PLEASE help I am SO torn!
I am a transfer student struggling to choose between NYU CAS and Barnard at Columbia for Econ and poli minor. I am interested in going into international relations (masters) post grad and working abroad. They would both be the same price for me (full pay). Which has a better international reputation and will overall set me up better for that type of career?
NYU:
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bigger (which I like)
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no campus (a negative for me)
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really good international prestige
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able to study abroad easily
Barnard:
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access to Columbia (gives bigger feel) but also small classes + community at Barnard
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has a campus (I really like this)
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I am worried it will feel too small
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has 4+1 for masters in international affairs with columbia (would have to apply)
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study abroad is harder?
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Why is study abroad harder at Barnard? it’s not - and if they don’t have a program that works, you can get another college’s approved.
Barnard lists these for Econ - now, how do they work coming in as a transfer, I don’t know.
And Barnard is a part of the bigger school.
Go to Barnard, based on what you defined.
Best of luck.
CASA Santiago, Chile
CIEE Shanghai, China
DIS Copenhagen, Denmark
CIEE Cape Town, South Africa
Pompeu Fabra University, Spain
IES Milan/Bocconi University
London School of Economics, UK
University College London, UK
Mansfield College, Oxford University, UK
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Think of Barnard and Columbia as one large campus, where university students of any of the schools/colleges use facilities (libraries, dining halls, Gym, etc.) freely anywhere, based on personal preference, availability, friends,…
And of course, students of the various undergrad colleges attend classes on either campus, depending on where they might be offered that semester.
The general “feel” will be that of a tighter community within a large university - because that’s what it is - especially after the first year, when many students might prefer (college) housing in other buildings in the neighborhood.
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Bear in mind that the idea of “working abroad”, unless you already have citizenship elsewhere, is not something that’s likely to happen straight out of undergrad so in that sense “international reputation” is not really of prime importance. You’re more likely to at least start working in the US (assuming you’re a domestic student) and most likely by the time you get to be able to practically think about working abroad your work experience will matter more than your undergrad alma mater - especially if you do a masters as well. I’d go with the school you feel is a better fit/better experience for you.
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Yes, Barnard is literally part of Columbia University. When you graduate, you receive a joint diploma from both Barnard College and Columbia University, signed by the presidents of both institutions. You can take courses at Columbia. You can do a second major at Columbia. You can participate in extracurriculars at Columbia. You can use any of the facilities at Columbia, including cafeterias and dining halls. If you look at a map of Columbia/Barnard, you’ll see that Barnard is literally just across the street from Columbia, meaning adjacent. This is no different than other urban campuses like Yale being broken up by city streets which intersect the campus.
Give your interests, Barnard sounds like the better choice. NYU is really for students who want city life right out of the gate in college. That doesn’t sound like you. A Barnard/Columbia degree will give you all the reputation you need. Other than needing to have a semester at Barnard before you study abroad and your last semester on campus, there don’t seem to be any serious hurdles to study abroad at Barnard as long as you’re in good academic standing.
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