As the second-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, William and Mary has been around to see a lot of essays over the years.
So what can you do to make your essay stand the test of time? First, you can get a better sense of what William and Mary is looking for, from enrollment and tuition statistics to student life and financial aid information, on its Common Data Set. For deep insights into how this private research university envisions student success (and how it wants to grow and evolve), read its strategic priorities. Reading through this will give you a strong idea of William and Mary’s values.
What is the William and Mary supplemental essay prompt?
William and Mary Supplemental Essay Prompt #1
Are there any particular communities that are important to you, and how do you see yourself being a part of our community?(Optional, 300 words)
William and Mary Supplemental Essay Prompt #2
Share more about a personal academic interest or career goal.(Optional, 300 words)
William and Mary Supplemental Essay Prompt #3
How has your family, culture and/or background shaped your lived experience? (Optional, 300 words)
William and Mary Supplemental Essay Prompt #4
What led to your interest in William & Mary? (Optional, 300 words)
William and Mary Supplemental Essay Prompt #5
Tell us about a challenge or adversity you’ve experienced and how that has impacted you as an individual. (Optional, 300 words)
William and Mary Supplemental Essay Prompt #6
If we visited your town, what would you want to show us? (Optional, 300 words)
How to Write each William and Mary Supplemental Essay Prompt
Note that this is how the college talks about these prompts on the Common App: William & Mary is a community that fosters deep human connection. We reflect on the lessons of history to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world. We engage diverse perspectives and seek wisdom in bridging differences. Together, we are unceasing in our efforts to make a meaningful difference in our communities, the state, the nation, and the world.
To help us learn more about you, we invite you to share additional information by answering up to two of these optional short-answer prompts. Think of this optional opportunity as show and tell by proxy.
How to Write William and Mary Supplemental Essay Prompt #1
Are there any particular communities that are important to you, and how do you see yourself being a part of our community? (300 words)
General Tips:
Don’t repeat things that the reader can find in other parts of your application. Use this essay to show another side of a previously-mentioned community or to discuss a community you haven’t mentioned. The second option is more likely the better choice. Additionally, consider including values you haven’t already demonstrated.
Try to think outside the box. Which of your communities might help you stand out among other “community” essays? Being part of a “community” can take a lot of different forms. Don’t limit yourself to a narrow definition. An essay on a strange talent (like juggling while jogging) or an obscure interest (like historically accurate baking, for example) might be more apt to catch the reader’s attention. And, yes, those are real examples from past students.
Details! Be specific. The more visceral details you can give about yourself and the community you’re discussing, the more you distinguish yourself from all the other applicants. Use memorable language and evoke unique images that will stick with the admissions officers.
How will you contribute… Note that while the language is slightly different, the end of the prompt essentially asks how you’ll engage with the William and Mary community. So do some “Why Us” research and find ways that the community/identity you choose to write about will also be something you can continue pursuing and contributing to at the college.
For a full guide to “community” essays, head there, but here’s the short version:
STEP 1: DECIDE WHAT COMMUNITY YOU WANT TO WRITE ABOUT
Create a “communities” chart by listing all the communities you’re a part of. Keep in mind that communities can be defined by...
Place: groups of people who live/work/play near one another
Action: groups of people who create change in the world by building, doing, or solving something together (Examples: Black Lives Matter, Girls Who Code, March for Our Lives)
Interest: groups of people coming together based on shared interest, experience, or expertise
Circumstance: groups of people brought together either by chance or external events/situations
STEP 2: USE THE BEABIES EXERCISE TO GENERATE YOUR ESSAY CONTENT
You’ll find detail on the BEABIES Exercise + a chart you can use at that link.
STEP 3: DO SOME “HOW WILL YOU CONTRIBUTE” RESEARCH
You’ll want to offer a few specific ways that show how the experience/s you’re discussing in your essay will allow you to contribute to the school. The easiest way to do this is to do some “Why Us”-like research and find ways you’ll engage with and contribute to the college’s community.
STEP 4: PICK A STRUCTURE (NARRATIVE OR MONTAGE)
STEP 5: WRITE A FIRST DRAFT!
This is also a brand-new prompt for William and Mary this year, but here’s an essay, written for Columbia, that could have worked well for this prompt:
Example 1:
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. The second part of the prompt is as important as the first. While Willam and Mary wants 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 William and Mary 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.
