<p>I have to disagree with most of what has been said on this front. As a current Barnard student I have felt rather discouraged at times by the wealth surrounding me, both at Barnard and Columbia. What most people don’t realize about the Ivy League atmosphere is that people are selected for their ability to “succeed,” not academically, but financially, and to eventually contribute to the college’s endowment. Because of this, there is a lot of wealth and privilege here at Barnard, though most students seem more “driven” to party in New York City for four years than to actually do any work.</p>
<p>I’m sorry if this comes off as a bit resentful, but I have often felt unhappy at Barnard for this very reason. I grew up in a small northern Michigan town, went to a public school of 1,500; I was one of only 3 people to actually leave the state. When I came here, I realized that most girls had parents who could just dump money in their hands for any trivial little thing; very few people work, and many aren’t even on financial aid. One of my best friends ended up being the daughter of the owner of the Chicago Bears; the others are children of wealthy doctors. There are certainly others in my situation here, but they seem few and far between, and so I feel disadvantaged and jealous a lot of the time. I feel having to work 10 hours a week just to have fun in the city (and by that I mean seeking out free events and going to mid-range restaurants). While all of my friends are flitting off abroad next year, I am facing the possibility of not even being able to return to Barnard. The worst part is that most people just don’t “get” this feeling I have, because they’ve never held a job, never been too hard-pressed financially.</p>
<p>I’m not telling you this to discourage you from applying to Barnard or going there, however. I just wish someone had made me more aware before I arrived here. Barnard still has many amazing opportunities to offer you, and you’ll likely find others in your same situation. Not to mentioned that New York, while expensive, is unparalleled; there are plenty of things to do here that cost next to nothing, and you’ll get used to navigating the city like a pro in no time. There are also a lot of things going on on campus, and you’ll have a lot of company of you hang around uptown for most of your days here. Good luck!</p>