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How to Write the University of Vermont Essays 2020-2021

The University of Vermont is a public research university in suburban Burlington, Vermont. According to the U.S. News & World Report, it is ranked #121 in National Universities and #55 in Top Public Schools. The university is in close proximity to Lake Champlain and picturesque mountain ranges, providing students ample access to copious forms of outdoor recreation. 

UVM has over 100 majors in seven undergraduate schools and colleges, and four pre-professional options: pre-medical, pre-dental, pre-vet, and pre-law. Additionally, the institution places a strong emphasis on learning outside of the classroom. By the time they graduate, 92% of students have participated in some type of experience-based learning such as research or an internship. The school has nine residential complexes across its four campuses, with all first year students living in themed residential communities such as Cultural Crossroads and Arts and Creativity. 

UVM has a somewhat selective acceptance rate of 68%. The university is seeing an upward trend in student statistics, with each of the last five incoming classes’ statistics superseding the last and having the highest academic credentials in the university’s history. The class of 2023 had an average SAT score of 1275 and an average ACT score of 28.9.

In addition to the Common App’s personal statement, UVM has an optional supplemental essay with five prompt options. Read on to learn more about these prompts and how to answer them! Keep in mind that there are an infinite number of ways to answer these prompts and that these ideas are just a starting point. 

University of Vermont Supplemental Essay

If you would like an opportunity to further present yourself to the Admissions Committee, you may submit a response to ONE of the following prompts in 500 words (optional).

Option 1: Why UVM?

Option 2: which ben & jerry’s ice cream flavor (real or imagined) best describes you, option 3: whether they’re building a robot, a stronger sense of community, or an identity. uvm students are builders. what do you want to build, option 4: uvm learning experiences go far beyond the walls of our classrooms. from student lead organizations, to internships, to study abroad, uvm students are encouraged to learn in any environment. describe a time when you’ve learned in a non-traditional setting., option 5: communities are stronger when they incorporate many differing opinions, how do you create meaningful connections or conversations with others who have differing opinions than yours.

Though the supplemental essay is optional, we strongly recommend that you write one as it can be an invaluable asset to your application. Many students have similar academic statistics and test scores; these essays have the potential to help you stand out and craft a unique narrative that resonates with admissions officers. Your essay is a chance for you to discuss aspects of yourself that were not captured in other areas of your application. Using this opportunity to make your application memorable is important, and with five vastly different prompts to choose from, it can feel overwhelming – but don’t fear! This essay guide will help get your creative juices flowing. 

As you read through the prompts, try to see which prompts you naturally gravitate to and jot down potential topics you can write about. This will help you narrow down which prompt to write to and spur your writing process along.

The “ Why This College? ” prompt is a classic way for schools to gain a better sense of your interest in attending. Schools get hundreds of applicants with very similar academic statistics and test scores, so your response to this prompt adds another dimension along which your application can be evaluated. 

To begin researching for this prompt, you can utilize UVM’s website, which has valuable information about majors, programs and student life. When you write to this prompt, you should envision your future as a college student at UVM specifically. Your level of detail should be so specific that you should not be able to replace the college’s name with that of another one. 

In addition, colleges have ample opportunities for you to explore new passions and continue your existing interests. For the sake of this prompt, it might be easier to build off of your current passions. Establish a link between your current self and your potential future self will add credibility to your essay while teaching admissions officers more about you. Here are two examples of ways to answer this prompt.

Bad: “One thing I look forward to exploring more in college is my passion for hiking. I have been hiking with my family from a young age and feel extremely at home in the outdoors. I really enjoy exploring new trails and learning about new creatures. At UVM, I plan to join a hiking club so that I can continue to pursue this passion. I can’t wait to explore the beautiful scenery in and around Vermont.”

