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How to Write the University of Notre Dame Essays 2024-2025

The University of Notre Dame has two supplemental essay prompts, with the second multiple options to choose from. These essays are short, so it’s important to use your word count wisely. Here’s how to write strong essays to improve your chances of acceptance.

Read these University of Notre Dame essay examples to inspire your writing.

University of Notre Dame Supplemental Essay Prompts

Prompt 1: Everyone has different priorities when considering their higher education options and building their college or university list. Tell us about your “non-negotiable” factor(s) when searching for your future college home. (150 words)

Prompt 2: Please choose three questions from the options below. Your response to each short-answer question should be between 50-100 words.

Option A: How does faith influence the decisions you make?

Option B: What is distinctive about your personal experiences and development (eg, family support, culture, disability, personal background, community)? Why are these experiences important to you and how will you enrich the Notre Dame community?

Option C: Notre Dame’s undergraduate experience is characterized by a collective sense of care for every person. How do you foster service to others in your community?

Option D: What compliment are you most proud of receiving, and why does it mean so much to you?

Option E: What would you fight for?

Everyone has different priorities when considering their higher education options and building their college or university list. Tell us about your “non-negotiable” factor(s) when searching for your future college home. (150 words)

This prompt asks you to reflect on the most important factor(s) you’re looking for in a college—the one or two things that you absolutely must have in your college experience. Notre Dame wants to know what you value most in your education and why that specific factor is so crucial to you. This will help them understand how you approach your college decision-making process and how well Notre Dame aligns with your goals.

Brainstorming Questions

• What is the one thing you cannot compromise on when choosing a college? Is it a specific academic program, a particular type of campus culture, or something else?
• Why is this factor so important to you? How has your past experience shaped this priority?
• How does this non-negotiable factor connect to your future goals or personal values?
• How will having this factor in your college experience help you succeed or feel at home?

What Makes a Good Response

A strong response will:

• Be highly specific: Clearly articulate your non-negotiable factor(s) and avoid vague or generic responses. Explain precisely why this factor is critical to you.
• Show personal connection: Tie your non-negotiable to your personal experiences, values, or aspirations. Demonstrate how this factor has influenced your past and will shape your future.
• Align with Notre Dame’s values: While you should be honest, consider how your non-negotiable might fit with Notre Dame’s mission, culture, and offerings. This can subtly show why Notre Dame is a good match for you.
• Stay focused: Given the 150-word limit, keep your response concise and on-topic. Avoid listing multiple non-negotiables; instead, focus on the one or two that matter most to you.

Hypothetical Student Examples

• A student passionate about social justice who values a university’s commitment to community service and ethical leadership. Their non-negotiable is a strong service-learning program that allows them to actively engage with and support underserved communities. They explain how volunteering at a local shelter in high school inspired them to seek a college that integrates service with academics.
• A student dedicated to sustainability and environmental science whose non-negotiable is a college with a robust sustainability initiative, including green buildings, renewable energy use, and opportunities for environmental research. They connect this to their upbringing in a rural area heavily impacted by climate change, where they saw firsthand the importance of environmental stewardship.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Being too broad or generic: Don’t say your non-negotiable is “good academics” or “a friendly campus” without providing specific reasons why these are vital to you. Explain why this factor is the dealbreaker for your college decision.
• Listing too many factors: Focus on one or two key non-negotiables rather than trying to cover everything you want in a college. This will help you craft a more focused and powerful response.
• Ignoring the connection to Notre Dame: Even though the prompt doesn’t ask directly about Notre Dame, it’s helpful to consider how your non-negotiable might connect with what Notre Dame offers, subtly indicating why you see it as your future home.

Good and Bad Examples

Good Example:

My non-negotiable factor is a strong service-learning program that allows me to integrate community service with my academic studies. In high school, I spent my weekends volunteering at a local homeless shelter, and this experience shaped my desire to pursue a career in social work. I’m looking for a college where I can continue this work while gaining the skills and knowledge to make a lasting impact. A college that emphasizes ethical leadership and community engagement is essential to my growth, both as a student and as a future advocate for social justice.

Why This is Good: This example is specific, ties the non-negotiable to the student’s past experiences and future goals, and subtly aligns with Notre Dame’s emphasis on service and ethical leadership.

Bad Example:

The most important factor for me is finding a college with a strong academic reputation. I want to attend a school where I can be challenged academically and have access to good resources. This is non-negotiable because I believe that a good education is the foundation for a successful future.

Why This is Bad: This example is vague and could apply to almost any college. It lacks personal connection, specificity, and fails to explain why this factor is crucial to the student’s unique goals and values.

A Quick Note About Prompt 2:

The main thing to note about Prompt 2 is its very small word limit. Rather than having 150 words like you do for Prompt 1, you’re only allotted 50 words for each of your responses to Prompt 2. However, these prompts are generally personality questions, so have fun with the few sentences you do have!

Prompt 2, Option A

How does faith influence the decisions you make (50-100 words).

This question asks you to reflect on your faith and its impact on your behavior and decision-making. It’s important to recognize that Notre Dame is a Catholic university, and was founded on Catholic beliefs and principles. However, it’s by no means just a Catholic school—it is open to students of all spiritual and religious backgrounds. So while about 80% of students at Notre Dame practice some form of Catholicism, there is plenty of space for students of other faiths to feel comfortable at Notre Dame.

Therefore, don’t feel like you can’t answer this prompt if you’re applying to Notre Dame as a member of another faith. “Faith” simply just refers to your religious background—and can even be extended to a more secular trust in something—so if your background has shaped or influenced your decisions, this is still a great prompt to answer.

