Supplemental Essay Prompts by School

Confirmed for 2026–27

American University Supplemental Essay Prompt 2026-27

American University asks one short supplemental essay about a belief, hobby, idea, issue, or topic your student is excited about.

First-year applicants

A topic you're excited about

American University students identify as changemakers and describe themselves as passionate. Describe a belief, hobby, idea, issue, or topic about which you’re excited.

Confirmed for 2026–27

Amherst College Supplemental Essay Prompts 2026-27

Amherst offers three options: respond to one of three quotation-based prompts (350 words), submit a graded paper, or use an A2A program essay.

Quotation Essay

What curiosity means to you

“Hope and curiosity, these are qualities that are the foundation of what Amherst College means, of everything that we do here. Curiosity is at the core of a liberal arts education, a spirit of inquiry that shapes not only what our students do in the classroom, but also how they learn from and about each other.” (Michael A. Elliott, 20th President of Amherst College, address at Amherst College’s 203rd Commencement) Prompt 1 Question: What does curiosity mean to you? How do you experience curiosity in your own life?

Enhancing our understanding of the world

“We seek an Amherst made stronger because it includes those whose experiences can enhance our understanding of our nation and our world. We do so in the faith that our humanity is an identity forged from diversity, and that our different perspectives enrich our inquiry, deepen our knowledge, strengthen our community, and prepare students to engage with an ever-changing world.” (from the Trustee Statement on Diversity and Community) Prompt 2 Question: In what ways could your unique experiences enhance our understanding of our nation and our world?

Engaging a different viewpoint

“We are working together to build a community that makes room for both true disagreement and true connection, one that practices the kind of recognition and robust negotiation that the everyday life of democracy requires, and one that explicitly prepares our students to work for the greater good in their professional and personal endeavors.” (Presidential Priorities: Serving the Greater Good) Prompt 3 Question: Tell us about a time that you engaged with a viewpoint different from your own. How did you enter that engagement, and what did you learn about yourself from it?

Alternate Options

Graded paper option

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.

A2A essay option

If you are/were an applicant to Amherst’s Access to Amherst (A2A) program, you may use your A2A application essay in satisfaction of our Writing Supplement requirement. If you would like to do so, please select Option C. However, if you would prefer not to use your A2A essay for this purpose and you want to submit a different writing supplement, select either Option A or Option B. Option A, Prompt 2 is the same prompt as the A2A application essay; if you would like to submit an updated version of your A2A application essay, please choose Option A. (Please note that Option C is available only to applicants to Amherst’s A2A program. Non-A2A applicants must choose either Option A or Option B.)

Confirmed for 2026–27

Babson College Supplemental Essay Prompts 2026-27

Babson asks a 500-word essay (or 1-minute video) on your student's interest in business and Babson, plus a 250-word community essay.

First-year applicants

Interest in business and Babson

The Babson education prepares students for all types of careers across business, entrepreneurship, social innovation, and more. Tell us about your interest in this area of study and in Babson specifically. (500 words maximum). You are invited to respond with either a traditional essay (500 words maximum) OR a one-minute video. Whichever you choose, no preference is given to either format in admission decisions.

Inclusive community

A defining element of the Babson experience is learning and thriving in an equitable and inclusive community with a wide range of perspectives, experiences, and interests. Please share something about your background, lived experiences, or viewpoint(s) that speaks to: (1) your commitment to promoting access, connection, or understanding across differences; and/or (2) how you will contribute to and learn from Babson’s collaborative community. (250 words maximum)

Confirmed for 2026–27

Barnard College Supplemental Essay Prompts 2026-27

Barnard requires two responses: a 200-250 word essay on a woman whose approach differs from your student's own, and a 50-word bold question.

First-year applicants

A woman who thinks differently

Required: Barnard College is shaped by trailblazing women with a multitude of perspectives. Think of a woman (historical, fictional, contemporary, or personally significant) whose views or approach to problem-solving differ from your own, but who excels at bringing people together. What lesson from her approach would shape how you show up at Barnard both inside and outside of the classroom? (200-250 words)

A bold question

Required: At Barnard, inquiry starts with asking bold questions about the world. What is one bold question on your mind and what about it piques your curiosity? (50 words maximum)

Confirmed for 2026–27

Baylor University Essay Prompt 2026-27

Baylor asks one 450-word question about what your student wants in a university and how they will contribute to the Baylor community.

First-year applicants

Why Baylor

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? (450 words)

Confirmed for 2026–27

Boston College Supplemental Essay Prompts 2026-27

BC asks one 400-word essay chosen from four prompts; Human-Centered Engineering applicants respond to a dedicated fifth prompt instead.

First-year applicants

A meaningful tradition

1. Strong communities are sustained by traditions. Boston College’s annual calendar is marked with both long-standing and newer traditions that help shape our community. Tell us about a meaningful tradition in your family or community. Why is it important to you, and how does it bring people together or strengthen the bonds of those who participate?

A meaningful conversation partner

2. The late BC theology professor, Father Michael Himes, argued that a university is not a place to which you go, but instead, a “rigorous and sustained conversation about the great questions of human existence, among the widest possible circle of the best possible conversation partners.” Who has been your most meaningful conversation partner, and what profound questions have you considered together?

Beyond a single story

3. In her July 2009 Ted Talk, “The Danger of a Single Story,” Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie warned viewers against assigning people a “single story” through assumptions about their nationality, appearance, or background. Discuss a time when someone defined you by a single story. What challenges did this present and how did you overcome them?

A fourth 'Be'

4. Boston College’s Jesuit mission highlights “the three Be’s”: be attentive, be reflective, be loving, core to Jesuit education (see A Pocket Guide to Jesuit Education). If you could add a fourth “Be,” what would it be and why? How would this new value support your personal development and enrich the BC community?

Hce

A societal problem to solve

5. Human-Centered Engineering (HCE) applicants only: One goal of a Jesuit education is to prepare students to serve the Common Good. Human-Centered Engineering at Boston College integrates technical knowledge, creativity, and a humanistic perspective to address societal challenges and opportunities. What societal problems are important to you and how will you use your HCE education to solve them?

Awaiting confirmation for 2026–27

Boston University Supplemental Essay Prompts 2026-27

BU asks one 300-word essay chosen from two prompts tied to its founding principles.

First-year applicants

A community issue

Boston University is dedicated to our founding principles: “that higher education should be accessible to all and that research, scholarship, artistic creation, and professional practice should be conducted in the service of the wider community, local and international. These principles endure in the University’s insistence on the value of diversity in its tradition and standards of excellence and its dynamic engagement with the City of Boston and the world.” With this mission in mind, please respond to one of the following two questions in 300 words or less:

1. Reflect on a social or community issue that deeply resonates with you. Why is it important to you, and how have you been involved in addressing or raising awareness about it?

Why BU excites you

Boston University is dedicated to our founding principles: “that higher education should be accessible to all and that research, scholarship, artistic creation, and professional practice should be conducted in the service of the wider community, local and international. These principles endure in the University’s insistence on the value of diversity in its tradition and standards of excellence and its dynamic engagement with the City of Boston and the world.” With this mission in mind, please respond to one of the following two questions in 300 words or less:

2. What about being a student at BU most excites you? How do you hope to contribute to our campus community?

Confirmed for 2026–27

Bowdoin College Supplemental Essay Prompts 2026-27

Bowdoin offers two optional 250-word essays: one on The Offer of the College and one on navigating differences.

Optional

A line from The Offer of the College

The Offer of the College Essay (optional, max 250 words)

Based on The Offer of the College, which represents Bowdoin’s values, you have the option to reflect on any line of The Offer and how it has meaning to you. Generations of students have found connection and meaning in Bowdoin’s “The Offer of the College,” written in 1906 by Bowdoin President William DeWitt Hyde:

“To be at home in all lands and all ages; To count Nature a familiar acquaintance, and Art an intimate friend; To gain a standard for the appreciation of others’ work and the criticism of your own; To carry the keys of the world’s library in your pocket, and feel its resources behind you in whatever task you undertake; To make hosts of friends… who are to be leaders in all walks of life; To lose yourself in generous enthusiasms and cooperate with others for common ends. This is the offer of the college for the best four years of your life.”

Which line from The Offer resonates most with you?

Navigating differences

Navigating through Differences Essay (optional, max 250 words)

Bowdoin believes that its broadly diverse and inclusive campus community prepares graduates to be contributing and useful citizens of the world. Every graduate of this institution should be confident in their preparation to be able to navigate through differences and in all sorts of situations. A Bowdoin education does not guarantee these skills, but it does impart a set of tools necessary to bravely enter unfamiliar conditions with the confidence to deal effectively with ambiguity. If you wish, you may share anything about the unique experiences and perspectives that you would bring with you to the Bowdoin campus and community or an experience you have had that required you to navigate across or through difference.

Confirmed for 2026–27

Brown University Supplemental Essay Prompts 2026–27

The current Brown essays, with our analysis of what each one is really asking.

First-year applicants

Open Curriculum

“There is something distinctive about Brown students. It is a blend of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and humility. A commitment to collaboration. An openness to new ideas and perspectives. A desire to make the world better. And it is resilience: the ability to recover and thrive after experiencing difficulties.” (From President Christina Paxson’s 2025 Convocation Address.) How will you use these characteristics or others to shape your approach to the Open Curriculum? (150-250 words)

250 words

Short answers

Three words

What three words best describe you?

3 words

PLME applicants

PLME motivation

Committing to a future career as a physician while in high school requires careful consideration and self-reflection. Explain your personal motivation to pursue a career in medicine, and why the Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME) will best meet your professional and personal goals. (500 words)

500 words

First-year applicants

Background and contribution

Students entering Brown often find that making their home on College Hill naturally invites reflection on where they came from. Share how an aspect of your growing up has inspired or challenged you, and what unique contributions this might allow you to make to the Brown community.

250 words

Short answers

Teach a class

If you could teach a class on any one thing, whether academic or otherwise, what would it be?

100 words

First-year applicants

Joy

Brown students care deeply about their work and the world around them. Students find contentment, satisfaction, and meaning in daily interactions and major discoveries. Whether big or small, mundane or spectacular, tell us about something that brings you joy. (200-250 words)

250 words

Short answers

Why Brown

In one sentence, why Brown?

50 words

Confirmed for 2026–27

Bryn Mawr College Essay Prompt 2026-27

Bryn Mawr asks one 250-500 word essay about a truth your student knows about themselves and the experience behind it.

First-year applicants

A truth about yourself

Bryn Mawr students bring their authentic selves to campus. What do you know about yourself to be true, and what in your background or experience led you to that truth? (250-500 words)

Confirmed for 2026–27

Brandeis University Supplemental Essay Prompts 2026-27

Brandeis has prompts for international students and Myra Kraft Achievers Program applicants only, each 250 words.

International

What excites international students

What excites you the most about being an international student at Brandeis University? (250 words max.)

Achievers

Strengths for the Achievers cohort

This is a program to guide you toward adjusting to the rigors and challenges of the college experience with a small cohort of peers. What strengths will you bring to the group and in what areas will you benefit from the strengths of others? (250 words)

Confirmed for 2026–27

Bucknell University Essay Prompt 2026-27

Bucknell asks one 250-word essay on your student's intended major(s) and why Bucknell is the place to pursue them.

First-year applicants

Major and why Bucknell

Please explain your interest in your first-choice major/undecided status and your second-choice major (should you opt to list one) and why you would choose Bucknell University to pursue your interest(s). (250 words maximum)

Confirmed for 2026–27

Caltech Supplemental Essay Prompts 2026-27

Caltech's supplement covers STEM interests, curiosity, experiences, and creativity, plus two fun short answers and an optional circumstances question.

