CollegeVine’s College Essay Prompts Database

Find Your College’s Application Essay Prompts for 2017-2018

At CollegeVine, our goal is to make the college application process a little less stressful, so we’ve compiled the latest essay prompts for the top 100 schools in one easy, searchable database.

How to Use the Database: Just search your desired school name or part of a prompt below, and find all the prompts for that college.

Also, every year we create free guides on “How to Write X School’s Essays” for the top 100 schools. In these guides, we give you tips and tricks on how to approach each prompt. As such, our prompt database below also contains a link to each school's Essay Breakdown. If a school doesn’t have an Essay Breakdown yet, sign up on the sidebar to get alerted when new posts for the schools you care about are live.

We've also created a guide on How to Write the Common Application Essays for 2017-2018 and How to Write the Coalition Application Essays for 2017-2018.

The admissions committee uses the personal statement to gain additional insight on your interests and personal attributes. You must complete this field for your application to be considered complete. Please submit a response to one of the following essay topics:
  • 1. Explain your reasons for wanting to attend Adelphi University.
  • 2. Describe a personal accomplishment of which you are particularly proud and explain why.
  • 3. Topic of your choice. (Required, 500 words.)

At Agnes Scott, we believe that leadership is more than position. Describe at least one quality of leadership that you have learned in high school either through direct experience or by observation of another leader? (Required, 50 words.)
If you are involved in community service, what project has been your favorite and why? (Optional, 50 words.)
If you could visit anywhere, where would you go and why? (Required, 200 characters.)
Please indicate your current experience for your number one sport choice. (Optional, 30 words.)
Please tell us why you chose to apply to Agnes Scott College? (Required, 100 words.)
Think of a leader that you admire. How has this person influenced you? (Required, 100 words.)
What global issue can you imagine yourself addressing during your time at Agnes Scott? (Required, 50 words.)
What’s your favorite book you have read outside the classroom (not assigned reading) and why? (Required, 200 characters.)

No supplement.

Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. (Optional, 250 words.)

Personal statements are also optional, but they’re a great way to tell your story first hand, and help us learn about your passions, interests, and goals. (Optional, word count not specified.)

Read Our Guide on How to Write the American University Supplemental Essays for 2017-2018

All first-year students will participate in the American University Experience(AUx), a course specially designed for students transitioning into their first year of college at AU. AUx classes meet once per week as small, interactive and inclusive communities. The course provides a place for students to build academic skills for college success; learn about issues of privilege and bias; and explore their own personal identities. The course also models ways of communicating and living in a diverse society, particularly in reference to addressing divergent opinions on challenging topics. How do you personally define an inclusive environment? What do you believe contributes to a diverse and accepting community? (Response required in 400 words.)

Read Our Guide on How to Write the Amherst College Application Essays for 2017-2018

If you have engaged in significant research in the natural sciences, mathematics, computer science, social sciences or humanities that was undertaken independently of your high school curriculum, please provide a brief description of the research project: (75 words)
If your research has been submitted to any national competition (e.g., Siemens, Intel) and/or accepted for professional publication, please provide additional details: (350 characters)
In addition to the essay you are writing as part of the Common Application, Amherst requires a supplementary writing sample from all applicants. There are two options for satisfying Amherst’s supplementary writing requirement: Option A or Option B. You may respond to one, but not both, of these options.
  • Option A: Please respond to one of the following quotations in an essay of not more than 300 words. It is not necessary to research, read, or refer to the texts from which these quotations are taken; we are looking for original, personal responses to these short excerpts. Remember that your essay should be personal in nature and not simply an argumentative essay.
    • Prompt 1: “Rigorous reasoning is crucial in mathematics, and insight plays an important secondary role these days. In the natural sciences, I would say that the order of these two virtues is reversed. Rigor is, of course, very important. But the most important value is insight—insight into the workings of the world. It may be because there is another guarantor of correctness in the sciences, namely, the empirical evidence from observation and experiments.” Kannan Jagannathan, Professor of Physics, Amherst College
    • Prompt 2: “Translation is the art of bridging cultures. It’s about interpreting the essence of a text, transporting its rhythms and becoming intimate with its meaning… Translation, however, doesn't only occur across languages: mentally putting any idea into words is an act of translation; so is composing a symphony, doing business in the global market, understanding the roots of terrorism. No citizen, especially today, can exist in isolation—that is, untranslated.” Ilan Stavans, Professor of Latin American and Latino Culture, Amherst College, Robert Croll ’16 and Cedric Duquene ’15, from “Interpreting Terras Irradient,” Amherst Magazine, Spring 2015.
    • Prompt 3: "Creating an environment that allows students to build lasting friendships, including those that cut across seemingly entrenched societal and political boundaries… requires candor about the inevitable tensions, as well as about the wonderful opportunities, that diversity and inclusiveness create.” Carolyn “Biddy” Martin, President of Amherst College, Letter to Amherst College Alumni and Families, December 28, 2015.
    • Prompt 4: “Difficulty need not foreshadow despair or defeat. Rather achievement can be all the more satisfying because of obstacles surmounted.” Attributed to William Hastie, Amherst Class of 1925, the first African-American to serve as a judge for the United States Court of Appeals
  • Option B: Please submit a graded paper from your junior or senior year that best represents your writing skills and analytical abilities. We are particularly interested in your ability to construct a tightly reasoned, persuasive argument that calls upon literary, sociological or historical evidence. You should NOT submit a laboratory report, journal entry, creative writing sample or in-class essay.
  • If you have submitted an analytical essay in response to the “essay topic of your choice” prompt in the Common Application writing section, you should NOT select Option B. Instead, you should respond to one of the four quotation prompts in Option A.

Let us know about your unique experiences, challenges, and what you believe sets you apart. (Optional, 500 words.)

Please describe why you are interested in attending Appalachian State University. (Optional, 250 words.)

Please explain your interest in Barrett, The Honors College at ASU, in a second essay of no more than 250 words. Compose this essay as a PDF or Microsoft Word document.
What does it mean to you to be or to become a global citizen, and how do you see the education and opportunities at Barrett advancing your understanding of this concept? (Applicants to Barrett Honors College only, 500 words.)

A work of art is the result of many factors, ways of working, and kinds of thinking. Discuss how the elements below are related or integrated in your own work. Explain how you approach the process of art making in regard to these factors, and feel free to add other elements that are important to you: Skill. Choice of materials or medium. Personal experience/feelings/intuition. Research/sources of inspiration. (Applicants to Fine Arts program only, must fit into application box.)
Choose one of the essay questions below and respond in a personal and thoughtful way. We are especially interested in the depth of your thinking, as well as the quality of your writing ability. A) The ability to think critically and to approach the classroom with curiosity is vital to success at Art Center and in the professional world. Explain something that you once believed to be true that you have since come to question. OR B) Taking a risk comes more easily to some than to others, but for most it will be an important part of becoming an artist or designer. Explain a risk you've taken in your life that has paid off – exploring something new, confronting a fear or problem, or taking a stand on an issue. (Required except for applicants to Interaction Design, minimum 100 words.)
Describe the innovations you think will happen in interaction design over the next five years, describe why you think these innovations will occur and provide evidence for this rationale. (Interaction Design applicants only, must fit into application box.)
Describe your interest in the interaction design major at Art Center; the people and projects that inspire you; and what you would like to accomplish in the interaction design field when you graduate. (Interaction Design applicants only, must fit into application box.)
Please list your skills in areas such as HTML/CSS, programming and electronics. (Interaction Design applicants only, must fit into application box.)
Describe the path that has led to your choice of major. (Required, must fit into application box.)
Outline your educational goals and expectations. Also include what you expect to contribute to the Art Center community. Be as specific as possible. (Required, must fit into application box.)
Please describe in detail any specialized training, employment, or other activities that have given you experience in art, design, film, or photography (where, what, how long.) (Required, must fit into application box.)
Who do you believe to be the three major artists and designers who are shaping the discipline you are interested in pursuing or who have influenced you? These should be individuals who have brought relevance to the world or to you in some social, political, emotional, economic, or other meaningful context. Explain why you feel they are important. In what ways do you want your own work to contribute to or make a difference in the world? (Required except for Fine Arts or Interaction Design applicants. Must fit into application box.)

No supplement.

Read Our Guide on How to Write the Auburn University Supplemental Essays for 2017-2018

Describe a significant experience, achievement, or failure in your life and its effect on you. (Response required in 2000 characters.)
Describe extracurricular activities, including leadership positions, in which you have participated. (Response required in 2000 characters.)
Describe your employment experiences, including positions held, job responsibilities, and dates of employment. (Response required in 2000 characters.)
Describe your reasons for selecting Auburn University and why you believe you will be successful at Auburn. (Response required in 2000 characters.)
If you feel that special circumstances may have adversely affected your high school performance, please summarize. (Response required in 2000 characters.)
Provide other information about yourself that you would like considered in your application review. (Response required in 2000 characters.)
What are your goals after college and how do you think that your selected major at Auburn will help achieve those goals? (Response required in 2000 characters.)

If you join our program, how will you either (a) contribute to this community or (b) benefit from membership in it as you pursue one or more of your academic or career goals? (Applicants to Honors program only, 300-400 words.)
What academic project might you want to explore and why? (NOTE: You are not committing yourself to this project. (Applicants to Honors program only, 300-400 words.)
- option: | Why are you interested in entering this field? - option: | What are your expectations of this AU program? - option: | What factors and experiences indicate that you will be successful in this program? - option: | If you are already certified or licensed in a health profession, why do you wish to continue your education? (Applicants to Health Science program only. Word count not specified.)

No supplement.

No supplement.

What do you feel will be the key factor(s) in making your college choice? (Required, 800 words.)

Please describe why you are interested in continuing your educational journey within a distinctly Christian academic community. (Required, 500 words.)

Describe your goals and aspirations for your college years and the years immediately following. (Applicants to Honors program only. Word count not specified.)
Describe your most positive academic experience in high school. (Applicants to Honors program only. Word count not specified.)
Provide examples of your creative, artistic, or other noteworthy talents. (Applicants to Honors program only. Word count not specified.)
What do you hope to gain from membership in the Honors College, and what do you think you can contribute? (Applicants to Honors College only. Word count not specified.)

Why Bard? (Applicants to Honors program only. 250 words.)

Barnard women seek to make a difference in their community, whether through the residence hall, classes, clubs, volunteer work, or a part-time job they hold. Describe how you make a difference in your community and what you have learned from that experience. In what ways do you see yourself contributing to the community at Barnard, inside or outside of the classroom? (Required, 250 words.)
Pick one woman in history or fiction to converse with for an hour and explain your choice. What would you talk about? (Required, 250 words.)
What factors influenced your decision to apply to Barnard College and why do you think the College would be a good match for you? (Required, 250 words.)
If you plan to defer your enrollment, a detailed request for deferral must be received by February 1 for students admitted Early Decision and by April 25 for students admitted Regular Decision. In the box below, please indicate whether you are considering a deferral and provide a general description of what you plan to do. (Deferred enrollment applicants only. 250 words.)

No supplement.

No supplement.

Read Our Guide on How to Write the Baylor University Supplemental Essays for 2017-2018

What are you looking for in a university, why do you want to attend Baylor, and how do you see yourself contributing to the Baylor community? (Response required in 750 words.)

If you have never attended a college or university, you have fewer than 24 college credit hours, or you are an international student, an essay is required. Please write a 200 word essay (minimum) in the space below or attach a separate, typed essay. Please describe your interests, achievements, experiences and goals and why you are interested in attending Bellarmine University. (Required, minimum 200 words.)

What else, if anything, would you wish the Admissions Committee to know about your candidacy? (Required, 500 words.)

No supplement.

Please demonstrate your ability to organize thoughts and express yourself in a personal essay. (Required, 500 words.)

No supplement.

Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. (Required, 250 words.)
What are the characteristics of Berry College which lead you to apply? (Required, 500 words.)

A Biola University education is designed to equip students for a life of following Jesus. The Bible plays a significant role in the life of a Christian. Using meaningful verses from the Bible, in 1-2 pages please respond to both of the following prompts:
  • 1. Describe how and when you made a decision to follow Christ.
  • 2. Using personal examples, share about your growth as a Christian over the past 3 years. (Required, 1-2 pages.)

No supplement.

We want to learn about your motivation to be a successful Bronco, your academic potential, and what you will add to our student body. (GED or home schooled applicants only. 500 words.)

Read Our Guide on How to Write the Boston College Application Essays for 2017-2018

Please respond to one of the following prompts.
  • Human beings have a creative side that tends to shine most when we are truly invested in the world around us. Describe a situation when you responded effectively to a particular need and found yourself at your creative best. OR
  • Experience teaches us the importance of being reflective when making major decisions. Share an example from a recent event when a leader or an average person faced a difficult choice. What were the consequences of the decision? Would you have done the same? OR
  • Boston College strives to provide an undergraduate learning experience emphasizing the liberal arts, quality teaching, personal formation, and engagement of critical issues. If you had the opportunity to create your own college course, what enduring question or contemporary problem would you address and why? OR
  • Jesuit education stresses the importance of the liberal arts and sciences, character formation, commitment to the common good, and living a meaningful life. How do you think your personal goals and academic interests will help you grow both intellectually and personally during college? (Response required in 400 words.)

Read Our Guide on How to Write the Boston University Supplemental Essays for 2017-2018

Please use this space if you have additional information, materials, or writing samples you would like us to consider. (Response required in 2000KB file.)
What about being a student at Boston University most excites you? (Response required in 250 words.)

Read Our Guide on How to Write the Bowdoin College Supplemental Essays for 2017-2018

How did you first learn about Bowdoin? (140 characters)
Optional: Reflect on why you chose that line. (250 words)

No supplement.

Read Our Guide on How to Write the Brandeis University Application Essays for 2017-2018

Brandeis attracts students from many corners of the world. As an international student at Brandeis, how would you enrich the campus community? (Response required in 250 words.) *This essay is required for international students only.

Read Our Guide on How to Write the Brown University and PLME Application Essays for 2017-2018

Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. (Response required in 150 words.)
Tell us where you have lived - and for how long - since you were born; whether you've always lived in the same place, or perhaps in a variety of places. (Response required in 100 words.)
We all exist within communities or groups of various sizes, origins, and purposes; pick one and tell us why it is important to you, and how it has shaped you. (Response required in 100 words.)
Why are you drawn to the area(s) of study you indicated earlier in this application? If you are "undecided" or not sure which Brown concentrations match your interests, consider describing more generally the academic topics or modes of thought that engage you currently. (Response required in 150 words.)
Why Brown, and why the Brown Curriculum? (Response required in 200 words.)

No supplement.

Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences in the space below. (Required, 100 words.)
The Bryn Mawr Honor Code and Self-Government Association (SGA) affirm the importance of our academic and social communities. In your response please reflect on how you see the Honor Code and/or SGA shaping your experience at Bryn Mawr. (Required, 2000 KB PDF file.)

It Is Strongly Recommended That Applicants Write An Essay On One Of The Three Topics Listed Below:
  • Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.
  • Pick a story of local, national, or international importance from the front page of any newspaper. Identify your source and give the date the article appeared. Then use your sense of humor, sense of outrage, sense of justice--or just plain good sense--to explain why the story engages your attention.
  • Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.
  • Topic of your choice: Provide us with both the question and answer. (Strongly recommended, word count not specified.)

An artist statement is very important in the admissions process. Each program has specific topics and/or questions to be covered in this statement (What are your artistic interests/goals? What issues and concerns inform your art-making practice? Why are you applying to your program at CalArts?) This statement should be submitted with both your online application and your online portfolio. (Required, upload file less than 600 KB.)

