University of Virginia Supplemental Essays 2024-2025: Writing Tips + Examples

The University of Virginia (UVA) is a public research university in Charlottesville. It’s a historic school, with a part of its campus being a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Last year, UVA’s overall acceptance rate was around 17%, but here’s the catch: it was 25.5% for Virginia residents and just 13% for out-of-state applicants. In short, admissions are tougher for non-Virginians.

If you want to stand out from thousands of other applicants, you’ll need to craft a strong application, which includes your supplemental essay. UVA only requires you to answer one 250-word supplemental essay. There’s also an optional prompt only applicable to those with “a personal or historic connection with UVA.”

Keep reading to learn how to write compelling University of Virginia supplemental essays that will impress admissions, with helpful tips and real examples.

• University of Virginia Supplemental Essay Prompts
• How to Write the Required University of Virginia Supplemental Essay
• How to Write the Optional University of Virginia Supplemental Essay
• Mistakes to Avoid When Writing the University of Virginia Supplemental Essays
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

University of Virginia Supplemental Essay Prompts

UVA asks all applicants to answer one supplemental essay in addition to the Common App personal statement. There’s also an optional prompt that you may choose to answer if it applies to you.

Here are the prompts for the University of Virginia supplemental essays for the 2024-2025 application cycle:

• What about your individual background, perspective, or experience will serve as a source of strength for you or those around you at UVA? Feel free to write about any past experience or part of your background that has shaped your perspective and will be a source of strength, including but not limited to those related to your community, upbringing, educational environment, race, gender, or other aspects of your background that are important to you. (250 words)
• If you have a personal or historic connection with UVA, and if you’d like to share how your experience of this connection has prepared you to contribute to the University, please share your thoughts here. Such relationships might include, but are not limited to, being a child of someone who graduated from or works for UVA, a descendant of ancestors who labored at UVA, or a participant in UVA programs. (100 words, optional)

The required UVA supplemental essay is about the applicant’s background. Specifically, you’ll need to explain how your experiences or perspectives will be a source of strength for yourself or your UVA peers. This essay is your chance to show what and how you can contribute to the UVA community.

Meanwhile, the optional essay is for those with a personal or historic connection to the school. While we usually recommend writing every optional essay, this prompt asks you to share a direct connection to UVA. That means you should only answer if you have something meaningful to write about. It’s optional, anyway, so don’t answer just for the sake of it.

The University of Virginia consistently ranks among the best public universities in the U.S., which means you’re getting an Ivy League-quality education without the private school price tag. You’ll need to nail these essays to stand out from other applicants and secure your spot.

Next, we’ll break down UVA’s supplemental essay prompts so that whether you’re writing two or just one, you can craft stellar responses that show admissions why you should be the next Cavalier.

How to Write the Required University of Virginia Supplemental Essay

Odds are, this isn’t the first “Diversity” essay prompt you’ve come across—even if it doesn’t actually use the word. UVA wants students from diverse backgrounds who’ll help create an inclusive campus community. The prompt mentions “source of strength” twice, which means they’re asking not only what makes you you but also how your experiences will support you and those around you.

What you write about can be personal or connected to a bigger idea. Is there something unique about your hometown, traditions, culture, identity, or background that you could share with your classmates?

Maybe you started meditating in your junior year and connected with Buddhism, and now you want to bring mindfulness to UVA’s campus. Or perhaps you grew up on a farm and have a deep connection to all living things, like animals, plants, and people. Think about how this part of your identity will shape your college experience.

Brainstorming ideas

Here are some brainstorming ideas to help you get started:

• A personal challenge you’ve overcome. Think about a challenge that shaped your character, changed your mindset, or helped you grow. For example, growing up with a speech impediment made class participation tough, but you found new ways to express yourself. Now, you want to help others find their voice through public speaking, writing, or simply listening.
• A unique cultural or family tradition. Consider a tradition that has influenced your values or perspective. Perhaps your family’s Friday night game nights taught you how meaningful it is to bring people together. At UVA, you want to create that same sense of community by joining clubs and organizing fun social events.
• A perspective shaped by your environment. Reflect on where you grew up, your school, or the people around you who may have shaped how you see the world. Perhaps you grew up in a military family, and moving every few years taught you how to adapt quickly, make new friends, and appreciate different cultures.
• An academic or extracurricular interest connected to your identity. Consider your interests outside the classroom, which reveals a lot about your background and personal growth. Maybe spending hours building LEGOs as a kid sparked your love for robotics. Now, you mentor underrepresented students to make engineering more accessible.
• A lesson learned from an important mentor or role model. Think about a person in your life who has influenced your values or aspirations. For example, after missing a game-winning goal, your soccer coach taught you that failure is part of the process. Now, you tackle challenges with resilience on and off the field.