First-year applicants

Your STEM interest area

Caltech has a rigorous core curriculum and students don’t declare a major until the end of their first year. However, some students arrive knowing which academic fields and areas already most excite them, or which novel fields and areas they most want to explore. If you had to choose an area of interest or two today, what would you choose? (Note that you are under no obligation to follow this choice if admitted.) Why did you choose your proposed area of interest? If you selected ‘other’, what topics are you interested in pursuing? (Min: 100 / Max: 200 words)

Short answers

A STEM rabbit hole

Your STEM Present (STEM Curiosity): Regardless of your STEM interest listed above, take this opportunity to nerd out and talk to us about whatever STEM rabbit hole you have found yourself falling into. Be as specific or broad as you would like. (Min: 50 / Max: 150 words)

How your STEM interest began

Your STEM Past (STEM Experiences): At Caltech, we investigate some of the most challenging, fundamental problems in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. We are interested in learning more about your engagement with STEM. Select one of the following two prompts: (1) Tell us how you initially found your interest and passion for science or for a particular STEM topic, and how you have pursued or developed your interest or passion over the last few years. (2) Tell us about a meaningful STEM-related experience from the last few years and share how and why it inspired your curiosity. (Min: 100 / Max: 200 words)

Creator, inventor, innovator

Creativity in Action: The creativity, inventiveness, and innovation of Caltech’s students, faculty, and researchers have won Nobel Prizes and put rovers on Mars. But Techers also innovate in smaller-scale ways everyday, from imagining new ways to design solar cells or how to 3D-print dorm decor, to cooking up new recipes in the kitchen. How have you been a creator, inventor, or innovator in your own life? (Min: 100 / Max: 200 words)

A hobby that brings joy

Required Short Answer Questions (choose two, each 250 words or less)

What is an interest or hobby you do for fun, and why does it bring you joy?

Teach a class

Required Short Answer Questions (choose two, each 250 words or less)

If you could teach a class on any topic or concept, what would it be and why?

A core piece of your identity

Required Short Answer Questions (choose two, each 250 words or less)

What is a core piece of your identity or being that shapes how you view and/or interact with the world?

A mind-blowing concept

Required Short Answer Questions (choose two, each 250 words or less)

What is a concept that blew your mind or baffled you when you first encountered it?

Optional

Extenuating circumstances

Have you had any extenuating circumstances (such as limited course selection or disruptions) that have affected your coursework, but that are not described elsewhere in your application? If so, tell us about them here.

Confirmed for 2026–27

Carleton College Essay Prompts 2026-27

Carleton asks one 300-word question about connecting with someone different, plus an optional 250-word additional information response.

Optional

Anything else to share

Anything missing? Do you want to share more with us? If so, use this space to fill any gaps you think would assist us in reviewing your application. (Optional, no more than 250 words)

Confirmed for 2026–27

Carnegie Mellon Supplemental Essay Prompts 2026-27

CMU asks three 300-word essays: your student's chosen area of study, their definition of a successful college experience, and what they want to emphasize.

First-year applicants

The passion behind your major

Most students choose their intended major or area of study based on a passion or inspiration that’s developed over time. What passion or inspiration led you to choose this area of study? (300 word maximum)

Defining a successful college experience

Many students pursue college for a specific degree, career opportunity or personal goal. Whichever it may be, learning will be critical to achieve your ultimate goal. As you think ahead to the process of learning during your college years, how will you define a successful college experience? (300 word maximum)

What you want to emphasize

Consider your application as a whole. What do you personally want to emphasize about your application for the admission committee’s consideration? Highlight something that’s important to you or something you haven’t had a chance to share. Tell us, don’t show us (no websites please). (300 word maximum)

Confirmed for 2026–27

Claremont McKenna Supplemental Essay Prompts 2026-27

CMC requires one essay on engaging across viewpoints, with an optional two-minute video response on collaboration, leadership, policy, or the Athenaeum.

First-year applicants

Engaging across viewpoints

A critical part of fulfilling our mission is living out the commitments of CMC’s Open Academy: Freedom of Expression, Viewpoint Diversity, and Constructive Dialogue. We want to learn more about your commitment to listening and learning from others with different viewpoints, perspectives, and life experiences from your own. Describe a time when engaging with someone about a specific topic resulted in you changing your attitude, belief, or behavior, or you changed the belief or behavior of someone else. What was the change that occurred for you, and what facilitated that change? What did you learn from that experience, and how has it informed how you engage with others?

Optional Video

A collaboration that struggled

Collaboration involves working with people towards a common goal or project. It is a challenging skill that develops with time and experience. We want to learn more about the challenges you have encountered with collaboration. Tell us about when a collaborative effort you were involved in was challenging or even failed. What did your experience teach you about collaboration, and share how it has informed your leadership style?

Defining responsible leadership

An important part of Claremont McKenna College’s mission is preparing students for responsible leadership. How do you define “responsible leadership,” and how have you demonstrated responsible leadership in your family, community, or school?

A public policy issue

At CMC, we promote the understanding of public policy issues as it makes our students and alumni more effective leaders in their respective career fields. What is a public policy issue (whether locally, nationally, or globally) that you feel passionately about, and how do you hope to address it either in the present or the future? How can CMC assist you with addressing the issue?

An Athenaeum guest

The Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum is the heart of intellectual and social engagement at Claremont McKenna College, bringing students, faculty, and staff closer together through active discussion on a daily basis. If you could invite someone to speak at the Athenaeum, who would they be, what questions would you ask them, or what topic would you want to discuss with them at the Athenaeum dinner?

Confirmed for 2026–27

Clemson University Essay Prompts 2026-27

Clemson's main application has no supplement; Honors College applicants complete two required 650-word essays and one optional essay.

Honors

Academic interests and goals

Essay 1 (650 word limit, required): Tell us about your academic interests and professional goals (to the extent that you have identified them at this point). What experiences, talents, accomplishments, and/or characteristics inspired and contributed to these goals? What avenues have you explored to learn more about this or to gain experience in this area to date? (Note: This is your opportunity to tell us who you are as a thinker. Please focus your essay on you, your experiences, and your ideas, not on what the Honors College or Clemson offers.)

Common App essay response

Essay 2 (650 word limit, required): The second essay is based on your response to one of the Common Application essay prompts. If you have already written a response to one of these prompts in your Common Application, that response is considered your second Honors application essay. If one is not on file, you are required to submit a response to one of the seven prompts.

Special circumstances

Essay 3 (650 word limit, optional): Please use this space to share any special circumstances affecting your application that warrant consideration by the selection committee.

Confirmed for 2026–27

No supplement

Colgate University Supplemental Essays 2026-27

Colgate requires no additional essays for the 2026-27 cycle.

No additional essays

No additional essays required for the 2026-27 cycle.

Confirmed for 2026–27

Colorado College Essay Prompt 2026-27

Colorado College asks one 300-word essay about a time of deep focus, inspired by its Block Plan, with an optional upload of the result.

First-year applicants

A time of deep focus

One of the benefits of Colorado College’s Block Plan is the opportunity to immerse yourself fully in a single subject for 3.5 weeks. We see this as the luxury of focus, the joy and value of directing your full attention to one thing. Tell us about a time when you experienced this kind of deep focus in an academic or extracurricular setting. What were you doing and how did it turn out? (300 words)

Optional

Upload the outcome

Optional: If you’d like to share the outcome (a project, performance, paper, or other result) you may upload a document or provide a URL.

Confirmed for 2026–27

Columbia University Supplemental Essay Prompts 2026-27

Columbia asks a 100-word list question plus five short essays of 150 words or fewer on experience, disagreement, adversity, and fit.

Short answers

Intellectual influences list

For the list question, there is a 100 word maximum. Your response should be a list of items separated by commas or semicolons; items do not have to be numbered or in any specific order; it is not necessary to italicize or underline titles; no author names, subtitles or explanatory remarks are needed.

List the titles of texts, resources and outlets that have contributed to your intellectual development outside of academic courses, including but not limited to books, journals, websites, podcasts, essays, plays, presentations, videos, museums and other content that you enjoy. (100 words or fewer)

First-year applicants

A shaping life experience

Tell us about an aspect of your life so far or your lived experience that is important to you, and describe how it has shaped the way you would learn from and contribute to Columbia’s multidimensional and collaborative environment. (150 words or fewer)

Navigating disagreement

At Columbia, students representing a wide range of perspectives are invited to live and learn together. In such a community, questions and debates naturally arise. Please describe a time when you did not agree with someone and discuss how you engaged with them and what you took away from the interaction. (150 words or fewer)

Navigating adversity

In college/university, students are often challenged in ways that they could not anticipate. Please describe a situation in which you have navigated through adversity and discuss how you changed as a result. (150 words or fewer)

Why Columbia

Why are you interested in attending Columbia University? We encourage you to consider the aspect(s) that you find unique and compelling about Columbia. (150 words or fewer)

Your area of study

What attracts you to your preferred areas of study at Columbia College or Columbia Engineering? (150 words or fewer)

Confirmed for 2026–27

Cornell University Supplemental Essay Prompts 2026-27

Cornell requires one school-specific essay based on the undergraduate college your student applies to. Find every 2026-27 prompt, from CALS to Engineering, below.

College Specific

CALS: major and why Cornell

Required: Why are you drawn to studying the major you have selected and specifically, why do you want to pursue this major at Cornell CALS? You should share how your current interests, related experiences, and/or goals influenced your choice. (500 word limit)

AAP: architecture, art, or urban studies

How do your interests directly connect with your intended major at the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP)? Why architecture (B.Arch), art (BFA), or urban and regional studies (URS)? B.Arch applicants, please provide an example of how a creative project or passion sparks your motivation to pursue a 5-year professional degree program. BFA applicants may want to consider how they could integrate a range of interests and available resources at Cornell into a coherent art practice. URS students may want to emphasize their enthusiasm and depth of interest in the study of urban and regional issues. (650 word limit)

Arts and Sciences: curiosity as guide

At the College of Arts and Sciences, curiosity will be your guide. Discuss how your passion for learning is shaping your academic journey, and what areas of study or majors excite you and why. Your response should convey how your interests align with the College, and how you would take advantage of the opportunities and curriculum in Arts and Sciences. (650 word limit)

Brooks School: why public policy

Why are you interested in studying policy, and why do you want to pursue this major at Cornell’s Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy? You should share how your current interests, related experiences, and/or goals have influenced your choice of policy major.

SC Johnson: what kind of business student

What kind of a business student are you? Using your personal, academic, or volunteer/work experiences, describe the topics or issues that you care about and why they are important to you. Your response should convey how your interests align with the school to which you are applying within the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business (Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management or the Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration). (650 word limit)

Engineering: why engineering

Question 1: Fundamentally, engineering is the application of math, science, and technology to solve complex problems. Why do you want to study engineering?

Engineering: why Cornell

Question 2: Why do you think you would love to study at Cornell Engineering?

Engineering: what brings you joy

Question 1: What brings you joy?

Engineering: your contribution

Question 2: What do you believe you will contribute to the Cornell Engineering community beyond what you’ve already detailed in your application? What unique voice will you bring?

Engineering: a meaningful activity

Question 3: What is one activity, club, team, organization, work/volunteer experience or family responsibility that is especially meaningful to you? Please briefly tell us about its significance for you.

Engineering: a meaningful achievement

Question 4: What is one award you have received or achievement you have attained that has meant the most to you? Please briefly describe its importance to you.

Human Ecology: addressing a challenge

Identify a challenge in your greater community or in the career/industry in which you are interested. Share how the CHE education, your CHE major of choice, as well as the breadth of CHE majors, will help you address that challenge. (Refer to our essay application tips before you begin.) (Max word count: 600)

ILR: issues you care about

Using your personal, academic, or volunteer/work experiences, describe the topics or issues that you care about and why they are important to you. Your response should show us that your interests align with the ILR School. (650 word limit)

Confirmed for 2026–27

Dartmouth College Supplemental Essay Prompts 2026-27

Dartmouth's writing supplement asks for three brief essays, including a 100-word response on fit and two choice-based prompts. Review every option for the Class of 2030 below.

