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Common App announces 2024–2025 Common App essay prompts

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Make the most of your college journey – Part 2

Common App launches the 2024–2025 application season with over 1,100 colleges and universities

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Transfer Admission Requirements

Related links, 1. complete the application.

Complete and submit the  Common Application . Upon submitting, you will be asked to pay a $70 nonrefundable application fee. Be sure you use the same email address for every part of the application process.

Spring and Fall 2025 transfer applicants with fewer than 30 postsecondary credits at the time of their application who do not submit ACT or SAT scores will be required to submit  a  supplemental essay  of 250 words or less. 

Supplemental essay prompt:

Located within one of the most dynamic cities in the world, the University of Miami is a distinctive community with a variety of cultures, traditions, histories, languages, and backgrounds. The University of Miami is a values-based and purpose-driven postsecondary institution that embraces diversity and inclusivity in all its forms and strives to create a culture of belonging, where every person feels valued and has an opportunity to contribute.

Please describe how your unique experiences, challenges overcome, or skills acquired would contribute to our distinctive University community.

In addition, you will be asked to respond to a prompt in the Common Application addressing your reasons for transferring to the University, using 650 words or less. This essay portion of the application gives you the opportunity to demonstrate your ability to develop your thoughts, to communicate them clearly, and to write them concisely conveying your unique voice. We also ask that you list your involvement in extracurricular activities, outside of school involvements and/or commitments; these will be evaluated as another factor in the admission process.

APPLY AS A TRANSFER STUDENT

2. Send Official College Transcripts

If you have attended more than one college/university, request that all of your official college transcripts be sent. We do not require dual/concurrent enrollment transcripts for transfer students. 

If you have completed fewer than 30 college/post-secondary credits, not including dual/concurrent enrollment courses, at the time you are applying for admission to the University of Miami, you are required to submit your final high school transcripts in addition to your college transcript(s). 

Note, if you completed secondary school and/or attended University outside of the United States, please refer to the  International Evaluation Requirements page.

Documents can be sent electronically to [email protected] or by mailing them to one of the addresses listed below. 

Mailing Address University of Miami Office of Undergraduate Admission PO Box 249117 Coral Gables, FL 33124-9117

If sending via FedEx, DHL, UPS, or courier University of Miami Office of Undergraduate Admission 1306 Stanford Drive University Center, Suite 2275 Coral Gables, FL 33146

Prior to enrolling at the University of Miami, all transfer applicants—regardless of the number of postsecondary credits earned—will be required to submit a final high school transcript with date of graduation or its equivalent, including the GED (General Education Development/General Education Diploma).

3. Complete the College Report

>> Understanding the College Report

We require a College Report from every US postsecondary institution you have attended as a degree-seeking student.

The College Report must be completed and submitted directly to the University by a college official who has access to both your academic and disciplinary information. Usually this form is submitted to us by an official in the Dean of Students or Conduct office at your school.   This item is different than the academic transcript. The college official may submit the completed form by email to [email protected] . It can also be mailed to one of the following addresses:

If sending via FedEx, DHL, UPS, or courier University of Miami Office of Undergraduate Admission 1306 Stanford Drive University Center, Suite 2275 Coral Gables, FL 33146   

If you are currently attending, or attended, a college/university on a part-time basis (11 or fewer credits) as a  non-degree seeking student , you are not required to submit a College Report from your part-time institution. All others enrolled in  domestic (US) postsecondary institutions , including part-time degree-seeking and full-time non-degree seeking students, must submit a College Report. 

4. Letter of Recommendation (Optional)

You may submit a letter of recommendation from a professor, college instructor, college academic advisor, or a recent employer, but it is not required. The letter should be submitted electronically through the  Common Application   or as an email directly from the person writing the recommendation to [email protected] .  It can also be mailed to one of the addresses below:

If sending via FedEx, DHL, UPS, or courier University of Miami Office of Undergraduate Admission 1320 S. Dixie Highway Gables One Tower, Suite 945

5. Additional Requirements for Special Programs & Majors

If you are applying to any of the programs listed below, complete the supplemental application, submit a portfolio, and/or schedule an audition.  Supplemental applications are available in the Applicant Portal. Starting mid-September, access to the Applicant Portal will be granted 48-72 hours after  your admission application is received .

• Bachelor of Architecture   -   Portfolio optional  unless requesting advanced standing in the design sequence.
• Frost School of Music*   - Supplemental Application, Prescreen, and Audition Required
• Theatre Arts B.F.A.*   - Audition and Supplemental Application Required

* Not available for Spring applicants

Applicants to the Frost School of Music and the Theatre Arts B.F.A. program who are not admitted to the major of choice and did not indicate a second-choice major on their application will not be considered for admission to any  other  academic program at the University of Miami. Applicants may not add a second choice major after submitting their application to the University of Miami.

If you are applying to the   Miami Herbert Business School , you must meet the following requirements:

• 3.0 GPA or better calculated by the University of Miami Office of Undergraduate Admission. 
• Completed  college credit for an approved calculus course equivalent to either  MTH 161  (4 credit hours) or  MTH 140 / MTH 141  (8 credit hours), and earned a grade of “B” or better in the(se) course(s). Please note, w e will not accept a grade of P, S, or CR for the equivalent course. To have your calculus class approved, visit mates.miami.edu . The syllabus should include the name of the college where the course was taken, the title and author of the textbook, the modality by which the course was administered, and the chapters covered. Online math classes are  not  transferrable to UM without prior approval from the math department. 

Visit the  University Academic Bulletin  for additional information.

All transfer coursework will be reviewed on a course-by-course basis for equivalency to Miami Herbert Business School course requirements.  Any business class that is from a non-AACSB accredited institution will be accepted only as elective credits toward the overall degree requirements.  Transfer applicants may appeal to have transfer classes from non-AACSB accredited institutions reviewed for possible application toward business course requirements by submitting the course syllabus and textbook title to the  Office of Undergraduate Business Education .

6. Send Test Scores

Review the options below and follow the instructions for the option that describes your educational background. 

If you have completed less than 30 postsecondary credits (not including dual enrollment/concurrent enrollment courses), and are applying for Spring or Fall 2025, you can choose whether or not to  submit test scores . If you choose not to, you must submit a supplemental essay. 

If you have completed more than 30 postsecondary credits, neither test scores nor a supplemental essay are required.

• Completed High School in the U.S.
• Completed Secondary School Outside of the U.S.

If you choose to submit your  official   ACT and/or SAT  scores, have them sent directly from the testing agency.  

Test Codes for UM:

• ACT Code: 0760 
• SAT Code: 5815 

Submitting ACT and/or SAT scores is   optional   for students graduating from a secondary school outside the United States.

All students whose native language is not English are required to submit official results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or Duolingo English Test (DET). For information on scores, visit the  English Proficiency Requirements  page. 

• TOEFL Code: C730
• IELTS Code: 4861
• DET Code: select “University of Miami Undergraduate Admissions” from the options

7. Submit Educational Activities

If you have a time gap of three months or more during your educational career or from the time you graduated high school to the date of your intended University of Miami enrollment, you must submit an Educational Activities statement in the Common Application explaining the reason for the gap(s) and include the dates.

