How to Write the Georgetown Supplemental Essays: Examples + Guide 2026/2027

Last Updated on 08/10/2026 by Ethan Sawyer

Located in Washington, DC, and providing an outstanding academic experience, expansive internship opportunities, and robust collegiate athletics, it isn’t hard to see why Georgetown is a popular college choice for many social seniors. Georgetown’s application offers a traditional blend of writing prompts, including a personal statement, a “Why us?” essay for several of its colleges, and an extracurricular essay. Though the prompts may be standard, the tips, ideas, and examples below can help you stand out from the field.

Before you begin writing, you may want to get deeper insights into the kind of student Georgetown is looking for, and how it views itself. You’ll find an extensive, by-the-numbers look at its offerings, from enrollment and tuition statistics to student life and financial aid information, on its Common Data Set. For a better sense of how Georgetown envisions its role in academia and how it wants to grow and evolve, read its strategic plan.

This is your basic extracurricular activity essay, and will double with many other prompts from other schools. Already written an extracurricular essay you love? Copy, paste, and call it a day.

If not, you can view a thorough, step-by-step guide to writing the extracurricular activity essay at this link, or keep reading here for some tips on choosing a topic and a strong sample essay written specifically for Georgetown.

Picking a Topic

Here are a few steps you can take to identify a topic. 

1. Go to your activities list and pick 2-3 possible topics.

2. Go through the BEABIES exercise (either mentally or by filling out the chart) to decide which topic might yield the most content. 

3. Double check with your personal statement to make sure you’re showing some side of yourself that’s not currently being discussed at length there. 

Let’s check a couple examples.

Example: Narrative + Overcoming a Challenge

Because this student is writing about overcoming a challenge, she uses a narrative structure, telling a linear story and explaining what she walked away with. 

If there were a “cry graph” for the number of times students at my school broke down from freshman to junior year, it would increase exponentially. We often found ourselves weeping together in philosophy class, one of the only safe spaces to open up emotionally about the constant pressure we all experienced. I was alarmed at the number of times I heard “I’m going to kill myself” in the classroom on a daily basis, and my closest friend confessed that she considered quitting school. In short, my school community was very, very stressed. These red flags led me to decide that it was time to change the picture of the cry graph and create a space other than philosophy class where we could support each other, so I founded the Psychology and Mental Health Club.

I researched empirically proven de-stressing methods, and found that yoga, art therapy, and canine therapy can lower blood pressure and cortisol levels while increasing oxytocin levels. I organized stretching and doodle sessions, and collaborated with the library to host therapy dogs so that students could ‘paws’ and relax. After each event, we asked students to indicate their mood before and after; 96% of students responded that their stress decreased. 

I am elated to say that the Mental Health Club seems to have successfully reversed the ‘cry graph.’ We have become a mindful, supportive, tight-knit community, and we are no longer defined by anxiety–rather, we are now defined by our dedication to mental health awareness and balance. I have received numerous requests to continue and expand the club’s work, so we plan to hold our sessions every two weeks, and to introduce meditation, calming music, herbal teas, and other mindfulness activities that I continue to explore.

Tips + Analysis:

This author uses her extracurricular essay to explain how she overcame a challenge in her school community. You can find a whole host of tips and ideas for this narrative style extracurricular essay here, but the following are a few quick takeaways:

1. Raise the stakes. We need to know why we should care about the challenge your extracurricular activity is working to solve. When this author shares the commonality of hearing students’ suicidal ideation, we can see why this is an important problem to solve. 

2. Be specific about what you did. This author not only explains that she created a club, she also details both the distinct steps she took to generate a solution and the specific services her club offered. 

3. If possible, share quantitative outcomes. We all probably trusted that the therapy dog sessions were effective (see: any puppy ever), but this author drives that point home with data: 96% of post-session student responses showed a decrease in stress. 

Example: Montage + Making Connections

This student uses a montage structure for his essay, using different aspects of the extracurricular activity (debate) to demonstrate interest and achievement in a whole host of areas (philosophy, critical thinking, public service, self-awareness, self control)

Initially, debate seemed nonsensical: lambasting opponents while arguing improbable scenarios. But over time I’ve learned that it’s more than competition that drives me to stay up all night looking for evidence: I love learning about the political and ideological underpinnings of our society and the way they shape us.

On an easy debate tournament weekend, I research foreign diplomatic agendas and synthesize the information into coherent debate evidence. When tournaments become more hectic, however, I delve deeper into the works of philosophers and social critics and translate the knowledge into debate argumentation. While researching foreign policy, critical theory like Heideggerian phenomenology and constitutional details, I’ve developed an ability to critically analyze argumentation, make sense of the world around me and creatively express myself in an academic setting.

