uiuc essay topics

Are you seeking one-on-one college counseling and/or essay support? Limited spots are now available. Click here to learn more.

UIUC Supplemental Essays 2024-25 – Prompts and Advice

September 5, 2024

The University of Illinois — Urbana Champaign is one of the top public universities in the entire United States. Top-ranked computer science, engineering, and business programs, in particular, attract an endless stream of high-caliber applicants from around the globe. Great grades and test scores will put aspiring members of the Fighting Illini on strong footing. However, you are also required to address 2-3 UIUC supplemental essay prompts.

 (Want to learn more about How to Get Into UIUC? Visit our blog entitled:  How to Get Into the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign: Admissions Data and Strategies  for all of the most recent admissions data as well as tips for gaining acceptance.)

Let’s dive right in and begin examining the 2024-25 UIUC supplemental essays. Two important notes:

• You will be addressing 2-3 of these essays, depending on which category you fall into.
• Each response is a max of 150 words.

UIUC Supplemental Essays — If You’re Applying to a Major

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

UIUC is not necessarily asking you to write about the in-class or extracurricular experience that led to you earning the most prestigious awards or holding the highest position of leadership. The university is going to see all of your accomplishments in the Honors and Activities sections of the Common App. As such, you want to ask yourself two main questions:

1) Which experience best illustrates my passion and commitment to my first choice major?

2) Which experience is closest to my heart and most representative of my unique passions?

Pick the option that will allow you to deliver additional detail that may be memorable to the admissions reader. Start this process by asking yourself, “What is the most interesting and consequential moment that I have experienced in a classroom setting or in my extracurricular activities?” If you can identify one clear-cut moment, that is likely the activity worth sharing with the UIUC admissions staff.

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

This prompt shares some of the same elements of a traditional “Why Us?” essay, but UIUC is particularly interested in hearing about why the curriculum in your desired academic department is attractive to you—not so much about your love for the football team or the beautiful campus. Below are some quick tips for writing an essay that will help your admissions cause:

• Cite specific academic programs , professors ,  research opportunities , internship/externship programs ,  study abroad programs ,  student-run organizations , etc.
• State why your chosen program is the perfect fit for you  and why you are the perfect fit for it.
• Offer insight into your future personal/academic/career goals. It’s okay if you’re not 100% sure what you want to do at age 25 (most teens are not). Feel free to speculate based on your current mindset and interests.

In summary, you’ll want to dedicate time to researching more about your prospective college/department and what makes it truly world-class. The more specific you can get here, the better your UIUC essays will be!

UIUC Supplemental Essays — If You’re Applying to the Undeclared Program in the Division of General Studies

1) what are your academic interests please include 2-3 majors you’re considering at illinois and why..

Your strengths will likely be evident from other data points (AP scores, classroom grades, SAT/ACT results, etc.). Therefore we recommend focusing the bulk of your response on your specific academic interests that relate to your major of choice.

Whether it’s a general love for math/science or literature or a specific interest in aerospace engineering or an obsession with 19th-century French novels, use this opportunity to share what makes you tick, the ideas that keep you up at night, and what subject inspires you to dream big. What topic makes you read books and online content until your eyes bleed? Share the manner in which you relentlessly pursue knowledge. Whether it’s falling down a Wikipedia rabbit hole about the nature of time or consuming thousands of hours of podcasts on game theory, this is a chance to illustrate the ways in which you are an obsessive learner with an endless thirst for information. The admissions reader should emerge from reading this essay with the sense that you are a sincerely curious young person with a strong intellectual drive.

Finally, be sure to connect these interests to 2-3 majors at Illinois and support your reasoning with school-specific offerings and resources, like academic departments , courses , research initiatives , etc.

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

Note that this question is a bit different than the one asked of students with a firm first-choice major. We recommend providing a straightforward answer here. If you are Undeclared, you may not have a firm idea of your academic goals, but you can use your current academic interests (the ones explored in the question above) as well as past academic experiences to guide your answer. Similarly, your career intentions may be relatively unformed. Use this space to share academic/career areas that may be of interest. Don’t sweat it if your plans are still in a nascent stage. This is normal for a 17 or 18-year-old, and UIUC will understand.

