alexra4

I'm deciding between Wellesley and Barnard College by May 1st. I like Barnard's advising, internship and research opportunities, professors, and city location, but is Wellesley academically superior?

aube88

They are similar academically although it depends what you want to study. However, when comparing academics keep in mind at Barnard, you can take whatever classes you want (except the core) at Columbia.

calmom

Academics are either the same or better (after spending 4 days visiting my d. at Barnard, attending a class and talking to her suite mates about their studies, I can't imagine the academics possibly being "better" anywhere else - though I am sure there are many peer institutions where they are equal) - but I think that the social atmosphere or "feel" of the campuses is probably very different.

So the real question is do you want an urban campus where social life and activities tend to take place off campus, or do you prefer a suburban campus with more of a sense of campus life?

Also, how do you feel about the all woman's environment? Given the location and affiliate with Columbia, Barnard is probably a better option for someone who feels somewhat doubtful or ambivalent about the idea.

Barnard is really a hybrid, both in terms of the women's college/coed university issue and the LAC vs. large research university model -- the good part of that is that you have the benefits of both, the downside is that you deal with whatever negatives you might associated with either along the way.

softy

you can take classes at columbia if you go to barnard, but you can take classes at harvard and mit if you go to wellesley.

in my opinion wellesley is more prestigious than barnard. there are a lot of reasons for this but one simple one is because a lot of people don't know what barnard is and have to resort to explaining it by naming columbia.

i love wellesley but i slacked off after getting admitted early evaluation my senior year and my acceptance was withdrawn...yeah...and now my college grades aren't good enough to transfer there. wellesley's campus can't be beat. it's a gorgeous, gorgeous school.

if you're going to go all-girl's, go to wellesley.

catsushi

I think it is easier to take classes at MIT than it is to take classes at Columbia for Barnard, or so I've heard. I think it's because the colleges are really near each other in Boston so it's easier to travel between colleges.


Come to Wellesley!

alexra4

columbia is across broadway. mit is a 40 minute, bus and train, ride away. mit (cambridge) and wellesley (wellesley) are not near each other...

churchmusicmom

Umm, I cannot imagine anything "easier" than just signing up for a class.... All Barnard and Columbia classes are listed together in the course catalogue and, as I understand it, you might not even know you are signing up for one taught at Columbia vs Barnard in some cases. And the campuses are just across the street, as was mentioned above.

I am sure Wellesley is wonderful, but I would have to think the single sex factor would be much more significant there....either a positive or negative thing, depending upon what you are after in your college experience.

mardad

Both of my daughters had this same choice and picked Barnard. The choice is made more on a personal basis than on something quantifiable. I think the schools are equivalent in the academic challenge department. Where do you see yourself in mid year? In beautiful suburb of Boston or in the upper west side of Manhattan. My older daughter loved New York and felt that the student body at Barnard was more down-to-earth and less programmed. The younger one also loved Barnard. We, the parents, favored Wellesley based on our assessments of our daughters' personalities. We were wrong.

calmom

Actually, after the first year, for students who no longer live in the quad, there really is not much difference between the "campuses" of Barnard and Columbia in terms of proximity. I just spent several days visiting my daughter, staying at her dorm, and there wasn't much difference between walking to one campus or another. I mean, it's silly to worry about "across the street" when, for my d, there is a street to cross either way.

Also, I see from other posts that catsushi is a high school senior who will be entering Wellesley -- so it is understandable that she may be misinformed. However, I do think it is important to correct that here. I had checked into the MIT/Wellesley cross registration thing back when my d. was considering Wellesley -- it is not so easy because MIT & Wellesley have different academic schedules and there is no automated system for cross-registration. This is clearly stated on the Wellesley web site, here:
mitcrossregistration

Barnard/Columbia course registration is fully integrated -- even when you are entering as a first year student and your course options are somewhat restricted, your pre-registration options will include many Columbia courses.

softy

have you visited either school? for me, a big factor in choosing schools was the vibe i felt when i was on campus.

mythmom

My D also had this choice, and it was Barnard hands down. She found Wellesley too protected. She wanted to feel like a grown-up. But tastes differ.

And she wants NY, so Barnard is best for her future.

katescully

not that this matters but.

there are a lot of comments about wellesley's prestige..theres difference between taking classes at columbia as a barnard student and taking classes at harvard as a wellesley student. barnard is indisputably part of columbia university. wellesley is not part of harvard or mit.

also, wellesley's admittance rate is 50% while barnards is close to 22% now. it's kind of a pointless argument concerning "prestige". it goes on and on and on.

mythmom

Actually, I don't think Barnard women worry about prestige. They're too buys taking advantage of all that's available to them.

soyeonchunsa

Hmm...
I got accepted to Barnard and Wellesley, but I chose to go to Wellesley College, and I love it here. You can cross register not only at MIT, but Olin College and Babson College as well, which is only 10 minutes away. Theres a shuttle that takes you to Babson and Olin like every 30 minutes so you dont have to worry about transportation. There are many opportunities, and theres no need to worry about social issues. I have a boyfriend at Boston College, and have many friends from Harvard, MIT, BU, Northeastern, etc.
Wellesley's campus is gorgeous, and I found many nice friends here at Wellesley, and am very happy. Also, Wellesley is ranked #4 liberal arts college in USNEWS, so its known for its prestigiousness.

softy

wellesley's admittance rate is nowhere near 50%.