How to Write William and Mary Supplemental Essay Prompt #2
Share more about a personal academic interest or career goal. (300 words)
What’s a topic you could geek out on and discuss for hours? Have you been dreaming of a particular career most of your life? This essay prompt is your opportunity to tell those stories! So, take some time to consider the following before you begin writing:
Show “curiosity with legs.” Think about what really gets you excited—whether it's something you've studied, a future career you're curious about, or just a topic you could talk about forever. But then show how you’ve pursued that curiosity. Consider the classes you've loved, the books that hooked you, or any cool experiences that made you go, "Wow" and then explore further.
Find your "Why." What's the thing that makes you light up when you think about it? Maybe it's a personal experience, a value you hold dear, or simply something that makes you curious. In this brainstorming phase, you're looking for possible topics that will allow you to illustrate the deeper motivations behind your interests.
Dream big and narrow down. Think big and jot down all the academic interests or career goals that pop into your head. No need to worry about being super organized at this point. Once you've got a bunch of ideas down, take a closer look. Which ones make your heart race a little faster? Those are the ones you want to explore further.
If you’re focusing on the “personal academic interest” aspect, you can try approaching this as basically a “Why Major” essay. For a larger guide to the “Why Major” essay, click here. Below is a condensed version.
One possible approach:
Think of this as a quick origin story.
Step #1: Imagine a mini-movie of the moments that led you to your interest and create a simple, bullet-point outline.
Step #2: Put your moments (aka the “scenes” of your mini-movie) in chronological order, as it’ll help you see how your interests developed. It also makes it easier to write transitions.
Step #3: You’ll likely want to include a specific thesis that explicitly states your central argument—in this case, what you want to study and why. This thesis can come at the beginning, middle, or end of your essay.
Once you have those pieces, you have a few structural options:
Opening
A. A quick hook that thematically sets up where you’ll take us, and, ideally, shows an aspect of your intellect/personality (If you do this, it can be stylistically effective to bookend—to end the essay by linking back to what you opened with.)
B. An initial moment that sparked your interest
C. Your thesis
Body (but to clarify, this essay can be a single paragraph if you choose)
The moments of your mini-movie, illustrating both the development of your interest and some of your core values
Ending
One option: Go narrower—perhaps link to specific aspects of Yale that will help you continue on your path toward a future goal.
Another option: Go wider—name the road you hope to follow (for example, career path, organizations you’d like to work with, the greater value/implications of studying what you want to).
And last, a quick tip: Be sure this essay is consistent with your personal statement if you’ve mentioned aspects of your major/career there.
This essay prompt is new for William and Mary this year. So here’s a great example essay written for a similar prompt from the University of Texas, Austin:
My interest in the fashion business was sparked when I enrolled in a freshman fashion design elective. I produced and styled a fashion show, and my enthusiasm for designing quickly blossomed. I then started my own business painting and selling leather goods, including customized shoes and bags, an enterprise that taught me both commerce and communication skills.I expanded my knowledge and experience in a Parsons Paris Business of Fashion course in which I explored the creative process, as well as marketing, public relations, product management, and social media while networking with business professionals. The course provided me with exposure to multiple sectors within the world of fashion and motivated my future career aspirations.
At The University of Texas at Austin, I hope to develop my business skills further through the robust course offerings within the Marketing concentration in The McCombs School of Business. Design Thinking and Prototyping will give me the tools to brainstorm and develop my innovative ideas. Strategic Marketing will enable me to incorporate and interpret real-world data in order to assess opportunities and make marketing decisions. Retail Merchandising will allow me to expand my entrepreneurial knowledge, learn professional selling techniques, and advance merchandising and branding skills in order to express my personal passions through my small business. I would also love to join The Undergraduate Business Council to broaden my understanding of business through leadership opportunities, and to connect with professors and fellow business students in an effort to establish professional relationships outside of the classroom. Additionally, I hope to produce content, explore social media branding, and anticipate trends by contributing to Spark and Hook’d fashion magazines, as well as gain hands-on experience in the fashion business sector through internships with major corporations such as L’Oreal. (290 words)
Tips + Analysis
Reveal the spark. Just like in the example essay, let us in on what made your interest light up. Was it a class, a person, or a particular experience that first captured your attention toward your academic interest or career goal?
Show your progression. The essay example shows how the writer's fashion passion evolved from one class to building their own business and seeking more education. When you're drafting your essay, think about how your interest has developed and deepened over time. Did you take extra courses, start any cool projects, or seek out relevant experiences?