However, if you’re not religious and you are applying to Notre Dame, consider answering another prompt instead. Not choosing to answer this prompt has no impact on your admission decision, Notre Dame is just giving students who have a special relationship with their faith a space to elaborate on what it means to them.

With all that being said, if you’re a Catholic student choosing to answer this prompt, it’s important to reflect not only on what your faith means to you now, but also on what that faith might mean to you at Notre Dame.

At Notre Dame, faith is directly tied to service learning and helping others in need, with more than 80% of students participating in service or service learning before they graduate . Perhaps you were part of a Catholic youth group over the course of your life—consider writing about the volunteer opportunities that you embarked on and how those experiences shaped your perspectives.

The prompt is specifically asking you to elaborate on how faith has shaped the decisions you make, so be sure to tie those experiences and perspectives to how you approach each day and each new obstacle.

If you are a member of a different faith, this is a great opportunity to shed some light on how your background has shaped you. Are there any cultural traditions or principles that you follow? Were there any obstacles or challenges to your faith you’ve faced along the way? Ask yourself these questions and more, and treat your faith as another aspect of your identity that has shaped who you are. In doing so, you should be able to see how you may fit in at Notre Dame and contribute to the principles of community service, generosity, and kindness.

Prompt 2, Option B

What is distinctive about your personal experiences and development (eg, family support, culture, disability, personal background, community, etc) why are these experiences important to you and how will you enrich the notre dame community (50-100 words).

This is a standard  diversity essay  in which you’re being asked to elaborate on some aspect of your identity. However, the main purpose of this prompt is not just for Notre Dame to understand the communities that have been essential in shaping your identity, but also to get some idea of how your experiences in your chosen community will translate to your future as a Notre Dame student.

Brainstorming your topic:

Remember that diversity encompasses several disparate aspects. It can include an ethnicity/race, country of origin, language, gender or sexual identity, geographical location, income class, disability or illness, personality trait, extracurricular interest, or something else entirely!

An aspect of diversity might also be something that taught you or inspired your passions, something that you were born into, or something you’re just now learning that you’re a part of. Basically, the chosen aspect of your diversity just needs to represent a part of yourself that is infallibly true.


We recommend focusing on just one aspect of identity to write about. While there may be several communities or groups you feel are a core part of your identity, 100 words will not be enough space to write about them all equally. However, if you do feel that one community is not enough to represent who you are, see if there’s a common thread between the communities you want to mention before diving in.

A quick note if you intend to write about your racial background: In June 2023, the United States Supreme Court  struck down the use of affirmative action  in college admissions. The ruling, however, still allows colleges to consider race on an individual basis, which is one reason many schools are now including diversity prompts as one of their supplemental essay prompts. If you feel that your racial background has impacted you significantly, this is the place to discuss that.

Tips for writing your essay :

Once you’ve chosen the aspect of your identity you want to write about, reflect on the impact that it’s had on your life and begin weaving that into your response. Think about the lessons you’ve learned along the way, the people you’ve met, and the experiences you’ve shared with them, or even perhaps the experiences they’ve shared with you. Also consider how being a part of this chosen community has impacted your goals and hopes for the future.

The part of your identity you’ve chosen to write about will have hopefully left all these impressions on you and more—and it will hopefully just be a matter of condensing your response to 100 words. It’s important to showcase your passion for and genuine investment in the part of your identity you write about, but make sure to keep it short and sweet.

Don’t feel like you have to embellish your diversity either. Remember that diversity can be defined as practically anything that makes up your identity—it doesn’t necessarily have to be something that has changed the course of your life. Take this example:

Raised in a tight-knit Filipino-American community, I learned the importance of bayanihan—the spirit of communal unity. Every weekend, our neighborhood gathered for potlucks, where elders shared stories of their struggles as immigrants and the younger generation learned the value of helping each other. Inspired by this, I organized cultural workshops at my high school, teaching classmates about Filipino traditions and encouraging cross-cultural understanding. At Notre Dame, I’ll contribute to the community by fostering cultural exchange and creating spaces where diverse voices are celebrated, much like the supportive network that shaped my upbringing.

Prompt 2, Option C

Notre dame fosters an undergraduate experience dedicated to the intellectual, moral, and spiritual development of each individual, characterized by a collective sense of care for every person. how do you foster service to others in your community (50-100 words).

This is a pretty straightforward  community service essay . You’re being asked to showcase the ways in which you’ll contribute to the overall campus community at Notre Dame. It’s important to note that this isn’t an essay about  what  communities you’ve been a part of in the past—instead, you should discuss  how  you’ve been an active service member in your community in the past or present.

The best route to follow when answering this prompt is to reflect on past experiences you’ve had with community service, and relate them to what the prompt says about Notre Dame as a whole. The answer for the prompt is practically laid out in the phrasing—right off the bat, the prompt tells us that Notre Dame is a school where the individual is characterized by the community. 

The school is portrayed as a place where no one is left behind, and everyone looks out for one another. So in order to respond successfully to this prompt, try to dissect how your past experiences may prove to be an example of this philosophy.

As with other similar community service essay prompts, it’s always better to write about a long-term commitment than something you’ve only done once or twice. While volunteering at a soup kitchen with classmates for a night is undoubtedly a good act of service to the community, it doesn’t reveal anything extraordinary about you or your passion for community service.

There’s a general rule of thumb for supplemental essays—the more specific you can be, the more unique you’ll sound. Really highlight the experiences you’ve had that say the most about who you are; the essay is less about  what  you did, and more about  why  you did it.

