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How to Write the American University Essays 2024-2025

American University has one optional prompt for all applicants about why you want to attend AU. Additionally, the school has prompts for each of its special programs.

There are three prompts for Honors Program applicants, two prompts for Global Scholars Program applicants, three prompts for Lincoln Scholars Program applicants, three prompts for Politics, Policy and Law Scholars applicants, two prompts for Public Health Scholars applicants, two prompts for Sakura Scholars Program applicants, and five prompts for AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship (International Students) applicants.

Since AU receives thousands of applications from academically strong students, your essays are your chance to stand out. In this post, we’ll discuss how to craft an engaging response to each of these options.

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All Applicants (optional)

American university students identify as changemakers and describe themselves as passionate. describe a belief, hobby, idea, issue, or topic about which you’re excited. (250 words).

First, although this prompt is optional, we strongly encourage you to respond. College applications are limiting by nature, so you should take advantage of any extra opportunity you have to show admissions officers who you are. Especially at relatively selective schools like American, you never know what could make the difference!

In terms of brainstorming for this particular prompt, American’s admissions committee wants to see what drives you, whether that’s a belief, hobby, idea, issue, or topic. They also want to see how you might contribute to their campus community as a changemaker, or someone who can lead others to make a positive difference. In other words, this essay is an opportunity to showcase your enthusiasm for something particular, and demonstrate how this passion reflects your overall character and values.

Consider these questions to help you decide what to write about.

• Is there something you could talk about for hours? Is there something you’re more knowledgeable about than the average person? How did that come to be the case?
• When have you worked hard to change something, or realize a vision of yours? What drove you to work on this project?
• How is your ideal future different from the world we live in today? What are you doing to bring about that ideal future?

When considering potential topics, you want to pick something you’re genuinely enthusiastic about, as that energy will come across tangibly. Connecting your passion to your future, particularly at American, is another great way to show how serious you are, both about the interest described in your essay and this specific institution.

Do be aware that, although you likely have many different subjects you could talk about, you’ll want to focus on just one thing. You want to provide detail, and illustrate what this passion says about you more broadly. With only 250 words to work with, if you try to jump from one idea to the next, you’ll quickly run out of room.

One last brainstorming tip: you want to avoid writing about a common topic, like sports or volunteering , unless you have a truly unique angle from which to consider these subjects. While picking something that absolutely nobody has ever done before is practically impossible, if you’re thinking of writing about something that the majority of high schoolers have also done, you’ll likely want to pivot.

Finally, you want to make sure you’ll be able to connect with the “changemaker” theme. You might be able to write an excellent essay on how you believe Taylor Swift is the greatest songwriter of all time, but if that passion doesn’t inspire you to accomplish or work toward anything, it’s not a good choice for this essay.

What do all of these things look like together? Consider the example below.

“‘I’m sorry, Dave, I’m afraid I can’t do that.’ At 13, those words were the most chilling I’d ever heard. I was watching 2001: A Space Odyssey when I first encountered the idea of a rogue AI. Immediately, I was hooked, especially by the reveal that poor HAL 9000 was nothing more than a tool of the government that sent him, without a malicious circuit in his gleaming robot body. 

That night, I started wondering about the fine line between AI’s benefits and potential dangers. As I delved into topics like facial recognition and algorithmic bias in criminal justice systems, I realized that, much like HAL, the power – and danger – of AI lies not just in its capabilities but in how it’s designed and deployed. 

I started a blog focused on AI ethics, where I discuss issues like transparency in AI systems, the dangers of biased data, and the need for regulatory frameworks. I’ve also joined online forums to engage in debates with others who share my concerns and have presented my ideas at local tech meetups.

At American University, I’m eager to study the intersection of technology and ethics, working alongside faculty who are committed to responsible innovation, through opportunities like the Hedayat Fund for Generative Artificial Intelligence. There will be no HALs on my watch – I’m driven to ensure AI advancements are equitable, just, and beneficial for all.”

This example identifies a topic the student is clearly passionate about, explains how they’ve actively worked to learn more about it, and gives us a sense of how this passion will help shape their future, including by citing a resource that will allow them to do so at American specifically. If your own essay also does these three things, you’re well on your way to showing American admissions officers what you have to offer that nobody else does!

American University Special Program Essay Prompts

Click on the link to be taken to the special program prompts.

• AU Honors Program
• Global Scholars Program
• Lincoln Scholars Program
• Politics, Policy and Law Scholars Program
• Public Health Scholars Program
• Sakura Scholars Program
• AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship

AU Honors Program Applicants, Prompt 1

Au honors students are distinguished by their sense of intellectual curiosity, both inside and outside of the classroom. tell us what you are most curious about, and how that curiosity has influenced your life thus far. (300 words).

This prompt is fairly broad, so you can approach it in a few different ways. We recommend writing a sort of blend between a “Why This Major?” essay and an extracurricular activities essay . Focusing on an aspect of your intended major will show your passion for something inherently intellectual, and throwing in some of your other interests/hobbies will add nuance and personality to your response.

Before you begin writing, you’ll want to gather your thoughts so that your essay will have structure. Think of the following questions as a way to focus your thoughts:

1. What piques your curiosity and interest the most? What are your authentic reasons for being interested in this thing?

2. What are some specific examples of things that you enjoy with regard to this interest?

If this is something you’re truly curious about, you shouldn’t describe it generically. Instead of thinking “I love reading,” think “I enjoy reading novels that explore existentialist philosophical themes.”

3. How might pursuing this thing serve your life and/or career goals?

Is your curiosity about this thing a driving force in your plans for your future? For example, are you so curious about ocean life that your biggest life goal is to become a marine biologist?

4. Is this interest primarily academic or extracurricular? What are your best experiences with this interest both inside and out of the classroom?

5. Is there any recurring emotional experience that you have when exploring this thing that piques your curiosity? Why do you find that experience or state of mind appealing?

6. How has this thing influenced your development as a person? Have you developed or strengthened any personality traits or skills as a result of your object of interest?

Questions 4, 5, and 6 will be especially helpful when you’re trying to recall some anecdotes to support your interest and curiosity in it.

You only have 300 words to work with, so you should keep your response limited to one thing you’re deeply curious about (or maybe two if they’re related). A strong essay will do a few things:

• First, it will show that you have nuanced interests with intellectual depth.
• Second, it will talk a bit about the trajectory your life has been on as a result of your interests.
• Finally, it will display an important part of your personality that can give the admissions committee an idea of who you are as an individual.

There are a couple of common mistakes you should avoid when writing your response:

• Picking the wrong topic. Bad topics include: an interest you already wrote about somewhere else in the application; an interest that sounds impressive, but that you aren’t very invested in; one you haven’t spent much time on.
• Writing a generic statement about why the interest you chose is interesting or cool without addressing the personal connection you have with it. It’s great to appreciate your own interests, but you need to show the admissions committee why the thing that makes you curious is so important to you.

Some examples of strong topics would be:

• A student who’s a second-generation Japanese immigrant might be curious about the relationship between language and identity. She’s noticed while learning Japanese that it’s easier to have more complex conversations with her parents in their native tongue, and that they’re better able to express their personality. And as she’s become more comfortable speaking Japanese, she’s able to connect more with her heritage. This has led her to attend local language exchanges and start a podcast about the stories of the attendees and their thoughts on language and identity. She hopes to study Japanese at AU and become a translator.
• A runner who got tendonitis in his junior year may be curious about how the tendons and ligaments in our body work to support us during exercise. After doing physical therapy and healing his tendon, he decided to take an anatomy course and shadow his physical therapist. He wants to become a physical therapist or sports medicine doctor to help other athletes rehab their injuries.

AU Honors Program Applicants, Prompt 2

What aspect of the au honors program piques your interest the most (300 words).

This prompt is a slightly more specific version of the “Why This College?” prompt . However, you’re being asked why you’re drawn to the AU Honors Program in particular rather than to American University as a whole.

The prompt is meant to assess a few things:

• First, it’s meant to see if you know what you’re getting into with the program. If you’ve done your research on the Honors Program, you should have something detailed to say about it.
• Second, it’s intended to determine how you will fit in the program. The admissions committee wants to know what role you’ll have in the program and how you’ll make use of its resources to achieve your goals.
• Finally, it’s an effective way for the admissions committee to see which students are genuinely interested in the program.

Before you begin writing, make a list of the reasons you decided to apply to the program. You might find it helpful to explicitly jot down the things that drew you to the Honors Program in the first place. One of these reasons might very well be the subject of your essay. You should also explore the Honors Program website to make sure you don’t miss any of your reasons.

The prompt asks specifically for the aspect that most piques your interest, so you have to figure out if you want to write about an academic reason, an extracurricular one, or an intangible one. Let’s go over what makes each of these unique.

Academic reasons are as straightforward as they sound. Things such as the Honors Colloquium courses, the Honors Capstone , and research opportunities are academic aspects of the program that you might want to write about.

Extracurricular reasons include activities and opportunities that are supplementary to academics. Things such as Honors housing , the Student Advisory Council , and the Honors “Have You Ever Wondered?” discussion series are extracurricular aspects of the program.

Intangible reasons are those that involve values, beliefs, and other nonphysical things. The program’s commitment to interdisciplinary thinking and the BIPOC Affinity Group ’s dedication to “an empowering and supportive environment” are examples of intangible aspects of the program.

Your reasons for being interested in the program don’t have to be the most exotic or outlandish; you can write an effective straightforward response to this prompt. The thing that piques your interest the most might be the ​​Honors Colloquia, the opportunity to engage with Program Associates, or the opportunities in Honors housing. All these options are valid ways to establish a tangible connection with the program.

For example, consider a student who wants to do political science research in her future career. She might be most interested in the Honors Program’s curriculum. Her response can cover the rigorous nature of the program, discuss some of the Honors-specific courses, and talk about the ample opportunities to conduct undergraduate research (such as HNRS-398 Honors Challenge Course and the Honors Capstone).

Avoid name-dropping random courses, activities, or faculty members without elaborating on how they resonate with you personally. Doing so will make your interest look superficial or disingenuous.

As long as you can describe what in particular has drawn you to the Honors Program as well as why it did so, you will be able to write an effective response to this prompt.

AU Honors Program Applicants, Prompt 3

We all have meaningful experiences that shape us and inform our worldview. what aspect of your background would you most like to share with other students in the honors program (300 words).

This is, in essence, a version of the common diversity prompt that many colleges provide. Colleges often include diversity prompts so they can learn something about your personal background and its influence on your worldview.

In June 2023, the United States Supreme Court struck down the use of affirmative action in college admissions. Nevertheless, the ruling allows colleges to consider race on an individual basis, which is one reason many schools are now including diversity prompts as one of their supplemental essay prompts. If you feel that your racial background specifically has impacted you significantly, this is the response in which you should write about that.

More generally, you can respond to this common prompt with a fairly traditional answer. One tried-and-true method you could use involves identifying the most important part of your identity, then discussing how that aspect of your background is relevant to you and your life experiences.

Before you jump into writing your response, think of aspects of your background that may have had an impact on the way you look at the world or the way you live your life. Some examples of things that have likely influenced your worldview include:

• Personal identity. Your race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, etc. all have a profound influence on the way you think and perceive the world.
• Cultural identity. Your religious affiliations, political views, socioeconomic status, social class, and even the place you are from influence what issues you see the most, and what solutions you envision for these issues.
• Personal history. Things in your life may have an average trajectory. Maybe you’ve had a fortunate life with few obstacles to overcome so far, or maybe you’ve experienced a great deal of adversity or tragedy. The way things generally tend to go in your life will have a great impact on how you view life and the world around you.
• Interests. The things you’re really invested in can change how you perceive the world. If you’re a musician, for example, you might find musicality in the most mundane sounds out in the world on a daily basis.

That said, there are several angles with which you could approach this prompt. Some more specific examples of aspects of identity you might write about include:

• Having a disability that has changed your perspective on something in the world.
• Being a member of an ethnic group that has an interesting cultural practice.
• Fluency in another language that you use to help members of your community.
• Being a member of a fandom.

You have 300 words to work with, which is a considerable length, so feel free to structure your essay using an anecdote. You might begin with a time when your worldview was different, then describe how it changed due to the aspect of your background that is the subject of your essay.

One thing you should avoid is simply listing out things that generate diversity. Diversity includes everything mentioned above and more, but just writing out a list of things contributes very little to your application and also fails to respond to the prompt. The prompt asks you which singular aspect of your background you would like to share, so make sure to choose wisely and elaborate.

This prompt is one of the few opportunities you have to showcase your unique perspectives. Whatever aspect of your background you choose to write about here, make sure your response is sincere. Try to show as much individuality and specificity as you can in your response.

Global Scholars Program Applicants, Prompt 1

In your view, what is the greatest challenge facing humanity today and how do you envision yourself being part of the solution (no word count given).

In this prompt, you are asked to give your opinion on the greatest challenge facing humanity today. This sounds like a very tall order, but don’t worry; it’s an opinion question, so any reasonable challenge you choose will be fine.

Admissions committees want to see specifics, so we often recommend not identifying too broad a problem. In the brainstorming stage, however, you can think as broadly as you’d like. Global poverty, world hunger, illiteracy in developing countries, human rights abuses—each of these things can be an effective starting point.

Thinking about your identity and values might help you determine which issues are most important to you. Aspects of your identity include your ethnicity, race, country of origin, language, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, hometown, income class, socioeconomic status, illnesses/disabilities, and even interests and activities!

Consider these different aspects of your background and list broad world issues that may have an impact on some part of your identity. For example, you might be Ukrainian and have family members directly affected by the current war. In this case, your ethnic background may compel you to write about geopolitical conflicts or human rights issues.