Good: “As long as I can remember, my family has gone on hikes in our hometown in Harrisonburg, Virginia. We have spent many summers traversing the trails in Damascus and birdwatching at Shenandoah National Park. I can’t wait to continue to explore my passion for the outdoors at UVM and was thrilled to learn about the Outing Clubhaus. Through opportunities like the Wilderness Instructor Leadership Development program, I can take a Moon Hike in the Worcester Range, or ski in the Vermont Backcountry. As a ‘WILDee’, I look forward to gaining a deeper understanding of the beautiful wilderness around UVM.

The first response is vague and lacks information that distinguishes the student or the school from other applicants and institutions. The lack of detail undercuts the passion for the outdoors that the student is trying to convey, telling rather than showing readers about it. In comparison, the second prompt exudes a level of detail that clearly demonstrates that this specific student has done extensive research into the school. 

Keep in mind, however, that your essay should focus on a balance of academic and extracurricular aspects of UVM. If you only talk about extracurriculars, it may seem like you’re not academically-motivated. Likewise, you shouldn’t only discuss academics because you want to show how you’ll contribute to the campus community.

Finally, be sure to explain why the UVM resources you mention appeal to you. We can’t emphasize this enough! Anyone can say they like UVM for X, Y, and Z reason. You need to show that you’re a good fit. By tying past experiences to potential future actions, you can craft an easy-to-follow narrative that feels genuine and is pleasurable to read. This approach helps admissions officers better gauge your interest in the school and can easily distinguish your application from others.

With flavors like “Boom Chocolatta” and “Chip Happens,” Ben & Jerry’s is known for their quirky, zany variety of ice cream treats, and this unique prompt invites you to apply them to yourself or even generate your own. Admissions officers want to know about you, so regardless of topic, it is important that the essay content centers around you. 

The flavor you select or create is not as important as how you develop your answer. What matters is that your response matches the creative, fun nature of this prompt in a way that shows your personality. This prompt is extremely open-ended and might seem overwhelming at first – however, there is really no wrong way to answer it. The key is not to try to encapsulate your entire self into a single flavor, but rather, to pick one aspect of yourself and delve into it. When you’re thinking about how to answer the prompts, consider the following questions:

• What do I want admissions officers to know about me that isn’t mentioned or fully developed in other parts of my application?
• What is something I am deeply knowledgeable or passionate about?
• How do my identities intersect in unique ways and how have these intersections shaped me?
• Which of my personality traits and values are the most important to me?
• What is something that I genuinely enjoy thinking/talking/writing about?

Ben and Jerry’s are known for packing several distinct tastes into one pint and including all kinds of chunky treats, drizzles, and toppings. It can be tempting to want to explain every aspect of your identities or personality, but you should narrow your topics down to a couple major aspects that fit neatly under an umbrella topic.

One way of going about this prompt might be to link specific components of the flavor to your identities and future. For example, a student could write about how they embody the Justice Remix’d flavor. Each component can correlate with a different identity or character trait. The cinnamon elements can represent their family because the flavor’s warmth brings back cozy memories of baking with their loved ones. On the other hand, the spicy brownie fudge can symbolize their burning passion for immigration justice. They can then detail how the individual flavors coalesce into their desire to become a civil rights lawyer that understands the importance of keeping families together and has the fiery drive to fight for justice in the courtroom. 

Another student’s pint creation strategy might involve pairing a standard flavor on the outside with a non-traditional core flavor. They might use this metaphor to discuss a hidden talent or secret hobby that people rarely expect from them. In this instance, the flavor itself is more of a minor detail and the main focus of the essay would be the structure of the pint, centering on the contrast between the person’s exterior identities and some nontraditional aspect of themselves that they wish to share with the admissions committee.

Note that because this prompt is very casual, your tone can be a little less formal and more conversational in nature. However, you should still ensure there are no typos or grammatical errors. Your word choice and humor should also be tactful and appropriate.

