clark honors college essay

University of Oregon

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Want to see your chances of admission at University of Oregon?

We take every aspect of your personal profile into consideration when calculating your admissions chances.

University of Oregon’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Additional info essay.

This section can be used for various purposes, and gives you an optional opportunity for discussing any of the following.

•Your academic record might have included periods of low performance such as grades of D or F, inconsistent or downward trends in grades, deficiencies in particular subject areas, or discrepancies between your test scores and GPA. This might be because of special personal circumstances such as death or illness of a parent, caring for a family member, homelessness, frequent moves, or due to learning disabilities/differences or study habits. If relevant, be sure to let us know what actions you have taken in order to be successful, and what you have learned from the experience.

•You want to help us better understand how your involvement in activities was limited by work or family obligations, or by the unique setting of your school or community

•You need to share any other information with us about yourself that is not provided elsewhere, or UO admissions staff told you to provide certain information in this space

(When responding, keep in mind that University of Oregon employees are required by law to report reasonable suspicion of child abuse to law enforcement or the Oregon Department of Human Services per ORS 419B.005. Other knowledge of illegal activity may also be reported by UO, pursuant to other reporting requirements.)

Honors College Essay

Essay Instructions: Curiosity and breadth of interests are defining characteristics of Clark Honors College students. We value originality and want to learn more about your unique journey and the nature and breadth of your intellectual curiosity.

Note: applicants are required to submit the UO‘s application essay and the CHC application essay. The UO’s essay cannot be used to fulfill the Clark Honors College admission essay requirement.

Essay Prompt: Please tell us about a specific enthusiasm that showcases your curiosity and intellectual engagement with the world. Your chosen enthusiasm or passion can be from any domain—academic, artistic, scientific, cultural, or any other area that has captivated your interest. Be thoughtful and provide concrete examples to support your response.

Please limit your response to a maximum of 500 words.

Architecture and Interior Architecture Prompt 1

Why have you decided to study this design program? Please expand on relevant experiences and motivations that have shaped your desire to apply to the major.

Architecture and Interior Architecture Prompt 2

Describe your engagement with an experience, activity, or creative project (as in art, construction, or craft, etc.) that has influenced your interest in design. What did you learn from this experience?

Select-A-Prompt Essay

Essay Topic: (250-500 words - choose one of the topics below)

Describe an experience with discrimination, whether it was fighting against discrimination or recognizing your contribution to discriminating against a person or group. What did you learn from the experience? In what ways will you bring those lessons to the University of Oregon?

The University of Oregon values difference, and we take pride in our diverse community. Please explain how you will share your experiences, values and interests with our community. In what ways can you imagine offering your support to others?

Common App Personal Essay

The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response. Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don‘t feel obligated to do so.

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you‘ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

What will first-time readers think of your college essay?

Sample Robert D. Clark Honors College essay

<p>Does anybody have an essay they’ve written for the honors college at U of O? I’m having trouble with one of the prompts and I just want to see an example to guide me in the right direction. I’m particularly interested in this prompt:</p>

<p>“Two UO professors who frequently teach in the CHC—Dan Miller in journalism and Suzanne Clark in English—have used their classes to help produce historical documentaries on the history of the civil rights movement and the history of the Clark Honors College itself. If you were a documentary maker, or a nonfiction writer, what story would you choose to tell, and how would you do it?”</p>

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College Essay Prompts: Complete List, Analysis, and Advice

College Admissions , College Essays

When talking about college essays, we tend to focus on the Common Application prompts , and it's true that many students will need to write a Common App essay. However, there are actually quite a few schools, including both public and private universities, that don't use the Common App and instead ask applicants to respond to their own college essay prompts.

Luckily, college essay prompts tend to be pretty similar to each other. In this guide, I'll list all the college essay questions for popular schools in the US (and a few abroad) and then break down the patterns to help you brainstorm topics and plan how to approach multiple essays efficiently. After reading this guide, you'll be able to strategize which essays you'll write for which colleges.

Feature image: Mayr /Flickr

Why Do Colleges Ask For an Essay?

The short answer: the essay gives admissions committees a sense of your personality beyond the statistics on the rest of your application. The essay is your chance to show the committee your unique perspective and impress them with your maturity and insight.

College application essay prompts are written with this goal in mind. Admissions officers want to give you the chance to share your interests, aspirations, and views on the world, so most prompts ask about how your experiences have shaped you or what you're excited about studying or doing in college. I've collected a ton of examples below and provided some analysis to help you begin planning and crafting your own essays.

Keep in mind that the personal statement alone won't be enough to get you in— your grades and test scores are still the most important factors in your application . That being said, a stellar essay can help bring a borderline applicant over the top or give an excellent but not extraordinary student the opportunity to stand out in a competitive applicant pool.

As such, the essay tends to matter most for very competitive schools. Non-competitive schools generally don't ask you to submit an essay.

