Why I Chose Barnard in Regular Decision: Lindsey's Story
When I was looking at colleges during my senior year of high school, I would always dread the infamous question, “So, what type of school are you looking for?” Each time a friend or family member asked, I think I gave a very different generic answer. As a 17-year old, I had no idea what I wanted. I constantly worried that I would regret my choice in four years or even in forty years. I didn’t know whether I wanted a big school or a small school, an urban environment or a secluded campus, and I wrestled with where I could actually picture myself spending four years of my life.
Ultimately, I chose Barnard because I didn’t have to make these difficult decisions. At Barnard, I knew that I would be able to choose the college experience that I uniquely wanted. Although I chose Barnard because I was indecisive, I now know, without a question of doubt, that Barnard was the right choice by virtue of my ability to craft my own Barnard experience.
Now, as a student with three semesters behind me, I have truly been able to choose my own adventure. Barnard is a close-knit community with all of the resources and student body of Columbia University. While Barnard is located in Manhattan, a magnificent metropolis, students can always retreat to our cozy campus on the Upper West Side. And though Barnard is historically a women’s college, I find myself in classes with diverse groups of people with even more diverse experiences. Any given day at Barnard can look different for each student. I don’t believe that this divides us as a student body; different experiences yield more interesting conversations, bolder actions, and closer interactions in the community.
Because of the many dualities of the Barnard experience, I have had the privilege of having the “college experience” in so many different, exciting ways. From spending nearly 24-hours in a library for a Hackathon with my friends to celebrating Columbia Homecoming at Baker Field, and visiting the FILA design studio in Midtown with my architecture class, there is always a new adventure to be had. Fortunately, my uncertainty in the college process has allowed me to explore different things outside of the sphere of options that I could even fathom deciding between.
If I could give myself, or any person, advice about picking a school, I would say to embrace the indecisiveness and the uncertainty. There is no way for you to know what you will want in a couple years, and you cannot forecast the person that you will grow into. Trust your instincts, and talk to current students if you can! Remember that you are the protagonist of your own life, and your personal college experience centers around YOU, so you have the power to make it what you want it to be. Congrats Class of 2024 - I can’t wait to see some of you in the Fall!
- Lindsey Weiskopf