gmu honors college essay prompts

George Mason University

• Cost & scholarships
• Essay prompt

Want to see your chances of admission at George Mason University?

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

George Mason University’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Why this college short response.

What is your motivation for pursuing higher education? Why do you believe George Mason University is the right institution for you?

Select-A-Prompt Essay

To complete your application to the Honors College, please choose and respond to one (1) of the prompts above in no more than 500 words.

George Mason University is Virginia’s largest public research university. As a Tier-1 research institution, every day, our faculty, staff, and students work to address unanswered questions, unresolved challenges, and problems that impact a wide variety of populations. In the Honors College, you’ll have opportunities to do this sort of work — and maybe even answer questions and solve problems that matter to you. Tell us about one question, challenge, or problem that you’d like to work to better understand or address during your time at Mason. Introduce this issue, and then explain why it matters to you and why it might matter to others. Feel free to be creative- research and inquiry can exist in unlikely places.

The art we see, the stories we read, and the words we hear have the power to move us and to change us. Tell us about a time that you’ve been moved to act by something you read, a speech you heard, or a work of art that you experienced. What was it, and how did it impact you? What did you do — or what will you do — in response?

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?

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

How to Write the George Mason University Essay 2020-2021

This post has been updated! Check out our 2021-2022 George Mason essay guide.

George Mason University is the youngest and largest public university in Virginia. It is ranked #153 by US News & World Report and is the most diverse university in Virginia. In 1956, it was founded as a branch of the University of Virginia, going on to become an independent university in 1972. Four of the campuses—Fairfax, Arlington, Front Royal, and Prince William — are in Virginia, and the fifth is located in Songdo, South Korea (about 20 miles southwest of Seoul). The primary campus, the Fairfax location, sits on a 677-acre suburban location 15 miles from Washington D.C.

George Mason’s acceptance rate is slightly competitive at 81% . The middle 50% SAT range is 1120-1320 and 24-30 for the ACT. The university has 82 undergraduate degrees.

If you’re interested in living close to the booming hub that is Washington D.C. and attending an innovative public university, read on to learn how to answer GMU’s supplemental prompt. Want to know your chances at George Mason? Calculate your chances for free right now.

Want to learn what George Mason will actually cost you based on your income? And how long your application to the school should take? Here’s what every student considering George Mason needs to know.  

Optional Essay

Why do you want to go to college we know it is an excellent path to a career, but we want to hear more specifically about what you are hoping to gain from your time in college. tell us about yourself and your experiences that have led to this decision. (250 words).

Although this prompt is optional, we strongly recommend that you answer it. Your response to this prompt can help admissions officers learn things about you that they might not be able to glean from other parts of your application. 

This prompt is open-ended in nature and could be answered in several ways. In terms of length, 250 words is not a lot of room to capture your entire reasoning behind attending college. You might be tempted to simply write out a list of reasons motivating you to pursue higher education, but this approach will detract from your essay. Rather than writing about multiple disparate topics, try including 1-3 major-related reasons that go beyond the superficial. 

Avoid clichés like “I want to make my family proud,” “I want to become a smarter/better person,” or “I want to make the world a better place using my education.” These platitudes are generic and do not add personal value to your response. Instead, try brainstorming deeper into the reasons you wish to attend George Mason University. Your response should be extremely detailed with specific information that uniquely relates to you.

Instead of saying you want to make your family proud, think about a particular family member who has influenced your decision, and recount what specific interactions with them led you to want to attend GMU. For instance, an applicant might write about wanting to go to school to find a cure for a relative’s chronic disease.

Rather than saying “I want to make an impact on the world” think about what specific skills you want to gain and what specific contributions you want to make. What do you specifically want to learn how to do and why? A good starting point for this approach is browsing GMU’s website to see what opportunities there are for you to attain your goals.

For instance, an applicant might write about how learning to use geospatial technology will help them create a travel social media app where users’ feeds are algorithmically comprised of locations that they wish to explore. This is a good example of a specific goal that matches up with GMU’s offerings and shows , rather than tells, admissions officers that you want to make a difference.

Although this essay should mainly center on you and your personal reasons for wanting to go to college, it would be beneficial to include some specifics as to why GMU in particular is the university you want to attend. Mentioning GMU-specific offerings like classes, research projects, internship opportunities, and extracurriculars can add authenticity to your essay by creating a connection between GMU and you.

