Notre Dame Supplemental Essays 2026–27: Prompts & Tips

The University of Notre Dame requires all first-year applicants to write two essays totalling about 250 words. This guide covers the core prompts every applicant answers. Depending on the specific options or programs you select in your application, Notre Dame may ask for additional short responses. Keep your answers tight and specific to the exact phrasing of each prompt.

Please provide a response to the following question. The word count is a maximum of 150 words. Everyone has different priorities when considering their higher education options and… (150 words)

Please provide a response to the following question. The word count is a maximum of 150 words. Everyone has different priorities when considering their higher education options and building their college or university list. Tell us about your “non-negotiable” factor(s) when searching for your future college home.

What this prompt is really asking: Notre Dame wants to see your core values in action. They are asking what single factor you prioritize above all else. This subtly reveals whether your priorities align with their deeply community-oriented and faith-informed campus culture.

A strong approach:

• Define the factor clearly: Name your non-negotiable in the first sentence so the reader knows exactly what you value.
• Connect it to your past: Briefly explain why this factor matters to you by referencing a specific experience that shaped this priority.
• Match it to Notre Dame: Detail exactly how Notre Dame fulfills this requirement through a specific campus offering, research center, or community tradition.

Most common mistakes:

• Listing generic factors: Asking for "good academics" or a "beautiful campus" wastes the prompt because these apply to dozens of schools.
• Focusing on the negative: Explaining what you do not want takes up valuable space instead of highlighting what you hope to find.

Briefly share what draws you to the area(s) of study you listed. (100 words)

What this prompt is really asking: This is a very brief academic interest question. Admissions readers want a quick, substantive look at the specific intellectual curiosity or career goal driving your major choice.

A strong approach:

• Pinpoint the catalyst: Open with the specific moment, book, or project that sparked your interest in the field.
• Look ahead: Mention what you hope to accomplish with this degree to show you have a purpose beyond just getting accepted.
• Be highly specific: Use the exact terminology of your intended field to demonstrate genuine familiarity with the subject matter.

Most common mistakes:

• Telling a long backstory: With only 100 words, spending 70 words on childhood anecdotes leaves no room for your current academic goals.
• Praising the department vaguely: Claiming Notre Dame has "the best professors" without naming them or their research sounds empty.

Program-specific and conditional essays

Option 4: What would you fight for? (100 words)

Required ONLY if you select Option 4. What this prompt is really asking: This question asks you to identify a cause or core belief you are willing to champion. It directly connects to the "Fighting Irish" spirit. A strong approach:

• Choose a specific cause: Narrow down a broad issue into a tangible problem you have actively worked to solve.
• Focus on your action: Spend most of the word count describing what you have done or plan to do about the issue. Most common mistakes:
• Picking a safe topic: Choosing an issue just because it sounds noble instead of one you actually care about results in a hollow essay.

Option 3: Notre Dame’s undergraduate experience is characterized by a collective sense of care for every person. How do you foster service to others in your community? (100 words)

Required ONLY if you select Option 3. What this prompt is really asking: The admissions committee wants to see concrete evidence of your commitment to community service and how you actively improve the lives of those around you. A strong approach:

• Highlight a specific action: Focus on one sustained service commitment rather than a long list of volunteer hours.
• Define your community: Clarify who you are serving. This could be your neighborhood, a club, or a marginalized group. Most common mistakes:
• Being a savior: Presenting yourself as the sole hero of a service project ignores the collaborative nature of community work.

Option 1: How does faith influence the decisions you make? (100 words)

Required ONLY if you select Option 1. What this prompt is really asking: This prompt invites you to explain how your personal belief system guides your daily choices and moral compass. A strong approach:

• Ground it in daily life: Share a small but meaningful decision where your faith played a decisive role.
• Define faith broadly: If you are not religious, you can define faith as a deeply held ethical framework or belief in humanity. Most common mistakes:
• Preaching to the reader: Quoting scripture at length uses up words that should be spent explaining your personal decision-making process.

Option 2: What is distinctive about your personal experiences and development (e.g., family support, culture, disability, personal background, community)? Why are these experiences important to you and how will you enrich the Notre Dame community? (100 words)

Required ONLY if you select Option 2. What this prompt is really asking: This is an identity and background question that asks how your unique upbringing will add a new perspective to the campus. A strong approach:

• Focus on one element: Pick a single aspect of your background to explore deeply in these 100 words.
• Connect past to future: Explicitly state how this background translates into a contribution you will make on campus. Most common mistakes:
• Trying to cover everything: Briefly touching on family, culture, and community leaves the reader with no clear takeaway.

Why are you interested in potentially serving in the military? Please share your response in 50 words or fewer. (50 words)

Required ONLY if you have applied or plan to apply for an ROTC scholarship. What this prompt is really asking: This is a direct check on your motivations for joining the military. They are looking for maturity and a sense of duty. A strong approach:

• Be direct: State your core motivation clearly in the very first sentence.
• Mention service: Connect your career goals to a broader desire to serve your country or community. Most common mistakes:
• Using filler words: In a 50-word limit, introductory phrases completely ruin your chance to provide a substantive answer.

Managing the workload

To manage this set of short responses without rushing, finalize your 150-word non-negotiables essay first. It requires the deepest reflection and sets the tone for your application before you tackle the 100-word academic interest and conditional answers.