How to Write the Santa Clara University Essays 2024-2025
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 is to submit thorough, creative essay responses.
For this applications cycle, Santa Clara requires two supplemental essays and offers one short response question which 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 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 (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)
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)
Prompt 3 (optional): Why are you interested in pursuing the [Division or Major] selected above? (25-50 words)
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)
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’s not just picking an attribute, identity, or aspect of yourself that makes for a good essay; it’s also 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 this summer, 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, and what you value, this could be a good time to write about that.
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 your religion, sexuality, gender identity, or socioeconomic status, but you could also write about hobbies, languages, or family structure. You could 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 stuck to it, even in tough situations, and how though people didn’t always understand it, his real friends came to respect his beliefs.
- An 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 anyone’s first thought when they 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.
Once you’ve picked your topic, think about using anecdotes to illustrate your point, and show, don’t tell, the important details. Consider two different openings to the story of the young stamp collector.
“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 all of us.”
This is direct and informative, but not very exciting, and not very unique. In contrast:
“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 right away 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. Just a few sentences can pack quite a 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 cliche, 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.
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 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.
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 question says, 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.
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, including non-human ones, have a right to a safe habitat.
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. Here, you should show that you have done your research on what SCU offers, and have 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 couple of sentences describing the issue itself.
To brainstorm what ethical dilemma you’ll write about, consider the following questions:
- What ethical dilemmas do you feel most strongly about? Think about issues that affect you or your community directly, as well as global-scale ones.
- Why do you care about this issue? What personal experiences have shaped your perspective on it?
- How have you engaged with this issue so far? Have you done related volunteer work, connected with others who care about it, or pursued relevant academic work?
- What specific programs, values, or resources at SCU will help you address this dilemma? Look into faculty with similar research interests, student organizations, community outreach opportunities, research or study abroad opportunities, or even SCU’s Jesuit values.
- How do you envision using your SCU education to make a tangible strides towards resolving this issue in the future?
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, give any detail about the specific detriments the student has seen, or 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 an 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’ll learn how other parts of the world are working to keep their oceans clean.
On campus, I look forward to contributing to the Center for Sustainability’s ‘Sustainability Across the Curriculum Program,’ as the health of our oceans affects all 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, we can start moving towards resolving it.
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, giving admissions officers more information about yourself is always a good thing, so we strongly encourage you to do so–even 25-50 words can make a difference! Since your space is so limited, though, you’ll need to have a crystal-clear sense of what you want to say.
and wants to know more about your academic interests. Although it’s optional, we always recommend that you submit non-required essays to give yourself the best chance of admission, especially because this prompt is very short – only 25 to 50 words. Since it’s so limited, you’ll have to use your space wisely. Let’s break down how to write this essay below.
To ensure 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. Every school 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 think. They both stay within the limit, while clearly demonstrating each student’s passion for their respective chosen field, and how SCU’s unique offerings align with their individual goals.
Where to Get Your Santa Clara University Essays Edited For Free
A fresh pair of eyes can really help spot areas for improvement that might not occur to you, or other ways to make you stand out to the admissions officers at Santa Clara. CollegeVine has created a free Peer Review Essay Tool, where you can get feedback on your essay, and give feedback to other students just like you!
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!
