2026–27 application cycle
Barnard College supplemental essays
Every writing prompt on the Barnard College application, with word limits. All of it taken from the application itself. 2 prompts.
- Prompt 1Required50 words max
Your bold question
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?
- Prompt 2Required250 words max
A trailblazing woman's lesson
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?
How to approach it
Here, specific beats important. A small, true community described from the inside beats a broad label. Write it as someone who was there, not as an observer. End on what you carry into a campus, not on a moral.
Common questions
What do students ask about these essays?
How many essays does Barnard College require?
Barnard College lists 2 writing supplements for the 2026–27 cycle, all required. That’s on top of the main personal statement.
How long are the Barnard College supplemental essays?
Word limits across the listed prompts add up to about 300 words. Budget real time for them. Supplements are where admissions sees your real interest in Barnard College.
Do the Barnard College supplemental essays matter?
Yes, and more so at the hardest schools to get into. Grades and scores put you in the pool. Supplements are one of the few places you control what the reader learns about you. A generic why-us essay is one of the most common mistakes students make.
What Spike does with this
Get help planning Barnard College essays.
Spike helps you tie each prompt to something you’ve actually lived. It helps you outline and revise, and it won’t write the essay for you.
The full counselor launches in November.