If you are unable to provide this information within your Common Application, you can submit it through the applicant portal under the "Materials Upload" section, or by emailing it to [email protected] . If emailing, be sure to include “Educational Activities” in the subject line and your full name and date of birth on all correspondence. This information is required to complete your application file.

8. Submit Financial Aid Documents

If you are applying for financial aid, review the checklist on our  Applying for Aid   page. There you will find the dates and required documents that must be submitted in order to be considered for need-based financial aid. 

It is recommended that the financial aid application including all supporting documents is completed at the same time as the application for admission to ensure a financial aid package at the time of admission.

9. Complete the Financial Certification Form (International applicants only)

All international transfer applicants must submit a Financial Certification Form, which can be accessed via the Applicant Portal after you have submitted your application.

International applicants who are applying for need-based financial aid must also submit the CSS Profile.

10. Send Conduct Updates

If there is an update to your   conduct   (academic or behavioral) or your standing as a student in your high school (suspension, expulsion, withdrawal, etc.) you must alert the Office of Undergraduate Admission immediately by uploading the documentation to the applicant portal in the "Materials Upload" section. You can also email documents to  [email protected] . 

Be sure to include your name and date of birth on all documents.

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University of Miami Supplemental Essays 2024-25 Prompts and Advice

July 25, 2024

In the 1980s and ‘90s, the University of Miami was a football powerhouse; albeit one with its fair share of controversy. In the 2020s, the school has more to brag about on the academic front than on the gridiron. Now attracting close to 50,000 applications and sporting an acceptance rate of just 19%  (and dropping), U Miami has become a highly selective university that is no longer anything close to a sure thing, even for students with excellent grades and test scores. This means that, in 2024-25, the University of Miami supplemental essay is more important than ever before.

 (Want to learn more about How to Get Into the University of Miami? Visit our blog entitled:  How to Get Into the University of Miami: 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, the University of Miami’s supplemental section still affords applicants an opportunity to illustrate what makes them uniquely qualified for admission. Below is U Miami’s supplemental prompt for the 2024-25 admissions cycle. Additionally, we offer advice on how to pen a winning composition.

2024-2025 U Miami Supplemental Essays

Prompt 1 (250 Words): Located within one of the most dynamic cities in the world, the University of Miami is a distinctive community with a variety of cultures, traditions, histories, languages, and backgrounds. The University of Miami is a values-based and purpose-driven postsecondary institution that embraces diversity and inclusivity in all its forms and strives to create a culture of belonging, where every person feels valued and has an opportunity to contribute. Please describe how your unique experiences, challenges overcome, or skills acquired would contribute to our distinctive University community.

Pro tip: the language used in any given prompt provides you with critical information about what your essay should address. As such, note the information that U Miami chooses to share about itself : a values-based and purpose-driven postsecondary institution that embraces diversity and inclusivity and strives to create a culture of belonging . Essentially, they want to know how you will contribute to that mission, and how your personal experiences will impact what kind of academic and social community member you might be.

University of Miami Supplemental Essays (Continued)

As such, you might consider discussing:

• Your role in your family.
• Your role in your social group.
• A challenge you’ve faced.
• A formative experience or realization.
• An opinion or perspective that has developed over time.
• Important aspects of your upbringing.
• Cultural, religious, or community influence.
• A skill you have that you feel could impact others in a positive way.

Once you’ve chosen a particular direction, think about what you’ve learned from the experience. Also, ponder what you think others could learn from you. Most importantly, how will your learnings positively contribute to U Miami’s mission? This is a chance to show that you are an open-minded, curious, and humble young person who is willing to learn and grow from their experiences.

How important is the UMiami supplemental essay?

The essays (both the Common App essay and the supplemental one) are “very important” to the evaluation process. Four other factors are also considered as “very important.” These factors are: rigor of coursework, class rank, GPA, and extracurricular activities. Clearly, the University of Miami places enormous value on the quality of your supplemental essay.

Want personalized essay assistance with the University of Miami supplemental essays?

In conclusion, if you are interested in working with one of College Transitions’ experienced and knowledgeable essay coaches as you craft your University of Miami supplement, we encourage you to  get a quote  today.

Need additional writing resources? Consider checking out the following:

• Common App Essay Prompts
• 10 Instructive Common App Essay Examples
• College Application Essay Topics to Avoid
• How to Quickly Format Your Common App Essay
• Should I Complete Optional College Essays?
• How to Brainstorm a College Essay
• 25 Inspiring College Essay Topics
• “Why This College?” Essay Examples
• How to Write the Community Essay
• College Essay

Andrew Belasco

A licensed counselor and published researcher, Andrew's experience in the field of college admissions and transition spans two decades. He has previously served as a high school counselor, consultant and author for Kaplan Test Prep, and advisor to U.S. Congress, reporting on issues related to college admissions and financial aid.

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New Dolphins defense counts on veterans, breakout players for improved toughness

MIAMI, Aug. 8 (UPI) -- The Miami Dolphins are leaning on louder veteran voices, impact rookies and unheralded breakout stars to find a new, tougher, defensive identity amid injuries, key player departures and a defensive coordinator switch.

Last season, coach Mike McDaniel said that defensive tackle Christian Wilkins "embodied" what he expected of Dolphins players. The veteran defensive lineman, who signed with the Las Vegas Raiders in March, is known as much for his boisterous personality as he is for his relentless motor and intensity. Advertisement

But big No. 94 is now in silver and black, and filling his void with aqua and orange alternatives is a work in progress.

"It's a new team and your eyes are wide open to see what they want to be and how they're going to be it," McDaniel said. "And you have different people step up that decide that their voice is going to be a dictating factor in the direction you're going." Advertisement

Campbell was one of several veteran defenders the Dolphins brought in this off-season. That list also included Jones, fellow defensive tackle Teair Tart, safety Jordan Poyer, linebackers Jordyn Brooks and Anthony Walker Jr. and cornerback Kendall Fuller.

Miami also brought back outside linebacker Emmanuel Ogbah and spent major draft capital on first-round pick Chop Robinson, who could be thrusted into action early as starting edge rushers Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb work their way back from injuries.

That won't only be tasked with replacing Wilkins' production and presence, but also with filling voids left by departures of cornerback Xavien Howard and linebacker Jerome Baker, among others.

The revolving door of talent and experience -- paired with the arrival of defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver -- prompts many questions that will be answered in the coming months.

Campbell remains confident in the personnel -- and Weaver's scheme -- despite the flood of new faces. Advertisement

"I think [with] the scheme, the way we put ourselves in position to do better against the run on early downs, and I think that's a combination of a little bit of everything," Campbell said. "I think we're building something here.

Big guy on the against his old squad pic.twitter.com/IicwhsILJv — Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) August 8, 2024

McDaniel cited cornerback Jalen Ramsey as a player who wants to "dictate the terms" for the direction of the team through a leadership role. Campbell's leadership has been lauded throughout his 16-year career.

"He is what I call a force multiplier," Weaver said of Campbell. "So the affect that he has on a team -- not just a defense, but a team -- is immense.

"It's like having another coach in the locker room, on the field, because there isn't a situation he hasn't been in and hasn't seen. The one thing we need to do collectively to kind of stamp his career, is get to New Orleans and win a Super Bowl and hopefully we can get that done." Advertisement

The Dolphins' defense aims to change a narrative and become tougher, according to Campbell. Poyer -- who spent the last seven years with the rival Buffalo Bills -- said earlier this off-season that the Dolphins previously had a reputation that "they might fold" if they fell behind in games.

