Impact. If you’re looking for one word to describe what drives the University of Richmond, that’s it: impact.
As the only university in the country with a spider mascot, Richmond isn’t afraid to stand out and embrace its uniqueness. And school officials want to attract students who aren’t hesitant to do the same.
Among the school’s core beliefs is that the “things we bring on day one—our talents, our passions, our viewpoints—are what equip us to make that impact.” So it’s no surprise that Richmond’s supplemental essay prompts are specifically designed to elicit from you both the things that make you unique and the qualities that will help you make a splash—on campus and in the world beyond Richmond.
If you want an even better sense of what the University of Richmond is looking for, you’ll find an extensive, by-the-numbers look at its offerings, from enrollment and tuition statistics to student life and financial aid information, on its Common Data Set. And for insights into how the university envisions itself and its role, and how it wants to grow and evolve, read its strategic plan, which will give you a strong idea of what the University of Richmond values.
What are the University of Richmond supplemental essay prompts?
U Richmond Supplemental Essay Prompt #1
Please respond to one of the prompts in 350-650 words below.
- You have a platform to create change. What is an action or policy you might propose to address an issue of social injustice in your school or local community, or on a national or global scale?
- Tell us about a time you learned something unexpected. What did you learn, and what happened next?
- Richmond welcomes students from various backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences. What is at least one way you will contribute to our community that is not already mentioned in your application?
How to write each Supplemental Essay Prompt for University of Richmond
how to write U Richmond Supplemental Essay Prompt #1
- You have a platform to create change. What is an action or policy you might propose to address an issue of social injustice in your school or local community, or on a national or global scale?
- Tell us about a time you learned something unexpected. What did you learn, and what happened next?
- Richmond welcomes students from various backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences. What is at least one way you will contribute to our community that is not already mentioned in your application?
Option #1:
You have a platform to create change. What is an action or policy you might propose to address an issue of social injustice in your school or local community, or on a national or global scale? (350-650 words)
While racial and social injustices have existed for likely all of human history, racial injustice in the United States hit a tipping point in 2020—in large part due to the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, among others. At the same time, the COVID pandemic highlighted social injustices and inequities, ranging from the technological (significant gaps in access to computers and the internet) to medical (access to affordable, quality effective health care).
If these or other related issues keep you up at night, and you spend your waking hours pursuing actions or drafting potential policies to bring the world back in balance, this could be the right prompt for you to answer.
Through your responses, Richmond hopes to learn the answers to two critical questions:
Does this student’s values align with ours?
Is this the kind of student who cares about their community and is ready to take action to improve it?
While we don’t have a Richmond-specific essay to share, this essay nicely answers a similar prompt.
Example:
Growing up, I was fascinated by Robin Hood. Imagine being able to redistribute income? Yeah, I guess he did the wrong thing for the right reason, but what if we could apply that framework to eradicate poverty, specifically by guaranteeing food security to millions of people around the world?
During a discussion on GMOs, I was introduced to the relationship between food security and poverty. The connection between the two fascinated me. And, after witnessing the plight of migrant workers in Saudi Arabia, I found my calling as an advocate: laborers left at sunrise in date farms, forced to sow earth that can’t provide them with basic necessities. I soon realized the effects of seed privatization on farmers worldwide.
Capitalism and its allies are exploiting the Global South, undermining its development and hurting vulnerable bread and butter workers. These tenets, which are heavily rooted in slavery, colonization, and forced labor, have equipped multinational corporations like Monsanto, DuPont, and Syngenta to stand as new colonizers as they dominate more than half of the seed market. Monsanto, alone, controls nearly 95 percent of cotton seeds through its GMOs, devastating thousands of Indian farmers.
Prior to the industrialization of agriculture, farmers would simply set aside a portion of seeds after harvest for the following year. As a result, seeds would return to their rightful owners without the cycle being interrupted. However, after the monopolization of the seed market, the number of available plants to farmers narrowed significantly, limiting their sources of income and food supplies while further perpetuating poverty.
I believe giving farmers seed freedom and rolling back the corporate monopolization of biodiversity is key to eradicating poverty in developing countries. In order to combat the global food crisis, it is essential that governments intervene to minimize the privatization of seeds. By regulating overhead costs like seed transportation and promoting locally based companies, seeds can be channeled more effectively and securely. This can result in the diversification of seed supply systems and the development of a new seed pipeline.
By creating government policies that balance the relationship between the seed market and corporations, as well as equipping individuals with resources to farm independently, we can take from rich corporations to generate local sources of income, feed millions of families, and take one step forward towards a more equitable world, Robin Hood style.
