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College Essays

Are you hoping to be part of Virginia Tech's next matriculating class? If so, you'll need to write strong Virginia Tech essays to supplement your application.

All Virginia Tech applicants are required to answer four short answer questions as part of their application. In this article, we'll break down what the Virginia Tech essays are and what the admissions committee is looking for in your answer.

Why Does Virginia Tech Require Applicants to Answer Essays?

Virginia Tech requires all applicants to answer four short answer questions. If you're applying to the Honors College, your answers will also be shared with the Honors College admissions committee. You don't need to answer any separate questions as an applicant to the Virginia Tech Honors College.

The Virginia Tech essays are designed for the admissions committee to get a better sense of who you are, both as a student and a person. The short answers questions ask about your character, leadership, and goals. The admissions committee will use your answers to better understand you as a person—who are you? What do you care about? How will you fit in on Virginia Tech's campus?

It's important to put some serious effort into your Virginia Tech essays so that you represent yourself well to the admissions committee. These essays are your chance to present a well-rounded version of yourself that makes the admissions committee say, "We have to admit this student!"

What Are the Virginia Tech Essays?

Virginia Tech requires that every applicant answer four short answer questions. These short answer questions are just that—short! Each has a word limit of 120 words. Let's take a look at the 2022-2023 essay questions:

#1: Virginia Tech's motto is "Ut Prosim" which means 'That I May Serve'. Share how you contribute to a community that is important to you. How long have you been involved? What have you learned and how would you like to share that with others at Virginia Tech?

#2: Resilience is defined as the ability to adapt and learn from a difficulty. Reflect on a time that you have exhibited resilience. What growth did you see in yourself after this experience?

#3: Share a time when you were most proud of yourself either as a role model or when you displayed your leadership. What specific skills did you contribute to the experience? How did others rely on you for guidance? What did you learn about yourself during this time?

#4: Describe a goal that you have set and the steps you will take to achieve it. What made you set this goal for yourself? What is your timeline to achieve this goal? Who do you seek encouragement or guidance from and how do they support your progress as you work on this goal?

Virginia Tech Essays, Analyzed

Now that we know what the Virginia Tech essays are, let's break down how to answer each one as best as possible.

Since the Virginia Tech essays are so short, the key is to be super targeted in your responses. For each prompt, we'll break down what the essay is asking and how you can tailor your response to make sure it's what the admissions committee wants to hear.

Essay Question 1

Virginia Tech's motto is "Ut Prosim" which means 'That I May Serve'. Share how you contribute to a community that is important to you. How long have you been involved? What have you learned and how would you like to share that with others at Virginia Tech?

This essay question is asking about your involvement or service with a specific community. The admissions committee is looking for you to demonstrate a genuine commitment to a cause —what the cause is doesn't matter as much as the fact that you genuinely care about it.

To start, think about the communities that are important to you. This could be your family, neighborhood, school, place of worship, a club, etc. Then think about how you've worked to have a positive impact  there. Finally, consider the lessons you've learned from helping the community that you'll bring with you to Virginia Tech. 

You should pick a community that you've made real, lasting change at. Don't choose something that sounds the best if you haven't actually done a lot for them. For instance, if you were a member of your school's Habitat for Humanity club but didn't actually attend very many meetings, don't talk about how meaningful it was to build houses for disadvantaged people just because you think it sounds nice. Any insincerity in your application will be very obvious.

Essay Question 2

Resilience is defined as the ability to adapt and learn from a difficulty. Reflect on a time that you have exhibited resilience. What growth did you see in yourself after this experience?

This second question can seem intimidating—you'll need to reflect on a tough time and analyze how you grew as a person because of it.

Fortunately, this doesn't need to be an all-out catastrophe that happened in your life. Anything that you found a challenge but were able to overcome and learn from is fair game. For example, you could discuss not making the school basketball team, even though it was your dream to play on it, then deciding to rededicate yourself to practicing so you wouldn't let this failure define you. 

Your goal isn't to impress the admissions committee with the most tragic tale they've seen, but instead to show how you learn and grow from challenges.  So, as you're writing, keep the actual description of the setback short and focus most of your response on how you showed resilience because of it.

Essay Question 3

Share a time when you were most proud of yourself either as a role model or when you displayed your leadership. What specific skills did you contribute to the experience? How did others rely on you for guidance? What did you learn about yourself during this time?

This prompt wants to know two things: first, have you taken on the responsibility of leading other people? Second, what did it teach you about yourself?

The admissions committee wants to know that you don't shy away from mentorship roles and growth opportunities. You don't have to be president of a club or captain of a sports team to demonstrate leadership. Perhaps you took on the role of project coordinator for a classroom project or are section leader of a few instrumentalists in the band. The size of the role isn't as important as the scope of your influence—how did your choices and actions influence others as well as your perception of yourself?

The question also specifically asks you to explain how you relied on others for guidance, so be sure to make it clear that you weren't just making decisions unilaterally. In this essay, you want to show that you're capable of making decisions, but also that you're capable of cooperation and self-reflection.

Essay Question 4

Describe a goal that you have set and the steps you will take to achieve it. What made you set this goal for yourself? What is your timeline to achieve this goal? Who do you seek encouragement or guidance from and how do they support your progress as you work on this goal?

The final Virginia Tech short essay question assesses your commitment to growth. Notice that the question asks about a personal goal—that means you don't have to pick something lofty or world-changing. You just have to pick something that resonates with you.

Maybe you decided to wake up 30 minutes earlier every day so you can meditate or do yoga before school. Maybe you made it a goal to complete all of your essays two days before they were due so you could revise your work. Maybe you made it a goal to try a sport this year when you normally hate sports.

Whatever your goal is, you want to demonstrate that you're capable of self-reflection and of positive growth —that you're constantly assessing how to better yourself.

You also want to show humility in this prompt—that you can rely on or ask for help from others when you need it. The admissions committee doesn't expect that you'll have all the answers yourself. They want to see that you can collaborate with and learn from others when you need to.

Tips for Answering Your Virginia Tech Essays

Follow these general tips for making sure that your Virginia Tech essays are as strong as possible.

#1: Demonstrate Growth and Self-Reflection

Virginia Tech places a strong emphasis on service and self-reflection. These qualities are reflected in the choices of essay topics.

You should demonstrate these qualities in your answers. Show that you're constantly working to better yourself. Demonstrate humility and understanding. Virginia Tech wants students who will grow on their campus—not ones who will matriculate already thinking they're perfect.

#2: Be Honest and Sincere

All of the experiences that you outline in your Virginia Tech essays should be real—they need to have actually happened to you.

It can be tempting to lie about or exaggerate your experiences to make them seem more impressive. Don't do this!

First of all, lying on your application is a major ethics violation and can get you in some pretty serious trouble if you're caught.

Second all, insincerity will be super obvious. The admissions committee reads thousands of applications every year. They can easily sniff out people who are lying. Be as honest as possible in your Virginia Tech essays and remember—they WANT to hear about how you've grown.

#3: Proofread!

