Saint Louis University supplemental essays

Program-specific prompts

These apply only if you are applying to the named program or school.

• University Honors ProgramRequired500 words max

  Identity Reflection

  Although I am _____, I am not _____.

  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.

• Presidential ScholarshipRequired500 words max

  Leadership Definition

  What does it mean to you to be a leader? Give a detailed example of how you have positively influenced others through leadership, and explain how you would continue the University's mission as a student.

  How to approach it

  Goals prompts fail when they stay noble and vague. Pick one concrete problem you care about, connect it to something you have already touched in real life, and let the ambition be specific enough that a reader could disagree with it. Specific beats impressive.

• King Scholars (MLK Scholarship)Required500 words max

  Social Justice Leadership

  Please describe one experience or project where you worked with and through social injustices, and what did you learn about working in diverse settings from this experience and/or project? How do you see yourself being an agent of change on SLU's campus?

  How to approach it

  Goals prompts fail when they stay noble and vague. Pick one concrete problem you care about, connect it to something you have already touched in real life, and let the ambition be specific enough that a reader could disagree with it. Specific beats impressive.

• Jesuit Community ScholarshipRequired500 words max

  Catholic Education Impact

  What does a Catholic education mean to you?

  How to approach it

  Goals prompts fail when they stay noble and vague. Pick one concrete problem you care about, connect it to something you have already touched in real life, and let the ambition be specific enough that a reader could disagree with it. Specific beats impressive.

• Accounting ScholarsRequired

  Values-Based Business Ethics

  Reflect on how your background and career goals align with values-based business education at a Jesuit institution, addressing growth as both a professional and person of impact.

  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.

• Business ScholarsRequired

  Business Education Alignment

  How does your background and career goals align with values-based business education at a Jesuit institution?

  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.

• Business ScholarsRequired

  Accelerated Study Path

  What is your perspective on completing college in three years versus following the traditional four-year timeline?

  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.

• Engineering ScholarsRequired250 words max

  Engineering Grand Challenge

  Describe a Grand Challenge and how you would contribute to solving it through engineering.

  How to approach it

  For a challenge prompt, the challenge is the setup, not the essay. Spend most of the words on what you did and how you changed. Readers are wary of trauma used as currency; growth is the currency.

• Engineering ScholarsRequired250 words max

  Accelerated Degree Pathway

  How does the accelerated bachelor's-to-master's pathway align with your academic and career goals?

  How to approach it

  Program-fit prompts are the most literal question on the application: why this training, for your goals. Answer in that order. Name the goal, point to the two or three specific pieces of the program that serve it, and show one thing you have already done that proves the goal is real.

• Law ScholarsRequired250 words max

  Community Enrichment

  (Option 1) How does your background enrich the broader university community, including stories about culture, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, ideology, age, socioeconomic status, academic background, employment, or stories of adversity.

  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.

• Law ScholarsRequired250 words max

  Social Justice Aspiration

  (Option 2) What current social justice issue is driving your aspiration to create change?

  How to approach it

  Goals prompts fail when they stay noble and vague. Pick one concrete problem you care about, connect it to something you have already touched in real life, and let the ambition be specific enough that a reader could disagree with it. Specific beats impressive.

• Law ScholarsRequired250 words max

  Jesuit Mission Alignment

  (Option 3) How does your background and aspirations align with the Jesuit mission?

  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.

• Medical ScholarsRequired250 words max

  Community Impact

  How does your background enrich the broader university community?

  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.

• Medical ScholarsRequired250 words max

  Jesuit Formation Vision

  How does Jesuit education for personal formation align with your goals?

  How to approach it

  Program-fit prompts are the most literal question on the application: why this training, for your goals. Answer in that order. Name the goal, point to the two or three specific pieces of the program that serve it, and show one thing you have already done that proves the goal is real.

• Nutrition & Dietetics ScholarsRequired200 words max

  Dietitian Career Path

  Why do you want to pursue a career as a dietitian?

  How to approach it

  This is a why-us prompt. The trap is describing the school back to itself; rankings and campus beauty read as filler. Name the two or three specific things (a program, a professor's work, a structure like open curriculum) you would actually use, and tie each to something you have already done.

• Physician Assistant ScholarsRequired

  PA Career Confirmation

  Describe your path to interest in the Physician Assistant profession and explain how this self-knowledge confirms the choice.

• AI Frontiers ProgramRequired200 words max

  AI Exploration Vision

  What is one thing about AI you want to explore, question, or challenge, and why?

  How to approach it

  For a challenge prompt, the challenge is the setup, not the essay. Spend most of the words on what you did and how you changed. Readers are wary of trauma used as currency; growth is the currency.

• Presidential ScholarshipOptional500 words max

  What leadership means

  The Presidential Scholarship is awarded to students who live Saint Louis University's mission of being servant leaders and men and women for others along with demonstrating strong leadership and interpersonal skills. What does it mean to you to be a leader? Give a detailed example of how you have positively influenced others through leadership, and explain how you would continue the University's mission as a student.

  How to approach it

  Goals prompts fail when they stay noble and vague. Pick one concrete problem you care about, connect it to something you have already touched in real life, and let the ambition be specific enough that a reader could disagree with it. Specific beats impressive.