barnard essays 2022

Barnard Supplemental Essays 2023-24

One of the key steps to getting into Barnard is writing your Barnard College supplemental essays. Like many top schools, Barnard uses supplemental essays to learn more about their applicants during the admissions process. Before we start our discussion of the Barnard supplemental essays, let’s learn a bit more about Barnard.

In this guide to the Barnard supplemental essays, we’ll go over Barnard’s essay and application requirements. Mainly, we will discuss the required Barnard college essays, like the Why Barnard essay, along with the optional Barnard essays. Throughout, you’ll find tips on approaching the Barnard College essays and advice on how to get into Barnard.

Ready to get started? First, let’s review some quick facts about the Barnard College application process.

Barnard Essays: Quick Facts

Barnard college supplemental essays quick facts.

Barnard Acceptance Rate: 11% – U.S. News ranks Barnard as a highly selective school.
Why Barnard essay
Intellectual curiosity essay
Gender essay
Challenging ideas essay
One woman essay
Barnard Application: Students must submit their application through the Common Application or Questbridge . Be sure to have your Barnard supplemental essays and all other required materials ready when you submit your application.
Early Decision: November 1
Regular Decision: January 1
Barnard Supplemental Essays Tip: The Barnard acceptance rate is highly selective, so your Barnard College supplemental essays must be pristine if you want to gain acceptance. Give yourself plenty of time to rethink and revise your drafts to make sure your ideas are clear and compelling. Then, make sure you do a close, proofreading edit of your final draft – pristine essays don’t have typos!

Please note that essay requirements are subject to change each admissions cycle, and portions of this article may have been written before the final publication of the most recent guidelines. For the most up-to-date information on essay requirements, check the university’s admissions website.

More info on Barnard

Barnard College is a private, liberal arts women’s college located in New York City. Founded in 1889, Barnard was the first college in NYC to offer degrees to women. Barnard consistently ranks highly among women’s colleges and is currently ranked #11 in National Liberal Arts Colleges by U.S. News.

The college is affiliated with Columbia University , another highly prestigious school in New York. This partnership allows Barnard students to share academic resources with their Columbia student counterparts across the street. So, it should be no surprise that Barnard, like Columbia, is quite selective. That means you’ll need to ace all parts of your application, especially the Barnard College supplemental essays, to gain admittance. Let’s get into it.

Does Barnard have supplemental essays?

Yes, Barnard College has supplemental essays, which are incredibly important. They contribute greatly to the overall impact of your application and are vital to crafting your personal narrative . Your Barnard College essays, in combination with the rest of your application, should paint a picture for Barnard Admissions. Who are you, and how will you contribute to the Barnard community?

The Barnard supplemental essays give you the perfect opportunity to stand out among other competitive applicants. Some of the Barnard supplemental essays, like the Why Barnard essay, are required, while others are optional. Whichever prompts you choose to answer, be sure to address the questions with thoughtful and unique responses.

When choosing how many Barnard essays to submit, consider the writing process. You’ll want to brainstorm , plan, edit, and revise your Barnard supplemental essays several times before submitting them. Consider your Barnard supplemental essays as critical personal reflections – there are no shortcuts to achieving depth and cohesion in your essays.

As previously mentioned, there are required Barnard essays and optional Barnard essays. Let’s start with the most important: the required Barnard essays.

How many essays does Barnard require?

In addition to your Common Application or Questbridge essays , first-year applicants must submit responses to the Barnard supplemental essays questions. Currently, Barnard requires two Barnard supplemental essays and allows students to write responses to three optional prompts. For the best shot at overcoming the Barnard acceptance rate, we recommend submitting responses for all five Barnard supplemental essays.

Currently, each of the Barnard supplemental essays allows responses of no more than 250 words. So, while completing all five Barnard essays sounds like a lot, they do not require long responses. The goal of the required Barnard supplemental essays is to demonstrate your intellectual curiosity, interest in Barnard, and personal values.

One of the required prompts is a Why Barnard essay, while the other pertains to curiosity. Both the required and optional essay prompts are outlined below.

What are the Barnard essay prompts?

Barnard’s application provides prompts for two required Barnard supplemental essays and three optional Barnard supplemental essays. Below are the Barnard Writing Supplement questions for first-year applicants. (Remember, the Barnard supplemental essays may change from year to year, so be sure to visit Barnard’s Admissions website.)


Our backgrounds and experiences shape how we navigate the world and see ourselves. Tell us about when, where, or with whom you feel your most authentic, powerful self. How might Barnard College further cultivate this version of you?	x		250 words
Barnard College celebrates intellectual risk-taking, and we believe that academic inquiry starts with bold questions. What questions do you have about the world around you, and why do they matter to you? (250 words max)	x		250 words
As a college for women, “Barnard embraces its responsibility to address gender issues in all their complexity and urgency to help students achieve the personal strength that will enable them to meet the challenges they will encounter throughout their lives.” How have you thought about gender in your academic life thus far and how has it shaped your learning experiences?		x	250 words
Barnard College’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion mission statement says “Our commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity has the potential to disrupt and transform entrenched practices and thinking.” In what ways have you challenged ideas, practices, or spaces? What did you learn from these experiences?		x	250 words
Pick one woman — a historical figure, a fictitious character, or a modern individual — who you’d like to converse with for an hour and explain your choice. Why does this person intrigue you? What would you talk about? What questions would you ask her?		x	250 words

Why Barnard Essay

The Why Barnard essay requires you to explain why you want to attend Barnard College. Many colleges and universities ask students to write a Why This College essay as part of their application. A Why This College essay should include the specific details that have drawn you to the school. Additionally, it should demonstrate how you would fit into the campus community. The Why Barnard essay is no different!

The Why Barnard supplemental essay prompt is as follows:

Why Barnard College Essay Prompt

Our backgrounds and experiences shape how we navigate the world and see ourselves. tell us about when, where, or with whom you feel your most authentic, powerful self. how might barnard college further cultivate this version of you.

This prompt requires you to explain to the admissions team why you think Barnard is the best college for you. Specifically, they want to know how the college will impact your personal growth and future goals. While the Why Barnard essay may seem simple, you’ll want to make your answer as rich and detailed as possible.

Your Why Barnard essay should be specific to Barnard’s academic experience and offerings. To best prepare your response to the Why Barnard essay, research Barnard’s curriculum, location, campus culture, and values. Being informed about Barnard will help you craft a more compelling Why Barnard essay.

Focus on the qualities that set Barnard apart from other colleges and universities. If you want the experience of living and learning in New York City, tell them why Barnard specifically. Be specific and purposeful when answering the Why Barnard essay prompt. And, rather than writing a long list, focus on only the most important details.

Remember, the Why Barnard essay is a required component of the Barnard application. Be sure to invest adequate time and energy into writing a compelling response. Want to read more about Why This College essay prompts and other college essay prompts? Check out our 8 College Essay Topics guide! You can also find Why Barnard essay examples and other Barnard essay examples here .

Barnard Supplemental Essay #2: Bold Questions

We’ve talked about the Why Barnard essay. Now, let’s talk about the second of the two required Barnard supplemental essays:

Barnard College Supplemental Essay Prompt #2

Barnard college celebrates intellectual risk-taking, and we believe that academic inquiry starts with bold questions. what questions do you have about the world around you, and why do they matter to you.

The key to this prompt is in the wording. Make sure your interest is framed as a question/questions in the context of academics. If your topic doesn’t relate to an academic area of study, it probably isn’t a strong topic for this essay.

This prompt is a great place to touch on something the admissions team may not know about you yet. Or, you could elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities that relates to a topic you are curious about. However, be sure to focus on the framework of the prompt. For instance, don’t just state that you are interested in robotics and are on your school’s robotics team. Share the questions your experiences have prompted in you, and why you are driven to find answers to them.

Even though this isn’t a Why Barnard essay, it’s still an opportunity to show you are a good fit for Barnard. Barnard values critical thinking, openness, engagement, and diversity. How can you embody these values in your approach to your chosen topic?

Because the choice is yours, you get to set the narrative. Be sure to choose something you are genuinely passionate about or that is thought-provoking for you. An uninspired essay may fall flat and won’t give admissions the same idea of you that an inspired essay will.

Optional Barnard Supplemental Essays

There are three optional Barnard supplemental essays. However, just because they are optional doesn’t mean you should skip them. The highly selective acceptance rate requires you to stand out in every way possible. So, you should take advantage of all the optional Barnard supplemental essays.

The three optional Barnard supplemental essays cover a spectrum of topics. This is valuable because they allow you to demonstrate yourself as a well-rounded and culturally competent individual. To help you feel confident approaching these additional essays, let’s go over each prompt in more detail!

Barnard essay #1 – Gender

Here is the first optional Barnard supplemental essay prompt:

Barnard College Optional Essay Prompt #1

As a college for women, “barnard embraces its responsibility to address gender issues in all their complexity and urgency to help students achieve the personal strength that will enable them to meet the challenges they will encounter throughout their lives.” how have you thought about gender in your academic life thus far and how has it shaped your learning experiences”.

In developing your response, you’ll want to demonstrate how gender has played a role in your studies so far. While not explicitly asked in the question, you’ll also want to consider how it’s ultimately impacted your desire to attend Barnard. Women’s-only colleges offer a unique academic experience, which you may want to touch on in your essay.

A successful essay will reflect on your personal experience with concrete support. It may be helpful to ground your essay in a specific anecdote or situation you’ve found yourself in. Maybe there was a moment when you felt gender was somehow an obstacle to your learning. Or, maybe you’ve noticed patterns or made connections between gender and different topics you’ve studied.

While technically optional, writing a reflective, insightful, and motivated response to this prompt can significantly strengthen your application. This is a great opportunity to connect to Barnard’s values, especially given gender is highlighted in Barnard’s mission :

“As a college for women, Barnard embraces its responsibility to address issues of gender in all of their complexity and urgency and to help students achieve the personal strength that will enable them to meet the challenges they will encounter throughout their lives.”

Barnard supplemental essay #2 – Challenging ideas

The prompt for the second of the optional Barnard supplemental essays is as follows:

Barnard College Optional Essay Prompt #2

Barnard college’s diversity, equity, and inclusion mission statement says, “our commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity has the potential to disrupt and transform entrenched practices and thinking.” in what ways have you challenged ideas, practices, or spaces what did you learn from these experiences.

Barnard is looking to enroll in a class that is culturally competent and shares the same values and mission. This essay requires you to demonstrate your relationship with cultural diversity. How has it shaped your identity and what have you learned from it? This Barnard College supplemental essay prompt requires the student to be personal, specific, and vulnerable.

Your response can be broken up into two parts. First, you’ll need to detail the specific experiences you’ve had challenging others. Maybe you’ve had discussions in your church group or with your family where you question the status quo. Or, maybe, you’ve created opportunities to hold space to discuss conflicting and challenging ideas. Whatever your experience, make sure to touch on what you learned from it. How did this particular experience help you grow, and what lessons will you take with you into the future?

Barnard essay prompt #3 – One woman

Finally, we have the fifth Barnard College supplemental essays prompt:

Barnard College Optional Essay Prompt #3

Pick one woman — a historical figure, a fictitious character, or a modern individual — who you’d like to converse with for an hour and explain your choice. why does this person intrigue you what would you talk about what questions would you ask her.

Prompts in this style are common across college applications. If you could pick anyone, who would you invite to dinner or coffee? Since Barnard is a women’s college, it makes sense that this prompt is interested in knowing which woman you would choose.

This Barnard College supplemental essays prompt really gives you free rein. Use the opportunity to develop yourself beyond your academic accomplishments. This Barnard College supplemental essays prompt presents multiple questions. Be sure to answer all components of the prompt entirely. It is important to remember there is a 250-word count max, so you will have to balance being clear and succinct in your response with addressing all three questions.

Start by brainstorming a list of women you would be interested in writing this essay about. Just as with any of the prompts, you should not pick a woman to write about with the sole purpose of sounding impressive. Remember, there is no right answer. Be sure to write about a woman you are truly curious about and explain your reasoning. The admissions team should be able to feel the inspiration behind your choice.

Are these Barnard essays really optional?

The optional Barnard College supplemental essays are not a technical requirement of the application, so yes – they’re really optional. If you don’t feel like you have something to say that speaks to your character or values – don’t worry. You won’t be penalized for not writing all five essays. However, if you’re truly excited about attending Barnard, you’ll certainly have something valuable to speak on in response to these prompts.

If you’re passionate about attending Barnard, show admissions you’re invested by writing all five essays. The more essays you write, the more the Barnard admissions team gets to know about you. Not only that, but the essays allow you to control the narrative of your application. Taking the opportunity to write the optional Barnard College supplemental essays demonstrates your willingness to go above and beyond!

Choosing which essays to write

There are many reasons to write optional Barnard College supplemental essays, but let’s start with some reasons why you should not. When choosing which optional essay prompts to respond to, you should consider your passions, strengths, and weaknesses. Don’t write optional Barnard College supplemental essays just for the sake of writing. Admissions officers will be able to spot this misguided and uninspired attempt from a mile away. Only craft a response to an optional essay if it is purposeful and passionate.

With that being said, the more essays you write, the better chance you have of letting Barnard get to know the real you. Use the optional Barnard College essays prompts as an opportunity to elaborate on yourself and your interest in Barnard College. These essays are especially useful if you feel like your academic portfolio is not an accurate reflection of who you are as a student and a person.

When choosing which Barnard College essays to write, read the prompts carefully so you can answer the question fully. Barnard College supplemental essays provide you with an opportunity to provide additional information to the admissions committee. However, avoid repeating yourself or recycling information found elsewhere in your application. Writing about different topics demonstrates that you are a well-rounded applicant who will contribute to various aspects of Barnard’s community.

5 Tips for writing outstanding Barnard essays

Tip #1 – start early.

Writing outstanding essays that beat the highly selective Barnard College acceptance rate requires ample time to plan, write, and revise. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the application deadlines and current supplement questions, especially the Why Barnard essay. Most importantly, make sure you have budgeted enough time to write both required and all three optional Barnard supplemental essays.

Tip #2 – Show, Don’t Tell

Use the Barnard supplemental essays as an opportunity to show the admissions team who you are beyond your academic achievements. The best way to do so is by painting a vivid picture and engaging the reader with stories. If you claim to have certain traits, qualities, or values, you should demonstrate these with specific anecdotes and actions. Use this technique to make your application come alive and your essays shine .