"There's a narrative that I think we're trying to change," Campbell said. "We want to be tough guys and that's just part of it, just going out there and showing that we're not going to take nothing, but overall though, it's about the work."

The Dolphins appear well-stocked in the secondary, with plenty of experience at safety, including Jevon Holand, Poyer and fellow newcomer Marcus Maye.

Ramsey leads the cornerback unit, which also features Kader Kohou and Fuller -- who were all listed as starters on their first depth chart. Cornerback Ethan Bonner, who has been touted as one of the fastest players on the team, continues to impress at training camp and could find a bigger role.

Brooks and Long are cemented central in the linebacker group, while the Dolphins lean on Sieler, Campbell and others up front and on the outside.

Quenton Bell also has flashed at training camp. The journeyman linebacker, who was listed as a starter on the Dolphins first depth chart, appears in line for a competition for snaps early on, amid the Phillips and Chubb hiatuses. Advertisement

Robinson said he plans to keep learning as he prepares for his first season, but going against the league's top offense in practice has eased the process.

"I've been getting information from the veterans," Robinson said. "I've been getting information from the coaches and all the guys in the room, all the guys on the team. I've just been picking brains and just learning every day. I just keep my mouth quiet and learn. That's it."

The rookie pass rusher speaks with Chubb and Phillips on a daily basis in further efforts to speed up his development. He could remain a rotational player until he provides better production as an edge-setter.

The Dolphins remain somewhat mum about when Chubb and/or Phillips can return. Both players remain on the PUP list. If a player remains on that list by Aug. 30, when NFL teams cut rosters down to 53 players, they can be placed on the reserve/PUP list.

That designation would result in that player being sidelined for at least four regular-season games.

Weaver's previous experience as a defensive-line guru should give Dolphins fans confidence. The former Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans, Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills defensive line coach played a key role in the development of many star defenders, including J.J. Watt, Jadeveon Clowney and Justin Madubuike, among others. Advertisement

How exactly Weaver plans to use his new weapons is still to be determined, but the progress of rookies and breakout training camp performers, paired with increased veteran leadership, should help the first-year defensive coordinator feel more comfortable about his arsenal.

Like his players, Weaver also is determined to give the Dolphins a tougher reputation.

"I think with the guys we have on defense, it certainly is innate," Weaver said of the Dolphins' mentality.

"So it's our job to make that come to life and you do that through your actions daily, just going out there on the practice field and trying to be purposeful and have clear intention of what we're trying to get done and trying to solve all our problems with our pads.

Ultimately, we get an opportunity to do that 17 times this year. Hopefully at the end of the day, they say we are bullies."

The Dolphins will start their preseason campaign against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday in Miami Gardens. They will host the Washington Commanders on Aug. 17 at Hard Rock Stadium.

Miami will then play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the preseason finale Aug. 23 in Tampa, Fla. It will open the regular season against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 8 in Miami Gardens. Advertisement

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2 Magnificent University of Miami Essay Examples

Located in sunny Miami, the University of Miami consistently ranks as one of the top 50 colleges in the country. With over 180 degree programs to choose from, more than 300 student organizations, and a prime location in one of the most vibrant cities in the U.S., there is something for everyone at UMiami—especially those that love the sun!

Given how much UMiami has to offer, getting in isn’t easy: you’ll need more than just strong grades and test scores. Your essays will play a large role in your admissions decision, so they need to be good. In this post, we will share two essays that got students accepted into UMiami We will also go over what each essay did well and where there is room for improvement.

Please note: Looking at examples of real essays students have submitted to colleges can be very beneficial to get inspiration for your essays. You should never copy or plagiarize from these examples when writing your own essays. Colleges can tell when an essay isn’t genuine and will not view students favorably if they plagiarized. 

Read our UMiami essay breakdown to get a comprehensive overview of this year’s supplemental prompts.

Essay Example #1 – Perspective

I had been dreaming of my high school experience since my six-year-old self watched High School Musical. I saw this dream shatter, as I was tasked with watching my baby sister after school until 5:30 due to my mom’s struggles with her birth. Although months had passed since the birth, she continuously struggled with c-section recovery. After one of my mom’s surgeries, my sister and I went to the hospital to visit her. Seeing her in such a fragile and vulnerable state shocked me into reality. 

One day I would be the person carrying on the family name. I worked hard academically to make the family proud, but failed to embody the mindset and values my mother taught me. All her positivity, love for new experiences and family were clouded by my disappointment and frustration. Watching my sister wasn’t the fun, new experience I hoped for, but it was the one I was given and I needed to embrace it with the same happiness and excitement as the other.  

In the previous years, I had failed myself before I even started with my pessimistic mindset. This period in life showed me the importance mindsets hold. When I began to embrace and enjoy my time watching my sister, I realized I still lived out my dream. I cheered her on in games peek-a-boo and created our own, personal coloring club. Now when things are not going to plan, I take on the challenge of remaining positive with a smile.

What the Essay Did Well

This is a classic “ Overcoming Challenges ” prompt, so the key to writing a strong response is to focus not just on the challenge itself, but also your thoughts and feelings to demonstrate how you grew as a result of experiencing the challenge. This essay does just that.

The shift from context to self-reflection occurs at the end of the first paragraph with the sentence “ Seeing her in such a fragile and vulnerable state shocked me into reality. ” What follows is a description of the student’s thoughts, which shows readers what being shocked into reality meant for them, and why that shock caused them to change their mindset.

We see the student start to see their unexpected high school experience not as a burden, but a responsibility and perhaps even an honor: “ One day I would be the person carrying on the family name.” They also show humility by explaining how they “ failed to embody the mindset and values ” of their mom, and then telling us what those values were by describing her “ love for new experiences and family. ” 

Additionally, opening the essay with the lighthearted, fun image of High School Musical is a savvy choice, as the contrast between the “ fun, new experience [they] hoped for ,” and the serious, mature position they actually found themself in emphasizes the emotional weight of the student’s situation.

It’s also nice that this essay finishes by showing us what the student’s new mindset looks like: “ I cheered her on in games peek-a-boo and created our own, personal coloring club. ” Since the “Overcoming Challenges” essay is usually about a heavy topic, readers will appreciate things ending on an uplifting note.

Although a lot of the focus should be your thoughts and emotions in this type of essay, getting to see how those internal factors affected your choices and actions takes the story out of your head, and proves that this experience changed not just your mindset, but also how you conduct yourself out in the world.

What Could Be Improved

While the first paragraph does a nice job providing context, it could be rewritten to be more engaging by telling the story like it’s currently happening rather than reflecting. This might look something like replacing the line “I saw this dream shatter, as I was tasked with watching my baby sister after school until 5:30 due to my mom’s struggles with her birth” with “Instead of bursting into song and dance at the drop of a hat, however, every day after school I found myself cleaning mushy peas off the floor, dozing off during educational TV shows, and trying anything to keep my baby sister from kicking her socks off.”

