George Mason Essay Prompt 2 (2026-2027)

“Honors College applicants: select one prompt to respond to. George Mason University is Virginia's largest public research university. As a Tier-1 research institution, every day, our faculty, staff, and students work to address unanswered questions, unresolved challenges, and problems that impact a wide variety of populations. In the Honors College, you'll have opportunities to do this sort of work -- and maybe even answer questions and solve problems that matter to you. Tell us about one question, challenge, or problem that you'd like to work to better understand or address during your time at George Mason. Introduce this issue, and then explain why it matters to you and why it might matter to others. Feel free to be creative- research and inquiry can exist in unlikely places. The art we see, the stories we read, and the words we hear have the power to move us and to change us. Tell us about a time that you've been moved to act by something you read, a speech you heard, or a work of art that you experienced. What was it, and how did it impact you? What did you do -- or what will you do -- in response?”

Limit: 500 words (optional). Deadlines: Early Action: November 1, 2026. Regular Decision: February 1, 2027. Scholarships: November 1, 2026.