Tip #3 – Write authentically

We’re sure you have heard it before, but the most vital aspect of any successful college essay is being yourself. Your Barnard supplemental essays should accurately reflect your experiences, values, and interests. Don’t write what you think the admissions team wants to hear. Being true to yourself has the power to demonstrate your unique perspective and strength of character.

Tip #4 – Be clear and concise

Your Barnard supplemental essays are limited to 250 words. So, you have to make every word count and showcase your ability to communicate effectively. Narrow your thoughts down to your strongest arguments and most valuable experiences and only elaborate on these. This will make it easy for you and the admissions team to follow your reasoning and connections between points!

Tip #5 – Leave time to proofread and revise your essays

Your Barnard essays are evaluated for content as well as writing style and grammatical skills. When you think you have finished your Barnard College essays, you should:

Proof-read for spelling, grammar, and punctuation
Edit out unnecessary words or phrases
Ensure you have responded directly to the prompt and have answered all parts of the question.

Before you submit, it’s a good idea to get input from trusted sources. While you should consider external input, it is vital that you maintain your own writing style and voice. That way the admissions team gets to know the real you.

Be sure to use these tips to help you plan your own Barnard essays! And, feel free to refer to this guide when you begin your Barnard College essays writing process.

Barnard Supplemental Essays: Final Takeaways

If you’re looking for a final takeaway, it’s this: prepare careful and thoughtful responses to all of the Barnard supplement questions. While your grades and test scores are important parts of your application, they aren’t enough to gain admission. Your Barnard essays have the power to round out your application and help you stand out in a competitive application process. Use your supplemental essays to tell the admissions team who you are beyond your academic achievements. Wow them by showing the Barnard admissions team something they won’t see anywhere else in your application.

If you want more advice pertaining to Barnard College, check out this guide on how to get into Barnard College. And, take a look at past Barnard essay examples for inspiration while writing your own. Want to learn more about going to school in Manhattan? Get the inside scoop on what it’s like to attend NYU, Columbia, and Barnard by watching this webinar .

We hope this guide has helped you better understand the Barnard College essays and how to get into Barnard. Whether you’ve just started your college list or you are already working on your application – CollegeAdvisor has tips for you. Happy writing!

This essay guide was written by Bailey Bennett. Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.

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How to Respond to the 2023/2024 Barnard Supplemental Essay Prompts

Cece Gilmore is a Content Writer at Scholarships360. Cece earned her undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Arizona State University. While at ASU, she was the education editor as well as a published staff reporter at Downtown Devil. Cece was also the co-host of her own radio show on Blaze Radio ASU.

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Bill Jack has over a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. Since 2008, he has worked at Colby College, Wesleyan University, University of Maine at Farmington, and Bates College.

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Student writing her Barnard Supplemental essays

Barnard College is a private women’s liberal arts college that is found within Columbia University. It is located in the heart of the city that never sleeps, New York City. Barnard is extremely selective as its acceptance rate lies around 11%. So, how do we help make you a part of that 11%? In order to apply, students must complete two Barnard supplemental essays and one optional Barnard supplemental essay.

Before you begin answering the Barnard supplemental essay questions, it is important to do your research. Find out what parts of Barnard excite you and differentiate from other colleges. Here’s our guide for how to ace the Barnard College supplemental essay questions!

Before answering the essay questions

All Barnard College applicants have to respond to two required 250 word maximum Barnard supplemental essays. There are also three additional optional Barnard supplemental essays that also have a 250 word maximum,

250 words is not a lot. Therefore, it is best to be direct and concise with your responses! To ensure you do not drag on, brainstorm! This will allow you to plan out responses carefully to fit your personality into your response without it being over the word count.

If your response ends up being too long, try to get rid of filler or transition words. Give your essay to someone you trust to read it over to help get fresh eyes to eliminate words as well! Doing this will make your Barnard supplemental essay responses stand out from the rest!

Required: Essay question #1

“Our backgrounds and experiences shape how we navigate the world and see ourselves. Tell us about when, where, or with whom you feel your most authentic, powerful self. How might Barnard further cultivate this version of you? (250 words max)”

Barnard recognizes that everyone is different and comes from different walks of life. So, this is your opportunity to describe your unique qualities, background and experiences. However, it is important to note that the second part of this prompt “How might Barnard further cultivate this version of you?” is the real question Barnard is asking! Draw connections between where or how you feel your most authentic, powerful self and qualities Barnard demonstrates. For example, if your Latina heritage is an important part of your identity, you should discuss your interest and excitement about joining the Mujeres club for Barnard Latinas .

The way you should format your response to this prompt is by first telling a story about a background, experience, identity, etc that demonstrates your authentic self! Then, describe 1-2 aspects of Barnard you are looking forward to participating in or being a part of that connects to this identity. If you cannot find an aspect of Barnard that completely matches your identity, then you can even discuss a club or idea you have that you hope to bring to the Barnard community!

Questions to consider

What makes you unique? Can you describe a story that demonstrates important parts of your identity or culture?
Who or what makes you feel like your authentic and true self?
What aspects of Barnard are you excited to discover or join? Is this a specific club, a class, a piece of equipment on campus? Describe it in detail to demonstrate your interest!

Required: Essay question #2

“Barnard College celebrates intellectual risk-taking and we believe that academic inquiry starts with bold questions. What questions do you have about the world around you, and why do they matter to you? (250 words max)”

This prompt is essentially asking you to describe what interests you. Barnard wants to get to know its applicants.

Choosing just one or two “bold” questions is a difficult task. Therefore, you must brainstorm before answering this essay prompt. Write a list of questions that you have always wondered about. You can approach this prompt by choosing two to three broad issues or one in-depth question.

Once you have selected what question or questions you want to dive into, make sure to connect these back to Barnard’s resources. How will Barnard be able to help you explore these questions? Is there a particular class or club offered that will allow you to quench your curiosity? Remember, Barnard wants to see applicants who have done their research and are serious about attending their college.

How have you been challenged in the past?
Have you ever changed your mind on a topic? Why or why not?
What is a topic you are passionate about? If you had to give a TED Talk on a specific topic, what would it be about?

Optional: Essay questions

Although this essay is optional, no essay is truly optional when it comes to the college admissions process. Be sure to complete each of the Barnard supplemental essays, as you want to take advantage of any presented opportunity to reveal more about your personality.

Optional Essay #1

“Barnard’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion mission statement says “Our commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity has the potential to disrupt and transform entrenched practices and thinking.” In what ways have you challenged ideas, practices, or spaces? What did you learn from these experiences? (250 words max)”

This prompt is interested in getting to know the core beliefs of students and how far they’ve gone to uphold these beliefs. Ultimately, Barnard wants to invite students to campus who act to make change. So, if this prompt sounds up your alley, respond to it!

Try and think of a time in which you disagreed with some sort of regulation, rule, statement, etc and what you did to disrupt or transform these entrenched practices and thinking. This example can be as big or as small as you would like! Remember, Barnard knows that you are just a high school student, so they are not expecting you to have organized a huge uprising! For example, you can discuss a time you stood up to your principal over an unfair and sexist dress code or how you attended a local politician’s rally to protest their want to shut down a local business. Whatever your experience, a strong response will feature a story about the experience and then most importantly a reflection that shows what you learned from this experience and what you will take with you to Barnard in order to make some changes there.

What are some core beliefs you hold?
Have you ever challenged an idea, practice or space? Why? How did you go about doing so? Would you do anything differently?
Why is disrupting unfair practices important?

Optional Essay #2

“ As a college for women, “Barnard embraces its responsibility to address gender issues in all their complexity and urgency to help students achieve the personal strength that will enable them to meet the challenges they will encounter throughout their lives.” How have you thought about gender in your academic life thus far and how has it shaped your learning experiences? (250 words max)”

Barnard is an all-women college which is an important part of their identity and values. Therefore, they unfortunately understand and recognize that women are typically a marginalized community in a lot of aspects. Barnard is interested to hear about how being a woman has influenced your learning experiences thus far. So, this could be the perfect opportunity for you to discuss any challenges you have faced. For example, perhaps in your engineering elective class in high school you are the only girl which has unfortunately come with some snide comments in class. Or perhaps you had to work hard to get your voice heard during an English presentation in which 2 boys were paired with you. Be sure to be as specific as possible while writing your response! And remember, no challenge is too small of a challenge to write about! All Barnard wants to hear in this response is that you have worked harder to become the smart and amazing woman you are today.

How has being a woman brought challenges in your academic life?
What have you learned about yourself from these challenges?
Why do you want to attend an all-women college? What differences in your education do you believe there will be, if any?

Optional Essay #3

“Pick one woman — a historical figure, fictitious character, or modern individual — to converse with for an hour and explain your choice. Why does this person intrigue you? What would you talk about? What questions would you ask them? (250 words max)”

Barnard is an all-women college. This means that your answer should reveal how much being surrounded by strong women appeals to you. This essay provides you with a lot of creative freedom.

To begin, you should pick a woman who means something to you. You can spend a few minutes writing down a list of women who are important to you or have inspired you in some way. Then narrow down this list to one woman you should love to talk with for an hour. Some women you can choose from are Taylor Swift, Hermonie Granger, or your grandma! The limits are endless.

Remember that this essay is about you and not the woman that you are choosing to write about. Therefore, make sure to tie all of your statements back to yourself. Be sure to reveal pieces of your personality that you have not already in this application.

Choose someone that you genuinely admire! Do not pick someone that you think the admissions officers want to hear. Rather, be true to yourself and your heroines.

Who is the most inspirational woman in your life?
Who is the strongest woman you have learned about?
Who is your favorite woman in a television show or book?

Should I answer the optional Barnard College questions?

Even though some of these questions are optional, responding to as many questions strongly should be a priority if Barnard College is a top-choice for you! Try to think about your application as a whole, if there are some aspects of your background or academic progress you feel need to be reiterated, then taking advantage of the optional essays might be a good idea!

Additionally, optional essays are a great opportunity to showcase your unique qualities and experiences that will make you a valuable addition to Barnard’s community. So, if you have something exceptional to share that hasn’t been covered by the required supplemental essays, definitely consider using the optional essays for this purpose!

Overall, keep in mind that it’s better to submit a strong, well-written essay than to submit an optional essay that adds little value to your application. Do not feel compelled to write an optional supplemental essay just for the sake of responding to it! Rather, respond to the optional essays in order to enhance your application and increase your chances of being accepted into Barnard.

So long story short, respond to as many Barnard optional supplemental essays as possible as long as they are still strengthening your application and providing valuable information not covered elsewhere.

Next steps after applying to Barnard College

Congratulations! You are now done with the Barnard College supplemental essays! It is time to submit your flawless application!

The next step after you submit your application would be to continue to show demonstrated interest in Barnard so they know you are committed and prioritizing their school (even if you have a few other top choices.)

How can I show demonstrated interest in Barnard College?

Apply Early Decision
Interview, if offered
Attend a campus tour
Complete any optional essays
Contact an admissions officer

Essentially, by taking advantage of one of the above suggestions, Barnard will see how committed you are to their college. This will give you a leg up above the competition.

Additional resources

As you are in the middle of the college application process, it can be stressful. There are a lot of tough decisions you will have to make. Luckily, we have an abundance of resources to make the college process a little easier on you.

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Barnard Supplemental Essays 2023-2024

By Eric Eng

Are you gearing up for your college application journey and eyeing Barnard College as your destination? Well, you’re in the right place! Barnard, part of the vibrant Columbia University community in New York City, is known for its commitment to empowering women in education.

As you prepare to apply for the 2023-2024 academic year, you’ll likely encounter the Barnard supplemental essay prompts. These essays are your opportunity to showcase your unique qualities, experiences, and aspirations. They can be the key to unlocking the doors of your dream college.

In this blog, we’ll dive into the Barnard supplemental essay prompts, breaking down what they’re looking for and providing valuable tips to help you shine in your application. So, let’s embark on this journey together, giving you the best shot at securing your spot at Barnard College !

How Many Supplemental Essays Does Barnard College Require?

At Barnard College, the supplemental essay component of the 2023-2024 application cycle plays a crucial role in helping the admissions committee understand a candidate’s person al and academic dimensions. Applicants are required to respond to a series of prompts, two of which are mandatory and three optional , with a maximum word limit of 250 words for each.

The required essays focus on self-reflection and intellectual curiosity. Applicants are encouraged to delve into personal experiences and thought processes that reveal their authentic selves and how they interact with the world. These essays ask students to introspect and articulate their perspectives on personal growth and intellectual exploration.

The optional essays provide further opportunities for applicants to discuss diverse aspects of their identity and experiences. These prompts invite students to engage with contemporary societal issues, such as gender dynamics and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

They also offer a unique angle by allowing students to ponder a hypothetical conversation with an influential woman, be it a historical figure, a character from fiction, or a modern-day leader. This prompt specifically allows for creative and imaginative responses that can illuminate the student’s aspirations, inspirations, and values.

Through these essays, Barnard aims to discern how prospective students will contribute to and flourish in its dynamic and diverse academic community. The essays are a platform for students to demonstrate their ability to think critically, express themselves clearly, and showcase their readiness to engage with the challenges and opportunities presented by a rigorous academic environment.

What are the 2023-2024 Barnard Supplemental Essay Prompts?

These prompts are a crucial part of the application, allowing the admissions committee to gain deeper insights into how applicants might contribute to Barnard’s community both academically and personally.

Required Essay Prompts

Our backgrounds and experiences shape how we navigate the world and see ourselves. Tell us about when, where, or with whom you feel your most authentic, powerful self. How might Barnard College further cultivate this version of you?

Barnard College celebrates intellectual risk-taking, and we believe that academic inquiry starts with bold questions. What questions do you have about the world around you, and why do they matter to you?

Optional Essay Prompts

As a college for women, “Barnard embraces its responsibility to address gender issues in all their complexity and urgency to help students achieve the personal strength that will enable them to meet the challenges they will encounter throughout their lives.” How have you thought about gender in your academic life thus far and how has it shaped your learning experiences?

Barnard College’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion mission statement says “Our commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity has the potential to disrupt and transform entrenched practices and thinking.” In what ways have you challenged ideas, practices, or spaces? What did you learn from these experiences?

Pick one woman — a historical figure, a fictitious character, or a modern individual — who you’d like to converse with for an hour and explain your choice. Why does this person intrigue you? What would you talk about? What questions would you ask her?

How to Write the 2023-2024 Barnard Supplemental Essays

Required essay prompt 1.