UIUC Supplemental Essays — If You’ve Selected a Second-Choice Major (Including Undeclared)

You have selected a second-choice major. please explain your interest in that major or your overall academic or career goals. (150 words).

See answer #1 for those selecting a major. You are essentially repeating this process for a different field. However, you probably don’t want to have two completely unrelated majors/career goals. For example, if your first choice was business and your second choice was economics, it’s easy to explain the relationship. If the fields are more disparate (e.g. Dance & Chemical Engineering), be sure to provide a thorough explanation.

How important are the essays at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign?

UIUC only labels two factors as being “very important” to the admissions process. Those factors are: the rigor of your high school coursework and your GPA. The essays are “important” to the application review. In fact, the essays are rated as being of equal importance to test scores, extracurricular activities, and talent/ability.

Want Personalized Essay Assistance?

If you are interested in working with one of College Transitions’ experienced and knowledgeable essay coaches as you craft your UIUC supplemental essays, we encourage you to  get a quote  today.

Looking for additional writing resources? Consider checking out the following:

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

Dave Bergman

Dave has over a decade of professional experience that includes work as a teacher, high school administrator, college professor, and independent educational consultant. He is a co-author of the books The Enlightened College Applicant (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016) and Colleges Worth Your Money (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020).

• 2-Year Colleges
• ADHD/LD/Autism/Executive Functioning
• Application Strategies
• Best Colleges by Major
• Best Colleges by State
• Big Picture
• Career & Personality Assessment
• College Search/Knowledge
• College Success
• Costs & Financial Aid
• Data Visualizations
• Dental School Admissions
• Extracurricular Activities
• General Knowledge
• Graduate School Admissions
• High School Success
• High Schools
• Homeschool Resources
• Law School Admissions
• Medical School Admissions
• Navigating the Admissions Process
• Online Learning
• Outdoor Adventure
• Private High School Spotlight
• Research Programs
• Summer Program Spotlight
• Summer Programs
• Teacher Tools
• Test Prep Provider Spotlight

“Innovative and invaluable…use this book as your college lifeline.”

— Lynn O'Shaughnessy

Nationally Recognized College Expert

College Planning in Your Inbox

Join our information-packed monthly newsletter.

Choose Your Test

• Search Blogs By Category
• College Admissions
• AP and IB Exams
• GPA and Coursework

4 Tips for Writing a Great UIUC Essay

College Info , College Essays

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 .

Trending Now

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

ACT vs. SAT: Which Test Should You Take?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Get Your Free

Find Your Target SAT Score

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

How to Get a Perfect SAT Score, by an Expert Full Scorer

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading and Writing

How to Improve Your Low SAT Score

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading and Writing

Find Your Target ACT Score

Complete Official Free ACT Practice Tests

How to Get a Perfect ACT Score, by a 36 Full Scorer

Get a 36 on ACT English

Get a 36 on ACT Math

Get a 36 on ACT Reading

Get a 36 on ACT Science

How to Improve Your Low ACT Score

Get a 24 on ACT English

Get a 24 on ACT Math

Get a 24 on ACT Reading

Get a 24 on ACT Science

Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

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.

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

How to Write the UIUC Essays 2022-2023

Located in the vast cornfields of east-central Illinois, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is widely renowned as one of the country’s most influential public research universities. In fact, it has ranked first in National Science Foundation award funding for six consecutive years.

Many sources consider UIUC one of the top 50 universities in the world, and some have even ranked its engineering school in the top five worldwide.

Boasting over 24 million items in its library collection, it’s no secret that UIUC is an intellectual powerhouse. On top of that, it’s also a haven for sports lovers. UIUC was one of the founding members of the Big Ten Conference, a tradition that has remained strong, as evidenced by its 21 NCAA teams.

We at CollegeVine are here to give you numerous tips on how to tackle your UIUC essays! Want to know your chances at UIUC? Calculate your chances for free right now.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Supplemental Essay Prompts

All major applicants.

Prompt 1: 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. (150 words)

Prompt 2: If you’re applying to a major: Describe your personal and/or career goals after graduating from UIUC and how your selected first-choice major will help you achieve them. (150 words)

All Undeclared Program Applicants

Prompt 1: If you’re applying to Our Undeclared Program: What are your academic interests and strengths? You may also include any majors you are considering. (150 words)

Prompt 2: If you’re applying to Our Undeclared Program: What are your future academic or career goals? (150 words)

All Applicants With Second-Choice Major (Including Undeclared)

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. (150 words), all major applicants, 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. (150 words).

