How to Write the Bryn Mawr Supplemental Essays 2024-2025
As one of the most academically rigorous women’s colleges in the country, Bryn Mawr is drawing from a competitive applicant pool every year. So, you want to make sure your writing helps your application stand out, and in this post, we’ll give you tips on how to do exactly that.
Bryn Mawr offers two supplemental essay prompts. The first is required and asks you to write about your personal authenticity. The second is optional and asks you to describe why you want to attend Bryn Mawr.
Read this Bryn Mawr essay example written by a real accepted student to inspire your writing!
Bryn Mawr College Supplemental Essay Prompts
Prompt 1 (required): Bryn Mawr students bring their authentic selves to campus. What do you know about yourself to be true – and what in your background or experience led you to that truth? (250-500 words)
Prompt 2 (optional): Why are you interested in Bryn Mawr? (250 words)
Prompt 1 (required)
Bryn Mawr students bring their authentic selves to campus. What do you know about yourself to be true – and what in your background or experience led you to that truth? (250-500 words)
This prompt is a version of the diversity essay archetype. Generally, this kind of prompt seeks to know more about your personal background and its impact on your worldview. Here, though, the prompt is a bit more nuanced, in that it doesn’t specifically ask about personal identities or differences, and instead focuses on your most authentic self.
The most authentic parts of yourself are the most significant: the ones that have the most impact on who you are and how you exist in the world. This prompt is not directly asking what about you is unique, but in asking to know about the most authentic parts of your personality and background, you’ll likely end up talking about aspects of yourself that make you, you, as opposed to someone else.
With this prompt, it’s important to remember that “diversity” does not automatically equate to a cultural, ethnic, or racial background (although these can still be great topics). There are many other aspects of identity that contribute to a diverse, or authentic, campus, including socioeconomic classes, hometowns, illnesses and disabilities, or even interests and hobbies. Any dimension of yourself and your identity can be the focus of a great response to this question, as long as it’s significant, and emphasizes authenticity and personal truth.
A quick note, though: In June 2023, the United States Supreme Court struck down the use of affirmative action in college admissions. The ruling, however, still allows colleges to consider race or ethnicity on an individual basis, which is one reason many schools are now including diversity prompts as one of their supplemental essay prompts. If you feel that your racial orr ethnic background has impacted you significantly, this is the place to discuss that, as otherwise, Bryn Mawr admissions officers will have no way to factor it in.
If you want to highlight something other than your race or ethnicity, when brainstorming a topic, think about your core values and personal beliefs. Consider how these truths came to be for you, and how they’ve influenced your actions, choices, and relationships.
Then, apply the answers to these questions to Bryn Mawr’s own values and campus community. How do they overlap? Tie your personal truths, ambitions, and interests to what you know about Bryn Mawr, both academically and personally. Since this supplement is on the longer side, you have the room to explore 2-3 different traits if you want to, but don’t spread yourself too thin – describing one trait well is much better than describing 3 poorly.
Remember, authenticity is the priority here – it’s the key word of the prompt. Avoid clichés or trying to impress admissions officers with a forced or exaggerated truth. Instead, focus on a belief or realization that truly resonates with you.
Be specific, and go beyond surface-level reflection. The “why” behind this truth and its impact on your life should be the bulk of your essay. Rather than simply stating “this is an important part of who I am,” show readers how you developed this trait, and why it matters for understanding what kind of college student you’ll be.
Make sure to connect your essay to Bryn Mawr, by demonstrating how this realization might shape your experience at this particular college, or impact your involvement within their campus community. (However, if you plan to respond to the second prompt as well – and you should – you’ll reflect plenty about your place on the Bryn Mawr campus there, so keep this connection limited to how it specifically relates to the personal truth you’re focusing on here.)
Now, let’s look at some possible responses:
Good example 1: “For years, I believed that blending in was the safest way to navigate life. As a shy, introverted girl growing up in a conservative small town, I did everything I could to avoid standing out. I kept my opinions to myself, dressed like everyone else, and rarely challenged the status quo.