Here is an example of a potential response to this prompt:

“I will never forget how powerless I felt when my hometown’s river became polluted. For much of my childhood, Green River graciously hosted copious family picnics, summer fishing days, and school field trips. I spent countless hours on its banks picking wild geraniums for flower crowns as bullfrogs and crickets called to each other in the background. As my town became more industrialized, trash and chemicals tarnished our river. Town hall meetings and cleanup efforts were not effective, as there was a large scientific knowledge gap preventing families like mine from understanding how to resolve this issue. 

The opportunity to obtain the mental and physical tools to restore my childhood river greatly fuel my desire to pursue higher education. As an environmental science major at George Mason, I hope to find solutions that mitigate the issue of water pollution so that ecosystems like Green River can be saved. I want to create a biodegradable device that can filter and replenish the water by balancing pH levels and combating the adverse effects of harsh, man-made chemical products. GMU’s Mason Innovation Exchange program will afford me the interdisciplinary, collaborative space I need in order to solve water pollution issues both in my local community and in the larger global sphere. My motivation to get a higher education stems from my belief that I can make a positive difference for communities like my own. I know college will afford me the necessary resources to expand my scientific knowledge, allowing me to mitigate community issues.”

This response integrates a narrative-like feel with the author’s personal motivations. It demonstrates the applicant’s desire to attend college within the framework of GMU’s offerings. By taking this approach, you can humanize yourself in a way that allows admissions officers to gain a better understanding of who you are. This will make your application stand out and bolster your chances of gaining admission to GMU.

Want help with your college essays to improve your admissions chances? Sign up for your free CollegeVine account and get access to our essay guides and courses. You can also get your essay peer-reviewed and improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

George Mason Essay Guide 2023-24

George mason supplemental essays 2023-24.

College essays play an important role in the admissions process, just as they do at George Mason University . While there is only one George Mason essay (in addition to the Common App personal statement), students should take their time writing a stellar response. Naturally, students with strong responses to the George Mason University essay prompts have a better chance of standing out among a large pool of candidates. 

GMU is the largest public university in Virginia . The campus is diverse and students from every state and 130 countries make up the student body. While the acceptance rate is relatively high, applicants will still want to put their best work forward when applying. And, since there aren’t multiple George Mason University essay prompts to respond to, applicants have one chance to make it count. 

Without various George Mason University essay prompts to respond to, students will need to carefully choose how to write the George Mason supplemental essay. To write any successful college essay, you need to do some research on the school and its unique qualities. 

So, before we jump into writing the George Mason essay, let’s check out some GMU quick facts. 

George Mason Admissions: Quick Facts

George mason university quick facts.

• George Mason Acceptance Rate: 90% – U.S. News ranks George Mason University #51 on its Top Public Schools list. 
• 1 (~250 word) “Optional” Essay – This essay is optional for students who submit standardized test scores. However, this essay is required for students applying as score-optional.
• George Mason Application: Students may submit their application via the Common App or the Mason Exclusive Online Application . Make sure you have met all of the application requirements prior to applying. 
• Early Action: November 1
• Regular Decision: February 1 
• George Mason Essay Tip: There aren’t multiple George Mason University essay prompts. So, this “optional” George Mason essay is your only opportunity to share who you are and why you belong at GMU. Even if you are submitting test scores, GMU strongly recommends all applicants submit a George Mason supplemental essay.

Does George Mason require supplemental essays?

Technically, there are no required George Mason University essay prompts. However, there is one optional, school-specific essay. GMU Admissions refers to it as “an optional, but strongly encouraged personal statement.” If you want to submit the strongest application possible, you’ll want to consider the George Mason essay a principal feature of your application. 

While your other application requirements are important, none allow you to communicate who you are in your own words. The George Mason essay allows you to share your unique personality, writing style, and motivations for attending GMU.

Now, you may be thinking that without multiple George Mason University essay prompts to respond to, the GMU application will be simple. On the contrary, you’ll still want to give yourself a head start on the George Mason essay. If there were various George Mason University essay prompts, you’d have more opportunities to make your case for admissions. However, with only one short essay, it’s got to really count!

How many essays does George Mason require?

There is only one “optional” George Mason essay. However, the Common App writing requirements state that the optional George Mason essay is required for applicants who apply as score-optional. (GMU is test-optional , so students are not required to submit their standardized test scores). Either way, we encourage students to write the George Mason essay, whether they are submitting standardized test scores or not. 

