CollegeVine College Essay Team December 9, 2024 12 Essay Breakdowns,Essay Guides 2024-25

How to Write the Ohio University Essays 2024-2025

This year, Ohio University has one optional essay for all applicants, and two essay prompts for applicants to special programs. Read on to find out the best way to answer these prompts. 

How to Write the Ohio University Essays

All Applicants, Optional

Though usually optional essays are heavily encouraged, this is one essay that truly is optional. This is what’s known as an exceptional circumstances prompt, and it’s asking if there were any problems or difficulties not otherwise mentioned in your application that might be important to know when reading your application. 

While these prompts usually focus solely on factors negatively impacting academic performance, there is also the opportunity here to talk about ways you have prepared for success. If you have a personal circumstance that means you are already responding to this prompt, including ways you adapted to or worked with this limitation is a great idea. If you’re on the fence about responding, but your story would represent a strong demonstration of academic planning and skills, this might tip you toward writing that essay. 

If, however, you don’t truly have an exceptional circumstance to write about, it is probably best to leave this section blank, rather than using it to describe your strong academic preparation. Nor should you try to stretch a circumstance to fit into this space. A minor inconvenience, a circumstance that ended long before you started high school, or something that was not relevant to your life or academics does not belong here. Trying to explain less than stellar academic performance with an excuse will not reflect well on your application. 

If you are unsure whether your situation counts as exceptional circumstances, consider the following questions in making your decision.

• Has anything happened in the past four to six years that impacted your ability to be present in school, focus in school, or complete your homework? What about extracurricular activities you may have had to leave, forgo, or limit your involvement in?
• Has anything happened that has impacted you or your family’s financial, emotional, or physical wellbeing? 
• Has anything happened that has taken your focus away from school, or limited the amount of time you were able to spend on homework or extracurriculars?

Illness or disability, a natural disaster, or family emergencies are the typical examples for exceptional personal circumstances, but the definition is really much broader than this. Having to forsake extracurriculars and homework to work, babysit siblings, or care for a loved one are great reasons to respond to this prompt. So are mental health struggles or upheaval in your personal life. 

If you are going to respond to this prompt for one reason or another, keep your answer concise and to the point. This is not the place to demonstrate your vast vocabulary or storytelling skills. Rather, be honest, be upfront, and tell the admissions committee everything they might need to know, including exactly how the situation you’re describing affected your academic profile. If possible, add any coping strategies, adaptations, or skills you might have developed during or in response to this time, but do not keep writing if you don’t have anything further to say. 

Honors Tutorial College Applicants

This prompt is an example of the classic “Why this Major” archetype. Admissions officers want to know why you’ve chosen to study what you have, and how your experiences, interests, and aspirations have led you to where you are. The goal is to highlight your passion for the subject, demonstrate your knowledge of the field, and showcase how the program at the specific college aligns with your goals.

The key focuses here are your intellectual journey, and the motivations that led you to your current path. It’s a good idea to take some time to reflect on what sparked your interest in the major you’re applying to, what has influenced your pursuit of this major, and how you plan to engage with this interest on Ohio University’s campus.

While this essay focuses on your course of study, this essay is a great opportunity to root your aspirations in past passions or life experiences. It also allows you to demonstrate your knowledge of the subject, showcasing any research or deep engagement you may have done. It would be a mistake to use this supplement to only write about your major – instead, take this chance to tell the admissions committee more about you and your plans. 

Here are some hypothetical examples to help you think about how you can make the most of this prompt. 

• Maria has always loved math, but it was a coding class in her sophomore year that made her realize she wanted to pursue Computer Science. After building her first app to help her local community connect during the pandemic, she became fascinated with how technology could solve real-world problems. She’s now interested in studying Human-Computer Interaction and is particularly drawn to the university’s lab on accessibility in tech.
• Jordan became passionate about Environmental Science after witnessing severe flooding in his town. He took AP Environmental Science and interned with a local water conservation group to learn more about the issues facing his community. Jordan hopes to study hydrology at the college, where he can work with faculty studying climate adaptation and water resource management.
• Alex is drawn to Political Science after spending time as a volunteer with a voter registration organization. They are fascinated by voting systems and democratic processes, especially how underserved communities engage politically. They’re excited by the opportunity to study with a professor whose work on gerrymandering reform has inspired them.

Each of these responses explains the chosen program of study, but also touches on the student’s past, their engagement with the topic so far, and how they hope to use Ohio University’s resources in the future. With 600 words to work with, you should make sure that this supplement does as much for you as possible. 

