george washington university essay examples

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

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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How to Write the George Washington University Essays 2020-2021

We’ve updated this post! Check out the 2021-2022 GW essay guide .

George Washington University (GW) is a historic private research university that was chartered by the US Congress in 1821. Hosting students from all 50 states, Washington DC, and 130 countries, GW is able to immerse undergraduate students in diverse perspectives, a practical learning environment, and rich experiences. GW has three campuses in the Washington DC metro area: Foggy Bottom, Mount Vernon, and the GW Virginia Science & Technology Campus in Ashburn, VA.

Currently GW sits in the 70th position on the US News and World Report’s Best National University list. Best known for its programs in international affairs, government, public policy, and journalism, students are able to take advantage of learning hands-on in our nation’s capital.

Nevertheless, undergraduates have over 70 majors to choose from with social science being the most popular choice among the student body. Many prominent politicians, such as Colin Powell, Tammy Duckworth, John Foster Dulles, and J. Edgar Hoover, are GW alumni.

This year, GW only accepted 38.7% of applicants, which is the most selective incoming class since 2013. So, applicants need to focus on standing out in their choice of GW’s two supplemental essay options. In addition, applicants to the Honors Program will need to complete additional prompts to be considered. Check out this CollegeVine guide to make your essay-writing process as smooth as possible. Want to know your chances at GW? Calculate your chances for free right now.

Want to learn what GW will actually cost you based on your income? And how long your application to the school should take? Here’s what every student considering GW needs to know.

GW Supplemental Essay Prompts

Optional for all applicants .

Please respond to one of the following essay questions in 250 words or fewer:

Option 1: At the George Washington, 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?

Option 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?

Honors Program Applicants

Prompt 1: Please address prompt A or B in 300 words or less:

Option A: Write a letter to the author of a book you loved.
Option B: Describe an event in your life, a person, or an experience (choose one) that has had a profound effect on you. How has it influenced change in you, your attitudes, and/or your goals?

Prompt 2: 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)

School of Media and Public Affairs Applicants

Journalism and mass communications major applicants, write a profile of yourself in news or news feature style, as if you had interviewed yourself. (500 words), political communication major applicants.

If you could be any one person who has been active in politics, who would you choose to be and why? (500 words)

While the supplement for all applicants is optional, we recommend completing the essay, as this will further demonstrate your interest in GW, and give you a chance to share more of your story.

All Applicants, Option 1

At the george washington, 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).

At first glance, this prompt appears to be eliciting your perspective on and critical analysis of historical events or current affairs. However, the goal of this essay is deeper than that. Remember, admissions essays are pieces of the puzzle that when pieced together, ideally show the admissions committee a comprehensive picture of you. Thus, this question is also seeking to understand what sociopolitical, economic, or environmental issues are important to you , and why .

Given the phrasing of the question, this prompt would be essential for applicants planning to major in international affairs or the social sciences.

Here are two interpretations of the prompt:

If you could go back in time , what critical local, national, or global historical event would you change? How would you inflict such a change? Why?
Currently , what is a problem plaguing our society that you would work to resolve if you had all the power necessary to do so? What actions would you take, why, and how would those actions alter our future ?

Given the deliberate ambiguity of the question, you can choose either interpretation as your springboard. Just be sure to formulate your opening paragraph in a way that makes it clear how you chose to interpret the question.

Regardless of which route you decide on, the objective of your response is to suggest a solution to the problem you deem most critical . You are limited to a mere 250 words, so make sure to establish the context of your chosen issue with brevity and precision in a manner that will frame your solution. Then, get straight to the point: identify the problem or past event that affected the course of human history and suggest a more promising course of action.

A few tips and words of caution:

Don’t pick a topic or problem that is too broad. If you are considering present-day issues in your response, don’t discuss something vague like “global poverty” or “illiteracy in developing nations.” No one individual is able to provide a concrete and feasible plan of action to such major problems of international significance, let alone a high school student with 250 words at his/her disposal. The strategy is to pick a sub-issue of a larger problem that affects a specific population.

For example, instead of addressing illiteracy in the developing world, you can delineate a proposal to increase literacy in rural schools with understaffed faculty, and connect it to your own background of growing up in a community where access to higher education and associated economic opportunities was inadequate.

Or, you can suggest a measure to combat food insecurity for low-income students in Native-American reservations and relate that to your experience of witnessing hunger in your school cafeteria. Make your choice of issue specific, and your response to it personal.

Don’t bring up a historical cliché. If you are taking the historical route, avoid silly or overused instances. For example, don’t write about going back to the 1930s and killing Hitler in order to prevent WWII. Such responses would show the admissions committee that you are not serious or, worse yet, that your critical analysis is insufficient to provide a more nuanced reflection.