The part of this essay that needs the most attention, however, is the last paragraph. As it’s written, the student is telling us in a general sense that this experience was good for them: “ This period in life showed me the importance mindsets hold…Now when things are not going to plan, I take on the challenge of remaining positive with a smile. ” 

While this is a valuable realization, it also comes across as generic, as many people have this realization at some point in their lives. In this kind of essay, it’s okay to have your big takeaway be something familiar, since lots of teenagers learn similar lessons as they’re growing up. But to keep your essay from sounding like a Hallmark card, you want to include enough details that your reader can concretely see how this lesson has impacted your life. The writer could have accomplished this by reworking the last paragraph to something like:

“I’d always considered myself pessimistic, but suddenly I found myself smiling even on my worst days. I replaced counting down the minutes left watching my sister with a giggle-infused countdown that ended in “Ready or not, here I come!” My boredom-induced pencil doodles gave way to an invite-only sisters coloring club with glitter gel pens. Maybe my experience doesn’t look like High School Musical, but with a positive outlook, I’ve enjoyed myself just as much as Troy and Gabriella. ”

Essay Example #2 – Perseverance

Content warning: This essay includes graphic depictions of mental health struggles. If this topic is triggering for you, please read with caution. If you’re thinking about covering similar topics in your essay, we recommend reading our post Should You Talk About Mental Health in College Essays?

For the past two years, I’ve been more familiar with toilet bowls than dinner bowls.

Given my lengthy hours vomiting in the bathroom weekly, seeing liquid reiterations of each meal is commonplace. When people discuss mental health, they neglect to mention its physical manifestations.

It starts with an intense stomach ache that cements me to the bed. Then, the dry heaving ensues. For the rest of the day, I alternate between the bedroom and the bathroom as I endure body pains, fevers, and chills that persist even after I’ve finished vomiting. Major Depressive Disorder is more than a mental illness— it’s a physical issue that has affected my attendance for years.

However, despite my class absences, I’ve managed to juggle health, extracurriculars, and grades. From staying after school to complete make-up tests, to receiving study guides and class agendas from friends, diligence and community are the key ingredients of perseverance. At first, adapting to my limitations was difficult, but today, I work with my condition, not against it. When I launched a POC writers space for marginalized creatives and took on heavy social justice work, I learned setting time boundaries and honoring my own needs was necessary for my health.

At UMiami, my approach to adversity will thrive. Whether my Public Affairs Internship is too demanding, or my slam competition with Speak What You Feel is anxiety-inducing, I’ll remember to prioritize my mental health so my academic commitments don’t suffer.

Most importantly, I hope UMiami’s toilet bowls are decent.

This essay is incredibly well-written. While their graphic descriptions of their struggles may initially be jarring for some people, their detailed imagery is what allows this student to elicit such a visceral reaction from their readers. 

For example, the image of being “ more familiar with toilet bowls than dinner bowls ” is a shocking way to start an essay, but the reader can’t help but immediately be invested. Although we might not like the thought of “ liquid reiterations ” of food, the creative phrasing paints a crystal clear picture in our heads, and that clarity helps us feel like we’re right beside the writer, rather than watching her struggle from a distance.

The student’s descriptions of the physical manifestations of their mental illness, including, “ an intense stomach ache that cements me to the bed ,” “ the dry heaving ensue s,” and “ I alternate between the bedroom and the bathroom ” continue to build our sympathy towards them, as these lines are described so well that we feel like we’re experiencing some of their pain ourselves.

However, this essay’s strength isn’t just in the imagery. This student also provides details that show us how they have overcome their challenge. For example, the line “ From staying after school to complete make-up tests, to receiving study guides and class agendas from friends, diligence and community are the key ingredients of perseverance” shows the student can weather a storm, which is exactly what admissions officers want to see in your response to this kind of prompt.

They also show us how they were able to “ [launch] a POC writers space for marginalized creatives and [take] on heavy social justice work ” by “ setting time boundaries and honoring my own needs. ” This sentence shows that they have not only persevered through their struggles, but actually used the lessons they learned as motivation in other areas of their life.

Another positive aspect of this essay is how the student ties in UMiami in the second to last paragraph. Just because you aren’t writing a “Why School?” essay doesn’t mean you can’t talk about resources at the college that align with your interests—in fact, colleges will be even more impressed if you weave school opportunities into a different essay topic.

That being said, you don’t want the connection to the school to feel forced, so if you aren’t able to figure out how to do it in a way that’s natural, it’s completely fine to just focus on responding to the prompt you actually have.

Finally, the ending is a nice tie back to the opening of the essay, which reminds the reader one last time about the challenges this student has had to overcome. Bringing back the image of a toilet bowl might be a bit of a shock, but it ensures that this essay is memorable.

While this essay doesn’t necessarily need to change anything, one thing to keep in mind is how to approach difficult or possibly triggering topics in a college essay. Although, on the whole, this essay handles the topic of mental health with tact, you never know who your reader is and what perspective they are bringing to the table. It’s important to not be excessive with your depictions of mental health, and to make sure the focus is primarily on how your illness has impacted your personal growth.

Where to Get Feedback on Your Essay

Do you want feedback on your University of Miami essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

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National Politics | Majority of US adults say democracy is on the…

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National politics | majority of us adults say democracy is on the ballot but they differ on the threat: poll.

NEW YORK (AP) — Roughly 3 in 4 American adults believe the upcoming presidential election is vital to the future of U.S. democracy, although which candidate they think poses the greater threat depends on their political leanings, according to a poll.

The survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds that most Democrats, Republicans and independents see the election as “very important” or “extremely important” to democracy, while Democrats have a higher level of intensity about the issue. More than half of Democrats say the November election is “extremely important” to the future of U.S. democracy, compared to about 4 in 10 independents and Republicans.

Democrat Pamela Hanson, 67, of Amery, Wisconsin, said she has grave concerns for the future of democracy in the country if Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump gets elected .

“His statements tend towards him being a king or a dictator, a person in charge by himself,” Hanson said. “I mean, the man is unhinged in my opinion.”

But Republican Ernie Wagner from Liberty, New York, said it’s President Joe Biden’s administration — of which Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, is a part — that has abused the power of the executive branch.

“Biden has tried to erase the student loans, and he’s been told by the courts that it’s unconstitutional to do that,” said Wagner, 85. “He’s weaponized the FBI to get at his political opponents.”

The poll findings suggest that many Democrats continue to view Trump as a threat to democracy after he tried to overturn the results of the 2020 election , embraced the rioters who attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and threatened to seek retribution against his opponents if he wins reelection.

But they also indicate that many of Trump’s supporters agree with him that Biden is the real threat to democracy. Trump and his allies have accused Biden of weaponizing the Justice Department as it has pursued charges against the former president over his effort to halt certification of the 2020 election and keeping classified documents, though there is no evidence Biden has had any involvement or influence in the cases .

Trump has framed himself as a defender of American values and portrayed Biden as a “destroyer” of democracy. He said multiple times after he survived an assassination attempt last month that he “took a bullet for democracy.”

The poll, conducted in the days after Biden dropped out of the race and Harris announced her campaign, is an early glimpse of Americans’ views of a reshaped contest.

Majorities of both Democrats and Republicans say democracy could be at risk in this election depending on who wins the presidency, responses generally in line with the findings when the question was last asked in an AP-NORC poll in December 2023 .

Hanson, the Wisconsin Democrat, said she worries Trump in a second term would use the conservative-dominated U.S. Supreme Court to overrule important freedoms. She also is concerned that he would fill his Cabinet with loyalists who don’t care about the well-being of everyone in the country and defund agencies that regulate key functions of society.