My hard work has paid off. In the past four tournaments, I’ve received a Top 10 speaker award for the varsity division consisting of about 50 debaters. This trend has increased my credibility in my debate league to such a level that my partner and I were invited to participate in a series of public debates at LA City Hall to defend the water policy for the drought. The opportunity allowed me to actually impact the public’s awareness and accept a larger responsibility in the workings of my community.

More importantly, however, debate has taught me to strategically choose my battles. When I prepare my arguments, I know that I can’t use all of them in the end of a round. I have to focus. I’ve learned to maximize my strengths and not try to conquer everything. Moreover, I’ve learned to be responsible with my choices. A wrong argument can mean losing if we can’t defend well. Not only do I now know how to zoom in from a bigger picture, but I also know how to pick the right place to zoom in to so I can achieve my goal.

Debate has turned me into an responsible optimizing, scrutinizing and strategizing orator. 

Tips + Analysis:

As with the earlier example, you can find a wealth of tips for an “uncommon connections” style here. You can also find some distilled tips and ideas below. 

1. Identify skills and learnings you’ve gained from the extracurricular activity, and where else those skills show up. This author has three primary takeaways from debate: an interest in philosophy, becoming a more vocal and active community member, and the ability to choose his battles. In your essay, you can earn bonus points by highlighting unexpected places those skills have shown up. This author could have cited the way she applied a philosophical concept to a drama performance she did, or how her participation in the LA City Hall debates led to her attending a climate march. 

2. Organize your essay effectively by addressing each connection in its own paragraph. One possible structure for each paragraph is:

   • Name the skill or takeaway

   • How does it show up in your extracurricular activity?

   • How does it show up somewhere else, possibly unexpectedly?

3. Summarize the takeaways clearly. This is even more important if your takeaways are uncommon or unexpected. This author names each outcome of her engagement with the debate team in her closing sentence: responsibility, efficiency, a critical eye, and the ability to strategize.

—

Part—and really, a big part—of the college experience is being exposed to new people and perspectives (this is a big part of why colleges want diverse classes—they tend to view engaging with new, possibly uncomfortable ideas as part of the point of college). 

So this prompt is the perfect springboard for showing your natural curiosity and interest in engaging in lively, productive discussions. “Productive” is key here—how have you learned to engage in ways that lead to understanding and growth (rather than, say, yelling), and how have you changed because of what you’ve learned from (or discussed with) others?

A few things to keep in mind as you brainstorm possible topics for this prompt:

• Don’t think you have to write about a knee-jerk issue and a blow-up here. You can. But the point of this prompt is essentially to help a college see the kind of student you will be in a classroom—can you engage with people who disagree with you in ways that lead to productive discussions rather than just shouting or conflict. (See “Tips and analysis” below for more on this.)
• Focus more on the engagement, change, and growth than on the conflict. How you engaged on the issue, what you learned, and how you grew are far more important to your readers here than the conflict itself. You can plan on spending fairly little word count on the conflict/topic, so that you can spend most of your time exploring some deeper whys.

For a bigger guide to these kinds of prompts, with further examples and analysis, head here.

Here’s an example essay written for a similar prompt for Brown that illustrates how you’ll want to approach these kinds of prompts:

Example essay:

The perspective of my father consistently challenges me. He lives in Missouri and does not believe the government should issue mask mandates and that as long as we take vitamins we will be all right. He believes that the government is trying to manipulate the general public with restrictions that neglect the individual freedoms of the people. I, on the other hand, believe that mask mandates are essential to ensure that the general public is better protected. 

He wanted me to visit him in Missouri for our usual slate of activities—the State Fair, ComicCon, water park, and World War II museum—and I wasn’t sure what to do: I wanted to make good on my plans with my dad, but also wanted to stay true to what I knew was right. 

In the end, I decided to go and see him, but laid out clear rules and conditions that would make me comfortable. Personal relationships are important to me, and I want to maintain a connection with my dad despite the fact that we live far away from each other and it is hard for us to accept our differences in ideas. 

At the same time, I needed to draw healthy boundaries that would make me feel comfortable and respected. I’m invested in public health, and want to be a model of doing the right thing, even if it would have been a blast to whoop my dad’s butt in the Magic the Gathering tournament at Comic Con. 

