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How to Write the Villanova University Essays 2024-2025

Villanova has one supplemental essay prompt, which allows you to choose from five options. You want to take advantage of this flexibility, and choose the option that best complements what you already show elsewhere in your application. Particularly since all five options are fairly different from the standard supplemental prompts, be thoughtful about which one you select.

First, read all of the options carefully, even if you think you are sure about which one you will choose. Second, note which one(s) stick out—for example, perhaps Option B reminds you of a meaningful reconciliation with a friend. If you immediately feel an emotional connection to one of the prompts, that can be a good sign that you’ll be able to write a strong response. 

Finally, think about how each prompt would add to your application as a whole, and make sure that the prompt you choose won’t lead to redundancies. For example, say you are drawn to Option A, but your Common App essay is about your advocacy work through your school’s Feminism Club. In that case, you might be better off with one of the other options so you don’t repeat yourself.

If you do still choose Option A, make sure that you approach the topic from a new perspective, such as, for example, by describing your wide-reaching work in club social media management rather than your weekly volunteer work at the local women’s shelter.

Read this Villanova essay example written by  real accepted student to inspire your writing!

Villanova University Supplemental Essay Prompts

Prompt: Please select one of the five essay prompts listed below to fulfill the writing requirement and respond in about 250 words.

• Option A: St. Augustine states that well-being is “not concerned with myself alone, but with my neighbor’s good as well.” How have you advocated for equity and justice in your communities?
• Option B: What is a lesson in life that you have learned that you would want to share with others at Villanova?
• Option C: “Villanova” means “new home.” Why do you want to call Villanova your new home?
• Option D: As an Augustinian community, we value recognizing individuals for their true selves. Please share with us a time when you were misjudged based on your identity, background, experiences, or interests.
• Option E: At Villanova, we often say “each of us strengthens all of us.” Please detail a time when someone has borrowed some of your strength in their time of need.

St. Augustine states that well-being is “not concerned with myself alone, but with my neighbor’s good as well.”  How have you advocated for equity and justice in your communities? (about 250 words)

It seems that Villanova greatly values community and group efforts. It’s important to do a little bit of research about the key values of the schools you’re applying to, which are often made evident by their application prompts, mottos, marketing messages, and even conversations with current students. 

In this essay, highlight your concern for fairness, community, and selflessness through concrete and specific details. When possible, reference specific organization names, people you have worked with, and raw numbers (i.e: number of people served, amount of money raised, total attendance of a charity event, etc.) Avoid vague generalities and consider starting off your essay with a lively, brief anecdote to bring your story to life. 

Many applicants may write about posts they shared or reposted on social media during times of social crisis. Although these are valuable forms of activism to raise awareness on important issues, sharing a more unique experience may help you stand out! Did you write or speak to any local authorities, for example? Attend/organize a protest?

Here are some questions to consider as you brainstorm: 

Advocacy specifically refers to the act of speaking on the behalf of or in support of another person, place, or thing. How did you speak up? Whose voices have you amplified?

Example: A student writes about her experience attending the 2017 Women’s March in Washington, D.C with her mother and sisters to protest sexual harassment and advocate for women’s reproductive rights. 

What community service work have you done? Who did this work serve, and how did it help bring them closer to justice? Remember, your response doesn’t have to be directly related to the social, economic, racial or political justice of human beings; advocacy for animals and the environment counts as well!

Example: A student illustrates how his family’s tradition of volunteering at a soup kitchen every Thanksgiving, has sparked a passion in him to research and combat food insecurity and food deserts in the US in his city.  

Are you a part of a group that has historically suffered injustice? How have you advocated for yourself and your community?

Example: A Native American student from the Zuni Reservation in New Mexico narrates the injustices her community has faced in cultural erasure. She creates content on social media to increase awareness of her tribe’s rich history and fading language. 

The most important thing to remember when approaching this prompt is to focus on an issue that really resonated with you. Sometimes social media can make it seem like there is a right and wrong way to approach activism – stay true to yourself! The way you advocate for equity and justice in your community may differ from other applicants. Allow these differences to let you stand out and illustrate what you’re truly passionate about. 

What is a lesson in life that you have learned that you would want to share with others at Villanova? (about 250 words)

This prompt is asking you to reflect on a significant life lesson that has shaped who you are and what you value. Villanova is a university rooted in community, service, and moral development, so you’d ideally choose a lesson that reflects these values. 

To help you brainstorm, consider this list of questions. 

• In your life, have you had any pivotal moments, challenges, successes, or experiences that changed your perspective? 
• Has anything happened to you that changed you, your values, or how you see the world? If you can’t think of anything specific, try thinking of a value you hold and reflect on where that value comes from. 
• What is a belief or lesson that’s deeply important to you? Where does it come from? Why is it important?
• Are there any lessons you’ve learned or beliefs you hold that mesh especially well with Villanova’s mission? 