At first glance, this prompt seems pretty straightforward, and there isn’t much space for extraneous storytelling. 

However, what gives this prompt its difficulty is the necessity of going above and beyond. Not only do you need to identify the experiences that shaped your interest in your selected major, but you need to provide deeper reflections as to why those experiences impacted you in the way they did. 

For that reason, it’s not enough to simply list the experiences that led you to your chosen major. For example, you shouldn’t just say, “I first discovered my passion for film in English class, when I had to write a take home essay about the movie adaptation of The Picture of Dorian Gray . I furthered my interest in film by making my own home documentary alongside a couple friends. I also started volunteering at a local arthouse cinema to understand a more commercial perspective on film…”

Rather, it’s better to go deeper with a given example and provide insights into what motivates your passions. Instead of simply listing experiences related to film, you might instead say, “My English teacher assigned our class a take-home essay, where we analyzed the movie adaptation of The Picture of Dorian Gray . Looking at the movie through a closer lens gave me a deeper appreciation for the small decisions directors make and the big impacts they can have…” 

The admissions readers at UIUC want to see that you have the necessary experiences under your belt to thrive in your chosen course of study, and they also want to see that you will be passionate and motivated while doing so! Make sure to show them both your experiences and your deeper insights about those experiences, and you’ll have a strong essay on your hands. 

All Major Applicants, Prompt 2 

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

The trick to this prompt is making sure you convey a clear personal or career goal, while also relating your intended course of study to that goal. 

Thus, you should acknowledge the following main points while answering this prompt: 

• What are your future personal or career goals? 
• How will your chosen major help contribute towards those goals? 

Let’s address each of these points separately. 

1. What are your future personal and/or career goals?

The prompt plainly states that your response needs to identify your future personal or career goals. If you have a clear idea of what your goals are, that will make this part easy. In that situation, you would have presumably chosen a course of study that will serve as a stepping stone towards your longer-term ambitions. 

On the other hand, UIUC knows that your interests will change over the next four years, and that nothing is set in stone. If you’re uncertain about your career goals, it’s also okay to identify a few possible career paths that interest you. Another option is to discuss the type of work you wish to do (e.g. helping deliver aid to marginalized communities) as opposed to the specific career title.

Keep in mind that UIUC gives you the option of specifying your personal goals as well, and not just your career goals. This is a wording change from the 2021-2022 cycle, so it’s certainly intentional. Your personal goals should still be related to your major, but don’t have to be as career-focused. For instance, some solid personal goals to mention would be things like becoming a stronger public speaker, learning to program in a certain coding language, doing research on a specific topic, or writing a novel. 

As long as you can make a compelling case as to how your chosen major relates to your future ambitions, you will be in good shape for this essay. 

2. How will your chosen major help contribute towards those goals?

Once you have identified your personal or career goals, you also need to indicate what aspects of your chosen course of study will help you achieve those goals. 

This will mean both speaking about your major in broad terms, as well as identifying some features of UIUC’s course of study that serve you particularly well. This is not a “why UIUC” essay, so showing depth of research is not the top priority, but it will strengthen your response nonetheless. 

While this essay does not require personal reflections in the way that many other college essays do, it is still important for your voice to come through in deeper analyses that show you understand the significance of your major-goal combination at a deeper level. 

To accomplish this, make sure you are always stating why a particular aspect of your intended major serves your goals. For instance, it is not enough to say, “I hope to be a lawyer for the United Nations, so I want to take the course Governing Globalizations.” You might instead write, “Courses such as Governing Globalizations, which explore the historical, moral, socio-economic, and political dimensions of an emerging global society, will provide me with the interdisciplinary background to thrive as an international lawyer.” 

All Undeclared Program Applicants, Prompt 1

If you’re applying to our undeclared program: what are your academic interests and strengths you may also include any majors you are considering. (150 words).

This prompt is similar to the one above about how your past experiences relate to your intended major; it’s just a more open-ended version.  However, you still want to ground your interest in specific examples or experiences, rather than talking about your interests in a broad way (anyone can do that, so you want to connect it to who you are). It’s also best to limit your selection to 2-3 interests/strengths, as you only have 150 words. Otherwise, you may appear too unfocused.

