How do you approach the Haverford College supplemental essays?

Great question! Haverford’s supplemental essays, especially those about the Honor Code and community, do expect something beyond just restating what you’ve read on their website. The key is to anchor your response in *your* own lived experiences and values, not just a generic explanation of integrity.

For the Honor Code prompt, start by thinking about an actual time you faced a moral or ethical decision. It doesn’t need to be dramatic—a small but meaningful situation works well. For instance, maybe you called out a classmate who plagiarized, or perhaps you realized a group project was unfairly dividing work. Focus on your thought process: What instincts or values kept you honest? Was speaking up difficult? How did you handle it, and what did you learn?

Here’s a sample approach: let’s say you ran a school club, and a friend asked you to bend the rules on club funding for a personal project. Instead of just saying you value integrity, walk the reader through your dilemma—maybe you wanted to help your friend but ultimately decided to stick to the guidelines. Reflect on what made the choice hard, how you communicated your reasoning, and the personal growth you took away from the experience. Tie this back to how you’d want to interact in a community like Haverford’s, where trust and honesty really matter.

For the community prompt, try zooming in on a specific community where you felt a sense of belonging or responsibility, rather than talking abstractly about being a good citizen. This could be your robotics team, a family tradition, or even a neighborhood event. Describe the culture and your role, and use a memorable moment as the core of your essay—maybe the first time you mediated a conflict or helped include someone who felt left out.

One tip: after you write a draft, read it aloud. If it sounds like anyone could have written it, bring in more unique details or emotions. The best Haverford essays are reflective and nuanced, showing how you make choices that align with the school’s values, not just that you admire them.

And remember, specificity is your friend. If you talk about how you personally found the courage to address a difficult situation—or struggled to—you automatically stand out. Good luck! Let your authentic self come through, and you’ll be on the right track.