va tech supplemental essays 2024

Ut Prosim Profile: 2024-2025 Short Answer Questions

The Ut Prosim Profile is required for all degree-seeking applicants. Each question has a word limit of 120 words for your response. The Ut Prosim Profile is your opportunity to let us get to know you beyond what is on your application or academic materials. We encourage you to use your own voice and answer each prompt as fully as possible. Once you submit your application, your responses to the Ut Prosim Profile questions are final and cannot be updated.

Please take your time to form responses that you feel confident about and help to support your application for admission.

Virginia Tech's motto is "Ut Prosim" which means 'That I May Serve'. Share how you contribute to a community that is important to you. How long have you been involved? What have you learned and how would you like to share that with others at Virginia Tech?

Virginia Tech’s Principles of Community supports access and inclusion by affirming the dignity and value of every person, respecting differences, promoting mutual understanding and open expression, and strives to eliminate bias and discrimination.   Have you had an experience when you or someone you know were not being included? Did you reach out to anyone for assistance, direction, or resources? Were you able to affect change and/or influence others? Did this experience change your perspective and if so, how?

Share a time when you were most proud of yourself either as a role model or when you displayed your leadership. What specific skills did you contribute to the experience? How did others rely on you for guidance? What did you learn about yourself during this time?

Describe a goal that you have set and the steps you will take to achieve it. What made you set this goal for yourself? What is your timeline to achieve this goal? Who do you seek encouragement or guidance from and how do they support your progress as you work on this goal?

How to Write the Virginia Tech Supplemental Essays 2024–2025

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The Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (aka Virginia Tech) values interdisciplinary studies, experiential learning , and service to the community. Their educational model produces many accomplished alumni, including numerous CEOs: Jim Buckmaster of Craigslist, Bridget Ryan Berman of Victoria’s Secret, Clifton C. Garvin of Exxon, and Thomas L. Phillips of Raytheon, among others. Looking to join their ranks? First, you’ll need to nail down your Virginia Tech supplemental essays. Let’s break them down.

Virginia Tech’s 2024-2025 Prompts

Here are the four Virginia Tech supplemental essays. Each one is required, and each has a limit of 120 words. Note that 120 words is approximately half of a page, double-spaced.

Virginia Tech’s motto is “Ut Prosim” which means ‘That I May Serve’. Share how you contribute to a community that is important to you. How long have you been involved? What have you learned and how would you like to share that with others at Virginia Tech? (120 words or fewer)

Virginia tech’s principles of community support access and inclusion by affirming the dignity and value of every person, respecting differences, promoting mutual understanding and open expression, and strives to eliminate bias and discrimination.  have you had an experience when you or someone you know were not being included did you reach out to anyone for assistance, direction, or resources were you able to affect change and/or influence others did this experience change your perspective and if so, how (120 words or fewer), share a time when you were most proud of yourself either as a role model or when you displayed your leadership. what specific skills did you contribute to the experience how did others rely on you for guidance what did you learn about yourself during this time (120 words or fewer), describe a goal that you have set and the steps you will take to achieve it. what made you set this goal for yourself what is your timeline to achieve this goal who do you seek encouragement or guidance from and how do they support your progress as you work on this goal (120 words or fewer).

General Tips

The four Virginia Tech supplemental essays ask multi-faceted, in-depth questions. However, you only have 120 words in which to answer all parts of each question. Therefore, it’s important that you write concisely and precisely. In addition, you should continue to re-read the prompts as you work on the essays to make sure that every part of the prompt in question makes it into your essay. There’s no need to re-state the phrasing of the prompts, but you should not leave any aspect of the questions at hand untouched.

Writing concisely is easier said than done. If you’re looking to cut down on your word count in some of the essays, consider the following techniques:

• Avoid passive voice. Although the passive voice is a useful rhetorical technique and often unavoidable, it tends to add extra words to your writing. For instance, the sentence “I was chased by the dog” (passive) requires more words than “The dog chased me” (active).
• Avoid repetition. Avoiding repetition can often be as simple as confirming that each sentence in your essay contains new information. If a given sentence or even phrase contains information communicated elsewhere in the essay, then you might want to consider deleting it. Comb through your essay carefully to find instances of redundancy.
• Avoid descriptive language. Descriptions can make your narrative more vivid and readable, but if they lengthen your essay to the point that you’re over the word limit, then it might be time to cut back. Look for adverbs and adjectives in your essay. Is each one absolutely necessary? If you use multiple descriptive words, is there any way you could get away with just one?
• Read your essay out loud. This strategy is simple but effective. Hearing your words can help you identify illogical transitions and overlong phrases. Additionally, you may notice that you naturally skip over certain words in your writing when reading it aloud. If so, these words may not be necessary for your essay to function.

Virginia Tech Short Essay Questions

The admissions team at Virginia Tech isn’t just seeking to admit intelligent, motivated individuals. Instead, they are seeking to build a well-rounded, diverse community of students. In this essay, you are expected to demonstrate how you have contributed to the communities in your life. An effective essay response will demonstrate to the reader that you will continue to be a contributing community member at Virginia Tech.

When the admissions team poses this question, they also provide insight regarding Virginia Tech’s values. In short, Virginia Tech values service to others. You can imagine this value broadly, from literal community service and civil service to the intangible impacts of leading your life with empathy and respect for others. In other words, your response to this prompt doesn’t need to be limited to traditional definitions of service.

After you’ve briefly described your service experience, you will need to express what you have learned and how you will bring those lessons to Virginia Tech. Essentially, the admissions team is looking for the ways your service experiences have helped you become a better community member. Consider the times when you have acted in service of others. Who were you before that service, and who were you afterward? Describe that transition in your essay clearly and concisely.

In order to effectively write this essay, you will need to do a bit of research. Read about Virginia Tech’s Principles of Community to prepare yourself to write this essay. In summary, these principles expect mutual respect for all community members. This mutual respect extends diversity, freedom of expression, and, of course, inclusion.

In your essay, you are expected to recount an experience in your life when these Principles of Community were not upheld. In that moment, either yourself or someone else was the victim of exclusion. Define what exclusion means to you, and the context of the exclusionary act.

Ideally, you are the focus of this essay, not someone else. Because this is one of your college essays, it is one of your opportunities to show the reader who you are. Writing about someone else can only give the reader a partial view into your character. That said, if you do not have any experiences that align with the prompt’s expectations, you can describe an occasion when you witnessed someone else’s experience and exercised empathy in understanding their experience. If you were able to actively improve the exclusionary situation, even better. In your essay, be sure to detail the actions you took to resolve or improve the situation.

Note that this narrative can be an experience of failure and/or a time when you learned a lesson. The prompt asks, “Were you able to affect change and/or influence others?” In other words, you need to reflect on this experience and your reaction, and whether your reaction was genuinely impactful. It doesn’t need to have been a perfect response, as long as you learned from the experience. Throughout life, we will all face adversity and make mistakes. What distinguishes people is their response to adversity and ability to learn from their mistakes. That’s what the Virginia Tech admissions team is seeking in your response.

In sum, what was your response to this situation, and what could be improved upon? What were your takeaways? If you wished you behaved differently in that moment, then you have evidently learned a life lesson from the experience. Showing your growth in this essay will evidence your maturity to the reader. As long as you write authentically, this essay will successfully show who you are to the admissions team.

This prompt seeks to understand who you are as a leader. While the prior two prompts sought to understand you as a community member or team player, this essay question seeks a different side of you. Remember, you’re not restricted to discussing traditional leadership roles in this essay. Any occasion when others looked up to you or you guided the trajectory of a project, group, event, etc., could work for this essay.

This is not just one question, it’s three, so you’ll need to budget your words wisely. For instance, you could spend approximately 30 words describing a time when you were a leader or role model, 30 words about the skills you brought to the table, 30 words about how others relied on you, and finish up with 30 words of reflection regarding the lessons you learned.

Of course, if you find that some of these parts of the essay require fewer words, then you’ll have more to devote to the other parts. That said, this multilayered prompt will definitely benefit from some forethought given the amount of content you’re expected to pack in. An outline can help you organize your ideas before you begin writing.

Whether an outline is your speed or not, you should focus on just one moment in your essay. Attempting to squeeze too much into such a short essay will just leave your ideas undeveloped. Moreover, the prompt expects you to share “a time,” versus a few times. If you’re having trouble deciding which experience to write about, make a short list of the ideas you’re torn between. Then, free-write a few different drafts, one for each idea. After doing so, you will likely notice that some ideas speak to you more than others or translate to page more fluidly than others.

As the Virginia Tech admissions team evaluates your application, they look for signs that you will succeed as a college student. Successful college students manage complex, long-term academic assignments alongside their social lives, extracurricular activities, and self-care. In order to identify the best candidates for admission, Virginia Tech’s admissions officers hope to understand how their applicants handle difficult projects.