To begin, focus mainly on generating as many ideas as possible–it’s better to have too many options than too few, as having too many means you can honestly evaluate which is the strongest. Then you can trim them down based on the following considerations. 

First, you’ll want to pick something unique. Villanova admissions will be reading hundreds of essays, and you want yours to stand out from the crowd. While it’s practically impossible to write about something they’ve absolutely never seen before, there are some topics that are widely known cliches , like overcoming a sports setback, or traveling somewhere to volunteer in a new community. These topics are best avoided unless yours has an angle that’s truly unique to you. 

In addition to being authentic, you also want to give Villanova a comprehensive sense of who you are, so pick a lesson with some depth. It might shed light on where you come from, what you value, or how you live your life. Combining authenticity with personal meaning will make for the most compelling essays.

Another powerful choice is to pick a story that connects to your future, particularly your future at Villanova. As noted above, you could make this connection through Villanova’s values, or you could reference some specific ways you hope to contribute to their campus community.

If you take this approach, like in a “Why School?” essay you’ll want to make sure you’re being truly specific to Villanova, by citing particular student groups you hope to join or professors you hope to work with, rather than vaguely gesturing at things you could do anywhere, like meeting like-minded peers or studying a general topic like English.

With these pointers in mind, consider the following examples of lessons students might write about, to give you a more concrete idea of what your own response could look like. 

• A student from a military background might write about how she learned the importance of adaptability and resilience after moving seven times before high school. She could write about how she learned to embrace change and make new connections quickly, and how she plans to share this skill at Villanova by helping other students navigate transitions and build a supportive community.
• A basketball player who struggled with perfectionism could write about the lesson he learned from his experiences with burnout. He might discuss how he realized the importance of self-compassion and balance, and how he hopes to share this lesson at Villanova by advocating for mental health awareness and support among his peers.
• An applicant who spent years volunteering at their local senior center might have learned the value of humility and listening to others. They could describe how stories from a different generation taught them to appreciate life for the journey, not the destination, and how they want to bring this mindset to Villanova by setting up inclusive discussions and mindfulness workshops

“Villanova” means “new home.” Why do you want to call Villanova your new home? (about 250 words)

This is more or less your standard “ Why This School? ” essay. Here, you’ll simply have to explain not only why you would love to go to Villanova, but also why they should love to have you! In short, you are demonstrating fit .

For a typical essay of this type, we recommend that you do plenty of research about the school, its traditions, and if known, your major within the school. Make a list of things that stand out to you as true, legitimate reasons to attend the school, as well as ways you can contribute.

For example, Villanova is the only Augustinian Catholic university in the nation and the school values its duality between faith and learning. A few of the Augustinian values that Villanova references are Veritas, Unitas, and Caritas (meaning truth, unity, and love). What do these values mean to you? How attending a University with these values will impact your learning? 

Additionally, we recommend sticking with only a few talking points in this essay, as your space is limited and you may want to draw from personal experiences to explain how your past work will make you a great addition to the school. In short, how can you make this campus better? How can you stand out, and how can you fit in? Keep your writing specific, concise, and highly personalized. Which traits, or combination of traits, make you a uniquely good fit for this school?

Here are some examples: 

1. An applicant is drawn to Villanova because the Augustinian values resonate with her Catholic upbringing. She has always been passionate about both agricultural science and environmental sustainability, but has struggled to find a major that aligns with her academic interest.. She decides to apply to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) at Villanova and leverage the school’s Individually Designed Major (IDM) program where she can create a unique major in the study of EcoGastronomy (the study of food, agriculture, and environment). 

2. Coming from a rural conservative community, a student wishes he could become a more informed ally to help educate his peers. He is excited to learn that Villanova offers in-depth DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) training through a course called the Advancing Equity & Justice Curriculum. This program will give the applicant the tools that he needs to be a better advocate for diverse individuals. 

Since you’re limited to about 250 words, your response needs to be concise, specific, and personal. You’ll want to avoid wasting any of your precious words on generalities that could apply to any applicant or any college, like in this bad example below:

“Villanova has always been one of my top choices because of its strong reputation as a prestigious university. I’ve heard great things about the academic programs, particularly in the sciences, which is an area I’m interested in exploring further. I want to attend a school where I can receive a quality education that will open doors for me in the future, and Villanova seems like the perfect place to achieve my goals.

Additionally, I’m looking forward to being part of a tight-knit community. I’ve read that Villanova has a strong sense of school spirit, and I think it would be exciting to be part of that environment. The location is also ideal because it’s close to major cities like Philadelphia, which offers many opportunities for internships and cultural experiences.

Overall, Villanova seems like a place where I can grow both academically and personally, surrounded by people who are passionate about their education and community. I’m eager to experience the beautiful campus and all that Villanova has to offer as I prepare for my future.”

