If what Albert Einstein said is true—that the measure of intelligence is the ability to change—then the best education will surely be had at an institution that embraces and thrives on change. Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) has been fine-tuning its approach to developing skilled, empathetic, and experienced students for more than 150 years, and it’s positioned thousands of aspiring scholars for success using its project-based learning system. With an innovative academic year made up of seven-week terms and a unique grading system that emphasizes teamwork and experimentation, WPI encourages students to learn while doing and customize their journey to prepare for the world beyond its doors.
Want to get an even better sense of what WPI is looking for and planning to do? 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. For deep insights into WPI’s mission and vision—including the school’s vision of the ideal future—read through its most recent strategic plan.
What is the Worcester Polytechnic Institute supplemental essay prompt?
WPI Supplemental Essay Prompt #1
Worcester Polytechnic Institute seeks students who are the right fit for its academic and campus community. In what ways are you the right fit for the distinctive educational and campus experience that Worcester Polytechnic Institute offers? (500 words)
How to Write the Supplemental Essay Prompt for WPI
how to write wpi Supplemental Essay Prompt #1
Worcester Polytechnic Institute seeks students who are the right fit for its academic and campus community. In what ways are you the right fit for the distinctive educational and campus experience that Worcester Polytechnic Institute offers? (500 words)
Ladies and gentlemen, we present to you a classic “Why us?” essay with an emphasis on “why me.” And WPI allows you ample room for your response: 500 words. While you might be thinking ,“Oh, no—500 words?,” we’re thinking, “How spectacular—500 words!” Here’s how to make this word count work for you.
First, you’ll need ample space to address the “Why us?” part of the essay. (If you need a refresher on what this essay is and how to write it, check out our full guide here.) You’ll be doing a deep dive into WPI, both on its website (digging into the course catalog and campus life descriptions) and by searching the web for other mentions of the school (like professors making great discoveries in your field of interest). The goal? To show you’re clear on the educational and extracurricular opportunities WPI offers and how they’ll help you further your interests, expand your horizons, and pursue your goals. Remember: This doesn’t need to be a 1:1 correlation—matching each of your current interests directly with one of WPI’s existing programs. Instead, you’re encouraged to consider mentioning opportunities WPI offers that you’ve previously not had access to and showing your enthusiasm to be the curious learner WPI values.
But, wait! There’s more. Now that you’ve shown WPI why it’s your dream school and a perfect match, it’s time to show admission officers why you’re their dream student: an enterprising scholar, bold innovator, and dedicated leader (enter the “why me” part of the essay). To do that, you’ll clearly show the value that your past experience, learning style, and future goals will bring to WPI.
The student below addresses both parts admirably in his response, using 490 of the words at his disposal to show how he’ll integrate seamlessly in the classroom and on campus.
Example:
I intend to major in mechanical engineering with a minor in entrepreneurship. WPI’s approach to learning, uniquely rooted in project-based learning, is unlike any other university I’m applying to and fits perfectly with the way that I work. Over the past three years, I have designed and developed a tech-savvy pillbox that links to a mobile phone, a portable gym towel dryer for the car, a mini trash can for the car, and a mobile app. I accomplished this by learning 3D printing and design, laser cutting, and Arduino programming. WPI’s “theory to practice” approach would fuel my passion for combining learning, design, and building.
WPI’s mission-oriented programs, such as the IQP, provide the perfect opportunity to take my engineering and philanthropy to the next level. I’m inspired by the IQP, which brings students together to research, plan, and solve real-world challenges. Two years ago I started a non-profit organization (An Eye at a Time) to provide eye care to impoverished communities. I plan to organize other missions in the near future. I’m also in the early stages of designing a portable optical machine to produce durable eyeglass frames at low cost and the IQP could potentially provide the resources to make it happen. WPI’s Objet260 Connex 3D printer, which prints in over 60 materials from rubber to transparent plastics, would enable me to create and iterate quickly and with the best quality available.