Complete List of College Essay Prompts

This list collects the 2022 college essay prompts for major state universities, top-50 schools, and other popular schools which have their own unique questions. They're divided by region, with all optional essays listed at the end.

I left off the Common App supplements, as those often require a substantially different approach. I also stuck to four-year schools, meaning I didn't include special two-year programs, such as Deep Springs College or Miami Dade College's Honors Program (both of which require essays).

Finally, note that these prompts are for freshman applicants, so the requirements might be different for transfer students .

General Applications

There are three general applications you can use to apply to many different schools at once:

Common Application

Universal college application, coalition application.

Each application has its own personal statement requirement. Some schools will ask for additional supplemental essays.

Many more schools accept the Common App than they do the UCA or Coalition Application , though some will accept more than one of these applications.

For the Common App essay, you pick one of the prompts and write 250-650 words about it. Here are the prompts for the 2022-2023 school year:

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma—anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

The UCA essay prompt is completely open ended and has a 650-word limit. Here is the 2022-2023 prompt:

Please write an essay that demonstrates your ability to develop and communicate your thoughts. Some ideas include: a person you admire; a life-changing experience; or your viewpoint on a particular current event.

For the Coalition Application, you'll pick one of five prompts listed below. While there is no hard word limit, the range guidelines are 500-650 words. Here are the prompts for 2022-2023:

What interests or excites you? How does it shape who you are now or who you might become in the future?

Describe a time when you had a positive impact on others. What were the challenges? What were the rewards?

Has there been a time when an idea or belief of yours was questioned? How did you respond? What did you learn?

What success have you achieved or obstacle have you faced? What advice would you give a sibling or friend going through a similar experience?

Now that you know the essay requirements for the three general applications, let’s look at the application essays for specific schools . To keep things organized, we’ve grouped schools based on the region of the US in which they’re located.

Northeast/Mid-Atlantic

The Great Dome at MIT

Georgetown University

Georgetown asks applicants to write one short essay (about half a single-spaced page) and two longer essays (approximately one single-spaced page each). Each applicant must respond to the first two prompts and can choose among the other four based on the specific program she's interested in.

Short Essay: Briefly (approximately one-half page, single-spaced) discuss the significance to you of the school or summer activity in which you have been most involved.

All Applicants: As Georgetown is a diverse community, the Admissions Committee would like to know more about you in your own words. Please submit a brief essay, either personal or creative, which you feel best describes you.

Applicants to Georgetown College: What does it mean to you to be educated? How might Georgetown College help you achieve this aim? (Applicants to the Sciences and Mathematics or the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics should address their chosen course of study).

Applicants to the School of Nursing & Health Studies: Describe the factors that have influenced your interest in studying health care. Please specifically address your intended major (Global Health, Health Care Management & Policy, Human Science, or Nursing).

Applicants to the Walsh School of Foreign Service: The Walsh School of Foreign Service was founded more than a century ago to prepare generations of leaders to solve global problems. What is motivating you to dedicate your undergraduate studies to a future in service to the world?

Applicants to the McDonough School of Business: The McDonough School of Business is a national and global leader in providing graduates with essential ethical, analytical, financial and global perspectives. Please discuss your motivations for studying business at Georgetown.

For more Georgetown application tips, check out our articles on the Georgetown essays and how to get into Georgetown .

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

MIT doesn't ask for a single personal statement but rather asks applicants to respond to a series of questions with just a paragraph or two of about 200 words each .

We know you lead a busy life, full of activities, many of which are required of you. Tell us about something you do simply for the pleasure of it.

Describe the world you come from (for example, your family, clubs, school, community, city, or town). How has that world shaped your dreams and aspirations?

MIT brings people with diverse backgrounds and experiences together to better the lives of others. Our students work to improve their communities in different ways, from tackling the world’s biggest challenges to being a good friend. Describe one way you have collaborated with people who are different from you to contribute to your community.

Tell us about a significant challenge you've faced (that you feel comfortable sharing) or something that didn't go according to plan. How did you manage the situation?

For more details on how to get into MIT , read our other articles on the MIT application process , tips for MIT essays , and an example of a real MIT acceptance letter !

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Indiana University Bloomington

IU asks for 200-400 words on your plans and interests.

Describe your academic and career plans and any special interest (for example, undergraduate research, academic interests, leadership opportunities, etc.) that you are eager to pursue as an undergraduate at Indiana University. If you encountered any unusual circumstances, challenges, or obstacles in pursuit of your education, share those experiences and how you overcame them. Please note that this essay may be used in scholarship consideration.

University of Illinois

The University of Illinois asks for two essays (or three only if you selected a second-choice major other than what's noted on your application). All responses should be approximately 150 words.