Compare this with the following, much stronger example:

“In my multicultural home, thinking beyond borders and understanding global interconnectedness was nothing special; it was how we lived. My mother, an immigrant from Haiti, would share stories about challenges her community faced, from political instability to lack of access to necessities. She and my father made sure to remind me that though Haiti and these issues might feel far away, they are a part of me and my history. Not just that, but people in our hometown faced similar problems to those my mom once did. These conversations instilled in me a deep commitment to public service and social justice, both globally and locally.

At Villanova, I’m eager to deepen my understanding of global issues through the Center for Peace and Justice Education, where I can explore international relations and human rights. The university’s emphasis on service-learning resonates with my belief that education should extend beyond the classroom and into communities that need it most. I’m particularly drawn to the Villanova Service and Justice Experiences, where I can combine my academic interests with hands-on service, contributing to meaningful change in both local and global communities.

Villanova’s values of veritas, unitas, and caritas align perfectly with my own principles. I see Villanova as more than just a place to study; it’s a community where I can grow both intellectually and morally, surrounded by peers and faculty who share my dedication to making the world a better place.” 

In addition to taking full advantage of the available space, this second essay displays a deeper knowledge of Villanova, by citing resources that can only be found at this particular institution, and that clearly fit into the student’s plan for what they want to do once they arrive on campus. We also learn about the student’s background, their values, and how they developed those values, so we can easily connect their past experiences to their potential future at Villanova.

Basically, the first example could have been written about another college, by another student, but the second is unique to both Villanova and this particular student.

For more tips on this prompt archetype, check out our stellar essay examples , research tips , and video guide !

As an Augustinian community, we value recognizing individuals for their true selves. Please share with us a time when you were misjudged based on your identity, background, experiences, or interests. (about 250 words)

This option, which has some overlap with the common “Diversity” prompt, has two pieces to it. First, you need to choose an aspect of your identity or background, ideally one you haven’t yet had a chance to dive into elsewhere in your application. Then, you will discuss a time you were misjudged because of this aspect of yourself, and how you responded or what you learned from this experience. Let’s break down each of those pieces. 

Usually, in writing about identity, you would want to choose a feature of yourself that is important to you and/or affects how you see the world. For this prompt specifically, however, you may want to channel your brainstorming less towards what’s important to your own self-image, and more towards features of your identity that affect how others see you. Of course, there may well be overlap between the two, but if you aren’t sure where to start, the latter category is a better jumping off point.

If you’ve experienced prejudice in the form of racism, sexism, homophobia, or something of the sort, this is a good place to talk about it, but you also don’t have to have experienced bigotry to answer this prompt effectively. Here are some examples of essays that could fit this prompt.

• A student who struggles with people asking him if he fits the stereotype of the neglected, forgotten middle child. 
• A student writing about how after she started lifting, her mom warned her that she wouldn’t like the way she looked with muscles, because muscles look weird on women. 
• Another student could write about how the GSA at his school assumed that he could not be religious because he was gay. 
• Another student wrote about how he was considered weird for asking his older sister to teach him to sew. 

All of these stories involve identity, but they come at the topic from unexpected angles. As you write your essay, try to think about times that you’ve surprised the people around you, or even surprised yourself. 

After you’ve chosen the moment of misjudgment that you’re going to write about, the second piece of this essay is discussing how you felt about this experience, and what you learned from it. In the moment, it likely didn’t feel great. But were you able to talk your feelings out with the person you had the interaction with, or debrief with friends or family after? Did it strengthen your resolve to keep doing what you were doing, or make you decide to work towards changing people’s perceptions of you? Or maybe it made you more aware of the way that snap judgments can hurt. 

This kind of reflection should be the real focus of your essay – the aspect of your identity you’ve chosen to write about may be important to you, but this essay is asking you to see people for who they truly are, and the impact it can have when others don’t do that. So, the majority of your essay should discuss how it felt to be misjudged, how you got past it (if applicable), and how you plan to take what you’ve learned from this experience into your future. 

Finally, we’d like to note that this prompt is asking you to reflect on an experience that was undoubtedly painful, and sharing that pain with a bunch of strangers thousands of miles away can be hard. But this is also a chance to showcase your resilience and capacity for reflection, so we would recommend not focusing merely on the experience of prejudice, bigotry, or simple misunderstanding. Rather than prioritizing the negative feelings associated with this encounter, center your own ability to learn from it, and apply your new knowledge in the future.

At Villanova, we often say “each of us strengthens all of us.” Please detail a time when someone has borrowed some of your strength in their time of need. (about 250 words)

This prompt asks you to demonstrate your capacity for self-reflection, your selflessness, and your support of those around you. Villanova values community, mutual support, and collective well-being, and they want to see how you embody these values in your own life, by being empathetic, taking on leadership roles, and making an impact on others. With just 250 words to work with, it’s important to select the right anecdote, so let’s talk about what that looks like. 

To start, you’ll want a strong, specific story. While you might “lend your strength” every day, you want to be able to anchor this ability in a particular event or moment, as that will make your story more compelling and memorable than a vague description that could blur together with someone else’s essay. 