Your chosen experience should also be something that changed your perspectives or preconceived notions. Perhaps you realized the importance of rescuing animals from your time spent volunteering at the animal shelter, or maybe you developed more patience and empathy when working with children with special needs or disabilities. Whatever you choose to write about, it should highlight a passion or perspective of yours that you feel is important to your identity.

Tips for writing your essay:

With only 100 words to work with, it’s essential that you make your point strong so that it sticks with your reader. A great way to do this is to weave your actions, motivations, and perspectives into a vivid, relevant anecdote. This strategy gives you the chance to hook the reader right away and put them in your shoes. Write about what you saw, heard, or felt while volunteering or doing your act of community service. You might do this using the present tense for effect.

For example, writing  “Last Christmas, I drove around town to collect gifts for underprivileged families who otherwise couldn’t afford to give presents.”  doesn’t say anything about you, your perspective, or the impact the act had on you.

Instead, try  “As the hours ticked by and snow began piling on the street, I pushed my foot harder on the gas. Today was the last day I had to pick up donations for kids who would otherwise not be receiving Christmas gifts, and I was going to get to as many as I could.”  Not only does this paint a far more vivid picture of what the experience meant to you, but it shows your genuine passion and care for the act itself.

Once you’ve written about what you did, it’s time to connect your response to the ways in which you’ll take your experience and passion to Notre Dame. In the final few sentences of your response, write about what community service means to you overall, and why you’ll continue your efforts, both on and off campus at Notre Dame.

Community service can be as simple as lending a helping hand when needed, whether that be to a classmate, a friend, or someone in the broader community. You can write about forming or joining study groups, your desire to find community service opportunities at Notre Dame, or even how you hope to gain and listen to new perspectives both inside and outside of the classroom. Keep it short and sweet, and most importantly, keep it genuine!

Mistakes to avoid:

Besides keeping your response short, the biggest pitfall to avoid is having a pretentious or privileged tone. If your response makes it seem like you’re painting yourself as some kind of savior, embellishing your efforts, or looking down on those you helped, it will leave a sour taste.

It’s important to truly reflect on what community service means, not only to you, but to others. Even if you did a truly good thing for someone who needed it, make sure you maintain a balanced tone in your essay that doesn’t sound like excessive self-praise.

Prompt 2, Option D

What compliment are you most proud of receiving, and why does it mean so much to you (50-100 words).

This prompt asks you to reflect on a compliment that holds significant meaning for you. Notre Dame wants to learn about your values, personality, and what you take pride in. The compliment you choose to highlight should reveal something meaningful about who you are, and the explanation should connect this compliment to your personal experiences or character traits. Given the short word count, it’s meant to be concise but impactful.

Provide some brief context to who gave you this compliment and why, as well as how it stands out compared to others you’ve received. The history here is not the goal, though; establishing the nature of a personal relationship and the situation behind the compliment is totally fine, but make sure you’re focusing on what it means more broadly about your character.

The compliment you’re writing about should be one that made you feel particularly proud or appreciated and resonated with your personal values or self-image. The most important part of this prompt is to be specific and personal.

Choose a compliment that is unique to you and provides insight into your character. Avoid generic statements like “You’re smart” or “You’re kind” that could be said to anyone. Instead, opt for deeper compliments along the lines of “You have a natural ability to connect with people” and “You have a gift for storytelling.” These compliments are much more personal and can be tied back to talents, interests, and skills that you may have.

Then, explain why it matters so much to you. You can use it as a jumping-off point to discuss a wider aspect of your identity or to reveal more about your values and priorities. With a tight word limit, every word counts. Make sure your response is clear, focused, and free of unnecessary details.

Here’s an example:

The compliment I’m most proud of receiving came from my grandmother when she said, “You have a heart like your grandfather’s.” After I spent my summer helping her neighbors with groceries and organizing weekly visits for elderly community members, she saw in me the same compassion and dedication that defined my grandfather’s life. That compliment means the world to me because it reassured me that I’m carrying forward his legacy of kindness and service, something I strive to embody every day .

Prompt 2, Option E

What is worth fighting for (50-100 words).

This is another relatively profound question that you’re tasked with answering within 100 words, but your answer can be very revealing and insightful—you can discuss your hopes, goals, beliefs, values, and more. This is a great opportunity to showcase your priorities and how the first 18 or so years of your life have shaped your current perspectives.

Profound questions often elicit profound answers, and while this would be the place to share if you have a powerful and moving insight about life, by no means does your answer need to be some extreme revelation. It just has to be you.

Writing something authentic and personal will have a far greater impact than trying to overextend yourself and claim something bold like “humanity is worth fighting for.” That’s not to say that you can’t go that route, but it will take a lot more elaboration than you have space for in this response.

The nature of this prompt and the limited word count you have to work with means you’re going to have to think outside the box. Most of the answers you might think of quickly are likely too clichéd to make for a strong response—this includes things like fighting for love, family, the truth, change, etc. These statements are all arguably true, but they’re somewhat played out and won’t contribute to an impressive response that resonates with your reader.

Instead of using one of those, try to explore more specific niche things you truly value and think about why they’re important to you personally. For instance, perhaps your family comes from a culture with a language that doesn’t have too many native speakers remaining. You might therefore argue that the preservation of linguistic history is worth fighting for. You could write a response like the following:

“My Spanish grandparents speak Basque, which they’ve been trying to teach me. I love how Basque looks, sounds, and feels so different from other languages. Sadly, Basque has fewer than a million speakers. Considering all the languages that have been lost to time, preserving linguistic history is worth fighting for.”

