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4 Tips for Writing a Great UIUC Essay

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Thinking of attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign? Then you've come to the right place. For this highly-ranked public school, you'll need to submit a personal statement with your application. But what should you include in your UIUC essay to make you stand out?

Read on to learn what the current UIUC essay prompt is and how to write a great UIUC essay. We also show you a real UIUC essay example to give you an idea of what a great statement looks like.

Feature Image: Adam Jones /Flickr

What Is the UIUC Essay?

All applicants must answer two to three UIUC prompts and one Common Application prompt as part of their application for admission.

Your UIUC prompt will change based on whether you 1) are applying to a major, 2) are applying to UIUC's Undeclared Program, or 3) have selected a second-choice major (including Undeclared). Each response should be about 150 words. 

Here are this year's UIUC prompts:

If you're applying to a major:

• Explain, in detail, an experience you've had in the past 3 to 4 years related to your first-choice major. This can be an experience from an extracurricular activity, in a class you’ve taken, or through something else.

Describe your personal and/or career goals after graduating from UIUC and how your selected first-choice major will help you achieve them.

If you're applying to UIUC's Undeclared Program:

• What are your academic interests and strengths? You may also include any majors you are considering.
• What are your future academic or career goals?

If you've selected a second-choice major (including Undeclared): 

• Please explain your interest in your second-choice major or your overall academic or career goals.

Students are also required to select one Common application essay prompt from a range of choices and write a response. 

You can view the full list of Coalition application essay prompts here and all of the Common Application essay prompts here. 

How to Write the UIUC Essay: Topics and Tips

The University of Illinois essay is an important part of your application since it's the only personal essay you'll write for the school. This makes it the only area on the UIUC application in which you can show off your personality, academic passion, and storytelling skills.

The overall point of this statement is for UIUC to learn more about you as a person and what qualities you'll bring to the school if you enroll.

In addition, UIUC has a YouTube series on admissions counseling that includes some useful videos with tips on how you can write an effective UIUC essay:

Now that you have a general sense of what UIUC will be looking for in your application essay, let’s break down each UIUC application essay prompt one by one. 

Myllini Major-Specific Prompt #1

Explain, in detail, an experience you've had in the past 3 to 4 years related to your first-choice major. This can be an experience from an extracurricular activity, in a class you've taken, or through something else.

Here's your chance to show your passion for your first-choice major! You have a lot of leeway here: maybe you took a class that lit a fire inside you, maybe you joined a club related to the subject, or maybe you participated in a related activity. Be careful, though. You only have 150 words, and UIUC is asking for an experience related to your major, not why you selected it in the first place. This is a time for you to show that you're already taking steps toward engaging with your chosen major!

Choose a story that is meaningful to you, and remember to be as detailed as you can within the constraints. Show the UIUC admissions counselors that you care about your chosen major, and you're already engaging with it.

Myllini Major-Specific Prompt #2

Unlike the first essay, which asks you about your past experience, this is where you get to dream big and show UIUC what you want to do with your degree. Remember to write this as if you've already been accepted to UIUC—they want to know how you'll represent them in the world! You only have 150 words, but you can do a lot in that space. If, for example, you want to be an aerospace engineer, you should check out UIUC's Aerospace Engineering website and connect their specific courses, professors, and extracurriculars to your post-degree goals. Maybe you want to work for NASA, and the UIUC robotics team will aid you in successfully applying. Be as specific as you can! And show UIUC that they are the best school for you to achieve your goals.

Myllini Undeclared Prompt #1

What are your academic interests and strengths? You may also include any majors you are considering. Much like the Major-Specific Prompt #1, this prompt asks you to share what you're passionate about, and where you excel academically. Be specific! Rather than saying "I've always been good at English and I like it," go into detail: perhaps you won an essay contest, or your op-ed was featured in the school paper. Maybe writing poetry is the best way you can connect your outer and inner worlds. If you have a few majors in mind, definitely mention them here! It's always good to show that you have a specific plan for your college career , even if you're not 100% sure what you want to major in yet. 

