How to Write the Santa Clara University Essays 2025-2026
Located in Silicon Valley, Santa Clara is a Jesuit university built around the Mission Santa Clara de Asís. One of the best ways to improve your chances of acceptance to this competitive school is to submit thorough, creative essay responses.
For this application cycle, Santa Clara requires two supplemental essays. There is also one short response question that is technically optional, but at selective schools like Santa Clara, we always strongly encourage you to take advantage of any extra opportunity to share yourself with the admissions committee. In this post, we’ll break down each prompt so that you can be confident that your essays will help your application shine.
Read these Santa Clara essay examples from real students to inspire your writing!
Santa Clara University Supplemental Essay Prompts
Prompt 1: At Santa Clara University, we value our diverse and inclusive community. Our campus learning environment is enriched by the lived experiences of people from different backgrounds. What people, places, events, or circumstances have shaped the individual you are today and how you could contribute to our community? (150-300 words)
Prompt 2: At Santa Clara University, we push our students to be creative, be challenged, and be the solution. Think about an ethical dilemma that you care about that our society is currently facing. This can be something happening in your local community or more globally. How can an SCU education help you prepare for and address this challenge? (150-300 words)
Prompt 3 (optional): Why are you interested in pursuing the [Division or Major] selected above? (25-50 words)
Prompt 1 (required)
At Santa Clara University, we value our diverse and inclusive community. Our campus learning environment is enriched by the lived experiences of people from different backgrounds. What people, places, events, or circumstances have shaped the individual you are today and how you could contribute to our community? (150-300 words)
This is a classic example of a Diversity prompt. Santa Clara University is using this prompt to get to know you and your background a little bit better, so this is a great opportunity to dig into some of your more unique experiences, or character traits that you feel are particularly important to who you are.
A common misconception is that a diversity essay has to focus on an identity characteristic, but in reality, your answer can be almost anything that you feel has contributed to who you are. It isn’t just picking an attribute, identity, or aspect of yourself that makes for a good essay; it’s more about making a case for what your chosen subject says about you, and what you’ll bring to Santa Clara.
It’s also important to note that while the Supreme Court ended affirmative action in June 2023, colleges continue to consider racial diversity on an individual basis through information shared in essays. If your racial or ethnic heritage has helped shape who you are, what you believe in, and what you value, this could be a great place to write about that.
With that said, what should you choose if you don’t want to write about your racial ethnic background? Your options are broader than you might think. You might write about the more common attributes of identity, such as your religion, sexuality, gender identity, or socioeconomic status, but you could also write about hobbies, languages, family structure, or your hometown.
If you want, you can even go a bit more abstract and write about personality traits, talents, or values that set you apart from the crowd. Consider these examples of students who wrote unique diversity essays about uncommon traits they possess.
- One student wrote an essay about being the younger sister of identical twins, and how she navigated the expectations around how she and her twin sisters would relate to each other.
- Another student wrote about his strong value for honesty, how he has stuck to it even in tough situations, and how his real friends came to respect this belief even though people didn’t always understand it.
- One applicant wrote about collecting stamps from a young age, how it brought him into a world that was largely made up of older people, and what it was like to be in that space as a teenager.
- A student wrote about her stutter, and how self-consciousness over how she talked eventually grew into confidence, resilience, and inner strength.
All of these examples, while perhaps not your first thought when you hear the word diversity, give deep insight into these students’ lives and their individuality. You’ll want to do the same by highlighting what makes you stand out from the crowd.
If you have an identity or experience that most other people don’t, consider writing about that, rather than something that might be more stereotypically associated with diversity. You want your essay to paint a vivid picture of you, one that can’t be confused with any other applicant the Santa Clara admissions team might be reading about.
To choose a topic, consider these brainstorming questions:
- What aspects of my background (culture, family, community, environment, values, talents, hobbies, etc.) feel most defining?
- What circumstances have shaped the way I see the world?
- What’s a specific memory or story that captures this influence vividly?
- What values, perspectives, or skills do I bring to a group because of that experience/memory?
- How could my perspective influence conversations, group projects, friendships, or activities at Santa Clara?
Once you’ve picked your topic, think about using anecdotes to illustrate your point, and show—don’t just tell—the important details. To illustrate this point, consider two different openings to the story of the young stamp collector mentioned above.
Weak example: “Since I was a kid, I’ve collected stamps, which is an unusual hobby for someone my age. Most other stamp collectors are older adults, which means I spend a lot of time with elderly people. I’ve learned some things from them, and they’ve definitely passed some interesting habits to me, in an unintentional intergenerational exchange that has enriched us all.”