It should go without saying, but your Virginia Tech essays should be the best examples of your work possible. Don't just write your essays and be done with them. Take the time to formulate an answer and then go back and edit it. Make sure to proofread and run your work through a spelling or grammar checker to ensure it's polished.

#4: Get a Second Opinion

Getting a second opinion on your work can be a helpful way to assess whether your Virginia Tech essays are demonstrating your best qualities. Ask someone to read your work who really knows you, so they can tell you whether or not you're underselling yourself or missing a key feature of your personality that the admissions committee should know.

That being said, there's a fine line between getting a second opinion and plagiarism. It's okay to ask for someone's opinion on your work. It's not okay to steal their ideas and pass them off as your own. Make sure you're doing the former, not the latter.

Recap: Responding to the Virginia Tech Essay Prompts

The Virginia Tech essays are designed to show who you are as a student and how you'll fit in on Virginia Tech's campus.

• Be honest and sincere.
• Highlight opportunities you've taken to grow and change.
• Edit and proofread your work to make sure it's as strong as possible.
• Lie or over exaggerate to make yourself seem better.
• Steal anyone else's ideas.
• Sweat the short answers too much. They're important, but they won't make or break your chances at admission to Virginia Tech.

What's Next?

Want to know how to make your extracurriculars stand out even more? Check out this guide to four amazing extracurricular activities and learn why they're so impressive to colleges.

Thinking of applying to other great schools like Princeton , Brown , or Columbia ? Then be sure to check out our guides to learn how you can write amazing essays for these schools' supplements.

Hayley Milliman is a former teacher turned writer who blogs about education, history, and technology. When she was a teacher, Hayley's students regularly scored in the 99th percentile thanks to her passion for making topics digestible and accessible. In addition to her work for PrepScholar, Hayley is the author of Museum Hack's Guide to History's Fiercest Females.

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Virginia Tech

Founded in 1872, Virginia Tech takes a hands-on, engaging approach to education. As Virginia’s most comprehensive university and its leading research institution, Virginia Tech offers about 280 undergraduate and graduate degree programs to more than 37,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students and manages a research portfolio of more than $556 million. The university fulfills its land-grant mission of transforming knowledge to practice through technological leadership and by fueling economic growth and job creation locally, regionally, and across Virginia. Read more Accepts first-year applications Accepts transfer applications South Public Rural Large (15,000+) Co-Ed No personal essay required - First Year No letter of recommendation required - First Year Accepts self-reported test scores - First Year Test Optional/Flexible - First Year No letter of recommendation required - Transfer Test Optional/Flexible - Transfer Virtual Tour Academic Programs

• Architecture; Agriculture; Natural Resources
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• Co-op/Internship Opportunities
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• Experiential Learning; Service Opportunities; Corps of Cadets; Top-Ranked Dining
• Intramural/Club Sports
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• On-Campus Housing
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Application information

Find out about requirements, fees, and deadlines

First year applicants should apply by the following deadlines:

• Early Action: November 15
• Regular Decision: January 15

Transfer applicants have attempted 12 or more credits after high school graduation. The most important factors considered are:

• Completion or progress toward completion of prerequisite coursework for your intended major. Create a competitive schedule by following the appropriate  Admissions Transfer Roadmap .
• Overall GPA in all college coursework with an emphasis on courses related to your intended major, as well as more recent work. 
• Although we consider applicants with a cumulative GPA of 2.5, most competitive applicants will present a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. In majors where applications exceed available space, the competitive GPA may be higher.
• Spring Entry: October 1
• Summer / Fall Entry: March 1

Additional Information

• General Scholarship Application: January 22
• FAFSA: March 1 (priority deadline)

Visiting Virginia Tech is a great way to learn more about admissions, the community on campus, and your specific academic interests. No matter where you are in your college search process, we encourage a visit to see Virginia Tech for yourself. We do not track demonstrated interest so you can visit Virginia Tech on your own or through a scheduled information session and tour. If you are unable to come for a scheduled visit during the week, we do offer Open Houses on three different weekends throughout the academic year. 

We are known for our spirit of community, an increasingly rich diversity of human experiences, and the drive to turn discovery into action. Our living motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), is woven through everything we do to harness our students’ passions, develop their strengths, and prepare them for a life and career of impactful service to humanity. Tim Sands, President

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vt.edu/admissions/undergraduate.html

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finaid.vt.edu/

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Virginia Tech Supplemental Essays Guide: 2021-2022

Not sure how to write Virginia Tech supplemental essays? CollegeAdvisor.com ’s guide to the Virginia Tech application essays will show you exactly how to write engaging Virginia Tech essays and maximize your chances of admission. If you need help crafting your Virginia Tech supplemental essays, create your free account or schedule a free advising consultation by calling (844) 343-6272.

Virginia Tech Essay Guide Quick Facts:

• Virginia Tech’s acceptance rate is 67% 
• U.S. News considers Virginia Tech a selective school.
• Virginia Tech is ranked #75 on the U.S. News ‘ list of National Universities .

Does Virginia Tech Have any Supplemental Essays?

Yes. In addition to the personal statement that you will write for the Common App or the Coalition App , you’ll also answer four Virginia Tech essay prompts. The Virginia Tech essay questions are designed for the admissions committee to get a better sense of who you are as a student, peer, and person.

Need some help writing your Common App essay? Get great tips from our Common App essay guide .  

How Many Essays does Virginia Tech Require?

You must answer four Virginia Tech essay questions when you complete your application. Each of the Virginia Tech essay questions requires a response of no more than 120 words. It is just as challenging to write a short essay as it is to write a long essay, so take time to brainstorm, outline, draft, and revise each of your four Virginia Tech supplemental essays. There should be a targeted message in each of your Virginia Tech essays. 

What are the Essays for Virginia Tech?

The Virginia Tech application essays for Virginia Tech are about four topics: service, resilience, leadership, and goals. Each of the Virginia Tech essay prompts is relatively broad. This gives you lots of freedom and flexibility to choose your topic and articulate the story you tell in each of your Virginia Tech supplemental essays. At 120 words each, your Virginia Tech essays must be clear and concise. 

How do I Write the Essays for Virginia Tech: Question 1

Prompt 1: Virginia Tech’s motto is “Ut Prosim” which means ‘That I May Serve’. Share how you contribute to a community that is important to you. How long have you been involved? What have you learned and how would you like to share that with others at Virginia Tech? (120 words)

Question #1 of the Virginia Tech supplemental essays is a bit of a twist on the classic community service essay. Since the school incorporates its motto into the prompt, you will also want to look at the school’s core values and mission statement. These will help you learn what should be reflected in your Virginia Tech application essays. 

“Community” is defined very broadly. Successful Virginia Tech essays can be written about families, teams, project groups, neighborhoods, religious groups, or any other group of people with whom you spend your time. The key to writing a strong Virginia Tech supplemental essay is to choose a community that is important to you. The best Virginia Tech supplemental essays show how you have been an active member of your community. Through your Virginia Tech supplemental essays establish clearly how you would be an active member of communities on campus.

