My daughter was accepted to many great schools and out of all of them her heart (and mind) is with Barnard. I am very impressed with the college as well, especially the professors - with their combination of teaching and research and the fact that they seem to really care about the students. I also like the fact that she can take classes at Columbia while enjoying a small liberal arts college experience. She also was accepted to the University of Chicago. She applied mostly because her dad is an alum and because (from him) she knows it is a great school. But she doesn’t like the core curriculum (one of the reasons she didn’t want to even apply to Columbia) and she tells me she is not “feeling it”. So my question is this: do I encourage her to go to the higher ranked school? At what point does the rank even matter? If you are getting a great education at a school that you love (even if it is ranked #26), isn’t that just as good as going to a college that is ranked #3?? What are the pros and cons?? She has to decide soon…
U of Chicago and Barnard are both fine schools in terms of ranking…and prestige value if that is what you are looking for.
Either one would be an excellent choice…and really…you allowed your daughter to apply to both. Please let HER pick the one where she feels best.
As a parent, I give general guidelines and then let the kids pick the school in the context of that.
Often, finances are the first cut. What can you afford without taking loans? Is it worth paying twice as much for college 3/3000 vs 26/3000? We often see a choice between a Top Private at full cost vs honor college at full tuition scholarship…still would pick the full scholarship (unless I have a bazillion dollars). So what are the net costs of both?
Then is the “quality” of the school Those school are both very high quality. You can’t think about how they rank in the top 50 top colleges, but out of 3000 US colleges. They are both in the top 1%.
After that, to me, it is “fit”. That is what the student says it is. The curriculum, the size, the location, the peer students.
Remember: it isn’t about bragging rights…it is about an environment where your kid will thrive.
Congratulations on your daughter’s acceptances!
I would listen to your daughter… she is telling you that she does not love the U of Chicago. If her heart and mind are with Barnard, that’s where she should go. She will receive an outstanding education filled with lots of wonderful opportunities.
I see Barnard as the winner here. Congrats!
Thanks @bobber - we gave general guidelines as well. I think my D felt she should apply to UofC because of her dad and he was happy when she did. You never know what is going to happen in the college admissions process, so she did cast a wide and varied net. We can afford both, so thankfully that’s not an issue. I agree with you on fit. I think that’s where I’ve been leaning all along but I thought I’d get some opinions…
Thanks for your input @thumper1 - there is no question we will let HER decide. My question was about how much we should try to influence if rankings of a college really do matter in the long run. That’s more what I’m asking.
Thanks @twogirls I think this is the kind of feedback I needed to hear!
@bopper Not sure what you mean about “bragging rights”?? I’ll be super proud of my daughter where ever she goes - I was just wondering more about the advantages (job prospects, grad school, internships)
Congratulations to your daughter! Both excellent institutions. I agree with the other posters that the final decision should be hers. I have experience with both schools, and ultimately it comes down to fit. From your post, it appears that Barnard appeals to your daughter more. Barnard students have great experiences, and a wealth of resources and opportunities. There is no lack of prestige in a Barnard degree.
Thank you @momsthebest - the positive feedback really helps. I think I’ve been spending too much time reading posts on College Confidential and it started to make me second guess my gut!
My younger daughter was accepted to several colleges and universities, including at least three (e.g., University of Chicago) that ranked higher than the college she ultimately attended. She did extremely well in college, worked in a much-coveted position in her field after college, and now is in a highly ranked graduate school program. Go with fit and the child’s preference!
These rankings are not all this different. There are 3000 colleges or so in this country.
These schools both have excellent rankings…if that is your hunt.
Why would you send her to a college she doesn’t want to go to?
Thank you @rosered55! I’m blessed with a good-natured daughter who we always said will do well “wherever she goes - no matter the school”, but I think ultimately she will be happiest and thrive the most at a school she feels the most “fit” with. thanks again for your input!
@CU123 When did I say that I would send her to a school she doesn’t want to go to? Ultimately it will be her decision. But my D takes our advice to heart and the question I threw out to CC was if it was worth it or not to try and influence her. Was just trying to get some pros of going to a top 3 school, but it seems like the consensus is that it really doesn’t make a difference.
So happy for you and your family that your daughter has two wonderful choices, and that you can afford either one.
I toured Barnard with our eldest daughter…would have LOVED her to go there. As an alum of a women’s college I also think that it is a unique time and very special opportunity. Of course however Barnard and Columbia are truly intertwined (when you visit you really get the sense of how interconnected they are).
I do think that while students CAN be happy anywhere (“bloom where you’re planted”), she is lucky enough to have a choice between really different settings. I am sure that certain programs and departments are better at one or the other, but at a certain point, prestige and rankings really don’t matter nearly as much as her level of enthusiasm. And from what you have posted, Barnard sounds great for her!
“I think I’ve been spending too much time reading posts on College Confidential and it started to make me second guess my gut!”
Too much time looking at US News rankings, actually. Barnard and the U of C are at the worst near-peers by alumni achievements (though you may not get too many U of C grads to agree; but then, they don’t acknowledge many other schools as peers anyway). I’m hard pressed to think of any opportunity that would be available at the U of C that wouldn’t be available at Barnard.
US News rankings can only be used as a rough guide, BTW, and especially when it comes to LACs, they become close to worthless.
Thank you @momcino! Where did your daughter end up and is she happy there? Interesting to hear your impression of the interconnectedness of Columbia and Barnard. I felt the same way when we visited - I was actually very surprised.
I’m thinking you would be helpful here!
Thanks @PurpleTitan - no, actually I meant College Confidential. Specifically the U of Chicago posts
