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Navigating the University of Oregon's Supplemental Essays: A Detailed Guide

The University of Oregon has recently released its optional essay prompts for prospective students applying for the 2024 academic year. Each prompt offers a unique opportunity for applicants to demonstrate their individuality, resilience, and contributions to a diverse community. The University appreciates thoughtful and introspective responses that reflect genuine personal growth and commitment. Below are the essay prompts provided, along with the word count limit of 250-500 words :

Describe an experience with discrimination, whether it was fighting against discrimination or recognizing your contribution to discriminating against a person or group. What did you learn from the experience? In what ways will you bring those lessons to the University of Oregon?

The University of Oregon values difference, and we take pride in our diverse community. Please explain how you will share your experiences, values, and interests with our community. In what ways can you imagine offering your support to others?

Additionally, the University offers an optional section to discuss various personal circumstances that may have impacted your academic performance or other aspects of your application.

How to Approach the University of Oregon's Supplemental Essays

First and foremost, it's important to understand that these prompts are optional , but completing them can bolster your application by providing more context and showcasing aspects of your personality that other parts of your application might not cover. To craft a compelling essay, consider the following steps.

Essay 1: Tackling Experiences with Discrimination

This prompt is for applicants who have faced or witnessed discrimination. Here, the University of Oregon wants to see your reflection and the lessons learned from your experiences. They are interested in how these experiences will influence your contributions to the campus community. Here are some tips:

Be Honest and Reflective: Clearly describe the instance of discrimination. Be vulnerable and truthful about how it affected you or others involved.

Highlight Personal Growth: Focus on your growth from the experience. What did it teach you about yourself and society?

Connect to Future Actions: Explain how these lessons will shape your behavior and actions at the University of Oregon. Be specific about initiatives or values you wish to promote on campus.

For more tailored advice, consider using Sups AI . This AI college counseling platform can help brainstorm and polish your ideas, ensuring your essay stands out.

Essay 2: Celebrating Diversity and Community

The second prompt focuses on how you will share your unique experiences, values, and interests with the University of Oregon's diverse community. It also asks how you can offer support to others on campus. Consider these points:

Showcase Your Unique Background: Talk about specific experiences that have shaped who you are and how they will benefit the UO community.

Align with University Values: Demonstrate how your values align with those of the University of Oregon. They value diversity and inclusion, so consider examples that highlight these traits.

Offer Tangible Support Plans: Think about how you can actively contribute to the campus community. Whether it's through clubs, initiatives, or informal mentorship, be specific in your intentions.

Struggling on where to start? Sups AI offers valuable tools to help you brainstorm and refine your essay. They also provide personalized feedback from current students who can share insights on what the university is looking for.

Optional Section: Additional Context

If you need to explain academic inconsistencies, personal hardships, or other aspects of your background, utilize this optional section wisely. Be honest and focus on the steps you have taken to overcome these challenges and what you have learned. Clear and concise explanations can provide valuable context to the admissions committee.

Remember, applications can be complex and challenging, but utilizing resources like Sups AI can give you a significant advantage. With their help, you can approach each essay with confidence and clarity.

Final Thoughts

Navigating the University of Oregon’s supplemental essays can be a pivotal part of your application. By being authentic, reflective, and detail-oriented, you can present a compelling case for your admission. And don't forget, Sups AI is here to assist you in making your application the best it can be.

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Writing the University of Oregon Optional Supplemental Essay

Written by Sara Calvert-Kubrom on October 17th, 2018

• essay prompts ,
• writing college essays ,
• Reflect on what it means to be a Duck, who you are, and what you would contribute to the campus. Essentially, demonstrate why you are a strong fit for Oregon and why Oregon is a strong fit for you. For my sister-in-law (a very proud alumnus), she was raised cheering for Duck football in Autzen Stadium and watching the rich life-long friendships her parents formed during their time as students at Oregon. She was drawn to the sense of community, the diversity of academic options, and a sorority with a rich commitment to community service and engagement. In exploring this topic, I encourage you to review Oregon’s mission statement and explore information about “ Duck Life ” and academics so that you can highlight specific examples of how you are an excellent fit and ways that you will impact the community.
• Reflect on your thoughts and experiences recognizing difference and supporting equity and inclusion. A close friend of mine who attended Oregon is especially proud of the university’s recent dedication to equity and inclusion and the robust scholarly and student life programming focused on welcoming and embracing all forms of diversity. As you reflect on your own experiences with diversity (this could be from your experiences based on your own identity, or through interacting with others), review the Equity and Inclusion website to learn about campus initiatives, statistics, and programming. In this prompt, connect your experiences with examples of how you would contribute to Oregon’s efforts around equity and inclusion. Be specific.

