george washington university mba essays

How to Write the George Washington University Supplemental Essays: Examples + Guide 2024/2025

TABLE OF CONTENTS

What are the george washington university supplemental essay prompts.

• Prompt #1: "Changing history" essay
• Prompt #2: "Meaningful dialogue" essay
• Prompt #3: Cisneros Hispanic Leadership Institute

This 200-year-old private research university is a forward- and outward- looking institution working to create a socially-conscious and civically-minded student body. Located in the heart of Washington, DC, The George Washington University also offers students a unique range of opportunities, from summer internships at the Smithsonian and Library of Congress to access to political leaders and government officials. If this one-of-a-kind college experience appeals to you, we’re here to help you ace The George Washington University’s supplemental essays.

But before we dig in, you may want to get a better sense of what The George Washington University is looking for. If so, 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 deep insights into how this private university envisions student success (and how it wants to grow and evolve), read through its strategic plan .

The George Washington University Supplemental Essay Prompt #1

Every applicant can choose from one of the following two essay prompts to submit.

At The George Washington University, our students frequently interact with policymakers and world leaders. These experiences and those of our alumni can shape the future of global affairs. If you had the power to change the course of history in your community or the world, what would you do and why? (500 words)

The George Washington University encourages students to think critically and to challenge the status quo. Thus, civil discourse is a key characteristic of our community. Describe a time when you engaged others in meaningful dialogue around an issue that was important to you. Did this exchange create change, new perspectives, or deeper relationships? (500 words)

How to Write each Supplemental Essay Prompt for the George Washington University

How to write the george washington university supplemental essay prompt option #1.

Both GW supplemental essay prompts center around core values like community engagement, leadership, civil discourse, and social justice. Each asks you to think critically about your own values (check out our Values Exercise if you’re not sure what these are) and how they might guide you to take action on the political, social, or cultural scene. 

It’s easy to get intimidated by such heady topics, but know going in that GW doesn’t expect you to save the world at 17, so don’t overthink this or convince yourself you don’t have a big enough “issue” to be a worthy applicant. You don’t have to find the formula to world peace for your reader to care. Something local can be just as powerful in an essay as something global here. Start with a topic you’re genuinely interested in, and go from there.

Still stuck? Here are two ways to brainstorm for this prompt ...

Issue → History:

Think about general issues you care about or challenges you feel you can improve through some kind of action. Past students, for example, have written about climate change, LGBTQ+ rights, gun restrictions, access to water, the criminal justice system, and the gender wage gap. Think of topics that inspire you to want to take action. Even better, think about why that issue means something to you. Does it connect to your identity in some way? Has it affected your life or your friends’ or family's? Was it something you were passionate about in high school? 

Narrow the topic down to a specific aspect that seems extra important. If you were writing about climate change, that could be something like fast fashion or toxic rain runoff. Basically, get into the nitty gritty.

After you’ve identified a more specific issue you care about and you’ve connected it to yourself in some way, research its history. Think about what you’d want changed about the issue in the present moment and then go back in time to identify how you’d achieve that change retrospectively. In the case of fast fashion, maybe you’d make it so that a big clothing brand like H&M never burned its excess clothes, or make it an industry norm that clothes were upcycled through congressional regulation. The world is as wide as your imagination. Think big, but also don’t be afraid to think small and local.

History → Issue:

Think about a historical moment, figure, event, or choice that intrigues you. Perhaps it was the “dancing plague” of the 1300s, the Kent State Vietnam protests, the unregulated rise of social media platforms like Facebook, or the Chinese Exclusion Act. Nothing is too big or too small.

Start tying the history to values and issues. So, for instance, the Chinese Exclusion Act was deeply rooted in institutional racism and anti-Asian hate in the United States. It’s tied to issues of power, immigration, and equity over who qualifies to be a “worthy” American. At this point, you should start to see how the history you find interesting is connected to issues we still face today.

Last, connect the issue back to you. Keeping with the Chinese Exclusion Act example, it could be about how countering anti-Asian discrimination speaks to your values or life experiences. Perhaps you identify as Asian, or you're from a family of immigrants. Or perhaps you’re a community-oriented person who’s benefitted from your involvement in organizations with lots of different perspectives, teaching you to value diversity in problem-solving. 

Notice, as you do your brainstorming, how the natural progression of each approach can provide a solid structural outline for your essay that you can follow when you start writing. Guiding yourself through the process will help you guide your reader as well.

Now, let’s take a look at a great example essay. Note that this was written for an older version of GWU’s prompt  with a 250 word count, so this is far shorter than it can be, but the overall content and execution are great to emulate.

Growing up, I was fascinated by Robin Hood. Yeah, I guess he did the wrong thing for the right reason, but what if we could apply that framework to guarantee food security to millions of people around the world? During a discussion on GMOs, I was introduced to the relationship between food security and poverty. The connection between the two fascinated me. And, after witnessing the plight of migrant workers in Saudia Arabia, I found my calling as an advocate: laborers left at sunrise in date farms, forced to sow earth that can’t provide them with basic necessities. Capitalism and its allies are exploiting the Global South, undermining its development and hurting vulnerable bread and butter workers. These tenets, which are heavily rooted in slavery, colonization, and forced labor, have equipped multinational corporations to stand as new colonizers who exacerbate poverty globally. Rolling back the corporate monopolization of biodiversity and giving farmers seed freedom are key to eradicating poverty in developing countries. If I had the power to change the course of history, I would regulate the privatization of seeds. By returning native seeds to their rightful owners and equipping individuals with resources to farm independently, we can generate local sources of income, feed millions of families, and take one step forward towards a more equitable world. And some day, in addition to holding corporations accountable Robin Hood-style, I hope to become the first hijabi U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, a journey I embarked on at George Washington.  — — —

Tips + Analysis

Start with a great hook. Ideally, you’ll keep the reader engaged from your first line. In this piece, the writer uses the Robin Hood analogy to conceptualize how she wants to hold corporations accountable. Notice, too, that she briefly references Robin Hood in her final paragraph as well, coming full circle and connecting start to finish (we call that bookending). When you write, try to quickly hook your reader with something unexpected that allows them to visualize the complex ideas you may have baked into the rest of your response.

Explain the “why.” It’s critical that you elaborate on why an issue or part of history is important to you. Get your reader to care by showing why you care. In this essay, the author explains how discussions about GMOs and the plight of Saudi Arabian migrant laborers led her to her calling as an advocate. Even better would have been for her to have gotten a bit more personal by adding details about the context for this discussion and how/why it resonated with her. You don’t have a ton of room for long explanations, but including details that answer the why is super important.