First-year applicants

Fit with Dartmouth

1. Required of all applicants. Please respond in 100 words or fewer:

As you seek admission to Dartmouth’s Class of 2030, what aspects of the college’s academic program, community, and/or campus environment attract your interest? How is Dartmouth a good fit for you?

Choice

Let your life speak

A. There is a Quaker saying: Let your life speak. Describe the environment in which you were raised and the impact it has had on the person you are today.

Introduce yourself

B. “Be yourself,” Oscar Wilde advised. “Everyone else is taken.” Introduce yourself.

What excites you

A. What excites you?

Making an impact

B. Labor leader and civil rights activist Dolores Huerta recommended a life of purpose. “We must use our lives to make the world a better place to live, not just to acquire things,” she said. “That is what we are put on the earth for.” In what ways do you hope to make, or are you already making, an impact? Why? How?

Insight from reading

C. In an Instagram post, best-selling British author Matt Haig cheered the impact of reading. “A good novel is the best invention humans have ever created for imagining other lives,” he wrote. How have you experienced such insight from reading? What did you read and how did it alter the way you understand yourself and others?

A difficult conversation

D. The social and family interactions of wild chimpanzees have been the focus of Dame Jane Goodall’s research for decades. Her understanding of animal behavior prompted the English primatologist to see a lesson for human communities as well: “Change happens by listening and then starting a dialogue with the people who are doing something you don’t believe is right.” Channel Dame Goodall: Tell us about a moment when you engaged in a difficult conversation or encountered someone with an opinion or perspective that was different from your own. How did you find common ground?

Celebrate your nerdy side

E. Celebrate your nerdy side.

Difference in your life

F. “It’s not easy being green…” was the frequent refrain of Kermit the Frog. How has difference been a part of your life, and how have you embraced it as part of your identity, outlook, or sense of purpose?

Confirmed for 2026–27

Davidson College Essay Prompts 2026-27

Davidson's application includes a personal statement and two supplemental questions, unchanged from last cycle. See the full prompts and word limits below.

First-year applicants

Personal statement

The personal statement is a space to share your voice and to help us better understand you as a person. We encourage you to explore a topic that is authentic to you and reveals something that doesn’t already come through elsewhere in the application. Above all, stay true to yourself and your experiences. (250-650 word limit)

Why Davidson

There are just under 4,000 four-year colleges and universities in the United States. Being as specific as possible, what interests you most about Davidson College? (250-300 word limit)

A topic that excites you

Davidson encourages students to explore curiosities in and out of the classroom. What is a topic, activity or idea that excites you? Tell us why. Examples may include hobbies, books, interactions, music, podcasts, movies, etc. (250-300 word limit)

Confirmed for 2026–27

Duke University Supplemental Essay Prompts 2026-27

Duke requires a 250-word essay on fit and one on community, plus optional prompts on viewpoints, disagreement, and excitement.

First-year applicants

Why Duke is a good match

What is your impression of Duke as a university and community, and why do you believe it is a good match for your goals, values, and interests? If there is something specific that attracts you to our academic offerings in Trinity College of Arts and Sciences or the Pratt School of Engineering, or to our co-curricular opportunities, feel free to include that too. (250 word limit)

A shaping community

Communities: We all belong to communities defined by place, faith, family, culture, interests or shared experience. Tell us about a community that has shaped who you are, any way it has set you apart, and what you’ve learned from being part of it that you hope to bring to Duke. (250 word limit)

Optional

Viewpoint diversity

Viewpoints and experiences: We believe a wide range of viewpoints and experiences is essential to maintaining Duke’s vibrant living and learning community. Please share anything in this context that might help us better understand you and your potential contributions to Duke.

A respectful disagreement

Difference of opinion: Meaningful dialogue often involves respectful disagreement. Provide an example of a difference of opinion you’ve had with someone you care about. What did you learn from it?

Something you're excited about

Something you are excited about: What’s the last thing that you’ve been really excited about?

Confirmed for 2026–27

Elon University Application Questions 2026-27

Elon's Think Fast questions are brief and personality-driven, from programs that caught your student's eye to a top 5 list.

Short answers

What caught your eye at Elon

What at Elon has caught your eye: programs, opportunities, or experiences you can’t wait to try?

A meaningful aspect of identity

What aspect of your identity do you find most meaningful, and why?

Your perfect playlist

Name three songs from your perfect playlist. (We look forward to creating a Spotify playlist for the incoming class.)

Your top 5

Tell us your top 5. Take this opportunity to let Elon Admissions know more about you. Your top 5 should be something unique to you and will give us a glimpse of who you are. Be creative! Explain why these are your top 5.

Confirmed for 2026–27

Emory University Supplemental Essay Prompts 2026-27

Emory asks for one required academic interest essay and one "getting to know you" response chosen from four prompts, each around 150 words.

First-year applicants

Academic areas of interest

What academic areas are you interested in exploring at Emory University and why?

Optional

Shaping a community

Emory University has a strong commitment to building community. Tell us about a community that you have been part of where your participation helped to change or shape the community for the better.

Expanding cultural awareness

Reflect on a personal experience where you intentionally expanded your cultural awareness.

Service to humanity

Emory University’s unique mission calls for service to humanity. Share how you might personally contribute to this mission of service to humanity.

Navigating disagreement

In a scholarly community, differing ideas often collide before they converge. How do you personally navigate disagreement in a way that promotes progress and deepens meaningful dialogue?

Confirmed for 2026–27

Fordham University Supplemental Essay Prompts 2026-27

Fordham's supplement is a single short response (300 words max) chosen from prompts on personal growth and community impact at Fordham and in New York City.

First-year applicants

Personal growth through action

A. At Fordham, we expect students to care for and engage with their communities and be active citizens for positive change. Please share an experience you had that caused you to develop a new perspective, change your point of view, and/or empower you to take an action or be courageous. Your response should include examples of your personal growth (e.g., what did you learn, did your point of view change, did you develop new skills or strengths?).

NYC as classroom

B. Our motto is “New York is my campus, Fordham is my school.” New York City is a diverse and global city that provides Fordham students with a special kind of educational experience, full of both challenge and opportunity. What has prepared you to embrace the unique opportunity of living and learning in New York City?

A message to your future self

C. At Fordham, we have a tradition of having our graduating seniors send a message to their younger selves. What will the future “you” tell the “you” of today about what you accomplished as a Fordham student?

Confirmed for 2026–27

George Mason University Essay Prompt 2026-27

George Mason asks one 400-word question about your student's motivation for higher education and fit with Mason.

First-year applicants

Motivation and fit

What is your motivation for pursuing higher education? Why do you believe George Mason University is the right institution for you? (400 words)

Note: If you are applying as score optional, your response is required.

Confirmed for 2026–27

George Washington University Supplemental Essay Prompts 2026-27

GW offers an optional 500-word supplemental essay with a choice of two prompts, unchanged from last cycle.

Optional

Changing the course of history

Choice #1: At the George Washington University, our students frequently interact with policymakers and world leaders. These experiences and those of our alumni can shape the future of global affairs. If you had the power to change the course of history in your community or the world, what would you do and why?

Civil discourse in action

Choice #2: The George Washington University encourages students to think critically and to challenge the status quo. Thus, civil discourse is a key characteristic of our community. Describe a time when you engaged others in meaningful dialogue around an issue that was important to you. Did this exchange create change, new perspectives, or deeper relationships?

Confirmed for 2026–27

Georgetown University Essay Prompts 2026-27

Georgetown's application includes two short essays and one longer essay tailored to the school your student applies to. Every 2026-27 prompt is below.

Short answers

Your most significant activity

1. Briefly discuss the significance to you of the school or summer activity in which you have been most involved.

Encountering a different viewpoint

2. In all our lives, we interact with people who hold different viewpoints than our own. Describe such an event you experienced. What did you learn from the experience?

School Specific

College of Arts and Sciences fit

Founded in 1789, the Georgetown College of Arts & Sciences is committed to the Jesuit traditions of an integrated education and of productive research in the natural sciences, humanities, social sciences, and fine arts. Describe your interest in studying at College of Arts & Sciences. Applicants interested in the sciences, mathematics, or languages are encouraged to make specific reference to their choice of major.

School of Nursing fit

Georgetown University’s School of Nursing is committed to the formation of ethical, empathetic, and transformational nursing leaders. Describe the factors that have influenced your interest in studying Nursing at Georgetown University.

School of Health fit

Georgetown University’s School of Health was founded to advance the health and well-being of people locally, nationally, and globally through innovative research, the delivery of interdisciplinary education, and transformative engagement of communities. Describe the factors that influenced your interest in studying health care at Georgetown University, specifically addressing your intended related major: Global Health, Health Care Management & Policy, or Human Science.

Walsh School of Foreign Service fit

Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service was founded more than a century ago to prepare generations of leaders with the foundational skills to address global issues. Describe your primary motivations for studying international affairs at Georgetown University and dedicating your undergraduate studies toward a future in global service.

McDonough School of Business fit

Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business provides graduates with essential global, ethical, analytical, financial, and diverse perspectives on the economies of our nation and the world. Describe your primary motivations for studying business at Georgetown University.

McCourt School of Public Policy fit

For nearly 50 years, Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy has equipped leaders and changemakers with the interdisciplinary skills to address local, national and global policy problems. Undergraduate public policy students at Georgetown will have the unique opportunity to live and study on two campuses, spending their first two years immersed on the Hilltop, before completing the second half of their time at Georgetown on the Capitol Campus, immersed in the policy world. Describe your primary motivations for studying public policy at Georgetown University and dedicating your undergraduate studies toward a future related to public service.

Confirmed for 2026–27

No supplement

Georgia Tech Supplemental Essays 2026-27

Georgia Tech requires no supplemental essays for the 2026-27 cycle, so your student's Common App essay carries the weight.

No supplemental essays

No supplemental essays required for the 2026-27 cycle.

Confirmed for 2026–27

Harvard University Supplemental Essay Prompts 2026-27

Harvard requires five short essays of 150 words each, unchanged from last cycle. All five prompts are below.

Short answers

Life experiences and contribution

1. Harvard has long recognized the importance of enrolling a diverse student body. How will the life experiences that shape who you are today enable you to contribute to Harvard? (150 words)

A strong disagreement

2. Describe a time when you strongly disagreed with someone about an idea or issue. How did you communicate or engage with this person? What did you learn from this experience? (150 words)

Activities that shaped you

3. Briefly describe any of your extracurricular activities, employment experience, travel, or family responsibilities that have shaped who you are. (150 words)

Using your Harvard education

4. How do you hope to use your Harvard education in the future? (150 words)

What your roommates should know

5. Top 3 things your roommates might like to know about you. (150 words)

Confirmed for 2026–27

Harvey Mudd College Supplemental Essay Prompts 2026-27

Harvey Mudd requires a 100-word short answer on your student's dream humanities class and a 500-word essay on background and impact.

Short answers

A dream HSA class

Many students choose HMC because they don’t want to give up their interests in the Humanities, Social Sciences and the Arts, or HSA as we call it at HMC. Briefly describe what you’d like to learn about in your dream HSA class. (100 words or less)

First-year applicants

Background shaping your impact

Harvey Mudd College seeks to educate engineers, scientists, and mathematicians well versed in all of these areas and in the humanities, social sciences and the arts so that they may assume leadership in their fields with a clear understanding of the impact of their work on society. (HMC Mission Statement) “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) HMC’s collaborative community is guided by our mission statement. Through an intentional interdisciplinary curriculum our students seek to build a skillset adaptable to society’s needs. How has your own background influenced the types of problems you want to solve, the people you want to work with, and the impact you hope your work can have? (500 words or less)

Confirmed for 2026–27

Haverford College Supplemental Essay Prompts 2026-27

Haverford asks two 150-200 word questions about community values and intellectual curiosity, tied to its Honor Code.

First-year applicants

Values you seek

We have highlighted for you some of the values that shape the Haverford community. What are some of the values you seek in your next community? (Please limit your response to 150-200 words.)

