Known as one of the top schools in the Midwest, Washington University in St. Louis is a vibrant school with a dynamic community and outstanding opportunities for students. For the 2024-2025 admissions cycle, WashU poses one supplemental essay prompt that’s broken into two questions. To help students in their writing process, here’s InGenius Prep’s guide to the Washington University in St. Louis supplemental essays 2024-2025.
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Prompts for the WashU in St. Louis Supplemental Essays 2024-2025
WashU is a place that values diversity of perspectives. We believe those perspectives come from a variety of experiences and identities. Respond to one of the following prompts to help us understand “Who are you?”:
While these prompts are optional, we recommend that students who are serious about WashU answer these questions. Supplemental essays are one of the methods schools use to gauge a student’s commitment, and providing compelling answers will show Admissions Officers that you’re serious about their school.
A) WashU supports engagement in the St. Louis community by considering the university as “In St. Louis, For St. Louis.” What is a community you are a part of and your place or impact within it?
Before answering this question, read WashU’s mission statement and familiarize yourself with the school’s values. WashU favors students who are committed to their community and embrace diverse perspectives and backgrounds. As you write your response, reflect on the communities you’ve been a part of and the positive impact you’ve had on them.
Volunteer experience can be a great highlight for this question, but don’t copy from other sections of your application. Take this opportunity to bring new information to your Admissions Officer; don’t repeat aspects of your Common App or activities list.
Admissions Officers want to see students who are actively engaged in their community and are ready to continue their efforts at WashU. Examples can include social, athletic, ethnic, or academic communities. Whatever it may be, write about something you haven’t had the chance to yet and show Admissions Officers a more unique aspect of your profile.
B) WashU strives to know every undergraduate student “By Name & Story.” How have your life experiences shaped your story?
Here, WashU is asking about your history and the experiences that have set you on the course to study at their school. What were the key aspects of your development that shaped the person and scholar you are today? How have the people, places, and community around you affected your development? How have you been challenged, and what have you learned from those experiences?
However, keep in mind that although Admissions Officers want to get a sense of your personality, they’re not looking for a mini personal statement. They want to know how an applicant thinks and whether or not they’ll be a good fit for the school. It’s a balancing act between writing personal responses and setting yourself up as the ideal candidate.
When writing your essay, keep WashU’s values in mind. Think of the ways you’ve grown throughout your schooling, and show how you’ll bring your positive development to the WashU community.
Above all, stay authentic in your essays. Don’t write what you think Admissions Officers might want to hear. Respond to these prompts with what’s significant to you and take every opportunity to show a new, dynamic side of yourself that adds to your student profile.
Additional Tips for Writing the WashU in St. Louis Supplemental Essay 2024-2025
Do your research!: It’s a given that before you sit down to write any supplemental essay you conduct thorough research on the college. Even though there’s no explicit “Why WashU” question, to successfully write the WashU in St. Louis supplemental essay 2024-2025, you need to know about the academic departments and courses in order to figure out how your topic relates to the major. For further reading, you can also check out this blog by Alyssa Reiman, a Graduate Coach at InGenius Prep, who discusses what she loved about the school, its community, and campus! Reading through student reflections is a helpful way to inspire your own writing and think deeper about what you’re looking for from your college and academic journey.
Think About the WashU College of Your Choice: Before you sit down to write your WashU in St. Louis supplemental essay 2024-2025, you should think carefully about the specialized college you’ll apply to and tailor your essay to highlight unique program offerings at that particular school. Even though you are allowed to take classes across different schools, your essay needs to be as specific as possible to your primary field. If you’re applying to the School of Engineering, don’t rave about classes in the Design & Visual Arts college!
Get Personalized Tips with InGenius Prep
If WashU is your dream school, research it thoroughly and understand the school’s values. Admissions Officers are looking for students who embody the traits that WashU is built upon. Highlight your commitment to community, showcase your passion, but don’t just repeat what on your personal statement or activities list.
If you still want guidance on your supplemental essays—InGenius Prep is here to help! Our team of Former Admissions Officers from the top universities know what it takes to make a great application. We’ve coached over 6,000 students into the school of their dreams, including Harvard, Yale, MIT, Johns Hopkins, Cornell, NYU, and more! Book a free strategy call to get started on your academic journey today!