No matter what your actual answer is, it’s essential that you weave a personal voice and connection to the topic into your response. With only a few sentences to work with, you might consider leading with a personal anecdote, then transitioning to the ways in which the topic is meaningful to you, as in the example above.

Where to Get Your Notre Dame Essays Edited for Free

Do you want feedback on your Notre Dame essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it might become difficult to see where your writing can be improved. 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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Notre Dame Essay Guide: 2022-2023

Notre Dame Essay Guide Quick Facts: 

• University of Notre Dame acceptance rate: 19% — U.S. News ranks Notre Dame as a highly competitive school. 
• Notre Dame application: Notre Dame accepts the Common Application, the Coalition Application on Scoir, and the Questbridge Application. 
• Common App or Coalition Application essay
• 1 (200-word) required Notre Dame essay question
• 1 (200-word) additional essay: applicants must respond to 1 of 4 prompts
• Notre Dame is a Catholic university located in suburban Notre Dame, Indiana.
• #1 Notre Dame Essay Tip: Start early so you have enough time to focus on the Notre Dame essays. Supplements are just as important as your Common App essay, so don’t leave them to the last minute.

Not sure how to approach the Notre Dame essay prompts? Our guide to the Notre Dame essay supplemental essays will show you exactly how to write engaging Notre Dame essays and maximize your admissions odds. If you need help responding to the Notre Dame essay prompts, create your free account or schedule a complimentary advising consultation o n line .

Does Notre Dame have supplemental essays? 

Yes, Notre Dame requires all applicants to complete Notre Dame supplements. You will submit your Notre Dame supplemental essays in addition to your personal statement on the Common App or Coalition App.  

Need some help writing your Common App essay? Get great tips from our Common App essay guide .  A strong Common App essay, in addition to well-written University of Notre Dame supplemental essays, will only bolster your application. 

Notre Dame essay requirements:

There are two Notre Dame supplemental essays. Both of the Notre Dame supplemental essays are required for all applicants. 

The first Notre Dame essay prompt essentially asks, “Why Notre Dame?” The second of the required Notre Dame essays, however, is more open-ended. For the second essay, each applicant must choose one of four additional Notre Dame supplemental essay prompts to answer.

Keep reading this guide for a breakdown of each of the Notre Dame essay prompts. Every Notre Dame application essay has a limit of 200 words. So, you don’t have many words to impress Notre Dame admissions with your Notre Dame essays.

What are the Notre Dame supplemental essays?

The Notre Dame supplemental essays are on the Common App site . You can also visit the Notre Dame Admissions site for details about each of the Notre Dame essay prompts. The Notre Dame website also offers a full list of their evaluation criteria beyond the Notre Dame supplemental essays.

In your Notre Dame supplemental essays, you will discuss your motivations for applying to the school as well as your background and experiences . As you write, remember the purpose of the Notre Dame essay prompts—to help the Notre Dame admissions committee get to know you. 

Don’t view the Notre Dame essays as just another part of the Notre Dame requirements. Instead, think of the Notre Dame supplemental essays as opportunities to tell your story and persuade the reader that you will contribute to and benefit from the Notre Dame community. 

Notre Dame Essay — Prompt 1 ( Required ):

Notre dame is a catholic university, founded by members of the congregation of holy cross, with a mission to educate the hearts and minds of students. what excites you about attending notre dame (200 words)..

This Notre Dame application essay essentially asks you, “Why Notre Dame?” 

While you’ve likely seen this sort of “why school” essay prompt, the best Notre Dame supplements will specifically address specific details. Your Notre Dame essays should go beyond your in-class education to discuss your growth as an individual and community member. How will Notre Dame help you achieve your academic, personal, and life goals?

In this Notre Dame application essay, think about reasons why Notre Dame specifically will help you achieve your ambitions. As you write your Notre Dame supplements, try to be personal and specific. You may want to use this first required Notre Dame essay to write about particular moments or people that have shaped your decision to apply. Additionally, in your Notre Dame essays, include the programs, organizations, and groups that you plan to join. Why do these programs excite you? How will you grow and learn? 

Mention your intended majors and minors

If you are applying to a specific major and/or minor , mention it in your Notre Dame application essay. Are there classes that interest you? Professors you would like to do research with? Your Notre Dame essays also might discuss a unique intersection of fields you would like to study. Try to seamlessly infuse your Notre Dame supplemental essays with details specific to you. A successful response to the Notre Dame essay prompts will be a cohesive narrative that shows the reader that you will succeed at Notre Dame.

In your Notre Dame supplements, include opportunities that are less academic in nature. Perhaps you want to get involved with Campus Ministry or the Center for Social Concerns. Do you want to play intramural sports ? Study abroad? By integrating these elements into your Notre Dame essays, you will show the admissions team how you will contribute to the Notre Dame community. 

Make every word count

You only have 200 words to write this Notre Dame essay, so make sure every word counts. In your Notre Dame supplements, don’t paint your undergraduate years as a means to an end. Notre Dame is a vibrant community where you will inevitably grow and change. Yes, you will be prepared for the “real world” and gain an immense network of alumni resources. However, that’s not what the admissions team wants to see in your Notre Dame essays. 

In your Notre Dame application essay, don’t just write about common traditions, emotional connections, or your attachment to Notre Dame’s Catholic theology. Instead, in your Notre Dame essay, focus on the specific parts of Notre Dame that interest you. 

Notre Dame Essay Reflection Questions: 

• Is your Notre Dame essay response both specific and personal?
• Do you address why this school attracts you in this Notre Dame essay?
• Does your Notre Dame application essay discuss your identity as it relates to Notre Dame?

