How to Write the Kennesaw State University Essays 2025-2026

In the current admissions cycle, KSU requires Honors College applicants to the Wellstar-Phillips Elite Honors Nursing Scholars, President’s Emerging Global Scholars, Ancient and Modern Classics Cohort, and Journey to Italy Honors Cohort to submit a response to the prompt respective to their program, in addition to the Common App essay.

 

The base of each prompt is the same, i.e., inspiration and personal growth, but the themes they ask you to emphasize in your writing vary. We’ll break down these Honors College prompts to help you write a compelling essay.

 

Kennesaw State Supplemental Essay Prompts

 

 

 

This is a self-reflective, identity-focused essay that asks you to reveal yourself through three meaningful items. It’s essentially a creative twist on the “Tell us about yourself” question, using objects as symbols of your accomplishments, hobbies, and personality.

 

The admissions committee is asking you to choose three personal items. One must connect to an accomplishment, one must connect to a hobby/interest, and the third is open-ended (values, family, background, or another aspect of who you are).

 

Describe what each represents—not just the object itself, but the story and meaning behind it. Reflect on why you keep it and what it reveals about you today, your growth, and your values. Tell a cohesive story. The essay isn’t three separate mini-essays; it should flow together to show a multidimensional picture of you.

 

For each of the three items, you should ask yourself certain questions. Here’s a breakdown:

 

Item 1 (accomplishment):

 

• What achievement am I most proud of? (e.g., academic, artistic, athletic, leadership, etc.)
• Do I have a physical object tied to it? (e.g., a medal, certificate, research notebook, model, robotics part, essay draft, debate gavel, etc.)
• Why is this accomplishment important, beyond the recognition?

 

Item 2 (hobby/interest):

 

• What do I love doing when no one is watching?
• What object connects to this passion? (e.g, a camera, a sketchbook, a guitar pick, a pair of running shoes, a recipe card, hiking boots, etc.)
• How does this activity shape my personality or balance my life?

 

Item 3 (free choice):

 

• What’s another defining aspect of me—my culture, family, resilience, worldview, or dream for the future?
• What object embodies that? (e.g., a family photo, a cultural dish’s recipe, a map, seashells from your hometown beach, a journal, a keychain from a trip, etc.)
• How does it round out the portrait of who I am?

 

A strong essay will be vivid and specific. Show the object in action (e.g., “The gavel’s handle is chipped from countless debate tournaments…”) rather than just naming it. Connect to a deeper overarching meaning. Each object should reveal character, values, or growth.

 

Choose three items that each highlight a different part of you (intellectual, personal, cultural, creative). Instead of three separate sections, link them with a theme (e.g., “curiosity,” “connection,” “persistence”). Balance storytelling and reflection. Tell the story of the object and explain why it matters.

 

Here are some hypothetical student examples:

 

Jasmine, aspiring scientist:

 

• A worn-out lab notebook (accomplishment: first independent chemistry experiment)
• A camera (hobby: capturing hidden details in nature)
• A seashell from family trips (family tradition, connection to roots)
• Together: curiosity, creativity, and grounding in family

 

Carlos, future entrepreneur:

 

• A 3D-printed prototype (accomplishment: high school business competition)
• A pair of soccer cleats (hobby: teamwork, discipline)
• A handwritten recipe from his grandmother (culture and resilience)
• Together: innovation, collaboration, and cultural pride

 

Amira, artist and activist:

 

• A framed poem she published (accomplishment: literary recognition)
• A paint-stained palette (hobby: creative expression)
• A protest sign from a climate march (activism, values)
• Together: expression, imagination, and advocacy

 

Let’s take a good example excerpt and a bad one, so you can see what you should and shouldn’t do in your response. Note that these are just short illustrative examples, and that you will have much more space to flesh out your narrative.

 

Good example

 

 

Why this works: Shows personality through specific objects, tells stories, links them into a bigger theme, and balances accomplishment, hobby, and personal values.

 

Bad example

 

 

Why this doesn’t work: Generic, tells but doesn’t show, could apply to anyone.

 

Since this essay is long (600-800 words), structure it like three short stories that weave together into a bigger narrative. Start each “item” with an image, then unpack the meaning, and transition to the next item.

 

Here are some common mistakes to avoid making in your response:

 

• Choosing clichéd or generic items: e.g., your phone, laptop, “books” as a general concept—unless you give them a unique personal spin.

