Villanova University Supplemental Essays 2025-2026: Requirements & Prompts

Requirements: Choose one. Limit 250 words.

Option A: St. Augustine states that well-being is “not concerned with myself alone, but with my neighbor’s good as well.” How have you advocated for equity and justice in your communities? Option B: What is a lesson in life that you have learned that you would want to share with others at Villanova? Option C: “Villanova” means “new home.” Why do you want to call Villanova your new home? Option D: As an Augustinian community, we value recognizing individuals for their true selves. Please share with us a time when you were misjudged based on your identity, background, experiences, or interests. Option E: At Villanova, we often say “each of us strengthens all of us.” Please detail a time when someone has borrowed some of your strength in their time of need.

Villanova Essay Slides

Q: What's the strategic way to choose a prompt?

A:

• To highlight your capacity for action, choose the prompt about advocating for equity and justice. Example: I created an SAT prep program for underserved students.
• To show growth from failure, choose the prompt about a lesson in life. Example: A failed business venture taught me resilience and iterative design.
• To demonstrate deep research on Villanova, choose the prompt about a new home. Example: My passion for ethics aligns with Villanova's service-learning program.

Q: How to advocate for equity and justice?

A:

• Identify a specific, small-scale injustice.
• Describe direct action and your role.
• State the impact of your efforts.
• Example: I designed and launched a peer-to-peer tutoring program for underclassmen, building a system that reduced their stress and improved grades.

Q: A lesson you want to share?

A:

• Focus on a tangible, hard-earned lesson.
• Show how you learned it through action, not just observation.
• Example: Leading a team in a failed science competition taught me the value of iterating from mistakes. This mindset is something I'll bring to Villanova's collaborative project spaces.

Q: Why do you want to call Villanova your new home?

A:

• Connect your personal values to specific Villanova elements.
• Reference specific clubs, traditions, or academic opportunities.
• Example: My passion for community service and ethics aligns with Villanova's service-learning program.

Q: A time you were misjudged?

A:

• Describe a specific instance. Focus on the moment, not a long history.
• Show how you responded.
• Example: A mentor saw my love for digital art as a lack of serious ambition. I responded by creating a portfolio that blended painting with data visualization, changing their view of my passion.

Q: A time someone borrowed your strength?

A:

• Narrate a specific moment where you provided support.
• Focus on your actions, not just your feelings.
• Example: A teammate overcame anxiety with my one-on-one mentorship. This taught me the value of patient listening.

Q: Final check?

A:

• Is your essay specific and focused?
• Does it show genuine excitement?
• Does every word matter?
• Perfect your essay by finding and fixing its hidden flaws.

All the best!