How to Write the Marquette University Essays 2025-2026
Marquette is a Catholic, Jesuit university in the heart of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, that prepares its students with the knowledge, skills, and sense of community they need to build meaningful careers, lead purposeful lives, and transform the world around them.
While Marquette does not require most applicants to submit any supplemental essays, there are essays for four different special programs. Keep reading to find out the best tips and tricks for approaching these essays if you are applying to one of Marquette’s special programs.
Marquette University Supplemental Essay Prompts
Doctor of Physical Therapy Applicants
Prompt: If you wish to be considered for the Doctor of Physical Therapy program, please share why you are interested in physical therapy as a profession and what experiences have led you to this interest. (length not provided)
Master of Athletic Training Applicants
Prompt: If you wish to be considered for the Master of Athletic Training program, please share why you are interested in athletic training as a profession and what experiences have led you to this interest. (length not provided)
Doctor of Occupational Therapy Applicants
Prompt: If you wish to be considered for the Doctor of Occupational Therapy program, please share why you are interested in physical therapy as a profession and what experiences have led you to this interest. (length not provided)
Master of Speech-Language Pathology Applicants
Prompt: If you wish to be considered for the Master of Speech-Language Pathology program, please share why you are interested in speech-language pathology as a profession and what experiences have led you to this interest. (length not provided)
Doctor of Physical Therapy Prompt
If you wish to be considered for the Doctor of Physical Therapy program, please share why you are interested in physical therapy as a profession and what experiences have led you to this interest. (length not provided)
This prompt is a classic “Why This Major” essay. The admissions committee will look for a combination of personal reflection, relevant experiences, and a clear commitment to the field.
You need to explain your interest in physical therapy: Why do you want to become a physical therapist specifically? What excites you about the profession? Share the experiences that have led to your interest. This could include personal experiences with PT (either as a patient or through observing others), work experience, volunteering, or even research that shaped your understanding of the profession. Your response should provide insight into both your connection to physical therapy and your professional aspirations.
It might be helpful to structure your response in the following way:
- Share what sparked your interest in physical therapy
- Expand on how you’ve explored this interest in the past
- Explain what your future goals are in the field of physical therapy
- Connect your interest in physical therapy to Marquette
Let’s run through how a student might incorporate all four of these pieces to write an engaging and informative essay.
“The first time I stepped into a physical therapy clinic, the smell of antiseptic mixed with the faint squeak of sneakers against the polished floor made me uneasy. I wasn’t there as a patient but as a nervous teenager watching my grandmother relearn how to walk after a hip replacement. I can still picture her gripping the parallel bars, trembling with every step, yet still determined. What struck me most was not just her progress, but the therapist beside her—steady, encouraging, and patient. Suddenly I saw physical therapy for more than an uncomfortable nuisance; it was an avenue for restoring independence and dignity.”
Right off the bat, we are transported to this student’s first encounter with PT because they use sensory imagery to pull us into an anecdote about visiting their grandmother. This paragraph reveals the growth the student underwent from initially feeling uneasy to then appreciating the work of the therapist and the larger implications of what PT can do for a person. It’s a strong start to show how this student came to be interested in the field because the personal connection and reflection are evident.
“Since then, I’ve sought out opportunities to understand the field more deeply. I shadowed at a pediatric clinic where brightly colored exercise balls and obstacle courses disguised the hard work of recovery. I volunteered at a rehabilitation center where I learned that sometimes progress is measured in millimeters, not miles. These experiences taught me that PT requires both technical expertise and empathy—the ability to celebrate tiny victories while guiding patients through setbacks.”
The next paragraph shows us how this student has explored their interest in PT beyond their first encounter. Notice how although they mention extracurriculars, it doesn’t read like a resume because they elaborate on what the experience was like (i.e. “brightly colored exercise balls” and “progress is measured in millimeters, not miles”). Additionally, they reflect on what these experiences meant to the student and how they further deepened their interest in studying PT.
“Looking forward, I hope to specialize in neurological physical therapy. Conditions like stroke and traumatic brain injury fascinate me because they require creative, patient-specific solutions. I want to be the kind of therapist who helps someone take their first unsteady steps after months in a wheelchair, and who works tirelessly until those steps turn into strides.”
