university of kentucky essays

University of Kentucky

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University of Kentucky’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Common app personal essay.

The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response. Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don‘t feel obligated to do so.

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?

Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

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.

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How to Write the University of Kentucky Essays 2020-2021

University of Kentucky is a public research institution located in Lexington, Kentucky. It prides itself on being one of only eight institutions in the US with the full complement of liberal arts, engineering, professional, agricultural, and medical colleges on one contiguous campus. UK has a total enrollment of around 30,500 and its acceptance rate hovers around 90%.

University of Kentucky applicants have the choice of applying via the Common Application, Coalition Application, or a UK-specific application. Students applying to the Lewis Honors College or the UK’s competitive academic scholarships must use either the University of Kentucky-specific application or the Common Application, and respond to an additional prompt. Want to know your chances at University of Kentucky? Calculate your chances for free right now.

Want to learn what the University of Kentucky will actually cost you based on your income? And how long your application to the school should take? Here’s what every student considering UK needs to know.

University of Kentucky Supplemental Essay Prompts

All applicants, think of a time when you were dealing with a challenge (personal, academic, work related). how did you handle that did you seek support and if so who did you seek support from (250-650 words), for lewis honors college and competitive scholarship applicants only.

Who are three people that you feel have made a significant impact on the world in the last 100 years? Who are they and why did you select them? How would you want them to be recognized or memorialized (for example, with a day, a celebration, or a monument, etc.)? 

For All Applicants

This prompt asks you to address your self-awareness and response to adversity. The challenge you choose to discuss does not have to be something large-scale or grand to effectively answer the prompt. Instead, your topic should allow you to fully answer the questions posed. Try to choose a time when you faced a unique challenge or reacted in a way that brought out your strengths; avoid hackneyed topics about grades or losing a sports game.

For example, an essay that discusses struggling to get a good grade in calculus would not be as effective as an essay that focuses on what it took to develop the mental fortitude to become a runner despite being highly unathletic. A challenging class is simply too common of an experience, and is not considered a substantial enough challenge If you do choose an academic topic, be sure that it is distinctive and significant enough to give admissions a better picture of who you are. For more tips, check out Collegevine’s guide to writing to an overcoming challenges prompt .

Tone is crucial in answering this question. This prompt asks you to reflect on a challenge, so do not be afraid to admit that you struggled at first. Humility is key to successful self-reflection. However, your tone should also not be overly self-critical – resilience is an equally important value. 

So if you were to write about going from hating running to becoming a varsity runner, you could begin with descriptions of your thoughts mid-race before you came to appreciate running. “A mile in and my breath grew ragged; my feet dragged as if I were wearing shoes made of lead. ‘I just can’t wait to finish the season and be done with running forever,’ I thought as I stared at the runner in front of me.”

The first portion of this prompt asks how you handled your challenge. You do not need to focus on only one solution if you relied on multiple mechanisms. Often, there isn’t just one magic solution to our problems. However, you should provide clear methods that you used to address your challenge. 

For example, saying you had a change of heart and suddenly loved running does not explain how you handled the problem in enough detail. What were your methods? Were other people involved in the change? Who were they and how did they help you? Go through the concrete steps and internal processes that led you to a resolution.

Support systems — both peer and faculty-based — will become crucial during your college years. Success during a challenge can largely depend on your ability to know where and when to ask for help. This prompt asks you to explain how you use the support systems in your life. Your challenge should at least be partially addressed by an effective use of your support system. Let’s return to the running example. In that case, you could discuss how you were inspired by an older teammate, or how your coach became a mentor.

Note that your support systems do not need to be official organizations or people in authority. Your friends and family can also serve as a support system. Your support system also doesn’t need to provide you with something tangible, so long as they can provide you with emotional support or good advice.  

Who are three people that you feel have made a significant impact on the world in the last 100 years? Who are they and why did you select them? How would you want them to be recognized or memorialized (for example, with a day, a celebration, or a monument, etc.)? (500 words)

Before you begin to consider your response to these questions, it would be beneficial to briefly assess what Lewis Honors College stands for and why you would like to attend this program (if applicable). If you are applying to Lewis Honors College, you should be prepared to demonstrate your commitment to the College’s values, either directly or indirectly, in your response to this essay prompt. Lewis Honors College’s mission is “to better the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the world by helping students to explore their purpose, develop intellectually, and lead with integrity.” As you can see, leadership is one of the College’s foremost values, and the admissions office wants to understand how you think about leadership and who has been a model of leadership to you.

