Centenary University aims to make the application process easy and streamlined, while still giving you the opportunity to share information about the experiences that make you who you are.  We recognize that many students apply to colleges using the Common Application, and that you may already be working on an essay as part of this process.  As such, Centenary will accept essays based on Common Application prompts regardless of which application you use.  We hope that this will allow you to focus more intently on crafting one strong essay that reflects you and your experiences.

If you are applying using the Centenary application, please submit an essay based on one of the Common Application prompts below.  You can submit your essay by uploading it in the application portal, by emailing it to CentUAdmissions@centenaryuniversity.edu, or by mailing it to the Centenary University Admissions Office.

If you are applying using the Common Application, please complete the instructions on the Common Application website to submit your essay through their application portal.

Essay Prompts

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
4. Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma – anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.
5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.