Have questions about Barnard?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Barnard College
41

<p>Morningside Heights, Barnard’s neighborhood, is one of the safest in the city. No kidding. I mean, do you want to go walking around Riverside Park after dark? No, definitely not. But I’d say if you walk with someone after dark, or get a security escort from the college, you are absolutely fine. There have been some muggings, but that happens really everywhere in the city, and I think that if you are aware of your surroundings and don’t walk around with your head in the clouds you are totally fine. Sometimes I think people put their guards down too soon because they think that it’s just Columbia in the neighborhood, but really, the college is in the city. There is a lot of security and the neighborhood is very safe by itself, but you always need to be vigilant. Does that make sense? </p>

<p>And as to your next question about feminism: I think that to say that Barnard grads become raging feminists is a huge stereotype. I mean, going to Barnard means that you have appreciation for the idea of a women’s college that comes from feminist ideals. I’m not going to say that you won’t experience classes that cover feminist topics or professors who are strong feminists, but I really wouldn’t go as far to say that you are going to go burn your bra or something when you graduate. I actually have to laugh at that! And for the example that you provided about policemen, here’s a little anecdote: we’re technically “first years” at Barnard, but my friends say “freshmen” all the time. Don’t worry, you didn’t sound offensive, but remember that there are always stereotypes. Instead of saying that Barnard grads are raging feminists, I would say that Barnard grads are sophisticated women who were educated in an environment that was consistently encouraging towards women, and had the attitude that women can do just as much as men can. There you go. Any other Barnard students have something to add to that?</p>

<p>I’m not in MUN, but I do know someone who is. I know that they have a very large conference every year, and here is the link to that website. Maybe you can get some info off of that:
[CMUNCE</a> 2010 | The Model UN Conference for High-School Students At Columbia University in the City of New York](<a href=“http://cmunce.org/]CMUNCE”>http://cmunce.org/)
Their conference is coming up this week I’m pretty sure, so my friend is probably very busy. But I’ll try to get some more info for you!</p>

42

<p>I don’t think that Barnard women are intimidated by each other, nor do they compete with one another. When I tell my friends (or even just hallmates) about some problem I’m having or some success I’ve had, they are nothing but supportive. The fact that everyone is so intelligent and driven pushes me to work harder, but I’ve never felt any competitive spirit at all. It’s a really warm and friendly place.</p>

43

<p>I’m sure this question has been covered a lot, but I’d like to hear any additional perspectives.
Is it difficult to make guy friends when going to a women’s college like Barnard?</p>

44

<p>Does Barnard help with finding off-campus housing?</p>

45

<p>As far as I know, Barnard doesn’t specifically offer help to find off-campus housing because on-campus housing is guaranteed for the entire four years. Honestly, I’m not exactly sure why you wouldn’t want to live in Barnard’s housing because it is convenient for the most part in proximity to the campus, and for the price it is pretty cheap for NYC real estate.</p>

46

<p>barnardstudent, thanks for starting this thread. It is one of the better threads on cc. It gives a good flavor of the what the Barnard experience is like.</p>

47

<p>How is Barnard with financial aid awards? Do most people who apply get at least a little bit of aid?</p>

48

<p>I am fairly certain that Barnard does NOT help with off-campus housing. The only reason they would, I imagine, is if campus housing was absolutely full and there was no space available. But I don’t think that will happen…so, nope.</p>

49

<p>post #43 asked: "Is it difficult to make guy friends when going to a women’s college like Barnard? "</p>

<p>Nobody answered this question, did they.</p>

<p>The fair, straight answer is yes, relative to a fully coed environment. An obvious supposition positively confirmed by D2. </p>

<p>The most natural setting for developing friendships are in the dorms, and there are no guys living in the dorms. Some of the other settings where encounters may be expected(eg bars, street pickups) tend to be less friendship oriented/conducive, as they are not occurring in the ordinary course of things. Yes there are still extracurriculars and classes, but without the dorms it’s just that much less. Plus there’s the overall M-F ratio. Moreover, the Columbia & Barnard student bodies are not completely compatible, or cohesive.</p>

<p>As for other womens colleges, elsewhere on CC a Smith student posted this:</p>

<p>"As for not having guy friends, it can’t be denied that it’s harder to cultivate new male friendships at a women’s college, though again, with the consortium it’s definitely not impossible. "</p>

<p>And comments of an alum of an unspecified women’s college were described as follows:</p>

<p>"I had an alumna interview earlier today, and the alumna who interviewed me stated something interesting about how women’s colleges prepared her for real life. At women’s colleges, you have to actually search for the social life, which is much like one would experience in real life. After all, there won’t be fourteen parties and a bunch of guys waiting for one in the real world. =) "</p>

