How to Write the St. Olaf College Essays 2025-2026
For this application cycle, St. Olaf College has one required essay, a few required short-answer questions, and one optional essay following the short-answer prompts. Even though the final essay is optional, we highly recommend writing it so you can show more of who you are to the admissions committee.
St. Olaf College Supplemental Essay Prompts
Prompt 1: What excites you about St. Olaf? (150 words)
Prompt 2: Everyone knows… we’ve read about your accomplishments in your application.
No one knows… there are no wrong answers here – just be your authentic self.
You should know… we are eager to learn more about you.
Now it’s your turn! Use up to 10 additional words to complete each of the sentences.
- Everyone knows that I… (10 words)
- No one knows that I… (10 words)
- St. Olaf should know that I… (10 words)
Prompt 3 (optional): If you could spend a year tackling any issue in your community before starting college, what would it be? Why is that issue important to you and what would you do to address it? (200 words)
Prompt 1
What excites you about St. Olaf? (150 words)
This is a fairly standard example of the common “Why This College?” essay prompt, and it asks you to explain what excites you about attending St. Olaf College. The admissions committee wants to know why St. Olaf is a great fit for your academic and personal goals. To effectively respond to this prompt, you’ll need to highlight specific aspects of the college that appeal to you, demonstrating knowledge of the school and of how its resources will help you grow.
Before you begin writing your essay, you’ll want to do some reflecting and some deep research. To help guide your thinking, ask yourself the following questions:
- What unique academic programs at St. Olaf align with my interests?
- Are there specific extracurriculars or traditions at St. Olaf that excite me?
- What aspects of the campus culture (such as community, values, environment, etc.) appeal to me?
- How do I see myself contributing to as well as benefiting from St. Olaf’s community?
A good response will mention specific programs, opportunities, or resources at St. Olaf that align with your academic or extracurricular interests. To find these, you’re going to have to do some fairly deep research into the college’s websites and other resources. It’s important to find things that really resonate with you—don’t get stuck name-dropping opportunities without being able to back up your reasoning.
You should be able to identify a mix of tangible and intangible reasons you want to attend St. Olaf. Tangible reasons include things like programs, courses, professors, traditions, and campus culture. Intangible reasons include things that are more abstract, such as values and beliefs that the university has (e.g., interdisciplinarity, environmental justice, religious faith, etc.).
Make sure to be concise. You only have 150 words, so try to prioritize tangible reasons. As a general rule of thumb, 75% of your response should focus on tangible reasons, and 25% on intangible ones.
When writing your response, show a personal connection to the school by explaining how the resources you find fit your goals or past experiences. Be genuine and specific—avoid generic reasons like location or prestige and focus on what makes St. Olaf unique. Finally, show that you’re excited to attend St. Olaf!
To show you how students of very different backgrounds could effectively tackle this prompt, take a look at these hypothetical student examples:
- Ella, a future music education major: Having grown up playing violin in a youth orchestra, Ella wants to join the St. Olaf Orchestra and be part of its global touring tradition, while also working with the Piper Center on music outreach.
- Jeff, an environmental studies student: After spending summers working at a local farm, Jeff has gotten excited about St. Olaf’s STOGROW initiative and the Natural Lands as places where he can combine environmental science with hands-on sustainability.
- Maria, a classics/history lover: Fascinated by the Great Books since high school, Maria can’t wait to take part in the Enduring Questions (QUEST) program, connecting literature, philosophy, and history in a way that pushes her beyond the classroom.
Here are examples of good and bad responses, along with explanations as to why they work and don’t work, respectively:
Good example
“When I first heard the St. Olaf Choir perform, I didn’t just hear voices—I felt centuries of tradition woven into harmony. As a soprano who has sung in church choirs since I was eight, I can picture myself standing on Boe Chapel’s stage, carrying forward that legacy while learning from Dr. Armstrong’s approach to expressive phrasing.
Beyond performance, I’m eager to explore the intersection of music and faith through the Sacred Arts initiative, which reflects my own curiosity about how music shapes spiritual identity. I also see myself mentoring younger musicians through music outreach programs, just as my choir director once guided me. What excites me most about St. Olaf is that it doesn’t separate music, academics, and community—they all resonate together, creating a harmony I want to join.”
