university of san francisco essay example

University of San Francisco | USF

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University of San Francisco | USF’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Diversity short response.

We are interested in learning more about you. Please respond to the prompt below with a response of no more than 200 words. This response should be different and distinct from the one used for your main Common Application essay.

The University of San Francisco‘s Jesuit tradition emphasizes community engagement and education for social justice, inspiring our students to become passionate agents for others. How do you see yourself becoming a part of this mission?

Nursing (BSN) Short Response

What will be your responsibility to others as a Jesuit-educated, BSN professional registered nurse?

St. Ignatius Institute Prompt 1

Please explain why you would like to join the Institute.

St. Ignatius Institute Prompt 2

SII tries to foster solidarity in action to honor the Jesuit ideal of being people with and for others. Can you give an example of service you performed in the past? What did you do and why?

St. Ignatius Institute Prompt 3

What does spirituality mean to you? Please specify if you currently or formerly have a faith tradition and any religious formation experiences.

St. Ignatius Institute Prompt 4

What do you know about the Jesuits?

Common App Personal Essay

The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response. Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don‘t feel obligated to do so.

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you‘ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

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How to Ace the 2024-2025 University of San Francisco Essay

Karla Ibarra is a content writer at Scholarships 360. She has worked as an English teacher and writing tutor. As a writing tutor, she has experience editing scholarships and college application essays. Karla graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in Communication and a minor in English.

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Bill Jack has over a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. Since 2008, he has worked at Colby College, Wesleyan University, University of Maine at Farmington, and Bates College.

Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.

The University of San Francisco is a private Jesuit university located in San Francisco, California. In this guide, we’ll walk through the required USFCA supplemental essay prompt so you can impress the admission’s reader with your very best response. Keep reading to learn more!

First, a little background about the University of San Francisco 

The University of San Francisc o was founded in 1855. In the 1950s, USFCA was one of the first racially integrated universities in the country. Today, USFCA has 6,018 undergraduate students, 80 undergraduate programs, and more than 117,000 alumni. USFCA’s most popular undergraduate major is nursing, with over 200 graduates each year.

See also : Jesuit colleges and universities: Are you a fit?

The University of San Francisco supplemental essay prompt

In addition to the common application, USFCA requires a 200-word supplemental essay. The short word count allows for a quick but lasting impression of applicants’ unique personalities to shine through. In this guide, we’ll focus on the required supplemental essay prompt. Let’s dive in!

See also: How to answer the 2024-2025 Common App essay prompts

The prompt: 

The University of San Francisco’s Jesuit tradition emphasizes community engagement and education for social justice, inspiring our students to become passionate agents for others. How do you see yourself becoming a part of this mission?

This prompt specifically mentions USFCA’s Jesuit tradition. The prompt then asks applicants to explain their connection to the values of the University. First, if you are not familiar with what Jesuit values are, do your research. To get started:  

The main Jesuit values are:

• Being open to the spirit of God
• Practicing reflection to pause before making decisions
• Following Magis (Latin for “more”) to go beyond expectations
• Serving alongside one’s community

Before you begin writing, think about what those values mean to you. What career are you pursuing? What part does the university play in helping you get there? To begin drafting, focus on an aspect of the university’s mission in order to form a relevant connection to the University (remember it’s important to focus with that 200 word limit!)

USFCA’s mission statement presents the Latin phrase “ cura personalis ,” which means “care for the whole person.” Applicants could use this phrase to tie together their goals for their future and reasons for applying. For example, if you plan to go into teaching,  you will commit to cura personalis to best serve your students. 

Questions to consider:

• How will you use your degree to promote cura personalis ?
• How has your faith contributed to your career aspirations?
• Where do you see yourself contributing on campus?

Also see: How to write a great supplemental essay

Final thoughts for USFCA applicants

The University of San Francisco is an excellent choice for applicants interested in an institution that promotes a Jesuit education. Applicants must submit the supplemental essay response in addition to their Common Application essay. To write your response, remember to:

• Research the university’s mission 
• Consider what the University of San Francisco values and how it relates to you
• Explain that connection to show how you will contribute to the university and the world beyond

With the 200 count word limit, it is best to freely write and fully answer the prompt. After,  go back and cut out what is not absolutely necessary to reveal your unique personality and perspective. Make sure that you give yourself plenty of time to present your best self via your written response!

Don’t miss: Our full database of supplemental essay guides

Additional resources 

Before you start writing your University of San Francisco supplemental essay, check out our Guide to the Common App essay prompts and what looks good on a college application . If you are just starting your college search, learn more about reach, match, and safety schools and learn how many schools to apply to . Best of luck on your higher education journey!

Also see: How to make a college comparison spreadsheet

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Home — Application Essay — University — University of San Francisco

University of San Francisco Admission Essays

Ambitious pursuits: embracing global education at usf.

Introduction As an ambitious college student seeking to embark on a transformative academic odyssey, I humbly present this application essay to the esteemed University of San Francisco admissions committee. With a firm belief in the potential of a global education, I aim to contribute to…

Heartfelt Dedication: Liberty University Nursing

Initiating my transformative journey into the realm of nursing education, this personal statement essay unravels the layers of my passion for healthcare and my aspirations to become a dedicated and compassionate nurse. Addressing the Liberty University Nursing Schools essay, my aim is to convey not…

Championing Character: University Admission

Starting my journey into university admissions, this essay for university admission provides insight into my academic path, aspirations, and the distinctive qualities I offer to the academic community. As a prospective student, I aim to convey not only my academic achievements but also my passion…

Law and Insight: University of San Francisco Supplemental

Discovering my passion for justice and the transformative potential of the legal system has led me to the University of San Francisco Law School supplemental essay examples. Rooted in a belief in the power of justice, my journey reflects a commitment to the pursuit of…

Engineered Ambitions: University of San Francisco Supplemental

Discovering my passion for engineering opened a gateway to the University of San Francisco’s Engineering Schools supplemental essay example, a guiding light in my pursuit of academic excellence. From the onset, aligning my aspirations with a dynamic and innovative educational environment became a compelling vision….

Road to Independence: College Admission Essay Sample

“Call off the priest. We have a live birth.” Moments before I took my first breath, doctors were sure that I wouldn’t make it out of the ICU alive. I was born three months premature and weighed two pounds, eleven ounces. Doctors officially diagnosed me…

My Mother: College Admission Essay Sample

I begged my mother to let me wash it off in the car. It was Ash Wednesday and, as a third grader new to public school, the cross of ashes on my forehead burned. My mother told me to be proud that I was Catholic…

Leadership Experiences: College Admission Essay Sample

After being selected as a delegate to the Freedoms Foundation Leadership Conference at Valley Forge, I agonized over whether it would be worth missing a week of school and work. However, the trip exceeded my highest expectations. My opinions, notoriously hard to change, were refreshingly…

In the Barriers of Sunnydale Housing Projects: College Admission Essay Sample

Imagine coming from a neighborhood in which the only thing that is promised is death. I lost one of my closest friends a few months ago to gun violence. Witnessing this horror changed my perspective: I want to have a successful life. Killings and robberies…

From Life Event to Social Justice

The University of San Francisco’s commitment to academic excellence and social justice makes it the perfect choice for me as I pursue my passion for studying social sciences. My decision to study in this field was inspired by a life-changing event that led me to…

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University of San Francisco Undergraduate College Application Essays

These University of San Francisco college application essays were written by students accepted at University of San Francisco. All of our sample college essays include the question prompt and the year written. Please use these sample admission essays responsibly.

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College Application Essays accepted by University of San Francisco

Leadership experiences livia antonina romano, university of san francisco.

After being selected as a delegate to the Freedoms Foundation Leadership Conference at Valley Forge, I agonized over whether it would be worth missing a week of school and work. However, the trip exceeded my highest expectations. My opinions,...

My Mother Livia Antonina Romano

I begged my mother to let me wash it off in the car. It was Ash Wednesday and, as a third grader new to public school, the cross of ashes on my forehead burned. My mother told me to be proud that I was Catholic and to remember how lucky I was...

The Valley Anonymous

We have a saying here in The Valley: The world will take us where we want to be. In essence, this little bit of wisdom accurately embodies the world I come from, what it has taught me, and the many ways in which it has shaped my dreams,...

A Bite of Experience Darina Michelle Laviene

After years of constant nagging, I finally gave in to my family's relentless pressure to try cooked pig intestines, or chitlins. Their smell, both sickening and overbearing, has made me steer clear from them every year. But, honoring a strong...

A Modern Holocaust Anonymous

Countless books, documentaries, and museums recount the story of the Jewish Holocaust. Comparatively few people, however, have heard of the modern holocaust that took place in Indonesia twelve years ago in my hometown of Jakarta.

One particular...

As I Am Michael William Bell

Most people are surprised to find out that I am dyslexic. Of course, most people don’t know. It’s not that I am ashamed of it, just that I don’t like to tell people about my problems. It is hard to hide, however, when a teacher asks me to read...

Sandy's Lesson Michael William Bell

There is a special bond that forms between a dog and its owner. Sandy and I were no exception. That was why I wasn't really surprised when my mom told me the news. In a way, I already knew.

My family got Sandy when I was six, so she was a part of...

In the Barriers of Sunnydale Housing Projects Anonymous

Imagine coming from a neighborhood in which the only thing that is promised is death. I lost one of my closest friends a few months ago to gun violence. Witnessing this horror changed my perspective: I want to have a successful life. Killings and...

