<p>I kind of feel like an idiot, but I didn’t know Barnard was that hard to get in. I was reading all the waitlists/ rejections and you all looked like great applicants. I’m really sorry. I 'm considering Barnard. Does anyone know how many applied this year?</p>
<p>Pekingnese, depends on what you want - but I think I’d choose Barnard or Wellesley. Both have GREAT reputations… which gave more fin aid and would you prefer to be RIGHT in NYC or near Boston?</p>
<p>And thanks brandnewstate 
And honestly, Vassar, Wes, and Emory are all considered to be harder (to get in to) than Barnard. I wonder what they were looking for? Perhaps I’m just bitter :P</p>
<p>Hmm , that’s weird. At my school everyone uses emory as a safety…maybe because I live in Florida? I’m not sure, it’s different how reputations differ in different states.</p>
<p>Thanks Canto and Neethus :)</p>
<p>Um…Wellesley gave me more money, so my dad wants me to go there; my mom wants me to go W&L b/c it’s free and I want to go to Barnard because it feels right. It’s pretty much a struggle in the househould at this point >_<</p>
<p>Pekingnese – I think you should sit down with your parents and have a very serious discussion about family finances - and also chart out the differences in costs & debt using an Excel spreadsheet. (I always found it very helpful to see the numbers reflected in bar graphs). </p>
<p>Ideally you should attend the best fit, top choice college for you – but even though Barnard was my top choice for years (I was so delighted when she fell in love with the school after her visit and interview) — it has been a major stress point each year worrying about financial aid. The saving grace for me, as a parent, is that my daughter has done extremely well academically – I can look at her GPA and her course work and feel that it is worth the extra sacrifice I have made to send her there. But that’s a lot to expect from her (and more than I require – I simply told her that she needs the 2.0 GPA that is required to maintain eligibility for financial aid).</p>
<p>I can’t know your family’s situation – and I don’t know what you would have to do at W&L to keep that scholarship, either. But you don’t want to be in a situation where, for example, you can’t return to school your junior year because your folks ran out of money or the financial aid award for the coming year came up short. It is really a factor you have to weigh in. </p>
<p>Also – are YOU willing to take on more debt yourself to opt for Barnard over Wellesley? </p>
<p>Look at the cost differential between the two – since both offer need-based aid, you might want to talk to the financial aid offices of each to find out how each calculated need and why there is a difference. You may find that Wellesley has considered some factor that Barnard overlooked. Start by looking at your FAFSA number – how does that compare to the number each college has set for family contribution? If the college’s expected contribution is higher than the FAFSA EFC, call up the financial aid office and ask where that difference comes from. (For example – are they considering home equity? )</p>
<p>yeah, in Alabama Emory is kind of a back-up school (for the smarter end of the class) </p>
<p>pekingnese–yeah, same here. My dad has this irrational, idealistic love of Bryn Mawr (I love it too, but I’m willing to consider both good and bad. He’s not.), my mother is pushing Wellesley for the exact same reason your dad is, and I’m liking Barnard the best. Luckily, all three are offering around the same amount.</p>
<p>really, I had no idea Emory’s considered a back-up school in the south. that’s very interesting…</p>
<p>yeah, neethus, I know! before the letter came, I thought I had a good chance because of the earlier acceptances… Either I didn’t have that “it” factor or it’s just the zaniness of college admissions :P</p>
<p>Emory is NOT a “backup” school in the south…except maybe for those who’s first choice is an ivy league school or something.</p>
<p>My school is a college prep school, so I guess it’s different. And yes, it’s only a backup for some of the class. I just happen to have a very gifted class of only 46 kids. Everyone that applied to Emory was accepted, its just perception</p>
<p>My H wanted my D to go to Smith, but she wanted Barnard. I think the dads want to think their “little girls” are being taken care of. D insisted, and I was on her side, and Barnard it was/is, and a wise choice it was, too.</p>
<p>I can’t describe the difference that Barnard has made to her life. It’s incalculable.</p>
<p>I’m in Texas and Emory is BY NO MEANS a back-up school for the MAJORITY of students; for those vying for spots at HYPSM, yes, but none of the others. </p>
<p>As for me, I’m doing Smith and then a Guaranteed Transfer to Cornell (for money reasons), but I missed the Barnard board so I was just hanging out and seeing how everyone was. My best friend may wind up at Barnard, so who knows, maybe I’ll see all of y’all sometime in the future! :)</p>
<p>squaregirl: That’s awesome. Smith is a wonderful place. I love it, too. You may not want that guaranteed transfer.</p>
<p>I agree with Mythmom. You may not want to transfer.</p>
<p>squaregirl - That’s great about Smith. Did your FA with them work out in the end?</p>
<p>I have the package from them (I think) on infuriating hold at the delivery company…
I hope the FA letter at least comes with it…</p>
<p>what’s a Guaranteed Transfer? I’ve never heard of it</p>
<p>@mythmom - I may not want it but I can’t afford all four years at Smith. 
I’m currently trying to re-negotiate FA with them, but if it doesn’t work out, staying for all four just isn’t an option. I’m hoping to get a lot of a year, though!</p>
<p>@simply lily - If I push a bit, I have enough for a year, so that’s what I’m doing. ;)</p>
<p>@englishivy - It’s unique to Cornell, I think; it basically entails a guaranteed transfer so long as you’ve maintained a certain GPA and taken certain classes.</p>