Additionally, the Common App could be considered to have two George Mason essay prompts: the Common App personal statement and the GMU college-specific essay. While GMU does not require students to submit their Common App personal statement, you can still choose to do so. However, if you choose to apply on the Mason Exclusive Online Application, you won’t have multiple George Mason University essay prompts: there will be only one. 

What are the George Mason supplemental essays?

Now, you’re probably wondering: what are the George Mason University essay prompts? Well, the George Mason essay is considered a why this school essay. You’ve likely seen various versions of this prompt when applying to other institutions.

Below is the George Mason supplemental essay prompt:

George Mason University Supplemental Essay Prompt

What is your motivation for pursuing higher education? Why do you believe George Mason University is the right institution for you?

GMU recommends applicants use this George Mason essay to “tell us about yourself and your experiences that have led to this decision.” This can be a trying task as applicants only have approximately 250 words to use in this George Mason essay. And, without other George Mason University essay prompts to share more about yourself, this may seem like a daunting task. However, we’ll get some tips on how to do so shortly. 

Additionally, applicants who choose to apply via the Common App will be able to submit their Personal Statement . This gives them two George Mason essay prompts from which to make their case for admission. Depending on your grades, recommendations, and extracurriculars, this may be a bonus to applying via the Common App. If you feel like your application narrative would benefit from the ability to submit responses to two GMU essay prompts, then consider applying via the Common App. 

George Mason Essay Prompts 

The George Mason supplemental essay asks applicants to answer a complex question for many: why do you want to go to college? Many students may consider college to be the obvious next step, not even questioning it. However, for others, and many first-generation students, the opportunity to go to college could be at the forefront of their minds. No matter which group you fall into, you’ll need to unravel the question and figure out your motivation behind attending a higher education institution. 

Here’s the George Mason essay prompt one more time: 

Successful responses to the George Mason essay prompts will be specific and personal. Take some time to brainstorm each question of the George Mason supplemental essay prompt. When doing so, consider personal anecdotes, experiences, or values that have led you to seek out higher education. The best responses to the GMU essay prompts will be meaningful and personal, so allow yourself to dig deep when considering your essay theme.

The second part of the prompt is a standard why this school essay. Here, successful responses to the GMU essay prompts will show that you’ve done your research on specific offerings at GMU. Take some time to look through the website and course offerings . Learn about the campus culture and student organizations. Additionally, take a look at the university’s mission and values. Mention the aspect of the university that most calls your attention. And, most importantly, demonstrate why it’s important to you. 

As if doing all those things in about 250 words wasn’t challenging enough, you’ll also need to demonstrate why you’d be a great addition to the GMU community. This can be done through the anecdote you share, a value you hold, or an academic interest or curiosity you’ve explored. Be intentional with each word you use in this essay, and make sure that you’ve responded to each part of the George Mason essay prompt. 

Is George Mason hard to get into?

Generally speaking, George Mason University is rather accessible to most students when it comes to gaining admissions. The GMU acceptance rate is 90%, which is among the highest admissions rates in the nation. You may feel like this takes the pressure off of responses to the George Mason essay prompts. However, just because the university has a high acceptance rate, doesn’t mean you should slack when it comes to your George Mason essay! Writing an impressive essay should be an important part of your “how to get into George Mason University” strategy. 

GMU boasts an inclusive environment. In fact, referencing their high acceptance rate, GMU Admissions states, “We proudly accept nearly 90 percent of undergraduate applicants, because we believe in inclusivity over exclusivity.” This stance may be refreshing to many high school students, as prestige certainly isn’t the most important aspect of a school when it comes to finding your perfect fit. Visit campus or take a virtual tour if you are wondering if GMU is the right fit for you. If you visit early and fall in love with the feeling of the campus, it might even be something to reference in your George Mason essay!

Students applying to GMU will be evaluated holistically, meaning that admissions officers are carefully looking at each of the George Mason application requirements. So, while it’s important to meet the George Mason essay requirements, it’s equally important to get letters of recommendation. Even though GMU has a high acceptance rate, this doesn’t mean applicants should neglect the GMU essay prompts or complete the other George Mason application requirements. In fact, your essay and application can play an important role in gaining scholarships and financial aid . 

Does George Mason care about essays?

Since the George Mason University essay prompts are optional, you may be thinking: do George Mason University admissions officers even care about my essay? The simple answer is yes! George Mason University admissions carefully considers every part of an application. The George Mason essay is a wonderful opportunity to share more of yourself with admissions officers. Use the George Mason University essay prompts as opportunities to share your experiences, values, personality, and writing style with admissions. 

