How to Ace the 2024-2025 USD Supplemental Essays

The University of San Diego is a private, Roman-Catholic university located in beautiful San Diego, California. Through the USD supplemental essay, students have a chance to show the admissions professionals who they are as a person. Let’s dive into what the USD supplemental essays are all about!

Mandatory USD first-year supplemental essay

For over 75 years, the liberal arts have been the cornerstone of the educational experience at USD. They help students explore the world, past and present, and lay the foundation for building inspired and meaningful lives. They also provide the skills and experiences students need to be successful in an increasingly changing and challenging world. Throughout the first year and beyond, we engage students in this exploration through our Core Curriculum and Learning Communities, connecting them with faculty who will guide them as they become global citizens. What excites you about the academic opportunities at USD? You can learn more about our Core Curriculum and Learning Community programs by clicking on the respective links. (350 words max) 

Although this is a wordy question, it is quite simply asking you “Why USD?” specifically “Why USD academics?” In order to answer this question, you will need to do extensive research on USD as a campus as well as its academic programs. This includes majors, academic clubs, and faculty. It is critical that you click on the hyper-links and become familiar with USD’s core curriculum and learning community programs to demonstrate your interest in USD and your familiarity with their academics.

You should begin your response by detailing your intended academic program and then describe how USD’s specific programs will benefit you. It is important to be as specific as possible to emphasize your commitment to USD. For example, instead of saying you are excited to major in biology at USD, share your excitement about the opportunity to join the pre-undergraduate research experience (PURE), the summer research program for students interested in biology. The second example demonstrates your interest in an USD academic program and reveals how USD specifically aligns with your academic interests. 

Questions to consider:

• Why do you want to pursue the major you selected at USD? 
• What makes USD a top-choice program for you? What opportunities do you hope to gain from attending USD? 
• What part of USD’s core curriculum and learning community programs excites you? 

Also see: 10 tips for successful college applications

Mandatory USD supplemental essay for transfer students

“How will USD help enhance your educational and professional goals beyond what your current institution offers?” (350 words max) 

If you are choosing to transfer, it is likely that you already know the answer to this question. Think about the reason that you are deciding to leave your previous institution, and without putting that school down, talk about the things that you are looking forward to that San Diego offers. Beyond that, what are you hoping to do after you graduate college that San Diego can help you with? Whatever your future goal is, think about the alumni network, classes, and professors that USD can offer you as an undergraduate and incorporate them into your response here. 

Questions to consider:

• What are your educational and professional goals?
• What does USD have that your previous institution did not?
• Why is USD the ideal school for you?

Also see: How to write a transfer essay

First year and transfer student optional prompts

First year students are also required to choose one of the three prompts below to write along with their mandatory essay. Each of these prompts can also be written in 350 words or less. Offering students the opportunity to choose which prompt they would like to write shows that USD wants to get to know you!

Prompt #1

Here at USD, we value the fact that our students come from all walks of life, have experienced different realities and bring with them an array of unique perspectives, including some that have often been underrepresented and underserved by higher education. Our Horizon Project is a call to action, ensuring that we are dedicating the time, energy and resources necessary to build an ever more diverse, inclusive and equitable campus community. What contribution have you made to your current school and/or local community that best exemplifies your awareness of and commitment to these ideals? (350 words max) 

Everyone has a unique background and perspective that they can bring to their school environment, especially through clubs or extracurricular activities. If you have any experience working on a team to improve diversity and equity within your community or school, then this is your opportunity to showcase it! Try and think of any examples of a time in which you have contributed, whether big or small, to a school or local community. Some examples could include being a part of a minor club at your high school or starting a bake sale in your community in which the profits go directly to a cause important to you! Ultimately, you should be responding to this prompt if you are very involved in your communities and have causes you are passionate about. 

Questions to consider:

• Did you participate in any clubs, community service opportunities or local events in your community? 
• What issues are you passionate about? How have you made an impact on these causes? 
• How does your unique perspective and life experiences influence your position in your community? 

Prompt #2

As a proud Changemaker Campus, the USD experience emphasizes changemaking through care for our common home, social justice efforts, civic engagement, social innovation, creativity and a global perspective. Write about one of the challenges facing humanity today. Why does it matter to you? What experiences or insights have you had that speak to the urgency of this issue. (350 words max) 

This is a very deep question that will take some time to answer fully. As you can imagine, there are so many different topics that you could choose to write about here. The best thing that you can do here is write freely about something that you are passionate about or something that you want to change in the world.  After you are done with that, go back and edit your work into more cohesive thoughts. Be sure to link back to the Changemaker website to show that you did your research! Also, ensure that you are describing how this challenge affects you and how your personal and unique situation has allowed you to view this challenge in a new way. 

Questions to consider:

• What are you passionate about?
• What experiences have you had that made you passionate about this topic?
• What do you feel are the world’s most pressing issues–what needs to change?

Prompt #3

Share some of your ideas about the role of faith or spirituality in your life or the life of someone you know. As a contemporary Catholic university, we welcome and celebrate students from every background and faith tradition, including those who do not identify with a faith tradition. We devote great time and energy to ensuring all students feel connected to the vibrant USD community, including opportunities to grow in their relationship with God while considering who they are, what they believe and who they are called to become. (350 words max) 

Since the University of San Diego is a Catholic university, faith is something that is important to them. Remember, this is an optional prompt, so you do not necessarily need to write this essay. But, if you are a spiritual person and this is something you are passionate about, this essay can tell a lot about the kind of person you– especially if you choose to write about your admiration for someone else’s faith. This shows that you are observant and that you have respect for other people, two things that many colleges look for in a student. 

Questions to consider:

• Who in your life has influenced your faith?
• Regardless of what religion they practice, who in your life has a faith that you admire?
• How has your faith influenced your education?

Final thoughts for students

There are a nice variety of essays to choose from for your USD supplemental essay. Each of these are pretty straightforward essay options, but just make sure that you are focusing on what makes San Diego the best place for you. Make sure USD learns why you would make a great addition to their community. Overall, if you are open and honest in each of your responses, they will want you as a student!

Also see: What is the difference between a college and university?

Additional resources

Once you’ve finished your USD supplemental essays, give yourself a pat on the back! You’re one step closer to finishing your college admissions. But once you’re ready to get back into the process, remember we are here to help every step of the way. With guides on when to apply to college, how many schools to apply to, and how to choose a safety school, we can help you with all your decision-making.

We can also help you decipher your financial aid award letter, write a financial aid appeal, and choose your college. Good luck, and remember, apply to all the scholarships you are eligible for! 

Additional schools to consider

• University of San Francisco
• Fordham University 
• Santa Clara University

Frequently asked questions about the University of San Diego essays