<p>Not saying it’s a bad school,just fairly answering the question, not ducking it. Everything has pluses and minuses and people should be aware of what they are getting into, warts and all. Doesn’t mean you will have a bad time. D2 did date someone there freshman year- unlike any of her other friends there- nevertheless still made the stated observations. Lots of people find many postitives there which they feel more than compensate. Just this particular issue is , relatively speaking, not one of those positives.</p>

50

<p>I have to take issue with that, because most of my daughter’s friends are guys. Her best friends her first year were a freshman from Columbia who had gone to the same high school as her roommate, and an older GS student she met via a student association. Her biggest problem was that she stressed over whether she could find girls to room with the following year, as she didn’t feel she had that many close women friends. (She did in fact find a group to room with, but the issue was moot because their wasn’t a spot for them at room selection only – my d. opted instead for the housing waitlist for the following year and ended up in great room in a suite with some terrific women – so it all worked out in the end). </p>

<p>I think it depends on the person and their interests. My d. is active and outgoing --she’s not the type to want to hang out in her room anyway – and she found that the academic demands at Barnard meant that she needed to spend a lot of time studying. So I think for her – her dorm room became a place for quiet studying, not socializing – and the places she went to socialize had plenty of guys. </p>

<p>My d. would definitely have preferred co-ed dorms as well as a co-ed learning environment – she went to Barnard in spite of its being a women’s college, not because of it – but if anything it’s been harder for her to make female friends than male friends.</p>

51

<p>My D had an extensive network of guy friends at Columbia. She also dated someone at Columbia frosh year, and then acquired a long distance bf.</p>

<p>I would concur that it’s not as easy as it would have been in co-ed dorms.</p>

<p>DD’s feeling was that Barnard women are more assertive in coed groups than her friends (even at Columbia) who attended coed schools. May just be a rationalization.</p>

<p>She did end college with three or four life long women friends and a BF so I think she was satisfied with her college experience.</p>

<p>She has very close guy friends from high school and was looking for more women friends.</p>

52

<p>Can Barnard students use flex points?</p>

53

<p>It’s complicated. Barnard students can buy “Dining Dollars” – see: [Barnard</a> College Admissions : Enrolling Students](<a href=“http://www.barnard.edu/admiss/matric_new/id_cards.htm#Dining_Dollars]Barnard”>http://www.barnard.edu/admiss/matric_new/id_cards.htm#Dining_Dollars)</p>

<p>These are not the same as Barnard meal “points”:
[Welcome</a> to CampusDish at Barnard!](<a href=“http://www.campusdish.com/en-US/CSE/Barnard/MealPlans/FrequentlyAskedQuestions.htm]Welcome”>http://www.campusdish.com/en-US/CSE/Barnard/MealPlans/FrequentlyAskedQuestions.htm)
[Dining</a> : Policies & Procedures](<a href=“Columbia Dining”>Columbia Dining)</p>

<p>A flex account is something else entirely - it works more like a bank account with a debit card:
[Dining</a> : Dining Plans, Dining Dollars & Flex](<a href=“Columbia Dining”>Columbia Dining)
[Dining</a> : Policies & Procedures](<a href=“Columbia Dining”>Columbia Dining)</p>

<p>AFAIK, Barnard students can open flex accounts if they want. It looks to me like its available to anyone with a CUID.</p>

54

<p>This is a question for any of you moms/students/etc.</p>

<p>What did you/your daughter do the summer before your first year at Barnard? I’m starting to look for opportunities, but I’m not sure what I want to do. I did a PreCollege program 2 summers ago and an internship last year. I can’t go abroad. Any suggestions?</p>

<p>Oh, here’s the catch. I have no idea what I want to major/work in, so I’m pretty much just exploring. Also, I have 5 straight weeks in the middle of the summer where I’m free, and a few free weeks scattered around vacations.</p>

55

<p>Enjoy yourself. With chances for internships and such, it might be your last summer “off” for a very long time!</p>

<p>My daughter was in a professional production of the Music Man, and that job lasted about half the summer. Then she visited with friends and took a vacation before leaving for school…</p>

56

<p>My daughter worked retail.</p>

<p>I’d note that if you really have no idea of what type of work you want to do in your future… a summer job can be a learning experience.</p>

57

<p>thanks, moms. </p>

<p>another question: what happens at the admitted students weekends? is there any free time to just hang? will they let us go out into the city, or do we have to stay on campus the whole time?</p>