But Wagner, the New York Republican, brushed off those concerns and pointed to Trump’s time in office.

“When he was in the White House, we had peace, we had prosperity, we had energy independence,” he said. “What’s undemocratic about that?”

He said he didn’t think Trump’s intentions leading up to and on Jan. 6 were criminal.

“I just think he was misguided,” Wagner said.

Some independents also are carefully considering the stakes of the upcoming election on the country’s democratic future.

“I believe that this is the most important election of my lifetime,” said 53-year-old Patricia Seliga-Williams of LaVale, Maryland, an independent who is leaning toward voting for Harris.

Seliga-Williams said she’s barely scraping by on $15 an hour as a hotel breakfast attendant and remembers Trump handling the economy and immigration well. But she didn’t like it when he recently quipped that he plans to be a “dictator” on day one in office.

“We all know Donald Trump could run the country,” she said. “But he’s just too aggressive anymore, and I don’t think I can trust that as a voter.”

Not everyone agrees that this year’s presidential election will be an inflection point for the country’s democracy, offering starkly different reasons, according to the AP-NORC poll. About 2 in 10 Americans say democracy in the U.S. is strong enough to withstand the outcome of the election no matter who wins, while another 2 in 10 believe democracy is already so seriously broken that the outcome doesn’t matter.

The poll also shows the stakes of democracy in the election are felt more by older adults rather than younger ones. About half of adults 45 and older say the outcome of the election is extremely important for the future of democracy, compared to about 4 in 10 adults under 45.

“Making the claim that the other candidate is trying to destroy democracy, it doesn’t really land for me,” said Daniel Oliver, 26, an independent from suburban Detroit. “I think that we have things in place that should safeguard against when you kind of play at destroying democracy. We have other branches of government. We have people that believe in voting. So, it would be hard for a candidate to take over and become some kind of dictator.”

He said he’ll be looking for candidates to talk about issues he’s more interested in, such as reducing inflation and investing in clean energy sources.

Biden and Trump spent months sparring over whose second term would be worse for democracy. The president nodded to the consequences when he ended his campaign last month, saying in his Oval Office address that “the defense of democracy is more important than any title.”

Harris has focused more on the concept of “freedom” in the early days of her campaign. She has said Trump’s reelection could result in Americans losing the freedom to vote , the freedom to be safe from gun violence and the freedom for women to make decisions about their own bodies. Her debut campaign ad last month was set to Beyoncé’s 2016 track “Freedom,” and it has become a campaign anthem for her at rallies ever since.

Harris didn’t mention democracy in her first two presidential campaign rallies, but she returned to the topic in remarks to Sigma Gamma Rho sorority members in Houston last week, saying “our fundamental freedoms are on the ballot, and so is our democracy.”

The poll of 1,143 adults was conducted July 25-29, 2024, using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 4.1 percentage points.

The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about AP’s democracy initiative here . The AP is solely responsible for all content.

More in National Politics

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Your Guide to the Common Application

By Dale 08-16-2018

This year's Common Application may have opened only a few days ago, but you probably already have a million questions.

     Which essay prompt should I pick?

     What supporting documents do I need?

     When should I retake my tests?

     Why do I keep forgetting my Social Security number? 

Maybe that last one was just me, but odds are you will relate to the feelings of uncertainty and stress that come with trying to navigate and gather everything you need to submit your Common App.

The good news is that it's easier than you think, and better yet, I'm here to help break it down for you. Here are some tips for you.

Creating an account

Resist the urge to use your high school email address or any email address you will not regularly check or may lose access to. When I was a senior, I took creating my Common App account as an opportunity to get rid of the embarrassing email address I made when I was 13 and create one that was more professional and polished. If your 13-year-old self embarrasses you, too (or you just need a new email address), make a new email that you’ll use exclusively throughout the application process.

When you log in, you'll notice that there are different sections for you to fill out. Let's focus more on the ones where you can self-report your test scores and extracurricular activities.

Test Scores

When it comes to your test scores, self-reporting them is important, but you still have to arrange for the testing agency to send the official scores directly to the colleges/universities you're applying to. That goes for all the scores you want your chosen colleges/universities to see — SAT, SAT Subject, ACT, and Advanced Placement. If you would like to retake the SAT or ACT, those scores must be sent to UM by the testing agency by November for Early Action and Early Decision I applicants and by December for Early Decision II or Regular Decision applicants.

Extracurricular Activities

Many people struggle with writing about their extracurricular activities (I know I did). Despite what the endless threads on college application forums have to say, there are no "right" or "wrong" activities to put in this section. Talking about what you do outside the classroom isn’t about making sure that you sound like you're saving the world one honor society at a time. It's about providing a more complete picture of who you are and talking about the experiences that have shaped you. Whether those experiences were in clubs, a job, or a volunteer position, they're a part of you and are worth sharing.

For most of us, nothing creates more anxiety than the essay portion of the application. A good way to help curb that anxiety is to view it as an opportunity to express yourself! Don't be afraid to have fun with the essay — I have a friend who wrote her essay about making cauliflower pizza. Being authentic to yourself and your experiences in your essay will help your application stand out among the thousands of others that universities receive. There might be a lot of people with similar grades or extracurricular activities as you, but your essay will be wholly unique to you.

There are seven prompts to choose from, and at least one of them is sure to inspire you. Don't worry about picking the "right" prompt that admission counselors want to hear — pick the prompt that you think will allow you to create the most compelling story about yourself.

Once you're finished writing, I suggest asking two or three people who know you really well to read it. Those people can include a teacher, a family member, a best friend, a counselor, or anybody whose feedback you trust! It's important to make sure that your essay's voice is authentically yours and that it reads well. A useful tool in Microsoft Word is Track Changes. Turn it on and send your essay to the people you want to read it. They'll be able to make comments inside the Word document and you'll have the option to accept or reject edits they make to your essay. It'll make keeping track of feedback so much easier!

UM-Specific

Every university has its own set of requirements on the Common App, and it can be confusing to keep it all straight. Here's a quick breakdown of some of the U's basic requirements .

There are no supplemental essay questions — the only essay required is the Common App prompt.

UM requires a counselor recommendation and a teacher recommendation. If you can't obtain one of these, reach out to your admission counselor to figure out a solution. The Chat with Charles  videos explain your options in more detail.

There are also requirements specific to certain majors, schools, and colleges. The Frost School of Music requires an audition or portfolio, and so does the Theatre Arts B.F.A. in the College of Arts and Sciences (which also sometimes requires an interview). The School of Architecture highly recommends a portfolio, so while it's not required, it's definitely worth seriously considering. Remember, if you have any questions about the audition or portfolio process, don't hesitate to reach out to the program you're interested in! They want to hear from you, and the more you know, the better.

The cost of applying to UM is $70, and it's nonrefundable. If you can't afford to pay, don't let that stop you; talk to your high school counselor about the possibility of obtaining a fee waiver from College Board, the NACAC, or the ACT.

Last — but certainly not least — don't forget to relax! Applying to college can be stressful, so it's important to take care of yourself and to remember to enjoy your senior year of high school! Take breaks while writing your essay or studying for that retake, and allow yourself a few minutes of something you enjoy doing. You'll thank me later.

