University of Notre Dame
A Catholic research university with an exceptionally tight undergraduate community, strong athletics tradition, and globally recognized programs in business, engineering, and the humanities.
University of Notre Dame supplemental essays and deadlines
University of Notre Dame has 2 school-specific supplemental essays for the 2026-2027 cycle in our current record, with fresh source verification still pending. The next listed deadline is Restrictive Early Action on November 1, 2026.
- Supplement status
- required
- Application cycle
- 2026-2027
- Essay count
- 2
- Primary source
- Official source configured
Application deadlines
Supplemental essay prompts
- Why School200 words2026-2027
What excites you about the University of Notre Dame that makes it stand out from other institutions?
Analyze a draft → - Supplement200 words2026-2027
Choose one of the following: reflect on a community you have been part of and how it has shaped you; describe a time your belief system was challenged; or share something that brings you joy.
Analyze a draft →
How to approach University of Notre Dame's supplemental essays
Make fit concrete
Name one academic or community reason, then connect it to a scene from your life. The school detail should prove fit, not decorate the paragraph.
Choose a role before you draft
Decide what this essay should add to the application: evidence, range, bridge, or a new window into your life. Avoid repeating the Common App essay in miniature.
What this page answers
University of Notre Dame is a university in Notre Dame, IN. Use the prompt list, deadline table, and source note together before deciding how much drafting time to reserve.
Essay workload
2 listed prompts, totaling 400 listed words with a highest single limit of 200 words. 1 asks for school-specific fit.
Admissions angle
With an acceptance rate around 11.1%, The safest essay strategy is to prove one clear trait with evidence, then make the school connection specific enough that it could not be sent unchanged elsewhere.
Use this as a blank structure for a University of Notre Dame why-school response, then replace every bracket with your own specifics.
- Open on [specific scene, object, problem, question, or conversation].
- Name the tension: [what you wanted], [what made it hard], and [what you tried].
- Show the evidence: [choice/action/constraint] that reveals your fit.
- Connect that trait to [program, community, lab, class, tradition, or value].
- End with the contribution you want to make at University of Notre Dame, not a compliment.
Frequently asked questions
How many supplemental essays does University of Notre Dame require?
University of Notre Dame has 2 supplemental essays listed for the 2026-2027 application cycle, in addition to the shared application essay.
Does University of Notre Dame accept the Common Application?
Yes — University of Notre Dame accepts the Common Application.
What is University of Notre Dame's acceptance rate?
University of Notre Dame's most recently reported acceptance rate is 11.1%.
When is University of Notre Dame's next application deadline?
University of Notre Dame's next listed application deadline is the Restrictive Early Action round on November 1, 2026.
What is University of Notre Dame's "What excites you about the University…" prompt (#1, 200 words)?
What excites you about the University of Notre Dame that makes it stand out from other institutions?
What is University of Notre Dame's "Choose one of the following: reflect…" prompt (#2, 200 words)?
Choose one of the following: reflect on a community you have been part of and how it has shaped you; describe a time your belief system was challenged; or share something that brings you joy.
Sources and verification
We prioritize University of Notre Dame's official admissions pages for school-specific prompts and deadlines, then use application-platform and federal sources as cross-checks. This record is labeled for the 2026-2027 cycle but still needs a fresh verification pass.
Review official source →