How to Write the Illinois Institute of Technology Essays 2024-2025
The Illinois Institute of Technology has 4 essay prompts, all of which are optional. They all fall into the essay archetypes, and we recommend you write all of them that you feel apply to you as a way to demonstrate your interest in this school.
Illinois Institute of Technology Essay Prompts
All Applicants, Optional
Prompt 1: Tell us why you are pursuing your selected major. If you are undecided on a major tell us about the academic areas of interest to you. Include how you hope to use your IIT education to support them in achieving your passions and goals. (249 words)
Prompt 2: Why are you interested in Illinois Institute of Technology? (250 words)
Prompt 3: Would you like to share additional information not covered in your application? (200 words)
Prompt 4: How have your background and lived experiences shaped your perspective, and how would you bring those insights to the classroom and community at Illinois Tech? (800 words)
Prompt 1
Tell us why you are pursuing your selected major. If you are undecided on a major tell us about the academic areas of interest to you. Include how you hope to use your IIT education to support them in achieving your passions and goals. (249 words)
Understanding the Prompt
This is a Why This Major prompt. Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) wants to understand why you’re pursuing a particular major or, if undecided, which academic areas interest you. The admissions committee is looking for insight into how your experiences or passions have led you to this field and how you plan to use your IIT education to achieve your goals.
Brainstorming Questions
- What experiences (classes, extracurriculars, projects) sparked your interest in your major or academic areas?
- What specific skills or knowledge do you hope to gain at IIT to support your goals?
- How do you plan to use your degree in the future? What problems or industries excite you?
- How do IIT’s programs, resources, or approach to education align with your academic interests?
What Makes a Good Response
A good response should:
- Explain your interest in your major or academic areas: Share a story or moment that influenced your choice.
- Connect your interests to IIT: Highlight specific programs, courses, or resources at IIT that align with your goals.
- Share your future vision: Explain how you hope to use your degree to achieve your passions and career ambitions.
- Be personal and focused: Be clear about your goals and avoid vague or generic reasons for choosing your major.
Example Response
I have always been fascinated by the intersection of technology and problem-solving, which is why I am pursuing a degree in Computer Science. In high school, I developed a passion for coding while building a website for a local nonprofit. I realized that technology has the potential to solve real-world problems and make a positive impact. At Illinois Institute of Technology, I am excited to delve deeper into areas like artificial intelligence and data science, particularly how they can be applied to healthcare innovation.
IIT’s strong emphasis on interdisciplinary learning and hands-on research makes it the perfect place for me to explore my interests. The Kaplan Institute’s focus on entrepreneurship and innovation will allow me to work on projects that bring ideas to life. I hope to one day develop AI-driven solutions to improve healthcare accessibility, particularly in underserved communities. With IIT’s resources and collaborative environment, I know I will gain the skills and knowledge necessary to make a meaningful difference in the world. (169 words)
Why This Works
- Specific interests and experiences: The student shares a personal experience that sparked their interest in computer science and highlights a specific area they are passionate about (AI and healthcare).
- Connection to IIT: The response mentions IIT’s interdisciplinary focus and specific resources (the Kaplan Institute) that align with the student’s goals.
- Clear future vision: The student explains how they plan to use their degree to make a real-world impact, showing a strong sense of direction.
- Concise and focused: The response is direct, avoiding vague statements, and clearly connects the student’s interests to IIT’s offerings.
Prompt 2
Why are you interested in Illinois Institute of Technology? (250 words)
Understanding the Prompt
This is a Why This College essay prompt. Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) wants to know why you’re specifically drawn to their university. The admissions team is looking for evidence that you’ve done your research and understand how IIT will help you achieve your academic and personal goals. You should focus on specific programs, resources, or opportunities at IIT that excite you.
Brainstorming Questions
- What specific academic programs at IIT align with your interests or career goals?
- Are there unique resources (labs, institutes, research opportunities) or extracurriculars that excite you?
- What aspects of the campus culture or community resonate with you?
- How does IIT’s approach to education (interdisciplinary, hands-on, innovative) fit your learning style or aspirations?
What Makes a Good Response
A good response should:
- Show you’ve researched IIT: Mention specific programs, resources, or opportunities that appeal to you.
- Align with your academic and career goals: Explain how IIT’s offerings will help you pursue your interests and grow.
- Be specific and personal: Avoid generic statements like “IIT is a great school.” Focus on why it’s a great fit for you.