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Supplemental Essay Guide 2024-25

What do the 2024-25 supplemental essay prompts really mean, and how should you approach them? CEA's experts are here to break them all down.

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* Tuition filtering is based on out-of-state fees

How to Approach Supplemental Essays

When our students dig into the college application process, they are often surprised to encounter not only the main Common Application’s personal statement , but also a host of supplemental essay questions. These assignments are often school-specific writing prompts for which a student must also craft thoughtful, well-written replies.

Supplemental essays are often more focused than the Common App assignment, though they vary in length and scope. Their prompts tackle subjects that range from deeper explorations of a student’s background to their collegiate and academic interests.

We often encourage our students to nail down their personal statement topic first, then ask them to approach their supplemental essays in priority order, according to submission deadlines. Many schools will offer prompts that are similar in theme and content to one another (for example, many institutions now ask about a student’s most important activity ), so it is helpful for students to gather and review all supplemental questions before beginning the brainstorm process to see where they might naturally overlap.

Elite institutions often have extensive supplemental sections, as do some honors programs, so students should keep this in mind as they hunt for their essay questions and map out their plan of attack.

All supplemental essays should be given the same time and care as the main Common Application essay. These supplements not only are an excellent opportunity to show a school both your competence and level of devotion to their institution, but also offer opportunities to paint some personality into your application. So embrace supplements, use your unique voice, and show these schools what you’re made of!

Agnes Scott College 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Alvernia University 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide  

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2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, new york university (nyu) 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, frequently asked questions.

It really depends. Typically, the more competitive the university, the more arduous the supplemental essay requirements. Most top universities ask for at least three supplemental essays, but some only require one short essay.

The most common supplemental essay topics are:

• The Why Essay , which asks applicants to discuss their interest in their intended major and/or the school in question.
• The Activity Essay , which asks applicants to describe their involvement in an activity that is meaningful to them.
• The Community Essay , which asks about a community the applicant belongs to and the role that community plays in their life (and vice versa!).
• The Diversity Essay , which often asks applicants to explore how they champion diversity and inclusion in their communities and/or how they engage with people from different backgrounds or who hold opposing views. 
• The Short Answer , which asks applicants to answer prompts in very few words (or characters) to add context to their application and a splash of personality.
• The Oddball Essay , which asks applicants to tap into their creativity to connect curveball questions to their lives and interests.

Just like with the Common App personal statement, you’re going to want to write authentically about yourself while addressing all parts of each supplemental essay prompt. Many schools want to better understand how you see yourself contributing to their campus community and/or diversity and inclusion efforts along with how you hope to use your education to achieve your goals. So, be honest and forward-thinking, and don’t forget to customize each supplemental essay so it’s specific to each school you’re submitting to. That means doing research and weaving information into your essays that demonstrates the amount of time and thought you’ve put into your application. 

We have a few successful supplemental essay examples in our Free Resources section.

Each admissions department has their own process for reviewing applications, and some admissions committees put more weight on supplemental essays than others, but all admissions departments that offer applicants the opportunity to pen additional essays are doing so for a reason: to better understand the applicant and compare similarly qualified candidates. It’s in the applicant’s best interest to not only provide admissions with as much information regarding their candidacy as possible, but also go the extra mile. At highly competitive institutions, admissions officers are looking for reasons to remove students from the applicant pool—don’t let poorly written or (*gulp*) incomplete supplemental essays work against you!

Absolutely not. Please do not reuse content from your Common App essay in your supplements. Although it’s possible for you to expand upon an idea, activity, or community that you mention in your Common App essay in your supplements, you should never recycle content or any phrasing word for word.

Start by reading through all the prompts. Next, jot down ideas that come to your mind (no matter how silly they may seem!). Everyone has a story to tell, and we’re willing to bet you’re more interesting than you think. Give yourself plenty of time to consider different topics and revise, revise, revise! Also, our handy dandy Supplemental Essay Guides are sure to help you on your writing journey.

North Carolina State 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

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Clark honors college menu, clark honors college, how to apply.

Thank you for your interest in the Clark Honors College! Applying is simple. Here's a  checklist to stay on track and you can also follow the application timeline .

Essay Tips & Prompt

AP, IB & Transfer Credits

Transfer Students

What We Look For

We seek bright, thoughtful, and academically motivated individuals to bring diversity to our community of scholars.

