wpi supplemental essays

Personal Statements and Essays

Every fellowship or graduate school application requires a statement that asks, in one way or another, for the candidate to describe their academic or other interests. This personal statement is your introduction to the selection committee. An outstanding personal statement will not win you a scholarship, but a poorly prepared one can deny you the chance to be considered as a finalist.

Personal Statements

Because personal statements are personal, there is not one format or approach that will work well for everyone. They are also short -- 1,000 words or less -- so you should identify the three or four most important points that you want to develop. Other parts of your application (including letters of recommendation) can present other important information. Use your personal statement to say what only you can say because it is what is most important to you. Personal statements are often read quickly and in bulk, so do your best to make yours stand out and a pleasure to read.

The essay is an exercise in self-reflection, and to do this well requires many drafts and revisions. Consider the questions posed in  making connections , and take an inventory of everything you have done as an undergraduate. Selected parts of this inventory will be featured in the essay eventually, but try to be inclusive at first. Read the advice on  starting the writing process , and start to write before you are ready. 

Be honest with yourself. Do not try to guess what the committee wants to read. Consider your audience to be intelligent non-specialists for fellowship competitions, or to be professors in your field for graduate school essays. Remember that your essay is a writing sample. The essay will be read for indications of clear, well-organized thinking and effective communication.

Grab the readers' attention right away by taking them into the heart of your discussion; maintain focus with a consistent story line; consider using one or two anecdotes that can help you focus and give a human face to your discussion; provide a compelling snapshot of who you are and what contributions you want to make; indicate what your priorities are and the kind of passion you bring to your work. The Writing Center on campus is a very helpful resource, and can be utilized during all parts of the writing process. 

Academic Proposals

The academic proposal required by some competitions and by graduate schools has a more defined focus than your personal statement or essay(s). Common elements include a description of your course of study or project, and why you have chosen this particular institution, country, or setting. You should provide evidence that you are qualified to undertake the program you propose, and that it is consistent with your long-range plans. For study abroad project proposals, provide evidence of cooperation of the host institution or individuals with whom you propose to work, if possible. For graduate schools admissions essays, discern what is being asked for in each essay and keep the focus on that: speak mainly about your research interests if that is what they are asking you to address. For a plan of research essay, devote considerable effort to your "methods" as you need to demonstrate you have a plan, not just a good idea.

Additional Information

• Writing Personal Statements Online , by Joe Schall, includes sample essays; this is the essential resource.
• Definition of a Personal Statement  by Mary Tolar, excellent advice for nationally competitive fellowships
• Writing a Personal Statement , Purdue Writing Center
• Tips for Writing a Personal Statement , Carnegie Mellon Health Professions
• Graduate School Statement , Berkeley Career Center

Dissertations, Research Proposals, and Foundation Grants (which differ from personal statements):

• The Art of Writing Proposals , SSRC, standard advice in the social sciences, relevant for all fields
• A Guide for Proposal Writing , NSF Division of Undergraduate Education

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How to Ace the 2024-2025 Worcester Polytechnic Essay

Cece Gilmore is a Content Writer at Scholarships360. Cece earned her undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Arizona State University. While at ASU, she was the education editor as well as a published staff reporter at Downtown Devil. Cece was also the co-host of her own radio show on Blaze Radio ASU.

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Bill Jack has over a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. Since 2008, he has worked at Colby College, Wesleyan University, University of Maine at Farmington, and Bates College.

Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute, also known as WPI, is the 3rd oldest private technological school in the United States . Rich with history, WPI is a sought-after  institution of higher education, especially for engineering and technology. To stand out, you’ll want your WPI supplemental essay to shine. Luckily, Scholarships360 has a guide about how to respond to the WPI supplement essay!

Breaking down the WPI supplemental essay

Time to celebrate–WPI requires applicants to respond to only one WPI supplemental essay! WPI asks students to respond to the classic “Why us?” prompt. It can be challenging to make your essay stand out from the rest of applicants, but we have a few tips to share. Let’s get started! 

The WPI supplement essay

“Worcester Polytechnic Institute seeks students who are the right fit for its academic and campus community. In what ways are you the right fit for the distinctive educational and campus experience that Worcester Polytechnic Institute offers?” (500 words) 

WPI wants to get to know you and your genuine interest in WPI. The way WPI worded this question emphasizes that they want to know how you will fit into WPI rather than how WPI is a good fit for you. Although these concepts are similar, they are not the same thing. Therefore, be sure to focus on aspects of yourself throughout this essay. 

In order to ace the WPI essay, you should connect your uniqueness with the unique elements that WPI offers to students. Make sure to emphasize the overlap between your interests and the amenities offered by WPI. 

How to start the WPI supplemental essay

Before beginning to write your WPI supplemental essay, do your research!  It is so important that you become an expert and familiarize yourself with everything WPI. 

