How to Write the Villanova University Essays 2024-2025
Villanova has one supplemental essay prompt, which allows you to choose from five options. You want to take advantage of this flexibility, and choose the option that best complements what you already show elsewhere in your application. Particularly since all five options are fairly different from the standard supplemental prompts, be thoughtful about which one you select.
First, read all of the options carefully, even if you think you are sure about which one you will choose. Second, note which one(s) stick out—for example, perhaps Option B reminds you of a meaningful reconciliation with a friend. If you immediately feel an emotional connection to one of the prompts, that can be a good sign that you’ll be able to write a strong response.
Finally, think about how each prompt would add to your application as a whole, and make sure that the prompt you choose won’t lead to redundancies. For example, say you are drawn to Option A, but your Common App essay is about your advocacy work through your school’s Feminism Club. In that case, you might be better off with one of the other options so you don’t repeat yourself.
If you do still choose Option A, make sure that you approach the topic from a new perspective, such as, for example, by describing your wide-reaching work in club social media management rather than your weekly volunteer work at the local women’s shelter.
Read this Villanova essay example written by real accepted student to inspire your writing!
Villanova University Supplemental Essay Prompts
Prompt: Please select one of the five essay prompts listed below to fulfill the writing requirement and respond in about 250 words.
- Option A: St. Augustine states that well-being is “not concerned with myself alone, but with my neighbor’s good as well.” How have you advocated for equity and justice in your communities?
- Option B: What is a lesson in life that you have learned that you would want to share with others at Villanova?
- Option C: “Villanova” means “new home.” Why do you want to call Villanova your new home?
- Option D: As an Augustinian community, we value recognizing individuals for their true selves. Please share with us a time when you were misjudged based on your identity, background, experiences, or interests.
- Option E: At Villanova, we often say “each of us strengthens all of us.” Please detail a time when someone has borrowed some of your strength in their time of need.
Option A
St. Augustine states that well-being is “not concerned with myself alone, but with my neighbor’s good as well.” How have you advocated for equity and justice in your communities? (about 250 words)
It seems that Villanova greatly values community and group efforts. It’s important to do a little bit of research about the key values of the schools you’re applying to, which are often made evident by their application prompts, mottos, marketing messages, and even conversations with current students.
In this essay, highlight your concern for fairness, community, and selflessness through concrete and specific details. When possible, reference specific organization names, people you have worked with, and raw numbers (i.e: number of people served, amount of money raised, total attendance of a charity event, etc.) Avoid vague generalities and consider starting off your essay with a lively, brief anecdote to bring your story to life.
Many applicants may write about posts they shared or reposted on social media during times of social crisis. Although these are valuable forms of activism to raise awareness on important issues, sharing a more unique experience may help you stand out! Did you write or speak to any local authorities, for example? Attend/organize a protest?
Here are some questions to consider as you brainstorm:
Advocacy specifically refers to the act of speaking on the behalf of or in support of another person, place, or thing. How did you speak up? Whose voices have you amplified?
Example: A student writes about her experience attending the 2017 Women’s March in Washington, D.C with her mother and sisters to protest sexual harassment and advocate for women’s reproductive rights.
What community service work have you done? Who did this work serve, and how did it help bring them closer to justice? Remember, your response doesn’t have to be directly related to the social, economic, racial or political justice of human beings; advocacy for animals and the environment counts as well!
Example: A student illustrates how his family’s tradition of volunteering at a soup kitchen every Thanksgiving, has sparked a passion in him to research and combat food insecurity and food deserts in the US in his city.
Are you a part of a group that has historically suffered injustice? How have you advocated for yourself and your community?
Example: A Native American student from the Zuni Reservation in New Mexico narrates the injustices her community has faced in cultural erasure. She creates content on social media to increase awareness of her tribe’s rich history and fading language.
The most important thing to remember when approaching this prompt is to focus on an issue that really resonated with you. Sometimes social media can make it seem like there is a right and wrong way to approach activism – stay true to yourself! The way you advocate for equity and justice in your community may differ from other applicants. Allow these differences to let you stand out and illustrate what you’re truly passionate about.