This paragraph gets specific about the student’s goals. However, it goes beyond just stating what they hope to specialize in and instead explains why they have chosen that specific topic. This is key—always make sure your reader understands your motivations for pursuing your chosen field.
This paragraph also touches on the student’s goals in a more intangible way as well by describing the type of therapist they hope to be. It’s perfectly acceptable to approach your future in this way if you don’t have a specialization in mind yet. After all, your education is meant to help you narrow down your interest in PT!
“I’m drawn in to Marquette’s program because of how it integrates Jesuit values with rigorous clinical training. The emphasis on cura personalis—care for the whole person—aligns with how I first came to love this field: by recognizing that physical therapy is not just about movement, but about hope. I believe Marquette is the community where I can grow into a clinician who not only restores physical ability but also uplifts the human spirit.”
Finally, this ending touches upon why the student finds Marquette’s program intriguing. Although we normally recommend you mention specific labs, professors, or opportunities to build your case why you want to study at the particular university, since the prompt doesn’t even ask you to elaborate on “Why Marquette?” a broader response that touches on the school’s values is perfectly acceptable.
Also take note of how this conclusion ties back to ideas from the first paragraph. Bringing your essay full circle like this will leave your reader feeling more satisfied and with a better sense of your overall reasoning for wanting to studying Physical Therapy.
Master of Athletic Training Prompt
If you wish to be considered for the Master of Athletic Training program, please share why you are interested in athletic training as a profession and what experiences have led you to this interest. (length not provided)
This prompt is asking for a “Why This Major” essay, specifically focused on athletic training. Marquette University wants to know your motivations for pursuing athletic training, and they expect you to share experiences that have shaped your interest in this field.
You need to explain why you are interested in athletic training: What draws you to this profession? What aspects of athletic training excite you? Share your relevant experiences: Detail any experiences that led you to this path. This could include personal injuries, shadowing athletic trainers, participating in sports, or working with athletes in some capacity.
It might be helpful to structure your response in the following way:
- Share what sparked your interest in athletic training
- Expand on how you’ve explored this interest in the past
- Explain what your future goals are in the field of athletic training
- Connect your interest in athletic training to Marquette
Let’s run through how a student might incorporate all four of these pieces to write an engaging and informative essay.
“The sound of the pop is something I’ll never forget. One wrong step during a soccer game, and my knee gave out beneath me. As I collapsed to the turf, pain radiated through my leg, but before the nausea could kick in, our athletic trainer was by my side. She stabilized my knee, calmed my panic, and guided me through the long journey that followed. Weeks later, in the training room, I realized she wasn’t just treating my injury—she was rebuilding my confidence. That was the moment I began to see athletic training not just as care for the body, but as care for the whole athlete.”
This essay pulls us in immediately by describing the student’s first experience with an athletic trainer. The pain and discomfort of the first few sentences contrast with the calm description of the athletic trainer, demonstrating how this student thinks about the profession. Beginning with this personal anecdote helps the reader understand why this is a field this student is interested in pursuing.
“Recovering from my ACL tear wasn’t just about surgery or rehab exercises—it was about resilience. Spending hours with my athletic trainer, I saw how she blended science, encouragement, and creativity to help athletes move forward. Inspired, I shadowed trainers at my high school during my recovery period and volunteered with youth sports leagues, eager to understand how prevention and recovery intersect. I learned that athletic trainers are often the unsung heroes, balancing quick sideline decisions with months of rehabilitation strategies that can define an athlete’s future.”
The next paragraph provides both tangible examples of how this student continued to interact with the field of athletic training, but it also provides the reflection on what they gained from these experiences. This is important to include because it’s what takes your response from a rehashing of your activities list to an essay. Make sure you convey your continued enthusiasm for athletic training in this paragraph.
“Now, I want to bring that same level of care to others. My goal is to work with athletes at the collegiate level, helping them prevent injuries while also supporting them when setbacks occur. I want to create an environment where athletes know they’re not defined by their injuries, but by how they recover and grow from them.”
This student transitions nicely from their past experiences to what they hope to do in their career. They clearly lay out their aspirations both in a tangible and intangible sense—working with college athletes (tangible) and creating a supportive environment (intangible). While you aren’t required to talk about both, if you are able to connect them it will paint a fuller picture of the type of trainer you will be.