Myllini Undeclared Prompt #2

What are your future academic or career goals? This question mirrors Major-Specific Prompt #2, and asks you to talk about your ideal future. Maybe you know you want to get a graduate degree in sociology, or you're certain that you want to spend a few years with the Peace Corps before working with the U.S. Department of State. The key here is to remember that undeclared doesn't mean unplanned. Many students have specific career goals, but they see multiple paths to achieve them. This is your chance to show the future self you want to be, and how UIUC will get you to your goal.

Myllini Second-Choice Major Prompt #1

Please explain your interest in your second-choice major or your overall academic or career goals. You'll only need to answer this question if you've applied to a second-choice major! This prompt should look pretty familiar: you can choose to answer either the Major-Specific Prompt #1 or the Major-Specific Prompt #2. The trick here is to show that your second-choice major is deliberate and useful for your future goals. You're not just picking a second-choice major because you really, really want to get into UIUC in any way, shape, or form. If you have a secondary interest that's almost as strong as your first-choice major, consider answering the first prompt. If you have a very strong career goal that multiple majors could feed into, consider answering the second.

Whichever choice you make, remember to clearly state why UIUC is the best schoo l for your major or career path!

A Real UIUC Essay Example + Analysis

To help give you a better idea of what your own UIUC essay could look like, here is one real UIUC essay example we found online, written by an admitted student.

Keep in mind that this essay was written for an old prompt that's no longer on the MyIllini application. However, this essay is still a great example of how college counselors want to see students talk about their interests and passions. 

Here is the prompt:

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? (250 to 650 words)

And here is the essay:

The chicken, or the egg? The hours I’ve spent pondering this question are countless. People frequently debate the seemingly simple idea of which came first. To me, it is more than just a question, but an example of how human beings think. The question of “Which came first?” captivates me because it is a question without an answer. It has been asked for centuries and no progress has been made, but it still continues to be brought up. I think this is because humans prefer clear-cut answers. Like in any kind of competition, ending with a tie between teams or individuals isn’t a satisfying conclusion. People would rather the competition continue for extra time than admit there’s no real winner, or in this case, no real answer. So even though it’s obvious there will be no agreement, the debate over chickens and eggs continues. When people label something a “chicken-egg” situation, it means there is no way to establish the order of cause and effect, again leaving a feeling of uncertainty. But human nature is to seek an answer. The chicken-egg question shows humanity’s inability to accept unfinished business, and this fascinates me most. People want closure in all aspects of life, and big questions like this are no exception. I think the question “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?” is so interesting because people will always try to answer it knowing they will never find a solution. It shows that humans desire understanding above all else. When I want to learn more about this concept, I turn to my grandfather. He doesn’t have a degree in philosophy or psychology, yet he’s a reliable source on almost any subject given his extensive years spent at the University of Life. With so many experiences under his belt, he understands unanswerable questions much better than I do. “The only truth is uncertainty,” he tells me when I once again dive deep into the possibility of eggs without chickens or chickens without eggs. In his words, the most beautiful parts of life are the questions we can’t answer but spend out whole life trying to. My own desire for answers keeps me thinking about this question for hours on end. I think there’s good points to grandpa’s perspective, but as an eighteen-year-old entering college, I don’t know if I can accept that the only answer is no answer just yet. Until I can, I’ll gather my own evidence and continue to spend my days wondering whether Aristotle was eating chicken and waffles or omelettes for breakfast.

What Makes This UIUC Essay Work?

• It’s got a great hook. The applicant starts the essay with a familiar philosophical question: “The chicken, or the egg?”. This pulls the admissions committee into the essay by making them ponder the question too. The applicant then analyzes the question and provides their own unique interpretation of what it’s really getting at. As the applicant says at the end of the first paragraph, “To me, it’s more than just a question, but an example of how human beings think.” By stating their unique take on the chicken vs egg dilemma, the applicant shows the admissions committee that they can interpret complex ideas and analyze tough questions. These are qualities that UIUC wants their incoming class of students to have!
• It’s clear, focused, and easy to follow: A topic like this one could easily go off the rails, but the applicant keeps the essay focused by responding to exactly what the prompt is asking in the correct order. The first paragraph states the idea that the applicant finds engaging. The next two paragraphs explain why the applicant finds this idea “captivating” and connects their engagement with the idea to deeper meanings about human nature, which also demonstrates why this topic causes the applicant to “lose all track of time.” The fourth paragraph states who the applicant turns to when they want to learn more about this question, and explains what they have gained from exploring this question with their grandpa. The applicant wraps up the essay with a conclusion that describes how their approach to the chicken vs egg question relates to the kind of student they will be at UIUC. The clear structure, clean prose, and adept analysis all make this essay easy to understand and exciting to read

How Could This UIUC Essay Be Even Better?