Tips and analysis

• Show your stance. One common fear with these “differing opinion” supplemental essays is that the admissions officer reading it may not agree with you. Guessing the admissions officer’s personal position is actually not the point of these essays. Many colleges have opted for supplemental questions like this because of widespread public concern around free speech on college campuses and requests from their college leadership and Board of Trustees to identify students who are willing to listen to multiple viewpoints. A student’s response is more powerful when they specifically clarify their position, rather than sticking to vague terminology so that the reader will see them as “neutral.” Otherwise, you run the risk of coming off as apathetic or indifferent. Here, this student gives specific examples of their support for COVID-19 mask mandates, which was a pretty polarizing issue in the United States. Other students may choose a less controversial opinion— either route is fine! You can choose any opinion, so long as it A.—represents a “strong disagreement” based on your own values-system—and B.—concludes with a clear sense of how you approach dialogue.
• Consider the “yes, and” approach. No, it’s not just a recent Ariana Grande bop/banger/ popular music term—it’s also a lifestyle. Admissions officers are looking to identify instances that show your college-readiness and maturity across your application. Colleges appreciate students who understand that most important disagreements are nuanced and can’t be solved by binary, black-and-white solutions. This student’s dilemma–wanting to maintain their meaningful personal relationship with their dad while not compromising their boundaries, comfort, and staunch belief in public health guidelines—provides a great case study for this point. They had to embrace a hybrid solution to honor their intersecting values: YES, I want us to continue to bond and enjoy one another, AND here are the ways I’m comfortable doing that. Choosing a disagreement that was difficult for you to voice or challenged multiple values you hold dear is a great way to show that you’re ready to tackle complexity—on college campuses and beyond.

And here’s an essay written for Princeton’s old version of this prompt:

Example Essay:

I probably argue with my grandfather more than I do with most other people combined. It’s not because we’re at odds. We just have different perspectives, influenced by our experiences—his as a life-long resident of India, mine as a first-generation American. 

One pretty common argument we have is over Eastern vs. Western medicine. My solution to a headache, for example, is to take Advil. His is to rub Tiger Balm on his forehead and coconut oil on the soles of his feet. I try to convince him of the benefits of taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory, describing how it can reduce inflammation by blocking the production of certain chemicals. He tries to convince me that the balm creates a cooling effect, distracting the brain from pain and relaxing the muscles. Rather than becoming sore at or resentful of each other, we’ve grown closer through these debates, and I’ve learned how to disagree without letting the situation get acrimonious.

Through these interactions, I’ve learned that a discussion shouldn’t be confrontational. The purpose isn’t to win, but to share my knowledge with the other party and learn from them as well. So rather than saying, “Rubbing balm on your forehead is stupid; you should just take Advil,” I say, “While rubbing balm on your forehead seems to work, I’ve noticed that taking an Advil has a stronger and more immediate effect.” Respecting the opposing party makes them more willing to hear you out. 

I’ve also learned there’s a fine line between logic and emotion. I try not to take personally the things my grandfather says in an argument. Just because he doesn’t think taking Advil is the better solution doesn’t mean he thinks I’m stupid. If I take it that way, we begin to move away from what the argument really was about—the facts. 

I’ll continue to apply these learnings in discussions and debates I have with others, realizing that having  a “successful argument” isn’t about winning. It’s about sharing my opinion and learning from theirs, expanding our perspectives without alienating each other.

— — — 

Tips + Analysis

• The conversation topic can be anything. You might assume that for your essay to be attention-grabbing, you need to pick a “hot topic” like a recent SCOTUS decision or climate change. And those topics are fine, if they’re really reflective of who you are. Instead, consider challenging yourself to go more obscure. Less cliché. More you. Smaller discussions can be just as lively … just as relevant … and just as revealing. Who didn’t spend time debating whether the Vans tennis shoes were gray/teal or white/pink? Or whether brussel sprouts are great or gross. (Spoiler: The shoes are actually “mahogany rose” and “true white.” The jury is still out on the sprouts.) This student does a great job at finding a unique cultural difference—Tiger Balm vs. Advil—and showing how he’s used that as a springboard to finesse his art of debate and understanding.
• But it’s important to show growth or a new understanding. In the tennis shoes debate, perhaps what was most interesting to you was the realization that people truly saw one set of colors vs. another. And they weren’t necessarily wrong: Our brains perceive colors in different ways. So perhaps this argument revealed to you that issues really aren’t black and white (or gray/teal) but that there’s sometimes a spectrum of “right answers” stemming from our backgrounds or even our physiology (e.g., taste buds, eyesight)—and that’s changed the way you’ve approached other, more impactful arguments. The student above uses the last lines in his second and third paragraphs—and the entire closing—to show how his perspective has shifted—all because of headaches.