While brainstorming for this essay, you may want to make a list of the different projects or achievements that have been significant for you in your high school years. Perhaps you learned to play an instrument, wrote a novel, or fixed your mom’s car. Alternatively, you may have completed a meaningful independent research project, won an athletic event, or founded a club at your school. Whatever goal you choose to discuss, make sure it’s something that was important to you.

Like the last prompt, this one may benefit from an outline and careful budgeting of your words. In this essay, you’ll also need to address four topics. First, what did you achieve? Second, why did you pursue this project? Third, how much time did it take to complete this project? Fourth, who has supported you in this endeavor? Note that this project could be ongoing.

Most importantly, be specific in your response. Focus on one project, achievement, goal, or other endeavor in your essay. Budget your words carefully, and be sure to address all aspects of the prompt. You’ve got this!

If you need help polishing up your Virginia Tech supplemental essays, check out our College Essay Review service. You can receive detailed feedback from Ivy League consultants in as little as 24 hours.

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Mastering Virginia Tech's Supplemental Essays for 2024 Admissions

Applying to Virginia Tech? You're in the right place! Virginia Tech’s 2024 application process includes a set of supplemental essays designed to give the admissions committee deeper insight into who you are as a person and a community member. Let's dive into how to approach these prompts and make your application stand out!

Essay Prompt 1: "Ut Prosim" - That I May Serve

Prompt: Virginia Tech’s motto is "Ut Prosim" which means 'That I May Serve'. Share how you contribute to a community that is important to you. How long have you been involved? What have you learned and how would you like to share that with others at Virginia Tech? (120 words)

Advice: Highlight your commitment to a community that resonates with you, whether it's local, online, or even within your school. Be specific about your role and experiences. What leadership positions have you taken? How have your experiences shaped your understanding of service? Try using Sups AI to brainstorm impactful stories and get feedback on your narrative. Remember, Virginia Tech wants to see how you’ll continue this ethos on their campus.

Essay Prompt 2: Principles of Community

Prompt: Virginia Tech’s Principles of Community supports access and inclusion by affirming the dignity and value of every person, respecting differences, promoting mutual understanding and open expression, and strives to eliminate bias and discrimination. Have you had an experience when you or someone you know were not being included? Did you reach out to anyone for assistance, direction, or resources? Were you able to affect change and/or influence others? Did this experience change your perspective and if so, how? (120 words)

Advice: This prompt is about showing empathy, leadership, and a commitment to inclusion. Reflect on a specific instance where you stood up for someone or helped to create a more inclusive environment. What actions did you take? How did you collaborate with others? Use these details to demonstrate your proactive nature. If you're struggling with articulating this experience, use Sups AI for one-on-one chats with current students who can offer insight and guidance.

Essay Prompt 3: A Proud Moment

Prompt: Share a time when you were most proud of yourself either as a role model or when you displayed your leadership. What specific skills did you contribute to the experience? How did others rely on you for guidance? What did you learn about yourself during this time? (120 words)

Advice: Showcasing a proud moment is about more than just the outcome. Focus on your leadership skills and the impact you had on others. Think about a time when you managed a project, led a team, or supported a friend in need. Use Sups AI to identify key experiences and refine your essay. Make sure your story reflects personal growth and the qualities that Virginia Tech values in its students.

Essay Prompt 4: Goal Setting

Prompt: Describe a goal that you have set and the steps you will take to achieve it. What made you set this goal for yourself? What is your timeline to achieve this goal? Who do you seek encouragement or guidance from and how do they support your progress as you work on this goal? (120 words)

Advice: This prompt is an opportunity to showcase your ambition, planning skills, and persistence. Start by defining a clear, specific goal. Outline the practical steps you’ll take to achieve it and the support system you’ve built around yourself. Use Sups AI for brainstorming sessions and receiving iterative feedback on your essay. Ensuring your response is well-structured and reflects your determination will leave a lasting impression on the admissions committee.

Virginia Tech’s supplemental essays are your chance to showcase your unique experiences, ambitions, and the values that align with the institution. Start early, refine your drafts, and consider using Sups AI to elevate your application with personalized support from experts and current students. Good luck!

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4 Tips for Writing Stellar Virginia Tech Essays

College Essays

Are you hoping to be part of Virginia Tech's next matriculating class? If so, you'll need to write strong Virginia Tech essays to supplement your application.

All Virginia Tech applicants are required to answer four short answer questions as part of their application. In this article, we'll break down what the Virginia Tech essays are and what the admissions committee is looking for in your answer.

Why Does Virginia Tech Require Applicants to Answer Essays?

Virginia Tech requires all applicants to answer four short answer questions. If you're applying to the Honors College, your answers will also be shared with the Honors College admissions committee. You don't need to answer any separate questions as an applicant to the Virginia Tech Honors College.

The Virginia Tech essays are designed for the admissions committee to get a better sense of who you are, both as a student and a person. The short answers questions ask about your character, leadership, and goals. The admissions committee will use your answers to better understand you as a person—who are you? What do you care about? How will you fit in on Virginia Tech's campus?

It's important to put some serious effort into your Virginia Tech essays so that you represent yourself well to the admissions committee. These essays are your chance to present a well-rounded version of yourself that makes the admissions committee say, "We have to admit this student!"

What Are the Virginia Tech Essays?

Virginia Tech requires that every applicant answer four short answer questions. These short answer questions are just that—short! Each has a word limit of 120 words. Let's take a look at the 2022-2023 essay questions:

#1: Virginia Tech's motto is "Ut Prosim" which means 'That I May Serve'. Share how you contribute to a community that is important to you. How long have you been involved? What have you learned and how would you like to share that with others at Virginia Tech?

#2: Resilience is defined as the ability to adapt and learn from a difficulty. Reflect on a time that you have exhibited resilience. What growth did you see in yourself after this experience?

#3: Share a time when you were most proud of yourself either as a role model or when you displayed your leadership. What specific skills did you contribute to the experience? How did others rely on you for guidance? What did you learn about yourself during this time?

#4: Describe a goal that you have set and the steps you will take to achieve it. What made you set this goal for yourself? What is your timeline to achieve this goal? Who do you seek encouragement or guidance from and how do they support your progress as you work on this goal?

Virginia Tech Essays, Analyzed

Now that we know what the Virginia Tech essays are, let's break down how to answer each one as best as possible.

Since the Virginia Tech essays are so short, the key is to be super targeted in your responses. For each prompt, we'll break down what the essay is asking and how you can tailor your response to make sure it's what the admissions committee wants to hear.

Essay Question 1

Virginia Tech's motto is "Ut Prosim" which means 'That I May Serve'. Share how you contribute to a community that is important to you. How long have you been involved? What have you learned and how would you like to share that with others at Virginia Tech?

This essay question is asking about your involvement or service with a specific community. The admissions committee is looking for you to demonstrate a genuine commitment to a cause —what the cause is doesn't matter as much as the fact that you genuinely care about it.

To start, think about the communities that are important to you. This could be your family, neighborhood, school, place of worship, a club, etc. Then think about how you've worked to have a positive impact  there. Finally, consider the lessons you've learned from helping the community that you'll bring with you to Virginia Tech. 

You should pick a community that you've made real, lasting change at. Don't choose something that sounds the best if you haven't actually done a lot for them. For instance, if you were a member of your school's Habitat for Humanity club but didn't actually attend very many meetings, don't talk about how meaningful it was to build houses for disadvantaged people just because you think it sounds nice. Any insincerity in your application will be very obvious.

Essay Question 2

Resilience is defined as the ability to adapt and learn from a difficulty. Reflect on a time that you have exhibited resilience. What growth did you see in yourself after this experience?

This second question can seem intimidating—you'll need to reflect on a tough time and analyze how you grew as a person because of it.

Fortunately, this doesn't need to be an all-out catastrophe that happened in your life. Anything that you found a challenge but were able to overcome and learn from is fair game. For example, you could discuss not making the school basketball team, even though it was your dream to play on it, then deciding to rededicate yourself to practicing so you wouldn't let this failure define you. 

Your goal isn't to impress the admissions committee with the most tragic tale they've seen, but instead to show how you learn and grow from challenges.  So, as you're writing, keep the actual description of the setback short and focus most of your response on how you showed resilience because of it.

Essay Question 3

Share a time when you were most proud of yourself either as a role model or when you displayed your leadership. What specific skills did you contribute to the experience? How did others rely on you for guidance? What did you learn about yourself during this time?

This prompt wants to know two things: first, have you taken on the responsibility of leading other people? Second, what did it teach you about yourself?

The admissions committee wants to know that you don't shy away from mentorship roles and growth opportunities. You don't have to be president of a club or captain of a sports team to demonstrate leadership. Perhaps you took on the role of project coordinator for a classroom project or are section leader of a few instrumentalists in the band. The size of the role isn't as important as the scope of your influence—how did your choices and actions influence others as well as your perception of yourself?

The question also specifically asks you to explain how you relied on others for guidance, so be sure to make it clear that you weren't just making decisions unilaterally. In this essay, you want to show that you're capable of making decisions, but also that you're capable of cooperation and self-reflection.

