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Richmond

University of Richmond

One choose-your-own supplemental essay (350 to 650 words) where Richmond watches how you think, not just what you did.

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Supplemental essays

1 required

Format

Choose 1 of 3 prompts

Word range

350-650 words

Testing

Test-optional

What Richmond rewards

University of Richmond keeps its writing ask refreshingly simple: one supplemental essay, and you get to choose one of three prompts. The response runs 350 to 650 words, which is roomy enough to tell a real story rather than a soundbite. There is no separate "Why Richmond" essay, so this single piece carries the full weight of showing the admissions committee how your mind moves.

Richmond is test-optional for first-year applicants entering in fall 2026, and only about a third of admitted students submitted scores, which means your writing does even more of the talking. The three prompts (a social-change pitch, an unexpected-learning story, and a community-contribution question) all reward the same thing: specific, honest thinking over polished posturing. The challenge is picking the prompt where your truest material lives, then resisting the urge to write the version you think they want to read.

01Intellectual curiosity you can see in motion. Richmond is a small liberal-arts-minded research university, and it prizes students who chase questions for their own sake. The strongest essays show a mind actually working through something, changing, doubling back, noticing. Process beats conclusion.
02Thoughtful engagement with community. Two of the three prompts are about how you affect people around you, locally or globally. Richmond wants citizens, not just résumés. Show that you pay attention to others and act, even in small, unglamorous ways.
03Specificity over scale. You do not need to have cured anything or led a national movement. Richmond consistently rewards the applicant who renders one real moment vividly over the one who gestures at world-sized impact. Concrete detail signals honesty.
04Reflection that earns its insight. A Richmond essay should end somewhere you did not start. The committee is reading for self-awareness: can you sit with what an experience taught you and say something non-obvious about it? Earned reflection is the whole game here.

Essay prompts for 2026-2027

1 prompt for Richmond, each broken down with annotated examples.

Choose one of three (350-650 words)350-650 words

Please respond to one of the following prompts in 350-650 words. 1) You have a platform to create change. What is an action or policy you might propose to address an issue of social injustice in your school or local community, or on a national or global scale? 2) Tell us about a time you learned something unexpected. What did you learn, and what happened next? 3) Richmond welcomes students from various backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences. What is at least one way you will contribute to our community that is not already mentioned in your application?

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Deadlines

Early Decision INov 1
Early ActionNov 1
Early Decision IIJan 1
Regular DecisionJan 1

Cost

Sticker price$84,930
Avg net after aid$26,859
Meets full needYes
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How to get inAcceptance rate, the GPA and SAT profile, and what Richmond weighs most Supplemental essays1 prompt, each broken down with annotated examples Cost & financial aidAverage $26,859/yr after aid · net price by income + calculator InterviewDoes Richmond interview? Format, tips, and practice The Richmond Reader ProScore your draft against Richmond's exact prompts
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Richmond FAQ

What is Richmond's acceptance rate?

Richmond admits roughly 22% of applicants overall, with the binding Early Decision rounds running notably higher (around 33% for the Class of 2028). The university is test-optional for first-year students entering in fall 2026, and only about a third of admitted students chose to submit SAT or ACT scores. Admitted students cluster at the top of their class: the middle 50% carried roughly a 3.82 to 4.00 unweighted core GPA, with submitted SATs around 1450-1520 and ACTs around 33-35. At Richmond, a strong application essay and a well-balanced school list matter alongside your grades and test scores.

What supplemental essays does Richmond require?

Richmond requires 1 supplemental essay on its application. On EssayLens each prompt is broken down with annotated examples, and you can get a free admissions-style read of your draft against the exact prompt.

How much does Richmond cost?

Richmond's published sticker price is about $84,930 per year, but the average family pays $26,859 after financial aid. Your net price depends on your family income; use the calculator to estimate yours.

Does Richmond require SAT or ACT scores?

Richmond is test-optional: you can apply without SAT or ACT scores, and strong scores are just one factor among many when you do submit them.

When are Richmond's application deadlines?

Richmond's application deadlines are Early Decision I Nov 1; Early Action Nov 1; Early Decision II Jan 1; Regular Decision Jan 1. Add Richmond to your plan on EssayLens to track its deadlines automatically.

Campus photo via Wikipedia.

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