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How to Write the University of San Diego Essays 2021-2022

The University of San Diego has two supplemental essay prompts. The first prompt asks you to discuss one of the five themes that reflects the liberal arts tradition: Advocate, Collaborate, Cultivate, Illuminate and Innovate. The second prompt allows you to choose from three options that focus on community, challenges that face humanity, and faith or spirituality.

The University of San Diego receives thousands of applications from students with similar profiles, so you want to make sure your essays will get noticed by an admissions officer. In this post, we’ll discuss how to write a thoughtful response to each of these prompts.

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University of San Diego Supplemental Essay Prompts

All applicants.

Prompt 1: The University of San Diego offers diverse educational opportunities grounded in the liberal arts and sciences. First-year students are immersed in one of our five Living Learning Communities (LLC), with the themes reflecting the vitality of the liberal arts tradition: Advocate, Collaborate, Cultivate, Illuminate and Innovate. Select one of these five themes and describe how it resonates with you and why. (350 words)

Prompt 2: Now choose one of the three prompts below to write about. Essays should be approximately 200 words in length. 

Option 1: Here at USD, we believe that our campus community and the communities we engage with are integral parts of who we are as a university. Our newly launched Horizon Project is a call to action, ensuring that we are dedicating the time, energy and resources necessary to build an ever more diverse and inclusive campus community. We value the fact that our students come from all walks of life, have experienced different realities and bring with them an array of unique perspectives, including some that have often been underrepresented and underserved by higher education. With that context in mind, what contribution have you made to your current school and/or local community that best exemplifies your awareness of and commitment to creating a diverse, inclusive and equitable community?

Option 2: USD is a proud Changemaker Campus, as designated by Ashoka U. As such, the USD experience emphasizes changemaking through social justice efforts, civic engagement, social innovation, creativity and a global perspective. Use this space to write about one of the challenges facing humanity today. Why does it matter to you? What experiences or insights have you had that speak to the urgency of this issue?

Option 3: Because USD is a contemporary Catholic university, we welcome and celebrate students from every background and faith tradition, including those who do not identify with a faith tradition. We devote great time and energy to ensuring all students feel connected to the vibrant USD community, including opportunities to grow in their relationship with God while considering who they are, what they believe and who they are called to become. Share some of your ideas about the role of faith or spirituality in your life or the life of someone you know.

The University of San Diego offers diverse educational opportunities grounded in the liberal arts and sciences. First-year students are immersed in one of our five Living Learning Communities (LLC), with the themes reflecting the vitality of the liberal arts tradition: Advocate, Collaborate, Cultivate, Illuminate and Innovate. Select one of these five themes and describe how it resonates with you and why. (350 words)

This prompt gives you an opportunity to show the admissions officer something unique about yourself. Because the prompt is so broad, it’s important to remember some of the main hallmarks of a good essay: Meets the basic requirements

The essay stays within the prompt word count, responds to the prompt, and doesn’t repeat information that’s already in your application. It’s also important to be mindful of your audience—in this case, the University of San Diego is a Catholic University, so they may be more conservative. 

Highly personal

A highly personal essay will share your thoughts and feelings and make it clear to the admissions officer what matters to you. By making it highly personal, your authenticity will come through.

With a broad prompt like this one, it’s easy to get caught in a surface level exploration of the theme, rather than going deep. Make sure you stick to the theme you choose and only focus on that. 

Well-Written

This may seem obvious, but a well-written essay is a good essay.  You’ll want to be sure there’s a strong opening and ending , it flows well, avoids cliches, and shows and doesn’t tell (more on this later).

Overall, a strong essay will highlight what makes you stand out from the other students who resonate with the theme you choose. This includes your interests and hobbies, values, experiences, family, language, etc. It will also discuss how the theme you choose shapes your outlook and actions.

One hallmark of a well-written essay is to show, not tell. This means using illustrative language and immersing the reader in your experience, rather than just writing what happened. For example, you don’t want to say, “I resonate with the “collaborate” theme because I enjoy working with people in my science club.” Instead, show and vividly describe a time when you and your science club peers collaborated on something together for a positive outcome. Show us your faces deep in thought, the late nights you spent working together to solve a problem—bring the admissions officer into the story as much as you can.

Prompt 2 Option 1

Here at usd, we believe that our campus community and the communities we engage with are integral parts of who we are as a university. our newly launched horizon project is a call to action, ensuring that we are dedicating the time, energy and resources necessary to build an ever more diverse and inclusive campus community. we value the fact that our students come from all walks of life, have experienced different realities and bring with them an array of unique perspectives, including some that have often been underrepresented and underserved by higher education. with that context in mind, what contribution have you made to your current school and/or local community that best exemplifies your awareness of and commitment to creating a diverse, inclusive and equitable community (200 words).

This prompt is a blend of both the community focused essay and diversity focused essay and is a great option for someone who’s actively involved in their community and wants to see changes made.

When discussing the contribution you made to your community, make sure to avoid short-term projects, such as a one-week Habitat for Humanity trip. Instead, discuss more genuine commitments that are more long-standing. You’ll then want to consider how the values mentioned in the prompt above came through during this experience and what impact it had , not just on your community, but you as well. Keep in mind that the word count is short (200 words) so you’ll want to be clear and precise in your response while getting the message across.

A student who was passionate about women’s rights might discuss how she learned that in some parts of the world, girls aren’t able to go to school when they are menstruating, and she believed it was unjust that girls were denied education for something beyond their control. She would talk about how she organized a drive for menstrual products at her school and donated them to girls in other countries. She would describe how she was not only able to make a positive impact on the lives of those girls, but she helped bring an issue she was deeply passionate about to the attention of her peers. She could also talk about how she had to be organized and spread the word so others would donate, which was a learning experience for her as well.

You don’t need to explicitly state that your involvement in your community demonstrates your commitment to diversity and inclusion. In fact, a good essay should be able to convey that to your readers with just descriptions. The more descriptive and anecdotal your essay is, the better you will be to show the admissions officers you are committed to diversity, rather than telling them.

For this diversity/community focused style of prompt, be sure to avoid using a privileged or pretentious tone and avoid a cliche conclusion such as “I learned that people can be happy with so little.” 

Prompt 2 Option 2

Usd is a proud changemaker campus, as designated by ashoka u. as such, the usd experience emphasizes changemaking through social justice efforts, civic engagement, social innovation, creativity and a global perspective. use this space to write about one of the challenges facing humanity today. why does it matter to you what experiences or insights have you had that speak to the urgency of this issue (200 words).

If you’re someone who’s passionate about global issues or social justice, this is a great option for you and fits into the political/global issues style of essay . 

This prompt gives you the opportunity to show that you’re an engaged citizen who cares about others and wants to make a difference. It’s also a chance to show admissions officers how you align with The University of San Diego’s values that they emphasize above.

As you write, keep in mind that you want to choose a challenge that is relevant and pressing to you. However, you should focus more on why it matters to you rather than the challenge itself. The admissions officers know about climate change, refugee crises, and Black Lives Matter protests. What they don’t know yet is why you care about these issues.

The structure of your essay should introduce the challenge you are passionate about (ideally through an anecdote), explain what drew you to this issue, describe how your emotions or state of mind are affected by this issue, and share what you see as a solution. 

Describing your emotions and state of mind when you hear or think about this issue is how you will be able to convey to admissions officers what this challenge means to you. You don’t want to say, “I am sad when I think about all the people who have died from cancer because we still don’t have a cure.” To really show admissions officers your passion and interest in this topic, you would write something like this: “An overwhelming feeling of desperation and confusion floods over me upon hearing my friend’s grandpa died of pancreatic cancer. It doesn’t make sense. We’ve cured Smallpox and Polio, we’ve developed vaccines for countless sicknesses. How can we fight off these petulant cells?”

Maybe the most important part of your essay is the ending. How are you going to fix this problem? Although the prompt doesn’t explicitly ask for you to propose a solution to the challenge you discuss, including this will take your essay from good to great. Admissions officers want to admit students who will change the world. Your essay should show that you are innovative and think towards the future. Just a sentence or two about how you want to improve the world will show that you are the type of student the University of San Diego wants on their campus. 

Prompt 2 Option 3

Because usd is a contemporary catholic university, we welcome and celebrate students from every background and faith tradition, including those who do not identify with a faith tradition. we devote great time and energy to ensuring all students feel connected to the vibrant usd community, including opportunities to grow in their relationship with god while considering who they are, what they believe and who they are called to become. share some of your ideas about the role of faith or spirituality in your life or the life of someone you know. (200 words).

If you are not someone who’s passionate about faith or spirituality, this may not be the best prompt for you. However, if you are someone who’s been strongly affected by faith and spirituality, this is your chance to express how those values connect with USD’s.

​​One essay structure approach you can take with this essay is: 

• Start with your first interactions with religion/faith/spirituality
• Tell the story of how you arrived at your conclusions about faith/spirituality and include any moments where you were challenged. 
• Connect these conclusions with the values of USD 

This is an especially fitting essay for related anecdotes if they’re short enough. For instance, you might start your essay with a story of when you first wondered about spirituality. If your relationship with spirituality or faith changed over time, that would also lend itself well to a series of anecdotes. 

Where to Get Your University of San Diego School Essay Edited for Free : 

Do you want feedback on your University of San Diego essay? It’s always good to get a second pair of eyes on your writing. That’s why we created our Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. Since they don’t know you personally, they can be a more objective judge of whether your personality shines through, and whether you’ve fully answered the prompt. 

You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

How to Write the University of San Diego Supplemental Essays

Reviewed by:

Former Admissions Committee Member, Columbia University

Reviewed: 5/29/24

If you're looking for a guide on how to ace the University of San Diego supplemental essays, you are in the right place .

Each year, many students try to get into the University of California, San Diego. Of every 100 applicants, 30 are admitted, indicating a 30% acceptance rate. As you prepare to meet UCSD's SAT/ACT and GPA requirements, you should also make adequate preparations for acing its supplemental essays. 

UC San Diego is known for training students in science and technology research programs. As a student, aside from your major coursework, you learn critical skills for the future. 

Graduates from UCSD are leaders in business, nonprofits, and government organizations across the globe. With a well-crafted supplemental essay, you are on your way to becoming the best of the best. 

The secret to writing a compelling supplemental essay is understanding the question. All your preparations, including reading this blog, will help you explain and provide winning answers to each prompt. This blog maps out all the tips for crafting outstanding supplemental essays for your application to UCSD.