Option B
What is a lesson in life that you have learned that you would want to share with others at Villanova? (about 250 words)
This prompt is asking you to reflect on a significant life lesson that has shaped who you are and what you value. Villanova is a university rooted in community, service, and moral development, so you’d ideally choose a lesson that reflects these values.
To help you brainstorm, consider this list of questions.
- In your life, have you had any pivotal moments, challenges, successes, or experiences that changed your perspective?
- Has anything happened to you that changed you, your values, or how you see the world? If you can’t think of anything specific, try thinking of a value you hold and reflect on where that value comes from.
- What is a belief or lesson that’s deeply important to you? Where does it come from? Why is it important?
- Are there any lessons you’ve learned or beliefs you hold that mesh especially well with Villanova’s mission?
To begin, focus mainly on generating as many ideas as possible–it’s better to have too many options than too few, as having too many means you can honestly evaluate which is the strongest. Then you can trim them down based on the following considerations.
First, you’ll want to pick something unique. Villanova admissions will be reading hundreds of essays, and you want yours to stand out from the crowd. While it’s practically impossible to write about something they’ve absolutely never seen before, there are some topics that are widely known cliches, like overcoming a sports setback, or traveling somewhere to volunteer in a new community. These topics are best avoided unless yours has an angle that’s truly unique to you.
In addition to being authentic, you also want to give Villanova a comprehensive sense of who you are, so pick a lesson with some depth. It might shed light on where you come from, what you value, or how you live your life. Combining authenticity with personal meaning will make for the most compelling essays.
Another powerful choice is to pick a story that connects to your future, particularly your future at Villanova. As noted above, you could make this connection through Villanova’s values, or you could reference some specific ways you hope to contribute to their campus community.
If you take this approach, like in a “Why School?” essay you’ll want to make sure you’re being truly specific to Villanova, by citing particular student groups you hope to join or professors you hope to work with, rather than vaguely gesturing at things you could do anywhere, like meeting like-minded peers or studying a general topic like English.
With these pointers in mind, consider the following examples of lessons students might write about, to give you a more concrete idea of what your own response could look like.
- A student from a military background might write about how she learned the importance of adaptability and resilience after moving seven times before high school. She could write about how she learned to embrace change and make new connections quickly, and how she plans to share this skill at Villanova by helping other students navigate transitions and build a supportive community.
- A basketball player who struggled with perfectionism could write about the lesson he learned from his experiences with burnout. He might discuss how he realized the importance of self-compassion and balance, and how he hopes to share this lesson at Villanova by advocating for mental health awareness and support among his peers.
- An applicant who spent years volunteering at their local senior center might have learned the value of humility and listening to others. They could describe how stories from a different generation taught them to appreciate life for the journey, not the destination, and how they want to bring this mindset to Villanova by setting up inclusive discussions and mindfulness workshops
Option C
“Villanova” means “new home.” Why do you want to call Villanova your new home? (about 250 words)
This is more or less your standard “Why This School?” essay. Here, you’ll simply have to explain not only why you would love to go to Villanova, but also why they should love to have you! In short, you are demonstrating fit.
For a typical essay of this type, we recommend that you do plenty of research about the school, its traditions, and if known, your major within the school. Make a list of things that stand out to you as true, legitimate reasons to attend the school, as well as ways you can contribute.
For example, Villanova is the only Augustinian Catholic university in the nation and the school values its duality between faith and learning. A few of the Augustinian values that Villanova references are Veritas, Unitas, and Caritas (meaning truth, unity, and love). What do these values mean to you? How attending a University with these values will impact your learning?
Additionally, we recommend sticking with only a few talking points in this essay, as your space is limited and you may want to draw from personal experiences to explain how your past work will make you a great addition to the school. In short, how can you make this campus better? How can you stand out, and how can you fit in? Keep your writing specific, concise, and highly personalized. Which traits, or combination of traits, make you a uniquely good fit for this school?
Here are some examples:
1. An applicant is drawn to Villanova because the Augustinian values resonate with her Catholic upbringing. She has always been passionate about both agricultural science and environmental sustainability, but has struggled to find a major that aligns with her academic interest.. She decides to apply to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) at Villanova and leverage the school’s Individually Designed Major (IDM) program where she can create a unique major in the study of EcoGastronomy (the study of food, agriculture, and environment).
