Featured Supplemental Essay Prompt For University of Florida Applicants:

During high school, what is the most enriching long-term or ongoing activity in which you have participated outside of the classroom? Tell us about it – Why is it enriching to you? What have you learned about yourself by participating in it? How does this activity fit into plans to maximize your college experience? The activity does not have to be sponsored by your school, but you should have participated in it since you started high school. Please limit to one activity that has been significantly meaningful to you, and be specific. 300 Word Maximum.

Successful Supplemental Essay Example From Our Accepted Alumni Student:

I took a seat around the fire with all of my campmates and counselors. The counselors encouraged us on this night, titled Empowerment, to share the stories of what brought us there. We all gathered around the circle, slowly opening up about our experiences with having a parent who was experiencing, in remission from, or lost from cancer.

Thankfully, my mother is still in remission from breast cancer, but that night enlightened me to all the pain there still is for patients and families. During the fall of my sophomore year, I applied to volunteer at [Redacted] Hospital in hopes of bringing comfort to those experiencing health issues—much in the way the counselors helped me at [Program Name] when I was 12.

I was elated to be assigned to work in the Nursing Unit from January to May that spring. I was able to talk with patients and their families. I was able to bring them welcome distractions with the Activity Cart—a collection of board games, puzzles, crosswords, and coloring books. I was able to assist the nurses by restocking medical supplies and bringing patients their meals.

Through these experiences and more, I learned that all people have struggles and demons far beneath what you can see from the outside. This lesson has instilled in me the importance of compassion and selflessness, and I hope to spread that to the University of Florida community. I would love to volunteer within the UF Health Shands Hospitals to support patients and provide comfort in their times of hardship.

As I continued to help healthcare workers and comfort patients and families, I formed connections that were truly priceless. Volunteering at [Redacted] reminded me of the comfort I felt when I was 12 years old, knowing that my family wasn’t alone.