Barnard College

Date: Oct 01 2009
Major: Undecided (This Major's Salary over time)
I am a freshman at Barnard, and I love it here. I was enthusiastic about Barnard from the very beginning, and I remember worrying if the college would live up to my expectations. Fortunately, I believe that the college has actually surpassed my expectations. The student body is interesting and diverse: everyone is incredibly friendly, and while bright, no one is overconfident or stuck up. I have actually found that most girls are very modest about all of their accomplishments. Barnard is not full of Columbia rejects, we chose Barnard for a variety of reasons, for me it was because it is a more nurturing environment. I love how we have a tight-nit community within a larger city. You are not just a number here, and the advising system is wonderful. Barnard is in no way filled with a bunch of feminists, I'm sure they are here, but as of now I have yet to meet any. This campus is so diverse that no matter what your beliefs are, I'm sure you will find people who share your ideals.

As for meeting guys, it is not as challenging as I feared it would be. They are guys in all of my classes, and I see them around campus all the time. Unfortunately, Columbia is not filled with the most attractive bunch of men, but they are around. Two of my classes are at Columbia, and I have friends from both colleges, and we often all go out together. There is so much to do around here, and I keep on discovering more interesting places to go. You can go to both parties at Columbia, or out in the city, so you still get the college experience, but you have the option of doing something aside just going to frat parties all weekend. Also, as Barnard students we get discounts to many major New York City events, such as discounts to Broadway shows and comedy clubs, and free admission to museums and the New York Public Library.

As for the classes, the professors are extremely accessible, and can be reached through e-mail, during their office hours, before and after class, and any other time if you e-mail them in advanced. I have especially enjoyed my freshman seminar course. We are reading some great pieces of literature that have already caused me to look at the world a little differently. You can take almost any class imaginable as you have access to both Barnard and Columbia's course catalog.