Find Your Own Calcutta Anonymous

The most important part of my life began nearly a hundred years ago, in a city I have never visited, with a woman I have never met.

Picture 1920s New York City: the prime era of renewal, jazz, and the beginning of the 20th century feminist...

Road to Independence Anonymous

"Call off the priest. We have a live birth." Moments before I took my first breath, doctors were sure that I wouldn't make it out of the ICU alive. I was born three months premature and weighed two pounds, eleven ounces. Doctors officially...

A Bus Ride Through Life Anonymous

The little orange lights blink against the dark blue background, resembling the twinkling of stars at dusk. As the black rings of rubber rapidly revolving around the orbits of metal hubcaps come to a halt, a screech of protest is heard. The driver...

My Closet of Characters Elle Ventana Knowlton

To most people, a costume is a few layers of carefully constructed material that conveys a character or historical period. To me it is a vessel of teleportation that permits me to explore the personalities of flirts, cowards, evil geniuses, and...

Dairying to be Different Haley Lucero Godbold

Dairy products crushed my dreams. My pediatrician delivered the terrible news: she said that my constant stomach aches had been caused by a dairy allergy that had, until recently, lain dormant. This development would be a tough pill for any...

A Musician's Purpose Amy Chiang

As an outspoken Asian girl with an unusually large number of freckles and the tone of a strong alto, I am generally very noticeable. I had always felt very comfortable with the people around me considering that I had been with the same group of...

The Chance to Dance Anonymous

I feel the sweat drip down my neck and soak into the fabric of my bedazzled gown. I clench my fists and inhale deeply, closing my eyes to see the reassuring grin of my choreographer in my mind. Here I stay, tucked securely behind the stage curtain...

'Ohana Anonymous

My grandma thought I was going to die. By studying abroad in France, away from her care, I learned that I must be the one to make the most out of an experience, even if it’s not what I expected it to be. Coming from Hawai’i from a single parent...

Art of My Own Kela Sowell

“Alright, perfect.” I announce, looking down at my camera to peruse through the pictures I had just captured. The model in front of me wore a meticulously curated outfit of my choosing: a muted rainbow of varied sportswear, accompanied by...

Concise Documentation: A Deeper Look into American History Anonymous

A major problem we face today is our failure to chronicle the specifics of a given period, region, or ethnic group. Authentic history is derived not merely from authority figures, but from individuals. The contemporary historical narrative—the...

Lizards and Fingers Deborah Lin

The sky was the baby blue of my new tricycle with streaks of mandarin orange peels highlighting the end of another innocent day. He stood beside my 5 year old self, with clothes smelling of Chinese take-out and the sweat of yesterday’s hot sun....

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University Of San Francisco Admission Essay Writing Guide

Application Guide

Essay examples, how to write san francisco university essay.

A university application letter requires more than just writing. The applicant needs to have the required skill and knowledge and, of course, a unique essay. Our platforms have multiple University of San Francisco essay samples that will guide you into writing yours.

We also have skilled writers on deck for an amazing essay. However, we have put together some tips that will guide you in writing a well-structured essay for your application.

Be intentional about your essay

Your essay should not be written just because you have to write it. It should be written because you want It written. You cannot hide your well-formed intentions away from your reader. You should be clear on what you want to write.

You can decide to give it some thought before attempting and map out a clear structure of what you want to write about. You should have a clear direction on what you want to write about. Your intention about your essay makes it stand out amongst the thousands of applications that come with yours.

Writing a rough sketch of your intended essay will help you streamline it and get to a good point. However, you can write more than one first draft, compare them together and choose which would make a great application essay.

Let Your Essay Answer Specific Questions

Students are mostly confused about how to answer questions that come with their essays. However, it is as simple as it gets. You only have to give a clear and simple answer. Avoid generic and robotic answers. The admission officers don’t want another generic answer that they’ve read in several other applications.

Giving personal replies to the questions make your application stand out among many others. Your institution wants to know more about you, who you are, and what you seek to achieve. Tell them what you can do or notable things you have done in the year.

Identify with the Jesuit Culture

The Jesuit culture at San Francisco University has been since its creation. The tradition is upheld from one generation to another, and as an applicant of the university, you must be aware of this and reflect it in your essay.

This lets them know that you are well invested in your research about the school. You should also know that your program in the school will revolve around the already established Jesuit tradition. You can then write about your knowledge of the Jesuit program and your will to volunteer and partake in giving back to the community you now find yourself in.

What Are University of San Francisco Supplemental Essay Topics?

There are several supplementary essay topics you can choose to write on. The most basic thing is to follow the tips we have provided. Also, the most important of it all is to answer the basic question that the essay requires.

Q: “Why Did I Choose the University?”

As simple as that sounds, you need to be careful not to sound so mechanical. While, this essay question asks you to write about what makes the university special out of the hundreds of universities you could choose from. You should answer this question with utmost sincerity. Make your answer personal and relatable. Tell the story that revolves around your decision to choose the university. Also, your research should be evident in your essay.

Aside from the number in ranking they have, what else interests you in the university. Pointing out your interest in the school’s clubs, extracurricular activities, research, classes, and programs they offer will let them realize that you have done your part of the research on the school. You can also have your research done on the people who are alumni of the university and how the projects they have done have impacted your choice of the university. Most importantly, how you want to continue the project from where they have stopped.

An essay on your impact on your immediate community. The University of San Francisco holds the Jesuit culture up high. This culture revolves mainly around the university’s impact on the immediate community. Your essay on what you can do to continue this undying culture is a plus to your application. However, several applicants will also write their essays on the Jesuit program. However, your unique and different project on giving back to the community ranks your application higher.

For better knowledge, you can have your research based on the San Francisco communities, what is lacking, and how you can step in. Nevertheless, your giving back project may be more humanitarian than materialistic. Make emphasis on education, social justice, and all that Jesuit stands for. But finding this need is the most important thing. Also, you can decide to complete projects that are not completed.

Q: In case of a humanitarian crisis, how will you use your knowledge in your course of study to help get the community back in shape?

This essay question takes us back to the foundation of the university. Never forget to make the school’s mission and values clear in your essay. Note that the school centers itself around humanitarian matters, and most of the courses offered are required to take on research on how the world can be a better place. And to start with the world, you can start with your immediate community.

You can give instances of humanitarian help that came to your community when you needed it the most, how it shaped your community and how it affected you also. Then, emphasize that you want to return the favor to whomever you can; however you can.

University of San Francisco (USF) Admission Requirements

The University of San Francisco holds a top position in universities in America and the world. It is one of the most sought-after universities in the world, and its admission process is as tough as you can imagine.

However, the admission process is not something you cannot crack. So far, you have written a great essay and have the requirements for the university; you are food to go. Here is a look at the straightforward and uncomplicated admission process of the University of San Francisco.

For Undergraduate Application

Pick up an undergraduate application form on the university’s website. Create an account on the Common App portal to start your registration at the University of San Francisco.

• Submit Official Transcripts: You must submit your official high school transcripts and your secondary school testimonial. These will be submitted by your school’s counselor.
• Submit Essays: You must write an essay that answers an important question about your application to the university. This essay lets the university know more about you and your school choice.
• Submit Standardized Scores: Applicants can use the ACT or SAT examination score for admission. Anyone you choose to use, make sure that you score up to the required grade for admission.
• Submit a Letter of Recommendation: Students must submit a letter of recommendation. This is an endorsement letter from a high school teacher who teaches a course related to the program they are applying for at the university.
• Submit Supplemental Documents: The applicants are required to submit program-specific documents.
• Submit Application Fee: At the end of the registration, an application fee of $70 is required to be paid. This application fee is non-refundable. However, students who meet the benchmarks for financially weak applicants can request a fee waiver.

For Graduate Application

Applications to the University of San Francisco are based on each department. The GPA required is decided by the department your program falls in. However, students are to inquire about this and know what their courses require.

About the University

The University of San Francisco is a private institution whose legacy precedes it. Its history as a private institution since 1855 forms the foundation upon which it is now being built. To date, the University of San Francisco has close to six thousand undergraduate enrollment in a year. It has a land mass of about 55 acres and a modern university setting.

Although the university was established in the 19th century, the management takes it through regular innovations and generations. Its academic calendar is semester-based, and students must pay up to $53,472 per year. The University of San Francisco ranks a hundred and third among the best national universities, 2022 edition.

San Francisco University is well known for its Jesuit mission, one of the prominent foundations on which the university is built. The institution is based in California’s Bay Area, and its Jesuit mission is emphasized in every program the university offers.

Students of the University of San Francisco take compulsory service-learning courses alongside the academic coursework and complimentary volunteer work in San Francisco. The university has a long history of serving the community. This includes getting along with local organizations and other international volunteer groups. The university also invests greatly in the school’s research centers and institutes.

The university provides live-in housing for more than ninety percent of fresh students. It also provides for about a hundred curricular and extracurricular clubs, sports, and organizations on campus. Students are also liable to create new clubs and organizations with the institution’s permission.

The University of San Francisco is among the top 100 universities in the United States. USF is relatively selective and has a 65% acceptance rate, making it competitive and difficult to get accepted. Therefore, your student application essay need not be just like the rest. What gives you an edge over the thousands of applicants is your unique way of essay writing. Your essay broadens your personality. It reflects the side of you that your application form couldn’t ask.

The school enrols over five thousand undergraduates from different parts of the world, with a live-in facility for all freshmen. The school’s Jesuit tradition is highly prestigious, and students are expected to follow suit.