Why would you like to attend college? Discuss your career and personal goals. Are there any particular circumstances, school experiences, or persons that influenced your preparation or motivation to attend college (e.g., cultural/financial background, family, teachers, schools you attended)? Please explain. (Optional, word count not specified.)
Briefly describe your family's economic background. Include information about your financial challenges. (Optional, word count not specified.)
Briefly discuss your academic background. Did you utilize any additional support at your high school, such as tutoring? Do your grades in high school and/or college reflect your academic ability or potential? (Optional, word count not specified.)

Briefly describe your family's economic background. Include information about your financial challenges. (Optional, word count not specified.)
Briefly discuss your academic background. Did you utilize any additional support at your high school, such as tutoring? Do your grades in high school and/or college reflect your academic ability or potential? (Optional, word count not specified.)
Why would you like to attend college? Discuss your career and personal goals. Are there any particular circumstances, school experiences, or persons that influenced your preparation or motivation to attend college (e.g., cultural/financial background, family, teachers, schools you attended)? Please explain. (Optional, word count not specified.)

Please list three books, along with their authors, that have been particularly meaningful to you. For each book, please include a sentence explaining their influence upon you. Please note that your response is not limited to math, science or school-assigned texts.
What three experiences or activities have helped you explore your desire to study and possibly pursue a career in STEM? (Response required in 200 words.)
Members of the Caltech community live, learn, and work within an Honor System with one simple guideline; ''No member shall take unfair advantage of any other member of the Caltech community.'' While seemingly simple, questions of ethics, honesty and integrity are sometimes puzzling. Share a difficult decision that has challenged you. What was your response, and how did you arrive to a solution? (Response required in 200 words.)
Caltech students have long been known for their quirky sense of humor and creative pranks. Please describe an unusual way in which you have fun. (Response required in 200 words.)
In an increasingly global and interdependent society, there is a need for diversity in thought, background, and experience in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. How do you see yourself contributing to the diversity of Caltech's community? (Response required in 200 words.)
Scientific exploration clearly excites you. Beyond our 3:1 student to faculty ratio and our intense focus on research opportunities, how do you believe Caltech will best fuel your intellectual curiosity and help you meet your goals? (Response required in 500 words.)

When did you first learn of Carleton? (no more than 150 words)
Why are you applying to Carleton? (no more than 150 words)
We'd like to know you better.
  • Please complete the following, and have a little fun doing so:
    • I am empowered by people who…
    • I appreciate my community because …
    • In the future, I hope to explore…

Read Our Guide on How to Write the Carnegie Mellon Application Essays for 2017-2018

Please submit a one page, single-spaced essay that explains why you have chosen Carnegie Mellon and your particular major(s), department(s) or program(s). This essay should include the reasons why you've chosen the major(s), any goals or relevant work plans and any other information you would like us to know. For freshmen applying to more than one college or program, please mention each college or program to which you are applying. Because our admission committees review applicants by college and program, your essay can impact our final decision. Candidates applying for early decision or transfer may apply to only one college and department. (Response required in 2000KB file.)
List the books (if any) you've read this year for pleasure. Choose one and in a sentence describe its impact on you. (Response required in 500 words.)
While not a requirement, have you been interviewed by an alumni or on campus representative prior to applying for admission? If so, indicate the name of your interviewer and tell us how it impacted your decision to apply. (Response required in 500 words.)
If there was an interruption during your secondary school or collegiate experience or between your secondary school and collegiate experience (gap year(s)) when you were not enrolled and as a result, not making normal academic progress, please explain the reason for the interruption. (Response required in 500 words.)

At Catawba, the ideals of Scholarship (being an academic scholar), Character, Culture and Service are central to the mission and life of the college. Which of these ideals do you find most compelling in your own life and why? (Optional, 100-200 words.)
If you could have been the author of any single piece of literature already written, which piece would you have penned and why? Thinking about a book, novel, poem, short story, etc… (Optional, 100-200 words.)
If you could have permanent possession of any single object in the world, what would you want it to be and what would you do with it? (Optional, 100-200 words.)

Please write an essay on the topic of your choice. (Required, 250-500 words.)

Briefly and specifically tell why you have decided to apply to Centre? (Optional, 250 words.)

Explain why you have chosen to obtain a degree in engineering. Discuss any experiences you may have had and/or people you have known who influenced your decision. (Applicants to Engineering program only. 150-250 words.)

No supplement.

Read Our Guide on How to Write the Clark University Supplemental Essays for 2017-2018

Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. (Response required in 250 words.)

No supplement.

No Supplement

If you would like to share any additional information with the admissions committee, please include it here. (Optional, word count not specified.)

No supplement.

In addition to your personal statement, Colgate requires a supplemental short-answer essay, applicable for both the Common Application and the Coalition Application. Please respond, in 250 words or less, to one of the following prompts:
  • The Mission Statement for Colgate University sets forth 13 Goals for a Colgate Education. One goal for Colgate students is listed as: Be engaged citizens and strive for a just society: embrace the responsibilities to local, national, and global communities; use their influence for the benefit of others. Please describe how you would embrace this goal as a Colgate student.
  • Colgate prides itself in tradition. Please describe a religious, cultural, or family tradition you can share with the Colgate community.
  • We want to get to know you better. What are three words that your best friend would use to describe you and why?
  • Colgate's core curriculum teaches students empathy, informed debate, and critical thinking. Please tell us what book or piece of literature you believe is important for the entire Colgate Class of 2022 to read. Why?

If you have not yet expressed something that deserves consideration from the admissions committee, this is your opportunity to do so. (Optional, 750 words.)
Pick one of the following:
  • Option 1: Choose your own topic. Use an academic writing sample that highlights creativity and innovation, or provide a response to a universal essay topic.
  • Option 2: The College of Charleston community is a family. We foster a culture of inclusion and celebrate diversity. Explain a situation in which you helped an outsider feel welcome.
  • Option 3: “To Know Thyself” is what the College of Charleston experience is all about. At the College, you'll receive a powerful education in a modern, complex city. In this ever evolving environment, every opportunity will be available to you. How will you evolve? What will you discover about yourself that you'll inevitably impart and share with the world? (Required, 250-750 words.)
What is the most pressing global issue today? How and why does that help you define your responsibilities as a global citizen? (Applicants to the Honors program only. 500-800 words.)

No supplement.

The Block Plan at Colorado College has a tradition of innovation and flexibility. Please design your own three-and-a-half week course and describe what you would do. (500 words)
Why do you wish to attend Colorado College and how would you contribute to the community? (250 words)

Supplement not available

Read Our Guide on How to Write the Columbia University Supplement Essays for 2017-2018

For applicants to Columbia College, please tell us what from your current and past experiences (either academic or personal) attracts you specifically to the field or fields of study that you noted in the Member Questions section. If you are currently undecided, please write about any field or fields in which you may have an interest at this time. (Response required in 300 words.) *This is essay is required only for applicants to Columbia College.
For applicants to The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, please tell us what from your current and past experiences (either academic or personal) attracts you specifically to the field or fields of study that you noted in the Member Questions section. (Response required in 300 words.) *This essay is required only for applicants to The Fu Foundation School.
List a few words or phrases that describe your ideal college community. (Response required in about 150 words.)
List the titles of the books you read for pleasure that you enjoyed most in the past year. (Response required in about 150 words.)
List the titles of the films, concerts, shows, exhibits, lectures and other entertainments you enjoyed most in the past year. (Response required in about 150 words.)
List the titles of the print, electronic publications and websites you read regularly. (Response required in about 150 words.)
List the titles of the required readings from courses during the school year or summer that you enjoyed most in the past year. (Response required in about 150 words.)
Please tell us what you value most about Columbia and why. (Response required in about 300 words.)

Choose one of the following (650 words):
  • 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?
  • Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma—anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.
  • 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.

Read Our Guide on How to Write the Cornell University Application Essays for 2017-2018

Why are you drawn to studying the major you have selected? Please discuss how your interests and related experiences have influenced your choice. Specifically, how will an education from the College of Agriculture and Life Science (CALS) and Cornell University help you achieve your academic goals? (Response required in 650 words.) *This essay is required only for applicants to CALS.
Describe two or three of your intellectual interests and why you are excited to pursue them within your chosen major in AAP. What personal experiences, background, or future goals will you bring to your scholarly and artistic pursuits at Cornell? (Response required in 650 words.) *This essay is required only for applicants to AAP.
Describe two or three of your current intellectual interests and why they are exciting to you. Why will Cornell’s College of Arts and Sciences be the right environment in which to pursue your interests? (Response required in 650 words.) *This essay is required only for applicants to the College of Arts and Sciences.
Why are you drawn to studying the major you have selected? Please discuss how your interests and related experiences have influenced your choice. (Response required in 650 words.) *This essay is required only for applicants to the School of Applied Economics and Management.
The global hospitality industry includes hotel and foodservice management, real estate, finance, entrepreneurship, marketing, technology, and law. Describe what has influenced your decision to study business through the lens of hospitality. What personal qualities make you a good fit for SHA? (Response required in 650 words.) *This essay is required only for applicants to SHA.
Cornell Engineering celebrates innovative problem solving that helps people, communities…the world. Consider your ideas and aspirations and describe how a Cornell Engineering education would allow you to leverage technological problem-solving to improve the world we live in. (Response required in 650 words.) *This essay is required only for applicants to the College of Engineering.
How have your experiences influenced you to consider the College of Human Ecology and how will your choice of major(s) impact your goals and plans for the future? (Response required in 650 words.) *This essay is required only for applicants to the College of Human Ecology.
Tell us about your intellectual interests, how they sprung from your course, service, work or life experiences, and what makes them exciting to you. Describe how ILR is the right school for you to pursue these interests. (Response required in 650 words.) *This essay is required only for applicants to ILR.

Why have you decided to apply to Creighton University? (Optional, 500 words.)

Please attach a typewritten personal statement (250 words), authored by you, explaining to the Office of Admissions why you would like to attend DBU. Be sure to include your name and Social Security number on the personal statement.

Read Our Guide on How to Write the Dartmouth College Application Essays for 2017-2018

Choose one of the following prompts:
  • In Love Medicine, author Louise Erdrich ’76 writes, ''Society is like this card game here, cousin. We got dealt our hand before we were even born, and as we grow we have to play as best as we can.'' Describe your ''hand'' and reflect on how you have played it.
  • From songs and film to formulae and computer code, human expression and discovery take many forms. How do you express your creativity? What ideas or values do you explore and celebrate when your imagination wanders?
  • During the 2016 Olympic Games, American runner Abbey D’Agostino ’14 collided with another athlete in the first round of the 5,000-meter event. Both fell to the track. Although injured, Abbey’s first instinct was to help the other fallen athlete so they could continue the race together. Their selflessness was widely praised as the embodiment of the Olympic ideal of sportsmanship. Share a moment when kindness guided your actions.
  • Twenty years ago, the world met Harry Potter and his companions. One of the more memorable lines from the J.K. Rowling series was spoken by Albus Dumbledore: ''Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.'' What ideas or experiences bring you joy?
  • ''I have no special talent,'' Albert Einstein once observed. ''I am only passionately curious.'' Celebrate your intellectual curiosity.
  • ''Dreams are lovely. But they are just dreams,'' television producer Shonda Rhimes ’91 told graduating seniors during her 2014 Commencement address. ''It’s hard work that makes things happen. It’s hard work that creates change.'' What inspires your hard work? What matters to you and how do you “make things happen” to create change? (Response required in 250-300 words.)
While arguing a Dartmouth-related case before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1818, Daniel Webster, Class of 1801, uttered this memorable line: ''It is, Sir…a small college. And yet, there are those who love it!'' As you seek admission to the Class of 2022, what aspects of the College’s program, community, or campus environment attract your interest? (Response required in 100 words.)

Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. (200 words)
Why Davidson? (250-300 words)

No supplement.

No supplement.

No supplement.

Why have you chosen to apply to Dickinson? (Required for merit scholarships, strongly encouraged for Early Decision. 800 words.)

Applicants being considered for admission with a composite ACT score below 17 (SAT I combined score below 1215) or low English ACT or SAT scores may be required to write an essay for the Provisional Admissions Committee. (Academic standard only. Word count not specified.)
How have your academic experiences (with specific reference to particular books, courses, or projects) shaped your ideas about and aspirations toward doing Christian scholarship? (Kyuper Scholars only, 1000 words.)
International students may also be interviewed or asked to submit a brief (350 to 500 word) essay about their faith background and why they are interested in studying within the Christian setting at Dordt College. For further information about the essay, please contact Adam Adams. (International students only, 500 words.)

No supplement.

Read Our Guide on How to Write the Drexel University Supplemental Essays for 2017-2018

Please write a 500- to 800-word vision statement/essay describing in detail what you want to study, what you hope to accomplish during your time in the program, and why your educational goals cannot be met by pursuing a traditional Drexel major, a double major, or a major combined with minors. Your vision statement/essay should also include how you expect this program to prepare you for life after college, detailing what career or pursuits the custom-designed major will facilitate and how you plan to impact the world. Finally, the vision statement/essay should contain a plausible plan of study for achieving your goals by drawing upon two or more existing Drexel programs. A sample vision statement can be found on the Custom-Designed Major Prospective Students page. Information about existing programs and courses at Drexel can be found in the University Catalog. (Response required in 500-800 words.) *This essay is required for custom-design applicants only.
Please write a short essay describing why you are interested in pursuing your major of choice at Drexel University's Westphal College. What have you done that prepares you to study in your major of choice? (On Common app, states "Applicants to programs in the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design as well as applicants to the Custom Designed program are required to submit a Writing Supplement." while website states the above prompt.) (Response required in 500 words.) *This essay is required for Westphal College applicants only.

Read Our Guide on How to Write the Duke University Application Essays for 2017-2018

If you would like the opportunity, we invite you to share more about your sexual orientation either below or in the Duke optional essay. (Response required in 250 words.)
Duke University seeks a talented, engaged student body that embodies the wide range of human experience; we believe that the diversity of our students makes our community stronger. If you'd like to share a perspective you bring or experiences you've had to help us understand you better-perhaps related to a community you belong to, your sexual orientation or gender identity, or your family or cultural background-we encourage you to do so. Real people are reading your application, and we want to do our best to understand and appreciate the real people applying to Duke. (Response required in 250 words.)
If you are applying to the Pratt School of Engineering as a first year applicant, please discuss why you want to study engineering and why you would like to study at Duke. (Response required in 150 words.) *This essay is required only for applicants applying to the school of engineering.
If you are applying to the Trinity College of Arts and Sciences as a first year applicant, please discuss why you consider Duke a good match for you. Is there something particular about Duke that attracts you? (Response required in 150 words.) *This essay is required only for applicants applying to the college of arts and sciences.

Tell us something unique about you, why you chose your particular major, and how you expect Duquesne University to help you achieve your academic, personal and professional goals. Please include any examples of your research, shadowing or volunteer experiences. (Health profession applicants only. Word count not specified.)

Please briefly elaborate on an extracurricular activity or work experience that has been an important part of your life. (Optional, 250 words.)
Why do you think Earlham is a good fit for you? (Optional, 200 words.)

