Essay guide · 2026–27 cycle
The leadership essay
Schools read “leadership” broadly. The youngest sibling who organises a family can answer this as well as a club president. What they want is a moment where you changed what a group did: a decision, how you got others to accept it, and what it cost. “As president, I led the team to success” contains no information.
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
Not your title but a moment where you changed what a group did. The school reads "leadership" broadly; the youngest sibling organising a family can answer this as well as a club president.
Describing the role instead of a decision. "As president, I led the team to success" contains no information. Taking credit for a group's work.
One situation, one decision you made that others didn't have to accept, how you got them to, and what happened. Include what it cost you or what you'd do differently.
How to write it, in order
Find one decision you made that others did not have to accept. That is the unit of leadership, not the position.
Describe the situation in two sentences and the decision in one.
Spend most of the words on how you got people to go along: what you said, who resisted, what you changed.
Say what happened, including what it cost you or what you would do differently.
Give the group credit for the group's work. Taking it all reads as exactly what it is.
Before you submit
- The essay is built around one decision, not a role.
- Someone in it disagreed with you at some point.
- The outcome is stated plainly, including anything that went wrong.
- Your title appears at most once.
- The last sentence is not about winning.
Every school that asks it
28 schools, 30 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.
- Princeton Universityup to 250 words
“Princeton has a longstanding commitment to understanding our responsibility to society through service and civic engagement. How does your own story intersect with these ideals?”
- University of Chicagono stated word limit
“And, as always… the classic choose your own adventure option! In the spirit of adventurous inquiry, choose one of our past prompts (or create a question of your own). Be original, creative, thought provoking. Draw on your best qualities as a writer, thinker, visionary, social critic, sage, citizen of the world, or future citizen of the University of Chicago; take a little risk and have fun!”
- University of Pennsylvaniaup to 200 words
“Wharton prepares its students to make an impact by applying business methods and economic theory to real-world problems, including economic, political, and social issues. Explain a current issue of importance to you and how you hope a Wharton education would help you explore it.”
- Dartmouth Collegeup to 250 words
“There is a Quaker saying: Let your life speak. Describe the environment in which you were raised and the impact it has had on the person you are today.”
- Dartmouth Collegeup to 250 words
“Labor leader Dolores Huerta stated: "We must use our lives to make the world a better place to live, not just to acquire things. That is what we are put on the earth for." In what ways do you hope to make—or are you already making—an impact? Why? How?”
- Cornell Universityup to 650 words
“Submit an artist statement describing your creative interests and practice. Address how your work reflects your artistic voice, influences, and process, and how studying art at Cornell AAP would support and expand your practice.”
- University of California, Los Angelesup to 350 words
“Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.”
- University of California, Berkeleyup to 350 words
“Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.”
- Georgetown Universityup to 500 words
“Georgetown University's Walsh School of Foreign Service was founded more than a century ago to prepare generations of leaders with the foundational skills to address global issues. Describe your primary motivations for studying international affairs at Georgetown University and dedicating your undergraduate studies toward a future in global service.”
- Georgetown Universityup to 500 words
“Georgetown University's Berkley School of Nursing is committed to the formation of ethical, empathetic, and transformational nursing leaders. Describe the factors that have influenced your interest in studying Nursing at Georgetown University.”
- University of Notre Dame50-100 words
“How does faith influence the decisions you make?”
- University of Michigan100-300 words
“At the University of Michigan, we are focused on developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future. In your essay, share with us how you are prepared to contribute to these goals. This could include the people, places, experiences or aspirations that have shaped your journey and future plans.”
- University of California, Irvineup to 350 words
“Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.”
- University of California, San Diegoup to 350 words
“Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.”
- University of Richmond350-650 words
“Richmond students turn ideas into actions. Tell us about a time you learned by doing, making, building, testing, helping, or leading and what that experience taught you about yourself, the world, or the kind of impact you want to have.”
- University of California, Santa Barbaraup to 350 words
“Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.”
- University of California, Davisup to 350 words
“Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.”
- Auburn Universityup to 600 words
“Tell us who you are, and who you want to become, by describing in detail a material object that holds personal significance to you or someone close to you. What stories, memories, or meanings does this object carry? How have those influenced the person you are becoming?”
- University of California, Santa Cruzup to 350 words
“Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.”
- Stony Brook University (SUNY)up to 650 words
“What aspects about medicine/dental medicine intrigue you? Describe how these aspects influence your life.”
- Virginia Techup to 120 words
“Share a time when you were most proud of yourself either as a role model or when you displayed your leadership. What specific skills did you contribute to the experience? How did others rely on you for guidance? What did you learn about yourself during this time?”
- Texas A&M Universityup to 100 words
“Are there experiences or opportunities that have shaped or influenced your abilities or academic record, which you have not already written about?”
- Cornell Collegeup to 650 words
“Submit an artist statement describing your creative interests and practice. Address how your work reflects your artistic voice, influences, and process, and how studying art at Cornell AAP would support and expand your practice.”
- University of Tennesseeup to 250 words
“If applicable, please share any circumstance(s) that would have had an adverse impact on your academic performance.”
- University of California, Riversideup to 350 words
“Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.”
- University of Oklahomaup to 650 words
“The University of Oklahoma believes strongly in educating leaders of communities in Oklahoma, as well as across the country and the world. Please share your leadership experiences and why they are important to you.”
- Morehouse Collegeup to 250 words · 2025-26
“Share about a time you held a leadership role. Explain what you learned about yourself and others in this experience.”
- DePauw Universityup to 100 words · 2025-26
“DePauw's mission is to prepare the leaders the world needs; in what ways do you intend to enhance your leadership strengths during your time at DePauw?”
- University of San Franciscoup to 200 words · 2025-26
“What will be your responsibility to others as a Jesuit-educated, BSN professional registered nurse?”
- George Mason University100-500 words · 2025-26
“Tell us about a time that you've been moved to act by something you read, a speech you heard, or a work of art that you experienced. What was it, and how did it impact you? What did you do — or what will you do — in response?”
Common questions
- What if I never held a leadership position?
- Positions are not the point. If you ever got a group of people to do something they would not have done without you, you have the material. Family, work and friend groups all count.
- Should I write about a failure?
- A decision that did not work, handled honestly, is often stronger than one that did. Readers are checking for judgement and ownership, not for a trophy.
- How is this different from the activity essay?
- The activity essay is about what you did; this one is about what you got others to do. If the essay would work with you alone in the room, it is the wrong essay.
Prompts verified September 2026 against each school's published application. Browse all schools A–Z. Spotted a change? Tell us.