• It could be more specific about why the idea is captivating: Although this UIUC essay is well written and tightly focused, it isn't super specific about why the applicant personally relates to the question about the chicken and the egg. The applicant does a great job explaining what they feel this debate reveals about human nature, but doesn’t say much about why that debate is meaningful to them.
• It could have a stronger conclusion : Although the applicant makes a great attempt at tying their essay response into why they will be a great fit for UIUC, the conclusion could do a bit more to show how this is the case. Reframing the last paragraph so it explains how the applicant’s approach to uncertainty makes them the perfect UIUC candidate could make this essay even stronger.

3 Essential Tips for Writing a Great UIUC Essay

To wrap up, here are four essential tips to keep in mind as you write your U of I application essay.

#1: Don't Just List Your Accomplishments

At first glance, some of the UIUC essay prompts may seem like an invitation to list all of your amazing accomplishments. But none of these prompts actually want you to do that! Instead, you need to use expertly crafted stories to convey everything you have to offer as an applicant to UIUC.

The point of the UIUC essay is to give the admissions committee more detailed and personal commentary on why you've chosen their school and why you would be a great addition to their student community. Leave the list of accomplishments for your resume. Telling a genuine story is the best way to show how your life experiences have shaped you into the perfect candidate for admission to UIUC.

#2: Highlight Your Passion

While the essay prompts all have a different focus, the main goal of each one is to draw out what you’re passionate about and why. With each prompt, what you're really trying to do is demonstrate your passion to the UIUC admissions committee.

In other words, what motivates you to learn? What drives you more than anything else? And why are you so enthusiastic about bringing your ideas, experiences, and character to UIUC?

By highlighting your passions and interests, you're also showing the UIUC admissions committee who you are and what's important to you, both academically and more broadly.

To really make your passion stand out in your University of Illinois essay, take the following steps:

• Be as specific as possible —give us real names and use visceral descriptions to make us feel as though we're there experiencing and feeling everything with you
• Be honest —the admissions committee wants to get to know the real you, and it can only do this if you're writing in an authentic voice that's true to who you are

#3: Polish and Proofread

My final tip is to give yourself plenty of time to polish and proofread your UIUC essay.

In your rough draft, keep an eye out for obvious typos and technical mistakes, such as errors in punctuation, grammar, and spelling. Also, look for any areas that are awkward, incomplete, out of place, or unclear.

Once you've edited your essay on your own, give it to someone else to read, such as a parent, teacher, or tutor. Ask them to make technical corrections as needed and to offer you advice on what you might be able to improve in terms of story, cogency, and overall effectiveness.

What's Next?

Applying to other colleges in the midwest? Check out our expert guides to how to write the UChicago essays , the Notre Dame essays , and the Michigan State essay .

If you're using the Common App to submit your college applications, you'll need to figure out which essay prompt is the best one for you .

Learn more about how to get into the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign by visiting our UIUC admission requirements page .

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Hannah received her MA in Japanese Studies from the University of Michigan and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California. From 2013 to 2015, she taught English in Japan via the JET Program. She is passionate about education, writing, and travel.

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UIUC Essay Example: Analysis + Breakdown

What’s Covered:

University of illinois at urbana-champaign supplemental essay prompt, uiuc essay example, breaking down this uiuc essay example.

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a metropolis among the corn crops, is home to 50,000 students, 92 majors, over 1200 student clubs, and innumerable opportunities. This twin city town has consistently been ranked one of the top ten best college towns because of its active nightlife, award-winning restaurants, and walkable downtown. The University of Illinois (UIUC) also offers niche and quirky classes like Designing an Escape Room, The Fantasy of Harry Potter, and The Aesthetics of Japanese Tea Ceremonies. All these attributes combined create one of the top universities in the country.

