How to Write the University of San Francisco Essays 2025-2026
The University of San Francisco is a private, four-year college located in San Francisco. As a Jesuit university, it offers a living-learning program at St. Ignatius Institute (SII).
For SII nursing applicants, there is one required supplemental essay prompt this year. Take a look at the breakdown below to make sure you’re submitting your best essay!
University of San Francisco Supplemental Essay Prompt
St. Ignatius Institute Nursing Applicants
We are interested in learning more about your desire to pursue a Nursing (BSN) degree. Please respond to the prompt below with a response of no more than 200 words.
What will be your responsibility to others as a Jesuit-educated, BSN professional registered nurse? (50-200 words)
This question is a variation of the Why This Major / Impact on Community archetype. The school isn’t just asking why you want to study nursing — they’re specifically asking how you understand the responsibility of being a Jesuit-educated nurse. That means they want to see:
- Your values (service, compassion, justice, cura personalis — “care for the whole person”).
- Your vision of nursing is not only as a profession, but also as a vocation centered on ethics, empathy, and human dignity.
- Your personal connection to this mission (through experiences, role models, or moments of insight).
This is short (50–200 words), so every sentence needs to add meaning.
Brainstorming Your Essay
To get started, ask yourself:
- How do I define the role of a nurse beyond just providing medical care?
- Have I ever experienced or witnessed healthcare delivered with compassion, or without it? How did that shape me?
- What Jesuit values (service, reflection, justice, caring for the whole person, accompaniment) resonate with me most, and why?
- How do I see my nursing career making a difference not just for patients, but for families, communities, or underserved populations?
- What responsibilities do I feel I will carry as a nurse — ethical, personal, or spiritual?
What Makes a Good Response
A strong response will show personal reflection. Don’t just recite “I want to help people.” Be specific about what “responsibility” means to you. Be sure to connect to Jesuit values. Words like “service,” “justice,” “cura personalis,” “dignity,” advocacy,” and “community” can be touchstones. Use a brief anecdote or personal observation (a family illness, volunteer work, shadowing experience) to make your answer feel grounded. Finally, be forward-looking. Show how you’ll carry these responsibilities into your nursing practice.
Hypothetical Student Examples
- Maria, who volunteered at a free clinic in a low-income neighborhood, might describe her responsibility as ensuring patients feel heard and respected, regardless of background or ability to pay.
- James, who cared for his grandmother through hospice, might emphasize responsibility as offering dignity and presence in moments of suffering.
- Aaliyah, who tutors immigrant children, might frame her responsibility as advocating for patients across language and cultural barriers, linking to Jesuit values of justice and inclusivity.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Being generic: “My responsibility is to care for patients.” → That could apply to any nurse anywhere.
- Ignoring the Jesuit context: If you don’t tie in values like service, justice, or holistic care, you’re missing the heart of the question.
- Trying to cover too much: With only 200 words max, focus on one or two dimensions of responsibility that matter deeply to you.
Good and Bad Examples
Good Example
As a Jesuit-educated nurse, I believe my responsibility is to practice cura personalis—to care for the entire person, body and spirit. This means listening to the stories behind symptoms, advocating for patients who feel invisible, and treating each encounter as an opportunity to uphold human dignity.
My goal is to be the kind of nurse who doesn’t just treat illness, but who helps patients and families find strength, connection, and hope in their most vulnerable moments. To me, that is both the privilege and responsibility of nursing.”
Why it works: Specific, personal, and tied directly to Jesuit values.
Bad Example
Why it falls flat: Too vague, repetitive, and generic. It doesn’t say why the writer feels this responsibility or connect meaningfully to Jesuit values.
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