Washington and Lee's supplement is optional: a "Why W&L?" statement of up to 250 words, and one of four short-answer prompts (250 words or a two-minute video): your life outside school, the diverse aspect you would bring, how your curious mind works, or the story of a name you go by. They are submitted in the Applicant Portal after you apply.
W&L says it wants to see your mind at work through how you think and communicate, and that it has zero preference between the written and video formats. Its admissions officers have even published their own answers to the prompts.
W&L's questions at a glance
| Question | Limit | Who answers it | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Why W&L? | 250 words | Optional | Why this college |
| Option 1: your life outside school | 250 words | Optional: answer up to 1 of 4 | Activity |
| Option 2: the diverse aspect you would bring | 250 words | Optional: answer up to 1 of 4 | Background and identity |
| Option 3: how your curious mind works | 250 words | Optional: answer up to 1 of 4 | Intellectual curiosity |
| Option 4: the story of your name | 250 words | Optional: answer up to 1 of 4 | Creative prompt |
Not covered here: Johnson Scholarship essay (800 words max, scholarship applicants only); Video responses.
How to plan the W&L supplement
- 1Write "Why W&L?" if you can name how you got to know W&L; it is optional but signals real interest.
- 2Pick the short answer that shows a side your application does not.
Optional “Why W&L?” Written Statement
1. Why W&L?
W&L's wording · 250 words · Optional“There are over 8,200 accredited colleges and universities in the U.S. alone. You have chosen to apply to Washington and Lee University. Please describe how you have familiarized yourself with W&L and what aspects of its community are most exciting to you.”
What it is really asking. How you familiarized yourself with W&L and which aspects of its community excite you most.
How to approach it
- 1Name the ways you learned about W&L (visit, session, conversation).
- 2Pick the community aspects that excite you and tie each to you.
Mistakes to avoid
- Rankings and scenery.
- Not answering the "how you familiarized" half.
Full guide: How to Write the "Why W&L?" Statement
Optional short-answer prompts: answer ONE (250 words or less, or a 2-minute video).
2. Option 1: your life outside school
W&L's wording · 250 words · Optional: answer up to 1 of 4“Please describe an aspect of your life outside of school that is important to you, such as an extracurricular activity, a job, or a family responsibility. How has your involvement shaped your personal qualities and growth, and how has it impacted those around you?”
What it is really asking. An aspect of life outside school (activity, job, family responsibility), how it shaped your qualities and growth, and its impact on others.
How to approach it
- 1One commitment, one moment, both effects.
Mistakes to avoid
- Restating your activities list.
More on this kind of question: How to write the activity essay
3. Option 2: the diverse aspect you would bring
W&L's wording · 250 words · Optional: answer up to 1 of 4“W&L’s mission statement focuses on preparing graduates for lifelong learning in a global and diverse society. Engaging with faculty, staff, and classmates with diverse identities, experiences, and perspectives is an essential component of our education. Recognizing that diversity takes many forms, what diverse aspect would you bring to W&L?”
What it is really asking. The diverse aspect you would bring to W&L, recognizing that diversity takes many forms.
How to approach it
- 1Choose the aspect and show it in action.
Mistakes to avoid
- A label with no story.
More on this kind of question: How to write the diversity essay
4. Option 3: how your curious mind works
W&L's wording · 250 words · Optional: answer up to 1 of 4“Reveal to us how your curious mind works by sharing something you spend considerable time thinking or learning about.”
What it is really asking. How your curious mind works, through something you spend a lot of time thinking or learning about.
How to approach it
- 1Show the path your thinking takes, step by step.
Mistakes to avoid
- Describing a topic instead of your thinking.
More on this kind of question: Writing about a topic that captivates you
5. Option 4: the story of your name
W&L's wording · 250 words · Optional: answer up to 1 of 4“On a residential college campus with a Speaking Tradition that encourages connections between individuals, using each other’s names matters. Please share the story of any name you go by and what significance it holds for you.”
What it is really asking. The story of a name you go by and its significance, in the spirit of W&L's Speaking Tradition.
How to approach it
- 1Choose any name you go by: given, nickname, family name.
- 2Tell the story with specifics.
- 3Say what it means to you now.
Mistakes to avoid
- A name's dictionary meaning with no story.
Full guide: How to Write W&L's "Story of Your Name" Essay
What our grader checks in your W&L answers
Every answer is judged against a checklist for its kind of question plus one check written for W&L'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 | W&L's own check |
|---|---|
| Why W&L? | Says how the applicant familiarized themselves with W&L and which aspects of its community excite them. |
| Option 1: your life outside school | It does every part of what W&L's question asks, in the college's own terms. |
| Option 2: the diverse aspect you would bring | It connects the answer to W&L's community and does every part of what W&L's question asks. |
| Option 3: how your curious mind works | It does every part of what W&L's question asks, in the college's own terms. |
| Option 4: the story of your name | Tells the story of a name the applicant goes by and its significance. |
The type checklists are on the supplemental essay grader page.
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