Another related aspect of the prompt is your values. The prompt itself is asking you to consider who and what you value (within leadership), and then come up with three people who represent those values from the last century. What do you consider a “significant impact”? Is it scientific, humanitarian, athletic, intellectual, political, artistic? 

You should select people whose contributions span a few different areas you value or are interested in. The people you choose do not have to be universally popular or known; the only requirement is that they have made a significant impact on the world in your view. For example, if you’re scientifically inclined, you might choose Rosalind Franklin, the chemist who discovered that DNA has a double helix structure. Or maybe you believe the Percy Jackson series changed the world, in which case you might choose Rick Riordan. As long as the person represented or directly created change on a global scale in the past century (and you can back it up), they’re a valid choice.

This prompt then goes a step further by asking you to discuss how you would choose to commemorate each person. In last year’s honors prompt, applicants were asked to create a “new Mount Rushmore” with four different individuals. This year’s prompt challenges you to think critically about what memorialization means and come up with your own means of recognizing your chosen figures. There are a few suggestions embedded in the prompt – a day, a celebration, or a monument – but don’t feel like you must choose one of these options. Think creatively: what is the best way to remember your chosen figures? Here are a few ideas:

• Time – Is this person best remembered by setting aside time? Perhaps a moment of silence, a day, a week, or a month dedicated to remembrance of this figure. Is there a specific time (in the day or year) during which this person has special significance?
• Object – Is this figure best remembered with a permanent object? For example, a monument, a museum, or a cenotaph. Is there something about this person’s contribution that can be permanently displayed?
• Event – Is this person best represented by a social act or gathering in their name? Possibly a celebration, a vigil, a ritual, or a festival. Is there something about this person’s achievement or path to re-enact, enjoy, or grieve in conjunction with others?

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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Apply to UK

First-time freshmen.

The Early Action Track is encouraged for all freshmen – especially if you wish to be considered for the Lewis Honors College, competitive and academic scholarships or if you plan to live on campus.

This is our Regular Decision Track, which allows you to be considered for admission to UK but you may not be considered for Lewis Honors College or Competitive and Academic Scholarships if applying after December 1.

First-time freshmen can apply for Fall 2025 with the UK application.

First-time freshmen can apply now for Fall 2025!

The University of Kentucky is test-optional for admission allowing most freshman applicants to be considered for admission without an ACT or SAT score.

Students may also apply to UK using the Common App.

Start the UK Application

Need an assist?

Watch this step-by-step tutorial of how to apply for admission to the University of Kentucky if you are coming in as a freshman.

Transfer and Readmission Students

Transfer students.

Transfer students can apply now for Fall 2025.  Transfer students may also apply using the Common App.

Readmission

Readmission, non-degree and certificate students can apply now for Fall 2025.

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Review Application Deadlines

If a deadline falls on a weekend, the deadline is extended until 11:59 p.m. Eastern time the following Monday.

The University of Kentucky is committed to providing a safe learning, living and working environment for all members of the University community. 

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972  ( 20 U.S.C. § 1681 ) is a federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in educational programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance.  Consistent with this obligation, the University of Kentucky prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of sex in academics, employment, and all of its programs and activities.   The United States Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) enforces Title IX .  To view UK's full policy, visit ieeo.uky.edu/key-priorities/title-ix-compliance .

You may direct any questions to the University's Title IX coordinator. Meredith Reeves  Interim Title IX Coordinator   13 Main Building  Lexington, KY 40506-0032  859-257-8927 Request an Appointment  

Annual Safety and Security Report

The 2024 Annual Safety and Security Report includes the latest statistics for 2023, as well as statistics from 2022 and 2021 concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus; in certain off-campus buildings owned or controlled by UK; and on public property immediately adjacent to campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security. Paper copies will be provided upon request.

Access the Safety and Security Reports

Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act

The Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act (EADA) requires co-educational institutions of higher education that participate in federal student aid and have intercollegiate athletic programs to prepare an annual EADA report. The Report on Athletic Program Participation Rates and Financial Support Data includes athletic participation, staffing, revenues and expenses for men's and women's teams. Paper copies will be provided upon request.

View the EADA Report

Annual Fire Safety Report

The 2024 Annual Fire Safety Report includes statistics for the three previous calendar years concerning reported fires in on-campus student housing facilities, such as residence halls, Greek housing, graduate housing or at any facility designated as a place of residence for students. The report also includes a description of fire safety systems; yearly fire drills; policies on portable electrical appliances, furniture, decorations, bicycles/motorized scooters and open flames; evacuation procedures; policies on fire safety education and training; and contact information. Paper copies will be provided upon request.