Start out by researching the following: 

Remember, there is only one WPI supplemental essay, so a lot of applicants will have similar answers. Therefore, stay authentic to your personal interests and select aspects of WPI that will allow these interests to thrive. 

• Be specific

In addition, be specific! For example, do not say you are looking forward to taking science classes, rather, say you are looking forward to taking BB 1025: Human Biology because you have always wanted to learn more about human structure and function. See how that worked? By being specific, you will demonstrate that you want to attend WPI. 

Once you have a good collection of meaningful aspects of WPI that connect to your interests, you should then focus on arranging them in a meaningful way.

Tell a story that connects to WPI

Your response should tell an intriguing story instead of just listing items. Try to detail a narrative of your journey of discovering how perfect a fit WPI is for you. You can accomplish this by highlighting your intended major and general interests that make you unique from other applicants. Then, connect back to WPI and the resources they provide that will help you achieve those very goals. 

Questions to consider

• What makes you stand out from other WPI applicants? 
• What makes WPI stand out from other schools? 
• Are there any WPI clubs or organizations you want to become involved in? 
• What characteristics do you possess that WPI looks for in a potential student? 
• What is your intended major? What do you plan to do with this degree? 

Be sure that you are answering most of these questions throughout your response. 

Tips for answering this essay

• “Show” rather than tell
• Do your research on WPI beforehand (and take notes!)
• Connect to relevant WPI programs

Final thoughts on responding to the WPI supplemental essay

The WPI supplemental essay is an excellent opportunity to help make your application stand out from other applicants. Therefore, when you have completed your WPI essay, have a trusted individual read it.  They can ensure that you did not make any silly mistakes and that you followed the prompt accurately. 

In addition, be sure to stay within the 500 word limit. If you are over 500 words, try cutting out transition and filler words. If you are under 500 words, try mindfully adding more descriptive words to make your essay come to life. Good luck! 

Additional resources

Congratulations on finishing up your WPI supplement essay! Here are some additional resources to help you navigate the college admissions process: 

• How to write an essay about yourself
• The ultimate guide to finding and winning scholarships
• How many colleges should you apply to?
• How to choose a college
• How to write a successful admissions essay

Other supplemental essay guides

• Boston University (Boston, MA)
• Syracuse University (Syracuse, NY)
• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Troy, NY)

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Mastering the Worcester Polytechnic Institute Supplemental Essays

Applying to Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) means showcasing your unique fit for a college that blends top-tier academics with a vibrant campus community. WPI’s 2024 essay prompt asks you to consider how you align with the school’s distinctive educational experience:

"Worcester Polytechnic Institute seeks students who are the right fit for its academic and campus community. In what ways are you the right fit for the distinctive educational and campus experience that Worcester Polytechnic Institute offers?" (500 words)

Approaching this prompt requires a thoughtful reflection on WPI’s values and how they resonate with your own experiences and aspirations. Here are some school-specific tips to help you craft a compelling supplemental essay:

Understand WPI’s Unique Culture

WPI’s project-based learning model emphasizes teamwork, real-world problem solving, and interdisciplinary research. Highlight instances where you have thrived in collaborative environments or tackled complex projects. Demonstrating your familiarity with WPI’s distinctive approach through examples from your past experiences can make your essay stand out.

For instance, if you participated in a science competition that required extensive teamwork, or if you led a community service project that addressed a real-world issue, these stories are worth sharing. Make sure you draw parallels between these experiences and the opportunities at WPI.

Connect Your Interests to WPI’s Programs

Think about your academic interests and future ambitions and how they align with WPI’s offerings. Whether you’re passionate about robotics, biotechnology, or environmental engineering, delve into specific programs, labs, or faculty at WPI that excite you.

Be specific. Instead of saying “I am interested in robotics,” explain why the Robotics Resource Center or the FIRST Robotics Initiative at WPI is particularly appealing. Show that you’ve done your homework and understand what WPI can offer to help you achieve your goals.

Highlight Your Fit with the Campus Community

WPI’s close-knit campus community is inclusive and collaborative. Reflect on how you can contribute to this environment, whether through student organizations, athletic teams, or other campus activities.

If you’ve been involved in clubs, sports, or leadership roles in high school, talk about how these experiences have prepared you to be an active and positive member of the WPI community. Mention specific WPI student groups or activities that you’re excited to join.

Utilize Helpful Resources

Crafting an outstanding essay can be daunting, but you don’t have to do it alone. Platforms like Sups AI can be incredibly beneficial. Sups AI offers tools to brainstorm essay ideas and provides feedback on drafts. Additionally, you can chat one-on-one with current students to get firsthand insights about WPI.

Sups AI has already assisted over 10k students in gaining admissions into top schools, including those in the US Top 50. The platform ensures your essay is well-rounded and aligned with WPI’s expectations.

Practical Tips for Writing

Start Early: Give yourself plenty of time to reflect on your experiences and draft your essay.

