Featured Supplemental Essay Prompt For Dartmouth College Applicants:

The University of Miami's official mascot is the ibis. Folklore maintains that the native marsh bird is the last to take shelter before a hurricane hits and the first to emerge once the storm passes, making it an apt symbol of courage and resilience.

Considering your ability to control your own motivation and behavior, how have past experiences helped build your courage and resilience to persist in the face of academic and life challenges so that, once these storms pass, you can emerge in continued pursuit of your goals? 250 Word Maximum.

Successful Supplemental Essay Example From Our Accepted Alumni Student:

Even while my voice took its time, computing revealed problem-solving at my fingertips. In my 8th-grade Gateway to Technology class, as I dragged blocks to move my animated turtle, the possibilities seemed limitless. Since then, I've followed STEM wherever it leads—from school computer science courses, to independent Python study, to nerve-wracking robotics competitions.

More recently, however, I discovered significant issues that computing had not resolved. While working at a local pharmacy in a low-income neighborhood, I spoke with customers experiencing immense difficulty. They faced barriers to accessing necessities such as insulin; they faced unemployment, financial difficulties, even housing insecurity. I realized that problem-solving meant more—I could ultimately create solutions to help communities like these.

Helping my customers, many of whom became my friends, put my problems into perspective. I continued helping others in the ways I could, from taking on more mentoring roles in robotics to advocating for inclusion with my school's peer leadership team. Assisting others through their difficulties—from middle schooler meltdowns to older customers in need—helped build my resilience and courage.

As I explore the mission-driven and passionate learning community at UMiami, I look forward to channeling the resilience I’ve built to uniting computer science with fostering access and equity. From promoting equity in Miami communities to ultimately developing CS-based solutions, I plan to unite innovation with action.

With the UMiami community and my future career, I want to shape a world in which no one faces barriers to healthcare, safety—or dignity.