Due to this great reputation, students with low or no writing skills can turn to us for an excellent supplemental essay. We deliver within hours of our contact with pocket-budgeted prices. We help you with your essays and let you focus on the other parts of your application.

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12 Great University of California Essay Examples

What’s covered, essay #1: leadership, essay #2: creativity, essay #3: creativity, essay #4: creativity, essay #5: talent, essay #6: talent, essay #7: academic interest, essay #8: academic interest, essay #9: community, essay #10: community, essay #11: community, essay #12: community.

The University of California system is comprised of nine undergraduate universities, and is one of the most prestigious public school systems in the country. The UC schools have their own application system, and students must respond to four of eight personal insight questions in 350 words each. Every UC school you apply to receives the same application and essays, so it’s important that your responses accurately represent your personality and writing abilities. 

In this post, we’ll share some UC essay examples and go over what they did well and where they could improve. We will also point you to free resources you can use to improve your college essays. 

Please note: Looking at examples of real essays students have submitted to colleges can be very beneficial to get inspiration for your essays. You should never copy or plagiarize from these examples when writing your own essays. Colleges can tell when an essay isn’t genuine and will not view students favorably if they plagiarized. 

Read our guide to the UC personal insight questions for more tips on writing strong essays for each of the prompts.

Prompt: Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time. (350 words)

1400 lines of code. 6 weeks. 1 Pizza.

I believe pizza makers are the backbone of society. Without pizza, life as we know it would cease to exist. From a toddler’s birthday party to President Obama’s sporadic campaigning cravings, these 8 slices of pure goodness cleverly seep into every one of our lives; yet, we never talk about it. In a very cheesy way, I find representation in a pizza maker. 

The most perplexing section of physiology is deciphering electrocardiograms. According to our teacher, this was when most students hit their annual trough. We had textbooks and worksheets, but viewing printed rhythms and attempting to recognize them in real-time is about as straining as watching someone eat pizza crust-first. Furthermore, online simulators were vastly over-engineered, featuring complex interfaces foreign to high-school students.

Eventually, I realized the only way to pull myself out of the sauce was by creating my own tools. This was also the first year I took a programming course, so I decided to initiate a little hobbyist experiment by extrapolating knowledge from Computer Science and Physiology to code and share my own Electrocardiogram Simulator. To enhance my program, I went beyond the textbook and classroom by learning directly from Java API – the programmer’s Bible.

The algorithms I wrote not only simulated rhythms in real-time but also actively engaged with the user, allowing my classmates and I to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the curriculum. Little did I know that a small project born out of desperation would eventually become a tool adopted by my teacher to serve hundreds of students in the future.

Like pizza, people will reap the benefits of my app over and over again, and hardly anyone will know its maker. Being a leader doesn’t always mean standing at the front of rallies, giving speeches, and leading organizations. Yes, I have done all three, but this app taught me leaders are also found behind-the-scenes, solving problems in unimaginable ways and fulfilling the hidden, yet crucial niches of the world. 

1400 lines of code, and 6 weeks later, it’s time to order a pizza. 

What the Essay Did Well

This is a great essay because it is both engaging and informative. What exactly does it inform us about? The answer: the personality, work ethic, and achievements of this student (exactly what admissions officers want to hear about).

With regards to personality, the pizza through-line—which notably starts the essay, ends the essay, and carries us through the essay—speaks volumes about this student. They are admittedly “cheesy,” but they appear unabashedly themself. They own their goofiness. That being said, the student’s pizza connections are also fitting and smoothly advance their points—watching someone eat pizza crust-first is straining and pizza is an invention that hardly anyone can identify the maker of. 

While we learn about this student’s fun personality in this essay, we also learn about their work ethic. A student who takes the initiative to solve a problem that no one asked them to solve is the kind of student an admissions officer wants to admit. The phrase “I decided to initiate a little hobbyist experiment” alone tells us that this student is a curious go-getter.

Lastly, this student tells us about their achievements in the last two paragraphs. Not only did they take the initiative to create this program, but it was also successful. On top of that, it’s notable how this student’s accomplishments as a leader defy the traditional expectations people have for leaders. The student’s ability to demonstrate their untraditional leadership path is an achievement in itself that sets the student apart form other applicants.

What Could Be Improved

This is a strong essay as is, but the one way this student could take it above and beyond would be to tell less and show more. To really highlight the student’s writing ability, the essay should  show the reader all the details it’s currently telling us. For example, these sentences primarily tell the reader what happened: “The most perplexing section of physiology is deciphering electrocardiograms. According to our teacher, this was when most students hit their annual trough.” 

Rewriting this sentence to show the reader the student’s impetus for creating their app could look like this: “When my teacher flashed the electrocardiogram on the screen, my once attentive physiology class became a sea of blank stares and furrowed brows.” This sentence still conveys the key details—student’s in the physiology class found electrocardiograms to be the hardest unit of the year—but it does so in a far more descriptive way. Implementing this exercise of rewriting sentences to show what happened throughout the piece would elevate the entire essay.

Prompt: 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. (350 words)

For the past few years, participating in debate has been one of the foremost expressions of my creativity. Nothing is as electrifying as an Asian parliamentary-style debate. Each team is given only thirty minutes to prepare seven-minute speeches to either support or oppose the assigned motion. Given the immense time pressure, this is where my creativity shines most brightly.

To craft the most impactful and convincing argument, I have to consider the context of the motion, different stakeholders, the goals we want to achieve, the mechanisms to reach those goals, and so much more. I have to frame these arguments effectively and paint a compelling and cohesive world to sway my listeners to my side on both an emotional and logical level. For example, In a debate about the implementation of rice importation in the Philippines, I had to frequently switch between the macro perspective by discussing the broad economic implications of the policy and the micro perspective by painting a picture of the struggles that local rice farmers would experience when forcefully thrust into an increasingly competitive global economy. It’s a tough balancing act.

To add to the challenge, there is an opposing team on the other side of the room hell-bent on disproving everything I say. They generate equally plausible sounding arguments, and my mission is to react on the spot to dispel their viewpoints and build up our team’s case.

When two debate teams, both well-prepared and hungry for victory, face off and try to out-think one another, they clash to form a sixty-minute thunderstorm raining down fierce arguments and rebuttals. They fill up a room with unbelievable energy. After several years of debate, I have developed the capacity to still a room of fury and chaos with nothing but my words and wit.

Debate has been instrumental in shaping me into the person I am today. Because of debate, I have become a quicker and stronger thinker. Lightning quick on my feet, I am ready to thoroughly and passionately defend my beliefs at a moment’s notice.

This prompt is about creativity, though its wording emphasizes how students aren’t required to talk about typically-creative subjects. That said, it might take a bit more work and explanation (even creativity, one could say) to position a logical process as creative. This student’s main strength is the way they convince the reader that debate is creative.

First, they identify how “Asian parliamentary-style debate” differs from other forms of debate, emphasizing how time constraints necessitate the use of creativity. Then, they explain how both the argument’s content (the goals and solutions they outline) and the argument’s composition (the way they frame the argument) must be creatively orchestrated to be convincing. 

To drive home the point that debate is a creative process, this student provides an example of how they structured their argument about rice importation in the Philippines. This essay is successful because, after reading it, an admissions officer has no doubt that this student can combine logic and creativity to think intellectually.

One aspect of this essay that could be improved is the language use. Although there are some creative metaphors like the “sixty-minute thunderstorm raining down fierce arguments”, the essay is lacking the extra oomph and wow-factor that carefully chosen diction provides. In the second paragraph, the student repeats the phrase “I have to” three different times when stronger, more active verbs could have been used.

Essays should always reflect the student’s natural voice and shouldn’t sound like every word came straight out of a thesaurus, but that doesn’t mean they can’t incorporate a bit of colorful language. If this student took the time to go through their essay and ask themself if an overused word could be replaced with a more exciting one, it would make the essay much more interesting to read.

As I open the door to the Makerspace, I am greeted by a sea of cubicle-like machines and I watch eagerly, as one of them completes the final layer of my print.

Much like any scientific experiment, my countless failures in the Makerspace – hours spent designing a print, only to have it disintegrate – were my greatest teachers. I learned, the hard way, what types of shapes and patterns a 3D printer would play nice to. Then, drawing inspiration from the engineering method, I developed a system for myself – start with a solid foundation and add complexity with each iteration – a flourish here, a flying buttress there. 

But it wasn’t until the following summer, vacationing on a beach inundated with plastic, that the “aha” moment struck. In an era where capturing people’s attention in a split-second is everything, what better way to draw awareness to the plastic problem than with quirky 3D-printed products? By the time I had returned home, I had a business case on my hands and a desire to make my impact.

Equipped with vital skills from the advanced math-and-science courses I had taken in sophomore year, I began applying these to my growing business. Using my AP Chemistry analytical laboratory skills, I devised a simple water bath experiment to test the biodegradability claims of 3D-printer filaments from different manufacturers, guaranteeing that my products could serve as both a statement and play their part for our planet. The optimization techniques I had learned in AP Calculus were put to good use, as I determined the most space-efficient packaging for my products, reducing my dependence on unsustainable filler material. Even my designs were tweaked and riffed on to reflect my newfound maturity and keen eye for aesthetics.

My business is still going strong today, raising $1000 to date. I attribute this success to a fateful spark of creative inspiration, which has, and will, continue to inspire me to weave together multiple disciplines to address issues as endemic as the plastic problem. 