Why this works: Specific, personal, tied to St. Olaf’s unique traditions.
Bad example
“I am excited about St. Olaf because of its strong academics, welcoming community, and beautiful campus. The small class sizes will allow me to get to know my professors, and I know I will benefit from the supportive environment. I also like that St. Olaf has study abroad programs, which will help me explore the world and gain new perspectives. Music and athletics are important to me, and I look forward to joining clubs and organizations on campus. Overall, I think St. Olaf will be the perfect place for me to grow as a student and a person.”
Why this doesn’t work: This could be written about hundreds of colleges; it lacks personal connection and St. Olaf-specific details.
Finally, note that there are a few common mistakes that students make when responding to this kind of prompt. Here are some things you’ll want to avoid when crafting your response:
- Being too generic: Saying “I like the small class sizes and beautiful campus” could apply to many schools.
- Name-dropping without substance: Don’t just list professors or ensembles—explain why they matter to you.
- Over-praising: Avoid writing as if you’re advertising for St. Olaf; focus instead on your authentic fit.
- Laundry lists: Don’t just rattle off resources. Pick one or two meaningful ones and go deep.
Prompt 2
Everyone knows… we’ve read about your accomplishments in your application.
No one knows… there are no wrong answers here – just be your authentic self.
You should know… we are eager to learn more about you.
Now it’s your turn! Use up to 10 additional words to complete each of the sentences.
-
Everyone knows that I… (10 words)
-
No one knows that I… (10 words)
-
St. Olaf should know that I… (10 words)
This prompt is a chance to reveal a bit more about yourself beyond your accomplishments and academic profile. The three sentences allow you to share different dimensions of your personality, interests, or quirks. The goal is to offer the admissions team new insights into who you are in a concise and authentic way.
Before you begin writing, think about which attributes you might want to reveal to the admissions officers (that you haven’t already in another part of your application). To help guide your thinking, consider these questions:
- What is something obvious or well known about you that reflects your public persona?
- What is a unique or lesser-known aspect of your life or personality that might surprise people?
- What do you want St. Olaf to know about you that isn’t reflected elsewhere in your application?
A good response should show contrast between what’s well known and what’s hidden. The “no one knows” section should reveal something surprising or personal. Be authentic and personal, making sure that your responses align with your values.
Avoid overly generic answers and focus on what makes you unique. The final sentence should highlight something that reflects why you’re a good fit for St. Olaf or how you’ll contribute to their community. With only 10 additional words for each sentence, make sure every word adds meaning!
Example Responses:
- Everyone knows that I love performing in school musicals and theater productions.
No one knows that I write songs and record them in my bedroom studio.
St. Olaf should know that I can’t wait to join its collaborative music community.
- Everyone knows that I am passionate about environmental sustainability and activism.
No one knows that I once built a solar-powered phone charger from scratch.
St. Olaf should know that I want to lead campus initiatives on sustainable living.
- Everyone knows that I am always the first to volunteer for group projects.
No one knows that I recharge by hiking alone in the mountains on weekends.
St. Olaf should know that I value collaboration, but solitude helps me stay creative.
These examples demonstrate personality, novelty, and alignment with St. Olaf’s community in a short, impactful way.
Prompt 3 (optional)
If you could spend a year tackling any issue in your community before starting college, what would it be? Why is that issue important to you and what would you do to address it? (200 words)
This is an example of the Community Service prompt archetype. This type of prompt asks you to show awareness of your surroundings, empathy for others, and a proactive mindset. Specifically, this prompt wants you to identify an issue in your community that you would dedicate a year to solving.
The admissions committee wants to understand what social, cultural, or local issues you care about and how you would approach tackling them. This is an opportunity to showcase your values, problem-solving skills, and your understanding of community challenges. The word limit is short, so you’ll need to be concise but thoughtful.
