Personal Essay Prompts
To help us get to know you in the application review process, you are required to submit a personal essay. For insight and advice about how to approach writing your personal essay, see our Expert Advice page.
- Common Application first-year essay prompts
- Common App transfer essay prompt: Please provide a personal essay that addresses your reasons for transferring and the objectives you hope to achieve.
- Coalition, powered by Scoir first-year and transfer essay prompts
Short Answer Question
For both first-year and transfer applicants, we ask you to complete a short answer essay (approximately 250 words) based on the following prompt:
- Vanderbilt University’s motto, Crescere aude, is Latin for “dare to grow.” In your response, reflect on how one or more aspects of your identity, culture, or background has played a role in your personal growth, and how it will contribute to our campus community as you dare to grow at Vanderbilt.