Be sure to narrow your topic to something specific once you begin writing. Even though the prompt asks what you think is “the greatest challenge facing humanity today,” you should be prepared to discuss concrete examples of that challenge.

For instance, if you want to write about world hunger, try to also describe particular situations and specific problems related to that broader issue—some things you might want to examine in such an essay can include widespread food and water shortages in Venezuela as a result of governmental policies, hunger in Haiti due to food insecurity and currency inflation, and the impending famine in Sudan as a result of internal conflicts.

The aforementioned examples can add a great deal of nuance to your essay for a couple of reasons. First, citing specific instances of your chosen challenge goes beyond simply stating that your challenge exists. It creates tangible reasons to be concerned about the issue. Second, having a few concrete examples demonstrates that you are informed and knowledgeable about the issue.

Once you have decided on a global challenge and have thought of a few examples to support your point, reflect on how you might be able to contribute to a solution to this problem. This program is offered by the School of International Service, so you will be pursuing a degree in International Studies.

You might already have some ideas about how you wish to help solve your chosen problem, but your essay will be even better if you can connect your goals to the school and degree. Read up on the BA in International Studies and the Global Scholars Program to inspire your writing!

There really is no wrong way to envision yourself as part of the solution. Consider the following hypothetical students to see how contributions can vary:

• A student who’s passionate about the environment might say that climate change is the greatest challenge facing humanity, and might describe how it has devastated different communities around the world, including his small coastal town, which has experienced worsening floods. He might hope to major in International Studies to eventually work in the United Nations and be a part of climate change conferences and agreements.
• A student who wants to be a doctor might say that lack of access to good, inexpensive healthcare is the greatest global challenge. She could describe how the U.S. healthcare system fails many low-income people, and how poorer countries lack the infrastructure and resources to treat easily treatable illnesses. She hopes to go to medical school then join Doctors Without Borders to help those in conflict zones and those facing disasters get the treatment they need.

This prompt is meant to gauge which global issues you deem important and how you intend to use your college education and degree to contribute to ongoing efforts to solve these issues. You’ll have a strong essay as long as you’re sincere and write about a problem you’re personally invested in.

Global Scholars Program Applicants, Prompt 2

Describe a situation in which you had to work harder than you expected. when and how did you know that your current efforts were not enough how did you adjust (500 words).

This prompt asks you to describe a time in your life when you faced a challenge that required you to put in an unprecedented amount of time and effort. What you choose to write about doesn’t have to be a singular experience; a situation in this context can be something much larger.

You can choose to describe any experience—academic, personal, extracurricular, and so forth—in your answer. Like most other prompts, the key will be in how you not only relate your chosen situation to your personality, but to the Global Scholars program at large.

Think first about your identity and your environment—are there any distinguishable experiences in which you have always felt that you’ve had an uphill battle or unfair disadvantage? Think about periods of your life in which you may have had to undergo a major transition or change.

Regardless of the situation you choose, remember that the best answers come out of asking yourself questions. This applies equally to a situation you may describe that does not involve your identity or environment—you can also approach this prompt by thinking about any life-altering events that forced you to pivot or make a change.

For example, maybe COVID-19 left one or both of your parents unemployed, and you had to pick up a job on top of your schoolwork. While you may have expected to be able to handle the part-time job, perhaps you saw your schoolwork and relationships begin to slip through the cracks and you were forced to really reevaluate your time management skills.

You may end up writing about an experience that is similar to that of other applicants, so it’s how you relate it to yourself and to your environment that will make you stand out from the crowd. Make sure you continue to emphasize your emotions and honesty throughout your answer, and lastly, try to relate your chosen experience back to the Global Scholars program at large.

You can conclude by writing about how you hope to apply what you learned from your life experiences to your participation in the Global Scholars program—how you hope to apply your newfound understanding of various financial or personal circumstances to learning about various cultural and global circumstances.

Lincoln Scholars Program Applicants, Prompt 1

Tell us about a morally complicated text that you think would lead to good discussion for first year college students. in what way is the text morally complicated and why do you recommend it (no more than 500 words).

This might seem like a daunting prompt, but it can be easier than it seems. Don’t worry about having some grandiose, impressive tome to talk about for this essay. If you think creatively, you should be able to identify moral complications in simpler texts. This is the kind of essay that really benefits from careful argumentation.

Brainstorming your topic:

There are two kinds of texts that would probably make for a strong essay:

• Texts you’ve read recently, which should still be fresh in your mind
• Texts you’ve read a long time ago and still remember because they were impactful or profound to you

It’s important that you pick one of these kinds of texts because you’ll want to write about something you know well enough. If you choose a text that you don’t really remember, or worse, a text you haven’t read that looks impressive, your points will probably be shallow and superficial, which will drag the overall quality of your essay down.

As far as the text itself is concerned, you can write about nearly anything (just make sure it’s not too trivial, like a children’s book). Perhaps you have read a clearly morally complex text, such as Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables or Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird . If you have, and you remember the details well enough to explain your choice, then by all means write about it!

However, if you haven’t read a text like that, that’s fine too. Think of things you’ve read recently that have moral dilemmas you might discuss. For some idea on how you might stretch the theme of morality, consider some examples:

• Lois Lowry’s The Giver, a young adult novel, discusses themes related to individuality and emotional depth and can be pitted against order and conformity. This moral conflict leaves a lot of room for debate, as the balance between individuality and societal conformity is one that is often hard for individuals to navigate.
• Marvel Comics’ Civil War, a seven-issue comic book storyline from 2007, has a plot centered around the U.S. government requiring super-powered individuals to reveal their identities to be superheroes under official regulation. While this may not be a traditional text, it has been acclaimed for its exploration of the conflicting desires of security and freedom that are still discussed in American politics today.
• Walter Isaacson’s Steve Jobs, the authorized biography of Apple’s co-founder, is a thorough look at the life of the controversial business magnate. It discusses not only his great achievements in the worlds of business and technology, but also his personality, which has been described as abrasive or difficult at times. This text allows students to examine the ways in which massive corporations, their employees, and their consumers can be directly affected by the very human individuals who lead them.

As you can see from the above examples, you can find and argue for moral complications almost anywhere you look. You might use a traditional example of a large, classic novel with clear and distinctive moral ambiguity, or you might explore some more creative options, such as biographies, YA novels, and even comic books or graphic novels!

Tips for writing your essay:

A good response will answer every part of the prompt. You should strive to identify the text, explain how it’s morally complicated, and detail your reasons for recommending it. The first and last part shouldn’t be too hard once you’ve settled on your text—naming the text and talking about why you’re recommending it are tasks that you can probably do easily if you know your chosen text well. After all, you know why you like the book.

It’s the second part of the prompt that will require some more careful thought. Effectively explaining how the text is morally complicated is only something you can do if you’re familiar enough with the text and its themes. Oftentimes, the moral complications of a book aren’t directly relevant to the plot—they’re often a thematic consequence of a character’s actions or are intended to be seen behind the main narrative, but not the focal point of the text itself.

That said, it might actually be a good idea to consult online summaries, videos, and study guides of the text you chose. Of course, you should absolutely have read the text and have a decent grasp of its material, but this isn’t a test for school—you can and should see how the moral themes are discussed by other readers. This will inform your argument that this text should be used in discussions among first year students.

Mistakes to avoid:

There aren’t too many ways to tackle this prompt incorrectly, but there are a couple of things you should avoid , which have already been mentioned but are worth repeating:

• Choosing a text you aren’t familiar with, just because it looks more impressive. It’s better to write a thoughtful, intelligent essay on a text that might be seen as lackluster than to write a shallow, generic essay on a text seen as impressive. Remember, the admissions officers aren’t making decisions based on books you have or haven’t read—they’re making decisions based on the quality of your essays.
• Choosing a trivial or juvenile text. Most young adult novels should be complex enough to be valid texts for this essay, but don’t try to be overly creative by writing about something for little children. Children’s books are intentionally written in a way that does not deal with the complex, intellectual themes that you’re tasked with discussing here.

As long as you pick a decent text (i.e., one you’re familiar with that isn’t too trivial), describe the ways in which it deals with questions of moral complexity, and make a good case for its use in Caltech’s first year classrooms, you’ll be well on your way to crafting a strong response.

Lincoln Scholars Program Applicants, Prompt 2

One goal of the lincoln scholars program is to encourage intellectual and political diversity on campus. what does this goal mean to you and why does a program with this goal interest you (no more than 500 words).

This prompt puts a specific spin on the common “Why This College?” and “Why This Major?” prompts, with a couple of key differences:

• First, you’re asked about a particular goal and what it means to you.
• Second, rather than discussing the University as a whole or a particular major, you’re tasked with describing why a program like the Lincoln Scholars Program appeals to you.

Make sure to address both parts of the question to have a full response. You have up to 500 words to work with, so you can really go into detail about each part. A good approach would be to answer each portion of the question in turn.

Before you begin writing, think about what intellectual and political diversity mean to you. Note the wording of the prompt: “What does this goal mean to you?” You can take advantage of the nuanced meanings of the word “mean.” In a literal sense, the question is asking how you would define such a goal. But in another sense, it’s asking why the goal is significant or important to you.

It might be helpful to jot down some bullet points that you might want to build on in your response. You might end up with a list that looks something like this:

• Having a group of people with different fields of expertise work on one project from various angles
• Different viewpoints creating points for intellectual debate
• Multiple people of various backgrounds informing each other’s perspectives
• Generating varied approaches to the same problem with the shared goal of solving it

Whatever you think of, try to come up with a solid personal definition of intellectual and political diversity. From there, you can begin to describe why these kinds of diversity are important to you. Using an anecdote-driven narrative to explain this point is a good approach. For example, perhaps you participated in a school project in which a different perspective was the one that led to a solution. Or, maybe you were part of a debate club and learned to see a topic differently because of a well-informed persuasive argument on the other side.

As you develop your thoughts on why such a goal is important to you, transition into a discussion of the program and why it interests you. Here, it’s essential that you establish a connection to the program. Do some research on the program’s webpage to learn about resources and opportunities that are offered.

Perhaps one of the program’s courses is appealing to you because of its content. Or, maybe you resonate with the program’s mission “to explore the great questions of moral and political life in a context of intellectual and political diversity.” Be sure to describe how and why a program like this piques your interest.

Connect the goal of intellectual and political diversity to your personal goals and values. This is the strongest way to convey your interest in the Lincoln Scholars Program and in exploring big questions from multiple viewpoints.

Lincoln Scholars Program Applicants, Prompt 3

List five texts, magazines, movies, websites, podcasts, music, or other media that you regularly engage with and explain briefly why you like each one. please list a variety of types of media. (1-2 sentences per item, no more than 400 total)..

This is a more niche prompt that you probably haven’t seen often, if at all. Luckily, there’s really no right or wrong answer! In fact, the program’s webpage lists some of the books that students have applied to the program with this year, and they include all kinds of works—ancient epic poems, classic novels, niche novellas, poetry collections, philosophical dialogues, and memoirs!

AU is curious about what interests you, how you think, how you’ve developed intellectually, and how you may have challenged yourself with the media you consume. Choose your examples carefully, but also be honest.

One great way to think about this prompt is through the idea of a “capsule wardrobe.” In a capsule wardrobe, each piece of clothing is unique and works well on its own—you might have a graphic tee, a leather jacket, a button-up shirt, and a few pairs of jeans. Even though each article of clothing has its own character, each also works toward your overall style—the entire wardrobe. Combining items into outfits can highlight different aspects of each item as well as similarities they share

The same idea applies to the texts, movies, websites, and music in your list. Each item should be compelling on its own, but should also contribute to the wardrobe that is your intellectual style. A great list will have items that complement each other, like a belt that matches with a pair of shoes. Some more style tips:

​​1. List items that build on each other. You want your list to have synergy . Just like wearing two matching items together can convey your sense of style, including two similar items in your list can display a sustained interest in a subject. For example, if you include both Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story in my list of films, you’re showing the admissions officer that you’re interested in exploring how the same story has been interpreted by different creatives from different times and places. Neither Romeo and Juliet nor West Side Story could demonstrate this idea alone—when included together, the message is greater than just the sum of its parts!

• Show multidimensionality. There’s something to be careful about. It’s possible to show sustained interest in a topic without indicating growth, and this is something you’ll want to avoid. For example, if your entire list consists of true-crime podcasts, it will look a bit one-dimensional and bland because each item effectively conveys the same message. Aim to list works that show your interest in the multiple angles of a topic. For example, listing the true-crime podcast Serial and Criminal Perspective as well as the journal Psychological Review and a blog on forensic psychology will add levels of intellectual nuance to your interest in the broad theme.
• Don’t overdress. You might want to only include the most impressive, difficult, intellectual media you’ve consumed to show that you’re intelligent and academic, but too much of that will probably make you look like you’re exaggerating for the admissions committee. Instead of doing that, balance the weightier, deeper items with some more relaxed or jocular ones. Hawking’s A Brief History of Time and Einstein’s Relativity: The Special and General Theory are going to look less like you’re pandering if you include something like Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy in your list. Balance the intellectual interests you wish to show off with your some distinctive personality.
• Don’t underdress. The opposite of the previous tip is also true. While throwing in some fun little books, movies, or music can add some dimension and personality to your list, they shouldn’t be the only things you include. You absolutely can (and should) include a sitcom or a non-academic novel on your media list, but make sure you don’t overfill the list with items of lesser substance. Also avoid including items that are too juvenile. Think smart casual clothing—you don’t need to wear a suit everywhere you go, but some places (like this supplemental essay) require a bit more than sweatpants and flip flops. Some nice jeans and a polo can be enough.
• Recognizable brands can be effective. Mentioning a couple of notable pop culture items will increase your list’s relatability in the admissions officer’s eyes. And, psychologically speaking , similarities on paper can help you in non-personal interactions. Just make sure you pick something that is well received both critically and by the masses, like a Beatles album or the movie Parasite —something that you and your reader could have a robust intellectual debate about.
• Moderation. If it’s not already clear by now, making a strong list is going to be a delicate task. You’re going to need to find the middle ground between casual and intellectual, specific and general, fiction and nonfiction, books and movies, etc. Don’t wait until the last minute to cobble together a list of random things just because this isn’t a fully fledged essay. Remember that you still need to explain and defend your choices. Devote as much time to this list and you do to your essays. The list reveals as much about you as an individual as a full essay does—be sure to treat it with the same respect.
• Be honest! You may be asked about this list somewhere down the road during the admissions process. Don’t get caught off guard by what you’re passing off as your own list. Nothing is more embarrassing and detrimental during this process than not having a clue about something you purport to have read/seen.

