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Early Decision: Nov 1
You Have:
Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 6
The Requirements: 1 essay of 250 words
Supplemental Essay Type(s): Oddball
You’ve probably been asked a version of this question before: Who would you invite to an imaginary dinner party? If you could summon anyone from the grave, who would it be? In this case, unsurprisingly, Barnard wants you to write about a woman. A question like this one is probing for an inkling of your interests and motivations. Who do you admire? What are your aspirations? What kinds of things drive your curiosity? When you come upon a prompt that directly or indirectly asks you to demonstrate your academic or cultural knowledge, the key is to be confident and genuine. Don’t second guess your own interests or strain to write about a topic simply because you think it will impress admissions—spoiler alert: they’ll be able to tell. It will be easier to write about someone you are genuinely interested in, and the results will be more personal and memorable!
Set a timer for five to ten minutes and jot down every person that comes to mind: Charlotte Bronte, Tarana Burke, your great-great grandma, your biological mom, Katherine Johnson, Katniss Everdeen, Hermione Granger… no idea is too absurd during the brainstorm; and historical, local, or fictional femmes are equally welcome! Once you have a solid list, you’ll be in a better position to hone in the right person. Who do you know the most about? Which person would give you a chance to reveal something new about yourself to admissions, like an otherwise unspoken interest in politics, fashion, or ancient history? What are some unknown aspects of your personal history? You could even try to put a twist on a person that might feel like a common choice. Many women interested in computer science might like to bend Ada Lovelace’s ear, but how many of them would ask her about the representation of women in the media?
Finally, be sure to address how your takeaways from this conversation would impact your approach to a Barnard higher learning experience.
"Thank you to the entire CEA team for your guidance and support!!! [My daughter] is extremely happy and looking forward to the next phase of her journey at Barnard!"
– CEA Parent, Barnard, Class of 2027
"My daughter got into Barnard College! She is very happy and excited. Thank you for all the inspiration and guidance. You are the greatest writing teacher ever!"
– CEA Parent, Barnard, Class of 2026