How to Write the Arizona State University Essays 2024-2025
Arizona State University does not require any essays for its general application, but it does require a supplemental essay for applicants to its Barrett Honors College. Your essay is a prime opportunity to demonstrate your character and provide insight that might not be evident from other areas of your application, so you want to be sure you’re giving it your best shot!
Read these Arizona State Honors College essay examples written by real students to inspire your own writing!
ASU Supplemental Essay Prompts
Barrett Honors College Applicants
The Barrett application essay allows you to address our admissions committee in your own voice. We have a deep interest in knowing why you are considering Barrett, The Honors College, and your essay will let us better see you as a future scholar in our community.
Keep the following in mind:
- Your essay may take creative and intellectual risks, but be sure to address and integrate all elements of the prompt.
- Your essay should give the admissions committee insight into how you reason and what you value.
The essay will also contribute to our assessment of your ability to write effectively and think critically, key skills for success in the honors curriculum. Essays that are general or impersonal are less successful. There is never a correct answer nor a preferred response to a prompt.
Applicants choose from one of three essay prompts to compose a 300 – 500 word essay.
- Option A: Barrett’s core values are Community and Belonging, Leadership and Agency, and Courage and Curiosity. All three pairs are important to who we are, but which of these couplings most resonate with you and why? In answering the why, be specific by reflecting on both your lived experiences and the ways Barrett will be foundational to your time at ASU and beyond. (300-500 words)
- Option B: Briefly tell us about something you enjoy and why. This can be an organized activity or something you informally pursue in your free time. The bulk of your essay should then be spent speaking to how this interest makes you a good fit for Barrett (not college in general, but specifically the honors experience at ASU). (300-500 words)
- Option C: Identify a local, national, or global challenge – big or small – that you intend to play an active role in resolving. Be specific in explaining why this challenge is important to you, how it informed your selection of a field of study at ASU, and in what ways joining Barrett will prepare you to address this issue. (300-500 words)
Before You Get Started
Barrett Honors College prides itself on being one of the top honors programs in the nation. There is a large endowment pool specifically for its scholars, and Barrett enrolls more National Merit Scholars than some of the best private institutions in America. While ASU as a whole has a high acceptance rate, that rate does not reflect the difficulty of being admitted to Barrett.
Thus, the Honors College recommends thinking through the essay prompts deeply, offering specific examples in your claims, showing intellectual curiosity, and revealing strong, genuine reasons as to why you want to be a part of the Barrett community.
Take a look at the options and try to pick the one that resonates most with you. Authenticity is key, so you should choose the prompt you think you can write the best, most personal response to.
- The first prompt is about Barrett’s 3 pairs of core values and how/why one of the pairs resonates with you.
- The second prompt is about an interest or hobby you have—something you enjoy. Barrett is asking how this thing you enjoy makes you uniquely suited to the Honors College.
- The third prompt is about a local, national, or global challenge that you wish to help resolve. You’re tasked with explaining the challenge’s significance to you, its role in your selection of a major at ASU, and the ways in which the Barrett Honors College will equip you to contribute to its solution.
With all that said, let’s break down each of these prompt options!
Option A
Barrett’s core values are Community and Belonging, Leadership and Agency, and Courage and Curiosity. All three pairs are important to who we are, but which of these couplings most resonate with you and why? In answering the why, be specific by reflecting on both your lived experiences and the ways Barrett will be foundational to your time at ASU and beyond. (300-500 words)
This “Impact on Community” prompt asks you to reflect on how your personal experiences and values relate to Barrett’s core principles, and to explain how these values will shape your journey at ASU and beyond. To write a successful response, you’ll need to evaluate deeply what ideas or beliefs are most important to you, how they’ve shaped you, and how you see yourself continuing to grow in the future.
Understanding the Prompt
Barrett Honors College has three core value pairings:
- Community and Belonging
- Leadership and Agency
- Courage and Curiosity
You are asked to choose the pair that resonates most with you and explain why, by using specific examples from your life. Additionally, you must link these values to your potential future at Barrett, as well as to your post-college aspirations.
Brainstorming Questions
- Which of these value pairs do you naturally gravitate towards? Why?
- Can you recall specific moments in your life where these values were at the forefront of your mind?
- How do these values shape your decisions, actions, and interactions with others?
- What specific experiences at Barrett do you think will help you further develop these values?
- How do these values align with your future goals, both professionally and personally?