Politics, Policy and Law Scholars Program Applicants, Prompt 1

The politics, policy, and law scholars program is an intensive course of study in which students from diverse backgrounds live and learn together. given its intense and unique nature, why do you want to be a part of the program why do you think you would be a good fit for the politics, policy and law scholars program (250 words).

This is essentially a “Why This College?” prompt , but applied to a special program rather than AU as a whole. Moreover, in addition to describing how the program is a good fit for you, you’re tasked with describing how you are a good fit for the program.

Brainstorming your essay:

A recommended strategy for prompts like this is to establish a connection to the program. Two kinds of connection you might try to establish are a tangible connection and an intangible one.

A tangible connection can be made by identifying specific program offerings that resonate with you personally. To find such resources, you should do some in-depth research on the program. A good place to start is the PPL Scholars website . There you’ll find the course of study, the applicable majors, information about the living learning community, and more.

You might write about things like the campus culture, specific classes or academic opportunities, particular professors, etc. Given the rather low word limit, try to stick to academic features, as others might come off as less important.

An intangible connection can be made by discussing how your personal values align with those of the program. The PPL program emphasizes “the principles, practices, and institutions of politics and law from quantitative and qualitative, philosophical, and social science perspectives.”

If your personal values deeply resonate with the ideas of practicing law, government, public policy, criminal justice, or a similar field, you might wish to discuss how those values will be supported and informed by those of the program. Be sure to take a look at the PPL Scholars FAQ webpage to get a little more insight into the program.

Since you only have 250 words to work with, it would be a good idea to choose either a tangible connection or intangible one to discuss, rather than both. Remember, you need to save some space to discuss how you’re a good fit for the program.

Also note that it’s okay if you can’t develop a really strong intangible connection to the program—that is usually the harder kind of connection to write about. A strong tangible connection and a good explanation of how you’re a good fit for the PPL Scholars Program will make for a good response.

For example, consider a hypothetical student whose mother is a lawyer and whose father is a police officer. She might feel deeply connected to issues of justice and reform through the stories her parents tell her. She might write a response that begins like this:

“My parents are both deeply involved in the legal professions—my dad is a police officer and my mom is a lawyer. They have told me how the justice system isn’t perfect—both of them have seen the system succeed and fail many times. The passion with which they describe their careers has inspired me to go into a legal field too.

Having been raised by two parents in intense careers in legal fields has given me the resolve I will need to undertake such a career myself. I believe that my passion and determination, as well as my existing background knowledge about these fields make me uniquely equipped to take on the challenges of the Politics, Policy and Law Scholars Program…”

This excerpt is an excellent start to this prompt because it explains the unique features of the students past that equip her with the skills needed to succeed in the PPL Scholars Program. Note that this blurb is only half the word limit, which should give you some perspective on how much detail you might go into.

With prompts like this one, there are three things you will want to avoid doing in your response. These include the following:

• Name-dropping. It looks superficial and insincere to simply name certain courses or professors without elaborating on the ways in which these resources are meaningful or useful to you.
• Empty flattery. Don’t waste your word count talking about the prestige of the program or the University. There’s nothing wrong with being nice, but overdoing that in a prompt with a word limit might lead to you writing an essay that doesn’t answer the question.
• Naming general resources that are applicable to many schools. Don’t base your essay on things like good class sizes, strong political science courses, a nice location, etc.—these things apply to many schools and programs, and don’t showcase a personal connection to this particular program.

Politics, Policy and Law Scholars Program Applicants, Prompt 2

The living learning community and cohort aspects are integral parts of the politics, policy & law scholars program. describe a specific project, course, or other experience that required you to work with others toward a shared goal or to resolve conflict and build consensus. how did you contribute to accomplishing the goal or resolving conflict how did you engage with others how has this experience prepared you for the ppl program be specific. (250 words).

This prompt asks you to elaborate on a team-based problem-solving experience that will give the admissions reader insight into how you will fit in with the PPL program at large. As an intensive program, PPL requires all students to be a part of their Living Learning Community, meaning that you’ll be working alongside fellow PPL students both in and outside of the classroom. As such, the admissions committee wants to ensure that you’re able to support a larger community of like-minded (or even sometimes diversely minded) students.

First, think back over your time in high school and try to identify any large-scale projects that you were involved in with a group. At the same time, keep in mind that this response should not just be more explanation of something that may already appear on your application. When selecting what to write about, try to fill in the gaps your application has.

For instance, perhaps you were on the Executive Board of Model UN, and hope to share an experience about how you organized a conference hosted at your high school. While that’s definitely a valid experience, this answer should be less about the what and more about the how .

How did that conference come together? How did you delegate responsibilities among your peers and which responsibilities did you take on? What challenges or obstacles did you face as a team and how did you overcome them together? Did you have to work through any conflicts when working with one another?

Ultimately, reflect not only on your accomplishments with whichever experience you choose, but also on the failures, conflicts, and honest strategies you chose to employ to keep the ship afloat. The next step will be highlighting the crucial lessons that the experience taught you, and how you hope to apply those lessons to your time in the PPL program.

In order to brainstorm how you wish to close out your response, remember that the PPL program will require you to live and learn alongside your peers—make sure your answer emphasizes that you were able to come together as a group to tackle a complicated problem, and ultimately come out not just successful, but as a closer group overall.

Politics, Policy and Law Scholars Program Applicants, Prompt 3

You have been hired to advise a member of congress or a state legislator (you can choose which one, but you should pick one) about the issues that affect americans aged 18-26. you have been asked to identify one legal, political, or policy issue that will resonate with this group of americans and recommend a policy proposal that he or she should support and promote. explain the issue, explain why the elected official should highlight it, and propose a specific original policy solution. provide support for your proposed solution. your proposal should not simply be to support another individual’s already created policy. (650 words).

This prompt is less of a by-the-books response and more of an exercise, asking you to not only identify a major issue facing the country but also persuading a hypothetical elected official to pay attention to it and also brainstorm a possible solution.

The purpose of this prompt is to get a sense of your level of political engagement, as well as to give you a chance to attempt your first case study, which will serve as a gateway to the PPL program at large. This essay will require thorough research and deliberation, but, at its core, it’s just an expanded version of a typical Political/Global Issues prompt.

First, decide the scale of your chosen issue. Trying to brainstorm a list of possible issues to focus on will end up generating a laundry list of options, and might exhaust your brain before you even begin writing your response.

Something that may help guide you is remembering that you should have a unique perspective on your chosen issue. For example, you wouldn’t want to write your response about something general like the dangers of climate change if you genuinely don’t have anything to add to the conversation—the point is not to reiterate discourse that is already out there, but rather to think creatively and critically about the world and the ways in which your unique perspective can be valuable in trying to solve your chosen issue.

Therefore, it may be more useful to start small and then expand outwards. Look at your environment—what issues impact your community, your state, or your region? Looking again at the issue of climate change, perhaps you come from a state where fracking is not only legal, but still actively occurs. Perhaps your own family or a family you know has ties to the fracking business, and you feel as though current legislation and efforts to outlaw fracking stall because of pushback from these communities.

Tie your belief to your perspective—you may believe that fracking should be illegal, and your perspective can guide you in persuading an elected official to provide various incentives to those who rely on fracking for their livelihoods. As such, starting small will make your answer more specific and unique while still tackling a national issue like climate change.

If you don’t feel as though your environment has given you a distinct perspective on a current event, do some research on what issues have most recently surfaced in the country. For example, recent months have called attention to a migrant crisis that the United States is facing and how resources for these migrants are quickly diminishing.

Regarding this example, perhaps you are very active in community service and volunteering—how can you use that interest to frame your answer? Your proposed solution can involve rallying young people to volunteer and provide support to these migrant communities, while also trying to work with the opposing party to reach a solution.

Remember, your answer still needs an official policy proposal, so perhaps your proposed solution can immediately provide temporary shelter and resources for migrants while also opening the door to a firmer long-term solution. Your proposed solution doesn’t have to completely close the door on an issue, but it should showcase your understanding of the political process.

Public Health Scholars Program Applicants, Prompt 1

Statement of interest and qualifications: explain what you hope to gain from joining a 3-year program majoring in public health. explain how your academic and extracurricular experiences have prepared you for this special academic program. (500 words).

Through this prompt, the admissions committee wants to see how you’ve developed your passion for public health, what your specific interests are within the field, and why you’re ready to succeed in this challenging, accelerated program. Your response should incorporate both past experiences and descriptions of your future plans, and explain why you’re prepared to put those plans into action at American.

For the qualifications side of things, note that the prompt specifically asks you to incorporate both academic and extracurricular experiences. Talking about a school project you did focused on public health is a good starting point, but describing how you’ve sought out additional knowledge within the field on your own time will take your response to the next level, by demonstrating your self-motivation.

At the same time, you don’t want to spread yourself too thin. 500 words is on the longer side for a supplement, but you still probably want to stick to 3-4 experiences–more than that, and the essay will start to feel cramped and rushed. You want to have enough space to use anecdotes to anchor your statements and paint a vivid picture for the admissions team of yourself as a public health fanatic.

One last thing to avoid is being overambitious. Aim high, but aiming too high can make you come across as naive, rather than realistic about what progress in this field is possible, and the role you see yourself having in advancing it. 

For example, rather than saying you want to cure cancer, talk about how you want to spread awareness among young people of when you should have your first cancer screening, so that people get more proactive about scheduling their appointments.

Here are some additional examples of hypothetical topics:

• A student who has volunteered with Planned Parenthood in their rural community, specifically leading workshops designed to educate high school girls and prevent teen pregnancy. Their long-term goal is to work with schools to incorporate more discussion of women’s health into history and science curricula, so that students get a more comprehensive understanding of the hardships women specifically face, and through this program hopes to learn about how to develop such partnerships.
• A student who has been involved in initiatives to promote healthy eating in their neighborhood, including organizing food drives and creating a community garden could write about how they grew up gardening in the backyard, and missed this outlet when their family moved to a more urban area. This student hopes to use this program to develop additional strategies to address food deserts and malnutrition.

Your own experiences may be completely different, but hopefully these examples provide a jumping off point for brainstorming. Whatever your topic may be, make sure you clearly explain where your passion comes from, citing both academic and extracurricular involvements, and where you see yourself taking this passion at American, and maybe even beyond. 

Public Health Scholars Program Applicants, Prompt 2

Reflective essay: explain how your personal background will bring a unique perspective to the public health scholars program and contribute to the collective of public health students and faculty at american university. (250 words).

This is a version of the Diversity essay, which means the admissions committee wants to know how your experiences, identity, or worldview will enrich the program. You’ll want to consider the distinct qualities, background, or insights you bring to the table, and how they fit with the program’s collaborative learning environment.

As you brainstorm, the first thing to remember is that diversity can mean a lot of different things. Features like race, gender, or sexuality probably come to mind first, but diversity can mean other things, too. What else can diversity look like?

• An unusual extracurricular, hobby, or activity that has had a meaningful impact on your life.
• A religious tradition, spiritual belief, personal ethics, or code of values that guide your life. 
• A community that you are a part of that centers on something besides identity, like a shared passion, life experience, or future goal.

Basically, diversity can be any aspect of your identity that is truly meaningful to you, and will help admissions officers understand who you are and how you’d fit into this program.

One thing you do want to keep in mind is that the Supreme Court overturned affirmative action in June 2023 , which means that American is unable to directly consider racial identity in their admissions decisions. However, they can factor in race or ethnicity as part of the broader fabric of who a student is, namely through the essay. So, if your racial or ethnic identity is important to you, you may want to highlight that here, as otherwise admissions officers will have no way of acknowledging it.

In terms of actually writing the essay, first, as always, you’ll want your essay to be personal and specific–something only you could write. Vivid descriptions of actual experiences you’ve had will be much more effective than simply speaking generally about something. You’ll also want to show off your capacity for deep reflection, by connecting the diverse features of your identity to your interest in this program.

You’ll also want to avoid some common pitfalls. The main thing that distinguishes this prompt from other “diversity” prompts is the connection to public health, and this program in particular. Failing to explain how your background will benefit the group will make for an incomplete answer to this prompt. 

Consider the following example.

“Growing up, my family was always outdoors, whether hiking, canoeing, or rock climbing. Gasping for air as I summited a 10,000 peak, or paddling onwards through a downpour that nearly filled my canoe completely with water, gave me a fearlessness, and a confidence to overcome any obstacle.

When I met Caleb freshman year, it was the most natural thing for me to ask him if he wanted to join us on that weekend’s hiking trip. He told me he was busy, so, cluelessly, I proposed going canoeing together the next month instead. With a downcast look in his eyes, he told me that wouldn’t work either, as he suffers from chronic anemia, and would become immediately fatigued.

