Admitted Essay for Barnard College: Supplemental Essay Guide

Writing an Essay for Barnard College: A Challenge Worth Conquering...

If your college essay prompt requires you to choose an inspirational figure from history, you might be struggling to decide where to start. The sheer number of influential people who have shaped history can make choosing just one difficult, and that's only the beginning of the challenge.

Writing an essay focused on a single, specific individual from history can be a daunting task. Fortunately, by selecting a well-known figure who genuinely inspires you, you can craft an impressive essay that showcases your personality and aspirations to college admissions officers, making you a standout candidate for their institution.

What You’ll Find in This College Guide:

• Barnard Supplemental Essay Prompts
• An Example Essay for Barnard College
• Expert Analysis of Barnard Essay
• How To Apply These Strategies To Your Own Essays
• How To Use Historical Figures to Reveal Your Character

Barnard Supplemental Essay Prompts

Barnard College is known for its rigorous academic environment and commitment to empowering women. To gain a deeper understanding of each applicant, Barnard includes several supplemental essay prompts as part of the application process. These prompts are designed to help applicants showcase their unique perspectives, experiences, and goals. Here are the current supplemental prompts for Barnard College:

• Prompt 1: What factors influenced your decision to apply to Barnard College and why do you think the College would be a good match for you?
• Prompt 2: Pick one woman in history or fiction to converse with for an hour and explain your choice. What would you talk about?
• Prompt 3: Barnard’s culture encourages engagement across differences. Tell us how you think you could contribute to this culture and community.
• Prompt 4: Describe a time when you were challenged by a perspective, belief, or opinion different from your own. How did you respond and what did you learn from the experience?

These prompts allow applicants to highlight their intellectual curiosity, personal values, and how they envision contributing to the Barnard community.

An Example Essay for Barnard College

Prompt: Pick one woman in history or fiction to converse with for an hour and explain your choice. What would you talk about?

"In 1974, U.S. Representative Bella Abzug sought a credit card from American Express but was denied because she needed her husband’s signature to secure a line of credit. This incident propelled her to leverage her congressional authority to change credit laws, ensuring women could obtain credit independently. This scenario was one of many where Abzug demonstrated her intelligence, wit, perseverance, and commitment to women's rights. Known as 'Battling Bella,' she served three terms in Congress, ardently championing causes related to the environment, war, and women's rights. Her unwavering dedication to fighting for others' rights continues to resonate today.

Two years ago, I volunteered for a state assembly candidate advocating for marginalized communities. If given the chance, my passion for activism would drive me to ask Abzug about the changes she witnessed in women's rights over the years. I would seek her advice on maintaining steadfast positions amidst opposition, her perspective on today's political climate, and strategies for achieving equality, especially following events like Hillary Clinton’s presidential defeat. Lastly, I would request her guidance for young women aspiring to be community leaders. Abzug's legacy empowers me to pursue a career in psychology and inspires me to make a meaningful impact through my work."

Expert Analysis of Barnard Essay

Writing an essay that necessitates selecting a historical figure can be overwhelming for students. With so many significant individuals to choose from, students may feel pressured to pick the perfect role model. Additionally, the limited word count adds to the challenge of conveying their thoughts effectively.

However, this student adeptly addresses the prompt by immediately summarizing why Bella Abzug is significant, linking her actions to personal admiration. The essay effectively highlights the student's perspective, which is crucial. Rather than providing a biographical sketch, the student connects Abzug's contributions to their own passions and goals, adding depth to the essay.

How To Apply These Strategies to Your Own Essays

CHOOSE A WELL-KNOWN FIGURE:

Selecting a prominent historical figure can streamline your essay, reducing the need for extensive background information. With limited space, choosing someone widely recognized allows you to focus more on connecting their work to your aspirations. Remember, college admissions officers are interested in learning about you through your essay, not just about the historical figure.

When writing, consider these questions:

• Is this person well-known enough to require minimal introduction?
• How can I succinctly summarize their work?

DRAW A CONNECTION:

After introducing your chosen figure, emphasize the connection between their work and your interests. Similar to the example, discuss your passions, what you plan to study, or what you aim to achieve in college.

Regardless of the essay prompt, linking the figure’s work to your own endeavors adds depth to your writing.

Ask yourself:

• How did this person’s work inspire my own?
• Do I aspire to continue their kind of work in the future?

MAKE THE “WHY” CLEAR:

Briefly explain why you chose this person. Your personal connection to them is what matters. Clearly articulating how you relate to them and their work will engage your reader.

Reflect on:

• Why did I choose this person, and how do I personally relate to them?
• How can I empathize with them and their contributions?

How To Use Historical Figures to Reveal Your Character

The key to a compelling person-focused essay is showcasing your personality through your subject.

For an engaging essay:

• Choose a well-known figure.
• Spend less time on their biography and more on your personal connection.
• Explain how their work inspires your ambitions.
• Clearly state why you chose them.

When writing, stay true to yourself and proudly highlight how specific historical figures have inspired you. By being direct and authentic, you can craft an essay that not only addresses the prompt but also positively reflects who you are.

Remember, essay writing is a very challenging part of the college application process. If you need assistance with your college essays, check out Admit AI, which provides automatic feedback to help write essays that will get you accepted!