The 59% acceptance rate is more selective than some other colleges, with half the applicants admitted to UIUC having an SAT score between 1220 and 1480 or an ACT score of 27 and 33.

In addition to a high GPA and great extracurriculars, you need to write a short essay on how you chose your intended major. If you haven’t decided on your major yet, UIUC allows you to simply explain your academic interests. The UIUC admissions officers are just looking to learn more about you!

If UIUC sounds too good to be true, you’ll have to get in and see it for yourself ! This post will help you to stay focused on the prompt, avoid cliches, and write a convincing supplemental essay.

Explain your interest in the major you selected and describe how you have recently explored or developed this interest inside and/or outside the classroom. You may also explain how this major relates to your future career goals. If you’re applying to the Division of General Studies , explain your academic interests and strengths or your future career goals. You may include any majors or areas of study you’re currently considering. Limit your response to 300 to 400 words.

Note: the prompt is slightly different for the 2021-2022 cycle. See our UIUC essay guide for an in-depth breakdown of the prompts.

By asking this classic essay prompt, UIUC wants to know why you’re studying what you’re studying. For many students, the answer is easy – a lifelong dream or a legacy profession – but other students simply have a passion for social sciences or dance and want to see what those majors may have in store. Changing your major is commonplace but passion usually stays put. If you’re struggling to put words on the page, talk about what you want to do in the future, even if the major is only a stepping stone.

Admissions officers will be looking for students that will be committed and ready to learn. They want students who will go to class and engage with the class material, not someone who likes philosophy so they skip class to sit around and think. Be sure that your essay signals your commitment to bettering yourself through education.

The key to this type of essay prompt is to offer your perspective and show the admissions officers how you’re going to change the world with a degree from UIUC. It’s critical to be earnest and genuine; the more unique and passionate your answer, the more likely you’ll get in.

Avoiding Cliches

If you’re going to write a compelling essay that will get you accepted, you’ll need to avoid a few classic pitfalls of essay writing. The most important rule is not to be trite. Don’t be overly flattering towards the admissions officers because you barely have enough space as it is. Also, don’t fill up the word count with an ode to the university that leaves you with a sentence and a half to say why you like supply-chain management. Take the space and write about your interests.

Good topics for this essay would focus on pivotal moments in your educational journey: how a theory changed your way of looking at the world and inspired you to further your understanding; how your ability to overcome a challenge changed your perspective on a major and you now see its beauty; or how a major aligns with your values. All these topics focus on you , the author, and not the experience. Admissions officers care less about external events (purchases, parties, accolades, abuse) and more internal ones (learning, growth, spirit, soul).

Your essay should be cohesive. You are encouraged to tell personal stories about what piqued your interest, but you don’t have enough space to make it lengthy, so be succinct. Also, be sure to avoid being too personal. For example, if you’re telling a story that involves your family, avoid discussing family drama or personal details about a particularly crazy family member, if that’s not relevant to your personal growth (remember that the focus should ultimately be on you!).

The best way to brainstorm for this essay is to make a list of the things you like about your major. Jot down 10 attributes that are enthralling about your major, the field it’s in, and/or the future that it affords. Here are some questions to ask yourself to get the ideas flowing. If none of those fit the bill, then try to imagine what you would miss out on if you were to choose a completely different major. 

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve had a problem with stepping on bugs on the sidewalk. Why would you kill it when you could just as easily step over it? Or help it across the street?

This philosophy lies at the heart of urban planning and community development. Although stop signs and sidewalks are vitally important, I believe that the whole study boils down to making the world a better place by interacting with the people in your community and helping out those in need. I’ve unknowingly been preparing for this major all throughout my high school career.

It first started with a 100-hour volunteerism scholarship I was interested in, and it ended with me being a part of the circus. Well, it ended with me volunteering to play drum rolls at the YMCA circus camp, to be precise, but it really taught me how to engage little kids and make them feel safe. After 100 hours, I was fairly well-versed in this whole social capital building endeavor. Following this experience, I got a job at a team-building course to further refine my skills. My contribution in clubs, sports, and mentoring programs is helping foster community.