 

• Listing without depth: Avoid “I chose X because it shows Y.” Dig into stories and reflections.

 

• Too much focus on the object, not enough on you: The items are mainly symbols; the essay is about your character.

 

• Disconnected sections: If the essay feels like three short pieces glued together with no connections or transitions, you’ll lose flow.

 

 

This essay is a variation of the “Objects as Identity” archetype, but with a healthcare/nursing-specific twist. The committee isn’t just asking you to show who you are; they also want to see your commitment to nursing, your well-roundedness (through hobbies and interests), and your drive and achievements.

 

The admissions committee is asking you to choose three items that represent:

 

• An accomplishment (academic, personal, athletic, leadership, etc.)
• A hobby or interest (something that humanizes you)
• Your passion for nursing or healthcare (the most important piece here)

 

Tell the story of each item: How did you get it? Why do you keep it? What does it symbolize? Then, reflect on how these objects together show who you are, and why you’re a great fit for the Wellstar-Phillips Elite Honors Nursing Scholars Program.

 

Here are some questions to help you brainstorming your essay:

 

Accomplishment Item

 

• What achievement am I most proud of? Did it shape my confidence, skills, or career goals?
• What physical object represents this achievement? (e.g., a certificate, stethoscope from shadowing, debate gavel, a science fair medal, an EMT badge, a notebook full of AP Biology notes, etc.)
• How did I earn this? What did I learn about myself in the process?

 

Hobby/Interest Item

 

• What do I love to do outside of academics?
• What object embodies this? (e.g., running shoes, sketchbook, guitar pick, camera, baking pan, soccer cleats, gardening gloves, etc.)
• How does this hobby balance my life or make me unique as a future nurse?

 

Healthcare/Nursing Item

 

• What first connected me to healthcare? (e.g., shadowing experience, volunteering at a hospital, taking care of a family member, EMT/CPR training, CNA license, etc.)
• What item symbolizes this passion? (e.g., scrubs, stethoscope, nursing textbook, volunteer badge, patient thank-you note, a photo from a healthcare-related service trip, etc.)
• How does this item represent not just interest, but commitment to becoming a compassionate, skilled nurse?

 

A strong essay will paint vivid images of the objects (“The corners of my CNA textbook are bent from hours of highlighting anatomy terms”). Tell mini-stories tied to each item—how you got it, when you used it, why it matters. Highlight qualities of a future nurse: empathy, resilience, curiosity, leadership, and balance.

 

Be sure that your essay flows cohesively and coherently. Don’t just list three objects, but connect them under a unifying theme (like caregiving, resilience, or connection). Then, show reflection. What do these objects together say about the kind of nurse and leader you want to be?

 

Here are some hypothetical student examples to guide your thinking:

 

Maya, future pediatric nurse:

 

• A colorful thank-you card from a child she tutored while volunteering at a hospital’s pediatric ward (nursing/healthcare passion)
• Her running shoes (hobby: cross country, representing discipline and self-care)
• Her AP Biology exam prep guide with hundreds of sticky notes (accomplishment, perseverance in STEM)
• Together: empathy, balance, and determination to bring energy into nursing

 

Daniel, aspiring trauma nurse:

 

• A stethoscope was gifted to him after completing EMT certification (healthcare passion)
• His guitar pick (hobby: songwriting helps him process stress and emotions)
• A medal for leading his robotics team to state finals (accomplishment: problem-solving under pressure)
• Together: technical skill, creativity, and resilience in high-pressure environments

 

Sophia, inspired by family caregiving:

 

• A locket with a photo of her grandmother, whom she cared for during her illness (healthcare passion)
• Her paintbrushes (hobby: painting as a tool for reflection and healing)
• A certificate for organizing a local blood drive (accomplishment: leadership in community health)
• Together: compassion, artistry, and leadership in healthcare advocacy

 

Here are excerpts of good and bad example responses to show you how you should and shouldn’t approach this prompt. Note that these are just short illustrative examples, and that you will have much more space to flesh out your narrative.

 

Good example

 

 

Why this works: Vivid imagery, clear connection to healthcare, variety of traits (empathy, discipline, leadership), cohesive narrative.

 

Bad example

 

 

Why this doesn’t work: Too list-like, no vivid detail, could apply to anyone, lacks reflection.

 

Since this is 600-800 words, you have space to really tell stories around each item. Use about 200 words per item and then close with a reflection tying them all together.

