st mary's college essay prompts

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First-year applicants.

When you apply for admission, we review your application in a holistic manner. This means we consider both your academic achievements and personal strengths, as evidenced by your transcript, essay, recommendations, any test scores, extracurricular activities, and what you tell us on your application. Admission is not based on a formula. It is a thoughtful process. The Admission Committee takes the time to get to know you as a student and as a person as we consider you becoming a member of the St. Mary’s College Seahawk community.

Academic Factors

The most important factor in the admission committees review is your academic preparation and achievement as shown on your secondary school transcript(s). Your transcript gives us insight into your academic performance over time. It also tells us how you have chosen to challenge yourself by taking any honors, AP or IB classes (if offered at your school), by participating in a dual enrollment program or through other types of academic enrichment courses/programs.

• 4 units of English
• 3 units of Math
• 3 units of Science in at least two different areas with lab experiences
• 3 units of History or Social sciences
• 2 Units of Foreign (World) Language

Recommended

• 4 units of Math – If you complete Algebra II prior to your final year, the 4th math unit should be a course that utilizes non-trivial algebra, such as Trigonometry, Precalculus, Calculus, Statistics, or College Algebra.
• 3 units of Science in at least 2 different areas with at least two lab experiences
• 3 units of History or Social Sciences
• 2 units of Foreign Language
• 1 unit of Fine or Performing Arts

SMCM is test optional. This means you have the choice as to whether or not to submit your SAT and ACT scores. If you’ve taken the SAT or ACT multiple times, we will take the best scores of each section to calculate a super score for you. You may self-report your standardized test scores in lieu of sending an official score report for the admission process. For more information, please see our test optional policy .

Personal Factors

Personal factors are important in the admission decision. All members of the campus community commit to following the St. Mary’s Way and to join in work with others to develop the College community. Your experience will likely reflect your engagement as a member of our community and the Admission Committee wants to understand how active and engaged you have been in your school or community or in support of your family given your personal context. Have you been involved in the arts, athletics, student government, religious organizations, or other interests? Have you been a leader or are you one who can always be counted on? Do you have significant work experience? Have you provided support to your family? Your activity list in your application, your letters of recommendation, and your essay give us insight into your interests, strengths and contributions.

Recommendations should come from people who know you well. Counselors, teachers, coaches, or supervisors are great examples of people to ask for letters of recommendation.

The secondary school report , which is usually completed by your school counselor, will provide the Admission Committee with information about your school and community, the school’s academic curriculum, and information about how your performance compares with that of your peers.

Your responses to the essay and short answer question prompts are your opportunity to tell us more about you while we also get a sense of your writing ability and style. Don’t hesitate to be creative with the short answer!

The Admission Committee looks forward to receiving your application and getting to know you!

Apply today

A complete application includes the following:

• Includes the essay (and our supplement) submitted by the applicable deadline
• Grades from the first marking period of your senior year or work to date
• If applicable, college work must also be submitted
• If you have already graduated from high school, please submit your final, official high school transcript with date of graduation
• Secondary School Report/Counselor Recommendation: 1 Required
• Teacher Evaluation(s): 1 Required, 1 Optional
• Other Evaluation(s): 0 Required, 1 Optional
• Check out our test-optional policy , so you may decide if you want to submit your standardized test results
• If you do, you may choose to self-report your scores by submitting a screen shot of your results, or
• You may have the scores sent from the testing agency; provide SMCM codes: SAT (code 5601) or ACT (code 1736)
• $50 application fee (Note: Fee waived for all first-generation applicants and for students with a fee waiver)
• One-on-one Counselor conversations are encouraged for admission committee members to learn more about applicants
• View our visit options and schedule or call us at 240-895-5000
• We recognize achievement in the arts, and we encourage you to submit samples of your work for review by our faculty.
• You can share these samples through the Portfolio section of the Applicant Gateway after you submit your application.
• If you’ve been home-schooled, you should submit your application and provide a transcript with the following: course descriptions, books used, methods of evaluation and grades received. You should meet the same minimum high school course requirements expected of all applicants. Standardized testing is required; your SAT and/or ACT scores will be strongly considered in the review of your application.
• Please also include general information about your home-schooling program or agency and a letter of recommendation from both an academic professional and the home-schooling teacher/parent. If you’ve taken college-level courses, you should also include an official college transcript with your application.

First-year Application Dates & Deadlines

*Applications considered on a space-available basis. Apply as soon as possible to be considered.