Try to think of historical events that were impactful to your personal or family background and are under-reported in the media. If you grew up in a community of interracial children raised by single parents, you may want to draw attention to the unique experiences and challenges this demographic faces in trying to grapple with their whole identity while heavily influenced only by one particular side.

Be specific. Give clear examples of actions you would take or policies you would implement in order to affect meaningful change. Don’t write broadly about educating more girls; instead, outline steps the government could take to narrow the gender literacy gap by allocating more funds to local schools or dedicating a certain portion of research grants to under-represented women.

Instead of declaring that you would go back to 18th century United States and eliminate slavery, discuss the logical arguments and personal leverage you would use in lobbying influential generals and statesmen of the time to back a more egalitarian Constitution.

Ultimately, the prompt aims to gauge your personal values and determine your ability to think critically, to focus on worthwhile problems, and to propose realistic solutions. The adcom is looking to admit students who are passionate about examining pressing issues, quick to identify key stakeholders, and able to imagine plausible alternatives.

All Applicants, Option 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 (250 words).

At its core, this prompt determines your ability to thrive in an intellectual environment punctuated by a diversity of opinions, as well as your capability to enact meaningful change in your community. At a time of increasing politicization, the admissions committee wants to attract students who are able to listen to each other and who can use their powers of persuasion to promote their point of view.

You don’t need a dramatic example to highlight your abilities to listen and persuade others. Here are some ideas of the kinds of moments in your life that will highlight the qualities necessary for the completion of this prompt.

If you are an active member or leader of a club, you can invoke a situation in which you and other fellow members disagreed on the action the club should take.

For example, you can write about the time you convinced your classmates to donate a significant sum to a local soup kitchen, instead of retaining it as part of the club budget, by appealing to their emotional side with photos of the people the kitchen is helping, and the statistics of the demographic it would reach.

You can also share a story in which you convinced another student of the validity of your point in a classroom debate, formal or informal.

For example, write about the time when you used a compelling example that involved someone your debate opponent related to as you advocated for legalizing gay marriage in your U.S. history class, thus convincing her of LGBTQ individuals’ right to marriage.

Alternatively, discuss the challenges of convincing the Board of Education to support your initiative to start a new club.

For example, if you tried to start a Girls in STEM club and were rebuffed by the administration on the grounds that the school already sponsored a Science Club, you could outline the arguments you used and the awareness campaign you launched in order to ultimately secure the necessary funding.

No matter what kind of example you choose, don’t forget that the prompt wants you to demonstrate that both you and the other party gained something from the experience . It is not enough to tell the admissions committee about a fight you had with a classmate who didn’t believe in abortion on religious grounds. You need to demonstrate your ability to persuade others, even those with radically different opinions, so dig deep and pick a success story as the example.

Anyone can argue, but not everyone can express their ideas and exchange perspectives in a respectful and productive way. Perhaps you engaged a fellow classmate in a class debate that led you to form a life-long friendship, despite your political differences. Or, maybe you were able to develop a project that others initially opposed and convinced them of its value. Make sure that your response highlights a lesson learned or an impact made.

Honors Program Applicants , Option 1A

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

This prompt should immediately stand out to you if you love to read or discuss literature. Simply put, admissions officers will be able to see through an essay response that rewrites the plot of a book or spits out standard interpretations of the text. However, if you can think of a book you truly love, and if you hold a unique perspective on that book, then you should definitely take this opportunity to share your thoughts.

Do not fall into the trap of picking a book you are not actually passionate about. The admissions committee is not looking for hundreds of essay responses about the radical nature of Pride and Prejudice or the scathing insights into the human psyche in Art of War . Realistically, most high school students will not have picked up these novels unless prompted by educators, so admissions officers will be expecting (not always with excitement) these basic responses.

Try to pick a book that you read for pleasure outside of the classroom, this way it is clear that you aren’t just recycling analysis from an English class or using an old paper you wrote about the book. Instead, you are applying your own thoughts and perspective to what you read.

You can also think of a book that has shaped your outlook on life or changed your personal goals.

For instance, if you are a politics major and happen to love the young adult novel Divergent , you could write a letter to the author, Veronica Roth, discussing how her take of modern dystopian literature has enabled you to identify some concerning trends in current geopolitical strategy.

Try to avoid wildly popular books like Harry Potter , unless they had a significant personal impact. Many applicants will rave about these kinds of books, so picking the same one won’t help you stand out.

Note that this prompt is telling you to write a “letter”. It is advised that you employ appropriate letter formatting, by starting off your writing with “Dear [insert author name here]” and concluding the letter with “Sincerely/Best/With much respect/etc.”.

Do not feel forced to connect the book you loved back to your intended major or pre-professional track. While this connection could offer you the opportunity to talk about resources at GW, do not forge an inorganic connection. Writing about a book you truly love should feel natural and allow your voice and personality to shine through your application.

