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5 Tips to Write an Excellent UCF Application Essay

College Essays

The University of Central Florida, commonly known as UCF, is one of the largest colleges in the United States . Over 60,000 students are enrolled at UCF, but that doesn't mean it's super easy to get in— UCF has an acceptance rate of 36 percent , meaning they accept less than half of students who apply.

To set yourself apart from the crowd, you'll want to write a stellar UCF application essay. Don't think that the fact that these essays are optional means they're not important; they're an additional opportunity to show why you'll be a great addition to the student body!

In this guide, we'll cover all the details of the UCF essay prompts, including how to answer them, what UCF is looking for, and a step-by-step guide to make your essay as strong as it can be.

Feature Image: Kelly Daacon /Wikimedia Commons

What Should You Know About the UCF Application Essay?

Unlike many schools, only freshman students can use the Common Application to apply to UCF. Otherwise, students must use UCF's own application, which is also available to freshman students.

However, there are some differences between the two. UCF's website includes a recommendation , but not a requirement, for a supplemental essay based on two of four prompts, outlined below. However, the instructions for the essay include the phrase, "an essay assists the Admissions Committee in knowing you as an individual, independent of test scores and other objective data," so while they may not actually be required, you should write them as if they are.

The Common Application includes two questions that do not appear on the UCF application , and reports from students suggest that UCF sends a follow-up email with instructions for how to complete the supplemental essays. The essays on the Common Application are flagged as optional, but, as with the UCF application, you should answer them as if they're required to be on the safe side.

What Are the UCF Application Essay Prompts?

Though the UCF essays aren't technically required according to the college's website, it's strongly suggested that you complete them. They're an opportunity to flesh out your application with a more complete picture of yourself, which is valuable to both UCF and you.

UCF has four essay prompts to choose from and instructs students to respond to two. According to previous applicants, UCF accepts those responses in one combined essay or in two separate statements.

The responses, whether in one single essay or in two essays, should total no more than 500 words or 7,000 characters combined . Be sure that your essay or essays fall below both the word and character count.

UCF has four essay prompts for you to choose from, though you only need to answer two of the prompts. The questions can either be answered in one essay or two, depending on which you prefer.

UCF Essay Prompt 1: The Obstacle Prompt

If there has been some obstacle or bump in the road in your academic or personal life, please explain the circumstances.

With this prompt, UCF is giving you an opportunity to explain any parts of your application that may not be as impressive as you'd like them to be. Many students aren't able to commit to extracurriculars as deeply as they'd like because of financial problems or because they need to work or otherwise help out their family. Other times, students may not be able to keep their grades up as well as they'd like due to family illness or other obstacles that can make staying on top of homework difficult.

Circumstances like these are out of your control but can cause hiccups in your education, which might not look good to colleges. This prompt gives you space to explain that, giving UCF a better picture of who you are as a student.

So if you've encountered any hardship that's had an impact on your education, it's smart to take advantage of this essay question and explain it. If your grades dipped in junior year because you had to pick up an after-school job to help your parents out, let UCF know! Not only does that explain changes to your grades, but it also demonstrates responsibility. If you can explain your GPA based on outside circumstances, take advantage of the opportunity and do so.

Be honest about challenges you've faced, and accept responsibility for things that you could have done better. Your answer to this question should demonstrate anything you've learned from the experience and how you've grown rather than just shifting blame to outside circumstances. Don't stop at writing about what happened—continue on to answer what you did about it.

However, be sure that what you write about is an actual hardship. Being bored with your classes or being more invested in something else, such as an extracurricular activity, doesn't qualify—this question is asking for obstacles outside of your control.

UCF Essay Prompt 2: The Family History Prompt

How has your family history, culture or environment influenced who you are?

This is a fairly standard background essay, which asks you to think about your upbringing and how that's shaped the person you've become. Because UCF has a fairly short word limit, be sure to pick one particular element and home in on it rather than spending time painting a complete portrait of your family history.

