Bentley University

Essay prompts (4)

4 optional

1. communityOptional for all first-year applicants2026-27250 words
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   Optional for all first-year applicants. Bentley states the supplemental questions appear in the BentleyConnect portal after the application has been submitted, and that applicants may respond to one, two or three of the written questions, submit the optional video essay, or complete any combination of these options, no later than one week after the application deadline.

   Bentley's core values are Caring, Collaboration, Diversity, Honesty, Impact, Learning, and Respect. Select one or two of these core values and share how you currently embody them in your life. How will you continue to develop these values at Bentley?

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2. identityOptional for all first-year applicants2026-27250 words
   Source details

   Optional for all first-year applicants. Bentley states the supplemental questions appear in the BentleyConnect portal after the application has been submitted, and that applicants may respond to one, two or three of the written questions, submit the optional video essay, or complete any combination of these options, no later than one week after the application deadline.

   Our students bring to campus a variety of experiences, cultures, and intersecting identities including race and ethnicity –aspects that are important to a rich educational experience and our success in college and beyond. You may use this section to discuss how race and ethnicity affected your life, be it through discrimination, inspiration or otherwise.

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3. otherOptional for all first-year applicants2026-27250 words
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   Optional for all first-year applicants. Bentley states the supplemental questions appear in the BentleyConnect portal after the application has been submitted, and that applicants may respond to one, two or three of the written questions, submit the optional video essay, or complete any combination of these options, no later than one week after the application deadline.

   You wake up tomorrow morning and it's the first day of high school. What would you do differently over the next few years?

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4. why usOptional video essay for all first-year…2026-27
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   Optional video essay for all first-year applicants, offered alongside the three written supplemental questions in the BentleyConnect portal after the application has been submitted. It may be submitted on its own or in combination with any of the written questions, no later than one week after the application deadline. Bentley states no length limit for the video.

   After learning about Bentley, what influenced your decision to apply?

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The school's published AI policy

No published AI policy for applicants as of Aug 27, 2026.

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When you request a review for a Bentley University supplement, the feedback is grounded in exactly what you see here: the prompt itself, its word limit, and what the school publishes about its values and programs. That's the whole claim — calibrated to the prompt and the school's own published guidance, scored against a consistent rubric. Not insider knowledge, and never a rewrite: Second Read is a coach, not a ghostwriter. It flags weaknesses and tells you what to fix and why; it never writes a sentence of your essay.

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Prompts move mid-season

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