Washington University in St. Louis 2025-26 Supplemental Essay Guide

Washington University in St. Louis 2024-25 Application Essay Question Explanation

The Requirements: One 200-word essay; one 250-word essay

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Why, Community

How to Write Washington University in St. Louis Supplemental Essays

The admissions committee at WashU is looking for “evidence of academic potential, strong personal characteristics and qualities, developed accomplishments and involvement, and potential for fit and engagement in the WashU community.” All those buzzwords relate to the supplemental questions below, which ask about your academic interests and who you are as a person. With relatively short word limits, these prompts demand clarity and focus, so choose precise words that tell your story while bringing vivid details to life. Keep reading to learn how to write winning WashU essays! 

P.S. While the second essay is optional, we highly recommend submitting it to add depth to your application package. You may even be able to recycle an essay from another application!

WashU Essay Prompts Breakdown

Please tell us what you are interested in studying at college and why. (200 words)

Undecided about your academic interest(s)? Don’t worry—tell us what excites you about the academic division you selected. Remember that all of our first-year students enter officially “undeclared” and work closely with their team of academic advisors to discover their academic passions. You can explore all of our majors and programs on our website.  

This is WashU’s version of a classic “Why Essay.” Even if you’re not completely sure what you want to major in yet, admissions wants to both learn about your academic interests and see how their offerings will suit your passions. If you can build a bridge between your own interests and the resources available at WashU, you’ll be well on your way to demonstrating your fit. So set aside an hour or two and commit to some serious research on the WashU website. (Sorry, there’s no way around this, folks!) Look up information about news and research coming out of your department of interest, the kinds of courses available, and the opportunities other undergrads have had studying in your area of choice. Even if you have a wide array of interests, consider explaining how two or three departments might complement each other or foster your interest in a larger theme or cross-pollinating kind of way. Your ultimate goal is to show that your interest in WashU (just like your intellectual curiosity) runs deep!

This optional question allows you to add another dimension to your application – something that the admissions committee might not learn by reading your transcript or your personal statement. If you plan to apply for one of the Signature Scholar Programs, we highly recommend you complete this supplement.

WashU is a place that values a variety of perspectives. We believe those perspectives come from a variety of experiences and identities. Respond to one of the following prompts to help us understand “Who are you?:

1) WashU supports engagement in the St. Louis community by considering the university as “in St. Louis, For St. Louis.” What is a community you are a part of and your place or impact within it? (250 words)

2) WashU strives to know every undergraduate student “by Name & Story.” How have your life experiences shaped your story? (250 words)

With each of these prompts, admissions is hoping to learn more about who you are, so choose the prompt that sticks out to you or work backward by thinking about the communities you are a part of (whether that be your student government, your temple, your club soccer team, etc.) and consider how your experiences have shaped your story. Maybe you’ve been thinking about writing an essay about your volunteer work within your small city and the ways it has expanded your perspective and introduced you to people from all walks of life whom you may never have met otherwise. An essay like that could work for either of these prompts depending on the way you frame it. Perhaps you want to write about your experience advocating for greener waste management solutions at your high school or the ways your years of being the only person in the room who looks like you have impacted the way you interact with others. Ultimately, your goal here is to offer admissions deeper insight into the human behind the application.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in WashU Essays

We have been reading WashU 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 WashU Essays

We at College Essay Advisors have been guiding students one-on-one through the essay writing process for the WashU supplements for over twenty years. We take a holistic approach to these 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 WashU supplemental 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.