Elaborate on impact. Remember, the prompt asks about how you’d change the world. Don’t assume people know how, why, or what it would change. Lay that out for the reader. This student, for example, chose regulating the privatization of seeds. She explains what this would do (give seeds back to their rightful owners rather than to corporations that may not have farmers’ interests in mind) and briefly touches, in a broad sense, on what impact this could have (feeding more people, providing local sources of income, making things more equitable). But the essay would have been even stronger had she elaborated on why the change would have had such sweeping impacts. That why connection can be key to  showing your command of the topic while also demonstrating your critical thinking skills.

And here’s another nice example essay:

The movement to overthrow Iran’s Pahlavi Dynasty began as an attempt by the Iranian middle class to fight social injustice. But the exiled Grand Ayatollah Khomeini saw the Iranian Revolution as an opportunity to overthrow the government. He started spreading his sermons, encouraging the Iranian people to revolt while also creating alliances with secular anti-government movements. Upon his triumphant return to Iran on February 1, 1978, he declared an Islamic theocratic state, enforced Shia Islam and vowed to expand the revolution across the Midde East, changing the geopolitics of the region and destabilizing the world I grew up in.  Saudi Arabia and other neighboring countries responded to the threat by solidifying their Sunni identity, fueling political friction and sectarianism in the region. The rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia intensified, sparking historical crises and proxy wars, from Iran’s support of Hezbollah to the emergence of Al-Qaeda. My home country, Bahrain, also suffered from Iran’s toxic influence when its regime encouraged a Shia uprising, threatening the stability of our economy and security.  If I could turn back time, I would build a coalition of allies to persuade the Shah of Iran to invite Khomeini back as the Supreme Head of Religious Affairs, allowing him to reimplement some Islamic traditions. That way, the government would give Khomeini the power he craved, and the revolution for justice and peace had a better chance of continuing without being hijacked into a reign of terror, with limited influence from Khomeini. — — —

how to write the George Washington University Supplemental Essay Prompt option #2

In many ways, this question is very similar to Prompt 1, except it’s asking you to think about a more directly personal, rather than historical, experience. Again, at its core, the question is asking you to engage with the recurring themes—leadership, discourse, justice, and advocacy—that George Washington cares about and prioritizes. One way to approach this essay is to connect your values to a community you’ve been a part of and conversations you’ve had in/with that community. The key to that approach is good brainstorming.

Here are some steps you can take before you start writing:

Start with our Values Exercise . This will give you a sense of what motivates you and what you might want to highlight in your supplemental essays.

Spend a little time mapping out which communities you’re a part of and which are most important to you. Our guide on How to Write the Community Essay is a great place to start. Keep in mind that communities can be defined in a variety of ways, including place, culture, interests, political beliefs, hobbies, even your favorite sports team. Get creative.

Use the BEABIES exercise to generate your essay content for 2-3 of these communities, jotting down notes to these questions:

What kinds of problems did you solve or work to solve (personally, locally, or globally) in that community?

What specific impact did you have?

What did you learn (skills, qualities, values)? 

How did you apply the lessons you learned inside and outside that community?

Strong essays will have three main components: community + actions/dialogue within community + guiding values/values instilled. 

To offer some inspiration, let’s take a look at another great example. This one was written for a similar Princeton supplemental prompt, but would double nicely here.

A racist culture pervades my small town of Maryville, Tennessee. To outsiders, we seem complicit in this racism through our mascot: the Rebels. In August, my school voted me as Miss MHS: awarded to the student who contributes the most to the school and community through extracurriculars, academics, and community service and embodies the “Rebel spirit.” I was grateful for the award but appalled when the latter label was bestowed upon me. So, the girl who embodied the Rebel spirit rebelled. “Our mascot has foundations in racism. Changing the mascot is the bare minimum that we owe to the students that have been affected by the racism this mascot fuels,” began my (now infamous) social media post. My post was reposted, sent in groups, and met with intense hatred.  “The snowflakes won’t let us have anything these days. It’s literally a mascot,” read the most popular comment, insinuating that I was being overly sensitive. The student who wrote this, leader of a group called “Save the Rebels,” ensured that I was alienated as one of the few local supporters.  I messaged him and transformed an argumentative discourse into a healthy, multiple-day discussion about the roots and depiction of the mascot. We researched each other’s sources and began to understand the opposing side’s perspective. Yet, as we made progress, his friends pulled him away from breaking the barriers of polarization with me.  In an effort to apply the lessons I learned from this experience to make future dialogues more constructive, I want to create a safe space where individuals can exchange differing perspectives and attempt to understand each other’s position without fear of social pressure. In my next discussion of the mascot (because the struggle is far from over), I believe it will be impactful for the defenders of the mascot to hear the testimonials of students of color to substantiate my claim that the mascot brought about pain.  At Princeton, I hope to contribute to an environment free of judgment, where I can use the tools that I’ve gained to pave the way for a more effective, respectful dialogue. (349 words) — — —

Start with the issue at hand. This student wastes no time setting up the conflict that led to the discourse at the heart of the essay. This is helpful in orienting the reader because it quickly establishes the meaning behind the issue at hand, allowing room for her to elaborate on how the dialogue evolved and how it turned out.

Build a compelling narrative. The author here does a nice job of showing rather than just telling us how this dialogue impacted her. She could have easily summed up the online conversation in a sentence or two, but by establishing her role at the school and narrating the exchange she had with her classmate, she adds more life to her essay. We feel the experience in real time and get a clearer sense of the emotions she felt. We also have more appreciation for her interest in crossing polarizing political boundaries and striking up productive discourse. Quick anecdotes, distinctive sensory details, dialogue, and good pacing all help to engage your reader and make you relatable (and, thereby, more memorable).

Address the impact. A big aspect of this prompt is the last sentence, which asks about the impact the dialogue had. The author here does a great job of speaking to both the "civil discourse" and "issue that's important" angles of the prompt. But, if she had written her essay for this GW prompt, she likely would have elaborated on how the interaction influenced her own perspectives and relationships. Your answer doesn’t need to be neatly tied into a nice little bow as if everything were resolved or major changes resulted. Real life is often messier than that. But we still want to know—and this prompt specifically asks for—your takeaways. For this essay, for example, the author could have explained that, even though she didn’t change the other person’s mind, she may have planted a seed that led to more questioning down the line. Or she could have spoken to how it changed her approach to dialogue with more conservative classmates about another issue. This would have helped establish the impact of her actions in a more relevant way. 