Essay Question 4

Describe a goal that you have set and the steps you will take to achieve it. What made you set this goal for yourself? What is your timeline to achieve this goal? Who do you seek encouragement or guidance from and how do they support your progress as you work on this goal?

The final Virginia Tech short essay question assesses your commitment to growth. Notice that the question asks about a personal goal—that means you don't have to pick something lofty or world-changing. You just have to pick something that resonates with you.

Maybe you decided to wake up 30 minutes earlier every day so you can meditate or do yoga before school. Maybe you made it a goal to complete all of your essays two days before they were due so you could revise your work. Maybe you made it a goal to try a sport this year when you normally hate sports.

Whatever your goal is, you want to demonstrate that you're capable of self-reflection and of positive growth —that you're constantly assessing how to better yourself.

You also want to show humility in this prompt—that you can rely on or ask for help from others when you need it. The admissions committee doesn't expect that you'll have all the answers yourself. They want to see that you can collaborate with and learn from others when you need to.

Tips for Answering Your Virginia Tech Essays

Follow these general tips for making sure that your Virginia Tech essays are as strong as possible.

#1: Demonstrate Growth and Self-Reflection

Virginia Tech places a strong emphasis on service and self-reflection. These qualities are reflected in the choices of essay topics.

You should demonstrate these qualities in your answers. Show that you're constantly working to better yourself. Demonstrate humility and understanding. Virginia Tech wants students who will grow on their campus—not ones who will matriculate already thinking they're perfect.

#2: Be Honest and Sincere

All of the experiences that you outline in your Virginia Tech essays should be real—they need to have actually happened to you.

It can be tempting to lie about or exaggerate your experiences to make them seem more impressive. Don't do this!

First of all, lying on your application is a major ethics violation and can get you in some pretty serious trouble if you're caught.

Second all, insincerity will be super obvious. The admissions committee reads thousands of applications every year. They can easily sniff out people who are lying. Be as honest as possible in your Virginia Tech essays and remember—they WANT to hear about how you've grown.

#3: Proofread!

It should go without saying, but your Virginia Tech essays should be the best examples of your work possible. Don't just write your essays and be done with them. Take the time to formulate an answer and then go back and edit it. Make sure to proofread and run your work through a spelling or grammar checker to ensure it's polished.

#4: Get a Second Opinion

Getting a second opinion on your work can be a helpful way to assess whether your Virginia Tech essays are demonstrating your best qualities. Ask someone to read your work who really knows you, so they can tell you whether or not you're underselling yourself or missing a key feature of your personality that the admissions committee should know.

That being said, there's a fine line between getting a second opinion and plagiarism. It's okay to ask for someone's opinion on your work. It's not okay to steal their ideas and pass them off as your own. Make sure you're doing the former, not the latter.

Recap: Responding to the Virginia Tech Essay Prompts

The Virginia Tech essays are designed to show who you are as a student and how you'll fit in on Virginia Tech's campus.

• Be honest and sincere.
• Highlight opportunities you've taken to grow and change.
• Edit and proofread your work to make sure it's as strong as possible.
• Lie or over exaggerate to make yourself seem better.
• Steal anyone else's ideas.
• Sweat the short answers too much. They're important, but they won't make or break your chances at admission to Virginia Tech.

What's Next?

Want to know how to make your extracurriculars stand out even more? Check out this guide to four amazing extracurricular activities and learn why they're so impressive to colleges.

Thinking of applying to other great schools like Princeton , Brown , or Columbia ? Then be sure to check out our guides to learn how you can write amazing essays for these schools' supplements.

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Hayley Milliman is a former teacher turned writer who blogs about education, history, and technology. When she was a teacher, Hayley's students regularly scored in the 99th percentile thanks to her passion for making topics digestible and accessible. In addition to her work for PrepScholar, Hayley is the author of Museum Hack's Guide to History's Fiercest Females.

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Virginia Tech Supplemental Essays 2024 | Strategies and Insights for Success

While Virginia Tech’s acceptance rate may not yet inspire widespread anxiety among prospective applicants, the university’s evolving admissions landscape demands attention. With a recent decline from 70% to 58%, the institution is transitioning towards a more selective admissions process, particularly for popular majors like business, computer science, and engineering. Aspiring Hokies must recognize the importance of every application component, including the Virginia Tech supplemental essays.

At the heart of Virginia Tech’s ethos lies the motto “Ut Prosim” — Latin for “That I May Serve”. Reflecting this commitment to service, the university mandates that all undergraduates complete the “Ut Prosim Profile,” comprising four service-related essay prompts. These essays carry significant weight, marked as “very important” by the admissions committee, making dedicated attention to these short-answer questions imperative for all Tech applicants.

Below, we present Virginia Tech’s supplemental prompts for the 2022-23 admissions cycle, along with expert advice for crafting standout essays that capture the essence of your candidacy and align with the university’s values and expectations.

Also read Virginia Tech Acceptance Rate | Strategies and Insights for Admission Success 2024 

Virginia Tech Supplemental Essays

Prompt 1: contributing to community.

Share how you contribute to a community that is important to you. How long have you been involved? What have you learned and how would you like to share that with others at Virginia Tech? (120 words)

Dive into your community involvement, whether ethnic, religious, or club-based. Highlight your role and the impact you’ve made, drawing on specific experiences and lessons learned. Articulate your vision for continuing this service at Virginia Tech, citing relevant student organizations or local nonprofits.

Prompt 2: Reflecting on Resilience

Reflect on a time that you have exhibited resilience. What growth did you see in yourself after this experience? (120 words)

Narrate a challenge you faced, emphasizing your resilience and subsequent growth. Be candid and introspective, delving into the emotional journey and lessons learned. Highlight how this experience has shaped your character and prepared you for future obstacles.

Prompt 3: Proud Moments of Leadership

Share a time when you were most proud of yourself either as a role model or when you displayed your leadership. What specific skills did you contribute to the experience? How did others rely on you for guidance? What did you learn about yourself during this time? (120 words)

Explore a moment of leadership, whether formal or informal, focusing on the skills you demonstrated and the impact you had. Reflect on what you learned about yourself and your leadership style, emphasizing growth and self-awareness.

Prompt 4: Setting and Achieving Goals

Describe a goal that you have set and the steps you will take to achieve it. What made you set this goal for yourself? What is your timeline to achieve this goal? Who do you seek encouragement or guidance from as you work on this goal? (120 words)

Detail a specific goal, outlining your plan for achieving it and the motivations driving your ambition. Discuss your timeline and support network, highlighting the importance of mentorship and collaboration in your journey toward success.

In tackling Virginia Tech’s supplemental essays, brevity is key. Each response should offer a concise yet comprehensive glimpse into your character, values, and aspirations. By weaving personal anecdotes, reflections, and future aspirations into your essays, you can create a compelling narrative that resonates with the admissions committee and sets you apart as a standout candidate for Virginia Tech.

Also see 12 Best Technology Colleges in the US 2024

The Importance of Virginia Tech Supplemental Essays

The Virginia Tech supplemental essays hold considerable weight in the eyes of the admissions committee, being classified as “very important” factors in their evaluation process. Placed alongside key elements such as the rigor of coursework, GPA, first-generation status, geographical residence, state residency, and race/ethnicity, these essays play a pivotal role in shaping the overall impression of an applicant’s candidacy.

This underscores the critical role these essays play in providing insights into an applicant’s character, values, and potential contributions to the Virginia Tech community. Each essay offers a unique opportunity for candidates to showcase their individuality, aspirations, and alignment with the university’s mission and values.

By approaching each essay thoughtfully and authentically, applicants can leave a lasting impression and bolster their chances of securing admission to Virginia Tech. In essence, the supplemental essays serve as a powerful tool for candidates to articulate their readiness to thrive in Virginia Tech’s dynamic academic environment and contribute meaningfully to its vibrant community.

The Virginia Tech supplemental essays stand as critical components of the university’s admissions process, designated as “very important” by the admissions committee. Alongside other key factors such as academic rigor, GPA, and demographic background, these essays provide a unique opportunity for applicants to showcase their individuality, values, and potential contributions to the Virginia Tech community.

By dedicating time and effort to crafting compelling and authentic responses, applicants can effectively convey their readiness to excel academically and thrive within Virginia Tech’s diverse and dynamic campus environment. Ultimately, the supplemental essays serve as a vital platform for applicants to differentiate themselves and leave a lasting impression on the admissions committee, solidifying their candidacy for admission to Virginia Tech.

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Virginia Tech’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Ut prosim profile short response 1.

Virginia Tech’s motto is "Ut Prosim" which means ‘That I May Serve‘. Share how you contribute to a community that is important to you. How long have you been involved? What have you learned and how would you like to share that with others at Virginia Tech?