Notre Dame Essay — Additional Questions:

Choose one of the following options (200 words), #1 – people in the notre dame community come from many different places, backgrounds, and walks of life. how is where you’re from a part of who you are.

With the first prompt, Notre Dame admissions wants to see how your background has shaped who you are today.  Strong Notre Dame supplemental essays will not only show how applicants’ backgrounds have formed their identities, but also how they will bring that diversity to Notre Dame’s campus . 

You can respond to the first of the four Notre Dame supplemental essays in many ways. Perhaps you’re a first or second generation immigrant, and a certain culture has played a large part in your upbringing. Or, perhaps you’re the first born sibling of eight and have teetered the line between older sibling and extra parent. Or, maybe you just live in a small town that has its own traditions that have shaped your childhood. Anything that has played a role in who you are today is fair game in this Notre Dame application essay. 

If responding to this prompt, make sure you choose something that you can write passionately about. Remember, Notre Dame admissions needs to see what you will bring to campus in these Notre Dame supplemental essays. How has your community shaped you, and how will you share that with the Notre Dame community? Strong responses to the University of Notre Dame supplemental essays will not only show who you are, but what you will be able to share with the Notre Dame community during your time on campus. 

#2 – Tell us about a time when you advocated for something you believe in.

The second of the Notre Dame Supplemental essays is all about passion for a cause. Notre Dame admissions looks for students who actively pursue their values. So, this Notre Dame application essay should show how you publicly supported a cause that you believe in.

For this Notre Dame essay, “advocacy” can mean a variety of things. A moving response to this Notre Dame application essay could be something as simple as writing about a time when you spoke up and helped someone to understand a different perspective. When writing this Notre Dame essay, think about how you have created some sort of change or made an impact by speaking up about something you value.

Respond to this prompt, like the other Notre Dame supplemental essays, with as much detail as possible. In this Notre Dame application essay, talk about why you advocated something and how it made a change. How did the experience with advocacy affect you? How might it affect your future?

#3 – If you were given unlimited resources to help solve one problem in your community, what would it be and how would you accomplish it?

Choose the third of the Notre Dame supplemental essays if you think of yourself as a passionate problem-solver. The solution to the problem you tackle in this Notre Dame essay doesn’t need to “save the world.” You don’t have to write about solving something as grandiose as climate change in your Notre Dame application essay. In fact, successful Notre Dame supplemental essays will speak on a solution to a problem that is meaningful to you. 

In your Notre Dame application essay, you may even choose to address a problem that you’ve started working towards already. What else could be done to solve the issue? How would it create change? Strong Notre Dame essays will revolve around impact.

Don’t forget the “why”

In your response to this Notre Dame application essay prompt, you should include how and why you would want to tackle this particular issue affecting your community. Your Notre Dame essay should teach your reader something about you—not just about your topic. Be sure to articulate why you have chosen to help solve this problem in this Notre Dame essay. What does your Notre Dame application essay show about your identity and values?

Students may choose to write about something related to their intended area of study in the third of the four Notre Dame supplements. However, don’t feel limited to make the problem and your solution relate to academics in this Notre Dame essay. Remember that in all of the Notre Dame supplemental essays, Notre Dame admissions wants to learn more about you. You certainly have interests outside of academics; talk about them in this Notre Dame application essay. 

Dreamers may be inclined to respond to this Notre Dame application essay. Get creative with your solution. Just make sure that your passion for solving this particular problem shows in this Notre Dame essay. 

#4 – What is the greatest compliment you have ever been given? Why was it meaningful to you?

The last of the Notre Dame supplemental essays asks applicants to think about the best compliment they have ever been given. When writing this Notre Dame application essay, try not to get too caught up in the actual compliment. This Notre Dame essay, similar to the other Notre Dame supplemental essays, is all about how it relates back to you. Strong Notre Dame essays will show the impact that compliment had on you. Out of all the compliments you’ve ever received, why did that particular one get logged in your memory?

When responding to this Notre Dame essay, show why the compliment was so meaningful. In this Notre Dame application essay, the compliment itself doesn’t matter; its importance to you does. Does the compliment speak to who you inherently are? Or was it from someone that you particularly admire? This Notre Dame application essay is all about the depth behind the compliment. 

Successful University of Notre Dame supplemental essays will not brag. A strong response to the last of the Notre Dame essay prompts will focus on the impact the receiving that compliment had on you.

Which Notre Dame essay prompt should I choose?

Each of the Notre Dame essay prompts allows you to discuss something different. There’s no right or wrong topic to choose when it comes to the Notre Dame essays. Instead, choose the prompt that speaks to you most. 

The best strategy to choose your Notre Dame application essay is to brainstorm a topic or two for each. Think about how you might respond to these Notre Dame essay prompts by writing a few bullet points for what you would include in your Notre Dame essays. Then, choose the Notre Dame application essay that best lets you showcase your identity. 

• Does your choice of the Notre Dame essay prompts allow you to best show who you are?
• In your Notre Dame application essay, do you avoid repeating content from elsewhere on your application?
• Is your Notre Dame essay clear and concise?

How do I write Notre Dame’s supplemental essays?

How do you write strong Notre Dame supplements that will enhance your Notre Dame application? Let’s discuss some strategies for responding to the Notre Dame essay prompts. 

The most successful Notre Dame supplemental essays will be genuine, personal, and specific. You should choose engaging and authentic topics for your Notre Dame essays. Remember, your readers evaluate your Notre Dame supplemental essays for both content and writing ability. It’s not only about what you say in your Notre Dame essays, but also how you say it.