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In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Act, SMCM publishes an Annual Security & Fire Safety Report. The report contains information regarding campus safety and security including crime reporting, crime prevention, college policies, drug and alcohol abuse, and sexual misconduct. The report also contains the three previous years’ crime and fire statistics for on campus locations, non-campus locations and adjacent public property.

For questions regarding information contained in the college’s annual security report or to request a hard copy please contact to Christopher Coons at [email protected] .

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“I JUST THOUGHT, ‘THIS PLACE IS INCREDIBLE.’ WE’RE A SMALL SCHOOL WITH SUCH A BIG HEART.”

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If you're a student interested in  transferring to Saint Mary's, visit our transfer applicant page .

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You can complete either the Saint Mary's First Year Application or the Common Application. It's up to you!

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If you're a high school student applying for your first-year at Saint Mary's, you can apply Early Decision or Regular Decision.

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• Application Deadline : November 15
• Admission Notification Date : guaranteed by mid-December when your application is completed by November 20
• Deposit Deadline : January 15

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• Priority Application Deadline : February 15
• Admission Notification Date : rolling starting in November (generally 2-4 weeks from the date your application becomes complete)
• Deposit Deadline : May 1

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• Fall deposit deadline: July 15
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• Spring deposit deadline: December 15
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How to Submit your St. Mary’s Application

Welcome to St. Mary’s University! We are thrilled that you are exploring how to apply to St. Mary’s University. The admission application is available free of charge if you apply online, and we encourage you to submit the application and supplemental items (transcript(s) and letters of recommendation) as quickly as possible.

At St. Mary’s, we strive for excellence as a community. It’s a great place to grow your network and explore your interests, knowing that, if you mess up, everyone is supporting you to do it again. There’s always another opportunity.”

Daniel gimena international business and international and global studies major, can i get into st. mary’s university.

Like any great match, college admissions is about finding the right fit — for us and for you. We’re looking for students who find our blend of challenging academics and inviting community exciting. Students who want to use what they learn in the classroom to leave the world a little bit better than they found it, and have the determination to make it happen. If this sounds like you, then we may have a match made in education heaven.

All the things that make up your academic profile will tell us a lot about what you’ve done in the classroom. But in order to really put your talents to work — to live life fully in service to others — you need resolve. A fighter’s spirit. Heart. Show us this kind of energy and we’ll show you to our classroom.

St. Mary’s University GPA Requirements

We review each application individually, looking at grades, coursework, test scores, and the applicant’s record of service and leadership. A minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, in all of the academic work attempted, is a good starting point for admission.

Apply as an Undergraduate

Undergraduate students are pursuing bachelor’s degrees. Some undergraduate students are just starting out as first-years, while others are transferring in from other institutions. Undergraduate students also include international students. You can learn more about the  undergraduate application process  or get started right away.

First-year students have a high school diploma or a GED, but little to no college credit. You’ll enter St. Mary’s as a freshman.

Transfer students have started their undergraduate studies at another university and plan to complete their degree at St. Mary’s.

International

International students are residents of countries outside of the United States and hope to earn their undergraduate degree from St. Mary’s.

Apply as a Graduate Student

If you already have a bachelor’s degree, you can start your St. Mary’s journey as a graduate student. The admission process varies a little by program, so start by  choosing a program . You can learn more about the  graduate application process  or get started now.

International students have a few additional requirements, such as English language proficiency and TOEFL exam scores.

Non-degree-seeking or visiting students can apply using the St. Mary’s University application .

Law Students

St. Mary’s University School of Law offers separate applications for each program. Select a program to learn more about application requirements.

Military and Veterans

St. Mary’s University has a long history with the San Antonio military community. If you are an active military member, dependent, spouse or veteran, we are here to help make your admission process as smooth as possible.

For any questions you or your family may have, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to support you.

Office of Admission Chaminade Tower Text us: 210-526-0796 Call us: 210-436-3126 [email protected]

Office of Graduate Admission 210-436-3126 [email protected] Chaminade Tower

Office of Financial Assistance St. Louis Hall, Room 301 210-436-3141 [email protected]

St. Mary's College of Maryland Undergraduate College Application Essays

These St. Mary’s College of Maryland college application essays were written by students accepted at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. All of our sample college essays include the question prompt and the year written. Please use these sample admission essays responsibly.

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College Application Essays accepted by St. Mary’s College of Maryland

Drawing stregth from weakness melissa allen, st. mary's college of maryland.

How, in your life, have you drawn strength from weakness?

