<p>I am currently a student at Boston University and I am considering transferring to Barnard. I want to become a magazine journalist/editor and I love to write. I am also interested in studying languages (I speak Russian, Hebrew, French, a bit of Italian and I studied Latin in high school even though it is not a spoken language). I am also very interested in visual arts (drawing, painting, designing, etc). Can I study art and english at the same time?
I am in the University Professors Program at BU (sort of an honors program), I have around a 3.4 and I want to transfer for the Spring semester…do I have a chance? Will my program help my chances in any way? what kinds of things would impress the admission people…how do i shock them?
OK, i promise only a couple more questions…
for the application, they always ask “why is our school better than the one you’re in” and that is always a difficult question to answer if I haven’t experienced the school I am transferring to. Anyone that knows more than me, feel free to answer. What does Barnard have that no one else has?</p>
<p>ps: how is the social life? (one thing i love about boston is the city and the plethora of college students?..how does Barnard compare?)
i like having guy friends…and I usually do, is it hard to do that at Barnard…and how often are guys in your classes?</p>
<p>Okay, I cannot answer about your transfer chances, but as a parent of a daughter who just completed her first year at Barnard, I can answer a few of your questions about the social life/etc.</p>
<p>NYC has been absolutely a wonderful place for my D to go to college. In fact, she has a good friend who attends Harvard and that friend finds Boston to be pretty frustrating as the public transportation shuts down at midnight (correct?). Not so, of course, with NYC! As for other college students, spend some time on the Barnard/Columbia website...their affiliation is fairly unique. You will find that most of your Barnard classes WILL contain men. Many Columbia classes are only offered, in fact, at Barnard (and vice-versa). You will find yourself crossing Broadway a lot! And then, there are of course many other colleges in NYC...the most well-known probably being NYU, though it is a relatively long way off downtown..... I imagine you will find the atmosphere in NYC to be a bit less typical "college town" (though the Morningside Heights area around Columbia/Barnard is quite unique in that respect, I think, considering it is in Manhattan!) than Boston, I do not think you will lack for other college students with whom to associate.</p>
<p>Best of luck on your transfer....I think you should go for it!</p>
<p>On the writing side: Barnard considers itself a center of excellence. There are plenty of internships in journalism (I hear). As to the Art, did you want Art History or to do the Art yourself? My D fell in love with Art History and briefly considered doing a double major but is settling for a minor. When she first got to Barnard she spent every Saturday afternoon at the Met. Might be a good place to volunteer. I would investigate these opportunities to see if they help you with the "why is this school better for you?" essay.</p>