How to Write the Oklahoma State University Essays 2024-2025
For Oklahoma State University applicants, the only essays are for the Honors College applicants.The first is a short answer and required for all Honors College applicants. Only students who do not meet the assured criteria for the honors college must respond to prompts 2 and 3.
Oklahoma State University Essay Prompts
Honors College Applicants
Prompt 1: If you were to teach a class on one topic, what would it be and why? (50 words)
Prompt 2: Discuss how your previous or current extracurricular involvements (such as jobs, community service, leadership roles, or other after-school responsibilities) and the challenges you have faced in your life have equipped you to be a successful college student. (250-300 words)
Prompt 3: Think of a topic you find interesting but is unrelated to your studies. Recount a specific occasion when you wholeheartedly pursued knowledge for its own sake, without being motivated solely by grades or diplomas. Reflect on the importance and impact of this specific learning experience on your personal growth. (250-300 words)
Prompt 1 (Required)
If you were to teach a class on one topic, what would it be and why? (50 words)
Your response should highlight your interests and expertise, while also revealing something unique about your personality or perspective. Given the 50-word limit, you need to be concise and focused.
Brainstorming Questions
- What topic excites you the most, and why?
- Is there a subject you have deep knowledge in that others might not know about?
- What unique experiences or hobbies could translate into an interesting class?
- How does this topic reflect your values, goals, or future aspirations?
What Makes a Good Response
- Specificity: Clearly identify the class topic and explain why it interests you in just a few words.
- Passion: Convey enthusiasm for the subject to make your choice stand out.
- Connection: Show how this topic relates to your experiences, future goals, or personality.
- Creativity: Choose an unconventional or surprising topic that could capture attention.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Being too vague or cliche: A general topic like “history” or “math” doesn’t say much about you.Avoid overly common subjects unless you can present them in a fresh and engaging way.
- Lack of explanation: Failing to explain the “why” behind your choice leaves your response incomplete.
Good and Bad Examples
Good Example
“I’d teach ‘The Science of Baking.’ Baking combines my love for chemistry and culinary arts. Understanding reactions like yeast fermentation turns recipes into experiments—plus, who doesn’t love fresh bread as a final exam?”
Why it’s good: This example is specific, demonstrates a passion for both science and baking, and creatively ties the topic to an enjoyable outcome.
Bad Example
“I would teach a class on history because it’s important to learn about the past and where we all come from. I am passionate about history because it teaches us how we got to where we are.”
Why it’s bad: This response is too vague and generic, providing no insight into the student’s unique interests or why they care about history.
Prompt 2 (For students who do not meet the assured criteria of the Honors College)
Discuss how your previous or current extracurricular involvements (such as jobs, community service, leadership roles, or other after-school responsibilities) and the challenges you have faced in your life have equipped you to be a successful college student. (250-300 words)
Understanding the Prompt
This is a typical Extracurricular prompt. The goal is to show how your activities and experiences have given you the qualities and tools to succeed in a college environment.
Brainstorming Questions
- What extracurricular activities or jobs have you been involved in? What roles did you take on?
- Have you faced any significant challenges, either within these activities or in other areas of your life?
- What skills or lessons did you learn from these experiences?
- How have these experiences prepared you for the demands of college life?
- Can you connect these experiences to your academic or career goals?
What Makes a Good Response
- Specific Examples: Provide concrete examples of your extracurriculars and challenges, focusing on your roles and the skills you developed.
- Personal Growth: Highlight how you grew from these experiences and how they shaped your character and work ethic.
- Connection to College Success: Clearly link your experiences to the skills or traits needed to succeed in college, such as independence, time management, or resilience.
- Balance: Discuss both your extracurricular involvement and the challenges you’ve faced, showing how they complement each other in preparing you for college.
Hypothetical Student Examples
- Maria, a Debate Team Captain and First-Generation Student: Maria led her high school’s debate team, where she honed her research and public speaking skills. As the oldest of five siblings, she also had to balance her responsibilities at home, which taught her time management and the ability to stay focused under pressure. She plans to use these skills to manage the demands of college coursework while pursuing a degree in political science.
- Jamal, a Part-Time Worker and Volunteer Tutor: Jamal worked 20 hours a week at a local grocery store while maintaining good grades. He also volunteered as a math tutor for middle school students. Balancing work, school, and volunteering taught him the importance of discipline and effective time management, which he believes will help him handle the rigorous schedule of a computer science major.
- Lena, a Varsity Athlete and Community Service Leader: Lena was the captain of her school’s varsity soccer team and organized community clean-up events. She faced the challenge of recovering from a major injury, which tested her resilience and determination. These experiences taught her to set goals, work hard, and overcome setbacks, all of which she plans to apply to her studies in kinesiology.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Overemphasis on Challenges Without Growth: Simply listing challenges without explaining how you grew from them doesn’t show readiness for college.
- Focusing on Too Many Activities: Don’t try to mention every activity you’ve been involved in; focus on a few key experiences that best demonstrate your growth and preparedness. This is not a resume, this is a chance to highlight specifics.
- Generic Connections: Avoid vague statements like “this taught me leadership.” Instead, explain specifically how an experience developed a skill and how you plan to use it in college.
Good and Bad Examples
Good Example
“Working 20 hours a week at a local restaurant while juggling school and extracurriculars taught me invaluable time management skills. I often had to prioritize tasks, like completing homework during breaks or organizing my study schedule around my shifts. Additionally, as the president of the school’s environmental club, I organized weekly recycling drives, which deepened my commitment to sustainability and sharpened my leadership abilities. Balancing these responsibilities was challenging, but it prepared me for the rigorous demands of college. I’m confident that the discipline and organizational skills I’ve developed will allow me to excel in my coursework and contribute meaningfully to campus initiatives focused on environmental sustainability.”
Why it’s good: This example provides specific details about the student’s work and leadership roles, clearly linking these experiences to skills like time management and leadership. It also connects these skills to the student’s future goals in college.
Bad Example
“I have faced many challenges in my life, such as balancing school with after-school activities. These experiences have taught me resilience and leadership, which will help me be successful in college.”
Why it’s bad: This response is too vague and doesn’t provide specific examples of the challenges faced or how they helped the student develop important skills. The connection to college success is also unclear and generic.
Prompt 3 (For students who do not meet the assured criteria of the Honors College)
Think of a topic you find interesting but is unrelated to your studies. Recount a specific occasion when you wholeheartedly pursued knowledge for its own sake, without being motivated solely by grades or diplomas. Reflect on the importance and impact of this specific learning experience on your personal growth. (250-300 words)
Understanding the Prompt
This prompt asks you to reflect on a time when you were driven to learn something purely out of curiosity or passion, rather than for academic or career benefits. It seeks to understand your intellectual curiosity, passion for learning, and how such experiences contribute to your personal growth. This is imperative for students that are pursuing the Honors College.
Brainstorming Questions
- What are your hobbies or interests outside of school?
- Have you ever spent a lot of time learning something just because it fascinated you?
- Was there a particular moment or experience when you became deeply engrossed in this interest?
- How did this pursuit impact you, and what did you learn from the experience?
What Makes a Good Response
- Specificity: Focus on a specific learning experience, providing enough detail to make the story engaging.
- Passion for Learning: Show your genuine curiosity and enthusiasm for the topic.
- Personal Growth: Reflect on how this experience changed you or contributed to your development.
- Unique Topic: Choose a topic that is truly unrelated to your studies to demonstrate a well-rounded personality and diverse interests.
Hypothetical Student Examples
- Nathan, a Science Enthusiast Who Took Up Photography: Nathan is a biology major, but one summer, he became fascinated by photography after borrowing a friend’s camera. He spent hours watching tutorials and experimenting with different techniques, eventually mastering the art of capturing natural landscapes. This experience taught him patience, attention to detail, and a new way of appreciating the world around him.
- Emily, a History Buff Who Learned Sign Language: Emily is passionate about history, but after meeting a Deaf classmate, she decided to learn American Sign Language (ASL). She attended ASL meetups and practiced regularly, not for any academic reason but because she was inspired by the beauty of the language and the culture behind it. This experience broadened her understanding of communication and empathy.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Choosing an Academic Topic: Don’t pick a topic related to your major or career goals; the prompt asks for something unrelated to your studies.
- Lack of Reflection: Merely recounting what you did without reflecting on how it impacted you will weaken your response.
- Being too Broad: Avoid discussing a general interest; focus on a specific occasion when you pursued this interest deeply.
Good and Bad Examples
Good Example
“One evening, while flipping through TV channels, I stumbled upon a documentary about the history of jazz music. Captivated by the complex rhythms and emotional depth, I decided to learn more. I spent the next few months devouring books on jazz, listening to artists like Miles Davis and John Coltrane, and even attempting to play simple tunes on my old keyboard. This journey into the world of jazz was purely for my own pleasure—there were no grades or accolades at stake. What I gained was a deeper appreciation for the art of improvisation, which has since influenced my approach to problem-solving. Jazz taught me the beauty of spontaneity and creativity, lessons I now apply to all areas of my life.”
Why it’s good: This example is specific, showcasing a clear passion for jazz music. The student reflects on the personal impact of this learning experience, connecting it to a broader skill—improvisation—that has enhanced their personal growth.
Bad Example
“I love learning about new things, and one time, I decided to learn about art history just because it seemed interesting. I read a lot of books and looked at paintings online. This experience taught me that learning is fun, and it’s important to pursue knowledge for its own sake.”
Why it’s bad: This response is too vague and lacks specific details about the experience. It also fails to provide meaningful reflection on how the learning impacted the student beyond a generic statement about the value of learning.
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