View the Annual Fire Safety Report

University of Kentucky Secondary Application Prompts & Tips

• Cracking Med School Admissions

The University of Kentucky Medical School secondary application with several medium-length essays. The University of Kentucky School of Medicine admissions committee wants to understand you as a holistic person.  It wants to recruit a diverse, culturally competent, and socially aware class. Read our University of Kentucky secondary application tips below so you can learn how to stand out question by question! 

Submitting a strong secondary application is essentially in getting accepted. The University of Kentucky College of Medicine secondary prompts change frequently, so we do not suggest pre-writing these essays. Stand out on your University of Kentucky Medical School secondary application with our secondary essay editing packages !

• Personally Tailored Essays
• Edits by Stanford & Harvard-trained Doctors
• We study your application strengths to see what unique attributes we’ll bring to the medical school

University of Kentucky Medical School Secondary Application Questions: 2023 – 2024

• Why have you chosen to apply to the University of Kentucky College of Medicine?  (1,500 characters max)
• The University of Kentucky College of Medicine’s (UKCOM) mission statement promotes a diverse and inclusive environment that provides excellence in education, equitable health care, and transformative research to improve the health and wellness of Kentuckians and beyond. Please describe how your past experiences or future plans contribute to enriching and enhancing the learning environment at UKCOM.  (1,500 characters)
• If you are a non Kentucky resident, you are required to elaborate on your Kentucky ties if applicable (personal, familial e.g.) (700 characters max)
• UKCOM provides MD programs at four campuses including the Lexington Campus, the Morehead Campus (Rural Physician Leadership Program), the Bowling Green Campus, and the Northern Kentucky Campus. You will apply to one of the four UK College of Medicine campuses. Please indicate your campus choice. Please elaborate on why this is your preferred campus.  (700 characters max)
• What competencies and qualities do you feel a physician should possess?  (1,500 characters max)
• Describe a personal activity involving advocacy and/or community service that has impacted your personal values about delivering equitable patient care.  (2,000 characters max)
• Describe an experience or situation which made you feel grateful?  (1,500 characters max)
• It is impossible to have predicted the drastic impact caused by the novel coronavirus identified as COVID-19. Describe how this has impacted your social interactions, connections with peers, and perception of teamwork. (1,500 characters max)
• Please share unique, personally important, and/or challenging facts in your life and/or work experiences. Please discuss how such factors have influenced your goals and preparation for a career in medicine.  (2,500 characters)
• Describe a situation where you were not in the majority. (1,500 characters max)

Tips to Answer University of Kentucky Secondary Essays

University of Kentucky Secondary Application Pre-Writing Guidance: The University of Kentucky College of Medicine secondary prompts do change frequently, so we do not suggest pre-writing these essays.

• Download  all  our HIGH-YIELD tips for secondary essays:  Cracking Med School Admissions Secondary Essay Guide

University of Kentucky Secondary Application Tip #1: For the University of Kentucky secondary application question, “ Why have you chosen to apply to the University of Kentucky College of Medicine ” make sure you read all our tips on how to answer this questions:  Why this Medical School? Secondary Essay Example

University of Kentucky Secondary Application Tip #2: Make sure to look up the various University of Kentucky College of Medicine campuses . 

Guidance to answer the University of Kentucky secondaries question about campus preference:

• Since there are only 700 characters for this question, some students write a list of characteristics rather than full sentences.
• Do your research on each campus. Where do you see yourself? Why do you want to be there? Are there any specific programs or clinical electives that interest you? 
• Reach out to faculty and students to learn more about the campuses. 
• Qualities that we advise students to highlight include: specific populations you want to serve (rural vs. suburban vs. urban); opportunities such as combined programs and the Certificate in Health Systems Leadership; curriculum; and clinical opportunities.

University of Kentucky Secondary Application Tip #3: Tell stories that show your impact and interactions one-on-one with patients and individuals. For example, you should tell a story about a time you were grateful and a time when you saw a physician (or yourself) empathize with a patient.  