A topic that excites you intellectually

Tell us about a topic or issue that sparks your curiosity and gets you intellectually excited. How do you hope to engage with this topic or issue at Haverford? How do Haverford’s values, as demonstrated through our Honor Code, resonate with you? (Please limit your response to 150-200 words.) As you think about how to answer this question, you might draw from how you have been influenced by other communities you have been a part of, experiences you may have had within your communities, or opportunities you have had to shape or even change your communities.

Confirmed for 2026–27

James Madison University Essay Prompts 2026-27

JMU's 650-word essay is open-ended, and Honors College applicants answer two additional short prompts.

First-year applicants

Anything we should know

If there is something important we should know about you, this is the place to talk about it. You have up to 650 words to share anything you would like to tell us.

Honors

Your ideal college experience

What does your ideal college experience look like? In what ways do you hope the JMU Honors College will help you achieve that vision?

A value that matters most

Of the values listed below, which one matters most to you? Why? (Values: Achievement, Adventure, Ambition, Balance, Collaboration, Community, Competence, Competition, Confidence, Creativity, Curiosity, Diligence, Diversity, Enjoyment, Excellence, Fairness, Faith, Flexibility, Freedom, Gratitude, Growth, Honesty, Hope, Humility, Independence, Integrity, Kindness, Knowledge, Love, Loyalty, Openness, Optimism, Patience, Peace, Play, Power, Recognition, Relationship, Respect, Security, Service, Stability, Trust, Wealth)

Confirmed for 2026–27

Johns Hopkins Supplemental Essay Prompt 2026-27

Hopkins asks one 350-word essay on engaging across differences and building bridges in community.

First-year applicants

Engaging across differences

At Johns Hopkins, community is built through dialogue, collaboration, and a willingness to engage across differences. Whether on campus or in the broader world, community depends on bridge builders who can listen to differing perspectives, challenge their own assumptions, or work together toward shared goals. Drawing on your own experiences, what have you learned about engaging across differences and how has it shaped the way you think about building bridges, enhancing community, and working with others? (350 word limit)

Confirmed for 2026–27

Lafayette College Essay Prompt 2026-27

Lafayette's required supplement is a focused 20-200 word response on why your student sees themselves at Lafayette.

First-year applicants

Why Lafayette

Why Lafayette? Required supplemental essay. Length: 20-200 words. Students identify Lafayette as an excellent fit for countless reasons. In your response, be deliberate and specific about your motivation for applying to Lafayette. Why do you see yourself at Lafayette?

Confirmed for 2026–27

Lake Forest College Essay Prompts 2026-27

Lake Forest asks for one 250-600 word essay chosen from three prompts, unchanged from last cycle.

First-year applicants

Everyone you've ever met

You enter a room with everyone you’ve ever met in your life. Who do you look for and why?

A challenged belief

Describe an instance when a belief or idea you held was challenged. Explain why you either changed your mind or not and the effect(s) it had or could have moving forward.

A defining community

Lake Forest College is a setting where students from many different types of communities intersect. Choose one community that you identify with and describe the role it has played in your life so far.

Confirmed for 2026–27

Lehigh University Supplemental Essay Prompts 2026-27

Lehigh asks two 200-word questions: how your student found Lehigh and something great happening in their life right now.

First-year applicants

How you found Lehigh

1. How did you first learn about Lehigh University and what motivated you to apply? (200 words max)

Something great right now

2. At Lehigh, we believe in pausing to celebrate the good, meaningful moments that bring joy, pride or motivation. What’s something great happening in your life right now? It could be an accomplishment, a personal win (big or small) or something you’re genuinely excited about. If it matters to you, we’d love to hear about it. (Max 200 words)

Confirmed for 2026–27

Loyola Marymount Essay Prompt 2026-27

LMU asks one 500-word question on interest in LMU and/or your student's chosen area of study.

First-year applicants

Interest in LMU and/or major

Share with us why you are interested in LMU and/or why you chose your specific area of study or major. (500 words max.)

Confirmed for 2026–27

Macalester College Supplemental Essay Prompts 2026-27

Macalester's supplement focuses on its Twin Cities location and its mission-driven values. Both prompts are below.

First-year applicants

The Twin Cities advantage

Macalester is one of a few highly selective liberal arts colleges located in the middle of a metropolitan area. Students benefit from the strong sense of community on campus and opportunities to engage in academic, social, and civic engagement options in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. In what ways might Macalester’s urban location enhance your academic, social, and/or community experiences? (300 words max.)

Connecting to Macalester's mission

Four values permeate Macalester’s mission and purpose: academic distinction, internationalism, multiculturalism, and service to society. Guided by this mission, Macalester is a learning environment that affirms different identities and experiences and prepares graduates to work toward a more just and peaceful world. In what ways do your lived experiences, perspectives, or hopes for your college education connect with Macalester’s mission/learning environment?

Confirmed for 2026–27

MIT Essay Questions 2026-27

MIT asks several 100-200 word short answer essays plus four quick 40-50 word responses designed to get to know your student.

Short answers

Why this field, and why MIT

What field of study appeals to you the most right now? (Applicants select from a drop-down list.) Tell us more about why this field of study at MIT appeals to you.

An unexpected path

While some reach their goals following well-trodden paths, others blaze their own trails achieving the unexpected. In what ways have you done something different than what was expected in your educational journey?

Problems you want to tackle

Reflect on how your personal and academic experiences have influenced the types of problems you would want to tackle with an MIT education, and who you would like to work on those problems with.

An unexpected challenge

How did you manage a situation or challenge that you didn’t expect? What did you learn from it?

Anything else

There is also one final, open-ended, additional-information text box where you can tell MIT anything else you think they really ought to know.

Short Response

Generalist or specialist

MIT values both “generalists” with varied interests and “specialists” who focus deeply on one or a few passions. Which do you think best describes you, and why?

What you do for fun

What do you do just for fun?

Someone you admire

Who is someone you admire, whether you know them personally or look up to them from afar? Tell us why.

A topic you could talk about for hours

What’s a topic, academic or non-academic, that you could talk about for hours?

Confirmed for 2026–27

NYU Supplemental Essay Prompt 2026-27

NYU's single 250-word essay asks how your student's experiences prepare them to be a bridge builder in a global community.

First-year applicants

Being a bridge builder

We are looking for students who want to be bridge builders: students who can connect people, groups, and ideas to span divides, foster understanding, and promote collaboration within a dynamic, interconnected, and vibrant global academic community. We are eager for you to tell us how your experiences have helped you understand what qualities and efforts are needed to bridge divides so that people can better learn and work together. Please consider one or more of the following questions in your essay (max 250 words):

Tell us about a time you encountered a perspective different from your own. What did you learn, about yourself, the other person, or the world?

Tell us about an experience you’ve had working with others who have different backgrounds or perspectives. What challenges did your group face? Did you overcome them, and if so, how? What role did you try to play in helping people to work together, and what did you learn from your efforts?

Tell us about someone you’ve observed who does a particularly good job helping people think or work together. How does this person set the stage for common exploration or work? How do they react when difficulties or dissensions arise?

Confirmed for 2026–27

No supplement

Northeastern Supplemental Essays 2026-27

Northeastern requires no supplemental essays for the 2026-27 cycle.

No supplemental essays

No supplemental essays required for the 2026-27 cycle.

Confirmed for 2026–27

Northwestern Supplemental Essay Prompts 2026-27

Northwestern requires one 300-word context essay and encourages one to two optional 200-word responses from five choices.

First-year applicants

Background and Northwestern engagement

We want to be sure we’re considering your application in the context of your personal experiences: What aspects of your background, your identity, or your school, community, and/or household settings have most shaped how you see yourself engaging in Northwestern’s community, be it academically, extracurricularly, culturally, politically, socially, or otherwise?

Optional

Painting The Rock

Painting “The Rock” is a tradition at Northwestern that invites all forms of expression: students promote campus events or extracurricular groups, support social or activist causes, show their Wildcat spirit (what we call “Purple Pride”), celebrate their culture, and more. What would you paint on The Rock, and why?

A dream class or project

Northwestern fosters a distinctively interdisciplinary culture. We believe discovery and innovation thrive at the intersection of diverse ideas, perspectives, and academic interests. Within this setting, if you could dream up an undergraduate class, research project, or creative effort (a start-up, a design prototype, a performance, etc.), what would it be? Who might be some ideal classmates or collaborators?

Communities you'll join

Community and belonging matter at Northwestern. Tell us about one or more communities, networks, or student groups you see yourself connecting with on campus.

Northwestern's location

Northwestern’s location is special: on the shore of Lake Michigan, steps from downtown Evanston, just a few miles from Chicago. What aspects of our location are most compelling to you, and why?

Contributing diverse perspectives

Northwestern is a place where people with diverse backgrounds from all over the world can study, live, and talk with one another. This range of experiences and viewpoints immeasurably enriches learning. How might your individual background contribute to this diversity of perspectives in Northwestern’s classrooms and around our campus?

Confirmed for 2026–27

Occidental College Essay Prompt 2026-27

Oxy asks one 250-word question on why your student is applying and why it is the right place for their interests.

First-year applicants

Why Occidental

Why are you applying to Occidental? Why do you think Occidental is the right place for you to pursue your interests? (maximum 250 words)

Confirmed for 2026–27

Penn State Essay Requirements 2026-27

Penn State requires no personal statement, but Schreyer Honors College applicants complete an 800-word essay and nine short answers.

Schreyer Honors

A transformational idea

If you had 20 minutes to pitch a transformational idea (an idea that affects or would influence a significant percentage of the populace), what would you pitch and why? Explain your thought process. Are there similar solutions already established and how might your idea enhance those solutions? How would this idea change the current state of things? How would you leverage your personal experiences and professional goals to make this idea a reality?

Empowered growth

One of the Schreyer Honors College values is Empowered Growth. What values, beliefs or experiences have empowered you to grow intellectually and/or personally?

Where you'd go

If you were able to go anywhere in the world, outside of the country you currently reside, where would you go and why?

Extracurricular activities

List your extracurricular activities over the last four years. This can include school and non-school activities. Please include any leadership roles you have had.

Your most significant leadership experience

Tell us about your most significant leadership experience and why leadership is important to you. This could include community roles, family contributions, research, clubs and organizations, etc. Describe challenges you’ve faced and successes you’ve had in these roles.

Awards and recognitions

List awards or other recognitions (if any) you have received in or outside of school over the last four years.

Your standout recognition

Reflecting on the recognitions listed above, which one stands out as having an impact on your outlook and why?

A book that changed your thinking

Tell us about a book or other media that has made you think about something in a new way.

A community that shaped you

Everyone belongs to many different communities and/or groups, including shared geography, faith, ethnicity, income, cuisine, interest, race, or intellectual heritage. Choose one of the communities or groups to which you belong and describe how it has influenced your life over the last four years.

Anything else

Please use this space to share information you would like us to consider that has not been discussed elsewhere in your application (optional).

Confirmed for 2026–27

Pepperdine University Essay Prompt 2026-27

Pepperdine asks one 500-word question about interest in a Christian university and contributing to conversations of faith.

First-year applicants

Faith and fit at Pepperdine

Pepperdine is a Christian university where all are welcomed and encouraged to challenge each other in the pursuit of truth. Students, faculty, and staff members from all backgrounds participate in conversations of faith inside and outside of the classroom. Considering that Pepperdine is a Christian university, why are you interested in attending and how would you contribute to conversations of faith on campus? (500 words max)

Confirmed for 2026–27

Pitzer College Essay Prompts 2026-27

Pitzer asks one 650-word essay chosen from two prompts tied to its core values, plus an optional 250-word community essay.

First-year applicants

Living a core value

Choose from one of two prompts and write a maximum of 650 words. At Pitzer, five core values distinguish our approach to education: social responsibility, intercultural understanding, interdisciplinary learning, student engagement, and environmental sustainability. As agents of change, our students utilize these values to create solutions to our world’s challenges. Please answer only one of the following prompts:

Reflecting on your involvement throughout high school or within the community, how have you engaged with one of Pitzer’s core values?