There are no minimum requirements for admission to the Clark Honors College. We do not believe that your past success, and potential future accomplishments, can be embodied in a test score—which is why we conduct a holistic portfolio review for each applicant. 

Each application is evaluated to establish its strength with respect to:

• Creative Potential : Creativity and critical thinking
• Academic Performance : The extent to which you have challenged yourself by taking diverse and rigorous courses in high school
• Potential Contribution : The ways in which you have contributed to your family and your community

Typical Clark Honors College Incoming Students

Application checklist.

Apply to the University of Oregon.

Choose either the Oregon Application  or the Common Application . The requirements are the same, and your application will be treated no differently regardless of which option you choose. Official transcripts are required only when a student is admitted to the UO and accepts admission. On your application, you will self-report your high school academic record.

Write your Clark Honors College Essay.

The formal essay is an important component of your application to the Clark Honors College. Think ahead on this one. Read our Essay Tips & Prompt .  

Optional: Send test scores.

Test scores, including SAT and ACT, are optional. If you choose to submit, send these directly to the UO as part of your application.  

Application Timeline

Early action: application due.

This deadline is universal, whether you choose the Oregon Application or the Common Application.

november 15

EARLY ACTION: Supporting Documents Due

If you choose to send test scores or an official high school transcript prior to acceptance, those are considered supporting documents. 

December 15

EARLY ACTION: Notifications Sent

To check the status of your application, visit your  Application Status Portal .

REGULAR DECISION: Application Due

February 15

REGULAR DECISION: Supporting Documents Due

Regular decision: notifications sent.

Have Questions?

We've got answers. Read the Frequently Asked Questions about admission to Clark Honors College. You can also email us at  [email protected]  or call 541-346-7600.

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University Of Oregon Admission Essay Writing Guide

Application Guide

Essay examples, how to write your university of oregon’s supplement essays.

While gaining entry into the University of Oregon is not as difficult as some other schools, it is not everyone who applies gets in. Every year, thousands of students still get turned away. This means you need to present a top-notch application.

A critical aspect of your application is your essay. You need to turn in a well-written statement letter to aid your chances. You can get numerous samples of the University of Oregon statement letters from our platform. You can use the following principles as a guideline to write yours:

Express your Intent to Join

A critical aspect of your cover letter is expressing your desire to be a student of this institution. In providing your answer to any essay prompts, you need to clarify that you already see yourself as part of the school. Use affirmative terms, do not use pessimistic or vague terms. Express your interests in the major you have chosen.

Use Simple Words

Unless otherwise stated, make use of simple words. We understand that you are a high school graduate and you have a good command of the English language. This is not where to display your wide range of vocabulary.

The admission officials are not your English teachers and, as such, are not seeking to see you display excessive use of complex words. Keep it as simple as possible. The goal is easy comprehension.

Answer the Question

This is a trap a lot of students fall into. They write everything except the answers. The easiest way to not make this mistake is to outline your response before you start answering. Do not get carried away and miss the point of the question.

Get an understanding of what exactly is required of you to provide intelligible answers. Often, the word count is fixed at a minimum, and you may not have the privilege to beat around the bush. Go straight to the point with your answers.

Perform your due diligence and get to know all you need to know about the University of Oregon. Read up on your majors, the professors, the student community, and any specific entry requirements. Let your answers reflect a deep understanding of the school and the degree program you are applying for. Use as many terms that are related to U of O as possible.

You can find examples of the University of Oregon’s supplemental essays on our platform, which would give you all the right ideas. If you find writing academic texts worrisome, we have skilled writers that can do the job. You can buy your papers at a cheap rate, guaranteed superb content.

University Of Oregon Admission Essay Prompts

Now that you have an insight into how to answer your essay questions, let us look at the supplemental essay prompts for the University of Oregon. The prompts below are for the 2021/2022 academic sessions. The aim of these prompts is for you to demonstrate why you believe you are a suitable fit for the school. The admissions officials want to know more about you, especially the part of you that is not available on the rest of your application. You can choose any of the two prompts.

Describe an experience with discrimination, whether it was fighting against discrimination or recognizing your contribution to discriminating against a person or group. What did you learn from the experience? In what ways will you bring those lessons to the University of Oregon?

The chances are high that you must have witnessed discrimination in one form or another. You may have witnessed it happen to others, perpetuated it, or been on the receiving end. This essay simply asks that you share your experience and the lessons you learned. Discrimination can occur anywhere and to anyone. It can take on the form of race, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, country of origin, or disabilities.

