Villanova asks one essay of about 250 words, chosen from five prompts: what you have done to advance equity and justice (quoting Pope Leo XIV, a Villanova graduate), a life lesson to share, why Villanova as your "new home", how technology can help you lead and serve the common good, and a time someone borrowed your strength.
Villanova says not to stress about going slightly over or under the suggested count, and that the words should hold meaning and answer the prompt. Its mission is Augustinian, and several prompts reflect it.
Villanova's questions at a glance
| Question | Limit | Who answers it | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Playing your part for equity and justice | 250 words | Choose 1 of 5 | Community |
| A lesson in life to share | 250 words | Choose 1 of 5 | Background and identity |
| Why Villanova as your new home | 250 words | Choose 1 of 5 | Why this college |
| Technology and the common good | 250 words | Choose 1 of 5 | Intellectual curiosity |
| When someone borrowed your strength | 250 words | Choose 1 of 5 | Community |
How to plan the Villanova supplement
- 1Choose by story: the prompt for which you have a specific moment, not the one that sounds best.
- 2If you choose the "new home" prompt, it is a why-us essay: research Villanova first.
Choose one of the five topics below and submit a written response in about 250 words.
1. Playing your part for equity and justice
Villanova's wording · 250 words · Choose 1 of 5“As Pope Leo XIV (Villanova Class of 1977) has said, “no one can single-handedly bear the weight of the challenges the world is facing, just as no one is so weak that they cannot play their part.” What have you done to play your part in advancing equity and justice in your community?”
What it is really asking. What you have done to play your part in advancing equity and justice in your community.
How to approach it
- 1One specific action you took, even a small one.
- 2Why you took it.
- 3What it taught you about your part.
Mistakes to avoid
- Opinions about justice with no action.
Full guide: How to Write Villanova's "Play Your Part" Equity and Justice Essay
2. A lesson in life to share
Villanova's wording · 250 words · Choose 1 of 5“What is a lesson in life that you have learned that you would want to share with others at Villanova?”
What it is really asking. A life lesson you have learned that you would share with others at Villanova.
How to approach it
- 1Show where you learned it before stating it.
- 2Make the lesson specific enough to surprise.
Mistakes to avoid
- A proverb as the lesson.
Full guide: How to Write Villanova's "Life Lesson" Essay
3. Why Villanova as your new home
Villanova's wording · 250 words · Choose 1 of 5“"Villanova" means "new home." Why do you want to call Villanova your new home?”
What it is really asking. Why you want Villanova ("new home") to be your home: a why-us essay.
How to approach it
- 1Name specific things about Villanova you would use.
- 2Show what "home" means to you first.
- 3Connect the two.
Mistakes to avoid
- Generic community praise.
Full guide: How to Write the "Why Villanova" (New Home) Essay
4. Technology and the common good
Villanova's wording · 250 words · Choose 1 of 5“Villanova embraces Artificial Intelligence (AI) with a commitment to thoughtful, ethical use rooted in our Augustinian mission and values. How do you see technology helping you to lead, serve, and contribute to the common good?”
What it is really asking. How you see technology helping you lead, serve and contribute to the common good, given Villanova's ethical approach to AI.
How to approach it
- 1Start with a real use of technology you have made or seen.
- 2Address ethics, as the prompt does.
- 3End on the common good.
Mistakes to avoid
- Tech optimism with no example.
Full guide: How to Write Villanova's Technology and the Common Good Essay
5. When someone borrowed your strength
Villanova's wording · 250 words · Choose 1 of 5“At Villanova, we often say "each of us strengthens all of us." Please detail a time when someone has borrowed some of your strength in their time of need.”
What it is really asking. A time someone borrowed some of your strength in their time of need ("each of us strengthens all of us").
How to approach it
- 1Keep the other person's dignity in the story.
- 2Show what you did, not only what you felt.
- 3Say what it taught you about community.
Mistakes to avoid
- A hero story.
Full guide: How to Write Villanova's "Borrowed Your Strength" Essay
What our grader checks in your Villanova answers
Every answer is judged against a checklist for its kind of question plus one check written for Villanova's own wording. Each area comes back Met, Partly or Missing, and those verdicts (with the word limit) set the answer's readiness: Ready, Nearly there or Needs work. There is no score out of 100.
| Question | Villanova's own check |
|---|---|
| Playing your part for equity and justice | Gives what the applicant has actually done to advance equity and justice in their community. |
| A lesson in life to share | It connects the answer to Villanova's community and does every part of what Villanova's question asks. |
| Why Villanova as your new home | Says why Villanova in particular would be the applicant's new home. |
| Technology and the common good | It does every part of what Villanova's question asks, in the college's own terms. |
| When someone borrowed your strength | It connects the answer to Villanova's community and does every part of what Villanova's question asks. |
The type checklists are on the supplemental essay grader page.
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