Edit Ruthlessly: Clarity and conciseness are key. Use the 500-word limit wisely to convey your message.

Seek Feedback: Use Sups AI to get detailed feedback and improve your essay.

By following these tips and utilizing resources like Sups AI , you can ensure your WPI supplemental essay accurately reflects your potential fit for this dynamic academic community. Good luck!

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Guide to the Worcester Polytechnic Institute Supplemental Essay Prompt

Worcester Polytechnic Institute seeks students who are the right fit for its academic and campus community. CEA's Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to help you make your case as to why you're the perfect fit for WPI (and vice versa)!

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Worcester Polytechnic Institute seeks students who are the right fit for its academic and campus community. CEA's Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to help you make your case as to why you're the perfect fit for WPI (and vice versa)!

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Guide to the 2017-2018 Duke University Supplemental Essays

Submitting your college application to Duke University can be a real nail-biter. Although it's probably too late now to tweak your test scores or GPA, you can make sure that your college application essays will bring you admissions success! Duke requires one supplemental short answer and gives students the opportunity to respond to two optional prompts. The Founder and Chief Advisor of College Essay Advisors, Stacey Brook, is here to give you invaluable insight into the prompts and the motivation behind them so you can take advantage of this opportunity to speak to admissions in your own voice.

Guide to the 2017-2018 Harvard University Supplemental Essay

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Admission Information

Applying to wpi.

Prospective graduate students submit their applications for all WPI graduate programs online at www. grad.wpi.edu/+apply .

Some programs require the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) or GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test). Consult academic departments' website for test requirements. There is no WPI minimum GRE or GMAT score for admission. WPI’s institutional code for the GRE and GMAT is 3969. Scores are valid for five years from the test date. For more information, or to take the GRE go to: www.ets.org/gre  The Business School requires the GMAT for all PhD applicants.  For more information or to take the GMAT go to: www.gmat.com . 

A completed undergraduate degree from an accredited institution is a pre-requisite for beginning all graduate degree programs at WPI. All graduate students are expected to have completed their undergraduate degree at the time of matriculation.

WPI admission requirements vary by program, but may include the following:

• A completed Application for Admission to Graduate Study.
• A non-refundable $70 application fee. The application fee is waived for online or corporate students, as well as WPI alumni, employees, and current students. 
• College transcripts in English and the original language from all accredited degree-granting institutions attended. This includes institutions attended regardless of degree conferral if coursework was used towards a degree at any other institution. If offered admission, all students who matriculate to WPI will be required to provide official transcript(s) from all academic institutions attended, indicating all previously earned degree(s) or coursework counted towards a degree.  Please note that, while you may apply with an unofficial transcript, official transcripts will need to be submitted prior to the start of your second term at WPI.
• Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can comment on the applicant’s qualifications for pursuing graduate study in the chosen field. Applicants are required to invite their recommenders to submit letters through the online application and can be submitted only through the application portal.
• Several programs require a statement of purpose. This is a brief essay discussing background, interests, academic intent, and the reasons the applicant feels they would benefit from the program of study. The statement of purpose must be submitted electronically with the online application. 
• The Business School requires all applicants to submit a resume with the online application.
• Proof of English language proficiency must be submitted by all applicants for whom English is not their first language. Applicants seeking to attend WPI whose native language is not English must submit official  TOEFL iBT ,  TOEFL Essentials ,  IELTS , or  Duolingo  scores. WPI also accepts TOEFL iBT Home Edition and UKVI IELTS. WPI does not accept paper copies of these scores; only official scores sent electronically from the testing service will be accepted.  The minimum scores for admission are: TOEFL: 84 (iBT) or 8.5 (Essentials) Duolingo: 115 and IELTS: 6.5 overall band score with no sub-score lower than 6.5

These are the minimum scores for admission to WPI.  Some departments have higher minimums. Students who wish to be considered for a Teaching Assistant position should have a higher English Language Proficiency score. The Business School also requires a higher minimum score. 

Applicants who have completed two years of full-time study at a college or university in the U.S., the U.K., Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, or the Anglophone regions of Africa, Canada, or the Caribbean, within five years of matriculating at WPI are not required to submit TOEFL, Duolingo or IELTS scores.

The English proficiency test score requirement is waived for individuals who have been in the US for three or more years working in an English language environment. 

All incoming graduate students who indicate that their native language is not English should expect to be tested on their English language skills. If a passing grade is not obtained on this ESL test students will be asked to enroll in a one semester, zero credit English language course for a fee.  

The Office of Graduate Admissions will retain incomplete applications awaiting submission, and their associated credentials, for one year after the application was started. If the application is not submitted for one year, WPI reserves the right to cancel the application and destroy all associated documents and credentials. Credentials submitted with an application will not be returned to the applicant.

All submitted applications are cleared each term. Applicants can indicate on the application that they wish to have their application forwarded to the next available term in the event that they do not receive a decision on their application. If the applicant does not indicate that their application should be forwarded, it will be canceled at the beginning of the entry term selected by the applicant.