How to Write George Washington University Cisneros Scholars Essay Prompt

Note: This essay is only required if you select that you’d like to be considered for admission to the Cisneros Hispanic Leadership Institute .

At the Cisneros Hispanic Leadership Institute, community is central to our approach to leadership. Therefore, Cisneros Scholars are selected as a cohort that navigate their four years at GW together. How would you contribute to a sense of comunidad in your cohort if you were selected as a Cisneros Scholar? (500 words)

If you’re thinking of applying to the Cisneros Hispanic Leadership Institute, chances are you might’ve already done some research into who they are and what being a Cisnero Scholar entails. However, if you haven’t, we highly recommend spending some time reading up on the program, their values, and what they offer. Broadly, Cisneros Scholars are chosen “​​based on academic achievement and a demonstrated commitment to service and leadership in the Latino community” where “cohorts are typically tight-knit groups who also participate as summer counselors and mentors for the Caminos al Futuro summer program for rising high school seniors.”

Conducting some extra research into the program will not only better inform your response and help shape which experiences you want to write about for this essay, but you may also find specific opportunities within the institute that you’re excited to include in your essay. You can find more information about the Cisneros Scholars on their website . 

Back to the prompt, important things to note are…

That community is central to their approach to leadership

That scholars are selected as a cohor t to navigate the 4 years of college together 

The question: How would you contribute to the sense of community in your cohort ? 

There’s a lot to unpack here, but you’ll basically want to include some background or an experience about a community you’re a part of and how you have contributed to that community (even better if you’ve contributed in a leadership capacity). Once you do this, you can then talk about how you would contribute to the community of your Cisneros Scholars cohort at GWU. 

Essentially, a way to think of this kind of “how will you contribute” prompt is that it’s a combo of “community/identity/background” and “why us” prompts: use some of your response to show how you’ve become who you are, and then show how those experiences shape what you will bring to the college through linking to specific opportunities/groups/details. Connect your unique upbringing, in a very broad sense of the word, with what the school offers and how you will make a great team.

While there are many things outside of “community” that might fit this prompt, if you’re looking for a way to brainstorm ideas, that’s a good place to start. (But keep in mind that you’ll want to include some “how will you contribute” details in your essay—this isn’t just a “tell us about a community” prompt.)

For a full guide to “community” essays , head there, but here’s the short version, plus how to add “how will you contribute” elements:

STEP 1: DECIDE WHAT COMMUNITY YOU WANT TO WRITE ABOUT

Create a “communities” chart by listing all the communities you’re a part of. Keep in mind that communities can be defined by...

Place: groups of people who live/work/play near one another

Action: groups of people who create change in the world by building, doing, or solving something together (Examples: Black Lives Matter, Girls Who Code, March for Our Lives)

Interest: groups of people coming together based on shared interest, experience, or expertise

Circumstance: groups of people brought together either by chance or external events/situations

STEP 2: USE THE BEABIES EXERCISE TO GENERATE YOUR ESSAY CONTENT

You’ll find detail on the BEABIES Exercise + a chart you can use at that link.

STEP 3: DO SOME “HOW WILL YOU CONTRIBUTE” RESEARCH

You’ll want to offer a few specific ways that show how the experience/s you’re discussing in your essay will allow you to contribute to the college. The easiest way to do this is to do some “Why Us”-like research and find ways you’ll engage with and contribute to the school’s community. 

STEP 4: PICK A STRUCTURE (NARRATIVE OR MONTAGE)

Step 5: write a first draft.

One important component to remember is that this prompt specifically asks about contributing to a sense of community in your cohort. Consider that the website mentions that cohorts are tight-knit groups—this is a community of people you’ll get to know really closely, so you might want to think beyond values that are typically tied to community, like inclusivity or acceptance (though you can also include those). For more ideas on this, be sure to take a look at the Tips + Analysis below.  

This example was written for a similar prompt from Rice. While it doesn’t fit the Cisneros Scholars question perfectly, it could be tweaked to work well, and should give you a good idea about how to go about crafting this essay.

“I'd like a veggie bowl please. And would you mind changing your gloves?” That got me several weird looks. Some from customers around me, others from Chipotle employees across the counter. But I was used to it. Over the years of asking for a change of gloves or to cut with a clean knife, the weird looks have become normal. My strict vegetarian diet follows the principles of Jainism that run in my family, a direct result of my Indian-American identity. From a young age, I’ve been questioned for wearing a sacred rakhi thread on my wrist, or bringing in homemade Indian vegetarian food for lunch. The Indian side of me is omnipresent. In explaining these differences, I’ve sometimes felt as though being different has made me less than those who were “normal.” This obviously isn’t true, but it’s taken me a while to realize that. Meeting friends who embrace and value my ethnicity has helped me understand that what makes me different actually makes me a more complete person. Like in language classes, where I’ve been able to use my struggles to communicate effectively in a second language while visiting family in India to bolster my ability to communicate in Spanish during class. As a result of my experiences as an Indian-American, I’ve been committed to advancing inclusion in society. In addition to taking small, personal actions, I’ve participated in numerous activities that seek to understand and help alleviate social injustices, like Junior Leadership Dayton (JLD). Through JLD, I witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of the opioid epidemic in a city with one of the highest rates of overdoses in the nation, and the struggles associated with rehabilitation. Talking to people in homeless shelters whose daily struggles exceeded what I had experienced in a lifetime, and helping underprivileged kids who grew up deprived of access to an education in the arts, I began to understand the magnitude of the issues that plague our society. I seek to include those around me regardless of their background, welcoming new freshmen in Science Olympiad, for example, or talking to the violist who might have otherwise sat by himself during rehearsal breaks. My experiences with those who have accepted me for who I am have led to my desire to promote an acceptance of others, something I’ll bring to Rice’s campus. — — —

Tips + Analysis:

Give us some background. You can say a lot with 500 words, especially if you focus on specificity and directness. Guide the reader into your world by dedicating a little bit of that word count to showing us how a community experience has shaped you to be who you are. This will then pay off later when you talk about how you can contribute to your cohort’s community in the future. This student’s experiences as a Jain and Indian-American have helped them embrace their differences and become a better communicator, which we later see shaped their values of inclusivity.   