“Marquette’s Master of Athletic Training program is the perfect place to make this vision real. Its emphasis on hands-on education, paired with the opportunity to practice in a Division I setting, offers the immersive training I need to become a skilled, compassionate clinician. At Marquette, I’ll gain not only the technical expertise but also the experience of working directly with athletes at the highest level, preparing me to guide them through their toughest challenges—just as my trainers once guided me.”
This essay ends with a nice connection back to Marquette. It is specific about what Marquette has to offer that makes the program appealing. It also doesn’t just mention they like Marquette has a hands-on approach and then move on—the essay elaborates on why they care about these aspects of the Marquette education. If you are going to highlight why you want to study at Marquette, then you need to go the extra step and provide the justification for why the opportunities you highlight are meaningful to you.
Doctor of Occupational Therapy Prompt
If you wish to be considered for the Doctor of Occupational Therapy program, please share why you are interested in occupational therapy as a profession and what experiences have led you to this interest. (length not provided)
Marquette University wants to know why you’re interested in occupational therapy as a profession. What experiences have shaped and inspired your interest in OT? This essay is once again a version of the “Why this Major?” essay. It should focus on both your passion for OT and your understanding of the profession, backed by personal experiences that have led you to this path.
It might be helpful to structure your response in the following way:
- Share what sparked your interest in occupation therapy
- Expand on how you’ve explored this interest in the past
- Explain what your future goals are in the field of occupational therapy
- Connect your interest in occupational therapy to Marquette
Let’s run through how a student might incorporate all four of these pieces to write an engaging and informative essay.
“When I was sixteen, I volunteered at an adaptive art class for children with cerebral palsy. One boy, Mateo, spent the first half hour gripping his paintbrush so tightly that his hand shook, smearing streaks across the canvas. But when his occupational therapist showed him how to use a foam grip to steady the brush, his whole face lit up. By the end of class, he proudly held up a picture of a bright orange sun. Watching him reclaim control over something as simple as painting was when I first understood the power of occupational therapy to restore joy in patients’ lives.”
The student kicks the essay off by transporting the readers to a specific instance that sparked their interest in OT. Doing this helps draw the reader in and make them more engaged about your story. This paragraph doesn’t just serve the purpose of entertaining though—through the student’s vivid descriptions we can appreciate their passion for helping others. We also get a glimpse at the deeper reflection this experience brought about in the last sentence.
“That afternoon inspired me to learn more. I shadowed occupational therapists in a pediatric clinic and at a rehabilitation hospital, where I saw the creativity and adaptability the field requires. From designing custom splints to turning everyday objects into therapeutic tools, OTs transformed ordinary tasks into opportunities for independence. I also began volunteering with children on the autism spectrum, where I observed how therapy could build not only motor skills, but also confidence and connection. These experiences deepened my conviction that OT is about restoring far more than function—it’s about restoring identity and purpose.”
This paragraph does a good job of expanding on the initial experience the student had by drawing on some of their other extracurricular activities that are related to occupational therapy. We see their admiration for the skills and traits OT requires (like creativity, adaptability, instilling confidence, creating personal connection, etc.) throughout the paragraph.
Because there is this level of detail, we understand that not only is the student passionate about OT, they have learned a lot from their prior experiences that would make them a better occupational therapist.
“In the future, I hope to specialize in pediatrics, helping children navigate challenges that could otherwise limit their growth. My goal is to empower them to embrace independence and pursue their passions, just like Mateo did with his painting.”
This is a short and sweet paragraph that shares this student’s goals for their future in OT. Not only that, it keeps the essay feeling cohesive by calling back to the anecdote from the beginning. Remember, even though we are breaking the essay down into a formulaic structure, you still want it all to feel connected, so weaving in ideas throughout the essay is one easy way to achieve that cohesive feel.
“Marquette’s Doctor of Occupational Therapy program stands out because of its commitment to hands-on education and strong clinical partnerships. Marquette offers opportunities to learn in diverse, real-world settings—from hospitals to community clinics—ensuring that students graduate not just with knowledge, but with practice and confidence. That immersive approach is exactly what I need to become the kind of therapist who helps patients rediscover joy in everyday life.”