• Be willing to be wrong. We can learn as much from our failures as we do from our successes. In fact, sometimes, it says more about us when we’re willing to be vulnerable enough to admit we’re wrong—or, at least, not entirely right. This student echoes that point, acknowledging it “isn’t about winning.” Instead, having viewpoints that are different from those he respects and admires helped him learn about balancing logic and emotion as well as practice the art of listening.

— — —

Check out this complete guide for writing a Common App personal statement.

Here’s an example of a Common App personal statement that doubled nicely for this Georgetown prompt.

Example:

The ocean has always been outside my door. I’ve moved several times within my home state of Connecticut, but even in unfamiliar places I’ve always been able to rely on its presence. 

The ocean reminds me of the good in my life: boating with my family in the summer months, and lobstering as the weather grew colder. I loved it despite my father throwing me into a bloom of sea jellies when I was eight. This love and appreciation grew as I became older, along with my desire to learn more, so this past summer I worked as a camp counselor at the Mystic Aquarium. I expected to learn about young children and camp activities, but I actually learned a lot about human behavior by observing sea life.

As a camp counselor, I was in charge of sixteen 3-6 year-olds. I was thrown into a world of snacks, line up ropes, and play time. Each of the kids had their very own personality, aptly developed in their few years on earth. I was asked a billion questions: “How many penguins are there?” (36), “How deep can a seal dive?” (300 to 400 feet for up to 30 minutes). I learned new ways to interact and communicate with the kids. I talked slower, used fewer words, and developed a deep curiosity for the students’ favorite colors. What I had not expected was that I would also be learning, and that the animals would be my teachers.

For example, the six sea lions live together in an outdoor enclosure. While many people assume the 1,100 pound male Astro runs their simulated outdoor environment, it is actually the 300 pound older female named Eden. She may not look in charge, but as the matriarch she keeps order. Eden taught me that even though I may not be big and scary, I can still lead. Whether as Head of Student Activities, organizing bonding activities for students, or as Head of our ‘Bowl-A-Thon’ fundraiser, I can use my skills-communication, empathy, and resourcefulness, among others-to be an effective leader. 

The 36 penguins also live in their own community. They groom each other, swim, and eat together. Penguins gather together for warmth and protection, and all newcomers are welcomed into the community. This reminds me of my freshman year when I left home for the first time. I felt lost in my new habitat, but now, almost four years later, I have found my space and a group of girls who have become my community. They have been my support system, and my school has become a second home.

Clams are essential to many ecosystems, yet are often overlooked by the aquarium’s guests. One of our giant clams (so overlooked he doesn’t even have a name) was facing a death sentence due to the deterioration of the valve holding his shell together. A team of aquarists came together and used their resources to keep the clam alive. He became the little guy everyone was rooting for. As I moved to new schools (five in total), I often felt like an overlooked clam. Now as I find myself becoming one of the oldest at my school, I look out for clams in need of some extra care and find a way to keep them together. 

When people think of aquariums they typically conjure up images of exotic fish, dolphins, belugas, and turtles. These large sea creatures usually assume the spotlight, but there are many others, and even the smallest clam has an important role in its community. I have learned the inherent and foundational value of hard, often unseen work, along with the well earned grandeur of larger, outward-facing accomplishments. One is essential to the other. The ocean has highlighted for me the value of everyone’s contributions and the importance of community, qualities which will serve me well in college and beyond.

Tips + Analysis:

1. Reach for Less Common Connections. People read essays about sports and expect them to be about hard work. They read essays about volunteering and expect them to be about selflessness. You know what they don’t expect? An essay about an aquarium really being about human nature. The less common connections made throughout this story help paint a unique picture of the writer. And note that while the less common topic (aquarium) helps, it’s the connections and insights that are more important. Meaning you can possibly make essays about sports and volunteering work-you’ll just have to spend a good chunk of time exploring how they connect to things we probably don’t expect them to (like, say, literature, or healthy boundaries, or…).

2. Let details be your voice. We learn, for example, that the writer worked with “3-6” year olds in the third paragraph of the essay. But rather than simply saying, “they asked me a lot of questions,” the writer uses specific details to put us in those moments. More than just simply relaying questions the kids asked, the writer also intersperses each question with their own narration (e.g., “‘How many penguins are there?’ (36)”). The details help us experience what the author did, while offering elements of voice that communicate the writer’s depth of understanding.