University of San Diego Personal Insight Questions 2023-2024

How many USCD essay prompts must you write for the University of San Diego ? UCSD provides eight Personal Insight Questions. From these eight, you will need to answer four questions. Here are the eight questions to choose from:

“ Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time.”

“Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem-solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistic, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.”

“ What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?”

“ Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.”

“ Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?”

“ Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.”

“ What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?”

“ Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admission to the University of California?”

How to Write Each Essay Prompt For the University of San Diego

After reading these questions, they may seem difficult. Do not worry; you can have the best answers among all applicants. Here’s how to write UCSD supplemental essays directly, captivatingly, and compellingly.

How to Write University of San Diego Supplemental Essay #1 + Analysis and Tips

Analysis of Prompt #1:

The first question asks you to describe your leadership experience. They want you to focus on that role where you made the most impact and not just make a list of all your previous experiences.  

A leader has influence, strong values, and the ability to mentor, correct, and assist people needing help. Being a leader could be being the chairman of a committee or mentoring a student in junior year. Whether you have actively taken up a leadership role, here are tips on answering question #1. 

1. Pick a Role : We believe every student has had a leadership role at one point or the other. So, write up a list of each role, from the role of a president to the role of a group leader. Then, pick a role that allows you to tell an engaging story.

2. Be Authentic : Think deeply before answering this question. If you took up a role, consider the impacts you made there. Think about how people keep referring to your role as a leader. It could be that you were able to set up a reading club, or you helped a junior study to pass a course. 

3. Be Detailed : Take your time to tell this story in a way that catches your attention. You can mention the name of the book club or the junior you helped. Start by describing your thoughts about the idea and the steps you took until a delivery point. Admissions officers' interest lies in why you took up the role and the lessons learned. 

How to Write the University of San Diego Supplemental Essay #2 + Analysis and Tips

Analysis of Prompt #2:

This question aims to bring out your creativity. To write a stellar essay , ask yourself these questions. Do I have a creative skill that I cherish? UCSD explores your creative side. In your essay, you will describe your creativity and how you use this skill to solve problems.

1. Know That You Have a Creative Side : This UCSD essay prompt needs you to be creative, so you should have creative skills. They need to know that this applicant is not only academia-oriented. So, think about your singing, painting, sewing, baking, or ballet skills. Note that this can boost your chances at the admission office, especially if your academic requirements are not strong enough.

2. Be Creative : Prompt #2 does not just ask you to discuss your creative side. It seeks to know how original and artistic your skill is and how it can be problem-solving. Being creative here involves writing about how you started baking every Sunday to keep the family together. Or how you go sculpting to let your emotions out. 

3. Bring your creativity into your major: If your major is engineering, you can describe how you choose to paint during your leisure time. Go further by describing how your classmates joined you in painting as a time away from academics. This way, you have revealed more about yourself besides your grades. 

How to Write the University of San Diego Supplemental Essay #3 + Analysis and Tips

Analysis of Prompt #3: The keywords here are talent/skill, develop and demonstrate. There's a chance for you to explain the places you've been to as a result of your talent. If you are an athlete, a songwriter, a performer, or a teacher, you can let your talent shine in this essay. How do you go about it?

1. Think About your Strengths : If you have any of the talents listed above, pick one of them for this question. But if you don't, there's no cause for fear. One who isn't an athlete can be a good organizer. Review your experience or ask family and friends to assess your strengths and skills. 

2. Share your Skill Development : Begin your essay as a story describing the training that helped hone your talent. You can talk about the different clubs you joined as a junior, your consistent role as a teacher in church, or how you always made your sibling laugh while growing up. 

And if you are a strong member of the debate club, describe how your skills began as an outspoken child of the family.

3. Share your Skill Demonstration : Now, you can explain your many awards in the award section. Your skill as the best winger made your soccer team the reigning champion for years. Or how you organized several events as a junior in high school and the many awards you bagged for the debate club.

How to Write the University of San Diego Supplemental Essay #4 + Analysis and Tips

Analysis of Prompt #4: A significant educational opportunity is not just the high schools you attended. It is an educational platform that increases your experience as a student. Opportunities like advanced courses, a summer enrichment program, a debate club, and an unpaid internship with a physician, to name a few. 

Then, what were the barriers during these programs? It could be inadequate resources or physical or health challenges. How do you answer this question?

1. Showcase a Challenge not on Your UC Application : A student who previously had a learning disability will shine in this prompt. Remember that you have overcome this challenge, so you didn't indicate it in your personal data.

2. Be Vulnerable : It may sound unnecessary, but it will increase your chances. Explain how this challenge hindered your progress at the start of the educational opportunity. For example, your program may have been extended due to this barrier. 

3. Describe Your Success : Delve into how you overcame the challenge. Did you have to see a counselor? Did you join small study groups? Write about the specific events that led to your successful completion of such a program and how they helped shape who you are today.

How to Write University of San Diego Supplemental Essay #5 + Analysis and Tips

Analysis of Prompt #5: If you are familiar with supplemental essays , you will realize that most schools want to see your ability to handle challenges. The admission office wants to see this challenge and your approach to solving it. Here are tips for writing prompt #5 in the best way possible.

1. Be Real : To make a point, don't conjure a challenge you didn't go through. Choose the most significant challenge you experienced, even if it seems too minute. Every student will go through unexpected challenges. So, show UCSD that you will not run in the face of challenges.

2. Be Direct : While you may want to stick to multiple challenges, ensure you stick to one. Then, explain the one as much as you can. Describe how it affected you, given specific examples. 

3. Show Your Growth : You may lose some points if you fail to include your growth process during this challenge. Write about how you were able to come out of the situation stronger. Your answer should prove that if you come to any challenge, you will be ready to face it head-on and overcome it.

How to Write University of San Diego Supplemental Essay #6 + Analysis and Tips

Analysis of Prompt #6: This question begins with the keyword "academic" subject. This means you must not write about the novels you read during your leisure or the movies you discover. You may write about the textile creation course that inspired you as a medical student. 

The next step is to write about how you took the course and expanded your knowledge. Here's how to write this essay.

1. Show your Decision-making Ability : Many students can desire to pursue an interest, but it stays and remains an idea for a long time. But for you, you can show UCSD that you can decide to pursue your interests via this answer. By joining the literature summer class, you can pursue your literary interest as a maths student. 

2. Share the Lessons Learnt: Explain how your interest in this subject broadens your thinking process. For example, reading a book on history during a literature class informs you about things you were not privy to before. You can also talk about how this subject will spur you to join the creative writing club at UCSD. 

3. Use Specific Examples: Don’t overshare in one short UCSD essay prompt. If you pursue more than one academic subject, stick to one. You can showcase your decisiveness experience with one point. Pick one point and explain, staying within the word limit.

How to Write University of San Diego Supplemental Essay #7 + Analysis and Tips

Analysis of Prompt #7: This prompt seeks to discover how you contribute to your environment. Your interaction with your present school, home, or community shows what kind of future community member you’ll be. The admission officers expect to see your thoughtfulness, abilities, and impact during your contributions. So here are tips before you write.

1. Don't Exaggerate Your Role : While this prompt asks you to define your contributions, avoid bragging about it. Admission officers want to know about your workability. However, they also want to see that you are humble while working for the people. So, be sure to give a sincere description in this essay.

2. Describe your Inspiration : What spurred you to contribute? Was it a lingering problem in the street? Or a call for volunteers? This description shows that you have high emotional intelligence, boosting your chances of getting into UCSD. Also, you can write about how your inspiration increased your exposure to different areas in society.

3. Show your Team Spirit : This prompt is an opportunity to showcase your ability as a string team member, especially if you collaborated with others. For example, if you joined your school sanitation team to clean the dining weekly, that displays teamwork. 

How to Write the University of San Diego Supplemental Essay #8 + Analysis and Tips

Analysis of Prompt #8: This prompt is an open question that requires any kind of answer. Hold on for a second. Think about it. What could be missing in the previous seven prompts? 

You can go ahead if you realize you have something to share that isn't covered in previous questions. Aim to answer the question, 'What makes you an excellent choice for UCSD?'

1. Share What Makes You Stand Out: This question is not an avenue to write about other extracurricular activities or events that are not significant to the school. It should focus on exceptional attributes and events. You can talk about a business you started during the holidays. 

2. Be Honest : The prompt is another opportunity to sell yourself. However, if you have done this in the previous questions, you need not answer prompt #8. So, don't be tempted to include information that isn't yours. 

Some ideas include writing about how you develop the ability to work under pressure, even as a student, or your ability to stay focused despite distractions in some study settings. 

Examples of the University of San Diego Supplemental Essays that Worked

After extensive explanations, the best next thing is to investigate practice examples of these essays. These essay samples were written by successful applicants at the University of San Diego. Let's go!

Sample Essay #1

Prompt : " Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time ."

Take a look at this sample.

"It was her fourth honor council. I sat on the committee for her third, which granted her one last chance. It was mid-April–just weeks before graduation, and she would walk across the stage with her diploma. The third honor council debated for hours about the best course of action. 

No student had ever been given four chances without separation from the school. One attendee argued for her future in retaining her college admission, while another suggested her negative impacts on the school community. After hours of debate, the honor council was split. It was left up to just a few of her peers to decide her fate. 

We reviewed her previous violation, and it appeared: “Any future violations of school rules will result in separation from the school”. I believe strongly in seeking to understand a person’s circumstances before drawing judgment, and I think there is great value in the second chance. Unfortunately, this student could not take responsibility after failing on multiple counts, and we eventually decided it would be best for the community if she separated from the school. She was allowed to receive her diploma with successful completion of online classes.

Hard decisions like these have been a driving factor in shaping my character and values caring for the greater good of the community. I faced discrimination as a person with learning differences, which prompted me to solve issues of inequity through leadership positions. I give back to the community by leading school discussions about acts of hate and aggression that happen on and off campus, and I strive to create diversity and inclusion by attracting new people to Norwich. 

I attempt to create a well-rounded incoming class of freshmen that will better the community and help to solve issues of discrimination and a lack of diversity on campus. Together, my roles have heavily aligned with my values of creating diversity and solving a wide range of issues on campus."

Why Essay #1 Worked

The first paragraph shows the author's role as a council member. This essay works because the author demonstrates their leadership skills and highlights an event expressing their qualities and characteristics.

Sample Essay #2

Prompt : " Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem-solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistic, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side."

An example of how you can showcase your creativity goes thus:

"I believe in the strength of words because I know the power that just one can hold. Most of the time, it begins like that: I hear a word in a song that isn’t there, and an idea blooms. That word gives the sentence new meaning and great potential blossoms. So, I use that new phrase to write a new song.