Well-written responses to the George Mason essay prompts will bolster your application. Additionally, the research and reflection you do while writing your George Mason essay will allow you deeper insight into your motivations and future career goals. Don’t minimize the power of reflecting on the important questions that George Mason essay prompts ask students. Learning more about yourself and your educational motivations is a wonderful side effect of writing meaningful responses to the George Mason University essay prompts. 

How do I make my George Mason essays stand out?

Now that you know admissions values the responses to the GMU essay prompts in their evaluation process, let’s look at how you can write your best George Mason essay. First of all, consider which application you’ll complete. If you choose to apply via the Common App, you’ll have two George Mason essay prompts to respond to—this gives you two opportunities to wow admissions officers. And, since you’ve probably worked hard on writing an impactful Common App Personal Statement, applying via this platform could be a wonderful way to share more about yourself as well as show off your writing chops. 

However, if you haven’t worked tirelessly on writing the perfect Common App personal statement, then you may benefit from responding to fewer George Mason essay prompts. Additionally, it will give you plenty of time to perfect your George Mason essay. 

Here are 3 tips for writing a strong George Mason supplemental essay: 

Get personal

Generic responses to George Mason essay prompts—or any college essay prompts —will always fall flat. Take this opportunity to truly reflect on the questions you’re asked. Brainstorm your most meaningful experiences. Then relate them to your motivations. Your George Mason essay should be unique to you!

Be specific

Along the same lines, be sure to get specific when responding to the GMU essay prompts. Particularly when it comes to the why this school essay aspect of the prompt. Mention specific offerings unique to GMU. This will require you to do some research on the school. Write about the aspect(s) that have most inspired you to apply. 

Start early!

Even though there aren’t various George Mason University essay prompts, that doesn’t mean you should leave your application to the last minute. Allow yourself the proper time to reflect, brainstorm, draft, edit, receive feedback, and draft again! Additionally, it might take some work to write an impactful George Mason essay in such few words. Give yourself plenty of time to do so!

More college essay resources from CollegeAdvisor

To guide students in crafting their most impactful application narrative, CollegeAdvisor has a variety of free resources for every step of your college journey. Whether responding to the GMU essay prompts, or other college essay prompts, choosing the topic can be the most challenging part of the process. Check out these college essay topics to help kick-start your brainstorming process. 

Another way to find inspiration for your own essays is by reading other college essays that worked. Additionally, since one of the George Mason essay prompts is the Common App personal statement, reading successful Common App essay examples will guide you in your journey to writing your best essays!

There are many facets to the college application process. Therefore, starting early and staying organized is the best way to have the most success with the least stress. Understanding college application deadlines is a crucial part of the planning process. You’ll want to understand important dates so that you meet not only the George Mason essay requirements but all the application requirements, in time. Likewise, getting professional guidance will help if you’re feeling overwhelmed. In addition to a library full of free resources, CollegeAdvisor has admission experts to help you along the way with personalized guidance. Reach out if you’re feeling overwhelmed!

George Mason Supplemental Essays – Final Tips

Remember that the George Mason essay is essentially a why school essay. Therefore, when planning responses to the George Mason essay prompts, reflect on your reasons for applying to GMU. Then do some research on specific programs and offerings only found at GMU. Carefully consider each sentence you write, as you don’t have many words to make an impact. Writing a successful George Mason essay will only add to your application narrative. So, even though they’re technically optional, give the George Mason University essay prompts the attention they deserve. 

Here are some final tips to keep in mind when writing your George Mason essay: 

Reflect on your experiences

The George Mason supplemental essay prompt asks students a big question: why do you want to go to college? While it may seem like an obvious question, it may be the first time you’ve been asked it. Consider your personal and academic experiences carefully before responding. What experience(s) have led you to seek higher education?

Make it meaningful

The George Mason essay should be impactful. Therefore, your topic doesn’t necessarily matter (as long as you answer the prompt fully). What matters most is that you’re writing about something that is meaningful to you and has impacted you greatly. Successful college essays are passionate—however, passion can’t be faked. So take this opportunity to get real with yourself, and put it on paper!

Grammar and mechanics matter

You certainly don’t want your essay to stand out in the wrong way. Nothing irks admissions officers more than reading responses to the GMU essay prompts that are full of grammatical and spelling errors. Therefore, make sure you edit your essay! Get another pair of eyes to read over your George Mason essay to ensure that it has no mechanical errors. 