For example, say you’re interested in creative writing and political science. You might share how you wrote a collection of short poems based on your family’s immigration experience, and how you found it a great way to reflect on those experiences. You may describe how fulfilling it was when the poems were published in a local magazine and strangers reached out to tell you how much they resonated with them. For political science, you have just started exploring the field after taking AP Government, and may be interested in immigration policy, but are trying to decide between that and your more creative endeavors.

One distinction here is that you do not necessarily have to discuss a potential major at all , if you don’t want to. You can simply focus on some of the topics you’re interested in or have a talent for. On the other hand, if you do want to allude to potential majors, that will also work just fine.

It’s okay to talk about the reasons you’re undecided (and you should), but make sure to avoid self-deprecating language that might indicate that being undecided is a weakness. For instance, don’t say, “I want to major in math, but [insert self-doubt].” Instead, it will be better to frame things positively, where you talk about the things you love about your potential subjects. 

All Undeclared Program Applicants, Prompt 2 

If you’re applying to our undeclared program: what are your future academic or career goals (150 words).

As above, this prompt shares some similarity with the corresponding prompt for applicants who have decided on a major. However, rather than relating your chosen major to your intended career, this prompt gives you even more liberty. You can discuss your future academic or career goals, and furthermore, you don’t have to relate your course of study to your intended career if you don’t wish to do so. 

Regarding career goals, much of the same advice applies. If you know you want to be a computational social scientist, but you don’t know which degree will best help you get there, that’s perfectly fine. You can just discuss the joys of gaining social insights from large-scale network and content analysis. In general, feel free to simply discuss what jobs or careers you hope to one day pursue, and make sure your passion shines through. 

On the other hand, if you are unsure of your specific career path, you can speak about the type of work you hope to do. For instance, “Although I do not yet know my specific career path, I am certain it will be somewhere in the realm of environmental justice. I am excited by the prospects of participating in food justice programs at urban farms, as well as lobbying for public land preservation alike. I hope to ground myself in further environmental justice experiences by…” 

Similarly, maybe you know you wish to pursue a certain academic opportunity, although you do not yet know where it will lead you. It is okay to talk about opportunities at UIUC and postgraduate alike. For instance, maybe you really want to be a Fulbright scholar one day. Tell the admissions readers all about it! 

This prompt might be difficult for you because it is so open-ended. One piece of advice that might help is to simply ground it in yourself, your own narrative, and your own value system. Although this essay does not center a personal narrative in the way your Common App essay will, relating your future plans with your core values is helpful both because it gives the essay cohesion, and because it shows you are introspective. Strong personal reflections are great for demonstrating maturity and self-awareness. 

All Applicants With Second Choice Major (Including Undeclared)

This prompt is similar to the previous one about your first-choice major, so you should approach it in largely the same manner. The only nuance is that you don’t necessarily have to relate your second-choice major to any personal or career goals, if you don’t want to (though it’s always helpful to!). 

It’s still important to ground this essay in meaningful experiences with this field. Since the essay asks about your interest in this major, it can be easy to simply write all the reasons you love the major without actually sharing more about who you are. You want to avoid that! For example, anyone could write an essay about why environmental science is so great and important, but only you can discuss how the river in your hometown was polluted by a garment factory, or how fulfilling it was to teach kids at the elementary school how to compost. 

After explaining your interest, make sure to share how this second-choice major relates to your future goals. Since it’s a second-choice major, you may not have as concrete of an answer, and that’s okay, but UIUC still wants to know how you might make an impact with this major should you study it. For the hypothetical student interested in environmental science, they may want to work in environmental policy to prevent pollution, or become a teacher so that the younger generation learns to love and care for the earth.

Where to Get Your University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Essays Edited 

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

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

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience and security.

Undergraduate Admissions

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 Illinois, 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 Illinois. Proofread your essays and ask your counselor, a friend, or a parent to take a second look.

Want more info?

How to Write the UIUC Supplemental Essays 2023–2024

Subscribe to our newsletter for college app advice!

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.