Add your goals into the mix. One option is to connect your academic interest or career goal to specific things that William and Mary offers. Get detailed about what you want to take from these opportunities and how they match your dreams. This proves you've done your homework on William and Mary and that you’re ready to make the most of your college days.
Here’s another example essay you can use for inspiration:
My interest in Gender and Sexuality Studies was sparked in my eighth grade Civics class when we studied topics pertaining to sexual equality. I went into the class knowing I believed women had a right to make choices for their own bodies and that view remained the same, but I discovered the complexity of abortion debates. I challenged myself by thinking about the disparity between actual and potential personhood and the moral rights of unconscious lives. If pregnancy had the same consequences for men as it does women, how might the debate be different? Would this debate even exist?
A year later, I shadowed an OB/GYN at a nearby hospital. On my first shift, I watched an incarcerated woman receive a post-partum exam after giving birth in her cell toilet with just Advil, and the issues discussed in Civics suddenly became urgent and real.
My school projects have often focused on reproductive rights. I’ve spent numerous hours delving into summaries of Supreme Court cases on abortion and contraception, and am even known as the “Tampon Fairy” at school because I frequently restock the school bathrooms with tampons and condoms.
I’m interested in exploring how Gender and Sexuality Studies connect to Public Health and Reproductive Biology, as well as Public Policy and Law. The interdisciplinary nature of this major will allow me to investigate many other areas of study and create a more nuanced understanding of how this particular field interacts with our world and society.(246 words)
How to Write William and Mary Supplemental Essay Prompt #3
How has your family, culture and/or background shaped your lived experience? (300 words)
This essay prompt is all about digging into the influences that have molded you. It's your chance to showcase how your roots have intertwined with your experiences, perspectives, and identity.
One key tip: be sure to use this prompt to show your readers a side of yourself we aren’t seeing yet. Meaning if you’ve already covered something in your personal statement or in one of the other supplemental essays, don’t rehash it here.
Here are some ideas and themes to help get your creative juices flowing as you begin writing:
Cultural celebrations and traditions. Consider the cultural celebrations, holidays, or traditions that have been a part of your life. How have these events influenced your worldview, beliefs, or interactions with others?
Family dynamics and relationships. Are there relationships, conversations, or lessons learned from your family members that have left a lasting impact on you? Think about stories, anecdotes, or memories that reveal insights into your character.
Challenges and growth. Explore how challenges related to your family, culture, or background have shaped your resilience and personal growth. Have you faced cultural misunderstandings, language barriers, or identity struggles that have ultimately made you stronger?
Intersectionality. If your background intersects with other identities (e.g., being part of an immigrant LGBTQ+ family), think about how these intersections have shaped your experiences.
Personal achievements. Reflect on how your family's support or cultural values have contributed to your personal achievements, whether academically, creatively, or socially.
Community involvement. Consider your involvement in cultural or community organizations. How have these experiences broadened your understanding of your background and its significance?
Future aspirations. Think about how your family, culture, or background will continue to influence your aspirations and the impact you want to make in the world.
Here’s an excellent example of how to answer this prompt:
Here’s an interesting fact about my religious identity: It’s not a very traditional one. I’ve been raised in a house of contradictions. My dad is an avowed atheist, but he occasionally comes to the temple with us, if only on religious holidays like Diwali or Navarathri. My grandparents go to the temple as part of their daily routine, while my family and I sometimes attend church with our neighbors for Christmas celebrations. On Sunday mornings, I’d attend Balavihar, where students learn stories of Hindu Gods and perform skits of mythological scenes. I stopped going after I lost interest, and my parents never objected. Some nights before an exam, I’d pray to God for a good score, but I realized that only worked sometimes.
You’d think I’d be confused by now, but I’m thankful that my family has exposed me to a variety of experiences. With no strings attached and no pressure to conform to any one custom or belief, I have been able to mold my own religion. The pleasant experience of going to temple or church with my family, the joy of performing a devotional dance piece on Lord Ganesha, the meditative feeling of chanting Sanskrit prayer verses, or the simplicity of whispering a prayer before bed but not expecting too much from it—these simple rites are enough to fulfill my spiritual thirst. For me, religion isn’t about a belief in God, but choosing to do the right thing and knowing I am in control of my own destiny.
