By the way, it’s not really an essay.
At University High School, our students are known as full people with interests and opinions and experiences all their own. That’s how we seek to view our applicants, too. While grades, test scores, teacher recommendations, and extracurricular activities can tell us a lot about a student, it doesn’t give us insight into the person. The student questionnaire is where we really get to hear from our applicants, in their own words, about things that are important to them.
We have heard applicants say, “I’m kind of struggling with the application essay,” so it’s important to us that you know this is not a five-paragraph essay with a right and a wrong answer. Simply choose at least two questions that speak to you, and share your ideas, your perspectives, your opinions with us.
- If you have topics, activities, or ideas that get you excited or make you curious, share those with us. What do you “geek out” about? Why does it capture your interest?
- If there’s a book, show, game, or activity you love, tell us what you love about it. What draws you in? How does it make you feel when you’re engaging with it? What would you say to convince a friend to check it out?
- If there’s an experience that shaped you, tell us about the before and after. How did your worldview shift? Do you see people differently, learn something new about yourself, or act differently because of it?
- If you have big dreams for your life, tell us about them. Why is that college, or career, or home important to you? How would achieving these dreams impact those around you?
For decades, academic institutions have advertised that students’ voices matter, but in reality, there is little opportunity for students to actually say who they are and what matters to them. At University, we want to be very clear with you from the moment you introduce yourself in your application: Your voice matters here. And we cannot wait to get to know you better.