Here are examples of experiences you could talk about for this essay:


is a popular essay genre that allows the writer to share a personal belief and, through a narrative, explain that belief’s origin or a time that belief was put into action. The essay genre started in the 1950s on a radio show with Edward R. Murrow and was continued by NPR in 2004. Many have enjoyed writing and reading these essays ever since. You can read or listen to tens of thousands of essays at .


When the time came to write my college application essay, I knew I wanted to share my commitment to embracing diversity and promoting empathy. I crafted a narrative that showcased my personal journey and experiences, emphasizing the profound impact of cultural exchange and education on my life.

Given that almost 19 of every 20 applicants to Duke University are ultimately unsuccessful, you need to do everything you can to stand out amidst a sea of uber-qualified teens from around the globe. Through its one mandatory essay prompt and two optional offerings, the Duke University supplemental section still affords applicants an opportunity to highlight what makes them uniquely qualified for admission. Below are Duke’s supplemental prompts for the 2024-25 admissions cycle along with tips about how to address each one.

Sample College Application Essay for Harvard

Learn how to remodel short-comings into strong points, write compelling essays, strategize for admission tests, ace interviews, and be the strongest applicant you can be.

Stanford University is one of the most prestigious universities in the world and their admissions process is highly competitive. Writing compelling supplemental essays that stand out from other applicants is key to getting accepted into this top-tier school. However, approaching these essays does not have to be an intimidating endeavor! With some preparation and guidance, you can write powerful and persuasive supplemental essays that will help your application shine among the thousands of other applicants vying for a spot at Stanford University. In this article, we'll look at the supplemental essay prompts for Stanford University and provide an in-depth analysis of how to approach them. We'll also examine real-world examples of successful essays written by past applicants to give you a better understanding of what makes a great supplemental essay. By the end, you'll have all the tools needed to create powerful and persuasive supplemental essays that will make your application stand out from other applicants vying for admission into one of the most prestigious universities in the world. So let's get started!

With a 5.1% acceptance rate, getting into Duke in 2024-25 is now as daunting a challenge as gaining acceptance into just about any Ivy League school. While Duke University may immediately conjure up images of the “Cameron Crazies” decked out in devil masks and blue face paint, make no mistake—those rowdy-looking students are really as studious as they come. In fact, just about every single one of the individuals you see in those stands on television scored a 1500+ on the SAT or a 35+ on the ACT and earned a parade of A’s throughout a high school schedule overflowing with AP/IB/dual enrollment courses. This brings us to the topic of this blog – how to write the Duke supplemental essays.

In any “Why Us?” composition, you need to show that you’ve done your homework on a given school, but you don’t want it to read like a rote list of items that you Googled five minutes before writing the essay (even if the timing of the Google search is roughly accurate).


Intellectual Experience Duke University Essay Examples - Clastify

This question is asking you to share what that ideal fit looks like to you. For example, you might be considering a school’s physical and institutional attributes, campus culture, academics and experiential learning, or cost/financial aid. You might also be considering values and the mission of your ideal college.

What do they mean by intellectual experience for an essay prompt?

Once you have identified at least one idea or experience with which you are passionate, brainstorming specific examples of times when this passion has been demonstrated can be helpful in creating a stronger and more compelling essay. This could include recalling particular moments in school when the topic was discussed, describing challenges that were overcome during research related to the topic, or even sharing reflections on how this idea has impacted your life outside of school.

Intellectual experience Harvard University Essay Examples - Clastify

Through my college application essay, I aimed to convey not only my passion for cultural exchange but also my dedication to making a meaningful impact in the world. I wanted to show admissions committees that I was not only a well-rounded student with a diverse background but also someone committed to using my experiences and skills to bridge divides and foster inclusive communities.

Intellectual Curiosity — Essays that Won Entrance to Elite Colleges

Navigate the highly competitive landscape of with my expert one-on-one guidance. As a Harvard grad and former Harvard admissions interviewer, I specialize in helping you to craft excellent that reflect your unique strengths and ambitions. With my experience in , including extensive work with transfer students, and , in particular, alongside a full library of and examples that get results, you’ll be on the road to . I offer insights into prompts, essay writing strategies, how to choose your Common App topic, and more. With , your journey to that truly work starts here.

Harvard University Essay Examples (And Why They Worked)

While these essays are technically “optional,” we advise every single applicant to Duke to opt in on at least one essay. (Note that Prompt #1 is often an ideal and natural choice). Remember, Duke is one of those rare schools that rejects students with near-perfect (or even perfect) academic credentials. It is essential that you showcase the characteristics and skills that make you one-of-a-kind.