2. Coming from a rural conservative community, a student wishes he could become a more informed ally to help educate his peers. He is excited to learn that Villanova offers in-depth DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) training through a course called the Advancing Equity & Justice Curriculum. This program will give the applicant the tools that he needs to be a better advocate for diverse individuals.
Since you’re limited to about 250 words, your response needs to be concise, specific, and personal. You’ll want to avoid wasting any of your precious words on generalities that could apply to any applicant or any college, like in this bad example below:
“Villanova has always been one of my top choices because of its strong reputation as a prestigious university. I’ve heard great things about the academic programs, particularly in the sciences, which is an area I’m interested in exploring further. I want to attend a school where I can receive a quality education that will open doors for me in the future, and Villanova seems like the perfect place to achieve my goals.
Additionally, I’m looking forward to being part of a tight-knit community. I’ve read that Villanova has a strong sense of school spirit, and I think it would be exciting to be part of that environment. The location is also ideal because it’s close to major cities like Philadelphia, which offers many opportunities for internships and cultural experiences.
Overall, Villanova seems like a place where I can grow both academically and personally, surrounded by people who are passionate about their education and community. I’m eager to experience the beautiful campus and all that Villanova has to offer as I prepare for my future.”
Compare this with the following, much stronger example:
“In my multicultural home, thinking beyond borders and understanding global interconnectedness was nothing special; it was how we lived. My mother, an immigrant from Haiti, would share stories about challenges her community faced, from political instability to lack of access to necessities. She and my father made sure to remind me that though Haiti and these issues might feel far away, they are a part of me and my history. Not just that, but people in our hometown faced similar problems to those my mom once did. These conversations instilled in me a deep commitment to public service and social justice, both globally and locally.
At Villanova, I’m eager to deepen my understanding of global issues through the Center for Peace and Justice Education, where I can explore international relations and human rights. The university’s emphasis on service-learning resonates with my belief that education should extend beyond the classroom and into communities that need it most. I’m particularly drawn to the Villanova Service and Justice Experiences, where I can combine my academic interests with hands-on service, contributing to meaningful change in both local and global communities.
Villanova’s values of veritas, unitas, and caritas align perfectly with my own principles. I see Villanova as more than just a place to study; it’s a community where I can grow both intellectually and morally, surrounded by peers and faculty who share my dedication to making the world a better place.”
In addition to taking full advantage of the available space, this second essay displays a deeper knowledge of Villanova, by citing resources that can only be found at this particular institution, and that clearly fit into the student’s plan for what they want to do once they arrive on campus. We also learn about the student’s background, their values, and how they developed those values, so we can easily connect their past experiences to their potential future at Villanova.
Basically, the first example could have been written about another college, by another student, but the second is unique to both Villanova and this particular student.
For more tips on this prompt archetype, check out our stellar essay examples, research tips, and video guide!
Option D
As an Augustinian community, we value recognizing individuals for their true selves. Please share with us a time when you were misjudged based on your identity, background, experiences, or interests. (about 250 words)
This option, which has some overlap with the common “Diversity” prompt, has two pieces to it. First, you need to choose an aspect of your identity or background, ideally one you haven’t yet had a chance to dive into elsewhere in your application. Then, you will discuss a time you were misjudged because of this aspect of yourself, and how you responded or what you learned from this experience. Let’s break down each of those pieces.
Usually, in writing about identity, you would want to choose a feature of yourself that is important to you and/or affects how you see the world. For this prompt specifically, however, you may want to channel your brainstorming less towards what’s important to your own self-image, and more towards features of your identity that affect how others see you. Of course, there may well be overlap between the two, but if you aren’t sure where to start, the latter category is a better jumping off point.
If you’ve experienced prejudice in the form of racism, sexism, homophobia, or something of the sort, this is a good place to talk about it, but you also don’t have to have experienced bigotry to answer this prompt effectively. Here are some examples of essays that could fit this prompt.
- A student who struggles with people asking him if he fits the stereotype of the neglected, forgotten middle child.
- A student writing about how after she started lifting, her mom warned her that she wouldn’t like the way she looked with muscles, because muscles look weird on women.