 

Here are some common mistakes you should avoid making in your own response:

 

• Being too generic: Choosing objects like “my phone” or “my laptop” without a unique angle makes your essay forgettable.

 

• Listing without storytelling: “This item shows I’m hardworking, this item shows I’m creative” isn’t enough—show how!

 

• Forgetting the healthcare tie-in: This is a nursing-specific program; one of your items must clearly connect to nursing.

 

• Writing three disconnected mini-essays: The best essays weave items together into a bigger story.

 

 

This essay falls into the “Objects as Identity” archetype, but it’s specifically tailored to the PEGS program’s values: leadership, service, and global competency. The admissions committee wants to see not just who you are, but how your items reveal your potential to thrive in this cohort.

 

The committee is asking you to choose three personal items that symbolize different dimensions of yourself. At least one must represent:

 

• An accomplishment (academic, service, or leadership)
• A hobby/interest (something that humanizes you)
• Your growth or commitment to leadership, service, or global competency (ties back to PEGS’s mission)

 

Tell the story of each item: How did you obtain it? Why do you keep it? What does it represent? Then, reflect on what these objects, taken together, say about the kind of leader, servant, or globally aware citizen you are—and hope to become?

 

To brainstorm your essay, think about each dimension of yourself and try to figure out the most representative item. Here are some questions for each dimension to guide your thinking:

 

Leadership/Accomplishment Item

 

• What is my proudest leadership moment? Did I lead a team, a club, or an initiative?
• What object represents this? (e.g., a gavel, a robotics medal, a leadership certificate, a debate notebook, a captain’s armband, etc.)
• What did I learn about myself as a leader from this experience?

 

Service/Global Competency Item

 

• When have I stepped into service or a cross-cultural exchange? (e.g., community service, Model UN, volunteering abroad, translating for non-English speakers, fundraising for global causes, etc.)
• What item embodies this? (e.g., a volunteer badge, passport, donation flyer, a photo, a journal from travel or service trips, etc.)
• How did this experience change how I see myself in the world?

 

Hobby/Interest Item

 

• What do I love outside of academics?
• What object represents this? (e.g., a sketchbook, running shoes, guitar pick, hiking boots, soccer ball, camera, etc.)
• How does this hobby shape who I am as a leader or community member? Does it help me build discipline, creativity, or empathy?

 

A strong essay will paint vivid images of the items (“The paintbrushes in my jar are stained with colors from every mural I’ve worked on in my community center”). Tell a story behind each object, not just naming it, but showing how it came into your life.

 

Tie back to PEGS’s values of leadership, service, and global perspective. This is the most important piece! Weave the three objects together into a bigger picture about your identity and future goals. Show reflection—admissions wants to see growth, not just achievements.

 

Here are some hypothetical student examples to show you how this response could take shape:

 

Aisha, aspiring global health leader:

 

• A stethoscope keychain from volunteering at a local clinic (service/health)
• Her Model UN delegate placard (accomplishment, global competency)
• A well-worn travel journal from visiting family abroad (hobby: journaling, plus global perspective)
• Theme: Curiosity and commitment to health, diplomacy, and cultural understanding

 

Marcus, a future entrepreneur with a service focus:

 

• A 3D-printed prototype from his high school invention fair (accomplishment)
• A Red Cross volunteer badge (service)
• His soccer cleats (a hobby, but also how teamwork shaped his leadership style)
• Theme: Creativity, teamwork, and community responsibility

 

Sophia, artist and activist:

 

• Paintbrushes from a mural project raising awareness about climate change (service & hobby combined)
• A certificate from her school’s Green Club (accomplishment)
• A seashell collected while volunteering at a beach clean-up abroad (global competency)
• Theme: Using creativity to connect local leadership with global impact

 

Here are excerpts of good and bad example responses to show you how you should and shouldn’t approach this prompt. Note that these are just short illustrative examples, and that you will have much more space to flesh out your narrative.

 

Good example

 

 

Why this works: Vivid storytelling, personal growth, each object ties into leadership/service/global awareness, and the three flow into a cohesive theme.

 

Bad example

 

 

Why this doesn’t work: Generic items, no vivid detail, reads like a list, no tie to PEGS values.

 

Since this essay is 600-800 words, aim for about 200 words per item, then close with a reflection tying them together under a leadership/service/global impact theme.

 

Here are some common mistakes you should avoid making in your response:

 

• Choosing generic items: Don’t choose items like a phone, laptop, or backpack, unless you have a truly unique story tied to them.

