A Great Seattle University Essay Example
What’s Covered:
Seattle University, while not highly selective, is a well-regarded and prestigious Jesuit University. Thus, it is important to write a strong essay that incorporates aspects of the Jesuit ethos—such as personal growth, academic excellence, and justice—to help your application stand out. In this post, we’ll go over a supplemental essay that an accepted student submitted to Seattle University, and outline their strengths and areas for improvement. (Names and identifying information have been changed, but all other details are preserved).
Please note: Looking at examples of real essays students have submitted to colleges can be very beneficial to get inspiration for your essays. You should never copy or plagiarize from these examples when writing your own essays. Colleges can tell when an essay isn’t genuine and will not view students favorably if they plagiarized.
Essay Example
Prompt: Located in one of the world’s top cities for technology and innovation and deeply rooted in 500 years of the Jesuit tradition, a Seattle University education is progressive, global and holistic. We encourage students to challenge preconceived notions, reflect before they react, and strive for the greater good. What is it that drew you to apply to Seattle University? Where do you hope a Seattle University education will take you? * 250 words
Growing up, I was always fascinated by the intricacies of the human body. From the human brain operating to our spleen regulating the number of blood cells—our vessel of life is the greatest mystery to humanity.
As a black muslim woman, I am drawn to SU’s commitment to serving good to our greater community. I understand the history of medicine and minorities and how we need more people like me in academia. In the future, I want to advance medical equity by majoring in Biology and following a Pre-med track. I am eager to take classes like General Biology with Professor Brenda Bourns and Anatomy and Physiology 1.
Given my experience in a professional lab, I am eager to continue researching both on-campus and off-campus opportunities. I am excited to see that 83% of SU’s STEM majors engage in research. To establish my validity as a future doctor, I plan to publish research studies into SUURJ where I can share work I plan to do with faculty and fellow students.
Growing up Muslim, I was taught to prioritize education and its impacts on society. I am drawn to SU’s Jesuit tradition for cultivating students to develop a sense of responsibility for themselves and their community and making ethical choices in life. Being a part of SU’s community fits not only my spiritual side as well future goals of becoming a doctor.
What the Essay Did Well
This is a good example of a “Why School?” essay because we learn about what drew this student to the pre-med path and how she intends to use Seattle University’s resources to achieve her goals. Not only does she explain she wants to pursue medicine, but she pinpoints a niche facet (advancing medical equity) she wants to focus on and connects it back to her background, thus making her interest personal.
From the very beginning of the essay, we get a sense that this is a student who has chosen to surround herself in the medical and biological field both inside and outside the classroom. She mentions functions of body parts, which she would’ve learned about in a biology class, and her experience working in a professional lab. Showing the reader how her passion bridges different spheres reinforces her serious interest in medicine.
She also does a good job of mentioning a class she wants to take with a professor and the research she wants to conduct while on campus. “Why School?” essays should have a large emphasis on the college’s offerings that will allow the student to pursue their goals, and this essay dedicates the two middle paragraphs to SU’s programs. Although she didn’t have space to fully expand, there was context for the class and the research that explained why these are important to her.
What Could Be Improved
While this essay did a good job of connecting the offerings at Seattle University to the student’s interests, she could have done a better job of expanding on why these particular programs at this particular school are necessary for her to accomplish her goals. Rather than picking generic classes pre-med students take at any college, she should have picked ones that are unique to SU and fit into her niche – i.e. a class on health inequalities in the U.S.
Additionally, she name-drops a professor she is excited to work with, but doesn’t address what about this professor, or her prior research, draws the student to working with her. Including this “so what?” element in these types of essays is what takes them from good to great. Adding in those details about how something that is unique to SU will help her achieve her goal of becoming an equitable doctor will compel admissions officers to feel like they must admit this student or they will be robbing her of the chances to accomplish something extraordinary.
Where to Get Feedback on Your Essay
Want feedback like this on your Seattle University essays before you submit? We offer expert essay review by advisors who have helped students get into their dream schools. You can book a review with an expert to receive notes on your topic, grammar, and essay structure to make your essay stand out to admissions officers.
Haven’t started writing your essay yet? Advisors on CollegeVine also offer expert college counseling packages. You can purchase a package to get one-on-one guidance on any aspect of the college application process, including brainstorming and writing essays.
