Willamette University is a school in Salem, Oregon with both a high admission rate and a high barrier of entry. This can be a bit misleading, so before we get to our featured successful Willamette University sample essays, we’d like to discuss the admissions landscape.

Willamette University Admissions Profile.

1. Average GPA: 3.82
2. Average SAT: 1230/1600
3. Admission Rate: 78%

So, what exactly does this mean for the average applicant? This means that most people who apply get accepted. However, is also means that, statistically speaking, the average applicant already had an average GPA of 3.82 and and SAT score of 1230/1600. In other words, you still need a good set of scores to get accepted, as most accepted applicants of the 78% had that score to begin with.

With that said, lets get right into the successful Willamette University sample essays.

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.

Asian culture has fascinated me ever since I first ate at the Lucky Dragon when I was five years old. The food made my mouth water and the foreign characters were like a puzzle waiting to be solved. In fifth grade, I taught English to the children of the owner of the Lucky Dragon in exchange for Mandarin lessons. Three years later, I began taking Mandarin at my new school. Sophomore year, I participated in the Chinese Bridge Summer Camp for American High School Students as a student leader. I studied Mandarin and Chinese culture in Beijing and at the Hunan University in Changsha, China for three weeks. I was chosen for being the top female student in my class. My interest in Asian culture does not stop in China, however; I also took a Conversational Japanese course in the Academic Talent search my freshman year, and I would love to study abroad in Japan during college. I am interested in continuing my studies in Mandarin and Japanese in college, as well as partake in East Asian studies and possibly International affairs or security.

The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

I take Taekwondo very seriously. I have a lot of respect for martial arts and for my teachers, so naturally, failing either would be a huge blow to my conscience. I remember bombing a Taekwondo tournament that I had been training months for. First I forgot my form halfway through, then I lost almost immediately in the first sparring round. I was miserable. I held myself to a very high standard, and I felt that my Taekwondo master had very high expectations of me. I believed that by losing so horribly, I had failed both my master and myself. My instructor was actually a very laid back person, and even though he insisted that it was fine that I had lost, I felt even worse. Because I represented his school and respected him so much, I had wanted to make him proud.

As I continued to beat myself up about my failure, though, I realized something: I was overstressed. It was my first year of high school, and I was feeling extremely overwhelmed by the workload and the large, unfamiliar student population. I am usually a calm, good- humored individual, but the stress and anxiety from school still managed to creep up on me. I didn’t even notice until I lost that tournament. As soon as I noticed, however, I immediately came to a decision. I needed to calm down and get back to my basics. For me, that meant taking a step back, breathing, thinking objectively, and using my humor to manage my stress. Ever since that time, I have been a lot better at coping with stressful situations. Social interactions and exams have gotten a lot easier for me, and I haven’t failed a tournament since.

Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.

I have been told that my participation as a student leader during the Chinese Bridge Summer Camp was what facilitated my social skills development. Before that trip, I was always a shy, quiet student who was reluctant to go outside of my comfort zone and get involved with others. My three week trip to China was the longest time I have ever been separated from my family, which meant that I had to think for myself. I was also exposed to a different culture with people who spoke a language that I had a very difficult time understanding, as I had only studied the language for two years. For most of the trip, whenever we got back to our hotel, I stayed in my room. It wasn’t until the last few days of the trip that I, realizing that I would soon no longer be living with my friends day in and day out, finally came out of my shell and began to participate in games and activities, even going so far as to try karaoke for the first time. I am now known at my high school for being an open, friendly individual. For this reason, and because I am not afraid to have my Chinese corrected, my Mandarin teacher always introduces me to new Chinese exchange students so that I can welcome them to our school. In my senior year, I became the Secretary of my school’s Dragon Dance club- a position that I would never have considered before. I am in charge of communication and organizing club meetings; I hope that being a club officer will enhance my leadership and organizational skills so that I can participate in my college community and more clubs.

Have any burning questions about our four successful Willamette University sample essays? Need extra help in perfecting your application? Consider talking with our professionals to help edit your essays and maximize your admissions chances.