Pick a strong example. Since leadership is both a core part of the Cisneros Scholars program and is mentioned in the prompt, including an experience that combines leadership and community would make for a strong example. Though the essay was written for a different school and prompt, this student picked a strong example where they combined community and leadership. They wrote that “as a result of [their] experiences…[they’ve] been committed to advancing inclusion in society” and elaborated on this by talking about their leadership experience within a community they are a part of, in this case, Junior Leadership Dayton.  

Feel free to write about a vulnerable moment. If there’s a moment like this for you in your journey, it’s a great detail to include—it’s what makes you more human and you can create a point of connection with the reader. Not only that, but we can see how you were able to grow and learn from a vulnerable moment. This student wrote: I’ve sometimes felt as though being different has made me less than those who were “normal.” This obviously isn’t true, but it’s taken me a while to realize that (vulnerable moment). Meeting friends who embrace and value my ethnicity has helped me understand that what makes me different actually makes me a more complete person (learning moment). 

How can you contribute to a sense of community in your cohort? As mentioned before, this prompt specifically asks about how you can contribute a sense of community in your cohort —the people you will become very close with over your four years of college (as opposed to, for example, contributing to a community you volunteered at for a day and might not have close ties to). In addition to things like inclusivity, acceptance, and other values that are normally closely-tied with community,  try thinking about unique aspects of yourself and your perspective that you could bring to a tightly-knit group that might already exhibit these values. For example, could it be your ability to motivate others and inspire positivity? Your ability to empathize and create strong connections? Your ability to be logical and consider all possibilities before making a decision? The possibilities are endless. 

With all these tips and examples in mind, you’re ready to start writing!

Special thanks to Elica for writing this post.

Elica (she/her) is a college essay specialist who has a love of language in all forms; she has degrees in linguistics, has taught academic writing at the university level, and has been coaching students on their college and graduate school admissions essays for over 7 years. When she’s not working with students or writing, Elica can be found reading, printmaking, and exploring nature. 

Top Values: Collaboration | Curiosity | Patience

Want advice on dozens of other supplemental essays? Click here

George Washington University 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Guide

Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 5

You Have: 

The George Washington University 2024-25 Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: 1 essay of 500 words

Supplemental Essay Type: Diversity

How to Write Compelling George Washington University Supplemental Essays

Unlike many other schools, GW’s supplemental essay is entirely optional! Before you close out this page, though, remember that they are seeking “students who have the academic preparation, personal qualities, and motivation to thrive in GW’s dynamic environment.” And what’s the best way to show you meet their standards? By writing the optional essay, of course! Both options center on world issues that are important to you but approach them from different angles. Read on to learn how to write a winning GW supplemental essay! 

GW Essay Prompts Breakdown

(optional) every applicant can choose from one of the following two essay prompts to submit., prompt 1: at the george washington university, our students frequently interact with policymakers and world leaders. these experiences and those of our alumni can shape the future of global affairs. if you had the power to change the course of history in your community or the world, what would you do and why (500 words).

Admissions wants to accept ambitious students who seek to leave the world a better place than they found it. If you had the power to change the course of history, what would you do? Take some time to brainstorm and write down anything that comes to mind. Maybe if you had the power, you would make higher education more affordable and accessible to first-generation children of immigrants like yourself. Perhaps you would decriminalize drug possession and allocate more funds to rehabilitation programs across the country to help fight the opioid crisis. Let your imagination run wild and show the George Washington University admissions committee that you aren’t afraid to dream big and imagine a better world. 

Prompt 2: The George Washington University encourages students to think critically and to challenge the status quo. Thus, civil discourse is a key characteristic of our community. Describe a time when you engaged others in meaningful dialogue around an issue that was important to you. Did this exchange create change, new perspectives, or deeper relationships? (500 words)

Engaging others in meaningful conversations about important issues can be incredibly intimidating and challenging, and the George Washington University admissions committee knows this. Nevertheless, we have all experienced standing up for what we believe in some capacity, so scroll through your memory to identify a time when you had an uncomfortable conversation with friends, family, or even mere acquaintances. Maybe you engaged your grandparents in a conversation regarding the Black Lives Matter movement. Were you able to clearly communicate your perspective? Did they have a different understanding of the movement after speaking with you? Perhaps you learned that one of your friends was a passive supporter of an organization that you vehemently disagree with. How did you broach the subject and what was the outcome of your conversation? You don’t need to have changed someone’s mind to impress admissions here. You just need to show that you’re not afraid to speak up about important issues and engage with those who may have different opinions than you. College will present you with a plethora of opportunities to meet and interact with people who are very different from you, so show GW that you’re game to learn, listen, share, and grow.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in GW Essays

We have been reading George Washington University essays for over twenty years now, so we know a thing or two about the most common mistakes students make. The most common mistakes to avoid are repeating the prompt in your essay (don’t waste your words), trying to sound like an academic (admissions wants to hear your authentic voice!), and using cliches (they’re ineffective and—let’s face it—lazy).

Why Choose College Essay Advisors for GW Essays

We at College Essay Advisors have been guiding students one-on-one through the essay writing process for the GW supplements for over twenty years. We take a holistic approach to these essays, considering each student’s application package as a whole and identifying their strengths to highlight. Our Advisors accommodate each student’s scheduling needs to virtually brainstorm, draft, and revise winning essays. It’s incredibly important to us that each student’s voice is preserved, and we pride ourselves in helping students to write successful GW supplemental essays that differentiate them from similarly qualified applicants. For more information, submit a contact form below or review our one-on-one advising services or list of student acceptances .

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Frequently Asked Questions

GWU requires one (1) essay of 500 words or fewer.

The admissions department at George Washington invites applicants to showcase their personality and make connections between their experiences and GW’s values. So, in short, admissions is looking for you to be authentic while demonstrating fit. That means spending a little time on the GW site to better understand their values and how they intersect with your own.

In order to make your GW essays stand out, we recommend giving yourself plenty of time to brainstorm , reflect on your stories, and piece together cohesive narratives that reveal new information about who you are and how you seek to make an impact on the world around you.

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5 George Washington University Essay Examples by Accepted Students

What’s Covered

Essay example #1 – journalism, essay example #2 – letter to the author, essay example #3 – honors at gw, essay example #4 – changing the world, essay example #5 – civil discourse.

• Where to Get Your Essays Edited

George Washington University is a private research university best known for its programs in international affairs, government, public policy, and journalism. Situated in the heart of Washington D.C., GW students have an incredible opportunity to gain first-hand experience in the nation’s capital.

Because of it’s great location and academics, GW has become increasingly competitive so you’ll need a strong essays  to stand out. In this post, we will share five essays real students have submitted to GW, as well as explain what each essay did well and were they could be improved. (Names and identifying information have been changed, but all other details are preserved).