Family turbulence, a new school, my grandmother’s illness – all have made me feel weak and sometimes hopeless, but I have emerged more emotionally secure and confident from those challenges....

Character Anonymous

While shaking the commissioner's hand, I felt myself overrun with emotions. Thirteen years of hard work, dedication and sacrifice all overlapped into one moment as I looked him in the eyes: a beautiful sense of accomplishment and gracious respect...

Impactful Friends Anonymous

I turned and faced the most cheerful and excited group of students. All different kinds of students on one team–happy to be there, socialize, and watch me get my first strike. I tried to hold back a smile, but it was impossible. I’m a...

Recent Questions about St. Mary’s College of Maryland

The Question and Answer section for St. Mary’s College of Maryland is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

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Application information

Find out about requirements, fees, and deadlines

If you are motivated, intellectually curious, and appreciate diversity, you will thrive at St. Mary's College of Maryland. We encourage you to apply to the National Public Honors College. We have multiple deadlines: Early Decision, Early Action, and Regular Decision. A complete application includes the application and essay, along with official transcripts of high school work to date; two teacher recommendations from grades eleven or twelve; standardized test scores, SAT or ACT sent directly from the testing agency; and a $50 application fee.

If you attend a two or four-year college and wish to transfer to St. Mary’s College of Maryland, you may apply for either the fall or spring semesters. To apply for transfer admission, complete and submit the online application with essay and send official transcripts of all college work, a letter of recommendation from a college professor, an official report from the college most recently attended, and a $50 application fee to the Office of Admission. Students with fewer than 24 credits must include a final high school transcript.

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"St. Mary's College has been my home away from home as I relocated to Maryland from Illinois two years ago. I have never felt more welcomed and included than on our campus! I always tell my friends how proud I am to be a St. Mary's student. It has truly been a beautiful place for me, I do not think I could have found a better fit for a college for me." MaKayla Bridges, Class of 2023

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Absurd College Essay Prompts

Are you working on your college applications and wondering where these crazy essay prompts came from? In this blog, we’ll share some delightful essay topics from colleges that are asking ridiculous questions to college students and do two things overall. One, we’ll make fun of colleges for asking stupid questions that the fate of your entire existence hinges on, and two, we’ll give you straight advice on how to deal with some of these prompts.

St. Mary’s College

St. Mary’s College of Maryland has a prompt that says: “You have a day to spend on the beach at the waterfront of St. Mary’s College. How would you spend it, with whom, and why?” Here’s our quick tip for this one: don’t answer the prompt straight. Instead of saying that you’ll get out your towel, write about what your brain will be thinking through or what relationship you are going to have. Basically, talk about something that has nothing to do with sand, towels, and swimming. We’re also kind of scratching our heads at this question, because what are they really trying to get from this? Honestly, we’re not sure either.

Pomona College

This year, Pomona College is asking, “What item are you excited to bring with you to college?” What do you do to approach this question? It sounds kind of corny, so how do you make your essay not sound corny? We guarantee that lots of people will say something like “curiosity” as their answer. But one, curiosity is not an item. And two, everybody is going to say that or something similar. So, the better way to answer this is to find some object in your life that reveals what you’re actually going to bring.

We would actually reframe this question and instead say, “What is a characteristic about me that I want to show to colleges?” and then figure out an item that you own that can be a telling detail to reveal that aspect of your personality. For example, if you have an entrepreneurial spirit, then maybe you could talk about the click pen that you made in the Junior Achievement Club. The pen is meaningless, but the idea is that you’ll bring the same entrepreneurial spirit that you put together to create pens that you sold as your first Junior Achievement project.

The other way that you could do this is that you could be a total comedian, throw this back in their face, and make fun of them for how ridiculous and important it is that you’re bringing clothes with you.

University of Southern California

USC has a slew of short-answer questions that make us scratch our heads and wonder if these really are the questions that will get students into college. Some of them are “get to know you” prompts, but others are really hard to answer. For example, one prompt they have is “What is your favorite snack?” We’re sure people will lie on this question, because telling people what your actual favorite snack is might be boring. So, they’re kind of setting you up for fiction.

Another one of their prompts is “What TV show will you binge watch next?” This one is easy; just pick a show from Netflix, Apple TV, etc. All we have to say about this one is to please not pick a show that’s weird or creepy. This question is one that we would call more of a taste-gauging question as well as a disqualifier. The only thing that this question can do for you is knock you out because you wrote something that sounds really juvenile and silly. Or creepy horror movies that make them think that you’re a little bit of a strange bird, and not in a good way. Just pick a good one; don’t pick something too lowbrow or something with lots of drug use.