A formal Cover Letter to the University Honors Scholars Review Committee that includes why you are interested in becoming an ETSU University Honors Scholar, relevant skills and knowledge that make you an exceptional candidate for this program, how you will benefit from the program, and how you will contribute to the program. (Applicants to the Honors program only. Word count not specified.)
Choose one:
  • A) Discuss a milestone in your life—an event, challenge, success, or failure—that changed the way you saw yourself, your community, or your culture. Explain how this milestone affected you and what you learned from the experience.
  • B) Discuss an aspect of yourself—your background, identity, interest, talent, etc.—that is so important to you, you feel your application would be incomplete without it. (Applicants to the Honors program only. One page.)

Briefly share personal goals, special talents, creative interests, leadership experiences, accomplishments or contributions you hope to bring to Edgewood College. (Optional, 2000 characters.)

Discuss your reason(s) for pursuing your intended major and pre-professional goals. (Optional, 200-800 words.)
Why are you interested in Elizabethtown College? (Optional, 200-800 words.)

Compose an essay that addresses one of the following core values: Intellectual Excellence, Community, Social Responsibility, Stewardship, or Faith, Meaning, and Values. (Optional, 1-1.5 pages.)

Do you have any ideas yet about what you want to accomplish after college? Don't feel you need to have formal plans, but we would enjoy learning about your possible career goals. (Optional, word count not specified.)
Tell us about something you have accomplished over the past year or two that is a source of pride to you. Your topic may include your academic efforts or any activity you feel is important to you: What did you accomplish? Why did you choose to do this activity/effort? How has this accomplishment/activity affected you with regard to your future goals? (Optional, word count not specified.)
What do you want to accomplish during your years at college? (Optional, word count not specified.)

We often use metaphors to help us understand our world and persuade others. Write about a metaphor that you think is powerful, and explore its potential to be helpful and/or harmful in your thinking. (Applicants to Honors program only. 400-600 words.)

Read Our Guide on How to Write the Emory University Application Essays for 2017-2018

In addition to the Common Application's Personal Statement, please choose two (2) of the short answer prompts below. Be thoughtful in your responses, but don’t stress about what the right answer might be -- we just want to get to know you a bit better.
  • What is your favorite fiction or non-fiction work (film, book, TV show, album, poem, or play)? Why?
  • What motivates you to learn?
  • What will you miss the most about your current community when you leave for college?
  • In the age of social media, what does engaging with integrity look like for you? (Response required in 150 words each.)

No supplement.

Provide us with a typed written (250 words) personal statement that expresses who you are and why you want to attend FSU. (Required, 250 words.)

Discuss your reasons for pursuing the academic program selected above. (Required, 250 words.)
Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. (Optional, 250 words.)
Why are you interested in Fisk University? (Required, 250 words.)

Pick two:
  • A) Describe an activity, interest, experience, or achievement in your life (this could be a book, movie or an activity or experience at work, home or school) that has been particularly meaningful to you.
  • B) How has your family history, culture, or environment influenced who you are?
  • C) What qualities or unique characteristics do you possess that would allow you to contribute to the university community? (Required. 250 each or 500 total for both.)

A personal letter outlining your reasons for pursuing an early admission opportunity at Florida Atlantic University. (Early applicants only. Word count not specified.)
This is a typed assignment of at least 500 words written for a recent class. The original work with grade and teacher comments must be submitted. The writing sample is expected to be an academic paper, not a piece of creative writing. (Applicants to Honors program only. Minimum 500 words.)

A written statement, by applicant, explaining why early admission is being requested. (Early applicants only. Word count not specified.)

Read Our Guide on How to Write the Florida State University Application Essays for 2017-2018

Pick one:
  • Describe an experience from your life that either demonstrates your character or helped shape it.
  • Describe a time when you made a meaningful contribution to others in which the greater good was your focus. Discuss the challenges and rewards of making your contribution.
  • Has there been a time when you’ve had a long-cherished or accepted belief challenged? How did you respond? How did the challenge affect your beliefs? (Response required in 650 words.)

No Supplement

Olin is a community striving to improve the world for everyone or anyone through engineering. What change do you hope to see or be a part of? Why is this change important to you? (Required, 250-500 words.)
Choose one of the following:
  • Tell us a story about a time when you made someone happy. What effect did the experience have on you?
  • When, where or whom are you your most authentic self? What makes you feel most like you?
  • Think about things that excite or engage you (for example, people, ideas, projects, books, causes, innovations). Keeping that in mind, tell us about how you would spend a "perfect day." What makes that perfect day a day well spent? (Required, 250-500 words.)

College is a time of intellectual, creative and personal growth. What personal characteristic or area of growth would you like to develop at Franklin & Marshall College? How might that characteristic enrich our campus community and your classmates? (Optional, 250 words.)
Why F&M (Optional, 150 words.)

As a first-year student at Furman you will be surrounded by smart, driven, talented peers who may have similar interests and goals as you. How will you use your time at Furman in a way that is authentic and beneficial to your life after graduation? (Required, 350 words.)

Describe a significant challenge or failure that you have had to face, the steps you took to address it, and what you learned about yourself in the process. (Required, 500 words.)
Describe one or more specific goals that you set for yourself and have accomplished. Describe why this goal was important to you, and how you worked to achieve this accomplishment. (Required, 500 words.)

Write an essay (at least 500 words) on one of these topics:
  • A) If I was a jellybean, I would be_____ colored because____.
  • B) I've found that I enjoy reading books by_____because____.
  • C) My favorite period in history is_____because_____.
  • D) If I could travel to any place on earth, it would be____because____.
  • E) If a play were going to be written about my life,______would have the title role because_____. (Applicants to Honors College only. Minimum 500 words.)

Our experience of the universe, our planet Earth, and the history of humankind continues to present unanswered questions and unresolved problems. If you were to choose one question or problem to investigate during your undergraduate years at Mason, what would it be? Why are you interested in the topic, what research do you wish to conduct during your studies concerning this, and what do you hope to gain from your inquiry?
What is the most compelling thing you have ever read, and how has it changed you or inspired you to take action now, in the past, or in the future? This could be an entire book, a passage or chapter, a poem, an article, graffiti- anything written. (Applicants to Honors College only. 100-750 words.)
Why do YOU want to go to college? We know it is an excellent path to a career, but we want to hear more specifically about what you are hoping to gain from your time in college. Tell us about yourself and your experiences that have led to this decision. (Optional, 100-250 words.)

Read Our Guide on How to Write the George Washington University Application Essays for 2017-2018

George Washington University encourages students to extend learning beyond the traditional classroom by taking advantage of hands-on learning through service, research, internships, and studying abroad. Describe an experience that transformed the way you view the world and how this perspective prepares you for GW. (Response required in 250 words.)
Please write on one of the following two topics:
  • Please describe an instance when you took ownership of your intellectual growth and molded your education to meet your own goals. What did you learn about yourself through the process?
  • Write a letter to the author of a book you didn’t like. (Response Required in 500 words.) *This essay is required for honors program applicants only.
The Honors Program's core curriculum is comprised of interdisciplinary courses, discussion- based engagement with complex issues, and reflection. Why do you want to make this program a priority for your undergraduate experience? (Response Required in 500 words.) *This essay is required for honors program applicants only.

Read Our Guide on How to Write the Georgetown University Application Essays for 2017-2018

As Georgetown is a diverse community, the Admissions Committee would like to know more about you in your own words. Please submit a brief essay, either personal or creative, which you feel best describes you. (Response required in about 1 page single-spaced.)
Briefly discuss a current global issue, indicating why you consider it important and what you suggest should be done to deal with it. (Response required in about 1 page single-spaced.) *This essay is required for applicants to the School of Foreign Service only.
Briefly discuss the significance to you of the school or summer activity in which you have been most involved. (Response required in about 0.5 page single-spaced.
Describe the factors that have influenced your interest in studying health care at Georgetown University. Please specifically address your intended major (Health Care Management & Policy, Human Science, Global Health, or Nursing). (Response required in about 1 page single-spaced.) *This essay is required for applicants to the Nursing & Health Sciences school only.
Please relate your interest in studying at Georgetown University to your goals. How do these thoughts relate to your chosen course of study? (If you are applying to major in the FLL or in a Science, please specifically address those interests.) (Response required in about 1 page single-spaced.) *This essay is required for applicants to Georgetown College only.
The McDonough School of Business is a national and global leader in providing graduates with essential ethical, analytical, financial and global perspectives. Please discuss your motivations for studying business at Georgetown. (Response required in about 1 page single-spaced.) *This essay is required for applicants to the business school only.

Read Our Guide on How to Write the Georgia Tech Supplemental Essays for 2017-2018

Beyond rankings, location, and athletics, why are you interested in attending Georgia Tech? (Response required in 150 words.)
Respond to one of the following prompts:
  • Tech's motto is Progress and Service. We find that students who ultimately have a broad impact first had a significant one at home. What is your role in your immediate or extended family? And how have you seen evidence of your impact on them?
  • We challenge our students to 'be comfortable being uncomfortable'. Tell us about a time in high school that you felt outside of your comfort zone and the resolution.
  • Georgia Tech is always looking for innovative undergraduates. Have you had any experience as an entrepreneur? What would you like Georgia Tech to provide to further your entrepreneurial interests? (Response required in 150 words.)

No supplement.

As part of Gonzaga’s Presidential Speaker Series, the University brings to campus individuals whose scholarly research and commitment to social justice inspire students to action. Who would you choose to speak at Gonzaga and why? (Required, 50-300 words.)
If you are not admitted to the Nursing Program, in what other major would you have interest? (Applicants to Nursing program only. 3-5 sentences.)
What specific experiences have led you to pursue a career in Nursing? (Applicants to Nursing program only. 3-5 sentences.)

As you consider college and your future, what are your academic, social, spiritual, or other goals? (Required, 250-500 words.)

At Goucher College, we focus on the 3Rs: relationships, resilience, and reflection. Relationships: discovering how to build support and work together. Resilience: seeing failure as an opportunity and increasing persistence. Reflection: understanding how to become a self-directed learner. (Required, 110 words.)
if you could right one wrong, what would it be? (Required, 10 words.)
In approximately 100 words, please describe what has motivated you to apply to Goucher College. (Required, 110 words.)

No supplement.

No writing supplement.

Hamilton would like to give you the option to upload one document of your choice. This is in no way required, and you will not be at a disadvantage without it. However, should you choose to include an upload, please use the text box below to explain what you are attaching and why you feel it is important for us to consider. (250 words)
While the primary criteria for admission to Hamilton are academic achievement, intellectual promise and community engagement, Hamilton also seeks to admit candidates who are a good fit with the programs and experiences offered by the College. Please take this opportunity to tell us about your interest in Hamilton and, particularly, why you believe it is a place where you can thrive. Be open. Be honest. Be brief. (100-250 words)

Choose one of the following:
  • Please write an Autobiographical Essay and Submit a photograph that best represents you. (Required, word count not specified.)
  • If your name were an acronym what would it stand for and how would it reflect your strengths and personality? Submit a photograph that best represents you. (Required, 2000 characters.)

Read Our Guide on How to Write the Harvard University Application Essays for 2017-2018

Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. (Response required in about 150 words)
What specific plan do you have, if any, for using the education you hope to receive? *This is essay is required only for students who are from outside the U.S. and Canada (Response required in about 50 words)
You may write on a topic of your choice, or you may choose from one of the following topics:
  • Unusual circumstances in your life OR
  • Travel or living experiences in other countries OR
  • What you would want your future college roommate to know about you OR
  • An intellectual experience (course, project, book, discussion, paper, poetry, or research topic in engineering, mathematics, science or other modes of inquiry) that has meant the most to you OR
  • How you hope to use your college education OR
  • A list of books you have read during the past twelve months OR
  • The Harvard College Honor code declares that we "hold honesty as the foundation of our community." As you consider entering this community that is committed to honesty, please reflect on a time when you or someone you observed had to make a choice about whether to act with integrity and honesty. OR
  • The mission of Harvard College is to educate our students to be citizens and citizen-leaders for society. What would you do to contribute to the lives of your classmates in advancing this mission? (Response required in maximum 2000 KB file)
Your intellectual life may extend beyond the academic requirements of your particular school. Please use the space below to list additional intellectual activities that you have not mentioned or detailed elsewhere in your application. These could include, but are not limited to, supervised or self-directed projects not done as school work, training experiences, online courses not run by your school, or summer academic or research programs not described elsewhere. (Response required in about 150 words.)

Choose any one of the essay topics below: (150-500 words)
  • 1.) Many students choose HMC because they don’t want to give up their interests outside of STEM and because they’ve seen exciting connections between their work in STEM and their work in the Humanities, Social Sciences and the Arts – or HSA as we call it at HMC. Tell us about your dream HSA class. Your answer might (but doesn’t have to) include projects you could do, texts you might want to read, or topics you would want to explore.
  • 2.) “Scientific research is a human endeavor. The choices of topics that we research are based on our biases, our beliefs, and what we bring: our cultures and our families. The kinds of problems that people put their talents to solving depends on their values.” -Dr. Clifton Poodry. How has your own background influenced the types of problems you want to solve?
  • 3.) What is one thing we won’t know about you after reading your application that you haven’t already reported in the Common Application “Additional Information” section?
What influenced you to apply to Harvey Mudd College? What about the HMC curriculum and community appeals to you? (150-500 words)

Please tell us what motivated you to apply to Haverford and what excites you most as you imagine your Haverford experience. (150 words)
Tell us about a topic or issue that sparks your curiosity and gets you intellectually excited. How do you think the environment at Haverford, including the framework of the Honor Code, would foster your continued intellectual growth? (250 words)

Tell us what appeals to you most about Hendrix? (Required, 100 words.)
What is the best advice you've ever received? (Required, 100 words.) Choose one of the following:
What is your favorite candy? (Required, 140 words.)

Describe any meaningful travel experiences (both national and international). (Optional, 50 words.)
Describe any special interests or hobbies that you may have. (Optional, 50 words.)
Why do you want to attend High Point University? (Required, 50 words.)

No supplement.

No supplement.

Why do you wish to attend Huntingdon College? (Required, must fit into application box.)

Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. (Optional, 250 words.)
Tell us why you are pursuing your selected major. If you are undecided on a major tell us about the academic areas of interest to you. (Required, 250 words.)
Why are you interested in Illinois Institute of Technology? (Required, 250 words.)

Choose one of the following:
  • State why you feel Illinois State University is a good fit for your educational goals.
  • Identify and explain your academic strengths and weaknesses.
  • Explain any circumstances which affected your high school academic performance, if applicable. (Optional, 500 words.)

Please describe your specific interest in attending Illinois Wesleyan University. (Required, minimum 1 paragraph.)

Why would you like to pursue a career in nursing? (Applicants for Nursing program only. Word count not specified.)

Read Our Guide on How to Write the Indiana University - Bloomington Application Essays for 2017-2018

Describe your academic and career plans and any special interest (for example, undergraduate research, academic interests, leadership opportunities, etc.) that you are eager to pursue as an undergraduate at Indiana University. Also, if you encountered any unusual circumstances, challenges, or obstacles in pursuit of your education, share those experiences and how you overcame them. (Response required in 200-400 words.)

Is there something you would like to tell us about yourself? (Optional, word count not specified.)

Describe your academic and career plans and any special interests (for example, undergraduate research, academic interests, leadership opportunities, etc.) that you are eager to pursue as an undergraduate at IUPUI. If you encountered any unusual circumstances, challenges, or obstacles in completing your education, share those experiences and how you overcame them. (Required, 200-400 words.)

No supplement.

Please tell us why you selected this specific academic program and what other academic programs interest you. (Required, 10-200 words.)

This is the space for you to tell us more about yourself. Feel free to use this space to explain any circumstances that may have affected you and cannot be found on your high school transcript. (Optional, 500 words.)

No supplement.

