<p>I am currently choosing between two schools: Barnard and Dartmouth. Barnard is extremely different from Dartmouth, as you all probably already know. My parents didn’t give me much choice with choosing colleges, and insisted that I apply to the typical Ivy leagues in the middle of nowhere. After getting into Dartmouth, my parents are really pushing me to go. I know that Dartmouth is a very prestigious school and I’m honored to be accepted, but somehow I can feel that it is just not the place for me.<br>
That being said, Barnard is exactly what I want in my college education. I love the city, and I love that there are fantastic opportunities everywhere. Also, I felt so much more at ease with the artsy Barnard girls than with the frat guys at Dartmouth. My dream has always been to be a magazine editor, which I can see myself attaining should I go to Barnard. However, if I go to Dartmouth, I will almost certainly enter medicine (which of course, is not a bad field - just not my preferred one).
The “realistic” choice seems to be for me to go to Dartmouth. Even so, I can’t seem to give up my dream of attending Barnard.</p>
<p>My D would have chosen Barnard over every school in the country. She applied ED. If you attend Barnard many of your courses are at Columbia so you do not give up the ivy experience.</p>
<p>Dartmouth is a great school, but if you love the city and want to be a magazine editor, go to Barnard.</p>
<p>In the end, you’re the one going to college, not your parents. You sound like Barnard is what you really want, so go! It’s hard to turn down a big name school but what use is the big name if you aren’t happy? I’m finishing my freshman year at a school I don’t like (and will hopefully be a sophomore at Barnard next fall and trust me, not being happy at your college is not fun and transferring is a pain. Best of luck :-)</p>
<p>If you’re interested in pursuing internships during your college years, then a city college is definitely more practical. Your Dartmouth experience would only otherwise consist of serving on the student newspaper. </p>
<p>Who do you need to convince, your parents or yourself? </p>
<p>Make pro/con lists and revisit both colleges. Go over each detail when comparing - housing, population, area, academic departments, etc. etc. Write down the conclusion of the pro/con lists, and I’m sure that your brain and your heart will click at the right choice. Choose where you will thrive the most.</p>
<p>My personal experience - I spent a summer at Dartmouth and loved it (beautiful in the summer) but knew that I would never be able to survive in Hanover, NH for more than a month. So it was the remote location that prevented me from applying. If you feel the same, you probably shouldn’t go.</p>
<p>Also, you should know that Barnard does have excellent pre-med preparation. Many internships in labs both at Barnard and at Columbia can be taken advantage of. So if you think you could only pursue pre-med at Dartmouth, you should re-think that.</p>
<p>You obviously want Barnard. Why are your parents pushing Dartmouth? Are finances an issue? or are they just focused on ranking and prestige? (If so… do they know that Barnard students have full access to course offerings at Columbia & get a degree from Columbia U. in the end? Perhaps they just need to be educated a little more about Barnard).</p>
<p>I really can’t see you being happy at Dartmouth from what you’ve said. </p>
<p>I know with my daughter, “urban” was non-negotiable. She felt miserable on a suburban campus just for an overnight. </p>
<p>And if medicine is not your preferred field – then you shouldn’t enter it under any circumstances, no matter what your parents want… unless something in your college experience leads you to change your mind.</p>
<p>Yes, it’s mostly my parents who need the persuading. I already have my heart set on Barnard, but my parents don’t think that it’s wise for me to pursue a life in the city (maybe because they grew up in the city and ended up hating it). I do understand their arguments that NYC is an expensive city and that the housing market is a pain, but there’s no where else for me.</p>
<p>However, one of my own personal reservations about choosing Barnard is the relationship between Columbia and Barnard. I’d actually prefer not to take any classes at Columbia, but I’ve heard that the resources at Barnard are minimal and that it’s extremely likely that I’d be forced to take some classes there.</p>
<p>I guess I will revisit Barnard for the admitted students programs, and I’ll see where that takes me.</p>
<p>Thanks for your help, everyone. I can now see much clearer that Barnard is by far the better fit for me.</p>
<p>I don’t think you will feel that way about Barnard/Columbia when your there. The schools don’t really function as separate entities. You will always feel like you are at your own school.</p>
<p>And it’s not that Barnard’s resources are lacking. The name number of Columbia kids take courses at Barnard.</p>
<p>As for expense. Well yes, but the Upper West Side is not an expensive neighborhood and the museums are free for Barnard/Columbia students. I know my D went to the Met almost every week.</p>
<p>And Hanover is an expensive town as well. </p>
<p>Good luck whichever you decide. I am a country mouse. But my D would not live anywhere but NYC even given the costs.</p>
<p>This is a decision you should be making for yourself and not for your parents. If you do not want to attend Dartmouth, then it would be a poor use of your parent’s money to send you there and it isn’t fair to a college that admitted you with the belief that you truly want to be there. If you assert yourself and explain your story to your parents as you have to us, there is a good chance they will understand your concerns. Also, as said above, you do not need to give up pre-medical studies to pursue a dream as a magazine editor. You can major in whatever you want and enter medical school as long as take certain required courses and the MCAT. My roommate in college went to dental school after majoring in Jewish studies.</p>
<p>If you ask most adults about their regrets in life, it is having taken the safe course and failing to pursue a passion.</p>
<p>I wish you the best of luck with your decision and your dream.</p>
<p>My oldest is at Barnard as an ED admit and loves it … and sees the Barnard-Columbia tie as one of the big bennies. For you parents the Barnard-Columbia tie covers virtually any academic argument they can make for Dartmouth and in many ways is stronger (both LAC and research U). If their argument is prestige and brand name there are two responses … among those who matter (employeers and grad schools) they will know Barnard … and Barnard’s prestige while not quite as high as Dartmouth’s is pretty high up their also. Good luck!</p>
It’s not your “life” – its 4 years. When you graduate, you may or may not get a job in NY. In the meantime, its the best bargain you are ever going to get on NYC housing. (My daughter as a senior has one of the studio apartments on 110th St --a real apartment with its own bathroom and cooking facilities all to herself. She has been in heaven all year long, and it is very hard for her to contemplate letting it go when she graduates next month). </p>
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Barnard has extensive resources, depending on your major… but I don’t quite understand why you would want to avoid classes at Columbia. Can you elaborate?</p>
<p>D and I just returned from a trip to Dartmouth. For the year plus I have been lurking here and occasionally posting I have been of the opinion that 95% of all the information you need is on line somewhere, a lot of it right here. Having visited Dartmouth and the other east coast schools my D was accepted to, Gtown, Williams and William and Mary I now believe in the concept of “fit” and further that there is no substitute for visiting. D was interested in a school with great school spirit and pride, lots of opportunities for study abroad and internships, and research opportunities. She would always ask what do the kids do when not in class or in the dorm and where would they do it. Dartmouth was the best fit for her in these areas. She does not want a school where a lot goes on off campus to the detriment of on campus activities. So for her Dartmouth is the place with perhaps surprisingly W&M in second place–something neither of us would have thought possible before our trip. You need to evaluate those and the other qualities that are important to you. IMO you cant go wrong with either of your 2 choices. Good luck.</p>