This prompt is intentionally open-ended and can be answered a number of ways. It is future-oriented, asking you to craft hypotheticals based on your current goals and values. This response has the potential to be creative and go copious directions, yet it can also stay fairly realistic and be equally strong. Keeping a loose interpretation of the word “build,” think about goals you want to accomplish in the future and how they fit into a framework of creating something that uniquely stems from yourself.

First off, you should avoid making your essay about building a robot, or explicitly stating that it is about a stronger sense of community or an identity. Using the examples in the prompt can come across as lacking creativity. Instead, try to think about answering the prompt in a new way that speaks to your identities and values.

A natural inclination might be to focus entirely on hypotheticals and talk only in terms of what you want to accomplish in the future. However, it is important that your response is grounded in the present so that it comes across as genuine. You can also tie it to your prospective major or potential future career in order to add more dimension to your application. 

For instance, if a student has a green thumb, they can talk about how they see their skills in the backyard expanding in the future. If they are applying as an environmental science major or public affairs major, they can discuss how they want to build a communal garden in their hometown to combat food insecurity in the area, or how they want to build a sustainable herb garden that can be mounted on city apartment walls. A prospective computer science or marketing major could discuss building an app that keeps track of watering schedules for different plants, or designing an Instagram-type social media platform exclusively for plant-related content. 

This prompt could go a myriad of directions based on your current interests and future intentions. However you choose to meld your existing skills and hobbies with your potential future is up to you.

This prompt is designed to learn about your experiences in a non-traditional setting. Think about extracurriculars, people, and ideas you have encountered outside of typical hierarchies like school and other structured organizations. With this prompt, it is important to show, rather than tell, readers what you experienced. You can achieve this by writing your response as a narrative, starting in media res and using descriptive language. 

For example, instead of listing out the context and background details of the instance first, you would start writing in the middle of the action as if you were telling a story rather than giving a textbook answer. Here are two examples of responses to this prompt:

Example 1: “Two years ago, my niece, Samantha Ray, was born. I promised my sister I would always take care of her, and for the past couple of years she has been my number one priority. Since then, I have been constantly cleaning up spills, changing diapers, and soothing her cries. But living with her has taught me invaluable lessons in how to handle unpredictability, and for that I am grateful.”

Example 2: “Coos and giggles filled our kitchen as I wiped my little niece’s spaghetti sauce-stained hands with a paper towel. As I turned around to dispose of it, she proceeded to enthusiastically bury her entire face in the bowl of pasta. Two years ago, I would have felt frustrated that I had to redo a task seconds after completing it. But living with Samantha has shown me that life doesn’t always go perfectly, and plans often going astray even as we create them.”   

While the first response lays out background for readers, it lacks a story-like quality that pulls readers in and makes them want to read more. The excerpt tells, rather than showing readers what the applicant is trying to say. On the other hand, the second response utilizes imagery, evoking the senses of sound and taste, to help the reader better picture the scene. The latter applicant can go on to describe how their niece taught them to embrace unpredictability, and how they plan to continue seeking out spontaneity and adventure during their college career. 

Focus externally on your senses and internally on how you felt. Maintaining a narrative-like quality for at least half of the response will capture readers’ attention and make your application much more memorable. Using descriptive imagery and connecting your current learning experiences with future pursuits will add more depth to your application. 

Then, at the end of your response, zoom out and briefly mention how what you learned will impact your future behavior. You can discuss how it will impact your mindset going forward, or how you plan to implement what you learned in your future career. But you don’t have to zoom out too much either – don’t be afraid to simply say how the specific narrative will influence your experience at this particular university next year. 

With this prompt, admissions officers want to know more about your views and values, how you will contribute to UVM’s diversity, and how you will interact with students from different backgrounds than you. 

Using your current knowledge and past experiences, your task is to describe a methodology of practicing open-mindedness that draws from your unique experiences. To brainstorm content for this essay, start by listing out your identities, beliefs, and values. These can stem from culture, religion, or politics, but do not necessarily have to be of that nature. Your answer can even be more whimsical – applicants could write about ongoing pop culture debates like pineapple on pizza, or if water is wet. Here, the opinion you choose is not as important as how you write about reconciling the differences with others.