Read Our Guide on How to Write the Johns Hopkins University Application Essays for 2017-2018

Successful students at Johns Hopkins make the biggest impact by collaborating with others, including peers, mentors, and professors. Talk about a time, in or outside the classroom, when you worked with others and what you learned from the experience. (Response required in about 300-400 words.)

Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. (Required, word count not specified.)

The metro Kalamazoo area is a bustling, thriving community, home to more than 340,000 residents, which is a distinct difference between us and other private institutions. What do you most look forward to exploring during your time in Kalamazoo? (Optional, 500 words.)

Please describe in approximately 300-500 words that which motivates your application to the University Honors Program. (Applicants to Honors program only. 300-500 words.)

No supplement.

No supplement.

No supplement.

Choose one of the two prompts below:
  • 1.) Education is a social good. At Knox, we believe that knowledge is meant to be shared, tested through experience, revised, and shared again. It is a communal tool, an endlessly renewable resource, a force for change. Who or what motivated you to explore Knox? Why are you compelled to join this human-powered community?
  • 2.) We believe that every experience is a kind of education. Everything you learn in the classroom gains value when you apply it. To ensure you have the opportunity to put your education to work, Knox offers every student a $2,000 Power of Experience Grant to use during their junior or senior year. Describe how you hope to use this grant and how those experiences will fit into your overall educational goals. (Required, 125-300 words.)

There’s a difference between being busy and being engaged. Lafayette comes alive each day with the energy of students who are deeply engaged in their academic, co-curricular and extracurricular explorations. In response to the prompt below, keep it simple – choose one activity and add depth to our understanding of your involvement. What do you do? Why do you do it? (Optional, 20-200 words.)

No supplement.

Read Our Guide on How to Write the Lehigh University Supplement Essays for 2017-2018

Choose 1 of the following 3:
  • What about Lehigh piques your intellectual curiosity? OR
  • What does the idea of the "Lehigh Family" mean to you? OR
  • Lehigh values inclusive leadership, where students make decisions, take action, and contribute positively to their communities in ways that are purposeful, socially just, and built on integrity. What does this mean to you?

How will your personal faith and beliefs allow you to contribute to Liberty’s mission to develop Christ-centered leaders? (International students only. 400 words.)

No supplement.

Choose one topic:
  • What are your short and long term goals?
  • How do you plan to be successful here at LU? (Optional, word count not specified.)

What is something from your story, whether it be your background, identity, interests, talent or beliefs, that is so meaningful to you that you would like to share it here? (International students only. 500 words.)
When you envision your time as a college student, what goals have you set for your education and college experience? Explain how Lipscomb University fits into those goals. What would you like the Admissions Committee to know about you as an applicant? (Applicants with low test scores or GPAs below 2.5 only. 700 words.)

Why are you interested in Maine Maritime? (Required, 100-400 words.)

No supplement.

Read Our Guide on How to Write the MIT Application Essays for 2017-2018

We know you lead a busy life, full of activities, many of which are required of you. Tell us about something you do simply for the pleasure of it. (Response required in 100 words or fewer)
Although you may not yet know what you want to major in, which department or program at MIT appeals to you and why? (Response required in 100 words or fewer)
At MIT, we bring people together to better the lives of others. MIT students work to improve their communities in different ways, from tackling the world’s biggest challenges to being a good friend. Describe one way in which you have contributed to your community, whether in your family, the classroom, your neighborhood, etc. (Response required in 200-250 words)
Describe the world you come from; for example, your family, clubs, school, community, city, or town. How has that world shaped your dreams and aspirations? (Response required in 200-250 words)
Tell us about the most significant challenge you’ve faced or something important that didn’t go according to plan. How did you manage the situation? (Response required in 200-250 words)

Discuss the most important reasons for selecting Massachusetts Maritime Academy as a possible college for you. You will find the essay attachment under Supplemental Items. (Optional, 100-400 words.)

Messiah College is a Christian college of the liberal and applied arts and sciences whose mission is to educate men and women toward maturity of intellect, character and Christian faith in preparation for lives of service, leadership and reconciliation in church and society. a. In light of Messiah College’s mission statement above, why are you interested in attending a faith-based college that affirms and integrates Christian beliefs? and b. Describe a significant achievement, risk you have taken or ethical dilemma you have faced and how you grew as a result of that experience. (Required, 300-400 words.)

No supplemental essays.

Read Our Guide on How to Write the Michigan State University Application Essays for 2017-2018

Michigan State University recognizes that an assortment of interests, viewpoints, and life experiences are important in student learning and enhance the university community. Describe an experience, passion, or characteristic that illustrates what you would contribute to the MSU community and how this will add to the overall richness of campus life OR Has there been a time when you've had a long-cherished or accepted belief challenged? How did you respond? How did the challenge affect your beliefs? (Response required in 400 words.)

Discuss an experience that sparked your interest in this field.
What do you hope to do after college? (Audio production, sound design, theatre and electronic media performance, theatre and entertainment technology majors only. About 300 words.)

No writing supplement

No supplement.

What do you consider the most significant factor in your decision to apply to MSU? (Optional, 2-3 sentences.)

Explain your reasons for seeking admission to Montclair State University, including what you believe are your academic strengths and interests. Be sure to explain any situations that may have had an impact, either positively or negatively, on your academic record. Students interested in sending a resume of extracurricular activities, volunteer work, internships, etc. can include it in the same document as their essay. (Required, word count not specified.)

No supplement.

Would you like to share anything else? If you believe additional information will assist us in evaluating your application please include that below. Summarize significant experiences and achievements such as community service, honors, and jobs held. (Optional, word count not specified.)

Describe your interest in enrolling at Northwestern. (Required, word count not specified.)

Read Our Guide on How to Write the New York University Application Essays for 2017-2018

We would like to know more about your interest in NYU. We are particularly interested in knowing what motivated you to apply to NYU and more specifically, why you have applied or expressed interest in a particular campus, school, college, program, and/or area of study? You may be focused or undecided, or simply open to the options within NYU's global network; regardless, we want to understand - Why NYU? (Response required in 400 words.)

Read Our Guide on How to Write the North Carolina State University - Raleigh Application Essays for 2017-2018

Discuss your reasons for pursuing the Major/Academic Programs selected above? (Response required in 250 words.)
Discuss any obstacles and/or hardships you have encountered and how you dealt with them. (Response required in 250 words.)
NC State is a community that is strong because of the diversity of our perspectives and experiences. Please describe how you could contribute to or benefit from campus diversity. (Response required in 250 words.)

No supplement.

No essay supplement (a few multiple choice.)

If you would like to provide additional information about yourself that would be helpful in evaluating your application, please use the following space. You may wish to write your information in an MS Word document and then paste it into the space provided below. (Optional, 32,700 characters.)

Oberlin requires a general personal essay as well as a short essay (250 words) responding to the question, “How did your interest in Oberlin develop and what aspects of our college community most excite you?” For your personal essay, you may choose from the Common Application or Coalition Application essay prompts, or write on the topic of your choice.

This essay is optional. If you are submitting an essay, the kinds of topics that you may wish to address could include describing any academic challenges you have faced, your preparation for success in your academic and career objectives, or your involvement in community affairs. Applicants to the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism are encouraged, though not required, to submit an essay detailing how you want to help shape the future of journalism, advertising, or public relations. (Optional, 250-500 words.)

A copy of a senior English essay or a statement expressing the student's goals and stating how attending OBU will help the student achieve those goals. (Applicants with ACT/SAT below 17/880 or GPA below 3.0 or class rank in lower half. 250 words.)

Respond to two of the following questions:
  • Option 1: Imagine a doorway appears in front of you. What happens when you walk through it? Describe the experience.
  • Option 2: “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome,” Booker T. Washington said. Describe an obstacle you have faced and the actions you took to overcome it.
  • Option 3: Describe a goal you want to accomplish and the requirements to achieve it. What specific steps will you take and what resources will you use to complete this task?
  • Option 4: “I will not follow where the path may lead, but I will go where there is no path, and I will leave a trail,” Muriel Strode said. Identify a specific way you hope to be a leader. How will your actions leave a trail for others? (Required, 300 words each.)

Community service: Explain what you have done to make your community a better place to live. Give examples of specific projects in which you have been involved over time. (Required, 100 words.)
Dealing with adversity: Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to address this challenge. Include whether you turned to anyone in facing the challenge, the role the person played, and what you learned about yourself. (Required, 100 words.)
Goals/task commitment: Articulate the goals you have established for yourself and your efforts to accomplish these. Give at least one specific example that demonstrates your work ethic/diligence. (Required, 100 words.)
Handling systemic challenges: Describe your experiences facing or witnessing discrimination. Tell us how you responded and what you learned from these experiences and how they have prepared you to contribute to the OSU community. (Required, 100 words.)
Knowledge in a field/creativity: Describe any special interests and how you have developed knowledge in these areas. Give examples of your creativity- the ability to see alternatives; take diverse perspectives; come up with many, varied, or original ideas; or willingness to try new things. (Required, 100 words.)
Leadership/Group Contributions: Describe examples of your leadership experience in which you significantly influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time. Consider responsibilities to initiatives taken in or out of school. (Required, 100 words.)

To be considered for the Carl and Lily Pforzheimer Foundation Endowed Scholarship Fund you must include an additional essay or list of activities on community service in addition to your Common Application personal statement. (Applicants for Carl and Lily Pforzheimer Foundation Endowed Scholarship Fund only. 500 words.)

Read Our Guide on How to Write the Pennsylvania State University Application Essays for 2017-2018

Please tell us something about yourself, your experiences, or activities that you believe would reflect positively on your ability to succeed at Penn State. This is your opportunity to tell us something about yourself that is not already reflected in your application or academic records. (Response required in about 500 words.)

Read Our Guide on How to Write the Pepperdine University Application Essays for 2017-2018

Subconsciously building your own bubble is an easy thing to do in our modern world. Describe ways in which you seek to step outside of your bubble, challenge the worldviews you hold, and hope to rise above the noise. (Response required in 50-300 words.)
Pepperdine is a Christian university committed to the highest standards of academic excellence and Christian values, where students are strengthened for lives of purpose, service, and leadership. Students, faculty, and staff members of all faith traditions are welcome to become part of the Pepperdine University community. How has faith influenced your life thus far and what will you add to the continued conversation of faith on campus? (Response required in 50-300 words.)

Read Our Guide on How to Write the Pomona College Application Essays for 2017-2018

(Common App) You have been given the option of having one superpower, but, in exchange, you have to give up one of your five senses. If you take this offer, what do you hope to accomplish with your new power, and what would you miss about the sense you've given up?
(Common App) For Pomona students, the College's location in Southern California is integral in shaping their experience. Tell us about a location, real or fictional, that has shaped you in a meaningful way.
(Common App)A recent Critical Inquiry course at Pomona, "I Disagree," poses these questions: What does it take to be the one juror out of twelve who votes innocent? What are the dangers of living with people who agree with you? How does a scientific or a religious community confront troublesome new ideas? Consider one or more of these questions and address "the noble art of disagreement."
(Coalition App)Environments and experiences shape people in different ways. What is your world like? As a result, what characteristics, beliefs, or values will you bring with you when you begin college, and how does this help us understand who you are?
  • You can respond to this prompt with an essay of at least 400 words, a collection of photos, a video response (up to 90 seconds long), or something else from your Locker. If you choose to submit a collection of photos or if your video response does not include narration, please also include a short statement telling us what you hope we will learn from your submission.
(Coalition App) Please respond to one of the following three prompts with a written response of at least 400 words.
  • How do you interact with those around you? Tell us about a group you’re comfortable with and how you act or behave when you’re with them. This could be your family, a team, a class, a club, etc.
  • How do you approach learning? Tell us about an experience with a learning process. This can be a description of a personal or academic project and the stages it involved. What did you discover?
  • Our individual differences are what make us unique and can sometimes make us stand out. Write about a time when you were aware of your difference. How did it impact you, and what did you learn from the experience?

You are required to respond to question 1. You must also respond to either 2a or 2b:
  • 1. Reflect on your experience or awareness of diversity. Diversity might include class, race, gender, sexuality, religion, language, or first-generation college student status. How have these experiences or your knowledge about diversity shaped you as an individual, student, or citizen?
  • 2a. The following excerpt is from the American writer Susan Sontag’s 1977 book of essays, On Photography. For this prompt, show how you think with and respond to another writer. There is no right answer. Find some part of the following excerpt that you can use as a starting point for an essay. In the essay, both describe what you understand Sontag to be saying and respond to her ideas by discussing to what extent you see Sontag’s ideas as still relevant today. “As photographs give people an imaginary possession of a past that is unreal, they also help people to take possession of space in which they are insecure . . . A way of certifying experience, taking photographs is also a way of refusing it—by limiting experience to a search for the photogenic, by converting experience into an image, a souvenir. Travel becomes a strategy for accumulating photographs. The very activity of taking pictures is soothing, and assuages general feelings of disorientation that are likely to be exacerbated by travel. Most tourists feel compelled to put the camera between themselves and whatever is remarkable that they encounter. Unsure of other responses, they take a picture. This gives shape to experience: stop, take a photograph, and move on.”
  • 2b. Sojourner Truth was an important activist in both the abolitionist and women’s rights movements in the United States. Because she spent her childhood in slavery in New York state, she was denied a formal education. Nevertheless, she was an influential public intellectual and noted speaker. In 1867, she is reported to have said, “I don’t read such small stuff as letters, I read men and nations.” In an essay, explore the idea of “read[ing] men and nations.” What do you think Truth means by this and how would you explain why it is significant? What would your college education need to do to prepare you to also “read men and nations”? (Applicants to the Honors College only. 300-500 words.)

Describe when and how you became interested in art, design, writing, architecture, or the particular major to which you are applying. Describe how this interest has manifested itself in your daily life. (Required, 500 words.)

Read Our Guide on How to Write the Princeton University Application Essays for 2017-2018

Activities: Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences that was particularly meaningful to you. (Response required in about 150 words.)
Summers: Please tell us how you have spent the last two summers (or vacations between school years), including any jobs you have held. (Response required in about 150 words.)
A Few Details Your favorite book and its author Your favorite website Your favorite recording Your favorite source of inspiration Your favorite line from a movie or book and its title Your favorite movie Two adjectives your friends would use to describe you Your favorite keepsake or memento Your favorite word
Essay: Your Voice In addition to the essay you have written for the Common Application or the Universal College Application, please write an essay of about 500 words (no more than 650 words and no fewer than 250 words). Using one of the themes below as a starting point, write about a person, event or experience that helped you define one of your values or in some way changed how you approach the world. Please do not repeat, in full or in part, the essay you wrote for the Common Application or Universal College Application.
  • Tell us about a person who has influenced you in a significant way.
  • “One of the great challenges of our time is that the disparities we face today have more complex causes and point less straightforwardly to solutions.” Omar Wasow, assistant professor of politics, Princeton University and co-founder of Blackplanet.com. This quote is taken from Professor Wasow’s January 2014 speech at the Martin Luther King Day celebration at Princeton University.
  • “Culture is what presents us with the kinds of valuable things that can fill a life. And insofar as we can recognize the value in those things and make them part of our lives, our lives are meaningful.” Gideon Rosen, Stuart Professor of Philosophy and director of the Behrman Undergraduate Society of Fellows, Princeton University.
  • Using a favorite quotation from an essay or book you have read in the last three years as a starting point, tell us about an event or experience that helped you define one of your values or changed how you approach the world. Please write the quotation, title and author at the beginning of your essay.
Engineering Essay* If you are interested in pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree, please write a 300-500 word essay describing why you are interested in studying engineering, any experiences in or exposure to engineering you have had and how you think the programs in engineering offered at Princeton suit your particular interests. *This essay is required for students who indicate Bachelor of Science in Engineering as a possible degree of study on their application.