Details are key, so make sure you pick an occasion that you can vividly describe. You also want to choose one that will stand out as unique to you–avoid cliché stories like supporting a teammate while they rehabbed an injury or helping your friend with their homework during a challenging history unit.

Ideally, your story should also show initiative. In other words, a story where you went out of your way to lend your strength to someone will make a bigger impact than one where they had to ask you for help. Colleges love students who will go out of their way to make their campus community a better place.

Finally, don’t forget to be specific about the impact your selflessness had on others. Though it might feel like bragging, this is exactly what the prompt is asking for, and the admissions team will have no way of knowing how effective you were if you don’t tell them.

Being able to concretely demonstrate the positive influence you had will show your empathy, awareness, and readiness to deeply reflect on and learn from the events in question. Additionally, talking about the others involved in your story actually makes you come across as unselfish, as it shows that you are paying attention to and caring about others. 

The thing you want to avoid is making the essay solely about you. Rather than saying something like “I could tell my actions made a big difference,” give an example of something the other person said or did that proves your impact. Your essay should illustrate how you truly helped them, not how good you felt about helping them.

If you’re still feeling stuck on what to write about, consider these examples of prospective students and their potential essay topics.

• A student who became the informal leader of their robotics team after the captain had to step down due to a family emergency might write about taking on these responsibilities without the cachet of the official title, because that’s what was needed in the moment. 
• A student who helped their younger sibling navigate remote learning, helping them with homework while their parents worked long hours during the pandemic. 
• A student who organized a community clean-up and support network after a natural disaster struck their town. They might focus on what they learned about civic engagement and community spirit, as well as the wish to restore their home. 
• A student who helped a friend come out as LGBTQ+ to their conservative family could write not only about their support, research, and brainstorming, but also how they were impressed by their friend’s strength. 

These examples all do an excellent job of walking the line between showing that the student made a genuine impact, and still keeping the focus on the person/community they helped.

Where to Get Your Villanova University Essays Edited For Free

Writing essays takes a lot of time and focus, and after seeing the same essay time and time again, it can be hard to tell what to change. Going through the editing process with another pair of eyes can help identify areas where your essay could be stronger, as well as areas that you’re already doing well. CollegeVine has created a free Peer Review Essay Tool , where you can get feedback on your essay, and give feedback to other students just like you!

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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Villanova Supplemental Essays 2024-25 – Prompts & Advice

July 8, 2024

Villanova University’s 23.5% acceptance rate for the Class of 2028 is less than half of what it was as recently as 2015. Today, admitted students earned a mid-50% SAT of 1450-1530, and you typically need mostly A’s in AP/honors courses to have a serious shot at acceptance. Writing excellent Common App and Villanova supplemental essays is also an incredibly important piece of the admissions puzzle for wannabe Wildcats.

(Want to learn more about How to Get Into Villanova? Visit our blog entitled: How to Get Into Villanova University for all of the most recent admissions data as well as tips for gaining acceptance.)

In this blog, we will look at the Villanova supplemental essays for the 2024-25 admissions cycle along with tips about how to write essays that will win over admissions officers.

Villanova Supplemental Essays: Free Choice (2024-25)

For the first Villanova-specific essay, we hope to gain a deeper understanding of your thoughts, experiences, and opinions. Choose  one  of the five topics below and submit a written response in  about  250 words.

Prompt 1: St. Augustine states that well-being is “not concerned with myself alone, but with my neighbor’s good as well.” How have you advocated for equity and justice in your communities? 

Some students may have more direct experience with equity social justice issues than others, but—no matter your background—this is an opportunity to demonstrate that you care about justice and fairness in your local community as well as the global community. If applicable, you can speak about a time when you spoke up for a peer in a moment of need or, alternatively, an instance when you got involved in a larger cause or movement (politics, activism, volunteer work, etc.). If you don’t happen to have a deeply personal story to tell in this realm, you’ll probably want to select a different prompt. While there’s nothing wrong with simply articulating your basic beliefs in the values of inclusion, equity, tolerance, and diversity, it doesn’t necessarily make for the most compelling essay.

Villanova Supplemental Essays (Continued)

Prompt 2: What is a lesson in life that you have learned that you would want to share with others at Villanova?

Prompt #2 is trying to assess what type of community member you would be as part of Villanova’s campus. The university greatly values those who have gained wisdom from their extracurricular involvement and leadership while in high school. In fact, the admitted Class of 2028 cohort included 83% who participated in community service, 66% who held paying jobs, and 81% who played sports. This essay presents the chance to communicate the wisdom you have acquired from participation in your present communities; then, you can switch gears to illustrate how the lessons you have learned will impact your future collegiate community.

Prompt 3: “Villanova” means “new home.” Why do you want to call Villanova your new home?

