College Essay Prompts

Royal Holloway: University of London

Successful scholarship applicants are expected to act as ambassadors for Royal Holloway. In order to support your scholarship application, please upload a Word or pdf statement outlining the skills and qualities that would make you an outstanding ambassador for Royal Holloway.

Your statement should be 250-300 words in length. Statements longer than 300 words will not be considered. Please note that the scholarship selection panel will also have access to the supporting statement you previously sent in with your course application.

You can make reference to:

• Your reasons for applying for the course at RHUL and how it will benefit you in the future
• Your existing academic record and where you have achieved an exemplary standard in your studies
• Your professional experience to date and your career aspirations
• How you would bring an exciting and valuable global perspective to your courses at RHUL
• Outstanding achievements in the face of adversity 
• What motivates you
• Services to the community of charitable work
• Your intentions upon returning to your home country

Please add a word count at the end of your personal statement, and save it as either a word or pdf document, to ensure that we can easily open it.

Columbia University

In addition to the Common Application or the Columbia First-Year Application, applicants are asked to respond to Columbia-specific questions to tell the Admissions Committee more about their academic, extracurricular and intellectual interests. We review the responses to these questions very carefully in order get a full sense of each unique individual beyond his or her transcripts and test scores.

The 2014-2015 Columbia Writing Supplement is available through the Common Application. Students submitting the Columbia First-Year Application will be asked to answer the same questions in the Application section.

You are welcome to familiarize yourself with the Columbia-specific questions:

In 150 words or fewer, please briefly describe which single activity listed in the Activity section of your application represents your most meaningful commitment and why.

Please list the following (150 words or fewer for each question):

• the titles of the required readings from courses during the school year or summer that you enjoyed most in the past year;
• the titles of books read for pleasure that you enjoyed most in the past year;
• the titles of print or electronic publications you read regularly;
• and the titles of the films, concerts, shows, exhibits, lectures and other entertainments you enjoyed most in the past year.

Please answer the following short answer questions (300 words or fewer for each question):

• Tell us what you find most appealing about Columbia and why.
• If you are applying to Columbia College, tell us what from your current and past experiences (either academic or personal) attracts you specifically to the field or fields of study that you noted in the Member Questions section. If you are currently undecided, please write about any field or fields in which you may have an interest at this time.
• If you are applying to The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, please tell us what from your current and past experiences (either academic or personal) attracts you specifically to the field or fields of study that you noted in the Member Questions section.

The University of Melbourne

If you are required to submit a personal statement when applying for your program at the Melbourne School of design, please cover the following information in up to 1,000 words:

• Your prior study

• Previous work / volunteer experience

• Your motivation to undertake the program 

• Where you envisage your career going

You should communicate clearly in good written English and demonstrate an understanding of the program you are applying for.

Selection Committee information

Your personal statement will be assessed by the Selection Committee (convened in accordance with the University of Melbourne Selection Principles) as part of your application process.

The Selection Committee will consider the following:

• Content 

• Demonstrates understanding of the program

• Uses relevant examples

• Indicates prior study and work / volunteer experience

• Articulates personal motivation for undertaking the program

• Includes planned future career

• Style and expression 

• Clear expression

• Well structured