Read Our Guide on How to Write the Purdue University Supplemental Essays for 2017-2018

How will opportunities at Purdue support your interests, both in and out of the classroom? (Response required in 100 words.)
Briefly discuss your reasons for pursuing the major you have selected. (Response required in 100 words.)
Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. (Response required in 250 words.)

Describe a time you faced a great deal of criticism from an authority figure in your life. How did you handle this situation and what impact did it have on your life? Did you accept, reject, or modify this criticism in your life and how did you use this situation to improve? (Applicants to Honors program only, 600 words.)
What have been the greatest obstacles to spiritual growth in your life? What has contributed the most to your spiritual growth? (Applicants to Honors program only, 600 words.)
Please briefly but thoughtfully describe your testament of faith in God. (Required, 2 paragraphs.)

Why are you interested in Rensselaer? (Response required in 100 words.)
State your reasons for aspiring to a career of medicine. (Response required in 2000KB file.) *This essay is required only for prospective B.S.-M.D. majors.
Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. (Response required in 300 words.)
State your reasons for choosing the field of Electronic Media, Arts, and Communication, making reference to your portfolio if one has been submitted. (Response required in 2000KB file.) *This essay is required only for prospective EMAC majors.
State your reasons for aspiring to a career in law. (Response required in 2000KB file.) *This essay is required only for prospective B.S.-J.D. majors.
State your reasons for choosing the field of Games and Simulation Arts and Sciences and make reference to your portfolio, if one has been submitted. (Response required in 2000KB file.) *This essay is required only for prospective GSAS majors.
State your reasons for choosing architecture as your profession. (Response required in 2000KB file.) *This essay is required only for architecture majors.
Discuss your interest in the field of electronic arts and state how this is reflected in your portfolio. (Response required in 2000KB file.) *This essay is required only for prospective EART majors.

Read Our Guide on How to Write the Rice University Application Essays for 2017-2018

Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. (Response required in 150 words.)
With the understanding that the choice of academic school you indicated is not binding, explain why you are applying to that particular school of study. (Response required in 150 words.)
How did you first learn about Rice University and what motivated you to apply? (Response required in 250 words.)
In keeping with Rice's long-standing tradition (known as 'The Box'), please share an image of something that appeals to you.

No supplement.

How would enrolling at Rocky Mountain College help you accomplish your educational and personal goals? Please include details about your previous academic work and extracurricular activities, as well as any additional information that you feel will provide a more complete and accurate picture of yourself. (Applicants with GPA below 2.5 or ACT/SAT scores below 21/1060. Word count not specified.)
Personal statement. (Optional, 1000 characters.)

Choose 1 of 5:
  • Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.
  • Describe a time when you made a meaningful contribution to others in which the greater good was your focus. Discuss the challenges and rewards of making your contribution.
  • Has there been a time when you’ve had a long-cherished or accepted belief challenged? How did you respond? How did the challenge affect your beliefs?
  • What is the hardest part of being a teenager now? What’s the best part? What advice would you give a younger sibling or friend (assuming they would listen to you)?
  • Submit an essay on a topic of your choice. (Response required in 500 words.)

Choose one of the following:
  • Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.
  • Describe a time you made a meaningful contribution to others in which the greater good was your focus. Discuss the challenges and rewards of making your contribution.
  • Has there been a time when you’ve had a long-cherished or accepted belief challenged? How did you respond? How did the challenge affect your beliefs? OR What is the hardest part of being a teenager now? What’s the best part? What advice would you give a younger sibling or friend (assuming they would listen to you)?
  • Submit an essay on the topic of your choice. (Required. Short.)

No supplement.

If you wish to submit additional documents you feel would help the Admissions Committee better understand your interest in and ‘fit’ with ESF, please upload them here.
The ESF Admissions Committee would like to understand your interest in the college and our programs of study. Please explain why you have chosen the SUNY-ESF majors you selected in the Academic section of this screen and how each would fulfill your educational and career goals? If you selected 'Undeclared' as one of your choices, please tell us which majors you are considering and how they will fulfill your educational and career goals. (Response required in 500 words.)

No supplement.

No supplement.

Briefly describe your family's economic background. Include information about your financial challenges. (Optional, word count not specified.)
Briefly discuss your academic background. Did you utilize any additional support at your high school, such as tutoring? Do your grades in high school and/or college reflect your academic ability or potential? (Optional, word count not specified.)
Why would you like to attend college? Discuss your career and personal goals. Are there any particular circumstances, school experiences, or persons that influenced your preparation or motivation to attend college (e.g., cultural/financial background, family, teachers, schools you attended)? Please explain. (Optional, word count not specified.)

Choose one: (150-300 words)
  • "You have the funding for your own start-up or organization. What will you launch and why?"
  • OR "You’ve invented a time machine in your living room – well done! When and where is your first destination and why?"
  • OR "You have just been invited to give a TED talk. What will you talk about and why did you select that topic?"
Why have you chosen to apply to Scripps College? (200 words)

While Seattle Pacific does not require a profession of Christian faith for admission, Seattle Pacific's Christian identity inspires our vision to Engage the Culture and Change the World. We encourage all students to live out SPU's vision. It means that we pursue education not just to get a degree, but also to be changed – and to change the world – for the better. How does SPU's vision align with your desires for college? How does your own faith perspective or personal story intersect with SPU's vision? (Required, 250 words.)

Choose one:
  • Seattleites are known for buying more books per capita than residents of any other major U.S. city. If you could recommend any book to your admissions counselor, what would it be and why?
  • Jimi Hendrix, Band of Horses, Nirvana, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Quincy Jones, Death Cab for Cutie…Seattle has a rich musical history and SU students are always finding new songs for their personal soundtrack in the city. Tell us five of your favorite songs, the musician(s) who play them, and why they made the list (two to three sentences for each song is appropriate).
  • Seattle University is one of the 28 Jesuit Catholic colleges and universities in the US. A hallmark of Jesuit education is the value it places on continual reflection and discernment as paths for discovering meaning in our lives. Take time to reflect on your college search and application process. What have you learned about yourself as you consider your future in college and beyond? Who do you feel called to be? (Required, 100-250 words.)
Please elaborate on one of your favorite extracurricular activities or work experiences. (Required, 50-100 words.)

No supplement.

No supplement.

No supplement.

We know that colleges ask a lot of hard questions on their applications. This one is not so hard and we promise, there is no hidden agenda-just have fun! If you could star in any movie, what movie would you pick and why? (500-750 words)

During January block, Soka students participate in a Learning Cluster or research seminar where students work in teams with faculty to propose, research, and model constructive approaches to local, regional and/or global issues. What question would you investigate during a Learning Cluster? Describe why this topic is one you are passionate about and how you envision solving or supporting this particular issue? (Required, 500-750 words.)
In today's world, what is your purpose in seeking a liberal arts education? Among the many fine colleges and universities you might attend, how do you think SUA could help you fulfill that purpose? (Required, 500-750 words.)

SMU appeals to students for a variety of reasons. Briefly describe why you are interested in attending SMU and what specific factors have led you to apply. (Response required in 250 words.)
SMU is a diverse learning environment shaped by the convergence of ideas and cultures. How will your unique experiences or background enhance the University, and how will you benefit from this community? (Response required in 250 words.)

No supplement.

No supplement.

No supplement.

Saint Anselm College is a school that is fostered by a strong sense of community. In no more than 250 words, please describe how you will use your skills, talents, and interests to impact our community. Feel free to submit your ZeeMee profile link instead of writing an answer to this question. Simply copy and paste your ZeeMee profile link in the box below. (Required, 250 words.)
Saint Anselm College partners with ZeeMee, and we would love to see your application come to life! If you have a ZeeMee account, please share your link. (Optional.)

No supplement.

No supplement.

Discuss a book that has particular significance for you. What makes this book great in your view? What effect does it have on what you think or how you think? (Required, minimum 400 words.)
Do you have any questions about the college or your application? (Optional, 200 words.)
Share with us any aspect of your personal or family story relevant to understanding who you are today or who you want to be in the future. (Optional, 200 words.)
What about St. John’s interests you most? (Optional, 200 words.)

Discuss a book that has particular significance for you. What makes this book great in your view? What effect does it have on what you think or how you think? (Required, minimum 400 words.)

Please submit a brief 250-word essay discussing your reasons for choosing a career in pharmacy and why you are applying to St. John's University. (Applicants to Pharmacy program only. 250 words.)

No supplement.

No supplement.

Please share with us how you became interested in Saint Mary's College of California and why you have chosen to apply for admission. (Required, 50-300 words.)
What astounds you? (Required, 150-500 words.)

Why are you interested in Saint Michael's College? (Required, 250 words.)

Everyone knows that I... (Required, 10 words.)
No one knows that I... (Required, 10 words.)
St. Olaf should know that I… (Required, 10 words.)
St. Olaf isn't just a place to spend four years. Our community challenges and empowers Oles to become individuals of action and substance. They are committed members of classrooms, ensembles, teams, and organizations. Oles discover, collaborate, create, question, and inspire. They become engaged citizens who shape the world. As a St. Olaf student, how would you make an impact on campus? We will take your response to the following prompt into consideration as we award service leadership scholarships. (Optional, 500 words.)
How are you and St. Olaf a good fit for each other? (Required, 100 words.)

Read Our Guide on How to Write the Stanford University Application Essays for 2017-2018

How did you spend your last two summers? (Response required in about 50 words.)
Imagine you had an extra hour in the day — how would you spend that time? (Response required in about 50 words.)
Name one thing you are looking forward to experiencing at Stanford. (Response required in about 50 words.)
Tell us about something that is meaningful to you and why. (Response required in about 100-250 words.)
The Stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. Reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning. (Response required in about 100-250 words.)
Virtually all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate -- and us -- know you better. (Response required in about 100-250 words.)
What five words best describe you? (Response required in about 50 words.)
What historical moment of event do you wish you could have witnessed? (Response required in about 50 words.)
What is the most significant challenge that society faces today? (Response required in about 50 words.)
When the choice is yours, what do you read, listen to, or watch? (Response required in about 50 words.)

Read Our Guide on How to Write the Stevens Institute of Technology Application Essays for 2017-2018

Please provide an essay of 500 words or less on why you want to go into the medical field. (Response required in 500 words.) *This essay is required for accelerated medical program applicants only.

Please share why you have chosen to consider Stonehill among your possible college options. (Optional, 250 words.)
The following quotation is from Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland: ''Who are YOU?'' said the Caterpillar. This was not an encouraging opening for a conversation. Alice replied, rather shyly, ''I–I hardly know, sir, just at present– at least I know who I WAS when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then.'' Provide a response in which you address the following: ''Describe one or more experiences and how they have played a significant role in shaping the person you are today. Be sure to answer the Caterpillar’s question, ‘Who are YOU’ and also who you hope to become in the future.' (Applicants to Honors program only, 600 words.)

Read Our Guide on How to Write the Swarthmore College Application Essays for 2017-2018

In 150 to 250 words, please write about why you are interested in applying to and attending Swarthmore.

Read Our Guide on How to Write the Syracuse University Application Essays for 2017-2018

Discuss a recent event or news story (international, national or local) that inspired you to take action. What did you attempt to change or achieve? Were you successful or not? What did you learn from the experience? (Response required in 250 words.) *This essay is required for applicants to the Citizenship and Civic Engagement program only.
Who is the person you dream of becoming and how do you believe Syracuse University can help you achieve this? (Response required in 250 words.)
Who or what influenced you to apply to Syracuse University? (Response required in 250 words.)

We want to know you—how you have developed academically and spiritually, what’s important to you, and how you imagine contributing to the Taylor community. We are especially interested in knowing how God is working in and through you. Other applicants may have similar credentials, but none have your particular experiences. Your story is unique. If you prefer the pen (or computer), write your story. Tell us how you’ve seen God working in your life, whether through a specific circumstance or in the grand scheme, and tell us why Taylor’s discipleship community appeals to you. Your story should be between 400 and 700 words. (Required, but can be completed during interview.)

ApplyTexas Application:
What was the environment you were raised in? Describe your family, home, neighborhood, or community, and explain how it has shaped you as a person. (Response required in about a page to a page and a half.)
Most students have an identity, an interest, or a talent that defines them in an essential way. Tell us about yourself. (Response required in about a page to a page and a half.)
You've got a ticket in your hand. Where will you go? What will you do? What will happen when you get there? (Response required in about a page to a page and a half.)
Coalition Application
Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it. (Response required in about a page to a page and a half.)
Describe a time when you made a meaningful contribution to others in which the greater good was your focus. Discuss the challenges and rewards of making your contribution. (Response required in about a page to a page and a half.)
Submit an essay on a topic of your choice. The essay should be personal and utilized as a tool to share your story with the Admissions Committee. (Response required in about a page to a page and a half.)

Read Our Guide on How to Write the Texas Christian University Application Essays for 2017-2018

How would you describe your personal character? (Response required in 100-250 words.)
TCU values individuality and believes that students are more than just a GPA and test score. To help us get to know you even better, consider this opportunity to further express yourself. The only limitations are the boundaries of your imagination. Please upload an essay, poem, work of art or a URL that showcases another side of you.
What makes TCU a great fit for you? (Response required in 100-250 words.)

Discuss your reasons for pursuing the Major/Academic Program selected above. (Required, 250 words.)
Why are you interested in Texas Lutheran University? (Required, 250 words.)

No supplement.

Describe life within your family. (For example: Do you have brothers and sisters? Are your parents divorced or separated? What interests do you share with other members of your family? What interests do you pursue in your free time?) What challenges or obstacles have you faced in your life and how have you dealt with them? Have you pursued any occupations or careers? If so, please describe your experience. Have you discussed your plans for college with members of your family? If so, what do they think? (Required, 250-500 words.)
a. Describe your reading habits and your experience with books. b. Choose a book you consider to be excellent and write about some important aspect of it. Please do not write a book report: your essay should be neither a summary nor a mere description of your reaction to the book. You should not, for example, simply describe how Huckleberry Finn changed your life or how much you loathe the character of Madame Defarge in A Tale of Two Cities. Rather, if you choose a work of fiction, your essay should deal with some important theme(s) and/or character development(s). If you choose a work of non-fiction, please comment on the author’s argumentation. Successful book essays are generally 2 pages (500 words) in length. (Required, 250-500 words.)
Please evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the education you have received until now. You may also relate some school experience, or other experience, which was formative for you. (Required, 250-500 words.)
a. Thomas Aquinas College is a Catholic college, although one need not be a Catholic to attend. How do you understand the relation between the curriculum and the Catholic character of the College? b. Every college has rules governing campus life. Some at Thomas Aquinas College are no longer commonly found at other colleges. There are regulations against consuming alcohol on campus, for example, and visiting residence halls of the opposite sex. There is also a curfew and dress code. How do you think such regulations are related to wisdom and the life of learning? Please comment on your willingness to abide by them. (Required, 250-500 words.)
Why do you wish to attend Thomas Aquinas College? What aspects of the College most appeal to you and why? The Admissions Committee is particularly interested in your understanding of the academic program of the College, especially the fully-integrated, non-elective character of the curriculum. Please comment as well on your willingness and ability to participate in classroom discussions. (Required, 250-500 words.)

No supplement.