We strongly suggest that you include stories for the following University of Kentucky secondary application questions:

• The University of Kentucky College of Medicine’s (UKCOM) mission statement promotes a diverse and inclusive environment that provides excellence in education, equitable health care, and transformative research to improve the health and wellness of Kentuckians and beyond. Please describe how your past experiences or future plans contribute to enriching and enhancing the learning environment at UKCOM.  Write a story about a patient you met, an individual you helped through a community service project, or figuring out how to advance your research through critical thinking & problem solving. 
• What competencies and qualities do you feel a physician should possess?  You can add a story that highlights a physician you shadowed or worked with and why that doctor showcases qualities of a great physician
• Describe a personal activity involving advocacy and/or community service that has impacted your personal values about delivering equitable patient care.  Add a story about an individual you impacted through a community service activity. 
• Describe an experience or situation which made you feel grateful? 
• It is impossible to have predicted the drastic impact caused by the novel coronavirus identified as COVID-19. Describe how this has impacted your social interactions, connections with peers, and perception of teamwork.  Add 1-2 stories from COVID that highlight your reflections learned through the COVID-19 pandemic. 
• Please share unique, personally important, and/or challenging facts in your life and/or work experiences. Please discuss how such factors have influenced your goals and preparation for a career in medicine  Add stories from your personal background and ideally, you should add at least 1 patient story.
• Describe a situation where you were not in the majority.

Dr. Rachel Rizal and Dr. Rishi Mediratta are excellent in helping medical school applicants stand out on secondaries. Contact us down below or email us at [email protected]  if you have questions or need help!

University of Kentucky Secondary Application Tip #4: For the University of Kentucky secondary application question, “ Describe an experience or situation which made you feel grateful ” make sure you add a specific story and not pinpoint to a general cause of gratefulness. Additionally, make sure you add a reflection about the specific situation. 

University of Kentucky Secondary Application Tip #5: For the COVID-19 question, incorporate your personal experiences as well as healthcare current issues you noticed throughout the COVID pandemic. We have an entire  healthcare current events blog post here, where you can read more about healthcare disparities and COVID-19. **Make sure to add your reflections about COVID-19 and how your insights influence your career in medicine.

University of Kentucky Secondary Application Tip #6: For the University of Kentucky secondary application question, “Please share unique, personally important, and/or challenging facts in your life and/or work experiences. Please discuss how such factors have influenced your goals and preparation for a career in medicine ” this is basically like an autobiography.

• Read our HIGH-YIELD blog post on how to craft an excellent autobiography:  How To Write An Autobiography For Medical School

University of Kentucky Secondary Application Tip #7: For the University of Kentucky secondary question, “D escribe a situation where you were not in the majority ” read sample essays in our  Cracking Med School Admissions book ! Some strong applicants talk about instances when their ideas or opinions went against the status quo.

University of Kentucky Secondary Application Tip #8: Get our help to edit your University of Kentucky Medical School secondary application essays. We can help you through our secondary essay packages . Have questions about how you can stand out? Contact us below.

[Read More Secondary Essay Tips:  Ohio State University , University of Cincinnati College of Medicine  ,  Michigan State University ]

Your medical school application Coaches, Mentors, & Cheerleaders

We Personally Advise Every Student We Work With.

Rachel Rizal, M.D.

Changing the trajectory of people’s lives.

Undergraduate Princeton University, cum laude

Medical School Stanford School of Medicine

Residency Harvard, Emergency Medicine

Awards & Scholarships Fulbright Scholar USA Today Academic First Team Tylenol Scholarship

Rishi Mediratta, M.D., M.Sc., M.A.

Advising students to attend their dream schools.

Undergraduate Johns Hopkins University, Phi Beta Kappa

Residency Stanford, Pediatrics

Awards & Scholarships Marshall Scholar Tylenol Scholarship Global Health Scholar

stand out from other applicants with our secondary essay edit packages

Download your secondary essay guide.

Use this essay guide and workbook to write standout secondaries.

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University of Kentucky Medical School Secondary Application Questions: 2021 – 2022

• Please elaborate on why this is your preferred campus. (1,000 characters max)
• What competencies and qualities do you feel a physician should possess? (1,000 characters max)
• Describe a personal activity involving advocacy, social justice, and/or civic engagement that has impacted your personal values about delivering equitable patient care. (1,500 characters max)
• Describe an experience or situation which made you feel grateful? (1,000 characters max)
• In providing patient care, should physicians maintain emotional distance or empathize with patients’ emotional state? (1,000 characters max)
• It is impossible to have predicted the drastic impact caused by the novel coronavirus identified as COVID-19. Describe the impact you have witnessed of this pandemic on those around you. (1,500 characters max)
• Please share unique, personally important, and/or challenging facts in your background, such as the quality of your early educational environment, socioeconomic status, culture, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, or life/work experiences. Please discuss how such factors have influenced your goals and preparation for a career in medicine. (1,750 characters max)

University of Kentucky Medical School Secondary Application Questions: 2020 - 2021