What you want from college

Choose from one of two prompts and write a maximum of 650 words. At Pitzer, five core values distinguish our approach to education: social responsibility, intercultural understanding, interdisciplinary learning, student engagement, and environmental sustainability. As agents of change, our students utilize these values to create solutions to our world’s challenges. Please answer only one of the following prompts:

Describe what you are looking for from your college experience and why Pitzer would be a good fit for you.

Optional

Background and identity

Optional essay (up to 250 words), via the Common Application:

As a mission-driven institution, we value and celebrate the synergy created by our differences and similarities. We welcome you to write about distinctive aspects of your background, identity, or personal interests that you would bring to Pitzer, and how you plan to engage in our community.

Confirmed for 2026–27

Pomona College Essay Prompts 2026-27

Pomona asks one 250-word short response chosen from three prompts on community, experience, and how others would describe your student.

First-year applicants

Values from your community

Short-Response Essay: Pomona is home to a diverse community of faculty, staff and students who, through close ties and collaboration, enable each other to identify and explore their greatest passions. Considering this, respond to one of the following (250 words):

Reflecting on a community that you are a part of, what values or perspectives from that community would you bring to Pomona?

An experience that changed you

Describe an experience you had outside the classroom that changed the way you think and/or how you engage with your peers. What was that experience and what did you learn from it?

How others would describe you

Choose any person or group of people in your life and share how they would describe you.

Confirmed for 2026–27

Pratt Institute Essay Prompt 2026-27

Pratt asks one 250-500 word essay about a work that influenced your student, their own or someone else's.

First-year applicants

An influential work

Write about a piece of work (visual art, musical performance, piece of writing, architecture, or design) that has influenced you and describe the impact it has had on your perspective OR write about a piece of your own work and the impact that creating it has had on you. The essay should be 250-500 words or two pages maximum. Make sure your essay is complete before uploading because you will not be able to make changes after you submit your application.

Confirmed for 2026–27

Princeton University Supplemental Essay Prompts 2026-27

Princeton asks degree-specific academic essays, a 500-word lived experience essay, a service essay, and three 50-word short answers.

Academic

A.B.: academic curiosity

As a research institution that also prides itself on its liberal arts curriculum, Princeton allows students to explore areas across the humanities and the arts, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. What academic areas most pique your curiosity, and how do the programs offered at Princeton suit your particular interests? (Please respond in 250 words or fewer.)

B.S.E.: interest in engineering

Please describe why you are interested in studying engineering at Princeton. Include any of your experiences in or exposure to engineering, and how you think the programs offered at the University suit your particular interests. (Please respond in 250 words or fewer.)

First-year applicants

Your Voice: lived experience

Princeton values community and encourages students, faculty, staff and leadership to engage in respectful conversations that can expand their perspectives and challenge their ideas and beliefs. As a prospective member of this community, reflect on how your lived experiences will impact the conversations you will have in the classroom, the dining hall or other campus spaces. What lessons have you learned in life thus far? What will your classmates learn from you? In short, how has your lived experience shaped you? (Please respond in 500 words or fewer.)

Service and civic engagement

Princeton has a longstanding commitment to understanding our responsibility to society through service and civic engagement. How does your own story intersect with these ideals? (Please respond in 250 words or fewer.)

Short answers

Soundtrack of your life

What song represents the soundtrack of your life at this moment?

A new skill

What is a new skill you would like to learn in college?

What brings you joy

What brings you joy?

Confirmed for 2026–27

Providence College Essay Prompts 2026-27

PC offers an optional 250-500 word essay on fit, plus an optional supplemental essay for nursing applicants.

Optional

Contributing to campus life

Providence College thrives on the energy of those who seek. How will you contribute to our vibrant campus life and intellectual culture in the years ahead?

Diverse perspectives

Providence College values each student’s willingness to embrace and learn from different viewpoints. What experiences or perspectives do you believe individuals from diverse backgrounds bring to a community or organization? And how will your unique background positively impact others at Providence College?

Nursing: why you want to be a nurse

Please share more about the experiences, skills, or talents that have led you to want to become a nurse, and how these will contribute to the community at Providence College and to your career as a nurse.

Confirmed for 2026–27

Purdue University Supplemental Essay Prompts 2026-27

Purdue asks two 250-word responses on how Purdue supports your student's interests and why they chose their major and campus.

First-year applicants

How Purdue supports your interests

Prompt 1: How will opportunities at Purdue support your interests, both in and out of the classroom? (250 words or less)

Major and campus choice

Prompt 2: Briefly discuss your reasons for choosing your major and your interest in studying at this campus location (Indianapolis or West Lafayette). (250 words or less)

Confirmed for 2026–27

RPI Supplemental Essay Prompts 2026-27

RPI asks a 250-word interest question, with additional program-specific essays for B.S./M.D., Architecture, Electronic Arts, Games, and Music applicants.

First-year applicants

Why RPI

Why are you interested in Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute? (250 words or less)

Program Specific

Accelerated medicine (BIAM)

Accelerated Physician-Scientist (B.S./M.D.) Program (BIAM): State your reasons for aspiring to a career in medicine.

Architecture

Architecture (ARCH): State your reasons for choosing architecture as your profession.

Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts (EART): Discuss your interests in the field of electronic arts, and state how this is reflected in your portfolio, if one has been submitted.

Games and Simulation Arts

Games and Simulation Arts and Sciences (GSAS): State your reasons for choosing the field of games and simulation arts and sciences, making reference to your portfolio if one has been submitted.

Music

Music (MUSC): Describe your interest in the music major and your goals. Please include completed course work in music, private music instruction, musical performance and production experience, or completed independent projects.

Confirmed for 2026–27

Rice University Supplemental Essay Prompts 2026-27

Rice asks two 150-word questions on academic areas and fit, one 500-word community essay, and The Box image tradition.

First-year applicants

Why your chosen academic areas

1. Please explain why you wish to study in the academic areas you selected. (150 word limit)

What appeals to you about Rice

2. Based upon your exploration of Rice University, what elements of the Rice experience appeal to you? (150 word limit)

Community

Residential college contribution

The Residential College System is at the heart of Rice student life and is heavily influenced by the particular cultural traditions and unique life experiences each student brings. What life experiences and/or unique perspectives are you looking forward to sharing with fellow Owls in the residential college system? (500 word limit)

A change agent at Rice

Rice is strengthened by its diverse community of learning and discovery that produces leaders and change agents across the spectrum of human endeavor. What perspectives shaped by your background, experiences, upbringing, and/or racial identity inspire you to join our community of change agents at Rice? (500 word limit)

The Box

The Box

One of Rice’s long-standing traditions is “The Box,” a question on the application where all applicants share an image of something that appeals to them. The Box gives you the opportunity to present an image that shares something about yourself, your interests or what is meaningful to you. This image is not used for evaluative purposes, but allows you to put your stamp on the application about who you are aside from what you have achieved. Be sure to choose an image that speaks for itself and does not need an explanation. The Box must be a two-dimensional image uploaded in the Common Application or in the Rice Admission Student Portal.

Confirmed for 2026–27

Santa Clara University Essays 2026-27

Santa Clara requires no additional essays beyond a 50-word question about your student's selected major or division.

First-year applicants

Why your major or division

Why are you interested in pursuing the [Division or Major] selected? (50 words)

Confirmed for 2026–27

Sarah Lawrence Essay Prompts 2026-27

Sarah Lawrence offers an optional 250-500 word essay chosen from four prompts, from hyphenate interests to a contemporary issue.

Optional

Bringing disparate interests together

Sarah Lawrence students are often described as hyphenates: filmmaker-sociologist-historian, environmentalist-photographer, psychologist-novelist, economist-poet. In 250-500 words, tell us about seemingly disparate interests you have brought together, or hope to bring together at Sarah Lawrence.

A question to explore

Students at Sarah Lawrence are asked to design their own research questions directly with faculty, and then answer them through intensive semester-long projects that frequently inspire a blend of intellectual rigor and creativity. In 250-500 words, tell us about a text, problem, or topic you would love to explore over a semester or a year, and what you would hope to achieve through that work.

Liberal arts and your future career

Liberal arts and sciences colleges have a long and robust history of providing the educational foundation for the careers of influential politicians, financiers, entrepreneurs, artists, scientists, CEOs, and more. Many of them cite their liberal arts degree as foundational and transformative for how they took on challenges in the world and for shaping their lives after college. How do you see your upcoming college studies leading to your future career (or careers)?

A contemporary issue

In today’s rapidly changing world, many social, political, and ethical issues spark intense debate and demand nuanced understanding. Choose a contemporary issue that you find both challenging and urgent, whether it relates to identity, justice, artificial intelligence, environment, or another area, and critically explore your perspective on it. How have your previous experiences, background, and/or values shaped your viewpoint? How do you envision engaging with this issue during your college education and beyond?

Confirmed for 2026–27

Scripps College Essay Prompts 2026-27

Scripps asks a 200-word why Scripps essay plus one 150-300 word creative response.

First-year applicants

Why Scripps

Why have you chosen to apply to Scripps College? (200 words)

Optional

Trading lives for a day

1. If you could trade lives with someone (fictional or real) for a day, who would it be and why?

Compromise

2. Tell us about a time you had to compromise. What did that experience teach you?

Hosting your own podcast

3. You have just been invited to host your own podcast. What will you talk about and why did you select that topic?

Confirmed for 2026–27

SMU Supplemental Essay Prompts 2026-27

SMU asks two 250-word essays: why SMU and how your student's experiences will enhance the university community.

First-year applicants

Why SMU

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. (250-word limit)

Enhancing SMU's community

SMU is a diverse and welcoming learning environment shaped by the convergence of ideas and cultures. How will your unique experiences enhance the University, and how will you benefit from this community? (250-word limit)

Confirmed for 2026–27

Stanford University Essay Prompts 2026-27

Stanford asks five 50-word short questions and three 100-250 word essays, including the well-known roommate note.

Short answers

The biggest challenge society faces

1. What is the most significant challenge that society faces today?

How you spent your last two summers

2. How did you spend your last two summers?

A historical moment you wish you'd witnessed

3. What historical moment or event do you wish you could have witnessed?

An extracurricular, job, or responsibility

4. Briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities, a job you hold, or responsibilities you have for your family.

Five things that matter to you

5. List five things that are important to you.

First-year applicants

What excites you about learning

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.

A letter to your future roommate

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, get to know you better.

Your distinctive contribution

Please describe what aspects of your life experiences, interests, and character would help you make a distinctive contribution as an undergraduate to Stanford University.

Confirmed for 2026–27

Swarthmore College Essay Prompts 2026-27

Swarthmore asks 1 question about the aspects of personal background that are significant and 1 about a fascinating topic.

Short answers

Significant personal story

What aspects of your self-identity or personal background are most significant to you? Reflecting on the elements of your home, school, or other communities that have shaped your life, explain how you have grown in your ability to navigate differences when engaging with others, or demonstrated your ability to collaborate in communities other than your own.

Fascinating topic

Tell us about a topic that has fascinated you recently – either inside or outside of the classroom. What made you curious about this? Has this topic connected across other areas of your interests? How has this experience shaped you and what encourages you to keep exploring?

Confirmed for 2026–27

Texas A&M Essay Prompts 2026-27

A&M requires a 750-word story essay and several short answers on goals, major choice, and why A&M.

First-year applicants

Your story

Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today?

Short answers

A life-preparing event

Describe a life event which you feel has prepared you to be successful in college.

Your life goals

In a few words, what are some of your life goals and objectives?

Why your major

In a few words, why have you chosen your academic major(s)?

Why Texas A&M

We know you have a lot of options. In a few words, why did you choose to apply to Texas A&M?

Plans beyond your bachelor's

Briefly describe any educational plans you have beyond earning your bachelor’s degree.