You'll answer two to three prompts as part of your application. The questions you'll answer will depend on whether you're applying to a major or to our undeclared program, and if you've selected a second choice. Each response should be approximately 150 words. If You're Applying to a Major: 1.  Explain, in detail, an experience you've had in the past 3 to 4 years related to your first-choice major. This can be an experience from an extracurricular activity, in a class you’ve taken, or through something else. 2.  Describe your personal and/or career goals after graduating from UIUC and how your selected first-choice major will help you achieve them. If You're Applying to Our Undeclared Program in the Division of General Studies: 1.  What are your academic interests and strengths? You may also include any majors you are considering. 2.  What are your future academic or career goals? If You've Selected a Second-Choice Major (Including Undeclared): Please explain your interest in your second-choice major or your overall academic or career goals.

If you're applying to UIUC, check out our UIUC essay tips article as well!

University of Wisconsin–Madison

All applicants must complete two essays for UW–Madison. The essays should be 250-650 words in length and may be used for scholarship and campus program review.

If you apply through the Common Application, you’ll be asked to reply to one of the freshman Common Application essays in lieu of the first essay prompt below, but you’ll be required to respond to the second prompt below. 

If you apply through the UW System Application, the following two essays are required:

This part is all about you. Tell us about something you've done — academically or personally — and what you've learned from it. Was it a success or a challenge? Did it represent a turning point in your life? How did this particular moment in your life influence you, and how will it continue to influence you as you pursue your college education?

Tell us why you would like to attend the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In addition, please include why you are interested in studying the major(s) you have selected. If you selected undecided please describe your areas of possible academic interest.

Kyle Field at Texas A&M ( Ed Schipul /Flickr)

The ApplyTexas application is used by all Texas public universities and some private colleges. There are four ApplyTexas essay prompts. Which ones you need to respond to will depend on where you're applying. UT Austin, for example, requires applicants to submit at least one essay responding to Topic A on the ApplyTexas application. .

While there's no set word limit, the online application will cut off each essay at 120 lines (~1000 words).

Topic A: Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today?

Topic B: Most students have an identity, an interest, or a talent that defines them in an essential way. Tell us about yourself.

Topic C: You've got a ticket in your hand – Where will you go? What will you do? What will happen when you get there?

Topic D: Please Note: The essay in this section is specific to certain college majors and is not required by all colleges/universities that accept the Apply Texas Application. If you are not applying for a major in Architecture, Art, Art History, Design, Studio Art, Visual Art Studies/Art Education , you are not required to write this essay.

Personal interaction with objects, images and spaces can be so powerful as to change the way one thinks about particular issues or topics. For your intended area of study (architecture, art history, design, studio art, visual art studies/art education), describe an experience where instruction in that area or your personal interaction with an object, image or space effected this type of change in your thinking. What did you do to act upon your new thinking and what have you done to prepare yourself for further study in this area?

We go into all the ApplyTexas prompts in detail here !

University of Georgia

For UGA, applicants must write two essays, one 200-300 words and one 250-650 words . Both essays are required for all applicants. The longer personal essay uses the Common Application prompts for 2023 ; the prompt for the shorter essay is as follows:

The c ollege admissions process can create anxiety. In an attempt to make it less stressful, please tell us an interesting or amusing story about yourself from your high school years that you have not already shared in your application.

For a more detailed discussion of the UGA essays, read this article .

The Campanile at UC Berkeley

University of California

Students applying to the UC system must respond to four out of eight short personal insight questions. The maximum word count for each response is 350 words.

• Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.
• Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.
• What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
• Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
• Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?
• Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.
• What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
• Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?

Learn more about the UC essays , the UC application , and how to choose which UC schools to apply to with our complete guides .

University of Oregon

Applicants to the University of Oregon are required to submit one essay of 650 words or fewer. You also have the option to write a second essay (maximum of 500 words), but it’s not required.

The essay prompts are as follows:

The UO is interested in learning more about you. Write an essay of 650 words or less that shares information that we cannot find elsewhere on your application. Any topic you choose is welcome. Some ideas you might consider include your future ambitions and goals, a special talent, extracurricular activity, or unusual interest that sets you apart from your peers, or a significant experience that influenced your life. If you are applying to the UO's Robert D. Clark Honors College, feel free to resubmit your honors college application essay.

Optional second essay: As you've looked into what it will be like to attend Oregon, you've hopefully learned what makes Ducks Ducks. No two are alike, though, so tell us what makes you you, and how that connects to our campus community. We are interested in your thoughts and experiences recognizing difference and supporting equity and inclusion, and choosing one of these two options will guide you in sharing those thoughts. You can learn more about equity and inclusion at Oregon by visiting the Equity and Inclusion website . Maximum statement length is 500 words. This statement is not required.

University of Washington

In addition to its specific prompts, the University of Washington gives specific advice about what its admissions officers consider to be good writing before the prompts:

"At the UW, we consider the college essay as our opportunity to see the person behind the transcripts and the numbers. Some of the best statements are written as personal stories. In general, concise, straightforward writing is best, and good essays are often 300-400 words in length.

Essay Prompt (Required): Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped shape it. Maximum length: 650 words.

