<p>I was hoping maybe there are some current Barnard students out there who could answer some of these?</p>
<p>About the dorms:
Are the beds twin, or extra long twin?
Is there any point in thinking about decorating your dorm, or are students only there to sleep?
What is the window situation usually like? Do most dorms get a lot of light, or constant shade?</p>
<p>Other:
I’ve heard over and over again that girls who go to Barnard need to be really independent and able to put themselves out there in order to make friends/survive socially. Is this a problem for a lot of people? Could this be avoided if you just get involved in some sort of clubs or something? It’s not that I have a super hard time making friends or anything, but I can’t think of anything worse than being stranded alone in the middle of NYC.</p>
<p>when i stayed there over the summer, they had us bring sheets for extra long twin. the dorm i was in looked out at the quad and got a fair amount of light. nice big window. </p>
<p>thats about all i can answer from my experiences</p>
<p>Beds in the dorms are definitely extra long twin. Light will vary from room to room. My d’s first year dorm was a two-room tripple. They put the three beds in a room that had a bay window. All three desks were in the outer room (which had a fireplace…non functional but really cool!). All first years live in the quad, and I am certain all dorm rooms/suites have windows.</p>
<p>As for decorating, yes…make your <small> space your own! If you want to wait to talk with your new roomies later in the summer when you are assigned them, you can try to coordinate things. But it’s not necessary. You can find pretty bedding and maybe a small area rug to put by your bed; pretty desk accessories, etc. Also, pictures from home!! We also found a shelf unit that actually fit over the head of the dorm bed so our d had more storage for books and such…</small></p><small>
<p>As for making friends, just put yourself out there and PARTICIPATE during orientation week. It’s a fabulous time in NYC which is all planned out with other students from all over Columbia U. (not just Barnard) and you will meet people. I know my d made friends that week that will be friends for life.</p>
<p>DECORATE YOUR ROOM. Seriously. I put in a lot of effort to my walls and it feels so homey. Everybody who comes in always comments on it, and my friends and I usually hang out in my room because we’ve done a good job with it. Windows depend on the room you have, but most of them are pretty big.</p>
<p>Getting to know people can, I’ll be honest with you, be very difficult. I had a very bad first semester on a lot of levels, and then I switched roommates right before break am now really good friends with my new roommate and one of the girls she met earlier in the year. It was hard for me because I’m not shy but I’m also not good at sticking myself out there and meeting people. You’re almost certainly going to have to make an effort, and the social experience is VERY atypical from what most people get at college, but once you make it work for you it can be really great.</p>
<p>I should also emphasize that my d approached her Barnard experience with the idea and eager anticipation of making an effort to make new friends. She eagerly embraced the idea of having roommates that she did not previously know. She sought out opportunities to talk with new people and get to know them. That attitude, I believe, has served her well. I also think it’s a good one to have no matter where you attend college. My two older sons attended very large public universities and had to make similar efforts to find true friends through involvement in meaningful activities. Just because a campus is large does not mean you will make friends quickly. Sometimes those huge places can be even more isolating…</p>
<p>MLeigh–thank you for the advice! Ahh, that sounds exactly like what I’m in for. Luckily I at least am friends with a girl who’s going to Columbia, so worst case senario I still won’t be completely alone. </p>
<p>churchmusicmom–Oh, I know. The colleges I’m comparing Barnard with are Wellesley and Bryn Mawr, though, and both of those colleges have a really tight community feel which I love. Then again, I also love Barnard. <em>stress</em> Yes, I will definitely have to make an effort no matter where I go.</p>
Ahh, that sounds exactly like what I’m in for. Luckily I at least am friends with a girl who’s going to Columbia, so worst case senario I still won’t be completely alone. </p>