Sometimes, the title of a book or a phrase in it takes me to the same place of raw creativity and expressive fervor. Something specific - a certain je ne sais quoi in my frontal cortex, which has long been dubbed creativity’s hub - ignites a thought in me that allows me to transform a creative piece of work into one of my own, something original, something new. 

The main way I’m able to explore this creative metamorphosis is through the transportability I experience with books. I write poems for the strength of Briseis and compose songs for the endless halls Piranesi roams, not to mention for the nostalgic memories of Tsukuru Tasaki. All these characters, and more, inspire me with their stories. I can write based on things I may never face as well as ubiquitously occurring feelings I haven’t yet felt because I can relate to them by reading about them in books written by others who have experienced those things (well, most of them).

It’s as if someone has created a cover-to-cover world and allowed me to enter it, a world which once I finish its final page, belongs once again to the author or musician - to his or her own experiences and feelings - but a world that I, too, can create, one that feels like home to me. I can write as if I’ve lived under the sea and dive into a wide range of themes in a limitless, fantasy-like way. 

Being able to write in this fashion gives me complete freedom on the angle I wish to explore with each theme and gives each of these themes a sense of universality and relatability to the reader or at least that’s the goal."

Why Essay # 2 Worked

You can see this author's creativity in creating lyrics from different inspirations, including a book title. They can create original, unique poems and songs from everything and anything in this diverse world. It also describes their problem-solving skill, as the original music will solve another musician's problem.

Sample Essay #3

Prompt : " What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?"

This author carefully explains their greatest skill in the sample below.

"When it comes to rooms, I’m a “reader”. I find reading books helps me improve my ability to read rooms because books help me understand events and individuals outside of my day-to-day experiences. Yet, this skill can also be problematic. For example, when I got my wisdom teeth pulled, I read “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”. 

With my face all puffy, I predicted two of the twist endings by pages 100-120 and found myself thoroughly disappointed (and somewhat proud) that they came to fruition simultaneously. Sometimes, it sucks to be right with this superpower.

Another activity that has augmented my talent for reading a room is traveling. Traveling improves my worldliness, which undoubtedly plays a key role in reading different people and situations. While living in Columbia, I found reading rooms initially difficult and thus felt vulnerable, as if my semi-psychic superpowers had been stripped away. But over time, I sensed my ability returning and even broadening as I ventured further outside my comfort bubble. 

Traveling within and outside Latin America has exposed me to multifarious cultures and peoples, which have each, in their own way, bolstered my ability to read the rooms around me into an even more potent superpower of being able to read rooms around the world.

Not only did I travel to others around the world to expand my horizons, but they also “traveled” to me via the Elders Support Initiative, a volunteer group directed toward helping senior citizens digitally during coronavirus. Conversing at length with such seasoned seniors helped grant me the perspective to understand them despite our differing worldviews from disparate epochs. Time allowed me to eventually read them and the (Zoom) room just the same, which made leading and organizing activities they’d like far easier and more successful.

Last but certainly not least, especially in today’s sociopolitical climate, reading rooms allow me to resolve conflicts and mediate problems between parties. However, my favorite part of being a “reader” is being the one to whom my friends always vent and with whom they share exciting news because they feel heard and understood by me."(351 words)

Why Essay #3 Worked

This essay works because of the engaging story about a room reading skill. It embodies communication skills, conflict mediation, and of course, reading skills. This author displays the development and three practical instances where this skill was useful. Any admission officer will read and connect with the author before the end. 

Sample Essay #4

Prompt : " Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced."

Check out this author's essay sample.

"The test covered L’Hopital’s Rule and Related Rates – something I knew I’d need extra time to complete. But there I was. Waiting in the classroom patiently with everyone else for Dr Robert to hand out the Honors Precalculus exam. I had been given a written contract for accommodations, but he didn’t care. 

This was the third time this had happened. I spoke to him about the extended time that I was entitled to the test before, yet here I was- again- in the same room as everyone else without any accommodations. Then he handed me my paper. I scribbled down my name as fast as possible to give myself enough time to maybe get two-thirds into the test without him grabbing it from my hands. 

I flew through L’Hopital’s rule through the constant sneezing, sniffing, and occasional cough from my neighbors. Did the person sitting next to me have COVID? It didn’t matter. What mattered was getting through as much math as possible within the time I was allowed. After finishing the first half, I looked over to my left– only to see the student next to me flipping to the last page of the test. 

Just as I started on the second half, I heard the disappointing “5 Minutes Left”. I quickly jotted down anything that came to mind for the remaining few minutes. I wrote as fast as possible until he came around and grabbed the test from underneath my pencil. I stood up and left the class full of frustration and anger. I found my friends, who had finished theirs 30 minutes early. I listened in frustration as they exclaimed, “That was the easiest test I’ve ever taken!”. 

I ran furiously to swim practice, thinking about the injustice I had faced – just like every test before. The next day in class, he handed back our tests. “What did you get?” “How did you do?” “98 – easiest test ever” “96 – I didn’t even study!”. Then he handed mine back. It was face down. I stared in agony at the back page with a large red “X” on the unattempted problems. 

I flipped it over, which only made it worse: “78%”. Nearly everything I had attempted on the test was correct. The remaining 22% were all unattempted problems. This happened many more times – “86”, “79”, “80”, “Did you attempt this problem?”, “Why didn’t you try this one?”. 

The end of the semester eventually came, and grades were finalized. “B+”. Nearly every problem I attempted on any quiz or test was mathematically correct, but I had run out of time on almost every assessment. It didn’t matter how good I truly was at Precalculus. What mattered to the teacher was what was down on the paper – an incomplete test. 

The frustration over the discrimination I faced in the classroom got so intense that I decided to write Dr. Robert one final email to let him know just how much his injustice in the classroom affected me. Knowing there was nothing I could do to help my grade, I furiously typed out every article about the ADA he violated and how unfair this truly was to me. My advocacy not only for myself, but for all students with learning differences made a big difference in the classroom, and in the second semester, I faced much less discrimination." (555 words)

Why Essay #4 Worked

In this sample, the author describes a challenge quite common among students in the university. After stating the barrier, they describe the pain, shame, and discrimination this barrier had caused. It works because it shows their ability to persist till there's a solution in the face of challenges.

Sample Essay #6

Prompt : " Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom."

Here's what this author has to say about pursuing an academic interest. 

"The assignment was to scrape and organize many DNA sequences from a database. It was late on a Sunday night, and I hadn’t started the assignment. I opened my laptop and saw the article I had been reading earlier that day. “Coronavirus has now killed 250 thousand people in the United States”. I moved it aside to start the project that was due the next morning. 

After spending hours finding creative ways to scrape the data I desired, I began debugging. I spent another hour tirelessly fixing problems that wouldn't allow my code to run. I turned back to the web to see if Stack Overflow had the answers to my questions. Then I saw it again: “Coronavirus has now killed 250 thousand people in the United States”. 

I put it aside but pondered how I could apply web scraping to a real-world crisis like COVID-19. I began debugging but was overtaken by my curiosity. I diverged from my school project and began writing code to scrape a COVID database and organize it into data frames. Eventually, after scraping tons of data, I glanced at the clock: 4 AM, and I still had not finished my assignment. 

It was time to get to work. I drudged through another hour of debugging and eventually finished. I glanced outside my window and saw bright beams of sunlight poking through the dense fog on the mountains, so I quickly grabbed my things and ran out the door for school.

 I was energized by the real-world application of what I was learning in my directed study, “Using Python for Research.” It inspired me to continue taking courses in addition to those offered at my school, such as “Analyzing Data with R” and “Multivariable Calculus.”

Why Essay #6 Worked off

Most schools offer different courses outside your major course. In this essay, the author, a medical student studying DNA sequences, chose to pursue an interest in programming languages. This essay sample works because the author learned and used her newly acquired knowledge to solve a problem.

Sample Essay #7

Prompt : " What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?"

Here's how to write UCSD essay Prompt #7.

"Whatever your expectations of my musical talents are, just throw them on the ground,” said my brother as he prepared to play the bagpipes for Treasure Talent Hunt, our school’s talent competition. Although I admit my brother’s bagpipe playing wasn’t entirely musical, hearing him make the entire student body laugh was music to my ears after two and a half years without social activities. 

For me, school is more than didactic education. It’s a community, and my goal is always to increase camaraderie and boost our collective spirit.  Last year, we returned to in-person classes, but the only social event we held was the prom. My disappointment in the lack of extracurricular events moved me to make a change. 

As student body vice president, my mission has been to increase the number of programs my school sponsors. I enjoy gathering feedback and ideas from my schoolmates and bringing them to the council to discuss, but generating ideas is only part of the fun. Last year was chaotic, as everyone on the student council performed the same task regardless of their position. To offer more events, I felt it was important for the student council members to have clearly defined roles and responsibilities, so I set expectations. 

In planning the Treasure Talent Hunt. I delegated to the spirit coordinators the registration of participants and the organization of the events, and to the class representatives the purchase of the drinks and snacks, which the treasurer reimbursed. The whole school turned out for the event and cheered on their performing classmates. Everybody cheered for the eight students performing at Treasure Talent Hunt.

In my first few months leading the student council, I also organized seven new social events, including homecoming festivities and spirit week, which were met with equal enthusiasm from the student population. I slowly noticed a palpable change in the camaraderie among my schoolmates, as they now have more opportunities to reconnect with each other. While my brother might not expect much from his music, I expect to rebuild our school community one event at a time.

Why Essay #7 Worked

The author discusses her participation in bringing back a talent competition, an extracurricular activity. They define how the enthusiasm and cheering spirit was brought back to school via her initiative. The admissions officers reading this essay will likely stand for this student before the university.

Get More Sample Essays Here!

These sample essays have helped broaden your thoughts, no doubt. If you want more of these, check out our extensive essay database.

FAQs: How to Write the University of San Diego Supplemental Essays 

Perhaps we couldn't answer all your questions, here are some common questions regarding the University of San Diego supplemental essays.

1. How Important Are Essays For the University of San Diego? 

Essays are very important in the University of San Diego's application process. They allow you to showcase your personality, experiences, and skills, helping the admissions committee understand you beyond your academic achievements.

2. How Many Essays Does UCSD Require?

You need to write four UCSD essays. Generally, UCSD provides eight personal insight essays as part of the University of California application.