This essay begins with a simple, yet highly effective hook. It catches readers’ attention by only giving a hint about the essay’s main topic, and being a standalone paragraph makes it all the more intriguing. 

The next paragraph then begins with a seamless transition that ties back to the Makerspace. The essay goes on to show the writer’s creative side and how it has developed over time. Rather than directly stating “I am most creative when I am working on my business,” the writer tells the story of their creativity while working with 3-D printers and vacationing on the beach. 

It is the “aha” moment that perhaps responds to the prompt best. Here we get to see the writer create a new idea on the spot. The next two paragraphs then show the writer executing on their idea in great detail. Small and specific details, such as applying analytical laboratory skills from AP Chemistry, make the writer’s creativity come to life. 

From start to finish, this essay shows that the key to writing a stellar response to this prompt is to fill your writing with details and vivid imagery. 

The second to last paragraph of this essay focuses a bit too much on how the writer built their business. Though many of these details show the writer’s creativity in action, a few of them could be restated to make the connection to creativity clearer. The last sentences could be rewritten like so: 

Working on my business was where my creativity blossomed. In my workshop, optimization techniques that I learned in AP Calculus became something new — the basis for space-efficient packaging for my products that reduced my dependence on unsustainable filler material…

Profusely sweating after trying on what felt like a thousand different outfits, I collapsed on the floor in exasperation. The heaping pile of clothes on my bed stared me down in disdain; with ten minutes left to spare before the first day of seventh grade, I let go of my screaming thoughts and settled on the very first outfit I tried on: my favorite.

Donning a neon pink dress, that moment marked the first time I chose expression over fear. Being one of the few Asians in my grade, clothing was my source of disguise. I looked to the bold Stacy London of What Not to Wear for daily inspiration, but, in actuality, I dressed to conceal my uniqueness so I wouldn’t be noticed for my race. Wearing jeans and a t-shirt, I envied the popular girls who hiked their shorts up just a few inches higher than dress code allowed and flaunted Uggs decorated with plastic jewels, a statement that Stacy London would have viewed as heinous and my mother impractical. 

However, entering school that day and the days after, each compliment I received walking down the hallways slowly but surely broke down the armored shield. Morphing into an outlet to amplify my voice and creativity, dressing up soon became what I looked forward to each morning. I was awarded best dressed the year after that during my middle school graduation, a recognition most would scoff at. But, to me, that flimsy paper certificate was a warm embrace telling me that I was valued for my originality and expression. I was valued for my differences. 

Confidence was what I found and is now an essential accessory to every outfit I wear. Taking inspiration from vintage, simplistic silhouettes and Asian styles, I adorn my body’s canvas with a variety of fabrics and vibrant colors, no longer depriving it of the freedom to self expression and cultural exploration. I hope that my future will open new doors for me, closet doors included, at the University of California with opportunities to intertwine creativity with my identity even further.

Colorful language and emotion are conveyed powerfully in this essay, which is one of its key strengths. We can see this in the first paragraph, where the writer communicates that they were feeling searing judgment by using a metaphor: “the heaping pile of clothes on my bed stared me down.” The writer weaves other rich phrases into the essay — for example, “my screaming thoughts” — to show readers their emotions. All of these writing choices are much more moving than plainly stating “I was nervous.”

The essay moves on to tell a story that responds to the prompt in a unique way. While typical responses will be about a very direct example of expressing creativity, e.g. oil painting, this essay has a fittingly creative take on the prompt. The story also allows the writer to avoid a common pitfall — talking more about the means of being creative rather than how those means allow you to express yourself. In other words, make sure to avoid talking about the act of oil painting so much that your essay loses focus on what painting means to you.

The last sentence of the essay is one more part to emulate. “I hope that my future will open new doors for me, closet doors included…” is a well-crafted, flawlessly succinct metaphor that looks to the future while connecting the end of the essay to its beginning. The metaphors are then juxtaposed with a summary of the essay’s main topic: “intertwine creativity with my identity.” 

This essay’s main areas for improvement are grammatical. What Not to Wear should be italicized, “self-expression” should be hyphenated, and the last sentence could use the following tweaks to make it less of a run-on: “I hope that my future will open new doors for me, closet doors included, at the University of California. There, I will have opportunities to intertwine creativity with my identity even further.”

Since identity is the main topic of this essay, it would also be fitting for the writer to go into more depth about it. The immediate takeaways from the essay are that the writer is Asian and interested in fashion — however, more descriptions could be added to these parts. For example, the writer could replace Asian with Laotian-American and change a sentence in the second to last paragraph to “dressing up in everything from bell bottom jeans to oversized flannel shirts soon became what I looked forward to each morning.”

Prompt: What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time? (350 words)

Let’s fast-forward time. Strides were made toward racial equality. Healthcare is accessible to all; however, one issue remains. Our aquatic ecosystems are parched with dead coral from ocean acidification. Climate change has prevailed.

Rewind to the present day.

My activism skills are how I express my concerns for the environment. Whether I play on sandy beaches or rest under forest treetops, nature offers me an escape from the haste of the world. When my body is met by trash in the ocean or my nose is met by harmful pollutants, Earth’s pain becomes my own. 

Substituting coffee grinds as fertilizer, using bamboo straws, starting my sustainable garden, my individual actions needed to reach a larger scale. I often found performative activism to be ineffective when communicating climate concerns. My days of reposting awareness graphics on social media never filled the ambition I had left to put my activism skills to greater use. I decided to share my ecocentric worldview with a coalition of environmentalists and host a climate change rally outside my high school.

Meetings were scheduled where I informed students about the unseen impact they have on the oceans and local habitual communities. My fingers were cramped from all the constant typing and investigating of micro causes of the Pacific Waste Patch, creating reusable flyers, displaying steps people could take from home in reducing their carbon footprint. I aided my fellow environmentalists in translating these flyers into other languages, repeating this process hourly, for five days, up until rally day. 

It was 7:00 AM. The faces of 100 students were shouting, “The climate is changing, why can’t we?” I proudly walked on the dewy grass, grabbing the microphone, repeating those same words. The rally not only taught me efficient methods of communication but it echoed my environmental activism to the masses. The City of Corona would be the first of many cities to see my activism, as more rallies were planned for various parts of SoCal. My once unfulfilled ambition was fueled by my tangible activism, understanding that it takes more than one person to make an environmental impact.

One of the largest strengths of this response is its speed. From the very beginning, we are invited to “fast-forward” and “rewind” with the writer. Then, after we focus ourselves in the present, this writer keeps their quick pace with sentences like “Substituting coffee grounds as fertilizer, using bamboo straws, starting my sustainable garden, my individual actions needed to reach a larger scale.” A common essay-writing blunder is using a predictable structure that loses the attention of the reader, but this unique pacing keeps things interesting.

Another positive of this essay is how their passion for environmental activism shines through. The essay begins by describing the student’s connection to nature (“nature offers me an escape from the haste of the world”), moves into discussing the personal actions they have taken (“substituting coffee grounds as fertilizer”), and then explains the rally the student hosted. While the talent the student is writing about is their ability to inspire others to fight against climate change, establishing the personal affinity towards nature and individual steps they took demonstrate the development of their passion. This makes their talent appear much more significant and unique. 

This essay could be improved by being more specific about what this student’s talent is. There is no sentence that directly states what this student considers to be their talent. Although the essay is still successful at displaying the student’s personality, interests, and ambition, by not explicitly mentioning their talent, they leave it up to the reader’s interpretation.

Depending on how quickly they read the essay or how focused they are, there’s a possibility the reader will miss the key talent the student wanted to convey. Making sure to avoid spoon-feeding the answer to their audience, the student should include a short sentence that lays out what they view as their main talent.

At six, Mama reads me a story for the first time. I listen right up until Peter Pan talks about the stars in the night sky. “What’s the point of stars if they can’t be part of something?” Mama looks at me strangely before closing the book. “Sometimes, looking on is more helpful than actively taking part. Besides, stars listen- like you. You’re a good listener, aren’t you?” I nod. At eleven, my sister confides in me for the first time. She’s always been different, in a way even those ‘mind doctors’ could never understand. I don’t understand either, but I do know that I like my sister. She’s mean to me, but not like people are to her. She tells me how she sees the world, and chokes over her words in a struggle to speak. She trusts me, and that makes me happy. So, I listen. I don’t speak; this isn’t a story where I speak. At sixteen, I find myself involved with an organization that provides education to rural children. Dakshata is the first person I’ve tutored in Hindi. She’s also my favorite. So, when she interrupts me mid-lesson one evening, lips trembling and eyes filling with tears, I decide to put my pen down and listen. I don’t speak; I don’t take part in this story. Later, as I hug the girl, I tell her about the stars and how her mother is among their kind- unable to speak yet forever willing to listen. Dakshata now loves the stars as much as I do. At seventeen, I realize that the first thing that comes to my mind when someone asks me about a skill I possess is my ability to listen. Many don’t see it as a skill, and I wouldn’t ask them to either, but it’s important. When you listen, you see, you need not necessarily understand, but you do comprehend. You empathize on a near-cosmic level with the people around you and learn so much more than you ever thought possible. Everything is a part of something- even the stars with their ears.