The admissions office wants to know your take on discrimination and what you did when you witnessed it. They are not expecting you to provide a global solution to the problem; they just want to know what you did to resolve an incidence(s). You can wrap it up by stating measures you would take to help tackle the challenges of discrimination and work towards an inclusive community at U of O.

Alternatively, If you have been on the wrong side and discriminated against other people, they want to know how you handle situations when you are in the wrong. Feel free to narrate what happened with an understanding of how wrong it was. Explain what made you behave in such manners.

Was it youthful exuberance, wrong cultural norms, or compulsive behaviors? This goal is to reflect your levels of self-awareness and course correction where necessary. It is important you show how you have learned from the mistakes and, most importantly, how you are committed to eradicating such discrimination. Talk about how you would affect the lessons you have learned at the University of Oregon.

The University of Oregon values difference, and we take pride in our diverse community. Please explain how you will share your experiences, values, and interests with our community. In what ways can you imagine offering your support to others?

This is similar to the first prompt. Again, you will demonstrate your willingness and commitment to a liberal community. Diversity is an important aspect of a functional community. Diversity covers different ethnic backgrounds, ages, religions, disabilities, races, and genders.

The University of Oregon has a vast range of diversity, and the admission officials need to know how you would interact with this community. There are different people from different backgrounds, and each individual is unique. The right interaction of the unique differences makes for an inclusive system.

You can simply talk about your background, preferences, experiences, and how it has rightly positioned you to be a student at the University of Oregon. It does not matter where you come from. It does not matter whether you are white, dark, blue, or green. There are no wrong answers to this question, only honest ones. You can describe any family heritage that aid inclusion regardless of gender, age or race.

Perhaps you have a unique food recipe or an interest in dancing; relate how you would use any interests you have to foster the unity in U-O’s community.

Admission requirements

To gain admission into the University of Oregon, you would need the following:

For Undergraduate programs:

• Proof of graduation from high school
• Minimum academic requirement of C- in 15 college preparatory courses
• Self-reported academic record
• SAT/ACT scores (optional)
• Application essay

For Master’s degree:

• A completed application form
• Official transcripts sent from the school where you received your first degree.
• Any other document or materials as required by your department.

For college applicants outside the US

• A minimum GPA of 3.0 on a scale of 4.0 (for graduate school requirements of academic performance may vary by program)
• Proof of English proficiency
• Proof of sufficient financial resources
• Letters of recommendation.

About the University

Popularly known as UO or U of O, the University of Oregon is a frontrunner in various research fields across the United States. With 19 research centres and institutes, It is classified among R1: Doctoral Universities — Very high research activity. But it wasn’t always this successful. The Oregon State Legislature established the university on October 12, 1872, but the state quickly ran into funding problems.

The good people of Eugene held numerous fundraising events to help finance the new school. Through produce sales, strawberry festivals, and church socials, they raised $27,500, which was used to buy 18 acres of land. This public university finally opened its doors in 1876 and enrolled 155 students in its first year. In 1878, it graduated its first set of students (5 students).

There was a proposal in 1913 and another — the Zorn-MacPherson Bill in 1932, to merge the university with what is now Oregon State University. Both Bills failed. The campus is along the Willamette River and covers 295 acres of land in Eugene, Oregon. The grounds contain 80 buildings and a nursery consisting of over 3,000 trees from 500 different species.

Colleges and Schools at the University of Oregon

The U of O offers over 300 undergraduate and graduate degree programs across five colleges and seven schools.

The colleges are

• Arts and Sciences

The schools are

• Architecture and Environment
• Arts and Design
• Journalism and Communication
• Music and Dance
• Planning, Public Policy, and Management.

The University of Oregon has students from the 50 states in the US and 89 countries around the globe. The school has a diverse and healthy community. People of all colors and creeds are well represented. There is a lengthy list of successful alumni, including the co-founder of Nike Inc, Philip Knight, who is worth over $50 billion.

Knight has donated over $1 billion to the school, with the largest chunk to the sports projects, which comes as no surprise. The University of Oregon has many prestigious alumni, including the co-founder of Nike Inc, Philip Knight, who has donated over $1billion to the school.

The U of R is truly a school worth its salt and has distinguished itself globally. If you need help writing your application letter, you can buy one on our platform. Hire any of our experienced writers to give you a perfectly crafted supplemental essay, and our services are cheap.

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How to Write the University of Oregon Essays 2019-2020

The University of Oregon is a public research university located along the scenic Willamette River. UO houses a Professional Distinction Program that offers students internship opportunities and career workshops. UO also includes the highly ranked College of Education, as well as thriving football and track programs. 

