D has visited the NYC several times (probably a dozen) and has been to Boston many, many times as well as other metro areas like Miami, San Diego, etc. a few times…are there other girls applying that come from rural areas? Are you nervous? We’ve been talking alot about how expensive the city is for weekend activities and how the campus doesn’t really try to entertain you unlike the rural LACs on her list that bring concerts to campus and have a revolving list of activities day to day. So, what are your insecurities about the city? Or maybe you are just so excited to get away from rural USA?
There are LOTS of free and cheap things to do in NYC!! And Barnard/Columbia also has reduced price tickets to many events…as well as opportunities to attend Broadway shows, opera, ballet, etc, etc for free through the student activities office.
My D is from a fairly rural area but I am not (I grew up a couple of blocks from Barnard, in fact). So my D has regularly visited NYC and has a lot of family there. So I am not nervous about her moving around NYC. I wonder some about Philly and Boston, two other cities she may attend school in, but I think she’ll get the hang of it.
The free and cheap things is great news! D loves Broadway shows and anything creative (although it isn’t her forte with the exception of a capella).
I’m not nervous about D living in a city (although her bio Dad is another story) but more concerned with the ability to find social outlets including a group of like-minded friends if many leave campus every weekend to go out and about. OTOH, if its more of a “lets all head downtown and hit Chinatown” or something of that nature, very cool. I guess I should look at the demographics of those accepted to get an idea of how many NYC/boroughs are admitted compared to a diverse group from all over the states.
If you attend school in NYC, the city is your campus. The students who are out & about every weekend are walking or getting on the subway or (if they can afford it) grabbing a cab to go wherever they want to go in the city. The students come from all over. My D. was from California – along with roughly 10% of her classmates.
Finding a group of “like minded friends” is certainly a great idea…and, at least in my D’s experience, Barnard set the stage for that to happen right off the bat. First of all, the questionnaire that accepted students receive for determining roommates in first year housing, is VERY detailed. If your accepted student fills that out honestly, she is likely to be with other girls that she will get along with. My D completely enjoyed her first year living with two very different girls form differing parts of the country and from differing “circumstances”, for lack of a better word. My D was fully INTO getting to know new people, making new friends, getting involved, so she enthusiastically participated in all the activities of the week-long student orientation and met friends that very week that are, to this day her very closest friends. If your daughter loves a cappella, there ARE several a cappella groups on campus…she should look into that!