A. How were you first made aware of Barnard College? What intrigues you about Barnard's approach to the liberal arts and sciences?
I was first made aware of Barnard College through my application process to its affiliated school, Columbia University, last year. However, my interest in Barnard has greatly expanded this year through conversations with a friend of mine, a current student, and a campus visit. I am extremely intrigued with Barnard's approach to the liberal arts and sciences. Taking into account the state of the current job market, as well as my own personal desire to satisfy my curiosity for various interests, I believe that a strong background in the liberal arts is an important asset. I admire Barnard's dedication to providing young women with a strong foundation in a broad array of subject areas with its Nine Ways of Knowing. With a Barnard education, I would not only be well qualified for a job within my chosen major, but also exposed to and well versed in various subject areas that would enhance my way of thinking and reasoning.
B. Alumna and writer Anna Quindlen says that she 'majored in unafraid' at Barnard. Reflecting on your college experience thus far, what does that mean to you?
For me, "majoring in the unafraid" means possessing the courage to take control and make my own decisions, free from parental, peer, and societal expectations. Reflecting on my college experience thus far, I would say that I have been taking small yet steady steps towards fully "majoring in the unafraid." I've had to learn to live independently and take risks by making choices that may not have been the most popular, but were ultimately the best for me, such as dropping chemistry, taking a course in architecture, and deciding to transfer. My first semester of college, "majoring in the unafraid" meant deciding to take a step back from a career path that I did not truly want to pursue, accepting that it is okay to not have the rest of my life figured out despite pressure from sources all around me to do so, and taking the time to explore subject areas that truly interest me. Ultimately, it means embarking on a continuous journey of self-discovery that I hope to carry on at Barnard.
C. If you could work for any organization or company, which would you select and why?
I would select to work for the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I first visited the MET back in 2001 and to this day, it remains one of my favorite places in the world. It is a place that continuously introduces me to new ideas and challenges my way of thinking. I can trace a personal growth by looking back at my visits to the MET. During my childhood visits, I would most often frequent the Egyptian Wing to admire the primitive yet intricate hieroglyphics and wish upon a coin thrown into the reflecting pool in front of the Temple of Dendur. As I've grown older and more open-minded, I've learned to appreciate the absurdity and beauty of the works in the modern art galleries. Woking there would be an extremely fulfilling experience. I would love to play even a small role in the organization of exhibits that make lasting impressions on people and promote the appreciation of art. I would love to help make the museum a place as special for someone as it is for me.
D. If you could plan and lead a semester-long college seminar, what academic topic would you choose and why?
I would lead a seminar on biological illustration. As someone with passion for both science and art, I continually find myself in a struggle to find a balance between the two. I often am reassured, however, that I am not alone. For example, I met numerous people in my Intro to Architecture class last semester who were also taking biology or chemistry courses. I would love to provide fellow science and art enthusiasts with an opportunity to combine their passions for the two seemingly unrelated subjects. I believe that a course like this would be equally beneficial for enhancing a student's understanding of both biology and art. It would present a unique way to teach both subjects by emphasizing attention to detail and presenting a more hands-on way of learning. More importantly, it would broaden students' ways of thinking by demonstrating that their chosen areas of study do not have to limit the development of their other interests.
Hi,
I was first made aware oflearned about Barnard College through my application process to its affiliated school, Columbia University, last year. -----Although this sentence is not incorrect, I feel it is better you say it differently without using the same wordings as the prompt does.
