Discover the big questions you’ll explore this year—and how innovation can supercharge your answers.

Wash U.
The upgraded way.

WUSTL Supplemental Essays
— The Class of 2026 Guide —

  • Start your Supplemental Essay Success below by previewing this guide’s three sections:

    Information ⋄ Inspiration ⋄ Innovation

    Discover strategies designed by an Ivy Alum and over three hundred success stories!

  • — Wash U. in St. Louis —

    Explore The Three Sections
    Inside This Upgraded Guide

    — Preview The Guide —

  • — Information —

    In this section, explore this college’s supplemental essay prompts for Class of 2026 applicants—along with this college’s Supplemental Styles to streamline your essay-building process!

    — 1 of 3 —

  • — Inspiration —

    In this section, read successful supplemental essays from our own Accepted Alumni! See the ideas, values, and missions that stand out to admissions at even the most selective colleges.

    — 2 of 3 —

  • — Innovation —

    In this section, learn success-proven methods to streamline your application and essay-building process. Discover methods designed by an Ivy alum with over 300 student success stories!

    — 3 of 3 —

  • — The WashU Guide —

    Find aligned inspiration,
    discover time-saving innovation,
    and build inspiring supplemental essays.
    Ready to start your success story?

    — Scroll Down To Explore —

  • — Supplemental Essay Prompts —

    Through Guide Section 1 of 3—Information—explore this college’s supplemental essay prompts for Class of 2026 applicants, along with this college’s Supplemental Styles to streamline your essay-building process!

Supplemental Length


200 Word Maximum

Supplemental Style


Diversity & Difference

Supplemental Essay Prompt 1


— WashU St. Louis —

  • — WashU Required Supplemental —

    Please tell us what you are interested in studying at college and why. Undecided about your academic interest(s)? Don’t worry—tell us what excites you about the academic division you selected. Remember that all of our first-year students enter officially “undeclared” and work closely with their team of academic advisors to discover their academic passions. You can explore all of our majors and programs on our website. (250 words)

    — 250 Word Maximum —

Supplemental Length


150 Word Maximum

Supplemental Style


Unique & Uncommon

Supplemental Essay Prompt 2


— WashU St. Louis —

  • — WashU Optional Supplemental —

    This optional question allows you to add another dimension to your application – something that the admissions committee might not learn by reading your transcript or your personal statement.

    If you prefer, you may focus your optional 90-second video submitted through the WashU Pathway on addressing one of these three questions. (Students who choose to submit a written response to one of these questions may still opt in to sharing an optional video).

    WashU is a place that values diversity of perspectives. We believe those perspectives come from a variety of experiences and identities. Respond to one of the following prompts to help us understand “Who are you?”:

    — Option 1 —

    WashU supports engagement in the St. Louis community by considering the university as "In St. Louis, For St. Louis." What is a community you are a part of and your place or impact within it? (250 words)

    — Option 2 —

    WashU strives to know every undergraduate student "By Name & Story." How have your life experiences shaped your story? (250 words)

    — 250 Word Maximum —

Supplemental Essay Information


— WashU St. Louis —

Supplemental Strategy


Class of 2026 Applicants

Supplemental Essay


Insider Information

  • — Supplemental Essay Strategy —

    Streamline your supplemental essay process with our Supplemental Strategy—and bring WashU within your reach!

    Throughout our Supplemental Essay Guides, we provide clarity through our Supplemental Essay Styles. The Styles streamline the entire supplemental essay-building process—and create more success stories.

    Streamline your application process with the Supplemental Style Strategy—upgraded for Class of 2026 Students who dream of studying at WashU!

    — Upgraded Class of 2026 Essentials —

  • — Supplemental Essay Examples —

    Through Guide Section 2 of 3—Inspiration—read Successful Supplemental Essays from our Accepted Alumni! Discover ideas that stand out to admissions at WashU, and find inspiration for your own success story.

Accepted Alumni


Essay Example

Supplemental Style


Major & Missions

Supplemental Essay Example


— WashU St. Louis —

  • Featured Supplemental Essay Prompt For WashU Applicants:

    Please tell us what you are interested in studying at WashU and why. 200 Word Maximum.

    Successful Supplemental Essay Example From Our Accepted Alumni Student:

    My science curiosities were, admittedly, born from childhood idealism. But from seeing Nanna search for remedies and conducting service in [City], I became determined to practice medicine with an empathy toward diverse backgrounds, difficulties, and stories.

    As an aspiring physician and biomedical researcher, I hope to learn through WashU Biology, discovering ways to innovate—from enzymatic treatments to potential atherosclerosis cures. Through the IQ curriculum, TableTalk chats, and carving research niches, I could bridge disciplines at WashU. I’m captivated by WashU exploration, from IQ Integrations like Phage Hunters and The Individual and Society—to Dr. Michael L. Gross’s utilization of HDX to innovate Alzheimer’s treatments.

    In the past, shadowing at a [City] hospital and conducting outreach showed me glaring inequities in places miles away. Through WashU service learning courses like Health and Wellness in the Community, research within St. Louis, and the MedPrep program, I want to learn from diverse communities—and ultimately dissolve entrenched barriers. I aspire to lead Campus Y Programs, City Faces, and more to foster empowerment through STEM education, nutrition initiatives, and healthcare access.

    At WashU, I would chase more than curiosities—I would be part of a community that embraces diversity, drives discovery, and promotes equality with every action.

  • — Supplemental Essay Strategy —

    Through Guide Section 3 of 3—Innovation—learn success-proven methods to streamline your entire supplemental essay process. Our methods are designed by an Ivy Alum and 300+ student success stories!

  • — WashU Application Upgrade —

    From guiding hundreds of students, we know that your success story takes much more than one essay—especially in 2025.

    We are passionate about helping students master the process from start to submission—and to have clarity and confidence at every step. That’s why our innovative guides are curated for Class of 2026 students with big dreams.

    A successful WashU Application requires the Supplemental Essays you see above, and much more. Below, learn what success looks like—from start to finish.

    Start Your Admissions Success Story

  • — Start-To-Submission Success —

    Embrace our success-proven methods to build your application essays—and find inspiration to help you at every step.

    During the Upgraded Process, College Application Phase Five is the time to embark on some of the most challenging yet rewarding college application components—the specific Supplemental Essays essential for most colleges.

    During this phase, learn to master the process of crafting successful College-Specific Supplemental Essays—and bring more colleges within your reach!

    Explore Highly-Successful Applications

  • — Upgraded Application Process —

    Start your admissions success story with methods built by our Ivy League Founder and over 300 student success stories!

    Our success-proven Five Phases Application Approach helps students streamline the entire college application process through success-shaping frameworks and more opportunities for aligned action.

    We are passionate about guiding students through our start-to-submission application approach—because success stories require much more than one essay.

    Discover Upgraded Application Consulting

  • — Supplemental Essay Strategy —

    Streamline your supplemental essay process with our Supplemental Strategy—and bring WashU within your reach!

    Throughout our Supplemental Essay Guides, we provide clarity through our Supplemental Essay Styles. The Styles streamline the entire supplemental essay-building process—and create more success stories.

    Streamline your application process with the Supplemental Style Strategy—upgraded for Class of 2026 Students who dream of studying at WashU!

    Supplemental Guides & Success Stories

WashU.
The upgraded way.

Start Your Own Success Story