Read our George Washington University essay breakdown to get a comprehensive overview of this year’s supplemental prompts.

Please note: Looking at examples of real essays students have submitted to colleges can be very beneficial to get inspiration for your essays. You should never copy or plagiarize from these examples when writing your own essays. Colleges can tell when an essay isn’t genuine and will not view students favorably if they plagiarized. 

Prompt: Journalism and Mass Communication major: Write a profile of yourself in news or news feature style, as if you had interviewed yourself (500 words).

Mira Patel sat at her desk, her finger tapping on the side of a water glass as she welcomed me into the Zoom meeting. “It’s been a busy few months, but I’m excited to talk about it,” she said, heaving a nervous but excited breath.

Patel, age 17, has been serving as the Co-Editor-In-Chief of [name removed] High School’s student-run newspaper, the View, for the past year. She, along with her two fellow Co-Editor-In-Chiefs, have re-evaluated the newspaper to fit a socially-distant setting. Despite the stress of finding a way to amplify the voices of [high school]’s  student body in 2020, Patel’s tone sparks as she discusses the team’s progress thus far.

“There’ve been a lot of bumps in the road. [High School] initially cut our Journalism class this year due to budget concerns so we had to find a way to connect those that were interested in forming a club,” she added, her intonation highlighting her enthusiasm.

“But we did it, and our first issue will be out in time for the Holidays!”

Patel detailed the intricate planning that went behind the issue, as she helped garner interest and developed a platform for the student body to share their voices digitally. 2020, in her words, has been a year “paramount for developing young voices” in the wake of the pandemic, monumental social justice movements, and the direct impact of wildfires exacerbated by climate change in her home state Oregon. 

When asked how she initially developed a passion for communication and media, Patel pondered and continued to recount the experience that sparked her “infatuation” with forms of media.

“In the summer before my sophomore year, I was selected for an internship at AASPIRE, the Academic Autistic Spectrum Partnership in Research and Education,” she said.

Her experience consisted not only of technical strides in data analysis and visualization but also in developing creative solutions to communicate with her diverse team at the Regional Research Institute for Human Services at Portland State University. She described how many in her department, including her mentor, had disabilities like autism and ADHD. As she realized that these differences were not a hindrance but rather an opportunity to empathize and expand her viewpoint, she recognized how crucial communication was in developing perspectives. 

“It took off after AASPIRE,” Patel stated regarding her interest in media. As a young Indian-American activist, she actively sought opportunities in media, finding a “home for [her] voice” at [name removed] community radio, a grassroots radio initiative in Portland. 

“[Community radio] gives leverage to the voices of the marginalized—we focus on building communal mobilization around social issues through communication.”

Patel specializes in social media strategy and outreach at [community radio], an experience which she states strengthened her leadership and interest in media and policy by providing opportunities to network with “skilled communicators and changemakers”.

As a driven young communicator and changemaker, Patel uses her platform at The View and [community radio] to leverage the stories that often go unheard.

“That’s what motivates me for the future,” Patel states. 

What the Essay Did Well

For a journalism prompt, the key to this essay is the structure and writing style, and this essay did a fantastic job mimicking the style of a journalistic expose. Phrases like “ Patel, age 17, ” “ she added, her intonation highlighting her enthusiasm, ” and “ in her words ” make the essay feel like an authentic interview. Writing in third-person might feel unnatural, but in this case it works perfectly in creating the desired feel.

This student also took advantage of the open-ended prompt to truly showcase multiple aspects of her personality. We learn about her work at the newspaper her research internship at AASPRIE , and the community radio she was a part of. Although focusing on multiple extracurriculars in one essay can sometimes become too general and overcrowded, this one is successful because of the common theme of media and communication the student incorporated in each paragraph.

The transitions in this essay are particularly strong because they focus on her interest in media. For example, “ When asked how she initially developed a passion for communication and media, Patel pondered and continued to recount the experience that sparked her “infatuation” with forms of media ” bridges the gap between the paper and her experiences at AASPRIE. Similarly, the transition between AASPIRE and the radio is communicated nicely with these sentences: “ ‘It took off after AASPIRE,’ Patel stated regarding her interest in media. As a young Indian-American activist, she actively sought opportunities in media. “

What Could Be Improved 

This essay is already fairly strong, however one way to make it even better would be to include more descriptions of the student as she’s being interviewed. The essay starts off with imagery like “ her finger tapping on the side of a water glass ” to communicate possible anxiety before the interview and it describes her intonation and expressive voice to help place the reader in the moment. As the essay goes on though, these descriptions get lost.

It would be nice to see this student continue describing her physical and vocal features throughout the essay so the reader can feel like they are there witnessing the interview. Details like “ her eyes lit up at the memory ” or “ her face broke out into a toothy grin when asked about her experience ” would have made the essay even more engaging if they were weaved through the piece.

Prompt: Write a letter to the author of a book you loved (300 words).

Dear Ms. Picoult,

I placed a hold on Small Great Things two months before I received it— it was 2016, the book had just come out, and I was in eighth-grade, enveloped in my adamant reading phase. This was my time of self-discovery, when I took heed to expand my knowledge through books. Your book was prime in my development. 

Small Great Things was the first book that I read of yours; the storytelling structure thus caught me by surprise, pulling me through the internal dialogue and context of each character. An empathetic tribute to race in present-day America, you tackled complex multiple racial perspectives of primary characters through an overarching storyline. Small Great Things is groundbreaking in this regard— you wrote on a foundation of empathy, putting each reader through the story of each character. 

I glimpsed the agony Ruth felt as she navigated a racism-based lawsuit; I witnessed Turk’s frustration as a childhood experience metamorphosed into white supremacist belief; I saw transitions Kennedy underwent as she recognized the width of structural racism. As you put me in the shoes of each character, I understood how these experiences manifested their perspective in the overriding plot. Your intelligent story structure let me notice how each character, no matter how they present, has haphazard ideological wavelengths that curate their viewpoint.

Small Great Things is a piece of art—as an eighth-grader, it stimulated my mind intellectually and beckoned me to apply this empathetic mindset to my daily endeavors. I began to delve into stories of all forms, curating my passion for media and drawing me to participate in research and communication internships, ranging from. Thank you for developing my soul multidimensionally and for helping me understand that every person has a story worth telling.