Explain how you anticipate your education at Trevecca Nazarene University will prepare you for your future career and help you to fulfill your goals and aspirations. (Required, a few sentences.)
Please share your statement of faith. (Required, a few sentences.)
Is there anything else you would like the admissions committee to know? (Optional, a few sentences.)

Please consider writing an additional, optional essay that focuses on your specific interest in Trinity College. You may select one of the following prompts and write an essay of 250-650 words. you can type directly into the box or you can paste text from another source.
  • a. We live in an urban-global age with more than half of the planet's people living in cities. Trinity College is an urban liberal arts college deeply engaged with the local community and committed to making an impact across the world. How do you aspire to use your education to impact local and global communities?
  • b. Our mission states: "Engage. Connect. Transform. As the preeminent liberal arts college in an urban setting, Trinity College prepares students to be bold, independent thinkers who lead transformative lives." Keeping the three pillars of the mission in mind, how do you see yourself contributing to the Trinity community? (Optional, 250-650 words.)

Do you profess to be a Christian, acknowledging Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior? If Yes: Please share how your faith impacts your daily life and desire to study at Trinity. If No or Unsure: Please describe your religious/spiritual beliefs and how they influence your daily life, and then share why you would like to study at Trinity. (Required, 4050 characters.)

No supplement.

Read Our Guide on How to Write the Tufts University Supplemental Essays for 2017-2018

Now we’d like to know a little bit more about you. Please respond to one of the following six questions . Students applying to the SMFA at Tufts BFA program must answer prompt F; we strongly recommend that candidates for the 5 year SMFA combined degree program choose either prompt D or F:
  • It's cool to be smart. Tell us about the subjects or ideas that excite your intellectual curiosity.
  • In a time when we’re always plugged in (and sometimes tuned out), tell us about a time when you listened, truly listened, to a person or a cause. How did that moment change you?
  • Celebrate the role of sports in your life.
  • Whether you've built blanket forts or circuit boards, produced community theater or mixed media art installations, tell us: what have you invented, engineered, created, or designed? Or what do you hope to?
  • What makes you happy? Why?
  • Artist Bruce Nauman once said: "One of the factors that still keeps me in the studio is that every so often I have to more or less start all over." Everyone deals with failure differently; for most artists failure is an opportunity to start something new. Tell us about a time when you have failed and how that has influenced your art practice. (Response required in 200-250 words.)
There is a Quaker saying: “Let your life speak.” Describe the environment in which you were raised – your family, home, neighborhood, or community – and how it influenced the person you are today. (Response required in 200-250 words.)
Which aspects of Tufts’ curriculum or undergraduate experience prompt your application? In short: “Why Tufts?” (Response required in 50-100 words.)

Read Our Guide on How to Write the Tulane University Application Essays for 2017-2018

Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. (Response required in 250 words.)

No supplement.

Read Our Guide on How to Write the University of California Application Essays for 2017-2018

You will have 8 questions to choose from. You must respond to only 4 of the 8 questions.
  • Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.
  • Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.
  • What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
  • Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
  • Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?
  • Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.
  • What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
  • Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California? (Response required in 350 words each.)

Read Our Guide on How to Write the University of California Application Essays for 2017-2018

You will have 8 questions to choose from. You must respond to only 4 of the 8 questions.
  • Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.
  • Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.
  • What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
  • Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
  • Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?
  • Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.
  • What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
  • Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California? (Response required in 350 words each.)

Read Our Guide on How to Write the University of California Application Essays for 2017-2018

You will have 8 questions to choose from. You must respond to only 4 of the 8 questions.
  • Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.
  • Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.
  • What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
  • Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
  • Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?
  • Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.
  • What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
  • Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California? (Response required in 350 words each.)

Read Our Guide on How to Write the University of California Application Essays for 2017-2018

You will have 8 questions to choose from. You must respond to only 4 of the 8 questions.
  • Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.
  • Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.
  • What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
  • Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
  • Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?
  • Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.
  • What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
  • Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California? (Response required in 350 words each.)

Read Our Guide on How to Write the University of California Application Essays for 2017-2018

You will have 8 questions to choose from. You must respond to only 4 of the 8 questions.
  • Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.
  • Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.
  • What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
  • Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
  • Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?
  • Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.
  • What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
  • Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California? (Response required in 350 words each.)

Read Our Guide on How to Write the University of California Application Essays for 2017-2018

You will have 8 questions to choose from. You must respond to only 4 of the 8 questions.
  • Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.
  • Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.
  • What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
  • Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
  • Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?
  • Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.
  • What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
  • Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California? (Response required in 350 words each.)

Read Our Guide on How to Write the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Application Essays 2017-2018

In addition to the essay you provided with your Common Application, please choose two of the prompts below:
  • Tell us about a peer who has made a difference in your life.
  • What do you hope will change about the place where you live?
  • What is one thing that we don’t know about you that you want for us to know?
  • What about your background, or what perspective, belief, or experience, will help you contribute to the education of your classmates at UNC? (Response required in 200-250 words each.)
We hope you’ll share with us the activities that you’ve found especially worthwhile. We also hope you won’t feel compelled to tell us everything you’ve ever done or, worse yet, to do things that mean little to you just because you think we want you to do them. We also hope you’ll remember—because we never forget—that low-profile pursuits can be just as meaningful as ones that draw more attention, and that fewer activities can be just as good as more, and sometimes even better. Although starting a new club, for example, can be a great experience and helpful to others, so can caring for siblings, parents, or grandparents, or working outside the home to put food on the table, or being a good and caring friend. We hope you won’t feel as though you have to do the ormer, especially if you’re doing so will keep you from doing the latter. For all these reasons, although we’re glad to receive complete résumés, we don’t require or encourage them. Instead, if you choose to submit something that goes beyond what you’re providing through your Common Application, we encourage you to keep it brief; focus less on including everything than on choosing and explaining the things that have meant the most to you; and upload it here.

What inspired you to apply to Union? (Required, 150 words.)

Please share why the Christian emphasis at Union University appeals to you. (Required, word count not specified.)
Summarize your personal relationship with Jesus Christ. (Required, word count not specified.)

On a separate sheet of paper, give a biographical sketch. In this sketch, it is required that you include your reasons for wishing to attend the academy and that you state your understanding and willingness to accept the service obligation upon graduation. Furthermore, it is highly recommended that you also include a discussion of your curriculum preference, and the development of your career interest as a result of your high school classes, hobbies, and activities – including any sailing and/or military experience. (Required, 200-300 words.)

Explain why you want to attend the United States Military Academy and serve on active duty as an Army officer.
West Point and the Army are committed to the idea that respect for others and an understanding of diversity are important leadership traits. Why will you be successful in working with leaders, peers, and subordinates of a gender, color, ethnicity, and/or religion different from your own?
What are the most important qualities in becoming a successful USMA cadet and a successful Army officer?

No supplement.

The University of Arizona does not require a personal statement to review your application for undergraduate admission. However, if you would like to share any relevant information about your academic record that is not reflected on your transcripts including, for example, hardships you have experienced, or any learning and/or attention differences, you may do so in this optional statement. (Optional, 500 words.)

The University of Arkansas strives to include students who are actively engaged in academics, community service, work, and (or) various extracurricular activities. If you have a story that will help us understand who you are beyond your grades and test scores, please share it with us. (Optional, 2000 characters with spaces.)

Answer 4 of 8:
  • Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time.
  • Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.
  • What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
  • Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
  • Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?
  • Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.
  • What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
  • Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California? (Required, 350 words each.)

Read Our Guide on How to Write the University of California Application Essays for 2017-2018

You will have 8 questions to choose from. You must respond to only 4 of the 8 questions.
  • Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.
  • Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.
  • What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
  • Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
  • Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?
  • Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.
  • What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
  • Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California? (Response required in 350 words each.)

Discuss your reasons for pursuing the academic program (major) selected above. (Required, 250 words.)
Why are you interested in UCF? (Required, 250 words.)

Learn how to write the UChicago 2017-2018 Essays

Choose one of the six extended essay options:
  • The aim of argument, or of discussion, should not be victory, but progress.” – Joseph Joubert Sometimes, people talk a lot about popular subjects to assure ‘victory’ in conversation or understanding, and leave behind topics of less popularity, but great personal or intellectual importance. What do you think is important but underdiscussed? - Anonymous Suggestion
  • Due to a series of clerical errors, there is exactly one typo (an extra letter, a removed letter, or an altered letter) in the name of every department at the University of Chicago. Oops! Describe your new intended major. Why are you interested in it and what courses or areas of focus within it might you want to explore? Potential options include Commuter Science, Bromance Languages and Literatures, Pundamentals: Issues and Texts, Ant History... a full list of unmodified majors ready for your editor’s eye is available here: collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/majors - Inspired by Josh Kaufman, Class of 2018
  • Earth. Fire. Wind. Water. Heart! Captain Planet supposes that the world is made up of these five elements. We’re familiar with the previously-noted set and with actual elements like hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon, but select and explain another small group of things (say, under five) that you believe compose our world. - Inspired by Dani Plung, Class of 2017
  • The late NYTimes photographer Bill Cunningham once said 'Fashion is the armor to survive the reality of everyday life. I don’t think you could do away with it. It would be like doing away with civilization.' Tell us about your 'armor'. - Inspired by Adam Berger, Class of 2020
  • Fans of the movie Sharknado say that they enjoy it because “it’s so bad, it’s good.” Certain automobile owners prefer classic cars because they “have more character.” And recently, vinyl record sales have skyrocketed because it is perceived that they have a warmer, fuller sound. Discuss something that you love not in spite of but rather due to its quirks or imperfections. - Inspired by Alex Serbanescu, Class of 2021
  • In the spirit of adventurous inquiry, pose your own question or choose one of our past prompts. Be original, creative, thought provoking. Draw on your best qualities as a writer, thinker, visionary, social critic, sage, citizen of the world, or future citizen of the University of Chicago; take a little risk, and have fun. You can find our past prompts here: collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/past-essays (Response required in 1-2 pages.)
How does the University of Chicago, as you know it now, satisfy your desire for a particular kind of learning, community, and future? Please address with some specificity your own wishes and how they relate to UChicago. (Response required in file less than 2000KB.)

Obtaining a college degree requires persistence and the ability to stay focused on the end result. Share with us a long-term goal that you had, the steps/process you took to obtain that goal, and how you overcame any obstacles that you encountered. This goal could be academic, personal, or extracurricular in nature. (Required, approximately 250 words.)
Please provide a 500-word statement expressing how you became interested in the area of theater design and production. Your statement should also address what you expect to gain out of the UC experience, what direction you intend to go upon graduation, and how UC will help you accomplish your personal and professional goals. (Applicants to Theater Design program only. 500 words.)
What events or details have shaped you and your goals of becoming a nurse? These can be personal or family experiences, history, people, or events. (Applicants to Nursing program only. 500 words.)

Read Our Guide on How to Write the University of Colorado - Boulder Application Essays for 2017-2018

As a vibrant community of learners dedicated to inclusive excellence, the students, faculty and staff at the University of Colorado Boulder seek to be open and respectful of contrasting beliefs and opinions. Every student has a unique life experience and a set of circumstances by which they are shaped and influenced. Your background may have been shaped by family history, cultural traditions, race, ethnicity, religion, politics, income, ideology, gender identity or sexual orientation. Reflect on your unique background and tell us about a time when you had to relate to someone whose life experience was very different from your own. How did you approach the difference? If put in a similar situation again today, would you respond differently? If so, how? (Response required in 250-650 words.)

No supplement.

Read Our Guide on How to Write the University of Delaware Application Essays for 2017-2018

Anticipate what it will be like for you as a student at the University of Delaware. Both in and out of the classroom, where do you expect to feel most comfortable and where will you need to stretch? (Response required in 200 words.)
Describe an accomplishment that took a great deal of time and/or effort on your part. What motivated you to persevere when it got challenging? Who or what did you turn to for support, and how was that helpful? (Response required in 200 words.)
Relate a personal experience in which you were denied an opportunity or treated unfairly. How did you resolve the situation? If that were to happen during your college experience, what would you do? (Response required in 200 words.)
Self-Appraisal of your academic performance: Your academic performance. With Delaware's increasing selectivity, grades of "B" or above are expected. The Admissions Committee expects that you will take advantage of this question to explain any grade on your transcript that is unusually low or varies significantly from your usual performance in the section below. (Response required in 500 words.)
Why UD? In one or two sentences, tell us why the University of Delaware excites you. (Response required in 1-2 sentences.)

No supplement.

Describe what you have done to understand the role of the physician assistant and why you feel this is your career path. (Applicants to Physician Assistant direct entry program only. 100-600 words.)

Read Our Guide on How to Write the University of Florida Application Essays for 2017-2018

Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.
Describe a time when you made a meaningful contribution to others in which the greater good was your focus. Discuss the challenges and rewards of making your contribution.
Has there been a time when you’ve had a long-cherished or accepted belief challenged? How did you respond? How did the challenge affect your beliefs?
What is the hardest part of being a teenager now? What’s the best part? What advice would you give a younger sibling or friend (assuming they would listen to you)?
Submit an essay on a topic of your choice. (Response required in 500 words.)

Read Our Guide on How to Write the University of Georgia Application Essays for 2017-2018

Essay 1 is required and Essays 2-5 are four options from which the applicant selects one.

1- (Required) The college admissions process can create anxiety. In an attempt to make it less stressful, please tell us an interesting or amusing story about yourself that you have not already shared in your application.
Choose one of the following four:
  • 2- UGA’s 2017 Commencement speaker Ernie Johnson (Class of ’79) told a story from his youth about what he refers to as blackberry moments. He has described these as “the sweet moments that are right there to be had but we’re just too focused on what we’re doing …, and we see things that are right there within our reach and we neglect them. Blackberry moments can be anything that makes somebody else’s day, that makes your day, that are just sweet moments that you always remember.” Tell us about one of your “blackberry moments” from the past five years.
  • 3- Creativity is found in many forms including artistic avenues, intellectual pursuits, social interactions, innovative solutions, et cetera. Tell us how you express your creativity.
  • 4- Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.
  • 5- Describe a problem, possibly related to your area of study, which you would like to solve. Explain its importance to you and what actions you would take to solve this issue.

We'd like to get to know you better! Please take this opportunity to write a short personal statement on a topic of your choice. (Required, 250 words.)

No supplement.

GPPA Statement: By applying to the GPPA programs, you are applying for a guaranteed seat in one of UIC's graduate or professional programs earlier than students who apply in a traditional manner. The GPPA program seeks to understand why you have chosen your intended profession and a guaranteed path into it. What makes you an ideal candidate for guaranteed admission rather than following a traditional path to your intended profession? How would a guaranteed seat contribute to your goals as an undergraduate? (Applicants to GPPA only. 400-500 words.)
Honors College Essay: In its mission statement, the UIC Honors College is described as a community of scholars whose goal is to enrich the education experience of undergraduates and allow the faculty and students of all disciplines to interact in teaching, learning and research. Please tell us “How can you contribute to the Honors College community?” What benefits do you expect in return? (Applicants to Honors College only. 400-500 words.)
GPPA Statement: By applying to the GPPA programs, you are applying for a guaranteed seat in one of UIC's graduate or professional programs earlier than students who apply in a traditional manner. The GPPA program seeks to understand why you have chosen your intended profession and a guaranteed path into it. What makes you an ideal candidate for guaranteed admission rather than following a traditional path to your intended profession? How would a guaranteed seat contribute to your goals as an undergraduate? (Required for all applicants. 400-500 words.)

