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How to Respond to the College of William and Mary Supplemental Essay Prompts
The College of William and Mary is a public research university located in Williamsburg, Virginia. Founded in 1693, it is the second oldest institution of higher learning in the US. The graduation rate is 92%, so attending means you’re on a fast-track to success! Use this guide to figure out how to make your William and Mary supplemental essays stand out!
The College of William and Mary prompt
While responding to the College of William and Mary prompt is optional, your application would benefit from telling the admissions office your unique story. William and Mary is known as a “public Ivy” and is especially competitive for out-of-state students with a 31% acceptance rate. So, let’s get started on your essay!
“Optional prompt: Beyond your impressive academic credentials and extracurricular accomplishments, what else makes you unique and colorful? We know nobody fits neatly into 500 words or less, but you can provide us with some suggestion of the type of person you are. Anything goes! Inspire us, impress us, or just make us laugh. Think of this optional opportunity as show and tell by proxy and with an attitude.”
In this prompt, William and Mary is asking for their applicants to put their character on full display. They are hoping to get to know you and your story through your supplemental essay. Remember, when you were young, “show and tell” was your opportunity to present something cool about yourself to your peers. Approach writing this essay in the same way!
The admissions office isn’t looking for you to tell them what they want to hear; they’re looking for someone who will redefine what it means to apply to William and Mary. Try to incorporate your personality and spunk into the essay as much as possible as well as your passion for what you decide to write about.
Make your excitement about your topic palpable for your audience. Before you start writing, think about what gets you out of bed in the morning! William and Mary is eagerly awaiting your answer to their unique prompt!
Questions to consider:
- Why are you so interested in a particular activity?
- What makes you an ideal William and Mary applicant?
- How did you become the person you are today?
Also see: How to write an essay about yourself
Next steps after applying to William and Mary
Congratulations on starting your application to college! We hope this guide has helped you through the William and Mary supplemental essays. Before you go, there are a couple more things you can do to prepare for this next step in your academic journey.
Get a taste of what college is like with a campus tour. William and Mary offer both in-person and virtual tours of the university and are eager to welcome you. These tours give you a chance to immerse yourself in campus culture and take a peek at places you might go to as a student. They also give you a chance to connect with other applicants.
Last but not least, keep doing what you’re doing! You’ve made it this far, and it’s important to keep up the good work. Don’t let senioritis overcome you, and be sure to maintain focus on your grades and continue to shine in your extracurricular activities. You’re almost at the finish line!
Additional resources
You don’t have to figure out everything for college by yourself, Scholarships360 has your back! You’ve got questions, and we have answers!
- What do I need to know about college application deadlines?
- Should I apply early decision or early action?
- What are my other options besides college?
- How to respond to this year’s Common App essay prompts