But in my junior year, everything changed when I discovered photography. I signed up for an art class on a whim, and from the moment I first looked through the lens, I saw the world differently. My camera became an extension of myself, allowing me to express the emotions and thoughts I had always kept hidden. Through photography, I discovered a truth that changed my life: my perspective is unique, and it deserves to be seen.
Capturing the overlooked details—like the reflection of an old brick building in a rain puddle or the shadows cast by a lone tree at sunset—helped me realize that beauty often lies in what others dismiss. This realization has given me the confidence to embrace my individuality and to share my distinct viewpoint with others. At Bryn Mawr, I’m excited to join a community that values diverse perspectives, where I can continue to develop my artistic voice and encourage others to see the world through a new lens.”
Good example 2: “As a child, I dreaded the first day of school each year. My name, ‘Aisha,’ was always met with puzzled looks and awkward mispronunciations. My peers couldn’t wrap their tongues around the unfamiliar sounds, and I would shrink into my seat, wishing I had a more ‘normal’ name. But everything changed during a trip to my grandmother’s village in Morocco the summer before high school.
There, everyone knew the significance of my name—it means ‘alive’ in Arabic—and I saw how names are more than just labels; they carry history, culture, and identity. Surrounded by my extended family, who called me ‘Aisha’ with pride and warmth, I realized a truth that I now hold dear: my name is a source of strength, not something to be hidden.
Since then, I’ve stopped correcting people by shortening my name to ‘Ash,’ and instead, I patiently teach them how to pronounce it. My name is a reminder of my roots, my resilience, and the richness of my heritage. At Bryn Mawr, I look forward to sharing my culture and name with others, while embracing the diversity of backgrounds that make this community vibrant.”
In both of the examples above, the writer provides a narrative of personal reflection that culminates in a meaningful realization about their identity, whether it be related to their cultural background or a beloved hobby. The dimensions of the writers’ personalities are specific, and the connection to Bryn Mawr’s college community is clear. Self-expression is an overarching theme in both and is made tangible with the inclusions of personal details about the writers’ growth journeys.
Bad example 1: “I’ve learned that hard work is the key to success. Throughout my life, I’ve faced many challenges, from difficult classes to personal struggles. But I’ve always believed that if I work hard enough, I can overcome anything. This belief has guided me in everything I do, from my academics to my extracurricular activities. I know that at Bryn Mawr, I will continue to work hard to achieve my goals.”
Bad example 2: “One thing I know to be true about myself is that I’m a good friend. Ever since I was young, I’ve always been there for the people in my life, whether it was helping a classmate with homework or supporting a friend going through a tough time. My friends know they can count on me, and I believe that loyalty and kindness are the most important qualities a person can have. I plan to bring this sense of friendship and support to Bryn Mawr, where I’m excited to make new friends and be part of a close-knit community.”
In both of the bad examples, the responses are vague and verging on cliché (especially the first). They lack a cohesive narrative and personal depth; there is no explanation of personal growth or specific examples showing how the writers came to their key realizations.
In short, these responses could belong to anyone, as there’s no insight into their backgrounds or identities. Without genuine personal reflection, these essays are largely uncompelling and forgettable, and won’t do anything to set these students apart from the thousands of other applicants to Bryn Mawr.
In order to create an essay that stands out, make sure you keep authenticity at the forefront. Focus on a personal truth ingrained in your sense of self, illustrate that realization with narrative elements, and connect your reflection to your future at Bryn Mawr.
Prompt 2 (optional)
Why are you interested in Bryn Mawr? (250 words)
As we’ve said, although this prompt is optional, we strongly encourage you to respond to it. In college applications, your opportunities to share your personality are already limited, so you don’t want to voluntarily limit yourself even further by letting this prompt pass you by. Take advantage of the chance to tell Bryn Mawr admissions officers why you’re applying to their school!