Short Response (Required): Our families and our communities often define us and our individual worlds. Community might refer to your cultural group, extended family, religious group, neighborhood or school, sports team or club, co-workers, etc. Describe the world you come from and how you, as a product of it, might add to the diversity of the UW. Maximum length: 300 words

You can also find more tips on the University of Washington essays in this blog article .

International

Generally speaking, international schools are less likely to ask for an essay, since admission tends to be heavily focused on grades and test results. However, a few popular international schools do ask for a personal statement as part of their application.

Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UK Schools)

UCAS is a general application for UK schools (similar to the Common App in the US). There's no specific prompt for the personal statement—instead, applicants are required to write an essay describing what they want to study, why they want to study it, and what they bring to the table. There is a 4,000-character/47-line limit.

University of British Columbia

UBC asks applicants to fill out a personal profile consisting of five to seven short-answer questions that vary depending on the program you're applying to. Answers should be 50-200 words.

Depending on which degree program you apply to, you’ll be asked to answer some or all of the following questions on the UBC application:

• Tell us about who you are. How would your family, friends, and/or members of your community describe you? If possible, please include something about yourself that you are most proud of and why.
• What is important to you? And why?
• Family/community responsibilities
• Creative or performing arts
• Work/employment
• Service to others
• Tell us more about one or two activities listed above that are most important to you. Please explain the role you played and what you learned in the process. You will be asked for a reference who can speak to your response.
• Additional information: You may wish to use the space below to provide UBC with more information on your academic history to date and/or your future academic plans. For example: How did you choose your courses in secondary school? Are there life circumstances that have affected your academic decisions to date? What have you done to prepare yourself specifically for your intended area of study at UBC?
• Please submit the names of two referees who know you well and can comment on your preparedness for study at UBC. Examples of referees include an employer, a community member, a coach, a teacher/instructor, or anyone who knows you well. One of the referees you select must be able to speak to one of the activities/experiences described in one of your long-answer responses above. For applicants who are currently attending a high school, one of your referees must be a school official (e.g., Grade 12 or senior year counsellor, teacher, or IB coordinator). Neither referee should be a friend, family member, or paid agent.

Some programs of study may ask applicants to respond to the questions above and some additional, program-specific questions when completing the personal profile.

University of Cambridge

Optional Essays

Some schools don't require an essay from all applicants but do recommend or require an essay for certain programs. I've listed a selection of those prompts below.

Arizona State University

Students applying to the Barrett Honors College at ASU must submit one essay of 300 to 500 words in response to one of the following prompts (your response may be critical or creative):

Prompt 1 Discuss how a specific piece of art (painting, literature, photograph, etc.) or popular culture (song, comic book, etc.) helped you realize something new about yourself or the world. What was that realization, and how did the piece of art or pop culture bring about this change in your thinking? Do not simply describe the piece of art or pop culture; instead, focus on its effect on you and how it makes you a good fit for the Barrett Honors College experience. Prompt 2 Tell us about a habit or way of thinking that others would recognize as “uniquely you.” This is something you value and would hesitate to give up because it is a distinct part of who you are or what makes you different - why is it so? Be sure to share how this aspect of your identity makes you a good fit for the Barrett Honors College experience.

City University of New York

Applicants to Macaulay Honors College must write two essays: an “about you” essay, and an essay describing your plans for college. Each response should be around 500 words, give or take a few within reason.

Essay 1: About you. (Select one of the options below.) Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. OR Tell us about an area or activity, outside of academics, in which you have invested a lot of time and effort. Tell us why. What did you learn? How was it meaningful?

Essay 2: About your plans for college. Please discuss all points below. Why do you want to go to an honors college ? There are many benefits of being a Macaulay student, such as the Macaulay community, special courses, Honors advisement, cultural passport, opportunities funds, and other financial benefits. Please describe how these features will shape you and your college experience, including, what you expect to bring to the college community and what you expect to get out of your college experience.

Florida International University

Only applicants who don't meet the criteria for automatic admissions and whose applications undergo holistic review will need to submit a 500-word essay:

Students requesting appeal or additional review of their admission status must submit a written statement including:

Your goals and educational or professional objectives

A summary/explanation of past academic performance

Information and/or circumstances that may have affected past academic performance

• Any other information the student wishes to have considered

Ohio University

For the Ohio University application, students who've been out of school for more than a year must submit an essay explaining what they've done in their time off from school.

Applicants who have been out of high school for more than one year must submit an essay detailing activities since graduation.

Additionally, applicants to the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism are encouraged, though not required, to submit an essay detailing how they want to help shape the future of journalism.

For all other applicants, submitting an essay here is optional; however, if you do wish to write an essay, the application suggests that you describe any academic challenges you’ve faced, academic and career objectives, or involvement in community affairs (recommended length is 250-500 words).