UIUC’s nationally-ranked urban planning program will deepen my love of community development and humanitarianism. I’d be honored to be in this program, learning from amazing and world-renowned faculty & researching and implementing asset-based community development. While rural Illinois will always be home, I’m ready to make the most of the opportunities offered in Champaign. I’m excited to make UIUC feel like home, not just for me but for everyone. I’ll use the knowledge and skills I gain to better the world.

This essay is structured to take the reader on a journey. The first two paragraphs end with a cliffhanger to keep the reader engaged and the final two paragraphs end declaratively to show their importance. The first paragraph grabs the reader’s attention by being unique and asking an uncommon and quirky question. This is very effective because this essay will stand out among those that jump right into the content. Because the word count is so low, the paragraphs are relatively short. Small paragraphs are easier on the eyes and do not overwhelm readers.

The author could more deeply answer the prompt by describing how they will make the world a better place, rather than offering that general thought as a conclusion. Because this essay is written in a light and fun tone, the admissions officers get a sense of the student’s personality, which they will keep in mind when reviewing the rest of the application. For this reason, it is important that you write in a professional tone that matches your personality.

Section Breakdown

Since this intro seems so distant from the prompt, some admissions officers may not find it useful, making this a risky start if not executed well. However, because the question is very closely related to what the author wants to do, it is effective. The most important part of an engaging opening line is not to hold back. Don’t ask a guarded question. Be bold and confident when grabbing their attention. This is also effective because most readers will want to find the answer to this quirky question and will naturally read on.

The author uses a “set-up/punchline” formula to get the reader’s attention. By setting up a silly question and delivering a heartfelt answer, the author has successfully woven comedy and gravity into their first two paragraphs. The author should avoid phrases like “I believe” and “I think” because they are redundant. Of course you think that, you wrote it! The word count is precious, don’t waste it on the obvious. An important note is that the author is displaying their passion for the chosen field in the second sentence by summarizing the core beliefs of the major.

Again, the author chooses a lighthearted tone. This is effective because it is present throughout the essay. Writing can seem stilted if the tone is switching from paragraph to paragraph. Subtlety is key in college essays because you want to show admissions officers all that you have done, but you still want to be humble. The above example is covert because the activity that is “bragged about” acts as a key part of the educational journey. 

Be sure to weave in your accomplishments, but don’t linger on them too long. “Helping foster community” is a very weak and non-descript way to conclude a paragraph. The author should have been more specific about what they mean.

The author misses a crucial opportunity for a slam-dunk move: they should have cited a specific faculty member instead of broadly writing “world-renowned faculty.” This would have shown that they researched the program and were well-versed in what the program offers. 

The author is able to tie together all four paragraphs in the final paragraph with callbacks. It is crucial to give examples of how the degree will help you, and then show how you will help others with it. Although this takes planning, it is extremely effective.

What is less effective is the final sentence. Because it is so generic, it leaves little impact and weakens the entire essay. The author should have either taken this last sentence out completely or extended it to say “better the world by doing x,y,z…”

This essay is ultimately very strong and helped the author gain acceptance to UIUC as well as departmental scholarships. The author’s ability to maintain a fun, yet serious tone throughout the essay is commendable. They also did a great job of using varied vocabulary to engage the reader. 

There are sections that could be tighter and more succinct, but the author balances these shortcomings with relevant personal anecdotes and a coherent and fluid essay organization. The author’s passion for the field is clear, and well illustrated with an explanation of their related values, instead of a simple description.

If you want more help with this type of writing, check out our essay breakdown for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Where to Get Your Essay Edited for Free

It’s vital to get a second set of eyes on your UIUC essay before you submit. That’s why we at CollegeVine have a free peer essay review tool, allowing you to submit your essay and get feedback from another student. Editing other students’ essays will also help you improve your own writing skills!

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

How to Write the UIUC Supplemental Essays 2023–2024

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The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) is known for their diverse and academically rigorous academic programs . Every year, thousands of applicants seek to follow in the footsteps of UIUC alumni, including film critic Roger Ebert, writer Dan Savage, and scientist Temple Grandin. But completing your UIUC supplemental essays is easier said than done. Looking to better understand how to approach the UIUC prompts? Let’s dive in.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s 2023-2024 Prompts

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign asks for applicants to complete two or three essay questions depending on their choice of major (or lack thereof). Below, you can preview the two prompts for students who have selected a major, the two prompts for students entering undeclared, and the one additional prompt for students intending to double major (including with an undeclared second major). Each response should be approximately 150 words.