 

• Writing three mini-essays that don’t connect: The best responses flow and show an overarching theme.

 

• Forgetting the PEGS tie-in: Your essay should show you are already practicing leadership, service, or global awareness—and that you want to grow more at PEGS.

 

• Over-focusing on accomplishments: You also need warmth, personality, and human interest (through your hobby/interest item).

 

 

This essay falls into the “Objects as Identity” archetype, but with an AMC Cohort twist—they’re asking you to show your intellectual curiosity, your accomplishments, and your personal side, all through three carefully chosen items, one of which must be a book.

 

You’re being asked to choose three personal items:

 

• One that represents an accomplishment
• One that represents a hobby or interest
• A book of your choice (required for AMC)

 

Explain why each matters—the personal story behind it, how you got it, why you keep it. Reflect on their meaning and what they say about your growth, passions, and intellectual drive. Tie everything together and show that you’re not just choosing random items, but that together they form a portrait of who you are and why you’d thrive in the AMC cohort (which values deep thinking across time, bridging classical and modern ideas).

 

Here are some questions you should consider to help you decide on which three items you want to write about:

 

Accomplishment Item

 

• What am I most proud of? (e.g., a successful debate, a completed research project, a piano recital, a competition victory, etc.)
• Which object embodies this? (e.g., debate trophy, research notebook, musical recital program, robotics medal, etc.)
• What did I learn about myself through this accomplishment?

 

Hobby/Interest Item

 

• What do I do outside of academics that shapes me? What object could symbolize this activity? (e.g., photography and pictures, running and sneakers, drawing and a sketchbook, music and a violin bow, etc.)
• Why is this hobby important to me?
• How does it connect to my creativity, discipline, or worldview?

 

Book Item (Required by AMC prompt)

 

• What book has changed the way I think? (classics, modern works, fiction, nonfiction—any book that genuinely impacted you)
• Why was it influential—did it challenge your perspective, spark a new passion, or connect you to history, philosophy, or culture?
• How does it reflect the kind of student you’d be in AMC—curious, analytical, eager to engage across disciplines?

 

A good response will be a few things. Provide vivid imagery—don’t just list objects, show them (e.g., “My copy of The Iliad is warped at the edges, water-stained from afternoons I spent reading it by the lake.”). Each object should come alive through a story of how it entered your life and what it represents.

 

What did each item teach you about yourself, leadership, passion, or learning? The three items should connect to form a bigger picture of your identity. With each item—but especially with the book choice—show why you think deeply about ideas, not just why you “liked it.”

 

Here are some hypothetical student examples to show you how you might think about choosing your objects.

 

Lena, aspiring historian:

 

• A certificate from the National History Day competition (accomplishment)
• A sketchbook filled with architectural drawings from her travels (hobby)
• The History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides (book), which shaped how she thinks about truth, bias, and storytelling.
• Theme: Understanding the past to make sense of the present.

 

David, future lawyer and debater:

 

• His well-worn debate folder is full of case notes (accomplishment)
• A soccer ball signed by his teammates (hobby/community)
• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (book), which taught him about justice and empathy.
• Theme: Using words, teamwork, and justice to shape a fairer world.

 

Maya, global thinker and writer:

 

• A published article from her high school newspaper (accomplishment)
• A camera she takes everywhere (hobby, capturing global/local perspectives)
• Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe (book) which opened her eyes to the complexity of cultural narratives.
• Theme: Storytelling across media—journalism, photography, literature—as a tool for leadership and global competency.

 

Here are good and bad example excerpts to give you an idea of things you should and shouldn’t do in your response:

 

Good example

 

 

Why this works: Specific, vivid details; each item tells a story; the book shows deep intellectual engagement; the essay ties everything into a unified theme.

 

Bad example

 

 

Why this doesn’t work: No detail, reads like a résumé, no story or reflection, fairly generic book choice.

 

With 600-800 words, aim for about 200 words per item plus an intro and a reflective conclusion.

 

Here are some common mistakes to avoid making in your response:

 

• Being too generic: “My diploma represents hard work” doesn’t say much. Show the specific moment behind it.

 

• Choosing a book just because it’s famous: Don’t pick The Republic or 1984 unless it truly shaped you. Forced intellectualism reads as inauthentic.

 

• Writing three mini-essays: Instead of isolated chunks of text, weave them together with transitions that showcase a larger theme.

