University of Delaware Supplemental Essays 2026–27: Prompts

The 2026–27 Delaware Application Workload

For most applicants, the University of Delaware application includes one optional 250-word short answer question. This guide covers that exact prompt, which is available to all students on the main application. Keep in mind that the University of Delaware may ask for additional essays if you are applying to specific tracks like the Honors College or specialized majors. Your total writing workload depends entirely on your academic record and the specific programs you choose.

Self-Appraisal of your academic performance: The Admissions Committee expects that you will take advantage of this question to explain any grade on your transcript that is unusually low… (250 words)

Self-Appraisal of your academic performance: The Admissions Committee expects that you will take advantage of this question to explain any grade on your transcript that is unusually low or varies significantly from your usual performance in the section below.

What this prompt is really asking:

The admissions committee is giving you a designated space to contextualize academic anomalies. They explicitly use the phrase "varies significantly," meaning this is a tool for true outliers rather than a space to justify a slightly lower grade in a tough class. This is a situational prompt that only a fraction of applicants actually need to answer.

A strong approach:

• Define "significantly" honestly. If your transcript is entirely A grades and one C, that warrants an explanation. If you just missed the A minus cutoff in an Advanced Placement class, leave this section blank.
• Answer the "self-appraisal" directive. The prompt asks you to evaluate your own performance. Reflect on your study habits or your reaction to unexpected hardship instead of merely reciting a list of external events.
• Pivot to the upward trend. Show the admissions readers exactly how you adapted. If an illness caused a dip during sophomore year, detail the specific steps (like office hours or peer tutoring) that led to your academic recovery.
• Be brief and factual. You have a 250-word cap, but you do not need to use all of it. State the context clearly. Explain the resolution, then move on.

Most common mistakes:

• Writing when unnecessary. Forcing a response here when your grades are consistent tells the committee you struggle to follow instructions.
• Blaming the instructor. Calling out a strict teacher or an unfair syllabus directly violates the request for self-appraisal and comes across as a lack of accountability.

Scheduling Your Delaware Essay

Because this single prompt is strictly situational, you should review your transcript early in the fall. If you have a clear anomaly to explain, draft this 250-word response alongside your main personal statement. If your grades are consistent, you can bypass this section entirely and submit your application well ahead of the deadline.