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Prompt database · 2026-27 cycle

University of Rochester

Verified — cross-checked against official sourcesLast verified August 15, 2026

Deadlines

source
Early DecisionNovember 1, 2026
Early Decision IIJanuary 5, 2027
Regular DecisionJanuary 5, 2027

Essay prompts (1)

  1. why usAll applicants (required)2026-27250 words
    The University of Rochester is a place where curiosity and creativity meet. How will you combine our academic flexibility and co-curricular opportunities to create an experience that reflects your interests and ambitions?

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The school's published AI policy

While artificial intelligence tools may be helpful in generating essay topic ideas, and in editing or refining students' writing, the University of Rochester discourages the use of AI to compose application essays or short answer responses. The effect often stifles an applicant's authentic voice – a key element of what we hope to hear within their personal statement.

the school’s published policyChecked Sep 8, 2026

Our reading

Rochester names AI tools as potentially helpful for generating essay topic ideas and for editing or refining a student's writing, and discourages (not prohibits) using AI to compose the essays or short answers themselves.

How reviews use this page

When you request a review for a University of Rochester 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.

Something wrong on this page?

A wrong deadline is worse than no deadline. If anything here doesn't match the school's official page, tell us — same-day fix is the goal.

Prompts move mid-season

Every Friday: what changed in this week’s prompts. Nothing else. See what changed.