Ut Prosim Profile Short Response 2

Virginia Tech’s Principles of Community supports access and inclusion by affirming the dignity and value of every person, respecting differences, promoting mutual understanding and open expression, and strives to eliminate bias and discrimination. Reflect on a time when you were not able or allowed to express a different or diverse position or opinion (or you witnessed another person or group experience the same situation)? How did you respond or wish you would have responded? Did your viewpoint change in any way after this experience?

Ut Prosim Profile Short Response 3

Share a time when you were most proud of yourself either as a role model or when you displayed your leadership. What specific skills did you contribute to the experience? How did others rely on you for guidance? What did you learn about yourself during this time?

Ut Prosim Profile Short Response 4

Describe a goal that you have set and the steps you will take to achieve it. What made you set this goal for yourself? What is your timeline to achieve this goal? Who do you seek encouragement or guidance from as you work on this goal?

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2024-2025 Virginia Tech (Carilion)

• Thread starter wysdoc
• Start date Apr 10, 2024

Plain-spoken Texan

• Apr 10, 2024

Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine Interview Feedback

Full Member

• Jun 28, 2024

Got an email stating that my primary application was received and is being reviewed!  

Same here! Submitted 05/28 Verified 06/03 after an academic change request  

philneuro22

• Jul 1, 2024

just got secondary invite  

just got OOS secondary  

What is the secondary screening for this school?  

StraightAd57

Damn these secondary's look lethal  

cookiepearwatermelon

These prompts seem to be very different from last year. Limit is 400 words for all A: Describe how AI could affect the integrity of medical professionals. B: What can a recovering addict who didn't finish high school teach their physician? C: Discuss a recent time when you were wrong. What made you change your mind and what did you do about it? D: Who is your role model, and why? Really not sure what to do on some of these...  

lonelywoolf

Lol is the first prompt a threat or something  

gorillionare-mindset

• Jul 2, 2024

Did you guys see the AI attestation? Are you all saying no or would it be okay to check yes and explain that it was used for proofreading, same as you would ask another person to do for you. I know the safe bet is no but honestly its a great tool for those without a writing tutor or something and idk if it'll hurt to be honest.  

gorillionare-mindset said: Did you guys see the AI attestation? Are you all saying no or would it be okay to check yes and explain that it was used for proofreading, same as you would ask another person to do for you. I know the safe bet is no but honestly its a great tool for those without a writing tutor or something and idk if it'll hurt to be honest. Click to expand...

sensorimotorstage

Md/do applicant.

• Jul 3, 2024

Finally got OOS 2 this morning. Submitted and verified 5/28  

• Jul 4, 2024

secondary received and submitted. glad I didn't prewrite the prompts from last year.  

• Jul 7, 2024

• Jul 8, 2024

OOS Secondary received 7/1 and submitted 7/6 These were some refreshing questions. I understand and appreciate the value of what other schools do by asking how much you know and like their programs, but some can seem like you're repeating what you put into your primary. These questions allow you to really evaluate your experiences and see what you have learned and can apply to interesting situations.  

• Jul 9, 2024

@ cookiepearwatermelon Could you please confirm if it is 400 words to answer each prompt or total for all 4 prompts?  

ricefanatic

chilly_md said: @ cookiepearwatermelon Could you please confirm if it is 400 words to answer each prompt or total for all 4 prompts? Click to expand...

throwawaybabyitsokay

• Jul 11, 2024

How are you guys approaching the 3rd essay? (Name a time you’ve been wrong, what made you change your mind, etc.) Obviously everybody has many moments that they’re wrong but i’m having a hard time coming up with something noteworthy to write about that really stuck with me.  

• Jul 18, 2024

throwawaybabyitsokay said: How are you guys approaching the 3rd essay? (Name a time you’ve been wrong, what made you change your mind, etc.) Obviously everybody has many moments that they’re wrong but i’m having a hard time coming up with something noteworthy to write about that really stuck with me. Click to expand...

solarflare1230

• Jul 20, 2024

this secondary is kicking my ass  

ooompalooompa

solarflare1230 said: this secondary is kicking my ass Click to expand...

• Jul 30, 2024

IS II Invite received, complete 7/15  

sprinkles1895

Stats?  

medschoolfailure12

II received! OOS  

ribonucleoprotein

medschoolfailure12 said: II received! OOS Click to expand...

sprinkles1895 said: Stats? Click to expand...

How am I supposed to get to Roanoke Virginia :|  

mercyirl said: How am I supposed to get to Roanoke Virginia :| Click to expand...

systematicX

Holy moly +1 II oos  

ooompalooompa said: Holy moly +1 II oos Click to expand...

saran_wrap said: Congrats! Complete date? Click to expand...

ribonucleoprotein said: stats and complete date? Click to expand...

why am i so cooked  

snowflower1325

II OOS! Completed on 07/14  

TriviaLover99

+1 OOS II! Completed on 7/15  

Do you guys think they're going in order or are they just sending it randomly? Complete 7/4 and haven't gotten anything yet  

StraightAd57 said: Do you guys think they're going in order or are they just sending it randomly? Complete 7/4 and haven't gotten anything yet Click to expand...

heir_of_snakes

• Jul 31, 2024

Did anyone who was marked complete after 7/16 receive an II?  

XflamingeskimoX

• Aug 1, 2024

Did anyone else get the “you’ve been invited to…..another Q&A session” email today? Got so happy for a split second lmfao  

• Aug 8, 2024

Anyone willing to share how they approached the first question? Focused more towards the problems AI can introduce error and bias into patient care or more on how AI will impact a physicians role? And did you weave in personal experience with AI? All I can think of is to comment on what I've seen regarding AI in health in the news (ie United lawsuit) or how the EMS at my job has an algorithm to suggest fluid assessments based on vital signs and weight.  

• Aug 9, 2024

crowgirl said: Anyone willing to share how they approached the first question? Focused more towards the problems AI can introduce error and bias into patient care or more on how AI will impact a physicians role? And did you weave in personal experience with AI? All I can think of is to comment on what I've seen regarding AI in health in the news (ie United lawsuit) or how the EMS at my job has an algorithm to suggest fluid assessments based on vital signs and weight. Click to expand...

• Aug 11, 2024

Anyone know if the interview open-file?  

ooompalooompa said: Anyone know if the interview open-file? Click to expand...

SCOOPEER said: MMI + open file with voting member of adcom from what I have found I just wonder how long the traditional interview component of interview day is given all the other activities though. Click to expand...

• Aug 12, 2024

scampi said: Interviewed last year but ultimately rejected. The MMI was nearly 2 hours long last year and there were a bunch of stations plus one open-file one. I don’t remember exactly how many but I think around 10 scenarios. Also the night before interview mixer is wonderful, highly recommend going if they offer it and you’re on the fence Click to expand...

• Aug 21, 2024

Wondering when the next big batch of II's will be sent out! Nothing but crickets from VTech for the past few weeks...  

Similar threads

• Apr 12, 2024

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The Ultimate Guide to the Virginia Tech Supplemental Essays

If you’re here looking for a guide on how to write the Virginia Tech supplemental essays, you’re in luck! This guide deconstructs everything you need to know to answer each of the Virginia Tech prompts well and stand out from the rest of the admissions pool.

But, before we get to that, we’ll need to cover some important statistics.

In particular, we want to demonstrate just how important the Virginia Tech supplemental essays are to the admissions process.

Here’s a hint: it’s more important now than ever before.

We’ll be using two points: the acceptance rate through the Data Commons and the Common Data Set.

First, let’s see what the VT Data Commons has to say about acceptance rates over time.

Within the past 5 years, the admissions rate for Virginia Tech decreased by 13.1%. They also received 17,898 more applications.

In the past 2 years, the number of students applying has spiked up significantly; so, you can be sure that you’ll be competing against more students now than ever before.

With that said, the essays are going to be one of the only parts of the application where you can truly use your words to stand out from the admissions process.

Think about it like this: practically every part of your application is going to be based on numbers and letter grades. One of the only parts showing who you are beyond grades is your VT supplemental essays and descriptions in your extracurricular list.

If you want to have a solid shot at getting accepted, you’re going to need to write solid essays. And, we’re going to show you exactly how to do that below.

Table of Contents

Virginia Tech Essay Prompts

How to answer virginia tech’s ut proism prompt., how to answer virginia tech’s resilience prompt., how to answer virginia tech’s role model and leadership prompt., how to answer virginia tech’s goal and plan to achieve it prompt., virginia tech essay examples..

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One of the interesting things you’ll notice is that Virginia Tech has a very, very short word count for each of its essay prompts.

This limits you in how much you can really say.

Now, does that detract from its importance in the application process? No. Does it mean you’ll have a much harder time writing an essay that will stand out from the rest of the admissions pool? Yes.

That’s why you can’t stand out in the Virginia Tech supplemental essays without also writing something creative and unique for each of the prompts.

It’s going to take a little bit of work. But, it’s certainly worth it.

