If you have any doubt about what Villanova’s missions are, one of them is right on its home page, front and center: Ignite change.
Let’s break down what that means. First, Villanova doesn’t want just great thinkers or great students on campus; rather, it wants great doers (or, if you will, “igniters”). Second, if any word can describe our world over the last several years, it’s “change.” So it’s probably no surprise that Villanova’s supplements this year (in large part) give you the opportunity to explore how you have and will make change—within yourself, within your larger community, and even globally.
Inciting all this change may seem like a lot of responsibility. Documenting it in these essays may seem even more so. Take a deep breath. In through the nose. Out through the mouth. Better? Good. We’re here to answer your many questions and put your mind at ease.
Want to get a better sense of what Villanova is looking for before you start writing? You’ll find an extensive, by-the-numbers look at its offerings, from enrollment and tuition statistics to student life and financial aid information, on its Common Data Set. For deep insights into how this private research university envisions student success (and how it wants to grow and evolve), read its strategic priorities. Reading through this will give you a strong idea of Villanova’s values.
Because these prompts are new this year, we don’t, unfortunately, have many Villanova-specific samples to share. But what we do have for you are the tips, tricks, and insights that will help you analyze the prompts and create thoughtful responses to them. So let’s dive right in.
Why do you want to call Villanova your new home and become part of our community? Please respond in about 150 words.
Let’s take those one at a time.
Option 1: St. Augustine states that well-being is “not concerned with myself alone, but with my neighbor’s good as well.” How have you advocated for equity and justice in your communities?
Villanova expects its students to demonstrate its Augustinian values of Veritas, Unitas, Caritas (Truth, Unity, Love) through both their work toward the common good and their support for one another. This prompt offers you the opportunity to show just how well you walk the walk and talk the talk (and, well, write the essay). How? In four easy(ish) steps:
Step 1: Find your “what” and “why.” Don’t feel like this activism had to have been big. Maybe you organized a Black Lives Matter event in your small conservative town that resulted in a mindset shift among local leaders and law enforcement. But maybe you simply volunteered to register 18-year-olds to vote in front of Town Hall. No less important or impactful. More important than the size of the event is how passionate you are about your topic. So think: What is it that really matters to you? What topic engages your inner problem-solver? Is it gun violence in school? Dress code equality? Vaccine mandates?
Step 2: Now identify your “who.” You can take a similar small-to-large approach when considering the community you’ve advocated for. Remember: You belong to a number of communities. Family, school, work, teams and clubs, neighborhood, state, global. And you serve unique roles in each. To help you brainstorm this part, here’s a guide that can help you think through the different communities you’re a part of.
Step 3: It’s time to outline your “how.” What specific actions have you taken—not just to raise awareness about this societal issue, but to also take concrete action toward creating that equity and justice? It could be as simple as a conversation or as big as a foundation you’ve started (or bigger). Villanova wants to see those concrete steps that have transformed you from “thoughtful idealist” to “action-oriented changemaker.”
Step 4: When you go to write, heavy up the details. While the devil may be in the details, the details will help you show your commitment to equity and justice in one or all of the communities you belong to. Tell that richly detailed story about your efforts. Let the admission officer see you’re more than a thinker. You’re someone who takes action—and Villanova is the place to do it.
Option 2: St. Augustine states that wAs an Augustinian community, we believe that you should see people for who they are. Please share with us a time when you were misjudged based on your identity or background. ell-being is “not concerned with myself alone, but with my neighbor’s good as well.” How have you advocated for equity and justice in your communities?
Take note of a recurring theme in these prompts: they’re focusing on Villanova’s Augustinian roots. As stated on their website, Villanova is the only Augustinian Catholic university in the United States. So if you haven’t already, you might poke around the “Mission and Ministry” part of Villanova’s website to learn a bit about what being an “Augustinian community” means to Villanova.
This prompt is asking for a personal story, a moment in your life when you felt others made quick judgments or assumptions about you based on your identity or background. Note that you can take a fairly broad definition of “identity or background.” Sure, this can be an essay that focuses on a moment related to your ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, or religion, but it can also focus on any other facet of your identity.
No matter which aspect of yourself you explore, note that this isn't simply about recalling an incident; it's about reflection. This means that it's crucial to not just describe the event, but to delve into how it made you feel, how it affected your perception of yourself and the world, what you did in response, and what you learned from it (which ideally should have something to do with Augustininian values).
There are a lot of ways you could successfully tackle this prompt. One way could be as a mini narrative essay that makes the following beats:
Example:
I toss the ball to second, knowing the precise moment my shortstop, Charlie, will reach the base. I know because we’ve done this together for 10 years. He throws to first, a perfectly executed 4-6-3 double play.
I love sports. Nothing else gives me the same feeling of connection to my peers as we push our limits.