All applications, letters of recommenda­tion, and supporting documents become the property of WPI once they have been received by the Office of Graduate Admissions. 

Three-Year Bologna-Process Degrees

WPI welcomes applications from students who have three-year Bologna-compliant undergraduate degrees from European universities. Applicants who hold these credentials will be evaluated for admission on a case-by-case basis.

Three-Year Bachelor's Degrees from India

Applicants with a three-year Bachelor's degree from India are eligible to apply for graduate study as long as their school is accredited by NAAC with a grade of A, and their class rank is Division I or II. 

National Diploma and Higher National Diploma

Applicants who have obtained both a National Diploma and a Higher National Diploma are eligible to apply for graduate study. 

Priority Dates

Students who want to apply for fall admission should submit their applications by the preceding January 1st and complete the dossier as soon as possible after that date.

Students who are seeking admission to the spring semester should submit their applications by the preceding October 1st and complete the dossier as soon as possible after that date.

Some departments have strict deadlines; others admit students year-round. Consult the WPI website for more details.

Funding is disbursed by the admissions committees in each of the academic departments. These decisions are made in tandem with the admissions decision, so there is no separate application for most assistantships, scholarships or fellowships. Some funding opportunities require a separate essay, such as the Global School's Dean's Scholarship. All supplemental funding essays should be submitted directly on the application. 

Prospective students must indicate that they want to be considered for funding when they apply for admission. The application should be complete on or before January 1st to ensure funding consideration for fall and October 1 for spring admission. Applications that are completed during the two weeks following January 1st will also receive the earliest consideration for funding for the fall term. 

With each passing month the availability of funds decreases, so applications should be completed, if possible, by the deadlines associated with each term. Funding at the master's level is rare.

Re-Application/Re-Admission to WPI

Readmission to Graduate Program of Study Students who leave a graduate master's program and do not return within five years and wish to return to that program must reapply through the Office of Graduate Admissions. All applications are subject to the admissions standards and requirements at the time of reapplication. It will be up to the academic department to determine if they wish to honor any previous credit or transfer credit earned prior to the leave of absence.  Each academic department has the responsibility, upon a student's readmission, of determining which previous courses if any, are applicable toward the degree. Be aware that the degree standards and requirements may have changed, and you will be bound to the new standards. All readmission decisions are made by the academic department and readmission is not guaranteed. Admission

The University in coordination with academic departments, programs, or sponsoring groups are responsible for making admissions decisions. These decisions are communicated by the Office of Graduate Admissions. Offers of admission are valid until the date indicated on the admission letter. 

Occasionally a department will recommend admission to a degree program that differs from the program specified in the student’s application. Most typically, a department will admit a Ph.D. applicant to a Master’s program. Students in such a position should contact the graduate coordinator in their program to find out what criteria they will have to meet to gain admission to the Ph.D. program in the future.

A current WPI graduate student who would like to complete a second graduate degree in another department must apply for admission to the second program. In general, standard application procedures are followed, but a copy of the first application and its supporting materials can sometimes be used as the basis for the second application. No application fee is required. Students who wish to change from one degree program to another must complete a second graduate application.

Under some circumstances, a student not yet admitted to a program may earn graduate credit towards the requirements for a graduate degree. Such students must keep in mind that permission to register does not constitute admission to a degree or certificate program, nor does it guarantee admission. It is also important to know that the number of credits that can be applied to the degree is limited. Students are thus encouraged to apply for admission to a program at the earliest possible date.

Applicants who would like to be con­sidered for more than one degree program must complete and submit a separate application form for each program.

Confirmation of Admission

Admission to a WPI graduate program is officially granted via a letter from the Office of Graduate Admissions. No other communication from the university (e.g., email from a department, discussion with a faculty member, etc.) confers admission to an applicant.

The official admission letter asks students to respond to their offer online on the Admitted Student Response Form. Communication with the department or program directly does not officially confirm the intention to attend, and may not initiate the necessary steps for enrollment.

A non-refundable deposit of $500, which will be credited to tuition and fees, is required of students in the graduate business, science, global school, and engineering programs who plan to attend. The deposit is waived for part-time and online students, as well as Research Assistants, Teaching Assistants, and Fulbright Scholars.

Deferred Enrollment

An admitted student who wishes to defer enrollment should do so via the Admitted Student Response Form. If the student has already submitted the Admitted Student Response Form, the student must make a request in writing to the Office of Graduate Admissions. Students typically receive a one-time deferral of six or twelve months. Deferrals will not be granted for more than one year from the original admitted entry term. Funded students generally can not defer their funding. WPI requires a $500 non-refundable deposit for all graduate business, science, global school and engineering student deferrals. This deposit will be credited to the student’s tuition upon arrival. 