Read Our Guide on How to Write the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Application Essays for 2017-2018

Additional information that you believe should be included. (Response required in 200 words.)
Explain your interest in the major you selected and describe how you have recently explored or developed this interest inside and/or outside the classroom. You may also explain how this major relates to your future career goals. If you're applying to the Division of General Studies, explain your academic interests and strengths or your future career goals. You may include any majors or areas of study you're currently considering. (Response required in 300-400 words.)
If you select a second-choice major other than the Division of General Studies on your application, write a second essay explaining your interest in this major, too. (Response required in 300-400 words.)
In the space below, describe how you have made a difference in your high school or community and what you hope to contribute to life at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. (Response required in 100 words.)

No supplement.

No supplement.

No supplement.

No supplement.

Honors College only.

Please select one of the following prompts to address:
  • Think about something that changed your worldview (philosophical or ethical question, scientific theory, a literary text, a work of art/performance, or something else). Analyze it and discuss why and how it had such a significant impact on your thinking.
  • Many of this century's problems will require interdisciplinary solutions. Identify an important problem and describe an interdisciplinary approach to solving that problem. (600-650 words.)
What are your areas of interest and involvement in and outside of school? (25-250 words.)
What are your principal areas of academic interest? What are your career goals? (25-250 words.)
What service and leadership experience have you engaged in through school or the community? (25-250 words.)

Choose 1 of 5:
  • Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.
  • Describe a time when you made a meaningful contribution to others in which the greater good was your focus. Discuss the challenges and rewards of making your contribution.
  • Has there been a time when you’ve had a long-cherished or accepted belief challenged? How did you respond? How did the challenge affect your beliefs?
  • What is the hardest part of being a teenager now? What’s the best part? What advice would you give a younger sibling or friend (assuming they would listen to you)?
  • Submit an essay on a topic of your choice. (Response required in 500 words.)

No supplement.

No supplement

Read Our Guide on How to Write the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Application Essays for 2017-2018

Describe the unique qualities that attract you to the specific undergraduate College or School (including preferred admission and dual degree programs) to which you are applying at the University of Michigan. How would that curriculum support your interests? (Response required in 500 words.)
Everyone belongs to many different communities and/or groups defined by (among other things) shared geography, religion, ethnicity, income, cuisine, interest, race, ideology, or intellectual heritage. Choose one of the communities to which you belong, and describe that community and your place within it. (Response required in about 250 words.)
If you could only do one of the activities you have listed in the Activities section of your Common Application, which one would you keep doing? Why? (Response required in about 100 words.)

Please include an explanation of why you would like to study the major(s) you have selected. You may also use this space to indicate your interest in other major(s) in the colleges listed above. (Response required in 150 words.)
The University values diversity, broadly defined to include diversity of experiences, perspectives, backgrounds, and talents. Enrolling a diverse community of scholars interested in learning with and from each other fosters discussion and discovery inside and outside of the classroom. Please share briefly how you might contribute to, or benefit from, our community of scholars. Please limit your short answer to 1,000 characters. (Response required in 1000 characters.)

Personal statement: Anything you wish to tell us about yourself. (Optional, must fit into application box.)

No supplement.

No supplement.

No supplement.

We would like to get to know you as well as possible through these application materials and believe that your thoughtful, well-constructed essay is an important step in the process. Please respond to one of the following questions. Your application essay should be of sufficient length to demonstrate your writing ability to the Admission Committee and to do justice to the topic. (Optional, minimum 300 words.)
What significant leadership or volunteer roles have you played? How have they impacted your life? (Required, minimum 300 words.)
What values do you cherish the most and how have you demonstrated them through the choices that you have made? (Required, minimum 300 words.)
What would you like our admission committee to know about you that we cannot learn simply by reviewing your high school transcript and other records submitted in support of your application? (Required, minimum 300 words.)

This is your opportunity to share something about yourself that goes beyond school records and grades. Help us get to know you through your own personal story. (For applicants seeking scholarship opportunities. 350 words.)

Describe a person or event that had a significant impact in defining your scholarly, professional and personal goals. Your essay should also describe what part the Honors College plays in achieving these goals. (Applicants to Honors program only. 500 words.)

Read Our Guide on How to Write the University of Notre Dame Application Essays for 2017-2018

Please provide responses to TWO (2) of the following questions:
  • The University of Notre Dame is a Holy Cross institution whose educational philosophy has been formed around five core principles inspired by Blessed Basil Moreau, C.S.C., the founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross. These principles, or pillars, of a Holy Cross education are Mind, Heart, Zeal, Family, and Hope, and they continue to shape our students today. Which pillar or pillars resonate most with you? Why?
  • For whom are you responsible?
  • What is one thing that you know for a fact? Why are you certain?
  • Tell us about something significant that recently occurred in your community. Why does it matter to you? (Response required in about 175 words.)
What excites you about the University of Notre Dame that makes it stand out from other institutions? (Response required in about 175 words.)

The University of Oklahoma believes strongly in educating leaders of communities in Oklahoma, as well as across the country and the world. Please share your leadership experiences and why they are important to you. (Optional, 650 words.)
The University of Oklahoma is home to a vibrant, diverse and compassionate University community. Our President, David L. Boren, refers to our strong community as “the OU Family.” Please describe your cultural and community service activities and why you chose to participate in them. (Optional, 650 words.)

Choose one:
  • 1. Describe an experience with discrimination, whether it was fighting against discrimination or recognizing your contribution to discriminating against a person or group. What did you learn from the experience? In what ways will you bring those lessons to University of Oregon?
  • 2. The University of Oregon values difference, and we take pride in our diverse community. Please explain how you will share your experiences, values, and interests with our community. In what ways can you imagine offering your support to others? (Optional, 500 words.)
Choose one:
  • 1. F. Scott Fitzgerald said that "the test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function." Explore a situation or experience in which you had to think about two ideas in contradiction with each other. How did you think through the conflict? Were you able to resolve the tension between ideas?
  • 2. Define what you mean by community (neighborhood, family or extended family, religious affiliation, etc.) and explain both why and how you have contributed to a community.
  • 3. Describe the scientific concept (e.g. plate tectonics, quantum mechanics) most important to your worldview and explain why it is so critical to your outlook. (Applicants to Honors program only, 500 words.)
Write an essay that shares information that we cannot find elsewhere on your application. Any topic you choose is welcome. (Required, 500 words.)

Read Our Guide on How to Write the University of Pennsylvania Application Essays for 2017-2018

How will you explore your intellectual and academic interests at the University of Pennsylvania? Please answer this question given the specific undergraduate school to which you are applying. (Response required in 400-650 words.)

Read Our Guide on How to Write the University of Pittsburgh Application Essays for 2017-2018

Describe a challenge that you think you will face in college and how you anticipate handling the challenge. (Response required in 200-300 words.)
How have you made an impact at your high school? Choose one example and tell us about it. (Response required in 200-300 words.)
Pitt receives nearly 30,000 applications each year. What makes you unique? (Response required in 200-300 words.)

Please tell us why you are applying to UP. (Required, 500 words.)

Choose one of the following:
  • Sometimes asking the right question makes all the difference. If you were a college admission counselor, what essay question would you ask? Please craft and answer your own essay prompt – in your response, reflect on what your chosen question reveals about you.
  • How will you use your Richmond Guarantee? (Required, 650 words.)

Read Our Guide on How to Write the University of Rochester Application Essays for 2017-2018

Fugitive slave, abolitionist, entrepreneur, feminist, intellectual, and Rochester luminary Frederick Douglass said “Man’s greatness consists in his ability to do and the proper application of his powers to things needed to be done.” You’re showing us your “ability to do” in this application. Please describe also how you apply your “powers to things needed to be done.” Explain why you want to join our Rochester community of independent thinkers who create positive change and make the world “ever better.” (Response required in 250 words.)

Respond to one of the following essay prompts:
  • The year 2024 will mark USD’s 75th anniversary. In preparation for this milestone, we as a campus community are looking to grow in meaningful and impactful ways. We are looking to set the standard for an engaged, contemporary Catholic university where innovative changemakers confront humanity’s urgent challenges. In what ways do you hope to grow by the year 2024? Where do you see yourself, and what type of impact do you hope to have on the world around you?
  • Here at USD, we believe that our campus community is an integral part of who we are as a university. Our students come from all walks of life, have experienced very different realities and bring with them an array of unique perspectives. What contribution have you made to your high school and/or local community that best exemplifies your awareness and sensitivity towards promoting a diverse and inclusionary environment?
  • Catholic higher education is distinctive from other educational approaches. Grounded in the liberal arts, the Catholic approach to education emphasizes the importance of compassionate service, ethical conduct, diversity and inclusion, and social justice. It is also designed to promote the holistic formation of students, attending not only to their academic growth but also their psychological and spiritual development. Knowing this, what particular element of Catholic higher education most appeals to you, and how do you envision that element impacting your experience at USD?
  • USD is a proud Changemaker Campus, as designated by Ashoka U. As such, the USD undergraduate experience is one that emphasizes civic engagement, social innovation and global perspective. If you had the opportunity to get involved with a project or organization that addresses a contemporary problem, what problem would you address and why? (Response required in 200-300 words.)

Choose one of the following:
  • The University of San Francisco's Jesuit tradition emphasizes community engagement and education for social justice, inspiring our students to become passionate agents for others. How do you see yourself becoming a part of this mission?
  • A USF education is intensely personal and intellectually demanding, emphasizing disciplined thinking and life-changing experiences. As you think about the many academic programs offered at USF, what fields of study are you drawn to and why? (Required, 200 words.)

No supplement.

Tell us something that you have not already told us in this application that will help us to better understand your potential for academic success as a college student. (Required, 2000 characters.)

How did you first learn of USC Aiken? (Optional, 2000 characters.)
What other colleges/universities (if any) are you currently considering? (Optional, 2000 characters.)

Read Our Guide on How to Write the University of Southern California Application Essays for 2017-2018

Best movie of all time? (Response required in 1 sentence.)
Choose one of the following:
  • USC believes that one learns best when interacting with people of different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. Tell us about a time you were exposed to a new idea or when your beliefs were challenged by another point of view. OR
  • Describe something outside of your intended academic focus about which you are interested in learning. OR
  • What is something about yourself that is essential to understanding you? (Response required in 250 words.)
Describe how you plan to pursue your academic interests at USC. Please feel free to address your first- and second-choice major selections. (Response required in 250 words.)
Dream Job (Response required in 1 sentence.)
Dream Trip (Response required in 1 sentence.)
Favorite app/website (Response required in 1 sentence.)
Hashtag to describe yourself (Response required in 1 sentence.)
Place you are most content (Response required in 1 sentence.)
What is your favorite snack? (Response required in 1 sentence.)
What is your theme song? (Response required in 1 sentence.)
What TV show will you binge watch next? (Response required in 1 sentence.)
While scientists yearn to discover the world that exists, Engineers and Computer Scientists seek to create the world that never was. Our faculty and students believe collaborative teams are the key to great accomplishments. Please describe a time in your life (academic, co-curricular, or otherwise) where you had to collaborate to accomplish more than you could alone. (Response required in 250 words.) *This essay is required for engineering applicants only.
While the world as a whole may be more technologically advanced than ever before, the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) has outlined 14 Grand Challenges that engineers should focus on to improve life on the planet. Learn about the Grand Challenges at www.engineeringchallenges.org and tell us which challenge is most important, and why. (Response required in 250 words.) *This essay is required for engineering applicants only.

The University of St. Thomas is committed to living out its mission to “educate morally responsible leaders who think critically, act wisely and work skillfully to advance the common good.” What does this mission mean to you and how might it shape your actions as a future leader? (Required, 250-650 words.)

Choose one of the following:
  • The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or a time you experienced failure. How did it affect you and what did you learn from the experience?
  • Tell us about a time when you took the lead in solving an issue or a challenge impacting you or your community, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you, what steps you took to identify a solution, and the impact of your efforts.
  • What makes you unique? We strive to know the whole you and want to better understand how your unique qualities will contribute to our campus community. Share with us the qualities you believe make you “you” and/or a unique experience that will help introduce us to you. (Required, 250-800 words.)

Read Our Guide on How to Write the University of Texas — Austin Application Essays for 2017-2018

What was the environment in which you were raised? Describe your family, home, neighborhood or community, and explain how it has shaped you as a person.
Considering nursing as your first-choice major, discuss how your current and future academic activities, extracurricular pursuits and life experiences will help you achieve your goals. *This essay is required for students listing nursing as their first-choice major only.
If you could have any career, what would it be? Why? Describe any activities you are involved in, life experiences you’ve had, or even classes you’ve taken that have helped you identify this professional path. (Response required in 40 lines or 250-300 words.)
Do you believe your academic record (transcript information and test scores) provide an accurate representation of you as a student? Why or why not? (Response required in 40 lines or 250-300 words.)
How do you show leadership in your life? How do you see yourself being a leader at UT Austin? (Response required in 40 lines or 250-300 words.)
Personal interaction with objects, images and spaces can be so powerful as to change the way one thinks about particular issues or topics. For your intended area of study (art history, design, studio art, visual art studies/art education), describe an experience where instruction in that area or your personal interaction with an object, image or space effected this type of change in your thinking. What did you do to act upon your new thinking and what have you done to prepare yourself for further study in this area? (Response required in 450-500 words.) *This essay is required only for art and art history majors.
Discuss the reasons you chose social work as your first-choice major and how a social work degree from UT Austin will prepare you for the future. (Response required in 450-500 words.) *This essay is required only for social work applicants.

No supplement.

Read Our Guide on How to Write the University of Tulsa Supplemental Essays for 2017-2018

Please complete this sentence: My favorite inspirational quote is… (Response required in 250 characters.)
Why are you interested in The University of Tulsa? (Response required in 250 words.)

Please describe your idea for a Praxis Lab. You can visit our Praxis Lab webpage to take a look at previous ideas. Tell us what community or social problem you would focus on, why this problem is critical to address, and what role collaboration must play in development of a concrete solution. (Applicants to the Honors program only. 500 words.)
What is it that interests you about the Liberal Arts and Sciences education (hint: look this term up) offered by the Honors College? (Applicants to the Honors program only. 50 words.)
The most common answer to "Why do you want to be a nurse?" is "I want to help people". Tell us what "helping people as a nurse" means to you. Include any experiences or reasons that influence your decision to become a nurse. (Applicants to the Nursing program only. 1,000 words, double-spaced.)

No supplement.

Read Our Guide on How to Write the University of Virginia Supplement Essays for 2017-2018

Choose one of the following:
  • What's your favorite word and why?
  • We are a community with quirks, both in language and in traditions. Describe one of your quirks and why it is part of who you are.
  • Student self-governance, which encourages student investment and initiative, is a hallmark of the UVA culture. In her fourth year at UVA, Laura Nelson was inspired to create Flash Seminars, one-time classes which facilitate high-energy discussion about thought-provoking topics outside of traditional coursework. If you created a Flash Seminar, what idea would you explore and why?
  • UVA students paint messages on Beta Bridge when they want to share information with our community. What would you paint on Beta Bridge and why is this your message? (Response required in 250 words.)
Describe an instance or place where you have been inspired by architecture or design. (Response required in 250 words.) *This essay is required for applicants to the school of architecture only.
Discuss experiences that led you to choose the kinesiology major. (Response required in 250 words.) *This essay is required for prospective kinesiology majors only.
If you were given funding for a small engineering project that would make everyday life better for one friend or family member, what would you design? (Response required in 250 words.) *This essay is required for applicants to the school of engineering and applied sciences only.
School of Nursing applicants may have experience shadowing, volunteering, or working in a health care environment. Tell us about a health care-related experience or another significant interaction that deepened your interest in studying Nursing. (Response required in 250 words.) *This essay is required for applicants to the school of nursing only.
What work of art, music, science, mathematics, or literature has surprised, unsettled, or challenged you, and in what way? (Response required in 250 words.) *This essay is required for applicants to the college of arts and sciences only.

