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Western University

Western admits mostly on grades through OUAC, but key programs like Ivey AEO need real essays. Here is how to write them.

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Application route

OUAC (105 form for international/US)

Essay for most programs

None; grades-based admission

Supplementary writing

Ivey AEO, Scholar's Electives, Nursing

Ivey AEO writing

Two 500-word essays + Kira video

What Western rewards

Western University is not a Common App school, and for most programs it does not ask for an essay at all. You apply through the OUAC (Ontario Universities' Application Centre), Ontario's central portal. If you are American or otherwise international, you use the 105 form; Ontario high school students use the 101. For the vast majority of Western programs, admission is decided on your grades, with SAT and ACT scores optional for Fall 2026. There is no personal statement field that every applicant fills in, and no place to tell your life story the way the US Common App invites.

The catch is that the programs Americans most want are the ones that do require writing. Ivey AEO (the direct path into the Ivey Business School) asks for two 500-word activity essays plus a timed Kira video interview. Scholar's Electives wants a short research-interest essay. Nursing and Music have their own supplementary forms. So the real challenge is not writing a big essay. It is recognizing which of your programs has a supplementary application, hitting its separate deadline, and writing tight, evidence-based answers that read nothing like a US personal essay.

01Grades first, almost always. For most Western programs there is no essay to rescue a weak transcript. The entering average sits near 90.6 percent. Your courses and marks do the talking, so treat the application form itself as the main event and the writing, where it exists, as a tie-breaker that matters only in selective programs.

02Evidence over adjectives. Where Western does read writing, above all Ivey AEO, it rewards specific, verifiable activities described with what you actually did and what changed because of it. Saying you are a leader counts for nothing. Showing that you ran a 40-person fundraiser and what you learned when it nearly fell apart counts for everything.

03Reflection and self-awareness. Ivey's essays and Kira video are screening for business-minded judgment and honest self-knowledge, not a highlight reel. The strongest answers admit a mistake, name the trade-off, and explain the thinking. Western wants applicants who can reason out loud, not applicants who only describe wins.

04Fit with the specific program. Scholar's Electives wants named research topics. Ivey wants a clear reason you chose Ivey rather than business in general. Generic ambition reads as a copy-paste. Tie every answer to the named program so it could not have been submitted anywhere else.

Essay prompts for 2026-2027

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

Ivey AEO activity essayTwo essays, maximum 500 words each

Describe two of your most meaningful activities in essay format (maximum 500 words each), showing leadership, teamwork, initiative, achievement, commitment, integrity, resilience, or breadth of involvement.

Scholar's Electives essay175-200 words

Why are you interested in The Scholar's Electives Program? Also list two to three specific research topics that you might like to explore with your Faculty Mentor in the second year research course. (175-200 words)

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 Western and build a balanced list.

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Deadlines

OUAC application (equal consideration)Mid-January

Ivey AEO supplementaryJanuary 15

Scholar's Electives essayFebruary 14

Nursing supplementaryFebruary 15

105 (international/US) applicationBy March 1 for full consideration

Cost

Sticker price$43,500

Avg net after aid$43,000

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How to get inAcceptance rate, the GPA and SAT profile, and what Western weighs most Supplemental essays2 prompts, each broken down with annotated examples Cost & financial aidAverage $43,000/yr after aid · net price by income + calculator InterviewDoes Western interview? Format, tips, and practice The Western Reader ProScore your draft against Western's exact prompts

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Western FAQ

What is Western's acceptance rate?

Admission to most Western programs is based on your grades, not on an essay. The competitive writing lives in a handful of supplementary applications, above all Ivey AEO, where two 500-word essays and a timed video interview carry real weight against an acceptance rate near 8 percent. At Western, a strong application essay and a well-balanced school list matter alongside your grades and test scores.

What supplemental essays does Western require?

Western 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 Western cost?

Western's published sticker price is about $43,500 per year, but the average family pays $43,000 after financial aid. Your net price depends on your family income; use the calculator to estimate yours.

When are Western's application deadlines?

Western's application deadlines are OUAC application (equal consideration) Mid-January; Ivey AEO supplementary January 15; Scholar's Electives essay February 14; Nursing supplementary February 15; 105 (international/US) application By March 1 for full consideration. Add Western to your plan on EssayLens to track its deadlines automatically.

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