Sure, this excerpt is direct and informative, but it’s not very exciting, and doesn’t sound particularly unique. In contrast, consider this example:
Strong example: “Some of my best friends have liver spots and firsthand memories of watching the moon landing on TV. It’s not through volunteering, or because I live with my grandparents; it’s because I’m a philatelist—a stamp collector who sees a slice of history in each carefully detailed sticker. My septuagenarian friends understand this better than most, and through the years, we’ve even come to understand each other through our shared passion. I have a subscription to Reader’s Digest, and some of the older stamp collectors are regular guests on my TikTok account, proving that all of us have something to learn from each other.”
This paragraph immediately stands out as more dynamic and full of personality. The student quickly gives us a glimpse into his open-minded attitude, willingness to learn from others, and insight on an older generation, alongside his passion for stamps, art, and history. This excerpt is proof that just a few sentences can pack quite a narrative punch!
In concluding your essay, make sure to reflect on how this experience, trait, or identity has shaped who you are. Remember to show, not tell, and try to avoid the generic or clichéd, like saying “X experience has made me stronger as a person.” Share specific examples or details about how you’ve developed or grown as a person.
The sample student above, for instance, could write about how communicating across generational divides has helped him develop patience, open-mindedness, and a respect for others’ experiences, even if he didn’t always agree with their opinions. Use this essay to tell the admissions committee at Santa Clara how your chosen subject has impacted you and your life, and end by showing them why that should make them want you at their school.
Finally, here are some common pitfalls to avoid when constructing your essay:
- Being too general: A statement like “Diversity is important because it helps us understand new perspectives” doesn’t reveal anything unique about you.
- Listing identity labels without storytelling: Simply saying “Being a woman in STEM has influenced me” isn’t enough. The labels alone aren’t powerful—the lived experience behind them is.
- Forgetting the SCU connection: Don’t just talk about your past; tie it to how you’ll contribute on campus in the future.
- Using clichés: Avoid broad “hard work pays off” or “family taught me resilience” type statements without a specific, personal story.
Prompt 2 (required)
At Santa Clara University, we push our students to be creative, be challenged, and be the solution. Think about an ethical dilemma that you care about that our society is currently facing. This can be something happening in your local community or more globally. How can an SCU education help you prepare for and address this challenge? (150-300 words)
This is an example of the Political/Global Issues archetype prompt, which means that admissions officers want to see that you’re an engaged citizen who cares about the people around you and actively works to make your community better.
Note that the prompt does not ask you to provide a full solution to the issue you choose to write about. Rather, your goal should be to explain how Santa Clara specifically, and its educational offerings, would help you start to address this challenge. They don’t want a policy paper—they want a personal reflection that ties values, action, and education together.
The first step is to identify the ethical dilemma you want to focus on. Make sure to choose an issue that you genuinely, personally care about. As the prompt suggests, don’t discount the power of local-level problems—having a direct connection to the issue is always a plus, and other students are less likely to be writing about them.
To help you decide on an issue, consider the following questions:
- What ethical dilemma motivates, frustrates, or interests me the most in my community or in the world? (e.g., climate change, housing inequality, AI bias, healthcare access)
- Why does this issue matter to me on a personal and moral level?
- How have I personally encountered or thought deeply about this issue? (e.g., family experience, volunteer work, class project, local activism)
- Which part of SCU’s education—its Jesuit mission, specific programs, research centers, professors, classes, student organizations, etc.—connects directly to this issue?
- How do you envision using your SCU education to make tangible strides towards resolving this issue in the future?
Regardless of the scale of the issue, you should emphasize the ethical or moral dimension of it, as the prompt specifically requests that. For example, if you want to write about manatees being killed by irresponsible boaters near your hometown in Florida, make sure you explicitly state your belief that all animals have a right to a safe habitat.
Also, try to be specific about the dilemma. Instead of something really broad like, “climate change,” maybe focus on food waste at local grocery stores. Instead of “inequality,” maybe focus on digital access in low-income schools. The more specific you can narrow your issue to, the more your personal views and thoughts on it can shine through. A more specific issue will also be far more memorable to the admissions team reading everyone’s essays.
The next step is to demonstrate how specific resources at Santa Clara, or the school’s broader values, will help you deal with this issue. You should show that you have done your research on what SCU offers, and that you’ve spent time thinking about how those offerings align with your own goals. The majority of your essay should focus on this connection to Santa Clara, which is really the heart of the prompt—you shouldn’t spend more than a few sentences describing the issue itself.
Let’s look at a possible example below:
“I’m most concerned about ocean pollution because of its effects on marine life, as I’m from a coastal area and have seen its detriments. Santa Clara University’s Environmental Studies and Sciences program and Center for Sustainability seem like great places to learn more about how to protect the oceans, so I definitely want to join these programs to help solve this important issue.”
