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USF

University of San Francisco

USF skips a general supplement, so your Common App personal statement (and the nursing short answer) carries everything.

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Required essays

1 (personal statement)

Personal statement

650 words

Nursing short answer

50-200 words

General supplement

None

What USF rewards

Here is the good news and the catch in one breath: USF does not require a general supplemental essay for first-year applicants. For almost everyone, the only writing that matters is your Common App personal statement, a 650-word essay that you are already sending to every other school. USF is also test-optional, so scores are voluntary and superscored if you send them.

The catch is that with no "Why USF" prompt to show your fit, your personal statement has to carry the whole emotional and intellectual load by itself. There is one exception: applicants to the School of Nursing and Health Professions must answer a short 50 to 200 word question about their responsibility to others as a Jesuit-educated nurse. That essay is mandatory for nursing hopefuls and must read differently from your personal statement.

01A real person on the page. USF is a Jesuit university built around educating the whole person, not a transcript. The essay that lands is the one where a reader can picture you at a dinner table, in a kitchen, on a bus. Specifics over summary, every time.
02Service that is lived, not claimed. USF's whole identity points at people who care about others and act on it. They reward applicants who show care through a concrete action or relationship, not applicants who announce that they are passionate about helping people.
03Reflection over resume. Because there is no fit prompt, USF leans on the personal statement to see how you think. They reward writing that pauses to make meaning out of an experience instead of just narrating that the experience happened.
04Honest voice. USF's San Francisco character prizes authenticity. An essay that sounds like a relaxed, specific teenager beats one that sounds like a press release. They notice when you stop performing and just tell the truth.

Essay prompts for 2026-2027

2 prompts for USF, 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.

Nursing School Short Answer50-200 words

What will be your responsibility to others as a Jesuit-educated, BSN professional registered nurse?

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 USF and build a balanced list.

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Deadlines

Early Action / Early Decision INovember 1
Early Decision II / Regular DecisionJanuary 15
Spring termNovember 1

Cost

Sticker price$74,500
Avg net after aid$44,104
Meets full needPartial
Read my essay for USF
Explore USF
How to get inAcceptance rate, the GPA and SAT profile, and what USF weighs most Supplemental essays2 prompts, each broken down with annotated examples Cost & financial aidAverage $44,104/yr after aid · net price by income + calculator InterviewDoes USF interview? Format, tips, and practice The USF Reader ProScore your draft against USF's exact prompts
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USF FAQ

What is USF's acceptance rate?

USF admits a little over 60% of applicants, which makes it a school where strong students have a real shot but should not coast. With a general supplement gone, your Common App personal statement does almost all the talking, so a flat or generic essay is the single easiest way to slide from "likely" to "maybe.". At USF, a strong application essay and a well-balanced school list matter alongside your grades and test scores.

What supplemental essays does USF require?

USF 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 USF cost?

USF's published sticker price is about $74,500 per year, but the average family pays $44,104 after financial aid. Your net price depends on your family income; use the calculator to estimate yours.

Does USF require SAT or ACT scores?

USF 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 USF's application deadlines?

USF's application deadlines are Early Action / Early Decision I November 1; Early Decision II / Regular Decision January 15; Spring term November 1. Add USF to your plan on EssayLens to track its deadlines automatically.

Campus photo via Wikipedia.

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