• Please elaborate on why this is your preferred campus. (750 characters max)
• What competencies and qualities do you feel a physician should possess? (1,500 characters max)
• Describe the most significant community service activity in which you have participated. What did you learn from that experience? (2,000 characters max)
• Describe an experience or situation which made you feel grateful? (1,500 characters max)
• In providing patient care, should physicians maintain emotional distance or empathize with patients’ emotional state? (1,500 characters max)
• Please share unique, personally important, and/or challenging facts in your background, such as the quality of your early educational environment, socioeconomic status, culture, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, or life/work experiences. Please discuss how such factors have influenced your goals and preparation for a career in medicine. (2,000 characters max)

University of Kentucky Medical School Secondary Application Questions: 2019 – 2020

• (Optional) Why have you chosen to apply to the University of Kentucky College of Medicine? (1,000 characters max)
• (Optional) Please elaborate on personal characteristics and any accomplishments and experiences that you feel help to demonstrate your potential to contribute to the college and to the profession of medicine. (1,000 characters max)
• (Optional)  Please elaborate on any Kentucky ties: personal, familial, etc. (1,000 characters max)
• Describe a situation in your undergraduate education when you felt alive and engaged in learning. (1,500 characters max)
• Please share unique, personally important, and/or challenging facts in your background, such as the quality of your early educational environment, socioeconomic status, culture, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, or life/work experiences. Please discuss how such factors have influenced your goals and preparation for a career in medicine. (2,500 characters max)

University of Kentucky Medical School Secondary Application Questions: 2018 – 2019

University of kentucky college of medicine all md applicants.

• How would you describe your ability to use unscheduled time during the day for learning?
• What competencies and qualities should a physician possess for practice in the 21st century? (1,500 characters max)

University of Kentucky College of Medicine Out-of-State Applicants Only

• Reasons for selecting a medical career;
• Things you have done to prepare yourself for a medical education and career;
• Personal characteristics and other accomplishments and experiences that you feel help qualify you for the practice of medicine; and,
• Why you chose to apply to the University of Kentucky College of Medicine.
• Please elaborate on any Kentucky ties: personal, familial, etc.

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University of Kentucky Medical School Secondary Application Questions: 2017 – 2018

University of kentucky medical school secondary application questions: 2016 – 2017.

• Please share unique, personally important, and/or challenging facts in your background, such as the quality of your early educational environment, socioeconomic status, culture, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, or life or work experiences. Please discuss how such factors have influenced your goals and preparation for a career in medicine.

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William C. Parker Belonging Scholarship Program

The William C. Parker Belonging Scholarship Program (WCP) directly supports the  UK Strategic Plan  goal to bring together many people as one community. Within this community is a broad range of lived experiences among our students, faculty and staff. Together, these experiences and backgrounds help UK create and sustain a community of inclusion, understanding and belonging. To that end, we want to better understand an applicant's experiences, beliefs, background and perspectives. By recognizing the influence of individual experiences on skills, knowledge, character and contribution, we will identify students who will positively contribute to a campus community where everyone belongs and where they thrive academically.

Incoming freshmen  applicants for this competitive scholarship program must have a minimum unweighted GPA of 2.50. Level of award varies based on academic profile of applicant. A student’s scholarship application will not be reviewed until they have been admitted to the University of Kentucky.

For maximum consideration for the William C. Parker Belonging Scholarship, freshmen must apply for admission to the University providing all supporting documents to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and should complete the William C. Parker Belonging Scholarship section of the admission application, including a 500-word essay on the following topic: 

The University of Kentucky is committed to bringing together many people with a broad range of lived experiences and backgrounds as one community. Please share a perspective or an experience you've had and how you believe it will enable you to contribute meaningfully to our campus community.

Unfortunately, a William C. Parker Belonging Scholarship will not be offered to every excellent student who meets the requirements and applies. However, we assure each applicant that their application will receive consideration and fair treatment in what is a very competitive process. 

Priority Application Deadline:  December 1, 2024*  Application Deadline : February 15, 2025*. However, early application is encouraged as awards will be offered pending early application and availability of funds. 

*If a deadline falls on a weekend, the application will remain open until 11:59pm (Eastern Time) on the following Monday. 