Sign Up for More College App Tips

Subscribe to the Next Admit newsletter, a weekly newsletter where you'll receive our best college essay and college app advice. You can unsubscribe at any time!

Students Also Read

UIUC Supplemental Essays 2023-24

If you’re interested in attending UIUC, writing effective UIUC essays is an important step toward gaining admission. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), located in eastern Illinois , stands out as one of the premier public universities in the nation. Consequently, UIUC Admissions assesses thousands of applications and UIUC supplemental essays annually to identify strong candidates.

With UIUC’s acceptance rate hovering around 45%, many students are curious about the key to gaining admission. While a strong academic record is important in any application, the UIUC supplemental essays are crucial to your application journey. Your essays offer admissions officials a glimpse into your academic interests and how they align with UIUC offerings. Therefore, your UIUC essays can be the deciding factor in the success of your application.

Our guide to the UIUC supplemental essays will walk you through strategies to use while writing your UIUC essays. We will explore the UIUC application requirements and analyze UIUC essay prompts, including the UIUC why major essay and why UIUC essay. In each section, you’ll find valuable insights to help you craft outstanding UIUC essays. With this guide, you’ll be ready to craft compelling UIUC essays that are certain to impress University of Illinois Admissions.

First, we’ll go over some UIUC Admissions quick facts. Then, we’ll take a look at the prompts for each of the UIUC supplemental essays and how to answer them. If you’re ready to learn all about the UIUC essays, let’s get started!

UIUC Admissions: Quick Facts

University of illinois at urbana-champaign quick facts.

• UIUC Acceptance Rate: 45% – while UIUC’s acceptance rate is higher than other top universities, U.S. News still considers UIUC moderately selective. 
• UIUC Application Platforms: UIUC accepts the Common Application & myIllni Application
• Students will respond to one essay prompt from the list of 2023-2024 Common Application Essay Prompts . Prompts are the same whether you apply through myIllini or the Common App. 
• Students will respond to specific UIUC essay prompts depending on their choice of major. Your UIUC essays may include a UIUC why major essay and why UIUC essay.
• Early Action: November 1st
• Regular Decision: January 5th 

Please note that essay requirements are subject to change each admissions cycle, and portions of this article may have been written before the final publication of the most recent guidelines. For the most up-to-date information on essay requirements, check the university’s admissions website.

Does University of Illinois Urbana Champaign require an essay?

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) requires applicants to submit UIUC supplemental essays as part of the application process. To start, all applicants must complete one personal statement essay, ranging from 250 to 650 words. This University of Illinois essay allows candidates to showcase their unique perspectives, experiences, and aspirations. The good news is that the UIUC essay prompts for this essay mirror the Common Application essay prompts. So, if you are applying to other schools via the Common App, you don’t need to write a new essay for UIUC. 

In addition to your personal statement, applicants must also submit 2 to 3 additional UIUC supplemental essays. The number of essays you write and the UIUC essay prompts you’ll respond to will depend on your chosen major(s). These major-specific UIUC supplemental essays allow applicants to delve deeper into their academic interests. In these essays, students can demonstrate an understanding of their chosen field of study and how their passions align with UIUC.

Ultimately, UIUC supplemental essays play a crucial role in providing the University of Illinois admissions committee with a comprehensive understanding of each applicant. Supplemental essays are UIUC’s main tool for seeing beyond what is reflected in a student’s academic achievements and standardized test scores. Once we go over the UIUC essay prompts, you’ll see just how important and valuable these essays can be to your application.

In the next sections, we will dive deeper into the major specific prompts. We’ll show you how to respond to these UIUC essay prompts to ensure your UIUC essays strengthen your application.

UIUC Major-Specific Prompts

For those applying to a specific major at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), you can expect two major-specific UIUC essay prompts. These UIUC essays can be thought of as a UIUC why major essay and why UIUC essay. Together, these prompts are designed to gain deeper insights into your academic and personal aspirations. 

Major-specific University of Illinois Essay 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. (150 words).

To craft your first UIUC why major essay, you must recount a recent, significant experience related to your first-choice major. Whether it’s an extracurricular activity, a memorable class, or any other relevant context, the connection to your intended major should be clear. Take the opportunity to provide a detailed narrative that showcases your hands-on involvement and its impact on your academic journey.