In this University of Virginia supplemental essay, you’re not just sharing a random fact about yourself. You need to talk about an experience or aspect of your personality that’s shaped who you are and how it will help you navigate college life at UVA.

Essay structure tips + examples

Once you have an idea for your essay, here’s a simple structure that can help you tell your story effectively:

• Start with a personal anecdote. Your opening should grab the reader’s attention and immediately introduce your topic. For example, you could begin with, “As a Korean-American, I was always the bridge between two cultures at family gatherings—switching between languages, customs, and expectations. Over time, I learned to sense when someone felt out of place and how to help them feel included.”
• Explain the deeper impact of this experience. Reflect on how it shaped your character, perspective, or values. “In Korean culture, noonchi means reading the room and responding with empathy. Learning this skill has made me more aware of who feels unseen and how small actions can create a sense of belonging.”
• Connect it to how this will help you at UVA. Show how your experience will contribute to the UVA community. “At UVA, I hope to use noonchi to create inclusive spaces, whether in student organizations or classroom discussions. Programs like the Public Service Pathways will also help me explore identity and justice in meaningful ways.”
• Wrap up with a strong conclusion. Your ending should reinforce what you’ve learned and how you plan to apply it in college. “For me, noonchi means noticing who feels unheard and making sure they feel valued. At UVA, I’ll bring that same awareness to every community I’m part of.”

This essay question is pretty broad, so there are lots of different ways you can answer it. Take the time to brainstorm and pick a story that shows a new side of you that isn’t covered in your personal statement or other parts of your application.

Try to focus on a moment where you used a strength, learned something new, or gained a fresh perspective. And remember, a strong story has a clear beginning, middle, and end. With only 250 words, you don’t have space for fluff, so make each word count!

How to Write the Optional University of Virginia Supplemental Essay

UVA no longer considers legacy in admissions, but they’ve added this question to learn about students with personal or historic ties to the university, such as parents who went to UVA or ancestors who labored there. This is part of the university’s effort to acknowledge its history, including its ties to enslaved labor.

If you have a connection to UVA through family ties or by participating in one of their summer programs, this is your chance to share it. If not, don’t worry! You don’t need to stretch the truth by mentioning your childhood best friend’s cousin who went there. Most applicants won’t have a connection, so skipping this question won’t hurt your application.

Brainstorming ideas

If you do have a connection with UVA, below are some ideas to help you brainstorm.

• Family legacy. If your parents, grandparents, or other relatives attended UVA, consider how their experiences influenced you. For example, your mother’s stories about late-night debates in her UVA philosophy classes sparked your own love for deep discussions. Now, you look forward to joining UVA’s Jefferson Society to engage in thought-provoking conversations.
• A relative who works at UVA. If a family member has been part of UVA as a professor, staff member, or researcher, think about how this has influenced your perspective. Maybe your uncle works in UVA’s medical research lab, and visiting him at work made you want to take up a major in the medical field, like biomedical engineering.
• Historical connection. If your ancestors labored at UVA or were part of its history, this could be a chance to reflect on what that means to you. Maybe discovering that your great-great-grandfather helped build UVA sparked your interest in history. Now, you want to study the past and uncover stories that often go untold.
• Participation in a UVA program. If you attended a summer program, camp, or research opportunity at UVA, share how that experience shaped your goals. Perhaps your experience at UVA’s Young Writers Workshop gave you confidence in your voice, and now you want to join student-run literary publications like The Virginia Literary Review.
• A personal experience that ties you to UVA. Maybe your connection isn’t through family but rather through an experience that made UVA meaningful to you. For example, growing up near the campus in Charlottesville, you always saw UVA as a place of innovation and community, and now, you want to contribute to that legacy.

