Official-source guides

College essays, personal profiles, and statements

Writing requirements differ by school, program, and application route. These guides summarize what each university currently publishes, give you a way to plan your answer, and link to the official instructions. Check your applicant portal before you submit.

United States

Harvard College

2026–27

Five required short answers, up to 150 words each

United States

Harvard College

Yale University

Princeton University

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Dartmouth College

Stanford University

University of Pennsylvania

Northwestern University

Cornell University

Brown University

Duke University

University of Chicago

University of North Carolina at Charlotte — Architecture

American University

American University — AU Honors

American University — Sakura Scholars

Rice University

University of Notre Dame

Vanderbilt University

Boston University

New York University

Tufts University

Johns Hopkins University

Canada

University of British Columbia

University of Waterloo

University of Toronto

Queen's University

Western University — Ivey AEO

Simon Fraser University — Beedie School of Business

York University — Schulich School of Business

University of Waterloo — Engineering

University of Toronto — Rotman Commerce

McMaster University — Honours Health Sciences

McGill University — Global Engineering

Carleton University — Social Work

Carleton University — Nursing with RN Prescribing

Dalhousie University — Social Work

University of Toronto — Architectural Studies

University of Toronto — Visual Studies

University of Toronto — Engineering

University of Waterloo — Software Engineering

University of Waterloo — Mathematics

Concordia University — Film Animation

Concordia University — Film Production

Concordia University — Design and Computation Arts

University of British Columbia — Music

University of British Columbia — Media Studies

University of British Columbia — Design

University of Calgary — Health Sciences

University of Victoria — Indigenous supplemental admission

Concordia University — Theatre

University of Toronto Mississauga — Computer Science

Toronto Metropolitan University — Architectural Science

OCAD University — Digital Futures

OCAD University — Creative Writing

University of New Brunswick — Bachelor of Integrated Studies

University of New Brunswick — Faculty of Education Admission Advantage

University of New Brunswick Saint John — Concurrent BA/BEd

University of New Brunswick — Wocopsqoltine Weci Spiqiyahtuweq

University of Manitoba — Fine Arts

University of British Columbia Okanagan — Visual Arts

University of Toronto Scarborough — Management

OCAD University — studio degrees

OCAD University — Visual and Critical Studies

University of Alberta — Medical Laboratory Science

University of British Columbia — Bachelor of Social Work

University of British Columbia — Vancouver Nursing

University of Waterloo — Architecture

University of Guelph — Bachelor of Landscape Architecture

University of Guelph — first-year applicants

Toronto Metropolitan University — Image Arts: Film

Toronto Metropolitan University — Image Arts: Photography Media Arts

Toronto Metropolitan University — Interior Design

Emily Carr University of Art + Design — Foundation Year

University of Alberta — Art & Design BFA and BDes

NSCAD University

University of Manitoba — Environmental Design Indigenous applicant category

University of Manitoba — Environmental Design Individual Consideration