Information like this helps a college like UCF better understand what you'll be bringing to the student body. Our upbringings often give us unique perspectives and abilities, which contribute to a thriving campus culture. In a school of over 50,000 students, it might feel like there's nothing particularly unique about you, but there is—this essay prompt helps you discuss it.

Don't get too hung up on picking something dramatic to set your family or culture apart from everybody else's. If you grew up in a family that really loves fishing and it's made you a more patient, hands-on person, write about that! On the other hand, if you grew up as part of a traveling circus and that's made you long for a place to put down roots, write about that!

The most important thing with this question is to be honest, thoughtful, and specific. Pick something that really matters to you, and think deeply on what it means.

Provided you are honest, thoughtful, and specific, there aren't a lot of topics you should avoid on this one, though always be aware that, if you choose to write about something potentially inflammatory, the admissions office may not feel the same way about things that you do. Your audience is made up of strangers, so choose something you're comfortable sharing with people who don't know you and deciding whether or not you'll get into college based in part on what you write.

UCF Essay Prompt 3: The "Why UCF?" Prompt

Why did you choose to apply to UCF?

"Why This School?" essays are common in college applications because they require you to think beyond a school's reputation and get specific about why you want to go there. Colleges want to know that your interest goes beyond ticking another box on your college list—you should have a reason to attend beyond that you think you can get in!

To answer this question, try to get specific. What is it about UCF that appeals to you? You can look through their mission statement , course catalog, and clubs to find things that appeal to you, or refer to experiences at a campus visit or college fair. Connect your interest in UCF to something concrete.

For example, UCF has part of its mission statement dedicated to creativity, which should "enrich the human experience." Why does that matter to you? When you attend UCF, how do you hope to use creativity to enrich the human experience, too? If you can, make connections to real-life classes or clubs that you want to belong to, such as the Cypress Dome Society or Elements of Hip Hop . What interests do you have? What are your goals? How will these clubs help connect you to your student body?

The most important things to avoid in this essay response are the things everybody else is already saying—that UCF has a good reputation and that it has a nice campus. Assume that both of those things go without saying. What else does UCF have to offer?

UCF Essay Prompt 4: The Characteristics Prompt

What qualities or unique characteristics do you possess that will allow you to contribute to the UCF community?

This prompt is the flip side of the "Why This College?" prompt— instead of asking why you want to attend UCF, UCF is asking why they should want you .

Think beyond everything UCF already knows about you, like your grades and test scores. Assume that every student applying has exactly the same grades and scores as you do, and then decide what it is about you that's different. What else do you have to offer?

Choose something you haven't discussed already, and be sure that you embrace that UCF is asking for what makes you unique. UCF wants to know about you as an individual, which could be anything from how you have the patience to make the perfect tamale to how your time leading a guild in World of Warcraft taught you about leading by example and connecting with people. UCF has lots of people with good GPAs and test scores—does it have enough tamale makers and guild leaders? Aim to fill the unique gaps only you can fill!

Attending college isn't just about attending classes, getting good grades, and moving on with a degree to show it. You'll be part of a thriving campus culture, and UCF wants to know that you'll be participating and enriching it.

Beyond not focusing on things UCF already knows, always be sure that you're presenting your best self. The people reading your essays are strangers, and may not get your sense of humor if you try to be tongue-in-cheek in this section. Be honest and thoughtful in a way that others will understand, especially because this essay will likely be their first impression of you.

What Are the UCF Common Application Essay Prompts?

If you're applying to UCF using the Common Application, the requirements are a little different. The Common Application includes two additional questions that do not appear on the UCF application, which are flagged as optional. Still, there's no reason not to answer them —the word counts are short, they provide extra context for your application, and they're valuable questions for both you and UCF to reflect on.

According to students who've applied to UCF, after finishing the Common Application, UCF will follow up with you with additional requirements, including responding to the additional essay prompts covered above.