Again, this is an “additional information” essay, so it’s completely optional. If you do have a meaningful connection to UVA, use this space to highlight how it has influenced your perspective and future goals.

Essay structure tips + examples

Once you’ve narrowed down a specific connection, here’s a good format you can follow when writing your essay:

• Open with a specific memory or experience. Hook the reader by describing a moment that highlights your connection to UVA in a personal and engaging way. For example, “Some of my earliest memories are of sitting on the couch with my dad, watching his old UVA basketball highlights. He’d point out his teammates, sharing stories of buzzer-beaters, tough losses, and the sense of family he found on the team.”
• Reflect on why this experience matters. Don’t just state your connection—show how it impacted you. “Hearing my dad talk about his time at UVA has helped me think about what I really wanted from college. While I love sports, I also value academics and community, and I want to find a place where I can thrive in all areas.”
• Tie it back to UVA. Show how you plan to contribute on campus by bringing your own experiences. “Hearing my dad’s stories, I saw how it shaped him as an athlete and person. He showed me how sports build community and lifelong connections. If I attend, I hope to follow in his footsteps in a different way by joining The Cavalier Daily to cover athletics while exploring UVA’s Media Studies program to refine my storytelling skills.”
• End with a clear takeaway. Your ending should reinforce what you’ve learned and how you plan to apply it in college. “Sports have always been more than just a game in my family. Instead, they’re a way to bring people together. At UVA, I want to use my love for storytelling to capture the energy of game day and highlight the players and fans who make it special.”

You only have 100 words, which is just enough for a short paragraph. Keep your essay concise and personal, and make sure every sentence adds value. You don’t want to say, “My dad played basketball at UVA, and his experience as a student-athlete was great,” and call it a day. That doesn’t tell admissions officers anything about who you are or what you care about.

Yes, the essay is optional, but if it applies to you, take advantage of the opportunity and make every word count. Be honest and give enough detail so the admissions team learns something meaningful about you.

Mistakes to Avoid When Writing the University of Virginia Supplemental Essays

Writing your supplemental essay can feel overwhelming, especially when trying to make an impression on admissions officers.

To make the process smoother, keep in mind these common mistakes before you start writing.

1. Overthinking your topic

You don’t need the “perfect” topic to write a strong essay. Remember, there’s no right or wrong answer here. Overanalyzing can make your writing feel forced or inauthentic. Instead, focus on a part of your background, perspective, or experience that genuinely matters to you. Simple and personal stories often make the biggest impact.

2. Writing like it’s a school essay

Your supplemental essay isn’t a thesis or case study. They’re your chance to showcase your personality. An overly academic or formal tone can make your essay sound bland or impersonal.

Instead, write in a natural and engaging way. Use anecdotes, humor, or creativity to bring your story to life. Then, read your essay aloud to make sure it really sounds like you. You can also get a professional editor to review your essay if you want expert help.

3. Repeating information

Your essays should add something new to your application, not rehash whatever’s already covered in your resume or transcript. Make sure each essay shows admissions officers a real glimpse into your world and what it’s like to be you. Skip the achievements for now and focus instead on showing why you’re a great fit for UVA beyond your credentials.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does the University of Virginia have supplemental essays?

Yes, UVA has supplemental essays along with the Common App personal statement. These essays are your chance to share something meaningful about you beyond your grades and test scores.

2. How many supplemental essays does the University of Virginia have?

UVA has two supplemental essays, one of which is optional. The first essay requires you to answer how your background or experiences will enrich the UVA community. The second essay is optional and asks about your connections (whether personal or historic) to the university.

3. How important are the University of Virginia supplemental essays?

Very important! They can make a difference when you’re up against other applicants with the same GPA or extracurriculars. The UVA admissions process is incredibly competitive, so make the most of every opportunity, such as these essays, to boost your application.

Takeaways

• The University of Virginia has one supplemental essay about your background, experiences, and how you’ll contribute to the community.
• There’s also an optional essay, which you should only answer if you have a personal or historic connection to the university. Otherwise, you can skip it.
• Avoid common mistakes while writing, such as overthinking your topic, writing in an overly academic tone, or repeating information already mentioned in other parts of your application.
• Consider hiring a private admissions consultant to help refine your essay and give you the best possible chance of getting into UVA.