University of Oregon has an acceptance rate of 78%. Applicants can apply via the Common Application, Coalition Application, or a school-specific application. All platforms require a main application essay for UO, and they also provide a second optional essay. Honors College applicants must complete an additional essay. 

For All Applicants

The first prompt is required ONLY if applying via the UO portal; Common App and Coalition Application students submit the main Common App and Coalition Application essay instead of this below prompt.

The UO is interested in learning more about you. Write an essay of 650 words or less that shares information that we cannot find elsewhere on your application. Any topic you choose is welcome. Some ideas you might consider include your future ambitions and goals, a special talent, extracurricular activity, or unusual interest that sets you apart from your peers, or a significant experience that influenced your life. If you are applying to the UO’s Robert D. Clark Honors College, feel free to resubmit your honors college application essay.

The admissions committee wants to learn more about you as an individual. You have a wider range of acceptable topics for this prompt, however you should avoid discussing academic-related subjects as they will clearly shine through the other parts of your application. The prompt asks you to focus on something that wouldn’t be discussed in a traditional college application. 

You should also take note of the optional essay that focuses on your identity in the context of equity and inclusion. If your topic is within this realm, consider saving it for the second prompt and using this space to talk about another interest. Writing about different topics will allow you to provide the admissions committee with the most information about yourself. 

This prompt naturally lends itself to a narrative structure. Remember the classic writing adage, “show, don’t tell.” Instead of simply telling the reader that you are president of Key Club, describe the time you supervised the food drive. Instead of simply telling the reader about your dream to become a doctor, describe a meaningful volunteer shift at your local hospital. 

Tie your personal experience into an important underlying themes or insights. Explain why this activity or goal is important to you. For example, why is your work with Key Club important to you? Do you feel most personally fulfilled when you engage in community service? Why do you want to be a pediatrician? Do you have a passion for medicine and children? 

The best essays will tie concrete examples about your topic to a broader theme that tells the reader something about you. 

Optional: As you’ve looked into what it will be like to attend Oregon, you’ve hopefully learned about what makes Ducks Ducks. No two are alike, though, so tell us what makes you you, and how that connects to our campus community. We are interested in your thoughts and experiences recognizing difference and supporting equity and inclusion, and choosing one of these two options will guide you in sharing those thoughts. You can learn more about equity and inclusion at Oregon by visiting the Equity and Inclusion website. (500 words)

This prompt asks you to reflect on the importance of either recognizing difference or supporting equity and inclusion. Your response should also explain how your unique personal identity will more broadly connect to the campus community.

There is no right answer to this topic, however your response should be something that is a clear part of your identity. Save hobbies or interests for the first essay prompt, which asks you about anything that wouldn’t be included in other parts of your application. 

For example, you could discuss your socioeconomic status, your cultural background, or your sexual orientation. You do not need to stick to one aspect of your identity to fully answer this prompt and you should feel free to discuss the intersectional parts of your identity. 

Once you have described your personal identity, you should explain how your personal perspective helps you understand the importance of either recognizing differences, or supporting equity and inclusion. Why do you believe recognizing differences is important? How do you believe a university or individuals can support diversity or inclusion? 

For example, you could describe how sharing information about your culture at your high school’s annual international fair allowed you to see the beauty in a community that celebrates different cultures. You could discuss how being president of your school’s Gay Straight Alliance allowed you to work on various equity and inclusion initiatives, which in turned reaffirmed your passion for supporting these causes. 

You will also need to explain how your personal identity will connect with the broader campus community. How will your bring your identity with you to UO? Will you join a culturally based club? Will you help educate your peers on your identity? Will you do academic research into your culture to gain a new perspective? 

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For Applicants to the Honors College

The CHC faculty are involved in the review of applications to the Honors College, and are eager to learn about how you think, and how your mind works. Please write an essay that responds to one of the three quotations below. Reflect on how the quotation relates to your own experience, beliefs, and attitudes.

The Clark Honors College offers University of Oregon students an engaged learning community. The Honors Program offers students honors-specific courses with small class sizes, a residential living-learning community, and an honors-specific academic building that serves as the hub of the program. Students in the Honors Program complete a thesis about a novel research topic under the close mentorship of a faculty member. 

This prompt seeks to assess your critical thinking skills and your perspective on the world. Consider brainstorming all three quotation options before you choose your essay topic. Select the prompt that allows you to most clearly connect the theme to your personal experiences and belief system. 

