<p>I have heard mentions of some girls transferring from Barnard to Columbia, and vice versa. I was wondering if anyone knew why someone would need to have such a transfer, since the resources of the schools are the same. It also seems odd to me that such transfers would be accepted, since when you transfer somewhere don’t you usually need to demonstrate something the prospective school has that yours doesn’t?</p>
<p>Thanks, just curious.</p>
<p>The resources of both schools overlap a great deal, but I would not call them “the same”. Columbia has a much larger endowment and so can offer more in the way of financial aid, for example. Barnard, arguably, has much better advising to offer and more personal relationships with actual professors teaching classes (not TAs).</p>
<p>Also the requirements for graduation are quite different: Columbia requires the very strict “Core”; Barnard requires (in most cases) a Senior thesis. </p>
<p>I can imagine a CC undergrad female deciding she does not like the very restrictive core curriculum that Columbia has and also wanting the better advising, etc, to be found at Barnard and wanting to transfer. </p>
<p>I do think it would be more difficult to transfer into Columbia from Barnard, again, because of the Core. But that is just my impression as the mom of a Barnard graduate.</p>
<p>Thanks! Because of the similarity of the schools it just seemed odd for anyone to transfer, especially from Barnard College to Columbia College. But I guess that makes sense.</p>
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<p>Both say they meet full need…would you say they define need differently? Or just that Barnard includes loans but Columbia doesn’t?</p>
<p>The latter, OHMom. I believe Columbia offers fewer loans. But it’s worthwhile to note that Columbia does not guarantee to “meet full need” for transfer students. I don’t think Barnard does either.</p>
<p>My daughter’s suitemate this term transferred from Columbia to Barnard. She was originally in a joint program between Columbia and another nearby institution and decided instead to major in something offered by Barnard. She preferred the 9 Ways of Knowing to Columbia’s Core also. </p>
<p>Question: As someone who may want to study engineering but doesn’t want to spend 5 years doing it, would transferring in my sophomore year to Columbia from Barnard be possible?</p>
<p>Highly unlikely. Have you applied to any colleges which do offer engineering? </p>
<p>I have, but Barnard is honestly a great fit for me. So it’s pretty conflicting, which is why I applied to Barnard in the first place.</p>
<p>I guess you will just have to weigh your options and then make whatever you feel is the best choice. I don’t think it’s a good idea to set yourself up for a likely transfer application or the need to apply down the line to a combined 3/2 program. Problem is that you might not get accepted – and that will also put considerably more pressure on you with respect to grades your first year. So if you were my daughter I’d tell you to choose a college that offers all the majors or programs that you are strongly interested in. </p>
<p>It’s not the end of the world if you transfer, but I just don’t think it’s a good idea to start at a school where you are already considering transfer before your first day of classes. </p>
<p>Also, if you need financial aid, then you have to look long and hard at aid policies for transfers. </p>
<p>But engineering is always a tough road unless you start out as an engineering major – and I think that it’s pretty common to find that universities have a wholly separate track or even a separate school (like SEAS) for engineering.</p>
<p>Have you applied to Smith? The Picker Engineering program there might be a better fit for your goals. </p>
<p>@calmom Thanks for the advice. I do love Barnard, but (if I get in), then again, I don’t want to go through the transfer process - sounds arduous and painful. and Yes! I have applied to Smith. I don’t know about acceptances yet though. I really love everything about the school except for the location.</p>