College Essays Breaking Down the Villanova Essay Prompts Written by Zaragoza Guerraon October 12th, 2018 Prior to joining College Coach, I spent part of my career as director of admissions for the Boston Conservatory, where I oversaw overall recruitment and auditions for students interested in music, theater, and dance. I spent most of my admissions career, however, as an admissions officer for two institutes of technology. As an associate director of admissions at MIT, I directed overall recruitment and yield activities as well as international, transfer, and special student admissions. I also served as an assistant director of admissions for Caltech, where I handled specialized student recruitment and reviewed domestic and international student files. Learn More About Zaragoza essay prompts, essays, writing college essays, So you’ve decided you want to be a part of Nova Nation, but the only thing standing between you and your dreams of cheering on the Wildcats in Finneran Pavilion is the Common App and a supplemental essay. Fear not, oh Wild D. Cat in the running: Villanova lets you choose which prompt to answer from a set of three options. And given their 250 to 1,000 word guidelines, you can build your admissions case as succinctly or verbosely as is your wont. Let’s take a look at the Villanova essay prompts: Option A: We believe that all members of our community should be committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. How would you contribute to this at Villanova? Don’t be fooled, this prompt isn’t asking you if you fit any preconceived notions of diversity as defined by race, sexual orientation, gender, ability, socioeconomic status, faith, religion, or citizenship. So you don’t get a pass simply because you can’t check off the “diversity” box. Villanova’s explicitly asking “all members of our community,” not a preconceived few, about their commitment to Villanova’s ideals. So how do you welcome those whose backgrounds might not look like yours? How do you go about including others in your friendships, in your conversations, in your overall interactions with the world? How are you making diversity, equity, and inclusion a part of your life? Option B: Saint Augustine believed in the essential connection between the mind and the heart. Tell us about a time that your mind and heart were in conflict and how that was resolved. Villanova is not quiet about their love for Saint Augustine—he’s their foundational cornerstone. But you don’t have to be Catholic or steeped in Catholic tradition to understand the mind and the heart. In Augustinian practice, intellectual and spiritual growth often work in tandem. The search for Truth is not an egocentric exercise; it makes us aware of our place in the world, of our interconnectedness with others; it brings wisdom. So when did your mind ever veer from your heart? Have you ever chosen one over the other? Has your search for knowledge ever superseded community? Has your community ever shunned Truth? How did you reconcile the two? Option C: "Each of us strengthens all of us" is a concept that resonates deeply in the Villanova community. While this phrase may mean many different things, one aspect is that Villanovans rely on each other. Share a situation when you have needed help and what you have taken away from this experience. Interesting: Villanova isn’t asking you to highlight when you’ve been of service to others or when you’ve problem solved around the obstacles in your path. They’re asking for vulnerability here. But don’t stop there: what did the experience teach you about community? They’re giving you a big hint: “Each of us strengthens all of us.” What did you discover during your hour of need? What were the lessons learned and how are you applying those lessons moving forward? Do you view your relationship with others any differently as a consequence of your experiences? Related Resources Read | Posted on June 28th, 2024 Why NOT to use AI in Your College Essays Read | Posted on November 17th, 2023 Are Optional College Essays Really Optional? Read | Posted on November 6th, 2023 4 Tips for Writing the University of California Essays