Moving onto another USC prompt: “Which well-known person or fictional character would be your ideal roommate?” This one is kind of fun, and we would go with something magical. But if there’s someone whose personality you really like and you think that if you knew them in real life, you’d be best friends, then colleges might be able to learn something about you from that. Again, don’t pick people who do lots of drugs or who are crime bosses. You just have to be careful about the message that you’re sending here.

University of Virginia

UVA has a prompt that says “What’s your favorite word and why?” We guess that they want you to sound clever and to make you dig through Merriam-Webster until you find something quirky and funny. We’re not quite sure what people can learn about you from your favorite word that’s so eye-opening and college-ready-proving. Pick something fun, get goofy, but show them something about yourself if you can. Or get into a little idea that’s somewhat of an “aha,” a “wow,” or a “zing.”

Occidental College

Occidental College has one that asks, “What is the first song you would play for your roommates on move-in day?” Princeton and Columbia, as well as a lot of other schools, also ask about music, so yes, you need to have a good Spotify playlist to get into college.

Stanford University

Stanford’s ridiculous essay prompt is “Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate—and us—get to know you better.” If we’re being realistic, the notes that you write to your roommate in college are probably things like “Can you turn your alarm off and not hit snooze so many times?” or “I’m going out of town for the weekend.” We don’t think that’s going to make for a good college essay, though. And the best advice that we have is that you need to angle the question differently. So, instead of pretending that you’re writing a note (which can be really awkward and can make you seem passive-aggressive), imagine that you walked into the room and are going to tell your roommate something. What were you going to tell them?

University of Vermont

The University of Vermont asks “Established in 1978 in a renovated gas station in Burlington, VT, Ben & Jerry’s is synonymous with the ice cream business. The company’s success and unique brand identity are due in part to their one-of-a-kind flavors. Which Ben & Jerry’s ice cream flavor (real or imagined) best describes you?” This may be a ridiculous prompt, but it’s still asking you to reveal something about yourself.

University of Chicago

Before we get into the University of Chicago, which is the university that is infamous for having the most ridiculous essay prompts, we just want to take a second to be thankful, because essays are not as crazy as some of them used to be. For example, Tufts University used to ask “Kermit the frog famously lamented, ‘It’s not easy being green.’ Do you agree?” Thank goodness they’re not asking that anymore.

But the University of Chicago is asking all the crazy questions, but we will give them props for owning it, because they know it. They let you pick, so you just have to figure out how you can put together something that’s going to be funny, clever, or witty. It’s almost like a test of cleverness or improv. Some of their prompts include “Write an essay somehow inspired by super huge mustard” and “What advice would a wisdom tooth have?” and “Genghis Khan with an F1 race car, George Washington with a super-soaker, Emperor Nero with a toaster, Leonardo da Vinci with a furby. If you could give any historical figure any piece of technology, who and what would it be, and why do you think they’d work so well together?”

These are ridiculous, but we love the openness and creativity of them. Our best advice with UChicago is to pull it off, say something actually worth saying, and be interesting. And make sure to keep working until you find a prompt where you can reveal something about yourself at the same time.

We hope you found this blog helpful, and the message that we want to send home to you guys that are trying to approach these insane essays is that if there’s an obvious answer, do not go the obvious route. They’re being off-the-wall and crazy with their essay prompts, so you get to be creative too.

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CollegeVine's essay prompt database

Find your college’s application essay prompts for 2023-24

Latest essay prompts for the top 100 schools.

At CollegeVine, our goal is to make the college application process a little less stressful, so we’ve compiled the latest essay prompts for the top 100 schools in one easy, searchable database.

Also, every year we create free guides on “ How to Write X School’s Essays ” for the top 100 schools. In these guides, we give you tips and tricks on how to approach each prompt. As such, our prompt database also contains a link to each school's Essay Breakdown.

Manage your college essays in one place for free.

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Here is where you can complete your application requirements conveniently online. If you need assistance, we are just a call or click away. This page also includes other forms you may need to access.

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• Undergraduate application — for students applying for an undergraduate program, excluding nursing
• Undergraduate nursing application — for students applying for our undergraduate nursing program; or  Nursing Centralized Application Service (NursingCAS) — for undergraduate and graduate nursing applicants who prefer to apply for admission through our national partner
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Saint Mary’s Is ‘One of the Nation’s Best Institutions for Undergraduates,’ Writes The Princeton Review

Welcome to Saint Mary’s: a tight-knit and committed community, home to passionate learners and committed citizens. / Photo by Francis Tatem

In the list of top colleges for 2025, The Princeton Review zeroes in on the qualities that make Saint Mary’s unique—and calls the university an ideal choice for students looking for a “best fit.”