For this essay, we recommend choosing one of two methods of prompt response: narrative and collection. A narrative essay centers on one main incident and has a story-like quality for a substantial amount of the response. You would begin your response with a specific, imagery-soaked anecdote and then pan out to the broader lesson or idea at hand. 

A collection essay is composed of multiple anecdotes that are more brief and connect via shared themes. Because this prompt is 500 words, you may have the room to incorporate a couple anecdotes. If you plan on using this method, you should ensure that they are similar enough to each other that they have a shared theme, but not so similar that they sound repetitive. Furthermore, they should share a core idea or sentiment as stating too many opinions within the essay will detract from the depth of your response. 

A rough potential framework might be starting with an anecdote that details the difference of opinion, delving into how it made you feel, and adding background information and more narrative content as it becomes relevant. You should spend the majority of your response focusing on how you fostered meaningful connection or sparked important conversations with people whose opinions did not align with yours.

For example, maybe an applicant grew up in a household with a patriarchal mindset. They could write about coming to realize that these views were not something they shared and that they received a lot of backlash from their family for feeling that way. The applicant can describe specific instances in which they engaged in productive conversations with their family, or how they slowly learned to advocate for themselves in a space where their gender was not valued.

Another applicant might detail how growing up as a picky eater stopped them from trying a lot of cuisines. They might recount how their mentality often led them to be closed-minded in other regards as well. Their essay would center on becoming more open to their friends food-related opinions and starting to expand their palate. This essay would add another dimension to their candidacy for admission that is not captured in other areas of the application.

There are a myriad of ways you can answer this prompt, but overall you should focus on showcasing an ability to mediate, learn, and grow. Conflict-resolution skills and open-mindedness are key elements to a successful (and fun!) college experience, and admissions officers want to see that you are ready to embrace this type of change.

Want help with your college essays to improve your admissions chances? Sign up for your free CollegeVine account and get access to our essay guides and courses. You can also get your essay peer-reviewed and improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.

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University of Vermont 2020-21 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Regular Decision: 

University of Vermont 2020-21 Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: 1 essay of 500 words

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

If you would like an opportunity to further present yourself to the Admissions Committee, you may submit a response to ONE of the following prompts.

The instructions may start with the word “If,” but in our opinion there are no ifs, ands, or buts about this supplement: you have to write it. UVM has come up with five very different prompts to help you show admissions a little bit more about who you are and what matters to you. So pick whichever question suits you and take this unique opportunity to speak to admissions in your own voice!

1) Why UVM?

When all else fails, there’s always the classic Why essay. And we say this with praise! The why essay is not a fallback option, but it is a great choice for applicants who don’t feel inspired by the other prompts, or who just feel more inclined to plead their case in a more straightforward way. The secret to a successful why essay is research, so take some time to explore the school website or even visit campus and get to know all that UVM and Burlington have to offer. Jot down everything that excites you! When you have a solid list in hand, consider how it connects to your own interests and goals. Perhaps you’ve been wanting to find a way to lower your carbon footprint, and you see a lot of potential in studying Environmental Sciences at UVM and shopping at the Burlington Farmers Market. Just remember that the goal is to share something new about yourself, not to rattle off a list of facts about the school! Talk about your interests, goals, and dreams so admissions can understand what a UVM education will mean to you.

2) Established in 1978 in a renovated gas station in Burlington, VT, Ben and Jerry’s is synonymous with the ice cream business. The company’s success and unique brand identity are due in part to their one-of-a-kind flavors. Which Ben & Jerry’s ice cream flavor (real or imagined) best describes you?