It may feel daunting to fit everything you want to say in two 200-word Notre Dame application essays. Approach each of your Notre Dame essays with a plan. Brainstorm first, then make a detailed outline for each Notre Dame application essay. Once you have an outline, write and revise. Clear and concise writing will help you maximize your space. Every word matters in the University of Notre Dame supplemental essays. 

The “so what?”

Most importantly, include the “so what?” in your Notre Dame supplemental essays, particularly when describing your own experiences. You should provide enough context that your reader understands your narrative , but your Notre Dame essays should ultimately answer why this story matters. What skills can you highlight in each Notre Dame application essay? How did your mindset shift? What values does your story reveal about who you are? Why did you choose to tell this story?

Leave yourself time to proofread and polish your Notre Dame supplemental essays. Remember, your Notre Dame essays help the admissions team understand who you are beyond your grades and test scores. So, don’t underestimate their importance. These Notre Dame essays are much more than mere Notre Dame requirements. Think of each Notre Dame application essay as a chance to at depth to your Notre Dame application narrative.  

How important are Notre Dame’s supplemental essays?

Well, how important are Notre Dame essays to the Admissions Committee? 

The University spends time each year determining their Notre Dame essay prompts. The admissions team changes the prompts at least slightly each year, and they sometimes unveil entirely new questions. This year’s Notre Dame essay prompts are significantly different from last year’s. This year’s Notre Dame requirements also signify a shift toward quality over quantity—in the second Notre Dame application essay, students used to choose two prompts rather than just one. 

Ultimately, what does Notre Dame look for in essays? Authentic and well-written stories about what makes you who you are. Use this essay guide to write Notre Dame supplemental essays that stand out. Engage your reader through interesting stories, vivid descriptions, and an actionable plan for your time on campus. These details will make your Notre Dame essays stand out.

5 Tips for Writing the Best Notre Dame Supplemental Essays: 

Successful Notre Dame supplemental essays will vary based on an applicant’s personal experiences and future goals. However, there are certain things that will help when taking on any of the University of Notre Dame supplemental essays. 

How to write stand out Notre Dame essay responses:

#1 – start early.

Give yourself time to edit and revise each of your Notre Dame supplemental essays! Notre Dame has two deadlines : Restrictive Early Action on November 1, 2021 and Regular Decision on January 1, 2022. Give yourself plenty of time to complete the Notre Dame requirements.

#2 – Ignore the stats

Don’t worry about things like the Notre Dame acceptance rate when you are working on each Notre Dame application essay. Instead, try to write the best Notre Dame essays possible. Forget all of the Notre Dame requirements and just focus on the Notre Dame supplements when writing. 

#3 – Opt for passion

You have full control over your Notre Dame essays. Choose a topic that you can write passionately about and pay close attention to the message that your Notre Dame supplements send. Each Notre Dame application essay serves as your introduction to the admissions committee. 

#4 – Look at the big picture

Consider the entirety of your application before submitting. Make sure that each essay says something new. No two successful Notre Dame essays are the same, just like no two Notre Dame students are the same.

#5 – Be yourself

The Notre Dame supplements really are the best opportunity to just be you. Don’t focus on what you think admissions wants to hear in each Notre Dame application essay. Let your experiences, passions, and goals leap off the page and impress Notre Dame admissions. Successful Notre Dame supplemental essays will show who you are and what’s important to you. 

Notre Dame Supplemental Essays — Final Thoughts

Notre Dame is an undoubtedly special university to attend. Don’t try to tell the admissions team what you think they want to hear in each Notre Dame application essay. Be yourself and tell your story . Do your research to make sure each of your Notre Dame supplemental essays shows why you belong at Notre Dame. Remember that passion is key, so get excited about your responses to each Notre Dame application essay. Good luck!

Want to learn more about the Notre Dame admissions process? Check out this Snapchat take over from a current Notre Dame admissions counselor for tips on essays and insight into the university’s holistic application review process.

Notre Dame is an undoubtedly special university to attend. Don’t try to tell the admissions committee what you think they want to hear. Instead, be yourself and tell your story. Finally, do your research to make sure each of your Notre Dame supplemental essays shows why you belong at Notre Dame. Good luck!

For more CollegeAdvisor.com resources on Notre Dame, including stories from CollegeAdvisor students who were accepted to Notre Dame , click here . Want help crafting your Notre Dame supplemental essays? Create your free account or schedule a no-cost advising consultation online .

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Write Your Best Essay: Tips from A Notre Dame Admissions Counselor (Part 2)

Published: July 29, 2020

Author: Zach Klonsinski

Welcome to our second blog post on Understanding the College Essay. 

As part of Notre Dame’s Virtual Preview Days , my fellow admissions counselor Maria Finan  and I offered advice on how to write your essays.

You had so many great questions that we wanted to take some time to answer a few more. I would encourage you to watch our presentation first, then read Maria’s blog post , before digging into our final pieces of advice in this post.

You may also find it helpful to make a copy of the Understanding the College Essay handout  we created for our presentation so you can work through the prompts and suggested activities at your own pace.

On to the questions!

Question #1: If I wanted to discuss why my faith and/or beliefs are important to me, do you know if universities that do not necessarily share these beliefs would judge my essay in a negative light?

Let me first start by saying that colleges and universities around the country, and the world, are places that want to welcome students, faculty, and staff of different backgrounds, who share diverse beliefs and life experiences.

You are unlikely to find that a college won't admit you if your beliefs differ unless you are espousing harmful or hateful ideas.

As a non-religious student at Notre Dame, I always felt that my voice and opinions mattered, and some of my best memories from college were late night philosophical discussions with my closest friends, almost all of whom have very different views than I do!