Admissions Terms and Conditions

WPI's offer of admission and your subsequent matriculation at WPI is contingent upon the following terms and conditions. Matriculation for the purposes of these terms and conditions is defined as either the student’s arrival on campus or WPI’s first day of classes for the term/semester. WPI reserves the right to revoke your offer of admission any time prior to or after your matriculation at WPI if:

• You do not graduate or do not receive a diploma at the end of the academic year prior to enrollment at WPI from your undergraduate or graduate institution.
• You have misrepresented any part of your admission application, including but not limited to any behavioral or disciplinary issues and academic dishonesty.
• You experience a drop in grade performance during the remainder of the academic year prior to enrollment at WPI.
• Information that comes to the attention of WPI that is deemed unacceptable by WPI.

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How to Write the Worcester Polytechnic Institute Essay 2017-2018

Worcester Polytechnic Institute, located in Worcester, Massachusetts, has a long history of offering a distinctive “project-based” learning model. In order to apply to the school, you will need to demonstrate that you are a good fit for this unique educational curriculum. From WPI’s website:

Projects are at the core of the WPI curriculum, requiring students to apply the knowledge learned in classes and labs to real-world situations, developing solutions to problems that matter to real people. Project work helps students become better collaborators, critical thinkers, public speakers, and communicators — vital to success at WPI and the skills that distinguish WPI graduates throughout their careers.

Our signature project-based approach to undergraduate education, known as  the WPI plan , prepares students for success. These great young minds bring ingenious approaches to an astounding array of challenges — and the projects fundamentally change the students, building leaders who possess passion, proficiency, and a certainty that their life’s work can change the world.

What this means is that in order to make it into Worcester Polytechnic, you will need to do more than just articulate an interest in science and technology. The school admits about 48% of its applicants, 65% of whom are in the top 10% of their high school class, so admissions are somewhat competitive. In order to make the best case for admission you will need to explain why WPI’s project-based curriculum is right for you.

Worcester Polytechnic Application Essay Prompt

Required prompt, in what ways are you a good match for wpi’s distinctive educational and campus experience (500 words).

To answer this question effectively, you will need to address two interrelated issues: (1) What are the unique programs and opportunities at WPI that appeal to you ; and (2) what is it about your background that has prepared you to make the best use of those offerings?

In order to answer the first part of this question, you will need to do some digging on their website. You might mention WPI’s recently launched Global Projects for All Initiative , which is featured prominently on their homepage. Maybe you are excited to return to your grandfather’s hometown in Mexico and work on water quality issues in rural farming countries. And more than that, maybe you are particularly excited to be part of a student body where you can learn from others who will be engaging in a similarly global learning enterprise.

However, if you really want to get into Worcester Polytechnic Institute, your research should probably extend beyond those programs that are mentioned on the homepage. Maybe you hope to enter the distinctive major in Robotics Engineering because you want to create a machine that will help your grandmother manage her pill regime. Focusing on human-machine interfaces, you might be particularly concerned with making your pill-sorting-and-distributing robot that can be used even by those patients with severe arthritis.

Are there symposiums or events that WPI has held related to your particular interests? If so, highlight them in order to both signal your interest in attending future events on similar topics and prove that you really have looked deeply at the school’s offerings.

At the same time that you are demonstrating that you have studied what WPI has to offer, you will also need to say something about what you have done to prepare yourself for a project-based curriculum. After all, anyone can go onto a webpage and say that they have an interest in robotics or water-quality research. What is it about your background and your experiences that make you committed to “developing solutions to problems that matter to real people?”

As I’ve already suggested in the water quality and robotics examples above, maybe your passion for solving real-world problems comes from your direct experience of people suffering from those problems.

To give one more example, maybe your mother’s vision has become very poor, but she always loved art and going to museums. In order to make the museum experience more interactive and multi-modal, engaging her sense of touch instead of forcing her to rely on her vision, maybe you want to experiment with using 3-D printers to make the art on museum walls into something that people can touch. Often, you will be best equipped to study those problems that touch your life in some direct way.

If you do not have any directed research experience or “official” project-based learning activities, there is still a lot that you can write about for this part of your essay. The capacity to work well with others and solve problems as a team is probably more important (and more difficult to teach) than technical know-how. If you can point to those moments in your life when you have had to work with others to solve a difficult problem, then you will go a long way towards demonstrating that you will make a positive contribution to the WPI community.

Maybe you needed to get together with the other section leaders in your marching band and come up with a new fundraising plan after the truck that held all of your timpani and marimbas got into a car crash. Maybe you and your co-workers did not speak the same language, but you had to work together to figure out the best way of maneuvering a forklift through the warehouse where you worked. What did you learn about the difficulties and rewards of working as a team from these experiences? You might mention that Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s unique curriculum will challenge you by asking you to continue working with others to solve hard problems.

Best of luck on your essays and applications!

Check out our a list of all current essay prompts for all colleges and universities .