Address each part

This prompt asks that you include a few specific details in your Virginia Tech supplemental essays: how long you have been involved, what you learned, and how you would share it at Virginia Tech. The best Virginia Tech essays will not only answer these but also discuss the “why.” Why do you choose to spend time impacting this community in particular? In your Virginia Tech supplemental essays, articulate how what you do has shaped who you are.

Importantly, this prompt is not asking you to describe the community in your Virginia Tech application essays. Rather, you should discuss your role in the community in-depth. How has your involvement transformed you? How have you transformed the community? Service is inherently about others, but your 120-word Virginia Tech supplemental essays should contain vivid stories that illustrate your qualities and character traits. 

Connecting your cause

What cause are you committed to? This is the essential question that effective Virginia Tech supplemental essays will answer. Then, you can connect your passions to opportunities at Virginia Tech. Perhaps, you could highlight an initiative or two that you would get involved in through VT Engage or in volunteer opportunities in Roanoke in your Virginia Tech supplemental essays.  In your Virginia Tech essays, make an authentic connection between what you do now and what activities and organizations you plan to be involved in at Virginia Tech. 

In this and all your responses to the Virginia Tech essay questions, avoid writing a monologue on the meaning of service in general or using cliche examples and phrases. Also, be sure to hone in on a specific and personal story in your Virginia Tech essays. This should not be a laundry list of your community service endeavors. 

Essay Draft Key Questions:

• Do you answer all parts of the Virginia Tech essay questions in your essay? 
• Does your essay tell a compelling story?
• Do you clearly establish your “why” in your essay?
• Does the reader learn what is important to you through your Virginia Tech application essays?

How do I write the essays for Virginia Tech: Question 2

Prompt 2: Resilience is defined as the ability to adapt and learn from a difficulty. Reflect on a time that you have exhibited resilience. What growth did you see in yourself after this experience? (120 words)

This Virginia Tech application essay is almost identical to the common ‘overcoming challenges’ essay archetype, but with an emphasis on resilience. The best Virginia Tech application essays that answer this prompt will be authentic; the adversity that you overcame does not have to be traumatic or monumental. 

How you handled the challenge is more important than what the challenge was. So, don’t force a topic into your Virginia Tech supplemental essays. Your Virginia Tech essays will be better if you discuss a low-stakes challenge authentically than if you fabricate a high-stakes challenge that doesn’t have implications for your character, skills, or growth. 

Be specific and personal to make your Virginia Tech application essays stand out among the many other qualified applicants. Illustrate the traits and skills that you showed in your resilience. What motivates you? What enabled you to persevere? Your choice of topic is one way to stand out in your Virginia Tech essays, but so is your ability to write about your chosen topic. 

The best Virginia Tech application essays will incorporate elements of vulnerability and transparency. Before drafting your responses to this and each of the Virginia Tech essay prompts, take time to reflect on how your essay conveys your values. Also, remember that rarely do we overcome adversity alone. In your Virginia Tech essays, you can write about how you relied on others as part of being resilient.

Virginia Tech supplemental essays answering this prompt are only 120 words, so let’s talk about structure. In your Virginia Tech essays, take a few sentences to lay the foundation, elaborate descriptively on your story, and emphasize the “so what?” — why does it matter? 

The best way to maximize the 120 word limit in your responses to the Virginia Tech essay prompts is to show instead of tell. Use vivid descriptions instead of simple narration to make the reader feel like they are part of your story. How did you feel? What was your environment like? Who did you interact with? 

Avoid overused cliche examples such as losing a sports game or getting a bad grade unless you can make them extremely unique and personal. 

• Do you show instead of tell your message in your Virginia Tech supplemental essays?
• Is your choice of topic specific and personal?
• Do you focus more on your resilience in handling the challenge than the challenge itself?
• Did you thoroughly proofread your Virginia Tech essays for grammar and content?

How do I write the essays for Virginia Tech: Question 3

Prompt 3: Share a time when you were most proud of yourself either as a role model or when you displayed your leadership. What specific skills did you contribute to the experience? How did others rely on you for guidance? What did you learn about yourself during this time? (120 words)

When choosing your topic to write about for this Virginia Tech supplemental essay, you can discuss being a role model through one of several avenues: influencing others, leadership, resolving a dispute, or contributing to group goals. You have a lot of freedom when answering the Virginia Tech essay prompts! Think about a situation in which you took an active role in a group setting among peers, adults, or your family. In your Virginia Tech essays, highlight how your leadership demonstrates your problem-solving abilities and other character traits. 

When writing your Virginia Tech application essays, don’t worry if you don’t have an official leadership title such as president of a club or student council representative. Virginia Tech does not expect that every leader has a title. The impact you had in your role is significantly more important to discuss in your Virginia Tech supplemental essays than the title or size of the role you held. 

Different kinds of leadership

The leadership you discuss in your response to the Virginia Tech essay questions can be academic, professional, social, or otherwise. Regardless of the type of leadership you choose to discuss, the best Virginia Tech essays will reveal what role you play in group settings and how you build connections with those around you. 

The secret to this one of the Virginia Tech essay prompts is that it’s about collaboration more than leadership. After all, what is a leader without people to lead and other leaders to work with? The stories you select to write about for your Virginia Tech application essays should reveal how your leadership is cooperative in nature; you’re not in it alone!

Though you will inevitably write about other people in your Virginia Tech essay prompts, make sure that you are focusing on your own redeeming qualities and traits. 

• Do you discuss leadership in a collaborative way in your Virginia Tech supplemental essays?
• Do your Virginia Tech admissions essays reveal redeeming qualities about your character?
• Does your choice of topic enable you to highlight your leadership style?
• Do you fully answer all parts of the Virginia Tech essay prompt?

How do I write the essays for Virginia Tech: Question 4

Prompt 4: Describe a goal that you have set and the steps you will take to achieve it. What made you set this goal for yourself? What is your timeline to achieve this goal? Who do you seek encouragement or guidance from as you work on this goal? (120 words)

In your Virginia Tech supplemental essays for this prompt, you can write about many types of goals. You are not limited to just academic goals! Perhaps you have career goals, personal goals, or others. Interestingly, this prompt asks you for a goal that you are currently working toward achieving. Therefore, in your Virginia Tech essays, you must be able to articulate the steps that you are taking — not ones you plan to take or already took.

Another consideration when choosing which goal to write about for your Virginia Tech supplemental essays is the message that the goal and your progress send about what type of person, peer, and student you are. How does what you strive for show who you are?

Don’t forget the “why”

The Virginia Tech essay prompts you with guiding questions: What is your motivation? What is your timeline? Who do you seek help from? But, the most important question is implied: Why? In your Virginia Tech essays, fully answer each of these questions while demonstrating your commitment to learning and growing. 

You should not feel pressure to talk strictly about your academic and career goals in any of your Virginia Tech essays. However, of these Virginia Tech essay questions, that discussion likely fits in this one the most seamlessly. Nevertheless, you should not choose to write about your future plans if they are not clearly articulated or you are applying relatively undecided. With more than 150 majors and 130 minors to choose from, one likely aligns with your interests and goals. Investigate which clubs , classes , and research opportunities could fit your goals.