Sincerely, 

This is a beautifully written essay that is quite successful for multiple reasons. First, the student didn’t pick a mainstream author like Shakespeare or Colleen Hoover. They chose someone the reader might not necessarily know, but that author has a deep significance to them. Because this student picked their author intentionally, half the work was done for them: the essay comes across as genuine and their enthusiasm for the book jumps off the page. 

Another positive aspect is how this student explains the general gist of the book they found so influential. Yes, it doesn’t totally make sense to tell an author the plot of their story, but if you are picking a less well-known book, the admissions officers need to get a feel for what the novel is about. The line, “ An empathetic tribute to race in present-day America, you tackled complex multiple racial perspectives of primary characters through an overarching storyline ,” is a succinct summary that helps the reader of the essay immediately gain an appreciation for the book.

However, the student doesn’t just stop at the one-liner summary. They give tangible examples from the book to exemplify the topics this book exposed them to and the impact that has had on them. This is both a great way to demonstrate how the author moved you (if you actually wrote a letter to the author) and your intellectual maturity to grasp the significance of smaller details.

The conclusion is also well done because it expands beyond the book to the student. Including details about their passion for media and their internships in the communication field once again demonstrates this student’s connection to the book, but goes further to show how they have internalized story telling and it has become a part of their personality. 

On the whole, this essay does a great job covering both the author and the student. That being said, there’s one small error that takes away from the essay. In the last paragraph, there is an incomplete sentence: “ drawing me to participate in research and communication internships, ranging from.”  For such a well-written and well-communicated essay, this mistake is hard to ignore and looks a little sloppy.

This could have easily been avoided if the student had other people read over their essay before submitting. Whether that’s a friend, parent, teacher, or college advisor , getting an extra pair of eyes to catch little slip ups like this one is super important. Alternatively, this student could have just cut out “ ranging from ” as it wasn’t really necessary to tell us the exact internships after already mentioning the communication field. Either way, proofreading can never hurt!

Prompt: As you think about your four-year experience at The George Washington University, how do you see the University Honors Program shaping your time with us and what most excites you about joining the UHP? (300 words).

The George Washington University Honors Program is a community filled with talented individuals, each working to succeed individually and collectively. With a smaller crop of diverse students, the camaraderie embodied in the UHP excites me; I value peers who are driven and empathetic.

The UHP seeks to attract “intellectual omnivores”, a label I strongly identify with. I find myself fascinated by nuances in nearly every subject I have explored—the UHP’s strong liberal foundation will satiate my multidisciplinary interests. I am intrigued by the social structures that govern belief systems, the policy that allows society to function, and the environmental processes that let life thrive. Thus, I have developed a primary passion for media studies and environmental policy; I hope to grow and narrow my foundational interests into a comprehensive educational experience. UHP’s emphasis on intellectual and academic stimulation suits my interest in discussion-based, tactical, and experiential learning.

The top-tier faculty and research opportunities at the UHP will help me grow my practical knowledge. With research grants such as SURE open to honors students, I will hone my interdisciplinary skills into a tangible, impactful experience. I plan on taking advantage of the myriad of opportunities the UHP offers. The research skills I have cultivated through my internships, alongside my skills in leadership, teamwork, and strategic communication will help make the best of my UHP experience.

The UHP will satisfy my curiosity by helping me explore the multiple fields in which I am interested. It will develop my primary interest in media and policy while growing my networks socially and academically. These cultivated skills and global perspectives will let me leverage professional opportunities in media positions in change-making environments, from digital-media companies to NGOs. The UHP will challenge me personally and academically, helping me grow as a learner, innovator, and changemaker.

This is a nicely written essay with a good structure. Every paragraph is focused and it is easy to follow along and pick up key ideas. The student also has a good grasp of their diction, making the essay sound professional, but not out of place in a high schooler’s vocabulary.

We are given a nice background to why the student has chosen their area of study: “ I am intrigued by the social structures that govern belief systems, the policy that allows society to function, and the environmental processes that let life thrive. ” The student also clearly demonstrates what they will get out of this program: “ These cultivated skills and global perspectives will let me leverage professional opportunities in media positions in change-making environments, from digital-media companies to NGOs. “

The biggest problem with this essay is the lack of specificity. Although the student nicely explains their interests and how they want to grow, you could pretty much replace UHP with any other  honors program and the essay would still work. 

In order for this essay to demonstrate to admissions officers that this student actually wants to attend GW, they need to include specific details like classes, clubs, or professors and research opportunities that are unique to the UHP. Rather than telling us “ UHP’s emphasis on intellectual and academic stimulation suits my interest in discussion-based, tactical, and experiential learning,”  they should describe their excitement at taking a class that takes students to Capitol Hill to get hands-on experience with environmental policy.

Applying this strategy to every sentence—replacing broad generalized statements with specific UHP offerings—would make this essay much stronger.

Prompt: At the George Washington University, our students frequently interact with policymakers and world leaders. These experiences and those of our alumni can shape the future of global affairs. If you had the power to change the course of history in your community or the world, what would you do and why? (250 words).

As I stood in a crowd of echoing voices at the Oregon Youth Climate strike, I observed. Our collective grounded me; our young perspectives were crucial as those affected generationally by the impending climate crisis. 

In my community, I would change the course of history in the realm of intersectional environmentalism—I would integrate my experience in sustainability and communication to help inform diverse subsets of individuals. Surpassing communication across boundaries would build a coalition of informed and empathetic environmental communicators. 

I have been fortunate to integrate climate-consciousness in my lifestyle from a young age. When purchasing food and clothing, documentaries I was raised on such as “Food Inc.” and “The True Cost” informed my choices; when the 2020 west-coast wildfires left the atmosphere smoky outside my home, I acknowledged the expansive history behind these increasingly frequent ecological crises. As I grew to see that resources needed to implement sustainable lifestyles and make environmental connections are inaccessible to many, I placed importance on intersectional environmentalism. 

With a communication movement in this field, we would inform those with a lack of accessibility of equitable ways to integrate sustainability into their routines, while advocating for their rights as those disproportionately affected by the climate crisis. We would learn from those with novel cultural experiences, such as indigenous techniques of prescribed burns for wildfire mitigation. 

With this movement, sustainability would be both an individual and communal effort, informing representative policy while pervading implementable sustainable lifestyle changes, together leading to an equitable climate justice initiative.

This essay has a unique take on this version of the common “global issues” prompt , which works quite well because of how well it relates to this student and their interests. Rather than focusing on a historical moment, they chose to take a future-looking approach and explain how they plan to change the course of history moving forward. Demonstrating your ability to look to the future is an important skill in college essays, as it shows you are thinking about making positive change.

