Anonymous
04/23/2025 15:11
Subject: Barnard vs Colby?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:What major? If your DC is interested in finance, premed, prelaw, there is no doubt Barnard would be the better option. But for a different major, say environmental science or marine biology, I would definitely go for Colby.
I would not pull the trigger so quickly on finance. Colby has a very strong economics program with a strong network in finance (especially in Boston).
I also don’t think that a liberal arts college (including Barnard) has premed or prelaw major. That’s kinda the point of a liberal arts program.
no elite schools, universities or lac's, have premed or prelaw majors. The students who want to go to med or law just do the pre-X requirements in addition to whatever major they choose. None of the schools in question on this thread are elite, but Barnard is the closest-to-elite option and tends to do better with med and law placement
Anonymous
04/23/2025 15:00
Subject: Barnard vs Colby?
Anonymous wrote:What major? If your DC is interested in finance, premed, prelaw, there is no doubt Barnard would be the better option. But for a different major, say environmental science or marine biology, I would definitely go for Colby.
I would not pull the trigger so quickly on finance. Colby has a very strong economics program with a strong network in finance (especially in Boston).
I also don’t think that a liberal arts college (including Barnard) has premed or prelaw major. That’s kinda the point of a liberal arts program.
Anonymous
04/23/2025 14:30
Subject: Barnard vs Colby?
What major? If your DC is interested in finance, premed, prelaw, there is no doubt Barnard would be the better option. But for a different major, say environmental science or marine biology, I would definitely go for Colby.
Anonymous
04/23/2025 14:24
Subject: Barnard vs Colby?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:DD had been to Colby and was there for a summer. They have a great Enviro studies program but isnt a fan of the small size and party culture but knows it has a great reputation.
Barnard has phenomenal program in her interest area too and loves all women and network for future and its also not a super party culture.
Mcgill has exactly her interests too -- super cool programs that are small in a big school. Loves Montreal, will learn French, dorms extra good. She absolutely loves the idea of this option but not sure about giving up well regarded small lacs for McGill. We see her looking for reasons to choose McGill over Barnard/Colby but wonders if it is as highly regarded as the others and if launching from Barnard would be much much better
Doesn't sound like price is a factor, but McGill will be 35Kish for an int'l student vs. 90kish for Barnard/Colby. I would personally pick McGill (even beyond the price issue), but that's because of my perception that it's more selective than Barnard and Colby (among the most selective colleges in Canada vs. mid-tier American colleges). But I don't know your kid or environmental science programs, so YMMV, and I was a Columbia College undergrad so I clearly have more urban preferences...
By selectivity, Barnard places ~22nd among U.S. colleges and universities and Colby places ~31st. By objective measures, McGill does not approach this level of selectivity.
Well, yes, because McGill is not a US university because it is in Canada.
I'm quite familiar with McGill's statistical characteristics. By selectivity, McGill does not approach the top few dozen colleges in the U.S., which includes Barnard and Colby.
Anonymous
04/23/2025 14:07
Subject: Barnard vs Colby?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:There’s nothing Colby has Barnard doesn’t. There’s a lot Barnard has access to, that Colby doesn’t.
This. Barnard 100%. Not even close to Colby. Agree Barnard v Wellesley would be a debate.
Colby has a world class athletic facility with an Olympic sized pool and sports fields on campus for all sports teams. It also has an island campus to study marine biology. There are other examples. So not exactly 100%.
Anonymous
04/23/2025 13:32
Subject: Barnard vs Colby?
Go through the course catalog and plot out which classes she would take each semester at each institution. See which is more exciting.
Anonymous
04/23/2025 13:31
Subject: Barnard vs Colby?
Anonymous wrote:There’s nothing Colby has Barnard doesn’t. There’s a lot Barnard has access to, that Colby doesn’t.
This. Barnard 100%. Not even close to Colby. Agree Barnard v Wellesley would be a debate.
Anonymous
04/23/2025 13:02
Subject: Barnard vs Colby?
These are such different fits -- Barnard and McGill are city universities, Barnard is smaller, but I lump it with Columbia. I would not want to be a student at Columbia/Barnard right now due to all the on-campus political drama, nor would I want to go to college in NYC in general due to the cost. I would seriously consider McGill over Barnard if your DD wants a city. Colby is its own thing. If your daughter is a suburban preppy kid from a UMC background and can be in rural Maine with a heavy on-campus party atmosphere, then pick that.
Anonymous
04/23/2025 12:55
Subject: Barnard vs Colby?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:DD had been to Colby and was there for a summer. They have a great Enviro studies program but isnt a fan of the small size and party culture but knows it has a great reputation.
Barnard has phenomenal program in her interest area too and loves all women and network for future and its also not a super party culture.
Mcgill has exactly her interests too -- super cool programs that are small in a big school. Loves Montreal, will learn French, dorms extra good. She absolutely loves the idea of this option but not sure about giving up well regarded small lacs for McGill. We see her looking for reasons to choose McGill over Barnard/Colby but wonders if it is as highly regarded as the others and if launching from Barnard would be much much better
Doesn't sound like price is a factor, but McGill will be 35Kish for an int'l student vs. 90kish for Barnard/Colby. I would personally pick McGill (even beyond the price issue), but that's because of my perception that it's more selective than Barnard and Colby (among the most selective colleges in Canada vs. mid-tier American colleges). But I don't know your kid or environmental science programs, so YMMV, and I was a Columbia College undergrad so I clearly have more urban preferences...
By selectivity, Barnard places ~22nd among U.S. colleges and universities and Colby places ~31st. By objective measures, McGill does not approach this level of selectivity.