Major-specific University of Illinois Essay Prompt #2

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

Your second UIUC why major essay can also be thought of as a why UIUC essay. In your essay, you’ll want to articulate your personal and/or career goals following graduation from UIUC. However, you’ll also need to explain how completing your first-choice major at UIUC aligns with and contributes to these aspirations. This prompt requires thoughtful reflection on your long-term vision, drawing clear connections between your academic pursuits at UIUC and your personal and professional journey. 

Strong college candidates will have clear goals and a track record of commitment to their education. By addressing these UIUC essays with sincerity and depth, you can present a compelling case for your suitability and enthusiasm for your chosen major.

UIUC Undeclared Major Program Essay Prompts

Students applying to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) as an undeclared major can also anticipate two UIUC essay prompts. These UIUC supplemental essays are specifically tailored for students who are still undecided. These UIUC supplemental essays are similar to the major-specific essays in that you’ll still be discussing your academic interests and future goals.

Undeclared Major University of Illinois Essay Prompt #1

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

This essay invites you to share varied academic interests, requesting that you include specific majors you are considering at Illinois. Be sure to select specific major programs, rather than more general areas of study, and elaborate on the reasons behind your choices. This University of Illinois essay lets you showcase your curiosity and thought process in exploring potential academic paths. So, even if you’re undecided, you can still show the admissions committee what topics pique your curiosity.

Undeclared Major University of Illinois Essay Prompt #2

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

For this essay, you must articulate your future aspirations for college and beyond. You are also encouraged to look back on previous experiences and include details about high school courses that have inspired you. This University of Illinois essay prompt allows you to reflect on not just what you want to accomplish but also why . In your essay, aim to create a narrative that demonstrates the alignment between your educational background and future endeavors. 

Even if you aren’t sure what you want to study, that doesn’t mean you can’t wow admissions with your essays. By responding thoughtfully to these UIUC essays, you can present a well-rounded picture of your academic interests and future ambitions. 

UIUC Second-Choice Major Essay Prompt

For those who have chosen a second-choice major, including undeclared, UIUC provides a specific essay prompt to delve into your motivations and aspirations. Although this University of Illinois essay is technically optional, UIUC strongly recommends students select a second-choice major and complete this essay.

Second-Choice Major University of Illinois Essay Prompt

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

This University of Illinois essay allows applicants to convey the reasons behind selecting a secondary major or to elucidate their broader academic and professional objectives. In responding to this UIUC essay prompt, consider sharing the factors that fuel your interest in the chosen second major and how it aligns with your overall academic and career trajectory. Whether you have a clear career path or are exploring various academic avenues, use this essay to showcase your thoughtful consideration of your academic journey and your second-choice major’s role in shaping your educational and professional aspirations. Crafting a compelling response to this prompt will strengthen your application by giving the admissions committee valuable insights into your motivations and future plans at UIUC.

How to write UIUC Essays?

You will notice that UIUC essays are uniquely tailored to outline your personal experiences within your interests. This reflects UIUC’s commitment to truly understanding who you are as a student and how your academic environment can contribute to your desired development.

With limited space, your essays need to be focused and concise, and writing them may require a touch of creativity. Approaching the UIUC essays requires careful consideration and authenticity to effectively communicate how UIUC aligns with your academic interests. Therefore, use the following steps to help craft your UIUC supplemental essays:

Self-reflection is Key

Self-reflection is a crucial first step in preparing your UIUC supplemental essays. Take the time to delve into who you are, what matters to you, and why you are an exceptional fit for UIUC. Focus on your individuality and consider what aspects of your personality and experiences have been vital to your growth. This preliminary exploration is pivotal to choosing strong topics for each of the UIUC essay prompts.

Choose the Common App Prompt That Fits You

While the major-specific UIUC essays will depend on your selected major, you do have the opportunity to choose your personal statement prompt. When deciding between the UIUC essay prompts, choose the one that aligns best with your experiences and interests. For instance, if overcoming a challenge has significantly shaped your perspective, consider the UIUC essay prompts related to resilience. Similarly, if you’ve achieved a noteworthy accomplishment, opt for the UIUC essay prompts inviting reflection on success. Your goal when choosing between the UIUC essay prompts is to pick one that effectively showcases your best qualities. (Especially those that make you a valuable addition to UIUC’s academic community.)