Read Our Guide on How to Write the University of Washington Application Essays for 2017-2018

A. Essay (Required) At the University of Washington, we consider the college essay as our opportunity to see the person behind the transcripts and the numbers. Some of the best statements are written as personal stories. In general, concise, straightforward writing is best, and good essays are often 300 to 400 words in length. Maximum length: 500 words
The UW will accept any of the five Coalition prompts. Choose from the options listed below.
  • Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.
  • Describe a time when you made a meaningful contribution to others in which the greater good was your focus. Discuss the challenges and rewards of making your contribution.
  • Has there been a time when you’ve had a long-cherished or accepted belief challenged? How did you respond? How did the challenge affect your beliefs?
  • What is the hardest part of being a teenager now? What’s the best part? What advice would you give younger siblings or friends (assuming they would listen to you)?
  • Submit an essay on a topic of your choice.
Short Response (Required) Maximum length: 300 words Our families and communities often define us and our individual worlds. Community might refer to your cultural group, extended family, religious group, neighborhood or school, sports team or club, co-workers, etc. Describe the world you come from and how you, as a product of it, might add to the diversity of the University of Washington. Tip Keep in mind that the University of Washington strives to create a community of students richly diverse in cultural backgrounds, experiences, values, and viewpoints.
Additional Information About Yourself or Your Circumstances (Optional) Maximum length: 200 words You are not required to write anything in this section, but you may include additional information if something has particular significance to you. For example, you may use this space if: You are hoping to be placed in a specific major soon A personal or professional goal is particularly important to you You have experienced personal hardships in attaining your education Your activities have been limited because of work or family obligations You have experienced unusual limitations or opportunities unique to the schools you attended
Additional Space (Optional) You may use this space if you need to further explain or clarify answers you have given elsewhere in this application, or if you wish to share information that may assist the Office of Admissions. If appropriate, include the application question number to which your comment(s) refer.

Briefly explain how you decided which activity was the most important to you. (Required, 50-100 words.)
Please tell us about the particular life experiences, talents, commitments and/or interests you will bring specifically to our campus that will enrich our community. (Required, 1 full sheet of paper.)
Tell us about your academic goals, circumstances that may have an impact on your academic performance, and, in general, anything else you would like us to know in making an admission decision. (Required, 1 full sheet of paper.)

Read Our Guide on How to Write the University of Wisconsin-Madison Application Essays for 2017-2018

Briefly explain which activity you entered in the Common App Activities section is the most important to you. (Response required in 50-100 words.)
Tell us why you decided to apply to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In addition, share with us the academic, extracurricular, or research opportunities you would take advantage of as a student. If applicable, provide details of any circumstance that could have had an impact on your academic performance and/or extracurricular involvement. (Response required in 80-650 words.)

No supplement.

No supplement.

Please enter any additional comments you consider relevant to this application. (Required, 2000 characters.)
The USU Honors Program is looking for a diverse group of students with academic passion and the ability to share ideas across disciplines. Write an essay that describes thoughtfully and in detail one moment during high school (i.e. not an entire class or ongoing activity) when you became very excited about a specific idea, assignment, or activity connected with a class. How and why did this particular moment spark your interest? How do you plan to pursue and develop that intellectual passion in the University Honors Program, and how might you share that passion with students both in and outside of your future major? (Applicants to Honors program only. 500 words.)

No supplement.

Read Our Guide on How to Write the Vanderbilt University Application Essays for 2017-2018

Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. (Response required in 400 words.)

How did you learn about Vassar and what aspect of our college do you find appealing? (350 words)

Read Our Guide on How to Write the Villanova University Application Essays for 2017-2018

Choose one of the following:
  • At Villanova, we believe that it is our similarities that make us strong, but our differences that make us stronger. Please tell us about a relationship that you have with someone who is different from you and how that has changed who you are today. OR
  • "Become what you are not yet" - Saint Augustine. When you daydream, who do you hope to become in the future?
  • Describe a book, movie, song, or other work of art that has been significant to you since you were young and how its meaning has changed for you as you have grown.

Art History applicants are required to submit a research-based writing sample, no longer than 600 words. The paper should make a clear assertion about a selected topic, and it should site published sources that support that assertion. The paper may focus on a work of art, an historical event, a sociological phenomenon, a literary text, or other humanities topic. You will be prompted to submit your research paper as part of the Common Application. (Art History applicants only. 600 words.)
If you have written a screenplay, submit the first 10 pages and title page as an additional writing sample. Email your screenplay to arts@vcu.edu. Make sure to include your full name that you used on your application and your birthdate. Screenplays will only be accepted in pdf format. (Cinema Studies applicants only. 10 pages.)

VMI applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a statement indicating why you are interested in VMI and how our educational system can help you achieve your personal and educational goals. (Optional, 1 full sheet of paper.)

Read Our Guide on How to Write the Virginia Tech Application Essays for 2017-2018

You may respond to up to three of the essay prompts below (choose one, two, or three) as you feel they support your individual application. Your responses will be shared with the Honors College.
  • What are the top five reasons you want to be a Hokie?
  • If there is something you think would be beneficial for the Admissions Committee to know as we review your academic history, please take this opportunity to explain.
  • Our motto is Ut Prosim (That I May Serve). How is service to others important in your life?
  • We believe strongly in the Virginia Tech Principles of Community and the value of human diversity affirmed therein. Share a perspective or experience related to your culture, age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status that might explain how you will enrich the climate of mutual respect and understanding here.
  • Virginia Tech is one of six senior military institutions in the country. How will this setting contribute to your college experience?
  • Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.
  • Submit an essay on a topic of your choice. (Response required in 250 words each.)

If appropriate, please provide a statement of any special or unusual circumstances that you think should be considered when evaluating your Application for Admission. (Optional, 250-650 words.)

Read Our Guide on How to Write the Wake Forest University Application Essays for 2017-2018

59% of Wake Forest's Class of 2017 received academic credit for faculty-directed research across academic disciplines. Describe a specific high school assignment that sparked an academic curiosity you hope to explore further in college. (Response required in 75-150 words.)
Discuss the work of fiction you have read which has helped you most to understand the complexity of the world. (Response required in 100-300 words.)
Give us your top ten list. First, please provide a theme. (Response must fit into application box.)
How did you become interested in Wake Forest University and why are you applying? (Response required in 150 words.)
What have you learned about yourself from engaging with someone different with you? (Response required in 75-150 words.)
While divisions in American politics suggests that the art of persuasion has lost value, dialogue and debate help define the Wake Forest community. On what issue do you wish to persuade others? What is your argument? (Response required in 75-150 words.)
You have a popular podcast. What’s the title? What's the topic? (Response must fit into application box.)

No supplement.

No supplement.

FOR MERIT-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS ONLY — Choose one of the following (800 words):
  • The Honor System has been a hallmark of the Washington and Lee experience for well over a century. Exclusively governed by the W&L student body, the system exemplifies the trust and integrity that distinguish the campus at large. Reflect on a time when you have been entrusted with a significant responsibility. How did you earn it? More important, how did you respond?
  • OR Washington and Lee University’s “standards include civility. When free and equal people with different backgrounds and perspectives come together, disagreement is inevitable. In that contentious swirl of competing views, assertiveness is called for, but so, too, is reticence. You have to develop the courage of your convictions while entertaining the possibility you could be wrong. And you have to resist the temptation to demonize those who disagree with you as morally deficient just because they may not share your views.” (Kenneth Ruscio ’76, current President of Washington and Lee University). Reflect on a time when your stance on an issue changed as a result of civil discourse.
  • OR Consider the meaning of “fair,” especially how the term can be misused. What impact does fairness—perceived or actual—have in society and your life? Has fairness ever helped or hurt you personally? At what cost or benefit to you or others?
  • OR “To promote literature in this rising empire and to encourage the arts, have ever been amongst the warmest wishes of my heart.” (George Washington, 1798, first president of the United States and first major benefactor of Washington and Lee University) Describe a work of art that has influenced you, and discuss the impact it has had on you.
  • OR “What I want to hear after a Spring Term course is that ‘This class changed my life.’ ” (Marc Conner, Ballengee Professor of English and Interim Provost). W&L’s Spring Term is a four week, intensive experience during which students take only one course, allowing for undivided attention to the subject matter. Spring Term courses are known for innovative pedagogy, interdisciplinary scholarship, travel, and field work in diverse settings. If you could design a Spring Term course, what would you propose, and why would you choose to pursue that topic?
  • OR Non incautus futuri (not unmindful of the future) is a telling motto for the country’s ninth oldest higher education institution. In your opinion, what should W&L be most mindful about in preparing you for the future?
FOR MERIT-BASED SCHOLARSHIP ONLY: Please elaborate on how you have familiarized yourself with Washington and Lee University and what led to your decision to apply. (100-250 words)
FOR JEWISH SCHOLARSHIP ONLY: Submit a statement below describing your background and your interest in Jewish life at W&L.

No supplement.

Read Our Guide on How to Write the Wellesley College Supplemental Essays for 2017-2018

When choosing a college community, you are choosing a place where you believe that you can live, learn, and flourish. Generations of inspiring women have thrived in the Wellesley community, and we want to know what aspects of this community inspire you to consider Wellesley. We know that there are more than 100 reasons to choose Wellesley, but the ''Wellesley 100'' is a good place to start. Visit http://www.wellesley.edu/admission/100 and let us know, in two well-developed paragraphs, which two items most attract, inspire, or energize you and why. (p.s. ''Why'' matters to us.) (2 paragraphs)

Choose one of the following:
  • Wesleyan President Michael Roth believes a liberal arts education is a pragmatic choice in these times. In what way do you see a liberal arts education having practical value? (2 paragraphs)
  • OR What recent news story—local or global—has resonated with you personally? Share the story and tell us why it had that impact on you. (250 words)

No supplement.

Westmont encourages students to think deeply about the Christian faith and to develop the intellectual capacity to impact all areas of life. Highlight a part of your life (i.e., an experience, a relationship, a book, etc.) that you feel has begun to shape you for a college education rooted in the Christian liberal arts tradition. (Required, 250-500 words.)

Among the extracurricular activities you have participated in, which one is the most important to you and why? (Required, 50-200 words.)
In light of your faith in Jesus, what values and personal character traits are becoming more or less important to you? (Required, 100-200 words.)
Using specific examples, in what ways is Christ leading you to live out these qualities and values in the Church and world? (Required, 100-200 words.)

No supplement.

No supplement.

No supplement.

At Willamette, our motto -- Non nobis solum nati sumus: Not unto ourselves alone are we born -- animates our campus and inspires our graduates. With the benefits of a rigorous liberal arts education, Willamette Bearcats seek to apply what they have learned for the well-being of others. Can we count you with us? How do you hope to do good in the world? (Only for students not submitting ACT/SAT scores. 250 word minimum)

Read Our Guide on How to Write the Williams College Application Essays for 2017-2018

Choose one of the following: (300 words)
  • 1. At Williams we believe that bringing together students and professors in small groups produces extraordinary academic outcomes. Our distinctive Oxford-style tutorial classes—in which two students are guided by a professor in deep exploration of a single topic—are a prime example. Each week the students take turns developing independent work—an essay, a problem set, a piece of art—and critiquing their partner’s work. Focused on close reading, writing and oral defense of ideas, more than 60 tutorials a year are offered across the curriculum, with titles like Aesthetic Outrage, Financial Crises: Causes and Cures, and Genome Sciences: At the Cutting Edge. Imagine yourself in a tutorial at Williams. Of anyone in the world, whom would you choose to be your partner in the class, and why?
  • 2. Each Sunday night, in a tradition called Storytime, students, faculty and staff gather to hear a fellow community member relate a brief story from their life (and to munch on the storyteller’s favorite homemade cookies). What story would you share? What lessons have you drawn from that story, and how would those lessons inform your time at Williams?
  • 3. Every first-year student at Williams lives in an Entry—a thoughtfully constructed microcosm of the student community that’s a defining part of the Williams experience. From the moment they arrive, students find themselves in what’s likely the most diverse collection of backgrounds, perspectives and interests they’ve ever encountered. What might differentiate you from the 19 other first-year students in an entry? What perspective(s) would you add to the conversation with your peers?

No supplement.

Why are you interested in Wofford College? (Optional, 250 words.)

Read Our Guide on How to Write the Worcester Polytechnic Institute Application Essays for 2017-2018

In what ways are you a good match for WPI's distinctive educational and campus experience? (Response required in 500 words.)

No supplement.

No supplement.

Read Our Guide on How to Write the Yale University Application Essays for 2017-2018

Choose TWO of the following:
  • What do you most enjoy learning? AND/OR
  • Reflect on your engagement with a community to which you belong. How do you feel you have contributed to this community? AND/OR
  • Write on something you would like us to know about you that you have not conveyed elsewhere in your application. (Response required in about 250 words.)
If you selected one of the computer science or engineering majors, please tell us more about what has led you to an interest in this field of study, what experiences (if any) you have had in computer science or engineering, and what it is about Yale’s program in this area that appeals to you. (Response required in 500 words.) *This essay is required only for students who select a computer science or engineering major.
Most first-year Yale students live in suites of four to six people. What would you contribute to the dynamic of your suite? (Response required in 35 words.)
Students at Yale have plenty of time to explore their academic interests before committing to one or more major fields of study. Many students either modify their original academic direction or change their minds entirely. As of this moment, what academic areas seem to fit your interests or goals most comfortably? Please indicate up to three from the list provided. Why do these areas appeal to you? (Response required in 100 words.)
What inspires you? (Response required in 35 words.)
What is it about Yale that has led you to apply? (Response required in 125 words.)
Yale’s residential colleges regularly host intimate conversations with guests representing a wide range of experiences and accomplishments. What person, past or present, would you invite to speak? What question would you ask? (Response required in 35 words.)
You are teaching a Yale course. What is it called? (Response required in 35 words.)

All applicants, except for Honors Program applicants, must respond to one of the following prompts:
  • If you could design your ideal college course, what would it be and why?
  • Describe one time you advocated for yourself or for somebody else. Discuss the internal conflict and/or values that drove your decision to act. What, if any, were the rewards or consequences of your actions? (Response required in 750 words.)
If you could go back in time and relay a message to yourself at the beginning of high school, what would it be? (Response required in 150 characters.) *This essay is required for honors program applicants only.
If you could travel to one place you have never before visited, where would that be? Why? (Response required in 150 characters.) *This essay is required for honors program applicants only.
In addition to your intended major, what is another academic field in which you are interested? (Response required in 150 characters.) *This essay is required for honors program applicants only.
Name one political or social issue about which you are passionate. (Response required in 150 characters.) *This essay is required for honors program applicants only.
What book or written work do you feel should be mandatory reading for all students during their first year at Yeshiva University? Explain. (Response required in 750 words.) *This essay is required for S. Daniel Abrams honors program applicants only.
What would be your ideal career? Describe how your leadership, work, and/or internship experience would make you an ideal fit for this profession. (Response required in 750 words.) *This essay is required for S. Daniel Abrams honors program applicants only.
Which idea or invention would you “uninvent” if you could? Explain. (Response required in 750 words.) *This essay is required for honors program applicants only.
Who is one person (personal, fictional or historical) who has inspired you. Why? (Response required in 150 characters.) *This essay is required for honors program applicants only.

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