Those interested in Ohio University's OHIO Honors Program (including the Cutler Scholars Program) are required to answer the following essay prompt (limit 250 words):

Students in the OHIO Honors Program represent all majors on campus and take engaging honors courses while applying what they learn outside of the classroom. Students choose from classes and experiences across three pathways: community engagement, research and creative activity, and leadership . Students in OHP can move among the three pathways as their interests evolve and they develop their goals. What pathway is most exciting to you right now, and why?

Finally, those interested in the Honors Tutorial College are must answer the following two essay prompts (in about 500 words each):

HTC Question 1: Please explain why you have chosen your particular program(s) of study.

HTC Question 2: We expect that one reason you seek a tutorial education is for the one-on-one interaction with faculty, but other than that, what interests you about pursuing a tutorial-based undergraduate education? What aspects of your education and life experience have prepared you for a tutorial education with its emphasis on research and creative activity?

Type 1: Questions About a Meaningful Experience

This type of college essay question is the most common. The exact focus of these prompts can vary quite a bit, but they all ask you to reflect on an important experience. Some questions specify a type of experience whereas others don't, simply opting to have applicants write about whatever matters to them.

There are three basic sub-types that you'll see when dealing with these prompts. Let's look at an example of each.

#1: Overcoming a Challenge

These prompts ask about how you dealt with a particular challenge or solved a problem. Below is a typical example of this question type from the MIT application:

Tell us about the most significant challenge you've faced or something important that didn't go according to plan. How did you manage the situation?

To address a question like this, you need a topic that has real stakes —that is, something that you genuinely struggled with. Even though it can seem as though you should only discuss positive experiences and feelings in your college essay (you want to impress your readers with how awesome you are!), unwavering positivity actually hurts your essay because it makes you seem fake.

Instead, be honest : if you're writing about a negative experience, acknowledge that it was unpleasant or hard and explain why. Doing so will just make your overcoming it that much more impressive.

#2: Engaging With Diversity

Questions about diversity ask how you interact with those who are different from you . See an example below from the Common Application:

When approaching this type of question, you need to show that you're thoughtful about new ideas and perspectives. Colleges are full of students from all kinds of backgrounds, and admissions officers want to know that you'll be accepting of the diversity of other students, even if you don't necessarily agree with them.

Also, make sure to pick a specific instance to focus on. Writing a general essay about how you accept others won't impress admissions officers—you need to show them an example of a time that you did so.

#3: Growing Up

Finally, this type of prompt asks about a transitional experience or rite of passage that made you feel like an adult. I've reprinted another example from the Common App:

For these types of prompts, you want to show personal growth. Explain to the reader not just who you are but also how you've changed . (Really, this is a good idea no matter which prompt you're addressing!)

College can be challenging, so admissions officers want to know that you have the maturity to deal with (likely) living on your own, managing your own life, and planning for your future.

Regardless of the exact prompt, the key to this type of college essay is to show what you've learned from the experience. Admissions officers don't care that much about what happened to you—they care about what you think and feel about that event. That's what will give them a sense of who you are and what kind of college student you'll make.

Once you write a first draft, put it in a drawer for a week. Taking some time away from it will allow you to come back to it with fresh eyes. Then, try to read your essay from the perspective of someone who knows nothing about you. Would they be able to understand the story? Do you explain clearly what you learned? Does your intro grab the reader's attention?

It can also be helpful to ask someone you trust, such as a parent, teacher, or peer, to read your essay and give you feedback. Really listen to what they say and think about how you can improve your writing.

Finally, try reading your essay aloud. This will help you catch any weird or awkward phrasings.

What's Next?

If you're struggling with how to approach your personal statement, consider looking at some college essay examples .

The essay is just one part of the college application process. Check out our guide to applying to college for a step-by-step breakdown of what you'll need to do.

Finally, if you're planning to take the SAT or ACT , consider taking a look at our expert test-prep guides for some helpful advice on whatever you might be struggling with.

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Alex is an experienced tutor and writer. Over the past five years, she has worked with almost a hundred students and written about pop culture for a wide range of publications. She graduated with honors from University of Chicago, receiving a BA in English and Anthropology, and then went on to earn an MA at NYU in Cultural Reporting and Criticism. In high school, she was a National Merit Scholar, took 12 AP tests and scored 99 percentile scores on the SAT and ACT.

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The R.D. Clark Honors College is a small liberal arts college located within the University of Oregon. The oldest four-year public honors college in the nation, the Clark Honors College allows students to supplement their education at the greater university by meeting their general education requirements with an intensive Honors College curriculum specifically designed for high-achieving students.

In addition, it provides them the opportunity to participate in research-oriented studies through discussion-based colloquia, and the completion of an undergraduate thesis, which students must defend before a faculty panel. Thus, with an emphasis on small class sizes, high levels of interaction between students and faculty, and academic excellence, the Clark Honors College aims to create a community of scholars where students can develop fundamental intellectual skills in the highest and most challenging way possible while participating in a supportive and collective atmosphere.

