Essay guide · 2026–27 cycle
The intellectual curiosity essay
This prompt checks whether you think about things when nobody is grading you. The trap is choosing a large topic and describing it. The reader can read about AI or climate anywhere. What they cannot get elsewhere is the way your mind moved through one specific question, including the wrong turns.
No card. Paste a draft and Admitify reads it line by line against the question it has to answer. It never writes for you.
What the question is really asking
Whether you think about things when nobody is grading you. The school wants a specific idea, question or project and the way your mind moved through it.
Name-dropping a big topic (AI, climate, quantum) and describing it instead of your own thinking about it. Essays that could have been written from the Wikipedia page.
One specific question or thing you made. The wrong turns and what you tried next. What you still don't know. Curiosity reads as unfinished; that's the point.
How to write it, in order
Pick one specific question or one thing you made, not a field. “Why do my sourdough loaves rise differently in winter” is better than “chemistry.”
Describe the first thing you tried and why it did not settle the question.
Describe what you tried next. The sequence of attempts is the essay.
Say what you still do not know. Curiosity reads as unfinished; a solved question reads as a report.
If the prompt asks you to teach a class, design the first session, not the syllabus. What would you put in front of students in minute one, and why.
Before you submit
- The topic is narrow enough that you could explain it to a friend in two minutes.
- At least one attempt is described as not working.
- No sentence could have been written from the topic's Wikipedia page.
- The last paragraph contains an open question.
- The word “fascinating” does not appear; the fascination is shown instead.
Every school that asks it
30 schools, 37 prompts. Click a school for all of its supplements, word counts and a prompt-by-prompt guide. Schools marked with a cycle year show last year's wording; the 2026–27 version was not yet published when verified.
- California Institute of Technology150-200 words
“If you had to choose an area of interest or two today, what would you choose? Why did you choose your proposed area of interest? If you selected 'other', what topics are you interested in pursuing?”
- California Institute of Technologyup to 200 words
“Tell us about a time your learning in STEM was shaped by another person or group — either because you needed help, offered help, changed your thinking through collaboration, or contributed to someone else's understanding. What did that experience teach you about learning and working with others?”
- California Institute of Technologyup to 200 words
“Tell us about a time your approach to a STEM problem, concept, or project mattered as much as the outcome. How did you work through uncertainty or persist creatively in tackling the problem? What would you still defend about your process, regardless of the outcome?”
- California Institute of Technologyup to 200 words
“Regardless of your STEM interest listed above, take this opportunity to nerd out and talk to us about whatever STEM rabbit hole you have found yourself falling into.”
- California Institute of Technologyup to 200 words
“Tell us about a STEM question, problem, idea, or project that has held your attention over time. What drew you to it, how have you pursued it, and what do you still want to understand?”
- California Institute of Technologyup to 200 words
“Tell us about something you created, tested, repaired, modeled, coded, built, or redesigned. What problem were you trying to solve and what did the process reveal to you?”
- California Institute of Technologyno stated word limit
“Is there anything about your academic preparation, coursework, school context, or learning experiences that would help us better understand your readiness for Caltech?”
- Columbia Universityup to 100 words
“List a selection of texts, resources and outlets that have contributed to your intellectual development outside of academic courses, including but not limited to books, journals, websites, podcasts, essays, plays, presentations, videos, museums and other content that you enjoy.”
- Stanford University100-250 words
“The Stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. Reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning.”
- Yale Universityup to 35 words
“If you could teach any college course, write a book, or create an original piece of art of any kind, what would it be?”
- Brown University100-150 words
“If you could teach a class on any one thing, whether academic or otherwise, what would it be?”
- University of Pennsylvaniaup to 200 words
“The College of Arts and Sciences is designed to foster discovery and connection. Describe something you are curious about—something you'd like to learn more about or find a new approach to—and how you might pursue that curiosity in the College.”
- Barnard Collegeup to 50 words
“At Barnard, inquiry starts with asking bold questions about the world. What is one bold question on your mind and what about it piques your curiosity?”
- University of Southern Californiano stated word limit
“If you could teach a class on any topic, what would it be?”
- Tufts University100-200 words
“Tell us about an engineering or science-related project that you have helped build, design, create, or iterate in the past two years. What was the project and what was your role?”
- Carnegie Mellon Universityup to 300 words
“Many students pursue college for a specific degree, career opportunity or personal goal. Whichever it may be, learning will be critical to achieve your ultimate goal. As you think ahead to the process of learning during your college years, how will you define a successful college experience?”
