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4 Tips for Writing Stellar UGA Essays

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The University of Georgia is an excellent public school ranked in the top 50 universities nationwide . If you're applying here, you'll need to submit two amazing essays. So what are the UGA essay prompts? And how can you ensure your UGA essays will make you stand out?

In this in-depth guide, we give you all the current UGA essay prompts and tips for choosing and approaching the best prompt for you. We also look at an actual UGA application essay example to give you an idea of what your own essay can and should look like.

Feature Image: Boston Public Library /Flickr

What Are the UGA Essay Prompts?

The UGA application, which you can submit via the Common Application or the Coalition Application , requires all first-year applicants to submit two essays.

The first essay is the personal essay that's part of the Common App or Coalition App. You can find a list of the Common App prompts and how to answer them here (and you can find the same information for the Coalition App here) .

The second essay you'll submit is unique to the University of Georgia application. The first UGA essay must answer the following prompt:

The college admissions process can create anxiety. In an attempt to make it less stressful, please tell us an interesting or amusing story about yourself from your high school years that you have not already shared in your application.

This essay prompt is pretty different from what you'd expect in a college application; it offers you many possibilities, both content-wise and stylistically. But don't worry: we're going to break it down for you below!

How to Write the UGA Supplement Essay

All applicants must respond to this prompt in 200-350 words. Here it is again for reference:

As noted above, this prompt isn't like most other college essay prompts in that instead of asking about your academic goals, skills, or accomplishments, it's trying to loosen you up by having you write about something fun and unique in your life.

In other words, UGA wants to tease out your less serious, less academic side to get a better sense of who you are as a person and not just as a student. Specifically, they want to know what holds meaning in your life and what kind of experience you think is worthy enough to share with the admissions committee.

Therefore, your first UGA essay must accomplish the following:

• Should be different from what you've talked about elsewhere on your application
• Should highlight your sincerity and personality
• Should reveal something important about who you are and/or what you value
• Should NOT be too serious—remember that UGA wants an "amusing" story!

Some of these qualities might go against everything you thought you knew about college essays, but it's important here to really try to be sincere, write with an authentic voice, and not shy away from showcasing your more irreverent side.

Here are some examples of possible topics you could write about:

• A time you made a faux pas or silly mistake (in or outside of school), how others reacted, and what you did to remedy the situation and/or learn from it
• A funny misunderstanding you had with someone, such as a teacher, friend, or parent, and what this experience taught you about the importance of clear communication
• Something amusing or thought-provoking you watched, listened to, read, or did, and why you found this particular thing so fascinating (this shouldn't be any old movie or book but something a little more unique)
• A unique hobby or interest you have, how you developed it, and why it's important to you

As you can see, you have a lot of options for what you can write about for this UGA essay. That said, make sure to avoid the following topics:

• Politics, religion, or any other overly serious or potentially controversial topic
• Death, illness, or any other grave event or moment from your life
• Something everyone has experienced or heard of—your topic should be unique to you
• Anything you've already mentioned in a different section of your application
• Stories about bodily functions (UGA specifically mentioned getting too many of these stories, so have some pity on them and choose a different topic!)

A Real UGA Application Essay Example + Analysis

Below is an actual UGA application essay example written by an admitted applicant named Micaela B. This essay, which is a response to an older prompt (" Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it" ), was taken from the UGA undergraduate admissions website where it was used as "an example of what we [UGA] consider a strong essay."

Here is the essay, at just around 300 words long (the word limit):

It's unassuming, the tiled top square table with mismatched chairs, its lacquer wearing thin from dishes being passed back and forth, room for four but always crowded by eleven. It may be unassuming but its power is undeniable.

As I grew older, the after-dinner conversations grew more intriguing to me. I began to stay and listen, to the politics I didn't understand and the adult gossip I shouldn't have been privy to. The dynamic of the debate shifted almost every time the topic changed, but the one thing that was consistent was that after all the plates were cleared and the chairs were pushed back in, everyone came together for dessert; pizzelles and biscotti. No afterthoughts, no bitterness.

I admire my family's ability to embrace each other for their differences, instead of letting it break us apart. There was no greater example of the lesson in acceptance than when my family learned of the change in sexuality of one of our relatives. After the dissolution of a marriage and a traditional family, the initial resentment towards her for the challenge to our family values was difficult to digest, yet unavoidable. It was the first dispute that ever brought tears to that weathered table with the peeling laquer. Instead of allowing differing lifestyles to drive a wedge between us, our family challenged each other's misconceptions, we discussed, we cried and we accepted.

Being raised in such a racially, economically and religiously diverse community, I am lucky to have developed the skill set to empathize with the people around me and understand that not everyone thinks the same way. In fact life would be pretty boring if everyone acted in uniformity; in a more harmonious world, everyone should be able to voice their opinions and speak their minds, and still come together for dessert.

Here's what makes this UGA essay work:

• It opens with a captivating description: This essay, especially the first two paragraphs, is undeniably attention-grabbing. The vivid image of the "tiled top square table" and how it is "always crowded by eleven" thrusts us directly into Micaela's boisterous life, making us feel as though we're sitting right there beside her and her family.
• It's tightly focused and easy to follow: From the beginning, we can tell that the crux of this essay is family, specifically the challenges that come with being a member of a large, diverse group. The story here really begins to open up by the third paragraph, where Micaela relates a surprising event—the "change" in a relative's sexuality—and shows how her family learned a valuable lesson in acceptance as a result.
• It's got a positive spin: Even though the essay discusses the challenges for a family to come together, it ultimately ends on a high note. This reveals to us a lot about Micaela's character, especially her commitment to harmony and her open-mindedness toward others.

4 Essential Tips for Your UGA Essays

Now, it's time to wrap up with some final helpful tips for your UGA essays.

#1: Be as Specific as Possible

Specificity is key to producing an effective and compelling college essay. In both your UGA essays, make sure you're being as specific as you can be: use real names of people or places, describe the emotions you felt at the time, and tell us what was said, both by whom and to whom.

Details are what will ultimately make the UGA admissions committee be able to more easily relate to your experiences, passions, and point of view. So don't forget to include them!

#2: Use an Authentic Voice

The essays are the time for your personality to shine, so don't hold back— use your natural voice to tell your story. It's OK to tell some jokes or emphasize your love of flowery language with a few poetic metaphors, for example.

That said, essays don't give you free rein to be impolite or to completely break the conventions of English grammar, so know what your limits are as you write.

#3: Write Concisely

You only have up to 350 words for the supplemental UGA essay, so it's important to focus on being concise. If one of your rough drafts exceeds the word limit by a lot, you can try to trim it down by deleting any irrelevant or wordy passages.

#4: Remember to Edit and Proofread

Finally, don't forget to edit and proofread your UGA essays! As you edit, spend time looking for the following:

• Irrelevant passages, phrases, and/or sentences
• Redundant words, phrases, and/or descriptions
• Awkward-sounding or misplaced phrases/passages
• Errors in spelling, grammar, and/or punctuation

Once you've done your own edit of your UGA essays, give them to someone to look over, such as a teacher, parent, or older sibling. Ask this person to proofread the essays and to offer you any advice they might have on how you can improve them in terms of organization, examples or details, word choice, etc.

What's Next?

Applying to other colleges in the eastern United States? Then check out our in-depth guides for tips on how to write the Georgia Tech essays , the Duke essays , and the Johns Hopkins essay .

Lots of colleges use the Common App and require an essay submitted through this system. Read our guide to learn all about the Common App essay prompts and how you can ensure your essay will impress admissions committees.

Still want to know more about UGA? Take a look at our UGA admissions requirements page to get info on the GPA and test scores needed to secure admission to this popular school.

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Hannah received her MA in Japanese Studies from the University of Michigan and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California. From 2013 to 2015, she taught English in Japan via the JET Program. She is passionate about education, writing, and travel.

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How to Write the University of Georgia Essays 2016-17

Check out the university of georgia application essays for 2017-2018.

So you have decided to apply to the University of Georgia, where the only thing hotter than your ardor for the Georgia Bulldogs will be your animus toward the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, or the Georgia summer heat. While UGA is known for its passion for football, it also offers a Southern retreat into the lively college town known as Athens.

UGA boasts a wide array of pre-professional career tracks into any one of its specialized colleges, such as the renowned Terry College of Business, the College of Veterinary Medicine, or the School of Social Work. Whichever field of study you end up choosing, there is little doubt that you will not have the classic Southern college experience, along with about 27,000 other undergraduates, while at UGA.

Part of being a public institution of higher education — as opposed to many of the private institutions that we at CollegeVine write about — means that UGA may make their final admissions decisions based on factors like GPA and test scores, and soft factors like essays are given less weight. Though ensuring your stats are up to the university’s standards is the most important thing you can do to increase your chances at admission, strong essays can also have a significant impact on your application.

About 52% of applicants were admitted in 2015, with the middle 50% of admitted first-year students having SAT scores ranging from 1290 to 1440, and admitted Honors students having scores ranging from 1480 to 1530. In terms of the ACT, the middle 50% of admitted first-year students ranged from 27-31, and those admitted to the Honors College were usually 32-34.

Below, our essay specialists have created a guide to help you write your essay for the University of Georgia.

University of Georgia Application Essay Prompts

Here are the four essay questions for this admissions cycle, with Essay 1 being required (200-300 words) and Essays 2-4 being three options from which the applicant can select two (150-200 words).

As the instructions explain, you must write two essays, and the topic for one of them can be chosen from any of three different essay prompts. Note that none of them require you to write an exorbitant amount, with the longest possible response being 300 words (or about half a page), single-spaced.

For all these essay prompts, you may find it helpful to write out longer responses with everything you could possibly include in them and weed down your responses from there until you’re within the maximum word count. This can help you ensure your responses contain all essential information and no fluff.

Now that we’ve discussed a general approach to getting around tight word limits, let’s tackle these prompts one by one.

(Required) The UGA faculty has defined the qualities that the student body should demonstrate in the Admissions Philosophy Statement. After reviewing this, help us understand which of your qualities will add value to our community of scholars. (200-300 words)

The first prompt requires you to have read the UGA Admissions Philosophy Statement and given it some thought. Principally, it calls for a University of Georgia scholar to commit to the conservation and enhancement of our society’s intellectual, cultural, and environmental heritage. While this statement echoes the concepts of many upstanding colleges, it also emphasizes more uncommon sentiments, such as an understanding and respect of foreign cultures, as well as commitment to citizenship.

Ideally, it would be great if you had regularly participated in some activities prior to applying that attested to your commitment to what the Philosophy Statement demands. This does not mean you need to have traveled abroad to teach English or opened a soup kitchen, as long as whatever activity you took part in rendered efficacious results, and was worth the effort.

This question also forces you to demonstrate the amount of high-level introspection you have done, such that you are able to relate and connect your personal qualities to your activities to effectively answer the prompt. A tale only of what you have done will not go as far as explaining what the experience meant to you, how it changed you, and how that change will cause you to impact the UGA community in a similar manner.

Describe a problem, possibly related to your area of study, which you would like to solve. Explain its importance to you and what actions you would take to solve this issue. (150-200 words)

Should you choose to write a response to the second prompt, you will need to demonstrate a significant amount of technical information about a field you are very familiar with and translate it into colloquial terms within 150-200 words. This is a challenging essay to write, since you will have to be your own fact-checker in whatever you are writing about; however, if you are truly passionate about the subject, then this essay will not be too difficult.

Often, the kind of knowledge necessary to concisely speak to the problem in a particular field requires one to have worked in the field in some capacity. If you have done some research in high school or have worked a job (related to your upcoming field of study), then it might be easier for you to discuss the problem in the field.

Discussing its importance to you also gives you an opportunity to demonstrate how passionate you are about the interest ( Note: Avoid using the word “passion” in your writing — it has become extremely overused to the point that it has lost much of its meaning in the admissions world). Even though you will make claims at large about your general love for the topic, this essay response will be much easier to write if you choose a specific problem within the field.

You might try to talk about, for example, the problems in scientific validation when published experiments are rarely replicated, and so it is truly unknown if the findings are sound; the poor effectiveness of creating dozens of new potential sources of energy in the last decade since none have gained traction in funding, attention, etc.; or the need to address implicit gender-based discrimination arising from the Romance languages such that new terms including “Latinx” (non-gendered, thus not Latino/a) have risen among millennials of Latino descent.

Choose a problem that speaks to you, and that you could see yourself potentially working to address in the future.

After choosing what problem you wish to discuss, you could research how others have attempted tackling it so that you have an idea of what might be expected from a reasonable solution. Your proposed solution does not (and most likely will not) need to be a surefire fix to the problem, but it does need to show a thoughtful attempt at innovation crafted by knowledge of the issue at stake. In fact, if you are feeling unsure about your solution, you might even try discussing the methods that you would employ to come up with an efficacious solution.

This is another way to demonstrate how far you would be willing to go to solve the problem, and might include the specific types of people you need to talk to, current potential fixes in the field and how they need to be changed, or even tangential topics like how you would go about acquiring funding for creating your solution. The point of this essay is not so much creating a solution as it is about your drive to find a solution.

Tell us an interesting or amusing story about yourself that you have not already shared in your application. (150-200 words)

Should you choose to write a response to the third prompt, you will need to exercise your creativity muscle a bit more, but responding to this prompt gives you an opportunity to create a piece of writing that will truly stick in your reader’s mind. Quick psychology tip: Humans are creatures of stories, and thus, making yourself memorable through a good story is an ingenious way of making sure your application sticks out from the rest, especially when your competition might be discussing about problems in their field (above), or inventing a course (below).

In order to create an adequate response to this prompt, you will probably try and rack your brain for funny experiences to share. It’s a good idea to utilize your friends when brainstorming; friends will probably be your biggest help in jogging your memory about stories you may have forgotten.

Whatever the story ends up being, you need to be sure that it is appropriate, especially when considering your audience (UGA admissions officers). Consider running your story by a few of your teachers beforehand. Your essay does not necessarily need to be funny, so do not try to cram humor into a story that is more geared towards the “interesting” aspect of the prompt.

UGA’s First-Year Odyssey Program offers more than 300 seminar courses for new freshmen. Some examples include “The History of Horse Racing,” “Einstein and the Theories of Relativity,” and “The Zombie Plague.” If you could create your own seminar course at UGA in any subject area that interested you, what would it be? What would the course be named, and what would you hope to learn? Please write your response in the style of the UGA First-Year Odyssey descriptions as seen on their website. (150-200 words)

Should you choose to write a response to the third prompt, you will need creativity, much like in the second prompt. However, it will have to be more focused in order to take on the format of course descriptions as seen on UGA’s First Year Odyssey website . In a sense, this prompt asks the applicant to imagine how an interest of his or hers could play out if it were to be set in an open-discussion classroom context.

A good starting point is taking some time to ponder about questions that you may have had while learning about something in school. Admissions officers want to measure the extent of your intellectual curiosity, and how much debate you are willing to undergo to pursue some answers. This is a test of innovation in thinking, since inventing a feasible course capable of educating students via discussion requires diligent industry and thought.

Interestingly, many of these courses at the University of Georgia tend to combine different disciplines — like the economics of crime, or the policy implications of neuroscience findings — and this is definitely an avenue that you could pursue to make your application stand out.

As many of the course descriptions for the First-Year Odyssey demonstrate, you should begin by describing the context of the subject matter. Due to the variability in course topic, this context could take the form of a brief history, the description of a particular event, or even a single thought someone might have that is worth delving into.

Often, the titles of these courses are not obscure or vague, so you should name yours something similarly, bearing in mind you can be as creative as you want to be in the naming. Some possible titles include “Law and Professional Ethics” or “Save the Bees! Beekeeping and Colony Collapse Disorder.”

Want help with your college essays to improve your admissions chances? Sign up for your free CollegeVine account and get access to our essay guides and courses. You can also get your essay peer-reviewed and improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.

From our team at CollegeVine to you, we wish you the best as you apply to the University of Georgia.

Happy Writing!

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

The Ultimate Guide to the University of Georgia's Supplemental Essays

Applying to the University of Georgia (UGA)? You're on the right path! UGA's beautiful campus, renowned academic programs, and spirit of community make it a top choice for many students. The college application process often comes with writing supplemental essays, and UGA is no exception. This blog post aims to guide you on how to best approach these UGA supplemental essays for the 2023-2024 admissions cycle.

UGA Supplemental Essay Prompt #1

The college admissions process can create anxiety. In an attempt to make it less stressful, please tell us an interesting or amusing story about yourself from your high school years that you have not already shared in your application.

Approach: This prompt invites you to share a unique aspect of your high school life. It could be an anecdote about a memorable event, a surprising hobby, or an unusual skill you have. Keep the tone light and enjoyable to read. Show your personality through this essay; let your sense of humor or interesting perspective shine!

During my sophomore year of high school, I decided to try out for the school's ultimate frisbee team, despite never having touched a frisbee before. In my first practice, my throws looked more like lopsided boomerangs than smooth, flat discs. At the team’s first game, I was given the task of throwing the first "pull," the ultimate frisbee equivalent of a kickoff. My nerves took over, and instead of the frisbee soaring downfield, it flew straight up and then veered right, landing in the nearby tennis court. This sparked a roaring laughter from both teams, and even the referee couldn’t contain his chuckles. I was mortified but joined the laughter because of the absurdity of the situation. That moment of shared laughter taught me the value of not taking myself too seriously and helped me bond with my teammates. By the end of the season, my throws had improved, and while I'll never be an ultimate frisbee champion, I'll always be the champion of good humor on the team.

UGA Supplemental Essay Prompt #2

The University of Georgia community creates, contributes, and applies knowledge in many ways. Describe an example of your leadership and the impact it had on others.

Approach: Here, UGA wants to understand how you lead and contribute to a community. Reflect on moments when you stepped up to take charge—maybe in an academic setting, a club, a sports team, or volunteering. How did your leadership make a difference? Remember, leadership isn't just about being the president of a club. You could have demonstrated leadership through initiative, teamwork, or problem-solving.

In my junior year, I served as the project manager for our school's Robotics Club. Our team was tasked with designing a robot for a local competition, but we hit a snag when our design kept failing during tests. As project manager, I decided to take a new approach. I organized a brainstorming session, where everyone, including the newest members, was encouraged to propose solutions. One of the freshman members suggested a minor adjustment to the weight distribution, which many had overlooked. His solution turned out to be the key to fixing our design! By fostering an environment where every voice was valued, we not only built a successful robot but also strengthened our team cohesion.

UGA Supplemental Essay Prompt #3 (Optional)

In our diverse and interdependent world, please tell us about an experience that demonstrated or gave you the opportunity to understand the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Approach: UGA values diversity and inclusion, and this prompt asks you to share an experience where you came to understand its significance. It could be a personal encounter, an event, or a revelation from a book or film. The key is to convey your ability to learn from diverse perspectives and experiences and to contribute to an inclusive campus culture.

In high school, I volunteered for a local organization that supports refugee resettlement. One of my primary tasks involved tutoring a young girl from Syria. The language barrier and cultural differences made the task challenging at first, but I gradually found ways to connect with her through visuals, storytelling, and games. The experience showed me the value of patience, empathy, and open-mindedness in understanding and appreciating the diverse backgrounds and experiences of others. It also reinforced the importance of equity in access to education, regardless of one's origins.

UGA Supplemental Essay Short Answer Question

UGA’s 2023 First-Year Odyssey Program offers more than 300 seminar courses for new students. Which do you find most appealing and why?

Approach: Research is key here. Explore the First-Year Odyssey program, select a seminar that genuinely interests you, and articulate why. Link it back to your academic interests, career goals, or intellectual curiosity.

Sure, let's dive into example responses for each of the University of Georgia supplemental essays.

UGA Supplemental Essay Prompt #3

I find "Unleashing Creativity Through Visual Storytelling" particularly appealing among UGA's First-Year Odyssey seminars. As a budding filmmaker, this course aligns with my passion for storytelling and my desire to delve deeper into the techniques of visual narration. The opportunity to analyze the work of acclaimed filmmakers and apply those insights to a project of my own is thrilling. Moreover, it would be invaluable in preparing me for my intended major in Film Studies.

Remember, your essays are a chance to showcase your personality, experiences, values, and goals. Be authentic, thoughtful, and concise. Tailor your responses to UGA, showing why you're a good fit for their community.

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How to Ace the 2024-2025 UGA Supplemental Essays

Cece Gilmore is a Content Writer at Scholarships360. Cece earned her undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Arizona State University. While at ASU, she was the education editor as well as a published staff reporter at Downtown Devil. Cece was also the co-host of her own radio show on Blaze Radio ASU.

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Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.

Many supplemental essay questions touch on common themes, such as your academic interests or what communities you belong to. The UGA supplemental essay, however, is a different story. The University of Georgia asks students to share a memorable middle school book and the impact it made on them.  Let’s explore this thoughtful prompt and how to craft an excellent response. 

Also see: How to write an essay about yourself

“The transition from middle to high school is a key time for students as they reach new levels of both academic and personal discovery. Please share a book (novel, non-fiction, etc.) that had a serious impact on you during this time. Please focus more on why this book made an impact on you and less on the plot/theme of the book itself (we are not looking for a book report).”

• FYI – We are not restricting you to the exact years of 8th-9th grades, but rather the general timeframe of the middle to high school transition, which can extend somewhat further than one year on each end. Feel free to use your discretion in your choice of the timeline focused on the shift to your high school years.

Ok, let’s take a look at how to show a bit about who you are through a particular book. First, think back to your time transitioning from middle school to high school. Remember, you do not need to be a profound reader to answer this question! Just think of any book that has importance to you specifically. 

To begin, you need to choose a book! Here is a list of some common books you may want to choose. Remember, though, that your selected book must have significance to you first and foremost.

• Bridge to Terabithia

Try to avoid extremely popular books such as the Harry Potter series, because it is likely that a ton of students will write about it in their responses. So, try to pick a unique book that has significant meaning to you during your transition from middle school to high school. 

Next, discuss what this book means to you and what impact it has had on your life! This can range from practical to vulnerable implications. For example, perhaps reading To Kill a Mockingbird has granted you a bigger idea of the injustices found in the world and has led you to join some advocacy groups or create a club at your high school. Another example could be how reading the Percy Jackson series has caused you to appreciate viewing things in your life through a child-like lens by using more imagination in your everyday life. 

No matter how big or small the book’s impact was on you, write about it. Discuss themes found in the book, compare and contrast a character to your own life, and truly analyze the book. However, be sure to not make it sound like you are simply writing a book report. Rather, reflect on your own personal experiences and life in relation to the book. 

Also see: Top 10 books to read before college

Questions to consider: 

• What lessons or big takeaways did you get from reading the book you selected?
• Why did you choose to read this book during that transition period in your life? 
• Did this book challenge any preconceived notions you had? 

Also see: What looks good on college applications?

Tips for responding to this prompt

• Prove how the book has changed your perspective
• Make it personal! 
• Be sure to detail your book’s personal impact on you 
• Show how your takeaways from the book still reign true today 

Additional resources

As you’re working on college applications, we’re sure that you’ve juggling a lot of tasks at once. There are many decisions to be made and things to accomplish. Luckily, we can help. Check out our guide on how many colleges to apply to , how to find safety, reach, and match schools , and how to get a college application fee waiver . We can also help you fill out your Common App Activities and Additional Information sections to ensure that you present every aspect of your application as best you can. Finally, check out our insider’s perspective of what happens inside a college admissions office to get an idea of how your application will be reviewed. Good luck!

Other colleges to consider

• Georgia Tech (Atlanta, GA)
• Tulane University (New Orleans, LA)
• University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI)

Next steps for students

We hope you feel ready to rock the UGA supplemental essays after reading our guide. By now, you should have all the tools to take a successful trip down high school memory lane. Have fun with this prompt and your sincerity will be evident! Make sure that you apply for all the scholarships you qualify for too!

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University of Georgia (UGA) 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Early Action: Oct 15

Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 1

University of Georgia 2024-25 Application Essay Question Explanations 

The Requirements: 1 essays of 200-300 words

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Oddball

T he transition from middle to high school is a key time for students as they reach new levels of both academic and personal discovery. Please share a book (novel, non-fiction, etc.) that had a serious impact on you during this time. Please focus more on why this book made an impact on you and less on the plot/theme of the book itself (we are not looking for a book report).” (200-300 words)

This prompt asks you to discuss a book that made a big impression on you as you navigated the transition from middle to high school. At CEA, we always recommend that you choose an unexpected work in order to stand out from the pack, but ultimately, you should aim for authenticity rather than uniqueness. If Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone was the book you turned to in the beginning of freshman year, where you found not only fantastical escape, but also an accurate reflection of the struggles of fitting in (even if you weren’t the “chosen one”), then write about that! But a word of warning if you choose a more commonly read book such as those from the Wizarding World: your essay has to go above and beyond if it has any chance of making an impression on the admissions department at UGA. 

If, however, there is another less-mainstream book that struck a chord with you, we encourage you to select that one to elaborate upon. No matter your choice, as you contemplate the prompt, ask yourself: Which characters have inspired you? Which plotlines have stayed with you long after you closed the book? How did you apply what you took from the story to your own life?

Regardless of the book you choose, try to give yourself as much time as possible to reflect on its impact and the role it played in helping you navigate your introduction to high school. As always, it’s your job to tell admissions a story, one that reveals information about who you are, what you care about, and/or what inspires you.

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University of Georgia Undergraduate College Application Essays

These University of Georgia college application essays were written by students accepted at University of Georgia. All of our sample college essays include the question prompt and the year written. Please use these sample admission essays responsibly.

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College Application Essays accepted by University of Georgia

An unforgettable summer amit momaya, university of georgia.

What came first, science or technology?" asked a tall and husky figure, who was dressed in an unbuttoned and rather threadbare lab coat. My initial response was science because I reasoned that technology was the application of science. An...

Helping Mrs. Greenburg Carl V. Lewis

Three years ago, it had never crossed my mind to help people who were not part of my immediate sphere of family and friends. Instead, I adopted a convenient attitude of apathy when it came to service – never imagining that an invitation to...

A Man of Convictions Eric Tracz

I am well known for having many strongly held personal convictions. Whether people look fondly on my convictions or harness utter disdain for them is a completely different story. Some are seen to be outrageous, such as believing that dipping...

Conquering Adversity Anonymous

June 16, 2000 -- My sense of uncertainty had never been so overwhelming, my emotions never so mixed. Born seven weeks early on what I now view as a blessed day, my youngest brother, initially referred to as “Baby Malone,” hung on for dear life. He...

Leadership Anonymous

Society must work together. People must endeavor to do everything they can so as to ensure that humanity upholds valuable ethics and a strong sense of goodwill. The I Club, sponsored by Rotary International, seeks to accomplish these goals on a...

Fear Anonymous

I’m hanging on a half inch thick loop of nylon webbing over a 100 foot cliff, double checking my anchor set up for a climb I’m about to try with a friend. My hands are a little numb and my breath hangs in the air in front of me. Looking out from...

As Your Editor Alexandrea Neville

Chasing after interview subjects, furiously typing away at a keyboard to meet deadline, and becoming allergic to sleep as I sit hunched with a red proofreading pen are scenes well known to the life of an editor. Despite two years of involvement as...

Olivia Alexandrea Neville

Olivia and I were freshman when we met, introduced through a mutual friend. From the moment we shook hands, by accident or design, we were inseparable.

Our friendship was the kind found only in fictitious novels. We were the sole inhabitants of a...

Learning to Flourish Anonymous

"You're ugly, and you have no friends."

We were settling in our seats for the annual career day assembly, and Eleni Pappas turned and spat the words out at me. I blushed while she laughed, pulling her hair off her lace-trimmed shirt (which, for...

The Task of the Modern Educator Rebekka A. Strom

A week after New Year’s in 2011, the cherry blossom tree outside my apartment’s living room erupted in pink and my best friend died. Two weeks later, I stared into the eyes of seventeen eager 9-year-olds in my first classroom. By the end of the...

A Catch-22 in the Business World Anna Erickson

Joseph Heller’s Catch-22 has been revered since its 1961 release, serving as a landmark of American literature. The infamous phrase “catch-22” -- indicating a paradoxical, irresolvable situation -- has traditionally held a negative connotation....

Rising Above Anonymous

As the applause faded to a hum, my whole body began to tremble. My throat seized up and tiny bumps arose across my arms. Just as my legs felt ready to give out underneath me, the conductor raised her hands. In one swift movement, a wave of relief...

My Time to Come with Technology Nikkie Karimian

6,876 miles. This might be a hard distance to measure, so let me help you understand how far it is and just what it has entailed. It’s not only how far I’ve travelled almost every summer to see my family, but it’s how far I’ve travelled to become...

Becoming Me Sandra Maeva Makendi Guebediang

“Gue… Gue…Gueb…be,” my new teacher stumbled over the pronunciation of my last name. I smirked under my breath but decided to put her out of her misery by raising my hand and declaring my presence. “It’s Guebediang but I go by Maeva.” With a name...

To Be Missed Miranda Black

"We won't miss you anyway.” -My drama teacher’s response after I told him that I wasn’t going to audition for his next superior musical.

When I got home, I cried—not just from embarrassment—but because his words validated something I had known for...

Community Service and My Future Anonymous

In the summer of 2016, I met Dimitria, an eight-year-old native of southeast Atlanta, at Park Avenue Baptist Church’s literacy camp, an effort to reduce the local high school’s 68% drop out rate. On the surface, she seemed like the other...

Ceramics Anonymous

When I look at a lump of clay, I see limitless potential. With only my hands and my imagination, I can take this mound of wet dirt and create something functional. Poetic beauty exists in creating something out of nothing, something beautiful out...

Spirited Away - One Summer's Day Kandyce Whittingham

I strolled into Boston University’s College of Fine Arts, slipping off my tennis shoes and socks to embrace the cold tile floor of what was once a Buick dealership showroom in the 60s. Eagerly awaiting the start of Theatre Ensemble, I socialized...

Dressing Up Never Gets Old Marylyn Chen

The date was near...even before I even glanced at my calendar full of sporadic events and reminders, I knew it. It’s finally Homecoming Week: the ultimate week for high-schoolers to go wild (within the confines of the dress code, of course)....

Broadening Horizons Marylyn Chen

“Marylyn? The trouble-maker?”

Normally, you would not expect these words to be paired with smiles, but there they were, plastered on the faces of my classmates’ parents who loved to tease me. I laughed it off as if the joke meant nothing to me,...

For the Birds Anonymous

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Young Shakespeare Anonymous

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Comfort from Cats Anonymous

As soon as my sister and I had settled into the back of the ambulance, I pulled out my phone and opened the “Notes” app despite my dwindling battery—putting my thoughts down meant everything to me in that moment. I wrote: Right now, I’m Schrödinger...

Fearless Anonymous

“Fearless!” I snatched the pack of watermelon gum from Michael’s hand.

“Oh great,” he said. Earlier that morning, a GHP teacher in my Word Congress class challenged us to pick a word that we felt was an important quality to have, then spend the...

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Founding Brothers :The Collaborators

The alliance between Jefferson and Madison congealed after Jefferson stepped down from his position as Secretary of State.

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UGA Supplemental Essay 2024-25 – Prompt and Advice

June 18, 2024

Over 43,000 students from around the world applied for a place in the UGA Class of 2028 . Further, the EA round in the 2023-24 cycle broke the previous year’s all-time high mark. This means that the UGA supplemental essay may be even more important in 2024-25 than in previous years.

Last year, the average incoming freshman took between 8-13 AP, IB, or dual enrollment courses in high school. The average student also earned a weighted GPA above a 4.0. Moreover, the SAT range for admitted freshmen was 1280-1470. The purpose of this information isn’t to engender fear in the hearts of Bulldog hopefuls; rather, we want to make sure that you take the task of presenting yourself in the best possible light very seriously.

 (Want to learn more about How to Get Into the University of Georgia? Visit our blog entitled:  How to Get Into the University of Georgia: Admissions Data and Strategies  for all of the most recent admissions data as well as tips for gaining acceptance.)

Although it only has one general essay prompt (same as last year’s), UGA’s supplemental section still affords applicants an opportunity to illustrate what makes them uniquely qualified for admission. Below is the University of Georgia’s supplemental prompt for the 2024-25 admissions cycle along with our advice for composing an effective essay.

2024-2025 University of Georgia Essay Question

“The transition from middle to high school is a key time for students as they reach new levels of both academic and personal discovery. Please share a book (novel, non-fiction, etc.) that had a serious impact on you during this time. Please focus more on why this book made an impact on you and less on the plot/theme of the book itself (we are not looking for a book report).”

FYI – We are not restricting you to the exact years of 8th-9th grades, but rather the general timeframe of the middle to high school transition, which can extend somewhat further than one year on each end. Feel free to use your discretion in your choice of the timeline focused on the shift to your high school years.

(200-300 Words)

UGA Supplemental Essays 2024-25 (Continued)

This isn’t your average supplemental essay so make sure you don’t produce an average response. The highly personal nature of this prompt gives you the chance to make a strong impression on a UGA admissions officer. Since you won’t have a chance to interview at this large flagship school, this essay (as well as the main Common App essay) is one of the best chances you’ll have to forge an intimate connection with a member of the admissions committee.

You may have to dig back into your childhood bookshelves for this one. If you are having trouble, referring to the following lists may jog your memory:

Common Middle School-Assigned Texts

• The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• Night by Elie Wiesel
• Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
• Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
• The Giver by Lois Lowry
• Roll of Thunder , Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor
• The entire Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
• Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
• The Call of the Wild by Jack London
• The Pigman by Paul Zindel
• Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

Common 10th-Grade Assigned Texts

• Animal Farm by George Orwell
• Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
• Hiroshima by John Hersey
• A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry
• The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe
• Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
• The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
• Walden by Henry David Thoreau
• Black Boy by Richard Wright

Of course, the book you pick may not have been assigned by a teacher, Additionally, note that the instructions give you the right to move back into 7th grade or forward into 10th grade if you wish. Remember, it can be a fiction or non-fiction text.

Big-picture thoughts on the “middle school book” essay

With a 300-word limit, you have a substantial amount of real estate to play around with here. There is enough space in which to tell a fairly substantial and detailed story. Still, in all likelihood, getting this one precisely right will involve a round or two of revision, ideally with some insight and feedback from a trusted adult or peer in the process. Some tips to keep in mind include:

• Don’t feel boxed into one particular structure for this essay. You could tell a story in multiple acts or present a slice-of-life vignette that took place in a single afternoon.
• You can use this opportunity to reveal something deep and meaningful about your personality/character.
• Make sure the content of this essay doesn’t overlap with your Common App essay. Always remember that an actual human being is going to be reading both documents; they don’t want to read two similar accounts of the same event.

How important is the UGA supplemental essay?

The essays (both the Common App essay and the supplemental one) are “considered” by the UGA admissions committee. This places them on the same tier of importance as recommendations, extracurricular activities, talent/ability, character/personal qualities, first-generation status, volunteer work, and work experience.

At UGA, three factors are “most important” in the admissions process. Those are: rigor of your coursework, GPA, and standardized test scores. However, application components like the supplemental essay can serve as a critical tie-breaker between similarly credentialed applicants.

Want Personalized Essay Assistance with your UGA Supplemental Essay?

If you are interested in working with one of College Transitions’ experienced and knowledgeable essay coaches as you craft your UGA supplemental essay, we encourage you to get a quote  today.

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University of Georgia Admission Essays

University of georgia: my journey towards a career in healthcare.

I have always known that I want to work in the field of healthcare, specifically as a pediatrician. My passion for helping others, combined with my love for children, has shaped my career goals and driven me to take steps towards pursuing them throughout high…

Model United Nations: Shaping My Character and College Success

Throughout my high school experience, I have had the privilege of being involved in various extracurricular activities that have not only shaped my character but also prepared me for success in college. One particular experience that stands out to me is my involvement in the…

Interdisciplinary Learning and Inclusivity at UGA

Introduction As a college student seeking to broaden my intellectual horizons, I am excited to submit my application to the esteemed University of Georgia. Committed to academic excellence and fostering a diverse community, UGA aligns perfectly with my aspirations for personal growth and professional development….

Celebrating Diversity, Fostering Unity at UGA

The community I grew up in was predominantly white, with little representation from different races, cultures, or lifestyles. It wasn’t until I entered high school that I began to truly appreciate the value of diversity and the importance of creating an inclusive community. Introduction During…

Being More Than Just a Student at the Peace Corps Community

As a young kid, I had always been interested in the world and the people in it. I had always read through history books about people from other countries, which at the time seemed like other worlds, and their religions and cultural differences. As a…

Why I Want to Continue My Education at Georgia College

Throughout my schooling, I have attended a total of three schools. Each of these schools is drastically different from the other, one being a private Christian school, one a public middle school, and one a public visual and performing arts high school. I attended Calvary…

Reasons Why I Want to Be a Teacher

As an adult, I think we all share a general understanding that we only want to do what is best for our children. I want to be a teacher because I want to be the catalyst who pushes my children to achieve their full potential….

To Be Missed: College Admission Essay Sample

“We won’t miss you anyway.” -My drama teacher’s response after I told him that I wasn’t going to audition for his next superior musical. When I got home, I cried—not just from embarrassment—but because his words validated something I had known for a while. I…

The Buzz About Entomology

As I was looking for the perfect university to attend, the University of Georgia immediately caught my eye. Its reputation for excellence in academics and research, as well as its strong sense of community, made me confident that it was the right choice for me….

Rising Above: College Admission Essay Sample

As the applause faded to a hum, my whole body began to tremble. My throat seized up and tiny bumps arose across my arms. Just as my legs felt ready to give out underneath me, the conductor raised her hands. In one swift movement, a…

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How to Write the University of Georgia Supplemental Essay 2024–2025

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The University of Georgia , located in the city of Athens, is a highly ranked public research institution. Committed to student well-being , perhaps it’s no surprise that Bulldog football fans are among the happiest and Athens, GA is considered one of the best college towns. According to their website , the University of Georgia’s accomplished alumni include “lauded scientists and researchers; countless entrepreneurs; Academy Award winners; U.S. senators; nine Pulitzer Prize recipients; and 26 governors of Georgia.” If you’re hoping to be lucky enough to become a Bulldog, you’ll need to nail the University of Georgia supplemental essay. Let’s dive in.

University of Georgia’s 2024-2025 Prompt

The transition from middle to high school is a key time for students as they reach new levels of both academic and personal discovery. please share a book (novel, non-fiction, etc.) that had a serious impact on you during this time. please focus more on why this book made an impact on you and less on the plot/theme of the book itself (we are not looking for a book report). (200-350 words), we’ll review your essay.

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Let’s talk about two common grammatical mistakes students make in their college essays. Note that these are grammar rules applicable to Standard American English. Even if you’re not American, the University of Georgia is in the U.S., so it’s in your best interest to stick to these rules.

Avoid the comma splice.

The comma splice crops up in essays of all kinds, by all kinds of writers. In some circumstances, it can be considered stylistic, even though it’s grammatically incorrect, though most of the time it should be avoided. But what is a comma splice? A comma splice is when you use a comma to connect two independent clauses. Unfortunately, a comma alone is not allowed to connect two independent clauses. Note that an independent clause is a group of words that express a grammatically complete thought.

Here are some examples of comma splices and ways they could be corrected:

• Incorrect: I read this book in 8th grade, it changed my life.
• Correct: I read this book in 8th grade, and it changed my life.
• Incorrect: My 8th grade English teacher assigned it for summer reading, I forgot to read it until August.
• Correct: My 8th grade English teacher assigned it for summer reading; I forgot to read it until August.
• Incorrect: Although I had read it before, I never understood it until that summer, that was the summer I fell in love.
• Correct: Although I had read it before, I never understood it until that summer—that was the summer I fell in love.
• Incorrect: I reached the last page in tears, I wondered how I had never understood this before.
• Correct: I reached the last page in tears. I wondered how I had never understood this before.

Know how to use punctuation in quotes.

Because this particular essay question asks you to write about a book you have read, you may find yourself using quotes. If not, it’s not unlikely there’s some dialogue in your Common App essay. If so, you’ll need to understand how to use punctuation when you’re quoting something or someone. Here are the rules:

• Example: I shouted, “Look over here, Dad!”
• Example: The first line of the book is, “Call me Ishmael.”
• Example: Did he just say “fire”?
• Example: The last thing I wanted to hear was a “no”!
• Example: “I don’t know you anymore,” she whispered.
• Example: “Where are you going?” they asked.
• Example: “I have good news,” the doctor began, “but I still want you to sit down.”
• Example: “I think,” I said slowly, “that we’re lost.”

Still have questions? Check out our College Essay Review service, and we’ll be sure to identify any and all grammar issues you may have.

University of Georgia Short Essay Question

The University of Georgia supplemental essay prompt is unique in that it asks applicants to write about books read in the 8th or 9th grade approximate timeframe. In contrast, most college essays either ask you to write about a certain experience with no prescribed timeframe, or they restrict students’ responses to their most recent two years of high school. Nevertheless, the University of Georgia seeks to understand who you were and what impacted you just a little earlier. Here’s some more information their admissions team provides:

“We are not restricting you to the exact years of 8th-9th grades, but rather the general timeframe of the middle to high school transition, which can extend somewhat further than one year on each end. Feel free to use your discretion in your choice of the timeline focused on the shift to your high school years.”

Based on this information, it seems that the key is that your essay focuses on the transition from middle to high school . In addition, you need to address this time period through the lens of a book you read during this time. This book can be any genre, but it should have had a significant impact on you. This should be a book you still think about to this day. It should also be a book that you have read in its entirety. Note that whether or not you read this book for school is not relevant to this essay.

Moreover, because you did not read this book recently, you may want to revisit it before you begin to write this essay. That way, you can provide specific details about the book and why it impacted you. You can include quotes (as long as they are enclosed in question marks), but spend no more than 2-3 sentences summarizing the book to provide context if necessary. If this book is very well-known (for instance: the Bible, a book from the Harry Potter series, The Great Gatsby ), then you need not summarize it.

Focus on providing reasons for why this book impacted you. What are the themes and messages that have changed your behavior or mindset? How has the book influenced the way you write or communicate? What were the lessons you learned? If you can answer a few of these questions in your essay with clarity and specific details, then you’ll do well.

If you need help polishing up your University of Georgia supplemental essays, check out our College Essay Review service. You can receive detailed feedback from Ivy League consultants in as little as 24 hours.

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, uga essay examples.

Hey, does anyone have any good UGA essay examples or tips that they'd like to share? I'm working on my essay for the University of Georgia and could really use some inspiration. Thanks in advance!

Hey there! I'd recommend checking out CollegeVine's essay guides, since they have posts that share real essays students submitted to dozens of schools. For the University of Georgia, check out this post:

https://blog.collegevine.com/university-of-georgia-essay-examples

Just keep in mind that these examples are for inspiration and you shouldn't copy them. Make sure your essay reflects your unique perspectives and genuine voice. Good luck with writing your UGA essay!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

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How To Submit Your Strongest Application: Tips From Michigan Ross Students

Applying to an MBA program can feel daunting. Tackling your essays, gathering letters of recommendation, and making sure your test scores, transcripts, or test waivers are all in order may feel like a lot to accomplish at first.

To help you submit your best possible application, we chatted with three current Michigan Ross students and asked them to share their tips.

What is your best advice to applicants trying to make their essay responses memorable?

“Personalize your responses: think about specific anecdotes and examples you can give to strengthen your essays. It's always better to "show" instead of "tell." For example, if you are writing about how Ross's action-based learning curriculum will support your education, think about times when hands-on learning opportunities were crucial to your development and how you can communicate those examples to illustrate your point. I spoke in my own essays about some of my patient care experiences in medical school and how they informed my desire to make a larger, positive impact on healthcare systems in a leadership role.”

— Jesper Ke, MD/MBA ’25

Why this is good advice: Jesper highlights the importance of authenticity and personalization in essays. The essays are the admissions committee’s lens into an applicant’s unique experiences and how they’ve been impacted by them. Consider using the STAR (situation, task, action, result) format to share specific examples. Writing a memorable essay is an iterative process that takes time and reflection. It’s helpful to view the essay-writing process as a way to “double-check” your career and personal goals as you explore your MBA program options.  

— Digna Patel Raj, Associate Director, FTMBA Admissions 

What admissions events or Michigan Ross-related activities would you recommend prospective students participate in before applying?

“I highly recommend attending events where you can connect with current students and recent alumni. I leveraged the student ambassador network to connect with students from similar backgrounds and/or career interests. Through these conversations, I was able to understand the Ross culture and what it was like to be a student at Ross. Additionally, if you have the means, I recommend visiting campus. I visited during Ross Women’s Weekend, and it allowed me to visualize myself as a student at Ross.”

— Shivanee Shah, MBA/MS ’26

Why this is good advice: This is top-tier advice because engaging with current students and recent alumni provides valuable insights into a school's culture, academics, and community beyond official materials. Their honest feedback on their experiences and challenges helps you understand daily life at Ross and evaluate cultural fit. Using the student ambassador network lets you connect with people who share your background or career interests, offering targeted insights. Visiting the campus gives you the opportunity to experience the environment firsthand and assess if it aligns with your expectations. 

— Lindsay DiAngelo, Assistant Director, FTMBA Admissions 

What is one thing you wish you had known when you applied to Michigan Ross?

“One thing I wish I had known is the significance of demonstrating leadership and how this impacts an application to the program. Most applicants often talk about their achievements in terms of results; however, Ross places a strong emphasis on applicants who have shown a history of making a difference in their professional and personal lives. That’s where leadership comes in. An applicant needs to think of ways they have demonstrated this in the past while achieving results. Reflecting on this will help you put your best foot forward as you prepare for your interview.”

— Adewale Asimolowo, MBA ’25

Why this is good advice: Adewale’s advice is wonderful from an admissions perspective because it highlights the importance of aligning with the specific values and priorities of the Michigan Ross MBA Program and focusing on the 'how'. This approach will help you to differentiate yourself as an applicant and is highly relevant to your application's essay and evaluative interview criterion. The recent revision of our MBA essays allows applicants to emphasize their leadership and impact further. 

— Andrea McHale, Director, FTMBA Admissions

What tips do you have for students who are invited to interview?

“Be yourself! Ultimately, your interviewers are primarily alumni who also understand the Ross experience and are looking to learn more about your interests and fit with the community. At the same time, take the interview as an opportunity to learn more about Ross, asking your interviewer about their experiences, the community, and how a Ross MBA empowered their future career path.”

Why this is good advice: Jesper emphasizes the importance of authenticity both on paper and in real life. In addition to demonstrating the research you’ve done on Ross and coming prepared with some targeted questions for your interviewer, make sure you’ve also reflected on your own experiences, both professional and personal, that you can talk about during your interview. A good tip for prepping for your interview is to create a workbook with examples you can use for different behavioral questions. And make sure you’re prepared to answer why an MBA makes sense for you at this point in your career. 

— Michelle Pava, Associate Director, FTMBA Admissions

How did you go about choosing your recommenders?

“Initially, I made a list of my recent managers, project managers, and anyone I worked closely with who can speak to my professional experience. To select my recommenders, I wanted individuals who could speak positively and tangibly about my work experience and work products and saw my growth professionally. I ended up selecting a project manager I had worked with on multiple projects and a previous direct manager/partner.”

Why this is good advice: Shivanee provides great insight on who to select for your letter of recommendation. The admissions committee advises choosing someone who is going to provide a comprehensive overview of your work experience and the impact you bring to a team, which is often a direct supervisor or someone in a managerial role who has worked closely with you. Be sure to also meet with your recommender one-on-one before asking them so they have a clear understanding of your goals before they get to writing.

— Melissa Coveney, Associate Director, FTMBA Admissions 

What’s your best piece of general advice to prospective students hoping to get into Michigan Ross? 

“Self-reflection is important. Spend time reflecting on your experiences, strengths, and areas for improvement. Self-awareness and a willingness to grow are qualities that interviewers and admissions committees appreciate.”

Why this is good advice: Adewale is spot on — self-reflection and awareness are some of the most important aspects of the application process and your overall MBA experience. We highly encourage everyone to take some time to reflect on why they want an MBA, why now, and what they hope to learn before applying. 

— Lysa Wang, Associate Director, FTMBA Admissions 

Be sure to check out more tips from the admissions team on our YouTube channel , and come ask any questions you may have at an upcoming admissions event. We’re excited to see your application and wish you the best of luck as you take this important step toward becoming a future Michigan Ross MBA.

"Believing in yourself and your abilities is the first step toward tackling any challenge."

2019 Freshman Essay Topics

  david graves        may 11th, 2018 in blog.

• ( Required ) The college admissions process can create anxiety. In an attempt to make it less stressful, please tell us an interesting or amusing story about yourself from your high school years that you have not already shared in your application.
• UGA’s 2017 Commencement speaker Ernie Johnson (Class of ’79) told a story from his youth about what he refers to as blackberry moments. He has described these as  “the sweet moments that are right there to be had but we’re just too focused on what we’re doing …, and we see things that are right there within our reach and we neglect them. Blackberry moments can be anything that makes somebody else’s day, that makes your day, that are just sweet moments that you always remember.” Tell us about one of your “blackberry moments” from the past five years.
• Creativity is found in many forms including artistic avenues, intellectual pursuits, social interactions, innovative solutions, et cetera. Tell us how you express your creativity.
• Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.
• Describe a problem, possibly related to your area of study, which you would like to solve. Explain its importance to you and what actions you would take to solve this issue.

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