Be Creative, Be Different, Stand Out

Given the intimate nature of UIUC supplemental essays, don’t be afraid to be creative! Craft your narrative with innovation, experimenting with storytelling elements such as chronology and story arcs. Use dialogue and imagery to enhance the personal touch of your UIUC essays, providing admissions with a vivid portrayal of your unique qualities. Instead of merely stating preferences, vividly illustrate your interests. For instance, rather than stating a love for reading, you might vividly depict the hours spent engrossed in books.

By adhering to these steps, you will undoubtedly capture the attention of the admissions team. Remember, there is no singular formula for writing UIUC essays. Infuse your personality and distinctive experiences into your UIUC supplemental essays (and answer the prompts!) and you’ll be on the right track. Beyond these guidelines, you can find more detailed writing advice in this article on “ How to Write Better Essays .” 

Does UIUC care about essays?

Yes, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) certainly cares about your UIUC supplemental essays. UIUC takes pride in its thorough admissions process . While academic excellence is essential, UIUC recognizes that true potential encompasses more than just grades. This holistic approach is exemplified by the significance attributed to things like your background, interests, and previous accomplishments and challenges. These things are hard to tell from numbers alone, which is what makes your UIUC supplemental essays so important.

The emphasis on UIUC supplemental essays reflects the university’s strategic decision to identify individuals who resonate with its values of academic excellence, innovation, and a commitment to societal impact. The UIUC essays offer applicants a platform to share their personal stories, experiences, and aspirations, enabling the admissions committee to better understand each candidate’s unique qualities and perspectives.

Therefore, crafting impactful UIUC supplemental essays is one of the most important steps in the application process. UIUC essays are not just a showcase of writing skills but a window into your character, revealing your commitment to contributing to UIUC’s academic and innovative community.

What is the UIUC known for?

UIUC is renowned for its exceptional academic programs, cutting-edge research initiatives, and a vibrant campus community. UIUC consistently ranks among the top public universities in the United States and is recognized for its outstanding engineering, computer science, and business programs. So, let’s dive deeper into some of UIUC’s best qualities:

Top-Tier Engineering Programs

UIUC is consistently recognized for its outstanding engineering programs, particularly electrical engineering and computer science. (U.S. News has UIUC ranking #5 in Best Undergraduate Engineering and Computer Science Programs). The Grainger College of Engineering has a distinguished reputation for producing graduates who excel in the technological and industrial sectors.

Cutting-Edge Research Facilities

UIUC is a research -intensive institution with state-of-the-art facilities. For example, the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology is a hub for interdisciplinary research, fostering collaborations among scientists, engineers, and scholars to address complex global challenges.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship

The university strongly commits to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. The Research Park at UIUC provides a supportive ecosystem for startups and industry partnerships, allowing students and researchers to translate their ideas into real-world applications.

Academic Excellence in Business

UIUC’s Gies College of Business consistently ranks among the best in the nation. (U.S. News’ UIUC ranking highlights Gies as one of the Top 10 public undergraduate business programs in the country.) The Gies College of Business offers cutting-edge programs, including the highly regarded MBA. It is known for its emphasis on experiential learning and preparing students for leadership roles in the business world.

Diverse and Inclusive Campus

UIUC takes pride in its diverse and inclusive campus community. With students from around the globe and a wide range of cultural organizations within its 800 clubs and student organizations , the university provides a dynamic environment that encourages cross-cultural understanding and collaboration.

It’s no secret that UIUC is a top-tier institution. Known for academic excellence, research impact, and diversity, UIUC prepares its graduates for success in a rapidly evolving global landscape.

More supplemental essay resources from CollegeAdvisor

As you begin crafting your application for UIUC, consider exploring additional resources from CollegeAdvisor to enhance your preparation. These valuable tools are designed to provide expert guidance throughout the application process, ensuring you present your strongest and most authentic version of yourself. CollegeAdvisor’s resources go beyond the conventional and offer tailored advice for navigating specific aspects of the application journey.