3. The thread is your guide. This writer’s montage essay consists of a series of examples of life-lessons learned through different experiences working at the Mystic Aquarium. The aquarium is their guiding thread. Using specific examples from their work related to that thread, they manage to reveal various key insights. Ultimately, each example (i.e., the clams, sea lions, penguins, and 3-6 year olds) reveals something about how the writer has come to understand the importance of an individual’s contributions in the context of a group. That’s some pretty cool stuff coming from an essay about an aquarium. A key takeaway: your “topic” is really just an excuse to help a college see the values/insights/skills/qualities/interests you bring to the campus.

Depending on which college within Georgetown you’re applying to, you’ll have a different prompt to address here.

At their core, most of these prompts are asking for a “Why Georgetown?” response. Here’s a complete guide on how to write the “Why us?” essay-read through it and pay close attention to the “Why Cornell” and “Why Penn” examples (our favorites).

A note on Georgetown College: 

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. Applicants interested in the sciences, mathematics, or languages are encouraged to make specific references to their choice of major. (500)

This is a pretty straightforward “Why Us” prompt.

As you write yours, be sure you’re demonstrating how your interests connect to/are driven by your core values (and note GTown’s direct value of “restless inquiry“).

Action Items:

1. Reflect on what you want out of your college experience. Collect those insights using this chart. Identifying specific or niche interests and needs will help you find equally specific resources at Georgetown and make your “we’re a perfect match” (see more on this at the “complete guide” link above) case more compelling. 

2. Spend at least an hour researching 10+ reasons why Georgetown might be a great fit for you, mapping them out in the third column of the chart. 

   1. Remember, we don’t want to prove that Georgetown is the best school for every student-we want to prove that it’s the best fit for you. This means that, for all the specifics you provide about Georgetown, you’ll also want to explain why those specifics appeal specifically to you. You’ll see examples of this in the sample essay below. 

3. Create an outline based on either Approach One, Approach Two (recommended), or Approach 3 (as explained in our “Why us?” guide). 

Also note that although they explicitly encourage “applicants to the sciences, mathematics, public policy or languages… to include examples related to that field,” you could definitely tailor your examples to your academic interests even if they’re not included in any of the ones named. With that in mind, this essay can take on a bit of a “Why Major?” flavor in which your “mini-movie” is related to some formative class / book / event / etc… from your past.

A note on the Walsh School of Foreign Service: 

The Walsh School of Foreign Service is one of the most well-regarded programs in the country for students interested in global issues and international relations. So this essay needs to be next-level if you want to have a chance. Here are some quick tips: 

1. Committing to a college path dedicated to developing the tools needed to address worldwide issues is heady stuff, and it typically comes from a deep-seated desire to not just to help others but do so on a global scale. So what’s the story of your inspiration? Why foreign service? Was it a personal experience that had a profound effect on your outlook on the world? Or do you have a more general interest in effecting lasting change? If so, why?  To brainstorm some ideas, it may help to think of this as a “Why Major” essay, with foreign service as the “major.” Here’s a complete guide to the “Why Major” essay.
2. You can also weave in “Why Us” details to show how you/your goals and Walsh fit together well.
3. You might use this as an opportunity to describe work you’ve done around a particular issue, one that stirred in you an intense urge to tackle a specific global concern. Past students, for example, have described work they’ve been doing on gender rights, the climate crisis, and everything in between. If this sounds like you …
4. Consider doing the Powerwall exercise to tease out some material—only, in addition to “what you did” and the “impact you had,” you’ll want to add a 7th, even more important component: what impact do you hope to have in the future? And maybe even: How can SFS equip you to do that?
5. In answering the last sentence of the prompt, consider describing how the work/research you’ve done on a significant issue has revealed to you how complex this issue is. What makes it complex? What are the forces in play? How has that inspired a future in foreign service? Show us how your brain works, and how your heart is fully engaged. 
6. If you do choose to write about a specific topic of global significance, become a semi-expert on your topic. In other words, research it enough so that you’re pretty sure you know more than your reader about it. This may take some time, but it’s worth it. Chances are, other students applying to SFS have spent considerable time either working on or studying their topic of choice, so showing you know your stuff will improve your chances of standing out.

Quick Note: If all this sounds way too intense, ask yourself: Do I want to be a Hoya? Or do I really, really want to go to SFS? If you’re not super interested in/excited about being in SFS, maybe consider just applying to Georgetown. If you’re not sure, definitely do some more research.

Action Items:

1. Reflect on what you want out of your college experience. Collect those insights using this chart. Identifying specific or niche interests and needs will help you find equally specific resources at Georgetown and make your “we’re a perfect match” (see more on this at the “complete guide” link above) case more compelling. 

2. Spend at least an hour researching 10+ reasons why Georgetown might be a great fit for you, mapping them out in the third column of the chart. 

