<p>I love the quality of Barnard education, but I want the full and typical college experience. I heard that you can live in Columbia dorms after freshman year, but is that looked down upon, very uncommon, or just plain difficult to do?</p>
<p>Also, I’ve heard there’s tension between the Columbia and Branard girls for the few available Columbia men. Is this true?</p>
<p>What about joining a Columbia sorority? And how common is it to take most of your classes at Columbia?</p>
<p>Personally, I have not run into any of this said "tension" between Barnard and Columbia girls. I'm sure it exists, but it's not something that you'll find everywhere you turn.</p>
<p>As far as how common it is to take most of your classes at Columbia...</p>
<p>You're required to take First Year English and First Year Seminar at Barnard and you can't take any CU core classes. Other than that - it's up to you. When I register for classes, I look for the professor and the subject matter, then I see the location. I've only been here for 2 semesters, and each semester I've had 1 class at Columbia. I know people who have had 2 or 3, and people who have had none. </p>
<p>Here's an interesting example:
I'm in a rather big lecture class at CU this semester, and in my 15 people discussion section, all the girls but 1 are from Barnard. The first day of section when we introduced ourselves, I was rather shocked by this, but no one else seemed to care at all.</p>
<p>The advice and perspective we got from a Columbia prof was that it was to the advantage of Columbia students to take as many Barnard classes as possible, not the other way around.</p>
<p>All the sororities are University-wide, so they're intended for Barnard Greeks, too. Plenty of people join sororities, and they're by default Columbia sororities.</p>
<p>The housing thing isn't VERY common, since the system is confusing enough without worrying about the extra complication of cross-residency. Most people just don't bother; they have enough friends at their own school that they're not desperate to live with their friends at other schools. But you can, and I don't think there's much public opinion about it either way, except for the die-hard crazies.</p>
<p>As for men tension, I've always been of the opinion that if you're upset at someone else that you're single, maybe you should consider that it's not THEIR fault? And if you're upset because they stole a Columbia man away from you, maybe you need to raise your standards a little? ;) I kid because I love (at least one of those Columbia men, anyway).</p>
<p>It's not common to take most of your classes at Columbia. Generally because most people quickly realize that differences in classes depend a LOT more on the professor and the class itself than where it's held, and just choose by what they want to take and what fits into their schedule. I think the "average" statistic for classes taken outside your own school is 1/3. But I (naturally) agree with churchmusicmom. While plenty of my Columbia classes were fine, all of my GREAT classes were BC.</p>
<p>Primefactor -- I have a question. I know that my daughter will not be happy about single-sex living - and I know that all Barnard first year student live in the quad buildings. My question is whether there are any rules/restrictions on male visitors? (I lived in a co-ed dorm when I was in college -- it was anything goes in those days -- so I really have no clue what an all-female dorm would be like). I know my daughter is going to wonder whether she can have male friends from out of town visit.</p>
<p>Calmom: My daughter and I were offered the VERY strong and unsolicited advice/opinion from a Columbia English prof while visiting Columbia with a friend who had been accepted and was trying to decide where to attend (my D had already accepted to Barnard and was beyond thrilled). After this man (I do NOT recall his name) had finished his no-nonsense talk with my D's friend, which we could not help but overhear, we were sort of afraid he would come out and ask her about her plans and talk "down" to her about her choice of school (as he had pretty much talked down all of her friend's other college choices). He did, indeed come out and ask her about her plans for college and when she told him she already was attending Barnard, he proceded to tell us that Barnard was Columbias "Best kept secret" and that, when he was a student, he tried to take as many classes as he could there. He went on to explain that the professors there know your name and can give you more individual attention due to the (usually) smaller class size. He went on to say that, in his Columbia classes, there is NOT distinction in student "performance" between Barnard and CC students...in short, he spoke in very glowing terms of Barnard and Barnard women and characterised Barnard as an academic asseet to Columbia and its students.</p>
<p>As for the dorm situation, male visitors are certainly allowed. Parents are told, in no uncertain terms, that at orientation! Your d's roomate situation next year will help determine whether or not she can have "overnight" male visitors, though. My D, for example, would love to have her brother come and stay, or there are some guy friends that would like to have been able to come and visit her and have a "free" place to crash on the floor! Howver, her roomie is Orthodox and, out of respect my D and the third girl (they share a tripple suite with the Orthodox Jewish girl) do not have male visitors in their room once they are dressed for bed...She has LOVED her roomates, though. All part of learning to get to know new people...and she has made friends for life!!!</p>
