<p>Yeah. No, I'm sure there is no "perfect" answer...I was just seriously annoyed and wanted to post about it (it was the first time I'd encountered this sort of thing, and though it sounds like I won't have to deal with it that often, it probably won't be the last). Just ranting, really...and I also wanted to know if that kind of thing DID come up all the time, on campus. I mean, I'm not even there yet!</p>
<p>Basically, in response, I just said bluntly, "No, [Barnard] isn't a back door, actually." And glared at her. Which accomplished nothing, really, but I didn't expect to. </p>
<p>Anyway, I'm really excited to start in the fall! They still haven't sent me any housing info or an email address or anything, though...</p>
<p>I use to teach at Barnard and I can assure you that I found Barnard and Columbia female students indistinguishable in the classroom. It was only when I looked at my class roster did I know who went to which institution. Also, I had many male students from Columbia take my classes. In addition, my classes were often located on Columbia's campus. So, despite the separate admissions, the overlap between Barnard and Columbia is significant. Tenure is granted to Barnard faculty by vote of the COLUMBIA faculty. I never understood the often superior attitude of Columbia students towards Barnard young women. I found Barnard students brillant and as I said earlier,indistinguishable from those from Columbia.</p>