<p>I am currently a second-semester sophomore, and a transfer student at Barnard College. I am majoring in math and physics. I selected Barnard because I thought I would benefit from small math and physics departments. I also felt that the community would be more close-knit than Columbia, thereby making it easier for me to fit in.</p>
<p>I have realized that I do not fit in here at all. The school itself seems to be much more dedicated to a well-rounded social and academic experience (emphasis on the social), which is not bad, but it just is not what I am looking for. I want a stronger emphasis on academics. I strongly dislike many social aspects, as well as numerous types of administrative red tape, at Barnard. </p>
<p>Additionally, I have talked to a professor who teaches at both schools who has talked about how there are no strong female mathematicians at Barnard, and that there are currently only 2 other students pursuing a pure math major (which is what I want to do).</p>
<p>Should I just suck it up or attempt to transfer to Columbia?</p>
<p>I realize that if I transfer to either CC or SEAS, I will have to make up the core, but is that worth it?</p>
<p>1) though certainly columbia has its own well-rounded feel, in the pure and applied sciences, you really are going to get a top notch prep if you are thinking grad school at all. i do not know barnard at all for its placement in grad school (i’d ask). but the profs and overall feel of the departments in the sciences at cu is that they will do what they can to prep you for grad school (if in pure sciences), and more broadly if you are in applied sciences. so if you’re thinking grad school - i’d say transfer is worth it.</p>
<p>2) ultimately you will get red tape at columbia or barnard, i’ve talked about this before - it is very much the byproduct of being in an over legislated city and an over legislated state, which means that most things that take a few hours, end up taking…longer. i have found barnard admins care more about you, columbia admins care more about getting something processed and done (though they may lack tact in the process, they like to DO things). so it might be worth it if it fits more with your personality.</p>
<p>as for transferring and ease of it with the core, get that prof to give a rec, and make clear that you want to more math heavy curric, that will prepare you for grad school. female scientists are hard to find anywhere, hope you end up making it out there and continue on with your passions.</p>
<p>Thank you for the detailed feedback, admissionsgeek.</p>
<p>I’ve talked to the professor only twice, is it alright to ask her for a recommendation?</p>
<p>Also, when you mention the difference between Barnard and Columbia’s admins, I do see that I prefer the Columbia method of approaching things. But, is this enough to warrant a transfer out of Barnard? I fear that Columbia’s admissions committee will think I was trying to use Barnard as a back door, which really was not the case. I realized it was not for me almost as soon as I got here.</p>
<p>I am far from an expert on Columbia-Barnard (I’m a Barnard dad) but I’m not sure you need to transfer to address the issues you raised (or can handle them if your transfer does not come through). </p>
<p>First, there are very-very few limitations on which Columbia course you can take as a Barnard student … from my understanding I would think you can pursue a math major as a Barnard student virtually the same as if you were at Columbia (e.g., taking the same courses) Second, I also believe as a Barnard student you can live in Columbia dorms.</p>
<p>If you’d like to transfer I hope it works out for you … but if you can’t I think you can get pretty close to the same experience … good luck!</p>
<p>3togo, thank you for your insight. I honestly do not know what to do or who to ask. I fear talking to Barnard counselors, for the fear of alienating them or creating acrimonious tensions between us–after all, I don’t know if I can even transfer out.</p>
<p>The lower level courses are the same. The difference occurs in the upper levels. While at Barnard I would have to take their undergraduate math seminars, if I were at Columbia, I would have access to seminars with a much larger group of faculty members, whose research interests correlate more directly to mine. At Barnard, there is only one professor (the chair) whose interests are similar what I want to pursue for my graduate degree.</p>
<p>I have heard that Barnard Students can apply to live in Columbia dorms, but I have heard numerous students who are transfers (both sophomores and juniors) state that they did not have this option. The option of living in Plimpton, which houses Barnard and Columbia students, as well as non-student occupants, seems the most likely strategy.</p>
<p>i concur with 3togo, in general i think when it comes to student life you are not gonna get much difference. </p>
<p>but with some experience regarding the academic cultures of the two, it is harder as a barnard student to get access to columbia faculty in the same way (mostly because other requirements get in the way). if your goal is to get a job - that is one thing. if your goal is to go to graduate school, then at that point, faculty relationships are the most important thing, and working with people you want to work with is critical. and that is the advantage of a major research institution. </p>
<p>but as you can read on here before, on the merits, i think barnard is fantastic, it has its weak points, and its strong points. and ultimately it is the OPs decision what makes sense for her - there is no wrong answer, but if you want to work with great faculty very closely, columbia’s math major provides that opportunity.</p>
<p>I would recommend talking to your Barnard advisor. I strongly suspect that they would work with you. I know one of my daughter’s good friends, who was a Barnard student, did not have access to the major she wanted at Barnard (she was pre-med), so she designed one that was mostly based at Columbia.</p>