WPI’s “More in Four” motto also resonates with me. Uniquely, WPI has structured their quarterly system to enable students to explore more topics in four years. In addition, their unique grading system encourages exploration. This opportunity to take academic risks and discover what I enjoy is important to me.
The professors at WPI are dedicated to helping students explore their passions. Professor Sisson, whose knowledge and research about materials science and product manufacturing could be a major resource for identifying materials durable enough for the optical machine and frames I hope to build.
Professor Planchard has over 27 years of experience in machine design, product design, mechanics of materials, and solid modeling. His expertise could help me create a working optical machine. Professor Planchard holds five patents so his experience could help me down the road with the patent process.
I also hope to mentor with Professor Apelian, who specializes in metal processing, to explore the possibilities and limits of metals. He founded the Metal Processing Institute at WPI which provides metal processing, from casting to heat treating. I especially appreciate that MPI promotes recycling and re-using resources in an environmentally-friendly manner.
In addition to academics, WPI offers a variety of clubs that interest me greatly. WPI’s Formula SAE club would fuel my love of cars, while the ASME group provides hands-on projects to gain additional engineering skills. Fitness and competitive sports will always play a central role in my life, so I will continue to play soccer and plan to join the club golf team. (490 words)
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Tips + Analysis
Be strategic. Because this is a longer essay, structure and organization are critical. So, before you start writing , consider outlining your essay following a format like this (which, unsurprisingly, is not unlike how this student organized his essay):
Opening/thesis (say what you want to study and why)
Really specific academic offering at the school that’s in your intended major/concentration (this should connect to you in a really specific way)
A second really specific academic offering that’s also in your intended major/concentration (and that also connects back to you)
Something academic that’s not in your intended major/concentration (this keeps the focus on academics, but also brings in some variety)
Best/most important extracurricular offering (that connects to you in a really specific way)
Miscellaneous extracurriculars paragraph (2-3 things to demonstrate social/non-academic fit)
Dig below the surface. While it’s easy to focus on the easy-to-find information—like WPI’s project-based approach to learning, seven-week terms, or its unique grading system—that alone won’t impress admission officers. But connecting your passion for clean energy with Associate Professor Yu Zhong’s grant to study hydrogen fuels, for example, just might. Take time to dig deep and show why WPI, of all schools, is the place for you to call home for the next four years. The student above strikes a balance between the two, connecting potentially superficial (but highly relevant) reasons to attend (grades and quarterly system) with deeper ones (the Objet260 Connex 3D printer and how he’ll work with three of WPI’s professors).
Show off new sides of you. This prompt also gives you the opportunity to go into more detail about your skills, talents, interests, and passions. If there’s something you haven’t been able to mention elsewhere in your application, or haven’t emphasized it enough, can you weave it in here? This might’ve been this student’s only chance to share more about the portable optical machine he’s been working on, and by elaborating on it, he’s then able to easily transition to connecting this interest with the resources available to him on campus.
Show your impact. You might tell WPI officials you two are a match made in heaven, but what you really want to do is show them. The difference, you ask? Your best friend could tell you they sat next to Justin Bieber on a flight from New York to L.A. But until they show you that picture, you might not believe them. Make sense? So it’s time to offer up some cold, hard proof that shows your interest in WPI is more than just lip service. This student does this with each part of his essay—like when he mentions his interest in IQP’s focus on solving real-world challenges then backs it up by explaining how that program will let him bring the vision of his eye care nonprofit to life.
Special thanks to Julia for contributing to this post.
Julia published her first “book” on the elusive Pika in elementary school and has been writing fervently ever since. She’s thrilled to unite her quirky love of grammar and master’s in psychology to help students tell their most meaningful stories. Her favorite punctuation mark is the apostrophe because, in the words of Imagine Dragons, it’s “a symbol to remind you that there’s more to see.”
Top values: Collaboration | Family | Productivity