Here are a few resources to check out before you start your application to UIUC:

• How to Get into UIUC Guide : This guide is a treasure trove of information, offering a detailed roadmap for securing admission to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It provides strategic insights into UIUC’s admissions process, tips for writing compelling UIUC essays, and advice on showcasing your unique qualities to stand out in the competitive applicant pool.
• College Essay Topics : Crafting impactful essays is a crucial aspect of the application process. This College Essay Topics resource assists you in exploring creative and meaningful ideas for your essays. It provides inspiration and guidance to help you tell your story in a way that resonates with admissions committees.
• How to Start a Personal Statement : Your very first sentence will set the tone for your entire essay. This resource offers practical tips on how to start a personal statement effectively, helping you capture the reader’s attention from the outset. Learn how to craft a compelling opening that reflects your voice and establishes a strong foundation for your narrative.

Exploring these resources will undoubtedly enhance your understanding of the application process. That way, you can feel empowered to create compelling materials, increasing your chances of success at UIUC and other esteemed universities.

UIUC Supplemental Essays – Final Thoughts

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ( UIUC ) presents a unique and dynamic opportunity for prospective students. With UIUC ranking #30 in the nation by Forbes, UIUC stands as one of the nation’s premier public universities in the Midwest . UIUC’s rigorous admissions process underscores its commitment to identifying candidates who both excel academically and align with its values.

The UIUC application process goes beyond standardized test scores, reflecting the university’s commitment to understanding the values and aspirations of each applicant. As such, the UIUC supplemental essays are incredibly important. UIUC essays require self-reflection, creativity, and a genuine connection to UIUC’s academic environment.

Before you go, here are some final takeaways from our guide to the UIUC supplemental essays. 

Navigating the UIUC essay prompts

• The major-specific UIUC essay prompts offer applicants a chance to showcase hands-on involvement and articulate how their chosen major aligns with their personal and career goals.
• Undeclared major applicants can express their academic interests and future aspirations through the tailored UIUC essay prompts, providing a glimpse into their exploration of potential academic paths.
• The UIUC second-choice major essay prompts allow applicants to delve into the motivations behind their secondary major or articulate broader academic and professional objectives, adding depth to their application.

Tips for writing your UIUC essays

• Resources from CollegeAdvisor, such as the “How to Get into UIUC Guide,” “College Essay Topics,” and “How to Start a Personal Statement,” provide strategic insights and practical tips to enhance your application journey, especially your UIUC essays.
• UIUC supplemental essays are essential for conveying your unique qualities and commitment to UIUC’s academic and innovative community. Approach the UIUC essays with authenticity, creativity, and a genuine connection to the university’s values, ensuring your application stands out in the competitive University of Illinois admissions process.

With these strategies, you can create UIUC essays that meet the requirements, stand out, and make a lasting impression on the UIUC admissions committee. We wish you the best of luck with your application and writing your UIUC supplemental essays. And good luck on your application journey!

This article was written by senior advisor, Ashley Hollins . Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.

Personalized and effective college advising for high school students.

• Advisor Application
• Popular Colleges
• Privacy Policy and Cookie Notice
• Student Login
• California Privacy Notice
• Terms and Conditions
• Your Privacy Choices

By using the College Advisor site and/or working with College Advisor, you agree to our updated Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy , including an arbitration clause that covers any disputes relating to our policies and your use of our products and services.

University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign | UIUC

• Cost & scholarships
• Essay prompt

Want to see your chances of admission at University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign | UIUC?

We take every aspect of your personal profile into consideration when calculating your admissions chances.

This school does not require essays or the essay prompts are not available yet.

Sign up to be notified of any changes.

Get the Reddit app

Join the A2C Discord!

r/ApplyingToCollege is the premier forum for college admissions questions, advice, and discussions, from college essays and scholarships to college list help and application advice, career guidance, and more. A2C supports a welcoming and inclusive environment. Harassment, intimidation, and bullying are not tolerated.

Should I write the UIUC optional supp essays?

By continuing, you agree to our User Agreement and acknowledge that you understand the Privacy Policy .

Enter the 6-digit code from your authenticator app

You’ve set up two-factor authentication for this account.

Enter a 6-digit backup code

Create your username and password.

Reddit is anonymous, so your username is what you’ll go by here. Choose wisely—because once you get a name, you can’t change it.

Reset your password

Enter your email address or username and we’ll send you a link to reset your password

Check your inbox

An email with a link to reset your password was sent to the email address associated with your account

Choose a Reddit account to continue