Barnard Year of Science: Pursuing Neuroscience

The Neuroscience major requirements at Barnard are all wonderful classes that have challenged

me to think creatively and empirically at the same time. I personally recommend taking science

requirements at Barnard due to the smaller class size and personalization of the course by the

professors, though most are cross-listed with Columbia University.

I have always said, and will always say, that studying Neuroscience at Barnard was the best

decision I have ever made. From the close-knit community of Neuroscience (and more generally

STEM) students, to the focus on academic inquiry over competition, to the professors'

accessibility in and out of the classroom, I am constantly pushed to learn to the best of my

ability, and ask questions above and beyond the baseline expectation of comprehension. With the

expansive resources of Columbia across the street, research opportunities are limitless, and serve

to complement Barnard's offerings in research and scientific coursework. Truly the best of both

worlds!

Speaking of which, there are a few courses I have valued taking to get credits for research, either

directly for a Barnard professor or for an off-campus research center. I was enrolled in a Guided

Research course for my first three years, for which I got 1 credit per 3 hours of weekly research.

Due to the flexibility of the course structure, depending on the amount of time I chose to commit

to research in a given semester, I could get between 1 and 4 graded research credits per semester.

This year, I am pursuing my thesis research and have exorbitant amounts of respect for my

Senior Thesis Seminar Professor and classmates, alike. I have to say, Seminar is probably my

favorite class this semester. The other students’ projects are fascinating and vast, providing me

with exposure to avenues of Neuroscience that I had never considered. The level of inquiry and

passion that each student brings to the table is truly telling of the caliber of thought of each and

every student at Barnard.

That being said, structured courses aren't the only way Barnard students are able to participate in

STEM research. Each summer Barnard houses the Summer Research Institute (SRI) which is a

6-to-10-week funded research intensive program where Barnard students are able to work in labs

all around New York City and gain valuable knowledge in the STEM fields. I participated in SRI

this past summer and have been absolutely thrilled by the level of attention and dedication I am

able to provide to my lab, and with which my lab has provided me.

As I look ahead at post-graduate opportunities I am eternally grateful for the quality of education

and support I got while at Barnard. The caliber of professors and the comradery of my

classmates truly exceeded all expectations for a well-rounded, challenging, and fulfilling

undergraduate experience.

Oh, and check out A Day in My Life as a Neuroscience Student over on the college’s TikTok!

Allie Lipshutz ‘22