2026–27 application cycle
Fordham University supplemental essays
Every writing prompt on the Fordham University application, with word limits. All of it taken from the application itself. 3 prompts.
- Prompt 1Optional300 words max
A new perspective
At Fordham, we expect students to care for and engage with their communities and be active citizens for positive change. Please share an experience you had that caused you to develop a new perspective, change your point of view, and/or empower you to take an action or be courageous. Your response should include examples of your personal growth (e.g., what did you learn, did your point of view change, did you develop new skills or strengths?).
How to approach it
Here, specific beats important. A small, true community described from the inside beats a broad label. Write it as someone who was there, not as an observer. End on what you carry into a campus, not on a moral.
- Prompt 2Optional300 words max
Ready for New York
Our motto is "New York is my campus, Fordham is my school." New York City is a diverse and global city that provides Fordham students with a special kind of educational experience, full of both challenge and opportunity. What has prepared you to embrace the unique opportunity of living and learning in New York City?
How to approach it
The challenge is the setup, not the essay. Spend most of the words on what you did and how you changed. Readers are wary of a hard story used as currency. Growth is the currency.
- Prompt 3Optional300 words max
A message to yourself
At Fordham, we have a tradition of having our graduating seniors send a message to their younger selves. What will the future "you" tell the "you" of today about what you accomplished as a Fordham student?
How to approach it
Goals prompts fail when they stay noble and vague. Pick one real problem you care about. Connect it to something you’ve already touched in real life. Make the goal clear enough that a reader could disagree with it. Specific beats impressive.
Common questions
What do students ask about these essays?
How many essays does Fordham University require?
Fordham University lists 3 writing supplements for the 2026–27 cycle, and 0 of them are required. That’s on top of the main personal statement.
How long are the Fordham University supplemental essays?
Word limits across the listed prompts add up to about 900 words. Budget real time for them. Supplements are where admissions sees your real interest in Fordham University.
Do the Fordham University supplemental essays matter?
Yes, and more so at the hardest schools to get into. Grades and scores put you in the pool. Supplements are one of the few places you control what the reader learns about you. A generic why-us essay is one of the most common mistakes students make.
What Spike does with this
Get help planning Fordham University essays.
Spike helps you tie each prompt to something you’ve actually lived. It helps you outline and revise, and it won’t write the essay for you.
The full counselor launches in November.