The essay as a whole is an excellent example of narrative-based writing. The narrative begins with a captivating hook. The first sentence catches the reader by surprise, since it does not directly respond to the prompt by naming the writer’s greatest talent or skill. Instead, it tells a childhood story which does not seem to be related to a skill at first. This creates intrigue, and the second sentence adds to it by introducing a conflict. It causes readers to wonder why Peter Pan’s stargazing would make a six year old stop listening — hooked into the story, they continue reading.

The writer continues to create a moving narrative by using dialogue. Dialogue allows the writer to show rather than tell , which is a highly effective way to make an essay convey emotion and keep readers’ attention. The writer also shows their story by using language such as “mind doctors” instead of “psychologists” — this immerses readers in the author’s perspective as an 11 year old at the time. 

Two motifs, or recurring themes, tie the essay together: listening and looking at the stars. The last paragraph powerfully concludes the essay by explaining these themes and circling back to the introduction.

Crafting transitions is one area where this essay could be improved. The paragraph after “I nod” begins abruptly, and without any sentence to connect the writer’s dialogue at age six with her experiences at age 11. One way to make the transition smoother would be to begin the paragraph after “I nod” with “I try to be a good listener again at eleven, when my sister confides in me for the first time.”

This essay would also be more impactful if the writer explained what they aspire to do with their ability to listen in the future. While it is most important for your essay to explain how your past experiences have made you who you are in the present, looking towards the future allows admissions readers to imagine the impact you might make after graduation. The writer could do this in the last paragraph of their essay by writing the following: “Many don’t see it as a skill, and I wouldn’t ask them to either, but I find it important — especially as an aspiring social worker.”

Prompt: Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom. (350 words)

I distinctly remember the smile on Perela’s face when she found out her mother would be nursed back to health. I first met Perela and her mother at the Lestonnac Free Clinic in San Bernardino where I volunteered as a Spanish translator. I was in awe of the deep understanding of biology that the medical team employed to discover solutions. Despite having no medical qualifications of my own, I realized that by exercising my abilities to communicate and empathize, I could serve as a source of comfort and encouragement for Perela and her mother. The opportunity to combine my scientific curiosity and passion for caring for people cultivated my interest in a career as a physician.

To further explore this interest, I attended a summer medical program at Georgetown University. I participated in lectures on circulation through the heart, practiced stitches on a chicken leg, and assisted in giving CPR to a dummy in the patient simulation laboratory. Every fact about the human body I learned brought with it ten new questions for me to research. I consistently stayed after each lecture to gain insight about how cells, tissues, and organs all work together to carry out immensely complicated functions. The next year, in my AP Biology class, I was further amazed with the interconnected biological systems as I learned about the relationships between the human body and ecosystems. I discussed with my teacher how environmental changes will impact human health and how we must broaden our perspectives to use medicine to tackle these issues.

By integrating environmental and medical science, we can develop effective solutions to reduce the adverse effects of environmental degradation that Perela’s mother may have faced unintentionally. I want to go into the medical field so I can employ a long-term approach to combat biology’s hidden anomalies with a holistic viewpoint. I look forward to utilizing my undergraduate classes and extracurriculars to prepare for medical school so I can fight for both health care and environmental protection.

This student primarily answers the prompt in their middle paragraph as they describe their experience at a summer medical program as well as their science coursework in high school. This content shows their academic curiosity and rigor, yet the best part of the essay isn’t the student’s response to the prompt. The best part of this essay is the way the student positions their interest in medicine as authentic and unique.

The student appears authentic when they admit that they haven’t always been interested in medical school. Many applicants have wanted to be doctors their whole life, but this student is different. They were just in a medical office to translate and help, then got hooked on the profession and took that interest to the next level by signing up for a summer program.

Additionally, this student positions themself as unique as they describe the specifics of their interest in medicine, emphasizing their concern with the ways medicine and the environment interact. This is also refreshing!

Of course, you should always answer the prompt, but it’s important to remember that you can make room within most prompts to say what you want and show off unique aspects of yourself—just as this student did.

One thing this student should be careful of is namedropping Georgetown for the sake of it. There is no problem in discussing a summer program they attended that furthered their interest in medicine, but there is a problem when the experience is used to build prestige. Admissions officers already know that this student attended a summer program at Georgetown because it’s on their application. The purpose of the essay is to show  why attending the program was a formative moment in their interest.

The essay gets at the  why a bit when it discusses staying after class to learn more about specific topics, but the student could have gone further in depth. Rather than explaining the things the student did during the program, like stitching chicken legs and practicing CPR, they should have continued the emotional reflection from the first paragraph by describing what they thought and felt when they got hands-on medical experience during the program. 

Save describing prestigious accomplishments for your extracurriculars and resume; your essay is meant to demonstrate what made you you.

I love spreadsheets.

It’s weird, I know. But there’s something endlessly fascinating about taking a bunch of raw numbers, whipping and whacking them into different shapes and forms with formulas and equations to reveal hidden truths about the universe. The way I like to think about it is that the universe has an innate burning desire to tell us its stories. The only issue is its inability to talk with us directly. Most human stories are written in simple words and letters, but the tales of the universe are encrypted in numbers and relationships, which require greater effort to decode to even achieve basic comprehension. After all, it took Newton countless experimentation to discover the love story between mass and gravitation.

In middle school, whenever I opened a spreadsheet, I felt like I was part of this big journey towards understanding the universe. It took me a couple of years, but I eventually found out that my interest had a name: Data Science. With this knowledge, I began to read extensively about the field and took online courses in my spare time. I found out that the spreadsheets I had been using was just the tip of the iceberg. As I gained more experience, I started using more powerful tools like R (a statistical programming language) which allowed me to use sophisticated methods like linear regressions and decision trees. It opened my eyes to new ways to understand reality and changed the way I approached the world.

The thing I love most about data science is its versatility. It doesn’t matter if the data at hand is about the airflow on an owl’s wing or the living conditions of communities most crippled by poverty. I am able to utilize data science to dissect and analyze issues in any field. Each new method of analysis yields different stories, with distinct actors, settings, and plots. I’m an avid reader of the stories of the universe, and one day I will help the world by letting the universe write its own narrative.

This is an essay that draws the reader in. The student’s candid nature and openness truly allows us to understand why they are fascinated with spreadsheets themself, which in turn makes the reader appreciate the meaning of this interest in the student’s life. 

First, the student engages readers with their conversational tone, beginning “I love spreadsheets. It’s weird, I know,” followed shortly after by the phrase “whipping and whacking.” Then, they introduce their idea to us, explaining how the universe is trying to tell us something through numbers and saying that Newton discovered “the love story between mass and gravitation,” and we find ourselves clearly following along. They put us right there with them, on their team, also trying to discover the secrets of the universe. It is this bond between the student and the reader that makes the essay so engaging and worth reading.

Because the essay is focused on the big picture, the reader gets a sense of the wide-eyed wonderment this student experiences when they handle and analyze data. The student takes us on the “big journey towards understanding the universe” through the lens of Data Science. Explaining both the tools the student has used, like R and statistical regression, and the ideas the student has explored, like owl’s wings and poverty, demonstrates how this student fits into the micro and macro levels of Data Science. The reader gets a complete picture of how this student could change the world through this essay—something admissions officers always want to see.

The biggest thing that would improve this essay is an anecdote. As it’s written, the essay looks at Data Science from a more theoretical or aspirational perspective. The student explains all that Data Science can enable, but besides for explaining that they started coding with spreadsheets and R, they provide very little personal experience working with Data Science. This is where an anecdote would elevate the essay.

Adding a story about the first data set they examined or an independent project they undertook as a hobby would have elicited more emotion and allowed for the student to showcase their accomplishments and way of thinking. For example, they could delve into the feeling of enlightenment that came from first discovering a pattern in the universe. Or maybe they could describe how analyzing data was the catalyst that led them to reach out to local businesses to help them improve their revenue. 

If you have an impactful and enduring interest, such as this student does, you will have at least one anecdote you could include in your essay. You’ll find that essays with anecdotes are able to work in more emotional reflection that make the essay more memorable and the student more likable.

Prompt: What have you done to make your community a better place? (350 words)

Blinking sweat from my eyes, I raised my chin up to the pullup bar one last time before dropping down, my muscles trembling. But despite my physical exhaustion at the end of the workout, mentally, I felt reinvigorated and stronger than ever.

Minutes later, I sat at my computer, chatting with my friends about our first week in quarantine. After listening to numerous stories concerning boredom and loneliness, it struck me that I could use my passion for fitness to help my friends—I jumped at the chance to do so. 

After scouring the internet for the most effective exercises and fitness techniques, I began hosting Zoom workouts, leading friends, family, and anyone else who wanted to join in several fun exercises each week. I hoped these meetings would uplift anyone struggling during quarantine, whether from loneliness, uncertainty, or loss of routine. I created weekly workout plans, integrating cardio, strength, and flexibility exercises into each. Using what I learned from skating, I incorporated off-ice training exercises into the plans and added stretching routines to each session. 

Although many members were worried that they wouldn’t be able to complete exercises as well as others and hesitated to turn their cameras on, I encouraged them to show themselves on screen, knowing we’d only support one another. After all, the “face-to-face” interactions we had while exercising were what distinguished our workouts from others online; and I hoped that they would lead us to grow closer as a community. 

As we progressed, I saw a new-found eagerness in members to show themselves on camera, enjoying the support of others. Seeing how far we had all come was immensely inspiring: I watched people who couldn’t make it through one circuit finish a whole workout and ask for more; instead of staying silent during meetings, they continually asked for tips and corrections.