Use this guide to round out your “how to get into George Mason University” plan and impress George Mason University admissions with your essay. And, remember that you’re not alone when it comes to the college journey. Get guidance from counselors, parents, classmates, and admissions experts to help you along the way!

This essay guide was written by Sarah Kaminski. Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.

Personalized and effective college advising for high school students.

• Advisor Application
• Popular Colleges
• Privacy Policy and Cookie Notice
• Student Login
• California Privacy Notice
• Terms and Conditions
• Your Privacy Choices

By using the College Advisor site and/or working with College Advisor, you agree to our updated Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy , including an arbitration clause that covers any disputes relating to our policies and your use of our products and services.

Join Now to View Premium Content

GradeSaver provides access to 2365 study guide PDFs and quizzes, 11012 literature essays, 2781 sample college application essays, 926 lesson plans, and ad-free surfing in this premium content, “Members Only” section of the site! Membership includes a 10% discount on all editing orders.

George Mason University

Honors essay nafi ahnaf, please submit the honors college essay. the essay should be 750 words or less. the honors college would like you to respond to the following prompt: "our experience of the universe, our planet earth, and the history of humankind continues to present unanswered questions and unresolved problems. if you were to choose one question or problem to investigate during your undergraduate years at mason, what would it be why are you interested in the topic, what research do you wish to conduct during your studies concerning this, and what do you hope to gain from your inquiry.

My uncle, a father of two who works as a waiter at a Marriott hotel in Fairfax Virginia, had his identity stolen in late 2014 by someone in New York City. For the most part, our everyday lives are a series of passing decisions; in an ever-evolving technology world, keeping our personal information and data shouldn’t be something we have to actively monitor on every single device that is vulnerable. How can the everyday blue collar worker save himself or herself from the growing threat of cyber-attacks and hacking?

My aspirations had always been towards programming, but just recently have I realized my true aspiration. While coding an application to encrypt a set data array, I suddenly realized that I had added three more functions that were not even supposed to be in the final product. I knew that my ultimate goal was to produce a program that could do anything and everything. My life felt as if it had begun anew. I started making a program that incorporated all of my previous projects, and in a day, had a very slow program that could not run properly due to all of the things being loaded at once. To fix this problem, I created a program that would not load the individual pieces until a button was fixed. This program worked...

GradeSaver provides access to 2313 study guide PDFs and quizzes, 10989 literature essays, 2751 sample college application essays, 911 lesson plans, and ad-free surfing in this premium content, “Members Only” section of the site! Membership includes a 10% discount on all editing orders.

Already a member? Log in

• Have your assignments done by seasoned writers. 24/7
• Contact us:
• +1 (213) 221-0069
• [email protected]

Honors College Essay: Tips, Prompt Examples and How to Write

Writing honors college essay

An honors college essay is an academic paper that students typically complete to establish entrance into an honors college, program, or division. An honors paper seeks to test students’ research skills and focus their analytical abilities on a subject of academic interest. 

Due to the specialized focus of the paper, students benefit from serious attention to the college essay topics, which are vital in developing the essay.

An Honors College essay is unique in terms of its requirements, structure, and background. The purpose of this article is to provide advice on writing and structuring an Honors College essay.

People Also Read: SAT Essay Cancellation: Before College Registration Process

Which Universities do Ask for Honors College Essay

1. uci (university of california irvine) .

The UCI has two programs, the Academic Honors Program and the Honors Program. Both are popular with many members. They are not mutually exclusive, but they have different requirements and different goals.

The Academic Honors Program is for students who want to get recognized by their professors for academic achievement. It does not require an essay but several letters of recommendation from faculty members.

You should not apply to either program if you are only interested in one or the other because there is no guarantee that either program will accept your application or that you will gain acceptance into either program.

2. VCU (Virginia Commonwealth University)

The applicants must complete the 500-word Essay on Honors. The essay should address the following topics:

• Your interests and goals, especially as they pertain to your intended major(s) and career path(s). How do you feel about being a lifelong learner?
• Your ideas about leadership, including h
• How you would define leadership, what your leadership style is, how you would use your abilities as a leader to positively impact your community in and out of college, and how you would lead if given the opportunity.

3. NJT (New Jersey Institute of Technology)

NJT requires you to write an essay and submit it along with your application.