Finally, the essay ends with a nod to Marquette and why this student is interested in their OT program. While they could have gotten more detailed than just “hands-on education and strong clinical partnerships”, the general idea of picking a unique aspect of Marquette’s program that excites you and elaborating on why it’s important to you still stands. Also, the callback of rediscovering joy from the anecdote at the beginning is a nice touch to round out this student’s response.
Master of Speech-Language Pathology Prompt
If you wish to be considered for the Master of Speech-Language Pathology program, please share why you are interested in speech-language pathology as a profession and what experiences have led you to this interest.
This prompt is asking for a “Why This Major” essay, specifically focused on athletic training. Marquette University wants to know your motivations for pursuing athletic training, and they expect you to share experiences that have shaped your interest in this field.
You need to explain why you are interested in athletic training: What draws you to this profession? What aspects of athletic training excite you? Share your relevant experiences: Detail any experiences that led you to this path. This could include personal injuries, shadowing athletic trainers, participating in sports, or working with athletes in some capacity.
It might be helpful to structure your response in the following way:
- Share what sparked your interest in speech-language pathology
- Expand on how you’ve explored this interest in the past
- Explain what your future goals are in the field of speech-language pathology
- Connect your interest in speech-language pathology to Marquette
Let’s run through how a student might incorporate all four of these pieces to write an engaging and informative essay.
“‘C-c-can you read it with me?’ my younger brother, Daniel, asked one night as we sat at the kitchen table. He was stuck on the ‘c’ sound, his frustration written across his face. I leaned in, repeating the word slowly until he found the rhythm. Watching him push through those moments taught me that communication is more than words—it’s confidence, connection, and self-expression. And seeing how much his speech-language pathologist helped him build that confidence sparked my own interest in the field.”
The inclusion of dialogue immediately pulls the reader into the anecdote and helps us connect with the student. The detail provided shows us the initial experience they had that ignited a passion in them. Not only is it an engaging introduction, but it also provides some reflection on what speech-language pathology can mean for patients and for this student.
“In high school, I found ways to explore this passion. I volunteered in an after-school program where several students struggled with reading and pronunciation. I discovered how even small techniques—like breaking words into syllables or using games to practice sounds—could make learning feel less intimidating. I also served as a peer tutor, working one-on-one with classmates who needed extra support. These experiences gave me a glimpse into the patience, creativity, and adaptability that speech-language pathologists use every day.”
Here, the student demonstrates how they built on their initial interest for speech-language pathology through their extracurricular activities. You can see that although the paragraph includes two activities, it doesn’t read like items on a resume because the student elaborated on what they got out of each experience and what each activity consisted of. It’s important that your essay does this so your reader can appreciate how you’ve explored your interest in the field beyond the initial experience.
“My goal now is to work with children who face communication challenges, helping them find their voice and grow in confidence, just as my brother did. I’m especially drawn to the idea of working in school settings, where I can help students not only improve their speech but also fully participate in the classroom and connect with their peers. The thought of giving a child the tools to share a story, ask a question, or make a friend motivates me to pursue this path.”
This paragraph provides a very detailed overview of exactly what this student wants to do with their degree. Not only that, it connects back to their introduction with the phrase “just as my brother did.” This makes the essay feel more cohesive, so it’s always a good practice to weave certain ideas or themes throughout your essay.
Also notice how this student describes what their practical career goal is—working with children in school settings—but they also continue to elaborate on what motivates them to follow this path. Showing both makes for a more compelling image of what type of speech-language pathologist you will be.
“Marquette’s Master of Speech-Language Pathology program excites me because of its early, hands-on clinical opportunities and its strong connections with schools in the Milwaukee area. I know I learn best through direct practice, and Marquette’s model of pairing classroom learning with real-world application will help me grow into a confident clinician. Combined with its collaborative environment and reputation for preparing graduates to make an impact, Marquette feels like the ideal place for me to begin my journey.”
The essay concludes with a connection to Marquette and an explanation of how the unique aspects of a Marquette education are ideal for this student. That’s the key: don’t just list things that Marquette offers without elaborating on why you are excited by the opportunity those resources provide.
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