Despite the limitations placed on our interactions by computer screens, we found comfort in our collective efforts, the camaraderie between us growing with every workout. For me, it confirmed the strength we find in community and the importance of helping one another through tough times.

This essay accomplishes three main goals: it tells a story of how this student took initiative, it explores the student’s values, and it demonstrates their emotional maturity. We really get a sense of how this student improved their community while also gaining a large amount of insight into what type of person this student is.

With regards to initiative, this student writes about a need they saw in their community and the steps they took to satisfy that need. They describe the extensive thought that went into their decisions as they outline the planning of their classes and their unique decision to incorporate skating techniques in at-home workouts.

Additionally, they explore their values, including human connection. The importance of connection to this student is obvious throughout the essay as they write about their desire “to grow closer as a community.” It is particularly apparent with their final summarizing sentence: “For me, it confirmed the strength we find in community and the importance of helping one another through tough times.”

Lastly, this student positions themself as thoughtful when they recognize the way that embarrassment can get in the way of forming community. They do this through the specific example of feeling embarrassment when turning on one’s camera during a video call—a commonly-felt feeling. This ability to recognize fear of embarrassment as an obstacle to camaraderie shows maturity on the part of this applicant. 

This essay already has really descriptive content, a strong story, and a complete answer to the prompt, however there is room for every essay to improve. In this case, the student could have worked more descriptive word choice and figurative language into their essay to make it more engaging and impressive. You want your college essay to showcase your writing abilities as best as possible, while still sounding like you.

One literary device that would have been useful in this essay is a conceit or an extended metaphor . Essays that utilize conceits tend to begin with a metaphor, allude to the metaphor during the body of the paragraph, and end by circling back to the original metaphor. All together, it makes for a cohesive essay that is easy to follow and gives the reader a satisfying opening and conclusion to the essay.

The idea at the heart of this essay—working out to strengthen a community—would make for a great conceit. By changing the anecdote at the beginning to maybe reflect the lack of strength the student felt when working out alone and sprinkling in words and phrases that allude to strength and exercise during the essay, the last sentence (“For me, it confirmed the strength we find in community and the importance of helping one another through tough times”) would feel like a fulfilling end to the conceit rather than just a clever metaphor thrown in. 

Prompt: What have you done to make your school or your community a better place? (350 words)

The scent of eucalyptus caressed my nose in a gentle breeze. Spring had arrived. Senior class activities were here. As a sophomore, I noticed a difference between athletic and academic seniors at my high school; one received recognition while the other received silence. I wanted to create an event celebrating students academically-committed to four-years, community colleges, trades schools, and military programs. This event was Academic Signing Day.

The leadership label, “Events Coordinator,” felt heavy on my introverted mind. I usually was setting up for rallies and spirit weeks, being overlooked around the exuberant nature of my peers. 

I knew a change of mind was needed; I designed flyers, painted posters, presented powerpoints, created student-led committees, and practiced countless hours for my introductory speech. Each committee would play a vital role on event day: one dedicated to refreshments, another to technology, and one for decorations. The fourth-month planning was a laborious joy, but I was still fearful of being in the spotlight. Being acknowledged by hundreds of people was new to me. 

The day was here. Parents filled the stands of the multi-purpose room. The atmosphere was tense; I could feel the angst building in my throat, worried about the impression I would leave. Applause followed each of the 400 students as they walked to their college table, indicating my time to speak. 

I walked up to the stand, hands clammy, expression tranquil, my words echoing to the audience. I thought my speech would be met by the sounds of crickets; instead, smiles lit up the stands, realizing my voice shone through my actions. I was finally coming out of my shell. The floor was met by confetti as I was met by the sincerity of staff, students, and parents, solidifying the event for years to come. 

Academic students were no longer overshadowed. Their accomplishments were equally recognized to their athletic counterparts. The school culture of athletics over academics was no longer imbalanced. Now, everytime I smell eucalyptus, it is a friendly reminder that on Academic Signing Day, not only were academic students in the spotlight but so was my voice.

This is a good essay because it describes the contribution the student made to their community and the impact that experience had on shaping their personality. Admissions officers get to see what this student is capable of and how they have grown, which is important to demonstrate in your essays. Throughout the essay there is a nice balance between focusing on planning the event and the emotions it elicited from this student, which is summed up in the last sentence: “not only were academic students in the spotlight but so was my voice.”

With prompts like this one (which is essentially a Community Service Essay ) students sometimes take very small contributions to their community and stretch them—oftentimes in a very obvious way. Here, the reader can see the importance of Academic Signing Day to the community and the student, making it feel like a genuine and enjoyable experience for all involved. Including details like the four months of planning the student oversaw, the specific committees they delegated tasks to, and the hundreds of students and parents that attended highlights the skills this student possesses to plan and execute such a large event.

Another positive aspect of this essay is how the student’s emotions are intertwined throughout the essay. We see this student go from being a shy figure in the background to the confident architect of a celebrated community event, all due to their motivation to create Academic Signing Day. The student consistently shows throughout the essay, instead of telling us what happened. One example is when they convey their trepidation to public speaking in this sentence: “I walked up to the stand, hands clammy, expression tranquil, my words echoing to the audience. I thought my speech would be met by the sounds of crickets.”

Employing detailed descriptions of feelings, emotions, fears, and body language all contribute to an essay that reveals so much in subtle ways. Without having to be explicitly told, the reader learns the student is ambitious, organized, a leader, and someone who deeply values academic recognition when they read this essay.

While this essay has many positives, there are a couple of things the student could work on. The first is to pay more attention to grammar. There was one obvious typo where the student wrote “the fourth-month planning was a laborious joy”, but there were also many sentences that felt clunky and disjointed. Each and every essay you submit should put your best foot forward and impress admissions officers with your writing ability, but typos immediately diminish your credibility as a writer and sincerity as an applicant.

It’s important to read through your essay multiple times and consider your specific word choice—does each word serve a purpose, could a sentence be rewritten to be less wordy, etc? However, it’s also important you have at least one other person edit your essay. Had this student given their essay to a fresh set of eyes they might have caught the typo and other areas in need of improvement.

Additionally, this student began and ended the essay with the smell of eucalyptus. Although this makes for an intriguing hook, it has absolutely nothing to do with the actual point of the essay. It’s great to start your essay with an evocative anecdote or figurative language, but it needs to relate to your topic. Rather than wasting words on eucalyptus, a much stronger hook could have been the student nervously walking up to the stage with clammy hands and a lump in their throat. Beginning the essay with a descriptive sentence that puts us directly into the story with the student would draw the reader in and get them excited about the topic at hand.

Prompt: What have you done to make your school or community a better place? (350 words) 

“I wish my parents understood.” Sitting at the lunch table, I listened as my friends aired out every detail of their life that they were too afraid to share with their parents. Sexuality, relationships, dreams; the options were limitless. While I enjoyed playing therapist every 7th period, a nagging sensation that perhaps their parents should understand manifested in me. Yet, my proposal was always met with rolling eyes; “I wish they understood” began every conversation, but nothing was being done beyond wishing on both sides. 

I wanted to help not just my friends but the countless other stories I was told of severed relationships and hidden secrets. Ultimately, my quest for change led me to BFB, a local nonprofit. Participating in their Youth Leadership program, I devised and implemented a plan for opening up the conversation between students and parents with the team I led. We successfully hosted relationship seminars with guest speakers specializing on a range of topics, from inclusive education to parental pressure, and were invited to speak for BFB at various external events with local government by the end of my junior year. Collaborating with mental health organizations and receiving over $1,000 in funding from international companies facilitated our message to spread throughout the community and eventually awarded us with an opportunity to tackle a research project studying mental health among teens during the pandemic with professors from the University at Buffalo and UC Los Angeles. 

While these endeavors collectively facilitated my team to win the competition, the most rewarding part of it all was receiving positive feedback from my community and close friends. “I wish my parents understood” morphed into “I’m glad they tried to understand”. I now lead a separate program under BFB inspired by my previous endeavors, advancing its message even further and leaving a legacy of change and initiative for future high schoolers in the program. As I leave for college, I hope to continue this work at the University of California and foster a diverse community that embraces understanding and growth across cultures and generations.

The essay begins with a strong, human-centered story that paints a picture of what the writer’s community looks like. The first sentence acts as a hook by leaving readers with questions — whose parents are being discussed, and what don’t they understand? With their curiosity now piqued, readers become intrigued enough to move on to the next sentences. The last sentence of the first paragraph and beginning of the second relate to the same topic of stories from friends, making for a highly effective transition.

The writer then does a great job of describing their community impact in specific detail, which is crucial for this prompt. Rather than using vague and overly generalized language, the writer highlights their role in BFB with strong action verbs like “devised” and “implemented.” They also communicate the full scope of their impact with quantifiable metrics like “$1,000 in funding,” all while maintaining a flowing narrative style.

The essay ends by circling back to the reason why the writer got involved in improving their community through BFB, which makes the essay more cohesive and moving. The last sentences connect their current experiences improving community with their future aspirations to do so, both in the wider world and at a UC school. This forward-looking part allows admissions officers to get a sense of what the writer might accomplish as a UC alum/alumna, and is certainly something to emulate.

This essay’s biggest weakness is its organization. Since the second paragraph contains lots of dense information about the writer’s role in BFB, it would benefit from a few sentences that tie it back to the narrative in the first paragraph. For instance, the third sentence of the paragraph could be changed like so: “Participating in their Youth Leadership program, I led my team through devising and implementing a plan to foster student-parent conversations — the ones that my 7th period friends were in need of.”