Want help with your college essays to improve your admissions chances? Sign up for your free CollegeVine account and get access to our essay guides and courses. You can also get your essay peer-reviewed and improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.

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Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

Wpi supplement essay

<p>Are they looking for anything specific or just straight up why?</p>

<p>I have not read the supplemental essay question, but since I already have a son in college, maybe I can help you out. </p>

<p>Usually a college wants to know why you are applying to their school. What is it about WPI specifically that made you want to apply and attend that school? Usually if you are specific in your answer, that means you know enough about the school and how you can fit in there and help to make a difference once you are there.</p>

<p>Hope that answers your question…</p>

Calculate for all schools

Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, wpi essay tips.

Hey guys, I'm working on my application for Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). I need to write an essay for it. Can anyone here give me some tips on writing a strong essay for WPI admissions? What do they look for in a candidate? Thanks in advance!

Hey, it's great that you're applying to Worcester Polytechnic Institute! You’re in luck, because CollegeVine has a blog post specifically breaking down their current supplemental essay prompt(s), which should give you a great sense of how to structure your response: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-worcester-polytechnic-institute-essays.

Remember that CollegeVine also offers both a free peer essay review service and paid reviews by expert college admissions advisors. Sometimes, getting a second set of eyes on your essay is just the thing you need to take it from good to great.

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

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‘I still imagine being there:’ A trip through memories of Ukrainian cities in tatters from Russia's war

Russia’s now-10-year war against Ukraine has affected every inch of the country, but no other region has taken the brunt of Russian aggression like Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, comprised of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.

While the initial eight years of Russia's invasion only affected a handful of eastern Ukrainian cities, towns, and villages, some 200 have now been heavily impacted by Russia’s full-scale invasion of 2022, according to Ukrainian authorities.

At least 35 settlements continue to experience active combat, while others have ceased to exist almost entirely, such as Volnovakha , Bakhmut , or Marinka in Donetsk Oblast.

“The town of Marinka no longer exists,” then-Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zalyzhnyi told a news conference in late December 2023.

Each damaged or destroyed town and city carries with it a human toll. Thousands have been killed and over a million have been displaced from the country’s eastern regions since 2014.

Between 2014 and 2021, Russia’s war killed 3,400 civilians and injured 9,000, according to the UN. The number of civilian casualties almost tripled when Russia unleashed its full-scale invasion, with 9,700 dead and 17,750 wounded.

Half of the casualties after 2022 were recorded in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.

Ukrainian authorities say, however, that the civilian casualties in occupied territories are impossible to count. Ukraine has said that in Mariupol alone, at least 11,000 civilians could have been killed during Russia’s months-long siege between February and May 2022.

It’s unclear if these places will ever be rebuilt. Even if they are, they changed forever.

The Kyiv Independent has compiled a series of photographs showcasing the stark contrast between what these places looked like before and after the full-scale invasion, alongside locals' memories of cities destroyed or on the brink of destruction.

Mariupol, Donetsk Oblast

When Kateryna Kovalchuk stole a book on Mariupol's old architecture from the school library, little did she know that 15 years later, it would serve as her sole connection to her hometown.

Russia’s months-long siege of Mariupol devastated the strategic port city before its forces seized control of it in May 2022. The UN estimates that at least 90% of the city’s residential buildings were damaged or destroyed by the onslaught.

Kovalchuk flips through the book to show the Kyiv Independent her favorite building, the House with Lions. The Art Nouveau mansion built at the turn of the 20th century was impossible to miss among the austere Soviet buildings around it.

She recalls taking walks before the full-scale invasion, saying that she liked to imagine what the city must have looked like 100 years ago.

“I still imagine being there,” Kovalchuk told the Kyiv Independent.

All of Mariupol’s main streets lead to a city garden overlooking the Azov Sea, a popular spot with locals.

From the garden, one also had a view of the gigantic Azovstal steel plant, the Ukrainian military’s last stronghold in Mariupol that is now synonymous with Ukraine’s defense of the city in the early days of the full-scale invasion.

Russia’s brutal siege of Mariupol, once home to 500,000 people, heavily damaged the Azovstal plant, Kovalchuk’s home, and the House with Lions.

Kovalchuk said she doesn't recognize the footage of the hometown she used to explore.

"What scares me the most is that (sometimes) I can't even recognize any landmarks," she said.

Andrii Kiurdzhiev also hung out at the observation deck in the city garden. He loved watching people calmly staring at the horizon during the eight years he lived in Mariupol.

Two years after fleeing, he is still attached to Mariupol’s seaside.

“I can’t imagine how it is possible to live in a city without the sea,” Kiurdzhiev told the Kyiv Independent.

Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast

Andrii Kiurdzhiev fled his native Avdiivka in June 2014 after Kremlin-backed proxies captured the town and a string of others in April 2014.

To escape the fighting around Avdiivka, he moved 100 kilometers south to the city of Mariupol, which had recently been liberated by Ukrainian forces in June 2014 after a month under Russian proxy control.