Who doesn’t love ice cream? Our mouths started watering just reading this prompt. Like with all Oddball prompts, admissions just wants to give you the opportunity to get creative and think outside the box. Use Ben & Jerry’s flavors as a launching pad, and go with your gut. Maybe you identify most with plain old vanilla, because you have always gotten along with all kin ds of people, and you feel that you’re the perfect base (company) for all kinds of toppings (personalities). Perhaps you feel Coffee Coffee BuzzBuzzBuzz!® best describes you, because you are proudly Type A and full of energy from morning to night. Maybe you want to make up your own ice cream flavor, one with a cherry base (because of your beloved memories making cherry pie with your grandma every Thanksgiving), M&Ms (your favorite movie snack), and rainbow sprinkles (to celebrate your pansexuality)! There’s really no wrong way to answer this prompt, so long as you are being creative and true to yourself.

3) Whether they are constructing a robot, a stronger sense of community or an identity, UVM students are builders. What would you like to build?

This is a fancy way of asking what you will contribute to the UVM communi ty. First, consider the facets of your personal identity and background and ask yourself: What could I teach my new friends about over breakfast in the dining hall? More than likely, you’ll come up with an aspect of your identity that you want to share with the world. Maybe you’d like to help build a strong LGBTQIA+ presence on campus, or create room for an indigenous student community. Perhaps you want to think about building more literally, and write about the nondenominational place of worship you’d like to construct. Ultimately, admissions wants to make sure that you will not only benefit from UVM’s diverse community, but that the UVM community will benefit from having you attend as well.

4) At UVM, learning extends far beyond the walls of our classrooms. From student-led organizations, to internships and study abroad experiences, UVM students are encouraged to pursue knowledge in all environments. Describe a time when you’ve learned in a non-traditional setting.

UVM knows that the classroom is but one place to learn new information, skills, and/or tools. When have you pursued knowledge in a non-traditional setting? Maybe you learned about botany, survival skills, and cooking at summer camp last July. How were you taught and what did you take away from the experience? You can also feel free to write about learning from a different lens. Did you learn about different cultures and perspectives when you visited your cousins in a different country? Were you enthusiastic about trying their favorite foods and visiting their favorite places? What you choose to highlight can run the gamut. You can write about learning about art during a trip to MOMA, or you can address learning how to be mindful, vulnerable, and assertive through your weekly yoga practice. Knowledge can be absorbed anywhere. Show admissions that you’ll be just as eager to absorb wisdom outside of the classroom as you will when a professor is present.

5) Communities and organizations are stronger when they value diversity of thought. How do you create meaningful connections or conversations with others when they express opinions that differ from your own?

Engaging others in meaningful conversations about important issues can be incredibly intimidating and challenging, and the UVM admissions department knows this. That is, in part, why they are curious to learn about your experiences engaging with others when they express opinions that differ from your own. Think back to identify a time when you had a conversation with friends, family, or even mere acquaintances about a difficult topic. Maybe you talked to your grandparents about healthcare disparities across the globe. Were you able to clearly communicate your perspective? If you were to engage them in the conversation again, what would you do or say differently? You don’t need to have changed someone’s mind to impress admissions here. You just need to show that you’re not afraid to speak up about important issues and communicate with those who may have different opinions than your own. College will present you with a plethora of opportunities to meet and engage with people who are very different from you; Show UVM that you’re game to learn, listen, share, and grow.

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How to pick the best prompt for your uvm supplement essay: great answers to oddball questions, school supplements.

UPDATE: Four of the five options for the UVM Supplement Essay have been changed for 2020-21. Check out our all-new guide!

In the University of Vermont application, you can answer one of five supplemental essay prompts. This is optional, but we recommend it. It’s an opportunity to show the admissions committee another side of you in 500 words or less.

Some of the prompts are pretty quirky, but this guide will help you pick the best one to show off your unique strengths. Let’s take a look at the UVM supplement prompts.

