Barnard vs. NYU Specifics from current students/parents? Please Help!

calmom
Sun, 05 Oct 2014 23:05:24 +0000

Apply RD to both.

Really.

No one has to apply ED.

If you are undecided between two colleges, the only sane and rational choice is to apply to both. Add 2 safeties to the mix,and you are set. (There’s no rule that you have to apply to 10 or 12 or 20 colleges either). Just apply to your top choices and a couple of colleges that you are sure you can get into and can afford, and you’ll have good options in the spring.

I would add that my daughter applied, RD, to both NYU & Barnard and was admitted to both. However, NYU’s financial aid was inadequate, so she opted for Barnard. However, she has a close friend who was offered generous merit money from NYU, better than the need based aid at Barnard – but opted for Barnard.

My d. is now attending grad school at NYU, and she is very, very glad she chose Barnard as an undergrad. It has nothing to do with the “campus” feel – although my d. does find it frustrating sometimes to figure out where some of her classes are given the way that NYU buildings are spread out. It’s the administration and bureaucracy that drives her nuts – and that’s within a grad program that probably provides a more close-knit experience than undergrads at NYU could expect. At Barnard, I think students feel that the faculty and administration are there to serve them.

Barnard is PART of Columbia – everything from class registration to clubs to athletics to social events are fully integrated. The schools have separate programs and majors, but they are operating in tandem with one another.

And if you want football… look elsewhere. Columbia has a football team but hardly anybody shows up to attend the games. If you want a campus where students where team sports play a large part in campus life, probably best to look outside of the major cities, or at least outside of NYC.

Perhaps if you are asking those questions you do want to broaden your college list somewhat-- at least add one or two colleges where campus football is valued to the mix.