Incoming transfer students  interested in applying for this competitive scholarship should visit: :  https://studentsuccess.uky.edu/financial-aid-and-scholarships/academic-scholarships/transfer-student-academic-scholarships

Currently enrolled UK students  interested in applying for this competitive scholarship should visit:  https://studentsuccess.uky.edu/financial-aid-and-scholarships/academic-scholarships/current-undergraduate-student-scholarships

For more information concerning the William C. Parker Belonging Scholarship Program, please contact: 

William C. Parker Belonging Scholarship Program   217 W.D. Funkhouser Building   Lexington, KY 40506-0054  

P: (859) 323-6334   E:  [email protected]

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University of Kentucky Requirements for Admission

What are University of Kentucky's admission requirements? While there are a lot of pieces that go into a college application, you should focus on only a few critical things:

• GPA requirements
• Testing requirements, including SAT and ACT requirements
• Application requirements

In this guide we'll cover what you need to get into University of Kentucky and build a strong application.

School location: Lexington, KY

This school is also known as: UK

Admissions Rate: 94.9%

If you want to get in, the first thing to look at is the acceptance rate. This tells you how competitive the school is and how serious their requirements are.

The acceptance rate at University of Kentucky is 94.9% . For every 100 applicants, 95 are admitted.

This means the school is a nearly open admissions school. They accept nearly all students, so for the most part, you just need to submit an application to get in. But if you don't meet all their application requirements, you'll be one of the very few people who gets rejected.

We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies . We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools , from state colleges to the Ivy League.

We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools.

Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.

University of Kentucky GPA Requirements

Many schools specify a minimum GPA requirement, but this is often just the bare minimum to submit an application without immediately getting rejected.

The GPA requirement that really matters is the GPA you need for a real chance of getting in. For this, we look at the school's average GPA for its current students.

Average GPA: 3.61

The average GPA at University of Kentucky is 3.61 .

(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA.

With a GPA of 3.61, University of Kentucky requires you to be above average in your high school class. You'll need at least a mix of A's and B's, with more A's than B's. You can compensate for a lower GPA with harder classes, like AP or IB classes. This will show that you're able to handle more difficult academics than the average high school student.

SAT and ACT Requirements

Each school has different requirements for standardized testing. Only a few schools require the SAT or ACT, but many consider your scores if you choose to submit them.

University of Kentucky hasn't explicitly named a policy on SAT/ACT requirements, but because it's published average SAT or ACT scores (we'll cover this next), it's likely test flexible. Typically, these schools say, "if you feel your SAT or ACT score represents you well as a student, submit them. Otherwise, don't."

Despite this policy, the truth is that most students still take the SAT or ACT, and most applicants to University of Kentucky will submit their scores. If you don't submit scores, you'll have one fewer dimension to show that you're worthy of being admitted, compared to other students. We therefore recommend that you consider taking the SAT or ACT, and doing well.

University of Kentucky SAT Requirements

Many schools say they have no SAT score cutoff, but the truth is that there is a hidden SAT requirement. This is based on the school's average score.

Average SAT: 1200

The average SAT score composite at University of Kentucky is a 1200 on the 1600 SAT scale.

This score makes University of Kentucky Competitive for SAT test scores.

University of Kentucky SAT Score Analysis (New 1600 SAT)

The 25th percentile SAT score is 1080, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1280. In other words, a 1080 on the SAT places you below average, while a 1280 will move you up to above average .

Here's the breakdown of SAT scores by section:

SAT Score Choice Policy

The Score Choice policy at your school is an important part of your testing strategy.

University of Kentucky has the Score Choice policy of "All Scores."

This means that University of Kentucky requires you to send all SAT scores you've ever taken to their office.

This sounds daunting, but most schools don't actually consider all your scores equally. For example, if you scored an 1300 on one test and a 1500 on another, they won't actually average the two tests.

More commonly, the school will take your highest score on a single test date. Even better, some schools form a Superscore - that is, they take your highest section score across all your test dates and combine them.

Some students are still worried about submitting too many test scores. They're afraid that University of Kentucky will look down on too many attempts to raise your score. But how many is too many?

From our research and talking to admissions officers, we've learned that 4-6 tests is a safe number to submit . The college understands that you want to have the best chance of admission, and retaking the test is a good way to do this. Within a reasonable number of tests, they honestly don't care how many times you've taken it. They'll just focus on your score.

If you take it more than 6 times, colleges start wondering why you're not improving with each test. They'll question your study skills and ability to improve.

But below 6 tests, we strongly encourage retaking the test to maximize your chances. If your SAT score is currently below a 1080, we strongly recommend that you consider prepping for the SAT and retaking it . You don't have much to lose, and you can potentially raise your score and significantly boost your chances of getting in.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

University of Kentucky ACT Requirements

Just like for the SAT, University of Kentucky likely doesn't have a hard ACT cutoff, but if you score too low, your application will get tossed in the trash.

Average ACT: 25

The average ACT score at University of Kentucky is 25. This score makes University of Kentucky Moderately Competitive for ACT scores.