Though these essays are optional, it's still a good idea to answer them. Be sure that you don't answer the same prompt twice, as one of the Common Application prompts is almost the same as the one in the UCF application. You only have 250 words each, so be brief and clear rather than spending a lot of time painting a vivid picture.

UCF Common App Essay Prompt 1: The "Why UCF?" Prompt

Why are you interested in UCF?

As in the UCF application essay prompts, this question is asking why you want to attend UCF . Think beyond widely applicable answers like citing their reputation, campus, or weather—assume the admissions office already knows all that. Why UCF over any other good, beautiful, warm-weather school? What specifically draws you there?

UCF wants to know that you're committed to attending not just as somebody who wants a good name on their diploma, but as somebody who's dedicated to UCF's mission and programs. Showing that UCF, not just their credibility or campus, matters to you is a great way to set yourself apart from other applicants.

To do this, you need to get specific. Drill deep into what makes you want to attend UCF, and connect it to specifics. Campus visits are a great way to make these specific connections, but if you can't visit, you can also comb through the course catalog, club list, or mission statement. Show UCF that you don't just see yourself proudly holding a diploma with their seal—show them you see yourself learning, growing, and participating in campus culture along the way.

UCF Common App Essay Prompt 2: The Major Prompt

Discuss your reasons for pursuing the academic program (major) selected above.

Like the first question, this prompt wants to know more about you as an individual student. Think about what draws you to your major beyond prestige or salary. What should UCF know about you and your connection to your program beyond your GPA and extracurriculars?

Questions like this show your dedication, which can be an important factor in admissions. Schools want to know that you're committed to your studies, and an essay that shows a deeper connection to your field is more likely to impress them. Take some time to craft a response that's insightful and honest—this essay will show UCF that you're truly passionate about what you study.

You don't have a lot of space to answer this question—just 250 words—so be sure to focus on one specific thing rather than being comprehensive. Did trying and failing to grow strawberries lead you down the path to becoming a botanist? Did you decide to put your reputation for bossiness as a kid to work as a business major?

Due to the short word count, you're going to want to be brief. Don't pick a topic that's too big, and stay away from using answers that other people might use. It's great if you want to be a doctor because you want to help people, but why a doctor as opposed to a social worker? Your essay should clearly demonstrate why the field you've chosen is the perfect one for you.

Key Tips for the UCF Essay

No matter what school you're applying to, there are some strategies you can always follow to be sure that you have a good, strong essay. Follow these steps as you're writing your UCF essay and you'll have a much easier time wrangling your thoughts and shaping them into something that'll impress the admissions office!

#1: Brainstorm

It'd be nice if you could just sit down and write a perfect draft on your first try, but that's not how most of us work. Instead, start with a little brainstorming. Set a five-minute timer and give yourself free rein to come up with as many possible answers to the prompts as possible, even if the answers are silly or weird or absolutely not in a million years going to work. Don't worry about it! Get everything you can think of down on paper now so you're not trying to herd your thoughts back into shape later on.

#2: Write a Draft

The benefit of getting all your ideas down on paper is that now you can pick and choose the ones that sound the best without getting midway through an essay before deciding the topic isn't working for you.

Cross out the choices that aren't strong enough to support a whole essay, even one as short as UCF's, to get those out of the way. Spend a little more time brainstorming some different points to hit on with the remaining topics and pick the one that feels strongest.

Using your brief outline, flesh the topic out into a full essay. Don't worry about getting it perfect the first time—that's what editing is for!

Editing is tough; it means re-reading your work and dealing with all the flaws that creep in. But editing is what separates the good essays from the bad. Take a day or so away from your essay before diving back in to read it with fresher eyes, and try not to get frustrated as you go.

Read your work aloud to help you find sentences that are too long or lacking in punctuation. Cut out extra words—those "really"s and "very"s aren't doing any work for you—and rephrase to get as much of the essay into passive voice as you can. Read it aloud again, give it another pass, and keep going until you feel like your work is in as good of shape as you can possibly get it.