3. Which UC Essay Should I Write?

Choose the questions that allow you to provide unique answers best. Your essay should resonate with your story and provide a comprehensive picture of yourself.

4. How Long Should University of San Diego Essays Be?

Your University of San Diego essay should not exceed 350 words. Remember to adhere to each limit, as adhering demonstrates your ability to follow instructions and effectively communicate your ideas.

Final Thoughts

When you started reading this guide, the prompts may have seemed daunting. By now, you should see each essay prompt as an opportunity to demonstrate your personality beyond your grades and test scores.

Take your time to craft, edit, and write compelling University of San Diego supplemental essays today. 

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How to Respond to 2023/2024 University of San Diego Supplemental Essay Prompts

Prior to coming to Scholarships360 for her first internship in 2022, Savannah utilized her campus publications by joining various fashion publications that are offered at Ohio University. One of those publications is Thread Magazine, where Savannah has had the opportunity to work on articles related to world-wide related fashion news and events, as well as articles closer to home, such as a fashion piece on Athens hometown-hero Joe Burrow. This year, Savannah also had the opportunity to be a content writing intern for Aiken House, as well as a section editor for Southeast Ohio Magazine. In 2023, Savannah served as the Chapter President of her sorority, Alpha Gamma Delta. These collective experiences, as well as her experience currently working for Ohio University’s Undergraduate Admissions, has led her to Scholarships360 and aided in her passion for helping students better understand the college admissions process and financial aid. In her free time, Savannah enjoys horseback riding, watching Formula One races, traveling, and spending time with her friends and family. Savannah will graduate from Ohio University in May 2024 with a degree in Journalism News and Information and a certificate in Italian Studies.

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The University of San Diego is a private, Roman-Catholic university located in beautiful San Diego, California. Through the USD supplemental essay, students have a chance to show the admissions professionals who they are as a person. Let’s dive into what the USD supplemental essays are all about!

Mandatory USD first-year supplemental essay

“The University of San Diego offers diverse educational opportunities grounded in the liberal arts and sciences. First-year students are immersed in one of our five Learning Communities (LC ), with the themes reflecting the vitality of the liberal arts tradition: Advocate, Collaborate, Cultivate, Illuminate and Innovate. Select one of these five themes and describe how it resonates with you and why.” 

All first-year applicants are required to write this essay prompt. It gives the reader an opportunity to see what kind of student you are and who you are as a person. This prompt can be easily answered in about 200 words, but the maximum length it can be is 350 words. 

This is a personal opinion essay, but a good one to show the admissions professionals at San Diego what kind of person you are. Are you an advocate, and if so, why? How is collaboration important to you in your college career? Think about things like this while you are looking at each of these five themes. 

Questions to consider:

• How have you used one of these themes in your life to shape who you are?
• Are any of these themes values that your current school community holds?
• How will you incorporate these themes into your education at San Diego?

Also see: 10 tips for successful college applications

Mandatory USD supplemental essay for transfer students

“How will USD help enhance your educational and professional goals beyond what your current institution offers?”

If you are choosing to transfer, it is likely that you already know the answer to this question. Think about the reason that you are deciding to leave your previous institution, and without putting that school down, talk about the things that you are looking forward to that San Diego offers. Beyond that, what are you hoping to do after you graduate college that San Diego can help you with? Whatever your future goal is, think about the alumni network, classes, and professors that USD can offer you as an undergraduate and incorporate them into your response here. 

• What are your educational and professional goals?
• What does USD have that your previous institution did not?
• Why is USD the ideal school for you?

Also see: How to write a transfer essay

First year and transfer student optional prompts

First year students are also required to choose one of the three prompts below to write along with their mandatory essay. Each of these prompts can also be written in 350 words, and giving students the opportunity to choose which prompt they would like to write shows that USD wants to get to know you!

“What contribution have you made to your current school and/or local community that best exemplifies your awareness of and commitment to creating a diverse, inclusive and equitable community? Here at USD, we believe that our campus community and the communities we engage with are integral parts of who we are as a university. Our newly launched  Horizon Project is a call to action, ensuring that we are dedicating the time, energy and resources necessary to build an ever more diverse and inclusive campus community. We value the fact that our students come from all walks of life, have experienced different realities and bring with them an array of unique perspectives, including some that have often been underrepresented and underserved by higher education.”

This prompt offers a great opportunity to talk about the times where you have served your community through community service. If you do not have any community service experience to talk about, that is completely fine. You can think about clubs and organizations that you were in while in high school, and how they affected the individuals in the organization and your school community. Read about the Horizon Project and how you can get involved. If you have any experience working on a team to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion within your community, school, or organization, this is a great opportunity to touch on this.

• What community service opportunities did you participate in while in high school?
• What steps did you take to make the organization you were a part of more diverse? 
• Have you worked on a diversity project or on a diversity team in an organization?

“Use this space to write about one of the challenges facing humanity today. Why does it matter to you? What experiences or insights have you had that speak to the urgency of this issue. As a proud Changemaker Campus , as designated by Ashoka U, the USD experience emphasizes changemaking through social justice efforts, civic engagement, social innovation, creativity and a global perspective.”

This is a very deep question that will take some time to answer fully. As you can imagine, there are so many different topics that you could choose to write about here. The best thing that you can do here is free write about something that you are passionate about or something that you want to change in the world.  After you are done with that, go back and edit your work into more cohesive thoughts. Be sure to link back to the Changemaker website to show that you did your research! 

• What are you passionate about?
• What experiences have you had that made you passionate about this topic?
• What do you feel are the world’s most pressing issues–what needs to change?

“Share some of your ideas about the role of faith or spirituality in your life or the life of someone you know. As a contemporary Catholic university, we welcome and celebrate students from every background and faith tradition, including those who do not identify with a faith tradition. We devote great time and energy to ensuring all students feel connected to the vibrant USD community, including opportunities to grow in their relationship with God while considering who they are, what they believe and who they are called to become.”

Since the University of San Diego is a Catholic university, faith is something that is very important to them. Remember, this is an optional prompt, so you do not necessarily need to write this essay. But, if you are a spiritual person and this is something you are passionate about, this essay can tell a lot about the kind of person you– especially if you choose to write about your admiration for someone else’s faith. This shows that you are observant and that you have respect for other people, two things that many colleges look for in a student. 

• Who in your life has influenced your faith?
• Regardless of what religion they practice, who in your life has a faith that you admire?
• How has your faith influenced your education?

Final thoughts for students

There are a nice variety of essays to choose from for your USD supplemental essay. Each of these are pretty straightforward essay options, but just make sure that you are focusing on what makes San Diego the best place for you, and why you would make a great addition to their community. Overall, if you are open and honest in each of your responses, they will love you!

Also see: What is the difference between a college and university?

Additional resources

Once you’ve finished your USD supplemental essays, give yourself a pat on the back! You’re one step closer to finishing your college admissions. But once you’re ready to get back into the process, remember we are here to help every step of the way. With guides on when to apply to college , how many schools to apply to , and how to choose a safety school , we can help you with all your decision-making.

We can also help you decipher your financial aid award letter , write a financial aid appeal , and choose your college . Good luck, and remember, apply to all the scholarships you are eligible for! 

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University of San Diego Undergraduate College Application Essays

These University of San Diego college application essays were written by students accepted at University of San Diego. All of our sample college essays include the question prompt and the year written. Please use these sample admission essays responsibly.

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College Application Essays accepted by University of San Diego

Forget-me-not anonymous, university of san diego.

Her hands were as tough as leather, but they felt like velvet to me. She smelled unlike most grandmothers, constantly encompassed by a pungent aroma of fresh mimosas and blooming marigolds. I think it was her eyes that captivated me most as a...

Life as a Scribe Anthony Mells

As I rushed up to the sliding glass doors that marked the entrance to the Emergency Room, my heart pounded with exhilaration. Patients were sitting in chairs, lying on stretchers, and nervously pacing the floor. With a dry mouth and sweaty palms,...

The Surfer and the Seal Anonymous

I stared deep into the dark green eyes of the seal that was lying on my surf board. She looked as if she were trying to tell me something. Her glossy grey coat glowed in the moonlight, and her whiskers twitched in the sea breeze. I could only...

From Tackle Practice to the Barre Anonymous

I lead a double life. You don’t often find someone who both dances and plays football. I suppose that makes me a statistical anomaly, because I go to tackle practice at six a.m. and barre class at six p.m. I love dance because it’s art with...

My Closet of Characters Elle Ventana Knowlton

To most people, a costume is a few layers of carefully constructed material that conveys a character or historical period. To me it is a vessel of teleportation that permits me to explore the personalities of flirts, cowards, evil geniuses, and...

Dairying to be Different Haley Lucero Godbold

Dairy products crushed my dreams. My pediatrician delivered the terrible news: she said that my constant stomach aches had been caused by a dairy allergy that had, until recently, lain dormant. This development would be a tough pill for any...

One More Fight Anonymous

I'm standing in the arena, facing my opponent. Hands on guard and ready to fight, fists clenched and sweat dripping down my fingers. In the distance, I hear the command, "fight!" The match has begun.

Sparring, kata, sweeps, hooks, and grabs had...

The Box Anonymous

Staring out at the rain pouring down onto the sidewalk beside the airport exit, I thought one thing. This is foreign territory . Just moments before, I had found myself facing down a horde of about 60 squealing EXO (a Kpop idol group) fangirls....

The Hummingbird Project: Human Trafficking Anonymous

When I am overwhelmed, I remember the words of Wangari Maathai, environmental and political activist. Maathai tells the story of the hummingbird who, when faced with a massive forest fire, carries small drops of water in its beak to extinguish it....

The Artist Dylan Alexandra Folsom

I walked up to the half-open garage and peered uncertainly into the cluttered space. At this point, I was alone in London, navigating purely by gut and intuition. My voice shook as I rasped out an indication of my presence. As I waited for an...

Picking Myself Back Up Anonymous

It’s 6am. My alarm clock squawks at me to wake up. With legs aching from practice, arms tired from shooting drills, and head throbbing with pain from only sleeping four hours, I squint at the illuminated red numbers, contemplating whether or not...

No Service Anonymous

The plane landed, and immediately seat belts flew off and iPhones came out. It had been six hours since the plane took off, and therefore six hours since my phone had internet. I had to check every social media platform for anything I could've...

Street Lights Anonymous

I didn’t understand what street lights were until I was about eight. Still, some of my earliest memories are of street lamps. Growing up, I clearly remember seeing blurry beacons of light suspended in the dark. In the daytime, the seemingly...