 

• Ignoring AMC’s spirit: This program values bridging classical ideas with modern issues—show your curiosity, reflection, and intellectual playfulness.

 

 

This prompt fits into the “Objects as Identity” archetype, but it’s tailored to the Journey to Italy Cohort. Like the other prompts, it asks you to choose three meaningful items, but this time one of them must connect to your passion for travel or community. Because the cohort is themed around Italy and global learning, the admissions committee wants to see curiosity about culture, global competency, and community-building.

 

You are asked to pick three meaningful items that represent:

 

• An accomplishment
• A hobby or interest
• Your passion for travel or community (unique to this cohort)

 

For each item, explain how you got it. Describe what it represents. Reflect on why it’s important enough to keep. Tie them together into a cohesive self-portrait that reflects your character, leadership potential, and curiosity about the world.

 

Here are some brainstorming questions to help you choose your items:

 

Accomplishment Item

 

• What am I most proud of academically, professionally, or personally?
• What object best represents it? (e.g., a robotics medal, a published article, a first paycheck from a job, a certificate from volunteering, etc.)
• What lesson or value did I learn through this accomplishment?

 

Hobby/Interest Item

 

• What do I love to do when I’m not in class? What object represents this activity? (e.g., painting and brushes, soccer and a soccer ball, cooking and a recipe notebook, hiking and a pair of boots, writing and a journal, etc.)
• How does this hobby reflect my creativity, discipline, or joy?
• What role does it play in balancing my life?

 

Travel/Community Item (required)

 

What symbolizes my love for connecting across cultures or serving communities? For example:

 

• A worn passport with stamps.
• A postcard collection from family trips.
• A volunteer T-shirt from a local food drive.
• A recipe passed down in my family that connects me to cultural heritage.

 

Why does this item matter? How does it show my commitment to expanding my world or serving others?

 

Each item should have a backstory that places us in the moment (e.g., describing the sweat-soaked jersey from a soccer final). Explain why the object matters beyond its surface meaning. Be sure to make the connection to the Italy Cohort. The “travel/community” item is the place to show your cultural curiosity and excitement for international experiences.

 

Don’t make this response three unrelated mini-essays. Instead, show how the three items reveal different dimensions of you that connect (e.g., accomplishment = perseverance, hobby = creativity, travel = global connection). Make sure at least one object ties to personal warmth (hobby/community), and one ties to intellectual or leadership growth (accomplishment/book/etc).

 

Here are some hypothetical student examples to show you how you might go about choosing your objects/items:

 

Sofia, aspiring architect:

 

• Accomplishment: A 3D-printed model from her STEM fair project
• Hobby: Her watercolor paint set, which she uses for architectural sketches
• Travel/Community: A journal from her family trip to Florence, where she fell in love with Renaissance design
• Theme: Building bridges between creativity, science, and global inspiration.

 

Ethan, community organizer:

 

• Accomplishment: His certificate for founding his school’s recycling initiative
• Hobby: His running shoes, worn from training for cross-country and community 5Ks
• Travel/Community: A volunteer badge from Habitat for Humanity, representing his dedication to hands-on community building
• Theme: Service and sustainability, at home and abroad.

 

Maya, storyteller and traveler:

 

• Accomplishment: Her first published short story in a teen literary magazine
• Hobby: Her camera, always hanging from her neck, ready to capture people’s stories
• Travel/Community: A postcard from her grandmother in Italy, which inspired her desire to connect across cultures
• Theme: Storytelling as a way to build bridges globally.

 

Let’s take a look at good and bad example excerpts to get an idea of what you should and shouldn’t do in your response.

 

Good example

 

 

Why this works: Specific, vivid, personal; ties travel/community directly to Italy; reflects deep values.

 

Bad example

 

 

Why this doesn’t work: Flat, résumé-like, no storytelling, no reflection.

 

With 600-800 words, you have room for about 200 words per item, plus an intro and conclusion that tie them together.

 

These are some common mistakes to avoid making in your response:

 

• Choosing generic items: A “medal” or “book” is too vague unless you show what’s unique about it.

 

• Listing without reflecting: Don’t just say what the item is—explain what it means.

 

• Forcing the Italy connection: Don’t fake interest in Italy—make it genuine by tying it to your real travel experiences, cultural heritage, or interest in global learning.

 

• Writing three separate essays: Tie your items into a larger theme about who you are.

 

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