Whether you choose to write about an academic, personal, social, or another goal in your Virginia Tech essay questions, tell a compelling story about your motivations and aspirations. Help the admissions committee learn more about who you are in a way that your other Virginia Tech essays have not yet revealed.

• In your Virginia Tech essays, do you clearly articulate your goal?
• Is your goal one that you are currently pursuing?
• Do you clearly and concisely answer all parts of the question in 120 words or less?

Additional tips for Virginia Tech essays

In each of your responses to the Virginia Tech essay questions, strive to be honest and sincere while demonstrating growth and reflection. You only have 120 words to use in your response to each of the Virginia Tech essay prompts, so carefully consider the purpose of each word and sentence. Ultimately, aim for your Virginia Tech essays to be meaningful and memorable.

In combination with your Common App or Coalition App personal statement, your Virginia Tech essay prompts will round out the full package of your application. Consider how you can reveal another side of yourself in each of your essays responding to the Virginia Tech essay prompts. If you are applying to the Honors College, that admissions committee will also review your Virginia Tech supplemental essays. 

Virginia Tech Supplemental Essays — Final Thoughts

Before submitting your application, re-read your application and think about how the Virginia Tech admissions team will perceive each aspect of it. Make sure that your Virginia Tech supplement essays say something about you that the reader doesn’t learn in other parts of your application. 

The Virginia Tech essay prompts are only slightly altered from last year’s version, so it is clear that the school values the responses you write in each of your Virginia Tech supplemental essays. Clearly and concisely show the admissions readers who you are through your Virginia Tech essays. Highlight what will make you a star college student. Good luck!

This 2021-2022 essay guide on Virginia Tech was written by Caroline Marapese , Notre Dame ‘20. For more CollegeAdvisor.com resources on Virginia Tech, click here . Want help crafting your Virginia Tech supplemental essays? Create your free account or schedule a free advising consultation by calling (844) 343-6272.

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Virginia Tech Supplemental Essays 2023-24

August 28, 2023

Unlike many other public institutions with notable strengths in the areas of business, computer science, and engineering, Virginia Tech’s acceptance rate does not yet strike fear into the hearts of prospective applicants (although it has fallen from 70% to 56% in the past three years). However, it is important for wannabe Hokies to be aware that the admissions process at this university is becoming highly selective. This is particularly true for the aforementioned popular majors. Thus, prospective Virginia Tech students need to take advantage of every component of the application in order to stand out. This includes the Virginia Tech supplemental essays.

 (Want to learn more about How to Get Into Virginia Tech? Visit our blog entitled:  How to Get Into Virginia Tech: Admissions Data and Strategies  for all of the most recent admissions data as well as tips for gaining acceptance.)

Virginia Tech’s motto “Ut Prosim” is Latin for “That I May Serve.” The school requires all undergraduates to complete the “Ut Prosim Profile” which consists of four service-related essay prompts. These essays are “very important” to the admissions committee. Therefore, it is vital that all Tech applicants dedicate a significant amount of time to these short answer questions.

Below are Virginia Tech’s supplemental prompts for the 2023-24 admissions cycle along with our advice for composing winning essays.

2023-2024 University of Virginia Tech Essay Questions

Virginia Tech’s motto is “Ut Prosim” which means ‘That I May Serve.’ Share how you contribute to a community that is important to you. How long have you been involved? What have you learned and how would you like to share that with others at Virginia Tech? (120 words)

Pretty much everyone applying to Virginia Tech is deeply involved in some semblance of a “community.” The term “community” can have many meanings. In this instance, it could be an ethnic, religious, or neighborhood community or a group of individuals who gather for a club, sport, or service project. You could discuss how you have engaged with your high school local/community and what you have learned from interacting with people of a different ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual identity, etc. Or, perhaps you are the captain of a team, the editor-in-chief of your school paper, the president of a club, or simply a valuable contributing member. Regardless of whether you are a leading man/woman or a still-essential bit player, make sure that you use your writing ability to  show  the admissions officer what type of community member you are rather than merely  telling  them.

Whatever you choose, be sure to draw on past evidence of your commitment to being a positive force in your community and speculate how that is likely to manifest on Virginia Tech’s campus. Research and cite  Virginia Tech student-run organizations  or local nonprofit groups. The admissions committee wants to understand precisely how you will contribute to their campus community of 30,000+ undergrads. Drawing the link between your past efforts and future aims is critical here.

For example, if you’ve done work with Habitat for Humanity throughout your teens, it will be most impactful if you express your commitment to joining Tech’s chapter of Habitat for Humanity in the future.

Virginia Tech Supplemental Essays (Continued)

Virginia Tech’s Principles of Community supports access and inclusion by affirming the dignity and value of every person, respecting differences, promoting mutual understanding and open expression, and strives to eliminate bias and discrimination. Reflect on a time when you were not able or allowed to express a different or diverse position or opinion (or you witnessed another person or group experience the same situation)? How did you respond or wish you would have responded? Did your viewpoint change in any way after this experience? (120 words)

The U.S. presently finds itself in an extreme state of polarization. There seems to be little agreement even as to what constitutes “truth” or “facts” Within this divided world, it can be hard for individuals with competing viewpoints to engage in civil and productive dialogue. Here, Virginia Tech is giving you the chance to reflect on a time when your voice may have been silenced (or when you observed someone else’s voice being silenced). What was the outcome? How do you feel about your reaction, and what did you learn from it? This is your opportunity to show that you are an open-minded, intellectually curious, self-aware young person. One key thing to remember when addressing this prompt is that you don’t have to be the hero of the anecdote. In fact, you may be one who learned to expand their thinking.

Share a time when you were most proud of yourself either as a role model or when you displayed your leadership. What specific skills did you contribute to the experience? How did others rely on you for guidance? What did you learn about yourself during this time? (120 words)

Leadership is an admirable quality, but it can manifest in many different forms. This essay is not only for those who captained a varsity team to a state title, started a charitable organization, or made sweeping changes as student body president. Teamwork and collaboration are also valued leadership skills both in academia and in the workplace, and students with strong interpersonal skills and a high EQ can be an asset to any university. Think beyond the title that you may have held and more about the action(s) of which you are most proud.

To sum up, this essay is about leadership, broadly defined. You can chronicle anything from mentoring others on your debate team to a simple instance of conflict resolution within your peer group. Along the way, just make sure that you provide answers to each question embedded in the prompt. This includes what you learned about yourself through this role modeling/leadership moment.

Describe a goal that you have set and the steps you will take to achieve it. What made you set this goal for yourself? What is your timeline to achieve this goal? Who do you seek encouragement or guidance from as you work on this goal? (120 words)

Through this prompt, Virginia Tech wants to know more about your goal-setting, work ethic, and level of executive functioning. Malcolm Gladwell popularized the idea that becoming a master or expert at anything takes 10,000 hours of practice. Consider talking about the grind and sacrifice it will take you to become great at a given skill. Further, explain how you see that skill becoming even more finely tuned/developed over time. If this goal fits into your future academic/career plans, all the better—share that too! As with the other three prompts, #4 packs in a lot of questions into a single prompt.

