybody can create their own schedules. You can have morning classes that start at 9, or you can try to make it so that all of your classes start in the evening. It’s really up to you. My friend took a film class that ended at 10:30 at night once a week. I can share what my days were like, though. I had afternoon classes (my earliest class started at 1 in the afternoon, and my latest class ended at 5:30 at night), which I didn’t really like because I learned that I like to get up earlier and would preferably have morning classes. So I got up at like 8 or 9, went to Hewitt (our dining hall) for breakfast because all first years have to be on an unlimited meal plan there, and then I would do stuff in the morning before class, like work out or do homework. When it’s over, it depends on what you have to do. If you have to do homework (which you always do) you go do it wherever you want. Or you go to clubs or things. Really, it’s different for everyone. College is like that - if you want to stay up until 3 am and wake up at 12 noon, then make your schedule that way. Nobody’s going to stop you.</p>
<p>Hello! I’m an RD applicant AND I’M FREAKING OUT. The deadline passed, and I turned everything in, except today I found out that I need a counselor recommendation which my application did not have. SHOOT.
I emailed my counselor and I’m going to talk to him tomorrow morning.
But do you think Barnard will be okay with this?! What should I do?!</p>
<p>I know there’s no typical barnard student but as a whole how do people act about their classes? Are they in them because they have to be or are most people engaged with what they are learning?</p>
<p>Um, I really don’t know about the recommendation thing. Make sure that Barnard gets it ASAP, and call them to explain the delay if you feel that you can convince them that it was a misunderstanding.</p>
<p>Well, everyone is just different. I’m in my classes because I want to learn about the material. But here’s something about Barnard and Columbia that I have noticed: there is a large population of students who come from affluent backgrounds and SOME of them do not necessarily understand that it costs a lot of money to go to college. Now, that’s not a general stereotype or anything and I don’t mean to offend anyone, but that’s something I’ve noticed. Some people just don’t go to class. I feel like if people “had” to be in class out of obligation rather than a genuine interest in the subject, they probably just wouldn’t go. But this is an opportunity to pick your classes, so I don’t understand why people wouldn’t go to class. For the majority of kids I talk to, they go to their classes because they are actually interested.</p>
<p>do you get to CHOOSE a class taught by a specific professor?</p>
<p>Like First Year Seminar or some other class that is taught by more than one professor…do you have the freedom to choose which one you want to take if the schedule allows?</p>
<p>Hey guys, I’m another Barnard first-year and I wanted to give another perspective –</p>
<p>In re Columbia/Barnard – I don’t think that it is common for anyone to be outwardly hateful to a Barnard student, but I would describe the relationship as somewhat tense. I’ve heard Barnard girls bashing Columbia and the other way around. It’s stupid and it’s not really a big deal, but I would say that in general, Columbia students do feel superior to Barnard. The tension goes both ways, as some Barnard girls think Columbia students are elitist/whatever. But like I said, no one really cares. Ultimately, almost everyone I know has friends from both schools. So yes, the tension is there, but it’s nothing significant. </p>
<p>About people being engaged in classes – like barnardstudent said earlier, it’s very hard to “type” Barnard students. People say that there are no slackers at Barnard, but I’d say that’s absolutely untrue. There are people who don’t go to class, people who don’t pay attention, people who don’t do the reading – and many, many genuinely interested, committed students there to balance out the people who are less invested. In my experience, my classes are filled with people who have a lot to say – people who are very actively engaged in the material. But not everyone at Barnard is like that. I’d say it’s a perfect balance…Barnard isn’t a slacker school in the least, but it’s not really a grind school either. Because of that, classes are both relaxed and intellectually stimulating.</p>
<p>To onioneagle: yes, you can choose classes by professor.</p>
<p>When we register for classes, we use the Columbia Directory of Classes. (It’s online here – [CU</a> Directory of Classes](<a href=“http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/]CU”>http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/)) It says the time, meeting place, number of students, and professor. </p>
<p>However, when you pre-register this summer (aka sign up for classes for 1st semester based on a list of offerings for freshmen that you will receive later), you will not be able to see the professor. Once you arrive on campus, there will be an add/drop period during which you may change your schedule – then, you would use the online directory and you’d be able to see the professors. </p>
<p>The only exception is for first year English and seminar classes. You cannot drop these classes and you do not find out until later who your professor will be. Some seminars are taught repeatedly by only one professor, so you might be able to make your choice by going on [url=<a href=“http://www.culpa.info%5DCULPA”>http://www.culpa.info]CULPA</a> - Columbia Underground Listing of Professor Ability<a href=“our%20version%20of%20ratemyprofessor.com”>/url</a> and seeing who is listed for the class you want to take.</p>
<p>I hope that makes sense and is helpful!</p>
<p>Yeah to go back to the BC/CU thing, I think everything depends on who you are friends with, etc. I certainly don’t feel like Columbia kids act like they are superior to me at all. But I’m also not looking for that tension. I’m not saying that rnb is looking to “pick a fight” or something (I think it’s great that she’s providing a different perspective) but during orientation week in particular I felt like people from both sides of the street were looking to find any sort of tension about the BC/CU relationship. In my own experience, the Columbia kids, including guys, have even praised Barnard rather than bash it. Again, everyone’s experience is different. My advice is to ignore it when you get to campus that first week. And if people spend more than the first few days trying to dwell on something that stupid, you don’t want to hang out with them anyways. </p>
<p>And yeah, there are definite slackers at Barnard and Columbia. It’s college. People are away from home for the first time. The only thing I would say in response to rnb is that I don’t really know what you mean about Barnard not being a grind school - I don’t really know what a grind school is. Plus, we are only first years…the classes are just going to get tougher.</p>