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Saint Louis University

SLU has no required supplemental essay, so your Common App personal statement carries the whole application.

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Required supplemental essays

0

Main essay

Common App / SLU personal statement

Personal statement limit

650 words

Optional Honors essay

500 words

What SLU rewards

Here is the good news and the catch in one breath: Saint Louis University requires no school-specific supplemental essay for first-year applicants. You submit one essay, the Common App or SLU personal statement (650 words), and that is the whole written portion. SLU is test-optional, charges no application fee, and admits roughly 75% of applicants while still reading every file holistically.

The catch is that with no "Why SLU?" prompt to lean on, your single essay has to do everything: show character, show voice, and quietly signal that you would thrive on a Jesuit campus built around service and reflection. There is also an optional University Honors Program essay (500 words) for students who opt in, with a December 1 deadline. This guide coaches the one required essay hard, then hands you the Honors prompt as a bonus.

01Reflection over resume. As a Jesuit university, SLU rewards essays that show you can think about your own experience, not just list it. An applicant who can name what an experience taught them, and where they are still unsure, reads as a strong fit. The personal statement is your one shot to do that thinking on the page.
02Service and people, made concrete. SLU's identity centers on service to others. You do not need to write a mission trip essay. But an essay that shows you actually notice and care about specific people, a neighbor, a teammate, a kid you tutor, lands better here than one that is purely about personal achievement.
03A real, unpolished voice. With no supplement to spread you thin, SLU gets one long look at how you sound. Essays that sound like a 17-year-old human, with specific detail and a little humor, beat essays that sound like a press release. Authenticity is the whole game when there is only one essay.
04Quiet evidence of follow-through. SLU's holistic read looks for students who finish what they start. An essay that shows sustained effort over time, a project you kept returning to, a skill you slowly built, signals the kind of persistence that survives freshman year.

Essay prompts for 2026-2027

2 prompts for SLU, each broken down with annotated examples.

Common App Personal Statement650 words

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. (You may also choose from the seven Common Application prompts, including: 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.)

University Honors Program Essay (optional)500 words

Although I am _____, I am not _____.

See all 2 prompts and get a read

Your chance

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Add your GPA, test scores, and profile to estimate your odds at SLU and build a balanced list.

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Deadlines

Early Decision INov 3 (binding)
Early ActionDec 1 (non-binding)
Early Decision IIJan 16 (binding)
Regular DecisionApr 1 preferred, rolling after
Honors ProgramDec 1 (optional essay)
Nursing / OT / PT / Flight ScienceDec 1

Cost

Sticker price$77,110
Avg net after aid$28,500
Meets full needPartial
Read my essay for SLU
Explore SLU
How to get inAcceptance rate, the GPA and SAT profile, and what SLU weighs most Supplemental essays2 prompts, each broken down with annotated examples Cost & financial aidAverage $28,500/yr after aid · net price by income + calculator InterviewDoes SLU interview? Format, tips, and practice The SLU Reader ProScore your draft against SLU's exact prompts
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SLU FAQ

What is SLU's acceptance rate?

Saint Louis University admits roughly three out of four applicants and reads holistically: GPA, course rigor, activities, the essay, and optional test scores. Because there is no school-specific supplement, the personal statement is the only place admissions hears your actual voice, so it carries more weight here than a word count alone would suggest. At SLU, a strong application essay and a well-balanced school list matter alongside your grades and test scores.

What supplemental essays does SLU require?

SLU requires 2 supplemental essays 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 SLU cost?

SLU's published sticker price is about $77,110 per year, but the average family pays $28,500 after financial aid. Your net price depends on your family income; use the calculator to estimate yours.

Does SLU require SAT or ACT scores?

SLU 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 SLU's application deadlines?

SLU's application deadlines are Early Decision I Nov 3 (binding); Early Action Dec 1 (non-binding); Early Decision II Jan 16 (binding); Regular Decision Apr 1 preferred, rolling after; Honors Program Dec 1 (optional essay); Nursing / OT / PT / Flight Science Dec 1. Add SLU to your plan on EssayLens to track its deadlines automatically.

Campus photo via Wikipedia.

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