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• Clark Honors College Faculty Research [14]

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• BARACK OBAMA’S ADDRESS TO THE 2004 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION: TRAUMA, COMPROMISE, CONSILIENCE, AND THE (IM)POSSIBILITY OF RACIAL RECONCILIATION  Frank, David A. ; McPhail, Mark Lawrence ( Michigan State University Press , 2005 ) The two authors of this article offer alternative readings of Barack Obama’s July 27, 2004, address to the 2004 Democratic National Convention (DNC) as an experiment in interracial collaborative rhetorical criticism, one ...
• THE PROPHETIC VOICE AND THE FACE OF THE OTHER IN BARACK OBAMA’S “A MORE PERFECT UNION” ADDRESS, MARCH 18, 2008  Frank, David A. ( Michigan State University , 2009 ) Barack Obama’s address of March 18, 2008, sought to quell the controversy sparked by YouTube clips of his pastor, Jeremiah Wright of the Trinity United Church of Christ, condemning values and actions of the United States ...
• ARGUMENTATION STUDIES IN THE WAKE OF THE NEW RHETORIC  Frank, David A. ( American Forensic Association , 2004 )
• FROM VITA CONTEMPLATIVA TO VITA ACTIVA: CHAÏM PERELMAN AND LUCIE OLBRECHTS-TYTECA'S RHETORICAL TURN  Frank, David A. ; Bolduc, Michelle K. ( American Society for the History of Rhetoric , 2004 ) Chaïm Perelman and Lucie Olbrechts-Tyteca's Traité de l'argumentation: la nouvelle rhétorique marked a revolution in twentieth-century rhetorical theory. In this essay, we trace Perelman and Olbrechts-Tyteca‟s turn from ...
• The Jewish Countermodel: Talmudic Argumentation, the New Rhetoric Project, and the Classical Tradition of Rhetoric  Frank, David A. ( The Religious Communication Association , 2003 ) Chaim Perelman and Lucie Olbrechts- Tyteca's New Rhetoric Project (NRP) helped revive the study of rhetoric in the twentieth century. Although some believe their work is largely a reiteration of Aristotle's rhetoric ...
• The New Rhetoric, Judaism, and Post-Enlightenment Thought: The Cultural Origins of Perelmanian Philosophy.  Frank, David A. ( Routledge: Taylor and Francis Group , 1997 ) In search of justice, Chaim Perelman rediscovered the rhetorical tradition and reclaimed his Jewish identity after World War II. As an attempt to correct misreadings of Perelmanian thought and to situate the New Rhetoric ...
• Chaïm Perelman’s “First Philosophies and Regressive Philosophy”: Commentary and Translation  Frank, David A. ; Bolduc, Michelle K. ; Perelman, Chaim ( Penn State University Press , 2003 )
• After the New Rhetoric [Review Essay]  Frank, David A. ( Taylor and Francis , 2003 )
• The Pedagogy and Politics of Solipsism  Frank, David A. ( Cross Examination Debate Association , 2003 )
• Argumentation Studies in the Wake of The New Rhetoric  Frank, David A. ( American Forensic Association , 2004 )
• Arguing With God, Talmudic Discourse, and the Jewish Countermodel: Implications for the Study of Argumentation  Frank, David A. ( American Forensic Association , 2004 )
• Barack Obama's Address to the 2004 Democratic National Convention: Trauma, Compromise, Consilience, and the (Im)possibility of Racial Reconciliation  Frank, David A. ; McPhail, Mark Lawrence ( Michigan State University Press , 2005 ) The two authors of this article offer alternative readings of Barack Obama’s July 27, 2004, address to the 2004 Democratic National Convention (DNC) as an experiment in interracial collaborative rhetorical criticism, one ...
• Jerusalem and the Riparian Simile  Cohen, Shaul ; Frank, David A. ( Elsevier Science Ltd. , 2002 ) Many see the city of Jerusalem as an intractable religious political issue, beyond the pale of negotiation and problem solving. This view reflects a set of problematic assumptions, including beliefs that Jerusalem produces ...
• The Mutability of Rhetoric: Haydar 'Abd al-Shafi's Madrid Speech and Vision of Palestinian-Israeli Rapprochement  Frank, David A. ( Routledge , 2000-08 ) This essay draws from Edwin Black's Rhetorical Questions to illuminate the role of mutability in rhetoric, consciousness, and social idiom as it is displayed in Haydar 'Abd al-Shaji's speech delivered at the Madrid conference ...

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• Frank, David A. (14)
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• Cohen, Shaul (1)
• Perelman, Chaim (1)
• Rhetoric (5)
• Perelman, Chaim (4)
• Olbrechts-Tyteca, Lucie (3)
• Obama, Barack (2)
• Race relations -- United States -- History -- 21st century (2)
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Extracurriculars.

How to Write the Clark University Supplemental Essays 2023-2024

While founded in 1887 as the first all-graduate institution in the United States, today Clark University welcomes over 2,000 undergraduates interested in studying at a small university grounded in the liberal arts and a belief in the power of hands-on learning outside of the classroom, including through research and internships.