Each of the  Ut Prosim  Profile questions are required with a limit of 120 words in length per answer. Once you submit your application, your responses to the questions are final and cannot be updated. Virginia Tech’s motto is “Ut Prosim” which means ‘That I May Serve’. Share how you contribute to a community that is important to you.  How long have you been involved? What have you learned and how would you like to share that with others at Virginia Tech? Resilience is defined as the ability to adapt and learn from a difficulty. Reflect on a time that you have exhibited resilience.  What growth did you see in yourself after this experience? Share a time when you were most proud of yourself either as a role model or when you displayed your leadership.  What specific skills did you contribute to the experience? How did others rely on you for guidance? What did you learn about yourself during this time? Describe a goal that you have set and the steps you will take to achieve it.  What made you set this goal for yourself? What is your timeline to achieve this goal? Who do you seek encouragement or guidance from as you work on this goal? Virginia Tech Ut Prosim Supplemental Essay Prompts.

Tips on How to Write Each of the Virginia Tech Supplemental Essays.

The keywords here are “serve” and “community.”

Often, students will approach this far too simply. They’ll think of “serve” as “helping” and “community” as their physical location’s population such as their residential city or town.

But, remember: you need to approach the admissions essays from an unconventional and unorthodox perspective in order to stand out. This is the best way to stand out.

So, perhaps “serving” can mean more than just planting trees or donating to the homeless. You may want to think of some of the other ways your activities come to “serve” the community. Chances are, your actions have served the community more than just what you’ve done on the outside.

For instance, if you planted trees, you’ve served your community not just saving the environment. You’ve also beautified your city and contributed to the artistic vision of your area. In addition, your work also helps the overall atmosphere feel more alive and positive for students, parents, business owners, and future residents to come. Think and consider all the dimensions that your work benefits the community.

Secondly, there’s the word “community.”

Again, you’re not just limited to the physical community in you’re area. It can also include the community in abstraction. Do you belong to a group of people who all enjoy or like a certain group of musicians such as K-pop groups? Or, perhaps, you belong to the gaming community. They may be more abstract and span across the whole world. But, they’re still a community and not limited to the physical restraints that so commonly constitute college essays.

Also, if you do in fact belong to these two communities, you may want to consider reading our sister articles on writing your college essays about K-Pop here and gaming here .

This essay prompt is more straightforward. However, we believe this is one of the stronger essay prompts to answer.

We would argue that this topic is an easier one to write about compared to the other ones because it gives you both a moment of adversity and growth to write about. This is fantastic, as the admissions office can therefore see how you adapt to challenges over time and use that as a measurement of your success in their school.

Now, that also presents you with a problem. Other students will also write fantastic resilience essays.

Therefore, the question is this: how do we show our resilience is stronger than that of other students?

Well, you don’t!

Resilience is not an objective measurement that can be compared in the same way that the level of adversity and difficulty can’t be compared between others. Everyone endures adversity differently.

For instance, one may find cleaning their room to be a simple mundane chore; but, a person with depression may see it as a monumental task that requires an overwhelming level of mental fortitude.

With adversities being incomparable in magnitude due to their relativity, it’s important to know that you’ll need to instead explain what your resilience felt like in as specific of a manner as you can. This can be a bit hard. But, you’ll need to find the right words which describe the feeling you went through when overcoming obstacles.

For some, it’s like a physical level of excruciating. For others, it’s a matter of mental fortitude. And, if you want to get creative, it can be a mental obstacle so difficult it hurts you physically.

As with the other Virginia Tech essay prompts, the role model and leadership prompt can be approached creatively through the choice of diction.

What does being a role model mean? To whom? What does being a leader mean?

You can get creative with what these words mean in the prompt.

Does being a leader mean that you need to be the smartest in a group, and therefore take the front rows whilst others follow your lead? Or, could it also mean that you’re the least competent; and, therefore rely on others’ talents whilst they rely on your management skills?

You’ll find that there are a lot of directions you can take with this prompt.

But, if there’s one element we would highly recommend incorporating into the application essay, it’s humility.

Often, students have a hard time answering the leadership or role model essay without being too humble or not being humble enough.

We get it: the balance is hard. But, you need to know how to answer the prompt in a manner that balances your strengths and humility in a manner that is impressive (especially to admissions officers who will also be judging you for your character and compatibility with the VT community.)

To do this, we recommend tying the definition of humility into your words. So, for instance: one cannot be a role model unless they are humble. Or, one cannot truly lead without first being humble. This is but one way of balancing between bragging and being humble. How you decide to keep that balance is up to you.

This is perhaps one of the most important Virginia Tech supplemental essay prompts.

For one, the Virginia Tech Goal and Plan supplemental essay prompt answers one of the questions AOs are vying to know. When an admissions officer is thinking about your application, they want to know about your future plans.

Note: this does NOT mean you have to know what you want to do for certain. Instead, they want to know that you have a mature and wise form of planning.

Now, why is this? Wouldn’t admissions officers value students who know what they want for their futures more than those who don’t?

Well, sort of.

It’s a bit more complex than that.

Sure, college essays that have a clear goal or career path in mind will intrinsically be more impressive than those that don’t have a clear goal.

However, there’s a lot you can write about in your Virginia Tech supplemental essay even if you don’t know what you want to do in the future.

For instance, there are some who don’t know what kind of major they want to get into. But, they are determined to get into a career that has a good work-life balance, scalability, and intellectual challenges. So, students may make the plan and goal of networking with other students and exploring their curiosity whilst in college.

This is a fantastic response because it is honest. It’s open to the idea that students your age can still be uncertain about what they want; and, they don’t have to pretend otherwise.

In addition, it’s a great way of showing intellectual curiosity for things beyond your initial interest. This is a fantastic trait for admissions officers and shows AOs that you have the kind of character they need to constitute a good incoming class.

Virginia Tech Resilience Essay Example:

Resilience is defined as the ability to adapt and learn from a difficulty. Reflect on a time that you have exhibited resilience.  What growth did you see in yourself after this experience? “We often hear from the victories; but, what of the defeats? My most significant challenge: having it easy. Homework? Minimal effort. Tests? Minimal studying. Sports? Long legs compensated. Life was good. That is, until I met Diana. Diana would be my Speech and Debate tournament competitor; and, she was proof I wasn’t as strong as I thought I was. She had a counter to everything… and more. She saw angles I never even conceived… and more. Despite how terrifying it was, this experience made me both resilient to failiure and even excited about meeting other equally interesting people. I’ve never felt so impassioned to meet others like Diana; and, I plan to do so at VT.” Virginia Tech Resilience Essay Example: PenningPapers

Virginia Tech Role Model and Leadership Essay Example:

Share a time when you were most proud of yourself either as a role model or when you displayed your leadership.  What specific skills did you contribute to the experience? How did others rely on you for guidance? What did you learn about yourself during this time? “My first management heuristic: channel Wednesday Addams. S he’s the embodied cool, collected, and scary intelligence of Netflix’s show Wednesday. Last year, we were at an impasse. Club members couldn’t agree on a worthy business project. Digital marketing research? Great. Social media affiliate? Fair. I too was in doubt. But, I channeled Wednesday Addams. Slow breathing. Lowering the chin. Think. Funnily enough, it’s the calm amongst a storm of ideas that got everyone to settle. It’s that calm during uncertainty that helped me decide. It’s that calm that showed me logic is one thing; but, personality is another. “Organic Search Engine marketing it is, then; we’ll test AI copywriting efficacy along the way. Oh, and no piranhas.” “No what?” “What?”” Virginia Tech Role Model and Leadership Essay Example: PenningPapers

Got any more questions about the Virginia Tech supplemental essay prompts? Don’t worry; we’re here to help. Schedule a free consultation with us , and our expert college admissions advisors and editors will help you craft a winning essay that stands out from the rest of the admissions pool. We’ll get back to you within 24 hours!

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2023-2024 vt essay advice

Hello, I am a senior who will be applying to virginia tech and was wondering how you guys who got into virginia tech structured your essays, I really want to start with a hook or something but it’s 120 words and the questions ask so much. I’ve done 2 of them and their content is good but they’re just information that answers the question. How did you guys approach this? Did u guys make urs interesting or include a story or hook in any way?

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2022-23 Virginia Tech Essay Prompts and Tips

July 21, 2022

Unlike many other public institutions with notable strengths in the areas of business, computer science, and engineering, Virginia Tech’s acceptance rate does not yet strike fear into the hearts of prospective applicants (although it has fallen from 70% to 58% in the past two years). However, it is important for wanna-be Hokies to be aware that the admissions process at this university is becoming highly-selective. This is particularly true for the aforementioned popular majors. Thus, prospective Virginia Tech students need to take advantage of every component of the application in order to stand out. This includes the Virginia Tech supplemental essays.

 (Want to learn more about How to Get Into Virginia Tech? Visit our blog entitled:  How to Get Into Virginia Tech: Admissions Data and Strategies  for all of the most recent admissions data as well as tips for gaining acceptance.)