The bigger potential essay pitfall is that you demonstrate to an institution you are not someone who is open to having your beliefs challenged. Colleges want students who will engage meaningfully with others who share different opinions.

At Notre Dame, we also value students who will be involved members of our campus community.

If you are sure that a college you are applying to holds beliefs or values that conflict with yours, you should ask yourself whether this college is truly a good fit for you. 

Question #2: Do you like to see more unique, fun, and interesting essays or more serious essays?

Maria already touched on this idea in her post , but any style of essay can be an engaging, interesting, and effective way to communicate who you are to your readers! The tone is ultimately up to you and will be guided by the topic you have chosen to write about.

When students ask me: “What do colleges want me to write about?,” I always flip the question: “I don’t know. What do you want to tell us?”

This can be a hard thought exercise because often the college application process is the first time students have really had to write about themselves or think about what they want others to know about them.

The college discernment and application process can be an opportunity for you to learn more about yourself—as much as, or even more than, an opportunity to learn about the colleges to which you are applying.

Question #3: What is a common attribute you've seen in outstanding application essays?

The most memorable (I think that’s a better adjective than “outstanding”) essays always help me get to know the applicant: what they believe, what interests them, and/or what they are super passionate about. Who is this person potentially coming to our campus and what can I imagine them doing here?

I’ve read essays where I know the applicant is going to be a potential residence hall president one day, for example, or that they will bring an incredible passion for research to a lab.

This often means the applicant did an excellent job of making sure the essay was written in their voice.

Sometimes students will over-edit their college essays, edit themselves out, and those essays often read very similarly to one another almost regardless of topic.

Question #4: What is the biggest pitfall that you see students falling into on essays and how do you recommend avoiding this error?

I have read really, really great essays about an applicant’s grandmother or an applicant’s dog.

By the time we get to the end of the essay, I’m really, really excited to admit the applicant’s grandmother or their yellow labrador retriever, but we didn’t actually learn anything about the person who is applying to Notre Dame.

We can try to draw conclusions from the essay (are they loyal because they love their dog?), but the best essays we see do that work for us by revealing themselves through their topic, not in writing about their topic.

In a similar vein, sometimes students feel they need to include more background information about their topic than is really necessary. That eats word count and can sometimes hinder your reader, who then has to try to sift through details that might not have been truly necessary.

We have also read essays that were definitely written for a history or English class in high school. That’s not to say some high school essays cannot also be a good foundation for your college essay, but the college essay has a completely different purpose than showing what information you know . It needs to show who you are .

Question #5: For the supplemental essays, is it better to choose an essay that focuses on the applicant as a person or the applicant’s views or ideas?

Your readers will receive plenty of personal information from the rest of the application, but the college essays are the first time on the application that your readers get to hear about you in your own words. 

You want to help your reader get to know what makes you...well, you!

Whether that’s showing off your personality, your academic or extracurricular passions, or grand plans you may have for building a time machine, this is where you get to tell your story.

Question #6: For the applicants who are not amazing writers, any recommendations to improve writing skills prior to submitting our essays?

I am a HUGE outliner.

When I wrote my thesis in college, I actually submitted my first and second drafts as an in-depth, bulleted outline. This meant that I didn’t have to worry about what verb to use in a sentence or what transition was needed to connect two paragraphs while my piece was still in its very early stages.

It helped me see the key pieces I was trying to highlight and how they could potentially fit together to convey and support my larger narrative.

Bulleting also makes it really easy to shift content around. 

One of the most helpful things for me in the writing process is to simply start by reading what you have out loud. If something doesn’t sound right when you say it out loud, how would you say it if instead you were speaking with your friends or a trusted teacher?

Not only is this a great way to help your ideas flow more naturally, but it can also really ensure that you are keeping your voice and personality in your essay!

Keep in mind that different techniques work for different people. Try out various outlining and planning methods to see what works for you.

Question #7: What is some advice on who should peer edit your essay?

I think there are three important qualities in a good peer editor. 

First, they should know you well enough to recognize your writing if they picked up a random essay at school with no name on it.

Second, they should be someone you trust and someone with whom you are comfortable enough with that they can provide critical feedback.

It’s important to remember “critical” has two definitions (according to the Oxford University Press): 

• Expressing adverse or disapproving comments or judgments 
• Expressing or involving an analysis of the merits and faults of a work of literature, music, or art

It’s this second piece that you should keep in mind whenever someone is editing something you wrote. They are not trying to demean or tell you how bad your essay is—they are genuinely trying to tell you what your essay does well and how it could be better! 

Finally—and this may sound obvious—your peer editor should be a good editor.

One of the greatest things about coming to a university like Notre Dame is that you will never be the smartest person in the room, even if you were an academic standout at your high school. And that’s okay! Understanding your peers, and their individual strengths, will be important for the rest of your life. Start by finding someone who meets the first two criteria AND is also a writer and editor that you really admire. Your essay will be better for it.

Oh, and one last thing: please do not forget to thank your peer editors, along with your other editors: parents, teachers, and whoever else has helped you!

Share your college admission decisions with them and make sure they know how much you value their efforts to help you throughout your college discernment process. Your journey is important to them, too!

Zach Klonsinski is is an admissions counselor with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. He is the regional counselor for Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, parts of Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.  Read Zach's profile.

