<p>I'm a sophomore at Reed College who was hating her life for two and a half semesters, applied to Barnard, started to settle into Reed in the interim, got into Barnard, now has a few days to decide and still has no idea.
As far as Reed goes, I love the high academic expectations, the relationships with professors, the conference-style classes; I'm about as happy with the academics here as I could be. However I find Portland hellaciously boring, am generally uninterested in the college culture, am generally devastatingly underwhelmed by my surroundings. But I've begun focusing on my academics as a way to fight that, and have been pretty content. I am in college for the academics, after all.
But maybe I should be looking for something more. I am rarely actually happy here, past what satisfaction the academics deliver. I think some of that could be alleviated in New York City. However, I wonder how much of the academic side of things I'd have to compromise if I was to go to Barnard. I sat in on some classes and wasn't terribly impressed--sitting at desks, being talked at by a professor, raising hands. But it's hard to tell much from one day's visit, sitting in on three classes. It took me a year to get a grasp on Reed.
(Additionally: I'm interested in Philosophy, English, and "creative writing".)
So I'm looking for advice. Would a transfer to Barnard from Reed really mean the kind of compromise in terms of "intellectual community" and "academic rigor" that I imagine a reality? If there is, would being in a big city with more to offer culturally and intellectually make up for this? I realize there is probably no right answer to these questions, but I would love some insight.</p>