Villanova wants to know why you desire to pursue your studies at their institution and how you will become part of their campus community. This one is going to require a fair amount of school-specific research. What appeals to you most about Villanova? Is it their mission/values? An aspect of their community? An area of study, academic offering, or particular initiative? Whatever you choose, you’ll want to be sure to explain why it is important to you. This is essentially a “Why Villanova” essay, so if you decide to choose this prompt, see additional guidance in the next section.

Prompt 4: As an Augustinian community, we value recognizing individuals for their true selves. Please share with us a time when you were misjudged based on your identity, background, experiences or interests.

Have you ever been the recipient of negative comments or hurtful actions, perhaps in regard to relationships, household income level, mental or physical challenges, neurodiversity, gender identity, sexual orientation, cultural background, or personal hobbies, to name a few? If so, answering this prompt could be a good option. While crafting your response, the important thing to keep in mind is that the misjudgment itself is less important than how you handled it, and what that reveals about your character and perspective. How did you react to the misjudgment, and what steps did you take to cope? In what ways has it impacted you? How has it influenced your perspective and the way you engage with the world? Make sure you share what you were feeling and experiencing; this piece should demonstrate openness and vulnerability.

Prompt 5: At Villanova, we often say “each of us strengthens all of us.” Please detail a time when someone has borrowed some of your strength in their time of need.

Prompt #5 is also getting at the idea of community, but in a very specific context—how you support your family, friends, acquaintances, or even strangers during times of struggle. So, what is the Villanova committee really getting at here? In short, part of being a good community member is offering help or assistance when needed or perceived, whether it is in the academic, social, or personal realm. Nova wants to see that you a) mature enough to understand when someone else may need a helping hand and b) are the type of person who can offer that help as needed. If you have a story of this nature from your high school experience, this may be an excellent fit for you.

Examples of items that quality “Why Villanova?” essays touch upon include:

• 98% of first-year students live on campus, creating a cohesive atmosphere.
• Students come from roughly 50 foreign countries so you’ll meet people from all over the country/world.
• 300+  student organizations exist on campus. Pick one or two that are of interest to you.
• Students donate 250,000 hours per year to community service. Talk about how you will get involved .
• Talk in detail about the specifics of your academic program whether it is one of the 47 majors in the College of Liberal Arts & Science or part of the business, engineering, or nursing schools.
• Discuss which undergraduate research opportunities at Villanova you plan to pursue.
• How will you take advantage of the school’s location which is 12 miles outside Philadelphia? Think about community service, internships, etc.
• The Office of Education Abroad offers a multitude of semester, summer, and intensive programs abroad . How would you take advantage of these unique opportunities?

Of course, these are just a fraction of the possible features that could be part of a successful essay. As you enter the prewriting stage, you’ll want to avoid some common pitfalls that we observe applicants fall into when attacking the Villanova “Why Us?” essay. We don’t want to label these as “mistakes” (there is nothing inherently wrong with them); they just don’t add any needle-moving value, which is the only goal here!

Common components of a generic “Why Us” essay

• Mentioning Villanova’s US News ranking.
• Showing love for the Villanova basketball team.
• Recycling statements from your other “Why Us?” essays that come across as stale, impersonal, or worst of all–irrelevant/inaccurate.
• Using statements about how Villanova “feels like home,” or you’ve “wanted to attend since kindergarten.” Show this adoration through specifics instead.

How to write a winning “Why Villanova?” essay

• Address a) why Nova is the perfect fit for you and  b) why you are the perfect fit for Nova.
• Cite specific academic programs, professors, research opportunities, internship/externship programs, study abroad programs, student-run organizations, etc. (like the suggestions cited above).
• How will you become an active, contributing member of the student body?
• Show evidence of how your past/current endeavors will carry over onto Villanova’s campus.
• How will you take advantage of the university’s tremendous resources both inside and outside of the classroom?

How important are the supplemental essays?

Three factors are viewed as “very important” to the Nova admissions committee. These are: the GPA earned, the rigor of one’s curriculum, and class rank. Seven factors are rated as “important”: recommendations, essays, extracurricular activities, talent/ability, character/personal qualities, work experience, and volunteer work. Clearly, the essays are one of the most important application components for any prospective Wildcat.

Villanova Essays – Want Personalized Essay Assistance?

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

Need additional essay advice? You might consider checking out the following:

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Villanova University 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 15

You Have: 

Villanova University 2024-25 Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: 1 essay of 250 words

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

How to Write a Compelling Villanova Essay

VIllanova offers five (5) prompts to choose from for your one (1) supplemental essay, so there’s something for everyone! They’re seeking students with “intellectual courage, global perspective and resolution in thought with mind and heart.” This may sound like a tall order, but by carefully considering your options and writing an essay that’s honest, detailed, and heartfelt, you’ll be right on track. Read on to discover our Villanova application essay tips!