If You’re Applying to a Major :

• Explain, in detail, an experience you’ve had in the past 3 to 4 years related to your first-choice major. This can be an experience from an extracurricular activity, in a class you’ve taken, or through something else.
• Describe your personal and/or career goals after graduating from UIUC and how your selected first-choice major will help you achieve them.

If You’re Applying to Our Undeclared Program in the Division of General Studies:

• What are your academic interests? Please include 2-3 majors you’re considering at Illinois and why.
• What are your future career or academic goals? You may include courses you took in high school and how these impacted your goals.

If You’ve Selected a Second-Choice Major (Including Undeclared ):

• Please explain your interest in your second-choice major or your overall academic or career goals.

General Tips

Each of these prompts, no matter your choice of major or lack thereof, asks you to explore your academic interests and how those interests relate to your postgraduate goals. Even if you have a specific major or two in mind, your future career goals might be murky. That’s okay!

According to the National Center for Education Studies, about 30% of students change their major in college at least once. Far more students end up pursuing careers, plural, that they didn’t originally plan on. And according to the World Economic Forum, the jobs of future might look completely different than those we have today. To put it another way, your future career might not have been invented yet. For these reasons, you should feel comfortable keeping an open mind about your employment future and indicating that openness in your essay.

This is mind, you may have difficulty approaching these questions about your major and career. So let’s break it down. What are your academic interests , and, given these interests, what jobs would allow you to pursue those interests further? Determining these two simple pieces of information should help guide your essays.

UIUC Short Essay Questions: If You’re Applying to a Major

Explain, in detail, an experience you’ve had in the past 3 to 4 years related to your first-choice major. this can be an experience from an extracurricular activity, in a class you’ve taken, or through something else. (approximately 150 words).

This prompts asks you to provide an example of the impact of your academic interests on your life. This example could be a single occasion when you witnessed the power of medicine and resolved to pursue a degree from UIUC’s College of Applied Health Sciences. If you’re a future English major, maybe there’s a book you want to write about that had a particularly significant impact on your perspective. Or perhaps you pursued your interest in social justice through a summer internship that led you to choose Political Science as your major.

Note a few key quantities in the prompt: you need to explain “ an experience in the past 3 to 4 years.” Based on this information, the admissions officers are likely seeking to hear about a singular high school experience that you have had. Don’t feel pressure to describe a life-changing moment. Keep your response specific and concise, and you’ll be golden.

Describe your personal and/or career goals after graduating from UIUC and how your selected first-choice major will help you achieve them. (approximately 150 words)

This prompt permits a broad response, encompassing personal and/or career goals. That said, you first need to narrow that response to goals related to your first-choice major. Then, you need to narrow those goals down to just your 1-3 most important goals.

In the event that you haven’t decided on a career path, even though you’ve picked your major, a few Google searches can help guide you in the right direction. What careers relate to your first-choice major? If there are many career paths associated with this major, then you may want to list a few options in your response that are most inviting to you. Regardless of what personal or career goals you choose to explore in this short essay, be specific (even if brief) as to why these are your goals and how your major will help you get closer to these goals.

Additional research into the specific opportunities offered by your first-choice major at UIUC can help you flesh out this essay. Perhaps UIUC’s Experimental Music Studios will set you up for your dream career as a film composer. Or perhaps the research division of UIUC’s Program of Actuarial and Risk Management Sciences particularly interests you. A specific response can effectively demonstrate your deep interest in the learning opportunities available to you at UIUC. Moreover, you will show the admissions officers that you are serious about achieving your goals through your UIUC education.

UIUC Short Essay Questions: If You’re Applying Undeclared

What are your academic interests please include 2-3 majors you’re considering at illinois and why. (approximately 150 words).

Even if you’re applying undeclared, you likely have more than one academic interest. Don’t hold back: interdisciplinary interests that don’t necessarily align with a certain major are totally fine to discuss. In fact, discussing the ways your academic interests overlap or have evolved may help your reader better understand why you are choosing to enter undeclared.