#4: Get Feedback

Now that you've put in some time in editing, it's time for the next scary step: showing your work to others. Choose a few people who you trust to give you honest, useful feedback —people who know what a good essay looks like, not just people who are going to tell you it's great—and ask them to take a look at it. Leave them with a copy to make notes on so that you can refer to them later.

When you read their feedback, don't take it too hard. Everything they have to say is a suggestion, and it's ultimately up to you whether you want to use it or not. Your essay should always, always, always be your work; don't rephrase things exactly as a teacher or counselor suggests if it isn't how you would say it.

Besides, readers aren't always right about the best way to fix errors. If the people reading your essay are confused about something, take that seriously! But don't feel like their suggestion to fix it is inherently the best way, especially if it contradicts your meaning. It's okay to disagree—it is your essay, after all.

#5: Revise and Submit

Take another break from your essay. Always try to edit with fresh eyes, if you can —trying to make changes when you've already spent a lot of time editing can either mean you miss mistakes or that you get so frustrated you give up. Spend some time away, working on an essay for a different school or doing something else entirely before you come back to it.

Now that you've had a break, take all that feedback you received and use it to spin your essay into gold. Smooth out places where readers were confused, and clean up any lingering grammar errors. Read it for clarity and flow, and tidy everything up.

When you've reached a point where you're satisfied, take one last break. Give yourself a little time away from it, then read it one more time. Are you happy with it? Great! It's time to submit! Send it off to UCF and anxiously wait for your acceptance letter to arrive.

What's Next?

As you're applying to UCF, it's good to be aware of their admission requirements. This guide will walk you through the average GPA and test scores at UCF to help you maximize your chances of getting in!

College essays should always be targeted to the school you're applying to, but there are some essay-writing strategies that work no matter what school you're applying to.

If you're applying to college, it's a good idea to be aware of how to apply for financial aid . Make a plan and stick to it to ensure you get the maximum money available to you!

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Melissa Brinks graduated from the University of Washington in 2014 with a Bachelor's in English with a creative writing emphasis. She has spent several years tutoring K-12 students in many subjects, including in SAT prep, to help them prepare for their college education.

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Ace Your UCF Application: A Guide to Writing Stellar Supplemental Essays

The University of Central Florida (UCF) has released their optional supplemental essay prompts for 2024, each with a word limit of 250. These essays can significantly enhance your application by allowing you to highlight your unique traits, experiences, and motivations. Although optional, it's highly recommended to complete them to set yourself apart. Here's a detailed guide to help you craft compelling responses:

Essay Prompts

1. Why did you choose to apply to UCF? (250 words)

This prompt is your opportunity to convey your specific interest in UCF. Admissions officers want to see that you have done your research and have a genuine reason for choosing their institution.

2. Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. (250 words)

This essay is a chance to highlight an extracurricular activity or work experience that has shaped you. Think of it as an extended resume where you can share personal insights.

3. What qualities or unique characteristics do you possess that will allow you to contribute to the UCF community? (250 words)

Use this prompt to showcase your unique characteristics, talents, or qualities. Explain how they'll make a positive impact on the UCF community.

How to Approach Each Prompt

Prompt 1: why did you choose to apply to ucf.

To address this prompt effectively, detail what specifically drew you to UCF. Mention unique academic programs, research opportunities, campus culture, or specific faculty members. If you're aiming to stand out, highlight how UCF's resources align perfectly with your career goals. Sups AI can assist you in brainstorming ideas and getting feedback on your responses. Sups AI has already helped 10k students get admitted to every school in the US top 50!

Prompt 2: Elaborate on one extracurricular activity or work experience

Here, pick an activity or job that truly impacted you. Discuss your role, what you learned, and how it has shaped your interests or career goals. Try connecting it to your future plans at UCF. For insightful, tailor-made feedback, consider chatting one-on-one with a current student through Sups AI .

