What should I focus on in the Pitt Honors College essay?

The Pitt Honors College essay is a great chance to really set yourself apart—much more so than the regular Pitt application, where essays are optional. Admitted students and admissions officers generally agree that the Honors College puts significant weight on this essay, since they’re looking for students who show depth of thought, curiosity, and a willingness to wrestle with complex questions.

Each year, Pitt Honors asks a prompt that’s a bit out of the box—for example, previous questions have asked about moral dilemmas, how you'd innovate in your field, or how you respond to ambiguity. They WANT to see your critical thinking and unique perspective. It’s definitely okay (and encouraged) to be a little creative here—as long as your creativity is authentic and doesn’t come at the expense of clarity or answering the question directly. Honors essays that try to be random or overly abstract can come across as trying too hard, but a well-structured, thoughtful essay with some personality really shines.

That means it’s a good idea to tie in personal experiences, especially if they lead you to ask big questions or take a new approach to a problem. Your volunteering at a hospital could be an awesome foundation, especially if you highlight a specific moment or challenge that led you to consider an unusual perspective.

For example, if the prompt is about navigating ethical dilemmas, you could describe a time you witnessed or faced a tricky situation in the hospital where the right answer wasn’t obvious. Then, focus on the questions you asked yourself, how you reasoned through it, and what you learned about uncertainty or empathy. Use vivid details but avoid just summarizing your résumé—the essay isn’t about what you did, but what you thought, felt, and how you grew.

Overall, aim for a blend: personal/anecdotal to hook the reader and make your answer unique, then a thoughtful dive into your reasoning or values. Show don’t just tell: make them see how your mind works. And always, always answer the prompt directly—getting too creative and missing the question can hurt your application.

As for risk-taking: if you have a voice or structure that’s genuinely you (maybe a reflection, an unexpected analogy, or a thought experiment), go for it, but keep your answer organized and meaningful. Pitt Honors readers want to know what you care about and how you wrestle with complexity. That’s more memorable than playing it too safe—or trying to sound like someone you’re not.

Good luck! If you want to brainstorm, starting by breaking down the prompt and answering: What’s the core of their question? What experience of mine lets me explore this thoughtfully? How did I think and feel, and what did I learn?