Before you begin brainstorming for your response, we recommend taking a look at our general post on “Why School?” supplements, if you haven’t already. Remember, however, that even if you have already responded to a “Why School?” supplement, you shouldn’t just copy and paste Bryn Mawr into that template. While you will likely end up using some elements from that other essay, each school has different values and opportunities, so you should approach each “Why School?” prompt as a different essay.
As you begin drafting your response, there are two things you want to keep in mind. First, the reasons you want to go to Bryn Mawr should be specific, and truly unique to Bryn Mawr. Second, those reasons should clearly connect to you and your goals for college.
To identify opportunities that are unique to Bryn Mawr, you’ll have to do some research. Clubs, course offerings, and study abroad programs are some good starting points. Once you have identified some things you’re interested in, make sure you explain to your reader why you’re interested in these particular opportunities. You want to paint a picture of how you would fit into the Bryn Mawr community – if you just list the opportunities without connecting them to you, your response may end up sounding more like a brochure than a college essay.
Say, for example, that you’re interested in pursuing a career in the arts, and you have found some opportunities at Bryn Mawr that would help you do so. Here are some good and bad examples of how to describe those opportunities in your essay.
Good example: “At Bryn Mawr, I would be able to fuel my creativity by exploring a wide range of artistic fields. On campus, courses from “Museum Studies: History, Theory, Practice” to “History of Modern Architecture” would encourage me to consider applications of the arts I am not familiar with. Bryn Mawr would also allow me to take the skills I learn from these courses to a new environment, such as the study abroad program at Sotheby’s Institute of Art in London. I envision this program showing me the uniting power of art, even across continents or oceans.”
Bad example: “Bryn Mawr offers lots of classes that would also teach me a lot about art, like those offered in the Art History department. I’m also super excited about the possibility of studying abroad at Sotheby’s Institute of Art in London, because I’ve always wanted to go to London and visit all the free museums there.”
The discrepancy between these particular examples may seem extreme, but it’s easy to fall into the trap of speaking generally about why you want to attend a school. Nearly every school has an Art History department, and many schools have study abroad programs in London, so being excited about those things doesn’t say anything about why you’re excited to go to Bryn Mawr, as opposed to any other school with an Art History department and a study abroad program in London.
The good example, on the other hand, connects Bryn Mawr’s opportunities to the specific skills and lessons you hope to learn in college, and tells the admissions officer a little bit about how you envision yourself fitting into their community. Basically, you want to show your reader you’ve done more than a quick Google search, and actually thought about how you would take advantage of Bryn Mawr’s opportunities to reach your personal goals for college.
Finally, there are some things you should avoid in this essay:
Don’t just say you want to attend an all-women’s college, as that could apply to Scripps or Barnard just as well as Bryn Mawr.
Don’t write about Bryn Mawr’s partnerships with Haverford, Swarthmore, and UPenn. While those partnerships are an awesome feature, focusing on them in this essay will probably make your reader wonder why you aren’t just applying to those schools instead.
Don’t write a laundry list of name-dropped offerings. As you do your research, you’ll likely come across dozens of things you hope to do at Bryn Mawr, but you only have 250 words. If you try to cram in as many opportunities as possible, your essay will end up sounding like a list of bullet points. Instead, select two or three things to focus on and describe in more detail. That will give your personality space to shine, which is, after all, the whole point of the college essay.
An essay that stands out will construct a clear image of the writer on the Bryn Mawr campus – how they fit in, what communities they engage with, and the ways in which their academic passions intersect with the other aspects of their life.
Where to Get Your Bryn Mawr Essays Edited For Free
Do you want feedback on your Byrn Mawr 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.
Need feedback faster? Get a free, nearly-instantaneous essay review from Sage, our AI tutor and advisor. Sage will rate your essay, give you suggestions for improvement, and summarize what admissions officers would take away from your writing. Use these tools to improve your chances of acceptance to your dream school!
