Why I Chose Barnard, and Why I'm So Glad I Did
The moment I discovered Barnard, it was a school that looked amazing on paper. From the renowned academics, to the benefits of a women’s college education, to the unique relationship with Columbia, to the Manhattan location, I liked everything I heard. But if you’ve made it to the point that you’re reading this blog, you probably know that too.
What really sold me on Barnard — more than anything I read on the various college rating websites I stalked in high school — was the people. As a high schooler visiting Barnard for the first time, my tour guide blew me away with her eloquence and enthusiasm for the school. When I returned as an admitted student, my welcoming host showed me her favorite neighborhood spots and the admissions counselor who read my application stopped me to tell me she remembered my file (thanks, Sarah!). I saw firsthand how warm the community was. And when I finally set foot on campus as a Barnard student, I found myself surrounded by incredible people on all sides — classmates and friends, professors and mentors, and everyone in between.
As I tell prospective students on my tours, these were basically the coolest people I had ever met. More than that, though, I knew that they would inspire me to grow. I knew that every day I would be surrounded by people who would push me and support me as I became the best possible version of myself. It sounds cheesy, but I was right.
In my year and a half here, I’ve done things—big and small—that I never thought I would. On the “bigger” side, I’ve gone on an archaeological dig, presented a project to NASA, and held a club leadership position in a field I never dreamed I’d be a part of. But I’ve also gotten better at art, started learning GIS (geographic information system), organized entire events, and, once, even eaten an entire jumbo Koronet slice of pizza in the middle of the day. Everything I’ve accomplished, whether it be the size of that Koronet slice or the size of the distance between here and Mars, was done with the support of my Barnard community. The friends who’ve loved me, professors who’ve challenged me, and mentors who’ve guided me will shape the rest of my life, and every interaction with them shows me time and time again that I made the right choice in choosing this school.
In short: I love you, Barnard, and the home I’ve made for myself within your gates. I’m so, so happy that I’m here.