- Another student could write about how the GSA at his school assumed that he could not be religious because he was gay.
- Another student wrote about how he was considered weird for asking his older sister to teach him to sew.
All of these stories involve identity, but they come at the topic from unexpected angles. As you write your essay, try to think about times that you’ve surprised the people around you, or even surprised yourself.
After you’ve chosen the moment of misjudgment that you’re going to write about, the second piece of this essay is discussing how you felt about this experience, and what you learned from it. In the moment, it likely didn’t feel great. But were you able to talk your feelings out with the person you had the interaction with, or debrief with friends or family after? Did it strengthen your resolve to keep doing what you were doing, or make you decide to work towards changing people’s perceptions of you? Or maybe it made you more aware of the way that snap judgments can hurt.
This kind of reflection should be the real focus of your essay – the aspect of your identity you’ve chosen to write about may be important to you, but this essay is asking you to see people for who they truly are, and the impact it can have when others don’t do that. So, the majority of your essay should discuss how it felt to be misjudged, how you got past it (if applicable), and how you plan to take what you’ve learned from this experience into your future.
Finally, we’d like to note that this prompt is asking you to reflect on an experience that was undoubtedly painful, and sharing that pain with a bunch of strangers thousands of miles away can be hard. But this is also a chance to showcase your resilience and capacity for reflection, so we would recommend not focusing merely on the experience of prejudice, bigotry, or simple misunderstanding. Rather than prioritizing the negative feelings associated with this encounter, center your own ability to learn from it, and apply your new knowledge in the future.
Option E
At Villanova, we often say “each of us strengthens all of us.” Please detail a time when someone has borrowed some of your strength in their time of need. (about 250 words)
This prompt asks you to demonstrate your capacity for self-reflection, your selflessness, and your support of those around you. Villanova values community, mutual support, and collective well-being, and they want to see how you embody these values in your own life, by being empathetic, taking on leadership roles, and making an impact on others. With just 250 words to work with, it’s important to select the right anecdote, so let’s talk about what that looks like.
To start, you’ll want a strong, specific story. While you might “lend your strength” every day, you want to be able to anchor this ability in a particular event or moment, as that will make your story more compelling and memorable than a vague description that could blur together with someone else’s essay.
Details are key, so make sure you pick an occasion that you can vividly describe. You also want to choose one that will stand out as unique to you–avoid cliché stories like supporting a teammate while they rehabbed an injury or helping your friend with their homework during a challenging history unit.
Ideally, your story should also show initiative. In other words, a story where you went out of your way to lend your strength to someone will make a bigger impact than one where they had to ask you for help. Colleges love students who will go out of their way to make their campus community a better place.
Finally, don’t forget to be specific about the impact your selflessness had on others. Though it might feel like bragging, this is exactly what the prompt is asking for, and the admissions team will have no way of knowing how effective you were if you don’t tell them.
Being able to concretely demonstrate the positive influence you had will show your empathy, awareness, and readiness to deeply reflect on and learn from the events in question. Additionally, talking about the others involved in your story actually makes you come across as unselfish, as it shows that you are paying attention to and caring about others.
The thing you want to avoid is making the essay solely about you. Rather than saying something like “I could tell my actions made a big difference,” give an example of something the other person said or did that proves your impact. Your essay should illustrate how you truly helped them, not how good you felt about helping them.
If you’re still feeling stuck on what to write about, consider these examples of prospective students and their potential essay topics.
- A student who became the informal leader of their robotics team after the captain had to step down due to a family emergency might write about taking on these responsibilities without the cachet of the official title, because that’s what was needed in the moment.
- A student who helped their younger sibling navigate remote learning, helping them with homework while their parents worked long hours during the pandemic.
- A student who organized a community clean-up and support network after a natural disaster struck their town. They might focus on what they learned about civic engagement and community spirit, as well as the wish to restore their home.
- A student who helped a friend come out as LGBTQ+ to their conservative family could write not only about their support, research, and brainstorming, but also how they were impressed by their friend’s strength.
These examples all do an excellent job of walking the line between showing that the student made a genuine impact, and still keeping the focus on the person/community they helped.
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