Imagine it is the morning of August 28, 1963 and Twitter has already been developed. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. has contracted the flu. Rather than giving his historic “I Have a Dream” speech from the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, he instead sends out a Tweet that highlights the central point of his speech. What does he Tweet (in true Twitter fashion, no longer than 280 characters) and why?

Pick this prompt if you’re really interested in at least one of the topics involved. For example, are you passionate about history? Are you fascinated by social media?

Keep in mind that you’ll need to explain exactly why you think that you’ve written a good “twitter version” of MLK’s speech. There’s no right or wrong answer, but your admissions reader will be looking for a thoughtful and clear justification for the tweet.

A time traveling connoisseur gives you a remote with two buttons: pause and rewind. Which would you prefer to use on your own life and why?

This prompt is really open to interpretation! For example, if you choose to rewind, you might decide to relive a great moment from your life, fix a mistake you made, or visit a historical time period. If you choose to pause time, you might talk about the interesting things you would do if you had extra time. For example, how would you use an extra hour in your day? What if you could pause time and do whatever you wanted for a year? There’s no wrong answer, so pick a topic that’s important to you!

Note: This might be a great prompt to use if you really want to talk about a past experience that was important to you.

Congratulations! You have been elected to give a TED Talk. You will give an 18-minute presentation on the topic of your choice to a room full of people who are eager to hear your insights. This talk will also be recorded and made available online, with the opportunity to go viral and affect millions. What is the title of your talk? What is the message you are trying to get across? What would you say in the final minute of the presentation that would leave a lasting impression? Explain.

If you choose this UVM supplement prompt, try to pick a topic that ties directly into one of your values, interests or goals. You don’t have to talk about your own life the whole time, but your essay will be more compelling to your admissions reader if you pick a topic that has personal significance to you.

At the University of Vermont, we have a set of core values called Our Common Ground, which define how we work, live, study, do research, and participate as members of the community. Each core value statement falls under one of the following words: Respect, Integrity, Innovation, Openness, Justice, and Responsibility. Choose one word from Our Common Ground and explain why it is important to you, how it has impacted you, and how you have incorporated it into your life.

Can you think of an experience where you put one of the core values into action? If so, this UVM supplement prompt is a good choice for you!

To help you decide whether this prompt is a good fit, here are a few topics from example students:

• Core value: Innovation
• Experience: Built a wall-climbing robot for a science fair
• Core value: Openness
• Experience: Started a school-wide campaign to end mental health stigma

If you really want to attend UVM, this prompt will let you make your case for why you’re a great fit! Pick it if UVM is one of your top-choice schools.

To really be convincing, you’ll need to include specifics. Head over to the UVM website and research the school. Look for specific opportunities that interest you, and make a list! For example, you might like:

• Academic opportunities, like the fact that CALS students can self-design a major
• Traits of the student body, like the fact that 80% of students are involved in a student club or organization
• Experiences, like living in the Dewey House for Community Engagement or joining the club figure skating team
• The way the school puts their values into action - for example, their diversity course requirement

For more help with writing a “Why School” essay, check out our guide !

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University of Vermont Undergraduate College Application Essays

These University of Vermont college application essays were written by students accepted at University of Vermont. All of our sample college essays include the question prompt and the year written. Please use these sample admission essays responsibly.

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College Application Essays accepted by University of Vermont

A commitment to change anonymous, university of vermont.

For most of my adolescent life, I had always hidden behind the somewhat comforting excuses for my weight: "You're just big boned," "You just have a slow metabolism," "Someday you'll grow into your body." But there was no denying the obvious truth:...

The Soccer Game Anonymous

Life lessons can sometimes be learned in the strangest of places...even at a soccer match. Going to watch my father play soccer every week was a large part of my childhood. The league he played in was far from high-profile, but there was something...

Life in a Canoe Anonymous

The thought that nearly eight hours later we would be dragging a canoe through a swamp in the dark never crossed anyone’s mind as we began to film. Clad in American Revolution-era attire, my friends and I made a short crossing of the Town River in...

