2020 Arizona State University Barrett application essays prompts

September 26, 2019

2020 ASU Barrett application essays prompts

The 2020 Barrett application essays allow you to address our admissions committee in your own voice. Your essays will let us better see you as a future scholar in our honors community. Both responses will be uploaded within a single document (PDF format strongly preferred, Microsoft Word also accepted).

Keep the following in mind:

  • We have a deep interest in knowing why you are considering Barrett, The Honors College.
  • Our admissions committee values intellectual curiosity.
  • The essays will contribute to our assessment of your ability to write effectively, a key skill for success in the honors curriculum.

Essay 1: With an essay of 300 - 500 words, react to the following: what do other generations misunderstand about yours?

Essay 2: With an essay of 300 - 500 words, reply to one of the following four prompts. Your response may be critical or creative.

     a) Biologically speaking, whales are mammals. However, author Herman Melville famously claimed that since they look like fish and in most ways behave like fish, they are fish no matter what science says. Defend Melville's position.
     b) Many individuals, groups, and organizations enhance Barrett through their support (scholarship gifts, internship positions, alumni mentorship, etc.). As a student, given these external contributions to the honors college experience, what (if anything) would you owe to others?
     c) Author bell hooks says "It's in the act of having to do things that you don't want to that you learn something about moving past the self. Past the ego." Reflect on how this quote applies to a particular moment in your life.
     d) Water.

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