It is important that your essays reveal insights about you as a person and what you value about Clark beyond generic attributes (such as a low student-to-professor ratio or reputation for providing significant research opportunities to undergraduates). Carefully research the school before writing any of your essays so that you can reference specifics and demonstrate your deep affinity for what Clark has to offer.

Read these Clark essay examples to inspire your writing.

Clark Supplemental Essay Prompts

All applicants.

Prompt 1: Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. (250 words)

Prompt 2: Clark is known for being a rigorous academic climate that is also equally committed to being a kind, supportive, and inclusive community. Choose one of the following prompts to help us to get to know you better. (150–300 words)

• Option A: Please describe a time in school where someone helped you become a better learner and/or a better version of yourself.
• Option B: Think about the communities to which you belong and that have shaped you. Tell us a story about one such community and how it influences what you will bring to the Clark community.

Prompt 3 (optional): If there are any inconsistencies within your academic record that you would like to explain, please do so here. (100–200 words)

Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. (250 words)

This is the classic “Extracurricular Essay ” that you’ll likely encounter at more than one school of the schools you are applying to. The Common App activities section provides basic facts about your extracurricular pursuits, however this essay allows you to provide compelling emotional context for one of your activities.  

Since you only have 250 words to bring one activity or work experience to life, pick one that has been influential in your personal or academic growth and showcases substantial commitment on your part. You should share how this activity has shaped you and potentially even set you on a path you plan to pursue at college. 

For example, if you choose to highlight your experience as a counselor at a summer technology camp for inner-city youth, go beyond a description of the program, a list of your responsibilities, and an account of time spent there. Explain why you chose the experience, how it has affected you as a human being, and how you have—or plan to—put this priority into action.

•  You may have chosen to work at the tech camp due to your love of computers, but the experience sparked a commitment to help level the technology playing field for students from all economic backgrounds. In fact, you are now interested in majoring in economics and interning with an editor at Economic Geography, Clark’s revered journal that publishes original research related to geographic drivers and implications of economic processes. And you are interested in pursuing the five-year Accelerated B.A./Master’s Program in Community Development to pursue a career in urban development. (Good news: 30% of undergraduates enroll in Clark master’s programs on full scholarship.)
• Or the tech camp experience heightened your understanding of the difficulty for children with learning differences and inspired you to explore a career in computer game design to help children with learning disabilities. Share your excitement about the world-renowned Interactive Media Design program at Clark’s Becker School of Design & Technology . Consider using an anecdote to accentuate your points. For example, to explain the genesis of your interest in developing computer software to accommodate learning differences, share the story of the relationship you developed with a disruptive camper and how your personal attention got him to open up about his difficulty reading text-based directions and encouraged you to develop pictorial directions to help him succeed.

Taking your extracurricular involvement a step further to include how you plan to continue pursuing this passion on Clark’s campus (like the above examples did) will set your essay apart from the rest. Admissions officers will see how you have not only benefited your local community, but how you could benefit the Clark community, which is always the goal of a supplemental essay!

Prompt 2, Option A

Please describe a time in school where someone helped you become a better learner and/or a better version of yourself. (150–300 words).

The university prides itself as a community of “thinkers, doers, and problem-solvers —compassionate people tackling some of the world’s biggest challenges.” Given the school’s reverence for a supportive community, be sure your essay highlights a compelling anecdote and how you will pay this positive experience forward at Clark. When you think community, think college community as well as the community of the city of Worcester, Massachusetts where Clark is located. 

• For example, you could share a story of how your tennis coach helped you recognize and address the physical and mental factors contributing to your performance slump. Because of this experience, you were inspired to study sports psychology in college. Combining concepts and techniques you learn in class with the motivational tactics your coach used, you hope to coach fellow Clark athletes during your off-season. 
• Perhaps a peer tutor who took the time to meet with you every week throughout your sophomore year helped you grasp complex physics concepts. This student encouraged you to become a peer tutor in Spanish, given your proficiency in languages. After gaining a feeling of satisfaction and pride when your mentees succeed, you decided you want to explore teaching as a profession.
• Maybe a school guidance counselor’s adept delivery of a bystander intervention training program changed your perspective of what it means to do your part as a member of a community. Now, you are motivated to join other Clark students to lead Youth Outreach Worcester workshops for middle and high school kids and help students create a more positive environment around them.

This prompt has two main purposes. First, Clark wants to understand the communities that have been influential in shaping your identity, values, and worldviews. Then, based on your experience and connection to these communities, Clark can infer how you might interact with, contribute to, and enhance the Clark community. They’re interested not just in what you’ve done or experienced, but in how those experiences will translate to your future as a Clark student.

Tips on Choosing a Topic:

• Reflect on communities you’ve been part of. Remember that community can mean many things. They can be based on a culture, common interest, language, family, geographical location, personality trait, physical ability, or more.
• Choose a community that had a tangible impact on you. This impact could be instilling a value, introducing you to a hobby or passion, or even challenging you in significant ways.
• Consider how the skills, values, or insights from this community might be beneficial to the Clark community.