Little Grains of Rice Anonymous

Little grains of rice, smothered in my mom’s pomegranate-walnut stew, danced around in my mouth as my mind strayed away from my hectic day. Our shadows remained beneath us at the dinner table as the kitchen lights burned a picture of what I wouldn...

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The Question and Answer section for University of San Diego is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Home — Application Essay — University — University of San Diego

University of San Diego Admission Essays

Diversity and personal growth at the university of san diego.

I am driven by the desire to expand my horizons, challenge myself, and embrace the transformative power of diversity. It is with great enthusiasm that I submit my application to the University of San Diego as I believe it embodies the perfect environment for me…

The Surfer and the Seal: College Admission Essay Sample

I stared deep into the dark green eyes of the seal that was lying on my surf board. She looked as if she were trying to tell me something. Her glossy grey coat glowed in the moonlight, and her whiskers twitched in the sea breeze….

The Heart of Healthcare

As someone who is passionate about making a positive impact on the world and improving the health of those around me, I am excited about the opportunity to pursue a career in nursing. Throughout my life, I have been drawn to caring for others and…

Forget-me-not: College Admission Essay Sample

Her hands were as tough as leather, but they felt like velvet to me. She smelled unlike most grandmothers, constantly encompassed by a pungent aroma of fresh mimosas and blooming marigolds. I think it was her eyes that captivated me most as a young girl,…

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University of San Diego 2022-23 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide 

Regular Decision: 

Regular Decision Deadline: Dec 1

You Have: 

University of San Diego 2022-23 Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: 2 essays of 200 words each

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Why , Community

First-Year applicants are required to answer the Mandatory First Year Essay Prompt and either Essay Prompt Option #1, #2, or #3. Please note that the default word counter on our Common Application essay text boxes permit 350 words, but most applicants find they can answer these prompts in about 200 words.

Mandatory First Year Essay Prompt:

The university of san diego offers diverse educational opportunities grounded in the liberal arts and sciences. first-year students are immersed in one of our five learning communities (lc), with the themes reflecting the vitality of the liberal arts tradition: advocate, collaborate, cultivate, illuminate and innovate. select one of these five themes and describe how it resonates with you and why..

This is a big blue sky of a prompt. Start by thinking about how you can relate to each of these words. Here’s a little word/concept association: “Advocate” reminds us of social justice and community service; “collaborate” elicits images of group projects or fundraising; “cultivate” can refer to how camp counselors invest in kids or how you started a club to fill a community void at your school; “illuminate” is a fun, vague idea that can evoke memories of learning, or exploration/travel; and “innovate” is an active word that can apply to any evolution of ideas or steps you’ve taken to effect change. With this array of options in front of you, we have no doubt that one of these concepts will resonate with you. Additionally, if one of these words means something to you in a way that we didn’t explicitly note, definitely explore that! Your approach to this essay alone is a great reflection of your priorities and creativity. Feel free to wander, but remember to take the reader on your journey with you, showing them the steps you took mentally to get from their theme to your story.

Essay Prompt Option #1:

What contribution have you made to your current school and/or local community that best exemplifies your awareness of and commitment to creating a diverse, inclusive and equitable community here at usd, we believe that our campus community and the communities we engage with are integral parts of who we are as a university. our newly launched horizon project is a call to action, ensuring that we are dedicating the time, energy and resources necessary to build an ever more diverse and inclusive campus community. we value the fact that our students come from all walks of life, have experienced different realities and bring with them an array of unique perspectives, including some that have often been underrepresented and underserved by higher education..

USD’s take on the community essay comes with a focus on diversity, but don’t let that limit you! First of all, let us remind you that your “local community” can be just about anything from your neighborhood to your family to your dojo. Pick a community that means something to you and the diversity narrative will fall into place. Maybe your progressive church welcomes people of many different faiths, and you developed a special language for discussing religion with your childhood friends. Or perhaps your school is incredibly homogenous and isolated, and you helped your Spanish class organize Skype chats with a student body in Guatemala. No matter your starting point, be sure to tell a clear story with a beginning, middle, and end. It may be tempting to pen a vivid description of your community and leave it at that, but the point of an essay like this is to tell a story about you, your contributions, your personal growth.

Essay Prompt Option #2:

Use this space to write about one of the challenges facing humanity today. why does it matter to you what experiences or insights have you had that speak to the urgency of this issue. as a proud changemaker campus, as designated by ashoka u, the usd experience emphasizes changemaking through social justice efforts, civic engagement, social innovation, creativity and a global perspective..

You’ll notice some striking similarities between USD option #2 and Common App prompt #4, which asks you to “Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve.” In other words, if you wrote your Common App personal statement on #4, you’ll want to skip USD’s #2 to avoid repeating yourself. (If not, here are some extra tips in our Common App Essay Prompt Guide !) 

This is your opportunity to not only show admissions how you face challenges, but demonstrate your creativity and vision, as well. If you choose this prompt, take a little time to brainstorm a few “challenges facing humanity” that bother you or affect your life. It can range from rising ocean temperatures to racial profiling. Although the scope and scale of your problem can vary, remember that USD emphasizes “social justice efforts, civic engagement, social innovation, and a global perspective.”  

Essay Prompt Option #3:

Share some of your ideas about the role of faith or spirituality in your life or the life of someone you know. as a contemporary catholic university, we welcome and celebrate students from every background and faith tradition, including those who do not identify with a faith tradition. we devote great time and energy to ensuring all students feel connected to the vibrant usd community, including opportunities to grow in their relationship with god while considering who they are, what they believe and who they are called to become..

Given the faith-forward nature of this question and of the university website, we imagine that most of you folks reading this guide probably already have a few thoughts on this question. We’d be surprised if the religious affiliation didn’t factor into your decision to apply, but if you haven’t thought about it, now is your chance to reflect on your relationship with faith, if you so choose. Writing about spiritual and religious beliefs is just as personal (if not more!) as any other topic you might cover on your college application, so don’t be afraid to dive deep. If you grew up in a traditional religious household, you probably have a treasure trove of experiences and stories to share with admissions, but sometimes it’s hard to write about faith when it’s always been a given in your life. Whether your background is Christian, Hindu, or atheist, can you think about the role faith plays in your life? Is it daily, minute-by-minute, or reserved for high holidays? Or, if religion wasn’t a huge part of your upbringing, what led you to take an interest in a Catholic university? Whether you consider yourself a religious person or not, faith is a central component of the USD experience, and now is your chance to invite admissions into your own relationship with it.

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University of California, San Diego | UCSD’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

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Please respond to any 4 of the 8 questions below.We realize that not all questions apply to all applicants, so be sure to select the 4 questions that you believe give us the best information about you.All 8 questions are given equal consideration in the application review process. Responses to each question should be between 250-350 words.

Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.

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Welcome. The MFA Program in Writing welcomes brave and innovative writers and encourages the formation of mutually-supportive, inspiring literary communities. The program is small, with typically 4 to 8 new students admitted and funded each year. The intimate nature of the program allows students to work very closely with writing faculty and each other within the quarterly cross-genre workshop.

The MFA program is a two-year full-time, in-person program foregrounding the interconnectedness of literary arts practice, modes of production and distribution, and the rigorous study of literatures, arts, and cultures. The program offers the option of extending to a third year; the majority of students choose to do so.

All graduate writing workshops are cross-genre and often interdisciplinary, investigating and often undermining a studio-versus-academic distinction in advanced literary education. Moreover, the program encourages interdisciplinary research and holistic approaches to teaching and learning. Therefore, teaching creative-critical reading and writing skills as a Teaching Assistant is a popular choice among all Writing students in the MFA program, most of whom are eligible for scholarships and fellowships in addition to union-represented compensation for Teaching Assistant work.

Program participants are encouraged to focus exclusively on writing, teaching, research, and art-making during their residency, allowing writers to integrate pedagogical training and artistic practice as a way to prepare for future scholarly endeavors while creating a book-length work of literature. To that end, each quarterly cross-genre workshop discusses writing-in-progress and published works in terms of poetics, prosody, and literary conventions alongside the interrelationship between aesthetic intervention/ experiment and radical social change across cultures, nations, regions, and movements.

While each writer’s extra-departmental coursework is flexible, program participants are expected to take five workshops. The cross-genre workshops function less as editorial sessions or as explications of craft techniques than as vibrant skill-sharing intellectual roundtables. UCSD’s writers generate dazzlingly diverse collaborations in writing and literary/arts events, many of which result in various forms of publication. Both faculty and graduate projects tend to repurpose, interweave, hack, and muddle generic categories and/or radically elasticize their conventions.

UC San Diego is a tier-one research university respected internationally for untangling mysteries and manifesting world-altering possibilities in the arts, humanities, and sciences. The MFA in Writing is part of the Department of Literature, a world literature department with a focus on critical theory, social justice, and cultural, ethnic, and gender studies, where faculty members work in multiple languages, geographies, and historical periods. All graduate writing workshops are offered in English, but program participants may work with Literature and extra-departmental faculty on bilingual or multilingual projects, including works in translation.

With ties to   Visual Arts ,   Music ,   Ethnic Studies ,   Science Studies ,  the   Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers' Workshop  and the   Arthur C. Clarke Center for Human Imagination , along with other departments, centers, and programs, unprecedented entanglements of artistic and scholarly experimentation are encouraged. The MFA program co-exists with a thriving undergraduate writing major and benefits from the long-established   New Writing Series   and the   Archive for New Poetry . Current MFA Writing Faculty include   Kazim Ali , Amy Sara Carroll ,  Ben Doller ,   Camille Forbes ,   Lily Hoang ,   Jac Jemc ,  Casandra Lopez ,  Brandon Som , Anna Joy Springer , and Marco Wilkinson . Emeriti Writing Faculty include   Rae Armantrout   and   Eileen Myles .

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MFA Admission 2024

Application Period 9/6/2023 - 12/6/2023

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Interested in becoming a Triton? As a first-year applicant, you must earn a high school diploma (or equivalent) and satisfy UC minimum admission requirements . UC San Diego reviews both academic and non-academic factors in consideration for admission. Competitive applicants present an academic profile stronger than the minimum requirements detailed below.

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• California residents: take the courses in these areas that appear on your high school's UC-approved course list .
• International applicants: learn more on the International Students page.
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If you are applying to a selective major, we strongly recommend that you indicate an alternate non-selective major on your UC application. If you are not admitted to your first-choice selective major, you may be admitted to your alternate major if space is available.