The 25th percentile ACT score is 21, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 28.

ACT Score Sending Policy

If you're taking the ACT as opposed to the SAT, you have a huge advantage in how you send scores, and this dramatically affects your testing strategy.

Here it is: when you send ACT scores to colleges, you have absolute control over which tests you send. You could take 10 tests, and only send your highest one. This is unlike the SAT, where many schools require you to send all your tests ever taken.

This means that you have more chances than you think to improve your ACT score. To try to aim for the school's ACT requirement of 21 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can. When you have the final score that you're happy with, you can then send only that score to all your schools.

ACT Superscore Policy

By and large, most colleges do not superscore the ACT. (Superscore means that the school takes your best section scores from all the test dates you submit, and then combines them into the best possible composite score). Thus, most schools will just take your highest ACT score from a single sitting.

We weren't able to find the school's exact ACT policy, which most likely means that it does not Superscore. Regardless, you can choose your single best ACT score to send in to University of Kentucky, so you should prep until you reach our recommended target ACT score of 21.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and ACT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

SAT/ACT Writing Section Requirements

Currently, only the ACT has an optional essay section that all students can take. The SAT used to also have an optional Essay section, but since June 2021, this has been discontinued unless you are taking the test as part of school-day testing in a few states. Because of this, no school requires the SAT Essay or ACT Writing section, but some schools do recommend certain students submit their results if they have them.

University of Kentucky considers the SAT Essay/ACT Writing section optional and may not include it as part of their admissions consideration. You don't need to worry too much about Writing for this school, but other schools you're applying to may require or recommend it.

Final Admissions Verdict

This school offers nearly open admissions, which means they give almost every student an offer of admission. To be safe, you should aim for a 1080 SAT or a 21 ACT or higher . If you can achieve this, you're pretty much guaranteed a spot in the incoming class.

Admissions Calculator

Here's our custom admissions calculator. Plug in your numbers to see what your chances of getting in are. Pick your test: SAT ACT

• 80-100%: Safety school: Strong chance of getting in
• 50-80%: More likely than not getting in
• 20-50%: Lower but still good chance of getting in
• 5-20%: Reach school: Unlikely to get in, but still have a shot
• 0-5%: Hard reach school: Very difficult to get in

How would your chances improve with a better score?

Take your current SAT score and add 160 points (or take your ACT score and add 4 points) to the calculator above. See how much your chances improve?

At PrepScholar, we've created the leading online SAT/ACT prep program . We guarantee an improvement of 160 SAT points or 4 ACT points on your score, or your money back.

Here's a summary of why we're so much more effective than other prep programs:

• PrepScholar customizes your prep to your strengths and weaknesses . You don't waste time working on areas you already know, so you get more results in less time.
• We guide you through your program step-by-step so that you're never confused about what you should be studying. Focus all your time learning, not worrying about what to learn.
• Our team is made of national SAT/ACT experts . PrepScholar's founders are Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers . You'll be studying using the strategies that actually worked for them.
• We've gotten tremendous results with thousands of students across the country. Read about our score results and reviews from our happy customers .

There's a lot more to PrepScholar that makes it the best SAT/ACT prep program. Click to learn more about our program , or sign up for our 5-day free trial to check out PrepScholar for yourself:

Application Requirements

Every school requires an application with the bare essentials - high school transcript and GPA, application form, and other core information. Many schools, as explained above, also require SAT and ACT scores, as well as letters of recommendation, application essays, and interviews. We'll cover the exact requirements of University of Kentucky here.

Application Requirements Overview

• Common Application Accepted
• Electronic Application Available
• Essay or Personal Statement Required for all freshmen
• Letters of Recommendation 1
• Interview Not required
• Application Fee $50
• Fee Waiver Available? Available
• Other Notes audition required of music and dance majors

Testing Requirements

• SAT or ACT Considered if submitted
• Scores Due in Office August 1

Coursework Requirements

• Subject Required Years
• Foreign Language 2
• Social Studies 3
• Electives 7

Deadlines and Early Admissions

• Offered? Deadline Notification
• Yes February 15 Rolling, notification begins August 15
• Yes December 1 January 15

Admissions Office Information

• Address: 101 Lexington, KY 40506-0032
• Phone: (859) 257-9000
• Fax: (859) 257-3823

Our Expert's Notes

We did more detailed research into this school's admissions process and found the following information:

For the Honors College, there is an application deadline of December 1st and a separate essay you must complete on the application to UK. Additionally, merit scholarships are available. Most you are automatically considered for and some are automatic, but there are a few that require a separate application (which can be found on the UK general application) and a deadline of December 1st for consideration. Learn more at the scholarship page for incoming freshman.