Mistakes to Avoid:

• Being too generic: Be specific about how this community impacted you and how you see that playing out at Clark. Make sure to reference specific resources at Clark that you see yourself contributing to.
• Missing the connection: Ensure that you make a clear link between the community you describe and what you will bring to Clark.

Examples of Approaches:

• A student was a member of her high school robotics team and was the only girl on the team. This caused her to feel self-conscious until a new robotics team assistant advisor joined who was a woman. The advisor’s mentorship gave the student confidence, and she started speaking up more and even became the head programmer. Because of this experience, she wants to revitalize the Women in STEM club at Clark, which hasn’t been active for a few years, to do outreach to high school robotics clubs and mentor students there.
• While radio may seem obsolete to some, this student is passionate about radio’s ability to reach broad audiences. When he learned that the top radio shows in the US are mostly conservative talk shows, he decided to start working at a local progressive talk show to help engage younger listeners and expose them to different viewpoints. Thanks to his efforts, the show gained over 500 listeners under 25 in his small town of 60,000 people. At Clark, he wants to run his own progressive commentary radio show on ROCU, the school’s internet radio station.

Prompt 3, Optional 

If there are any inconsistencies within your academic record that you would like to explain, please do so here. (100–200 words).

If you feel as if your grades and test scores accurately reflect your personal abilities, skip this essay prompt. You should also skip it If you feel as if your grades and test scores could’ve been better, as most students in hindsight feel they could have earned better grades. Be aware that beginning with the class enrolling in Fall 2013, Clark has made the submission of standardized test scores an optional part of the admissions process. You do not need to submit them if they don’t accurately reflect your performance in the classroom.

However, if you have one outlier grade that would appear bizarre to an admissions counselor, explain the circumstances that caused you to earn the grade you did. Additionally, if there are extenuating circumstances that have seriously hindered your academic record, share them. These can run the gamut from enduring a serious concussion that kept you out of school, working a full-time job after school and on weekends to help support your family due to a parent’s death, or coping with severe mental illness before finding a health regimen to overcome depression. 

Remember, all students your age have had their high school education interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. If you choose to share a pandemic-related explanation for an academic issue, be sure it is substantive, such as a prolonged hospitalization of a family member or lingering, debilitating COVID symptoms you’ve experienced. Even if your circumstances were not as drastic as the ones mentioned above, reference them if you believe they are necessary to accurately communicate your story. 

Where to Get Your Clark Essays Edited

Do you want feedback on your Clark 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!

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About the Honors College

Our mission.

The Clark Honors College provides curious and motivated students with a broad-based liberal arts education that combines challenging coursework with hands-on learning experiences, internships, and research that allow them to develop skills to support their academic success and individual career goals. The Honors College’s award-winning faculty and staff empower students and help them develop into critical thinkers, excellent communicators, and future leaders so they can help find solutions to some of the world’s most urgent issues. 

CHC History

The University of Oregon opened the Honors College in September 1960 with a freshman class of 129 students. It became the first public honors college west of the Mississippi River. The Honors College’s first home was in the basement of Friendly Hall, a structure originally built in 1893 as a men’s dormitory. 

In 1975, administrators named the college the Robert D. Clark Honors College in recognition of the man who was retiring as UO president. Three years later, Clark Honors College moved its operations to Chapman Hall – a building designed by architect Ellis Lawrence and completed in 1939 with funding from the Public Works Administration. It was originally built to house the UO’s English Department, the Home Economics Department, and the then-Student’s Co-operative Store. 

Chapman Hall Renovation

The interior of Chapman Hall was totally remodeled and reopened in the spring of 2018. The classrooms were redesigned to house the CHC’s signature seminar-style classes. Integrated classroom technology, community spaces for students and faculty to meet and mingle, and dedicated student spaces for social and academic activities have made Chapman more inviting. 

The Chapman renovation also allowed for Clark Honors College to be a designated home to a variety of original artwork created by Oregon artists as part of the state’s Percent for Art program. Learn more about these 17 works and the artists behind them on the Percent for Art at Chapman page. 

The CHC Today

At the Clark Honors College, we offer students the opportunity to have a small, liberal arts college experience along with the benefits of a major research university and its cutting-edge facilities. Our small, discussion-based class sizes average 15 students, allowing them to develop one-on-one relationships with award-winning faculty members. 

We emphasize critical thinking, problem solving, and collaboration. Honors College scholars are taught in a way that improves both communication and writing skills. The exclusive curriculum in natural sciences, social sciences, and the humanities replaces all core education requirements at UO. Students follow a pathway toward involvement in hands-on research, along with access to internships and other professional opportunities. 

The Honors College has experienced record growth over the last several years. Currently, there are more than 1,360 students at the Honors College. The incoming Class of 2027 is diverse in so many ways: