Each applicant’s personal essay will be evaluated using the following criteria.
| 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | |
| Personal Experience | Takes a leadership role in planning and teaching others about social justice | Actively participates in opportunities when they are made available | Belongs to a club or group which supports social justice | Not actively engaged in social justice |
| Awareness | Demonstrates a personal connection to causes/needs of social justice | Well informed of the need for social justice through means other than personal experience | Has read about the need for social justice and has been moved to think about it | Is not aware or actively concerned |
| Goals | Clearly communicates future personal goals regarding social justice his/her participation in achieving these goals | Communicates worthy goals but only in idealistic terms rather than practical ones | Limits goals to satisfaction with those already attained | Offers no future goals at this time |
| Accomplishments | Clear impact with observable accomplishments with details provided | Demonstrates influencing others in attaining goals | Participation but limited or no actionable results | Does not communicate |