Virginia Tech’s motto “Ut Prosim” is Latin for “That I May Serve”. The school requires all undergraduates to complete the “Ut Prosim Profile” which consists of four service-related essay prompts. These essays are “very important” to the admissions committee. Therefore, it is vital that all Tech applicants dedicate a significant amount of time to these short answer questions.

Below are Virginia Tech’s supplemental prompts for the 2022-23 admissions cycle along with our advice for composing winning essays.

2022-2023 University of Virginia Tech Essay Questions

Prompt 1:  virginia tech’s motto is “ut prosim” which means ‘that i may serve’. share how you contribute to a community that is important to you. how long have you been involved what have you learned and how would you like to share that with others at virginia tech (120 words).

The term “community” can have many meanings. In this instance, it could be an ethnic, religious, or neighborhood community or a group of individuals who gather for a club, sport, or service project. Pretty much everyone applying to Virginia Tech is deeply involved in some semblance of a “community”. Perhaps you are the captain of a team, the editor-in-chief of your school paper, or the president of a club. On the other hand, you may simply be a valuable contributing member. Regardless of whether you are a leading man/woman or a still-essential bit player, make sure that you use your writing ability to show the admissions officer what type of community member you are rather than merely telling them.

You can also discuss how you have engaged with your high school local/community and what you have learned from interacting with people of a different ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual identity, etc. Draw on past evidence of your commitment to being a positive force in your community and speculate how that is likely to manifest on Virginia Tech’s campus. Research and cite Virginia Tech student-run organizations or local nonprofit groups. The admissions committee wants to understand precisely how you will contribute to their campus community of 30,000+ undergrads. Drawing the link between your past efforts and future aims is critical here.

For example, if you’ve done work with Habitat for Humanity throughout your teens, it will be most impactful if you express your commitment to joining Tech’s chapter of Habitat for Humanity in the future.

Prompt 2:  Resilience is defined as the ability to adapt and learn from a difficulty. Reflect on a time that you have exhibited resilience. What growth did you see in yourself after this experience? (120 words)

Colleges like students who demonstrate grit, perseverance, and resilience as these qualities typically lead to success in a postsecondary environment. No matter what type of example you offer, demonstrating these admirable traits can do wonders for your admissions prospects. Challenges can be anything from disabilities, depression, anxiety, or attentional to a tumultuous event like: you moved in the middle of junior year, the COVID-19 pandemic interfered with your activities, your parents got divorced, a grandparent passed away, or any number of other personal/family traumas one can name.

Remember that the problem/roadblock itself is just a prelude to a recounting of your resilient actions. Even with a fairly tight 120-word count, be sure to answer the final part of the question. Sum up how you grew as a result of this experience. Be as emotionally honest and nuanced as possible. Trust us—the admissions reader will appreciate your honest thoughts (even if they are a bit scary to share) more than clichés and platitudes.

Prompt 3:  Share a time when you were most proud of yourself either as a role model or when you displayed your leadership. What specific skills did you contribute to the experience? How did others rely on you for guidance? What did you learn about yourself during this time? (120 words)

Leadership is an admirable quality, but it can manifest in many different forms. This essay is not only for those who captained a varsity team to a state title, started a charitable organization, or made sweeping changes as student body president. Teamwork and collaboration are also valued leadership skills both in academia and in the workplace, and students with strong interpersonal skills and a high EQ can be an asset to any university. Think beyond the title that you may have held and more about the action(s) of which you are most proud.

To sum up, this essay is about leadership, broadly defined. You can chronicle anything from mentoring others on your debate team to a simple instance of conflict resolution within your peer group. Along the way, just make sure that you provide answers to each question embedded in the prompt. This includes what you learned about yourself through this role modeling/leadership moment.

Prompt 4:  Describe a goal that you have set and the steps you will take to achieve it. What made you set this goal for yourself? What is your timeline to achieve this goal? Who do you seek encouragement or guidance from as you work on this goal? (120 words)

Through this prompt, Virginia Tech wants to know more about your goal-setting, work ethic, and level of executive functioning. Malcolm Gladwell popularized the idea that becoming a master or expert at anything takes 10,000 hours of practice. Consider talking about the grind and sacrifice it will take you to become great at a given skill. Further, explain how you see that skill becoming even more finely-tuned/developed over time. If this goal fits into your future academic/career plans, all the better—share that too! As with the other three prompts, #4 packs in a lot of questions into a single prompt.

Ultimately, you’ll need to produce a well-edited, concise piece of writing that chronicles not only your goal, the steps you will take to achieve it, the timeline of the steps, but also who will help you along the way. Answering the last question is key in showing that you are a mature learner who understands that you will need mentorship, assistance, and other resources along the path toward achieving your dreams.

How important are the Virginia Tech supplemental essays?

The essays are “very important” to the Virginia Tech admissions committee. This places them the same tier of importance as the rigor of your coursework, GPA, first-generation status, geographical residence, state residency, and race/ethnicity.

Want Personalized Essay Assistance?

Lastly, if you are interested in working with one of College Transitions’ experienced and knowledgeable essay coaches as you craft your Virginia Tech supplemental essays, we encourage you to get a quote  today.

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University of Virginia (UVA) 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Early Action/Decision: Nov 1

Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 5

University of Virginia (UVA) 2024-25 First-Year Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: 1 essay of 250 words, 1 essay of 250 words for applicants to the School of Nursing only

Supplemental Essay Type(s) : Why , Community

In around 250 words, please answer the following question:

What about your individual background, perspective, or experience will serve as a source of strength for you or those around you at uva  feel free to write about any past experience or part of your background that has shaped your perspective and will be a source of strength, including but not limited to those related to your community, upbringing, educational environment, race, gender, or other aspects of your background that are important to you..

Odds are that this isn’t the first “diversity” essay prompt you’ve come across this year—even if the prompt doesn’t explicitly use that word. However, if it is, please read on! UVA wants to accept students from a range of backgrounds who will contribute to an inclusive community. This prompt uses the phrase “source of strength” twice, which tells us that they want to hear about not only what makes you you , but also how these characteristics will sustain you and support those around you. What you focus on here can be reflective of larger cultural constructs or specific to you and only you. Is there anything you can teach your classmates about your hometown, traditions, culture, orientation, identity, race, or ethnicity that they might not already know? Maybe you began practicing meditation and discovered Buddhism during your sophomore year and you hope to spread some wisdom and mindfulness on campus next fall. Perhaps you were raised on a farm and have a very special relationship to all living things (plants, animals, people, etc.) around you. How will you incorporate this element of your identity into your college experience? Show admissions that you’re eager to make your mark in their community.

Students applying to the School of Nursing are required to answer this question in around 250 words. 

In the field of nursing, you will encounter and impact real human lives. please explain why you feel this is important as you choose this field as your future..

As a nurse, you’ll need both deep medical knowledge and the ability to interact with all kinds of people. This prompt wants you to highlight the interpersonal aspect of nursing. It’s tempting to talk in grand general terms about how medicine can impact people’s lives for the better, but take note: this prompt focuses on your future. Think about what effect you want to have on your future patients. Perhaps a nurse empathetically educated you about your condition when you were hospitalized as a child, and you want to be that person for someone else. Maybe you feel strongly that non-native English speakers aren’t being served in your small hometown and strive to be the first fully bilingual nurse in your community. Whatever drives you, be sure to center your potential impact on real people as a future nurse. 

If you have a personal or historic connection with UVA, and if you’d like to share how your experience of this connection has prepared you to contribute to the University, please share your thoughts here.  Such relationships might include, but are not limited to, being a child of someone who graduated from or works for UVA, a descendant of ancestors who labored at UVA, or a participant in UVA programs. 

Now that UVA is no longer explicitly considering legacy in their admissions process, admissions has added this question to identify not only those whose parents went to UVA, but also those whose ancestors labored at UVA. This reflects the university’s ongoing reckoning with its own founding, which included the use of enslaved labor. Here, anyone with personal or historic ties to the university, including students who attended summer programs there, can describe their unique connection. If you don’t have a connection, that’s okay! Most people won’t. If you do, however, read on.

This question doesn’t just ask you to state your tie, it asks you to explore how that connection has primed you to contribute to the community. Maybe your mom was an RA and has shared all the steam tunnel routes with you, so you can initiate your roommates into this UVA tradition. Perhaps one of your ancestors built the iconic Rotunda, and you look forward to educating your classmates about their legacy. Maybe you attended a summer program and fell in love with the Jeffersonian architecture, inspiring your passion for historic preservation. Remember, your job here is to explore how your personal connection to UVA will make you a contributor to campus life. 

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The Admissions Strategist

How to write strong virginia tech essays 2020-2021: the valuable guide.

Virginia Tech has an acceptance rate of 71%.

It is a four-year university with over 34,000 students. Located in Blacksburg, Virginia, the school offers 110 bachelor programs in addition to graduate and doctoral degree programs. To learn more about what the college has to offer, check out their website here .

Virginia Tech uses the Common App.

