All applicants must respond to two essay prompts — the general prompt and either the freshman or transfer prompt, depending on your status.
Freshman applicant prompt
Describe the world you come from — for example, your family, community or school — and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations.
When you’re composing your personal statement, think about including:
Personal triumphs or challenges: Tell us about your achievements in light of the opportunities available to you. If you choose to write about challenges you’ve faced, how did you overcome or strive to overcome them?
Leadership opportunities: Define your leadership role, your accomplishments, and what you learned from the experience. Remember, a leader can mean more than being elected to a position. Consider describing a time when you had to be a leader in your family or community.
Experiences outside the classroom: Consider experiences that have made an impact on your life (e.g., your family, youth groups, work, church/temple, or travels).
Culture: Describe the influence culture has had on you. Don’t define the culture. Instead explain what you have learned because of that culture.
Once you’ve narrowed down your topics, start thinking about what you learned from your experiences and how they shaped other aspects of your life.