LYGC (Love You Go Canes),

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College Essay Prompts: Complete List, Analysis, and Advice

College Admissions , College Essays

When talking about college essays, we tend to focus on the Common Application prompts , and it's true that many students will need to write a Common App essay. However, there are actually quite a few schools, including both public and private universities, that don't use the Common App and instead ask applicants to respond to their own college essay prompts.

Luckily, college essay prompts tend to be pretty similar to each other. In this guide, I'll list all the college essay questions for popular schools in the US (and a few abroad) and then break down the patterns to help you brainstorm topics and plan how to approach multiple essays efficiently. After reading this guide, you'll be able to strategize which essays you'll write for which colleges.

Feature image: Mayr /Flickr

Why Do Colleges Ask For an Essay?

The short answer: the essay gives admissions committees a sense of your personality beyond the statistics on the rest of your application. The essay is your chance to show the committee your unique perspective and impress them with your maturity and insight.

College application essay prompts are written with this goal in mind. Admissions officers want to give you the chance to share your interests, aspirations, and views on the world, so most prompts ask about how your experiences have shaped you or what you're excited about studying or doing in college. I've collected a ton of examples below and provided some analysis to help you begin planning and crafting your own essays.

Keep in mind that the personal statement alone won't be enough to get you in— your grades and test scores are still the most important factors in your application . That being said, a stellar essay can help bring a borderline applicant over the top or give an excellent but not extraordinary student the opportunity to stand out in a competitive applicant pool.

As such, the essay tends to matter most for very competitive schools. Non-competitive schools generally don't ask you to submit an essay.

Complete List of College Essay Prompts

This list collects the 2022 college essay prompts for major state universities, top-50 schools, and other popular schools which have their own unique questions. They're divided by region, with all optional essays listed at the end.

I left off the Common App supplements, as those often require a substantially different approach. I also stuck to four-year schools, meaning I didn't include special two-year programs, such as Deep Springs College or Miami Dade College's Honors Program (both of which require essays).

Finally, note that these prompts are for freshman applicants, so the requirements might be different for transfer students .

General Applications

There are three general applications you can use to apply to many different schools at once:

Common Application

Universal college application, coalition application.

Each application has its own personal statement requirement. Some schools will ask for additional supplemental essays.

Many more schools accept the Common App than they do the UCA or Coalition Application , though some will accept more than one of these applications.

For the Common App essay, you pick one of the prompts and write 250-650 words about it. Here are the prompts for the 2022-2023 school year:

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma—anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

The UCA essay prompt is completely open ended and has a 650-word limit. Here is the 2022-2023 prompt:

Please write an essay that demonstrates your ability to develop and communicate your thoughts. Some ideas include: a person you admire; a life-changing experience; or your viewpoint on a particular current event.

For the Coalition Application, you'll pick one of five prompts listed below. While there is no hard word limit, the range guidelines are 500-650 words. Here are the prompts for 2022-2023:

What interests or excites you? How does it shape who you are now or who you might become in the future?

Describe a time when you had a positive impact on others. What were the challenges? What were the rewards?

Has there been a time when an idea or belief of yours was questioned? How did you respond? What did you learn?

What success have you achieved or obstacle have you faced? What advice would you give a sibling or friend going through a similar experience?

Now that you know the essay requirements for the three general applications, let’s look at the application essays for specific schools . To keep things organized, we’ve grouped schools based on the region of the US in which they’re located.

Northeast/Mid-Atlantic

The Great Dome at MIT

Georgetown University

Georgetown asks applicants to write one short essay (about half a single-spaced page) and two longer essays (approximately one single-spaced page each). Each applicant must respond to the first two prompts and can choose among the other four based on the specific program she's interested in.

Short Essay: Briefly (approximately one-half page, single-spaced) discuss the significance to you of the school or summer activity in which you have been most involved.

All Applicants: As Georgetown is a diverse community, the Admissions Committee would like to know more about you in your own words. Please submit a brief essay, either personal or creative, which you feel best describes you.

Applicants to Georgetown College: What does it mean to you to be educated? How might Georgetown College help you achieve this aim? (Applicants to the Sciences and Mathematics or the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics should address their chosen course of study).

Applicants to the School of Nursing & Health Studies: Describe the factors that have influenced your interest in studying health care. Please specifically address your intended major (Global Health, Health Care Management & Policy, Human Science, or Nursing).

Applicants to the Walsh School of Foreign Service: The Walsh School of Foreign Service was founded more than a century ago to prepare generations of leaders to solve global problems. What is motivating you to dedicate your undergraduate studies to a future in service to the world?

Applicants to the McDonough School of Business: The McDonough School of Business is a national and global leader in providing graduates with essential ethical, analytical, financial and global perspectives. Please discuss your motivations for studying business at Georgetown.

For more Georgetown application tips, check out our articles on the Georgetown essays and how to get into Georgetown .

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

MIT doesn't ask for a single personal statement but rather asks applicants to respond to a series of questions with just a paragraph or two of about 200 words each .

We know you lead a busy life, full of activities, many of which are required of you. Tell us about something you do simply for the pleasure of it.

Describe the world you come from (for example, your family, clubs, school, community, city, or town). How has that world shaped your dreams and aspirations?

MIT brings people with diverse backgrounds and experiences together to better the lives of others. Our students work to improve their communities in different ways, from tackling the world’s biggest challenges to being a good friend. Describe one way you have collaborated with people who are different from you to contribute to your community.

Tell us about a significant challenge you've faced (that you feel comfortable sharing) or something that didn't go according to plan. How did you manage the situation?

For more details on how to get into MIT , read our other articles on the MIT application process , tips for MIT essays , and an example of a real MIT acceptance letter !

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Indiana University Bloomington

IU asks for 200-400 words on your plans and interests.

Describe your academic and career plans and any special interest (for example, undergraduate research, academic interests, leadership opportunities, etc.) that you are eager to pursue as an undergraduate at Indiana University. If you encountered any unusual circumstances, challenges, or obstacles in pursuit of your education, share those experiences and how you overcame them. Please note that this essay may be used in scholarship consideration.

University of Illinois

The University of Illinois asks for two essays (or three only if you selected a second-choice major other than what's noted on your application). All responses should be approximately 150 words.

You'll answer two to three prompts as part of your application. The questions you'll answer will depend on whether you're applying to a major or to our undeclared program, and if you've selected a second choice. Each response should be approximately 150 words. If You're Applying to a Major: 1.  Explain, in detail, an experience you've had in the past 3 to 4 years related to your first-choice major. This can be an experience from an extracurricular activity, in a class you’ve taken, or through something else. 2.  Describe your personal and/or career goals after graduating from UIUC and how your selected first-choice major will help you achieve them. If You're Applying to Our Undeclared Program in the Division of General Studies: 1.  What are your academic interests and strengths? You may also include any majors you are considering. 2.  What are your future academic or career goals? If You've Selected a Second-Choice Major (Including Undeclared): Please explain your interest in your second-choice major or your overall academic or career goals.

If you're applying to UIUC, check out our UIUC essay tips article as well!

University of Wisconsin–Madison

All applicants must complete two essays for UW–Madison. The essays should be 250-650 words in length and may be used for scholarship and campus program review.

If you apply through the Common Application, you’ll be asked to reply to one of the freshman Common Application essays in lieu of the first essay prompt below, but you’ll be required to respond to the second prompt below. 