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Tips + Analysis
Celebrate your unique experiences. The sample essay demonstrates how the writer's family has exposed them to a diverse range of beliefs and traditions, and in turn how that has shaped how the writer sees and approaches the world. Similarly, reflect on the unique experiences that have shaped your understanding of your family, culture, or background. Did you grow up with contrasting influences? Embrace the contradictions and showcase how they have contributed to your personal growth.
Reflect on growth and identity. The example essay hints at personal growth by discussing how the writer has molded their own understanding of religion. Similarly, you can discuss how your family, culture, or background has not only influenced your past but also shaped your identity and perspective.
Express your philosophy. The essay touches on the writer's philosophy about religion, emphasizing that it's about choosing to do the right thing and taking control of one's destiny. Consider expressing your own philosophy or insights that have emerged from your family, culture, or background. How have these influences shaped your values, beliefs, and ways of navigating the world?
Combine different aspects. Just as the essay discusses family and religious identity, you can blend various elements of your background. Whether it's cultural traditions, family dynamics, or challenges you've faced, find connections between these aspects to showcase a holistic understanding of how your family, culture, and background have shaped your lived experience.
Here’s another example of an essay that would be a great response to this prompt:
You wouldn’t think an American Asian Affinity Space would be diverse, after all its whole premise is centered around one specific identity. However, members of the affinity space at my high school come from several different grades, genders and ethnicities. The group included a sophomore from China, a junior from Pakistan, and members from Korea, Japan, and even Israel. We each had unique stories of living as an Asian-American, yet, we had all chosen to come to this affinity group. As we spent time together, we were able to find shared experiences, like our parents preparing packed lunches for us from our country and being too embarrassed to bring them to school. Whether eating humbow or biryani, we all knew what it was like to feel out of place.
My work with the AAAS got me thinking about what diversity can look like, and what it means to embrace diversity. On the one hand, you can find diversity even when people appear to be alike. By exploring our differences, we can continue learning from each other even when it seems we have shared backgrounds and values. At the same time, people who seem really different may have shared human experiences, feeling like the "other" or being embarrassed by their parents, that can bring them together. Moving forward, I want to learn about people’s differences, hearing their stories and learning about their backgrounds while also creating spaces for people to have shared experiences that bring people together.
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How to Write William and Mary Supplemental Essay Prompt #4
What led to your interest in William & Mary? (300 words)
You can approach this prompt as a pretty standard “Why us?” essay.
We recommend checking out this complete guide on how to write the “Why us?” essay and paying close attention to the “Why Cornell” and “Why Penn” examples, which are our favorites.
Here’s the short version of how to write the “Why us?” essay:
Spend 1 hr+ researching 10+ reasons why this college might be a great fit for you (ideally 3-5 of the reasons will be close-to-unique to the school and connect back to you).
Make a copy of this chart to map out your college research.
Create an outline for your essays based on either Approach 1, 2 (recommended), or 3 in the full guide above.
Write a first draft!
Remember—the best “Why us?” essays don’t celebrate how it’s the GREATEST SCHOOL OF ALL TIME. They’re more an explanation of why you and the college are the perfect match. Because of that, make sure to connect each of your school-specific examples to you, your interests, your values.
As you write, try and avoid these common mistakes:
Five Common Mistakes Students Make on “Why Us?” Essays
Mistake #1: Writing about the school's size, location, reputation, weather, or ranking
Mistake #2: Simply using emotional language to demonstrate fit
Mistake #3: Screwing up the mascot, stadium, team colors or names of any important people or places on campus
Mistake #4: Parroting the brochures or website language
Mistake #5: Describing traditions the school is well-known for
Mistake #6: Thinking of this as only a "Why Them" essay
Here’s a great sample essay for this prompt, written for USC’s Why US:
Example:
At two opposite ends of the spectrum, I’m both the analytical thinker and creative pursuer. Science stimulates my thoughts. Music heals my soul. At USC, I believe that with its multi-disciplinary accessibility, I’ll be able to expand my love for science while exploring the depths of classical singing.
As a pre-med student, I’ll devote myself to science, while also engaging in other courses to discover music. Because the possibility to double major is encouraged, I ultimately want to mold medicine and music together, uncovering ways to use music as treatment for diseases. After taking CHEM 203Lxg: AIDS Drugs Discovery and Development as well as MUSC 371g: Musical Genre Bonding, I’ll merge the two and create a program consisting of specific genres (or blends) to find treatment therapy relying on sounds.