The Virginia Tech application requires four supplemental essays of 120 words each, which is not a lot of space to express yourself. Be concise and original, and follow these tips!

What are the Virginia Tech Essay Requirements?

Interestingly, Virginia Tech does not require you to submit the Common App essay with your application. That being said, there is absolutely no harm in submitting your Common App essay with your application. However, this does let you know that the focus will likely be on your supplemental questions specific to Virginia Tech, so make sure you give these extra attention!

Virginia Tech calls its supplemental questions the Ut Prosim questions, which means “ That I May Serve .” As you may have guessed, the emphasis is on service and your commitment to it on campus and beyond. The official directions for the Virginia Tech essays are as follows:

“Each of the Ut Prosim Profile questions are required with a limit of 120 words in length per answer. Once you submit your application, your responses to the questions are final and cannot be updated.”

Here are Virginia Tech’s essay prompts and a few ideas to get you started. 

Virginia Tech Supplemental Essay 1

Virginia Tech’s motto is “Ut Prosim” which means ‘That I May Serve’. We are interested in learning more about your interests and how you have been involved and/or served. Briefly describe a group, organization, or community that you have been involved with. Is this a special area of interest for you, and why? How long have you been involved? What role did you play? What contributions have you made to this group? Were you able to influence others and/or influence decisions for the good of the group?*

Read this prompt carefully: it asks you to write about how service is important to your life. It does not ask you to describe that one time you did community service because it was required for a class, and it does not ask for a laundry list of your volunteer hours.

This question asks you to go deep, as evidenced by the plethora of follow up questions. Virginia Tech wants to understand why a particular area of service is important to you, and you must convince them you “practice what you preach” and have delved into this area. 

• If possible, write about something you’re truly passionate about. It’s better to write on a topic that you believe may not sound as impressive, but to which you are truly devoted, than something fluffy and devoid of true personal meaning. Reflect on why this cause spoke to you and continues to do so. 
• A good example might be a leadership position in Students Against Destructive Decisions where through organized recurring service opportunities, you built up a network of students and organizations to match opportunities, and took the initiative to start multiple service projects to give back to the community appropriately.
• If you had a leadership role, focus on the strength of your leadership in guiding decisions. If you didn’t have a leadership role, focus on the areas in which you developed the organization, such as recruiting new volunteers or holding fundraisers. 
• Consider the internal effect and how this service has changed you or helped you grow. Do not be afraid to cite setbacks that one might call ‘failures,’ as long as you’re able to identify what you learned and how you can serve better in the future.

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Overall, this essay should give you an opportunity to elaborate on a passion project of yours that perhaps appears on your resume, but with limited detail. Avoid listing, repeating what’s already on other parts of your application, or gloating. Remember to write with humility and a lens of personal reflection. 

Virginia Tech Supplemental Essay 2

Describe a situation where you were involved or witness to an act of discrimination. How, or did, you respond? Do you wish you would have responded differently? Did this situation cause any change to happen based on this event and did you have a role in that change? What did you learn from this experience? *

This is a tough question that evokes an immediate emotional response in many applicants. You may have been a victim of discrimination, or you may have been a witness to an act of discrimination. You may have even been a perpetrator. 

There are two basic guidelines for this question.

• Be honest. This may be the greater challenge for some applicants. For example, if you were a witness to an act of discrimination in years past, and said or did nothing, you may feel ashamed to say as much. However, a response in which you describe that feeling, what you have learned, and how you have or did or would handle it differently in the future is a more authentic and meaningful response than describing an invented moment of activism in which you are the hero.

Virginia Tech Supplemental Essay 3

Briefly describe a personal goal you have set for yourself. Why this goal, what is your timeline to achieve this goal, what precipitated this goal? Have you turned to anyone for advice or help, what was their role, what did you learn about yourself, are you still working toward this goal?*

There’s a lot to unpack here in just 120 words. Virginia Tech is looking to see if you’re a goal-oriented person and how you handle challenges and setbacks in pursuit of a goal. Let’s start by picking a goal: 

• Don’t assume the goal needs to be academic. In fact, try to choose something not reflected in your application elsewhere. 
• The size of the goal is not important. It could be something as simple as saving some money for college. The important element is the journey. 

Once you’ve established what your goal was and is, reflect on the details. 

• What is it about this goal that’s so meaningful to you? If there was a catalyst or specific moment you knew you needed to set this goal, discuss that. 
• Reflect on the goal-setting process you went through. If you set milestones or timelines, examine their connection to the long term goal. 

Now comes unpacking what you’ve learned from the process. Try to spend the bulk of your essay in this section. 

• If you experienced any setbacks or challenges, talk about how you approached and overcame them. 
• If there was anyone influential in inspiring or supporting you in pursuit of your goal, discuss their role and what you have learned from them personally. What do you hope to replicate or emulate in your future? 
• Finally, how has this changed you? What will you use from this experience in goal setting that you’ll apply to achievement in your future, perhaps even at Virginia Tech?

Virginia Tech Supplemental Essay 4

Describe an example of a situation where you have significantly influenced others, took on a leadership role, helped resolve a dispute, or contributed to a group’s goals. What was your role, what responsibilities did you take on? Did you encounter any obstacles, and if so how did you respond, were you able to overcome them? What would you do differently?*

Similarly to the service essay, Virginia Tech is looking for a time you’ve successfully worked towards a greater cause. In this case, they want to see a clear demonstration of your leadership ability. 

Once again, try to avoid referring to something you already discussed in your service essay or in another part of your application. Ensure you address each part of the question. 

First, identify the leadership role and situation. 

• Remember that this does not have to be broad in scope. Depth is better than breadth. If you happen to have been the captain of a sports team or president of a club, fantastic. If not, consider smaller roles you may have had. The skills and qualities are the essences of the essay, not the situation. 
• Clearly identify and give context to the situation and role, but do not spend more than 1-2 sentences. The bulk of your essay should be spent elsewhere. 

Once you’ve provided a backdrop, focus on a problem or challenge you encountered and how you responded. 

• If there were ever disputes within your group that you were able to resolve, this is a great chance to show your people skills or strength in moving a group forward towards a greater cause. Clearly identify the action you took to resolve the problem. 
• If the problem was logistical, focus on concrete steps you took to tackle the issue at hand, and how you harnessed the commitment of others to support you. Focus on what you achieved together as a result of your leadership rather than personal accomplishments alone. 

To round out the essay, identify any areas for improvement, but don’t end the topic on a low. Focus on what you learned and how you would apply this to leadership roles in the future, perhaps at Virginia Tech. 

Conclusion: Writing the Virginia Tech Essays

As mentioned previously, the 120 word limit makes for a very short essay. Here is some general advice for making the most of your word count:

• Provide context, but remember that your essay is addressing the prompt.
• Use specific detail instead of vague statements. Those details should tie in your personal stories.
• Include your personality in your essay; it shouldn’t sound like it could belong to any student interested in attending Virginia Tech.
• Express enthusiasm at the possibility of getting admitted to Virginia Tech.
• Read aloud, revise, and share with a friend . Editing is your best friend.

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How to Write the University of Virginia Essays 2024-2025

University of Virginia has two supplemental essay prompts, one of which is optional. Although we normally encourage applicants to respond to any and all optional supplemental prompts, this one can be categorized as an “additional information” essay, which is truly optional–in fact, you should really only respond to this question if it truly applies to you.

Whether you are writing two essays or just one, we’re here to break down UVA’s prompts, so that you can feel confident your responses will showcase your best qualities, and maximize your chances of acceptance.

Read these University of Virginia essay examples to inspire your writing.

University of Virginia Supplemental Essay Prompts

Prompt 1: If you have a personal or historic connection with UVA, and if you’d like to share how your experience of this connection has prepared you to contribute to the University, please share your thoughts here. Such relationships might include, but are not limited to, being a child of someone who graduated from or works for UVA, a descendant of ancestors who labored at UVA, or a participant in UVA programs. (100 words, optional)

Prompt 2: What about your individual background, perspective, or experience will serve as a source of strength for you or those around you at UVA? Feel free to write about any past experience or part of your background that has shaped your perspective and will be a source of strength, including but not limited to those related to your community, upbringing, educational environment, race, gender, or other aspects of your background that are important to you. (250 words)

If you have a personal or historic connection with UVA, and if you’d like to share how your experience of this connection has prepared you to contribute to the University, please share your thoughts here. Such relationships might include, but are not limited to, being a child of someone who graduated from or works for UVA, a descendant of ancestors who labored at UVA, or a participant in UVA programs. (100 words, optional)

As noted above, this is not a typical supplement, but is more along the lines of the prompt in the “Additional Information” section of the Common App that allows you to share how COVID-19 and/or natural disasters have impacted your academic performance. If you don’t have a preexisting connection to UVA, don’t force one by talking about how your childhood best friend’s cousin went there. Most students accepted to UVA don’t have any prior association to the school, so not answering this question isn’t going to negatively impact your odds of acceptance.