Ultimately, you’ll need to produce a well-edited, concise piece of writing that chronicles not only your goal, the steps you will take to achieve it, and the timeline of the steps, but also who will help you along the way. Answering the last question is key in showing that you are a mature learner who understands that you will need mentorship, assistance, and other resources along the path toward achieving your dreams.

How important are the Virginia Tech supplemental essays?

The essays are “very important” to the Virginia Tech admissions committee. This places them in the same tier of importance as the rigor of your coursework, GPA, first-generation status, geographical residence, state residency, and race/ethnicity.

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Lastly, if you are interested in working with one of College Transitions’ experienced and knowledgeable essay coaches as you craft your Virginia Tech supplemental essays, we encourage you to  get a quote  today.

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How to write strong virginia tech essays 2020-2021: the valuable guide.

Virginia Tech has an acceptance rate of 71%.

It is a four-year university with over 34,000 students. Located in Blacksburg, Virginia, the school offers 110 bachelor programs in addition to graduate and doctoral degree programs. To learn more about what the college has to offer, check out their website here .

Virginia Tech uses the Common App.

The Virginia Tech application requires four supplemental essays of 120 words each, which is not a lot of space to express yourself. Be concise and original, and follow these tips!

What are the Virginia Tech Essay Requirements?

Interestingly, Virginia Tech does not require you to submit the Common App essay with your application. That being said, there is absolutely no harm in submitting your Common App essay with your application. However, this does let you know that the focus will likely be on your supplemental questions specific to Virginia Tech, so make sure you give these extra attention!

Virginia Tech calls its supplemental questions the Ut Prosim questions, which means “ That I May Serve .” As you may have guessed, the emphasis is on service and your commitment to it on campus and beyond. The official directions for the Virginia Tech essays are as follows:

“Each of the Ut Prosim Profile questions are required with a limit of 120 words in length per answer. Once you submit your application, your responses to the questions are final and cannot be updated.”

Here are Virginia Tech’s essay prompts and a few ideas to get you started. 

Virginia Tech Supplemental Essay 1

Virginia Tech’s motto is “Ut Prosim” which means ‘That I May Serve’. We are interested in learning more about your interests and how you have been involved and/or served. Briefly describe a group, organization, or community that you have been involved with. Is this a special area of interest for you, and why? How long have you been involved? What role did you play? What contributions have you made to this group? Were you able to influence others and/or influence decisions for the good of the group?*

Read this prompt carefully: it asks you to write about how service is important to your life. It does not ask you to describe that one time you did community service because it was required for a class, and it does not ask for a laundry list of your volunteer hours.

This question asks you to go deep, as evidenced by the plethora of follow up questions. Virginia Tech wants to understand why a particular area of service is important to you, and you must convince them you “practice what you preach” and have delved into this area. 

• If possible, write about something you’re truly passionate about. It’s better to write on a topic that you believe may not sound as impressive, but to which you are truly devoted, than something fluffy and devoid of true personal meaning. Reflect on why this cause spoke to you and continues to do so. 
• A good example might be a leadership position in Students Against Destructive Decisions where through organized recurring service opportunities, you built up a network of students and organizations to match opportunities, and took the initiative to start multiple service projects to give back to the community appropriately.
• If you had a leadership role, focus on the strength of your leadership in guiding decisions. If you didn’t have a leadership role, focus on the areas in which you developed the organization, such as recruiting new volunteers or holding fundraisers. 
• Consider the internal effect and how this service has changed you or helped you grow. Do not be afraid to cite setbacks that one might call ‘failures,’ as long as you’re able to identify what you learned and how you can serve better in the future.

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Overall, this essay should give you an opportunity to elaborate on a passion project of yours that perhaps appears on your resume, but with limited detail. Avoid listing, repeating what’s already on other parts of your application, or gloating. Remember to write with humility and a lens of personal reflection. 

Virginia Tech Supplemental Essay 2

Describe a situation where you were involved or witness to an act of discrimination. How, or did, you respond? Do you wish you would have responded differently? Did this situation cause any change to happen based on this event and did you have a role in that change? What did you learn from this experience? *

This is a tough question that evokes an immediate emotional response in many applicants. You may have been a victim of discrimination, or you may have been a witness to an act of discrimination. You may have even been a perpetrator. 

There are two basic guidelines for this question.

• Be honest. This may be the greater challenge for some applicants. For example, if you were a witness to an act of discrimination in years past, and said or did nothing, you may feel ashamed to say as much. However, a response in which you describe that feeling, what you have learned, and how you have or did or would handle it differently in the future is a more authentic and meaningful response than describing an invented moment of activism in which you are the hero.

Virginia Tech Supplemental Essay 3

Briefly describe a personal goal you have set for yourself. Why this goal, what is your timeline to achieve this goal, what precipitated this goal? Have you turned to anyone for advice or help, what was their role, what did you learn about yourself, are you still working toward this goal?*

There’s a lot to unpack here in just 120 words. Virginia Tech is looking to see if you’re a goal-oriented person and how you handle challenges and setbacks in pursuit of a goal. Let’s start by picking a goal: 

• Don’t assume the goal needs to be academic. In fact, try to choose something not reflected in your application elsewhere. 
• The size of the goal is not important. It could be something as simple as saving some money for college. The important element is the journey. 

Once you’ve established what your goal was and is, reflect on the details. 

• What is it about this goal that’s so meaningful to you? If there was a catalyst or specific moment you knew you needed to set this goal, discuss that. 
• Reflect on the goal-setting process you went through. If you set milestones or timelines, examine their connection to the long term goal. 

Now comes unpacking what you’ve learned from the process. Try to spend the bulk of your essay in this section. 

• If you experienced any setbacks or challenges, talk about how you approached and overcame them. 
• If there was anyone influential in inspiring or supporting you in pursuit of your goal, discuss their role and what you have learned from them personally. What do you hope to replicate or emulate in your future? 
• Finally, how has this changed you? What will you use from this experience in goal setting that you’ll apply to achievement in your future, perhaps even at Virginia Tech?

Virginia Tech Supplemental Essay 4

Describe an example of a situation where you have significantly influenced others, took on a leadership role, helped resolve a dispute, or contributed to a group’s goals. What was your role, what responsibilities did you take on? Did you encounter any obstacles, and if so how did you respond, were you able to overcome them? What would you do differently?*

Similarly to the service essay, Virginia Tech is looking for a time you’ve successfully worked towards a greater cause. In this case, they want to see a clear demonstration of your leadership ability. 

Once again, try to avoid referring to something you already discussed in your service essay or in another part of your application. Ensure you address each part of the question. 

First, identify the leadership role and situation. 

• Remember that this does not have to be broad in scope. Depth is better than breadth. If you happen to have been the captain of a sports team or president of a club, fantastic. If not, consider smaller roles you may have had. The skills and qualities are the essences of the essay, not the situation. 
• Clearly identify and give context to the situation and role, but do not spend more than 1-2 sentences. The bulk of your essay should be spent elsewhere. 