<p>Hope that helps, and best to you and your daughter...</p>
<p>Is it true that Barnard has very detailed roommate questionnaires? I'm wondering if my daughter should be clear that she is somewhat free-spirited. She is also maintains VERY late hours. She also likes to sleep with her light on - but I told her she's really going to have to get over that habit when she shares a room in college. </p>
<p>So I think I'll encourage to make it very clear that she would not be a good match for anyone with very conservative social values or living habits.</p>
<p>calmom, it is true that barnard has detailed questionnaires. that's not to say they don't mess up sometimes, but they really try their hardest to make it so your roommate and you get along. many seniors are still best friends with their first-year roommate. it's an iffy thing though because lifestyles could change between high school and college.</p>
<p>to the op, you can indeed live in columbia dorms, but only if at least 50% of the people in your suite are at columbia. columbia students can live in barnard dorms if 50% of the people in the suite are at barnard. the whole housing lottery is really complicated though and so it is not very common to live on the other campus. i think fewer than 50 barnard students live in columbia dorms this year (heard that from reslife). it's not looked down upon, just people dont do it.</p>
<p>it's not so much that there are only a "few" columbia men - cc is more or less half/half and seas is more men, so while there are lots more women it's not so drastic. there is a bit of tension, mostly among insecure first-years, not between girls but just between schools, but you learn to ignore it because it's ridiculous and you are proud of your school.</p>
<p>it's pretty common to take most of your classes at columbia, but i hardly pay attention to that when picking my classes. i just pick what i'm interested in regardless of the campus, because they try not to have duplicate courses.</p>
<p>i dont really understand why a barnard woman would want to join a columbia sorority but some do and they can, no restrictions on school.</p>
<p>Barnard usually does a great job in matching up roommates.
I know a few very rare cases of people moving out and switching rommates.. but like I said, it's very rare.
I lucked out with my roommate, and we're great friends.
Also, my best friends (aside from the ones that go to Columbia) all happen to live on my floor. And next year I'm living in a suite with 4 of them.</p>
<p>In response to some of the questions in previous posts.
I'd like to echo what primefactor said about living in Columbia housing.
The housing process is really complicated as it is... most people don't go through the added trouble of trying to live in Columbia housing.
I'd say that Barnard housing is overall better anyway.
I see my Columbia friends often enough that it really doesn't matter to me that I don't live in their building.
First year dorms are all close to each other. And then come sophomore year, everyone is scattered anyway. Everyone makes the effort to see their close friends.
I have to say though, the "signing-in" business is rather annoying.</p>
<p>As for the all-women housing situation in the quad. I have to say that it does suck sometimes.. and you do get frustrated that guys don't live on your hallway.
But really, it's not that bad. I have found that you just make ridiculously close girl friends. And we have this amazing bond. Also not having guys on your hallway is kinda liberating.
I mean, I haven't lived in a co-ed hallway so I don't really know what it's like. But from having close friends at Columbia and spending a good amount of time there... it doesn't seem like Barnard women have it THAT bad. It's not like we go to Smith or Bryn Mawr.. :) lol
Carman (the most social Columbia freshmen dorm) kids can't study in their room cus it's too distracting.... and their hallways/suites/rooms/bathrooms smell and are pretty dirty (after rowdy parties etc..)</p>
<p>Barnard c/o 2010 - Really, don't worry about the housing situation or about the guy thing.. or the rumoured animosity bet Columbia/Barnard.
EVERYONE finds their own niche. You'll all figure it out for yourselves.</p>
<p>As for classes at Columbia. Last semester I took 1 class across the street. And this semester I'm taking 2/7 classes there.
I have to say that I really do not like my Columbia classes.
I LOVEEEE my Barnard classes (mostly because it's the stuff that I'm interested in, whereas the Columbia classes just fulfill my gen. ed. requirements).
My Columbia classes are bigger and I don't get the personal attention that my Barnard classes give me.</p>
<p>hi! i really need help! i thought since you mentioned barnard you know somehting about it and could help, i accepted tufts' offer of admission, but barnard just got me off their waitlist..where should i got-- i was gonna major in International Relations and minor in Media and Communications at Tufts....help!~</p>