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How to Answer the 2025-26 University of San Francisco Supplemental Essay
By
Karla Ibarra
Karla Ibarra is a content writer at Scholarships 360. She has worked as an English teacher and writing tutor. As a writing tutor, she has experience editing scholarships and college application essays. Karla graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in Communication and a minor in English.
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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 Scholarship Services 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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The University of San Francisco is a private Jesuit university located in San Francisco, California. In this guide, we’ll walk through the required USFCA supplemental essay prompt so you can impress the admission’s reader with your very best response. Keep reading to learn more!
First, a little background about the University of San Francisco
The University of San Francisco was founded in 1855. In the 1950s, USFCA was one of the first racially integrated universities in the country. Today, USFCA has 6,018 undergraduate students, 80 undergraduate programs, and more than 117,000 alumni. USFCA’s most popular undergraduate major is nursing, with over 200 graduates each year.
See also: Jesuit colleges and universities: Are you a fit?
The University of San Francisco supplemental essay prompt
The University of San Francisco no longer has a supplemental essay for most applicants. However, applicants to the School of Nursing and Health Professions have to answer a prompt. Below, we’ll analyze the prompt to help you craft a strong response and stand out among applicants. Let’s get into it!
See also: How to answer the 2024-2025 Common App essay prompts
USF School of Nursing and Health Professions Supplemental Essay Prompt:
“What will be your responsibility to others as a Jesuit-educated, BSN professional registered nurse?”
This prompt specifically mentions USF’s Jesuit tradition. The prompt asks applicants to explain their desire to pursue Nursing and how it relates to their desire to serve others.
First, if you are not familiar with what Jesuit values are, do your research. To get started:
The main Jesuit values are:
- Being open to the spirit of God
- Practicing reflection to pause before making decisions
- Following Magis (Latin for “more”) to go beyond expectations
- Serving alongside one’s community
Before you begin writing, think about what those values mean to you. How do they relate to nursing? How can you inform you nursing practice to reflect these values? To begin drafting, focus on an aspect of the university’s mission in order to form a relevant connection to the University (remember it’s important to focus with that 200 word limit!)
USFCA’s mission statement presents the Latin phrase “cura personalis,” which means “care for the whole person.” Applicants could use this phrase to tie together their goals for their future and reasons for applying. For example, if you plan to go into teaching, you will commit to cura personalis to best serve your students.
Questions to consider:
- How will you promote cura personalis as a nurse?
- How has your faith contributed to your career aspirations?
- What would you like to help change within the healthcare system?
- Do you have plans to work as a nurse in a low-income area after graduation?
- Have you thought about the principles you hope to follow in your bedside manner? How will those reflect Jesuit values?
Also see: How to write a great supplemental essay
Final thoughts for USFCA applicants
The University of San Francisco is an excellent choice for applicants interested in an institution that promotes a Jesuit education. Nursing school applicants must submit the supplemental essay response in addition to their Common Application essay. To write your response, remember to:
- Research the university’s mission
- Consider what the University of San Francisco values and how it relates to you
- Explain that connection to show how you will contribute to the university and the world beyond
With the 200 count word limit, it is best to freely write and fully answer the prompt. After, go back and cut out what is not absolutely necessary to reveal your unique personality and perspective. Make sure that you give yourself plenty of time to present your best self via your written response!
Don’t miss: Our full database of supplemental essay guides
Additional resources
Before you start writing your University of San Francisco supplemental essay, check out our Guide to the Common App essay prompts and what looks good on a college application. If you are just starting your college search, learn more about reach, match, and safety schools and learn how many schools to apply to. Best of luck on your higher education journey!
Also see: Top nursing scholarships
Frequently asked questions about the University of San Francisco supplemental essay prompt
Does University of San Francisco require personal statement?
How long is a 200 word essay?