These honors college essays usually focus on your intellectual interests and experiences, using specific examples to illustrate your points. It’s essential to select an area you are interested in and know about. 

You should also pick something that you can write about easily; it will be evident if you are writing a research paper or other academic work instead of an honors college essay, so don’t try to fake it!

4. Purdue University

Purdue University’s Honors College focuses on scholarship, leadership, research, and engagement by integrating residential and co-curricular learning opportunities with academic classroom experiences.

Your college application essay needs to breathe life into your application. It should capture your genuine personality, explaining who you are beyond a series of grades, test scores, and after-school activities. 

Take a minute and think about the college or university admission officers who will be reading your essay.

5. Stony Brook University

The Stony Brook Honors College provides an exceptional opportunity for students who want to pursue a challenging course of study in the company of talented peers. Your essay should be no longer than three double-spaced pages and should address certain questions.

It is an opportunity to explain an event that took place on any day in history; what would that event be? Discuss why you chose this particular day. Also, as this question, what do you hope to learn/experience by being present?

People Also Read: AP Capstone Pros and Cons: Is it Worth It? Do colleges Care

How to Write a Good Honors College Essay

Honors college essays follow a formal style with a clear structure. To get your honors college essay, follow these tips:

• Think about the prompt and what you want to say.
• Brainstorm.
• Organize your thoughts into a logical outline.
• Write your introduction.
• End with a conclusion that sums up the main points of your argument and connects those points back to the prompt.

Technically, the honors college essay can be a five-paragraph essay, but it should be more than that.

It should be closer to a 10-paragraph essay, with an introduction and conclusion paragraph that are each about four or five sentences long.

The introduction and conclusion paragraphs should be about the same size. The middle of the essay should be about three paragraphs long, and each of them should be about four to five sentences long.

1. Introduction 

The introduction should have a hook which is a catchy sentence or two that gets the reader interested in reading your essay. Furthermore, it should have an explanation of why you want to go to Honors College: This is usually possible in one sentence. 

Also, there should be a thesis statement. This is usually evident in one sentence at the end of the paragraph. The thesis statement tells the reader what you plan to write about in your essay. For example: “I want to attend honors college because of their strong pre-med program.”

Write the body of your paper using transition words to connect your ideas and explain the connections between them.

The middle paragraphs should include an explanation of why you have chosen your career path and why you are interested. 

3. Conclusion

End with a strong conclusion that ties together everything you discussed within your paper, providing important takeaways for readers as well as leaving them feeling satisfied with what they just read.

Takeaways 

• You are writing an essay, not a text message. In other words, please use complete sentences and correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation. If proper English is not your strong suit, enlist someone proficient at it to help edit your essay.
• Be specific about what you want to study and why. Do not just say that you want an education; tell the reader what kind of education you want and why. This is particularly important if you plan to study something that you did not find at your high school. 
• The readers do not expect you to know everything about the field you plan to enter. They expect that you give serious consideration to it and explain why you want to pursue it beyond the fact that “it sounds interesting” or “it pays well.”
• Proofread your essays before sending them in. Errors will distract from whatever else is in those essays and may give us a negative impression of your abilities.

Things to Remember about Honor Essays

The honors essay is one of your best chances to stand out in a meaningful way from other applicants, so be sure to invest time in crafting a great response.

The admission office is looking for the following:

• The office wants to know that you understand what makes the honors program special. We have a diverse group of students and faculty who are passionate about learning and interacting across disciplines.
• What do you think this will mean for you? How will you take advantage of being in an environment that values interdisciplinary thinking?
• Your accomplishments. Let the audience know your talents. Have you excelled academically? What leadership roles have you taken on, or awards have you won? They want to discover what drives your passion for learning, leadership, and service.
• Your plans for the future. The honors program will prepare you for success beyond your skills, whether that’s graduate school or medical school, or a career in a completely different field. 

People Also Read: NJHS Essay: How to Write a Winning Piece from Ideas to end

Examples of Honors College Essay Topics

• Considering your lifetime goals, explain how your present and future academic activities will assist you in achieving your goals. 
• Settle for an issue of importance to you, whether it is political, personal, local, or international related. Then, craft an essay to explain the significance of that issue to yourself, your community, and your generation. 

When not handling complex essays and academic writing tasks, Josh is busy advising students on how to pass assignments. In spare time, he loves playing football or walking with his dog around the park.