Outside academics, the bustling extracurriculars at USC already excite me. Listening to “Chandelier,” a cover I arranged for my a cappella group The Pitches, I picture myself performing with the SoCal VoCals.
In the center of LA, I see myself running from lab to stage, changing from a white coat to concert attire, experimenting various treatments then rehearsing for an upcoming a cappella gig. Bursting with opportunities, USC supports this interdisciplinary approach and provides endless opportunities for me to delve into the two very different passions of mine. My dream is to be an opera singing doctor, and USC supports every aspect. (232 words)
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Tips + Analysis
Connect your values to the school’s. The author shows two sides of herself and names specific ways that each of those sides would flourish at the university. Scan the essay and look for capital letters. Those are the school-related specifics.
Create a clear, solid structure for the essay. This essay does that in the first sentence of each paragraph. Go back and re-read them. See how easy the essay reads as a result? Here’s an exercise to help you revise your draft, whether it’s a “Why us?” or even a personal statement.
Demonstrate a variety of values. One of the most important messages you want to convey in any college essay is your core values—the things that matter to you at your, well, core. Haven’t yet given much thought to what your core values are? You’re not alone. That’s why we’ve developed this super quick Values Exercise to help you identify what means most to you. Then, as you write, make sure your top values are coming through in not just this “Why us?” but in your application as a whole. Look over this example essay and see how many values you can spot. We see bunches—intellectual curiosity, meaningful work, excitement, productivity, hunger, and more.
Here’s another USC essay example that worked well for their “Why us?” prompt:
Example:
Jacqueline Novogratz used financial investments and Wall Street as a vehicle to help others. It’s a shame she’s less well-known than Bernie Madoff. By majoring in economics and minoring in philosophy at USC’s Dornsife College, I hope to gain the knowledge and perspectives to become a socially conscientious investment banker.
To be successful, I’ll need knowledge of how to raise capital via the Wall Street network. Courses such as Financial Markets will allow me to examine how Wall Street functions within the American economy, while Introduction to Econometrics will help me develop quantitative analysis skills for evaluating the market.
I’ll need a global perspective to understand how Wall Street impacts the broader world economy, and I am very interested in behavioral economics. By pairing courses such as The World Economy and International Finance with Neuroeconomics and Behavioral Economics I hope to not only discover the economic reasoning that motivates people, but also how those individual actions can accumulate to have effects visible on a macroeconomic scale.
I also love big questions--Why are people attracted to money in the first place? Does capitalism foster immorality?--issues I hope to tackle through USC’s Thematic Option, in a course like Culture and Values. I hope to confront the universal problems that I may experience throughout my life, so that If I come close to making a harmful decision, I can step back and existentially evaluate my choices.
As a Trojan, I hope to explore my existing passions while creating new ones.
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How to Write William and Mary Supplemental Essay Prompt #5
Tell us about a challenge or adversity you’ve experienced and how that has impacted you as an individual. (300 words)
The essay prompt is an opportunity to showcase your resilience, growth, and self-awareness. As you brainstorm your response, keep these points in mind:
Identify the challenge. Begin by reflecting on significant challenges or adversities you've encountered in your life. These could range from personal struggles to external obstacles. Think about situations that tested your limits, made you uncomfortable, or required you to adapt. (See exercise linked below to get started.)
Reflect on impact. Consider how the challenge or adversity affected you on a personal, emotional, and psychological level. Did it push you out of your comfort zone? Did it change your perspective on certain aspects of life? Reflect on the feelings and thoughts that emerged during and after overcoming the challenge.
Highlight actions. Most of your word count should go to actions you took in response to the challenge and what you’ve learned from the experience. Think about how you've grown as a result of facing the challenge. Did it teach you new skills or enhance existing ones? Did you develop a greater sense of empathy, perseverance, or determination?
Demonstrate self-reflection. The prompt asks how the challenge impacted you as an individual. Consider how you've come to understand yourself and your world better through this experience. Reflect on any changes in your values, beliefs, or goals that occurred as a result of overcoming the adversity.
To brainstorm challenges and your response to them, spend some time on the Feelings and Needs Exercise.
Structurally, you’ll generally want to use only one third of the word count to talk about the challenge itself and its effects on you, so you can use about two thirds to focus on actions you took in response and what you learned.
Here’s an example essay for this essay prompt:
I have had abnormal vision for as long as I can remember, but until recently, I didn’t know it was abnormal. Every second, I see thousands of tiny flashes of black and white coupled with rapidly moving eye floaters. I faced challenges during school, but I never associated these issues with my vision and relied on my critical-thinking skills rather than my vision to process written material and solve problems. But when schools moved online, I realized there was a problem.