The student also does a good job of connecting the topic to them with concrete examples. Sharing the specific documentaries that influenced them when “ purchasing food and clothing ” and the “smokey atmosphere outside [their] home” as a personal connection to the wildfires are great ways to demonstrate how environmentalism is at the forefront of this student’s mind. By including these small details the student humanizes themself and legitimizes their interest.

In general, this essay is very focused and cohesive. It serves as a good example of how you should dive deeply into one specific topic you are passionate about—environmental inter sectionalism in this case—and fully expand on that interest, rather than trying to tackle too much at once. Anyone walking away from this essay can say with confidence what this student’s niche is, a goal you should always try to hit for each essay.

One thing this essay struggles with is the tone and diction. The use of overly-formal words makes the essay feel rigid and pedantic rather than natural and casual. Take the first paragraph for example:

“ As I stood in a crowd of echoing voices at the Oregon Youth Climate strike, I observed. Our collective grounded me; our young perspectives were crucial as those affected generationally by the impending climate crisis. “

With the convoluted sentences structure and phrases like “O ur collective grounded me “, the simple message of the paragraph gets lost in a web of words. This could instead be far more straightforward, demonstrate the student’s authentic voice, and include more active imagery in an introduction like this:

“ The echo of thousands of voices demanding climate justice rippled through the air. ‘No more fossil fuels!’ ‘We deserve a future!’ ‘Climate justice for all!’ The cacophony of chants blended into a beautiful chorus of young voices fighting for our future. I watched on in awe, amazed at the possibilities collective action could bring. “

Prompt: The George Washington University encourages students to think critically and to challenge the status quo. Thus, civil discourse is a key characteristic of our community. Describe a time when you engaged others in meaningful dialogue around an issue that was important to you. Did this exchange create change, new perspectives, or deeper relationships? (500 words)

This past summer, I engaged in contentious yet civil discussions in Brown Pre-College’s “Contemporary Moral Issues” course, where I learned about five salient topics and exchanged insight with peers. 

We discussed vegetarianism on the first day, specifically the ethics of killing animals for food. While I had not previously held a strong standpoint on whether this practice is morally permissible, our lecture and small group discussion centered on Tyler Doggett’s argument outlined in “Moral Vegetarianism” elicited a further understanding of the topic, and encouraged me to more deeply introspect. I quickly gained an eager curiosity; as someone who consumes meat, am I truly equipped to share from experience? I felt like animal slaughter for food is unethical, but does my position, as an omnivore, enable me to justifiably contribute in conversations?

During a conversation with a peer, my beliefs were challenged, yet strengthened. This student believed that killing pigs for food is morally permissible, and they contested one of Doggett’s claims, that “humans are smarter than pigs,” to support their argument. I struggled to resonate with their rationale, as my perspective on such ethics, and the context of my understanding, differed greatly from the experiences that informed my peer’s belief. This specific notion of permissibility felt too disparate from my general ethical comprehension, and with a more explicit understanding of the opposing argument, I discerned that my perspective on this issue would not waver. 

Although I did not agree with this student’s argument, I listened actively and expressed how I appreciated their perspective; the student demonstrated what “the other side” of this argument looks like, and helped inform my comprehensive understanding of vegetarian ethics. I acknowledged, nonverbally, that this student and I did not share backgrounds, and their perspective was shaped from unique lived experiences just as mine had been. We continued with healthy conversation, exchanging our viewpoints with an eagerness to learn, and concluded on a symbiotic footing.

Some prompts are open-ended, while others ask you to be more specific. This prompt falls into the latter category, by asking students to write on the specific topic of civic discourse — defined as meaningful dialogue around an issue that creates change, new perspectives, or deeper relationships. 

This student does a great job of staying on topic and discussing only civic discourse. They do not get distracted by community service, leadership experience, or anything that falls outside of the prompt. They are focused.

Additionally, they answer the question. While you should fill up your word count with personal details, insights into your mind, and a description of your values, when a prompt is highly specific like this, it’s important that the reader can easily identify your answer. For this kind of prompt, we recommend students use the “one-sentence test.” After reading your essay, could an admissions officer summarize your answer to one of their colleagues in just one sentence?

Let’s try it out.

Prompt: What were the effects of the student’s experience with civic discourse?

One sentence: Civic discourse did not change their perspective, but helped reinforce the strength of their beliefs.

This student passed the one-sentence test!

The goal of your college essays is to humanize yourself to admissions officers. While this student does a good job of describing their experience discussing a contentious topic with a peer, that description stays relatively surface-level, and as a result they miss an opportunity to tell readers about their background, personality, values, and the way they see the world. 

Yes, the prompt asks what experiences you have with civic discourse, but if you read between the lines, what admissions officers really want to know is why you value civic discourse . Instead of leading with a factual sentence — “I engaged in contentious yet civil discussions in Brown Pre-College’s ‘Contemporary Moral Issues’ course, where I learned about five salient topics and exchanged insight with peers” — this student should have started with a story about why they were drawn to taking this course on moral issues in the first place.

Similarly, the student writes “our lecture and small group discussion centered on Tyler Doggett’s argument outlined in ‘Moral Vegetarianism’ elicited a further understanding of the topic, and encouraged me to more deeply introspect” — which is a ‘what’ sentence. In other words, the student is just telling us what happened, and while that is important, what matters even more is answering why reading arguments, having conversations, and practicing introspection are important to them.

The student does try to give us a window into their mind when they list questions this experience prompted them to wonder — “am I truly equipped to share from experience? I felt like animal slaughter for food is unethical, but does my position, as an omnivore, enable me to justifiably contribute in conversations?” — but ultimately fall short of their goal as they fail to actually reflect on these questions, and that reflection is what would give us true insight into their psychology. Simply put, these are obvious questions that anyone would wonder about — what will set you apart is your answers to them. 

So, to summarize, we need to learn more about the student. As an added bonus, if the student were to incorporate deeper personal reflections, that would not only teach us more about them, but also take better advantage of the space given to them. 500 words is on the long side for a supplement, but this student is only using 319 of them — almost 40% of the words are going unused! 

Remember, while you don’t have to hit the word limit on the dot (your exact word count depends more on particular phrasings than actual content), you should be within 20ish words of it at most. College essays are already restrictive by their nature, so you don’t want to voluntarily restrict yourself even further by not using as much of the space given to you as you can.

