Hawaii Pacific University
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Hawaii Pacific University’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts
Business Scholars Short Response 1
What draws you to HPU’s Business Scholars Program? In particular, what features are especially attractive to you and why?
Business Scholars Short Response 2
The Business Scholars Program is one that encourages innovative thinking and academic excellence in pursuit of a career in business by facilitating experiential learning in a cohort living environment. What do you hope to gain from this type of academic environment and how do you think you can personally contribute to this learning community?
Engineering Scholars Short Response 1
What draws you to HPU’s Engineering Scholars Program? In particular, what features are especially attractive to you and why?
Engineering Scholars Short Response 2
A major component of the Engineering Scholars Program is the financial and faculty support of an independent Design Project in your first year. Share with us an innovative design idea that you would like to explore further as an Engineering Scholar. What real-world problem would your design idea address, and why is this of interest to you?
Marine Science Scholars Short Response 1
What draws you to HPU’s Marine Science Scholars Program? In particular, what features are especially attractive to you and why?
Marine Science Scholars Short Response 2
The Marine Science Scholars Program encourages examination of problems relevant to your major by facilitating experiential activities relevant to your interests in a cohort living environment. What do you hope to gain from this type of academic environment, and how do you think you can contribute to this learning community?
Nursing Scholars Short Response 1
What draws you to HPU’s Nursing Scholars Program? In particular, what features are especially attractive to you and why?
Nursing Scholars Short Response 2
The Nursing Scholars Program is a program that encourages in depth examination of problems relevant to your intended major by facilitating experiential extracurricular activities relevant to your major in a cohort living environment. What do you hope to gain from this type of academic environment, and how do you think you personally can contribute to this learning community?
Common App Personal Essay
The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response. Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don‘t feel obligated to do so.
Option 1
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.
Option 2
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?
Option 3
Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
Option 4
Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
Option 5
Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
Option 6
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?
Option 7
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.
