Columbia's relationship with Barnard

SpeedOfLight · 12-19-2005, 07:14 PM

Hey everyone,
I was accepted early decision to Barnard College. I was just wondering (for all of you who already go to Columbia). Is it true that there is a lot of tension between the people at Barnard and the people at Columbia? I really hope not considering Barnard is technically part of Columbia..
BEST OF LUCK to all!

Columbia2002 · 12-19-2005, 08:49 PM

There isn't tension, except among some people who are insecure about themselves. However, Barnard is a constant source of light-hearted lampooining.

suburbamania · 12-19-2005, 08:53 PM

First, let me offer a piece of advice to you. When you are at Columbia, if you care about the reactions, you should identity yourself as "from Barnard" rather than "from Columbia;" otherwise, many people will see you as deceitful.
Barnard is "*affiliated* with Columbia University, but maintains an independent campus, faculty, administration, trustees, operating budget, and endowment." Unless you want to start meaningless arguments, don't play around with semantics and just identify yourself as a Barnard girl.

There is tension between Barnard and Columbia students, at least the first years. I believe that the tension, though, barely exists by junior year.

The reason I know this is because I stayed overnight at CC in September. The general sentiment of the CC/SEAS students, true or untrue, was that 1)they felt it was unfair that the admissions standards were laxer for Barnard and that yet Barnard girls still had all the benefits of Columbia; 2)they hated that some Barnard girls said they were from Columbia, because they felt that their were concealing the fact that they were from Barnard, even though they had to go through a different admissions process; 3)some Columbia girls/boys claimed the Barnard girls were more promiscuous.

My other advice is grow a thicker skin and simply NOT CARE. Don't develop a complex about it, and it won't be a problem; you'll need to focus on other things in your life.

**by the way, I listed these things just so SpeedOfLight would be aware of the tension that sometimes occurs between CC and Barnard students- NOT TO START ANOTHER ARGUMENT.

Columbia2002 · 12-19-2005, 09:06 PM

As someone who actually was a Columbia student, I have to say that suburbamania did a pretty good job of picking up on this at an overnight.

scarfmadness · 12-19-2005, 09:39 PM

i dont think there is very much tension at all. in fact, i was expecting it, but every single columbia girl i've met in my one semester here at barnard has been really friendly and excited to hear that i live across the street. there are some mean facebook groups, and some snobs, and a lot of jokes, but most of it is taken in jest. most of the time it feels just like one big university; for instance, even though the admit rate is slightly higher for seas, cc kids dont make fun of them. i have, however, met boys who will only hook up with barnard girls.. apparently we're hotter, and cc girls all have boyfriends already? i dunno, but yeah. don't worry about it

suburbamania · 12-19-2005, 10:55 PM

Just to clarify...
the hostility, as scarf shows in her comment, is not open. It seems, instead, to be a quiet grudge that is left back in the dorms.

"I have, however, met boys who will only hook up with barnard girls.. apparently we're hotter"
this is the common type of "rivalry" that you will actually see openly. Excuse my blatant exaggeration (and excuse the exaggerations in this stupid rivalry in general,) but Barnard girls sometimes say that Columbia girls are not as "hot," and Columbia girls (and boys, surprisingly) sometimes say that Barnard girls are not as bright.

Columbia2002 · 12-19-2005, 11:02 PM

Again, suburbamania is right. Most Columbia students have enough tact to hold their grudges to themselves rather than spewing them to Barnard girls.

The one thing that I still find amazing, even though I'm almost 4 years removed from Columbia, is that I see resumes -- from Barnard alums -- that totally hide the fact that the girl went to Barnard. Some of the stuff I see is blatant dishonesty.

scarfmadness · 12-19-2005, 11:05 PM

that makes me really sad. i can understand a girl in her first weeks here, maybe still disappointed over a columbia rejection, telling people she goes to columbia. but there is so much barnard tradition and solidarity, and i have heard so many columbia girls say they wished they went to barnard, that i cant imagine how someone could spend 4 years here and not want to tell the whole world about how awesome barnard really is. seems like a bit of a waste of an education.

yapsuper · 12-19-2005, 11:14 PM

Its all about apperances. Now adays as I'm sure many are aware, jobs are getting competitive and people want the best. Columbia happens to be part of the best, but while Barnard is great no one has heard of it. I agree that this is sad because barnard has a great tradition.

To all columbia kids: Lets stop the hostility with our class. Barnard is a different school in the same University. Just like New York City is a different city in the same state. While the grudge may be called tradition, it is one that i feel should end. Amet (Let him love)

jzmagic · 12-19-2005, 11:29 PM

lol i also heard that barnard girls had hot chicks O.o
lookin 4ward to seein them

jzmagic · 12-19-2005, 11:30 PM

oh yea another thing i heard was that barnard girls are all feminist nazis

Columbia2002 · 12-19-2005, 11:32 PM

Nothing's really going to change. The fact that Columbia tried to dissolve Barnard throughout the 80s does say something about the tradition and awesomeness of Barnard. I don't think it is the case that nobody has heard of Barnard.

yapsuper · 12-19-2005, 11:32 PM

hmm I guess my message was lost... come on guys.

silver_wavez · 12-20-2005, 12:34 AM

well all i can add to this discussion is that i love barnard.
and the rivalry?... bahh.. whatever. i don't let it get to me.
barnard has its perks.. just like columbia has its own.
that's all there is to it.

lynda · 12-20-2005, 07:46 AM

hey I would've turned columbia down for barnard if barnard had the same financial aid rules as columbia. barnard is an awsome school, and being affliated with columbia adds to that awsomeness. I liked barnard because it lacks columbia's core and offers alot of credits to IB diploma holders. attending barnard would've given me alot more freedom in choosing classes.

anyways my point is while there are students at barnard that went their to be beside columbia, others love barnard as barnard. the tension toward barnard students is completely stupid because barnard in itself is an awsome school. I personally don't have a problem with barnard girls being on columbia campus, and if they like to claim they are from columbia then thats their choice.