Hours of screen time worsened my condition. For reading assignments, I had to read one line several times to barely even process what I had read. Taking 5 AP tests and the SAT was an added challenge.
I talked to my parents and doctors. They agreed my symptoms were abnormal, yet I was told that the problem was neurological, meaning nothing could be done immediately and I simply had to manage my symptoms. So I researched how.
I took more frequent breaks, stayed hydrated, and maintained a better sleep schedule. I also strengthened my vision with eye exercises and continued to rely on my critical-thinking skills. Most importantly, the more stressed I got, the worse my vision became, which inspired me to manage my stress and find ways to relax.
My vision taught me to take better care of myself. The greatest lesson I learned from my experience, however, is about others: My experience led me to be more empathetic by seeing through other people’s eyes. (247 words)
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Tips + Analysis
Open up and be real. Don't hold back when talking about your feelings or vulnerabilities during the challenge. Admissions officers want to get to know the real you. So, don't be afraid to share those moments of frustration, doubt, or even fear. Letting your guard down and being authentic in your writing can create a deeper connection with the reader.
Make it come alive with details. Use descriptive language to bring your challenge to life. Share the little things that make the experience real, like how the example essay described abnormal vision. Help the reader step into your shoes and feel what you felt.
Get resourceful and creative. Just like the writer of the example essay researched ways to deal with their vision issues, think about how you approached finding solutions to your problem. Did you ask for advice, dig up information on the internet, or come up with your own clever fixes?
Reflect on what you've learned. Don't just talk about the challenge itself. Reflect on how it affected you deep down. Did it change your outlook, beliefs, or attitude? Sharing these personal insights adds another layer of meaning to your essay.
Here are two more example essay you can use for inspiration:
Bonus example:
For as long as I can remember, I’ve struggled with a stutter. Whether 1-on-1 or in front of the classroom, I have struggled to speak with confidence, and often hesitated from expressing myself in school as a result.
In Grade 11, I set out to solve this debilitating problem with an ambitious plan: to join the debating club.
But my first speech was a particularly painful failure.
The anxiety that swelled over me standing in front of a dozen ‘veterans’ compounded my lifelong stutter. One word trailed after another like a broken metronome, just a mere few sentences that I managed to construct in the preparation time.
Despite this failure, the community of peers in the debate club encouraged me to join the following week and work hard in the preparation time. One thing I started to discover was that I virtually never stuttered when I knew my subject — whether it was Python code or the problems of city traffic. And so as time passed, I created an efficient workflow for myself that allowed me to structure my speech with pinpoint precision, eventually being crowned ‘king of structure’ amongst my friends.
So when I arrive at college—a freshman from a different country—my stutter may well return. But, by joining the debate club and making friends within it, I hope I can build the confidence and trust I need to overcome my speech impediment once more.
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Bonus example:
The process of transitioning from male to female challenged me unlike any other obstacle. Tested on both a mental and a physical basis, I learned the importance of recognizing and understanding my hidden emotions. For many years, I tried to shut out the feeling that my assigned gender did not align with my emotional self. I would often feel uncomfortable looking in a mirror and would regularly daydream about living as a woman. Rather than attempting to understand this incongruence, I ignored my emotions on the basis that they were “irrational.” I believed it impossible that these emotions could indicate anything about me that I didn’t already know, so I rejected them.
During this past year, I recognized that the only way I could resolve this struggle was to start accepting my emotions and experience them entirely. By recognizing and analyzing my emotions, I finally realized that I was a transgender woman. I could no longer deny that fact or allow anyone else to tell me otherwise. Since that realization, I have grown emotionally and taken control of my life. I have started taking feminizing hormones for my physical transition, and have begun my social transition through name and pronoun changes. Had I not challenged myself to address my gender dysphoria, I would not be the emotionally whole and confident transgender woman I am today.
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How to Write William and Mary Supplemental Essay Prompt #6
If we visited your town, what would you want to show us? (300 words)
This prompt invites you to become the tour guide of your town, showcasing the places and aspects that hold significance to you.
Here are a few ideas to help you brainstorm your response:
Share your favorites. Start by making a list of your favorite places and spots in your town. These could be parks, cafes, historical sites, or even hidden gems that hold a special place in your heart. Think about why they're special to you and how they give your town its unique flavor.