Villanova Essay Prompt Breakdowns

For the villanova-specific essay, we hope to gain a deeper understanding of your thoughts, experiences, and opinions. choose one of the five topics below and submit a written response in about 250 words., prompt one: st. augustine states that well-being is “not concerned with myself alone, but with my neighbor’s good as well.” how have you advocated for equity and justice in your communities .

If you choose this prompt, then social justice is probably pretty important to you. And you don’t have to be a protest organizer to impress admissions here. It can be just as bold to engage in a dialogue with family members from older generations on controversial topics or utilize your creativity to draw informative comics breaking down complex issues for Instagram. If you’re feeling stuck, maybe start by thinking about the topics that are most important to you. What keeps you up at night? Gun violence? Corporate greed? Food deserts? Next, think about what steps you’ve taken in your life to create change, inform, and/or organize. Ultimately, the key to writing an excellent response to this prompt is in the details. Don’t just tell Villanova about something you’ve advocated for recently; tell them why you did so, and maybe even share how you would like to continue engaging with or fighting for equity and justice in the future.

Prompt Two: What is a lesson in life that you have learned that you would want to share with others at Villanova?

If you find yourself drawn to this prompt, we’re willing to bet you’ve learned a thing or two in your life that you want to share with others. By all means, lean into your instincts. In order to ace your response, show admissions that you are capable of thoughtful reflection, changing your mind, and/or adapting to new circumstances. Maybe you learned a lesson about the gift of the “here and now” after losing a relative in an abrupt way. Or perhaps you wish to tell your peers, “They’re not judging you! They’re too busy thinking about themselves!” Whatever your life lesson may be, share why it is valuable and who you think will benefit from your advice.

Prompt Three: “Villanova” means “new home.” Why do you want to call Villanova your new home?

A classic Why Essay. This is the time to do some research on Villanova’s course offerings and extracurriculars, and then show admissions why their university stands out from the crowd for you. Don’t be afraid to go deep! Beyond the classes and professors in your desired academic department, explore the options for other subjects you’ve always wanted to study. Learn about clubs and special events on campus to get a feel for student life. Read over the school’s mission statement to get to know the community both in and around the campus. If you’ve been on a campus visit, highlight the architecture, culture, city, or special traditions that speak to you. Since this is a Catholic school, feel free to talk about what it means to you to join a faith-based community. You might even want to read up on the notable alumni you admire and provide examples as to how they inspired you to attend! By the time you’re done, you’ll have a whole list of reasons for wanting to call Villanova your new home. Now all you have to do is arrange them. Think about telling a story that illustrates your path to Villanova and shows admissions that their community is the perfect place for you to pursue your degree.

Prompt Four: As an Augustinian community, we value recognizing individuals for their true selves. Please share with us a time when you were misjudged based on your identity or background.

This prompt will likely stick out to students who know what it’s like to be reduced to one aspect of their background or identity, and odds are, you have a specific memory in mind. As you write your response, you’ll want to make sure you summarize your account as succinctly as possible; that way, you can dedicate most of your words to discussing your feelings and what you took away from the experience. Since you only have 250 words to work with, you won’t be able to write a lengthy thesis on the general public’s preconceived notions about people who appear different from them, but you can reveal more information about your background and outlook. Share what it’s like living in a world where stories are often assigned to you before you have the chance to introduce yourself and offer admissions deeper insight into who you are in the process.

Prompt Five: At Villanova, we often say “each of us strengthens all of us.” Please detail a time when someone has borrowed some of your strength in their time of need.

Life can be difficult—especially during college when you’re becoming a whole adult—and when it is, we often turn to loved ones for support. Lending your strength to others requires compassion and vulnerability, which are wonderful traits for any community member to have. After all, even though the word itself isn’t mentioned, “community” is at the heart of this prompt. Think about how you have supported others in your daily life, whether that be a sibling, a classmate, or a fellow volunteer at the soup kitchen. Maybe you started staying late at your barista job when your colleague’s partner was in the hospital and they needed to leave early. Perhaps you held a friend’s hand when they came out to their parents. Showcase your ability to connect, to identify others’ needs, and to see yourself as part of something bigger. Ultimately, the kind of person who can lend strength to others in times of need will make an excellent addition to any college campus.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in the Villanova Essay

We have been reading Villanova essays for over twenty years now, so we know a thing or two about the most common mistakes students make. The most common mistakes to avoid are repeating the prompt in your essay (don’t waste your words), trying to sound like an academic (admissions wants to hear your authentic voice!), and using cliches (they’re ineffective and—let’s face it—lazy).

Why Choose College Essay Advisors for the Villanova Essay

We at College Essay Advisors have been guiding students one-on-one through the essay writing process for the Villanova supplement for over twenty years. We take a holistic approach to this short essay, considering each student’s application package as a whole and identifying their strengths to highlight. Our Advisors accommodate each student’s scheduling needs to virtually brainstorm, draft, and revise winning essays. It’s incredibly important to us that each student’s voice is preserved, and we pride ourselves in helping students to write successful Villanova essays that differentiate them from similarly qualified applicants. For more information, submit a contact form below or review our one-on-one advising services or list of student acceptances .