What Makes a Good Response
A strong response will:
- Be Personal and Specific: Use anecdotes and stories from your life that show how these values have influenced you. You might mention leadership roles, times you stepped out of your comfort zone, moments when you felt a deep sense of belonging, or topics that have piqued your curiosity.
- Connect to Barrett: Clearly outline how Barrett will help you continue to live these values. Mention specific Barrett programs or opportunities, or aspects of the Barrett community, that will support your growth in these areas.
- Look to the Future: Show how these values will be essential to your success at ASU and in your future career or personal life. You might connect them to a cause or field you hope to be a leader in, communities you want to build or join, or skills you’re in the process of refining.
Hypothetical Student Examples
- Emily, a Future Public Health Advocate (Community and Belonging): Emily has always felt a strong connection to her community, which is reflected in her volunteer work at local food banks and the neighborhood cleanups she organizes. She believes that true belonging comes from contributing to the well-being of others, so at Barrett, she plans to join the Next Generation Service Corps and take part in community-based research initiatives. She envisions a future where she leads community health programs, to create environments where everyone feels they can lead a healthy, successful life.
- Rahul, an Aspiring Entrepreneur (Leadership and Agency): Rahul has always been a natural leader, and even started his own club in high school to help underclassmen with STEM subjects. He wants to not only take control of his own destiny, but also help others do the same. At Barrett, he’s excited about the entrepreneurial resources, like the Barrett Summer Scholars Program and the Changemaker Central, which will allow him to develop his idea for a startup focused on mentorship, both in schools and the working world. Rahul sees himself as a future business leader who empowers others to take charge of their lives through technology and innovation.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Choosing a Pair Just Because It Sounds Good: Make sure the value pair you choose genuinely reflects who you are. Admissions officers can tell when you’re not being authentic. If none of them resonate with you, don’t panic–there are two other prompts you can choose from!
- Being Vague or General: Avoid broad statements that don’t tell the reader much about you. For example, don’t just say, “I value leadership because I believe in empowering others.” Anyone could say that–what you want to do instead is incorporate concrete examples, that show how your brand of empowering others is unique to you.
- Ignoring the Barrett Connection: This essay is not just about your past; it’s also about your future at Barrett and beyond. Make sure you connect your values to specific opportunities and experiences at Barrett.
Excerpts From Good and Bad Examples
Good Example:
“The first time I realized the power of community was when my neighborhood organized a campaign to save our local library. I was just 14, but I was determined to help. I spent my weekends gathering signatures, speaking at town meetings, and rallying my classmates. The library wasn’t just a building to me; it was a place where I felt I belonged. That experience taught me that community isn’t just about proximity; it’s about shared purpose and collective action.
At Barrett, I see endless opportunities to foster that sense of belonging on a larger scale. I’m excited to join the Barrett Leadership and Service Team (BLAST), where I can work on initiatives that bring students together around common causes. I also plan to engage with the Barrett Indigenous Culture Association to explore how I can support underrepresented communities in feeling more connected to the university. In the future, I hope to work in public policy, creating programs that build stronger, more inclusive communities where everyone feels they belong.”
Why this works: This specific, personal example shows how the student’s experiences have shaped their values, and connects these values to specific Barrett opportunities and the student’s future goals, to paint a clear overall picture of why Barrett will be essential to their development.
Bad Example:
“Leadership and agency are values that I have always admired. In high school, I took on leadership roles in several clubs, including student government and the debate team. As a leader, I believe it’s crucial to guide others and help them succeed. Agency is also important because it means having control over your actions and decisions. For example, when I was the president of the debate team, I made sure we had a clear plan for each competition, which led to us winning several awards.
At Barrett, I know there will be plenty of leadership opportunities. I plan to join organizations where I can continue to develop my leadership skills, like student government and various clubs. By taking on leadership roles, I’ll be able to make an impact on campus and prepare myself for a future career in business, where leadership and agency are essential. I’m excited to use my time at Barrett to strengthen these qualities and become a better leader.”
Why this doesn’t work:
- Lack of Depth and Personal Connection: While this example has some specificity, it lacks depth and personal connection to the values of leadership and agency. The student briefly mentions leadership roles, but doesn’t provide any insight into why these roles were meaningful or how they specifically relate to their personal understanding of leadership and agency.
- Missed Opportunities for Storytelling: Winning debate awards, for instance, is an opportunity to delve deeper into how leadership and agency helped the student earn these accolades, the challenges they faced along the way, and what they took away from the experience. However, the student doesn’t explore these dimensions, and as a result the essay feels more like a list of accomplishments than a reflection on their core values.