Related posts

Titles for Essay about Yourself

Good Titles for Essays about yourself: 31 Personal Essay Topics

How to Write a Diagnostic Essay

How to Write a Diagnostic Essay: Meaning and Topics Example

How Scantron Detects Cheating

Scantron Cheating: How it Detects Cheating and Tricks Students Use

Get the Reddit app

The unofficial community subreddit for students, faculty, alumni, and friends of George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.

Is applying to honors college worth it?

Hi! Current freshman at GMU here. My current GPA is a 3.93 I was wondering if honors college is worth anything? Do I have more of a chance to get scholarships? Is networking easier? How do the professors deal w/ students with disability accomodations?

Also I'm a double major, psych and art :)

By continuing, you agree to our User Agreement and acknowledge that you understand the Privacy Policy .

Enter the 6-digit code from your authenticator app

You’ve set up two-factor authentication for this account.

Enter a 6-digit backup code

Create your username and password.

Reddit is anonymous, so your username is what you’ll go by here. Choose wisely—because once you get a name, you can’t change it.

Reset your password

Enter your email address or username and we’ll send you a link to reset your password

Check your inbox

An email with a link to reset your password was sent to the email address associated with your account

Choose a Reddit account to continue

How To Tackle The Weirdest Supplemental Essay Prompts For This Application Cycle

• Share to Facebook
• Share to Twitter
• Share to Linkedin

Writing the college essay

How do you write a letter to a friend that shows you’re a good candidate for the University of Pennsylvania? What reading list will help the Columbia University admissions committee understand your interdisciplinary interests? How can you convey your desire to attend Yale by inventing a course description for a topic you’re interested in studying?

These are the challenges students must overcome when writing their supplemental essays . Supplemental essays are a critical component of college applications—like the personal statement, they provide students with the opportunity to showcase their authentic voice and perspective beyond the quantitative elements of their applications. However, unlike the personal essay, supplemental essays allow colleges to read students’ responses to targeted prompts and evaluate their candidacy for their specific institution. For this reason, supplemental essay prompts are often abstract, requiring students to get creative, read between the lines, and ditch the traditional essay-writing format when crafting their responses.

While many schools simply want to know “why do you want to attend our school?” others break the mold, inviting students to think outside of the box and answer prompts that are original, head-scratching, or downright weird. This year, the following five colleges pushed students to get creative—if you’re struggling to rise to the challenge, here are some tips for tackling their unique prompts:

University of Chicago

Prompt: We’re all familiar with green-eyed envy or feeling blue, but what about being “caught purple-handed”? Or “tickled orange”? Give an old color-infused expression a new hue and tell us what it represents. – Inspired by Ramsey Bottorff, Class of 2026

What Makes it Unique: No discussion of unique supplemental essay prompts would be complete without mentioning the University of Chicago, a school notorious for its puzzling and original prompts (perhaps the most well-known of these has been the recurring prompt “Find x”). This prompt challenges you to invent a new color-based expression, encouraging both linguistic creativity and a deep dive into the emotional or cultural connotations of color. It’s a prompt that allows you to play with language, think abstractly, and show off your ability to forge connections between concepts that aren’t typically linked—all qualities that likewise demonstrate your preparedness for UChicago’s unique academic environment.

Best High-Yield Savings Accounts Of 2024

Best 5% interest savings accounts of 2024.

How to Answer it: While it may be easy to get distracted by the open-ended nature of the prompt, remember that both the substance and structure of your response should give some insight into your personality, perspective, and characteristics. With this in mind, begin by considering the emotions, experiences, or ideas that most resonate with you. Then, use your imagination to consider how a specific color could represent that feeling or concept. Remember that the prompt is ultimately an opportunity to showcase your creativity and original way of looking at the world, so your explanation does not need to be unnecessarily deep or complex—if you have a playful personality, convey your playfulness in your response; if you are known for your sarcasm, consider how you can weave in your biting wit; if you are an amateur poet, consider how you might take inspiration from poetry as you write, or offer a response in the form of a poem.

The goal is to take a familiar concept and turn it into something new and meaningful through a creative lens. Use this essay to showcase your ability to think inventively and to draw surprising connections between language and life.

Harvard University

Prompt: Top 3 things your roommates might like to know about you.

What Makes it Unique: This prompt is unique in both form and substance—first, you only have 150 words to write about all 3 things. Consider using a form other than a traditional essay or short answer response, such as a bullet list or short letter. Additionally, note that the things your roommate might like to learn about you do not necessarily overlap with the things you would traditionally share with an admissions committee. The aim of the prompt is to get to know your quirks and foibles—who are you as a person and a friend? What distinguishes you outside of academics and accolades?

