Barnard vs. Cornell or Duke

[fuzzypenguins12]

<p>I absolutely love Columbia, and know that if I went to Barnard, the good connection, and the fact that even my diploma in the end would say Columbia U, I would be fine. Buut...I would always feel just a little inferior for not having been accepted into Columbia College.</p>

<p>But...I guess my question is, later in life, will I regret it if I went to Barnard? Will really going to Barnard and not bona fide Columbia not be as prestigious? Would I be better off going to Cornell or Duke? Please help!!!</p>

<p>One more thing: I'm writing my Columbia appeal right now (I was waitlisted), and I was gonna be lame and say something like "If you don't accept me, I will stare outside my Barnard window and be sad and junk." I know the colleges face each other, but, from any of the dorms, can you actually see Columbia? Haha, it would be great if someone knew something that trivial.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance for anyone's help!!!</p>

[fuzzypenguins12]

<p>Hmm...I guess very few people mosey on down to the Barnard boards.</p>

[churchmusicmom]

<p>Nope, there are some very intelligent and insightful people who do...I just believe they may not know exactly how to address your question.</p>

<p>Barnard is a wonderful school...but with your attitude, you may not be a good "fit". My D has visited both (applied ED to Columbia....), but feels whole-heartedly that Barnard is the better situation for her for many, many reasons. We were even told by a Columbia prof that Barnard is the better situation re class size and individual attention from profs, and the curriculum is as good or better in areas where there are duplications. And his take on Barnard students is that they are indistinguishable from Columbia students. In short, I think you should look carefully at your reasons for wanting Columbia to begin with. College is much more than just a name.</p>

<p>And go back and read some of the previous posts on this board...there is much insight to be gained here.
Best of luck to you in your search and decision.</p>

[mardad]

<p>My D had the same reaction as Churchmusicdaughter. She visited both Columbia and Barnard. She loved Barnard and thought Columbia so-so but it had a lot of prestige so she applied anyway. When I really pinned her down I got her to admit that Columbia was a backup to Barnard. There was an earlier thread back in late 2004 about girls who apply to Barnard to get into Columbia being the unhappiest at Barnard. PrimeFactor probably could tell you which one it was.</p>

[fuzzypenguins12]

<p><em>nod</em> I looked at any threads that seemed to cater to my concerns. I do believe that I'd be happiest at Barnard, and because I'm already firmly decided about that, I've started to worry more about the prestige thing than anything else. Not just because of me, but because Barnard would be one of the most expensive choices (I could, for instance, go to Duke for about $5,000 a year--chunk change compared to Barnard's price), and my mom would kill me to find out that "Columbia University--Barnard College" does not look nearly as good to employers as "Duke" or "Cornell" would stamped onto pieces of paper.</p>

[churchmusicmom]

<p>I certainly understand your concerns about the expense at Barnard. It was so far-and-away the perfect school for our d (combination of first-class academics and first-class dance; campus "fit"; city "fit") that even the choice of a state-school honors program that would be free (good academics; not-so-great dance) was not a viable one. We are not wealthy by any means, but it is worth it to send her where she knows she belongs. I am sure that "Barnard at Columbia" will look just as good to an employer as any other college...but I would be more concerned with opportunities available at such a unique school like Barnard....specifically, it seems that opportunities for internships throughout the City are abundant and, by-and-large, unique.</p>

<p>Again, best of luck!</p>

[fuzzypenguins12]

<p>I sent out a request for reconsideration to Barnard (for more aid ;) ), and will hopefully, finally visit Duke some time before Saturday--I sincerely hope that this will settle things. </p>

<p>Thanks for the input, churchmusicmom and mardad!</p>

[ahimsa]

<p>A general philosophical question: what is prestige anyway? How do we define it? What are the criteria? What does it signify? How does it affect us? What is its role in our lives? Is it necessary? Is it important?</p>

<p>Think of the people you most admire in the world. Think of the people you love and who love you. What role does prestige play in your admiration and/or love? </p>

<p>Think of the impact you want to make on the world. Think of how you'd like to make the world a better place. (We older people are counting on you younger people to do better than us! To make the world a better, more just, more peaceful place!) How are you going to do this? What role does prestige play in this?</p>

<p>I think we have to ask ourselves questions like these throughout our lives, everytime we're confronted by a decision.</p>

[TheDad]

<p>Though I do not practice the doctrine of ahimsa, the poster Ahimsa makes a wonderful post. Again.</p>

[silver_wavez]

<p>I think if that is a huge concern for you.. then you should just go to Duke or Cornell..</p>

<p>I share the same feelings as churchmusicmom and her daughter.
If you think Barnard isn't the place for you, and you just see it as an inferior extension to Columbia then you really should NOT go.</p>

[silver_wavez]

<p>Also something you should keep in mind..</p>

<p>Duke and Cornell are both in remote areas.. I mean, they are not in an amazing city with endless amounts of resources and opportunities like NYC.
Is that more important than prestige?</p>

<p>You don't have that long to decide.. but you should really ask yourself what you want out of college.. and what your heart is telling you to do.</p>