WashU Supplemental Essays 2026–27: Prompts & Tips

Applicants to Washington University in St. Louis face a streamlined supplemental writing workload: one primary essay totalling 250 words. This guide covers the single prompt every applicant must answer. WashU may ask for additional essays or portfolios from students applying to specific programs like the Beyond Boundaries program or the Joint Degree in Business and Computer Science.

Please tell us what you are interested in studying at college and why. Undecided about your academic interest(s)? Don’t worry - tell us what excites you about the… (250 words)

Please tell us what you are interested in studying at college and why. Undecided about your academic interest(s)? Don’t worry - tell us what excites you about the academic division you selected. Remember that all of our first-year students enter officially “undeclared” and work closely with their team of academic advisors to discover their academic passions. You can explore all of our majors and programs on our website.

What this prompt is really asking: WashU is explicitly testing your intellectual curiosity while reassuring you that they do not expect a rigid career plan. Because every first-year student enters officially undeclared, the admissions committee wants to see how you think, how you connect different academic disciplines, and what specific questions you want to answer during your undergraduate years. They are looking for a genuine origin story for your academic interests.

A strong approach:

• Trace a clear throughline: Connect a specific past experience to your current academic goals. If you want to study psychology, explain how a particular book, observation, or community project shifted your worldview and sparked that interest.
• Name WashU specifics: Use the 250 words to prove you have researched the university. Identify a specific major, minor, or academic division that aligns with your curiosity.
• Embrace the interdisciplinary: WashU explicitly mentions exploring across programs. Show how your interests cross traditional boundaries, like blending marketing with behavioral science or bridging public policy with engineering.
• Focus on the why: Spend at least half the word count explaining the origin of your interest rather than just listing future courses. The admissions team cares more about what drives you than what you plan to do next.

Most common mistakes:

• Ignoring the "undeclared" reality: Writing as if you are permanently locked into a single path directly contradicts WashU's stated philosophy of academic exploration.
• Name-dropping without context: Listing professors or course codes without explaining how they connect to your intellectual background reads like a copied brochure.
• Rehashing your resume: Summarising your transcript or extracurricular list wastes space. You must focus on the internal motivation behind your academic achievements.