Other Schools For You

If you're interested in University of Kentucky, you'll probably be interested in these schools as well. We've divided them into 3 categories depending on how hard they are to get into, relative to University of Kentucky.

Reach Schools: Harder to Get Into

These schools are have higher average SAT scores than University of Kentucky. If you improve your SAT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.

Same Level: Equally Hard to Get Into

If you're competitive for University of Kentucky, these schools will offer you a similar chance of admission.

Safety Schools: Easier to Get Into

If you're currently competitive for University of Kentucky, you should have no problem getting into these schools. If University of Kentucky is currently out of your reach, you might already be competitive for these schools.

Data on this page is sourced from Peterson's Databases © 2024 (Peterson's LLC. All rights reserved.) as well as additional publicly available sources.

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The Robert E. Hemenway Writing Center

About the Writing Center

The Writing Center specializes in one-on-one assistance with your writing. Our consultants can help you with any written text, at any stage of the writing process. The Writing Center serves all UK undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty, and staff.

We help clients:

• begin, develop, and review their projects
• fulfill assignment requirements
• communicate effectively in specific disciplines
• document sources fairly and correctly
• learn and practice academic standards of edited written English
• develop and polish their writing style

If you have questions about our mission and services, please contact the Director, Professor Lisa Schroot , at [email protected]

Register for an account and schedule an appointment below.

Register & Schedule

B-108B W.T. Young Library, The Hub (lower level)

The Writing Center is open every semester, from the first week of classes until the last day of classes.

For Fall 2024, the UK Writing Center offers:

In-Person appointments

Online Synchronous appointments (Live via Video Conferencing)

E-Tutoring appointments (Asynchronous, Comments Only)

Hours 

Monday 10am – 8pm

Tuesday 10am – 8pm

Wednesday 10am – 8pm

Thursday 10am – 1pm & 6pm – 9pm

Friday 10am – 1pm

Sunday 6pm – 9pm (Online Only)

The Writing Center is NOT an editing service. If you are interested in hiring a copy editor, you can view a list of editors for hire at the following site .

Join us on facebook

• Types of Appointments
• Information for Instructors

• University of Kentucky

• Main Menu / Search

College of Design Undergraduate Admissions

Incoming freshmen.

To be considered for admission, you must submit a completed application with all supporting materials. Note  the College of Design has a selective admissions process with additional requirements beyond the general undergraduate application. 

Admission Checklist

Transfer Students

Thinking of making a change? The Office of Undergraduate Admission has all the resources you need, including deadlines, requirements, and a Transfer Credit Tool that shows how the credits you've earned at other institutions will transfer to UK.

Transfer Admission

International Students

The International Center is the place to go for information regarding international admission requirements, tuition,  scholarships and more.

International Admission

Admitted Students

Congratulations and welcome to UK! Once you've been admitted, you'll need to take some additional steps, like activating your linkblue account and registering for orientation.

Current UK Students

Undergraduate students already enrolled at the University of Kentucky may apply to programs in the College of Design using the links below:

Architecture Interiors Product Design

Selective Admissions Requirements

Architecture.

Once you select Architecture as your undergraduate major (either in the Common App or UK application), a secondary application will appear. The secondary application consists of: 

• A portfolio (optional)

The portfolio dropbox will be emailed to students within 24 hours after they submit their application.

Once you select Interiors as your undergraduate major (either in the Common App or UK application), a secondary application will appear. The secondary application requires: 

• A written essay response to a provided statement about the School and its approach to the study of design for Interiors.
• Creation of an original 2D or 3D composition and submission of one photograph / image of that work.

The link for the original work upload will be emailed to students within 24 hours after they submit their application.

Product Design

Once you select Product Design as your undergraduate major (either in Common App or UK application), a secondary application will appear. The secondary application consists of: 

• A written essay. In 500 words or less, tell us about your goals for studying Product Design at UK and articulate why you believe this is the right program for you. We want to know how you describe design and your aspirations for your education.
• A photo essay. How do you notice and describe existing “good designs” in the world around you? In five self-authored photographs, show us what you see that qualifies — for you — as good design and explain why.
• A portfolio. This portion of the application gives us a glimpse into the creative activities in which you’re already involved and is a chance to show us not only your existing skills but also what excites you about your various interests.

The link to upload with portfolio and photo essay will be emailed to students within 24 hours after they submit their application.

Gray Design Building 349 Scott Street Lexington, KY 40506 859-323-2747

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