<p>The Barnard diploma says, in essence (and in latin) that the graduate has a degree from Barnard College of Columbia University. It has the signature of the president of Barnard as well as the Columbia UNIVERSITY president. </p>
<p>It’s NOT a “dual degree”. I suppose a student could transfer to Columbia College, but given the very restrictive basic requirements there (The “core”), I imagine it would be pretty difficult to graduate anywhere near in four years after doing so. A Barnard student can and does take many courses at Columbia, however. Some degrees are offered only through Columbia, as a matter of fact. And some Columbia degrees are offered only through Barnard. But a student who graduates from Barnard graduates with a Barnard (of Columbia UNIVERSITY) diploma. You cannot decide to graduate from Columbia (COLLEGE). </p>
<p>If your daughter wants to have the rigor and structure of the Core and a diploma that says she graduated from Columbia College of Columbia University, she should apply to Columbia College of Columbia University. If she wants a smaller Liberal Arts college “feel” with all the resources of Columbia University, and a diploma that says she graduated from Barnard College of Columbia University, she should apply to Barnard.</p>
<p>I know it seems VERY confusing. And having one of the several undergraduate institutions of Columbia University (including the Fu Foundation Engineering college, Columbia, school of General Studies, and Barnard) named COLUMBIA (like the university) does not help with the confusion.</p>