This prompt asks you to reflect on why you’re applying to this program specifically, and what you hope to gain from it. Not only does the admissions team want to hear about your plans for the future, but they want to know how past experience has prepared you to thrive in the environment that the Honors College creates. Finally, you’ll want to explain what it is about the program that you’re especially drawn to. 

A good response will show a deep understanding of the tutorial system, and an appreciation for its impact on your education. It will showcase your intellectual independence, both through past examples and future planning, proving your readiness for the self-directed learning of the Honors College. Finally, you’ll demonstrate how the tutorial program aligns with your learning style and your future goals, proving that this program is the right fit for you. 

As you develop your essay, you’ll want to avoid common mistakes, like being overly general, focusing too much on one-on-one interactions, and failing to show off your personal experience. Overgeneralizing comes across as insincere, and makes you seem as though you didn’t take the prompt seriously. The prompt asks you to look beyond the personal aspect of the tutorial model, so highlighting this is also something of a red flag. Not showing off your personal experience may leave the admissions committee concerned that you’re not ready for the independence of a tutorial program. 

This prompt specifically asks you to engage with the research and creative activity aspect of the tutorial program, so make sure that your response addresses these crucial aspects of the Honors College. Let’s look at an example of what a successful essay might look like below.

One of the mad ones. Those words, scrawled across a torn piece of notebook paper and sloppily underlined three times, stare back at me every time I glance into my bedroom mirror. When I first read Kerouac’s famous line in On the Road, I scrawled them down and then paced around the room for what felt like hours, exhilarated, restless, unable to sit with the sentence I’d just read reverberating in my head. Reading that book felt like the words themselves were alive, a frenetic energy pulsing through each page. I had never encountered such a raw, unfiltered portrayal of life—Kerouac’s spontaneous prose was the perfect vessel for the turbulent countercultural movement he chronicled. I devoured the rest of the Beat writers: Allen Ginsberg’s Howl sent chills down my spine, while William S. Burroughs’ Naked Lunch left me questioning societal norms. My peers critiqued their works within the confines of literary analysis, but I wanted to understand how these rebellious voices echoed against the backdrop of 1950s America.

With that question burning in my mind, I embarked on a self-directed research project to explore the socio-political context of the Beat Generation. This was purely a labor of love – hours spent in the library, poring over newspaper archives, listening to old radio broadcasts, and watching interviews from the period. My research led me to San Francisco’s City Lights Bookstore, a pivotal hub for the Beats. I saved up to visit the city during a school break, immersing myself in history and talking to staff members about the store’s legacy. Standing in the bookstore’s creaky wooden aisles surrounded by stacks of Ginsberg’s poetry, I felt as though I was touching history.

As I pieced together findings, I began to see how the Beats literature wasn’t just artistic rebellion—it was deeply intertwined with the civil rights movement, McCarthyism, and America’s post-war identity crisis. My exploration culminated in an independent research paper, but more importantly, it ignited in me a passion for blending literature with historical context. It opened my eyes to the joys of independent inquiry, of chasing an idea and not knowing exactly where it will lead but savoring every step along the way.

The tutorial program’s emphasis on individualized study and close mentorship mirrors the kind of academic freedom I experienced during my Beat Generation project. I thrive in environments like this, which allow me to explore topics deeply and receive personalized guidance. The one-on-one interaction with faculty in Ohio’s program would allow me to refine my ideas in real-time, with expert guidance pushing me to think more critically and explore new angles.

Ohio University’s commitment to student-driven research aligns perfectly with my intellectual goals. I’m excited about the opportunity to design my own curriculum in a way that integrates literature, history, and social movements—perhaps even focusing my senior thesis on the evolution of protest literature from the Beats to contemporary spoken word. The chance to collaborate with faculty members like Dr. Hill, whose research on post-war American literature has already influenced my thinking, excites me even more. I know that the resources at OSU, particularly the ability to pursue independent projects under the mentorship of experienced scholars, will help me develop the analytical skills I need for a future in academia.

For me, a tutorial education isn’t just about receiving one-on-one attention—it’s about the freedom to follow my intellectual curiosity wherever it leads. Ohio University’s tutorial program offers the structure and support I need to continue growing as both a student and a researcher, and I can’t wait to contribute to this unique academic community.

This is a long example, as the prompt is for a 600 word essay. Let’s look at some of the key highlights. The essay chooses a unique subject in the Beats generation, and emphasizes the lengths the student goes in the pursuit of knowledge. It uses vivid language and specific examples to make a memorable impression on readers. It emphasizes the author’s independence, creativity, love for knowledge, and excitement to engage with the resources on Ohio University’s campus, as facilitated by the Honors College. All of these make this a powerful, compelling supplement that will go a long way to securing admission at the Honors College. 