And some day, in addition to being a helping hand to others, I hope to become the first hijabi U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, a journey I embarked on at Georgetown University. (423 words)
— — —
Tips + Analysis
Have a plan. If you’ve ever thought, “Why couldn’t we help by …,” in response to an injustice, this a great place to lay out your plan and outline the steps to address and resolve the issue. But if your plan isn’t more well-thought-out than, “We should just be nicer to each other,” this might not be the right prompt for you to respond to. This student shows she’s given thoughtful consideration to both the problem and the solution and offers clear action steps and government policies that will move the world toward a more equitable future.
Offer a personal anecdote. If you had a first- or second-hand experience with domestic abuse that resulted in your involvement at a local women’s shelter and lobbying for changes to laws in your community, consider sharing it. Your personal stories—whether they’re something you’ve experienced, something you’ve witnessed, or just something that resonates with you—add a layer of depth to your essay and show the reader that, yes, this is something I’ve thought about and that’s important to me. While this student isn’t a farmer personally impacted by seed freedom, the research she’s done and the solutions she’s outlined demonstrate just how important the topic is to her and how we are all affected by it in some way.
Stay middle-of-the-road. When you don’t know the political, social, philosophical, or other leanings of your reader, it’s best to stick to a topic that’s neither too conservative nor too liberal. Some students would say that a school isn’t right for them if it doesn’t respect or support their strong opinions, and that’s a fair declaration. But we know you’ve done your research, learned that Richmond is a well-respected liberal arts school in a liberal city, and decided to apply. Even with these understandings, a topic that falls too far right or left could alienate readers instead of convincing them to be your champion. This student chooses a meaningful topic—encompassing farming, seeds, and food security—that’s important but not especially controversial.
KISS (or, in this case, Keep It Serious, Students). While many prompts offer the opportunity for students to showcase their personality, this isn’t the one for showing off your humor or sarcasm. Instead, put your critical thinking, social awareness, and problem-solving abilities on display while taking a thoughtful, serious approach to the prompt. This student does just that—offering a staid response that matches the tone of the prompt.
Option #2:
Tell us about a time you learned something unexpected. What did you learn, and what happened next? (350-650 words)
We love how clear this prompt is with what information you’re being asked to provide. The first part is all about the facts (what’s the cool, new thing you learned?) and the second part is where you get to reflect (what did you do with this cool, new knowledge?). The steps are laid out for you, which is pretty rare when it comes to supplemental essays!
Here are a few more tips for you:
Look closely at the language here. They want to know about something “unexpected” you learned. Is there something you’ve learned that surprised you? That changed your perspective on something? That came from an unlikely teacher? Awesome! These are the things to talk about.
Remember that sometimes the best places to learn are ones outside of the classroom, so be open-minded and think creatively about what you’ve learned and where that learning took place. Maybe it was on the soccer field or at the community center where you volunteer. Maybe it was in your kitchen or visiting your grandparents. Or maybe it WAS in a classroom. All we’re saying is that you can gain knowledge in the unlikeliest of places, so don’t shy away from writing about that.
If you’re writing supplemental essays for other schools about extracurricular activities or your involvement in a community, you might be able to reuse, reframe, and revise those essays to answer this prompt. For example, when writing about the things you do outside of school, those prompts almost always ask for you to explain what you learned from those experiences, and that’s exactly what the Richmond prompt asks as well. You’ve gained the knowledge, and now Richmond wants to know how you can or already have applied it to other places in your life (for more about how to take advantage of essay overlap, check this out). There is no need to reinvent the wheel!
Example:
My love for Spanish came by accident. Trying to avoid an eight-grade computer class, I enrolled in Spanish 1, simply because it fit my schedule. I ended up staying because I fell in love with how the language came together. I felt as if the words came naturally, whether it was differentiating between the verbs saber and conocer, or how different letter combinations produce different sounds, like how two l's make a y sound. The more I learned Spanish, the more I realized why it was fun: It was much like Arabic, taking what I knew and putting a new spin on it. Like how camisa means shirt but is pronounced differently in both languages. Soon, I was listening to some of my favorite Spanish songs, “Tusa” and “Taki Taki,” without needing a translation.
In addition to Spanish and Arabic, I also speak Turkish, the language of my father’s family, and English, which I learned in school. It wasn’t enough to just learn. My love of linguistics prompted me to inspire that same love in others, so I volunteered to teach English to Arabic-speaking elementary students. I started recognizing a familiar spark in the eyes of my students, and I found joy even in little things, like when Maram learned to conjugate know to knew or run to ran. My journey in Spanish started unintentionally, but it has given my life new purpose. (233 words)
— — —
Tips + Analysis
Serendipity is great. If you’ve intentionally delved into some complex area of study, great. But we love that this student just owns up to the fact that they sort of fell into the study of Spanish. It feels honest and genuine, which makes us want to read more. It also addresses the “unexpected “ part of the prompt immediately, so application readers can take a breath knowing this student understands what they’re being asked and can just enjoy reading the rest of the essay.