- Generic Goals: The student mentions wanting to join leadership opportunities at Barrett and pursue a career in business, but they fail to mention any specific resources, nor to explain why their past experiences draw them to Barrett, as opposed to any other school. The essay doesn’t explain how Barrett in particular will help the student become a better leader or take more agency in their life, nor why these values are particularly important to the student’s business goals.
By avoiding these pitfalls and focusing on personal, detailed reflections, your essay can convey how Barrett aligns with your goals and values, and thus distinguish you from any other applicant.
Option B
Briefly tell us about something you enjoy and why. This can be an organized activity or something you informally pursue in your free time. The bulk of your essay should then be spent speaking to how this interest makes you a good fit for Barrett (not college in general, but specifically the honors experience at ASU). (300-500 words)
Understanding the Prompt
This prompt is asking you to share a personal passion or interest, and then connect it to your potential future at Barrett. Your goal is to build a concrete bridge between your interest and Barrett’s unique values and opportunities, not just talk about something you like and then talk about the college experience in general.
Brainstorming Questions
- What activities or hobbies are you most passionate about? Consider both organized activities (like clubs or sports) and informal pursuits or hobbies (like reading, drawing, or even something unconventional like fantasy football or knitting).
- How does this interest shape your personality, values, or future goals? Think about what this interest says about who you are and what you care about.
- What specific opportunities, programs, or communities at Barrett can help you deepen this interest, and the skills associated with it? Research Barrett in detail to identify how its particular offerings align with your passions.
- What contributions would your interest allow you to make to the Barrett community? Consider how your passion might help you engage with or enhance the Honors College environment.
What Makes a Good Response
- Specific and Personal: Clearly describe your interest, through specific examples that show your passion, rather than just stating “I enjoy ____.” The better you illustrate why this activity is meaningful to you, the more engaging and memorable your essay will be.
- Connection to Barrett: Make direct, detailed connections between your interest and what Barrett offers. Mention specific programs, courses, faculty, or communities at Barrett that align with your passion.
- Show Your Fit: Explain how Barrett’s resources will help you grow this interest and how you will contribute to the Honors College. Highlight how you and Barrett would mutually benefit each other.
- Engagement with Honors Experience: Barrett values intellectual curiosity and interdisciplinary learning. Even if your passion is something that might not be academic on the surface, don’t be afraid to draw unexpected connections to the things you hope to achieve in college. In fact, such connections could be the very thing that sets you apart from other qualified applicants!
Hypothetical Student Examples
- Student passionate about sustainable architecture: A student who has always loved building, with LEGOs, blocks, or just about anything they can think of, might talk about how they’ve recently started exploring how this interest could lead them to designing eco-friendly homes, and how the Sustainability House at Barrett would give them a perfect blueprint for what living green truly looks like.
- Student who loves to cook: A student who’s always trying new recipes, and has started to identify personally with some of them, might discuss how the “Barrett in Bologna: Film, Food, and Culture in Northern Italy” study abroad program will allow them to explore the impact food can have on us beyond just nutrition.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Being Vague or Generic: Don’t just mention that you like something without explaining why, or its broader significance to who you are. Similarly, avoid generic statements about why Barrett is a good fit. Don’t just say “I’d love to take classes on this topic”–actually find a particular class focused on what you’re interested in.
- Overemphasizing General College Resources: Remember that this essay should focus on how Barrett specifically, not just ASU or college in general, is the right fit for you. If you have lines that could easily apply to another school if you just swapped the name out, that’s a red flag that you need to get more specific.
- Neglecting the Barrett Connection: The prompt explicitly states that “the bulk of your essay should be spent speaking to how this interest makes you a good fit for Barrett.” 500 words is on the long side for a supplement, but you shouldn’t have a lengthy preamble–get right to connecting your interest to Barrett’s offerings.
Excerpts From Good and Bad Examples
Good Example:
“The first time I held a camera, I realized I had found a way to tell the stories people often overlook. I started by photographing my neighborhood’s changing landscape—boarded-up homes, the worn-out corner store, kids playing soccer in empty lots. Soon, my hobby evolved into a passion for using photography to highlight social issues. Each photo I take is a narrative of resilience and transformation.
At Barrett, I see an opportunity to combine my love for storytelling with a deeper commitment to making an impact. I’m particularly drawn to Barrett’s emphasis on community engagement and interdisciplinary studies, which will allow me to explore the intersections of art, sociology, and urban development. I’m excited to work with faculty involved in the Social Embeddedness Initiative, where I hope to launch a photojournalism project documenting the effects of urban development on marginalized communities in Phoenix.