To craft a strong response to this essay, identify an issue in your community that matters deeply to you. Next, explain why it matters to you personally (connection is key!). Once you establish this connection, share what concrete steps you could/would take to address it. Finally, show your leadership, creativity, and problem-solving skills.
It’s not about solving the world’s biggest problem—it’s about showing authentic passion and actionable thinking. To help you think of an issue (as well as ways you think you could contribute to its solution, consider the following questions:
- What problems or challenges do you see in your community that you’re passionate about addressing?
- Have you personally experienced or witnessed the impact of this issue?
- What skills, knowledge, or resources would you bring to help solve this issue?
- What actions would you take to make a real impact in a year?
A good response will identify a specific community issue (e.g., not “climate change” in general, but “lack of recycling in my school cafeteria”). Focus on a clear, real-world problem that affects your community.
You should then explain why it’s personally important—describe why you care, not just why the issue is important on a large scale. Share a connection to the issue, whether through personal experience, observation, or passion.
Next, provide a realistic plan of action. Describe concrete steps you would take to address the problem, showing that you’ve thought about practical solutions. Here you need to go beyond vague promises or platitudes. Show empathy and problem-solving skills while demonstrating your values.
Finally, demonstrate your commitment to making a difference, your ability to think critically about how to effect change, and your potential for growth (i.e., how this connects to your future goals or college journey).
Here are some hypothetical student examples to show you different ways a response to this prompt could take shape:
- Maya, daughter of a nurse: Maya watched her mom struggle with burnout during COVID. Because of this experience, she wants to start a peer tutoring and wellness program for local healthcare workers’ kids so that parents can rest while children learn.
- Diego, first-generation Mexican American: He grew up translating for his parents at doctor’s offices. He’d like to create a bilingual health resource hub at his community center, helping families navigate medical systems.
- Leah, robotics enthusiast: She noticed few girls join the robotics team at her high school. She’d spend the year running a free, robotics bootcamp for girls at the public library, building confidence and interest in STEM.
Here are good and bad excerpts of hypothetical essay responses, along with explanations as to why they are good and bad, respectively:
Good example
“On Saturday mornings, I walk my little brother to soccer practice. At the field, I notice the same thing every week: half the kids arrive late because their parents don’t have reliable transportation. Some give up and stop coming altogether. I know what it’s like to miss opportunities because of logistics—when my dad worked double shifts and couldn’t drive me to debate tournaments, I often stayed home, too.
If I had a year, I’d create a neighborhood ride-share program for kids in extracurriculars. Partnering with local churches and the Boys & Girls Club, I’d recruit parent volunteers and college students with cars, and set up a sign-up system through an app like GroupMe or even a paper chart at school. My goal wouldn’t just be rides—it would be access: the chance for every child, regardless of family schedule, to stay on the field, on stage, or in the lab.
This matters to me because activities shaped who I am: debate gave me a voice, and volunteering taught me leadership. I don’t want transportation to be the reason a kid loses that chance.”
Why this works: This is strong because it’s personal, specific, and actionable.
Bad example
“If I had a year before college, I would solve climate change. Climate change is the biggest problem our world faces today, and if we don’t act soon, the damage will be irreversible. My community contributes to this problem through pollution, and I want to raise awareness. I would host events, invite guest speakers, and encourage people to recycle and reduce their carbon footprint.
This issue is important to me because I care about the Earth, and I want future generations to live in a healthy environment. If we all did our part, we could make the world a better place. I believe I could inspire people to think about their actions and become more eco-friendly.”
Why this doesn’t work: This is weak because it’s too broad, impersonal, and vague—there’s no specific plan or personal stake.
Here are some common mistakes you’ll want to avoid making in your response:
- Using a privileged or pretentious tone: You don’t want to paint yourself as some sort of savior or as the singular key to solving the issue.
- Being too broad: “I want to solve poverty” is unrealistic. Focus on one slice of the problem.
- Generic reasoning: Don’t just say “this is important to society.” Say why it’s important to you.
- No action plan: Admissions wants to see how you’d make change, not just that you care.
- Clichés: Avoid overused service topics like “I’d start a food drive,” unless you have a very personal, unique connection.
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