- Washington University in St. Louisup to 250 words
“Tell us how you would use this combined degree to explore the intersection of these two disciplines?”
- Georgetown Universityup to 500 words
“Founded in 1789, the Georgetown College of Arts & Sciences is committed to the Jesuit traditions of an integrated education and of productive research in the natural sciences, humanities, social sciences, and fine arts. Describe your interest in studying in the College of Arts & Sciences.”
- Colgate Universityup to 250 words
“Colgate students immerse themselves in social and intellectual pursuits that inspire them. Tell us in 250 words or less what inspires you and why you want to pursue that at Colgate.”
- Haverford College150-200 words
“Tell us about a topic or issue that sparks your curiosity and gets you intellectually excited. How do you hope to engage with this topic or issue at Haverford?”
- Davidson College250-300 words
“Davidson encourages students to explore curiosities in and out of the classroom. What is a topic, activity or idea that excites you? Tell us why. Examples may include hobbies, books, interactions, music, podcasts, movies, etc.”
- Washington and Lee Universityup to 250 words
“Reveal to us how your curious mind works by sharing something you spend considerable time thinking or learning about.”
- Wake Forest Universityup to 150 words
“Tell us what piques your intellectual curiosity or has helped you understand the world's complexity. This can include a work you've read, a project you've completed for a class, and even co-curricular activities in which you have been involved.”
- Lehigh Universityup to 150 words
“What makes the Computer Science and Business (CSB) program the best fit for your academic and/or professional goals?”
- Brandeis Universityup to 200 words
“Brandeis believes in taking your education out of the classroom and into the world. Imagine your learning extended beyond the classroom. What topic would you want to explore, and how would you pursue it?”
- University of Rochesterup to 250 words
“The University of Rochester is a place where curiosity and creativity meet. How will you combine our academic flexibility and co-curricular opportunities to create an experience that reflects your interests and ambitions?”
- American Universityup to 250 words
“American University students identify as changemakers and describe themselves as passionate. Describe a belief, hobby, idea, issue, or topic about which you're excited.”
- University of Washingtonup to 450 words
“We want to know why you are excited to push your education outside the areas of academic learning with which you are most comfortable. To help us understand your enthusiasm for exploring different ways of thinking and learning tell us: What do you pay attention to? What is a unique lens through which you see the world? How does that connect to your current interests and future curiosities?”
- University of Marylandno stated word limit
“The most interesting fact I ever learned from research was…”
- University of Wisconsin–Madisonup to 650 words
“Each student is unique. Please tell us about the particular life experiences, talents, commitments, and/or interests you will bring to our campus.”
- Stony Brook University (SUNY)up to 250 words
“Please tell us how pursuing a PhD in STEM will help you achieve your educational and professional aspirations?”
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Instituteup to 500 words
“State your reasons for choosing the field of games and simulation arts and sciences, making reference to your portfolio if one has been submitted.”
- Mount Holyoke College250-400 words · 2025-26
“What do you find fascinating? Choose a person, place, concept, idea, or theory and tell us why!”
- Dickinson Collegeup to 50 words · 2025-26
“What topic or idea could you write or converse about endlessly?”
- Sarah Lawrence College250-500 words · 2025-26
“Sarah Lawrence students are often described as hyphenates: filmmaker-sociologist-historian, environmentalist-photographer, psychologist-novelist, economist-poet. In 250-500 words, tell us about seemingly disparate interests you have brought together, or hope to bring together at Sarah Lawrence.”
- Sarah Lawrence College250-500 words · 2025-26
“Students at Sarah Lawrence are asked to design their own research questions directly with faculty, and then answer them through intensive semester-long projects that frequently inspire a blend of intellectual rigor and creativity. In 250-500 words, tell us about a text, problem, or topic you would love to explore over a semester or a year, and what you would hope to achieve through that work.”
- Quinnipiac Universityup to 250 words · 2025-26
“Why do you have an interest in applying to the Radiologic Sciences program? Please discuss any relevant experiences you may have had in this field.”
Common questions
- Does it have to be academic?
- Most prompts say no. A question about why a card trick works, or how a local bus route was designed, shows thinking as well as a physics question does, often better.
- Should I show how much I know?
- Show how you found out. Knowledge is the result; readers are grading the process.
- Can I write about a research project?
- Yes, but write about the part where you were confused, not the abstract. Research essays that read as lab reports lose the reader on sentence two.
Prompts verified September 2026 against each school's published application. Browse all schools A–Z. Spotted a change? Tell us.