No real firsthand knowledge, but I did get the impression that Barnard was better, with a closer-knit community and more supportive administration. More of a “small liberal arts college” feel as opposed to Columbia’s “giant impersonal research university” feel. I think the women-only aspect may help with that too.…

I get it. My four years of undergrad at Columbia were depressing and awful. The school works for some (are you wealthy and/or from NJ or LI? chances are you’ll fit right in!) and not for others, and if you’re in the latter group there is literally no support or oversight from the administration there at all. Sink or…