Name the thing. Meaning “be direct.” You don’t have a lot of word space to answer this prompt, and sometimes just jumping right in is the best strategy. We learn in the first sentence, in no uncertain terms, that this essay will be about learning Spanish. This is the knowledge this student has gained. They don’t create complex metaphors or include any superfluous language (we’re huge fans of metaphors, by the way, but sometimes you just need to say what you’re going to say), so there is no wasted space in this essay.
Now what? Remember, the prompt asks you to share what happened AFTER you learned the unexpected thing, and this student’s response is spot-on. As their understanding of the language developed, they discovered a wish to share that experience with others. By tracing the trajectory from learning Spanish to tutoring other students, the writer shows us HOW they used their newfound knowledge (and as a bonus, there is a pretty clear statement of this student’s values in here as a result). Just make sure to address each part of this prompt so you don’t miss any opportunity to engage in some self-reflection.
And here are a couple more example essays:
Example:
Whenever I received birthday money from family or friends as a small child, my father, being a frugal man, would hastily deposit it into my bank account. This became a running joke in the family, with my mom’s step-dad affectionately calling him “Jingles.” Despite my complaints, I always assumed my father was ultimately right, doing something that would benefit me financially in the long run.
Then I read John Maynard Keynes’ “Paradox of Thrift.” According to Keynes, we might have been wrong. Keynes asserts individual savings is bad for the overall health of the economy, negatively affecting the individual. For instance, say my grandmother gives me $20. If I save it, aggregate consumption decreases by $20, reducing firms’ planned investment, expecting $20 less to be spent on their goods. As a result, they need less labor, either causing layoffs or wage cuts which could adversely affect my grandmother, preventing her from giving me money on my next birthday and causing me to save less. Keynes’ theory demonstrates that saving can actually reduce savings, hence the “paradox.”
We often forget to consider the aggregate impacts of our actions. Learning about Keynes’ theory changed this mindset for me, illustrating how one seemingly insignificant choice can have a large cumulative effect. Now, from spending my birthday money to taking shorter showers to bringing a reusable water bottle to school, I’ve learned to think less about myself and more about the whole… all thanks to Keynes!
— — —
Example:
One spring evening, I bolted down the stairs to eat dinner with my family. As I approached our dining table, I saw a man on television discussing the ability of the human brain to rewire itself to adapt for missing limbs through neuroplasticity. Vilayanur Subramanian Ramachandran’s findings on phantom limbs were exhilarating, and I sat there fascinated as he helped a man learn to cope with cramps in a hand that wasn’t there.
I began looking into the work of Ramachandran, and learned about neuroplasticity and the discovery that he made regarding the rewiring of the synapses of the human body. I learned about mirror neurons and their ability to interpret and learn from the actions of others. These neurons comprise about 20% of the human nervous system and are responsible for the ability to contemplate others’ physical actions. Through research on mirror neurons, we can expand our understanding of the human ability to empathize. Learning about this subject changed how I experience empathy.
The research that is being conducted on neuroplasticity opens a whole new understanding of the healing process of brain injury and of how to help the human body stabilize the brain after trauma. I’m excited to continue exploring my interest in neuroscience.
— — —
Option #3:
Richmond welcomes students from various backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences. What is at least one way you will contribute to our community that is not already mentioned in your application? (350-650 words)
This is a pretty standard “How will you contribute” prompt. For “How will you contribute” essays, there’s a guide + examples with analysis at that link, but here’s the short version.
Essentially, a way to think of this kind of prompt is that it’s a combo of “community/identity/background” and “why us” prompts: use some of your response to show how you’ve become who you are, and then show how those experiences shape what you will bring to the college through linking to specific opportunities/groups/details. Connect your unique upbringing, in a very broad sense of the word, with what the school offers and how you will make a great team.
STEP 1: BRAINSTORM (ALL ABOUT YOU).
Do the “If You Really, Really Knew Me” Exercise.
STEP 2: RESEARCH THE COLLEGE (LEARN ALL ABOUT THEM).
Make a copy of the “Why us” Essay Chart 2.0, research the school you’re writing your essay for, and fill in the first two columns. (This is the same chart mentioned above.)
Once you’ve done these exercises, you’ll have a better sense of:
YOU: A bunch of different talents/skills/identities/qualities that you’ll bring to a college campus, and
THEM: A variety of programs/courses/clubs/affinity groups that your college offers.
STEP 3: CONNECT YOU… TO THEM (I.E., THE COLLEGE YOU’RE APPLYING TO).
Make connections between what the school offers and what you’re interested in.
Here’s a great sample essay written for Colgate that would work well for this prompt (though you’d have far more word count space with which to expand):
Example:
Aside from my inherent love for bagels, my Jewish background has led me to become more embedded in my community, joining Jewish activists and building a website on Holocaust education.