Also on a structural level, the writing is a bit wordy and repetitive at times, particularly in the last paragraph. Last paragraphs are dangerous because students tend to summarize. In a longer academic essay, that’s a reasonable strategy, but in a college essay with limited space, you want to keep your readers engaged with new details through the very end; ideally, they’ll even be left wanting more.

Some fluffy sentences/lines elsewhere in this essay include:

• “While I had not previously held a strong standpoint on whether this practice is morally permissible”
• “I struggled to resonate with their rationale, as my perspective on such ethics, and the context of my understanding, differed greatly from the experiences that informed my peer’s belief.”
• “Although I did not agree with this student’s argument, I listened actively and expressed how I appreciated their perspective; the student demonstrated what “the other side” of this argument looks like, and helped inform my comprehensive understanding of vegetarian ethics.”

Make sure each sentence adds something unique to your essay. These lines aren’t exactly bad, but they aren’t giving us any new insight into who this student is, as all three of them are basically saying the same thing: this student encountered a peer who held different beliefs from them. That event is even less exciting since, given the prompt, it goes without saying that this student didn’t agree with their peer.

If you notice that two or more of your sentences say the same thing, pick the one that makes the point most effectively, and use the words you’ve saved to sprinkle in more details about your personality at other points in your essay.

Where to Get Your George Washington University Essays Edited

Do you want feedback on your George Washington University essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

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George Washington University Supplement Essay Prompts: 2024-2025

The George Washington University has published its supplemental essay prompts for the 2024-2025 college admissions cycles. Applicants to GWU’s Class of 2029 are offered the chance to respond to one of two essays. And while their response is optional , longtime readers of Ivy Coach ’s college admissions blog know all too well that which is  optional  in elite college admissions should never be considered  optional . So what are this year’s essay prompts? Spoiler Alert: they’re the same as last year’s. Let’s dive in!

2024-2025 GWU Essay Topics and Questions

Applicants to GWU’s Class of 2029 have the choice of responding to one of the following two optional essays:

Optional Essay Prompt 1

At the George Washington University, our students frequently interact with policymakers and world leaders. These experiences and those of our alumni can shape the future of global affairs. If you had the power to change the course of history in your community or the world, what would you do and why? 

It’s all about choosing a specific topic to answer this question well. Broad topics like climate change or racism will not suffice. We encourage applicants to lean into sharing a story about their community rather than the world at large since admissions officers always prefer students acting locally while thinking globally. This essay prompt offers applicants a chance for students to teach admissions officers something about their own community and how they would hope to effectuate change.

Optional Essay Prompt 2

The George Washington University encourages students to think critically and to challenge the status quo. Thus, civil discourse is a key characteristic of our community. Describe a time when you engaged others in meaningful dialogue around an issue that was important to you. Did this exchange create change, new perspectives, or deeper relationships?

This essay prompt is a chance for students to showcase the diverse intellectual thinking they will bring to GWU’s community. Admissions officers seek to admit students who will argue their opinions with zeal. Still, they also want these same students to be open to changing their views when presented with the different viewpoints of their peers and professors. So, when addressing this prompt, applicants should pick an engaging topic that showcases their passion and highlights how they’re malleable to change.

Ivy Coach’s Assistance with GWU Essays

If you’re a rising senior seeking assistance submitting essays that will wow GWU admissions officers, fill out Ivy Coach ’s consultation form , and we’ll be in touch to outline our college counseling services.

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Mastering the George Washington University Supplemental Essays for 2024

Applying to George Washington University (GWU) is a significant step toward your academic and career aspirations, especially if you're drawn to the unique opportunities it offers for engaging with policymakers and world leaders. As part of the application process, GWU provides an option to submit a supplemental essay. This is your chance to shine and set your application apart. Let's dive into the prompts and how best to tackle them.

Supplemental Essay Prompts

For the 2024 application cycle, GWU applicants have the option to respond to one of the following supplemental essay prompts, each with a word limit of 500 words:

Essay Prompt 1

"At the George Washington University, our students frequently interact with policymakers and world leaders. These experiences and those of our alumni can shape the future of global affairs. If you had the power to change the course of history in your community or the world, what would you do and why?"

Essay Prompt 2

"The George Washington University encourages students to think critically and to challenge the status quo. Thus, civil discourse is a key characteristic of our community. Describe a time when you engaged others in meaningful dialogue around an issue that was important to you. Did this exchange create change, new perspectives, or deeper relationships?"

Approaching the Prompts

Firstly, these supplemental essays are optional, but we highly encourage you to take full advantage of this opportunity. It's a chance to showcase your values, experiences, and the unique perspective you bring to GWU's diverse community.

When addressing Essay Prompt 1, consider these tips:

Reflect Deeply: Think about an issue or event that has a significant impact on either your local community or on a global scale. Identify why it's important to you and what change you envision.

Be Specific: Clearly outline the specific actions you would take to alter the course of history. Use concrete examples and highlight any relevant experiences or knowledge that support your ability to initiate these changes.

Connect to GWU: Illustrate how interacting with GWU's community of policymakers and world leaders could facilitate your vision. Mentioning GWU-specific resources, such as certain programs or faculty, can strengthen your essay.

For more tailored advice and feedback, consider using Sups AI to brainstorm and refine your essay. With personalized assistance from current students, Sups AI can help you put your best foot forward.

For Essay Prompt 2, here are strategies to craft a compelling narrative:

Highlight a Meaningful Dialogue: Choose an issue that genuinely matters to you. Provide context on why this topic is important and detail the conversation you had with others.

Showcase Civil Discourse: Emphasize your ability to engage in respectful, insightful discussions that challenge the status quo. Illustrate the positive outcomes of these conversations, such as changes in perspectives or strengthened relationships.

Focus on Impact: Detail the tangible impact that emerged from the dialogue. Whether it's a small change in your school community or a broader shift in understanding, demonstrate the importance of civil discourse.

Sups AI can guide you through this process, providing comprehensive feedback on your essay to ensure it highlights your critical thinking and ability to engage in meaningful dialogue.

Final Thoughts

GWU's supplemental essays offer a unique platform to highlight your passion for global affairs and your ability to engage in significant, thoughtful conversations. Each essay presents an opportunity to not only share your experiences but also to align them with GWU's values and mission.

Remember, writing compelling essays takes time and revision. Don’t hesitate to seek help from resources like Sups AI . Sups AI has already assisted over 10,000 students in gaining admission to top U.S. schools through personalized feedback and one-on-one chats with current students.

Good luck with your GWU application! Use this guide to navigate the prompts thoughtfully and showcase the best version of yourself.

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