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Villanova University Early Action / Early Decision for Fall 2025 Admission

This is the official thread for those applying EA/ED to Villanova University.

List your unweighted GPA, any SAT /ACT scores, and ECs. What majors are you going into? Ask your questions, the CC community is here to help!

Hello! I am a female from Long Island NY who is applying to VSB ED 1. I am from a small public high school, high income family and I am white. Do you guys think I have a good shot of getting in?

I took 8 APs, 3 College Corses (all business corses) and 5 Honors classes. (with senior year)

I don’t know if this matters but only took 1 honors class my freshman year and by junior year I was in 3 APs, 2 College Corses and 1 Honors. I think this demonstrates major academic growth. I had a high average all throughout high school. My wighted average is about a 96. My school ranks us by percent (ex: top 10%, top 20%) I am in the top 20%. My school weighs Honors, APs and College Corses all the same and only by 5% so I think that majorly impacted my class rank negatively.

Took Chorus all throughout high school.

Test Optional

Not submitting AP scores

AP Scholar Award

Marketing Award

Received an A+ on Level 5 NYSMA (2x)

Good essays (I think?)

Varsity XC, Winter Track, and Spring Track (4 years)

• Team Captain senior year (all seasons)

Service Club (4 years)

• Event Coordinator junior year and Treasurer senior year

Future Business Leaders of America (4 years)

• President Senior Year

Student Government (4 years)

Book Club (4 years)

Church Choir (4 years)

Babysitter (4 years)

MPHOA Volunteer (3 years)

Prom Committee (2 years)

National Honor Society (2 years)

National Music Honor Society (2 years)

CVS Store Associate (2 years)

All County Vocal Jazz (1 year)

Thanks for reading my stats! I feel I did the best I could with what I was offered. Let me know if you think there is a chance!

Also to my knowledge I am the only one applying to Villanova ED 1!

87% are in the top 10% of their class, what is your uwgpa? The average is 3.9. About half were TO this year, but an act score in the 75th % is a 34. ED could work?

Does anyone know if there is a boost if you apply to Villanova Early Action or does that only pertain ED 1 and ED 2?

Also, does anyone know if there was a big gap between the acceptance rate for ED1 and ED 2?

I think the early action acceptance rate and regular decision acceptance rate are pretty much the same.

regarding the bump from ED1 vs ED2…last year my child was considering waiting and applying ED2 thinking that and additional semester of their significant upward trend in grades they had might help. Our school counselor was not sure and ended up asking the regional AO directly whether we should ED1 or wait for ED2 to show another semester of very high grades. The AO said that even though another semester of very high GPA could help a little that we should definitely ED1. My child did so and got in - yay!

Anyone apply early and receive an email from Villanova with the opportunity to switch school application to liberal arts school to increase chances of being admitted?

what school did you apply to? Did this come last night?

My kid has not received such an email (applied to school for Engineering). What does the letter actually say?

Applied to VSB and the email came yesterday. Thinking not a good sign.

Did you apply ED or early action?

Villanova Website says ED notification before 12/1, anyone know when exactly?

Last year they said by 12/15 and they came out on 12/15. Early in the day on 12/15 they posted on the Villanova Admissions IG that decisions would be out at 5pm ET but they actually came out at 4:30 ET. So…they moved up the date this year which is great - waiting is so hard! If they repeat last year they will actually come out on that day…BUT 12/1 is a Sunday…so who knows! Good luck!

they JUST posted on IG that EDI decisions will come out Monday 11/25!!!

I wonder what time. Wish it wasn’t a school day. Maybe it will be in the evening?

Hope time of day is the same this year.

My DD applied ED1. We are wondering what time it will be posted too! She’s so nervous!

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Recommendation Letters, Transcripts & Personal Statements for Law School

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Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation are an extremely important part of your application. They are a chance for others to commend your accomplishments both in and out of the classroom. Typically, law schools ask for three (2 academic, 1 professional). For your professors, it is ideal to choose two who you have either had multiple classes with, have excelled academically with them, or they are a professor in your major and therefore know a more accurate extent of your academic capabilities. For a professional reference, this could be a supervisor at an internship, job, community service organization, etc.

It is important that, when asking for rec letters, to give your writers enough time to fill them out. When making the initial ask, give an approximate deadline for when you would like them to complete the letter (ideally at least more than 3 weeks away). You should also consider attaching a draft of your personal statement for them to read over and reference.

See this attachment for an example on how to ask for recommendation letters.

Transcripts

Transcripts are quite straightforward; in that they are the academic summary of your time spent at your institution. You can request your transcripts via your myNOVA account. Our third-party vendor, Parchment, will then send your electronic transcripts to LSAC on your behalf. These will then be sent off to your schools.