Example Response
I am drawn to Illinois Institute of Technology because of its strong focus on innovation and its interdisciplinary approach to learning. As someone interested in both engineering and entrepreneurship, I am excited about the unique combination of technical expertise and business skills that IIT offers. The availability of hands-on learning opportunities through programs like the Idea Shop and the Kaplan Institute for Innovation and Tech Entrepreneurship will allow me to collaborate with other students to bring my ideas to life. I am particularly interested in exploring sustainable energy solutions, and IIT’s Energy and Sustainability Institute is a perfect fit for my goal of addressing global environmental challenges through engineering.
Additionally, IIT’s focus on diversity and inclusion resonates with me. I value the opportunity to work with students from different backgrounds, knowing that collaboration across diverse perspectives leads to stronger solutions. I’m confident that IIT’s rigorous academic environment, paired with its entrepreneurial and innovative resources, will provide me with the skills and support I need to succeed as both an engineer and a leader in solving some of the world’s most pressing problems. (175 words)
Why This Works
- Specific programs and resources: The response highlights IIT’s Idea Shop, Kaplan Institute, and Energy and Sustainability Institute, showing that the student has done thorough research.
- Connection to personal goals: The student links their interest in sustainable energy and entrepreneurship to specific IIT programs, demonstrating a clear fit.
- Focus on diversity and collaboration: The mention of valuing diverse perspectives adds depth to the student’s vision for working in a collaborative, inclusive environment.
- Enthusiasm and clarity: The student expresses excitement about IIT’s academic environment and the opportunities available for growth and success.
Prompt 3
Would you like to share additional information not covered in your application? (200 words)
Understanding the Prompt
This is an optional prompt that gives you the opportunity to provide any additional information not already covered in your application. You can use this space to explain any gaps, challenges, or special circumstances that might have impacted your academic performance. Alternatively, you can highlight achievements or experiences that didn’t fit elsewhere in your application but are important to your story.
Brainstorming Questions
- Are there any personal or academic challenges you’ve faced that affected your performance or involvement?
- Is there a meaningful experience or passion that didn’t fit into other parts of your application?
- Are there any achievements, projects, or extracurriculars that you feel need more emphasis?
What Makes a Good Response
A good response should:
- Provide new, relevant information: Share something that adds depth to your application, such as personal challenges, overlooked achievements, or unique experiences.
- Be concise and focused: You only have 200 words, so make sure the information is clear and directly adds value to your application.
- Be honest and positive: If discussing challenges, focus on how you overcame them and what you learned.
Example Response
During my sophomore year, I faced a significant challenge when my family relocated to a new state. Adjusting to a new school and community was difficult, and as a result, my grades temporarily dropped. However, this experience taught me resilience and adaptability. I quickly found ways to integrate into my new environment, joining the robotics team and volunteering at a local food bank. By junior year, I had fully adjusted, and my academic performance improved significantly, as seen in my upward grade trend. I believe this experience strengthened my ability to handle change, and I am now better equipped to face future challenges with confidence and determination. (108 words)
Why This Works
- Explains a challenge: The student explains a temporary drop in academic performance, providing context and showing growth.
- Highlights personal qualities: The focus on resilience and adaptability shows the student’s positive response to adversity.
- Concise and relevant: The response adds important information without straying off-topic, keeping it focused on personal growth and achievement.
Prompt 4
How have your background and lived experiences shaped your perspective, and how would you bring those insights to the classroom and community at Illinois Tech? (800 words)
Understanding the Prompt
This prompt asks for a reflection on your personal background and lived experiences, and how they have influenced your perspective. Illinois Tech wants to know how your unique insights, shaped by your experiences, will enrich the classroom and community environment. This is an opportunity to share how your experiences have made you who you are, how they’ve given you a distinctive point of view, and how you plan to contribute to IIT’s diverse campus.
Brainstorming Questions
- What parts of your background (cultural, familial, social, economic, etc.) have shaped your values and worldview?
- How have challenges or unique experiences impacted your personal growth and goals?
- How have these experiences influenced your approach to learning, problem-solving, or collaboration?
- How can your perspective positively impact the IIT community and classroom discussions?
What Makes a Good Response
A good response should:
- Share specific, personal stories: Be honest and detailed about your background and how your experiences have influenced your perspective.
- Show growth and self-awareness: Reflect on how these experiences have shaped your identity, values, or goals.