Optional

Shaping experiences

Are there experiences or opportunities that have shaped or influenced your abilities or academic record, which you have not already written about?

Confirmed for 2026–27

TCU Essay Prompts 2026-27

TCU's optional Freedom of Expression section invites an essay, poem, artwork, or URL, with four prompt options on the TCU application.

Optional

Your personal mission statement

At TCU, our mission statement is very important to us. “The mission of Texas Christian University, a private comprehensive university, is to educate individuals to think and act as ethical leaders and responsible citizens in the global community through research and creative activities, scholarship, service, and programs of teaching and learning offered through the doctoral level.” This is integrated into all aspects of the TCU experience. If you were to write a mission statement about your life, what would it be and how does this mission direct your life and goals?

The most significant influence on your life

Tell us about the most significant person, experience, or circumstance which has shaped your life thus far. How has he, she, or it influenced your character? How might you use what you have learned to achieve your goals?

Failure that propelled success

Those we call great will usually point to some failure in their lives as a pivotal moment leading them to their successful path. Tell us about a time in your life in which failure propelled you toward success.

What matters to you

In her best-selling novel The Secret Life of Bees, TCU alumna Sue Monk Kidd wrote, “The hardest thing on earth is choosing what matters.” What matters to you?

Confirmed for 2026–27

Trinity College Essay Prompt 2026-27

Trinity asks one question about an aspect of your student's background they are excited to share with the Trinity community.

First-year applicants

Background you're excited to share

The identities you claim, the challenges you face, and the successes you enjoy shape the background for your college experience to come. What is an aspect of your background that you are excited to share and/or explore as a member of the Trinity community and why?

Confirmed for 2026–27

Tufts University Supplemental Essay Prompts 2026-27

Tufts asks how your student engaged with Tufts during their search, plus school-specific questions for Arts and Sciences, Engineering, and BFA applicants.

Short answers

How you engaged with Tufts

Short Answer Prompt #1: Please describe how you have learned about and engaged with Tufts during your college search process (75-150 words).

School Specific

Arts and Sciences: a favorite assignment

Applicants to the School of Arts and Sciences: Tell us about one of your favorite school assignments in the past two years. What was the assignment and why did you enjoy it?

Engineering: a project you built

Applicants to the School of Engineering: Tell us about an engineering-related project that you have helped build, design, create, or iterate in the past two years. What was the project and what was your role?

BFA: a portfolio piece

Applicants to the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) program (100-200 words): Tell us more about a specific piece in your portfolio. What were the ideas you intended to explore, and how did those ideas inform the process of making the piece?

Combined Degree: a portfolio piece

Applicants to the Combined Degree (BFA+BA/BS) program (100-200 words): Tell us more about a specific piece in your portfolio. How did an academic course, project, or interest inspire the ideas that you explored in this piece? Or, how did making this piece influence your academic interests?

Confirmed for 2026–27

No supplement

Tulane University Supplemental Essays 2026-27

Tulane requires no additional essays for the 2026-27 cycle.

No additional essays

No additional essays required for the 2026-27 cycle.

Confirmed for 2026–27

University of California Personal Insight Questions 2026-27

The UC application requires four Personal Insight Questions chosen from eight, each up to 350 words, unchanged this cycle.

Piq

Leadership experience

1. Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time. Things to consider: A leadership role can mean more than just a title. It can mean being a mentor to others, acting as the person in charge of a specific task, or taking the lead role in organizing an event or project. Think about what you accomplished and what you learned from the experience. What were your responsibilities? Did you lead a team? How did your experience change your perspective on leading others? Did you help to resolve an important dispute at your school, church, in your community or an organization? Your leadership role doesn’t necessarily have to be limited to school activities; for example, do you help out or take care of your family?

Your creative side

2. 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. Things to consider: What does creativity mean to you? Do you have a creative skill that is important to you? What have you been able to do with that skill? If you used creativity to solve a problem, what was your solution? What are the steps you took to solve the problem? How does your creativity influence your decisions inside or outside the classroom? Does your creativity relate to your major or a future career?

Your greatest talent or skill

3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time? Things to consider: If there’s a talent or skill that you’re proud of, this is the time to share it. You don’t necessarily have to be recognized or have received awards for your talent (although if you did and you want to talk about it, feel free to do so). Why is this talent or skill meaningful to you? Does the talent come naturally or have you worked hard to develop this skill or talent? Does your talent or skill allow you opportunities in or outside the classroom? If so, what are they and how do they fit into your schedule?

An educational opportunity or barrier

4. Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced. Things to consider: An educational opportunity can be anything that has added value to your educational experience and better prepared you for college, for example participation in an honors or academic enrichment program, enrollment in an academy geared toward an occupation or a major, or taking advanced courses that interest you. If you choose to write about educational barriers you’ve faced, how did you overcome or strive to overcome them? What personal characteristics or skills did you call on to overcome this challenge? How did overcoming this barrier help shape who you are today?

Your most significant challenge

5. 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? Things to consider: A challenge could be personal, or something you have faced in your community or school. Why was the challenge significant to you? This is a good opportunity to talk about any obstacles you’ve faced and what you’ve learned from the experience. Did you have support from someone else or did you handle it alone? If you’re currently working your way through a challenge, what are you doing now, and does that affect different aspects of your life?

An inspiring academic subject

6. Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom. Things to consider: Many students have a passion for one specific academic subject area, something that they just can’t get enough of. If that applies to you, what have you done to further that interest? Discuss how your interest in the subject developed and describe any experience you have had inside and outside the classroom, such as volunteer work, internships, employment, summer programs, participation in student organizations and/or clubs, and what you have gained from your involvement. Has your interest influenced your choice of major or future career? Have you been able to pursue coursework at a higher level in this subject? Are you inspired to pursue this subject further at UC, and how might you do that?

Improving your community

7. What have you done to make your school or your community a better place? Things to consider: Think of community as a term that can encompass a group, team or a place, like your high school, hometown or home. You can define community as you see fit, just make sure you talk about your role in that community. Was there a problem that you wanted to fix in your community? Why were you inspired to act? What did you learn from your effort? How did your actions benefit others, the wider community or both? Did you work alone or with others to initiate change in your community?

What makes you stand out

8. 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? Things to consider: If there’s anything you want us to know about you, but didn’t find a question or place in the application to tell us, now’s your chance. What have you not shared with us that will highlight a skill, talent, challenge or opportunity that you think will help us know you better?

Confirmed for 2026–27

University of Chicago Essay Prompts 2026-27

UChicago requires a why UChicago essay plus one extended essay chosen from its famously inventive prompt list.

First-year applicants

Why UChicago

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.

Extended Essay

How do thoughts eat

Option 1: Food for thought: How do thoughts eat? (Inspired by Ernest Leong, Class of 2026)

An elegant solution inspired by an art form

Option 2: The James Webb Space Telescope, launched in 2021, utilized origami-inspired techniques to compactly store and deploy its sunshield in space. Choose an artistic practice and use its principles to propose an elegant solution to a problem. (Inspired by Akhil Korra, Class of 2028)

Your own mixed metaphor

Option 3: Sometimes metaphors get mixed up. For one reason or another, one could say, “we’ll burn that bridge when we get there” or “the world is your china shop”. Make up your own mixed metaphor. Explain how it could make sense, be understood, or even applied. (Inspired by Julia Nieberg, Class of 2029)

An Olympic event for the mundane

Option 4: The Olympics have long celebrated the pinnacle of human athletic achievement. But what if they expanded to honor the mundane? Imagine a new Olympic event built around an everyday activity like speed dishwashing or competitive grocery bagging. How is it scored, officiated, and judged? Why is it a worthy addition? (Inspired by Ewan Smith, Class of 2028)

Mistaken identity of an acronym

Option 5: AI: Allen Iverson. NASA, or the North American Saxophone Alliance. Share a potentially confounding, comedic, or captivating example of MIA (Mistaken Identity of Acronym) and tell us its backstory. (Inspired by Jeeho Byun, Class of 2030)

Choose your own adventure

Option 6: And, as always… the classic choose your own adventure option! In the spirit of adventurous inquiry, choose one of our past prompts (or create a question of your own). 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!

Confirmed for 2026–27

CU Boulder Essay Prompt 2026-27

CU Boulder asks one required 250-word question about what your student hopes to study and why.

First-year applicants

What and why you hope to study

Short Answer Question (must be a different written response than your Common Application essay). Required question (250 word limit): What do you hope to study, and why, at CU Boulder? Or if you don’t know quite yet, think about your studies so far, extracurricular/after-school activities, jobs, volunteering, future goals, or anything else that has shaped your interests.

Confirmed for 2026–27

University of Florida Essay Prompts 2026-27

UF asks a 250-word commitment essay, with additional prompts for Innovation Academy and Honors Program applicants.

First-year applicants

Your most meaningful commitment

Please provide more details on your most meaningful commitment outside of the classroom while in high school and explain why it was meaningful. This could be related to an extracurricular activity, work, volunteering, an academic activity, family responsibility, or any other non-classroom activity. (250 words)

Innovation Academy

Why Innovation Academy

Discuss why you are interested in becoming a UF Innovation Academy student and how it will influence your professional career path. Please use a maximum of 300 words in your essay for full consideration.

Honors

Contributing to UF Honors' mission

The UF Honors Program’s mission is to connect, nurture and engage the next generation of scholars who change the world. How do you envision yourself contributing to this mission? Consider the people, experiences, resources, and aspirations that have shaped your journey thus far and your future plans. Please use a maximum of 400 words in your essay for full consideration.

Confirmed for 2026–27

No supplement

University of Georgia Supplemental Essays 2026-27

The University of Georgia requires no additional essays for the 2026-27 cycle.

No additional essays

No additional essays required for the 2026-27 cycle.

Confirmed for 2026–27

University of Illinois Essay Prompts 2026-27

UIUC asks two to three major-specific prompts of about 150 words each, depending on first- and second-choice majors.

Major Declared

An experience related to your major

Explain, in detail, an experience you’ve had in the past 3 to 4 years related to your first-choice major. This can be an experience from an extracurricular activity, in a class you’ve taken, or through something else.

Goals tied to your major

Describe your personal and/or career goals after graduating from UIUC and how your selected first-choice major will help you achieve them.

Undeclared

Academic interests

What are your academic interests? Please include 2-3 majors you’re considering at Illinois and why.

Future goals

What are your future career or academic goals? You may include courses you took in high school and how these impacted your goals.

Second Choice

Second-choice major interest

Please explain your interest in your second-choice major or your overall academic or career goals.

Confirmed for 2026–27

University of Maryland Essay Prompts 2026-27

Maryland asks six fill-in-style prompts of 650 characters each.

Short answers

If I could travel anywhere

1. If I could travel anywhere, I would go to…

An interesting research fact

2. The most interesting fact I ever learned from research was…

Beyond your major

3. In addition to my major, my academic interests include…

Favorite thing about last Tuesday

4. My favorite thing about last Tuesday was…

Something you might not know

5. Something you might not know about me is…

Growth through diversity

6. Because we know that diversity benefits the educational experience of all students, the University of Maryland values diversity in all of its many forms. This includes (but is not limited to) racial, socio-economic, gender, geographical, and sexual orientation. We are interested in hearing about your own individual life experiences. In a few sentences, please describe how you have learned, grown, been inspired or developed skills through one or more components of diversity.

Confirmed for 2026–27

UMass Amherst Essay Prompt 2026-27

UMass Amherst asks one 100-word question: why do you want to attend?

First-year applicants

Why UMass Amherst

Please tell us why you want to attend UMass Amherst? (100 words)

Confirmed for 2026–27

No supplement

University of Miami Supplemental Essays 2026-27

The University of Miami requires no additional essays for the 2026-27 cycle.

No additional essays

No additional essays required for the 2026-27 cycle.

Confirmed for 2026–27

University of Michigan Essay Prompts 2026-27

Michigan requires a 300-word community contribution essay and a 500-word essay on your student's chosen college or school.