Once you’ve provided a backdrop, focus on a problem or challenge you encountered and how you responded. 

• If there were ever disputes within your group that you were able to resolve, this is a great chance to show your people skills or strength in moving a group forward towards a greater cause. Clearly identify the action you took to resolve the problem. 
• If the problem was logistical, focus on concrete steps you took to tackle the issue at hand, and how you harnessed the commitment of others to support you. Focus on what you achieved together as a result of your leadership rather than personal accomplishments alone. 

To round out the essay, identify any areas for improvement, but don’t end the topic on a low. Focus on what you learned and how you would apply this to leadership roles in the future, perhaps at Virginia Tech. 

Conclusion: Writing the Virginia Tech Essays

As mentioned previously, the 120 word limit makes for a very short essay. Here is some general advice for making the most of your word count:

• Provide context, but remember that your essay is addressing the prompt.
• Use specific detail instead of vague statements. Those details should tie in your personal stories.
• Include your personality in your essay; it shouldn’t sound like it could belong to any student interested in attending Virginia Tech.
• Express enthusiasm at the possibility of getting admitted to Virginia Tech.
• Read aloud, revise, and share with a friend . Editing is your best friend.

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Virginia Tech’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Ut prosim profile short response 1.

Virginia Tech’s motto is "Ut Prosim" which means ‘That I May Serve‘. Share how you contribute to a community that is important to you. How long have you been involved? What have you learned and how would you like to share that with others at Virginia Tech?

Ut Prosim Profile Short Response 2

Virginia Tech’s Principles of Community supports access and inclusion by affirming the dignity and value of every person, respecting differences, promoting mutual understanding and open expression, and strives to eliminate bias and discrimination. Reflect on a time when you were not able or allowed to express a different or diverse position or opinion (or you witnessed another person or group experience the same situation)? How did you respond or wish you would have responded? Did your viewpoint change in any way after this experience?

Ut Prosim Profile Short Response 3

Share a time when you were most proud of yourself either as a role model or when you displayed your leadership. What specific skills did you contribute to the experience? How did others rely on you for guidance? What did you learn about yourself during this time?

Ut Prosim Profile Short Response 4

Describe a goal that you have set and the steps you will take to achieve it. What made you set this goal for yourself? What is your timeline to achieve this goal? Who do you seek encouragement or guidance from as you work on this goal?

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

Virginia Tech 2020-21 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Regular Decision: 

The Requirements: 4 short essays of 120 words

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Why , Community , Additional Info

For the 2020-21 Undergraduate Application, the following essay questions will be included. All four questions are required for a complete application. Responses will be limited to 120 words per question.

Essay Question 1

Virginia tech’s motto is “ut prosim” which means ‘that i may serve’.  we are interested in learning more about your interests and how you have been involved and/or served. briefly describe a group, organization, or community that you have been involved with. is this a special area of interest for you, and why how long have you been involved what role did you play what contributions have you made to this group were you able to influence others and/or influence decisions for the good of the group.

Chances are, you’ve done some community service at some point in your life, and this prompt asks you to reflect on that experience. The prompt is clear about what it wants you to cover and lays out a basic list of questions that we’d expect you to answer regardless: from some basic details about your involvement to the personal values that inspired you to get involved.  You only have 120 words, so you will have to cut straight to the chase. In some ways, this is a glorified resume entry, but you can bring it to life by devoting more of your word count to concrete, personal details than to a verbatim recitation of the organization’s mission and vision (or worse, a bloated list of clichés related to the value of service). Why do you care so deeply about a particular cause or community? What change do you hope to see in the world? Remember that, fundamentally, community service is not about personal glory or achievement. Did you volunteer at a hospital over the summer? Describe how this affected your beliefs about what doctors owe their patients and vice versa. Have you been fundraising for girls’ education in developing countries? Reflect on what drew you to this cause and how you knew your efforts had paid off. For bonus points, talk about how you’d like to continue your service on Virginia Tech’s campus.

Essay Question 2

Describe a situation where you were involved or witness to an act of discrimination. how, or did, you respond do you wish you would have responded differently did this situation cause any change to happen based on this event and did you have a role in that change what did you learn from this experience.

Wow. This multi-part required question does not pull its punches. While both the Common App and the Coalition offer prompts about making the world a better place, neither poses a question this direct about discrimination or its possible solutions. That said, one general piece of advice should still apply to this essay: think carefully about the topic you choose to address. This prompt asks you to share a personal anecdote about a time you witnessed discrimination, and in so doing, is also mining for your views on the definition of discrimination, communities that face it, and your own social responsibility. Although we always encourage students to draw on their life experience (and this prompt requires it), this is the one case where some emotional distance could be helpful. It can be hard to analyze memories that still make us feel anger, shame, or any strong emotion. So be sure you are prepared to answer every part of this prompt in a complete, level-headed manner. (And in only 120 words!) You will need to be descriptive without completely reliving the situation; you will need to explain what you learned without getting up on a soapbox.

If we were to rephrase the prompt, we would write: Describe a situation where you were involved or witness to an act of discrimination. What did you do in the moment? What happened to you or your community after this event? What did you learn?

Essay Question 3

Describe an example of a situation where you have significantly influenced others, took on a leadership role, helped resolve a dispute, or contributed to a group’s goals. what was your role, what responsibilities did you take on did you encounter any obstacles, and if so how did you respond, were you able to overcome them what would you do differently.

At a glance, this might seem like a question about leadership, but secretly, it’s about collaboration. What is the role that you choose in group situations, and how do you connect to others? The greatest challenge may be choosing the right story. Any time you worked with others is fair game, so don’t restrict yourself merely to your science fair project or the baseball team. This is also a great opportunity to write about a professional experience (your first time working as a hostess!) or even community service (organizing the town coat drive!). Since the word limit is relatively tight, you’ll want to zero in on a specific moment or challenge. And remember that this question is about collaboration. It’s not just about how you saved the day, but about how you interacted with and supported a larger group. How did your contribution contribute to your team’s ultimate success (or failure)? If you’re talking about a large group (leading a tour group of 50 people!), perhaps you’ll want to focus on the values or goals that are strong enough to unite such a large group of people. In the end, you should be driving at a lesson that you will be able to carry with you into the future. In other words: an experience that will have a positive impact on your collaborative work at Virginia Tech.

Essay Question 4

Briefly describe a personal goal you have set for yourself. why this goal, what is your timeline to achieve this goal, what precipitated this goal have you turned to anyone for advice or help, what was their role, what did you learn about yourself, are you still working toward this goal.

