Creative Essay for Barnard

Colleges and Universities A-Z Barnard College
1

Hi!

I am applying to Barnard ED and am polishing up my essay. Right now my essay is more creative + abstract than a typical essay. I talk about my experience growing up in California and going on a road trip and why I want to move to the east coast. While I don’t explicitly reference my extracurriculars (which are almost all art focused), I feel that the essay shows my artistic perspective and where my passions come from.
However, my college counselor thinks that it isn’t about me enough and doesn’t show why I spend my time the way I do. I’m trying to gear my essay towards what Barnard would care more about, so can anyone going to or accepted to the school speak for what makes the essays powerful?
I just want to know if Barnard would value an explicit “about me” statement or a more poetic reflection on my creative and intellectual pursuits.

Thanks~

2

Hi, new Barnard student here who is currently typing this from her dorm! My SATs and grades were super subpar, so I think my essay made me stand out. I am a film major, so I wrote my essay about how I want to make film education more accessible to the disadvantaged and how Barnard could give me the tools to achieve this goal. Barnard absolutely cares about passion above all else. They want students who are determined to change the world. I am happy to read your essay to help out a bit, but I think your college counselor is right in that you should be writing about yourself.

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Hi! I am also applying as a film student. Could you email me and maybe give me feedback on my email? My Instagram is @cowgirlsmoliv and if you DM me I’ll send it you :slight_smile:

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@oliviakt Sure, just PM me your email address