Regardless of which prompt you choose, your essay should try to tie your concrete experiences into your broader personal beliefs and attitudes. These prompts allow for large degrees of abstraction, however your response will be far stronger if you can illustrate the abstract points you are trying to make with everyday examples. Remember the classic writing adage, “show, don’t tell.” 

Option A – Hannah Arendt: “Education is the point at which we decide whether we love the world enough to assume responsibility for it, and by the same token save it from that ruin which except for renewal, except for the coming of the new and the young, would be inevitable.” (650 words)

This quote emphasizes the value of education to society. Your response should explain why you believe education is key to creating a better world. Use your personal experiences with education to explain why you believe education is important. 

For example, did you have a pivotal academic experience that inspired you outside of the classroom? Did you watch younger children become more generous towards each other after you taught them a lesson about caring? Did you watch a poorly behaved child become happier when you tutored him and he learned to express himself without physical fighting?

For example, you could write about how your class on the prison system inspired your passion for prison reform and your desire to become a lawyer. You could then explain how your personal experience convinced you of the value of education because you wouldn’t have known about the injustice in the world without your education. 

Option B – Maya Angelou: “Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future, and renders the present inaccessible.” (650 words)

This prompt focuses on your thoughts on prejudice. While the other two quote options invite personal examples, not everyone has personal examples of prejudice. If this is the case for you, you can describe your feelings on current events or historical issues instead. That said, the strongest essays will share more about who you are, and that’s difficult to do if you have no personal stories to share. You might first want to consider the other two prompts instead.

This prompt mentions three distinct time periods: the past, present, and future. Even if you do have relevant personal stories, you likely will need to mention the historical relevance of the specific issue behind your anecdotes. For example, you might talk about how you’re Native American, but you don’t have close ties to your culture. This is because your mother was actually forced into adoption in the 1960s though the Indian Adoption Project , an attempt by the U.S. government to make Native Americans assimilate into “white culture.” The project was motivated by the idea that white culture was superior, or more civilized, which is clear prejudice. It tore thousands of children away from their homes, and cut their ties to native lands, which allowed the government to then seize that land for itself. All of this “threatens the future” of Native American culture and lands, “renders the present inaccessible” to the student (as they’ve been removed from their culture), and this period of history is also largely unknown to most Americans, which “confuses the past.”

Option C – John Steinbeck: “I wonder how many people I’ve looked at all my life and never seen.”

This prompt emphasizes the importance of empathy. Remember the classic “don’t judge a book by its cover”. Your response should explain why you believe empathy is important and first impressions aren’t necessarily accurate. 

For example, have you ever judged someone and realized that your first impression was entirely inaccurate? Did you have a notoriously cranky family member who you later learned was in poor spirits because they were battling a disease? Did you learn that someone you judged to be boring due to their quiet demeanor was actually a very talented artist or musician?

Tie your experience into your broader thoughts on the topic. For example, you could discuss how you always feared your Aunt Esther due to her cantankerous demeanor when you were a child. You could then explain that after Aunt Esther passed away in your teens, you learned that she was an ardent social justice activist when she was younger. You could use your example to explain why first impressions are not always what they seem, and that you wish you made an effort to get to know Aunt Esther while she was alive. 

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.

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In an essay of 750 – 2000 words (not including the Bibliography or abstract), reflect on your research process and sources. Ensure you have this essay ready to submit with your final paper/project and the recommendation letter from your faculty member or advisor.

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What strategies did you use to find scholarly research for your paper/project?

How did library resources and services facilitate your research?

How did you refine your topic in light of the information you discovered? 

How did specific library services and resources contribute to your research?  Were certain sources particularly important?

What decisions did you make in the course of your research regarding avenues of inquiry to pursue or not to pursue?

How does your research project show evidence of independent inquiry or creativity in your use of information?

What images, multimedia, and/or data sources did you use and how did those support your research project?

How did this paper/project contribute to your scholarly growth? To your subject area?

How did you grow as a scholar as a result of your involvement this project? 

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

Hi! I'm writing my application essay for the University of Oregon and I'm kinda stuck. Can anyone share some examples of successful essays for UO or just give me some general advice on writing a great essay for them?

Hi there! While I can't provide specific successful essay examples, I can recommend a great resource for inspiration and help writing. Collegevine has great articles, that are updated annually, to help students approach supplemental essays for dozens of schools. Lucky for you, UO is one of those schools!

Take a look at their article here: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-university-of-oregon-essays

I hope you find this helpful!

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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Declaring the major in English begins with an intake meeting where an English Faculty member helps chart a path through the major based on student goals and introduces students to the rich culture of student groups in the department. Undergraduates can take part in at least two St. Louis Seminars each year where topic classes are offered in poetry and other genre in a seminar style small class experience specifically for advanced undergraduates. The Writing Associates Program offers both volunteer/internship possibilities and tutoring opportunities, and students may also receive tutoring by registering for the one-credit course, WR 195 Writing Tutorial .

Why study English? What’s required to earn a degree? It's all summarized in our major map .

Connect with an English Advisor

Interested in learning more about becoming an English major? Need help planning your courses? Advisors in the English Department can help. Please get in touch with the following people:

Undergraduate Director Profile : Stephanie Clark Email : [email protected]

Associate Undergraduate Director Profile : Corbett Upton Email : [email protected]

IMPORTANT: All declared English majors are enrolled in the Canvas “English Department Information Site for Undergraduate Majors.” Please check this site frequently for timely announcements, course schedule information and events of interest to English majors. Click here to go to the UO Canvas login page .

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The Tykeson College and Career Advising in Willie and Donald Tykeson Hall is UO's new advising center , located on 13th Avenue, between Johnson and Chapman Halls. At Tykeson Hall, you can work with professional college and career advisors who can help you explore your interests, schedule your classes, plan for graduation, discuss career interests, and more.

You can schedule an appointment with our Tykeson college and career advising team via the Navigate app available in the App Store or Google Play. Please visit the Office of Academic Advising's website for information about appointments and hours of operation.

Tykeson College and Career Advising is the academic and career advising destination for all students who:

• Have not yet declared a major, referred to as exploring students
• Are declared majors and minors in the College of Arts and Sciences
• Are considering another major or exploring other majors
• Want to explore career options and opportunities

Students with declared majors and minors in the College of Arts and Sciences should also continue to seek advice from faculty when they are looking for specific information about their chosen major or detailed information about their major department and its curricular and co-curricular offerings.

Links to University Advising Resources

• UO Class Schedule
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• Office of the Registrar A-Z Index

Tykeson Advising Degree Maps:

• Top Five Reasons to Major in English
• Top Five Reasons to Minor in English
• Top Five Reasons to Minor in Comics and Cartoon Studies
• Top Five Reasons to Minor Digital Humanities
• Top Five Reasons to Minor in WSCR  
• Top Five Reasons to Major in Comparative Literature
• Top Five Reasons to Minor in Comparative Literature

Below are advising documents that will help you plan your major coursework.

The annual Undergraduate Advising Supplement lists all courses offered in a particular year and what categories they satisfy. The English Major Worksheet contains a chart that will help you map out which categories you have finished and which ones you still need to fulfill.

Please refer to these advising documents for the English Major:

• English Major Advising Supplement 2023-24
• English Major Advising Supplement 2022-23
• English Major Advising Supplement 2021-22
• English Major Advising Supplement 2020-21
• English Major Advising Supplement 2019-20
• English Major Advising Supplement 2018-19
• English Major Advising Supplement 2017-18
• English Major Worksheet
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• Fall 2023 Course Description Handout

How to Write the University of Washington Supplemental Essays 2024–2025

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The University of Washington (UW), which has three campuses in Seattle , Tacoma , and Bothell respectively, enrolls more than 60,000 students . The UW’s vibrant student life , impactful research , and diverse academic opportunities all contribute to its high U.S. News and World Report ranking at #7 in Best Global Universities . The UW’s accomplished alumni include Rainn Wilson, Frank Herbert, Tim Lincecum, and Gita Gopinath. Hoping to become a Husky? First, you’ll need to nail the University of Washington supplemental essays. Let’s dive in.

UW’s 2024-2025 Prompts

The University of Washington sets three essay prompts for applicants. The first two prompts are required, while the third prompt is optional and only applicable to students who feel that their applications are missing something crucial. A lot of emphasis is put on the University of Washington supplemental essays in the application process, so let’s break those prompts down.

The UW Required Essay Questions

Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it. (650 words or fewer), our families and communities often define us and our individual worlds. community might refer to your cultural group, extended family, religious group, neighborhood or school, sports team or club, co-workers, etc. describe the world you come from and how you, as a product of it, might add to the diversity of the uw. (300 words or fewer), the uw optional essay question, you are not required to write anything in this section, but you may include additional information if something has particular significance to you. for example, you may use this space if: you have experienced personal hardships in attaining your education. your activities have been limited because of work or family obligations. you have experienced unusual limitations or opportunities unique to the schools you attended. (200 words or fewer), we’ll review your essay.