   • Remember, we don’t want to prove that Georgetown is the best school for every student-we want to prove that it’s the best fit for you. This means that, for all the specifics you provide about Georgetown, you’ll also want to explain why those specifics appeal specifically to you. You’ll see examples of this in the sample essay below. 

3. Create an outline based on either Approach One, Approach Two (recommended), or Approach 3 (as explained in our “Why us?” guide). 

Georgetown College Essay Example

Example:

Cynefin: a Welsh word for a place where a being feels it ought to be; it is where nature feels right and welcoming.  It is both a concept that gets right to the heart of my cultural roots and an expression of my first experience at Georgetown.  It was a chilly but beautiful autumn day; the heated, yet compassionate debates and cozy atmosphere of the campus warded off the cold.  There were no words to describe my feelings-in English. However, later on, I connected those ineffable emotions to cynefin.  To me, Georgetown has the potential to vault me to self-actualization, the all-encompassing fulfillment of my potential, both as an individual and as a member of society.  

For me, education includes every element of me as a person, and Georgetown’s focus on this is what makes it truly special.  At Georgetown, computer science isn’t just about technical understanding; it is also about comprehending the ethical implications of technology on society, as illustrated by Georgetown’s STIA program. Since attending the Cambridge Scholars Program and writing my capstone thesis linking Mrs. Dalloway and Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, I have sought out unconventional connections between complex subjects. The Ethics Lab at Georgetown will allow me to do that kind of work, connecting crypto-currency and emerging economies and considering the human effects of developing technology. I can also be involved in some of the numerous projects that are occurring through the Georgetown Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program. I also hope to develop mentoring relationships with professors like Lisa Singh, who conducted research on the relationship between social media and gun violence. Her use of crowdsourced data could inform the further development of my app, RIPPL, which similarly incorporates user reported data to track toxic algae blooms. Moreover, the wealth of diverse research projects at Georgetown would enable me to explore new aspects of computer science, such as cybersecurity and cryptography.

Georgetown’s appeal isn’t only rooted in computer science; language, literature, and music also fascinate me.  Having studied Chinese since the second grade, I plan to continue learning about Chinese language and culture by participating in Georgetown’s initiative for U.S.-China Dialogue on Global Issues.  Georgetown also offers literature courses that serve as a compliment to computer science, such as Professor Pireddu’s “The Writing Factory: Science, Machines, and the Technology of the Word in 20th-Century Italian Literature”.  The harp has been my musical passion for eight years, and I intend to nurture that passion further through Georgetown LEAP and the GU Orchestra. Branching out beyond my STEM specialty in such ways is key to my vision of education.  

Another critical aspect of that vision is exposure to the perspective of others.  Currently, I’m a board member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee at my school.  I’m aware of my own limited perspective, and I hope to build on my current DEI work at Georgetown by joining ERASE (educating students about social inequality) where I can interact with, and learn from, a variety of different people, across cultural, racial, political, and social differences.  

It’s equally important to me that I contribute to Georgetown in my own way. My program, Code Autism, aims to empower the autistic community through teaching coding.  Just as Best Buddies began at Georgetown, I believe Georgetown could be the well from which Code Autism springs, as it has the capacity to become an impactful and wide-reaching organization on both a local and national level.

Georgetown’s motto is “cura personalis”-education of the whole person.  This exemplifies my own view of education.  Just as I felt that day when I visited the campus, I feel now that cynefin best defines what Georgetown is to me: a place where my passions, values, intellect, and aspirations are elevated and can be at home.

Tips + Analysis:

You can find a robust list of ways to make your “Why us?” essay stand out in our full guide, but here are a few takeaways from this example:

1. The author identifies her own interests and needs. After attending an academic program, she developed an interest in “seeking out unconventional connections between complex subjects.” This makes her mention of Georgetown’s Ethics Lab more compelling. Similarly, she shares her work with Code Autism, being on the DEI committee at her school, and her creation of RIPPL, all of which connect to a resource on campus. 

2. Rather than simply naming the course/opportunity at Georgetown that interests you, show how you fit together. This student, for example, doesn’t just name the Ethics Lab, she writes, “I have sought out unconventional connections between complex subjects. The Ethics Lab at Georgetown will allow me to do that kind of work, connecting crypto-currency and emerging economies and considering the human effects of developing technology.” As a general rule, try to make sure every detail you mention about GTown is connected back to your interests and values.  

3. Through those details and “so whats”, show how you and Georgetown align. As you connect details back to you, be sure that you’re demonstrating some of your core values, especially if we aren’t seeing them in one of your other Georgetown essays. And ideally, show your some of your values are the same as Georgetown’s values.