University of Notre Dame 2017-18 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Regular Decision: 

University of Notre Dame 2017-18 Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: 3 essays of 175 words each

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Why ; Oddball ; Community

Home to a fine athletic tradition, Notre Dame knows the importance of a good warm-up. Their supplement starts out nice and easy, with a garden variety why essay, before ramping up to some pretty probing questions about your morals, values, and very sense of self. The key to nailing this application is pacing yourself — and reading through all of the questions ahead of time so you know which ones are worth the effort!

The Writing Supplement for first year applicants seeking Fall 2018 enrollment includes the following directions: The University of Notre Dame Writing Supplement consists of one (1) essay response to a required question and two (2) essay responses to questions you select from the options provided. In total, you will write three (3) essay responses. In honor of our University’s 175th anniversary, the recommended word count is around 175 words per essay.

Please provide a response to the following question:, what excites you about the university of notre dame that makes it stand out from other institutions.

Why Notre Dame? You have 175 words to explain to Admissions Officers at University of Notre Dame why you are taking the time to apply and fill out these supplements! As with any other why essay, your goal here isn’t simply to regurgitate facts from the admissions highlights page. Take your research to the next level and dig for the kinds of classes and opportunities that spark your interest. By using carefully-selected details, you’ll show admissions not only that you care about the school, but also what kind of student you’d be when you get there.

Your answer can refer to academics: majors, classes, professors, or the community: clubs, events, student body, or anything that makes you want to be a Notre Dame student: campus culture, sports, your dad’s stories of his glory days. This is where you prove that you have done your homework on Notre Dame. Feel free to explore their website for little bits of information that excite you. Maybe you want to join their Culinary Appreciation and Outreach Society. Do they have a Race and Gender in Reality TV class that you would love to take? Let them know! Lastly, remember to connect your own experiences to the ones you hope to have at Notre Dame.   

Please provide a response to two (2) of the following questions:

The university of notre dame is a holy cross institution whose educational philosophy has been formed around five core principles inspired by blessed basil moreau, c.s.c., the founder of the congregation of holy cross. these principles, or pillars, of a holy cross education are mind, heart, zeal, family, and hope, and they continue to shape our students today. which pillar or pillars resonate most with you why.

Listen, cannibals are scary, but right now you should specifically be concerned about college essay cannibalism! This prompt could practically be a sub-question to the main why essay, and if these principles matter to you, you will need to be careful about where you address them. If Notre Dame’s religious affiliation floats your boat, it’s certainly worth mentioning in your why essay, but you might want to save the details for this separate essay! If you’re simply intrigued by the question but aren’t quite sure where to start, you should still keep in mind the connection between this essay and the why essay. Both are sizing up your fit for the Notre Dame community.

All in all, this is a wonderful question because it offers you five different paths to explore! Notably, it gives you the opportunity to talk about your family. So, if you haven’t yet shared much about your upbringing, this is the perfect opportunity for you to tell a story about how your family has shaped your values and turned you into the person you are today. That said, you can take this prompt in any direction you choose! Reflect on why the pillar you chose is so important to you. Or, simply tell a story that you want to include on your application and then draw a connection with one of the pillars. Whatever you do, make sure to project what it will continue to mean to you in the next four years. How will that principle affect your time on campus with professors, students, faith, and your studies?

For whom are you responsible?

This is an “Oddball” question. It’s not quite like the others you’re going to run into in the supplemental essay jungle this application season. It’s a loaded question, but also open-ended and applicable to a myriad of contexts. Maybe you’re the leader of a school club and you want to highlight that experience by describing your personal sense of responsibility to the other group members. You might also say that you are responsible for your family’s well-being as you work after school to contribute to rent or help take care of your live-in grandparents. Maybe you’re responsible for your neighbor’s dog, who you walk every evening. Perhaps you’ve even had to teach yourself to take a step back due to an injury or mental illness and realize that it’s ok to just be responsible for yourself. Whatever the case, your answer should showcase your maturity and awareness of how your actions affect others.

What is one thing that you know for a fact? Why are you certain?

This is an opportunity for Notre Dame to see how you reason, understand the world around you, and persuade others. Your response can be academic or personal, so have fun with it! What is the one thing you know for a fact? Is it that atoms make up a molecule? Are you certain because science has been your favorite subject since you were a wee little lad and you can always trust science? Is the one thing you know for a fact that good will always prevail? Are you certain because you see kindness win out in everyday life when you’re walking down the street? Or maybe the only thing of which you can truly be certain is your dog’s tail-wagging response to the smell of bacon. Think about what you really believe is a fact and then, in turn, why that might matter to an admissions officer. What might it reveal about your analytical abilities, personal values, or sense of humor?

Tell us about something significant that recently occurred in your community. Why does it matter to you?

If you thought you dodged a bullet by skipping “for whom are you responsible?” think again. Tricky Notre Dame has disguised another question about responsibility in a community essay. While the point of entry may be different, the basic qualities you should display in your response are the same: empathy and concern for others. That said, this essay should still be about you, so put yourself first. What news has rocked your world recently? Maybe it was a story of national or international scale, but it could also have been some niche development for vintage resellers on Etsy . To find your “something significant,” list a handful of recent events that you just can’t let go. Then, pick one that connects directly to a community you identify with.  

Remember that your community can be based on location, race, gender, sexuality, a love of hip hop, your High School, your church, so on and so forth. When you’re telling Notre Dame about what recently occurred, think less about explaining the scenario and more about explaining the impact that it had on you. Beyond your immediate reaction, can you tell a story about your long-term response? Do you take the lead in making things right? Can you boost morale with a few sentences uttered through a megaphone? Or, if you used to be a silent member of your community, how have recent events spurred you to action? Admissions wants to know how you will react to something significant when your community is (hopefully) Notre Dame.  

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