American University Supplemental Essay 2025-26 – Prompt and Advice
August 11, 2025
Back in the ‘90s, American University had an acceptance rate of nearly 80%. In recent years, the acceptance rate has fallen as low as 26% and is typically between 40-60%. Test-optional for over a decade, this now highly selective university in Washington, DC, utilizes a truly holistic method of assessing candidates, which means that the American University supplemental essay now plays a key role for AU applicants.
Want to learn more about how to create a strong application for American? In addition to our blog entitled: How to Get Into American University: Admissions Data and Strategies, head to College Transitions Gateway for all our best free tools and resources, including an admissions calculator for 170+ institutions, college planning guides & templates, and example essays from accepted students.
Given this increasing level of selectivity, the American University supplemental essay offers applicants a crucial opportunity to showcase their writing ability by generating a detail-rich essay that will stand out to an admissions officer.
2025-2026 American University Supplemental Essay Question
In the 2025-26 cycle, applicants to American University must submit a response to the following supplemental essay prompt:
American University students identify as changemakers and describe themselves as passionate. Describe a belief, hobby, idea, issue, or topic about which you’re excited. (250 words)
Whether it’s a general love for math/science or literature or a specific interest in aerospace engineering or 19th-century French novels, use this opportunity to share what makes you tick, the ideas or issues that keep you up at night, and what subject inspires you to dream big. What topic makes you read books and online content until your eyes bleed?
Moreover, you’ll want to share the manner in which you have pursued your hobby, idea, issue, or topic of choice. Whether it’s falling down a Wikipedia rabbit hole about the nature of time, consuming thousands of hours of podcasts on game theory, or volunteering at a community agency, this is a chance to illustrate the ways in which you engage with your passions. The admissions reader should emerge from reading this essay with the sense that you are a sincerely curious young person with a strong drive.
Finally, we’d recommend thinking specifically about how you’d like to continue pursuing your belief, hobby, idea, issue, or topic at American University in particular. As such, you’ll want to do some school-specific research.
Below are some examples of unique facts about American University that may help you as you brainstorm the “American-specific” part of your response:
- There are more than 170 academic programs (80 bachelor’s degree programs) at American University.
- 150+ student organizations exist on campus. Talk about the ones you would like to join.
- AU offers funding opportunities for undergraduate research. Talk about a research idea that you’d like to pursue while at AU.
- AU runs its own study abroad programs in Brussels, Nairobi, and Madrid.
- More than half of all undergrads take a semester abroad.
- 91% of American U grads participated in at least one internship. What’s your dream internship?
- The AU radio station WAMU reaches an astounding 900,000 listeners every week.
- AU was the first U.S. university to become carbon neutral in 2020.
Of course, these are just a few of the countless possible features that could be part of a successful essay.
Overall, think about the following as you write this section:
- How will you become an active, contributing member of the student body?
- How will your past/current endeavors carry over onto AU’s campus?
- Why is AU the perfect fit for you and why are you the perfect fit for AU?
- What specific academic programs, professors, research opportunities, internship/externship programs, study abroad programs, student-run organizations, etc (as in the examples above) would you take advantage of?
How important is the American University supplemental essay?
AU only considers three factors to be “very important” to their applicant evaluation process. These are: the rigor of one’s coursework, GPA earned, and demonstrated interest. The second tier of “important” factors include essays, recommendations, talent/ability, character/personal qualities, extracurricular activities, and volunteer work. Clearly, essays—both the main Common App essay and the supplemental prompt—are among the most significant factors in this holistic process.
Furthermore, demonstrated interest is even more important than essays, and one way you can communicate your interest in American is by writing a thoughtful, American-specific supplemental response.
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