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How to Write the University of Virginia Essays

Updated for 2025-2026

For the 2025–2026 application cycle, the University of Virginia revised their application requirements, eliminating the general supplemental essay question. Only applicants to the School of Nursing will be required to submit a supplemental essay; the only writing requirement for other applicants is the Common App personal statement. If you are applying to the UVA School of Nursing, here’s how to craft a stand out essay!

School of Nursing Prompt:

In around 250 words, please answer the following question:

Describe a health care-related experience or another significant interaction that deepened your interest in studying Nursing.

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Explanation:

With this prompt, the admissions committee is seeking to understand your hands-on experience in the nursing field and how it has shaped your desire to pursue nursing. Rather than writing a macro-narrative about how your passion for healthcare has developed over the last five years, your response to this question should highlight one particularly formative or impactful moment. Did a particular encounter or experience ignite your enthusiasm for nursing or enrich your understanding of the profession?

Because this question is asking about your health care-related experience, this is a good place to demonstrate your preparedness for continued study. You might choose to highlight your experience interning at a local hospital, launching an educational program for CPR and other emergency lifesaving procedures, or facilitating blood drives in your area. Instead of simply narrating the event, be sure to critically reflect on why the moment mattered to you. How did it shape your understanding of nursing as a profession? What did it teach you about the qualities you hope to embody as a healthcare professional?

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