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• We recommend selecting questions that reveal the most about you and best reflect your experiences.

UC students and admissions staff share their best tips for writing application essays

Tips and tricks for acing this important part of the UC Application

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Applicants to majors in the Arts (Music, Theatre & Dance, Visual Arts) have the option to submit a portfolio or audition. Visit The School of Arts and Humanities and click on Portfolio for more information.

UC San Diego’s unique college system creates an opportunity to make the university experience more personal and approachable by providing support and a smaller community within the larger university. Students are free to pursue their chosen major no matter which college they are affiliated with. You will be asked to rank UC San Diego's Colleges on the UC Application. Visit our Colleges page and review the general education requirements to learn more. When you're ready, use this ranking tool before you apply.

First-Year applicants completing California Community College coursework, please note: Neither IGETC certification nor partial-IGETC completion may apply toward the fulfillment of UC San Diego college general education requirements for incoming first-year students.

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Admissions Information

We're looking for fearless innovators. Bold risk-takers. Those with a compulsive urge to take things apart, discover what makes them tick and put them back together in surprising new ways. People who are eager to swap ideas, share experiences and explore the world with a fresh perspective. If that sounds like you, start building your future at UC San Diego.

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About the Medical Writing Program

Delivery method.

• Live Online
• Number of courses: 4 required courses (10 units) and 6 units of electives
• Total units: 16

Medical Terminology: An Anatomy and Physiology Approach FPM-40632

Units:  1.50

Using an anatomy and physiology systems approach, this course reviews common terms associated with medical practice, research, and different healthcare settings. The goal: to better prepare individual...

Upcoming Start Dates:

Grammar lab wcwp-40234.

Units:  3.00

Grammar Lab (WCWP-40234)10 Weeks | OnlineThis ten-week online Grammar Lab course is skillfully designed to meet the needs of all students. It is beneficial for those with little grammar experience and...

Clinical Trials and Regulatory Writing Primer FPM-40672

Units:  1.00

This course introduces the components of effective clinical trial design, and the basic phases, and purposes of pharmacological and clinical development. Gain foundational knowledge of the overall cl...

CT: Practical Clinical Statistics for the Non-Statistician FPM-40233

Units:  2.00

This course presents the statistics essentials for the non-statistician involved in clinical trials. Topics include study designs, hypothesis testing, sample size calculations, assumptions, controls, ...

Introduction to Medical Writing and Editing FPM-40696

Introduction to Medical Writing and Editing is intended for people who are considering a career in medical communication and is designed to introduce students to the profession of medical writing and ...

Applied Medical Writing and Editing FPM-40652

This course builds on the knowledge gained in the Introduction to Medical Writing and Editing course and introduces the student to some of the more complex topics in writing and editing scientific and...

Ethics for Medical Writers FPM-40609

This course covers the current tools and resources that should be used by medical writers who desire to practice their craft in an ethical manner. Students will be made aware of professional ethical c...

Designing Figures, Tables, & Graphs FPM-40608

This course focuses on how to construct effective, accurate and attractive figures, tables and graphs. Course content includes basic statistics, principles of the visual display of quantitative inform...

Communicating Real World Evidence; Medical Writer Professional Development FPM-40658

This course examines real world evidence (RWE), and the role of the professional medical writer in this rapidly expanding area of evidence generation. Learn the basics of RWE, and how and why these s...

Citations and Reference Methods for Medical Writing FPM-40660

This course covers the current tools and resources that should be used by medical writers to properly cite courses. Medical writers must be able to cite their work and correct the citations of others....

CT: Documents in Drug Development: Writing Protocols, Reports, Summaries, Submissions, and Disclosures FPM-40685

No clinical trial can begin until a protocol has been written, and no clinical trial is complete until the final report is assembled, signed, and submitted to the FDA. Good documentation for clinical ...

Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR) FPM-40659

This course covers the foundations Health Economics Outcomes Research (HEOR) and demonstrates why this growing field provides important information for making healthcare coverage and access decisions....

Capstone: Journal Article and Publication Development FPM-40630

Units:  4.00

This course will benefit students who are seeking to write and publish an article in a peer-reviewed journal. Using knowledge acquired throughout the medical writing program, students in this capston...

Capstone: Medical Education Materials FPM-40627

Medical writers play a vital role in creating continuing medical education (CME) materials that help physicians and other health care providers remain current in the knowledge and skills needed to pro...

Capstone: Regulatory Writing FPM-40628

Regulatory Writing is as much about knowing the regulations and guidance that govern regulatory submissions as it is about the building the intelligence, knowledge, relationships, and know-how in beco...

Conditions for Admission

Successful applicants must have relevant educational background, and native-level fluency in English with the demonstrated ability to write clear, logical, and grammatically correct sentences as evidenced by the application, official transcripts and writing samples. Accepted applicants will have degrees in biomedical or life sciences, such as biology, chemistry, pharmacy, nursing, nutrition, or public health. It is anticipated that many will have advanced degrees, including PhDs. Candidates with PhDs are particularly competitive for medical writing positions in the commercial sector and academic settings.  

Certificate Guidelines

All students must either take the following prerequisites or have taken appropriate equivalents within the past five years, earning a grade of B- or better:

• Medical Terminology FPM-40172, 1 unit online
• Practical Clinical Statistics for the Non-Statistician FPM-40233, 2 units online
• ​​Grammar Lab WCWP-40234, 3 units online
• Clinical Trials and Regulatory Writing Primer, FPM-40672, 1 unit online

​Prerequisites can be waived for individuals whose work experience demonstrates foundational knowledge of these subjects. Applicants seeking this waiver should email their CV to Jessica Bradford, Program Manager, at [email protected] for determination in advance of their application.

Next Steps Experience

Connect your classroom education with real-world experiences through a Next Step Experience course. These specially designed classes allow students to gain hands-on experience by working closely with instructors and/or peers on real-world projects. In the Capstone course, students will apply all previously learned concepts to work through one or more projects in one of the four pre-identified Medical Writing areas. The purpose of the Capstone is to:

• Gain hands on experience of researching information, and analyzing, interpreting, and communicating data as would be expected of a Medical Writer. The final project(s) will be submitted for critical review by the advising faculty leader
• Have a clear sense of the critical behaviors and practical work practices that make the student a better Medical Writer.
• Identify areas of continued improvement moving forward to hone knowledge and skill in the evolving Medical Writing profession.

To be eligible to take this course, you must have completed all of the other courses in the Medical Writing program with a B-/80% or higher. You must select from one of the four areas of specialization to fulfill this final required component of the certificate.

Capstone: Journal Article and Publication Development (FPM-40630)

Capstone: Medical Education Materials (FPM-40627)

Capstone: Regulatory Writing (FPM-40628)

Capstone: Scientific Grants (FPM-40629)

Related Documents

• UCSD Extension Medical Writing Program Flier
• Medical Writing Workforce Data Study: October 2020

Advisory Board

Michelle Beauclair

Medical writer and copywriter

MB Medical Writer

Tim Collinson, BSc (hons), ISMPP CMPP

Director, Global Publications

Santen Inc.

Noelle Demas

Medical Writer

Panorama MedWriters Group, Inc.

Thomas Gegeny, MS, ELS, MWC, CMPP

Director, Scientific Strategy & Partnerships

Prime Global Medical Communications Ltd.

Timothy Mackey, MAS, PhD

Assistant Professor

UC San Diego School of Medicine

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Programs > Education Programs  > Annual Essay Contest

Annual Essay Contest

Essay contest.

2024 Contest is now closed

Submission Deadline: April 12, 2024

In collaboration with the Character Education Resource Center at the University of San Diego, the Flying Leatherneck Historical Foundation (FLHF)  is pleased and proud to announce its annual essay contest for all public, private, and home school students in grades 6-12 in San Diego county,

Imperial County, and the cities of Irvine and Tustin. 

The purpose of this essay contest is to encourage students to develop and improve their thinking and writing skills as they address core values of the US Marine Corps and our society:  “Honor, Courage and Commitment.”  Since Marines model these three virtues and other character strengths such as hard work, perseverance, honesty, fairness, accountability and gratitude, the question for this year’s essay contest is:

“Which notable American, past or present, inspires you with their honor, courage and/or commitment? Why do you admire that person? How can you emulate their values in your life?”

Tips for Teachers (and Students)

We suggest you guide your students in finding their voice and the purpose of the essay; along with writing an effective introduction, supporting paragraphs, and conclusion. Students may choose to write about one, two, or all three of the values

Education Standards

This contest is offered to students and educators who wish to meet the California Department of Education mandate 235.5 (a) for character and civic education in grades 6-12 as well as Common Core Standards.

Essay Judging Criteria

Two  committees assess essays:

A committee of veterans and military spouses representing the Flying Leatherneck Historical Foundation does the initial assessment of the essays.

A committee of educators representing the Character Education Resource Center ranks the finalists.

Points awarded will be based on:

50% — Knowledge of the theme: The student showed a thorough knowledge of the theme in the essay.

25% — Creativity and Originality of the essay: The student related the theme to her/his own experiences.

25% — Clarity of writing: The student’s essay was written in an easy-to-understand format leaving the reader/judge with a clear understanding of her/his explanation of the theme.

Student A wards

First place      $300, second place $200, third place    $100, teacher awards.

Each of the six teachers of winning students will receive a $200 check.

Who May Enter This Contest?

All students who are attending a public, private, charter, faith-based or home school students in grades 6-8

(middle school) and 9-12 (high school) that reside in San Diego County, Imperial County and in the cities of

Tustin, CA and Irvine, CA are eligible to participate.

Category 1: Students who are in grades 6-8.

Category 2: Students who are in grades 9 through 1 2.

How to Enter & Submit

Once students have completed the final copy of their essays, they should give them to their teacher. Teachers, not students, send essays to the Foundation.

All essays must be the sole, original work of the student.

Students in grades 6 through 8 should submit an essay of not more than 600 words.

Students in grade 9 through 12 should submit an essay of not more than 1000 words.

The title of the essay and added footnotes do not contribute to the word count.

The teacher’s role is to select essays for consideration and to submit them online.  We recommend that teachers submit a maximum of 4 essays for each class that they teach.

The text of the essay should be in English and submitted in  PDF format, and submitted electronically by teachers.

Founder's Award

In addition to above awards, a Founder’s  Award may be given. There is no requirement to present this award on an annual basis. Rather, the award is to be given on the basis of merit only and recognizes the essay that is the favorite of founder, Major Glenn Ferguson (USMC, retired). The recipient of the Founder’s Award will be given a gift and/or stipend at the discretion of the essay contest committee and will be recognized at the student ceremony.

