How to Choose a Club (or Ten)

When you first arrive at Barnard, it's a whirlwind of excitement. I know that in a school with so much to offer and so much to do, it can be hard to find your “thing.” But trust me, there are so many opportunities on campus that there is no way that you won't find something you are interested in.

Here at Barnard, we have many student groups that are involved in theater, a cappella, student publications, and even a cool radio station called WBAR. (A friend of mine has her own radio program at 8 AM!) There are many more clubs that are focused on certain subjects such as cultural groups, dance, and sports. We have our McIntosh Activities Council (McAC) that students can join in order to have a say in some of the activities that occur on campus.

So how do you choose a club at a place where there are so many options?

I had the same question when I got here. I got here and had no idea what to join. I didn't even get involved in many activities until second semester of my first year. But eventually I found the Barnard Organization of Soul Sisters (BOSS) and the Black Students’ Organization at Columbia. I am very interested in my culture so those were perfect fits for me. I also got involved with Barnard Babysitting, as I have always adored children. I found something I loved to do and made it my own. This year I got even more involved by applying to be a Barnard Student Admissions Representative (BSAR) and continuing to babysit. 

Barnard activities fair

What I realized is that when you come here there are so many things to do, but that does not mean they are all the right things for you to do. So what do you do? You find a club that is the perfect fit for you. If you are a writer then you should join a publication on campus, if you are a dancer then join one of the various dance groups here, or maybe you are really into French and want to join a French group at Barnard. Barnard is the place that you find yourself at, and a club can be an important stepping-stone for integrating oneself on campus. And remember, it can take time to find something you're interested in. Don't feel overwhelmed and think that you have to everything or nothing at all. When you get here, come to a club/activities fair and find your own niche! It will be worth it!

Marquita

Paying for Barnard

Name: Bella Pori 

Year: 2015 (Junior)

Hometown: Albuquerque, New Mexico

Major: American History and Human Rights

Clubs/Organizations/Jobs: Tour Guide for the Admissions Office, Office Assistant for the Office of Financial Aid, Tutor with the African-American Male Initiative, The Philolexian Society, Whitewater Kayaking Club and WBAR Radio Station

Hello prospective students! I am your resident abroad Blogger, writing to you from beautiful Rabat, Morocco. I'm so thankful that I chose to come to a college that not only has a Human Rights concentration, but also allows you to fill classes for that concentration while abroad.

I love being a Human Rights major, but I'll be honest, it wasn't the reason I chose to attend Barnard. I came to Barnard for three reasons. One, the discounted Broadway tickets. Two, the statistic on the tour that 25% of female Congresswomen graduated from women's colleges. And three, Barnard offered me the biggest financial aid award.

The last one was actually the deciding factor in my decision to attend, and I imagine it will be the deciding factor for some of you as well. Through a combination of grants, loans and an excellent work study program (all three of my jobs either started as work study jobs, or are currently work study jobs) Barnard does an excellent job of making its education affordable. And if you ever have problems, the people in the Office of Financial Aid are always more than happy to help.

I know that for me, the biggest stress of college was not where I would get in, but where I could afford to go. I hope throughout your decision process, many of you have the same positive experiences with financial aid, and with Barnard in general, that I did!