In that moment, I realized that my own fearlessness was a privilege. Striving for a beautiful view or a perfect swimming hole is one thing; persevering against constant headaches and exhaustion just to get through the school day, like Caleb, takes a different kind of fortitude.

Meeting Caleb taught me that not all ailments are immediately obvious, and chronically ill people often develop ways of avoiding talking about them, due to societal stigmas. Starting that day, I committed to making the activities I love most more accessible. After speaking more with Caleb, we looked into horsebacking riding trips, and since then have done one together every summer: the horse doing the physical effort so that I can share my love of the outdoors with one of my closest friends.”

This great essay starts with a clear description of a key aspect of the student’s background, then seamlessly connects that aspect to a friend they made who taught them about the importance of accessibility. Throughout, the writer uses a range of anecdotes to ground their points, and reflects on those experiences in depth, showcasing their maturity and thoughtfulness.

Sakura Scholars Program Applicants, Prompt 1

The sakura scholars program requires students to study in both the united states and japan, learn the japanese language, focus on regional topics in east asia and the pacific, and complete a capstone for the joint bachelor’s degree in global international relations. why are you interested in this program what are your personal and/or professional goals and how will this program help you to reach them (500 words).

This prompt is similar to the common “Why This College?” prompt , but more specifically applies to the intercollegiate Sakura Scholars program. This prompt is meant to gauge your reasons for applying to the program to see if you’re a good fit for it and if it’s a good fit for you.

To write a successful essay, you‘ll need to establish a connection with the program and express how your goals are best served by being a part of it.

There are two kinds of connections that you can make with a college, program, major, etc. The first kind is the tangible connection. This involves identifying specific concrete reasons for applying to the program. To do this effectively, you will need to do in-depth research on the program and its offerings.

If you’ve made it to this point, you have probably written your response to the All Applicants prompt that was covered at the beginning of this guide. If you have, doing research on the program will be very similar to doing research on American University broadly, as you did earlier. If you haven’t done that essay yet, don’t worry! We have created a guide to help you research colleges (and programs) for this type of essay.

Go to the program’s website to begin your research. Scroll through the main site and the FAQ page to learn more about the program. In this program you have the choice of starting your undergraduate career at American University or Ritsumeikan University, so be sure to check out Ritsumeikan University’s program site as well! This will help you determine where you want to spend your first semester. Regardless of which school you choose, you’ll spend four semesters at AU and four semesters abroad.

The program awards a degree in Global International Relations, so a good approach to this essay is to describe why the field of international relations is important to you and how the program is uniquely equipped to help you achieve your goals in this field.

One direct way to establish a tangible connection between the program and your goals is to find courses or faculty members that really resonate with you. Since the program is between two universities, you should look through the faculty lists of both American and Ritsumeikan .

Consider the following excerpt from a response that might be written by a hypothetical Uyghur student, whose ethnic background has many people suffering human rights violations abroad:

“The Sakura Scholars program is the perfect opportunity for me to study international relations in the United States and Japan. It would give me unprecedented access to Western and Eastern perspectives. I am particularly interested in the work of Professor Jeffrey Bachman at American University and that of Professor Rieko Kitamura at Ritsumeikan University.

Prof. Bachman studies genocide, political violence, and human rights, and Prof. Kitamura has done work on human rights protections. Studying under the supervision of these professors will offer me the chance to delve deeper into specific regional issues. The degree awarded by this program will offer me new ways to help end the plight of my people.”

This response is very effective for a number of reasons:

• First, it establishes a personal background that helps the admissions committee understand the student’s personal motivations.
• Second, it showcases the student’s sincere interest in the Sakura Scholars program.
• Finally, it explicitly names resources (specifically professors) at both universities that will be assets to the student’s education and to the realization of the student’s personal goals.

The second kind of connection you can make with the program is an intangible connection. This involves things like seeing if your values and those of the program are aligned. For example, you might appreciate how the program takes place in the East and West, emphasizing “voices, experiences, and theory from a truly multicultural, multiregional, global perspective.”

There are some things you’ll want to avoid when writing your response:

• Name-dropping. Don’t simply list activities, courses, or professors that interest you without explaining why you’re interested in them. This essay needs to be about you more than the program itself.
• Empty flattery. Anyone can write about the reputations of AU and Ritsumeikan. Compliments are nice, but empty flattery suggests that you don’t have anything more substantive to say.
• Generic aspects of the program. Talking about good locations, a strong program in international relations, or small class sizes won’t really add to your essay. Try to write about unique aspects of the program or things that are rare .

Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to do deep research before you begin writing. Also be sure to write about nuanced personal motivations for applying to the program. Most importantly, write a sincere response! Honestly will go a long way, both in the application process and beyond.

Sakura Scholars Program Applicants, Prompt 2

In this joint degree program, you will gain first-hand comparative international experience as you spend two years at american university and two years at ritsumeikan university. think of a time when you faced a challenge or found yourself in an unexpected situation. explain what happened, what you learned, and how this experience might help you adapt to different intercultural situations, and work through future challenges as a sakura scholar. (no word count given).

This prompt is a very standard example of the Overcoming Challenges essay . You’re being asked about a challenge you faced as well as the lessons you learned from it. These questions are to give the admissions committee an idea of how you handle moments of adversity or surprise, and how you learn from adverse or unexpected experiences.

Before you begin writing, you should plan out your topic as thoroughly as you can so that the writing process can move smoothly. When trying to decide on a topic, think about any major challenges you’ve faced in life. Also consider any unexpected life events that may have turned out to be formative experiences. The prompt specifies that challenges and unexpected situations are both fair game, so don’t feel restricted to thinking only of negative experiences.

Once you’ve thought about possible experiences you could write about, create a list of the challenges that came to mind and a separate list of unexpected situations. For each list, ask yourself which experiences taught you the most important or influential lessons about yourself or the world.

Finally, after deciding on the best experience to talk about in this essay, ask yourself the following questions about it:

• What happened?
• In the moment, what was your reaction to the situation? How did it affect you, your thoughts, and your emotions? How have these emotions changed over time?
• Why was this experience so important to you? What is its personal significance?
• Consider the steps you took to manage the situation. Were they successful? Why or why not?
• Reflecting on the outcome of the event, how did the experience allow you to grow and mature as an individual? What did you learn from the success or failure of your approach? What lessons did you learn, both broadly and specifically?
• How did the experience prepare you to face occurrences like it in the future? How has it equipped you to adapt to different intercultural situations?

Once you’ve chosen a topic and answered these questions, writing the essay shouldn’t be so daunting.

Maybe you don’t have a clear answer for every question above. That’s fine, but be sure that you can do at least three things to effectively respond to the prompt:

• Describe the event/experience.
• Explain the most important lessons you learned from the experience.
• Detail the ways in which these lessons have improved your ability to adapt to different potential intercultural situations and your capacity to be a strong Sakura Scholar.

With regard to structuring your essay, you may find it helpful to frame it with a narrative format. After all, part of your response requires an explanation of the experience, which would benefit from an anecdote.

Here’s an outline to help you organize your writing:

• If you choose to use a narrative format, begin with an anecdote—a vivid and evocative retelling of the event to draw your reader in.
• After introducing the topic through an anecdote, describe yourself (your attitudes, beliefs, motivations, etc.) prior to the event that you learned from.
• State specifically how the experience was a turning point for you. How did your life change? What did you learn about yourself, others, and/or the world? The lesson should ideally reflect the way you now embrace challenges or unanticipated occurrences, and the ways in which you’re better equipped to tackle intercultural issues.
• If storytelling is one of your strong suits, you might choose to rearrange the order in which you describe events. For example, you might start with a summary of who you are now and how you’re able to approach intercultural situations, then transition to a discussion of who you were before the experience, then discuss the experience and how it affected you.

A hypothetical student might write about an experience related to his multiracial background. Perhaps the student felt like he had to deny both of his ethnic backgrounds to fit in with the American teens around him at school. He began to embrace his identity and eventually overcame his fear of being judged. He learned that innocent childhood ignorance was not a reason to detract from his own identity, a lesson that will help him later on because he has spent years confronting issues of identity in a multicultural context.

This example would be effective because it explicitly outlines the challenge the student had to confront, his response to adversity, what he learned about himself from overcoming the challenge, and how it has prepared him to undertake life as a Sakura Scholar in this multicultural program.

There is no word count given, but you should try to keep your response around 300 words. An essay longer than 350 words might become drawn out or redundant, and one shorter than 250 words might not leave you with enough space to be sufficiently detailed.

A Note About the AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship Prompts

The following five prompts are all required for applicants to the AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship. This scholarship covers all billable AU expenses (full tuition, room, and board) for one international student who will need a non-immigrant visa (preferably an F-1 or J-1 student visa) to study in the United States.

Since the scholarship is only being offered to international student applicants, you can disregard the next five prompts if you’re a U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, U.S. pending permanent resident, or dual citizen of the U.S. and another country. You are also not eligible to apply if you’re enrolled in or have already begun any post-secondary studies at another university in your home country or the U.S., or if you graduated secondary school earlier than 2022.

AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship Applicants (International Students), Prompt 1

Discuss a significant issue in your home country about which you are passionate and describe how you would use the education you obtain at our institution, american university (au), washington, dc, to create positive civic and social change once you return home. (250 words).

This prompt is intended to help you reveal a few important things about yourself—your ability to find significant civic and social issues around you, the types of problems that are important and interesting to you, your critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, and your plans for using your college education to its full potential after graduation.

This prompt is a bit like the common community service prompt , albeit in the future tense. It’s different in that rather than describing how you helped solve an issue in the past, you’re tasked with writing about how you foresee yourself contributing to the solution to a problem in the future.

Before you begin writing, think about the issues that truly bother you in your home country. Since you’re just brainstorming a list right now, these problems can be big or small. To have an essay that stands out, however, you should ultimately pick something substantial when you begin writing.

Your problem doesn’t have to be within any specific domain as long as you can envision civic and social change being integral to the problem’s resolution. As you think, consider social, economic, political, governmental, environmental, war-related, and public health issues.

The prompt isn’t asking you to write a whole textbook on the issue, but be sure that you research it well enough to describe its important points at the very least. You need to write a description of the problem, as well as some ways in which your American University education will help you tackle the problem back in your home country.

That being said, you should have a good understanding of what the problem entails. You might want to pick an issue in which you have some personal investment so you can add a nuanced perspective to your essay.

You only have 250 words to address every part of the prompt, so be succinct and direct in your explanation of the issue. Don’t only talk about the basic facts, though. Be sure to also touch on why the problem is important to you. Be careful not to let bias direct how you report the facts. Try to strike a balance between straightforward reportage and personal interest.

For example, consider a hypothetical student from Ethiopia, a country still facing the effects of a yearslong civil war. Perhaps he has noticed that the problem primarily stems from a lack of communication between the government and the rebelling military faction. He might write a response like this:

“In December 2020, my family fled its home, the Tigray Region of Ethiopia, at the outset of war. The Tigray People’s Liberation Front, a political party that ruled Ethiopia for decades, held an election during the COVID-19 pandemic that the current federal government ruled illegal. This debate escalated to violence, beginning a war that, despite a ceasefire, still has lasting impacts.

My family fled and thankfully found a safe haven in Europe, but so many other families did not have such luck. Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced or killed in this senseless conflict that is ravaging my homeland.

It is my hope that a strong education will equip me with the skills and knowledge to go back home and contribute to a more definite end to this conflict. Despite the ceasefire, some occupations continue and famine is widespread. I believe a degree in International Studies will help me better understand the causes of war and the preconditions necessary to end it.

I cannot solve this issue myself, but I can no longer watch my home get torn apart. I want to help resolve this conflict by participating directly in the peace and rebuilding processes. If nothing else, I can at least use my education on the global stage to direct more eyes to this dreadful time period. Ghanaian diplomat Kofi Annan once said, ‘Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family.’ I know in my heart that he was right.”

This is an effective response. First, it provides a fairly detailed outline of an issue in the student’s home country. Second, it describes why the issue is such an important problem and why it’s so hard to solve. And finally, it discusses how a degree from AU can help the student contribute to awareness of the issue and attempts to resolve it.

You will craft a strong essay if you can address three things:

• What – Define the issue thoroughly but concisely.
• Why – Describe why the issue is important to you and to the people it directly affects.
• How – Detail how your AU education will prepare you to contribute to efforts to resolve the issue.

AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship Applicants (International Students), Prompt 2

Discuss your current involvement in community service projects and volunteer activities. describe what you have learned about yourself as a result of these activities. (250 words).

This is a prime example of the community service essay. Schools that use this prompt want to know about your level of engagement with the people and environment around you. The Emerging Global Leader Scholarship—a program that emphasizes “leadership development and global engagement” —is especially interested in your impact on your community.

Be sure to check out CollegeVine’s guide to writing the community service essay for some in-depth tips and examples!

Since you only have 250 words, you won’t be able to write about many activities. In fact, we recommend sticking to 1-2 really meaningful and long-term projects. These are the projects that tend to show a genuine commitment to community service. If you only have short-term projects to write about, then you can mention 2-3 in your response.

When picking a topic, try to think about any projects you do that might be less common. For example, painting murals on old buildings to brighten up the neighborhood is less common than volunteering at a food drive or soup kitchen. There’s nothing wrong with writing about a more common volunteering experience in this essay, but if you have a unique project to write about, it may make your essay more engaging.

If you deem all your volunteering activities and community service projects are fairly commonplace, try to choose the ones that are more meaningful to you. If you feel more connected to a particular experience over the others, your writing about it will be more passionate and vivid.

