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My impression is that most of my daughter’s friends have been male and that the organized activities/clubs she has participated in were mostly at Columbia. I know she was an officer in a small organization for a year or more where the other 2 officers were guys who came from the same fraternity. Her first year, I’d see pictures posted on facebook from her dorm room that would be her, her roommate + 5 guys. </p>
<p>I do think you are right that the “feel” of the Barnard <em>campus</em> is an all-girl’s school - but the physical campus is very small. After the first year, the majority of students are probably living in Barnard housing that is off campus – and the “feel” is simply urban. As senior my daughter is living about 6 blocks from campus – she only has classes 2 days a week and so I think in a sense it feels more like being a commuter who lives nearby. </p>
<p>So as an observer I’d say that the real issue would be whether a student is comfortable with the urban environment. I do think that my d’s experience was impacted somewhat by the Nexus construction – for half of her time at Barnard there simply hasn’t been a good central place to hang out and socialize on the campus. Fortunately that is something that won’t be a factor for future students. </p>
<p>But as to the male/female thing, I do think it depends a lot on the individual. Given the urban environment, a student whose personal and social life is not centered on the campus will not necessarily feel cloistered.</p>