Understanding the Question:

This essay prompt is an invitation for you to reflect on and share the aspects of your background and experiences that shape your identity and sense of empowerment. It asks you to consider environments or relationships where you feel most genuine and powerful. Additionally, it encourages you to think about how Barnard College can enhance and support this authentic version of yourself. Here are some key points to consider.

Crafting Your Response:

1. Identify Your Authentic Self: Think about when you feel most genuine and empowered. This could be while engaging in a particular activity, within a certain community, or even in moments of solitude. Describe specific instances or experiences that make you feel true to yourself. Maybe it’s when you’re leading a community project, playing a musical instrument, or solving complex problems in math. Your goal is to paint a vivid picture of these moments and articulate what makes them special.

2. Explore Influential Background Factors: Reflect on the elements of your background – cultural, familial, or educational – that contribute to your sense of self. Maybe your family’s storytelling traditions ignited your love for literature, or your experience moving to a new country fostered resilience and adaptability. Share how these experiences shaped not just your character, but also your worldview and ambitions.

3. Examine Relationships That Empower You: Consider the people who bring out the best in you. They could be mentors, friends, family members, or even historical figures you admire. Discuss how their influence has helped you grow into your most authentic, powerful self. Perhaps a teacher’s encouragement led you to pursue your passions, or a friend’s resilience inspired you to face challenges confidently.

4. Connect Your Experiences to Barnard: Research Barnard College’s programs, values, and community. Identify specific aspects of the college that resonate with your experiences and aspirations. For instance, if you thrive in collaborative environments, highlight Barnard’s emphasis on community and teamwork. If you are passionate about social justice, mention how Barnard’s diverse and inclusive community will foster your growth in this area.

5. Envision Your Future at Barnard: Finally, articulate how Barnard College can further cultivate your authentic, powerful self. This could involve taking advantage of specific academic programs, participating in extracurricular activities, or engaging with the college’s community in unique ways. Your aim here is to demonstrate not only what Barnard can do for you, but also what you can contribute to the Barnard community with your unique strengths and experiences.

Remember, the key to a successful essay is authenticity and specificity. Use personal anecdotes and specific examples to ill ustrate your points, making your essay not just a reflection of your past, but also a window into your potential future at Barnard College.

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Required Essay Prompt 2

This prompt from Barnard College is an invitation for you to share your intellectual curiosity and the questions that captivate your mind. It’s a chance to showcase how you think, what issues or topics you find compelling, and why these matter to you. Here are some ideas to help you brainstorm an effective response.

1. Identify Your Burning Questions: Begin by identifying the questions that genuinely intrigue you. These could be broad philosophical inquiries, specific scientific conundrums, social justice issues, or anything else that sparks your intellectual curiosity. For instance, you might wonder about the implications of artificial intelligence on human employment, or you might be curious about how different cultures interpret the concept of happiness. Choose questions that you find yourself coming back to repeatedly, those that provoke deep thought and reflection.

2. Connect to Personal Experiences or Interests: Delve into why these questions are significant to you. Perhaps they are tied to a personal experience, a part of your identity, or an area of study you’re passionate about. For example, if you’re fascinated by environmental issues, you might discuss your experiences with local conservation efforts or how witnessing the impact of climate change in your community has shaped your perspective.

3. Demonstrate Intellectual Engagement: Explain how you have pursued these questions so far. This could be through reading books, conducting experiments, participating in debates, or engaging in community projects. Highlight any efforts you’ve made to understand or explore these questions, showing your proactive approach to intellectual exploration.

4. Link to Academic and Career Goals: Reflect on how these questions align with your academic interests and potential career paths. If you’re interested in political science, you might question how democracy can be preserved in the digital age. Discuss how exploring this question at Barnard would be a stepping stone towards your long-term goals, such as becoming a political analyst or a policy maker.

5. Articulate the Broader Importance: Lastly, articulate why these questions are significant not just to you, but to the world at large. Discuss the potential impact of finding answers or exploring these questions further. For instance, understanding the social dynamics behind income inequality could inform more effective policies to reduce poverty. This demonstrates your ability to think critically about the wider implications of your intellectual interests.

Remember, this essay is an opportunity to showcase your intellectual depth, curiosity, and how you engage with the world. It’s not just about the questions themselves, but about why they resonate with you and how they relate to your aspirations and the larger world.

Optional Essay Prompt 1

This prompt is an exploration of your understanding and reflection on gender issues, particularly in the context of your academic life. It’s an opportunity to discuss how gender has influenced your learning experiences, perspectives, and possibly your aspirations. Here are some key points to consider when answering this prompt.

1. Reflect on Personal Experiences with Gender: Start by thinking about how your gender identity has influenced your academic journey. Have there been instances where you felt empowered or challenged because of your gender? For example, you might discuss being the only girl in an advanced science class, and how this experience both challenged and motivated you. Consider any stereotypes or biases you’ve encountered and how you’ve responded to them.

2. Discuss Gender-Related Academic Interests: If you’ve explored gender issues through your coursework, extracurricular activities, or independent study, discuss these experiences. Maybe you’ve taken a gender studies class, participated in a club focused on gender equality, or written a research paper on a related topic. Explain what drew you to these experiences and how they’ve shaped your understanding of gender issues.

3. Analyze the Impact on Your Worldview: Consider how your experiences and reflections on gender have influenced your worldview. Have they made you more empathetic, open-minded, or proactive in addressing gender issues? Perhaps these experiences have shaped your career aspirations, such as working in fields that advocate for gender equality or conducting research on gender-related topics.

4. Connect to Barnard’s Mission: Relate your experiences and thoughts to Barnard College’s commitment to addressing gender issues. How do you see yourself contributing to and benefiting from this environment? For instance, you might be excited about joining a community that actively discusses and tackles gender issues, or you might be interested in Barnard’s programs that focus on women’s leadership.

5. Envision Your Future Contribution: Finally, think about how your understanding of gender can contribute to the Barnard community and beyond. Maybe you have ideas for initiatives or clubs that could support gender equality, or you’re eager to engage in research that explores gender dynamics. Show how your unique perspective on gender will add value to the college and how Barnard can further enhance your understanding and impact in this area.

In crafting your response, it’s important to be authentic and reflective. Use specific examples from your life to illustrate your points, and ensure your essay conveys a clear understanding of how gender has played a role in shaping your academic and personal development.

Optional Essay Prompt 2

This prompt is about understanding your ability to challenge the status quo, particularly in terms of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). It’s a chance to reflect on how you’ve confronted established ideas, practices, or environments, and what you’ve learned from these experiences. Here are some ideas to guide your response.

1. Identify Instances of Challenging the Status Quo: Think about times when you’ve questioned or confronted established practices, ideas, or environments. This could be in your school, community, or social circles. For example, you might have spoken out against unfair practices in your school or challenged stereotypes in a club or group setting. It’s important to choose examples that demonstrate your commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

2. Reflect on Motivations and Actions: Dive into what motivated you to challenge these ideas or practices. Were you driven by a desire for fairness, a personal experience, or an understanding of larger societal issues? Discuss the specific actions you took, whether it was initiating a conversation, leading a campaign, organizing an event, or writing an article. The key is to showcase your initiative and leadership in advocating for change.

3. Analyze the Impact of Your Actions: Reflect on the impact of your actions, both on yourself and others. Did you notice a shift in attitudes or policies? Even if the change was small, discuss the significance of these shifts. For instance, starting a conversation about inclusivity might have encouraged others to share their experiences, leading to a more understanding and supportive environment.

4. Detail Your Learning Experience: Talk about what these experiences taught you. Did they deepen your understanding of DEI issues, change your perspective, or inspire you to continue advocating for change? Highlight any skills you developed, such as communication, empathy, or leadership.

5. Connect to Barnard’s Mission: Finally, relate your experiences and learnings to Barnard College’s commitment to DEI. Discuss how your perspective and actions align with their mission and how you plan to continue this advocacy at Barnard. You might want to mention specific DEI initiatives at Barnard that you’re excited to contribute to.

When crafting your essay, it’s important to be honest and introspective. Use specific examples to demonstrate your commitment to challenging entrenched practices and thinking, and show how these experiences have prepared you to contribute to and benefit from Barnard’s diverse community.

Student writing college or university application.

Optional Essay Prompt 3

This prompt is about identifying a woman, whether from history, fiction, or contemporary times, who you find particularly intriguing and would like to engage in a conversation with. It’s an opportunity to showcase your interests, values, and what you admire in others. Here are some key points to consider.

1. Selecting a Woman to Speak With: Start by choosing a woman who genuinely interests you. She could be a historical figure known for her impact in politics, science, art, or social justice; a fictional character who resonates with you; or a modern-day individual whose work or life inspires you. The choice should reflect your interests, values, or aspirations. For example, you might choose a pioneering scientist if you’re passionate about STEM, or a literary character who embodies qualities you admire.

2. Explaining Your Choice: Articulate why you have chosen this particular woman. Discuss the qualities, achievements, or experiences that make her stand out to you. This could be her resilience in the face of adversity, groundbreaking accomplishments, or the moral dilemmas she navigates. Your explanation should give insight into what you value and aspire to.

3. Topics of Discussion: Think about what you would want to discuss with her. These could be questions about her life and experiences, advice on challenges you’re facing, or her views on a particular issue. For instance, you might want to ask about specific moments in her life, her thoughts on current events, or seek guidance on following in her footsteps.

4. Questions You Would Ask: Formulate specific questions that you would like to ask her. These should be thoughtful and reflect a deep interest in understanding her perspective. The questions could range from seeking advice, understanding her motivations, to more profound questions about her beliefs and values.

5. Personal Reflection and Learning: Reflect on what you hope to learn from this conversation and how it could impact you. Perhaps it might offer you guidance, inspiration, or a new perspective on life. Consider how this conversation could influence your future decisions, career path, or personal growth.

In writing your essay, ensure it’s a reflection of your curiosity, your admiration for the chosen woman, and your desire for learning and personal growth. This essay is a chance to reveal more about who you are, what you care about, and how you engage with the world around you.

Materials to Read Before Writing Your 2023-2024 Barnard Supplemental Essays

Let’s dive deeper into what you should read and consider before writing the 2023-2024 Barnard supplemental essays:

1. Barnard’s Values: Take some time to learn about what Barnard College believes in. They care about things like empowering women, diversity, and academic excellence. When you write your essays, you’ll want to connect your own beliefs and experiences to these values. Show how you’re a good fit for Barnard because you share these principles.

2. Explore the Website: Barnard’s official website is like a treasure trove of information. You can find out about the majors they offer, what students are involved in, and even cool things happening on campus. The more you know about Barnard, the better you can explain why you want to be a part of their community.

3. Student Stories: Reading stories from current Barnard students is like hearing directly from the people who’ve been where you are now. Their experiences can give you ideas about how to talk about your own life in your essays. Maybe they joined a particular club or took a unique class that you’re interested in.

4. Course Catalog: The course catalog is like a big menu of academic options. You can see what classes are available and what they’re about. Look for classes that excite you or professors whose work you admire. Mentioning these in your essays shows that you’ve thought about how you’ll contribute to Barnard’s academic community.

5. Campus Life: Learn about the things students do outside of classes. Clubs, sports, volunteer work – these are all part of campus life. If you find something that sparks your interest, explain how you’d like to be a part of it and contribute your energy and enthusiasm.

6. Recent Events: Keeping up with what’s happening at Barnard right now is like staying in touch with the latest news. Mentioning recent events in your essays can show that you’re engaged and connected to the college.

In addition to staying up-to-date on current events, it’s also important to be aware of the college’s history and traditions. This will help you to understand the unique culture of Barnard and make a good impression on admissions officers.

7. Your Own Experiences: Reflecting on your life is like looking in a mirror. Think about the challenges you’ve faced, the things you’ve achieved, and where you want to go. Connect these experiences to what Barnard values and how you can add to their community.

By digging into these aspects with a keen eye, you’ll be well-equipped to write essays that not only showcase your qualities but also demonstrate why you and Barnard are a perfect match. Remember, the more you know, the better you can tell your story to the college admissions team.

Importance of Structure

The structure is like the backbone of your essays. It helps you present your ideas in a clear and organized manner, making it easier for the admissions te am to understand and connect with your story. Here’s why it’s crucial:

1. Clarity: A well-structured essay is like a well-marked path in a forest. It guides the reader through your thoughts and experiences logically. This clarity ensures that the admissions team can easily follow your narrative, which is essential for them to get a full picture of who you are and what you bring to Barnard.

2. Engagement: Good structure keeps your reader engaged. It’s like telling a captivating story with a beginning, middle, and end. When your essay flows smoothly, it’s more enjoyable to read. This can leave a positive impression on the admissions officers, making them more inclined to see you as a potential Barnard student.

3. Showcasing Your Fit: The right structure helps you highlight your fit with Barnard’s values and mission. By organizing your essay thoughtfully, you can emphasize the aspects of your experiences and aspirations that align with what Barnard seeks i n its students. This makes it easier for the admissions team to see why you’re a great match for their community.

Structuring Your 2023-2024 Barnard Supplemental Essays

Now, let’s explore three key points on how you can structure your essays effectively:

1. Start with a Compelling Hook: Your opening should grab the reader’s attention. Share a personal anecdote, a thought-provoking question, or a powerful quote that relates to the essay prompt. This is like the first brushstroke on a canvas—it sets the tone and draws the reader in.

2. Tell Your Story Coherently: Organize your essay chronologically or thematically, depending on the prompt. If you’re discussing your academic journey, you might start with early interests and progress to recent accomplishments. If it’s about your values or experiences, arrange them in a way that builds upon each other, creating a cohesive narrative.

3. Wrap It Up with a Strong Conclusion: Summarize your main points and reiterate why you’re excited about joining Barnard College. This is your chance to leave a lasting impression. You can also mention how your experiences align with Barnard’s values one more time. Think of it as putting a bow on a beautifully wrapped gift—you want to leave the reader with a sense of closure and excitement.

Incorporating these structural elements into your 2023-2024 Barnard supplemental essays will not only make them more engaging but also help you effectively convey your fit with the college’s community and values. Remember, your essays are your opportunity to shine, so craft them with care and confidence!

How to Effectively Revise and Proofread Your 2023-2024 Barnard Supplemental Essays

Let’s explore how you can effectively revise and proofread your 2023-2024 Barnard supplemental essays to ensure they are polished and error-free:

1. Take a Break Before Revising: After you’ve written your essays, give yourself some time to step away from them. It’s like letting a cake cool before adding frosting. Taking a break allows you to return to your essays with fresh eyes and a clearer perspective. You’ll be more likely to catch errors and areas that need improvement.