Once you have decided on an activity (or a few), think about these questions:

• What happened during the activity?
• What went through your mind and how did you feel as this was happening?
• How have your emotions regarding the activity changed over time?

With your activity and motivations in mind, think about how you want to structure your essay. If you’re writing about a singular experience, consider taking a narrative approach. An essay that simply lists facts lacks important emotion. Tell about your experience with vivid imagery—show, don’t tell. This is a good way to draw your reader into the experience.

For example, perhaps you speak Spanish and do volunteer work where you can serve as a translator. Maybe you have seen firsthand the impact that speaking someone’s native language can have. Lessons this experience might have taught you about yourself can include the following:

• Your ability to switch between two languages is better than you thought.
• You can take on a leadership role even under the pressure of needing to speak a second language.
• You have more patience than you thought you did.
• You’re really good at working with the elderly, and you didn’t know that before.

As you can see, there are plenty of lessons you can glean from even one volunteering experience. These might include skills, abilities, personal attributes, or something else entirely.

This shouldn’t be a difficult essay to write, but you should note that there are three particular things to avoid :

• Listing out everything that happened. You have 250 words to work with. While this is ample space, you should use it wisely. This isn’t a play-by-play, so stick to the most important details. Your essay should focus more on the lessons you learned.
• Using a privileged tone. You’ll want to maintain a balanced, humble tone. Looking entitled or pretentious is not going to help your application in the least. Show how the experience is important to you without painting yourself as some kind of savior.
• Clichés. You might think it’s a good idea to quote a famous person or to use a trite, old life lesson, but we actually recommend avoiding these strategies. Admissions officers have seen them hundreds of times, so they won’t contribute much to your application.

When you write your response, be genuine about your motivations, honest about your impact on the local community, and specific in your descriptions of activities. Doing all those things will ensure a strong essay.

AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship Applicants (International Students), Prompt 3

Describe an obstacle or challenge you have faced in your life. how have you overcome this challenge and grown from this experience (250 words).

This is the classic Overcoming Challenges prompt , so we recommend that you read our linked guide for advice and examples.

AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship Applicants (International Students), Prompt 4

The au diplomats are a diverse group of current au international students and us global nomads who have been selected by the au admissions team to form and maintain connections with new and prospective american university (au) students, and to represent au to the international community., our emerging global leader scholar is expected to play an impactful role in the work of our au diplomats group. what outreach, communication, and/or intake strategies would you employ to inform and welcome new and prospective students to american university, washington, dc (250 words).

This prompt tasks you with highlighting how you envision yourself connecting with new and prospective students who may also be international students. While it may seem daunting to have to think ahead to welcoming and guiding others to a University you yourself are currently applying to, the answer is really based more on your experience than you may think.

Think about how your application process has felt so far. Applying to a school in a country different from your own may have been an overwhelming process, and it’s perfectly all right to write about that feeling—in fact, it may even guide your answer.

Imagine you were in contact with an AU Diplomat or a current Emerging Global Leader scholar. What questions would you ask now or would you have asked in the past? Doing some role-reversal will help you imagine the kind of Emerging Global Leader Scholar you can be to help new and prospective students like yourself.

Additionally, reflect on what you wish you knew prior to the application process. How did you find American University? Did anything or anyone help you along the way? How did you engage with American University prior to applying? And eventually, what advice would you give to a younger student who will soon be in your shoes?

For example, perhaps you live halfway across the world, and had trouble attending virtual information events at many schools because of the time difference. Maybe American University offered some information sessions specific to your country or region of the world—how did that make you feel more connected to the school? Maybe you want to volunteer for these events to give more prospective students the opportunity to learn about the school, and maybe even reach areas that haven’t yet been reached.

Your strategies will come from your personal experiences, so be open and honest about your past and present—even though your own future may still be undetermined.

AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship Applicants, Prompt 3

This is the classic Overcoming Challenges essay, so we recommend that you read our linked guide for advice and examples.

AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship Applicants, Prompt 4

The au diplomats are a diverse group of current au international students and us global nomads who have been selected by the au admissions team to form and maintain connections with new and prospective american university (au) students, and to represent au to the international community. our emerging global leader scholar is expected to play an impactful role in the work of our au diplomats group. what outreach, communication, and/or intake strategies would you employ to inform and welcome new and prospective students to american university, washington, dc (250 words).

This prompt tasks you with highlighting how you envision yourself connecting with new and prospective students who may also be international students. While it may seem daunting to have to think ahead to welcoming and guiding others to a University you are applying to, the answer is really based more in your experience than you may think.

Think about how your application process has felt so far. Applying to a school in a different country than your own may have been overwhelming, and it is perfectly all right to write about that feeling – in fact, it may even guide your answer.

Imagine you were in contact with an AU Diplomat or a current Emerging Global Leader scholar. What questions would you ask or would you have asked in the past? Doing some role-reversal will help you imagine the kind of Emerging Global Leader Scholar you can be to help new and prospective students like yourself.

Additionally, reflect on what you wish you knew prior to the application process. How did you find American University? Did anything or anyone help you along the way? How did you engage with American University prior to applying? And eventually, what advice would you give a younger student who will soon be in your shoes?

For example, perhaps you live halfway across the world, and had trouble attending virtual information events at many schools because of the time difference. Maybe American University offered some information sessions specific to your country or region of the world – how did that make you feel more connected to the school? Maybe you want to volunteer for these events to give more prospective students the opportunity to learn about the school, and maybe even reach areas that haven’t yet been reached.

Your strategies will come from your personal experiences, so be open and honest even though your own future may still be undetermined.

AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship Applicants (International Students), Prompt 5

What are the characteristics of leadership that you most admire who is a leader that exemplifies those qualities, and why (250 words).

There are two main approaches you can use to navigate this prompt. You can certainly begin by brainstorming a list of leadership qualities you find most important and then find a leader you admire, but it may actually be wise to work backwards and reverse-engineer your answer—essentially, choose a leader you admire first and then identify the qualities that make them a great leader. Choosing someone you already admire may make your response more sincere and detailed.

There are no real wrong answers to this prompt, which also means that the more specific and unique you can get, the better. It is, however, best to avoid leaders who would be generally named immediately. For example, you would not want to pick a figure like the current President of the United States, other former Presidents, or other well-renowned world leaders, as they will likely be a common answer to this question.

Instead, think about whether your home country has any leaders—political, social, environmental, etc.—that would make for a strong response. Remember, this answer isn’t just about proving why your choice is a strong leader, it’s about showing the admissions committee your perception of what makes for great leadership.

After you’ve selected a leader, analyze the characteristics of that leader that resonate with people. Are they a great public speaker? Have they managed to unify a wide populace of differing perspectives? What is their public image? What impresses you most about their accomplishments?

These questions can help you identify how your chosen leader reflects your perspectives on great leadership as a whole, and will allow you to craft an answer around your thesis rather than the other way around.

Where to Get Your American University Essays Edited For Free

Do you want feedback on your AU essays? After rereading your essays over and over again, it can be difficult to spot where your writing could use some improvement. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.

Need feedback faster? Get a  free, nearly-instantaneous essay review  from Sage, our AI tutor and advisor. Sage will rate your essay, give you suggestions for improvement, and summarize what admissions officers would take away from your writing. Use these tools to improve your chances of acceptance to your dream school!

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

How to Write the American University Supplemental Essay: Examples + Guide 2024/2025

TABLE OF CONTENTS

What is the american university supplemental essay prompt.

• How to write the supplemental essay prompt for American University
• Prompt #1: “Why us” essay

With only one short supplemental essay prompt, this application is sure to be a breeze—or at least that’s the goal of this guide. 

As an aspiring American University Eagle, you likely already identify with this student-centered research institution’s groundbreaking spirit. Founded in 1893 by respected Methodist Bishop, John Fletcher Hurst, on the values of social responsibility and diversity, its first-ever graduating class included both women and African-American students, at a time when women couldn’t vote and Washington, D.C. was still segregated. Think about those values, and how they resonate with you, as you go to write this “Why us?” essay, and see other tips and advice below.

But first, want to get a better understanding of what American is looking for? Check out its strategic plan to see how it envisions student success and the legacy it wants to leave in the world. You’ll also find an extensive, by-the-numbers look at its offerings, from enrollment and tuition statistics to student life and financial aid information, on its Common Data Set .

American University Supplemental Essay Prompt #1

Optional: American University students identify as changemakers and describe themselves as passionate. Describe a belief, hobby, idea, issue, or topic about which you’re excited. (250 words)

how to write American University Supplemental Essay

How to write american university supplemental essay prompt #1.

American University students identify as changemakers and describe themselves as passionate. Describe a belief, hobby, idea, issue, or topic about which you’re excited. (250 words)

This prompt is pretty wide open in what it asks you for (“a belief, hobby, idea, issue, or topic about which you’re excited”)

That might feel fun and exciting—you can dive in with a huge range of stuff.

Or it might feel a bit unclear or intimidating—what direction should you head?

Here are some ways to narrow it down.

First, remember that the core function of your college essays is to show colleges the core values, insights, skills, qualities, interests, and perspective you bring to a campus and community.

As you think about topics for this prompts, try to filter using that lens—what are things this college isn’t seeing (or seeing much of) in the rest of your application (like your personal statement )? How could you use this prompt to show them?

Based on that, you can approach this potentially as a

Community essay

Diversity essay

Extracurricular activity essay

Or maybe “intellectual vitality” essay

(With the option to throw in a bit of brief “ Why Us ” detail at the end.)

For full guides to those kinds of prompts, click on the links above, but here’s a short version.

For a “Community” approach: Step 1: Create a “communities” chart by listing all the communities you’re a part of. Keep in mind that communities can be defined by ...

    1.    Place: Groups of people who live/work/play near one another

    2.    Action: Groups of people who create change in the world by building, doing, or solving something together (Examples: Black Lives Matter, Girls Who Code, March for Our Lives)

    3.    Interest: Groups of people coming together based on a shared interest, experience, or expertise

    4.    Circumstance: Groups of people brought together either by chance or external events/situations. 

Step 2: Use the BEABIES Exercise to generate your essay content. Once you’ve chosen a community, map out your content using the BEABIES Exercise . That exercise asks:

What did you actually do? (Tip: Use active verbs like “organized” and “managed” to clarify your responsibilities.)

What kinds of problems did you solve (personally, locally, or globally)?

What specific impact did you have?

What did you learn (skills, qualities, values)? 

How did you apply the lessons you learned?

(Optional) Step 3: Do some “how will you contribute” research.

If you want, and have word count space, you can offer a few specific ways that show how the experience/s you’re discussing in your essay will allow you to contribute to the college. The easiest way to do this is to do some “Why Us”-like research and find ways you’ll engage with and contribute to the school’s community. 

Step 4: Pick a structure. Narrative Structure works well for students who have faced a challenge in or with this community. Otherwise, Montage Structure works well. (See full Community Essay guide for examples + explanation of “narrative” and “montage”.)

For a “diversity” approach:

Two general approaches that might work:

Go broad, with an identity that lets you highlight a few different activities/experiences.

Brainstorm some shared values you have with your family (“I come from a community/family of _____________.”)

Consider if any of these shared values have connections to activities you do. 

For example:

Creators  → Film makers club, stage crew, knitting

Storytellers → Theater, young historians, Sunday school teacher

Educators → Tutoring, student council, babysitting

Skeptics → Debate team, student representative in local government

Optimists → Environmental club, neuroscience research 

Go super specific and make it a more focused community/extracurricular essay.

Make a list of clubs or activities you’re involved in that have a sense of purpose. Spoiler alert: Almost any club or activity can fit this description. 

Identify one or two that have a strong sense of community (Stereotypically: theater kids. But we’ve also heard of close-knit Science Olympiad teams, political clubs, etc.) 

Some examples (but again, almost any can work): 

Progressive Students Council 

Wikipedia editors

Community Beautification Club

For an “extracurricular activity” approach:

Go to your Common App activities list and pick 2-3 of your most impressive or important (to you) activities. 

Then, go through the Best Extracurricular Activity Brainstorm I’ve Ever Seen (AKA BEABIES exercise), either mentally or by filling out the chart. This will help you decide which topic might yield the most content for your essay.  If you’re unsure, maybe do a simple outline for two different topics. 

Write a draft! To guide you, each of those columns could provide a sentence or two of your first draft that you can later tweak and add some style to.

For an “intellectual vitality” approach:

Get really specific with what the idea is. (In our experience, a very particular idea tends to work better than an experience.) 

If possible, clarify what the idea is in the first 50 words (some students wait too long to clarify and the essay feels vague as a result, as we’re not sure what to focus on).

Consider using this as an opportunity for sharing some side of yourself you haven’t already shared elsewhere.

Connect the idea, if you can, back to you. Many students keep the essay focused outwardly (on ideas) and as a result the essay feels abstract and swimmy . (Yes, that’s a technical term.)

If you need some inspiration, check out this Excel document with several thousand TEDTalks.

Check out this example, and we’ll break down why it works. And note that this essay was actually written for a different school and prompt—but that just illustrates how nicely you can double these up sometimes.

Here’s a secret: I didn’t always enjoy living in Mexico. Sometimes I was ostracized for looking Chinese, my family faced impunity, insecurity, and negligence, and many of the injustices were never resolved. But it's true that it’s hard to appreciate what you have until it’s gone. 

After arriving in the US, I noticed that Latinos faced inferiority and prejudice and, for a short while, I considered returning to Mexico. But the Latino community had given me a unique identity and voice that I took pride in and I wanted to give back, so instead of complaining about what I couldn’t do (as I had against the injustices in Mexico), I saw the potential to effect change here in the U.S.