First-year applicants

Contributing to Michigan's campus

At the University of Michigan, we are focused on developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future. In your essay, share with us how you are prepared to contribute to these goals. This could include the people, places, experiences, or aspirations that have shaped your journey and future plans. (Required for all applicants; 100 word minimum; 300 word maximum)

Fit with your chosen school

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? (Required for all applicants; 100 word minimum; 500 word maximum)

Confirmed for 2026–27

No supplement

UNC Chapel Hill Supplemental Essays 2026-27

UNC Chapel Hill requires no additional essays for the 2026-27 cycle.

No additional essays

No additional essays required for the 2026-27 cycle.

Confirmed for 2026–27

Notre Dame Supplemental Essay Prompts 2026-27

Notre Dame requires one 150-word essay on non-negotiables plus three 50-100 word short answers chosen from five options.

First-year applicants

Your non-negotiable factor

Everyone has different priorities when considering their higher education options and building their college or university list. Tell us about your “non-negotiable” factor(s) when searching for your future college home.

Short answers

Faith and decisions

1. How does faith influence the decisions you make?

Distinctive background

2. What is distinctive about your personal experiences and development (eg, family support, culture, disability, personal background, community)? Why are these experiences important to you and how will you enrich the Notre Dame community?

Fostering service

3. Notre Dame’s undergraduate experience is characterized by a collective sense of care for every person. How do you foster service to others in your community?

A meaningful compliment

4. What compliment are you most proud of receiving, and why does it mean so much to you?

What you'd fight for

5. What would you fight for?

Confirmed for 2026–27

UPenn Supplemental Essay Prompts 2026-27

Penn requires a thank-you note and a community essay, plus school-specific and dual-degree program prompts.

First-year applicants

A thank-you note

Write a short thank-you note to someone you have not yet thanked and would like to acknowledge. (We encourage you to share this note with that person, if possible, and reflect on the experience!) (150-200 words, only required for first year applicants)

Exploring community at Penn

How will you explore community at Penn? Consider how Penn will help shape your perspective, and how your experiences and perspective will help shape Penn. (150-200 words)

Transfer applicants

Transfer: reasons for transferring

Transfer Essay (required for all transfer applicants): Please explain your reasons for transferring from your current institution and what you hope to gain by transferring to another institution. (4,150 characters)

School Specific

Nursing: why and healthcare goals

School of Nursing: Penn Nursing intends to meet the health needs of society in a global and multicultural world by preparing its students to impact healthcare by advancing science. Why have you decided to apply to Nursing? Where do you see yourself professionally in the future and how will you contribute to our mission of promoting equity in healthcare? (150-200 words)

College of Arts and Sciences: curiosity

College of Arts and Sciences: The flexible structure of The College of Arts and Sciences’ curriculum is designed to inspire exploration, foster connections, and help you create a path of study through general education courses and a major. What are you curious about and how would you take advantage of opportunities in the arts and sciences? (150-200 words)

Wharton: a current issue

The Wharton School: Wharton prepares its students to make an impact by applying business methods and economic theory to real-world problems, including economic, political, and social issues. Please reflect on a current issue of importance to you and share how you hope a Wharton education would help you to explore it. (150-200 words)

Engineering: pursuing your interests

School of Engineering and Applied Science: Penn Engineering prepares its students to become leaders in technology by combining a strong foundation in the natural sciences and mathematics with depth of study in focused disciplinary majors. Please share how you plan to pursue your engineering interests at Penn, particularly within the intended major you selected. (150-200 words)

Dual Degree

DMD: interest alignment

DMD (Digital Media Design): Discuss how your interests align with the Digital Media Design (DMD) program at the University of Pennsylvania. (400-650 words / 3,575 characters)

Huntsman: language and mission

Huntsman (International Studies and Business): Applicants must choose one of eleven target languages. Tell us about your background and interest in the target language you selected. (50-125 words) AND: The Huntsman Program supports the development of globally-minded scholars who become engaged citizens, creative innovators, and ethical leaders in the public, private, and non-profit sectors in the United States and around the world. What draws you to a dual degree in international studies and business, and how would you use what you learn to address a global issue where these two domains intersect? (400-600 words)

LSM: life sciences and management

LSM (Life Sciences and Management): The Vagelos Life Sciences & Management (LSM) program brings together two powerful modes of understanding, scientific inquiry and strategic thinking, to prepare students to engage creatively with some of the most complex challenges of our time. Reflecting on this intersection, what questions, problems, or opportunities would you hope to explore through LSM? How might the integration of life sciences and management shape your approach to these challenges? Your response should go beyond how LSM might advance your career and instead focus on the ideas, values, or issues that animate your interest in the program. Please ensure that this essay is distinct from your single-degree application. (400-650 words)

M&T: business, engineering and leadership

M&T (Management and Technology): Explain how you will use the M&T program to explore your interest in business, engineering, and the intersection of the two. (400-650 words) AND: Describe a problem that you solved that showed leadership and creativity. (250 words)

NHCM: nursing and healthcare management

NHCM (Nursing and Healthcare Management): Discuss your interest in nursing and health care management. How might Penn’s coordinated dual-degree program in nursing and business help you meet your goals? (400-650 words)

VIPER: energy science majors

VIPER (Integrated Energy Research): Question 1: If you were to join VIPER, which science major and which engineering major are most interesting to you at this time? Question 2: How do you envision your participation in VIPER furthering your interests in energy science and technology? Please include any past experiences (academic, research, or extracurricular) that have led to your interest in the program, and indicate why you are interested in pursuing dual degrees in the VIPER majors listed above. (400-650 words)

Confirmed for 2026–27

University of Pittsburgh Essay Prompts 2026-27

Pitt's personal statement is optional; international applicants answer a required question on adapting to a new environment.

Optional

Optional personal statement

Optional: The personal statement is your opportunity to communicate directly with the Admissions Committee. Applicants are welcome to submit anything that helps tell their story, being mindful about the quantity and quality of information shared. Share information not included elsewhere in your University of Pittsburgh admissions application.

International

Adapting to a new environment

International Applicants (required): Describe an experience where you had to adapt to a new environment (i.e. a different culture, situation, or way of thinking).

Confirmed for 2026–27

University of Richmond Essay Prompts 2026-27

Richmond requires one 350-650 word essay chosen from three prompts on welcome, learning by doing, and the Spider community.

First-year applicants

Making space welcoming

Richmond is a community that strives to be relentlessly welcoming. Tell us about a time you made a space better for other people by helping them feel welcome, heard, included, or supported.

Learning by doing

Richmond students turn ideas into actions. Tell us about a time you learned by doing, making, building, testing, helping, or leading and what that experience taught you about yourself, the world, or the kind of impact you want to have.

The Spider community

Richmond’s mascot is the Spider. Just as you are unique, this singular mascot represents over 52,680 unique species of spiders. Tell us about the communities, experiences, or ambitions that have shaped you into the unique person you are and how you will make your mark as part of a Spider community.

Confirmed for 2026–27

University of Rochester Essay Prompt 2026-27

Rochester asks one 250-word question on combining academic flexibility and co-curricular opportunities.

First-year applicants

Academic flexibility and co-curricular fit

The University of Rochester is a place where curiosity and creativity meet. How will you combine our academic flexibility and co-curricular opportunities to create an experience that reflects your interests and ambitions? (250 word limit)

Confirmed for 2026–27

University of San Diego Essay Prompts 2026-27

USD requires a first-year essay on how your student found USD, plus one prompt chosen from three options on community, changemaking, or faith.

First-year applicants

How you found USD

How did you first learn about the University of San Diego, and what inspired you to apply?

Optional

What community means to you

Option #1: USD is committed to fostering a community where everyone feels a sense of belonging and purpose. What does community mean to you and how have you helped create a welcoming environment for others?

A challenge facing humanity

Option #2: As a Changemaker Campus, USD challenges students to utilize their learning to actively pursue a more just, sustainable and equitable world. What is a challenge facing humanity today and why does it matter to you?

Faith or spirituality's influence

Option #3: As a contemporary Catholic university, students from all backgrounds and faith traditions are welcomed and celebrated. Share an experience that highlights the ways faith or spirituality, either your own or someone else’s, have influenced your life.

Confirmed for 2026–27

UT Austin Essay Prompts 2026-27

UT Austin requires two short answers of about 250-300 words on major choice and a meaningful activity, plus an optional circumstances prompt.

Short answers

Why your first-choice major

Why are you interested in the major you indicated as your first-choice major?

An activity you're proud of

Think of all the activities, both in and outside of school, that you have been involved with during high school. Which one are you most proud of and why? (This can include an extracurricular activity, a club/organization, volunteer activity, work or a family responsibility.)

Optional

Special circumstances

Please share background on events or special circumstances that you feel may have impacted your high school academic performance.

Confirmed for 2026–27

No supplement

University of Vermont Essay Prompts 2026-27

The University of Vermont requires no additional essays for the 2026-27 cycle.

No supplemental essays are required.

Confirmed for 2026–27

University of Virginia Essay Prompts 2026-27

UVA has no general supplemental essays; School of Nursing applicants answer one required 250-word question.

Nursing

A health care experience

School of Nursing: Describe a health care-related experience or another significant interaction that deepened your interest in studying Nursing.

Confirmed for 2026–27

No supplement

University of Washington Essays 2026-27

The University of Washington requires no additional essays for the 2026-27 cycle.

No additional essays

No additional essays required for the 2026-27 cycle.

Confirmed for 2026–27

University of Wisconsin Essay Prompts 2026-27

The Universities of Wisconsin share one application prompt, with campus-specific questions for UW-Madison and UW-La Crosse.

First-year applicants

What you'll bring to campus

If you apply with the Universities of Wisconsin Application, you will need to answer the following prompt: Each student is unique. Please tell us about the particular life experiences, talents, commitments, and/or interests you will bring to our campus.

Campus Specific

UW-La Crosse: enrichment or interest

Please respond to ONE of the following: (1) How will your life experiences, commitments, and/or characteristics enrich the UW-La Crosse campus community? OR (2) Tell us why you are interested in attending UW-La Crosse and what aspects of the campus are especially important to you.

UW-Madison: why Madison and your major

Tell us why you would like to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In addition, please include why you are interested in studying the major(s) you have selected. If you selected undecided, please describe your areas of possible academic interest.

Confirmed for 2026–27

U.S. Air Force Academy Essay Prompts 2026-27

The Air Force Academy requires two essays on character and leadership, plus an optional additional information response.

First-year applicants

A setback or ethical dilemma

Question 1: Describe a setback or ethical dilemma that you have faced. How did you resolve it? How did the outcome affect you? Most importantly, what did you learn about yourself and how would you handle a similar situation in the future? (400 to 500 words, 3,000 characters max)

A meaningful leadership experience

Question 2: Describe a leadership experience that has meaning for you. A leadership role can mean more than just a title. It can mean being a mentor to others, acting as the person in charge of a specific task, or taking the lead role in organizing an event or project. Think about what you accomplished and what you learned from the experience. What were your responsibilities? (500 words max)

Optional

Additional information

Question 3 (Optional): Please provide any additional information or background you believe will be of assistance in evaluating your application. (400 to 500 words, 3,000 characters max)

Confirmed for 2026–27

U.S. Coast Guard Academy Essay Prompts 2026-27

The Coast Guard Academy asks essays on interest and preparation, community contribution, and academic programs, plus an optional additional information response.

First-year applicants

Interest and preparation

Explain why you are interested in attending the Coast Guard Academy, how you have prepared yourself to be successful as a Cadet, and any leadership experiences that will help you develop into a leader of character in the Coast Guard. (500 word maximum)

Contributing to community

The Coast Guard Academy is focused on diversity, inclusion and equity-mindedness across campus. What about your background, or what perspective, belief, or experience, will help you contribute to the education of your future classmates and enrich our community? (250 word maximum)

Interest in academic programs

Explain why you are interested in the academic programs you selected and how your previous studies, coursework, and experiences in or outside the classroom have helped prepare you to be successful as a college student. (250 word maximum)

Optional

Additional information

Optional: Provide any additional information that you would like the Cadet Candidate Evaluation Board to consider and that you have not provided elsewhere in your application. (250 word maximum)

Confirmed for 2026–27

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Essay Prompt 2026-27

USMMA requires a 500-word biographical sketch covering motivation, curriculum preference, career interests, and the service obligation, plus an optional adversity essay.