2. Check for Clarity and Coherence: When you read your essays out loud, you can hear how they flow and whether they make sense. This is a great way to identify awkward sentences or confusing phrases that you may not have noticed when you were reading them silently. You can also have someone else read your essays to you, which can be helpful for getting a fresh perspective on your writing.

In addition to reading your essays out loud, you should also make sure that each paragraph flows logically from one to the next. This means that the ideas in each paragraph should be related to each other, and that the paragraphs should be arranged in a logical order. You can do this by thinking about the main idea of each paragraph and how it relates to the overall thesis statement of your essay. You should also make sure that your sentences are clear and concise, and that your use of language is appropriate for your audience.

Finally, you should make sure that all of the pieces of your essay fit together perfectly. This means that your introduction should grab the reader’s attention and clearly state your thesis statement, your body paragraphs should support your thesis statement with evidence, and your conclusion should restate your thesis statement and leave the reader with a final thought.

3. Eliminate Redundancy and Be Concise: Review your essays for repetition or unnecessary details. Imagine you’re packing for a trip; you want to include only the essentials. Remove any sentences or words that don’t add value to your essay. Be concise and get straight to the point, ensuring your writing is as impactful as possible.

4. Check Grammar and Spelling: Proofreading is like being a detective searching for hidden errors. Go through your essays carefully to catch grammar mistakes, typos, and spelling errors. You can use grammar-checking tools like Grammarly, but don’t rely solely on them. Sometimes, they miss context-specific errors. It’s always a good idea to have a trusted friend or family member review your work as well.

5. Get Feedback and Revise Again: Sharing your essays with someone you trust, such as a teacher, mentor, or friend, can be an invaluable way to improve your writing. These individuals can provide valuable insights and suggestions for how to make your essays stronger. They may be able to identify areas where your writing is unclear or needs more support, and they can offer tips on how to improve your grammar, punctuation, and style. In addition, getting feedback from someone else can help you see your work from a new perspective, which can be helpful in identifying areas where you can make improvements.

When you share your essays with someone else, it is important to be open to feedback and to be willing to make changes. If you are defensive or resistant to criticism, you may not get the most out of the experience. Instead, try to approach feedback as an opportunity to learn and grow as a writer.

Once you have received feedback on your essay, take some time to consider it carefully. Make a list of the changes that you think would be most beneficial, and then revise your essay accordingly. It may be helpful to have someone else read your revised essay to see if they notice any improvements.

Sharing your essays with someone else can be a great way to improve your writing skills. By taking advantage of the feedback of others, you can learn from your mistakes and make your essays stronger.

6. Read Backwards: While it may seem like an unusual approach, proofreading your essay backward can be an effective way to catch errors. By starting at the end and reading each sentence in reverse, you force yourself to focus on individual words and phrases. This can help you identify typos and grammatical mistakes that you might have missed if you had read the essay in the conventional order. Additionally, reading backward can help you identify logical inconsistencies and missing information.

7. Final Check for Alignment with Barnard’s Values: Before submitting, double-check that your essays align with Barnard’s values and mission. Ensure that you’ve effectively demonstrated why you’re a great fit for the college. It’s like making sure the final strokes of your artwork match the intended masterpiece.

By following these detailed revision and proofreading steps, you can ensure that your 2023-2024 Barnard supplemental essays are n ot only error-free but also compelling and in line with what the college is looking for in its applicants. Remember, the effort you put into revising and proofreading can make a significant difference in the overall quality of your application.

Why You Should Study at Barnard College

Studying at Barnard College is a unique opportunity that blends rigorous academic pursuits with a supportive and empowering community. As of 2023, Barnard is recognized as the top women’s college in America, reflecting its commitment to providing an unparalleled educational experien ce. This prestigious ranking is a testament to the college’s excellence in various fields, including being ranked eighth among liberal arts colleges and ninth among small colleges in the nation.

Barnard stands out for its distinctive approach to education. As an all-women’s college located in New York City, it offers a singular experience that combines the benefits of a smaller college community with the vast resources of a major university. This is possible due to its historic affiliation with Columbia University, allowing you access to a broad array of mixed courses and opportunities, while still receiving a degree that acknowledges your specific undergraduate journey at Barnard.

Academically, Barnard is committed to fostering intellectual growth and exploration. For the 2023-2024 academic year, the college has welcomed a diverse group of faculty members across various disciplines, from historians to filmmakers and urban planners. This infusion of new talent further strengthens Barnard’s mission to provide a world-class education that spans the arts and sciences.

Beyond the academic realm, Barnard’s location in the heart of New York City offers an unmatched blend of urban excitement and a close-knit campus community. Students here enjoy the vibrancy and cultural richness of city life while benefiting from the sense of belonging and support found within the Barnard community. The campus environment is described as cozy and centralized, fostering a strong sense of camaraderie among students and faculty alike.

In preparing for the 2023-2024 Barnard supplemental essays, understanding these unique features of Barnard College can provide valuable context. Whether it’s the college’s top-tier academic reputation, its empowering all-women environment, the dynamic and diverse faculty, or the unique balance of urban immersion and campus community, Barnard offers a multifaceted experience that can shape your academic journey and personal growth in profound ways.

Barnard’s Key Metrics and Deadlines

As you consider applying to Barnard College for the 2023-2024 academic year, it’s essential to understand the competitive nature of its admissions process and the various deadlines involved. For the Class of 2027, which entered in Fall 2023, Barnard received 11,804 applicants, of whom 9 20 were admitted, translating to an acceptance rate of approximately 7.8%. This competitive acceptance rate highlights Barnard’s status as a highly selective institution.

In terms of application deadlines, Barnard offers two admission rounds: Early Decision and Regular Decision. For Early Decision, the application deadline is November 1, with notification by mid-December. For Regular Decision, the deadline is January 1, with notification by late March. These deadlines are crucial for the timely submission of your application, including the Barnard writing supplement, which forms a significant part of the application process.

In addition to the application, Barnard College requires several materials. These include the Common Application, a non-refundable application fee (or fee waiver request), official high school and college transcripts, and letters of recommendation. It’s important to note that Barnard is test-optional for the 2023-2024 applications cycle, meaning SAT or ACT scores are not required. However, if English is not your primary language, you may need to submit TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test scores. The college also provides an option to submit supplementary portfolios for students interested in showcasing additional talents or achievements.

Beyond the admissions process, it’s encouraging to know that Barnard College boasts a high retention and graduation rate. 97% of students return for their sophomore year, and 93% of first-year students graduate within six years. Additionally, 91% of graduates are employed or attending graduate/professional school six months after graduation. These statistics reflect Barnard’s commitment to academic excellence and student success, making it an attractive choice for your higher education journey.

As you prepare your application, including the 2023-2024 Barnard supplemental essays, consider these factors carefully. Barnard’s rigorous academic environment, combined with its comprehensive support systems, offers a transformative educational experience. The college’s location in New York City further enriches this experience, providing numerous cultural, profess ional, and social opportunities.

The Importance of Supplemental Essays

Supplemental essays for the 2023-2024 Barnard College application are an essential component in the college admissions process, playing a pivotal role in helping you secure a spot at this prestigious institution. These essays offer you a unique opportunity to personalize your application and connect with the admissions team on a deeper level.

Think of these essays as personalized invitations to the college admissions team, allowing you to showcase your personality, experiences, and values. Through these essays, you can paint a vivid picture of who you are, what you’re passionate about, and why you’re an excellent fit for Barnard College. Crafting thoughtful and authentic responses can establish a genuine connection with the admissions officers, making them more inclined to remember you amidst a sea of applicants.

Moreover, the importance of these essays lies in their ability to demonstrate your fit with Barnard’s unique mission and community. Beyond academic excellence, colleges like Barnard seek individuals who will thrive in their specific academic and social environment. Your supplemental essays are the canvas on which you can illustrate how your goals, interests, and values align with Barnard’s mission. This alignment can be a compelling factor in the admissions decision, signaling that you’re not just seeking any college but Barnard specifically.

Furthermore, your supplemental essays provide an opportunity to set yourself apart from other applicants. Given that many applicants may have similar grades and test scores, crafting well-structured, engaging, and memorable essays can help you stand out. Share unique anecdotes, reflect on personal growth, and convey your aspirations in a way that leaves a lasting impression. This distinctiveness can make you a more attractive candidate and increase your chances of being admitted to Barnard.

Lastly, these essays serve to complement your primary application. While your primary application offers an overview of your academic achievements and extracurricular activities, it may not delve deeply into your motivations, values, or personality. Your supplemental essays fill in these gaps, offering the admissions team a more holistic view of who you are and what you can bring to the Barnard community. This holistic perspective enhances your application’s overall strength and bolsters your case for admission.

Final Thoughts

In wrapping up our exploration of the 2023-2024 Barnard supplemental essays, remember that these essay prompts are your chance to let your unique voice an d experiences shine. Barnard College values the diversity of its student body and seeks individuals who can contribute meaningfully to their community.

As you craft your essays, be authentic, be yourself, and be passionate about your aspirations. Take your time, revise, seek feedback, and make sure your essays reflect your best work.

With determination and dedication, you can craft essays that make you stand out from the crowd and demonstrate why you’re a great fit for Barnard. So, go ahead and tackle those essay prompts with confidence. Best of luck in your college application journey, and may your words pave the path to your future success at Barnard College!

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Barnard College 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Guide

Early Decision: Nov 1

Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 6

Barnard College 2024-25 Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: 1 essay of 200 words; 2 essays of 150 words

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Why , Diversity

Barnard College is an extraordinary community of women committed to fostering curiosity and the exploration of new experiences and ideas. By utilizing the resources of our campus, our Foundations curriculum, and New York City, our students expand their world and discover their own capabilities. How do you envision these intersecting components of Barnard shaping your academic and personal journey? (200 words)

Even if this prompt doesn’t have the word “why” in it, it’s still a classic Why Essay. Why Barnard? Admissions wants to know how you believe Barnard’s community, curriculum, and location will shape your academic and personal journey, as well as expand your world and help you to discover your own capabilities. So do as you would with any other Why Essay and start with research. Explore Barnard’s website , or attend a campus tour if you can, and paint a picture of how you will take advantage of Barnard’s offerings when you get to campus. Maybe it’s always been a dream of yours to pursue a degree in Theatre in New York City, home of iconic Broadway productions. Perhaps you can’t wait to network with other women in STEM while pursuing your passion for fashion with other like-minded students at Hoot Magazine . The more details you can provide, the more you’ll demonstrate your interest and fit.

Barnard College students engage in the bold questions that define their generation. Choose one question that you have about the world around you, and explain why it matters to you. (150 words)

Admissions wants to invite the kinds of students to campus who aren’t afraid to think critically and challenge the status quo, so reflect on one bold question you have about the world around you and why you believe the answer(s), or lack thereof, is important. What do you find particularly interesting or flummoxing? What was the last topic/idea/event that you read a five-page thinkpiece about? Admissions seeks to accept intellectually curious students who are passionate about learning, enriching their understanding of the world around them, and putting what they’ve learned into practice. Pro tip: try not to fall down too many Reddit rabbit holes while brainstorming for this prompt; instead, focus on one (just one) question that keeps you up at night and demonstrate what that question shows about you as a learner and seeker of truth.

In college, you will encounter others with diverse viewpoints and experiences. Describe an instance where you engaged with someone who held a different opinion and explain how it shaped your perspective on the issue. (150 Words)

Whether you cherish early-morning car rides to school with your dad, conversations with your teammates during pregame pasta parties, or chatting with neighbors at your annual block party, we’re willing to bet you’ve encountered at least one person who has held a differing viewpoint. And Barnard wants to hear about it.

Barnard has even gone so far as to ask you to cite a specific instance, so be as specific and purposeful as possible and follow through with a detailed account to make sure your response stands out from the pack. Maybe you had your beliefs challenged by a cousin who leads a very different lifestyle from you over Thanksgiving dinner. Or, perhaps, you asked probing questions about your dad’s beliefs in order to better understand his worldview during a game of mini golf. If you can’t recall where you were at the time, no problem; but details are your friend here to add credibility.

Whatever conversation you decide to write about, remember to address the second part of the question: how did the exchange or experience shape your perspective on the issue? Were you introduced to a point of view that you hadn’t considered before? Did you and your conversation partner find a middle ground or did you feel even more resolute in your viewpoint than you had before the conversation? Show Barnard that you are not afraid to consider new ideas and engage with others about important issues.

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Barnard College

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Essay prompt

Want to see your chances of admission at Barnard College?

We take every aspect of your personal profile into consideration when calculating your admissions chances.

Barnard College’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Self realization short response.

Intellectual Curiosity Short Response

Barnard celebrates intellectual risk-taking, and we believe that academic inquiry starts with bold questions. What questions do you have about the world around you, and why do they matter to you?

Gap Year Short Response

In the box below, please indicate if you are considering a deferral to Fall 2025 if you are offered admission for Fall 2024. Please note that admitted students will be required to submit a deferral request form with a detailed outline of their plans by February 2024 for students admitted through Early Decision and by April 2024 for students admitted through Regular Decision.

Science Pathways Scholars Short Response

The Science Pathways Scholars Program (SP)2 aims to support underrepresented students of color and first-generation students as they pursue careers in science research. Please discuss your interest in science research and future career goals. You may choose to reflect on past experiences or projects, role models, or ideas for research that you would like to explore.

Select-A-Prompt Short Response

If you would like to respond to one of our optional questions, please choose from the selected prompts below:

Barnard’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion mission statement says “Our commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity has the potential to disrupt and transform entrenched practices and thinking.” In what ways have you challenged ideas, practices, or spaces? What did you learn from these experiences?

Common App Personal Essay

The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response. Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don‘t feel obligated to do so.

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you‘ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

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How to Get Into Barnard: Admissions Stats + Tips

What’s covered:, how hard is it to get into barnard, average academic profile of accepted barnard students, what is barnard looking for, how to improve your chances of getting into barnard, how to apply to barnard.

Barnard College, an esteemed member of the historic Seven Sisters , is known for its rigorous academic environment and highly selective admissions process. Crafting an application that resonates with Barnard’s distinctive ethos and academic rigor is crucial for aspiring students. This guide is tailored to help you navigate the intricacies of the application procedure, ensuring that you highlight your strengths and potential to contribute to this vibrant intellectual community.

For the 2022–23 admissions cycle, Barnard received 12,009 applicants, of which 1,056 were accepted. This means that last year, Barnard’s acceptance rate was 8.79%, making it a highly selective school.