Prompt 3: Unique qualities and contributions to the UCF community

Think about what makes you unique. Are you particularly empathetic, innovative, or resilient? Have you overcome significant challenges? Describe these qualities and anecdotes that demonstrate them. Then, connect these traits to how they will enrich the UCF community. Need help identifying your standout qualities? Sups AI offers personalized counseling to help you craft impressive essays.

Even though these essays are optional, they provide a golden opportunity to make a compelling, personal case to UCF’s admissions committee. Remember to be authentic and specific in your responses. Don't wait till the last minute; let Sups AI guide you in polishing your responses to make a memorable impression.

Good luck, future Knights!

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, essay requirement for ucf: what's the deal.

Hey friends, just got around to looking at UCF's application process, and I'm a bit confused. Does UCF require you to submit an essay with your application? And any tips on what they might be looking for?

Hello there! When it comes to the University of Central Florida (UCF), they do not require an essay for admission for their general application. However, essays may be required for certain programs or scholarships within the university, so it's always best to check the specific requirements for the aspects of UCF you're interested in. As for tips, if you do need to submit an essay for a particular program or scholarship, make sure that it reflects your genuine interests and experiences. UCF, like many universities, appreciates authenticity and a clear sense of how you would contribute to their community. Be sure to express your enthusiasm for the school and your chosen field of study, and always proofread your essay to ensure it is clear and error-free. Best of 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.

Student Outreach Services Student Success and Well-Being

Does UCF require an Essay or Personal Statement?

Although not required by the Admissions Office, students enrolled in  the Downtown Scholars Initiative (DSI) are strongly recommended to submit the Essay (or Personal Statement) portion of the admissions application. This allows the university to know more about you and your experiences that are separate from test scores or GPA. Click here to connect with your UCF Coach for essay topics!

Draft Admission Essay(s)

Purpose: Scholars will learn the rudimentary steps of crafting a personal statement and statement of purpose.

Why Admission Statements Matter

Applications for graduate school solicit personal statements and/or statements of purpose. They are both important elements of any application because they provide a dynamic view of applicants that cannot be obtained from test scores or resumes. Here you demonstrate how your personal and academic experiences make you the ideal candidate.

The Nuances between Statements of Purpose and Personal Statements

Provide admissions committees the specific information that they request to know about you. Understand the prompt and know the subtle differences and similarities between the statement of purpose and personal statement. Below we outline the differences between both.

Statement of Purpose/ Intent

Is a more detailed version of your C.V. Here applicants write about classes, internships, research skills, and experiences that ensure individual success in the graduate program. Applicants outline research interests they want to pursue and highlight reasons why the graduate program will facilitate this pursuit.

Sample Statement of Purpose Prompt

“Outline the key experiences that prepared you for graduate-level studies.”

Personal Statement

Here applicants construct a picture of their place in society. Outline experiences that led you to choose your field and other aspects of your life that demonstrate your potential. Show the graduate program that you are ready in terms of personal life skills and character.

Sample Personal Statement Prompt

“Discuss your career goals and the attributes that you will bring to the XYZ program.”

Important Resources 

Below are invaluable worksheets that outline statements’ components and tips on how to start writing.

• AAP’s Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy of Graduate School Applications
• General Guidelines for the Personal Statement
• Writing Personal Statements for Graduate School and Scholarship Applications

The Writing Process 

Consider your audience. Admissions committees are interested in applicants who clearly understand the program, demonstrate competence, and whose future goals best benefit from completing the program.

Conduct research on what the graduate program offers in terms of location, faculty, research projects, funding, and student support programs.

Analyze your academic, research, extracurricular, and life experiences for valuable skills and abilities you gained through them that ensure your success in the program of interest.

Content to Include in Your Statements

The details of what to include in your admission statements can vary depending on the writing prompt each school, or program, provides for their application. Browse the videos below for more ways to write your statements.