First-year applicants

Biographical sketch

The Merchant Marine Academy requires you to submit your biographical sketch, or essay, of at least 500 words: “Your essay must be at least 500 words and describe your reason(s) for wishing to attend USMMA, your curriculum preference, and your career interests. You should include information about relevant coursework, hobbies and activities, maritime-related experience, and/or military-related experience. You must also state your understanding of and willingness to accept the service obligation upon graduation. Applicants whose essay does not meet the minimum word requirement or fail to address the service obligation may not be considered for an appointment.”

Optional

Overcoming adversity

Optional: “Your essay must be 500 words or less and describe a personal experience in which you have overcome adversity. Essays that exceed the maximum word requirement may not be accepted.”

Confirmed for 2026–27

West Point Essay Prompts 2026-27

West Point asks three essays on motivation, adversity, and working with people different from yourself.

First-year applicants

Motivation and values

1. What motivates you to apply to the United States Military Academy, and how does this align with your values and goals?

An experience with adversity

2. Reflect on an experience in which you faced adversity and how it shaped your character.

Leading across difference

3. 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?

Confirmed for 2026–27

U.S. Naval Academy Essay Prompt 2026-27

The Naval Academy asks one 300-500 word essay covering interest in naval service and a character-shaping personal experience.

First-year applicants

Naval interest and character

In a well-organized essay of a total of 300 to 500 words, please discuss both of the following: (1) Describe what led to your initial interest in the naval service and how the Naval Academy will help you achieve your long-range goals, and (2) Describe a personal experience you have had which you feel has contributed to your own character development and integrity.

Confirmed for 2026–27

Vanderbilt University Supplemental Essay Prompt 2026-27

Vanderbilt's single supplemental essay asks students to reflect on identity, culture, or background through its "dare to grow" motto.

First-year applicants

Identity and personal growth

Vanderbilt University’s motto, Crescere aude, is Latin for “dare to grow.” In your response, reflect on how one or more aspects of your identity, culture, or background has played a role in your personal growth, and how it will contribute to our campus community as you dare to grow at Vanderbilt.

Confirmed for 2026–27

Villanova University Supplemental Essay Prompts 2026-27

Villanova requires one supplemental response of about 250 words, chosen from five prompts. All five are below.

First-year applicants

Playing your part in equity and justice

Prompt One: As Pope Leo XIV (Villanova Class of 1977) has said, “no one can single-handedly bear the weight of the challenges the world is facing, just as no one is so weak that they cannot play their part.” What have you done to play your part in advancing equity and justice in your community?

A lesson worth sharing

Prompt Two: What is a lesson in life that you have learned that you would want to share with others at Villanova?

Villanova as your new home

Prompt Three: “Villanova” means “new home.” Why do you want to call Villanova your new home?

Technology and the common good

Prompt Four: Villanova embraces Artificial Intelligence (AI) with a commitment to ethical use rooted in our Augustinian mission and values. How do you see technology helping you to lead, serve, and contribute to the common good?

Lending your strength

Prompt Five: At Villanova, we believe that each of us strengthens all of us. Please detail a time when someone has borrowed some of your strength in their time of need.

Confirmed for 2026–27

Virginia Tech Essay Prompts 2026-27

Virginia Tech's four required Ut Prosim Profile questions are 120 words each and cannot be changed after submission.

First-year applicants

Serving a community

1. Virginia Tech’s motto is “Ut Prosim” which means “That I May Serve.” Share how you contribute to a community that is important to you. How long have you been involved? What have you learned and how would you like to share that with others at Virginia Tech?

Responding to exclusion

2. Have you had an experience when you or someone you know were not being included? Did you reach out to anyone for assistance, direction, or resources? Were you able to affect change and/or influence others? Did this experience change your perspective and if so, how?

A proud leadership moment

3. Share a time when you were most proud of yourself either as a role model or when you displayed your leadership. What specific skills did you contribute to the experience? How did others rely on you for guidance? What did you learn about yourself during this time?

A goal you've set

4. Describe a goal that you have set and the steps you will take to achieve it. What made you set this goal for yourself? What is your timeline to achieve this goal? Who do you seek encouragement or guidance from and how do they support your progress as you work on this goal?

Confirmed for 2026–27

Wake Forest University Supplemental Essay Prompts 2026-27

Wake Forest asks a 150-word question on why your student is applying, plus one response chosen from four creative prompts, a change from past years.

First-year applicants

Why Wake Forest

Why have you decided to apply to Wake Forest? Share with us anything that has made you interested in our institution. (150 words)

Creative

Your Top Ten List

Give us your Top Ten List. (The choice of theme is yours.) (100 character limit per line)

Five intriguing books

List five books you’ve read that have intrigued you. (150 character limit per book title)

What piques your intellectual curiosity

Tell us what piques your intellectual curiosity or has helped you understand the world’s complexity. This can include a work you’ve read, a project you’ve completed for a class, and even co-curricular activities in which you have been involved. (150 word limit)

A Maya Angelou quote

Dr. Maya Angelou, renowned author, poet, civil-rights activist, and former Wake Forest University Reynolds Professor of American Studies, inspired others to celebrate their identities and to honor each person’s dignity. Choose one of Dr. Angelou’s powerful quotes. How does this quote relate to your lived experience or reflect how you plan to contribute to the Wake Forest community? (300 word limit)

Confirmed for 2026–27

Washington and Lee University Essay Prompts 2026-27

W&L requires one 250-word essay on fit, offers four optional short answers, and asks Johnson Scholarship candidates for an 800-word essay.

First-year applicants

Familiarity with W&L

250 words or less: There are over 8,200 accredited colleges and universities in the U.S. alone. You have chosen to apply to Washington and Lee University. Please describe how you have familiarized yourself with W&L and what aspects of its community are most exciting to you.

Optional Short Answer

Life outside school

Option 1: Please describe an aspect of your life outside of school that is important to you, such as an extracurricular activity, a job, or a family responsibility. How has your involvement shaped your personal qualities and growth, and how has it impacted those around you?

A diverse aspect you'd bring

Option 2: W&L’s mission statement focuses on preparing graduates for lifelong learning in a global and diverse society. Engaging with faculty, staff, and classmates with diverse identities, experiences, and perspectives is an essential component of our education. Recognizing that diversity takes many forms, what diverse aspect would you bring to W&L?

What you love thinking about

Option 3: Reveal to us how your curious mind works by sharing something you spend considerable time thinking or learning about.

The story behind your name

Option 4: On a residential college campus with a Speaking Tradition that encourages connections between individuals, using each other’s names matters. Please share the story of any name you go by and what significance it holds for you.

Johnson Scholarship

Baldwin: education and consciousness

In his October 1963 A Talk to Teachers, James Baldwin said “…the whole process of education occurs within a social framework and is designed to perpetuate the aims of society.” Yet, as he aptly notes, “the paradox of education is precisely this: that as one begins to become conscious, one begins to examine the society in which he is being educated.” Baldwin suggests that the purpose of education is to teach us to think for ourselves, to question, and change, the “framework” that we have come to understand and accept. What norms of your home or community have you become conscious of during your time in high school, and how would you like to use that knowledge to make it a better place?

A work of art's influence

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.

An unexpected path

In mathematics, the shortest distance between two points on a flat surface is a straight line. While geometry is predictable, sometimes day-to-day life is not. Reflect on a time when your path was not as simple or direct as anticipated. How did you manage, and what did you learn?

An authentically you photo

We live in a world in which much of our self-representation is curated online via short-lived social media “stories” and disappearing photos. What photo or other representation of yourself is authentically you? What does it say about your growth into the person you are today and the person you want to become? Please use only the words in your essay to address this question. Do not include photographs or other materials in your answer.

A Spring Term course you'd design

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 fieldwork in diverse settings. If you could design a Spring Term course, what would you propose, and why would you choose to pursue that topic?

Confirmed for 2026–27

Washington University in St. Louis Essay Prompts 2026-27

WashU asks one 250-word academic interest essay, with an additional prompt for Beyond Boundaries program applicants.

First-year applicants

What you want to study

Please tell us what you are interested in studying at college and why. Undecided about your academic interest(s)? Don’t worry, tell us what excites you about the academic division you selected. Remember that all of our first-year students enter officially “undeclared” and work closely with their team of academic advisors to discover their academic passions. (250 words)

Beyond Boundaries

A societal issue to tackle

The Beyond Boundaries Program equips students with a set of tools to critically understand and make a difference in a complicated world where challenges require diverse perspectives and skill sets. What is the big societal issue you would like to tackle? Who would you need on your team? What would you contribute to the team?

Confirmed for 2026–27

Wellesley College Essay Prompt 2026-27

Wellesley asks one 250-400 word essay about working with people of different backgrounds or perspectives.

First-year applicants

Building bridges across difference

Wellesley students actively seek ways to build bridges and to change the world for the better. Tell us about an experience working with and alongside people of different backgrounds and/or perspectives from your own. Why was this important to you, and what lessons from this will you bring with you to Wellesley? Please limit your response to two paragraphs (minimum 250 words, maximum 400 words).

Confirmed for 2026–27

William & Mary Supplemental Essay Prompts 2026-27

William & Mary invites up to two optional short answers (300 words max) chosen from six prompts. All six are below.

Optional

Communities important to you

1. Are there any particular communities that are important to you, and how do you see yourself being a part of our community?

An academic interest or career goal

2. Share more about a personal academic interest or career goal.

Family, culture and lived experience

3. How has your family, culture and/or background shaped your lived experience?

What led you to W&M

4. What led to your interest in William & Mary?

A challenge or adversity

5. Tell us about a challenge or adversity you’ve experienced and how that has impacted you as an individual.

Show us your town

6. If we visited your town, what would you want to show us?

Confirmed for 2026–27

Williams College Essays 2026-27

Williams requires no writing supplement, but students may submit an optional 3-5 page academic paper.

Optional

An academic paper

Williams does not require a writing supplement. However, some students feel they do their best writing in an academic context rather than through narrative pieces like admission applications. If you are interested in submitting an example of your academic writing, you may share a 3-5 page paper (excluding citations) written in the last year. The paper may be creative or analytical, can cover any topic, and need not be graded. Please include a description of the assignment or prompt and do not submit lab reports. Students can apply and submit this optional writing supplement using the Common Application, Apply Coalition with SCOIR or QuestBridge Application.

Confirmed for 2026–27

No supplement

WPI Essay Prompt 2026-27

WPI requires no supplemental essays for the 2026-27 cycle.

No supplemental essays are required.

Confirmed for 2026–27

Yale University Supplemental Essay Prompts 2026-27

Yale's supplement includes short answer questions, a 200-character response, and one 400-word essay chosen from three prompts.

Short answers

Academic areas of interest

Students at Yale have 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.

A topic that excites you

Tell us about a topic or idea that excites you and is related to one or more academic areas you selected above. Why are you drawn to it? (200 words or fewer)

Very Short

Teach, write, or create

If you could teach any college course, write a book, or create an original piece of art of any kind, what would it be?

What you hope to grow

What is one aspect of yourself that you hope to grow or develop during college?

Something not in your application

What is something about you that is not included anywhere else in your application?

Extended

A meaningful disagreement

1. Reflect on a time you discussed an issue important to you with someone holding an opposing view. Why did you find the experience meaningful?

A meaningful community

2. Reflect on your membership in a community to which you feel connected. Why is this community meaningful to you? You may define community however you like.

An enriching personal experience

3. Reflect on an element of your personal experience that you feel will enrich your college. How has it shaped you?