Students entering college undeclared tend to start from one of three places. One, they’re deciding between similar majors. Two, they’re deciding between completely unrelated majors. Three, they have zero clue what majors speak to them. Let’s discuss each of these situations briefly.

In situation one, you can just list those similar majors in this essay and discuss the interests that underpin them. Consider the following questions: Why are these your interests? What skills would you like to gain by studying these topics? What specific programs at UIUC will support these interests?

In situation two, you can list your top two or three majors and (concisely and precisely) explain your interest in them. Consider the same questions posed in the last paragraph. However, keep your responses brief so that you have space to address the very different fields that engage you. Alternatively, you can focus on the interdisciplinary overlaps between your diverse interests.

In situation three, you may want to take the time to do a bit more research and soul-searching for tackling this question. Remember, you don’t have to eventually choose the majors you list in this essay! If you get stuck, look up UIUC’s list of majors and start crossing out all of the majors that don’t interest you. Keep narrowing it down as much as you can! Take comfort that you’re not really closing those doors yet.

What are your future career or academic goals? You may include courses you took in high school and how these impacted your goals. (approximately 150 words)

This prompt asks you to explore your goals for the future. If you look at your upcoming college experience, you may have some specific goals already. For instance, maybe you’re set on taking a computer science course, despite hoping to major in the arts. In this essay, you can explore why that is one of your goals. If you wish, you can move on to describing how that goal could impact your future career.

This question doesn’t require you to connect your career goals to your potential choice(s) of major. Therefore, you could describe an academic goal that isn’t related to your course of studies. Maybe it’s important to you to take philosophy courses to learn more about ethical questions and develop your opinions. Explain the motivation behind your academic goal(s) to the reader in this essay, and you’ll have a compelling narrative.

That said, if you choose to focus on career goals, those goals should be at least somewhat connected to whatever you’re considering majoring in. Otherwise, you risk giving the impression that you have not thought deeply about the purpose of your college education and its impact on your life. The connection does not need to be obvious or direct, though. This is especially true if you’re planning to work in an interdisciplinary, dynamic field. As long as you identify that connection in your essay, you’ll be fine.

UIUC Short Essay Questions: If You’ve Selected a Second Major (Including Undeclared)

Please explain your interest in your second-choice major or your overall academic or career goals. (approximately 150 words).

This extra essay response is applicable to applicants who wish to double-major. This is even if you are undecided about your second major. For instance, you might be certain about your intended degree in the Department of Economics , but you’re hoping to simultaneously pursue your passion for the arts while in college. Knowing exactly which arts degree you’d like to pursue isn’t necessary for selecting the second major option on your application. Regardless, just knowing that you would like to pursue two majors isn’t sufficiently detailed. In most cases, students will need to at least gesture toward their area of interest for the second major.

That said, this essay question gives you space to provide the color about that second major, no matter what it is. How does it fit with your first-choice major? Most importantly, how do those majors work in conjunction to bring you closer to your goals? Showing the admissions officers that you have thought deeply about these questions will give them the confidence that you are academically capable of pursuing a double major. So do your best to bring specificity, clarity, and depth to this essay and show UIUC that you’re ready!

If you need help polishing up your UIUC supplemental essays, check out our College Essay Review service. You can receive detailed feedback from Ivy League consultants in as little as 24 hours.

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UIUC College Essay Example Prompts

Whether you decide to apply to UIUC through Common App or myIllini, you’ll have to conquer the dreaded essay portion of the application. Fear not! When writing your essay, you have several options to choose from , so you can select the topic you’re most comfortable with.

For your application, you only need to choose one prompt to complete (along with two major-specific responses). Your essay should be between 250 and 650 words. In this blog, we’ve provided an example response for one of our college essay prompts . The concept we wrote about may seem a little silly, but we hope this example gives you an idea of how to craft your own response. Here we go!

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?

The chicken, or the egg? The hours I’ve spent pondering this question are countless. People frequently debate the seemingly simple idea of which came first. To me, it is more than just a question, but an example of how human beings think.

