Claremont McKenna College essay prompts
2025-26verified Claremont McKenna College admissions
These are the most recent published prompts. Final 2026-27 supplements typically land by early August. These are the most recent prompts Kolly has verified for this school. Schools typically publish final 2026-27 supplements by early August; check the official source below before submitting.
Open Academy / Viewpoint Diversity
A critical part of fulfilling our mission is living out the commitments of CMC's Open Academy: Freedom of Expression, Viewpoint Diversity, and Constructive Dialogue. We want to learn more about your commitment to listening and learning from others with different viewpoints, perspectives, and life experiences from your own. Describe a time when engaging with someone about a specific topic resulted in you changing your attitude, belief, or behavior, or you changed the belief or behavior of someone else.
No limit listed · Required
Athenaeum Speaker (Choose One)
The Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum is the heart of intellectual and social engagement at Claremont McKenna College, bringing students, faculty, and staff closer together through active discussion on a daily basis. If you could invite someone to speak at the Athenaeum, who would they be, what questions would you ask them, or what topic would you want to discuss with them at the Athenaeum?
No limit listed · Required
Responsible Leadership (Choose One)
An important part of Claremont McKenna College's mission is preparing students for responsible leadership. How do you define 'responsible leadership,' and how have you demonstrated responsible leadership in your family, community, or school?
No limit listed · Required
Why CMC
CMC's mission is to prepare students for thoughtful and productive lives and responsible leadership in business, government, and the professions. With this mission in mind, please explain why you want to attend Claremont McKenna College.
No limit listed · Required
Public Policy Issue (Choose One)
At CMC, we promote the understanding of public policy issues as it makes our students and alumni more effective leaders in their respective career fields. What is a public policy issue (whether locally, nationally, or globally) that you feel passionately about, and how do you hope to address it either in the present or the future? How can CMC assist you with addressing the issue?
No limit listed · Required
About the application
Applies via the Common App.
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Common questions
- What are the Claremont McKenna College essay prompts for 2025-26?
- Claremont McKenna College lists Open Academy / Viewpoint Diversity (1 prompt); Athenaeum Speaker (Choose One) (1 prompt); Responsible Leadership (Choose One) (1 prompt); Why CMC (1 prompt); Public Policy Issue (Choose One) (1 prompt) for 2025-26.
- How many essays does Claremont McKenna College require?
- Claremont McKenna College requires 5 essays based on the published group instructions for 2025-26. The page lists 5 required and 0 optional prompts.
- What are the word limits for the Claremont McKenna College supplemental essays?
- Claremont McKenna College currently lists no word or character limits for school-specific essays.