Additional Information:

This contest is a joint collaboration between the Flying Leatherneck Historical Foundation and the University of San Diego Character Education Resource Center.

All essays become the property of The Flying Leatherneck Historical Foundation (“Foundation”) with exclusive rights to use winning essays and likeness in the promotion and execution of the organization’s educational programs and activities.  Each WINNING essay will be considered for publication in the Flying Leatherneck Historical Foundation’s Log Book and for posting on the Foundation’s website.

Winning students and their parents/guardians may be asked to sign a photo permission form so that selected photos may appear on the Foundation website and in other publications.

The Foundation, the Museum, and the Character Education Resource Center are not responsible for lost submissions.

The Flying Leatherneck Historical Foundation gratefully acknowledges the financial support of San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) and the late Major Glenn Ferguson (USMC-Re tired) that helped make this contest possible.

Questions and  Information:

Please call us at 858-693-1723 or send an email to FLHF @flyingleathernecks.org.

Submit Essays Submission Deadline: April 12, 2024

Teacher information, student information, upload essays.

You may enter up to 4 student essays

Thanks for submitting!

More From Forbes

5 strategies to unlock your winning college essay.

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CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 29: People walk through the gate on Harvard Yard at the Harvard ... [+] University campus on June 29, 2023 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that race-conscious admission policies used by Harvard and the University of North Carolina violate the Constitution, bringing an end to affirmative action in higher education. (Photo by Scott Eisen/Getty Images)

The college application season is upon us, and high school students everywhere are staring down at one of the most daunting tasks: the college essay. As someone who has guided countless applicants through the admissions process and reviewed admissions essays on an undergraduate admissions committee, I've pinpointed the essential ingredient to a differentiated candidacy—the core of your college admissions X-factor .

The essential ingredient to your college admissions X-factor is your intellectual vitality. Intellectual vitality is your passion for learning and curiosity. By demonstrating and conveying this passion, you can transform an average essay into a compelling narrative that boosts your chances of getting accepted to your top schools. Here are five dynamic strategies to achieve that goal.

Unleash Your Authentic Voice

Admissions officers sift through thousands of essays every year. What stops them in their tracks? An authentic voice that leaps off the page. Forget trying to guess what the admissions committee wants to hear. Focus on being true to yourself. Share your unique perspective, your passions, and your values. Authenticity resonates deeply with application reviewers, making your essay memorable and impactful. You need not have experienced trauma or tragedy to create a strong narrative. You can write about what you know—intellectually or personally—to convey your enthusiasm, creativity, and leadership. Intellectual vitality shines through when you write with personalized reflection about what lights you up.

Weave A Captivating Story

Everyone loves a good story, and your essay is the perfect place to tell yours. The Common Application personal statement has seven choices of prompts to ground the structure for your narrative. The most compelling stories are often about the smallest moments in life, whether it’s shopping at Costco or about why you wear socks that have holes. Think of the Common Application personal statement as a window into your soul rather than a dry list of your achievements or your overly broad event-based life story. Use vivid anecdotes to bring your experiences to life. A well-told story can showcase your growth, highlight your character, and illustrate how you've overcome challenges. Intellectual vitality often emerges in these narratives, revealing how your curiosity and proactive approach to learning have driven you to explore and innovate.

Reflect And Reveal Insights

It's not just about what you've done—it's about what you've learned along the way. When you are writing about a specific event, you can use the STAR framework—situation, task, action, and result (your learning). Focus most of your writing space on the “R” part of this framework to dive deeply into your experiences and reflect on how they've shaped your aspirations and identity.

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The most insightful college-specific supplement essays demonstrate depth of thought, and the ability to connect past experiences with your future life in college and beyond. Reflecting on your intellectual journey signals maturity and a readiness to embrace the college experience. It shows admissions officers that you engage deeply with your studies and are eager to contribute to the academic community.

Highlight Your Contributions—But Don’t Brag

Whether it's a special talent, an unusual hobby, or a unique perspective, showcasing what you can bring to the college environment can make a significant impact. Recognize that the hard work behind the accomplishment is what colleges are interested in learning more about—not retelling about the accomplishment itself. (Honors and activities can be conveyed in another section of the application.) Walk us through the journey to your summit; don’t just take us to the peak and expect us know how you earned it.

Intellectual vitality can be demonstrated through your proactive approach to solving problems, starting new projects, or leading initiatives that reflect your passion for learning and growth. These experiences often have a place in the college-specific supplement essays. They ground the reasons why you want to study in your major and at the particular college.

Perfect Your Prose

Great writing is essential. Anyone can use AI or a thesaurus to assist with an essay, but AI cannot write your story in the way that you tell it. Admissions officers don’t give out extra credit for choosing the longest words with the most amount of syllables.

The best essays have clear, coherent language and are free of errors. The story is clearly and specifically told. After drafting, take the time to revise and polish your writing. Seek feedback from teachers, mentors, or trusted friends, but ensure the final piece is unmistakably yours. A well-crafted essay showcases your diligence and attention to detail—qualities that admissions officers highly value. Intellectual vitality is also reflected in your writing process, showing your commitment to excellence and your enthusiasm for presenting your best self.

Crafting a standout college essay is about presenting your true self in an engaging, reflective, and polished manner while showcasing your intellectual vitality. Happy writing.

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Ucsd school of medicine secondary essay prompts & examples.

Reviewed by:

Jonathan Preminger

Former Admissions Committee Member, Hofstra-Northwell School of Medicine

Reviewed: 5/31/24

‍ Writing compelling essays is a great way to stand out in your application to UC San Diego medical school. Keep reading to learn more.

‍ The UCSD secondary essays are your opportunity to make an impression on the admissions committee. UCSD, which is one of the best medical schools in the state, wants to know more about you beyond what's in your primary application. So, let’s break down how you can do this effectively.

Get The Ultimate Guide on Writing an Unforgettable Personal Statement

UCSD School of Medicine Program Options

UC San Diego School of Medicine has a range of programs to choose from, including the MD Program, MD/PhD, and the Program in Medical Education - Health Equity (PRIME-HEQ). Let’s take a look at them.

At UC San Diego School of Medicine, the MD program is built around an Integrated Scientific Curriculum that combines clinical medicine with medical science. The curriculum focuses on teaching health and disease within the context of human organ systems, providing a solid foundation for clinical practice.

The program structure is quite fixed through the first three years, offering a thorough base in medical sciences. Despite this, there's flexibility with elective courses during the pre-clerkship years, allowing students to pursue areas of interest. In the third year, students choose two clinical electives, and the fourth year broadens the choice with a variety of clerkships to meet graduation requirements.

A key part of the curriculum is the Independent Study Project (ISP). This project emphasizes the development of self-directed learning, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills necessary for medicine. The ISP is a chance for students to dive deep into a topic of interest under the guidance of a faculty mentor.

Electives form a significant component of the curriculum. In the first two years, students engage in pre-clerkship electives to broaden their medical education, requiring around 135 hours of work. These can include a mix of coursework, lab work, and even courses from outside the School of Medicine.

In the later years, clinical electives focus on ensuring students gain comprehensive direct patient care experience. Requirements include ambulatory, inpatient, and primary care clerkships, along with other elective clerkships, to round out their education.

Overall, the UC San Diego MD program aims to produce well-rounded physicians equipped with the necessary scientific knowledge, clinical skills, and a compassionate approach to healthcare.

MD PhD vs. MD

At UC San Diego, the MD-PhD program , which is part of the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), combines medical training with research. You earn an MD and a PhD. 

This program partners with top research institutions, such as the Scripps Research Institute and the Salk Institute. It typically takes seven to eight years to complete and prepares you for a career in which you can treat patients and conduct research.

The MD program is more straightforward. It focuses on training you to be a doctor and takes about four years to complete. The main goal is patient care, though some research opportunities exist.

If your main interest is working with patients and finishing your training sooner, choose the MD program. If you're excited about research and patient care and don't mind a longer study period, the MD-PhD might be right for you. Your decision depends on what you want to do in the future.

Program in Medical Education – Health Equity (PRIME-HEQ)

The Program in Medical Education - Health Equity (PRIME-HEq) at UC San Diego is a unique MD and master’s program that spans five years. It’s tailored for those looking to serve under-resourced communities in California, aiming to bridge gaps in health equity.

Annually, PRIME-HEq admits 12 students who are ready to tackle a range of medical specialties but share a common drive to work where health disparities are most pronounced. The program values students' community service backgrounds and builds on these experiences.

Faculty members guide students in identifying and understanding populations at risk for health disparities. Students get the chance to work closely with these groups, gaining both training and exposure. This hands-on approach helps students to deepen their understanding and commitment to these communities.

By the program's end, graduates are capable physicians and informed advocates for health equity, equipped to make a real difference in the communities they serve.

Global Health Academic Concentration (GHAC)

The Global Health Academic Concentration (GHAC) at UC San Diego is aimed at medical students interested in global health. This program teaches the complexities of healthcare delivery worldwide, the ethics of global health research, and the causes of health disparities. GHAC prepares you to work with international communities. 

It offers training in global health research and hands-on experience in healthcare delivery abroad. The program also explores the social and structural factors behind health inequalities.

GHAC is great for students passionate about improving global healthcare and pursuing an academic career in this field. 

No prior international experience is needed to apply. If you're up for the challenge and eager to make a difference in global health, GHAC could be the right choice. It equips you with the tools and knowledge to effectively address global health issues.

UCSD Secondary Application Steps

The UC San Diego School of Medicine secondary application process has several important steps:

• Invitation : Check your email (including junk mail) for an invitation to submit a secondary application, as it's sent via email from UC San Diego. Be sure to add the UC San Diego domain (ucsd.edu) to your safe list.
• Fee Waiver : If you received a fee waiver from AMCAS, you’ll automatically get the fee waived for the secondary application, too. If you didn't get one but think you might qualify, you can request it by emailing [email protected] after you've received your invitation.
• Required Materials : You’ll need to submit:
• $135 application fee (unless waived).
• A biographical sketch, different from your AMCAS personal statement.
• Statement about any criminal convictions.
• Personal background information.
• Details on extracurricular activities , academic, work, and research experiences.
• Publications, presentations, and fellowships.
• Medical, clinical, volunteer, and community service experiences.
• Letters of Recommendation : Don’t send these directly to UCSD. Instead, use the AMCAS Letters Service. You need at least three letters , or a single "Committee Letter" can suffice. For MD/PhD applicants, make sure one of your letters comes from a research mentor.
• Invited for an Interview: You’ll move to the next step.
• On Hold: You might still get an interview invite later.
• Not Invited: You’ll be notified via email that your application will not proceed.
• Deadlines : Keep in mind that there are strict deadlines for submitting your secondary application, and UCSD does not extend these.