This excerpt talks vaguely about ocean pollution, but doesn’t describe the ethical dimension of the issue, doesn’t give any detail about the specific detriments the student has seen, and doesn’t provide a deep enough connection to SCU.
While the resources listed are a good start, lots of schools have Environmental Studies programs and sustainability centers—you need to go beyond just name-dropping, and explain in concrete terms how these opportunities will teach you skills or give you experiences that will help you resolve this issue you’re passionate about.
Check out this extended, revised version below:
“The stark contrast between the pristine beaches of my coastal hometown and my knowledge that the ocean becomes more polluted by the day has made me acutely aware of the moral responsibility we all have to do what’s right for future generations, not just what’s easy today. Additionally, human survival depends on a healthy marine biome—as I became a teenager, I watched numerous fisheries in neighboring towns close as the water became too polluted to support the fish.
At Santa Clara University, the Jesuit value of caring for our common home perfectly encapsulates how I think about ocean pollution. Through the Environmental Studies and Sciences major’s Sea Kayak Expedition to Baja California, I will learn how other parts of the world are working to keep their oceans clean.
On campus, I look forward to contributing to the ‘Sustainability Across the Curriculum Program’ at the Center for Sustainability, as the health of our oceans affects all academic disciplines. Today, Moby Dick might never be written—pollution is disrupting the marine food pyramid to the point that many whales are unable to get the quantities of food they need to survive.
Protecting our environment is not just a scientific challenge, but a moral imperative for the preservation of all life on this planet, human and non-human alike.”
This much stronger response provides a deeper reflection on the writer’s personal connection to the issue, and explains exactly how the resources they’ve identified will help them work towards cleaning up the oceans. Your response should always be looking forward. Don’t just describe what the issue is today, but paint a picture of how, as a result of your actions at SCU, you can start moving towards resolving it.
Finally, note these common mistakes that you’ll want to avoid making:
- Being too broad. Don’t just say “climate change is bad.” Narrow in on how and why it matters to you.
- Turning it into a policy debate. This isn’t about proving who’s right; it’s about showing your personal stake and ethical lens.
- Listing SCU resources without connection. Don’t name-drop the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics or Jesuit tradition without explaining how they link to your story.
- Ignoring the “you” part. If your particular essay could be written by hundreds of other students, it’s not specific enough.
Prompt 3 (optional)
Why are you interested in pursuing the [Division or Major] selected above? (25-50 words)
This is a classic “Why This Major” prompt, albeit a very short one. Although you don’t have to respond to it, giving admissions officers more information about yourself is always a good thing, so we strongly encourage you to do so. Even 25 to 50 words can make a difference in an application! Since your space is so limited, though, you’ll need to have a crystal-clear sense of what you want to say.
To ensure that your brief statement about your interest in your intended major is informative and compelling, think about what sparked your interest in this major, and how it aligns with your broader ambitions or goals. Additionally, have you taken any courses, participated in any extracurriculars, or pursued any hobbies that helped you refine your interest?
Ideally, you’ll also want to touch on why you want to study this field at Santa Clara in particular. Supplements are all about showing your fit for this particular institution, so don’t just say why you want to study English. Nearly every university in the U.S. has an English department, so what you want to focus on instead is what about studying English at Santa Clara in particular will allow you to reach your goals.
With a word limit this tight, you need to be exceptionally concise and direct. Don’t bother with fluff that only eats at your word count without actually saying anything. Every single word should do something to answer the question: what exactly about your academic interest led you to pursue it? Take a look at some examples below:
“I’m pursuing Italian Studies because for millennia Italy has influenced art, literature, architecture, and intangible ideas like power and relationships to food. SCU’s study abroad opportunities will let me explore not only major cities, but also more remote areas through the Umbra Institute/Arcadia program, to comprehensively understand the peninsula.”
“Volunteering at a mental health clinic in high school inspired me to study psychology so I can explore the cognitive processes that influence behavior, and take advantage of the coursework in the Clinical/Counseling Psychology track so that I can one day put my theoretical knowledge into practice.”
As these examples show, 50 words is more than you probably think. Both examples stay within the limit while clearly demonstrating each student’s passion for their respective chosen field, as well as the ways in which SCU’s unique offerings align with their individual goals.
Where to Get Your Santa Clara University Essays Edited for Free
Do you want free, nearly-instantaneous feedback on your Santa Clara University essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. So meet Sage, our AI tutor and advisor, who will rate your essay, give you suggestions for improvement, and summarize what admissions officers would take away from your writing. Sage can improve your chances of acceptance to your dream school by helping you show what you have to offer beyond the numbers!