Learning to Believe Ariel Johnston

Evaluate a significant experience....

It was the first night that I had seen the Western Wall, and all of the magic of that moment overcame me like an ocean wave, strong and powerful. As I walked towards the wall, holding hands with the other girls...

Blue Suede Shoes? No, Red Satin Heels Katherine Danaher

Nerves shook through my body as I prepared to introduce Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders to 400 people in my town. I closed my eyes, drawing in a deep breath. Senator Sanders cleared his throat, and I looked up with concern. “Your shoes are...

The Common Application Essay Question #1 Alec Cameron Edelson

Ever since I was a young boy I have been curious and excited to learn new things. My favorite books where the Curious George books, as I thought the little monkey, George, was very much like me. George was certainly lovable, but he was always in...

Becoming a Baha'i Anonymous

Despite the bleak November evening, the people around the kitchen table were filled with joy. We had just finished studying the first of the Ruhi books, a series designed to teach the basics of Baha’i, and the tutors, Mary Kay and Chet, were...

A City Swept from it's Feet Anonymous

Eyes were beginning to blur; muscles were beginning to convulse; thousands were shouting from excitement. Through all these distractions, my mind began to form a clear picture of what was taking place. I was on the final stretch of the 2013 Boston...

Adulthood at 12,000 Feet Anonymous

Two days after leaving home this past June, I stood alone amidst thousands of people, not knowing a single one. I heard no English, saw no familiar sights, and was caught up in a dusty, polluted, hectic metropolitan whirlwind. I was in Kathmandu,...

Hook, Line and thinker. Dan Schwarz

To many, it may seem farfetched to associate the feeling of being perfectly content with a sport as salty as fishing, but not to me. The way the cork grip of a fishing rod gingerly held between my fingers instills the feeling of being so...

Finding My Purpose Anonymous

As I walked through the door there she stood, staring into oblivion with a dazed look on her face. Alice was my first Adaptive student, and the only discernible sound that she emitted was "ribbit." I was intrigued, but not surprised, because the...

My Secret Identity Mercedes Woolley

“It’s okay! Just breathe!” I said to myself in an attempt to suppress my unfaltering anxiety. I restlessly skimmed the pictures in a Clifford the Big Red Dog book, typical of me during independent reading. All the while I kept my head down,...

Common App Essay Anonymous

I felt an unequivocal sense of community when I gazed at my dinner plate one night at Chewonki and acknowledged that the beets, potatoes, and lettuce on my plate were plucked from the earth by me and my best friends. The hours that we expended on...

My Hair Is My Culture Isaiah Hines

I never forget a bad haircut. In my experience, a bad haircut can only be described as a humiliating, disturbing, and devastating experience that assuredly leaves me with a deep sense of being wronged. While I recognize how melodramatic that is,...

The Transition from Childhood into Adulthood Anonymous

Tuesday, May 13th, 2008, started out as an ordinary day in Zimbabwe. I was eight-years-old then, and I awoke unaware of the fact that this Tuesday would be the most devastating day of my life. My parents, my little brother and I lived on a large...

After the Fire Samantha R. Davidson

The world was closing in and the flame of desire to be a beautiful fire dancer was rapidly burning out with every shallow, poorly-oxygenated breath that I took. I was my own show, and not the one my parents drove three hours to come and see as my...

My journey Jack Tatirosian

I was tired of being that "fat kid.” I’ve struggled with my weight since…. well, the name calling started to sting. My weight, and its effect on my attitude, prevented me from feeling comfortable socially. It became more worse when I changed...

Photography Anonymous

A pair of tiny Mary-Janes and ruffled socks stirred anxiously in anticipation. Ms. Bush’s kindergarten classroom leered ominously over our small heads, making my friend Corinne’s knuckles whiten and eyes instinctively shoot downwards. My navy blue...