In the 1930s, 36 members of my family were lost to the Holocaust, and that fact has led me to carry on the memory of my ancestors through tradition—with my Bar Mitzvah—as well as with an educational lens—teaching others about the Holocaust and about specific stories of survivors.
Feeling disconnected from Jewish activism, I decided to become an educator on the Student Leadership Board of the Seattle-based Holocaust Center for Humanity last year. Each week, we met to discuss present-day instances of oppression and discrimination across the world, and finished the year by building a website to share the story of a Holocaust survivor.
Being on the board connected me to a network of other passionate Jewish activists, and helped me to channel the pride for my culture and ancestors into visual media that reaches many viewers. At Colgate, I hope to find myself surrounded not only by like-minded Jewish students, but by a diverse group of people with whom I can learn and make connections. (196 words)
— — —
Tips + Analysis
Highlight a core identity. In the example essay, the applicant highlights their Jewish heritage and the profound impact it has had on their life choices and commitments. This is a great way to approach this prompt—think of communities/identities that you claim, pick one that Michigan isn’t seeing elsewhere, and show how that aspect of you + your experiences will allow you to contribute to the college’s community. Also, ensure you shed light on the aspects of your background that have shaped your identity. This could be cultural, familial, or personal attributes that have molded you into the individual you are today.
Provide concrete examples of impact. Just as the sample essay vividly narrates the applicant's journey in Jewish activism, so you’ll want to offer specific instances that exemplify the impact your background has had on your decisions and pursuits. Whether through personal experiences, engagements, or projects, share specific moments where your background has led you to initiate meaningful actions. In short, show us.
Connect to the school’s community. Show how your background, values, and commitments align with the college’s vision and how you intend to extend these connections on campus to foster learning and shared growth. For example, perhaps you plan on joining (or creating?) relevant student clubs, volunteering at a local museum, or finding innovative ways to connect with students who share a similar background.
And here’s an essay written for Columbia that could have worked well for this prompt, though again for Richmond, you have far more word count space to use:
Example:
At family dinners over gnocchi and arancini, my grandpa would always ask my two older brothers how their education and sports were going. I’d wait for my turn, but the question was never directed my way. In contrast, my grandma always tells me how thankful she is that I’m able to get an education of my own. She frequently mentions how she regrets never getting an education. I pursue my education with a fire within me to do what she wasn’t allowed to. During the summer of 2021, I realized that I could impact other girls in a similar way by writing a children’s book about influential women in STEM in order to inspire the next generation of female scientists.
At Columbia University, I hope to contribute to the empowerment of women by creating a Society of Women in Science, hosting Alumni Panels, Graduate Student Q&A’s, and creating a safe space for women in similar majors to discuss their successes and setbacks. In addition, joining the Student Wellness Project will provide another community that prioritizes mental health. This empowering environment is the ideal place to help me develop as both a feminist and a scientist. (196 words)
— — —
Tips + Analysis
View the prompt broadly. While this prompt offers you the perfect opportunity to explore the impact race, socioeconomic status, and other societal factors have had on you, don’t feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of the prompt. As in the example above, where the student recounts her experiences with a cultural and generational divide, there are many experiences we’ve had that have shaped who we are. Some are deep, like being the only person of color at your high school, while others are more light-hearted, like having to learn to make your own grilled cheese at age 8 as a latchkey kid. Both are admirable in their own ways. Both may be really important to you. And both can make really effective responses.
Make campus connections. Your readers want to hear about your past experiences, they’re just as curious about how they’ll shape your time on campus, leaving the school better than as you found it. But remember, they probably want at least some (if not all) focus on outside-the-classroom experiences here, so dive into their list of student organizations and find a few that truly resonate with you and that you feel you could make a meaningful contribution to. The student above does just that with their reference to the Student Wellness project and how they expect to contribute.
Be a changemaker. Can’t find an organization at Richmond you'd like to join? Create your own! The student in the example above plans to start their own organization and even outlines some of the specific events she plans to hold. It's clear she's done her research to see where the college might be lacking in female-centered organizations—and she's going to take the charge to correct that.
Tie the two together. Make sure your past connects with your future. That means tying the lessons from your childhood, preteen, and adolescent years with the contributions you're going to make on campus. The response above does a great job in doing that. As a young female who has, from a young age, been committed to empowering young women, it’s clear how this student is going to make a specific impact on the college’s campus community.
Special thanks to Jessica B. for writing this blog post.
Jessica has a Ph.D in English from the University of Southern California and teaches English at a Los Angeles-area independent school, where she has also been English department chair and a class dean. Sandra Cisneros is her hero, and she loves books, her awesomely-sarcastic family, the beach, cozy sweaters, and more books. Oh, and her sweet pitbull/lab mix named Ruby.
Top values: Curiosity, equity, wonder