This seemingly broad prompt bears more similarities to Question 3 than you might think. On its face, it seems to be asking about you as an individual as well as your personal goals. But at its core, it is mining for information about what inspires you, and most importantly, when and how you seek help. At 17, not all of us have clearly stated life goals, so it might be easier to start by brainstorming a list of times when you had to ask for outside help. The most meaningful stories will likely come from your personal life, when you sought help for something that mattered to you. Low stakes or high stakes, the best topics will reveal new information about who you are and what matters to you. Here are two examples:

• Maybe you never learned how to ride a bike as a kid, and you had to swallow your pride and ask a neighbor to teach you. What compelled you to learn? How did this experience change your relationship with your neighbor? (The goal? Learning to ride a bike, or becoming an adult.)
• Or perhaps you love to write, but hate showing your work to other people. Who was the first person you ever trusted to read your writing, and how did it go? (The goal? Writing the next great fantasy series.)

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4 Strong Virginia Tech Essay Examples by Accepted Students

Virginia Tech combines a wide range of academic offerings with a reputation for athletic excellence, a combination that many students find attractive. Since you’ll be competing against many other qualified students, you want to make sure your essays will set you apart from applicants who may have similar grades and extracurriculars.

In this post, we’ll break down four essays that helped real students gain acceptance to Virginia Tech. We’ll talk through what each essay did well, and any areas for improvement.

Please note: Looking at examples of real essays students have submitted to colleges can be very beneficial to get inspiration for your essays. You should never copy or plagiarize from these examples when writing your own essays. Colleges can tell when an essay isn’t genuine and will not view students favorably if they plagiarized. 

Read our Virginia Tech essay breakdown to get a comprehensive overview of this year’s supplemental prompts.

Essay Example 1 – Leadership

“Sorry, I don’t have my lines memorized yet.” When I heard the phrase for the third time two weeks out from the first state high school theater competition, where my high school was entering a 30-minute version of Hamlet in the Klingon language, I knew I had to take charge.

Spending hours constructing a line-by-line guide to the script and seeking out the actors having trouble, I stepped beyond my roles as a mere translator and dialogue coach to tutor the cast. Rapidly learning my part, I aided other actors’ preparations during rehearsals as much as I practiced mine. Despite our third place finish, I discovered how to commit whatever’s necessary to ensure a good showing.

What the Essay Did Well

One of this essay’s primary strengths is its thoroughness. The prompt asks you to not only describe a particular situation, but also answer three specific questions related to it, all in less than 120 words. Being both comprehensive and efficient is far easier said than done, but this writer does an excellent job of striking that balance:

• The lines “I stepped beyond my roles as a mere translator and dialogue coach to tutor the cast” and “I aided other actors’ preparations” answer the prompt’s first two questions, by explaining which skills the writer contributed and how others relied on them for guidance
• The final line tells us what the writer learned about themselves, namely that they “discovered how to commit whatever’s necessary to ensure a good showing”

Additionally, the writer answers the questions in a way that isn’t heavy-handed. They trust that they have described the situation well enough that their point will be clear the first time, which means that they can keep things moving, rather than throwing a wrench in the flow of the story by spending a bunch of words hammering home a point that readers already understand.

The essay’s other biggest strength is its originality. While you don’t want to twist yourself into knots trying to pick a topic admissions officers have absolutely never seen before, as that’s practically impossible, you do want to tell a story that they haven’t heard a million times before.  

Because not too many applicants have performed “a 30-minute version of Hamlet in the Klingon language,” we don’t just learn about the student’s leadership skills, but also get a more general idea of their personality, and what makes them different from other 18 year olds. Unfortunately, college applications are by their nature usually quite dry, so telling a more unusual story like this one can help humanize you more than a more “typical” response centered on, for example, volunteering as a tutor for middle schoolers. 

That being said, honesty is crucial in the college essay, so if your most authentic response is about a more conventional topic, that’s completely fine! Just don’t be afraid to pick something unusual, if the opportunity presents itself.

What Could Be Improved 

Overall, the writer makes great use of the space given to them. However, the last two lines aren’t as strong as the rest of the essay, and so things unfortunately end on a relative down note.

The line “Rapidly learning my part, I aided other actors’ preparations during rehearsals as much as I practiced mine,” doesn’t really teach us anything that isn’t already communicated by the previous sentence. And the line “Despite our third place finish, I discovered how to commit whatever’s necessary to ensure a good showing” is clear, but a pretty bland way of phrasing the essay’s final takeaway.

To keep momentum going through the finish, the first sentence could be rewritten to something more descriptive, so that we stay fully immersed in the story’s development. That might look something like: “By the time the curtains opened on the big day, our pronunciation was indistinguishable from Spock’s.”

Then, to make the final line more personal, the writer could more explicitly tie the takeaway to their story, with a something like “Despite our third place finish, to this day I smile whenever I think of my actors spending those extra hours with me, doing gymnastics with their tongues to try and master a particularly challenging vowel, all in the name of putting on a show we could be proud of.”

This version’s specificity makes the takeaway more personal to this particular student, and thus more impactful, rather than it just feeling like a variation of something cliché.

Essay Example 2 – Community, Scholastic Bowl Style

Despite having been a member of the Scholastic Bowl team since entering high school, even a year ago, I could contribute little more than an understanding of the sciences and esoteric medieval history. However, when I became one of the team’s senior members, I realized that wasn’t enough. 

After working hard to ensure that my teammates can depend on me, I’ve learned to recognize figures as various as Rodin, Coltrane, and Hegel. During games, I’ve gained the confidence to step forward when it’s time to choose a captain and the experience needed to make quick decisions. At Virginia Tech, in the Academic Competition Organization, I will continue to use the skills I’ve acquired to bring those around me to victory.

In this “Community Service” essay, the student does an excellent job of concretely describing how they have grown through their involvement in Scholastic Bowl. We learn that they have gone from “contribut[ing] little more than an understanding of the sciences and esoteric medieval history” to “recogniz[ing] figures as various as Rodin, Coltrane, and Hegel,” which is a specific, engaging way of framing their development.

Additionally, the writer lists increased confidence and an ability to make quicker decisions as general skills that they have taken away from this experience. In any college essay, you want to make sure you don’t just tell your reader about something you did, but also show how the lessons you learned are relevant to your personality as a whole. Otherwise, admissions officers may not understand how your story is supposed to help them envision you as a member of their campus community.

There are a couple of places in this essay where the writer’s points are somewhat vague, which makes it hard for us to understand the concrete ways this activity has helped them grow. As noted above, we do learn about two particular skills they have learned from Scholastic Bowl, but what’s missing is a description of how they developed those skills.

For example, “working hard to ensure that my teammates can depend on me” doesn’t say anything about the specific steps they took to grow their knowledge base. A more informative line would read something like:

“I was determined to become a reliable member of the team, and so I spent countless hours scrolling through museum’s online inventories, and giving myself papercuts from making hundreds of flashcards to learn the difference between Kant and Hegel’s philosophies.”

By seeing what exactly the student did to become a more dependable team member, we get a more concrete sense of what actions they might take in a similar situation in college.