If you apply through the UW System Application, the following two essays are required:

This part is all about you. Tell us about something you've done — academically or personally — and what you've learned from it. Was it a success or a challenge? Did it represent a turning point in your life? How did this particular moment in your life influence you, and how will it continue to influence you as you pursue your college education?

Tell us why you would like to attend the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In addition, please include why you are interested in studying the major(s) you have selected. If you selected undecided please describe your areas of possible academic interest.

Kyle Field at Texas A&M ( Ed Schipul /Flickr)

The ApplyTexas application is used by all Texas public universities and some private colleges. There are four ApplyTexas essay prompts. Which ones you need to respond to will depend on where you're applying. UT Austin, for example, requires applicants to submit at least one essay responding to Topic A on the ApplyTexas application. .

While there's no set word limit, the online application will cut off each essay at 120 lines (~1000 words).

Topic A: Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today?

Topic B: Most students have an identity, an interest, or a talent that defines them in an essential way. Tell us about yourself.

Topic C: You've got a ticket in your hand – Where will you go? What will you do? What will happen when you get there?

Topic D: Please Note: The essay in this section is specific to certain college majors and is not required by all colleges/universities that accept the Apply Texas Application. If you are not applying for a major in Architecture, Art, Art History, Design, Studio Art, Visual Art Studies/Art Education , you are not required to write this essay.

Personal interaction with objects, images and spaces can be so powerful as to change the way one thinks about particular issues or topics. For your intended area of study (architecture, art history, design, studio art, visual art studies/art education), describe an experience where instruction in that area or your personal interaction with an object, image or space effected this type of change in your thinking. What did you do to act upon your new thinking and what have you done to prepare yourself for further study in this area?

We go into all the ApplyTexas prompts in detail here !

University of Georgia

For UGA, applicants must write two essays, one 200-300 words and one 250-650 words . Both essays are required for all applicants. The longer personal essay uses the Common Application prompts for 2023 ; the prompt for the shorter essay is as follows:

The c ollege 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.

For a more detailed discussion of the UGA essays, read this article .

The Campanile at UC Berkeley

University of California

Students applying to the UC system must respond to four out of eight short personal insight questions. The maximum word count for each response is 350 words.

• Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.
• Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.
• What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
• Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
• Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?
• Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.
• What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
• Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?

Learn more about the UC essays , the UC application , and how to choose which UC schools to apply to with our complete guides .

University of Oregon

Applicants to the University of Oregon are required to submit one essay of 650 words or fewer. You also have the option to write a second essay (maximum of 500 words), but it’s not required.

The essay prompts are as follows:

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.

Optional second essay: As you've looked into what it will be like to attend Oregon, you've hopefully learned 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 . Maximum statement length is 500 words. This statement is not required.

University of Washington

In addition to its specific prompts, the University of Washington gives specific advice about what its admissions officers consider to be good writing before the prompts:

"At the UW, we consider the college essay as our opportunity to see the person behind the transcripts and the numbers. Some of the best statements are written as personal stories. In general, concise, straightforward writing is best, and good essays are often 300-400 words in length.

Essay Prompt (Required): Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped shape it. Maximum length: 650 words.

Short Response (Required): Our families and our 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. Maximum length: 300 words

You can also find more tips on the University of Washington essays in this blog article .

International

Generally speaking, international schools are less likely to ask for an essay, since admission tends to be heavily focused on grades and test results. However, a few popular international schools do ask for a personal statement as part of their application.

Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UK Schools)

UCAS is a general application for UK schools (similar to the Common App in the US). There's no specific prompt for the personal statement—instead, applicants are required to write an essay describing what they want to study, why they want to study it, and what they bring to the table. There is a 4,000-character/47-line limit.

University of British Columbia

UBC asks applicants to fill out a personal profile consisting of five to seven short-answer questions that vary depending on the program you're applying to. Answers should be 50-200 words.

Depending on which degree program you apply to, you’ll be asked to answer some or all of the following questions on the UBC application:

• Tell us about who you are. How would your family, friends, and/or members of your community describe you? If possible, please include something about yourself that you are most proud of and why.
• What is important to you? And why?
• Family/community responsibilities
• Creative or performing arts
• Work/employment
• Service to others
• Tell us more about one or two activities listed above that are most important to you. Please explain the role you played and what you learned in the process. You will be asked for a reference who can speak to your response.
• Additional information: You may wish to use the space below to provide UBC with more information on your academic history to date and/or your future academic plans. For example: How did you choose your courses in secondary school? Are there life circumstances that have affected your academic decisions to date? What have you done to prepare yourself specifically for your intended area of study at UBC?
• Please submit the names of two referees who know you well and can comment on your preparedness for study at UBC. Examples of referees include an employer, a community member, a coach, a teacher/instructor, or anyone who knows you well. One of the referees you select must be able to speak to one of the activities/experiences described in one of your long-answer responses above. For applicants who are currently attending a high school, one of your referees must be a school official (e.g., Grade 12 or senior year counsellor, teacher, or IB coordinator). Neither referee should be a friend, family member, or paid agent.

Some programs of study may ask applicants to respond to the questions above and some additional, program-specific questions when completing the personal profile.

University of Cambridge

Optional Essays

Some schools don't require an essay from all applicants but do recommend or require an essay for certain programs. I've listed a selection of those prompts below.

Arizona State University

Students applying to the Barrett Honors College at ASU must submit one essay of 300 to 500 words in response to one of the following prompts (your response may be critical or creative):

Prompt 1 Discuss how a specific piece of art (painting, literature, photograph, etc.) or popular culture (song, comic book, etc.) helped you realize something new about yourself or the world. What was that realization, and how did the piece of art or pop culture bring about this change in your thinking? Do not simply describe the piece of art or pop culture; instead, focus on its effect on you and how it makes you a good fit for the Barrett Honors College experience. Prompt 2 Tell us about a habit or way of thinking that others would recognize as “uniquely you.” This is something you value and would hesitate to give up because it is a distinct part of who you are or what makes you different - why is it so? Be sure to share how this aspect of your identity makes you a good fit for the Barrett Honors College experience.

City University of New York

Applicants to Macaulay Honors College must write two essays: an “about you” essay, and an essay describing your plans for college. Each response should be around 500 words, give or take a few within reason.

Essay 1: About you. (Select one of the options below.) Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. OR Tell us about an area or activity, outside of academics, in which you have invested a lot of time and effort. Tell us why. What did you learn? How was it meaningful?

Essay 2: About your plans for college. Please discuss all points below. Why do you want to go to an honors college ? There are many benefits of being a Macaulay student, such as the Macaulay community, special courses, Honors advisement, cultural passport, opportunities funds, and other financial benefits. Please describe how these features will shape you and your college experience, including, what you expect to bring to the college community and what you expect to get out of your college experience.

Florida International University

Only applicants who don't meet the criteria for automatic admissions and whose applications undergo holistic review will need to submit a 500-word essay:

Students requesting appeal or additional review of their admission status must submit a written statement including:

Your goals and educational or professional objectives

A summary/explanation of past academic performance

Information and/or circumstances that may have affected past academic performance

• Any other information the student wishes to have considered

Ohio University

For the Ohio University application, students who've been out of school for more than a year must submit an essay explaining what they've done in their time off from school.