The last paragraph also has the potential to be reorganized. The sentence with the “I wish my parents understood” quote would be more powerful at the end of the paragraph rather than in the middle. With a short transition added to the beginning, the new conclusion would look like so: “ Through it all, I hope to help ‘I wish my parents understood’ morph into ‘I’m glad they tried to understand’ for my 7th period friends and many more.” 

I drop my toothbrush in the sink as I hear a scream. Rushing outside, I find my mom’s hand painfully wedged in the gap between our outward-opening veranda doors. I quickly open it, freeing her hand as she gasps in relief. 

As she ices her hand, I regard the door like I would a trivia question or math problem – getting to know the facts before I start working on a solution. I find that, surprisingly, there is not a single protrusion to open the door from the outside! 

Perhaps it was the fact that my mom couldn’t drive or that my dad worked long hours, but the crafts store was off-limits; I’ve always ended up having to get resourceful and creative with whatever materials happened to be on hand in order to complete my impromptu STEM projects or garage builds. Used plastic bottles of various shapes and sizes became buildings for a model of a futuristic city. Cylindrical capacitors from an old computer, a few inches in height, became scale-size storage tanks. 

Inspired by these inventive work-arounds and spurred on by my mom’s plight, I procure a Command Strip, a roll of tennis racket grip, and, of course, duct tape. I fashion a rudimentary but effective solution: a pull handle, ensuring she would never find herself stuck again.

A desire to instill others in my community with this same sense of resourcefulness led me to co-found “Repair Workshops” at my school – sessions where we teach students to fix broken objects rather than disposing of them. My hope is that participants will walk away with a renewed sense of purpose to identify problems faced by members of their community (whether that’s their neighbor next door or the planet as a whole) and apply their newfound engineering skills towards solutions.

As I look towards a degree and career in engineering and business, these connections will serve as my grounding point: my reminder that in disciplines growing increasingly quantitative, sometimes the best startup ideas or engineering solutions originate from a desire to to better the lives of people around me.

This essay is a good example of telling a story with an authentic voice. With its down-to-earth tone and short, punchy paragraphs, it stands out as a piece of writing that only the author could have written. That is an effective way for you to write any of your college essays as well.

After readers are hooked by the mention of screaming in the first sentence, the writer immerses the readers in their thinking. This makes the essay flow very naturally — rather than a first paragraph of narrative followed by an unrelated description of STEM projects, the whole essay is a cohesive story that shows how the writer came to improve their community. 

Their take on community also makes the essay stand out. While many responses to this prompt will focus on an amorphous, big-picture concept of community, such as school or humanity, this essay is about a community that the writer has a close connection to — their family. Family is also not the large group of people that most applicants would first attach to the word “community,” but writing about it here is a creative take on the prompt. Though explaining community impact is most important, choosing the most unique community you are a part of is a great way to make your essay stand out.

This essay’s main weakness is that the paragraph about Repair Workshops does not go into enough detail about community impact. The writer should highlight more specific examples of leadership here, since it would allow them to demonstrate how they hope to impact many more communities besides their family. 

After the sentence ending with “fix broken objects rather than disposing of them,” a new part could be added that shows how the writer taught students. For example, the writer could tell the story of how “tin cans became compost bins” as they explained the importance of making the world a better place. 

Then, at the end of the paragraph, the writer could more concretely explain the visions they have to expand the impact of Repair Workshops. A good concluding sentence could start with “I too hope to use engineering skills and resourcefulness to…” Adding this extra context would also make the paragraph transition better to the final paragraph of the essay, which somewhat abruptly begins by mentioning the writer’s previously unmentioned career interests in engineering and business.

Where to Get Feedback on Your UC Essays

Want feedback like this on your University of California essays before you submit? We offer expert essay review by advisors who have helped students get into their dream schools. You can book a review with an expert to receive notes on your topic, grammar, and essay structure to make your essay stand out to admissions officers. In fact, Alexander Oddo , an essay expert on CollegeVine, provided commentary on several of the essays in this post.

Haven’t started writing your essay yet? Advisors on CollegeVine also offer expert college counseling packages . You can purchase a package to get one-on-one guidance on any aspect of the college application process, including brainstorming and writing essays.

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September 6, 2023

University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine Secondary Application Essay Tips [2023-2024]

(UCSF) is the leading university dedicated to advancing health worldwide through preeminent biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care.

The feeling that applicants often get from a UCSF interview is that the school is looking for interesting people, not just smart ones. Sure, your MCATs and GPA need to be high, but these elements alone are not enough to get you accepted. Just one look at the number of UCSF School of Medicine student-run organizations (at last glance it was 29) and special interest groups (also 29) makes one wonder whether everyone at UCSF has started their own club. It seems that the adcom is looking for (and finding) future leaders. Treat your secondary essay as a chance to show them what you are capable of. Write about a time when you took the initiative to solve a problem, modify a protocol, or organize people to support a cause. Show that you can hold your own in a medical school class filled with strong leaders.

UCSF wants applicants who can learn in a wide variety of experiences and situations, so think about a time when you learned in an unusual way or from an unexpected source. If you are interested in a specific area of research or study, be sure to show your knowledge of this field in your secondary. You can also demonstrate evidence of your leadership , but be careful not to overstate your role. If you are lucky enough to get an interview, there is a good chance it will be with someone who is a world expert in your area of interest.

The UCSF Bridges Curriculum emphasizes an “assessment FOR learning” philosophy, which gives students ongoing feedback and advice meant to help guide their next steps. This means that students are evaluated not simply with a grade or score but also with constructive feedback that encourages them to improve and learn as a direct result of the assessment process. Given the program’s unique assessment style, you can expect a UCSF interview to teach you something. Remember, the adcom is looking for candidates who can handle feedback and criticism, so they will notice if you get defensive or resist guidance. They might even push you into admitting that you don’t know an answer on a topic you feel comfortable with. Maintain your composure and show an eagerness to learn from your interviewer. To do well on your UCSF interview, it is crucial to practice your interview skills. Contact a consultant at Accepted to find out more about our mock-interview services and guidance.

Ready to get to work on your UCSF School of Medicine secondary essays? Read on. 

UCSF School of Medicine secondary essay tips

• UCSF School of Medicine application deadlines
• UCSF School of Medicine class profile

If you wish to update or expand upon your activities, you may provide additional information below. (500 words)

This is your chance to show the adcom that you are someone who will make a significant impact on the medical field. There is no single way to do this, and in fact, they are hoping to find a variety of people and interests. Show them your leadership, problem-solving, creative, or communicating abilities, and while you’re doing so, make sure to express a healthy degree of humility and compassion. Emphasize instances when you led or inspired others to join you and how that made the impact of your work greater than if you had tackled it alone. Yes, the school wants leaders, but it also wants people who know how to work with others and are dedicated to serving their community.

If you are a 2023 or earlier college graduate, please use the space below to tell us what you have done since completing your undergraduate degree. (350 words)

In this essay, focus on an experience that highlights your active role in something meaningful to you. A passive description of shadowing or studying will not be enough. Describe a time when you made a difference and your actions led you to understand the world and yourself in a new way. Strategically bring the adcom’s attention to your ability to learn in unexpected situations, and explain how your time after college has made you a better person and a stronger future physician.

Do you identify as being part of a marginalized group socioeconomically or in terms of access to quality education or healthcare? Please describe how this inequity has impacted you and your community. (350 words)

This question is optional, so if you do not identify with the topic, it’s okay to not submit a response here. Reasons to answer this might include coming from a community with less access to academic opportunities, working through high school or college to support yourself (less time to pursue extracurriculars), parents/family members with limited education who were unable to guide you in applying to college and succeeding once you were there, and societal barriers to your education, including racial or other types of discrimination. 

To describe how being part of a marginalized group affected you , briefly discuss the challenges you faced, then focus on how you worked to overcome them . Be sure to highlight your accomplishments and show a positive mind-set. You want this essay to make the adcom hopeful that you will make an impact.

To describe how this affected your community , briefly discuss barriers to healthcare that your family members and/or community had to contend with. Then highlight how this has motivated you to reduce such barriers and ensure healthcare access. Make sure that your essay shows that even though your experience was difficult, it has inspired and equipped you to advocate for change.

UCSF School of Medicine timeline

***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with USCF directly to verify its essay questions, instructions, and deadlines.***

UCSF School of Medicine Class Profile

Here is a look at the USCF School of Medicine class that entered in 2022 (data taken from the USCF School of Medicine website ):

AMCAS applications: 9,090

Students enrolled: 167

Underrepresented in medicine: 54%

California residents: 71%

Median GPA: 3.87

Median MCAT score: 90th percentile

Check out the Med School Selectivity Index for more stats.

You’ve worked so hard to get to where you are in life. Now that you’re ready for your next achievement, make sure you know how to present yourself to maximum advantage in your UCSF School of Medicine application. In a hotly competitive season, you’ll want a member of Team Accepted in your corner, guiding you with expertise tailored specifically for you. Get your medical school admissions questions answered by an Accepted admissions consultant with a free consultation .