Finally, offer an opinion and your personal thoughts on the novel . This essay is not meant to be a literary analysis, like you would write for an AP or other English class in high school. Instead, talk about how the book made you feel, your reactions to certain scenes, and speak directly to the author (while employing the respect they deserve as a creator of literary art).

The biggest mistake you can make with this prompt is to select it solely because it seems easier to write than the other option. Prompts can appear deceivingly simple, but will require careful examination and critical thinking if you hope to produce a strong response. Of course, if you feel strongly about a certain book and feel confident that you can pen a compelling letter without slipping into clichés, don’t be afraid to go for it!

Honors Program Applicants , Option 1B

Describe an event in your life, a person, or an experience (choose one) that has had a profound effect on you. how has it influenced change in you, your attitudes, and/or your goals (300 words).

This prompt intentionally gives you the opportunity to choose the direction in which you take your response. It is best to approach this essay backwards, by first brainstorming what pops into your head when you think about the terms “change”, “attitudes”, and “goals”. Once you have brainstormed a few different events, people, or experiences, see which one you would be able to elaborate on for 300 words.

Note that the prompt clearly states to only choose one event, person, or experience. Choosing more than one will not make you appear impressive, if anything, it will hinder your own ability to effectively demonstrate the “impact” part of your response.

Don’t feel pressured to pick the most sad or challenging experience you have overcome. Conversely, don’t pick something that every student goes through such as the change that comes with transitioning into high school—unless you have a unique twist to the story that makes it engaging and demonstrates great impact to your character.

If you pick a topic like the first time you clashed with your parents about political beliefs or how winning a debate in your government class inspired you to become a politics major, you need to go beyond the literal and express how it made you feel.

Keep in mind, this prompt is asking you to share your inner thoughts. You need to reflect on the event, person, or experience you choose in order to demonstrate the deeper impact it had on you .

No matter the topic you choose, the admissions committee needs to see that you can identify self-growth. Being aware of changes in your own perspective shows that you are not only self-aware, but also open to learning and growing from new or different events, people, and experiences. So, don’t spend too much time recounting facts about your topic, instead briefly mention it and then intertwine the story with periods of reflection.

While this prompt may not appear to be extremely complex, applicants often struggle with getting their point across when discussing past experiences. Reflection is difficult to put into writing, however, when done right, it is extremely effective in presenting an applicant as original and honest in their application.

Take your time with this prompt (if you choose it) and do it justice! Don’t be afraid to brainstorm for a bit before you find the right event, person, or experience to capture moments of self-growth.

Honors Program Applicants , Prompt 2

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).

For this prompt, you first need to do your research about the UHP. As you do your research, make a list of all the features of UHP that appeal to you. While the title of being in an honors program will be appealing to a lot of applicants, the program components may not be a perfect fit for everyone. Therefore, you need to demonstrate that you belong in this program for more than just your grades in high school, but rather your educational ambitions for your undergrad experience.

Here are some tips about what to include in your essay response:

Make sure to address how this program will complement or supplement your major studies. The UHP could supplement your major studies if you are a humanities major because the program tends to lean towards the analytical/expressive side of social sciences. Meanwhile, the UHP could complement your studies as an STEM major because the program sets out to attract students who are “intellectual omnivores who know that they [you] can’t be interested in one thing without being interested in all things.”

Talk about your educational ambitions and how the resources in the UHP could help guide them. Admissions officers are looking for students who have a greater sense of what they want to do in the next four years. This does not mean that undecided students will not be accepted into the UHP, but the admissions committee may have a harder time seeing how UHP is a right “fit” for their goals.

For example, if you have an idea of potential research topics you want to explore, then talk about the UHP’s Sigelman Undergraduate Research Enhancement (SURE) award and how you would use that money to make an impact.

Maybe you could address the learning style and classroom format of the UHP. Many of the classes in the UHP are taught using the socratic method and are more laid back during class time because students are expected to be more mature and self-motivated in their pursuit of knowledge. Furthermore, class sizes tend to be smaller allowing for more engaged participants in UHP classes. If you tend to thrive in more intimate classroom settings, or just love discussion-based classes, then make sure to communicate that in your essay response.

Talk about the honors housing and some of the faculty-in-residence. You could take this opportunity to describe why the quieter, more traditional college setting of GW’s Mount Vernon campus would be a good fit for your personal comfort. Note that when talking about specific faculty or their courses, do not just name-drop and move-on. You need to be specific and show how a chosen professor and course could directly connect to your major studies or lead to potential research opportunities.

Overall, be as specific as possible in this essay response. Make sure to elaborate on all of your points, even if it means you have to limit how many things you bring up.

Don’t waste a lot of time with filler words or fluff. This essay is meant to show your “fit”, so the more space you use to give details, the more likely you will effectively demonstrate why the UHP is a perfect fit for you.