I began to devote my time to break the negative connotations set on Latinos through the Chicano Latino Youth Leadership Project where I debated real assembly bills amongst 124 Chicano/Latino students. I also chose to lead the Association of Latin American Students at my school, helping those like me seek higher education. But what truly warms my heart is seeing young Sophomore Latinos striving in the STEM field during our math tutoring sessions.

My goal is to uphold the diversity and voice of Latinos in the U.S., and someday initiate a cultural/educational revolution that Mexico desperately needs. I don’t feel ostracized anymore. Instead I have come to love and advocate for this community. (237 words)

Tips + Analysis

Name your community clearly, and add some nuance. It’s clear from this student’s first sentence that he’ll be writing about his belonging in the Latino community. But he doesn’t stop there. Through the first two paragraphs, he layers on some other identities (“looking Chinese” in Mexico, Latino community in America) that highlight his unique perspective. Adding nuance to your community can help you stand out and help set you up to share specific insights you’ve gained. 

Identify the conflict you worked to resolve in your community, and name specific actions that led toward that resolution. Control your own message by naming the specific conflict you’re writing about (as this student did: “in the US, I noticed that Latinos faced inferiority and prejudice”), and share specific things you’ve done to help resolve that conflict (ex.: debating bills with the Chicano Latino Youth Leadership Project, leading the Association of Latin American Students). Use the actions you took to demonstrate your values and your community engagement.

Zoom out and look to the future. Even if they don’t say it outright, colleges love to know how you’ll use your conflict-resolution skills while you’re on their campus, and beyond. This student takes the long view, sharing his goal to “uphold the diversity and voice of Latinos in the U.S., and someday initiate a cultural/educational revolution that Mexico desperately needs.” One thing that could take this to the next level? Adding just a dose of “Why us?” content. This student could have included one or two resources or organizations on campus that would help him start on his path toward his long-term goal.

Or here’s an essay originally written for UNC Chapel Hill that could work:

You wouldn’t think an American Asian Affinity Space would be diverse, after all its whole premise is centered around one specific identity. However, members of the affinity space at my high school come from several different grades, genders and ethnicities. The group included a sophomore from China, a junior from Pakistan, and members from Korea, Japan, and even Israel. We each had unique stories of living as an Asian-American, yet, we had all chosen to come to this affinity group. As we spent time together, we were able to find shared experiences, like our parents preparing packed lunches for us from our country and being too embarrassed to bring them to school. Whether eating humbow or biryani, we all knew what it was like to feel out of place. 

My work with the AAAS got me thinking about what diversity can look like, and what it means to embrace diversity. On the one hand, you can find diversity even when people appear to be alike. By exploring our differences, we can continue learning from each other even when it seems we have shared backgrounds and values. At the same time, people who seem really different may have shared human experiences, feeling like the "other" or being embarrassed by their parents, that can bring them together. Moving forward, I want to learn about people’s differences, hearing their stories and learning about their backgrounds while also creating spaces for people to have shared experiences that bring people together. (246 words)

Tips + Analysis:

Be specific when describing your experiences. This student does that well, relating how the value of diversity (“different grades, genders and ethnicities”) impacted her American Asian Affinity Space club, using details like “eating humbow or biryani” to describe shared experiences. As you go to write, try to engage your 5 senses in the color and examples you use.

Be you. In other words, pull from your own experience. There’s not exactly a right or wrong answer to this prompt. The admission team merely wants to understand more of who you are and how you fit with their community. You could have grown up in a homogenous community and still have important insight to share. You could talk about how you hope to be in a more diverse environment in college, for instance, to have the opportunity to learn about different cultures and perspectives. You don’t have to have a crazy story of your experience as a marginalized group or of living in a robustly diverse city to write an impactful essay.

Here’s a nice example that takes an “intellectual vitality” “topic/idea” approach: 

What’s more probable: dying from a shark attack, or dying from falling airplane parts? Surprisingly, the answer is falling airplane parts. But why does our intuition point us towards shark attacks?   

The answer lies in the availability heuristic, or the WYSIATI (“what you see is all there is”) rule, which describes how our minds evaluate decisions based on how easily we can think of examples to support both sides. From Jaws to YouTube surfer videos, we have all likely heard of a horrific shark attack, and by WYSIATI, the ease with which we conjure up that memory leads us to assign greater probability.

Learning about WYSIATI evolved the way I communicate my ideas. When I first started debate, I over-focused on comparing statistics at the expense of clearly communicating larger arguments. WYSIATI taught me that a more effective approach involves weaving in memorable images like that of a horrific shark attack. 

This past summer, when debating whether labeling environmental activists as “eco-terrorists” is justified, my opponents cited dozens of crimes associated with activists from 1995-2002. With my knowledge of WYSIATI, I looked past the numbers and searched for more memorable, image-based examples and discovered that most of the so-called terrorist acts were actually “pie-ings”: environmental groups throwing pies to protest. So, instead of responding with only numbers, I declared that “the only thing that could make pie-ings terrorist acts is if the activists didn’t know how to make a good key lime pie!” 

Much clearer. And perhaps, a little bit funnier.

And here’s a nice example that takes more of a community/issue approach: 

As a child, I was a Monopoly Champion. After all, I did as I was taught—use every tactic possible to bankrupt my opponents into surrender. 

Granted, Monopoly is a game whose ostensible purpose is to create and hold monopolies, but I have realized through my experiences in the Texas mathematical community that life is a bit more complex.

A significant issue for mathematical competitions is asymmetric access to study resources. Schools do not share study materials so that they can preserve their competitive edge. This behavior carries serious implications including student discouragement. After another school swept regionals when I was in sixth grade, many of my peers, seeing the shiny study booklets in the hands of the winning team, quit the activity. Asymmetrical access to resources turns the original goal of fostering interest in mathematics on its head by discouraging students, ultimately having toxic effects for the community.

Since ninth grade, I have worked to combat this problem by co-founding the San Antonio Math Club, a non-profit organization that works to provide equal access to resources by holding free monthly meetings where students from all over the state can get together and discuss challenging problems. 

Don’t get me wrong—I love to win. But I believe that some players can’t begin with $8000 while other players begin with $1500, and through endeavors like the San Antonio Math Club, I strive to maintain the sustainability of the game so that everyone will play again without fear of bankruptcy. 

Because to me, equity matters.

Want advice on dozens of other supplemental essays? Click here

American University Essay 2022-2023

American university essay 2022-23, american university essay: quick facts.

• American University Acceptance Rate: 36%– U.S. News ranks American University as a more selective school. 
• 1 (~ 150 word) essay
• American University Application: Students must submit their American University application through the Common Application . Make sure to have all of your American University supplemental essays and other required application materials ready when applying. 
• Early Decision: November 15th
• Early Decision 2: January 15th
• Regular Decision: January 15th 
• American University Essay Tip: There is only one American University essay to complete. Make sure that you take the time to answer carefully and thoughtfully. 

Does American University require any supplemental essays?

Yes. There is one 150-word American University essay that students must complete—the “Why American University” essay.

Since there are not multiple American University essay prompts, you should do all you can to make this Why American University essay count. 

You only have 150 words to use in this American University supplement essay. Although there aren’t various American University essay prompts and the only required “Why American University essay” is short, that doesn’t make it easier to complete. The difficulty lies in writing about a broad topic in a small amount of space. 

Showcase your writing

Your American University essay is your only chance beyond your Common App essay to showcase your writing skills. It also lets you show American University why you belong on their campus. As such, your American University supplement can make a major difference in your application. A strong American University supplement essay, then, will increase your admissions odds. So, when strategizing around how to get into American University, prioritize your American University supplemental essays. This will give you an advantage . 

If you’re not sure where to begin, don’t worry. Below, we’ve provided a detailed guide on how to write a successful “Why American University essay.” 

What are American University’s Essays?

Here’s the American University supplemental essay prompt:

Why are you interested in American University? (150 words max.)

As we discussed, there are not multiple American University essay prompts. Take advantage of your one chance to impress the American University admissions committee! Students who write excellent American University supplemental essays are sure to stand out.

You might be familiar with “Why School essays” from other supplements. So, approach the “Why American University essay” with the same strategy that you might have used on other applications . Namely, your essay should show the American University admissions committee why you belong at their school. 

This essay also helps the American University admissions committee envision you on campus. The admissions team wants to admit students who will enrich their community. Your American University essay, then, should show how you’d actively contribute to campus life . Successful American University supplemental essays will answer not only the why American University essay prompt, but also show American University why they should invest in you. 

Standing out

No matter your interests, showing passion and leadership will help you stand out . In your American University supplement, therefore, you should highlight exactly how you’d engage with American University and its offerings.  Students who write successful American University supplemental essays will show their motivation and enthusiasm for the school. 

This American University supplement also assesses how well a student fits in with the school’s culture. American University Admissions doesn’t just want to know why you want to attend their school; they also want to know if their school will serve your needs . Well-written American University supplemental essays need to touch on both of these points. 

With this in mind, do some research before writing your American University supplement. The Why American University essay reveals how much you know about American University. It also shows how you’ll take advantage of the resources the school provides. The best American University supplemental essays will show specific knowledge about American University and provide strong evidence that the writer will succeed on campus.

Demonstrate your interest

Pay attention to how this prompt uses the word “interested.” In your American University supplement essay, you should show “ demonstrated interest ,” or DI. Unlike some top schools, American University tracks demonstrated interest. This means that they evaluate how much you engage with the school and actively show that you want to attend. 

Universities often use DI as a tool to measure exactly how much a student wants to attend. Since “why school” essays are useful for determining DI , many universities use questions like the American University essay prompts in their supplements.

Now that you know more about the American University supplement essay, let’s look at how to write it. You can also use the tips in this guide to answer similar questions on other university supplements. If you apply anywhere else with a “why us” essay, the information below will help you complete supplements like the American University essay prompts.

Approaching a “Why School” essay

As we now know, there aren’t multiple American University supplemental essays. So, applicants are faced with the tricky task of impressing admissions officers with one short, well-crafted American University supplemental essay. You may be thrilled at the prospect of not having to respond to multiple American University essay prompts. However, without multiple American University supplemental essays to write, the spotlight is truly on your “why American University essay.”

You’ll likely see the why school essay in other college applications. You shouldn’t reuse essays, as they need to be specific to each school. However, they will all achieve the same general goal. You should use the why American University essay to amplify your application by showing what you’ll gain from attending their school. However, a successful why American University essay won’t stop there. You’ll also need to show how you will enhance the school. What will you bring to campus? This “why American University essay” is your opportunity to show that you are a perfect fit. 

Research is key

There are probably specific qualities that attracted you to the school. Essentially, ask yourself why you want to go there. Is there a certain major , internship , or other program that excites you? Are there clubs you want to join or courses you want to take there?

Try not to think of this research as another chore in your American University application process. Get excited about learning more about the school. Authentic passion and drive will come across in successful American University supplemental essays. However, it can’t be faked. So, take advantage of not having multiple American University supplemental essay prompts to manage. Then, dive head first into your why American University essay research. 

Avoid common mistakes

The biggest mistake that students make when responding to the why school essay is being overly general. Vague or dispassionate American University supplemental essays will not help you overcome the American University acceptance rate. 

Use what you learned during your college search to help you get started. What qualifying factors did you use to compare colleges ? What made you decide to go through the lengthy American University application? Reference specific programs, courses, or unique campus qualities when writing your why American University essay. 

If American University is truly a good fit for you, you’ll probably have many things to talk about. The challenge will be keeping your American University essay focused and within the 150 word limit. Be sure to choose a topic for your Why American University essay that is truly unique and specific to the school. 

Highlight your strengths

Another important part of responding to a why school essay is showing why you are a good fit for the university. What will you bring to campus that no one else could? What kind of experience or leadership skills might you apply to your activities on campus? Think about your skills, talents and interests. Then, highlight them in a way that makes it impossible for American University admissions to deny the positive impact you’d have on the school. 

The majority of schools you apply to will have some version of the why school essay. Similar to the American University essay, NYU only has one supplemental essay which follows the same style. The difference with the why NYU essay is that applicants have 400 words to answer, whereas the American University essay is much shorter. 

Northwestern University, like AU, only gives applicants one supplemental essay apart from the Common app essay. Students must answer the why Northwestern essay prompt in 300 words or less. Check out these successful essays from admitted students. 

UChicago also has a why school essay. However, it is one of multiple supplemental essays that students must complete. And, unlike students responding to the American University essay prompts, UChicago applicants have no word limit to their why school prompt.  

How do I write American University’s supplemental essay?

Writing the “Why American University essay” starts with brainstorming the reasons why you want to attend. Even if American University is not your top choice, you should still have specific reasons why it interests you. The American University admissions team wants to know these reasons!

Think about why you would want to attend American University. Ask yourself what specific aspects of American University most interest you, and make a list. If you’re struggling, do some more research on the school. What extracurriculars does it offer that align with your interests? What academic programs seem exciting to you?

Focus on the details

Once you have your list , make the details as specific as possible. For example, if you wrote down that you like American’s academic programs, try to find a specific discipline or major that American University offers. If you wrote that you enjoy the setting in Washington D.C., you could discuss a specific way AU allows students to interface with the city. The more specific and personal your reasons for applying are, the more the American University admissions committee will want to admit you. 

Then, narrow down your list to two or three specific areas of interest to discuss in detail. Because you only have 150 words in this American University supplement essay, you likely can’t mention every item on your list and stay within the word limit. So, instead of listing everything that interests you in your “Why American University essay,” focus on the most significant items. Although this significance can be subjective, you should likely discuss the programs and offerings that will most influence your choice to attend.

