How to Write the University of San Francisco Essays 2023-2024

University of San Francisco’s Jesuit tradition forms the school’s mission and values. The school’s education centers around humanitarian causes, and students take service-based courses and partake in research that helps to better our world. Your response should explain how you plan to contribute to this mission. 

Feel free to draw on either the academic and non-academic programs offered by USF. You can choose major-specific ways to get involved, as University of San Francisco strives to have a Jesuit influence on every degree program. You could also focus on your personal interests and experiences, such as your desire to participate in the Arrupe Immersion program to learn more about a marginalized community.

For example, you might discuss how obtaining a BA in Performing Arts and Social Justice at USF will allow you to promote equity in children’s dance programs. If you are a business major, you could talk about creating a startup that focuses on helping homelessness or hunger. Your responses should be detailed and actionable ways that you would get involved in the USF community. 

You are limited to only 200 words, so focus on only one or two ways that you would get involved. Use your space to provide a detailed response rather than simply listing off various social justice programs.

Nursing is the most popular undergraduate major at the University of San Francisco, and applicants to the program are required to respond to an additional short essay question. In this prompt, USF asks potential Nursing students to describe how they will use their education to care for their community.

This prompt is similar to the Community Service Essay archetype, but instead of asking you to reflect on past service, this prompt asks that you describe the nature of service you’ll do in the future. 

As a future professional registered nurse, you’ll have a responsibility to others — whether that be your patients, their family members, or even your community as a whole. A successful response to this question will convince its reader that you are choosing the Nursing profession to serve others and that you will take this duty seriously. 

Your response is limited to only 200 words, so you will have to be selective about how you choose to showcase your commitment to caring for others. Avoid dwelling too much on the obvious: of course you have a responsibility to care for your patients’ health. 

Think of some other responsibilities that a good nurse fulfills. For example, you might say that you have a responsibility to maintain a welcoming environment in which patients can freely advocate for their health. 

USF is a Catholic university, so if you practice a religion, feel free to draw on your beliefs as you formulate your answer.

St. Ignatius Institute (SII) is a distinct program within University of San Francisco. Students complete an alternative to the university’s core curriculum that emphasizes traditional Jesuit pursuits such as philosophy, theology, and literature. SII students have access to unique community-based learning programs and a study-abroad option in Oxford.

Your reason for applying to St. Ignatius Institute should about the St. Ignatius program specifically, not general aspects of the University of San Francisco. Why are you interested in SII and not a more traditional program at USF? What about SII appeals to you that you could not easily find at another institution? 

For example, instead of describing your interest in philosophy, explain why the small class sizes in SII will allow you to have more stimulating philosophical discussions. Instead of saying you would like to study abroad in England, discuss your desire to study at Blackfriars Hall in Oxford. You can also mention aspects of the SII community, such as the weekly liturgy nights, living/learning community, or the various opportunities for peer mentoring. 

Charitable acts are a core aspect of the Jesuit tradition. Your response should demonstrate that you also value service. Although your word count is only 200 words for this prompt, a brief anecdote will help ground your response and give it greater impact.

For example, instead of listing your responsibilities while volunteering at a women’s shelter, briefly describe a typical morning. You could also describe a particularly impactful moment you had while volunteering at the women’s shelter, such as a meaningful conversation.

Remember that your anecdote should only be one part of your response. You should also clearly describe your experience for the reader. The prompt asks you why you did your act of service. Instead of focusing on practical answers, such as needing to meet a requirement for National Honors Society, you should focus on a deeper reason. Why did you choose that kind of service? What about the nonprofit’s mission spoke to you? 

Although St. Ignatius Institute is open to people of any religion, the program heavily emphasizes spirituality and spiritual development. SII students experience different forms of prayer and engage with the Catholic tradition. Your response should demonstrate your interest in spirituality in whatever form it takes within your life. 

Do not use a dictionary definition or focus on creating the most “correct” answer. This prompt asks for your personal relationship to spirituality, so define how you understand the term in your everyday life. Do you view spirituality through connection to a higher power, or do you see spirituality as more of an essence? Where and when do you feel the most spiritually fulfilled?

Although the second part of this prompt refers to religion, you do not need to pretend to be Catholic or religious in order to compose your answer. If you do practice religion, or you previously practiced a religion, share how that has shaped your spiritual experience, including how you began practicing (i.e., your “religious formation experience” as stated in the prompt). If you are not part of an organized religion, talk about spirituality in a more abstract form and how you believe it impacts your life.There is no wrong answer so long as you write a thoughtful response. 

St. Ignatius Institute is rooted in the Jesuit philosophy of faith and learning. Understanding the Jesuits–a Catholic religious order that emphasizes a liberal education and charitable deeds–is key to understanding St. Ignatius Institute.

This prompt is technically optional; however, we strongly encourage you to answer it to the best of your ability. Your response should demonstrate a firm knowledge of the Jesuits goals and ideals, but you do not need to be overly detailed or recount the entire history of the Society of Jesuits. 

Your response should focus on your knowledge of the Jesuit’s mission and values, as these aspects will most closely relate to your experience at SII. 

Although this prompt does not have a word requirement, try not to extend your response too far beyond the word maximums for your previous answers. 

Where to Get Your University of San Francisco School Essay Edited

Do you want feedback on your University of San Francisco essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool, where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!