Applicants who have been out of high school for more than one year must submit an essay detailing activities since graduation.

Additionally, applicants to the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism are encouraged, though not required, to submit an essay detailing how they want to help shape the future of journalism.

For all other applicants, submitting an essay here is optional; however, if you do wish to write an essay, the application suggests that you describe any academic challenges you’ve faced, academic and career objectives, or involvement in community affairs (recommended length is 250-500 words).

Those interested in Ohio University's OHIO Honors Program (including the Cutler Scholars Program) are required to answer the following essay prompt (limit 250 words):

Students in the OHIO Honors Program represent all majors on campus and take engaging honors courses while applying what they learn outside of the classroom. Students choose from classes and experiences across three pathways: community engagement, research and creative activity, and leadership . Students in OHP can move among the three pathways as their interests evolve and they develop their goals. What pathway is most exciting to you right now, and why?

Finally, those interested in the Honors Tutorial College are must answer the following two essay prompts (in about 500 words each):

HTC Question 1: Please explain why you have chosen your particular program(s) of study.

HTC Question 2: We expect that one reason you seek a tutorial education is for the one-on-one interaction with faculty, but other than that, what interests you about pursuing a tutorial-based undergraduate education? What aspects of your education and life experience have prepared you for a tutorial education with its emphasis on research and creative activity?

Type 1: Questions About a Meaningful Experience

This type of college essay question is the most common. The exact focus of these prompts can vary quite a bit, but they all ask you to reflect on an important experience. Some questions specify a type of experience whereas others don't, simply opting to have applicants write about whatever matters to them.

There are three basic sub-types that you'll see when dealing with these prompts. Let's look at an example of each.

#1: Overcoming a Challenge

These prompts ask about how you dealt with a particular challenge or solved a problem. Below is a typical example of this question type from the MIT application:

Tell us about the most significant challenge you've faced or something important that didn't go according to plan. How did you manage the situation?

To address a question like this, you need a topic that has real stakes —that is, something that you genuinely struggled with. Even though it can seem as though you should only discuss positive experiences and feelings in your college essay (you want to impress your readers with how awesome you are!), unwavering positivity actually hurts your essay because it makes you seem fake.

Instead, be honest : if you're writing about a negative experience, acknowledge that it was unpleasant or hard and explain why. Doing so will just make your overcoming it that much more impressive.

#2: Engaging With Diversity

Questions about diversity ask how you interact with those who are different from you . See an example below from the Common Application:

When approaching this type of question, you need to show that you're thoughtful about new ideas and perspectives. Colleges are full of students from all kinds of backgrounds, and admissions officers want to know that you'll be accepting of the diversity of other students, even if you don't necessarily agree with them.

Also, make sure to pick a specific instance to focus on. Writing a general essay about how you accept others won't impress admissions officers—you need to show them an example of a time that you did so.

#3: Growing Up

Finally, this type of prompt asks about a transitional experience or rite of passage that made you feel like an adult. I've reprinted another example from the Common App:

For these types of prompts, you want to show personal growth. Explain to the reader not just who you are but also how you've changed . (Really, this is a good idea no matter which prompt you're addressing!)

College can be challenging, so admissions officers want to know that you have the maturity to deal with (likely) living on your own, managing your own life, and planning for your future.

Regardless of the exact prompt, the key to this type of college essay is to show what you've learned from the experience. Admissions officers don't care that much about what happened to you—they care about what you think and feel about that event. That's what will give them a sense of who you are and what kind of college student you'll make.

Once you write a first draft, put it in a drawer for a week. Taking some time away from it will allow you to come back to it with fresh eyes. Then, try to read your essay from the perspective of someone who knows nothing about you. Would they be able to understand the story? Do you explain clearly what you learned? Does your intro grab the reader's attention?

It can also be helpful to ask someone you trust, such as a parent, teacher, or peer, to read your essay and give you feedback. Really listen to what they say and think about how you can improve your writing.

Finally, try reading your essay aloud. This will help you catch any weird or awkward phrasings.

What's Next?

If you're struggling with how to approach your personal statement, consider looking at some college essay examples .

The essay is just one part of the college application process. Check out our guide to applying to college for a step-by-step breakdown of what you'll need to do.

Finally, if you're planning to take the SAT or ACT , consider taking a look at our expert test-prep guides for some helpful advice on whatever you might be struggling with.

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Alex is an experienced tutor and writer. Over the past five years, she has worked with almost a hundred students and written about pop culture for a wide range of publications. She graduated with honors from University of Chicago, receiving a BA in English and Anthropology, and then went on to earn an MA at NYU in Cultural Reporting and Criticism. In high school, she was a National Merit Scholar, took 12 AP tests and scored 99 percentile scores on the SAT and ACT.

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

I'm applying to the University of Miami and I'd appreciate if someone could share their supplemental essay examples or any advice on writing these. I know it's important to be authentic, but examples might help me understand what they're looking for. Thanks!

Hey there! I'm glad you're looking for some guidance on writing your University of Miami supplemental essays. CollegeVine has an article with two University of Miami essays submitted by real students, along with feedback on what works and what could be improved upon: https://blog.collegevine.com/university-of-miami-essay-examples

Now for some quick advice—make sure to thoroughly read and understand the prompt, and figure out what aspects of your life, experiences, and personality you'd like to highlight. Are there specific programs or opportunities at the University of Miami that really resonate with you? Make sure to include those!

When writing your essay, remember to be genuine and let your own voice shine through. Admissions officers want to get to know you as a person, so stay true to yourself and your unique experiences. Avoid clichéd topics, overly complex language, or trying too hard to impress.

Finally, always revise your essay multiple times, ask for feedback from others, and double-check your spelling and grammar.

Check out CollegeVine's guide to writing the current University of Miami supplementals: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-university-of-miami-essays

Good luck with your application!

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.

University of Miami 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide  

Early Action/Decision: Nov 1

Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 6

University of Miami 2024-25 Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: 1 essay of 250 words

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Diversity

Located within one of the most dynamic cities in the world, the University of Miami is a distinctive community with a variety of cultures, traditions, histories, languages, and backgrounds. The University of Miami is a values-based and purpose-driven postsecondary institution that embraces diversity and inclusivity in all its forms and strives to create a culture of belonging, where every person feels valued and has an opportunity to contribute.

Please describe how your unique experiences, challenges overcome, or skills acquired would contribute to our distinctive university community..

Odds are that this isn’t the first “ diversity ” essay prompt you’ve come across this year—even if the prompt doesn’t explicitly use the word. If it is, however, please read on. UMiami wants to accept students from a range of backgrounds who will contribute to a “distinctive” University community, so tell admissions about what makes you you and how you will be a meaningful addition to the UMiami student body. Think about times when people have been intrigued by or curious about your identity, skillset, or background. Maybe you began practicing meditation and Buddhism during your sophomore year and you hope to spread some wisdom and mindfulness on campus next fall. Perhaps you were raised on a farm and have a very special relationship to all living things (plants, animals, people, etc.) around you. What do you hope to share with others about your lived experience? How will you incorporate this element of your identity into your college experience? Show admissions that you’re eager to make your mark in their community. Bonus points if you can reference a specific component of the UMiami experience (think clubs, classes, volunteer opportunities, etc.) to demonstrate interest and fit.

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