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School of Journalism Applicants, recommended

Though this prompt is technically optional, we highly encourage you to complete it if you are applying to the School of Journalism. Writing essays like this shows the admissions committee that you’re serious about your interest in journalism, and it allows you to discuss your future goals and how they’re suited to the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University. The goal is to highlight your passion for the subject, demonstrate your knowledge of the field, and showcase how the program at the specific college aligns with your goals.

In order to answer this prompt, you’ll need to write about your goals, but the best essays will go far beyond this. With 600 words to work with, you should also spend some time talking about how your interest in journalism began and grew, how you’ve nurtured that passion, and what makes Ohio University the best place to pursue a career in the field. 

Along with making it a better essay, showcasing strong writing and research skills will demonstrate your journalism aptitude. Do some digging into Ohio University’s offerings and think deeply about what makes this school the best fit for you, as well as what might make you the best fit for this school. 

As you develop your response, consider these questions to add detail and substance to your essay. 

• What ignited your interest in journalism? Was there a particular moment, issue, or story that pulled you in?
• How have you explored journalism further? What have you done in or outside the classroom to develop skills or learn more about the profession?
• Where do you see journalism failing or struggling? What gaps do you see that you hope to address? Why are these specific issues important to you, and why do you think you’re the best person to address them?
• What challenges or questions might you want to address within the field? What excites you about the profession?
• Why are you applying to the program at Ohio University? What do they have that no one else does?

As you think about the answers to these questions, you can begin to formulate an essay that is unique, compelling, and persuasive. Though it doesn’t have to be a straightforward story, including some narrative elements usually helps to structure your writing. 

Whether or not you decide to use a classic structure, specific, clear examples are a must to help ground your essay and make it memorable. A connection to your future is another must, particularly your future at Ohio University. insight into current issues facing journalism, like the prevalence of fake news and questions of objectivity, shows that you’re turned into what’s happening in the world of your future career. These elements will make your essay feel complete, and provide a full answer to the prompt. 

Finally, you’ll want to avoid over-emphasizing prestige or listing your accomplishments resume-style. This prompt focuses on your goals because the admissions committee wants to know about you, your values, and your dreams. Focusing on accomplishments, and burnishing your most impressive accomplishments, may make you come across as self-important and lacking in direction. 

Let’s look at two example excerpts – one of which applies these pieces skillfully, and another, less so. 

Growing up in rural Appalachia, the news often felt distant, detached from the realities of my small town. When a local coal plant shut down, our community was left to pick up the pieces—yet no major outlet covered our story. This moment sparked my realization: local voices, especially those in rural and underserved areas, are too often ignored in the broader news cycle. As I pursue a career in journalism, I’m committed to reshaping how the media engages with these forgotten communities. 

At the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, I’m excited by the opportunities to explore community journalism through hands-on projects and internships with local media outlets. I hope to use my time there to refine my storytelling skills and learn sustainable models for community-based journalism. In the future, I see myself developing a digital platform that blends traditional reporting with multimedia elements to cover local stories in a way that connects deeply with the audience. I believe journalism has the power to restore trust in media by being transparent, relevant, and truly reflective of the communities it serves.

Now, contrast this example with the following one. 

Since I was young, I have always been fascinated by the power of storytelling. Whether it was writing for my high school newspaper or serving as editor-in-chief of the yearbook, I have consistently sought out opportunities to engage with journalism. In my junior year, I won a national journalism award for an investigative piece I wrote on the school’s outdated facilities. I also interned with a local news outlet, where I covered everything from community events to city council meetings. These experiences have only deepened my desire to pursue a career in journalism.

At the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, I am excited to continue honing my skills as a journalist and learning from top professionals in the field. With my background in investigative reporting and leadership, I know I am prepared to excel in the program and contribute to the future of journalism. My goal is to become a well-rounded journalist who can tackle important issues, shed light on injustices, and make a difference in the world.

Each of these students powerfully expresses their desire to work in journalism, but only one talks about personal experiences, passions, and dreams for their future and the future of reporting. The first essay feels specific to the student writing it, and demonstrates values that will inform their work, like community-mindedness and equity in reporting. 

This is not to say that the second response is bad – it isn’t. This applicant is clearly passionate about journalism and a strong writer. Their interests, however, are vague, and we don’t learn about their goals for the future, which means that while this is a good essay, it’s a poor response to this particular prompt. 

Where to Get Your Ohio University Essays Edited For Free

Want feedback on your Ohio University 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!

Need feedback faster? Get a free, nearly-instantaneous essay review from Sage, our AI tutor and advisor. Sage will rate your essay, give you suggestions for improvement, and summarize what admissions officers would take away from your writing. Use these tools to improve your chances of acceptance to your dream school!