Ukraine managed to retake both places in the summer of 2014. But as of the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Russia has captured both cities, practically razing them to the ground in the process.

After months of intense battles, Ukrainian troops were forced to withdraw from Avdiivka in late February 2023 as it became increasingly clear that Russian forces were close to encircling them.

Once home to almost 30,000 people, the city has been flattened to something resembling a large plot of land scattered with the occasional carcass of a destroyed building.

The coke plant — central to the town’s life and the Ukrainian military’s last stronghold in the city — has been taken over by Russian troops.

Kiurdzhiev worked at the plant maintaining one of its turbines. After shifts, he said he would grab his guitar and ride his bicycle to a nearby quarry.

The apartment building where Kiurdzhiev used to live collapsed after it was struck in a Russian attack in October 2023. After seeing footage of the rubble that used to be his home, Kiurdzhiev said he just hoped his bicycle was still in the basement.

Remembering the town, he says it felt like a “dream suburban city compared to American standards, just without the white picket fences.”

After losing two homes to Russia’s 10-year war, Kiurdzhiev says he’s emotionally drained.

"I have no home, nothing. Now I need to survive and search for a new place to call home rather than lamenting the loss of the old one," Kiurdzhiev told the Kyiv Independent from Lviv, where he lives now.

Kurakhove, Donetsk Oblast

West of Avdiivka, daily Russian missile attacks constantly hit the small but strategic town of Kurakhove in Donetsk Oblast.

Before the war, the predominantly industrial Kurakhove, located on the banks of a large water reservoir, had little to offer its residents. Iryna Ivanchenko and her friends spent most of their time outdoors in nature.

She says they used to go to the bank opposite their homes and walk through the bushes to a hilltop. They’d watch the sunset and stare up at the sky full of stars for hours, she remembers.

Today, civilians can't reach this high ground as it's considered militarily strategic.

"Many places related to my childhood have been destroyed, including the House of Culture where I used to dance, my kindergarten, and school," Ivanchenko told the Kyiv Independent.

“I'm afraid of losing my home and never being able to return because the Russians are razing cities in Donbas to the ground,” she said.

Ivanchenko said that after her classroom survived a Russian attack, she held onto some hope that the school could be rebuilt.

But the last time she was in Kurakhove to visit her parents who have remained in July 2023, the classroom hadn't made it through another Russian attack.

“I don’t have any place now where I could bring my future children and say, your mom spent time here or studied here,” she said.

Niu-York, Donetsk Oblast

A similar strategically important hilltop is located some 50 kilometers east of Kurakhovke in the town of Niu-York, Donetsk Oblast.

The high point offers a 360-degree view of an area that has been a war theater for the last 10 years.

The Russian-occupied city of Horlivka and the road connecting it with Toretsk are visible to the naked eye six kilometers east down the hill. Other occupied or destroyed settlements are also in sight.

The hilltop was an unofficial landfill before a group of young people got together to clean it up in May 2021, said Khrystyna Shevchenko, a local who led the NGO Youth Initiative of Ukrainian Niu-York.

“Coming here to the hilltop, young people understand (the real) a dream of liberating Horlivka as well as a free and independent Ukraine,” Shevchenko told the Kyiv Independent.

The group also worked on efforts to rename the city from its Soviet name Novhorodske to its original name, Niu-York.

German settlers in the 19th century had given the area the name Niu-York after the American city. The Soviets renamed it to sound Russian. Its original name was officially reinstated in July 2021.

The war had been near for years, but this didn’t get in the way of local teenagers from using the hill as a place to party. It was a must-see spot for visitors.

Half of the city’s pre-war population of 24,000 had already fled by the time Russia expanded its invasion in February 2022. The city is now mostly abandoned, Shevchenko said.

The NGO’s 22 members had their meetings at the local Palace of Culture, a sort of community center popular in Soviet times that are still used across Ukraine for a variety of functions and gatherings.

The building now stands in rubble like many other buildings around.

Shevchenko said the stage inside and the arch above it survived, hoping it also could be rebuilt.

"We dream of being able to reconstruct a place where all the local children can come and be together," she said.

Sievierodonetsk, Luhansk Oblast

Before the war, it was a two-hour ride from Niu-York to Sievierodonetsk in Luhansk Oblast. The road goes through the now-destroyed Bakhmut , Soledar , and Klishchiivka along with dozens of other devastated villages.

The industrial city of Sievierodonetsk had served as the regional capital since the 2014 Russian occupation of Luhansk, the region’s official capital. It was attacked on the first day of the full-scale invasion in Feb. 24, 2022.

The day before the start of the full-scale war, Yevhen, who refused to provide his last name for security reasons, took the last pictures of his favorite lake where a decade earlier he had taken his first-ever photograph.

He took his usual route through leafy streets and by the chemical plant in the industrial zone where he would stop for a coffee.

