What do you really love/hate about Barnard?

rnb1065
Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:11:58 +0000

Things I love: It’s in NYC. The advising is great. Classes are interesting. The teachers are accessible. The work load is (somewhat) reasonable. The girls are interesting and friendly. You can really talk to anyone (not too cliquey). It’s very easy to participate in discussions without guys around. Very relaxed atmosphere in most classes – not that competitive. Girls are serious about work, but know how to get down (for the most part). Wonderful place for creative, artsy, music/theater people. Unique opportunities you can’t get anywhere else (my piano teacher is the composer for all of Isaac Mizrahi’s commercials, etc – they’re like, really tight; my theater professor is also a Broadway general manager…etc). Education is really tailored to what you want. Everyone is looking out for YOUR best interests. It’s very easy to succeed here. There’s always something to do…because we’re in New York. You can go out and party or do whatever and come home and it’ll be nice and quiet here.

Things I hate: There’s no sense of community. It’s hard to get involved socially at Columbia sometimes. Not having guys around makes some girls totally wacko-Feminists and others completely boy-crazy – doesn’t foster a healthy view of the opposite sex. Very materialistic. A little homogeneous. Most people have no school spirit or their Barnard pride is completely over the top (again, not really a healthy medium). Not that much to do on campus (even though there are events, they can be pretty lame) until the end of semester when suddenly EVERYTHING is going on…but you have finals. Girls can be a little snotty especially about going to low-income areas of NYC. People totally scatter everywhere over the weekend – again, doesn’t help with the lack of community.

I know that’s a lot of hate, but I love it here. It’s the right place for me, despite the negatives. I think most girls here feel the same. I do know a lot of people transferring. That doesn’t mean that Barnard sucks, it just means that it really isn’t for everybody.

PS - The dorms are alright, but not wonderful – about as good as your going to get at most places, I’m sure. Do live on campus – you miss a lot when you aren’t here.