It is important to note that law school’s require transcripts from the following institutions you have attended:

• Community colleges
• Undergraduate and graduate institutions
• Law, medical, or professional institutions
• Institutions attended for summer or evening courses
• Institutions attended even though a degree was never received
• Institutions from which you took college-level courses while in high school even though they were for high school credit
• Institutions that  clearly sponsored  your overseas study
• International transcripts , if applicable

If you have any questions about this, please visit the Law School Admission Council’s website on Requesting Transcripts.

Personal Statement

The personal statement is, at its core, a 2-page double-spaced essay reflecting on a culminating/impactful experience you have gone through that has shifted your worldview or taught you a valuable lesson; and how this experience connects to your journey to law school. The personal statement is unique in that it can be more narrative in nature. However, there are certain beats that are important to touch on throughout the essay:

• Create a strong hook to get the reader’s attention
• Craft a thesis statement that serves as your summarizing sentence and provides a preview to what you will be discussing throughout the essay
• Develop a theme (What did you learn about X and how does it connect to Y?)
• Connect to law school

Overall, your personal statement should provide a window into a part of your life that admission counselors will not be able to glean just by reading your application. The topic that you choose can be quite personal in nature, providing you feel comfortable sharing it.

If you would like someone to review your personal statement and provide feedback, please visit the following resources:

• The Writing Center (for grammatical minutiae and sentence structure)
• Pre-Law Advisor (for topic choice and overall flow)

Additionally, to get started, please use this Brainstorming Worksheet to begin constructing your outline.

• Undergraduate Admission /
• Applying to Villanova /
• First-Year Writing Supplement

VILLANOVA FIRST-YEAR WRITING SUPPLEMENT

The Office of Undergraduate Admission seeks applicants with characteristics that reflect our three core values: Veritas (Truth), Unitas (Unity) and Caritas (Love). These values define us as Villanovans. They are indelibly printed on our University seal and are a clear indication of our Augustinian identity.

At Villanova, we view our writing supplements as a unique opportunity for students to move beyond the transcript and introduce the individual behind the application. Villanova requires applicants to submit both their Common Application essay and  Villanova writing supplement . The supplemental response must be different from the response shared in the Common Application essay section.

Villanova Writing Supplement (2024-25)

For the Villanova-specific essay, we hope to gain a deeper understanding of your thoughts, experiences, and opinions. Choose one of the five topics below and submit a written response in  about  250 words.

Prompt One: St. Augustine states that well-being is “not concerned with myself alone, but with my neighbor’s good as well.” How have you advocated for equity and justice in your communities? 

Prompt Two: What is a lesson in life that you have learned that you would want to share with others at Villanova? 

Prompt Three: "Villanova" means "new home." Why do you want to call Villanova your new home?

Prompt Four: As an Augustinian community, we value recognizing individuals for their true selves. Please share with us a time when you were misjudged based on your identity, background, experiences or interests.

Prompt Five: At Villanova, we often say "each of us strengthens all of us." Please detail a time when someone has borrowed some of your strength in their time of need.

Common Application Essay

Please also submit the essay of your choice from the 2024-25 Common Application Essay Prompts .

Important Note

The Admission Committee expects that each writing supplement be the original work of the applicant, unaided by artificial intelligence. Those found to be submitting writing that is not their own may be denied or have their admission rescinded.

To alleviate the stress and anxiety surrounding the composition of your writing supplements, please consider these tips. We hope they may help guide you as you craft your responses!

Speak Your Truth

Every person has a story to tell. We want to know yours! Your writing supplements are a window into your truest self. Share what makes you unique and express yourself authentically.

This should be fun! Most of your application is largely unchanging. Parts of high school may or may not have gone as planned, but your writing supplements are something you are creating from scratch. When done well, it can show your personality and character. Embrace that!

Make your words count and worry less about counting your words

There are no right or wrong answers.

The questions we craft are done with the intent of getting to know you. There is no magic formula or secret code. We are looking for you to think critically and give us insight to add to your application.

Seriously proofread and proofread seriously

A well-crafted response is usually the product of many revisions. Please review your content and edit your work before you submit it for consideration. You may be surprised to learn how often we come across avoidable typos or grammatical errors. We know you are eager to complete your application, but taking a little extra time to check your work can go a long way!

Ask for a second opinion, not a rewrite

It can be helpful to ask someone to read over your writing to make sure everything makes sense, but also keep in mind that this needs to be your voice. While any suggested improvements can help serve as some guidance, they should not completely change the original content.

APPLYING TO VILLANOVA

• FIRST-YEAR APPLICANTS
• TRANSFER APPLICANTS
• APPLICATION DATES AND DEADLINES
• APPLICATION ESSAYS
• FIRST-YEAR ADMISSION PROFILE
• APPLICANT STATUS PAGE

Villanova University Office of Undergraduate Admission 800 E. Lancaster Avenue Villanova, PA 19085

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