How to Write the Stevens Institute of Technology Essays 2024-2025
The Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey is renowned for its mechanical engineering program. They have one supplemental essay prompt this year, required for all students. Take a look at our breakdown below for tips to create your best essay.
Stevens Institute of Technology Essay Prompts
All Applicants
Prompt: Stevens Institute of Technology’s motto is “Inspired by humanity, powered by technology.” What does this motto mean to you, and why does it inspire you to pursue your education at Stevens? (250-500 words)
Prompt
Stevens Institute of Technology’s motto is “Inspired by humanity, powered by technology.” What does this motto mean to you, and why does it inspire you to pursue your education at Stevens? (250-500 words)
Understanding the Prompt
This essay is essentially a hybrid of the “Why This College” and “Why This Major” archetypes. Stevens Institute of Technology is asking you to reflect on their motto—”Inspired by humanity, powered by technology”—and connect it to your own values, aspirations, and reasons for applying to the school. You’ll need to explain not only why this motto resonates with you, but also how it aligns with your academic and career goals, as well as the specific opportunities Stevens offers.
Brainstorming Questions
- What are your personal values and how do they align with the idea of being “inspired by humanity”?
- How does technology play a role in your future goals, whether academically, professionally, or personally?
- What specific programs, clubs, research opportunities, or professors at Stevens relate to your vision of using technology for the betterment of humanity?
- Have you ever worked on a project, research, or volunteer work that shows how you apply technology to human-centered problems?
- What experiences have you had that illustrate a balance between humanity and technology in your life?
What Makes a Good Response
A good response will:
- Show personal connection to the motto: The essay should explain how both parts of the motto (“Inspired by humanity” and “Powered by technology”) resonate with you personally, through past experiences or future goals.
- Connect to Stevens specifically: It’s important to detail why Stevens is the best place for you to pursue this vision. Name specific labs, professors, clubs, or research centers that will help you fulfill the balance between human-centric and tech-driven innovation.
- Highlight passion and initiative: You should show how your past experiences reflect your interest in technology and humanistic goals. Use storytelling to make this connection vivid.
- Show your potential contributions: Admissions officers want to see how you’ll contribute to the campus culture. How will you embody Stevens’ motto while you’re a student?
Hypothetical Student Examples
- Thomas is passionate about environmental sustainability. As a high school student, he developed a sensor-based irrigation system for local gardens. He is inspired by how humanity depends on natural resources and how technology can provide more sustainable solutions. At Stevens, he is drawn to the Center for Environmental Systems to further his goal of making technology more eco-friendly and scalable for real-world communities.
- Aliyah has always been interested in how healthcare can be improved through tech innovations. After volunteering at a local hospital, she saw firsthand the inefficiencies in the system and was inspired to build a mobile app that connected patients to quicker diagnostic tools. At Stevens, she wants to work with the Semcer Center for Healthcare Innovation to create human-centered medical devices and software solutions.
- Dylan comes from a family of engineers but has always been interested in the intersection of arts and technology. They see Stevens’ Visual Arts & Technology program as a way to fuse their passion for storytelling with technical expertise, aiming to create media that inspires change on social justice issues. The idea of “humanity powered by technology” is their guiding light as they explore new media forms like virtual reality to build empathy and understanding.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Being too vague: Avoid generic statements like “I love technology and humanity,” without explaining why. Your essay should have a clear connection between your experiences and the motto.
- Lack of Stevens-specific details: Don’t make this essay one that could be recycled for other schools. Mention specific programs, professors, or clubs that align with your goals.
- Overly technical focus: While Stevens is a technology-focused school, this essay needs to show balance. If you focus only on tech, you miss out on addressing the “humanity” part of the motto.
- Ignoring personal stories: This is an opportunity to showcase your values and passions. Don’t just list facts—illustrate them through storytelling and specific examples.
Good and Bad Examples
Good Example:
“The hum of my 3D printer fills the room, spitting out a plastic joint that will soon become part of a prosthetic hand. I started working on this project after meeting Sarah, a six-year-old who lost her arm in a car accident. I remember the look on her face when she first tried the crude prototype I designed in my bedroom. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a start. The idea that technology could restore something as fundamental as mobility to a child was a revelation. It was at that moment I fully grasped the power of technology, but it wasn’t until I started working with patients and listening to their stories that I understood the importance of humanity in innovation. My goal is to create low-cost, 3D-printed prosthetics that can be distributed to those in need worldwide.
At Stevens, I’m drawn to the Davidson Laboratory and the Healthcare Innovation Center, where I can collaborate with like-minded students and professors to scale my work. Stevens’ motto—‘Inspired by humanity, powered by technology’—isn’t just a phrase; it’s a reflection of my core beliefs. By working with the amazing faculty and resources Stevens provides, I hope to create solutions that empower people like Sarah, with not just a new limb, but new hope.”
Why it works: This example balances both parts of the motto. The student connects their passion for helping others with their technical skills, using vivid storytelling to explain how these two parts of their identity have come together. They also name specific labs and centers at Stevens where they hope to continue this work, making the essay unique to Stevens.
Bad Example:
“I’ve always been passionate about using technology to solve problems in the world, and I believe that technology has the power to make people’s lives easier and better. That’s why Stevens Institute of Technology’s motto, ‘Inspired by humanity, powered by technology,’ resonates with me. I believe technology is the key to solving many of the world’s problems, from climate change to hunger, and I hope to contribute to those solutions. I’ve always been interested in robotics and programming, and I know that Stevens’ strong engineering program will allow me to take my skills to the next level.
In high school, I was part of my robotics team, where we built robots to complete different challenges. I loved how technology could be used to automate processes and improve efficiency, which directly relates to the ‘powered by technology’ part of Stevens’ motto. Robotics is such an important field because it has the potential to impact many industries, like manufacturing, healthcare, and even space exploration. Stevens is the perfect place for me because it has a great reputation in engineering and a lot of resources for students. I’m especially interested in the opportunities to work on real-world projects, and I know that the faculty are experts in their fields. Overall, I’m excited to learn at Stevens and contribute to the world through my work in robotics and technology.”
Why it doesn’t work: This example is generic and lacks personal details. There’s no specific story or experience that shows how the student is inspired by humanity or powered by technology. It also lacks details about Stevens—the student writes about its renowned faculty and many resources, but fails to name any specific to Stevens. The reader is left without a sense of who this student is or why they’re passionate about these topics.
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