Tell personal stories. Reflect on personal stories or experiences that tie you to specific places. Maybe there's a park where you used to spend summers with friends or a coffee shop where you had your first job.
Highlight local heroes. Are there individuals in your town who have made a significant impact? These could be artists, activists, small business owners, or anyone who has contributed to the growth and development of your community. Highlighting their work and why you value it could provide an interesting angle to your essay.
This is another new one for William and Mary this year. But here’s an example essay that a student wrote to answer a similar essay prompt from Dartmouth:
I love you, California; you have won this heart of mine. - F.B. Silverwood
When I think about the state I have lived my entire life in, my thoughts reflect much of its state anthem. Despite its faults, I have a deep adoration for the Golden State, and the diversity due to immigration has added so much to my home.
I wouldn’t even be sitting here in Lafayette writing this if it weren’t for immigration, as my great great grandfather settled through Ellis Island to Queens during the Roaring Twenties. Once World War II rolled around, he enlisted in the Navy, and after 36 straight months at sea, he wound up in golden San Francisco. From that point on, my lineage has been rooted in Northern California.
Besides my family’s immigration, Asian and Latin American immigration to the Bay Area, which increased in the early 20th century, has positively impacted my experiences here in many ways. Whether it be Dim Sum in Chinatown, Slanted Door’s Vietnamese food in the Mission District (my all-time favorite restaurant), or Tacos El Patron in Pleasant Hill, the dazzling composition of culture has cultivated my adoration of food. I value living in an area with so many represented cultures, and visiting the traditional pockets of ChinaTown and Japantown broadens my horizons and ability to empathize with others. I also love witnessing classic events such as the acclaimed San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade.
I am ready to leave my home and bring my appreciation for diversity, education and hard work, and obsession with food, to Hanover. In my new home, I am excited to carry the legacy of California with me as I cultivate new values and advocate for positive change. (286 words)
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Tips + Analysis
Use vivid details. The example essay paints a vivid picture of the places and experiences in the student’s hometown, such as their favorite Vietnamese restaurant and the San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade. Emulate this example by using descriptive language to transport the reader to the places you're describing. Let readers almost taste your favorite café's coffee or feel the energy of a local event.
Connect to your values. If certain places or aspects of your town resonate with your values or passions, emphasize this connection. Whether it's an eco-friendly initiative, community service, or art exhibition, discussing how your values align with elements of your town reveals your character and priorities.
Link to the future. The example essay connects the writer's experiences in their hometown to their aspirations in college. In your essay, consider how your experiences in your hometown have shaped your values and perspectives and how these will play a role in your future.
Here’s another great example essay:
When someone hears Alabama, or specifically my hometown of Birmingham, they think of the epicenter of the Civil Rights movement, college football hysteria, and controversial laws. I’ll be the first to admit: my home state is far from perfect. Born and raised in Alabama as an Indian-American, I have experienced the positives and negatives. Yet, the lessons I have learned growing up have shaped me into who I am and taught me values I wish to evolve at UT Austin.
Every morning I walk to my blue-eyed godfather’s garage to get my car; he lets me because he has an extra spot. When I drive through the neighborhood, it’s normal to smile and wave to strangers. When a crisis arises, like my grandmother falling while she and I were home alone, neighbors immediately came to help, some I had never met before--the famous Southern hospitality revealed.
Volunteering at TechBirmingham, I’ve developed a responsibility to give back to my community. As a Longhorn, I look forward to continuing my impact in Austin through the CS outreach programs. In addition to being an avid member of Code Orange, I wish to be an instrumental leader in developing and implementing new programs and initiatives to further educate the budding STEM youth.
Growing up in Alabama, I have learned the value of community. Whether it is helping our neighbors in a time of need or educating and mentoring kids in the community that need guidance, I know that a strong community creates strong leaders. I wish to bring my perspective and value of community to the Longhorn family - ensuring that all my peers are supported and successful.
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PS: Want to know what else goes into a great essay? Check out The Great College Essay Test.
Special thanks to Luci for her contributions to this post.
Luci is an audiophile and storyteller with a love of all things radio and writing. In the wild, you might catch her struggling through a NY Times crossword puzzle, snuggling her abnormally fluffy dog Oreo, or saying her favorite expression “cool beans.” Crosswords, cute dogs, cool beans. What more could you ask for?
Top values: Interpersonal connections | humor | openness to new experience
