The most accurate AI grader for Notre Dame essays.
Kolly was built and calibrated on hundreds of thousands of essays from students who actually got into University of Notre Dame and the rest of the T20.
Notre Dame essay prompts for 2025-26
Copy the prompt you are answering into the prompt field above, then paste your draft, so the readers grade the answer against the question it has to answer.
These are the most recent Notre Dame prompts Kolly has verified, checked . Notre Dame may have updated them since, so check University of Notre Dame admissions before you submit.
Service to Others (Short Answer Option 2 of 5)
Notre Dame's undergraduate experience is characterized by a collective sense of care for every person. How do you foster service to others in your community?
100 words max · Required
Fight For (Short Answer Option 5 of 5)
This is your opportunity to tell us what (or who) you would fight for at Notre Dame, in your career, in your community, through your research, or in whatever other space in which you hope to make an impact.
100 words max · Required
Non-Negotiables / Why Notre Dame (Required Essay)
Everyone has different priorities when considering their higher education options and building their college or university list. Tell us about your "non-negotiable" factor(s) when searching for your future college home.
150 words max · Required
Compliment (Short Answer Option 3 of 5)
What compliment are you most proud of receiving, and why does it mean so much to you?
100 words max · Required
Holy Cross Mission
How does the Holy Cross Catholic mission of Notre Dame influence the way you envision your future at the University and beyond?
200 words max · Required
Something You're Proud Of
What is one thing about you or something you've done of which you are particularly proud that you haven't already shared in your application?
200 words max · Required
Growth Community
Notre Dame is a community of learning and faith. Tell us about a time when you participated in a community that pushed you to grow.
200 words max · Required
Identity / Personal Background (Short Answer Option 1 of 5)
What is distinctive about your personal experiences and development (e.g., family support, culture, disability, personal background, community)? Why are these experiences important to you and how will you enrich the Notre Dame community?
100 words max · Required
Faith (Short Answer Option 4 of 5)
Each student's faith journey is unique and we invite you to share how faith influences the decisions you make. Whether you're Catholic, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Protestant, another religion, or have your own distinctive version of faith and spirituality, we are excited to hear about how you are guided by your faith.
100 words max · Required
All Notre Dame supplemental essays, with word limits and the published source.
How Kolly grades a Notre Dame essay
The grade covers the same six dimensions as every Kolly read: hook, theme, detail, authenticity, reflection, and writing, each scored from 0 to 5. The big number is a percentile that shows where your draft lands among accepted essays of the same type from top US schools. Notre Dame readers, like their counterparts at peer schools, read fast and form an impression in the first paragraph. The verdict quotes the line that lands and names the weakest moment, so you know what to fix first.
Why Kolly instead of a ChatGPT read
ChatGPT and other general models grade against writing in general, which is not what Notre Dame readers do. Kolly grades against essays that got in, and four readers argue over the draft before they vote, so a polished answer that says nothing specific gets called out instead of praised. The quick read is free without an account. A free Kolly account adds the full review: a stronger scoring model, notes on each paragraph, and a fix-it plan.
Grading your personal statement?
Use the main college essay grader for a Common App essay that goes to every school on your list. For acceptance rates, test scores, and cost, see University of Notre Dame admissions.