In The Best 390 Colleges: 2025 Edition , The Princeton Review profiles and recommends Saint Mary’s College of California as one of the nation’s top higher education institutions for undergraduates. The organization also includes Saint Mary’s in the “Best West” listing of colleges by region.

The guide is based on a national survey of more than 168,000 students. Students answered 89 questions to rate their colleges on dozens of topics and report on their campus experiences. 

What do students have to say about Saint Mary’s? For starters, they highlight the institution’s robust academic offerings with professors who earn high marks for being interesting and accessible. Students also value how, with an ethnically and intellectually diverse student body, the people and mission of the College foster a sense of community. “From the first day of orientation I knew that the student body was very accepting,” says one student.

“I am delighted that The Princeton Review included Saint Mary’s in this survey and spoke to our Gael students to get their perspective on what makes this such a special place,” says Roger J. Thompson , President of Saint Mary’s College of California. “It is clear that our students have a keen appreciation for our campus and the unique blend of attributes our Colleges possesses. But we are not going to rest on our laurels: We are going to continue to do everything we can to create the best student experience found at any college, not only on the West Coast but in the United States.”

Personalized Attention to Ensure Students Succeed

As the guide notes, SMC students appreciate the fact that a 10:1 ratio of students to faculty opens doors to  “amazing relationships with professors thanks to the small classroom sizes.” Collegiate Seminar is a signature part of Saint Mary’s academics and earns well-deserved attention: “Class discussions encouraged,” the guide notes. More than that, faculty “make sure that you know everything that you need to prepare you for life” and are “always accessible for meetings and office hours because they want their students to succeed.”

“We are going to continue to do everything we can to create the best student experience found at any college, not only on the West Coast but in the United States.” —Saint Mary’s President Roger J. Thompson

That success reaches beyond graduation, the guide points out. Faculty are “an incredible resource for internships, grad school, [and] jobs,” and “are always trying to get us involved in outside events.”

Encouragement to get involved and commitment to care are things students see among the staff at Saint Mary’s as well—from Student Life to the Career Center , from Financial Aid to Club Sports . “Career services are great,” says one highlight. And, more broadly, “The staff have been here for all of us students every step of the way.”

What’s also clear in the guide: That sense of care defines who Saint Mary’s students are, too. “Communal, friendly, and intimate” are words students use to describe the nature of SMC—with the College providing active support for student groups.

Exploring the wider Bay Area—from the East Bay hills to the iconic sights and active cultural scene of San Francisco—is also a big part of the student experience. One special factor in this part of California: Weather is “beautiful no matter [the] time of year.” The guide also notes that the SMC Campus Activities Board makes it easy to get to events throughout the bay. (Case in point: That includes some free tickets for a San Francisco Giants game this weekend!)

Some of the biggest excitement in Bay Area sports happens right here on campus. “Everyone loves the Gaels,” the guide summarizes. Gaels Men’s Basketball draws national attention, and they’re the reigning West Coast Conference champs . “Game days are some of the biggest of the year,” the guide notes, and in the words of one student, “basketball is huge here.”

Saint Mary’s Men’s Rugby has won multiple national championships —including in 2024, defeating Navy to garner the trophy. Gaels Softball claimed the WCC title in 2024 as well. Altogether SMC is home to 18 Division 1 teams, with Club Sports offering a host of other opportunities for intercollegiate play—for men’s teams, women’s teams, and co-ed teams.

Making the Cut

Only about 15% of US institutions of higher learning are profiled in the guide. The Princeton Review chooses the colleges for the guide based on data it annually collects from surveys of 2,000 college administrators about their institutions’ academic programs and other features. Students then offer their ratings, leading to the final selection.

“We salute Saint Mary’s for its outstanding academics, and its many other impressive offerings,” said Rob Franek, The Princeton Review's editor-in-chief and lead author of The Best 390 Colleges. “We’re delighted to recommend it as an ideal choice for students searching for their ‘best-fit’ college.”   

Since 1992, The Princeton Review’s Best Colleges has showcased the schools it recommends to college applicants and their parents as the nation’s best for undergraduate academics. 