While Barnard’s admissions rates are very low, they don’t necessarily reflect your personal chances of admission. Our free chancing calculator can help you better understand your chances of acceptance into over 1,500 colleges across the country. By taking into account multiple elements of your profile, including your grades, test scores, extracurriculars, and more, we’ll estimate your odds of acceptance, and even give you tips on improving your profile!

Of the 31.3% of last year’s first-year Barnard students who submitted their class rank, 94.6% graduated in the top 10% of their high school class, and 99.5% graduated in the top 25%.

While standardized test scores are usually required for applicants, Barnard has been test-optional for a couple of years, beginning with students who entered in Fall 2021. Of the students who enrolled in Fall 2020, the top 25% of students scored above 1500 on the SAT, with 65% scoring above 1400. The top 25% of those who submitted ACT scores scored above 34, with 88% scoring above 30.

While Barnard doesn’t offer information on its students’ high school GPAs, given that 90% of admitted students graduated in the top 10% of their class, you should aim for mostly A’s to be a competitive candidate.

At its founding, Barnard’s mission was to empower smart and ambitious women by providing them with the rigorous and timely education that was only offered to men at the time. Though we no longer live in the same social context today, Barnard still seeks women who are bold, socially engaged, forward-looking, and impact-seeking. Barnard wants to see even at the high school level that you are taking risks, whether academic or extracurricular, and that you can excel at what you set your mind to.

How Barnard Evaluates Applications

According to Barnard’s 2022–23 Common Data Set , they consider the following factors “very important”:

Course rigor
Academic GPA
Application essay
Recommendations
Character/personal qualities

These factors are “important”:

Extracurricular activities
Talent/ability
Volunteer work
Work experience

These are “considered”:

Standardized test scores
First generation
Alumni relation
Geographical residence
Racial/ethnic status
Level of applicant’s interest

And these are “not considered”:

State residency
Religious affiliation/commitment

Barnard is seeking individuals who not only achieve intellectually, but also provide a strong and well-rounded character for their campus community. This is seen in the focus placed on course rigor, academic GPA, application essays, references, and character/personal traits.

The main emphasis for applicants should be on demonstrating their intellectual curiosity through a demanding high school curriculum and their capacity to express their ideas, experiences, and goals in essays.

While important, extracurricular activities, class rank, talent/ability, volunteer work, and job experience should be considered almost supplementary to your application, rather than its defining characteristics. These need to provide an image of a dedicated and enthusiastic person who is active in and has an influence on their community.

That said, even if they are only taken into consideration, results from standardized tests and interviews have the power to swing a tight choice, so be ready for them. It may make a big difference to show that you truly are interested in Barnard via attentive application writing and interview responses.

Given the new modifications to the way that race is evaluated in college applications , students have to handle this facet of their identity with caution. If your racial or ethnic heritage is a significant aspect of your personal identity, you should feel welcome to incorporate that story within your essays and interview responses. In the context of these personal remarks, you have the chance to highlight facets of your individuality that numbers and checkboxes are simply unable to depict.

1. Aim for all A’s while taking the most challenging classes available

Like most colleges, Barnard doesn’t have a “cut-off” GPA, nor does it offer GPA information about accepted students. However, accepted students across the board have strong academics. Since 94.6% of enrolled first-year students last year graduated in the top 10% of their respective high school classes, a competitive candidate for Barnard will need to have A’s in almost every class. Additionally, Barnard wants to see that students challenge themselves, so you should try to take advanced honors, AP, or IB classes.

If your GPA is on the lower side and you’re still a freshman or sophomore in high school, check out our tips for increasing your GPA . If you’re a high school junior or senior, it will be harder to increase your GPA, so the easiest way to increase your Academic Index is to get a higher score on a standardized test, either the SAT or the ACT.

2. Write engaging essays and supplement responses

In addition to the main Common Application/Coalition Application/Questbridge Application essays, Barnard will require you to respond to questions in the Barnard Writing Supplement , which includes two required questions and one optional question. These questions are to help the admissions committee understand how you could contribute to the Barnard community academically and personally.

Barnard’s emphasis on a student’s written articulation can be seen through not only the writing supplements, but also the school’s mandatory first-year writing seminar. Think of the essays as your primary opportunity to show your strengths, your character, your authentic voice, and the things you’re passionate about.

For tips on how to approach the supplemental essays, take a look at our guide to this year’s Barnard essays .

Your essays are the most important part of your Barnard application process as they let you show how you would blend in and add to the vibrant campus community. Barnard’s Writing Supplement goes beyond the Common Application, Coalition Application, or Questbridge Application primary essays. It consists of two mandatory and one optional question that is designed to assess your potential academic and personal influence on campus.

When it’s time to review your Barnard essays, gaining a fresh perspective is invaluable. Utilize our free Peer Essay Review tool for feedback from fellow applicants. If you’re eager to elevate your essay further, consider CollegeVine’s expert advisors . Our team has a track record of guiding students through successful applications to top-tier institutions like Barnard.

3. Cultivate at least one or two Tier 1-2 extracurriculars (find your “ spike ”)

Barnard seeks students who want to make their mark on the world. While that may sound like a tall order, this “mark” doesn’t necessarily mean on a global scale. It can be local, or even personal. Barnard wants students who are curious and exploratory, and who can bring their independent thinking into the world.

Barnard cultivates the transformation of knowledge into action by helping students engage in real-life experiences that inform the experiences in the classroom. The school wants to see that its prospective students have engaged with non-academic passions, whether that be through service work, debate clubs, music competition awards, or something else entirely.

In general, any activity that you do regularly outside the classroom counts as an extracurricular, as long as you can demonstrate that the activity has contributed to your growth as an individual and that you’ve applied any set of skills to your activity. However, not all extracurriculars are created equal. Extracurricular activities can generally be divided into four “tiers.” To increase your chances at Barnard, you should have one to two “Tier 1” or “Tier 2” extracurriculars.

Tier 1 activities demonstrate exceptional talent, achievement, leadership, or merit. Activities and roles on the national level or those that garner field-wide recognition count as Tier 1 activities. This may include winning a national award, qualifying for international competition and therefore gaining prestigious recognition, or starting a nonprofit that gains national traction. Having a Tier 1 activity marks you as a distinguished youth in the field of your activity, so having Tier 1 activities is quite rare.
Tier 2 activities are more common than Tier 1 but still show high levels of achievement and potential. Holding school-wide leadership positions like student government president, winning regional competitions or awards, and local recognition as a student-athlete or musician are all considered Tier 2 achievements.
Tier 3 activities demonstrate sustained participation rather than exceptional achievement, and are rather frequently seen in applications, both across the board as well as in any given individual student’s application (as some students may have more than one Tier 3 activity). These activities can include holding minor positions in school clubs or being on a Varsity team.
Tier 4 activities are the most common and have the lowest entry bar; they demonstrate interest without particular dedication. However, they are still important to include, especially if you have higher-tier activities, because they can help show the diversity of your interests. Tier 4 activities can include things like regular volunteering, general membership in clubs or organizations, or taking any kind of music or art lesson over several years.

4. Ask the right teachers for recommendation letters

Barnard requires two letters of recommendation from teachers of an academic core subject (English, Math, Science, Social Studies, or Foreign Language). You also have the option to submit up to two additional letters of recommendation, preferably from instructors or mentors outside of a classroom environment. When selecting recommenders, consider Barnard’s core values and choose teachers who can authentically highlight qualities in you that resonate with those values.

Extra letters should only serve to reveal new facets of your profile that aren’t apparent from your existing application materials. A strategic approach to your letters of recommendation is key to ensuring they provide the greatest impact on your application. For further advice, including how to ask for a recommendation, check out the tips from CollegeVine to navigate this part of Barnard’s applications effectively.

Take some time to think about which teacher will write you the most promising recommendation letter, and take a look at CollegeVine’s list of rules for requesting a letter of recommendation to help guide you through this process.

5. Apply Early Decision

Since Barnard’s early decision acceptance rate in 2021 was 25.6%, while the regular decision acceptance rate was 13.6%, students who apply under early decision have considerably higher statistical chances of acceptance , even after accounting for profile strength. If you have your heart set on Barnard—since the early decision is binding—applying ED can be a great way to show your commitment.

However, there are some drawbacks to keep in mind about applying early, including less time to refine your application, fewer financial aid package options, and the obvious inability to try your hand at other colleges if you do get in.

Planning on applying to Barnard? Here are some dates to keep in mind for the 2022–23 application cycle.


Early Decision	November 1, 2023	Mid-December 2023
Regular Decision	January 1, 2024	Late March 2024

Application Requirements

Barnard accepts applications through the Common Application, Coalition Application, and QuestBridge National College Match application. There is no preferred application. To apply, you will need the following materials:

All parts of your Common, Coalition, or QuestBridge application, including personal essay, extracurricular activities list, and application fee (there is an option to request a fee waiver)
Official high school transcript
School Profile and report
Responses to the Barnard Writing Supplement
SAT or ACT (optional for Fall 2022–23 enrollment)
High school counselor letter of recommendation
Mid-year report (first-semester senior grades by March 1)
Two letters of recommendation from teachers of English, Math, Science, Social Studies, or Foreign Language, preferably from junior or senior years

Optional materials include:

Arts or athletic supplementary portfolios
Up to two additional letters of recommendation (preferably from non-classroom teachers; e.g., club advisors or part-time job supervisors)

University of Idaho murders 1 year later: Where the case stands

Four students were killed in an off-campus house on Nov. 13, 2022.

Monday marks one year since four University of Idaho students were stabbed to death in a gruesome home invasion that garnered intrigue from people across the nation.

In the early hours of Nov. 13, 2022, roommates Kaylee Goncalves , Madison Mogen and Xana Kernodle, and Kernodle's boyfriend Ethan Chapin , were killed inside the girls' off-campus house in Moscow, Idaho. Two other roommates survived.

MORE: Idaho college murders: The complete timeline of events

After an intensive six-week search for a suspect, 28-year-old Bryan Kohberger, a criminology Ph.D. student at nearby Washington State University, was arrested on Dec. 30 at his family's Pennsylvania home.

Here's what you need to know as the case against Kohberger moves forward :

The shocking crime

One of the surviving roommates said she woke up around 4 a.m. on Nov. 13, 2022, from what sounded like Goncalves playing with her dog in one of the third-floor bedrooms, according to court documents.

"A short time" after, the roommate said "she heard who she thought was Goncalves say something to the effect of 'there's someone here,'" the documents said. But that could have been Kernodle on her phone because records showed she was on TikTok at about 4:12 a.m., the affidavit said.

MORE: Lawyer for Idaho college killings suspect Bryan Kohberger says he was driving alone night of murders

The roommate said "she looked out of her bedroom but did not see anything when she heard the comment about someone being in the house," the documents said. "She opened her door a second time when she heard what she thought was crying coming from Kernodle's room."

The roommate "then said she heard a male voice say something to the effect of 'it's ok, I'm going to help you,'" according to the documents.

The roommate said she opened her door again after she heard the crying -- and then saw a "figure clad in black clothing and a mask that covered the person's mouth and nose walking towards her," who she described as "5'10" or taller, male, not very muscular, but athletically built with bushy eyebrows," and who "walked past" her "towards the back sliding glass door" as the roommate stood in "frozen shock," according to a police affidavit.

Who were the victims?

Kaylee Goncalves, 21, and Madison Mogen, 21, were lifelong best friends and inseparable. Goncalves was set to graduate in December 2022 and move to Texas.

Goncalves' sister, Alivea Goncalves, considered Mogen a sister, too. She said she was comforted by the fact that the best friends were in the same bed together in their final moments.

"If I couldn't have been there to hold their hands and to take that pain from them, at least they had each other," she told ABC News.

The two other victims were 20-year-old Xana Kernodle, and her boyfriend, 20-year-old Ethan Chapin.

Chapin was a triplet. His brother and sister also attend the University of Idaho.

Chapin and Kernodle were the "perfect pair" who had an "unstoppable, loving relationship," a surviving roommate said in a statement in December.

"They both would look at each other with so much love," she said.

Pieces of evidence

After the victims were discovered, authorities reviewed surveillance video from the area and saw the suspect's white Hyundai Elantra go by the victims' house three times, before entering the area for a fourth time at 4:04 a.m, according to the affidavit.

Police said they traced the car's travel that night back to nearby Pullman, Washington, where the suspect lived while attending Washington State.

Kohberger's phone was tracked heading to Moscow before the attack and as the driver of the white Elantra returned to Pullman. However, the phone was off from 2:47 a.m. to 4:48 a.m., which "is consistent with Kohberger attempting to conceal his location during the quadruple homicide," the document said.

MORE: Idaho authorities probe Amazon 'click activity' for knives possibly connected to college killings

His phone was near the victims' house at least 12 times before the murders, at least as far back as August, the document said.

DNA from the suspect was also recovered on a knife sheath left on Mogen's bed, according to the documents.

Where does the case stand?

Kohberger is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary. He could face the death penalty if convicted.

The former Ph.D. student declined to offer a plea at his arraignment in May, so the judge entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.

MORE: Trial for Idaho college killings suspect Bryan Kohberger delayed indefinitely

Kohberger's lawyers have said their client wasn't in the home where the homicides occurred and was driving around alone that night.

In August, Kohberger waived his right to a speedy trial, indefinitely delaying what was supposed to be an Oct. 2 start date.

A new trial date has not been set.

What possible hurdles are ahead during trial?

The DNA discovered on the button snap of the knife sheath that was found near Mogen's body is a critical linchpin for the prosecution in what is a largely circumstantial case.

That DNA, authorities argued, undeniably links Kohberger to the crime scene, saying that DNA "showed a statistical match" with a cheek swab taken directly from Kohberger after his arrest.

Kohberger's attorneys have attempted to cast doubt on the strength of investigators' evidence and whether it pointed irrefutably to just their client, including the DNA. The defense has repeatedly asked for more information on the genealogical analyses used to zero in on Kohberger, and have pushed back on investigators' analysis that the DNA is a statistical match.

Kohberger's attorneys also highlight what they called a "total lack of DNA evidence" from the victims in Kohberger's home or car.

"There are so many layers that make this an extraordinary case -- and the defense is going to attack any aspect of it that they see as vulnerable," David Calviello, a former New Jersey prosecutor who is now a criminal defense attorney, told ABC News in August. "It makes sense for them to take shots at how certain evidence was presented to the grand jury -- whether there were missed steps, cut corners, chain of custody problems, contamination -- or not. "

The knife used in the murders has not been recovered.