But when I leave the field, that connection disappears. While I excel on the field, I’m also a total nerd in the classroom. My teammates define themselves as athletes, and academics make me ‘other.’
When I joined the team, I was targeted for being nerdy and quiet. The worst part was my three best friends of 10 years, including Charlie, laughed loudest. They isolated me, calling me “nerd” or “gay” (homophobia is common among athletes here). I didn’t know how to voice my feelings of pain and betrayal.
At first, I tried to conceal the other parts of me and play only the athlete role around them. I even tried laughing along with their mockery. But denying my true self only made me feel more alone. I stopped pretending.
On the field, I became a leader, even being made captain. Off the field, I became a one-man team. I learned to value the varied parts of myself, to define myself instead of letting others do so, but I also know there is someplace, both in and out of the classroom, where I can be accepted as a nerd, athlete, and so much more. (250 words)
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Option 3: In the Villanova community, we believe that we all learn from one another. What is a lesson in life that you have learned that you would want to share with others?
General tips for addressing this prompt:
Here’s an example we love.
Example:
I ran into a pole in first grade, so my elementary school painted all of their poles bright yellow. I like to think that I made an impact on that school just as much as that pole made an impact on me. Early on, I learned that people’s small actions can be catalysts for significant change that is often larger than themselves.
By high school, I was more aware of my surroundings and interested in making a different kind of impact. I leapt at the opportunity to spearhead a new Bedford Academy Opportunity trip to Cambodia: Changing the Way the World Views Girls—I was determined to travel with a purpose. Our agenda was packed: we taught English in remote villages, witnessed the effects of sex trafficking, and heard from twelve-year-old abuse survivors. I was not expecting this trip to alter my own perspective on women’s equality as much as it did; I was shocked to realize the extent to which women are discriminated against everywhere.
I have never forgotten that I have the ability to be a part of the solution, which is why through the Speak Up For the Poor organization, I created a branch to Cambodia advocating for the education of girls in impoverished communities. I would bring the lessons from this work to the Villanova community by connecting with student organizations, such as TedxVillanovaU and Villanova Feminism Society, to provoke discussion on uplifting women through education.
I truly believe that one person has the capability to make a difference. I want to share my story to encourage others to find something that they are passionate about in order to inspire change. In this way, I can ensure that my impact on Villanova will last longer than yellow paint.
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Option 4: At Villanova, we often say “each of us strengthens all of us.” In a time of personal challenges, how do you borrow from the strength of others?
First things first for responding to this prompt: define your challenge: Given that you only have 250 words, you might want to focus on a specific, representative challenge as opposed to several challenges. Maybe you begin by outlining a specific challenge or adversity you faced. Whether it’s academic, personal, emotional, or physical, the clearer you are about the challenge, the better readers will understand the context. It doesn't have to be a dramatic life-altering event; we’ve seen strong challenge-based essays about everything from smartphones to being pooped on.
Once you’ve identified a challenge, identify the “others”. I.e., who are the folks you’ve borrowed strength from? Maybe it was a teacher who believed in you, a friend who lent an ear when you needed it, or a family member whose resilience inspired you. It could even be a group or community you're a part of. By highlighting these individuals or groups, you're showcasing not just their impact on your life, but also your ability to recognize and appreciate the strengths in others.
Finally, reflect on the mutual exchange, as strength is often a two-way street. While you drew strength from others, in what ways did you give back or plan to? How did your experiences, bolstered by the strengths of others, shape how you interact with your community or peers? Reflecting on this reciprocal nature of strength can provide a powerful ending to your response and aligns perfectly with the essence of Villanova's statement, "each of us strengthens all of us."
Because this is a new essay prompt, we don’t have an example written specifically for it, but the example below can illustrate the direction to head in.
Example:
Camp Tecumseh is an all-boys sports sleepaway camp on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire where no camper is allowed to use their phone or any type of electronic device. This allowed us to bond more with each other and explore activities out of our comfort zones.
I played in the annual Pemi Day, in which we would compete against our rivals from Camp Pemigewassett in soccer, tennis, swimming, and baseball. As captain of our soccer team, I was proud to help lead our comeback win after going down by two goals. Being a part of that team was one of my favorite camp memories because we remained positive throughout the whole match and never gave up.
After being encouraged by my counselor Zach and some friends, I joined them in the annual Gilbert and Sullivan Operetta. Since there weren’t any female campers, my friends and I dressed up as women, wearing dresses and makeup, and sang the soprano and alto parts. I learned that doing things outside my comfort zone is best when I do it with friends because we can support each other with these kinds of challenges.
My time at Camp Tecumseh has led me to be more outgoing and to step out of my comfort zone. The friends that I have made there encouraged and supported me throughout everything I did. I hope to continue to have new experiences while meeting new people who encourage and support me while I provide the same for them. (251 words)
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