Do your research

After you have your topics, do some more research. Find out exactly how American University will help you pursue your interests. Your American University supplement essay will be more effective if you can reference traditions, specific academic courses, or other opportunities. This shows the American University admissions committee why the school is a good fit for you. 

Some good ways to get that information include:

• Visiting the school’s website: You can look up specific course offerings , browse extracurricular activities , and explore various aspects of student life. Just be sure you use the school’s official page or another trusted source.
• Speaking to a current or former student: If someone you know attends American University or has recently graduated, reach out to them. Their insights can help you connect your interests with specific opportunities at American University.
• Attending a college fair: These events give you a chance to talk to American University admissions representatives about your interests. They also let you gather more information about the school. Plus, speaking to a representative at a college fair is a great way to show DI.

You should also mention any interactions you have had with students or staff in your American University supplement essay. Whether you visit the school (either in person or virtually) or simply email an American University admissions counselor, every engagement with American University shows demonstrated interest. Referencing these conversations in your American University supplement essay reinforces the research that you have done and shows how proactive you are. 

Find a hook

As you begin your “Why American University essay,” start with an interesting hook or topic sentence to grab your reader’s attention. If possible, avoid the standard: “The first reason I want to attend American University is…” because it sounds plain and formulaic. Think about immersing your reader into a story instead of restating the prompt.

Some examples of strong introductions include:

• A description of how you first heard about American University: You might open with the story of a memorable campus visit or an anecdote told by a family member about American University. This introduction establishes an immediate, personal connection with the American University admissions team.
• A career or academic goal that American University will help you achieve: If you already know what career or major you want to pursue, this is a great way to make your intentions known. The rest of your American University essay can then explain why this school will help you achieve your goals.
• A special or unique feature about American University: In your research, you may have encountered a tradition, club, class, or professor that makes American University stand out. Mentioning this in the opening sentence shows that you understand what sets American University apart from other schools.

Focus on core themes

In the body of your “Why American University essay,” stay focused on your core themes. Remember, you may not have enough room to address everything you want to say. Find the essential aspects of American University that make it the ideal school for you. Then, use them as the foundation of your American University supplement essay.

American University Essay Reflections Questions:

• Does this essay show you’ve done research on American University?
• Do you explain why American University is a good fit for you?
• Does this essay reference specific qualities about American University?
• Do you use an interesting hook or introductory sentence?
• Does this essay describe your reasons for applying to American University? 

Want more advice about writing your American University supplement essay? Check out this article for additional tips on impressing American University admissions!

American University Essay & American University Admissions

You may be wondering just how important the American University supplemental essays are in the grand scheme of the American University application. Well, the American University acceptance rate is competitive at 36% . 

For the Class of 2022, there were nearly 19,000 applicants , with the average GPA of admitted students falling in the range of 3.47-4.00. American University currently has a test optional policy. So, if your SAT scores don’t hit at least 1240 (the low end of the average SAT score range for accepted applicants), then you don’t need to submit them. High grades and test scores can help you impress the American University admissions committee. However, grades and scores alone won’t be enough to stand out in the American University admissions process. 

With so many competitive applicants, you’ll want to make sure that you craft an impressive American University application narrative. The American University essay plays an important role in that narrative. The essay matters even more if you’re applying with an average GPA or feel like you don’t have a good SAT score that you want to submit. The American University essay is your opportunity to show admissions what makes you stand out. Use it to highlight why you should be accepted out of the many other qualified candidates.  

Beyond the American University Essay

Knowing how to write the American University supplement essay is important, but in order to figure out how to get into American University you also need to know how to maximize your admissions odds. Since the American University acceptance rate is competitive, your American University supplement essay is incredibly important. And of course, there are other American University supplemental materials that will help to enhance your American University application, such as your teacher recommendation letter . 

The American University admissions committee accepts the Common Application . This means all applicants must complete the Common App essay. You will also submit the American University supplement. On your Common Application, you will report your GPA and courses, share your extracurricular involvement, and write a short personal statement. Each part of the application lets you show the American University admissions team what makes you unique. 

Many factors to consider

Admission to a selective school like American University depends on many factors, including the American University essay prompts. While grades and scores matter, the American University admissions committee also considers things like writing skills and personal qualities. They also evaluate whether American University is the right fit for you. 

To determine these more abstract metrics, the committee relies on the Common App essay—also known as your personal statement —and the American University supplement essay. The American University essay prompts, therefore, let you show why you belong at American University.   

American University admissions states that they have a holistic admissions policy. This means that they look at the whole picture when considering each American University application. So, wondering how to get into American University? AU admissions looks for well-rounded, passionate applicants. Do your best on every part of the American University application, including your American University essay. 

Top 3 Tips for Writing the American University Essay

While there aren’t multiple American University supplemental essays, that doesn’t necessarily make things easier. It will take thoughtful planning to write your compelling yet concise American University essay. 

However, an exceptional American University essay could be what has you opening your acceptanc e letter and planning your college enrollment for fall semester. So, get excited. The more passionate you are about the school, the stronger your essay will be. Here are 3 tips for students to consider in order to write their best American supplemental essays.

American University Essay Top Tips

#1- get specific.

This isn’t not the time to generalize or be vague. Use this American University essay to really learn about specific programs and offerings that are only found at AU. Why did American University make it onto your college list ? A well written why American University essay will highlight the unique education that only American University students can enjoy. 

#2- Why you?

While you want to highlight specific details of American University that you would take advantage of as a prospective student, you also need to tie it back to what you would bring to the campus. Sure, you’re interested in AU, but why should they consider you out of their large pool of competitive applicants? What separates you from the rest?

#3- Make it interesting

Bring your passion and creativity to this American University essay. Think of all the American University supplemental essays that admissions officers have to read. To be successful, yours needs to stand out. Bring some sparkle to your essay by showing off your writing skills and getting innovative while answering the prompt. 

Want more advice about writing your American University supplement essay? Check out this video from American University admissions for additional tips on what to include!

Still looking for inspiration before tackling the American University essay prompts? Before you write your American University supplemental essays, check out some examples of successful college essays . You’ll be able to see what works well. Then, you can use the same techniques to write your best American University essay.

College Essay Examples: 10 Best Examples of College Essays and Why They Worked

American University Supplement Essay: Final Thoughts

When reviewing your American University supplement, the American University admissions team wants to see answers to two distinct questions: “what does this student know about our school” and “what makes our school a good fit for this student.”  Understanding these two implied questions behind the “Why American University essay” will help you craft the best possible response.

Address each part of the question

To answer the first question, let your research shine through in your essay. Use specific examples to let the American University admissions team know that you know a lot about the school. Finally, make sure your American University essay reflects what you might pursue in college.

To answer the second question, make sure you clearly articulate your goals. You want to connect those goals to opportunities at American University and explain how this particular school will help you achieve them. If the topics discussed in your American University essay could apply to any other college, look for more specific details.  

Finally, don’t hesitate to have someone else look over your American University essay before you submit it. A second pair of eyes can help you see ways to improve your writing that you may have missed! 

This American University essay guide was written by Sarah Kaminski .  Looking for more admissions support? Click  here  to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how  CollegeAdvisor.com  can support you in the college application process.

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American University Supplemental Essay 2024-25 – Prompt and Advice

July 17, 2024

Back in the ‘90s, American University had an acceptance rate of nearly 80%. In recent years, the acceptance rate has fallen as low as 26% and is typically under 40%. Test-optional for over a decade, this now highly selective university in Washington, D.C. utilizes a truly holistic method of assessing candidates, which means that the American University supplemental essay now plays a key role for AU applicants.

(Want to learn more about How to Get Into American U? Visit our blog entitled:  How to Get Into American University: Admissions Data and Strategies  for all of the most recent admissions data as well as tips for gaining acceptance.)

Given this increasing level of selectivity, the American University supplemental essay offers applicants a crucial opportunity to showcase their writing ability by generating a detail-rich essay that will stand out to an admissions officer.

2024-2025 American University Supplemental Essay Question

American University students identify as changemakers and describe themselves as passionate. Describe a belief, hobby, idea, issue, or topic about which you’re excited. (250 words)

Whether it’s a general love for math/science or literature or a specific interest in aerospace engineering or 19th-century French novels, use this opportunity to share what makes you tick, the ideas or issues that keep you up at night, and what subject inspires you to dream big. What topic makes you read books and online content until your eyes bleed?

Moreover, you’ll want to share the manner in which you have pursued your hobby, idea, issue, or topic of choice. Whether it’s falling down a Wikipedia rabbit hole about the nature of time, consuming thousands of hours of podcasts on game theory, or volunteering at a community agency, this is a chance to illustrate the ways in which you engage with your passions. The admissions reader should emerge from reading this essay with the sense that you are a sincerely curious young person with a strong drive.

Finally, we’d recommend thinking specifically about how you’d like to continue pursuing your belief, hobby, idea, issue, or topic at American University in particular. As such, you’ll want to do some school-specific research.

American University Supplemental Essay (Continued) 

Below are some examples of unique facts about American University that may help you as you brainstorm the “American-specific” part of your response:

• There are more than 170 academic programs (80 bachelor’s degree programs) at American University.
• 150+  student organizations exist on campus. Talk about the ones you would like to join.
• AU offers funding opportunities for undergraduate research . Talk about a research idea that you’d like to pursue while at AU.
• AU runs its own study abroad programs in Brussels, Nairobi, and Madrid.
• More than half of all undergrads take a semester abroad.
• 91% of American U grads participated in at least one internship. What’s your dream internship?
• The AU radio station WAMU reaches an astounding 900,000 listeners every week.
• AU was the first U.S. university to become carbon neutral in 2020.

Of course, these are just few of the countless number of possible features that could be part of a successful essay.

Overall, think about the following as you write this section:

• How will you become an active, contributing member of the student body?
• How will your past/current endeavors carry over onto AU’s campus?
• Why is AU is the perfect fit for you and why you are the perfect fit for AU?
• What specific academic programs, professors, research opportunities, internship/externship programs, study abroad programs, student-run organizations, etc (as in the examples above) would you take advantage of?

How important is the American University supplemental essay?

AU only considers three factors to be “very important” to their applicant evaluation process. These are: the rigor of one’s coursework, GPA earned, and demonstrated interest. In the second tier of “important” factors are: essays, recommendations, talent/ability, character/personal qualities, extracurricular activities, and volunteer work. Clearly, essays—both the main Common App essay and the supplemental prompt—are among the most significant factors in this holistic process.

Furthermore, demonstrated interest is even more important than essays, and one way you can communicate your interest in American is by writing a thoughtful, American-specific supplemental response.

American University Supplemental Essay – Want Personalized Essay Assistance?

If you are interested in working with one of College Transitions’ experienced and knowledgeable essay coaches as you craft your American University supplemental essay, we encourage you to get a quote  today.

On the hunt for additional essay-writing resources? Check out the following blogs:

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American University Supplemental Essay 2024 | Strategies and Insights for Success

The American University Supplemental Essay has become an essential part of the application process, especially now that the university has become more selective. Back in the 1990s, American University had an acceptance rate close to 80%, but now it’s much lower, sometimes dropping to 26%. As a test-optional school for over ten years, AU looks at the whole applicant, not just grades and SAT scores. This means the supplemental essay plays a big role in helping applicants stand out. In this highly competitive environment, writing a strong supplemental essay is very important. It’s a great chance for students to show their writing skills and make a lasting impression on the admissions team. Applicants need to take the time to carefully craft their responses to show why they are a perfect fit for American University.

American University Supplemental Essay

The American University supplemental essay prompt for the 2023-2024 admissions cycle is straightforward but critical: “ Why are you interested in American University?”

Applicants are given a tight limit of 150 words to make their case, akin to delivering an elevator pitch to a potential investor. This essay demands concise yet compelling content that highlights why AU is a top choice for the applicant.

Crafting Your Response

• Research and Specificity : Utilize school-specific research to tailor your response. Highlight unique aspects of AU that resonate with you, such as its diverse academic programs, global student body, robust student organizations, or renowned study abroad opportunities.
• Demonstrate Fit : Showcase how AU aligns with your academic and personal goals. Discuss how its academic offerings, small class sizes, research opportunities, internships, or campus culture contribute to your aspirations and interests.
• Avoid Common Pitfalls : Steer clear of generic statements and clichés. Instead, focus on specific features of AU that genuinely attract you. Avoid listing unrelated accolades or statistics that don’t directly contribute to your narrative.

Key Points to Consider

• Highlight AU’s unique offerings, such as its academic programs, global opportunities, research funding, and internships.
• Emphasize personal connections to AU’s values, community, or mission.
• Keep the response concise and impactful, utilizing every word to convey your enthusiasm and fit for AU.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Recycled Statements : Avoid regurgitating generic statements from other “Why Us?” essays. Such content can appear impersonal, stale, and irrelevant to AU’s unique qualities.
• Itinerary of Plans : Refrain from listing all the activities you plan to do in Washington, D.C. Instead, focus on how AU’s location enhances your academic and personal goals.
• Generic Statements : Steer clear of clichéd phrases like “AU feels like home” or “I’ve wanted to attend since kindergarten.” Provide specific examples and reasons to support your affinity for AU.