Barrett’s small class sizes and research opportunities, exemplified by the Human Event course, will allow me to dive into philosophy and history to better understand the social forces shaping the stories I want to tell. Barrett is more than a place to learn—it’s a place to create change, and I’m eager to contribute to its vibrant community while developing my vision as both an artist and advocate.”
Why this works: This example specifically connects the student’s passion for photography with their desire to drive social change. The student also details how they will benefit from features of Barrett that are truly unique to the school: the Social Embeddedness Initiative and the Human Event course.
Bad Example:
“I’ve always enjoyed reading because it helps me explore new ideas and perspectives. Whether it’s classic literature or science fiction, reading lets me experience different worlds and better understand people’s lives. I think this love for learning makes me a good fit for Barrett.
Barrett’s curriculum will give me the chance to explore complex topics through rigorous courses. I’m excited to take part in the Human Event, where I can challenge myself by reading difficult texts and discussing them with other curious students. I also look forward to connecting with faculty who can help me develop my skills in critical thinking and analysis. Barrett is a place where I can push myself academically, and I can’t wait to share my passion for learning with others in the honors community.”
Why this doesn’t work: Simply, this example is too vague. The student mentions a general love of reading and learning, but there’s no clear connection between their passion and Barrett’s specific resources or community. They also fail to provide a unique angle on reading or to incorporate personal stories, and also fail to explain in detail how they would contribute to Barrett. As a result, we don’t get any sense of what sets them apart from another applicant, nor what sets Barrett apart from another school for them.
Option C
Identify a local, national, or global challenge – big or small – that you intend to play an active role in resolving. Be specific in explaining why this challenge is important to you, how it informed your selection of a field of study at ASU, and in what ways joining Barrett will prepare you to address this issue. (300-500 words)
This Political/Global Issues prompt is asking you to identify a challenge, whether on the local, national, or global scale, that you are passionate about addressing, to explain how this challenge has influenced your chosen major, and to describe how joining Barrett will help you work towards solving this issue.
Understanding the Prompt
While this is a somewhat common prompt archetype, note that Barrett admissions officers are going a step further than some other institutions, and asking you to connect the challenge you’ve chosen to both your intended field of study and Barrett in particular. Before you lock in on this prompt, make sure that you’ll actually be able to draw these various connections. If you’re worried they’ll end up feeling forced, pivoting to one of the other prompt options may better position you for success.
Brainstorming Questions
- What social, political, environmental, or economic issues are you deeply passionate about?
- Have you experienced or witnessed a problem in your local community that inspired you to act?
- How did this challenge shape your academic interests and career goals?
- What specific programs, courses, or opportunities at Barrett can help you address this challenge?
- How do you envision yourself playing an active role in resolving this challenge in the future?
As you brainstorm, don’t be afraid to choose a grassroots-level issue. Exploring a problem that you have a true personal connection to, and maybe have already been able to start working towards resolving, can sometimes be even more impactful than a huge issue like climate change–although that’s not to say you can’t write a strong essay about big issues, so long as you have a clear sense of what role you personally will have in fixing them!
What Makes a Good Response
- Clearly identify a single challenge: There are probably a lot of issues you’re passionate about, but 500 words will go quickly, so your first step should be defining one particular problem that you’re going to focus on.
- Personal connection to the challenge: Explain why this issue matters to you. Maybe it has directly impacted your community, or even your family or personal life.
- Link to academic interests: Describe how this challenge influenced your choice of major or field of study. Don’t just say “I want to study Early Childhood Education to help kids learn the skills they’ll need to be successful throughout their life.” Instead, tell admissions officers about how many elementary schools in your area were underfunded, and you saw how many of your peers struggled as they got older due to not having a solid academic foundation.
- How Barrett will help: Be specific about what Barrett offers that will aid you in tackling this challenge. These offerings could be research opportunities, unique courses, faculty mentorship, study abroad programs, or student organizations. Just make sure they’re truly unique to Barrett.
- Future impact: End with a vision of how you’ll harness your Barrett education to take tangible steps towards solving the problem you’ve identified.
Hypothetical Student Examples
- Maya grew up in Phoenix and has seen the effects of extreme heat on low-income communities. Her passion for urban planning stems from a desire to design cities that are more resilient to climate change, with accessible cooling centers and green spaces. At ASU, she wants to study Urban Planning and participate in the “Barrett in Iceland: Natural Environment and Human Culture” program, to understand how people in Iceland have handled living in a different sort of inhospitable environment.
