University of Notre Dame 2025-26 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

University of Notre Dame 2025-26 Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: 1 Short answer of 100 words; 1 Short Essay of 150 words; 3 Short Answers of 50-100 words each

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Why, Oddball, Community, Short Answer

How to Write Notre Dame Supplemental Essays

Short answers dominate the Notre Dame application. So, in brief, they’re looking for confidence. When an essay must clock in at under 100 or 150 words, you don’t have time to waffle or circle your main idea with broad statements. The successful applicant will get straight to the point and bring vivid details to life while highlighting your overall intelligence. Keep reading to learn how to write winning Notre Dame supplemental essays!

Notre Dame Prompt Breakdowns

Briefly share what draws you to the area(s) of study you listed. (100 words)

For this essay, let’s go beyond the obvious, “I love war documentaries, so majoring in History will be a great fit for me.” We get it, Ken Burns is your LeBron. But how might Notre Dame’s courses and professors shape you and teach you something new? 100 words isn’t a lot of space, but that doesn’t mean you can’t provide a detailed response. What do you absolutely love about your intended major? Bonus points if you can include what excites you about the department at Notre Dame—professors, classes, guest speakers, alumni—to show how their program and offerings will help you achieve your goals.

Please provide a response to the following question. The word count is a maximum of 150 words. 

Everyone has different priorities when considering their higher education options and building their college or university list. Tell us about your “non-negotiable” factor(s) when searching for your future college home.

Notre Dame knows you have a lot of colleges to choose from, so they want to know that you have thought carefully about why you are applying to their school. Think about what factors unify all of the schools on your list: Are they all faith-based? Do they have D-1 sports teams? Are they all in a specific region? Are they all a certain size? Do they all offer an Organ or Sacred Music major? Once you’ve identified your “non-negotiables,” describe how Notre Dame fits the bill. The more specific and personal you can be, the more your answer will stand out, showing admissions that you have deeply considered what Notre Dame has to offer and how that matches what you’re looking for in an undergraduate program. 

Please choose three questions from the options below. Your response to each short-answer question should be between 50-100 words. 

1) How does faith influence the decisions you make?

2) What is distinctive about your personal experiences and development (eg, family support, culture, disability, personal background, community)?  Why are these experiences important to you and how will you enrich the Notre Dame community?

3) Notre Dame’s undergraduate experience is characterized by a collective sense of care for every person.  How do you foster service to others in your community?

4) What compliment are you most proud of receiving, and why does it mean so much to you?

5) What would you fight for?

Do not overthink your responses to these questions. Instead, identify the three that call to you and trust your instincts. Perhaps to answer #4, you want to tell admissions that the look on your sister’s face after you do her makeup means more to you than any verbal compliment could. Maybe you’ve been hoping for the opportunity to speak about the role religion plays in your life. #5 is perfect for the social justice advocates among you or those with strong convictions. If you opt to respond to prompt #2, focus on an experience or aspect of your background that has influenced who you are today and how that would help you make meaningful contributions to the Notre Dame community. For #3, you may be able to recycle a prior Community Essay sharing what you have done to support one of your communities. Just because these short answers are brief doesn’t mean you can rush through them. Leave yourself enough time to think through your responses and don’t forget to proofread!

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Notre Dame Essays

We have been reading Notre Dame essays for over twenty years now, so we know a thing or two about the most common mistakes students make. The most common mistakes to avoid are repeating the prompt in your essay (don’t waste your words), trying to sound like an academic (admissions wants to hear your authentic voice!), and using cliches (they’re ineffective and—let’s face it—lazy).

Why Choose College Essay Advisors for Notre Dame Essays

We at College Essay Advisors have been guiding students one-on-one through the essay writing process for the Notre Dame supplements for over twenty years. We take a holistic approach to these short essays, considering each student’s application package as a whole and identifying their strengths to highlight. Our Advisors accommodate each student’s scheduling needs to virtually brainstorm, draft, and revise winning essays. It’s incredibly important to us that each student’s voice is preserved, and we pride ourselves in helping students to write successful Notre Dame essays that differentiate them from similarly qualified applicants. For more information, submit a contact form below or review our one-on-one advising services or list of student acceptances.