APPLICANTS TO THE WALSH SCHOOL OF FOREIGN SERVICE

In the last quarter of 2019, the Lebanese people, suffering from dire economic conditions, had been protesting their government’s inefficiencies, corruption, and inability to govern, demanding the resignation of its sectarian leaders. People from across different sects—Sunnis, Shias, Christians—united in an attempt to overthrow the ruling government. 

At the root of the crisis is the makeup of Lebanon’s sectarian government, which was solidified as a solution to end the Civil War in 1990. The system divides power evenly among the three religious groups fighting for control of Lebanon—with the presidency allocated to a Maronite Christian, the prime ministership to a Sunni Muslim, and Speaker of Parliament to a Shia Muslim. However, while the system ended the war, it created new challenges by turning warlords into politicians loyal only to each of their own religious factions. As the government became a source of personal gain, the Lebanese people were forced to rely on patronage and clientelism, feigning allegiance to their religiously affiliated political parties to gain basic needs such as a job, healthcare, or education. 

The situation came to a head on August 4, 2020, after two consecutive explosions shook Beirut, leaving nearly 200 dead, 6,500 injured, 300,000 displaced, and US$10-15 billion in damage. The explosions took place in Lebanon’s main port, in a storage facility that illegally stored ammonium nitrate, a highly explosive chemical, triggering a new round of demonstrations over the government’s mismanagement. Using the slogan “all of them means all of them,” the Lebanese people demanded the government’s entire ruling body step down, but while the Prime Minister resigned, the corrupt sectarian government remained in power. 

This sectarian power divide has made Lebanon vulnerable to foreign interference in addition to its implications for the people of Lebanon. While Shia leaders aligned with Iran, the Sunnis are with the U.S.-allied Arab Gulf states, and the Christians are with France. With the backing of foreign nations, the different factions within Lebanon have become emboldened to spread their ideology throughout the Middle East and beyond. The Shia faction, called Hezbollah, has funded terrorist groups in other countries, such as Yemen, Bahrain, and Iraq, threatening the safety of the global community.

As a Bahraini, I feel a special bond to Lebanon. Ours are two of the few Middle Eastern countries with religious and ethnic diversity, and their people have coexisted and intermarried over centuries. I am a product of that diversity: a half-Sunni and half-Shia, like many in Lebanon. It saddens me that although the people of Lebanon are united despite their sects’ differences, their government’s system divides them, threatening their safety and the peace and prosperity of the region.

The Lebanese government should follow Bahrain’s example in how it resolved protests and brewing conflicts that erupted from the Arab Spring: launch an independent inquiry to investigate human rights violations and initiate a national dialogue, which can be a first step toward restoring human rights and establishing a merit-based democratic system of governance. The leadership must take advantage of the French government’s support and President Macron’s proposal for international financial aid, which is conditioned on the government’s economic and political reforms and was also welcomed by the wealthy Gulf Arab states. But this international support requires serious political and economic steps inside Lebanon. Even if the sectarian power-sharing system cannot be abolished (or will not abolish itself), it has to reset its priorities so that all three offices of the government provide the Lebanese people with basic rights. This national dialogue must generate a plan of action that focuses on economic prosperity, not sect loyalty, and abolishes the government’s use of quotas when filling its jobs. 

Tips + Analysis

1. Dive deep into your chosen global issue. This essay manages to offer a nuanced view on the protests in Lebanon despite its (necessary) brevity—no easy feat. Readers have no doubt that this writer understands the complexities of the geopolitical situation they’re describing. The writer seems as though they’ve already worked to develop the kind of understanding we’d expect them to explore freshman year at Georgetown. Language like this shows that the writer understands how complex situations are built on one another.

2. Make it personal. Though this writer is not Lebanese, they find various ways to connect their experiences to their overarching topic (e.g., “As a Bahraini,” and “a half-Sunni and half-Shia, like many in Lebanon”). This personal connection reinforces our understanding of the writer’s genuine interest in the issue; the writer isn’t just interested in global affairs as an abstract concept, but sees its impact on an experiential level.
   

3. How will you play a role? No one expects you to have solved a massive geopolitical conflict before entering college (though, if you have, definitely consider writing about that!). All the same, it’s important to show readers that your interest in Foreign Affairs isn’t the interest of a spectator—colleges in general and Walsh in particular want students who aspire toward a “future in service to the world.” How do you hope to engage on the issues you raise? In addition to demonstrating their impressive understanding of the conflict in Lebanon, the writer ends the essay by suggesting measures the Lebanese government can adopt, drawing inspiration from Bahrain.