A series of now-unsealed search warrant documents show investigators have sought records of Amazon purchases and click history data for an Amazon customer including "all detailed customer click activity pertaining to knives and accessories," as well as a long list of information that could flesh out the customer's full shopping movements and interests on the site, like items that were wish-listed or saved for later. If prosecutors can link Kohberger to the purchase of a knife that could have been used in the killings, experts say that could help bolster their case.

What will happen to the house?

The University of Idaho announced in February that the house where the four students were killed would be torn down, with university President Scott Green calling it "a healing step."

In June, a university spokesperson said the school planned to demolish the house before students returned to campus in the fall.

In July, the university announced a sudden halt to the demolition plans as they removed asbestos and lead from the home -- and amid objections from some of the victims' families who expressed concern that demolishing the house before Kohberger's trial could cause unanticipated problems for prosecutors as they try to secure a guilty verdict.

About two weeks after Kohberger waived his speedy right to a trial in August, university officials decided they would hold off on tearing down the home until at least the end of the fall semester, which ends in mid-December.

With no new trial date set, prosecutors asked the University of Idaho for access to the house.

The university said FBI agents would be at the house on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 "to get documentation to construct visual and audio exhibits and a physical model of the home."

"While the university still intends to demolish the home, it will not be done this semester," the university said on Oct. 31.

The families

Ethan Chapin, who was a triplet, had been planning his 21st birthday with his siblings "forever," his parents said. Last month, his brother, Hunter, and sister, Maizie, turned 21 without him.

PHOTO: Ethan Chapin surfs on Priest Lake in northern Idaho in this family photo from July 2022.

As the Chapins face one year without Ethan, they said they plan on acknowledging Nov. 13 with a private fundraiser for their foundation, Ethan's Smile Foundation, to help provide scholarships to post-high school students so that they can follow their dreams. The Chapins said they can't think of a better way to honor their son than to support education.

"Ethan stood for love, kindness, laughter and loyalty," his mother, Stacy Chapin, told ABC News. "He was the very best."

Kaylee Goncalves' dad, Steve Goncalves, said Kaylee's younger siblings are now grappling with their own birthdays. He said "they don't want to be older than their sister."

To Steve Goncalves, Nov. 13 is not an anniversary.

"This is more like a memorial -- some type of an event that you have to look at and think about, but it's not something that you ever look forward to," he told ABC News.

"My daughter has allowed me to meet people across the world through her life and memory and her beauty. And I'll thank her one day when I see her," Steve Goncalves said. "I'll tell her how much she impacted the world and how proud of her I am."

FOLLOW THE PODCAST: " The King Road Killings: An Idaho Murder Mystery " from ABC News, available on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Amazon Music , or your preferred podcast player.

ABC News' Kayna Whitworth, Nick Cirone and Timmy Truong contributed to this report.

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Never-before-seen photos and details about the man accused of murdering four Idaho college students

By Peter Van Sant

January 7, 2023 / 11:02 PM EST / CBS News

Under a dark Idaho sky, investigators flew Bryan Kohberger to the college town of Moscow. Police delivered him to the Latah County Jail. On Jan. 5, in an orange jumpsuit, his face vacant, the 28-year-old made what will likely be his first of many appearances in this court.

He stands charged with the murder of four students from the University of Idaho: Kaylee Goncalves, Madison "Maddie" Mogen, Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle. Investigators say he stabbed them to death in the home the women shared.

JUDGE: The maximum penalty for this offense, if you plead guilty or be found guilty is up to death and imprisonment for life. Do you understand?

BRYAN KOHBERGER: Yes.

Kohberger has not yet entered a plea.

In an affidavit , investigators laid out their understanding of the grim details about the night of the killings: They say the killer left his DNA on a "leather knife sheath" found on a bed next to Maddie Mogen. And, most hauntingly, they say a surviving roommate thought she heard crying and "saw a figure clad in black clothing and a mask."

The man walked past, as she stood in "frozen shock." She locked herself in her room.

The investigation is fast-moving. Authorities have not disclosed a motive or if he had a connection to the students, but we are learning more about just who Bryan Kohberger is.

WHO IS ACCUSED KILLER BRYAN KOHBERGER?

Just 15 days before his arrest, Bryan Kohberger and his father were driving home from Washington State University for winter break to the family's home in Pennsylvania.

OFFICER (body cam video): Hello MICHAEL KOHBERGER: How you doing? OFFICER: How ya'll doin today?

The journey interrupted by two traffic stops, almost 10 minutes apart, in Indiana for tailgating.

MICHAEL KOHBERGER (to officer): We're gonna be going to Pennsylvania, a couple more miles. OFFICER: Oh, OK. MICHAEL KOHBERGER: …to the Pocono Mountains. We're a little, we're slightly punchy. We've been driving for hours.

Police body cam video shows Kohberger and his father talking calmly with an officer about the trip.

OFFICER: Hours? And days? BRYAN KOHBERGER: Hours. MICHAEL KOHBERGER: Hours. Well, we've been driving for almost a day. OFFICER: Do me a favor and don't follow too close, OK?

Then they are released with a warning.

Kohberger had been at the university since August, studying to get his Ph.D. in criminology. He was also a teaching assistant in the Department of Criminal Justice. He lived in an apartment complex on campus and had an office there.

According to the newly released affidavit, Kohberger had applied for an internship with the Pullman Police Department in the fall. He wrote in his application essay that "he had interest in assisting rural law enforcement agencies with how to better collect and analyze technological data."

Benjamin Roberts took four classes with Kohberger.

Benjamin Roberts : He seemed very comfortable around other people. He was very quick to offer his opinion and thoughts. And he was always participating fairly eagerly in classroom discussions.

He says Kohberger appeared highly intelligent.

Peter Van Sant : Does anything else come to mind that Bryan said to you in the past that today you think might be of interest?

Benjamin Roberts : There was a comment that he made, and it was kind of a flippant guy talk thing. At one point, he just idly mentioned, you know, "I can go down to a bar or a club and pretty much have any lady I want."

Kohberger arrived at the university after earning his bachelor's in psychology and master's degree in criminal justice at DeSales University in Center Valley, Pennsylvania.

While at DeSales, authorities say Bryan Kohberger posted this survey, approved by the university, on the website Reddit asking ex-cons about the crimes they committed. One question he asked: "Before making your move, how did you approach the victim or target?

James Gagliano : This could be a piece of circumstantial evidence.

James Gagliano is a retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent and CBS News consultant.

James Gagliano: The fact that the suspect was interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in criminal justice and was especially interested in … the mental state that people who had committed murders in the past … yes, it could be interesting to note. But I know a lot of researchers that study those things, too, that would never commit a quadruple homicide.

And if Kohberger was involved in these murders, genetic genealogist CeCe Moore questions why he would be so careless as to allegedly leave his DNA at the crime scene.

CeCe Moore : People are talking about how smart he supposedly is. And I just can't see how that could be true, because any student of forensic science or criminology would have to know that it's virtually impossible not to leave your DNA behind at a very violent, intimate crime scene like this.

CeCe Moore : You know, Ted Bundy thought he was smart. But he wasn't that smart, as it turns out.

After the murders, Roberts says Kohberger appeared disheveled, tired and chattier than usual.

But nothing could prepare Roberts for what he learned o f Kohberger's arrest.

Benjamin Roberts : Looking back over the last four months, I feel like there should have been signs that I should have seen. And I didn't ... I was blindsided.

Jason LaBar : This is out of character for Bryan, these allegations.

Monroe County public defender Jason LaBar represented Kohberger before he was extradited to Idaho.

Jason LaBar : The family would want the general public to know that Bryan is a caring son and brother —that's he's responsible, that he is devoted to them.

In a statement the family said, "we care deeply for the for the four families who have lost their precious children" ... and that they "seek the truth and promote his presumption of innocence rather than judge unknown facts and make erroneous assumptions."

Jason LaBar : He is innocent until proven otherwise.

LaBar says Kohberger came from a close-knit family. He grew up in eastern Pennsylvania in the Pocono Mountains. His father was as a maintenance worker and his mom worked in the school system. Bryan has two older sisters – one who works as a family therapist, and another sister who appeared in a 2011 low budget slasher film, "Two Days Back," about a group of young students viciously murdered by a serial killer. She now works as a school counselor.

Bree : My heart goes out to Bryan's family.

Kohberger's friend, Bree, says she met Bryan at a party when they attended Pleasant Valley High School. She asked "48 Hours" not to use her last name.

Bree : Bryan was really funny. He wasn't outgoing at all. But he also wasn't shy.

She says they bonded over their love of the outdoors.

Bree : I don't necessarily remember the conversations, but you definitely remember how someone makes you feel. … I just remember feeling OK — I was just with a friend. … Just felt natural.

Bree recalls Kohberger was an average student with only a few close friends. In a yearbook photo, Kohberger's caption said he aspired to be an Army Ranger.

Casey Artnz also knew Kohberger from high school . She posted this Tik Tok following Bryan's arrest.

CASEY ARNTZ TIK TOK: "I used to be friends with Bryan Kohberger" ... "I'm in actual shock right now."

Casey Arntz : He was an overweight kid. … So, he did get bullied a lot.

But Arntz says people saw a change in Kohberger the beginning of senior year.

Casey Arntz : He lost like 100 pounds . … He was a rail. … It was after that weight loss that a lot of people noticed a huge switch in him.

Casey Arntz : My brother has since come out to say that even though they were friends, Bryan bullied him.

Casey Arntz : He had said that he would put him in like a chokeholds and stuff like that.

Bree says Kohberger started using heroin, which ended their friendship.

Bree : You just saw him becoming more self-destructive. … He really stayed secluded.

It's unclear when exactly Kohberger went into recovery, but both Bree and Casey say years after he graduated high school it appeared as if he was getting his life together. He was going to Northampton Community College and working security for Pleasant Valley School District.

Bree : He was telling me that he wanted to get sober, that he was getting sober. … And he wanted to let me know like, "I'm gonna do better. I'm gonna be better."

Bree : I'm sorry ... (emotional)

Casey Arntz : The last time I saw Bryan was in 2017 at one of my friend's wedding. … And I gave him a hug and I said, "You look so good. Like I'm so proud of you."

And both Bree and Casey say it appeared that Kohberger had a new focus — his studies in criminology.

Bree : He wanted to do something that impacted people in a good way.

Bree: People were not his strong suit. And think through his criminology studies, he was really trying to understand humans and to try and understand himself.

Now Bree, like many who knew him, struggles to connect the person they once knew to this unspeakable crime.

Bree : I think a lot of people who were close to him are feeling this massive amount of guilt … "Why didn't I see it? Did I miss something? … Where did it go wrong?

THE YOUNG LIVES LOST

Before it was a crime scene, it was a home to five close friends. Maybe none closer than Maddie Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves.

On TikTok, the 21-year-old seniors looked like they were enjoying their final school year.

In the early morning of November 13, the two friends headed to a food truck. But their seemingly carefree existence would come to an abrupt end just hours later. Kaylee and Maddie were stabbed to death in the upstairs part of the house. A hundred miles away in northern Idaho, Kaylee's father Steve got the news.

Peter Van Sant : Steve, give us a sense of the shock of that moment.

Steve Goncalves : You just feel like you're getting crushed by a thousand pounds of weight.

Peter Van Sant : What do you want the world to know about your daughter, Kaylee?

Steve Goncalves : I want the world to know, they — they got robbed. Somebody stole from you.

Steve Goncalves says his daughter Kaylee would have made the world a better place. A general studies major, she was the middle child of five siblings. Goncalves says Kaylee was always up for a challenge.

Steve Goncalves : She grew up around two boys that were, you know, older than her. And uh, she didn't see any reason why she couldn't be as quick and fast and as good as those two boys were.

Peter Van Sant : What did she want to do with her life?

Steve Goncalves : Like most young people, it changed. She was gonna be a teacher. … But once she found out how long it was gonna take to pay back her student loans, she — she said, "Dad, you know, this thing that you do with computers seems to work pretty well."

She reportedly had a job lined up in Austin but made it clear that one day she hoped to settle down somewhere near her dearest friend Maddie Mogen. Maddie was a marketing major, and she and Kaylee had been inseparable since the sixth grade.

Steve Goncalves : I just felt like it was more of a sistership than it was a friendship ... And she was just one of our kids.

So, it perhaps did not come as a surprise when Steve revealed at a November memorial that Kaylee and Maddie died side-by-side.

STEVE GONCALVES (memorial service): They went to high school together. … They came here together. … And in the end, they died together. In the same room, in the same bed. It comforts us. It lets us know that they were with their best friends in the whole world.

It was a belief Maddie's stepfather, Scott Laramie, repeated to another packed memorial just days later.

SCOTT LARAMIE (memorial service): The two of 'em were a force to be reckoned with. They stuck together through everything.

Maddie had a boyfriend, Jake Schriger.

JAKE SCHRIGER (memorial service): She was the first person I talked to every morning and the last person I talked to before bed.

They had been together for more than a year. Schriger says Maddie had a talent for making people laugh.

JAKE SCHRIGER (memorial service): She was really funny. Her jokes really would come outta nowhere … And just be like, "Is that the — the cute little blonde girl that just said that?"

But Maddie and Kaylee weren't the only victims. While two other roommates were in their rooms and unharmed during the attacks, on the second floor, the killer made his way to the room of Xana Kernodle.

JAZZMIN KERNODLE (memorial service): She was my baby sister, but she was so much wiser.

Xana's sister, Jazzmin.

JAZZMIN KERNODLE (memorial service): She would always tell me she wouldn't know what to do without me. And now I have to live this life without her.

A 20-year-old junior majoring in marketing, Xana was known for being focused on her studies. So focused, she didn't make much time for dating.

JAZZMIN KERNODLE (memorial service): Xana never had a boyfriend before, and my dad and I wondered if she was ever gonna get one (laughs).

That was until she met Ethan Chapin.

JAZZMIN KERNODLE (memorial service): The way she would talk and smile about him was something I've never seen her do before.

Ethan was a 20-year-old majoring in recreation and tourism management. Jazzmin says Xana and Ethan began dating in the spring of 2022.

JAZZMIN KERNODLE (memorial service): They had something so special and everyone around them knew.

Especially anyone who followed the pair on Instagram. For Ethan's birthday, Xana posted photos of them with the caption: "Life is so much better with you in it, love you!" It would be her last Instagram post. Just two weeks later, the young couple was found stabbed to death in Xana's bedroom.