- Explain your unique contributions: Connect your personal insights to how you will engage with and enrich the IIT community.
- Focus on both the classroom and community: Explain how your experiences will influence your academic contributions as well as your role in IIT’s diverse and collaborative campus culture.
Good Example
Growing up as a first-generation Indian-American in a small, predominantly white town, I often found myself balancing two distinct cultural worlds. At home, I lived by the values and traditions my immigrant parents instilled in me, celebrating festivals like Diwali and speaking Hindi. At school, however, I adapted to the American way of life, trying to blend in with my peers. This duality shaped my perspective on the importance of cultural identity and the value of empathy. I became more aware of how different experiences can shape people’s worldviews and how vital it is to bridge cultural gaps through understanding.
One of the defining experiences of my life was my participation in a community program that provided academic tutoring to underserved children in the inner city. I worked closely with students who had limited resources but an immense desire to learn. Seeing their determination despite their circumstances made me reflect on my own educational privileges. I realized that access to education shouldn’t depend on where you come from, and this shaped my goal to use technology to create educational opportunities for underserved communities.
At Illinois Tech, I plan to major in Computer Science and take advantage of the Kaplan Institute’s focus on innovation and social impact. I want to develop technology-based solutions that offer free educational resources for students in underserved communities. My experiences have taught me that empathy and understanding are the keys to solving real-world problems. In the classroom, I will bring this mindset by collaborating with peers from diverse backgrounds to find innovative solutions that benefit everyone. Outside of academics, I hope to contribute to student groups like the Association for Computing Machinery and help create platforms that foster inclusivity in tech education.
I am also excited to join cultural organizations such as the South Asian Student Association, where I can share my experiences as a first-generation immigrant and contribute to a supportive environment for students with similar backgrounds. At IIT, I want to be part of a community that values diversity and encourages students to bring their full selves to campus, and I hope to use my own experiences to help build that environment. (345 words)
Why This Works
- The essay shares specific personal experiences (balancing cultural identity, tutoring underserved students) that shaped the student’s worldview.
- It reflects on how these experiences fostered empathy and shaped their goals, linking this to how the student will contribute to the community and their future career.
- The student connects their perspective to specific IIT resources (the Kaplan Institute) and demonstrates a clear plan for how they will engage in both academic and extracurricular settings.
Bad Example
I grew up in a small town where most people were similar, and I didn’t have much exposure to different cultures. However, I’ve always been interested in learning about new perspectives and ideas, which has helped me become more open-minded. I enjoy meeting people from different backgrounds because it teaches me how diverse the world really is.
One of the ways my background has shaped me is by making me curious about the world. In school, I tried to read books from different cultures and learn more about global issues. This has given me a more global perspective, which I believe is important in today’s interconnected world.
At Illinois Tech, I will bring my curiosity about different cultures and my open-mindedness to the classroom. I am excited to learn from people with different experiences and work on group projects where everyone brings their own perspective. I plan to join clubs that focus on international issues and engage with the diverse student body at IIT.
I look forward to being part of a diverse campus and making new friends from different backgrounds. I believe my curiosity and willingness to learn will help me contribute to the community, and I am excited to experience all that IIT has to offer. (210 words)
Why This Doesn’t Work
- Too vague and generic: The student speaks broadly about being “curious about different cultures” but doesn’t offer any specific personal experiences or concrete examples to illustrate how their background shaped them.
- Lack of reflection or depth: There is no meaningful exploration of how their background has truly influenced their perspective. The ideas remain surface-level and abstract.
- Little connection to IIT: The student briefly mentions group projects and clubs but doesn’t highlight any specific programs, resources, or opportunities at IIT that relate to their interests.
- Missed opportunity for impact: The student doesn’t show how their unique perspective will bring something valuable to the classroom or the community. There’s no clear plan for engagement or contribution.
Key Takeaways
- Good Example: Provides specific personal experiences, reflects on how these shaped the student’s perspective, and clearly connects these insights to specific programs and opportunities at IIT.
- Bad Example: Is too vague, lacks specific examples, and doesn’t demonstrate a strong connection to IIT or a clear plan for how the student will contribute to the community.
Where to Get Your Illinois Institute of Technology Essays Edited For Free
Want feedback on your Illinois Institute of Technology essays to improve your chances at admission? When you’ve proofread your essay a dozen times, it can be hard to even spot where there’s room for improvement. That’s why we’ve created our free Peer Essay Review tool, where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also sharpen your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays!
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