Gonzaga University supplemental essays

These are Gonzaga University's 2025-26 prompts. The 2026–27 wording was not yet published when this page was verified. Most schools keep prompts the same or change them lightly; confirm on gonzaga.edu before you submit.

The prompts, one by one

1. Values in action essay (choose one)up to 300 words · Community

   “A Gonzaga education promotes dedication to human dignity, social justice, diversity, global engagement, solidarity with the vulnerable, and environmental stewardship. Reflecting on these values, how have you shown your commitment to standing for and with others in your actions?”

   What it's really asking

   Two things at once: which community actually shaped how you think, and what you will bring to Gonzaga University because of it. The second half is where most drafts stop short.

   Where drafts go wrong

   Describing the community instead of your role in it, or choosing the one that sounds impressive rather than the one that changed you. "Diversity" as an abstraction, with no scene.

   The shape of a strong answer

   Pick a community you can describe with a scene, not a label. Show one moment where it taught you something or asked something of you. Spend the last third on what that means you'll do at Gonzaga University: a specific contribution, not "bring my perspective."

2. Presidential Speaker Series essay (choose one)up to 300 words · Community

   “Gonzaga's Presidential Speaker's Series invites leaders from around the world (such as LTC Olga Custodio, America's first Latina military pilot or Cotopaxi founder Davis Smith) to share their work and passions with the GU community. If you were able to invite any living person to come and speak to the GU community, who would it be? Why would you want to invite them?”

   What it's really asking

   Two things at once: which community actually shaped how you think, and what you will bring to Gonzaga University because of it. The second half is where most drafts stop short.

   Where drafts go wrong

   Describing the community instead of your role in it, or choosing the one that sounds impressive rather than the one that changed you. "Diversity" as an abstraction, with no scene.

   The shape of a strong answer

   Pick a community you can describe with a scene, not a label. Show one moment where it taught you something or asked something of you. Spend the last third on what that means you'll do at Gonzaga University: a specific contribution, not "bring my perspective."

3. Nursing applicants essayup to 800 words · Why this major

   “What experiences have led you to choose the field of nursing? Why do you believe nursing is a good career path for you?”

   What it's really asking

   The moment this subject stopped being a class and became a question you couldn't drop. Gonzaga University wants evidence you've chosen on purpose, not by default.

   Where drafts go wrong

   Turning it into a résumé: grades, awards and "I have always been passionate about." A list of achievements is not a reason to study something. Grand missions ("to cure cancer") read as borrowed.

   The shape of a strong answer

   One specific experience, one specific confusion or question it left you with, and what you did about it on your own. Then one or two things in Gonzaga University's version of the major that match that question. Small and real beats big and vague.

Every US applicant also writes the Common App personal statement: 650 words, seven prompts. Don't repeat it here; the supplements are for what the statement didn't show.

A self-check before you submit

Cover the school name and read the essay. Then cover your name and read it again. It should fail the first test (it only makes sense for Gonzaga University) and pass the second (only you could have written it). If it passes the first test, it's a brochure. If it fails the second, it's a template.