How to Answer it: First and foremost, feel free to get creative with your response to this prompt. While you are producing a supplemental essay and thus a professional piece of writing, the prompt invites you to share more personal qualities, and you should aim to demonstrate your unique characteristics in your own voice. Consider things such as: How would your friends describe you? What funny stories do your parents and siblings share that encapsulate your personality? Or, consider what someone might want to know about living with you: do you snore? Do you have a collection of vintage posters? Are you particularly fastidious? While these may seem like trivial things to mention, the true creativity is in how you connect these qualities to deeper truths about yourself—perhaps your sleepwalking is consistent with your reputation for being the first to raise your hand in class or speak up about a cause you’re passionate about. Perhaps your living conditions are a metaphor for how your brain works—though it looks like a mess to everyone else, you have a place for everything and know exactly where to find it. Whatever qualities you choose, embrace the opportunity to think outside of the box and showcase something that admissions officers won’t learn about anywhere else on your application.

University of Pennsylvania

Prompt: Write a short thank-you note to someone you have not yet thanked and would like to acknowledge.

What Makes it Unique: Breaking from the traditional essay format, this supplement invites you to write directly to a third party in the form of a 150-200 word long letter. The challenge in answering this distinct prompt is to remember that your letter should say as much about you, your unique qualities and what you value as it does about the recipient—all while not seeming overly boastful or contrived.

How to Answer it: As you select a recipient, consider the relationships that have been most formative in your high school experience—writing to someone who has played a large part in your story will allow the admissions committee some insight into your development and the meaningful relationships that guided you on your journey. Once you’ve identified the person, craft a thank-you note that is specific and heartfelt—unlike other essays, this prompt invites you to be sentimental and emotional, as long as doing so would authentically convey your feelings of gratitude. Describe the impact they’ve had on you, what you’ve learned from them, and how their influence has shaped your path. For example, if you’re thanking a teacher, don’t just say they helped you become a better student—explain how their encouragement gave you the confidence to pursue your passions. Keep the tone sincere and personal, avoid clichés and focus on the unique role this person has played in your life.

University of Notre Dame

Prompt: What compliment are you most proud of receiving, and why does it mean so much to you?

What Makes it Unique: This prompt is unique in that it invites students to share something about themselves by reflecting on someone else’s words in 50-100 words.

How to Answer it: The key to answering this prompt is to avoid focusing too much on the complement itself and instead focus on your response to receiving it and why it was so important to you. Note that this prompt is not an opportunity to brag about your achievements, but instead to showcase what truly matters to you. Select a compliment that truly speaks to who you are and what you value. It could be related to your character, work ethic, kindness, creativity, or any other quality that you hold in high regard. The compliment doesn’t have to be grand or come from someone with authority—it could be something small but significant that left a lasting impression on you, or it could have particular meaning for you because it came from someone you didn’t expect it to come from. Be brief in setting the stage and explaining the context of the compliment—what is most important is your reflection on its significance and how it shaped your understanding of yourself.

Stanford University

Prompt: List five things that are important to you.

What Makes it Unique: This prompt’s simplicity is what makes it so challenging. Stanford asks for a list, not an essay, which means you have very limited space (50 words) to convey something meaningful about yourself. Additionally, the prompt does not specify what these “things” must be—they could be a physical item, an idea, a concept, or even a pastime. Whatever you choose, these five items should add depth to your identity, values, and priorities.

How to Answer it: Start by brainstorming what matters most to you—these could be values, activities, people, places, or even abstract concepts. The key is to choose items or concepts that, when considered together, provide a comprehensive snapshot of who you are. For example, you might select something tangible and specific such as “an antique telescope gifted by my grandfather” alongside something conceptual such as “the willingness to admit when you’re wrong.” The beauty of this prompt is that it doesn’t require complex sentences or elaborate explanations—just a clear and honest reflection of what you hold dear. Be thoughtful in your selections, and use this prompt to showcase your creativity and core values.

While the supplemental essays should convey something meaningful about you, your values, and your unique qualifications for the university to which you are applying, the best essays are those that are playful, original, and unexpected. By starting early and taking the time to draft and revise their ideas, students can showcase their authentic personalities and distinguish themselves from other applicants through their supplemental essays.

• Editorial Standards
• Reprints & Permissions