Wilkinsburg P.D. Anonymous

My heartbeat mimicked the blare of the sirens. “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.” I stood by as the detective searched the scene. It was then that the face of the perpetrator...

L'Taken Anonymous

What is the ENDA Act? The act that would end living, employment, and service discrimination against those who don’t strictly identify as heterosexual or cisgender (those whose sex matches their gender identity). The bill that would jump-start my...

Coming Out Anonymous

When I was seven I had my first crush. I remember the numerous sleepovers where I would be asked to divulge such a secret, with the stereotypical “so who do you like Dana?” I’d have no problem responding “I like Jessy,” which was always met with...

Emotional Evolution Anonymous

Blistering aluminum pans flying through the air. The head chef yelling orders at the sous chef, who would then relay them back to the line cooks. I pushed through the swinging doors to the back area, dropping off dirty dishes and yelling “corner”...

The Summer I Matured... Kind Of Shanti Anuradha Boyle

Falling asleep in class is never a good idea, especially when the teacher is your 86-year-old grandfather and the classroom is his bedroom. How did I get roped into giving up my limited, beautiful summer days for a fluorescent monitor and fourteen...

The Most Important Subjects Anonymous

All summer I had been speculating about the first day of high school, but not for the same reasons as my peers. While others were perfecting their “summer bods,” I was worried about one particular class and one particular teacher. As I took a...

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University of Vermont Admission Essays

How will coolidge scholarship help me financially.

The significance of education is something I have learnt since I was a child. My parents have always worked hard to send me to the best school regardless of how far the school is away from my home. For most of my life, I have…

How the Scholarship Can Help Me Achieve Personal Career Goals

My experience in the digital sector has made me aware of newer opportunities in using digital entrepreneurship to help to build growth-oriented ventures, which can contribute to the net employment growth in Ghana. It is against this backdrop that I have the following post-study career…

The Soccer Game: College Admission Essay Sample

Life lessons can sometimes be learned in the strangest of places…even at a soccer match. Going to watch my father play soccer every week was a large part of my childhood. The league he played in was far from high-profile, but there was something special…

Having a Learning Difference at School

Ever since I was a young boy I have been curious and excited to learn new things. My favorite books where the Curious George books, as I thought the little monkey, George, was very much like me. George was certainly lovable, but he was always…

Cultivating Photography: My Lifelong Passion

As I sit here reflecting on my journey to becoming a photographer, I realize that it was a seed planted by a relative that has blossomed into my lifelong passion. Growing up, I always had an interest in capturing memories and moments through a camera…

My journey: College Admission Essay Sample

I was tired of being that “fat kid.” I’ve struggled with my weight since…. well, the name calling started to sting. My weight, and its effect on my attitude, prevented me from feeling comfortable socially. It became more worse when I changed schools after 8th…

Speaking About My Hair and Its Connection to My Identity

I never forget a bad haircut. In my experience, a bad haircut can only be described as a humiliating, disturbing, and devastating experience that assuredly leaves me with a deep sense of being wronged. While I recognize how melodramatic that is, for me, my hair…

Common App Essay: College Admission Essay Sample

I felt an unequivocal sense of community when I gazed at my dinner plate one night at Chewonki and acknowledged that the beets, potatoes, and lettuce on my plate were plucked from the earth by me and my best friends. The hours that we expended…

Blue Suede Shoes? No, Red Satin Heels: College Admission Essay Sample

Nerves shook through my body as I prepared to introduce Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders to 400 people in my town. I closed my eyes, drawing in a deep breath. Senator Sanders cleared his throat, and I looked up with concern. “Your shoes are beautiful, Miss…

Finding Purpose in Environmental Science

Growing up in the mountains of Colorado, I developed a deep connection with the natural world and an appreciation for its beauty and fragility. However, it was not until a close friend introduced me to the field of environmental science that I realized my true…

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