This process ensures UCSD carefully evaluates each candidate, looking at both your academic records and personal experiences.

UCSD Application Timeline

Here’s the application timeline for UC San Diego first-year students in a straightforward table format:

Make sure you stick to the deadlines—it shows you're organized and serious about joining UCSD. Use the timeline to plan when to write and polish your essays. This helps make them really impactful. Connect your personal stories to UCSD’s values in your essays to make them stand out. 

If you can, submit early drafts to get feedback and improve. Also, keep an eye on any timeline updates to stay adaptable. This approach will help your application and essays effectively communicate your eagerness and fit for UCSD.

UCSD Essay Topics

At UCSD's School of Medicine, your essays matter. They're your chance to tell your story and highlight why you're perfect for a career in medicine. It's not just paperwork—it's your chance to connect with the admissions team.

Autobiographical Sketch

Your main essay is essentially a detailed autobiography in 6,000 characters. Begin with your roots—where you grew up and the kind of family environment you had. 

Move through your educational timeline, from early schooling up through college, pinpointing moments or achievements that sparked your interest in medicine or shaped your personal growth.

If you’ve taken any steps beyond your undergraduate studies, such as working, researching, or volunteering, those experiences are crucial to mention, too.

This essay is also your space to discuss challenges. Whether it’s personal hardships, academic obstacles, or unique family dynamics, explain how these experiences have prepared you for a medical career. It’s not just about what you’ve achieved but what you’ve overcome to get there.

For MD/PhD Applicants

Applicants to the MD/PhD program need to go a step further. Why UCSD? Which aspects of their dual-degree program excite you? 

Discuss specific research opportunities, labs, or faculty members at UCSD that align with your ambitions. This part of your essay should illustrate your commitment to blending patient care with scientific research.

UCSD Secondary Required Essays

Secondary essays are an extension of your application. UCSD uses these to dig deeper into your specific interests and career aspirations in medicine. It’s about using the UCSD essay prompts to fit your narrative into the UCSD community and showing how your goals align with their offerings.

Career Pathway Selection

Here, you will choose a pathway that reflects your current interests in the medical field. Whether you see yourself in academic medicine, primary care, public health, or another specialty, select the path that truly resonates with your career vision. 

Once you've picked a pathway, it's time to nail down your future career goals in just 400 characters. Keep it short but powerful—clearly outline your ambitions and how you'll reach them.

Writing Tips

• Be Specific : Details make your essay vivid. Use specific instances from your past that directly relate to your choice of career path.
• Keep It Short and Sweet : With a strict character limit, every word needs to serve a purpose. Be concise but thorough.
• Get Feedback : Never underestimate the power of revision. Have mentors, peers, or advisors review your essays. Their insights can help refine your narrative and clarify your points.
• Stay True : Authenticity resonates. Ensure your essays reflect your true self and professional ambitions.

Aditya, Senior Admissions Expert at Duke University, says :

These secondaries are a good exercise in refining your story for interview season, so don't put off this part of the application. Give it your all and give it 100% effort because it'll pay dividends down the road."

UCSD Secondary Essay Samples

Check out some UC San Diego secondary essay samples to get a clear idea of what they're looking for in applicants.

“I grew up in a small rural town in Wyoming, where I first noticed the challenges our community faced in accessing healthcare. My interest in medicine began as I watched local doctors tirelessly serve under these conditions. 

During my undergraduate studies at the University of Denver, I majored in biology and volunteered at a local clinic helping homeless populations. This experience exposed me to urban health disparities and solidified my desire to pursue a career in medicine.

In my final year of college, I researched infectious diseases, resulting in a publication in the university's student journal. This project underscored the importance of research in advancing medical knowledge. After graduating, I worked as a research assistant, focusing on public health initiatives that aim to improve community health outcomes. These experiences prepared me for a medical career that combines clinical practice with public health advocacy.

I’ve learned to balance a rigorous academic schedule with extensive volunteer work, which taught me resilience and effective time management—key skills for any medical professional. I aspire to be a physician who not only treats patients but also contributes to broader public health solutions.”

Potential Career Pathway

“Early in my life, I was motivated to integrate clinical practice with public health due to the healthcare disparities I observed in my community. At UCSD, I look forward to joining initiatives that focus on preventive care and policy-making to improve access to healthcare for underserved populations.

I aim to work in a public health department where I can leverage my clinical background to influence health policies. I believe that by focusing on preventive measures and effective health policies, we can achieve better health outcomes at the community level.

These sample essays provide a clear template for discussing your experiences and goals in a manner that aligns with UCSD's expectations. Be sure to detail how your personal background and professional experiences have led you to pursue a career in medicine and how you envision contributing to the field in the future.”

The 2023-2024 Medical School Secondary Essay Prompt Database is a useful resource for medical school applicants. It collects essay prompts from different schools in one place and updates them annually, helping students tailor their responses effectively.

Let’s take a closer look at UCSD secondary essays.

1. How Do You Answer UCSD Secondaries?

When answering UCSD's secondary essays for medical school, especially the autobiographical sketch, aim to present a coherent story that connects your life and academic experiences to your aspirations in the medical field.

Make sure to end your essays by explaining how UCSD's specific resources and opportunities are well-suited to help you achieve your goals as a future physician. This approach will help keep your responses targeted, personal, and relevant to what UCSD can provide.

2. How Hard Is It to Get into UCSD Medical School?

Getting into UCSD Medical School is challenging. The acceptance rate is only 1.72% overall. For students from California, the rate is a bit higher at 2.65%, but it drops to 0.53% for out-of-state students and to 0.32% for international students. 

The average GPA of accepted students is 3.83, with a science GPA of 3.81, indicating that high academic performance is essential.

3. Are There Program-Specific Secondary Essay Prompts at UCSD?

Yes, UCSD School of Medicine has special essay questions for different programs like MD/PhD, PRIME-HEq, and Global Health. Each question is designed to learn more about your interests and experience in these specific areas.

4. How Long Should My Responses to UCSD’s Secondary Essays Be?

For the UCSD medical school application, write up to 6,000 characters for the autobiographical sketch. This is about 1,000 words. 

Final Thoughts

Applying to UC San Diego's School of Medicine might seem complex, but a good grasp of the process can improve your odds. 

Your UCSD supplemental essays should show not only your academic abilities but also how your unique experiences make you a good fit for a career in medicine. Remember, meeting deadlines and writing clear, concise essays are key. 

Properly prepping and clearly expressing why UCSD is the right place for you can significantly strengthen your application.

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Opinion: UCSD faculty members demand amnesty for students from the Gaza Solidarity Encampment

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Aron is a professor in the Department of Psychology at UC San Diego and lives in North Park. Ortony is an associate professor in the Department of Chemistry at UC San Diego and lives in North County.

We are professors who, along with over 450 of our colleagues at UC San Diego, deplore our administration’s violent clearing of a peaceful encampment on May 6. Recently, we tried to deliver two petitions to the chancellor’s office (one from the San Diego Faculty Association , the other from a Faculty Testimony group) demanding he drop charges and academic repercussions for those arrested. Unfortunately, we were denied access to his building, and received no acknowledgment of our physical or electronic delivery.

The administration claimed the encampment was unsafe, but we saw the opposite. It occupied a lawn that is scarcely ever used and did not block foot traffic. Over five days, it was entirely peaceful even when faced with counterprotesters.

Students at the encampment were eager to do something after they had watched the 7-month-long Israeli onslaught of Gaza, where most planes and helicopters, most bombs and shells, are made in the U.S and mostly funded by U.S. taxpayers. In solidarity with students across the country, our students demand that UC San Diego denounce the enormous loss of civilian life and destruction, divest from companies implicated in Israel’s abuses and cut academic ties with Israeli institutions.

The encampment came after the administration ignored more familiar forms of protest such as marches and student government resolutions. Finally, the students joined the venerated tradition of encampments such as those erected against apartheid in South Africa and the Vietnam War. Indeed, the recently departed San Diego legend Bill Walton joined such an encampment at UCLA in 1972.

We recognize the courage of our students — as professor Rashid Khalidi of Columbia University has said, “ This is the conscience of a nation, speaking through [our] kids. ” It was not easy for them to speak their conscience while keeping up with classes and enduring threats of punishment by the university and harassment by counterprotesters.

We proudly support our students and share their outrage. Moreover, our Jewish heritage connects us with a great tradition of dissent: “ to stand with the oppressed and not today’s pharaohs. ” Indeed, numerous of the other signatories of these petitions are Jewish. And so are many of the student protesters, who, along with thousands of Jews in the U.S., including Holocaust survivors and children of Holocaust survivors, are appalled by the collective punishment being meted out indiscriminately to the Palestinian people and by the obliteration of every institution of higher learning in Gaza. At the same time, we share the pain at the atrocities committed toward Israeli civilians and the sense of desperation to free the hostages.

We reject any dismissal of the encampment as antisemitic. We recognize antisemitism as a real form of discrimination that harms our communities, and we reject the premise that criticism of the state of Israel and its actions is inherently antisemitic. We reject the idea that the encampment was intended to create a hostile environment for Jews. We suggest that those who say otherwise should distinguish between “feeling unsafe” (because of speech they do not want to hear) and “being unsafe” (as in meeting with the possibilities of physical or economic violence).

On May 6, the chancellor shut down the entire campus and deployed hundreds of police to confront students with batons, pepper spray and firearms. Such force is surely only justified when all other options are exhausted, which was not the case. We saw that lines of communication were opening between the administration and student leaders, between campus police and student leaders, and between faculty leadership and student leaders. The chancellor partly justified his action with concerns about health and safety of the encampment, but these could have been resolved. And if force must be used, then campus policy already specifies that the level of force matches the level of civil disobedience. Yet here we saw a peaceful encampment. The violent dismantling of this encampment contrasts with schools such as Brown, which disbanded after their administrations negotiated around demands.

Our students are the conscience of our nation acting to stop this U.S.-sponsored onslaught and to end long-standing Palestinian dispossession. The chancellor must drop charges and academic repercussions and he must also negotiate around the demands, as the recent University of California Union Strike encourages.

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