- Carlos has a personal connection to the immigration system. With two undocumented immigrants as parents, he has witnessed firsthand how opaque the citizenship process is. He’s majoring in Political Science and hopes to become an immigration lawyer one day, a goal which Barrett’s Project Excellence program, which allows students to take law school classes while still in undergrad, will set him up to reach.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Choosing a vague or overly broad issue: Avoid picking a global challenge like “poverty” or “climate change,” as these are vast issues that need to be tackled from a wide range of angles. So, choose one of those angles–you might talk, for example, about making fresh produce more accessible in rural parts of the country, or the need for more robust policies ensuring people receive the financial support they need during evacuations due to climate-related natural disasters.
- Lack of personal connection: Make sure you explain why this issue matters to you personally. You don’t want your essay to sound overly academic–or worse, preachy. Incorporating your personal feelings on this issue is a strength, not a weakness.
- Name-dropping resources without relevance: Don’t just randomly list programs and resources at Barrett. You need to explain directly why they’re relevant to the issue you’re hoping to solve.
- Failing to connect the challenge to your studies: You might get excited and be tempted to jump right to how Barrett is going to help you solve this problem, but the prompt also asks you to address how this challenge informed your choice of major, so make sure to include that element.
Excerpts From Good and Bad Examples
Good Example:
“When my grandmother, who lives in a rural part of Arizona, was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, I saw firsthand how inaccessible healthcare can be for people in low-income, rural areas. She had to travel hours to see specialists, often waiting weeks for appointments. Witnessing her struggle inspired my passion for healthcare equity and fueled my decision to pursue a degree in Public Health at ASU.
During high school, I volunteered at a local free clinic, where I observed similar challenges in underserved communities. These experiences motivated me to focus on healthcare policy and find solutions to improve care in rural areas. Barrett’s HonorHealth Research Program will allow me to explore the impact of telemedicine on these communities, and the opportunity to collaborate with faculty on healthcare policy research will give me the tools I need to advocate for change.
Through Barrett’s honors thesis, I plan to study telemedicine’s potential to increase healthcare access in rural Arizona. After graduation, I hope to work on policy initiatives that expand healthcare services to underserved populations, using my time at ASU and Barrett to become an advocate for healthcare equity in my community.”
Why this works: This specific, personal essay starts with a detailed story about the student’s grandmother, which clearly explains why the challenge of rural healthcare access is important to them. The student then explains how this issue inspired them to start volunteering, and how that work shaped their academic and career interests.
The connection to Barrett’s specific resources, like the HonorHealth Research Program, show that the student already has a clear sense of how Barrett will help them address this issue. Finally, the student outlines a clear plan for their post-college future, which shows both their personal passion and pragmatism about the role they specifically can plan in solving the problem.
Bad Example:
“I’m passionate about climate change, which is one of the most significant challenges facing the world today. Growing up, I loved spending time outdoors, hiking and exploring nature. As I learned more about the effects of climate change, I realized how urgent it is to protect the planet for future generations. This is why I’ve chosen to major in Environmental Science at ASU.
At ASU, I want to study renewable energy and sustainability to help combat climate change. I know ASU has great programs in sustainability, and I’m excited to join projects that address global warming. Barrett will provide me with opportunities to conduct research and meet professors who are experts in climate change studies.
Barrett’s community of like-minded students will also allow me to connect with peers who are passionate about protecting the environment. Together, we can work on initiatives to promote sustainability on campus.
In the future, I hope to work for an organization like the Environmental Protection Agency, where I can use what I’ve learned to fight climate change and protect the environment for future generations.”
Why this doesn’t work: This essay is too vague across the board. While the student mentions they are passionate about the environment, the essay doesn’t provide specific details about their personal experiences or why climate change matters to them beyond general statements that could have been written by anyone. In other words, the personal connection to the issue of climate change is missing.
The connection to Barrett is also weak, with only generic mentions of research opportunities and community, which are things that could be found at any school, and there are also no specific examples of how the student would use those resources. Additionally, their future goals don’t offer a clear plan for how they intend to tackle the issue moving forward.
Overall, this essay could be written by almost anyone interested in climate change, which means it’s unlikely to help distinguish this student from the thousands of other qualified applicants to Barrett.
Where to Get Your ASU Essay Edited For Free
Do you want feedback on your ASU essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool, where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.
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