US News has a ranking of global universities. Columbia is highly ranked as a university (not Barnard specifically). McGill is in the 50s globally. Colby isn't included as it's not a university.
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/rankings
Again, these are three very different schools (one in a different country).
Anonymous
04/23/2025 12:53
Subject: Barnard vs Colby?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:DD had been to Colby and was there for a summer. They have a great Enviro studies program but isnt a fan of the small size and party culture but knows it has a great reputation.
Barnard has phenomenal program in her interest area too and loves all women and network for future and its also not a super party culture.
Mcgill has exactly her interests too -- super cool programs that are small in a big school. Loves Montreal, will learn French, dorms extra good. She absolutely loves the idea of this option but not sure about giving up well regarded small lacs for McGill. We see her looking for reasons to choose McGill over Barnard/Colby but wonders if it is as highly regarded as the others and if launching from Barnard would be much much better
Doesn't sound like price is a factor, but McGill will be 35Kish for an int'l student vs. 90kish for Barnard/Colby. I would personally pick McGill (even beyond the price issue), but that's because of my perception that it's more selective than Barnard and Colby (among the most selective colleges in Canada vs. mid-tier American colleges). But I don't know your kid or environmental science programs, so YMMV, and I was a Columbia College undergrad so I clearly have more urban preferences...
By selectivity, Barnard places ~22nd among U.S. colleges and universities and Colby places ~31st. By objective measures, McGill does not approach this level of selectivity.
Well, yes, because McGill is not a US university because it is in Canada.
Anonymous
04/23/2025 12:47
Subject: Barnard vs Colby?
Not sure if this would be relevant for OP but Colby had no student unrest last year whereas Columbia/Barnard had considerable student unrest. That may be a difference worth considering.
Anonymous
04/23/2025 12:08
Subject: Barnard vs Colby?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:DD had been to Colby and was there for a summer. They have a great Enviro studies program but isnt a fan of the small size and party culture but knows it has a great reputation.
Barnard has phenomenal program in her interest area too and loves all women and network for future and its also not a super party culture.
Mcgill has exactly her interests too -- super cool programs that are small in a big school. Loves Montreal, will learn French, dorms extra good. She absolutely loves the idea of this option but not sure about giving up well regarded small lacs for McGill. We see her looking for reasons to choose McGill over Barnard/Colby but wonders if it is as highly regarded as the others and if launching from Barnard would be much much better
Doesn't sound like price is a factor, but McGill will be 35Kish for an int'l student vs. 90kish for Barnard/Colby. I would personally pick McGill (even beyond the price issue), but that's because of my perception that it's more selective than Barnard and Colby (among the most selective colleges in Canada vs. mid-tier American colleges). But I don't know your kid or environmental science programs, so YMMV, and I was a Columbia College undergrad so I clearly have more urban preferences...
By selectivity, Barnard places ~22nd among U.S. colleges and universities and Colby places ~31st. By objective measures, McGill does not approach this level of selectivity.
Anonymous
04/23/2025 10:50
Subject: Barnard vs Colby?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:DD had been to Colby and was there for a summer. They have a great Enviro studies program but isnt a fan of the small size and party culture but knows it has a great reputation.
Barnard has phenomenal program in her interest area too and loves all women and network for future and its also not a super party culture.
Mcgill has exactly her interests too -- super cool programs that are small in a big school. Loves Montreal, will learn French, dorms extra good. She absolutely loves the idea of this option but not sure about giving up well regarded small lacs for McGill. We see her looking for reasons to choose McGill over Barnard/Colby but wonders if it is as highly regarded as the others and if launching from Barnard would be much much better
Doesn't sound like price is a factor, but McGill will be 35Kish for an int'l student vs. 90kish for Barnard/Colby. I would personally pick McGill (even beyond the price issue), but that's because of my perception that it's more selective than Barnard and Colby (among the most selective colleges in Canada vs. mid-tier American colleges). But I don't know your kid or environmental science programs, so YMMV, and I was a Columbia College undergrad so I clearly have more urban preferences...
Thanks for this. She wants to factor in selectivity/network -- so intel appreciated
Anonymous
04/23/2025 10:35
Subject: Barnard vs Colby?
Anonymous wrote:This is very helpful input -- and we'd welcome other thoughts, experiences, ways to consider the opportunity. DD also considering McGill (I know all seem different but they all have elementa she likes or wants).
McGill and Barnard actually make a lot more sense as a combo. Colby is the outlier. Not in a bad way. Just very different.
It seems like a major fork in the road and she needs to decide which one to take.
Anonymous
04/23/2025 10:34
Subject: Barnard vs Colby?
Anonymous wrote:DD had been to Colby and was there for a summer. They have a great Enviro studies program but isnt a fan of the small size and party culture but knows it has a great reputation.
Barnard has phenomenal program in her interest area too and loves all women and network for future and its also not a super party culture.
Mcgill has exactly her interests too -- super cool programs that are small in a big school. Loves Montreal, will learn French, dorms extra good. She absolutely loves the idea of this option but not sure about giving up well regarded small lacs for McGill. We see her looking for reasons to choose McGill over Barnard/Colby but wonders if it is as highly regarded as the others and if launching from Barnard would be much much better
Doesn't sound like price is a factor, but McGill will be 35Kish for an int'l student vs. 90kish for Barnard/Colby. I would personally pick McGill (even beyond the price issue), but that's because of my perception that it's more selective than Barnard and Colby (among the most selective colleges in Canada vs. mid-tier American colleges). But I don't know your kid or environmental science programs, so YMMV, and I was a Columbia College undergrad so I clearly have more urban preferences...