How to Write the Stevens Institute of Technology Essays 2025-2026
The Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey is renowned for its robust programs, particularly in mechanical engineering. They have one supplemental essay prompt this year, required for all applicants. Take a look at our breakdown below for tips to create your best essay.
Stevens Institute of Technology Supplemental Essay Prompt
Stevens Institute of Technology’s motto is “Inspired by humanity, powered by technology.”
Now it’s your turn to let us know what inspires and powers you.
First, fill in each blank with a key word: (maximum 24 characters)
Inspired by:
Powered by:
Then, explain how your choices reflect who you are today: (required, 100-250 words)
This Stevens Institute of Technology prompt is a short, values-driven essay that sits somewhere between an academic interest and a personal statement snapshot. It asks you to distill your motivation into two sharp, memorable words/phrases, then to unpack them in a concise but meaningful reflection.
Stevens wants to know what motivates you. This part is about your values, passions, or the “why” behind your goals. They also want to know what drives your actions. This part is about your skills, personality traits, or the “how” behind your goals. After establishing these two parts, address how they shape who you are today. They want reflection, not just words.
The best answers will balance authenticity and creativity. Your two phrases should feel personal and distinctive, not clichés like “Inspired by success / Powered by hard work.”
Brainstorming Your Essay
Before you begin writing, you should reflect on your interests and motivations so that you can determine which effective words you might fill in the blanks with. To help you do this, ask yourself:
- What sparks my curiosity? (family, culture, art, science, community, resilience, exploration, justice, nature, etc.)
- What keeps me going when things are hard? (creativity, persistence, teamwork, humor, curiosity, faith, discipline, empathy, etc.)
- What short words/phrases capture these ideas in a punchy, memorable way? (Stevens gives you only ~24 characters per line, so think sharp and specific.)
- How do these values show up in my daily life, academic interests, or goals for the future?
What Makes a Good Response
A strong essay will be specific and personal. Don’t just say “Inspired by family.” Instead, for example, explain how your grandmother’s storytelling of her past shaped your resilience. Importantly, show both halves of the prompt working together. Link the “Inspired by” and “Powered by” so they feel connected and relevant to each other.
Also, use details and vivid imagery! In 100 to 250 words, you should have enough room for a short story, image, or example. In telling your story, display your growth and reflection—the admissions officers want to see how these values define who you are today.
Hypothetical Student Examples
To help show you the myriad ways in which you could potentially respond to this prompt, consider the following hypothetical students, who each have personal backgrounds and motivations.
- Aria, future biomedical engineer: Inspired by curiosity, powered by persistence. Aria grew up dismantling and reassembling old radios with her father to get them to work properly, and she now wants to apply the same persistence to designing biomedical devices.
- Arjun, computer science and music enthusiast: Inspired by sound, powered by iteration. While mixing tracks on his laptop, Arjun noticed patterns in frequencies that he has turned into a fascination with coding. Trial-and-error both in music and coding has shaped his creative process.
- Sofia, environmental advocate: Inspired by the ocean, powered by innovation. Sofia grew up near the Jersey Shore, where she saw pollution firsthand. Feeling motivated to help solve this problem, she now works on sustainable design projects.
Good and Bad Examples
Now that you have some idea of the various kinds of approaches you could take in choosing your words and writing your response, let’s take a look at some example excerpts of both effective and ineffective essays.
Bad Example
Inspired by: Success
Powered by: Hard Work
“I have always been inspired by success and powered by hard work. These values have helped me overcome challenges in school and will help me achieve my future goals at Stevens. I believe success comes to those who work hard, and I am committed to working hard in college and beyond.”
Why this doesn’t work: Overused buzzwords, vague, doesn’t reveal personality, could apply to anyone.
Good Example
Inspired by: Unanswered Questions
Powered by: Late-Night Curiosity
“When my chemistry teacher couldn’t explain why a reaction produced unexpected colors, I went home and spent hours digging through forums and textbooks until I found my answer. That thrill of chasing the unknown has defined me ever since.
I’m inspired by unanswered questions because they remind me how much of the world is still waiting to be explored. I’m powered by late-night curiosity because it pushes me to keep investigating, even when the solutions aren’t easy. Whether I’m troubleshooting a stubborn coding bug or experimenting with solar-powered water filters in my garage, these two forces keep me grounded in my motivation, which lets me keep moving forward.
At Stevens, I know this same mindset will drive me in labs, team projects, and beyond—always hungry to discover what we don’t yet know, and always excited by the process of discovery itself.”
Why this works: Unique, story-driven, reflective, and ties inspiration/power directly to personality and future goals.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Choosing vague or clichéd words: “Success,” “hard work,” “passion” — such words are overused and unmemorable.
- Not connecting the dots: Just filling in the blanks without explaining how it reflects who you are.
- Forgetting personality: The keywords should sound like you, not like a generic motivational poster.
- Writing too abstractly: Avoid lofty but empty statements like “Inspired by life itself.”
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