APPLICANTS TO THE MCDONOUGH SCHOOL OF BUSINESS:

Cosmopolitan: not the magazine or drink, but a word that has stuck with me since my freshman year history class description of Ancient Rome. It was defined as a place where humans from different backgrounds, countries, and beliefs can come together and learn from each other while still maintaining their unique identities. This idea of an international community full of new ideas and people has always excited me. Although I cherish the small and quaint communities that I grew up in, and appreciate the diverse and thought-provoking perspectives Miss Porter’s has ingrained in me, I am looking forward to expanding my growth immersed in a bustling city. I believe that Georgetown will offer me the opportunity to be part of a vibrant, cosmopolitan community, where smart, engaged students from around the world will come to trade ideas and create lifelong relationships.

I want an interdisciplinary education that prepares me for a career outside of college. Georgetown’s Business and Global Affairs major combines the curricula of The McDonough School of Business and School of Foreign Service. This will allow me to explore my interest in political affairs, while also learning about the business world. I have taken ‘Accounting from Debt to Equity’ and ‘Microeconomics’ at my school, giving me a solid background for classes offered at McDonough such as ‘Global Business Experience’.

Georgetown also has many opportunities outside my intended major. Having attended an all-girls school, I have found a safe and productive space working with other women. I would love to get involved with The Period Empowerment Project and Georgetown’s Women’s Center to continue developing these valuable relationships. 

Georgetown’s location coupled with unique business programs, including the The McDonough School of Business/Walsh School of Foreign Service interdisciplinary Bachelor of Science in Business and Global Affairs, will provide and prepare for transformative internship possibilities at the White House and Congress. These opportunities will help me develop the necessary skills and language to communicate in the business world. Conversely, I can also learn outside of Georgetown’s campus and surrounding community. For example, the ‘Georgetown in Barcelona: Business Ethics and Marketing’ study abroad program will allow me to dive into topical issues such as sustainability.

The education of the whole student, as stated in Georgetown’s motto “cura personalis”, means learning in and outside the classroom. A Georgetown education will help me become a well rounded, community-focused, “cosmopolitan” leader who can help make meaningful and informed contributions to the world.

Tips + Analysis

1. Hook ‘em! While it’s the body of your essay that ultimately carries the weight, the first sentence/s of your essay is an important moment. It sets the tone for the essay, and, most importantly, it can make the reader want to keep reading. This writer hooks the reader by differentiating a unique term’s (“cosmopolitan”) popular associations to offer a profound insight into global unity and diversity. Playing with the reader’s commonly held notions is one tried and true way to start an essay, and if you’re interested in more ways to “hook” a reader, check out this blog post.
2. Show them you’re not just window shopping. It’s one thing to simply say “I’m interested in taking X class.” It’s quite another to demonstrate how specific courses you’ve taken in high school will prepare you for specific courses in your time at college. This writer notes that taking “Accounting from Debt to Equity” and “Microeconomics” in high school prepares them to take “Global Business Experience” at McDonough. Note that the writer didn’t just open up a course catalog and pick a McDonough class that sounded kinda cool. Instead, we get the sense that the writer has put some thought into what they’ll be tackling in McDonough’s courses and has mapped out some of the possible arc of their education, demonstrating their informed interest in the School. Want some help organizing  your own research into the school’s you’re applying to? Check out our guide on that here.

3. It’s not just about the major. Did you catch the writer’s mention of the Period Empowerment Project and Georgetown’s Women’s Center? It’s as if they’ve already penciled in their first club meeting. The result is that they’re demonstrating their interest in the applications of McDonough’s classes; they’re not trying to simply study the coursework for its own sake. This shows they’ve not only done their homework but also mapped out their college journey. They’re signaling: “I’m ready to learn, engage, and truly be a Hoya!” They’re also demonstrating how they want to be an active, engaged member who contributes to the community—some colleges’ prompts directly ask this question (“how will you contribute?”), but even for colleges that don’t, it can be a nice touch to add some detail that helps your reader see how you want to engage.

 

Special thanks to Nick Muccio for writing this blog post.

Rather than candy, Nick (he/him) went searching for people’s vacuum cleaners when trick or treating. He’s since found other ways to help people clean, usually involving their essays (though he has great ideas on carpet maintenance, too). He earned a degree in Psychology from Bates College, where he rowed boats and acted in plays. Teaching high schoolers English for seven years taught him about the importance of presence and knitting sweaters. He sweats a lot, usually on purpose, and usually involving running shoes, a bike, or a rock climbing harness. His greatest fear? Heights. His greatest joys? Numerous, though shared laughter is up there.