Yevhen said he returned home without any feelings of anxiety that something might happen.

His intuition failed him. Yevhen awoke around 8 a.m. on Feb. 24, 2022 to his mom calling to tell him that Russia invaded Ukraine . Following the call, two loud explosions shook his nine-story apartment building.

“I panicked so hard as I hadn’t heard explosions for eight years. I thought the building would collapse,” Yevhen told the Kyiv Independent.

The explosions were occurring closer to his home every day. The final warning call that it was time to leave was on March 5, 2022 when a barrage of artillery hit his neighborhood. Three days later, his cat, Tymosha, probably saved Yevhen’s life.

Minutes before their apartment was hit, Tymosha’s meows woke up Yevhen. They took shelter and survived an attack that ruined their apartment. After living in a basement for a month, Yevhen fled the area with his mom and Tymosha.

The Battle of Sievierodonetsk quickly turned into fierce urban warfare . Russian forces devastated the city with artillery and guided bombs before it fell under their control in June 2022.

“I watched a video of my apartment building burning. Watching (footage of Sievierodonetsk) I realized that I walked those streets. Now they're gone,” he said barely above a whisper.

Rubizhne, Luhansk Oblast

In neighboring Rubizhne, Oleksiy Artiukh used to start his mornings with breakfast, football programs on TV, and occasionally gazing out the window at the playground below.

He had purchased his apartment a year before the full-scale invasion, planning a future in the developing city surrounded by forests, lakes, and the winding Siverskyi Donets River.

When Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed Russians shortly before the start of the full-scale invasion recognizing the parts of Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts occupied since 2014 as “independent states,” Artiukh knew it was time to leave.

"On Feb. 23, 2022, I came to my parents for the last time to bid farewell," Artiukh told the Kyiv Independent.

It was also the last he saw of his now-late grandmother, with whom he spent a lot of time growing up.

A week after he left, Russian troops launched an assault on Rubizhne and urban warfare ensued. The street outside of his old office had turned into a front line.

Those who remained were left with the grim task of burying their loved ones, killed during the urban warfare and shelling, in makeshift graves right in front of their apartment buildings.

One day, scrolling through Instagram, Artiukh stumbled upon a photo of a playground where his windows once overlooked. The image depicted four makeshift crosses protruding from the ground, accompanied by the caption, "My house is no longer a playground."

"At the moment, there were makeshift graveyards of both adults and children in nearly every yard," Artiukh said.

In mid-May 2022, Russian troops occupied the heavily damaged city following more than two months of intense street fighting.

"Now, only remnants remain of the city. The shops and cafes are gone, destroyed by fire and looting, but the store signs are still hanging," said Artiukh.

Popasna, Luhansk Oblast

Yuliia Kanzeba spent her childhood playing piano and drums at the music school near her home in downtown Popasna, a town in Luhansk Oblast with a pre-war population of 20,000 residents.

“I lived at the music school,” Kanzeba told the Kyiv Independent as she spoke with enthusiasm about classical and rock music.

Russia's war has silenced Popasna’s children from playing music. The shelling sounds orchestrated by the Wagner Orchestra, the self-proclaimed nickname of the notorious mercenary outfit Wagner Group, took over.

The Kremlin-backed Wagner Group reduced every settlement to rubble as they advanced toward Popasna .

Two months into the Battle of Popasna, the governor reported grim news: No building had survived the onslaught.

The music school was damaged, and part of Kanzeba's five-story residential building crumbled in a Russian air strike.

"My part of the building is still standing. The invincible part," she said.

Kanzeba remembers the memories of her last visit to her family home two weeks before the invasion. Now, she scours Russian propaganda videos, searching for glimpses of her home.

Such footage is rare since the Russian occupying forces are stationed in her building. The idea of it pains her.

When Wagner seized control of the ravaged town in May 2022, Moscow declared it would not rebuild Popasna.

Despite the bleak outlook, Kanzeba wants to return. She said she will go immediately when Popasna is liberated.

She knows it will be difficult to witness her home, located on Peace Street. "There may be no peace in the city (now), but the street is still there," Kanzeba said.

Russia’s war has destroyed 64 settlements in Luhansk Oblast, equivalent to one-tenth of the region.

“The list shouldn’t be considered final and exhaustive until complete liberation,” Roman Mamedov, regional administration spokesperson, told the Kyiv Independent.

Read also: Alone: Photo project shows wives of fallen soldiers coping with loss, shattered dreams

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Notable Places in the Area

Locales in the Area

Ozerianivka, shyroka balka.

• Type: City with 290,000 residents
• Description: city in Horlivka Raion, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine
• Categories: city of regional significance of Ukraine , urban-type settlement , city ​​in Ukraine and locality
• Location: Horlivka Raion , Donetsk Oblast , Eastern Ukraine , Ukraine , Eastern Europe , Europe
• View on Open­Street­Map

Horlivka Satellite Map

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