Developing your Statement of Purpose

The video below is from Academic Advancement Program’s Fall 2020 Grad Prep Week. Dr. Don Brunson, Vanderbilt University’s Assistant Dean of the Graduate School’s Enhancing Diversity in Graduate Education Program , presents on Do’s and Don’ts of the Statement of Purpose in an online workshop format.

Need the motivation to start writing your essays?

The video below is about writing your statement for medical school applications, but the same can be true for your graduate school personal statement.

Outlining your Statement

Experts from the University of California, Berkeley share tools you can use to outline and organize content for your written statement.

Editing Your Statements

• Plan and give yourself plenty of time to craft several drafts.
• Use concise language and write in the active voice.
• Respect formatting guidelines like the page and word count limits.
• Use your resources for help, like your faculty mentor, AAP Pre-Grad Advising , and the UCF Writing Center .

Suggested Assignments

Assignment #34

Activity Four: Crafting Your Concept Map

Purpose: Scholars will outline the content and general flow of their statements by constructing concept maps. For assistance schedule a visit with AAP Peer Advisors . Time: 2 hours Instructions: 5d_activity_four Note: that instructions for this assignment are also available in audio format. It can be found here.

Activity 5: Writing a Personal Statement and Statement of Purpose

Purpose: Scholars will write a rough draft of their personal statements and statements of purpose. For assistance schedule a visit with the UCF Writing Center . Time: 1 hour Instructions: 5d_activity_five Note: that instructions for this assignment are also available in audio format. It can be found here.

Instructions for navigation

Prepare for graduate school now by marking this topic complete: click the “ Mark Complete ” button below in the bottom left hand corner to keep track of the topics you’ve completed. Then, click the “ Next Topic ” button below in the bottom right hand corner to move onto the next topic within the lesson.

If you are following the application elements curriculum, follow the Quick Learn icon to the right to the next topic in Personal Statements.

Note: For a refresher on Personal Statements, consult the topic Reflect and Create an Online Portfolio

Personal Statements

Grammar and Writing

• UCF Writing Center
• Avoiding Plagiarism

Guides for Writing Application Essays

Ebscohost ebooks about cover letters and application essays.

• APA Style This link opens in a new window
• MLA Style This link opens in a new window
• Other Styles This link opens in a new window
• EndNote This link opens in a new window
• RefWorks This link opens in a new window

UCF University Writing Center --  Graduate Resources

• Personal Statement for Graduate School
• Thesis & Dissertation
• Grant Writing
• Writing Conference Papers

The following books focus on various types of essays and cover letters, but much of the guidance provided may be useful for other applications as well.

See also Resumes, Cover Letters & Interviews

Search the UCF Library Catalog for other books on college admissions essays , including:

• Graduate Admissions Essays: Write Your Way into the Graduate School of Your Choice Call Number: Reference LB 2351.52 .U6 A74 2008
• How to Write a Winning Personal Statement for Graduate & Professional School Call Number: Reference LB 2351.52 .U6 S74 1997
• Accepted! 50 Successful College Admission Essays Call Number: Reference LB 2351.52.U6.T3 2002
• Ca$h for College's Write It Right: How to Write the Essay They'll Love and Get the Cash You Need Call Number: Reference LB 2351.52.U6.M36 2000
• Money-Winning Scholarship Essays & Interviews Call Number: Reference LB 2351.32.U6.T36 2002
• Business School Essays That Made a Difference Call Number: General Collection HF 1131.G555 2003

• Essays That Worked for Business Schools: 40 Essays from Successful Applications to the Nation's Top Business Schools Call Number: General Collection HF 1131.E87 2003
• College Essays That Made a Difference Call Number: General Collection LB 2351.52.U6.C65 2003
• 50 Successful Harvard Application Essays: What Worked for Them Can Help You Get into the College of Your Choice Call Number: General Collection LB 2351.52.U6.A13 2005

NOTE: EBSCOhost eBooks are limited to one user at a time.

