Colorado School of Mines 2022-23 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Colorado School of Mines 2022-23 Application Essay Question Explanations 

The Requirements: 2 optional essays of 500 words each

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Personal Statement, Why

While the Colorado School of Mines essays are both optional, we encourage you to seriously consider responding to one or both of the following prompts.

Florence Caldwell was the first woman to graduate from Mines. She enrolled in 1895 and found that her fellow classmates discouraged her attendance. She persevered through that discouragement and graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering in 1898. She was described as a problem-solver, who was loyal, kind, and sympathetic to others and displayed unwavering courage. Describe a time when you overcame an obstacle, persevered through a situation, or displayed characteristics similar to Florence Caldwell. (500 words)

First things first, Florence Caldwell sounds like a BOSS. As you think about how you’d like to respond to this prompt, we encourage you to consider experiences or periods of your life in which you tackled adversity head-on. Writing about a difficult time in your life requires both vulnerability and perspective. Instead of focusing on the challenge or bias you were up against, spend most of the words at your disposal on how you rose to the occasion to overcome the challenge at hand. This is your opportunity to show admissions that you are a developing, maturing young adult with ambition and work ethic. As you zero in on a key moment, ask yourself: What healthy coping mechanisms or communication skills did you develop? Who, if applicable, did you choose to lean on and why? What did you learn about yourself? How will you approach difficult situations moving forward? Be honest and open, and we’re sure admissions will be impressed.

Please tell us why Mines is the best fit for you or tell us something about yourself that you feel the rest of your application does not communicate. (500 words)

With this prompt, you have options. You can either use this space to include a “why do you want to go here?” essay, or alternatively, this space is ripe for recycling. Did you write an essay for another school that you feel reveals more about you in a surprising or interesting way? This could be the perfect place to repurpose it. If you decide to tell admissions why Mines is the best fit for you, we recommend infusing your response with details from your research on their academic offerings and faculty. The more specific you can be, the better!