Barnard College, the women’s college affiliate of Columbia University and a proud member of the Seven Sisters consortium of women’s liberal arts colleges, has released its supplemental essay question for the 2026-2027 admissions cycle. Students applying to the Barnard Class of 2031 are required to respond to a 250-word prompt and a 50-word prompt. Let’s dive in.

The Barnard College Essay Topic and Questions

1. Barnard College is shaped by trailblazing women with a multitude of perspectives. Think of a woman – historical, fictional, contemporary, or personally significant – whose views or approach to problem-solving differ from your own, but who excels at bringing people together. What lesson from her approach would shape how you show up at Barnard both inside and outside of the classroom?

With the sparse 250 words you are given to respond to this prompt, you should do exactly as Barnard asks of you. Imagine the approach of a significant woman with differing views from your own and describe how you would learn from her affinity for bringing people together. When deciding on a woman to choose, smaller and more local is better. Don’t opt for Hillary Clinton, Frida Kahlo, or Gloria Steinem. But also don’t opt for your mother, grandmother, or best friend. These choices would be utterly cliché.

Instead, choose a woman whose history or legacy has gone unheard and unheeded. Perhaps it’s the little-known feminist who made waves in a field tied to your singular hook. Or it might be the strong woman you encountered in your community as you pursued your singular hook who made an indelible impression on you, despite her vastly different goals or objectives. You might even consider a little-known woman from Barnard’s history who would give you the chance to flex your deep knowledge of the history and institutional specifics of your prospective college. 

Whoever you choose, it should be someone who has had an impact on you in high school, not earlier. Admissions officers don’t want to hear your musings about your childhood babysitter or someone you met before you were old enough to understand their impact on you.

Once you’ve chosen the perfect candidate for your reflection, use all of the conventions of a compelling author to make your case for admission. Dialogue, characterization, and critical reflection are all your friends here. But that is only for the first part of the essay. For the second half of your 250-word response, specifically the part that addresses the “What lesson from her approach would shape how you show up at Barnard both inside and outside of the classroom” section of the prompt, you should pivot to how this would inform your time on Barnard’s campus.

In this “Why College?” part of the essay, you should write about how you will engage with the resources and opportunities available at Barnard. If you chose an inspiring female firefighter, detail how you’ll lead fire prevention training courses on campus. If you described a local lawmaker with differing political beliefs than your own, describe the legal advocacy groups you’ll join at Barnard to carry on her organizing techniques, but to different ends. Do you get the idea?

However, don’t make the mistake of focusing solely on your chosen woman and her impact. Admissions officers ultimately want to read about you and your intentions for your time at Barnard. Use your limited word count to instill faith in your Barnard admissions officer that you’ll take full advantage of your time on campus and be a busy New Yorker who never stops engaging with the community. After all, the “trailblazing woman” in question should, ultimately, be you!

2. At Barnard, inquiry starts with asking bold questions about the world. What is one bold question on your mind and what about it piques your curiosity?

With the limited words allotted to answer this question (only 50), you should take this as an opportunity to put forward a succinct distillation of one inquiry related to your singular hook, the answer to which you intend to pursue at Barnard.

Ivy Coach’s Assistance with Barnard College’s Essay

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