Strategies for Success

• Active Involvement : Demonstrate your potential as an engaged member of AU’s student body. Showcase your past and current experiences that illustrate your commitment to contributing positively to campus life.
• Evidence of Fit : Clearly articulate why AU is an ideal fit for you and vice versa. Provide concrete examples of how AU’s academic programs, faculty, research opportunities, and campus culture align with your interests and aspirations.
• Specific Citations : Reference specific aspects of AU that appeal to you, such as academic programs, professors, research opportunities, internships, study abroad programs, and student organizations. Tailor your essay to highlight how these resources will enhance your AU experience.
• Resource Utilization : Explain how you plan to leverage AU’s extensive resources both inside and outside the classroom to maximize your academic and personal growth. Showcase your proactive approach to taking advantage of AU’s offerings.

By avoiding common pitfalls and employing these strategies, you can craft a compelling “Why American U?” essay that resonates with the admissions committee and highlights your fit for AU’s vibrant community.

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Importance of the American University Supplemental Essay

In American University’s applicant evaluation process, only two factors are designated as “very important”: the rigor of coursework and the GPA earned. In the second tier of importance are essays, recommendations, talent/ability, character/personal qualities, extracurricular activities, and volunteer work. It’s evident that essays, including both the main Common App essay and the supplemental prompt, hold considerable weight in this holistic assessment.

American University Supplemental Essay – Conclusion

While American University’s evaluation process considers various factors, including GPA and coursework rigor as the most crucial, essays play a pivotal role. As applicants strive to secure their place in this competitive environment, crafting compelling supplemental essays becomes essential. These essays offer candidates a unique opportunity to express their genuine interest in AU and showcase their potential contributions to the university community. Therefore, applicants should approach the supplemental essay with careful consideration and attention to detail, recognizing its significance in the overall admissions process.

Guide to the American University’s Supplemental Essay Prompt

American University asks applicants to respond to the following prompt, "Why are you interested in American University?" in 150 words or less. With such few words at your disposal, you'll want to be succinct as possible. CEA's Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, has some tips to help you get started on a distinct response.

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Most supplemental essay prompts are designed to both gauge a student’s interest and determine where a student might fit into a school’s particular community. Typically, these essays focus more specifically on future academic and professional goals, school-related activities and a student's role in your current community than the Common App's personal statement. Watch this video for a short and sweet introduction to supplemental essays. Know what you're up against!

How to Write a Powerful “Why Do You Want to Go Here?” Essay (The Why Essay)

The Why Essay takes on many forms and can ask many questions: What will you do when you get here? How will you take advantage of all the resources our school has to offer? How will the school support your academic or professional goals? How do your past experiences or future goals support these claims? It’s likely that many schools to which you apply will as the Why question in slightly different ways (and with a WIDE range of word limits). This video will teach you everything you need to know about how to respond to the "Why do you want to go here?" essay.

How to Respond to Quirky, Odd, and Bizarre College Essay Prompts

There are certain schools, like the University of Chicago, who have always taken special pride in developing crafty questions for their applicants to answer. In recent years, more schools are jumping on the bandwagon, luring students to their applications with questions like “What does #YOLO mean to you” (Tufts, 2013). This is both fun and exhausting for applicants who are grateful for an injection of modern, quirky inspiration, but whose creative wells may be running dry. This video will get down to the bottom line: Why are schools asking these questions and what are they looking for in applicants' responses?

How to Gain Acceptance to Boston University (with Winning Supplemental Essays)!

The Boston University application supplement is a gift: two of the most straightforward prompts you could ask for, and only one of them is required [full prompts below]. But beware, a simple supplement is no reason to ignore a school or save it until the last minute. In fact, it means you have no excuse not to nail your essay, so pay attention and do your work!

How to Write the “Why NYU?” Essay

New York University (NYU) asks undergraduate applicants to pen one supplemental essay (prompt below) in addition to the personal statement. CEA's Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to tell you everything you need to know in order to draft a compelling response.

How to Gain Acceptance to Boston College (with a Winning Supplemental Essay)!

Boston College asks students to select one prompt (out of four) to respond to in 400 words or less (prompts below). So what will you write about? Art, community, a contemporary problem, or character formation? CEA's Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to give you all the information you need to select a prompt and write an amazing supplemental essay.

How to Write Fantastic Application Essays for the University of Georgia

The University of Georgia asks students to write two application essays of 200-300 words. The first prompt is set in stone, and for the second essay, applicants can choose one of four prompts to respond to [prompts below]. CEA's Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to tell you everything you need to know about choosing and responding to these prompts for UGA. Let's begin!

How to Write Short Answers and the Additional Info Essay

The challenge of short answer questions lies half in generating honest, unique and clever ideas, and the other in being concise. The purpose of additional info essays is to provide admissions with an explanation for a drop in grades, low test scores, or prolonged absences. Both of these essay types need to be handled with care -- and that's exactly what this video will show you how to do.

How to Get Into University of Texas: Austin (with Great Application Essays!)

The University of Texas: Austin application is a beast unto itself, with a slew of essay prompts (full text below) that ask you to dig into all aspects of your life. From your home life to your future plans, you're going to have to tell all -- and in a way that sets you apart! Luckily CEA's Founder, Stacey Brook, is here to break down the prompts so you're ready to tackle anything Texas' independent platform throws at you.

How to Get Into Emory University (With Amazing Supplemental Essays!)

Emory University asks first-year applicants to write two (2) essays in addition to the personal statement. Applicants must choose one prompt from the "Reflections" category and one prompt from the "Tell us about you" category. CEA's Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to tell you everything you need to know about choosing and responding to these prompts. Let's begin!

How To Answer Supplemental Application Questions: “Why Do You Want To Go Here?”

These days, most colleges and universities require supplemental applications in addition to the Common Application. You could be looking at a list of 10+ supplemental essays, so we made you a quick guide to the most common supplemental question: "Why do you want to go here?"

Guide to the 2018-19 Northwestern University Supplemental Essay

Are you planning to apply to Northwestern University? The Founder and Chief Advisor of College Essay Advisors, Stacey Brook, is here to give you invaluable insight into Northwestern's supplemental essay prompt so you can take advantage of this opportunity to speak to admissions in your own voice.

Guide to the 2018-19 University of Michigan Essays

Submitting your college application to the University of Michigan can be a real nail-biter. Michigan requires three supplemental essays. The Founder and Chief Advisor of College Essay Advisors, Stacey Brook, is here to give you invaluable insight into the prompts and the motivation behind them so you can take advantage of this opportunity to speak to admissions in your own voice.

How to Get Into UNC (With a Great Essay)

UNC is well-known for being the first public university in the United States and a leader in innovative teaching strategies. The school is also known for receiving many college applications, which means it is crucial for applicants to differentiate themselves in their essays. Luckily for UNC hopefuls, the university gives students two additional supplemental prompts to respond to in order to set themselves apart from the sea of similarly qualified applicants and increase their chances of getting into UNC. College Essay Advisors Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to break down the UNC supplemental prompts so you know which essays will showcase your best attributes!

Guide to the 2017-2018 Duke University Supplemental Essays

Submitting your college application to Duke University can be a real nail-biter. Although it's probably too late now to tweak your test scores or GPA, you can make sure that your college application essays will bring you admissions success! Duke requires one supplemental short answer and gives students the opportunity to respond to two optional prompts. The Founder and Chief Advisor of College Essay Advisors, Stacey Brook, is here to give you invaluable insight into the prompts and the motivation behind them so you can take advantage of this opportunity to speak to admissions in your own voice.

Guide to the 2017-2018 Harvard University Supplemental Essay

Harvard University is one of the most competitive schools in the country. Every year admissions officers are bombarded with applications from eager students looking to make the cut. Thus, Harvard has a supplement to give students an opportunity to distinguish themselves from the competition. Writing supplemental essays can be daunting, but luckily for you, College Essay Advisors founder (and admissions expert) Stacey Brook is here to break down the Harvard supplement so you can hit submit with confidence.

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Command Education Guide

How to write the american university supplemental essay, updated for 2024-2025.

American University students identify as changemakers and describe themselves as passionate. Describe a belief, hobby, idea, issue, or topic about which you’re excited. (250 words)

Explanation:

Located in the heart of Washington D.C., American University attracts students from all over the globe who want to enact positive change in their communities. As noted in the prompt, American describes their students as “changemakers,” and many take advantage of the school’s location to intern on Capitol Hill, devise policy recommendations working for think tanks and advocacy groups, and canvas throughout the streets of D.C. for causes they are passionate about. That being said, “changemakers” can take on a multitude of meanings, many of which are unrelated to politics or activism. No matter where your passion lies, American wants to learn all about it!

How might you find your place amongst a crowd of students who care deeply about the world around them and who take actions to better their communities? This is your chance to show off your leadership skills and write about where your passion has taken you thus far. In answering this question, be sure to describe the cause, hobby, idea, issue, or topic you are passionate about, explain why it is important to you, and demonstrate what you have done as a result of this passion. End with a reflective statement that offers a forward-thinking perspective; how will you use your American education to further this passion or enact positive change?

“Pack your bags, we have to drive to Georgia before 5 p.m..”

After months of drought, my coastal Florida town received fifteen inches of rain in less than twenty-four hours. Changing precipitation patterns are expected to worsen over time, leading to rapid storm intensification, flooding and increased storm frequency. Luckily, research shows that restoring Florida’s natural infrastructure can be both cheaper and more effective than building structural flood protection systems.

Though I’ve been a member of my high school’s Environmental Science Club since my first week of 8th grade, it wasn’t until I learned about Everglade restoration endeavors that I fell in love with climate activism. Our work comes in two parts; lobbying for the allocation of more state funds to the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) and volunteering with the Conservancy to educate others about its importance. As club president, I spearheaded a volunteering partnership; fourteen of us work for the conservancy on a weekly basis; some lead boat tours educating tourists about the conservancy’s mission, others help care for the animals in the Wildlife Hospital.

My work with the Conservancy inspired me to pursue further educational opportunities to learn about Everglade restoration, and last summer, I interned with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s legal department, learning to draft policies aimed at protecting our coastal waterways. At American, I’m looking forward to deepening my understanding of climate activism by majoring in Environmental Science and completing an Advanced Leadership studies certificate to hone my political advocacy skills.

How might you find your place amongst a crowd of students who care deeply about the world around them and who take actions to better their communities? This is your chance to show off your leadership skills and write about where your passion has taken you thus far. In answering this question, be sure to describe the cause, hobby, idea, or issue, or topic you are passionate about, explain why it is important to you, and demonstrate what you have done as a result of this passion. End with a reflective statement that offers a forward-thinking perspective; how will you use your American education to further this passion or enact positive change?

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Home — Application Essay — National Universities — Why American University?

Why American University?

• University: American University

About this sample

Words: 630 |

Published: Feb 15, 2024

Words: 630 | Pages: 1 | 4 min read

Table of contents

Academic excellence, opportunities for research and internships, diversity and inclusion, global perspective.

I am eager to pursue higher education at American University. This esteemed institution not only offers a world-class education, but also provides a diverse and vibrant campus community that fosters personal growth and intellectual development. By immersing myself in the rich academic and cultural experiences offered by American University, I am confident that I will be equipped with the knowledge, skills, and networks necessary to thrive in today's rapidly evolving global society.

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'Why American University?'

American University's commitment to academic excellence is evident in its rigorous curriculum and distinguished faculty. The wide range of academic programs available allows me to tailor my education to suit my specific interests and career goals. From the renowned School of International Service to the esteemed School of Public Affairs, American University offers an array of disciplines where I can deepen my knowledge and expertise.

Moreover, the small class sizes at American University provide a conducive learning environment where I can actively engage in discussions, collaborate with classmates, and receive personalized attention from professors. This intimate setting will enhance my learning experience and foster meaningful connections with both my peers and mentors.

American University's emphasis on experiential learning gives me the opportunity to apply the theoretical knowledge gained in the classroom to real-world scenarios. The university's extensive research programs and partnerships with renowned institutions offer ample opportunities for me to engage in cutting-edge research projects that address pressing global challenges.

In addition, American University's prime location in the heart of Washington, D.C. presents a unique advantage for internships and professional development. By being situated in the nation's capital, I will have unparalleled access to internships in government agencies, non-profit organizations, and influential think tanks. These hands-on experiences will not only complement my academic pursuits but also allow me to gain practical skills, expand my professional network, and make a meaningful impact on society.

Diversity and inclusion are not just buzzwords at American University; they are deeply ingrained in the university's identity. With students representing more than 150 countries, American University celebrates a myriad of perspectives, cultures, and experiences. This diverse community creates a vibrant and intellectually stimulating environment that encourages the exchange of ideas and fosters intercultural understanding.

Moreover, American University's commitment to social justice aligns with my own values and aspirations. Through its various student organizations, community service initiatives, and advocacy programs, American University empowers students to become socially responsible leaders who strive for positive change. I am eager to contribute to this community of change-makers and help make a difference in the world.

American University's focus on global affairs perfectly aligns with my passion for international relations and cross-cultural understanding. The university's renowned School of International Service offers a comprehensive curriculum that will provide me with the necessary knowledge and skills to address complex global challenges.

Furthermore, American University's extensive study abroad programs will allow me to immerse myself in different cultures, broaden my perspectives, and develop a global mindset. By studying abroad, I will not only gain a deeper understanding of international issues but also enhance my adaptability, cross-cultural communication skills, and ability to thrive in diverse environments.

American University embodies the ideals and values that resonate with me as a passionate and socially conscious individual. The institution's commitment to academic excellence, experiential learning, diversity, and global perspectives make it the ideal place to continue my educational journey.

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By joining the vibrant community at American University, I am confident that I will be challenged academically, inspired by my peers and professors, and empowered to make a positive impact on society. American University is not just a place where I will receive an education; it is a place where I will grow intellectually, emotionally, and personally. I eagerly await the opportunity to contribute to the rich tapestry of experiences and knowledge that make American University an exceptional institution.

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