2026–27 application cycle
Haverford College supplemental essays
Every writing prompt on the Haverford College application, with word limits, taken from the application itself. 2 prompts.
- Prompt 1Required200 words max
What excites you
Tell us about a topic or issue that sparks your curiosity and gets you intellectually excited. How do you hope to engage with this topic or issue at Haverford?
How to approach it
An academic-interest prompt wants the origin story and the evidence, not the resume. Pick the moment the interest became yours, show one or two things you did about it on your own, and let the school see how you think when nobody assigns the work.
- Prompt 2Required200 words max
Values that resonate
We have highlighted for you some of the values that shape the Haverford community. What are some of the values you seek in your next community? How do Haverford's values, as demonstrated through our Honor Code, resonate with you?
How to approach it
Community and identity prompts reward specificity over significance. A small, true community described from the inside beats a broad label described from the outside. End on what you carry from it into a campus, not on a moral.
Common questions
Haverford College essays, answered
How many essays does Haverford College require?
Haverford College lists 2 writing supplements for the 2026–27 cycle, all required. That is on top of the main personal statement.
How long are the Haverford College supplemental essays?
Word limits across the listed prompts add up to roughly 400 words. Budget real time for them: supplements are where admissions sees your specific interest in Haverford College.
Do the Haverford College supplemental essays matter?
Yes, and more as selectivity rises. Grades and scores put you in the pool; supplements are one of the few places you control what the reader learns about you, and a generic why-us essay is one of the most common self-inflicted wounds in admissions.
What Spike does with this
Get help planning Haverford College essays.
Spike helps students connect each prompt to their own experiences, outline a response, and revise without ghostwriting.
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