For 25 years, Accepted has helped applicants gain acceptance to their dream healthcare programs. Our outstanding team of admissions consultants features former admissions directors, admissions committee members, pre-health advisors, postbac program directors, and doctors. Our staff has guided applicants to acceptance at allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) medical schools, residencies and fellowships, dental schools, veterinarian schools, and physician assistant programs at top schools such as Harvard, Stanford, Penn, UCSF, Johns Hopkins, and Columbia. Want an admissions expert to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Related Resources:

• Fitting In & Standing Out: The Paradox at the Heart of Admissions
• Writing an Excellent Diversity Essay
• Make the Most of Your Experiences for ERAS

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University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Secondary Application Essay Tips & Prompts

• Cracking Med School Admissions

UCSF School of Medicine is one of the best medical schools and extremely tough to get an interview invite, especially as an out-of-state applicant. For your UCSF secondary essays, you have to explain your vision to improve medicine . Here’s the good news: Dr. Rachel Rizal and Dr. Rishi Mediratta have helped several mentees get accepted to UCSF over the past decade. We can help you too! Check out our bios , student testimonials , and secondary essay editing packages . 

Because the UCSF School of Medicine Admissions Committee does not send UCSF secondaries to everyone, we would recommend not pre-writing this secondary. Some students receive secondary application invites for UCSF as late as October or November each year. 

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UCSF Secondary Application Questions: 2023 – 2024

• Provide additional info below (dates, best way to contact) if you will be out of the country during interview season (Late September to February, interviews conducted remotely). (300 characters max)
• If you wish to update or expand upon your activities, you may provide additional information below. (500 words max)
• If you are 2023 or earlier college graduate, please use the space below to tell us what you have done since completing your undergraduate degree. (350 words max)
• Do you identify as being part of a marginalized group socioeconomically or in terms of access to quality education or healthcare? Please describe how this inequity has impacted you and your community. (350 words max)

Tips to Answer UCSF Secondaries

UCSF Secondaries Pre-Writing Guidance: This secondary is tough because it’s long and is similar to writing several new personal statement. We know how tough it is because we’ve been in your shoes! However, we would not pre-write the UCSF secondaries because there is no guarantee you will receive the UCSF secondaries even if you are a California resident. Plus, all the UCSF secondary essay prompts are straight-forward and similar to other medical schools’ essay prompts. Once you receive the official UCSF secondary application from the UCSF School of Medicine Admissions Committee, you will probably have a good starting point of essays from other medical schools’ applications.

• It’s really important to have UCSF secondary essays that stand out. Download our FREE Cracking Med School Admissions Secondary Essay Guide for tips and examples!

UCSF Secondary Application Tip #1: Answer as many questions as possible on the UCSF secondary application. And, make sure you use up close to the maximum word limit. For example, for the UCSF secondary essay, “ please use the space below to tell us what you have done since completing your undergraduate degree ” use all the space to discuss everything you’ve been doing in your gap year(s). 

UCSF Secondary Application Tip #2: Highlight your leadership, passion to change healthcare, and impact on society. After reading your entire UCSF secondary application, the reader should understand the following:

• What is your vision to change healthcare?
• What have you done to realize this vision?
• How will a UCSF medical education, the resources from UCSF medical school, and the UCSF community overall prepare you to be an excellent clinical physician as well as help you achieve your vision to change healthcare? 

As an added plus, if you have ideas to improve the San Francisco community, the UCSF School of Medicine Admissions Committee loves that too. 

All the medical students at UCSF are eager to advance medicine, whether it’s through research, community health, or global health. Therefore, the UCSF Admissions committee wants to recruit medical students who have a strong sense of how they want to advance healthcare. Many applicants have extremely strong leadership and execute on their visions. 

UCSF Secondary Application Tip #3: Tell stories to convey your impact and leadership. For example, if you conducted research over a gap year, tell a story about a challenge you faced and how you solved the research conundrum. Or, if a patient you met while conducting a clinical trial and it made a lasting impression on you, discuss how you helped the patient and what you will take away with you to your future patient care.

UCSF Secondary Application Tip #4: Don’t forget to incorporate a little bit about “Why UCSF” throughout the UCSF secondary questions. Talk about projects and research you want to do at UCSF. Convey if you want to do any projects in San Francisco city. Here are some super helpful resources to help you think about “Why UCSF School of Medicine.”

• Read our UCSF Medical School profile to learn more about UCSF’s curriculum, what it’s like living and studying in San Francisco, and student culture.
• Read our blog post why this medical school to gain insights on how to incorporate a strong “Why UCSF.” 

UCSF Secondary Application Tip #5: For the UCSF secondaries questions, “ If you wish to update or expand upon your activities, you may provide additional information below” AND “ please use the space below to tell us what you have done since completing your undergraduate degree, “ our students write those essays in one of two ways. 1) They list out a few meaningful activities that relate to their vision of changing medicine and write a short description for each activity (it almost looks like an AMCAS primary application work & activities section (but shorter). 2) Write about your activities theme by theme. Then, discuss various activities under each theme. Contact Dr. Rizal and Dr. Mediratta if you have questions about how to write this essay.

Again, all the tips above are relevant to the two open-ended UCSF secondary essays: add stories, show your leadership, show your impact to individuals & communities, convey how you have tried to make your vision a reality. 

UCSF Secondary Application Tip #6: Get our help to edit your UCSF secondary application essays. We can help you through our secondary essay packages . Have questions about how you can stand out? Contact us below.

[Read Other Helpful Secondary Essay Tips: Harvard Medical School , Stanford School of Medicine , University of California – Los Angeles (UCLA), Weill Cornell ]

Your medical school application Coaches, Mentors, & Cheerleaders

We Personally Advise Every Student We Work With.

Rachel Rizal, M.D.

Changing the trajectory of people’s lives.

Undergraduate Princeton University, cum laude

Medical School Stanford School of Medicine

Residency Harvard, Emergency Medicine

Awards & Scholarships Fulbright Scholar USA Today Academic First Team Tylenol Scholarship

Rishi Mediratta, M.D., M.Sc., M.A.

Advising students to attend their dream schools.

Undergraduate Johns Hopkins University, Phi Beta Kappa

Residency Stanford, Pediatrics

Awards & Scholarships Marshall Scholar Tylenol Scholarship Global Health Scholar

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UCSF Secondary Application Questions: 2022 – 2023

• If you are 2022 or earlier college graduate, please use the space below to tell us what you have done since completing your undergraduate degree. (350 words max)

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UCSF Secondary Application Questions: 2021 – 2022

• If you are 2021 or earlier college graduate, please use the space below to tell us what you have done since completing your undergraduate degree. (350 words max)

UCSF Secondary Application Questions: 2020 - 2021

• Please let us know if you will be out of the country during the interview season. (300 words max)
• If you are 2019 or earlier college graduate, please use the space below to tell us what you have done since completing your undergraduate degree. (350 words max)

UCSF Secondary Application Questions: 2019 – 2020

Applicants are interviewed by invitation only. Please note that we do not conduct regional interviews. Interviews are scheduled from September to February (days vary).

UCSF Secondary Application Questions: 2018 – 2019

• If you are 2018 or earlier college graduate, please use the space below to tell us what you have done since completing your undergraduate degree. (400 words max)

UCSF Secondary Application Questions: 2017 – 2018

• If you are 2018 or earlier college graduate, please use the space below to tell us what you have done since completing your undergraduate degree. (350 words max)

UCSF Secondary Application Questions: 2016 – 2017

Ucsf secondary application questions: 2015 – 2016, ucsf secondary application questions: 2014 – 2015, contact us with questions, we'll answer any and all your questions about medical school we typically respond within 1 business day..

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Dissertations & Theses

• Finding Dissertations & Theses
• USF Dissertations & Theses

Finding Dissertations and Theses

If you're looking for dissertations and theses on a specific topic, or if you're looking for a specific title or author, the best place to start is ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global. 

If you're looking for USF theses, see the next section below.

USF Dissertations & Theses

Gleeson Library has copies of most USF dissertations and theses in print or online, and sometimes both. All theses produced since 2011 are available online only. 

Browse USF Theses by Date or Program

Search USF Theses by Keyword or Topic

Copy and paste the following search into the library catalog below, and add your own keywords at the end: (thesis or theses) "university of san francisco" your keywords here 

Example: (thesis or theses) "university of san francisco" cultural identity

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University of San Francisco 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Early Action/Decision: Nov 1

Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 15

University of San Francisco 2024-25 Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: 1 essay of 200 words

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Why

We are interested in learning more about you. Please respond to the prompt below with a response of no more than 200 words. This response should be different and distinct from the one used for your main Common Application essay.

The university of san francisco’s jesuit tradition emphasizes community engagement and education for social justice, inspiring our students to become passionate agents for others. how do you see yourself becoming a part of this mission.

This is quite a loaded prompt. In these two sentences, admissions gives you two points of entry into USF’s service-oriented mission: religion and social justice. You can choose to cover both or just one, but either way, you should be thinking about the relationship between your values and those of USF. Has your upbringing in a multi-faith household opened your eyes to the importance of religious pluralism? Or has your blooming interest in the criminal justice system inspired you to study law as a way to advocate for others? Start with the personal, and connect it to the opportunities available at USF. The prompt asks how “you see yourself becoming a part of this mission,” so think deeply about how you would embed yourself on campus. As you do your research, think about how the kinds of classes, clubs, research, and study abroad opportunities (among others) would help you achieve your goals – and also how they connect to USF’s mission. Since you only have 200 words, our recommendation is to focus on one particular interest or theme related to service or social justice and use it as a way to trace a potential path for your four years at USF. Your essay doesn’t need to be comprehensive, but it should be authentic and say something about what you value.

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