In December 2017, my dad and I flew to New York City to tour Barnard College. I had been telling my parents about Barnard for a few years, and I was so ready to finally see it in person! Barnard is affiliated with Columbia University, but is all-female and much smaller. The campus is located across the street from Columbia’s campus in Morningside Heights on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. We arrived early so that we could get to know the campus before the guided tour. Unfortunately, it was under construction so we weren’t able to see it in its full glory.
Although the campus is small, it is very beautiful. Walking through the classic, ornate iron gates, I felt a thrill of anticipation. I had never toured a college that had the “classic college” look that Barnard has. Beyond the gates, the towering pillars introduce Barnard Hall.
A visit to Barnard College isn’t complete without stopping by the well-known Greek Games statue. Barnard’s tradition of the Greek Games began in 1903 as an effort to recreate the competitions of Ancient Greece. Events such as dance, poetry, hurdling, and discus throwing were involved. The Greek Games were stopped in 1967, but were reinstated in 2011 with the addition of “Yoga in a Toga”, “Plato’s Pilates”, and other creative events.
Our tour guide told us about the rigorous academics, extensive extracurriculars, and incredible opportunities that Barnard has to offer. In addition to the resources on Barnard’s campus, Barnard students have access to Columbia’s classes, libraries, extracurriculars, and research opportunities. We finished our tour in the beautiful Milbank Hall, which was also under construction at the time.
Here are some of the most interesting and exciting things I learned during my Barnard tour:
- New students get a full week of orientation (living on campus, settling into dorm room, seminars on subways, city etiquette, and safety, ect.)
- Students complete extensive roommate surveys, so roommate assignments are frequently successful.
- Attending Barnard means discounted Broadway tickets, museum prices, and much more.
- The Morningside Heights neighborhood is consistently rated the 2nd safest neighborhood in New York City by the NYPD.
- Barnard offers study broad opportunities in over 35 countries across 5 continents.
- Barnard’s top majors are Psychology, Economics, English, and Biomedicine.
- Each Barnard student is paired with an advisor to help them make the best class choices for their major and career path.
- Every student has access to summer internships and research opportunities through Barnard.
After our tour, we stopped by the infamous Liz’s Cafe for some coffee and a snack. The staff was extremely friendly, and the atmosphere was buzzing with students milling around, lounging in the welcoming orange couches, and poring over textbooks. I felt right at home. A great ending to a great tour.
If you have any other questions about Barnard, feel free to ask! If you are currently attending or have attended Barnard, I would love to talk to you about your experience with the school.
– J.S.