If this prompt does apply to you, however, we encourage you to respond to it, even though it is still optional for you, as you’re being given an opportunity to help UVA admissions officers better understand your perspective on their school. You don’t have much space, though, so you want to make sure you already have a clear sense of what you want to say, as otherwise your words will be gone before you know it.

While UVA may have been a huge part of your life growing up if, say, both your parents are alums and took you to football tailgates every fall Saturday since the time you could walk, that probably isn’t the case for most applicants. That’s completely fine–you don’t need to diminish your connection to the school just because your house isn’t painted blue and orange.

Rather, take a step back from the actual essay and the word count, and ask yourself honestly how your connection to UVA has shaped you. Remember, this is still a supplemental essay, so you want UVA admissions officers to learn something about you. You don’t want to say just “my dad went to UVA and his friends from college are all really great,” because that won’t teach admissions officers anything about your personality.

Rather, talk about how one of your dad’s friends played basketball at UVA, and how he was an invaluable resource for you as you weighed the pros and cons of pursuing varsity sports in college yourself. You could wrap things up by describing how, if you attend UVA, you will do your best to be similarly generous and compassionate with anyone who is even tangentially connected to the school.

There is no right or wrong answer here. Just make sure you’re avoiding clichés that could be written about any college, like how you’re glad your family is part of a worldwide alumni network, this essay won’t add anything to your application. It may be truly optional, but if it applies to you, you still want to take full advantage of this opportunity to share your personality with admissions officers. So, be honest, and explain your thoughts in enough detail that your readers learn something substantive about you.

What about your individual background, perspective, or experience will serve as a source of strength for you or those around you at UVA? Feel free to write about any past experience or part of your background that has shaped your perspective and will be a source of strength, including but not limited to those related to your community, upbringing, educational environment, race, gender, or other aspects of your background that are important to you. (250 words)

Brainstorming Your Topic

This is a good example of the popular “Diversity” essay, which you may have already come across in another school’s supplemental essay package. This kind of essay requires you to do two things: highlight some particular aspect of your identity, and then explain why it’s fundamental to understanding who you are as a whole.

Before we go further, it’s important to note that this kind of essay may carry more significance for certain applicants in the wake of the Supreme Court overturning affirmative action . Colleges are now banned from directly factoring an applicant’s race into their admissions decision, but they are allowed to consider race in the context of your overall background and experiences. What that means is that, if your race is an important part of your identity, you should think about focusing this essay on it, as otherwise UVA admissions officers will be legally unable to consider your race as part of their holistic review process.

If your racial identity doesn’t feel like quite the right topic for this essay, there are also plenty of other options out there. You could write about your gender, sexuality, ethnicity, or other qualities people often associate with the word “diversity,” but you can also broaden your net, and write about, to use UVA’s words “any past experience or part of your background that has shaped your perspective.”

Our past experiences and backgrounds are not just the demographic boxes we check, but also our interests, hobbies, and favorite memories. So, if you want to write about your family’s yearly camping trips during the summer, or your experience planting your own herb garden, that is completely fine, so long as those topics have been influential in making you who you are.

Finally, note that UVA wants you to write about something that “will serve as a source of strength.” That means you should focus on some aspect of your identity that makes you feel empowered. Our identities are complicated, so that doesn’t mean you need to have strictly positive experiences with this part of yourself. 

You do want your overall framing to be positive, however, as if you only talk about how frustrating it was when your herbs kept dying, UVA admissions officers may not understand how you’re going to draw strength from this experience in college. Instead, touch on your frustration briefly, and then dive into how rewarding it was for you to see them thrive after you built a short protective wall to shield them from the worst of the wind.

Tips for Writing Your Essay

In your actual response, it’s crucial that you don’t just describe what this especially important aspect of your identity is, but also explain why this quality is so fundamental to your personality as a whole. In other words, what have you learned about yourself as a result of your experiences connected to this part of your identity?

Like in any college essay, the most engaging, informative way of answering that question is by showing, not telling. What that means is rather than just saying “Being raised trilingual taught me the importance of being truly open to other ways of thinking,” describe a moment when this realization shaped your actions.

For example, maybe you once had to act as an impromptu translator at the supermarket, as a Japanese couple was having issues with their card but couldn’t communicate with the cashier. As you bounced back and forth between languages, you realized that certain things are impossible to say in exactly the same way, due to the drastic differences between Japanese and English. That in turn made you realize that language isn’t just words that passively come out of our mouths, but something that shapes how we engage with the word around us.

With the original, tell-y line, UVA admissions officers don’t get any detail about what being open to other ways of thinking means in the context of your particular life, so you aren’t doing anything to set yourself apart from other applicants who may also have this value. In the more detailed, show-y example on the other hand, readers get to see how your broader takeaway has manifested in your daily life, which helps them better understand how this aspect of your identity will help you fit into their broader campus community.

Mistakes to Avoid

The most common mistake students make with this kind of essay is focusing too much on the particular feature of their identity they’ve chosen, and not fulfilling the second goal of this kind of essay by connecting it to their broader personality. 

In the context of the above example, that might look like diving into great detail about when you learned your three languages and how long it took you to consider yourself fluent, but not incorporating any information about how this ability has shaped their worldview. Remember, UVA admissions officers want to learn as much about you as possible, so don’t just give them one piece of the puzzle. Also give them enough information that they can see how this single piece fits into the broader framework of your life.

Where to Get Your University of Virginia Essay Edited for Free

Do you want feedback on your UVA essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

Need feedback faster? Get a free, nearly-instantaneous essay review from Sage, our AI tutor and advisor. Sage will rate your essay, give you suggestions for improvement, and summarize what admissions officers would take away from your writing. Use these tools to improve your chances of acceptance to your dream school!

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August 2, 2024

University of Virginia Supplemental Essay Prompts: 2024-2025

The University of Virginia has released its supplemental essay prompts for the 2024-2025 admissions cycle . In addition to The Common Application ’s Personal Statement, applicants to UVA’s Class of 2029 must answer one essay question. Additionally, like last year, an optional essay question is hidden at the bottom of the “General” section that we at Ivy Coach encourage students to write — even though it is the most inappropriate question posed by any of our nation’s elite universities this admissions cycle. So, what are this year’s essay prompts for Virginia’s flagship university?

2024-2025 UVA Essay Topics and Questions

Required essay prompt.

Students should answer the following prompt in around 250 words:

What about your individual background, perspective, or experience will serve as a source of strength for you or those around you at UVA? Feel free to write about any past experience or part of your background that has shaped your perspective and will be a source of strength, including but not limited to those related to your community, upbringing, educational environment, race, gender, or other aspects of your background that are important to you.

In the wake of the United States Supreme Court’s ruling outlawing Affirmative Action , America’s colleges are maneuvering around not being able to lawfully consider an applicant’s race in the college admissions process by capitalizing on a loophole penned in the majority opinion by Chief Justice John Roberts .

As Chief Justice Roberts wrote, “Nothing in this opinion should be construed as prohibiting universities from considering an applicant’s discussion of how race affected his or her life, be it through discrimination, inspiration, or otherwise.”

This essay is an opportunity for applicants to discuss how their race has impacted their lives. Or they could write about their faith, their community, their sexuality, or their gender identity — the possibilities are endless. 

Optional Essay Prompt

Students should answer the following prompt in up to 100 words:

If you have a personal or historic connection with UVA, and if you’d like to share how your experience of this connection has prepared you to contribute to the university, please share your thoughts here. Such relationships might include, but are not limited to, being a child of someone who graduated from or works for UVA, a descendant of ancestors who labored at UVA, or a participant in UVA programs.

Like last year, we at Ivy Coach deem this optional essay question the most  outrageously inappropriate  prompt posed by any highly selective university during the 2024-2025 admissions cycle. Why’s that?

In our experience, most UVA applicants will not choose to write a response to this optional essay prompt because they’ll think they need to be legacies , students who attended fancy schmancy UVA summer programs , or the descendants of enslaved people. Yes, the question is as jarring as it seems and, for the first two groups of people (legacies and summer camp attendees), it caters to the privileged.

It’s why we encourage  all  applicants to answer this optional essay question by writing a Why UVA essay — one filled with specific reasons why they wish to attend Virginia’s flagship. Their response should include enduring aspects of the university — programs, institutes, activities, culture, traditions, etc. — rather than names of professors and classes, which can easily be found and replaced like a game of Mad Libs from one college to the next.

So, yes, we are saying even if an applicant has no familial connection to UVA or didn’t attend a UVA summer enrichment program, they should write this essay to make their case for admission. Essays give students an opportunity to tell their stories. Legacies and summer program attendees should not be afforded more space than everyone else. Shame on UVA!

Ivy Coach’s Assistance with UVA Essays

If you’re interested in optimizing your case for admission to UVA by submitting essays that compel admissions officers to wish to offer you admission, fill out Ivy Coach ’s free consultation form , and we’ll be in touch to outline our college counseling services.

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