© 2024 Saint Mary’s College of California

St. John’s College 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Early Decision: Nov 1

Early Action: Nov 15

Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 15

St. John’s College 2024-25 Application Essay Explanations

The Requirements: 1 essay of 400 words; 1 optional essay of 200 words

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Why , Oddball

St. John’s would like to learn more about you than grades and test scores alone can reveal. The following essay topic, with a word minimum instead of word maximum, is designed to give you an opportunity to write fully and freely to the Admissions Committee. As the essay conveys your voice and your ideas, the Admissions Committee considers it one of the most important elements of your application. If you find yourself struggling to respond to the prompt, you can view examples of strong essays. 

Discuss a book that you would call a “great book.” we want to learn both about the ideas in the book and about you. what makes the book great in your view what effect has it had on what you think or how you think minimum 400 words..

With this prompt, St. John’s is looking for more than just a summary of your favorite book. Admissions wants to know why a certain book or novel is meaningful to you and how it connects to your interests, identity, history, worldview, and/or values. Does Kurt Vonnegut’s dark humor entertain while alleviating anxiety about death? (So it goes.) Do Maya Angelou’s words transcend cultural boundaries and offer a new way to look at the world? Be careful to avoid self-aggrandizing or pandering choices or pop fiction like Harry Potter or The Da Vinci Code ; instead, write about a work that truly speaks to you. Just remember that this prompt aims to reveal new information about you to admissions, so skip the intricate plot explanations and dive right into your takeaways and the book’s impact on what you think and/or how you think. Since you have to write a minimum of 400 words here, we recommend selecting a book that you know very well.

The following question is optional but strongly encouraged. 

What about st. john’s and the curriculum interest you most (approximately 200 words).

This is the classic Why Essay. St. John’s wants to make sure you are psyched for the full college experience at their school, and the secret to a successful Why Essay is research. Take some time to explore the school website or even visit campus and get to know all that St. John’s has to offer. Jot down everything that excites you! When you have a solid list in hand, consider how each club, professor, or program connects to your own interests and goals. Locate specific opportunities within your department and related programs that really make your heart sing with excitement. Just remember that the goal is to offer deeper insight into your interests and vision, not to just rattle off a list of facts about the school! In fact, there shouldn’t be a single sentence that only lists a feature of the school without any connection back to you or what it means to you. For example, if admissions could read a sentence and say, “Yeah, we know,” it’s time to go back and rework it. Talk about your passions, goals, and dreams so admissions can understand what a St. John’s education will mean to you.

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Experience a school where traditions of excellence and innovation collide. 

Welcome to St. Mary's Catholic School.

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Weekend Mass St. Mary’s, Moscow Saturday: 5:00 p.m. Sunday: 8:00 a.m. & 11:30 a.m. St. Mary’s, Genesee Sunday: 9:45 a.m. Daily Masses St. Mary’s, Moscow Monday: 8:00 a.m. Tuesday: 8:00 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. Wednesday: 8:00 a.m. Thursday: 8:00 a.m. Friday: (summer) 8:00 a.m. Friday (Sept – June): 9:00 a.m. Saturday: 8:00 a.m. St. Mary’s, Genesee Wednesday: 6:30 p.m. Paradise Creek of Olympus Friday: 10:30 a.m.

The Rosary St. Mary’s, Moscow Monday – Thursday: 7:35 a.m. Friday (Sept – June): 8:35 a.m. Friday (Summer): 7:35 a.m.

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Mount Saint Mary's University, Los Angeles

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Want to see your chances of admission at Mount Saint Mary's University, Los Angeles?

We take every aspect of your personal profile into consideration when calculating your admissions chances.

Mount Saint Mary's University, Los Angeles’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Honors program short response.

What academic, extracurricular, or community engagement experiences distinguish you from your peers? Why have you devoted time to these activities, and what personal qualities have you developed through your participation? If selected, you will be notified by the Admission Office.

Le Puy Scholarship Essay

Exceptional applicants who have demonstrated leadership, served their community and have at least a 3.8 cumulative GPA can be considered for our full-tuition Le Puy Scholarship. If you would like to be considered, please respond to the following statement in 500 words or less and submit your application by December 1:

Our founders, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet (CSJs), trace their roots to Le Puy, France, where, in 1650, they joined together and devoted themselves to serve all persons without distinction and respond to the needs of the times. The University continues to advance and uphold their mission today.

In what ways have you displayed leadership and/or made valuable contributions to your community? Explain how this involvement can equip you to make a meaningful impact at Mount Saint Mary‘s University and align with the vision of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet.

What will first-time readers think of your college essay?