Congratulations!
FWIW I’d choose Wellesley over Barnard even if costs were equal.
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30K+ for the potential juice? that juice better be like Leonardo DiCaprio.
I’m a parent who grew up in the Boston area and lived in Manhattan for 16 years after graduating from college in 1989. I have been to Wellesley many times. It is a lovely town. It’s not hopping with college nightlife, but it does have nice restaurants and shopping (not sure if within a college student’s budget though). It is very safe. You can take the T (short for MBTA, Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority) and be downtown in 30 minutes. That will get you your big city fix whenever you want or need it. Wellesley is an excellent school, and your full ride is worth probably about $300K over the four years you would attend. That is definitely something to consider.
Morningside Heights is the neighborhood in Manhattan in which Barnard is located. It is northwest of Central Park, next to Harlem. It is a lot safer than it was when I lived there (l left in 2005). If you take common sense precautions you almost certainly will be fine. This means NEVER walk around at night by yourself in Morningside Heights, take an Uber if you live off campus, always have your phone with you, etc. There was a terrible murder there a year ago, however, so it does happen. Barnard is also an excellent school, but your financial commitment is considerable even with the scholarship.
It’s really up to you and your parents.
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Wow, a full ride to Wellesley?
I think it would be insanity not to take that. If I were your parent, I would simply say forget about the others. Sorry, just being honest. Congratulations to you.
And FWIW, I don’t think UCB can hold a candle or anything else to either Wellesley or Barnard. UCB has 1000 person lectures. How can people learn like that? No thanks. And yes, I am totally biased, but man, a full ride to Wellesley is amazing. Amazing.
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After reading Lindagaf’s post, I will drop the diplomacy. Go with Wellesley. Absolutely no question.
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Agreed. Nothing against Barnard, but unless you have an active dislike of Wellesley, this is an easy one.
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My cousin went to Barnard and then onto grad school and full professor. Me, after my PhD, I worked at Wellesley. I loved Boston and not NY. That is my bias. I truly like Wellesley and the students there.
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First of all congratulations ! It sounds like you are feeling that Wellesley is away a bit from the action and that may be one of your concerns. Here are a few things I know from recent Wellesley grads:
Going into Boston is easy and many girls attend parties at Harvard and other Boston schools on weekends. There will be groups to go back and forth with on a regular basis.
You can take classes at several other schools - including courses at MIT. I know a girl that was denied admittance to MIT (and Stanford) and took several classes at MIT as a student at Wellesley.
There is a lot to do on the Wellesley campus - so you have a pick of city fun and campus fun.
Amazing alumni and career networking (imagine Barnard is the same)
Regarding a Barnard degree - it would officially be Barnard College of Columbia University on your diploma - very much a Barnard degree.
Again, congratulation on your acceptance and wishing you well on the remainder to come.
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Congratulations!
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Barnard is upper Manhattan. While gentrification has set in, there’s sketch aplenty. It is not bougie.
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Thanks! I think it is only for the first year, but I will be emailing a counselor to check. It wasn’t a honors scholarship or anything; when I opened my financial aid letter my "Institutional Grants (three of them called the Wellesley College Grant, Fall Room & Board, and Spring Room & Board) was enough to pay for all of the tuition, housing, meals, books, transportation, etc. I also received the Federal Pell Grant and a work study offer. When I used their Financial Aid Calculator before applying, it estimated that my family would pay around $38,000 per year.
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If you didn’t apply to Wellesley because the all women aspect and the low key social life were appealing to you, going there is a risk. It can be very quiet and always having to get on a bus to go out can get old. It’s such a pity that visiting campus is so hard right now.
Not that NYC is currently buzzing, but there is a good chance it may revive during your four years there.
I’ve known a number of Wellesley women who, while loving their school, felt the need to spend a junior year abroad for soma variety. Also hopefully an option again.
If it’s the only financially feasible option, you’ll manage. But I don’t think your concerns are unfounded.
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My daughter was accepted to Barnard last year and turned it down for a full ride merit based offer at another school. Our neighbor is a junior at Barnard and loves it. The thing to consider is that Barnard provides only need based funding in the financial aid department. If your family is pell grant eligible you will most likely receive a substantial amount of financial aid from the school. Our neighbor is pell grant eligible and receives generous financial aid from Barnard. Both of your choices are excellent choices but honestly it is like comparing an apple to an orange. I would say wait until you receive your offer from Barnard and make your decision. Since you aid from Wellesley is financial need vs merit you do not need to rush the decision.
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I’m a little confused - if your FAFSA EFC is around $30K a year, and Wellesley’s calculator estimated $38K a year, then you would not be Pell-eligible.
Wellesley and Barnard both meet full financial need, so theoretically Barnard’s aid should be about the same as Wellesley’s. But the amount of aid offered from Wellesley, and the inclusion of a Pell grant, indicate a much lower family income.
Might this student be confusing EFC and AGI?
Or could Wellesley have made a mistake… or the family made a mistake in filling out the Profile?
The OP doesn’t yet have the tuition from Barnard yet, so this is all a mute point. She is speculating what Barnard will cost, but has no hard copy yet.
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Not necessarily the case, because “meet full need” colleges each define “need” their own way.
OP here with an update-
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I got into UC Berkeley! I’m so elated because it has been my dream school since seventh grade
I have not gotten my financial aid package yet, but expect to have it in a few days or so. -
I will be writing an email to my Wellesley financial aid counselor to ask about the ‘full ride’ grants. My mom is concerned that they gave me a lot of financial aid for my first year as an incentive for me to attend, but that it would be for my freshman year only and the overall cost of my degree would be upwards of 100k.
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I have not seen a set date for Barnard decision day, and the portal gives a very vague answer of “late March” so I am waiting to hear from them. My dad’s friend who knows Barnard/Columbia alumni pointed out that I would be able to network extremely easily within the universities/NY area, so I have been considering that point as well.
Thanks everyone for all of the information and advice so far!
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Hi again-
It turns out I do have my financial aid letter now (didn’t scroll all the way on the webpage earlier). My tuition to attend Cal would be approx. $34,000.
Wellesley. Save the $120k and travel the world. Easy.
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