In addition to the personal essay which you will submit through the Common Application or QuestBridge Application, Barnard asks first-year applicants to respond to institution-specific short answer questions. Together with your application materials, your responses to these questions help us gain a deeper understanding of who you are.
Below are the 2026-2027 questions for first-year students:
- Required: 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? (50 words maximum)
- Required: 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? (200-250 words)