At the University of Idaho, the pain of this tragedy is felt at the root and extends hundreds of miles away to a tulip farm in Skagit Valley, Washington. It's where Ethan worked before heading to college. His boss, Andrew Miller.

Andrew Miller : So, Ethan started – it was in the spring of — of '21. … It was the best Tulip Festival.

Miller says the annual tulip festival attracts close to half-a-million visitors, and Ethan stood out in the crowd.

Andrew Miller : Well, he's a big guy wearin' a big smile, right? I think that's the part that I – that kinda struck me right away.

Ethan – a triplet – worked there with his siblings, Maizie and Hunter, and lived in a rented house on the farm with their parents. The Chapin triplets were incredibly close says Reese Gardner.

Reese Gardner : They were best friends. … If one did something, they all did something. … It was pretty cool to see.

Including attending the University of Idaho together.

Andrew Miller : And that was the funniest thing, it was like, of course it was a package deal. Like, all three of 'em were gonna go there.

Ariah Macagba : He was excited, I think, 'cause his siblings were going with him.

Ariah Macagba says Ethan's parents had decided to live in Idaho, too. Macagba says when she heard Ethan had been murdered, she couldn't believe it.

Ariah Macagba : I think the first thing I did was message Ethan. I was like, "Hey, you're OK, right? Like, this isn't real." (crying) And — obviously, he didn't respond.

Reese Gardner scoured the internet for information.

Reese Gardner : And I just couldn't stop reading articles and … I just wanted to know what happened, and I wanted to know why.

But in lieu of answers, Gardner turned to tulips. He had an idea: name one after Ethan.

Reese Gardner : I thought, "There's — there's no better way … to remember someone who had such a big part, a big role in those farms."

Andrew Miller : Cause Reese called me … And it was, "Hey, can this be done, and are you interested in doing it?" And I was, "Yes, and hell yes."

But creating a new tulip is a long process, so instead, Miller suggested a mix of tulips that would be a perfect tribute to Ethan: yellow and white.

Andrew Miller : Yellow, of course, because Go Vandals. University of Idaho, right? That's significant. And then white is — is an eternal color, right? And tulips come up in the spring. It is a symbol of — of hope.

With his parents' blessing, they named the mix of tulips, "Ethan's Smile."

Andrew Miller : So, this will be a nice yellow or white tulip here in about four months.

The trio planted thousands of bulbs in the state of Washington and sent a couple thousand more to the University of Idaho.

Andrew Miller : And it really is our hope that we'll be able to continue to plant and that anybody that wants to remember him will be able to have their own Ethan's — Ethan's Smile Garden. … It's a living legacy.

Now it is up to prosecutors to get justice for these young victims .

IN SEARCH OF ANSWERS

Forty-seven days after the murders of Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, Madison Mogen, and Xana Kernodle, authorities apprehended the man they believed was responsible. We now know investigators had Bryan Kohberger in their sights early on but kept it close to the vest. So, in the early days, after the Nov. 13 murders, frustration swept over Moscow, Idaho.

James Gagliano : I think in this instance people were expecting a pretty quick arrest in this case, and it takes time.

Steve Goncalves, father of 21-year-old Kaylee, was trying as best he could to deal with news no one expects.

Steve Goncalves : Most things I'm prepared for. Most things as a dad, you can— you can handle. But somethin' like that, you just can't prepare for and you can't fix it.

Steve Goncalves : And, you know, just think if you do everything right, by the book, somethin' like this couldn't happen.

Peter Van Sant : Did you have any sense who might have done something like this?

Steve Goncalves : No … I didn't think anybody in her inner circles was — was capable of interacting and — and her doing something that could even deserve something like that.

As news spread of the murders, so did shock in the college community, which had not seen a homicide since 2015.

Matt Loveless : Parents drove hundreds of miles to pick up their kids to head home and stay home for the semester.

Matt Loveless is a journalism professor at nearby Washington State University.

Matt Loveless : At this point, we don't know if they're gonna come back for — the spring semester there on campus. And that same thing happened in both our communities.

James Gagliano: And, so, when parents send their kids off to school, for something to happen like this, I think it's a parent's worst nightmare

James Gagliano : And it's a place, Moscow, Idaho, where violent crime really is not an issue.

As police started their investigation, they traced the victims' final steps. The day before the murders seemed to start ordinarily. Kaylee Goncalves posted photos with her roommates and Ethan Chapin, to her Instagram account with the caption, "One lucky girl to be surrounded by these ppl everyday." That evening, Ethan and Xana attended a party at a fraternity house on campus. Kaylee and Madison were at a bar between 10 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. They were then seen at a local food vendor, the "Grub Truck." It is believed they all returned home by about 2 a.m. on Nov. 13.

James Gagliano : So, in examining the timeline , police know that the crime took place sometime in the early morning hours. There were also two other University of Idaho students who were inside the house when the murders took place.

It was later that morning that a call was made to 911 from one of the surviving roommate's phones to report an unconscious person. Police arrived at the house at 11:58 a.m.

James Gagliano : Police find the victims on the second and third floor of the house in bedrooms — a horrific and a very large-scale crime scene 'cause you're gonna be dealing with a number of different floors that need to be processed, the bedrooms where the crimes actually occurred, and then ingress and egress points. How did the — how did the alleged killer get inside the house? Through a front door? Through a window? Those are all things police will be looking at.

CHIEF JAMES FRY (to reporters): No weapon has been located at this time. There was no sign of forced entry into the residence.

On Nov. 16, three days after the murders, the Moscow Police held their first press conference.

CHIEF JAMES FRY (to reporters): We believe this was an isolated, targeted attack on our victims. We do not have a suspect at this time and that individual is still out there.

Coroner Cathy Mabbutt issued her report on Nov. 17.

Coroner Cathy Mabbutt: They were all murdered through stabbing with some kind of a, probably a larger knife…

She told police some of the four victims had defensive wounds, but none had signs of sexual assault. Police continued to work the case, aided by the Idaho State Police and the FBI.

James Gagliano : I just believe that the Moscow Police Department probably just didn't have a lot of experience in working a homicide, especially one as heinous as this one.

After about three weeks with no arrests, and what, to the public, appeared to be no real suspects, Steve Goncalves grew more concerned that authorities weren't doing enough and that the murders would turn into a cold case. So, he says, he started working with his own team to investigate the murders.

Steve Goncalves : So, we just thought, "This is the time. Let's get it out there, and let's not let it get cold. Let's get as many resources as— as possible."

Peter Van Sant : And did you have any sense whatsoever as to what a motive … might have been for these murders?

Steve Goncalves : Pretty girls and a handsome guy. I thought, you know, that might be somethin' to do with their, you know, stalking them in the sense of that.

Meanwhile, names of possible people of interest were trickling out — including members of the community and acquaintances of the victims. But they all seemed to be part of an unfounded rumor mill, many from online sleuths. Goncalves even had people come to him to prove they were not involved.

Steve Goncalves : We — had certain suspects take their shirts off in our kitchen to show if they had scratches. And we tried to do everything in — in our powers to make sure that if we thought somebody was ruled out, we truly — we truly felt like, you know, we — we looked at 'em.

Law enforcement would end up receiving thousands of tips, but the investigation, by outward appearances, seemed to be stalled. Nearly a month after the murders, on Dec. 7, police were seen packing up the victims' belongings to return to the families, who had lost so much. It was the police chief behind the wheel of the U-Haul truck. That same day, a plea was made to the public.

Police were interested in speaking with the occupant(s) of a white 2011-2013 Hyundai Elantra with an unknown license plate, spotted near the crime scene, around the time of the killings.

AMANDA ROLEY | KREM REPORTER: Today's update is the first descriptive tip that we have received in several days. Detectives now want to speak with anyone who was inside a white Hyundai Elantra that was near this home on King Road around Nov. 13th.

Police released photos of similar makes to the vehicle they were looking for.

CHIEF JAMES FRY (to reporters): We still believe there is more information to be gathered.

James Gagliano : Pushing that out to the media. Pushing that out to people on the internet. Pushing that out so that people can look for either a potential suspect, person of interest, or a potential vehicle. That goes a long way towards running down leads.

INSIDE THE INVESTIGATION

It turns out that about two weeks before the police asked the public to be on the lookout for a white Hyundai Elantra , they had already shared that information with surrounding law enforcement. And on Nov. 29, 2022, a white Elantra was located by Washington State University Police. The car was registered to Bryan Kohberger.

CBS News learned, that in mid-December, the Hyundai Elantra was tracked for several days by the FBI, using E-ZPass monitoring, fixed wing aircraft and ground support, as it was driven by Kohberger, along with his father, from Pullman, Washington, on that cross-country trip to the family's home in Pennsylvania.

On Dec. 15, the car was stopped twice in Indiana for those driving violations, by the Indiana State Police and the Hancock Sheriff's Office.

OFFICER: So, you're coming from Washington State University? MICHAEL KOHBERGER: Yeah. BRYAN KOHBERGER: Yup OFFICER: And you're going where? MICHAEL KOHBERGER: We're gonna be going to Pennsylvania.

Both agencies said at the time of the stops, "there was no information available on a suspect for the crime in Idaho, to include identifying information or any specific information related to the license plate state or number of the white Hyundai Elantra …"

Police did not ticket Kohberger; they gave a verbal warning and the trip continued home. And then, Kohberger's holiday came to an abrupt halt .

CBS NEWS REPORT: A suspect is under arrest for the quadruple murder of four Idaho college students.

On Dec. 30, 2022, police made that announcement that Bryan Kohberger was under arrest for the murders. He was arrested at his family's home in Albrightsville, Pa., at 3 a.m., with approximately 50 law enforcement officers on the scene.

MAJ. CHRISTOPHER PARIS | PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE: There were multiple windows that were broken I believe to gain access, as well as multiple doors.

Authorities believe Bryan Kohberger acted alone.

Jason LaBar : Bryan was very shocked by his arrest. … Bryan did not know why they were there, but he was aware of the case in Idaho.

Monroe County public defender Jason LaBar represented Kohberger in Pennsylvania as he was awaiting extradition to Idaho.

Jason LaBar : Bryan indicated to me that he was eager to be exonerated — that he was willing to go back to Idaho.

On Jan. 3, at a hearing in Pennsylvania, Kohberger signed his waiver of extradition. And on Jan. 4, was flown to Idaho, where he is in jail, charged with the four murders.

On Jan. 5, Kohberger appeared in court in Moscow with his new public defender to hear the charges read against him. He has yet to enter a plea.

JUDGE MEGAN MARSHALL: The maximum penalty for this offense if you were to plead guilty or be found guilty is death or imprisonment for life. Do you understand?

BRYAN KOHBERGER: Yes.

That same day, that affidavit was released that laid out startling new details about the murder investigation. According to the affidavit, one of the surviving roommates actually saw the murderer and stood in a "frozen shock phase." She is referred to as DM in the affidavit, and told police that earlier, she heard a female voice say, 'something to the effect of "there's someone here." And later, a male voice say, "something to the effect of "it's ok, I'm going to help you." Later she opened her door "… after she heard crying and saw a figure clad in black clothing and a mask..." She described the figure as "5'10'… with bushy eyebrows."

The affidavit states that, according to DM, the male walked toward the back sliding door and DM locked herself in her room. It was later in the morning when that call was made to 911 from one of the surviving roommate's phones, to report an unconscious person. It is unclear what occurred in the hours before police were called. It is believed the murders took place between 4 and 4:25 a.m. Police say they discovered, on the bed in Madison's room, a knife sheath with a Marine insignia.

James Gagliano : I would imagine that a — crime scene as — as grisly and ghastly as this one — that there would have been … DNA left by the perpetrator.

According to the affidavit, the knife sheath was processed and "the Idaho State Lab later located a single source of male DNA on the button snap." They were able to link it to DNA recovered from the trash at the Pennsylvania Kohberger family home.

It is not clear, what, if any, connection Kohberger had with the victims. However, the affidavit states that by using cellular phone data, police were able to place Kohberger's cell phone near the crime scene "on at least twelve occasions before November 13, 2022. All of those occasions, except for one, occurred in the late evening and early morning hours …"

Even with these new details, many question remain. A newly issued gag order prohibits officials and others involved in the case from speaking about the murders. Also, authorities have sealed a search warrant that was carried out at Kohberger's home in Pullman, Washington.

Jim Gagliano : This is one where you don't want a mistake. You don't want something to happen during this process that's going to give the alleged suspect an opportunity to beat the case.

Now, the case will work its way through the court system as parents, who lost their children, will be looking for answers.

Steve Goncalves : We find the truth, you know. You get the truth, and then that — that'll — that'll be everything.

IN REMEMBRANCE

You can see it in the stunned, silent faces of the kids. Faces that ask "why?" without even speaking.

Young eyes glisten, bathed in the glow of candlelight at a vigil held for the young lives lost. A ritual all too familiar across America. The flowers, the prayers, the vows to carry on. In Idaho, they hold on tight to each other and to the memories of those loved and lost.

EMILY (memorial service): Life is so unfair and unpredictable (crying).

For Xana Kernodle's friend Emily, the wound remains raw.

EMILY (memorial service): And it tears me apart knowing I can't hug her. (Crying) So hold those you love closer. Hug them a little tighter and tell 'em you love them. We'll find justice for you, Ethan, Maddie, and Kaylee. We love you all so much.

And for Ashlin, Maddie Mogen's memory is still vibrant.

ASHLIN (memorial service): You truly will live on forever -- not only in my heart, but in the heart of so many people that were impacted by your beautiful smile, your grace, your patience, your open heart, and your craziness.

Hunter Johnson remembers a pal he could rely on — Ethan Chapin.

HUNTER JOHNSON (memorial service): Ethan was always someone you could count on to make you smile and — cheer up your mood. … And I — feel so lucky to have shared so many great memories with him (emotional).

But those who are older perhaps sense that pain that runs this deep, never goes away. Kaylee's father, Steve Goncalves.

Steve Goncalves : You don't heal from somethin' like this. … it's never gonna happen. You're never gonna be healed. You're never gonna get through this. And when they die, part of you dies.

Steve Goncalves : We're tired of all these types of crimes. We're tired of all this stuff. And — we can rally around these terrible tragedies, and … We're hopin' that as a society we come back stronger. And we — we decide to not let this be accepted anymore, you know. That's what I hope for.

Bryan Kohberger's next court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 12.

He will have a chance to enter a plea at a later date.

Bryan Kohberger

"48 Hours" correspondent Peter Van Sant first joined CBS News in 1984.

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Idaho Murders: What We Know

A man who was studying for a Ph.D. at a nearby university is charged in the stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho undergraduates. Many questions remain.