The question of “Which came first?” captivates me because it is a question without an answer. It has been asked for centuries and no progress has been made, but it still continues to be brought up. I think this is because humans prefer clear-cut answers. Like in any kind of competition, ending with a tie between teams or individuals isn’t a satisfying conclusion. People would rather the competition continue for extra time than admit there’s no real winner, or in this case, no real answer. So even though it’s obvious there will be no agreement, the debate over chickens and eggs continues.

When people label something a “chicken-egg” situation, it means there is no way to establish the order of cause and effect, again leaving a feeling of uncertainty. But human nature is to seek an answer. The chicken-egg question shows humanity’s inability to accept unfinished business, and this fascinates me most. People want closure in all aspects of life, and big questions like this are no exception. I think the question “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?” is so interesting because people will always try to answer it knowing they will never find a solution. It shows that humans desire understanding above all else.

When I want to learn more about this concept, I turn to my grandfather. He doesn’t have a degree in philosophy or psychology, yet he’s a reliable source on almost any subject given his extensive years spent at the University of Life. With so many experiences under his belt, he understands unanswerable questions much better than I do. “The only truth is uncertainty,” he tells me when I once again dive deep into the possibility of eggs without chickens or chickens without eggs. In his words, the most beautiful parts of life are the questions we can’t answer but spend out whole life trying to.

My own desire for answers keeps me thinking about this question for hours on end. I think there’s good points to grandpa’s perspective, but as an eighteen-year-old entering college, I don’t know if I can accept that the only answer is no answer just yet. Until I can, I’ll gather my own evidence and continue to spend my days wondering whether Aristotle was eating chicken and waffles or omelettes for breakfast.

Now that you’ve had a chance to mull over your opinion on Aristotle’s breakfast choices, think about what topic you might like to write about in your application. Remember, it’s not about trying to perfectly replicate this example or write what you think the admissions office wants to hear. The essay section of your application is your chance to let colleges get to know you on a more personal level, so show them who you really are! If you take your time and write about what’s important to you, you’ll be writing college essay prompts like a pro in no time.

UIUC Admissions

We're here for you as you prepare for college. Whether you're looking for guidance on the college search process or have questions about Illinois, we hope our blogs will help!

I must say UIUC as a college has the most intuitive website. I have seen no college that makes the process of writing supplemental essays so fun and joyful!

Thank you, Ishaan; we’re glad you’re finding this information helpful!

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Deadline Update: We want to ensure anyone applying for federal financial aid has enough time to make an informed decision regarding their college choice! For this reason, we're extending our enrollment decision deadline to May 15.

Essay Questions for Transfer Applicants

You'll answer one to two essays as part of your application, depending on whether you're applying to a major or to our undeclared program , and if you've selected a second choice . Essays should be 300 to 400 words each.

If You're Applying to a Major :

Explain your interest in the major you selected. Describe how you have recently developed this interest, inside and/or outside of the classroom, and how this major relates to your professional goals.

If You're Applying to Our Undeclared Program :

Explain your academic interests and strengths or your future career goals. You may include any majors or areas of study you are currently considering.

If You've Selected a Second-Choice Major (Including Undeclared ):

You have selected a second-choice major. Please explain your interest in this major.

Tips for Writing Your Essay

Be memorable..

The essay portion of the application is important because it gives us further insight into who you are and who you want to be. Make us remember you!

Be prepared.

Take time to think about and brainstorm your message. Create an outline, write a good first draft, and edit multiple times.

Be yourself.

We want to know more about you, so be honest and let us into your world. Instead of making broad statements about what you want to do, provide specific examples from your current institution or extracurricular activities. And don’t be afraid to add your personal style and voice to your writing!

You only have a couple of paragraphs to tell us that you’re not only qualified to attend UIUC, but you're also ready for the challenge and will make the most of your experience. Choose your words wisely.

Be focused.

It's not necessary for you to repeat information that’s already elsewhere in your application. Stay focused on explaining how those credentials and qualifications will lead to a successful future here.

Be professional.

Submitting a sloppy-looking essay with spelling errors and glaring mistakes sends us the message that you’re not serious about UIUC. Proofread your essays and ask your counselor, a friend, or a parent to take a second look.

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