The last line of the essay is another place where the writer needs to get more specific. While they are clearly trying to explicitly tie their past experience to their potential future at Virginia Tech, that link feels forced. They have done a good job of finding a particular club at Virginia Tech that they would like to join, but the line

“I will continue to use the skills I’ve acquired to bring those around me to victory”  

doesn’t say anything concrete about how the student would fit into the Academic Competition Organization. Just looking up a club that fits what you did in high school isn’t enough. You need to also spell out how your past experiences would make you an asset to that club, and, by extension, the school as a whole. In this case, that might look something like:

“At Virginia Tech, in the Academic Competition Organization, I look forward to planning pizza parties to both teach my teammates about the intricacies of early modern philosophy, and continue learning how to distinguish Raphael from Michelangelo, a distinction which remains infuriatingly beyond me.”

This version paints us a much clearer picture of how this student will contribute to this organization at Virginia Tech, and in turn how they see the organization being integral to helping them grow and develop in college.

Essay Example 3 – Community, Dog Walking Style

I moved to my neighborhood seven years ago, and ever since I’ve been heavily involved with all the dogs in the neighborhood. My favorite resident was Spot, an older dog, who belonged to a blind man. While her owner was in the hospital where he passed away, I watched her full-time. He could no longer pay me, but I didn’t mind. I cared for Spot until she passed as well. The neighbors refer to me as the dog whisperer, because I was able to get a leash on a lost dog who is typically very aggressive and find his owners. Through this, I’ve learned great responsibility, that I intend to spread to my peers at Virginia Tech.

In responding to the same “Community Service” prompt as above, the writer does a fantastic job of providing two concrete examples of how they have helped their community: taking care of a blind man’s dog while he was sick and even after he passed away, and finding a lost dog’s owners. 

Additionally, along the same lines as the “Hamlet in Klingon” story from Essay Example 1, one of this essay’s strengths is that it focuses on a story not many other applicants are likely to tell. In response to this prompt, many students will likely talk about more formal service work they have done, through an organization or school club. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that approach–the example above shows how you can do it successfully.

However, describing something you did in a more casual, everyday context can sometimes make your points even more impactful, as admissions officers get a sense of who you are “when nobody’s watching.” Taking care of your neighborhood dogs isn’t something that’s likely to make it onto your resume, which means there’s no doubt that your dedication is coming from your heart, rather than from a desire to impress anybody.

What Could Be Improved

This essay’s biggest weakness is that, after a detailed, endearing story, the last line is incredibly generic and impersonal. “Through this, I’ve learned great responsibility, that I intend to spread to my peers at Virginia Tech” could be about anything from doing beach cleanups to a part-time waitressing job–there is no connection to the wonderful story we’ve just been told, nor to the writer’s goals for their potential future at Virginia Tech. A more cohesive, satisfying ending might look something like: 

“The sense of responsibility I feel while mushing up an elderly dog’s wet food, or picking a thorn out of a paw, is something I will take with me to Virginia Tech. I will dedicate myself to helping my peers in whatever way I can, whether that’s walking someone’s dog through the streets of Blacksburg, or bringing a friend dinner from Burger ‘37 in Squires Food Court when they’re too busy studying to get food themselves.”

This version both personalizes the takeaway about responsibility to this particular story, and connects that takeaway to this student’s potential life at Virginia Tech. As a result, admissions officers can much more easily understand why this story is relevant to the student’s application.

One last point: on a structural level, it would be a good idea to split this essay into two paragraphs. Even though this is a short supplement, it’s long enough that the writer makes multiple points, and breaking up those points by paragraph (for example, starting a new one after the Spot ancdote) makes the essay feel more organized.

Essay Example 4 – Setting Goals

I have a goal to go D1 for cheerleading. I’ve been cheering since I was eight, and this has always been my dream. I currently attend weekly tumbling classes on top of my daily practices, and after this season I plan to spend my time working on my skills. I want to start cheering my freshmen year, so I have under a year to get ready. Until recently, I didn’t know much about college cheer, so I consulted with my coach. She helped me gather a list of colleges and told me what I needed to work on. She has helped me attend multiple cheer clinics. Those clinics confirmed my desire and started me on the path to my dream.

This writer does a great job of explicitly addressing each question in this prompt. Just like the prompt from Essay Example 1, Virginia Tech is asking you to pack a lot into just 120 words, but this writer manages to use those words efficiently enough to answer everything that is being asked.

Additionally, we get concrete examples of this writer’s dedication to their goal of cheerleading at a D1 level, such as “attend[ing] weekly tumbling classes” and “consult[ing] with [their] coach.” These actions show us that the student is proactive and has a strong work ethic, which are two of the qualities admissions officers are hoping to see highlighted in responses to this kind of prompt.

The number one thing that could improve in this essay is the tone, as it currently feels more like a list of bullet points than a piece of reflective writing. While the student is wrestling with a low word count, with a little extra effort they could make their phrasing much more engaging.

For example, the lines “I have a goal to go D1 for cheerleading. I’ve been cheering since I was eight, and this has always been my dream” could be rewritten to something like: “Since I was eight, I’ve had a vision of myself in a sparkly leotard, with my college’s name splashed across my chest.” This version is actually shorter than the original (22 vs 23 words), and gets readers much more invested in the writer’s pursuit of their goal.

It is important to note that the essay as is would be a completely fine first draft. When you start writing a college essay, the most important thing is getting your thoughts down. But once you have a basic framework in place, taking the time to phrase your ideas in more creative, descriptive ways is often what will take your essay from good to great.

Additionally, as also noted with Essay Example 3, this essay is long enough that splitting it into two paragraphs would make sense. For example, if the writer started a new paragraph with the line “Until recently,” we would have one paragraph focused on steps the writer has already taken towards achieving their goal, and one focused on things they are planning on doing moving forward. That would break the essay into two distinct pieces, rather than throwing everything in together.

Where to Get Feedback on Your Essay 

Want feedback on your Virginia Tech essay before you submit? 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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Ut Prosim Profile: 2023-2024 Short Answer Questions

The Ut Prosim Profile is required for all degree-seeking applicants. Each question has a word limit of 120 words for your response. The Ut Prosim Profile is your opportunity to let us get to know you beyond what is on your application or academic materials. We encourage you to use your own voice and answer each prompt as fully as possible. Once you submit your application, your responses to the Ut Prosim Profile questions are final and cannot be updated.

Please take your time to form responses that you feel confident about and help to support your application for admission.

Virginia Tech's motto is "Ut Prosim" which means 'That I May Serve'. Share how you contribute to a community that is important to you. How long have you been involved? What have you learned and how would you like to share that with others at Virginia Tech?

Virginia Tech’s Principles of Community support access and inclusion by affirming the dignity and value of every person, respecting differences, promoting mutual understanding and open expression, and strives to eliminate bias and discrimination.  Reflect on a time when you were not able or allowed to express a different or diverse position or opinion (or you witnessed another person or group experience the same situation)? How did you respond or wish you would have responded? Did your viewpoint change in any way after this experience?

Share a time when you were most proud of yourself either as a role model or when you displayed your leadership. What specific skills did you contribute to the experience? How did others rely on you for guidance? What did you learn about yourself during this time?

Describe a goal that you have set and the steps you will take to achieve it. What made you set this goal for yourself? What is your timeline to achieve this goal? Who do you seek encouragement or guidance from and how do they support your progress as you work on this goal?