• 15-minute Cover Letter: Write an Effective Cover Letter Right Now
• The Guide to Basic Cover Letter Writing
• 201 Killer Cover Letters

• College Applications Made Easy
• Essays That Will Get You Into College
• Essays That Will Get You Into Law School

• Essays That Will Get You Into Medical School

• << Previous: Avoiding Plagiarism
• Next: Citations >>
• Last Updated: Apr 12, 2022 8:55 PM
• URL: https://guides.ucf.edu/grammar

UCF Extracurriculars, resume or essay?

My son told me UCF only considers SAT score and GPA in admissions. Is this true??? If not, how does he submit a resume or portfolio of his tech work when there is nowhere in the Future Knight portal to submit anything?

This is not true. If his GPA and SAT are competitive, they will then read his essay. (Common app.) I can not express adequately how important the essay is! Also please note it’s not the length of the essay that’s important…it’s the content.

I don’t know for sure, but I suspect Victor is correct above. If you call Undergraduate Admissions, they can probably help you. I have found them to be very helpful in the past.

On the essay, I agree the content is critical. I also think it is very important to go beyond what the applicant did, focusing a great deal on whatever lessons they learned that they will carry forward in life.

Are you a Florida resident Florida students in the top 10% are guaranteed admission Top 10 Knights | UCF Undergraduate Admissions

The application itself has a spot to add extra curriculars, so you can put that work there. UCF has two essay prompts of their own, not the usual Common App one, that they say is not required, but highly encouraged. They may call them personal statements, but they are basically essays.

This may help answer some questions. Application Process FAQs | UCF Undergraduate Admissions

I would follow this advice from the FAQs There are really no optional parts in a a college application. What is required is the bare minimum and most colleges that have optional parts are looking for applicants who will separate themself from the applicant pool

The only exception if you are a Florida High School student guaranteed admission under the top 10% rule but even then they don’t guarantee which semester you will start Summer, Fall, or Spring. Spring is the worst because they want you to go somewhere in the fall online or community college etc.

The application for admission provides space for a listing of extra and co-curricular activities; this portion of the application should be completed in lieu of submitting supplemental materials.

The essay is an optional component of the application for admission. If you elect to submit an essay, please select a topic within the application form and submit it within your completed application.

I chimed in on the other post, but I will reply here as well. I have a daughter who is a senior. So what is on the application today could be different. There was no place to really put a resume, just a place to list a few ECs. I always recommend that kids do the essay. My D chose why UCF. With all that, kids need the GPA and SAT/ACT to be at a certain level.

I do know some kids that when they were deferred, they called admissions and sent in extra materials. Please apply ASAP. They are rolling admission and it is getting late in the application season.

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Supplementals on Common App

Hi! I am a rising senior currently applying to UCF through common app... but I am confused on one part of the application (I have included a screenshot to this post).

Does this section mean that I either send a resume/short essay instead of the common app ecs list (so one or the other)? Or is it just an extra space to talk about one of my ecs in paragraph form with the already listed ecs (both)?

I have already completed the common app - this is just part of the supplemental essays for this university.

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Supplemental Essay Guide 2024-25

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

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Agnes Scott College 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Alvernia University 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide  

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

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

The most common supplemental essay topics are:

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

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

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

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

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

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

North Carolina State 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

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Does UCF require the ACT Writing or the SAT Essay?

Beginning in Spring 2017, UCF will not require the writing section of the ACT or the essay section of the SAT.

FAQs Related to Freshmen

No, first-year students are not required to live on campus. Most first-year students do live on campus because of the ease of transition from home to campus life, access to university resources and the ability to make lifelong friends.

Due to restrictive state regulations, UCF is not permitted to provide online courses or instruction to students in some states. The list of states currently restricted is available at the Registrar’s website.  While residing in one of these states you may not be permitted to enroll in UCF Online courses .

There is no separate application for UCF scholarships. All freshman applicants offered admission are considered for these awards so long as funds are available.