To prepare for this prompt, it is a good idea to spend some time reading newspaper articles. Look for feature articles that provide in-depth interviews with individuals—movie stars, politicians, or entrepreneurs—on reputable news sites such as the New York Times , Time Magazine , or The Washington Post . Get to know the style used by professional journalists when profiling subjects.

It is important to focus your “interview” on a particular event or achievement in your life. Although the prompt is quite vague in regards to the content of the profile, you don’t want to waste this space by rambling on about a list of your achievements.

Instead, think of one particular interest that really defines and shapes you, then come up with “interview questions” that would allow you to speak to that aspect of your personality.

This prompt also gives you an opportunity to highlight an aspect of your profile that the rest of your more conventional application does not showcase. Here are some suggestions for potential topics:

If you have a unique skill that you have cultivated outside of your academic and extracurricular life, this prompt is a perfect opportunity to mention it.

For example, if you are an expert juggler who practices new tricks every weekend and can captivate an audience of middle-school children, your profile is a chance to sell the admissions committee on this particular quirk, and your innate passion for the activity that nurtured your skill.

If you have an intense interest or passion, however unconventional, you can also use this prompt to demonstrate how it contributes to your skills and personality.

For instance, if you have collected every film produced by your favorite movie director, are capable of reciting obscure trivia about his cinematic achievements, and never miss a chance to learn more about the genre of cinema in which he specializes, talk about it in your profile. This way, you can show that you are intellectually curious and motivated to learn new things about the subjects that inspire you.

If you have had a particular experience that served as a defining moment in your life , the newspaper profile is a great place to reflect on it.

For example, if you had spent many months preparing for a half-marathon, working hard to build the stamina and discipline necessary to keep running, you can use this response as a place to reflect on the challenges you faced and what you learned about yourself along the way.

One way to help you develop a strong response to the prompt is to ask a friend or family member to interview you . They may be able to come up with interesting questions that you would not otherwise have thought of, the responses to which you can incorporate in your profile.

Below are some practical tips for crafting a response in the style of a news piece:

Refer to yourself in third person. It may feel strange at first, but it is important to remember that the prompt wants you to write a feature as though you interviewed yourself. Pretend you are a reporter who is writing a story about a famous individual and refer to yourself the way you would to your subject.
Stylistically, journalistic writing differs from academic papers you would typically write in high school. Try to keep both your sentences and paragraphs short and to the point. Each sentence and paragraph should communicate one main idea and include only the information necessary to convey it. Don’t include complicated clauses or overly long, flowery sentences. The purpose of a news article is to convey information effectively and concisely. This prompt seeks to determine whether you are capable of adopting the kind of style necessary to succeed at the School of Media and Public Affairs.

When responding to any of the above prompts, it is crucial to reflect on what the question is asking you before launching into writing. In addition, it is always a good idea to have another person look over your responses when you’re done in order to avoid any careless errors and make sure that you are getting your main points across in a clear and engaging manner.

If you could be any one person who has been active in politics, who would you choose to be and why? (500 words)

This prompt is meant to separate applicants who have a genuine interest in the world of political communications from those who only have surface-level interest. In order to answer this prompt effectively, you need to be able to pinpoint issues you are passionate about, identify a person active in politics who inspires you, and explain WHY you chose a particular person.

Don’t pick a person whose policies you do not know well. While names like “AOC”, “Bernie Sanders”, “Donald Trump”, “Angela Merkel”, “Modi” and more are in mainstream media, many people only know the sparknotes version of their policies. The admissions committee wants to see that your specific interest—that could have been shown in your extracurriculars or class choices—is also valued by the person you chose.

For instance, if you have worked at a food bank through your high school career, you could choose to be Congressman Dwight Evans (PA) who spearheaded the “Healthy Food Access for All Americans Act”.

Or, if you want to choose a person who is in mainstream media, try to pick a policy-agenda of theirs that is less-known and connect it back to some of your interests.

For example, if you participated in clubs for mental health awareness in young adults, you could choose to become Elizabeth Warren who co-sponsored a bill to address mental health issues for youth, specifically youth of color.

This major has an additional prompt because the admissions committee wants to choose people who are determined to pursue this educational track. Take time to carefully assess how you can tie your interests from outside of school or extracurriculars to the person you choose to become.

The WHY portion of this prompt is the most important part. Anyone could choose President Obama as the person they wish to become and state a simple reason like: “because he was the first African-American President of the United States and that was an inspiration to me.” However, a more effective answer would elaborate on what impact President Obama had on you beyond serving as an inspiration.

For instance, did Obama signing the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act inspire you as a female applicant to fight against the wage gap?

Or, did Obama lifting a 22-year old ban that restricted people with HIV/AIDS from entering the US impact your decision to write a blog about public health in America?

Making specific connections between the actions or accomplishments of the person you choose and your own accomplishments and goals will make your essay response unique and memorable.

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