2026–27 application cycle
University of Maine supplemental essays
Every writing prompt on the University of Maine application, with word limits. All of it taken from the application itself. 5 prompts, including program-specific ones.
These prompts are program-specific.
They apply only if you’re applying to the named program or school.
- NursingRequired250 words max
Empathy and compassion
Share an experience in which you demonstrated empathy and compassion towards others. How did this experience influence your decision to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing? How will you continue cultivating empathy and compassion throughout your nursing education and future career?
How to approach it
Goals prompts fail when they stay noble and vague. Pick one real problem you care about. Connect it to something you’ve already touched in real life. Make the goal clear enough that a reader could disagree with it. Specific beats impressive.
- NursingRequired250 words max
Integrity and excellence
Describe a situation where you faced a moral or ethical dilemma and how you approached it with integrity. Additionally, discuss your commitment to achieving excellence in nursing education and practice. How do you plan to uphold ethical standards and strive for excellence as a future nurse?
How to approach it
Goals prompts fail when they stay noble and vague. Pick one real problem you care about. Connect it to something you’ve already touched in real life. Make the goal clear enough that a reader could disagree with it. Specific beats impressive.
- NursingRequired250 words max
Creativity in care
Share an example of how you used creativity and innovation to improve or address an issue. How do you envision incorporating creativity and innovation in your nursing career to contribute to advancements in healthcare delivery and patient care?
- NursingRequired250 words max
Owning your actions
Describe a situation where you demonstrated accountability and took responsibility for your actions or decisions. How do you plan to uphold accountability as a future nurse? Discuss the significance of personal and professional accountability in nursing and its impact on patient outcomes.
How to approach it
Goals prompts fail when they stay noble and vague. Pick one real problem you care about. Connect it to something you’ve already touched in real life. Make the goal clear enough that a reader could disagree with it. Specific beats impressive.
- NursingRequired250 words max
Belonging in healthcare
Share an experience where you actively contributed to building a supportive environment within a healthcare setting or a community. How do you plan to promote a sense of belonging and establish meaningful connections with patients, colleagues, and the broader healthcare community as a nurse?
How to approach it
Here, specific beats important. A small, true community described from the inside beats a broad label. Write it as someone who was there, not as an observer. End on what you carry into a campus, not on a moral.
Common questions
What do students ask about these essays?
How many essays does University of Maine require?
University of Maine lists 5 writing supplements for the 2026–27 cycle, all required. That’s on top of the main personal statement.
How long are the University of Maine supplemental essays?
Word limits across the listed prompts add up to about 1,250 words. Budget real time for them. Supplements are where admissions sees your real interest in University of Maine.
Do the University of Maine supplemental essays matter?
Yes, and more so at the hardest schools to get into. Grades and scores put you in the pool. Supplements are one of the few places you control what the reader learns about you. A generic why-us essay is one of the most common mistakes students make.
What Spike does with this
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