We suggest contacting your school(s) individually to determine how they send transcripts. Undergraduate Admissions can accept official transcripts through U.S. mail or electronically when sent directly from your institution through a secure delivery service.

Electronic transcripts can only be accepted as official if they are delivered through one of the following approved transcript service providers:

• SPEEDE (Addressed Institution ID: 10002 Institution ID: 730000000395400)
• Parchment Exchange (including Naviance and Docufide)
• National Student Clearinghouse
• Credential Solutions
• Scribbles Software
• AARTS and SMART transcripts (military service only, not required for admission)

NOTE: If the transcript delivery service asks you to provide an email address to send transcripts to, please use [email protected] .

When sending a transcript through one of the above service providers, their system may indicate that it has been delivered; however, please allow two to three weeks for UCF Undergraduate Admissions to process these documents. Instead of sending duplicates, please verify receipt of the transcript through your application status on your Future Knight Portal .

Hard copy transcripts may be sent to:

UCF Undergraduate Admissions P.O. Box 160111 Orlando, FL 32816-0111

Your GPA is recalculated based on the academic core courses (including English, math, science, social studies and foreign language). UCF uses a 4.0 grading scale, and also awards additional quality points for any weighted courses within the academic core. Courses marked as pre-AP, pre-IB, pre-AICE and honors are given an additional 0.5 quality point. Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), Advanced International Certification of Education (AICE) and Dual Enrollment (DE) courses are given 1 additional quality point.

UCF will consider applications from students who are educated through a home-school program.

If your home-school follows a traditional U.S.-based high school curriculum, you should complete and submit a SPARK form. Otherwise, please email [email protected] for assistance.

Once you finish your home-school program, you will be required to submit a final official transcript that includes a list of all coursework, showing final grades and units earned for each course completed. A brief description of the methods used for evaluation should accompany the home-school transcript. If home-schooled applicants previously attended another school or completed courses through the Florida Virtual School or through dual enrollment at a local college or university, official transcripts are required. Those courses should also be reflected on the home-school transcript.

Applicants who present a GED will also be considered for admission. Official GED results, a partial high school transcript, and ACT, SAT and/or CLT results must be submitted.

Housing applications are available for freshmen after they are offered admission, however, the timing depends on several factors.

For students admitted on the Nov. 15 Early Action decision notification date:

• You may submit a housing application on your Housing Portal Open Date. This date will be determined by the date and time that you pay your $30 admission application fee or submit an approved application fee waiver to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. ​
• This is not the ONLY date you can submit an application – just the first date. 

​For students who are NOT admitted Early Action:

• You will be able to apply for housing after you have been offered admission to UCF.
• Admissions decisions made after the Nov. 15 Early Action notification date will be released on a rolling basis beginning in early January.
• A Housing Portal Open Date will not be assigned to you if you did not apply Early Action.

There is limited availability for on-campus housing, so we advise students who are able to apply Early Action for faster access to the Housing Portal.

There are a variety of options for scholarships.

• Your high school guidance or college counseling office
• UCF’s Office of Student Financial Assistance website
• Online sites like Fastweb and CollegeBoard

For freshmen, the mid-range (middle 50 percent) of our Fall entering class was:

• GPA: 4.1 – 4.5 (recalculated academic core)
• SAT: 1270 – 1390 (Evidence-based Reading and Writing + Math)
• ACT: 26 – 30 (composite)
• CLT: 90-100

Currently, only first-time-in-college (freshmen) students may apply to UCF using the Common App. Students wishing to transfer to UCF should complete the UCF institutional application for admission. Additionally,first-time-in-college students may, if they choose, submit their application via the UCF institutional application for admission.

For technical questions regarding your Common Application to UCF, you may contact the Common App Solutions Center, 24/7 year-round.

The Solutions Center also holds online chats throughout application season and allows you to contact them via a web form. A search function also exists using keywords to direct you to the appropriate web-based resources.