By Mike Baker and Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs

Though a suspect has been arrested and charged in the brutal stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students, a series of mysteries remain about why the victims were targeted and what evidence prosecutors have against the suspect.

The police have said the killings took place sometime around 4 a.m. on Nov. 13, 2022, after the victims — Madison Mogen, 21; Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Ethan Chapin, 20 — had spent a typical Saturday night out near the university campus in Moscow, Idaho. They returned to the house in the early hours of Sunday.

In court documents, the police said that a combination of evidence had led them to arrest a suspect, Bryan Kohberger, a Ph.D. student at Washington State University, whose campus is in Pullman, Wash., a few miles west of Moscow. Mr. Kohberger was taken into custody at his parents’ home in Pennsylvania, after the case had remained unsolved for more than six weeks.

Chief among that evidence is a leather knife sheath that was left on a bed in one of the two bedrooms where the murders took place. A Moscow police corporal said in an affidavit that DNA was found on the sheath. Prosecutors later said that Mr. Kohberger’s DNA, which was tested after his arrest, proved to be a statistical match.

Investigators have said that they used cellphone tower data to track Mr. Kohberger’s phone on the night of the killings, and obtained surveillance video that showed a white vehicle like Mr. Kohberger’s repeatedly circling around the victims’ house that night.

Mr. Kohberger has offered an explanation for what he was doing on the night of the killings. In a court filing, his lawyers suggested that he was out “driving alone” around the time that the attack occurred.

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Barnard College Columbia University

Welcome Home and Welcome Back to Barnard!

From Orientation to Convocation, the College kicked off the new academic year with some of its most beloved traditions.

On August 28, Barnard College began greeting returning, first-year, transfer, and international students with a robust lineup of engaging activities, on and off campus. As part of the New Student Orientation Program (NSOP) — August 28 to September 1 — students enjoyed a lively welcome thanks to the College’s long-standing traditions of Move-In Day and New Student Convocation .

Dive Into NSOP

This year’s NSOP program, titled “Dive In: An Ocean of Possibilities,” includes events designed by current students to introduce their incoming peers to all of the resources available to them during their time at Barnard. The five-day series consists of 180 activities to choose from, ranging from workshops that cover the basics — such as course registration and holistic wellness — to guided, city-wide “B’scursions,” like kayaking along the Hudson River, visiting thrift stores downtown, and strolling the High Line ’s 1.45-mile-long public park built on a historic elevated freight rail line.

“We are so excited to celebrate this huge milestone in our students’ lives as new members of the Barnard community and their incredible achievement of being accepted into one of the most prestigious colleges in the country,” said Catlin Michael Wojtkowski , director of Student Experience and Engagement (SEE).

NSOP, coordinated through the offices of Campus-Wide Programs and SEE, is made possible by a student-led committee of Orientation leaders and crew captains. As current student leaders guide the five-day stretch with firsthand insight, practical advice, and peer-to-peer interaction, the program fosters an inclusive environment for all new students — supporting a seamless transition into College life.

“[We] encourage students to take their NSOP experience as one of the only chances they will have to connect with peers and the institution without the stresses of classes or homework,” said Wojtkowski. “They deserve the opportunity to get to know their new home away from home — and NSOP is the perfect way to do so.”

Honoring tradition, new students will engage with this year’s Barnard Reads selection, A College of Her Own: The History of Barnard by Robert A. McCaughey , emeritus professor of history. In conversation with other community members — faculty, staff, and alumnae — students have the opportunity to discuss the text and how the College has been shaped by its mission, values, and history.

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Convocation 2024

The pomp and celebration continued with Barnard’s annual Convocation at the historic Riverside Church . Incoming students and members of their families — along with faculty, trustees, and staff — assembled to form a crowd of approximately 1,700 people who cheered with excitement to formally mark the start of an academic year filled with new and exciting opportunities. The ceremony was followed by a welcome dinner for students with community members and a campus-wide party.

President Laura Ann Rosenbury provided the ceremony’s most anticipated remarks, setting the tone for the new year: “The Class of 2028 is one of the most diverse classes in Barnard’s history. You grew up in cities in rural areas and suburbs all over the world. Many of you are the first in your families to go to college, where others are second-, third-, or even fourth-generation Barnard. You have a wide range of beliefs, passions, and hopes for the future. We chose you because of these diverse experiences and diverse worldviews.”

President Rosenbury continued, saying, “Our mission as a college is to engage in intellectual risk-taking and discovery, and to fulfill that mission, we need students, faculty, and staff with different mindsets and different perspectives. This diversity helps us to dig deeper, to look at the world in new ways, and to be more nuanced and creative in our approaches to society’s opportunities and challenges.”

For students who are unsure of how to begin their academic career on campus, President Rosenbury offered several suggestions. “Sign up for that STEM class that might be out of your comfort zone or the dance class that might be similarly frightening. Take advantage of a research program, and always remember that you’re in a city of possibility,” she advised. “Seek out an internship at the Met or at one of the best finance firms in the world or at City Hall or the U.N., all with the help of our amazing Beyond Barnard team, who will be with you from now until the end of your time here and beyond.”

Rebecca L. Walkowitz , Provost, Dean of the Faculty, and Claire Tow Professor of English, offered greetings from the faculty by reminding the audience of Barnard’s century-plus history of educating generations of trailblazing women. “About 100 years ago, Margaret Mead , an anthropologist who advocated for women’s sexual freedom, graduated in the Class of 1923; Anne Anastasi , a leading psychologist and Medal of Science winner, graduated in the Class of 1928; [and] Zora Neale Hurston , an eminent author and the first Black student at Barnard, also graduated in 1928,” said Provost Walkowitz. “You follow in their footsteps. I can’t wait to see what you will do — and what you will become. I encourage you to ask questions, to pursue your goals, and most of all I encourage you to discover goals that you didn’t know you had.”

Watch the full video of the Convocation ceremony, below:

Leslie Grinage , Vice President for Campus Life & Student Experience and Dean of the College, encouraged students to always be their authentic selves, to make time to get to know each other, and to keep learning new things. “Each student here today, whether from across the world or from right here in New York City, brings something to this campus that distinguishes them from among their peers,” said Dean Grinage. “So I encourage you to challenge any assumptions you’ve made about anyone else by looking a little deeper, asking questions, and getting to know them.”

“What a thrill it was earlier today and these last few weeks watching you move in. We are incredibly proud of this class,” said Jennifer G. Fondiller ’88, Vice President for Enrollment and External Affairs. “You made it, you earned it. We can’t wait to watch you take off here.”

Click through the photos below, highlighting snapshots from some of the day's events:

The College Celebrates Convocation 2022

Barnard Celebrates Students With Convocation 2023

The College Celebrates With Convocation 2021

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Barnard Supplemental Essays 2022-2023
Barnard College 2021-2022 Essay Prompts
Barnard Essay Examples
Barnard Bold Conference 2022
2022 Barnard College Convocation Highlights
Edwin Arlington Robinson: Centenary Essays: Barnard, Ellsworth Ed

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COMMENTS

Barnard Short Answer Questions
Barnard Short Answer Questions. In addition to the personal essay which you will submit through the Common Application or QuestBridge, Barnard asks first-year applicants to respond to institution-specific short answer questions. We recommend spending time to thoughtfully consider these questions and your responses. Your answers to these ...
How to Write the Barnard College Essays 2024-2025
Prompt 2: Barnard College students engage in the bold questions that define their generation. Choose one question that you have about the world around you, and explain why it matters to you. (150 words) Prompt 3: In college, you will encounter others with diverse viewpoints and experiences.
How to Write the Barnard College Supplemental Essays: Guide + Examples
How to write each supplemental essay prompt for Barnard College. Prompt #1: "Why us" essay. Prompt #2: "Bold questions" essay. Prompt #3: Multiple options essay. Founded in 1889 when nearby Columbia University refused to admit women, this small liberal arts women's college is deeply rooted in the principles of equality, advocacy, and ...
Barnard Supplemental Essays 2022-2023
The Barnard supplemental essays 2022-2023 allow applicants a certain amount of freedom when choosing their supplemental essay topics, but we're going to look at each essay prompt and discuss the best way to respond to each topic. Barnard Supplemental Essay Prompts 2022-2023.
Barnard Essay Examples
Barnard supplemental essays for 2022-2023 are: Required: What factors encouraged your decision to apply to Barnard College and why do you think the college would be a good match for you? (300 words max) At Barnard, academic inquiry starts with bold questions. What are some of the bold questions you have pondered that get you excited and why ...
Barnard Supplemental Essays
Tip #4 - Be clear and concise. Your Barnard supplemental essays are limited to 250 words. So, you have to make every word count and showcase your ability to communicate effectively. Narrow your thoughts down to your strongest arguments and most valuable experiences and only elaborate on these.
3 Standout Barnard Essay Examples
Where to Get Your Barnard College Essays Edited ... How to Write the Penn State Supplemental Essays 2021-2022. Essay Guides 2021-22. How to Make the Most of a College Fair. Applying to College, College Lists. 15 Best Colleges for English Majors. 11th Grade, 12th Grade, School Rankings
How to Respond to the 2023/2024 Barnard Supplemental Essay Prompts
Before answering the essay questions. All Barnard College applicants have to respond to two required 250 word maximum Barnard supplemental essays. There are also three additional optional Barnard supplemental essays that also have a 250 word maximum, 250 words is not a lot. Therefore, it is best to be direct and concise with your responses!
How to Write the Barnard Supplement 2022-2023
Barnard is a small all-womens (if you hadn't gathered from the very historical account above) college of about 3,000 undergraduate students. It's very competitive to get into, particularly recently. Last year, Barnard's acceptance rate fell below 10% for the first time ever. They have a couple of supplemental essay questions, two of which ...
How to Write the Barnard Supplement 2021-2022
We recommend tying this into academics. You only have 300 words, so 200 should be your life philosophy and 100 should be the overlap between your life philosophy and Barnard. (Optional) Pick one woman — a historical figure, fictitious character, or modern individual — to converse with for an hour and explain your choice.
How to Write the Barnard Authentic Self Essay
Crafting Your Essay. Here's a structured approach to drafting your response: 1. Paint the Scene: Start by vividly describing the moments, surroundings, or individuals that make you feel genuine and empowered. Engage the reader with sensory details or a brief anecdote to set the tone. 2.
Supplement Essays
Here are some of their responses! Kiriaki G: "When applying to Barnard, I decided to write my one-woman essay on Ching Shih, a Chinese prostitute turned pirate that terrorized the China Seas in the early 19th century. Her ability to command over 1,800 junks — traditional Chinese sailing ships — and 80,000 men, women, and children highly ...
Barnard Supplemental Essays 2023-2024
At Barnard College, the supplemental essay component of the 2023-2024 application cycle plays a crucial role in helping the admissions committee understand a candidate's person al and academic dimensions. Applicants are required to respond to a series of prompts, two of which are mandatory and three optional, with a maximum word limit of 250 ...
Barnard College 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Guide
The Requirements: 1 essay of 200 words; 2 essays of 150 words. Supplemental Essay Type (s): Why, Diversity. Barnard College is an extraordinary community of women committed to fostering curiosity and the exploration of new experiences and ideas. By utilizing the resources of our campus, our Foundations curriculum, and New York City, our ...
How to Write the Barnard Supplement Essays 2020-2021
How to Write the Barnard Supplement Essays 2020-2021. Barnard is an all women's college in New York City. There is a huge sense of community and there has been a 60% increase in applications over the past five years. Barnard students can take classes at nearby Columbia University, but steer clear of writing about Columbia in your supplement.
Barnard College 2021-2022 Essay Prompts
Barnard has released its essays for this admissions cycle (photo credit: Beyond My Ken). Barnard College has released its essay prompts for the 2021-2022 admissions cycle. Applicants to the Barnard College Class of 2026 will be asked to answer three essay prompts, each in 300 words, although one is labeled as optional.
Barnard College's 2023-24 Essay Prompts
Option 2. As a college for women, "Barnard embraces its responsibility to address gender issues in all their complexity and urgency to help students achieve the personal strength that will enable them to meet the challenges they will encounter throughout their lives.". How have you thought about gender in your academic life thus far and how ...
Barnard College Welcomes Four New Trustees
Sima Saran Ahuja '96 graduated from Barnard College with a double major in political science and South Asian studies. While at Barnard, she was a resident assistant and vice president of Zamana, a South Asian students organization at the College. Ahuja was also a recipient of the Bear Pin Award her senior year for her service to the College.
The Application Process: First-Year Applicants
Required Application Materials. Common Application: Each application will include personal information such as the school you attend, your extracurricular activities, and your senior year class schedule. They will also include the personal essay that will be sent to each school you apply to on each platform.
How to Get Into Barnard: Admissions Stats + Tips
For the 2022-23 admissions cycle, Barnard received 12,009 applicants, of which 1,056 were accepted. This means that last year, Barnard's acceptance rate was 8.79%, making it a highly selective school. While Barnard's admissions rates are very low, they don't necessarily reflect your personal chances of admission.
University of Idaho murders 1 year later: Where the case stands
Four students were killed in an off-campus house on Nov. 13, 2022. Monday marks one year since four University of Idaho students were stabbed to death in a gruesome home invasion that garnered ...
Ukraine Electric Company Boss Fired as Russia Pounds Power Grid
The head of Ukraine's electric company was fired on Monday, the utility said, just a week after a major Russian aerial attack on the power grid caused blackouts in Kyiv and other cities.
Bryan Kohberger: Never-before-seen photos and details about the man
On Dec. 30, 2022, police made that announcement that Bryan Kohberger was under arrest for the murders. He was arrested at his family's home in Albrightsville, Pa., at 3 a.m., with approximately 50 ...
Idaho Murders: What We Know
The police have said the killings took place sometime around 4 a.m. on Nov. 13, 2022, after the victims — Madison Mogen, 21; Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Ethan Chapin, 20 — had ...
Welcome Home and Welcome Back to Barnard!
President Laura Ann Rosenbury provided the ceremony's most anticipated remarks, setting the tone for the new year: "The Class of 2028 is one of the most diverse classes in Barnard's history. You grew up in cities in rural areas and suburbs all over the world. Many of you are the first in your families to go to college, where others are second-, third-, or even fourth-generation Barnard.
PDF On students university citizenship
On students university citizenship"On st. concerning research on students"In your presentation you were introducing the concept of student university citizenship and suggested that if students are active citizens of their universities this is better for both students and their learning ou. comes as well as for universities. Students as c.