Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again? My shaking fingers closed around the shiny gold pieces of the saxophone in its case, leaving a streak of fingerprints down the newly cleaned exterior. The soft and melodic sound of a classic jazz ballad floated out of a set of speakers to my right, mixing with the confident chatter of students in the back row. As...

This was my common app essay. Barnard then required three more shorter, more personalized essays that were specific to the school itself.

I worked on this essay during the fall as I was making my final decisions. At this time, I decided to apply ED to Barnard, so I also wrote three specific essays for their application.

Curious, engaged,...

My unwavering excitement about being a...