VILLANOVA FIRST-YEAR WRITING SUPPLEMENT

Student at laptop on campus in the Fall.

The Office of Undergraduate Admission seeks applicants with characteristics that reflect our three core values: Veritas (Truth), Unitas (Unity) and Caritas (Love). These values define us as Villanovans. They are indelibly printed on our University seal and are a clear indication of our Augustinian identity.

At Villanova, we view our writing supplements as a unique opportunity for students to move beyond the transcript and introduce the individual behind the application. Villanova requires applicants to submit both their Common Application essay and Villanova writing supplement. The supplemental response must be different from the response shared in the Common Application essay section.

Villanova Writing Supplement (2024-25)

For the Villanova-specific essay, we hope to gain a deeper understanding of your thoughts, experiences, and opinions. Choose one of the five topics below and submit a written response in about 250 words.

Prompt One:
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? 

Prompt Two:
What is a lesson in life that you have learned that you would want to share with others at Villanova? 

Prompt Three:
"Villanova" means "new home." Why do you want to call Villanova your new home?

Prompt Four:
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.

Prompt Five:
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.

Common Application Essay

Please also submit the essay of your choice from the 2024-25 Common Application Essay Prompts.

Important Note

The Admission Committee expects that each writing supplement be the original work of the applicant, unaided by artificial intelligence. Those found to be submitting writing that is not their own may be denied or have their admission rescinded.

Pro-Tips

To alleviate the stress and anxiety surrounding the composition of your writing supplements, please consider these tips. We hope they may help guide you as you craft your responses!

Speak Your Truth

Every person has a story to tell. We want to know yours! Your writing supplements are a window into your truest self. Share what makes you unique and express yourself authentically.

Relax

This should be fun! Most of your application is largely unchanging. Parts of high school may or may not have gone as planned, but your writing supplements are something you are creating from scratch. When done well, it can show your personality and character. Embrace that!

Make your words count and worry less about counting your words

Try not to stress about going over or under the suggested word count—as long as it is close. The words you choose to submit should hold meaning and intently answer the prompt you chose.

There are no right or wrong answers

The questions we craft are done with the intent of getting to know you. There is no magic formula or secret code. We are looking for you to think critically and give us insight to add to your application.

Seriously proofread and proofread seriously

A well-crafted response is usually the product of many revisions. Please review your content and edit your work before you submit it for consideration. You may be surprised to learn how often we come across avoidable typos or grammatical errors. We know you are eager to complete your application, but taking a little extra time to check your work can go a long way!

Ask for a second opinion, not a rewrite

It can be helpful to ask someone to read over your writing to make sure everything makes sense, but also keep in mind that this needs to be your voice. While any suggested improvements can help serve as some guidance, they should not completely change the original content.