Supplemental essays · 2026–27 application
Emory University supplemental essays.
All 5 essay questions Emory University asks this year, word for word, with the word limits and how to approach each one.
Checked against apply.emory.edu and the Common App application on October 17, 2026
What you write: Answer the academic question and one of the four short answers.
Academic areas you'd explore
What academic areas are you interested in exploring at Emory University and why?
How to approach it
- Start with the moment the interest began.
- Show what you’ve already done about it: a class, a project, a book, a job.
- Say where you want to take it, even if you’re not sure yet.
Shaping a community
Emory University has a strong commitment to building community. Tell us about a community you have been part of where your participation helped to change or shape the community for the better.
Pick one of the four short answers.
How to approach it
- Say plainly what the community is.
- Show your place in it with one real scene.
- End with what you’d bring to campus.
Expanding your cultural awareness
Reflect on a personal experience where you intentionally expanded your cultural awareness.
Pick one of the four short answers.
How to approach it
- Pick one moment and stay there. Readers remember a scene, not a summary.
- Spend at least a third of the essay on what you thought and how you changed.
- Read it out loud. If a line doesn’t sound like you, it isn’t done yet.
Service to humanity
Emory University's core mission calls for service to humanity. Share how you might personally contribute to this mission.
Pick one of the four short answers.
How to approach it
- Say plainly what the community is.
- Show your place in it with one real scene.
- End with what you’d bring to campus.
Navigating disagreement
In a scholarly community, differing ideas often collide before they converge. How do you personally navigate disagreement in a way that promotes progress and deepens meaningful dialogue?
Pick one of the four short answers.
How to approach it
- Pick one moment and stay there. Readers remember a scene, not a summary.
- Spend at least a third of the essay on what you thought and how you changed.
- Read it out loud. If a line doesn’t sound like you, it isn’t done yet.
Want a mentor on your essays?
Clarity Prep members get a mentor who reads every draft with them, knows their whole application and checks in every week until it’s done.