2026–27 application cycle
Villanova University supplemental essays
Every writing prompt on the Villanova University application, with word limits. All of it taken from the application itself. 5 prompts.
- Prompt 1Required250 words max
Playing your part
As Pope Leo XIV (Villanova Class of 1977) has said, "no one can single-handedly bear the weight of the challenges the world is facing, just as no one is so weak that they cannot play their part." What have you done to play your part in advancing equity and justice in your community?
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 2Required250 words max
A lesson to share
What is a lesson in life that you have learned that you would want to share with others at Villanova?
- Prompt 3Required250 words max
Your new home
"Villanova" means "new home." Why do you want to call Villanova your new home?
How to approach it
This is a why-us prompt. The trap is describing the school back to itself. Rankings and a pretty campus read as filler. Name two or three things you’d actually use. A program, a professor’s work, an open curriculum. Then tie each one to something you’ve already done.
- Prompt 4Required250 words max
Tech for good
Villanova embraces Artificial Intelligence (AI) with a commitment to thoughtful, ethical use rooted in our Augustinian mission and values. How do you see technology helping you to lead, serve, and contribute to the common good?
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.
- Prompt 5Required250 words max
Borrowed strength
At Villanova, we often say "each of us strengthens all of us." Please detail a time when someone has borrowed some of your strength in their time of need.
Common questions
What do students ask about these essays?
How many essays does Villanova University require?
Villanova University lists 5 writing supplements for the 2026–27 cycle, all required. That’s on top of the main personal statement.
How long are the Villanova University supplemental essays?
Word limits across the listed prompts add up to about 1,250 words. Budget real time for them. Supplements are where admissions sees your real interest in Villanova University.
Do the Villanova 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 Villanova 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.