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How to Respond to the Hampton University Supplemental Essay Prompt
By
Varonika Ware
Varonika Ware is a content writer at Scholarships360. Varonika earned her undergraduate degree in Mass Communications at Louisiana State University. During her time at LSU, she worked with the Center of Academic Success to create the weekly Success Sunday newsletter. Varonika also interned at the Louisiana Department of Insurance in the Public Affairs office with some of her graphics appearing in local news articles.
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Bill Jack has over a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. Since 2008, he has worked at Colby College, Wesleyan University, University of Maine at Farmington, and Bates College.
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Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.
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As you start your college search, you might come across acronyms like PWI and HBCU, and fortunately, there are plenty of options in both those categories. However, if you’re interested in sports and a campus rich with culture and history, then you should consider Hampton University.
Keep reading to get an inside look of the Hampton supplemental essay prompt and tips on how to write your next essay!
The history behind Hampton University
During the Civil War, many enslaved people crossed Union lines to gain their freedom, and to cater to the newfound refugees, Mary Peake was asked to teach. The first class was held in September of 1861 underneath Emancipation Oak, and in the years following, the Butler School for Negro Children was founded.
Eventually with the growing demand and desire for Hampton curriculum, the school officially became a college in 1929. To this day, Hampton University aims to stay true to “The Standard of Excellence, An Education for Life”.
The Hampton supplemental essay
“Character matters at Hampton University. Describe what exhibiting good character means to you and provide specific examples of your demonstrated behavior in this regard.” (500 words minimum)
While this prompt might seem straightforward, it can be easy to get sidetracked with this kind of prompt. You might be tempted to write about someone you know that exhibits good character, but it’s important that you bring the focus back to you.
Hampton wants to know what the values are that define you because it will tell them how you align with their own. Be sure to take some time to research the Hampton mission statement to get some ideas.
Questions to consider:
- Who do you know that exhibits good character?
- What values do you share with Hampton?
- What type of character do you exhibit?
Final thoughts for students
Now that you’ve gotten started on your essay, it’s probably time for you to do a campus tour! Some schools offer both virtual and in-person tours, so take advantage of your options.
Don’t forget to check over your essay for editing to catch any grammatical errors. Even reading it out loud once can help you notice run-on sentences and incorrect phrases. You got this and best of luck!
See also: Top Questions to Ask on a Campus Tour
Additional resources
A key part of college applications is asking for recommendation letters from your teachers. This process may seem daunting at first, but before you know it, you’ll be writing essays about yourself, including personal statements!
Be sure to note the differences between a personal statement and a statement of purpose as the terms might come up on college websites. If you haven’t decided on one already, check out our guide on how to choose a major!