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General Tips

Writing the University of Washington supplemental essays is easier said than done, so here are some tips to help you write stand-out essays! Let’s dive in.

Imagine your reader.

While writing the UW essays, it can be helpful to think through each sentence as though you are speaking it to the admissions officer who will eventually read your writing. Your reader is a stranger who may or may not have the rest of your application materials in front of them. They’re evaluating you as a person, writer, and student all at the same time. What do you want them to know about you? How do you want to say it? While writing, try to answer these questions.

Context matters.

It’s important that you provide context to the story or stories you tell about yourself. Your reader doesn’t know what kind of high school you attended or how many siblings you have. If there is information that will help your reader understand your story, you should include it. If you’re having trouble determining whether to include a certain piece of context, ask someone who doesn’t know the story you’re telling to vet whether they can understand what’s going on without the context.

Details, details!

Details can make or break your essay. Details make an essay personal and special. On the flip-side, too many details can bog down your essay. So here’s a quick guide to what details you should include, and which you should avoid:

• Vivid, sensory details
• Personal details that show your personality
• Details about the time and place
• Humorous details (if tonally appropriate)
• Contextually necessary details (see the section above)
• Repetitive details (avoid using synonymous adjectives)
• Abstract details
• Long asides, regardless of whether they are humorous
• Contextually unnecessary details

With these general tips, you should have a good sense of what kind of information to include in your essays. That said, if you’re looking for more tips, check out the general tips in our other supplemental essays articles!

You may notice that this prompt looks extremely similar to the prompt for the Common App personal essay. Notably, the UW admissions team does not review the Common App essay. Their admissions team does, however, review this essay prompt. Thus, if your Common App personal essay fits within the parameters of this prompt, you can reuse it here. Check out our article on the Common App personal essay prompts for the 2024-2025 application season for more info.

Most likely, your Common App personal essay will fit within the parameters of this prompt. If it doesn’t, consider whether it is sufficiently focused on you, your life experiences, and your worldview. These are the topics a Common App personal essay should focus on, so this may be a sign to pivot your essay. If your essay does focus on you but doesn’t quite answer the prompt in describing any of your life experiences, we recommend using the same tactics as you would for a Common App personal essay to write the UW personal essay. Who knows, maybe you’ll even like your UW essay better than your Common App personal essay and opt to replace it!

This prompt asks you to reflect on your identity, background, and experiences as a community member. Then, the prompt asks you to extrapolate from your past experiences to envision how they will inform a future UW experience. Because the UW admissions team is trying to predict whether you will be a good fit for their student community, they seek to understand what mindset, background, and perspectives you intend to bring to the UW. Furthermore, by sharing who you have been in the past, you can potentially indicate who you will be in the future.

As the prompt indicates, you should take an expansive interpretation of the word “community” when answering this prompt. Likewise, you should interpret the word “diversity” expansively. Although the stereotypical interpretation of the word “diversity” limits it to identifiers like race and gender, it also extends to gender/sexual identity, cultural background, ethnicity/nationality, immigration status, neurodivergence, political beliefs, academic or other interests, disability, socioeconomic status, and much more.

For instance, a student from a rural community will have something to add to a group of students from urban communities, and vice versa. A student who grew up cheerleading will have a different high school experience compared to another student who pursued classical music, and another student who didn’t have time for extracurriculars because they were helping out in the family business. Whatever, wherever, and whoever you come from, the UW wants to understand what makes you, you. No one is “too boring” or “basic” to write a great response to this question, because everyone is unique. What will make you stand out is whether you share the personal, thoughtful, and specific details of your life experiences, and how vividly you imagine yourself contributing to the UW community.

For many applicants looking back at their applications, something seems missing. If there was a drop in your grades during sophomore year and nowhere else in your application did you have the opportunity to explain this situation, this essay is your chance.

If you faced a significant hardship in your personal life, perhaps you want to explore that hardship here. Or if you faced a financial or other barrier to participating in certain extracurricular activities (for instance, you were accepted into a selective academic summer camp but couldn’t afford to attend), then you may wish to provide those details in this essay.

The above are just a few of the many examples of topics you could write about in this essay. Before beginning your draft, think about your application as a whole. Does it truly show you as you are? As a student, classmate, friend, and family member? If so, then remember, this prompt is optional. But if not, you’ll want to provide details here. “Details” is a key word. You’ll need to be specific for the admissions team, who doesn’t necessarily know you very well, so they can fully understand the situation you choose to describe. Once again, be genuine and specific, and this essay has the potential to strengthen your application.

If you need help polishing up your University of Washington 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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