Pitzer College 2021-22 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Pitzer College 2021-22 Application Essay Question Explanation

The Requirements: 1 essay of 650 words

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Why, Community

At Pitzer College, five core values distinguish our approach to education: social responsibility, intercultural understanding, interdisciplinary learning, student engagement, and environmental sustainability. As agents of change, our students utilize these values to create solutions to our world’s challenges. Find out more about our core values. Please choose from the following prompts and answer below:*

Describe what you are looking for from your college experience and why Pitzer would be a good fit for you. 

Pitzer wants to make sure you are psyched for the full college experience at their school. So, we’ve said it once and we’ll say it again: DO. YOUR. RESEARCH. Locate specific opportunities within your department and related programs and clubs that really make your heart sing with excitement. And then connect those offerings to your hopes for a successful college experience (however you may define it). Talk about your academic and professional goals and how Pitzer will help you achieve them. What unexpected classes might you want to take to stoke your curiosity? Don’t forget to connect your past/present to your future. What experience do you have already that you can build on? What about the Pitzer experience will enrich your life overall? 

Reflecting on your involvement throughout high school or within the community, how have you engaged with one of Pitzer’s core values? 

If you choose to respond to this prompt, odds are you have something to say about social responsibility (what do we owe to our fellow humans?), intercultural understanding (how do we form connections and appreciation across cultures?), interdisciplinary learning (much like yoga, it’s all related, isn’t it?), student engagement (how can we help each other to grow, expand, and deepen our knowledge?), or environmental sustainability (Mars is cold, y’all!). Hone in on the Pitzer value that resonates the most with you and share the steps you have taken to connect, address, or engage with it over the past four years.  

Pitzer is known for our students’ intellectual and creative activism. If you could work on a cause that is meaningful to you through a project, artistic, academic, or otherwise, what would you do?

What particular cause or community means a great deal to you? What change do you hope to see in the world? What problems would you like to see fixed? Remember that, fundamentally, activism is not about personal glory or achievement. Once you hone in on the cause you would like to work on (and why), describe to admissions how you would like to contribute. Would you volunteer on campus to encourage the administration to implement greener campus policies? Would you bring your therapy dog to the local hospital to share joy with others? Finally, reflect on how you have already advocated on behalf of the cause most meaningful to you. Have you been fundraising for girls’ education in developing countries? Did you start a coat drive in your town for people experiencing homelessness? Show admissions that you are the kind of person to take action.