I have a current Barnard student who loves it. She’s a Columbia legacy but preferred Barnard and did not apply to Columbia (no idea if she would’ve gotten in). She has zero issues with feeling “inferior” to Columbia women, but I also don’t think she’d care. Her social life is extremely vibrant (maybe too much so! Lol). She preferred Barnard’s campus (more closed), dorms and smaller classes. If Greek life is of interest to your DD, sororities are joint with Columbia and my DD loves her sorority and there are zero issues between the members who are CC v BC.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If she has a choice, she should go to Columbia. A lot of the lower level classes are held at Barnard, which is right across the street.

Precisely what we learned from students as well as professors. B is treated as almost a remedial campus by a significant portion

You are exaggerating.

My DD at Columbia said that it stops being an issue after the first year. Columbia kids spend lots of time at Barnard.

A little OT, but my D took Barnard off the list because she would have to take most of her science classes at Columbia and felt it wasn’t a true women’s college experience for that reason. She chose Smith and had great research opportunities, leading to a great PhD program (at a co-ed school if that matters).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If she has a choice, she should go to Columbia. A lot of the lower level classes are held at Barnard, which is right across the street.

Precisely what we learned from students as well as professors. B is treated as almost a remedial campus by a significant portion

Why would Barnard have higher level courses? It's a liberal arts colleges for undergraduate women.

Anonymous wrote:If she has a choice, she should go to Columbia. A lot of the lower level classes are held at Barnard, which is right across the street.

Precisely what we learned from students as well as professors. B is treated as almost a remedial campus by a significant portion

Barnard was awesome. I enjoyed my experience there thoroughly. The women are smart, stylish, arty, ambitious, and above all feminists. A different vibe than Columbia, but that’s kind of the point.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here- thank you, this is helpful. DD loves the idea of a small women’s college with all of the opportunities of a large research university…but not if there are going to be eye rolls when she opens her mouth in class.

Oh please. No one is going to roll their eyes at a Barnard student in a class (they don't have "B" tattooed on their forehead). That said, Columbia students use Barnard classes for easy As, because the academic rigor is lower.

Even if they do not roll their eyes, this says all that needs to be said on what the true feelings are amongst a majority of Columbia students

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How often is this an actual issue in daily life?

it is an undercurrent of all classes Barnard students take with Columbia.

19:26 here. This was not my experience at all. Some of my best friends were Columbia women.

I’d be concerned about either school right now because of the protests/hostility on campus that is negatively impacting the entire student community. I have a good friend whose child is a student there and last spring and this fall so far have been terrible.

honest question; is it still as bad as last spring, even after the president is out? are there protests on campus right now? its not high on the list but it is on the final list for sure. we recently toured many other top schools and all is quiet--especially the ones that had issues last fall that made the news.

Bumping this…curious to know what the vibe is.

https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/video/columbia-universitys-alma-mater-statue-vandalized/

https://www.columbiaspectator.com/news/2024/09/03/live-updates-protests-at-columbia/

https://publicsafety.columbia.edu/content/morningside-campus-access-updates

https://president.columbia.edu/content/report-2-task-force-antisemitism

https://www.columbiaspectator.com/news/2024/09/06/task-force-on-antisemitism-issues-second-report-detailing-student-testimonies-recommendations-for-antidiscrimination-training/

PP here -apply to both so she has maybe a choice, knows what her options are.

FWIW, as others would say, Columbia HAS changed since I graduated several decades ago, and the students are maybe weirder/quirkier at Columbia now than they used to be.

Columbia grad here - we socialized with Barnard women and I have best friends who were Barnard still to this day. I think it is a non-issue. The campus is lovely at Barnard, nice community. I would ignore the warning.

If she has a choice, she should go to Columbia. A lot of the lower level classes are held at Barnard, which is right across the street.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How often is this an actual issue in daily life?

it is an undercurrent of all classes Barnard students take with Columbia.

19:26 here. This was not my experience at all. Some of my best friends were Columbia women.

I’d be concerned about either school right now because of the protests/hostility on campus that is negatively impacting the entire student community. I have a good friend whose child is a student there and last spring and this fall so far have been terrible.

honest question; is it still as bad as last spring, even after the president is out? are there protests on campus right now? its not high on the list but it is on the final list for sure. we recently toured many other top schools and all is quiet--especially the ones that had issues last fall that made the news.

Bumping this…curious to know what the vibe is.

Anonymous wrote:OP here- thank you, this is helpful. DD loves the idea of a small women’s college with all of the opportunities of a large research university…but not if there are going to be eye rolls when she opens her mouth in class.

Oh please. No one is going to roll their eyes at a Barnard student in a class (they don't have "B" tattooed on their forehead). That said, Columbia students use Barnard classes for easy As, because the academic rigor is lower.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How often is this an actual issue in daily life?

it is an undercurrent of all classes Barnard students take with Columbia.

19:26 here. This was not my experience at all. Some of my best friends were Columbia women.

I’d be concerned about either school right now because of the protests/hostility on campus that is negatively impacting the entire student community. I have a good friend whose child is a student there and last spring and this fall so far have been terrible.

honest question; is it still as bad as last spring, even after the president is out? are there protests on campus right now? its not high on the list but it is on the final list for sure. we recently toured many other top schools and all is quiet--especially the ones that had issues last fall that made the news.