How to Write the University of Cincinnati Essay 2025-2026
As one of the largest universities in Ohio, the University of Cincinnati (UC) is a robust public research institution with many program options for aspiring undergraduates. It has one required prompt for the upcoming admissions cycle, in addition to the Common App essay. All applicants will answer the same prompt. In this post, we’ll break down how to construct a great essay to bolster your application.
University of Cincinnati Supplemental Essay Prompt
What motivated you to choose your first-choice academic program? In your response, please share personal insights, interests, goals, or experiences—especially those not already included in your application. (500 words)
This prompt is a prime example of the common “Why This Major?” essay archetype, which asks you to elaborate on your past academic journey, present intellectual passions, and future professional goals.
The prompt is also meant to assess your fit within the culture of academia at UC, so it’s important that you include school-specific resources that will contribute to your aspirations. This will require you to do a bit of research about the offerings at UC that relate to your stated interests.
The admissions committee wants to understand your academic interests and motivations for pursuing this specific field of study. You need to highlight not just your passion but also any relevant experiences, skills, or goals that led you to this program.
Additionally, the prompt asks for “personal insights, interests, goals, or experiences” that may not already be in your application. This means you should avoid repeating details from your résumé or other parts of your application, such as your transcript or extracurricular list.
Make sure your topic is one that is not already heavily present in the other materials of your application—this is a chance to elaborate on otherwise unrepresented aspects of your applicant profile, so take advantage of it! Introduce new information that hasn’t been covered elsewhere in your application, such as a personal story, an aspect of your background, or a project you haven’t mentioned.
To that end, let’s get into the brainstorming process to help you nail down what you’re going to write about. Here are some questions to help you uncover ideas:
- Was there a moment when you first became curious about this subject? (e.g., an experiment gone wrong in chemistry class, a childhood obsession with building LEGO bridges, a family member’s health struggle that sparked an interest in medicine)
- How did you deepen that curiosity? (Clubs, research projects, books, competitions, summer programs, or even informal exploration like YouTube rabbit holes)
- What emotions do you associate with this field? (Excitement, joy, wonder, comfort, empowerment?)
- How does this interest tie to your long-term vision of yourself? (e.g., designing sustainable cities, advocating for better healthcare policy, creating new art forms)
- Are there aspects of your life outside academics that connect to this interest? (e.g., cultural background, family traditions, personal hobbies, etc.)
Once you’ve narrowed a topic down, look into UC’s offerings—both academic and extracurricular—so you can establish a direct link between yourself and the university. Remember, one of the key aspects of this archetype is specificity. The “Why This Major” essay is very common, and the UC application is likely not the only time you’ll write it, but you shouldn’t recycle generic content here.
Your response must be highly tailored to the University of Cincinnati; admissions officers want to see that you’ve done your research and are truly interested in what UC has to offer. Therefore, while this prompt is not necessarily unique, your essay should be. Don’t simply say you’ve “always been interested” in a subject or mention general qualities about the major—provide specific examples and details that demonstrate your passion and experience.
When crafting your essay, tell a story rather than a summary. Admissions officers don’t want a list of courses and clubs; they want to see you light up when talking about your subject. Connect your past, present, and future. To accomplish this, trace your interest from where it began to how you’ve explored it, then from there to where you hope to go with it.
Also be sure to show personality through specifics. For instance, instead of saying “I love biology because it’s fascinating,” describe the thrill of seeing mitosis under a microscope for the first time or how you couldn’t stop thinking about a genetics case study. Once you establish your genuine passion for the field, you can more sincerely reveal your values and goals. Show what kind of thinker, creator, or problem-solver you are—and how this program at UC specifically will help you grow.
When highlighting your academic and career goals and explaining how this major will help you achieve them, it’s crucial that you include specific details about the UC’s program, connecting your background and professional desires with unique aspects of the school’s offerings.
Mentioning specific courses, research opportunities, professors, or facilities related to your program can strengthen your essay, but be sure not to name-drop just for the sake of it and not to write a laundry list of what you saw on the UC website.
Here are some potential examples of various students, their majors, and the relevant resources they can take advantage of at UC:
- Amara, future Public Health major: After watching her grandmother struggle with preventable diabetes complications in rural Mississippi, Amara dove into researching food deserts for a science fair project. Her essay could connect her interest in health equity to her dream of designing community-based interventions.
- Leo, aspiring Computer Science major: He started by programming mods for Minecraft in middle school, but his turning point came when he built a low-cost sensor for his school’s greenhouse. His essay could emphasize his love of problem-solving and his hope to create accessible tech for sustainability.
- Mateo, prospective Environmental Engineering major: When Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico, Mateo’s family went weeks without clean water. What started as layering sand and charcoal into a makeshift filter grew into a fascination with sustainable water systems. Later, he worked with a nonprofit to install rainwater catchment tanks in his community. His essay could trace this journey from survival to passion, showing how lived experience fuels his drive to design resilient infrastructure for vulnerable regions.
Let’s look at a couple of example excerpts to see the difference between a strong response and a weak one. Keep in mind that neither of these are full essays, but we are including excerpts to give you a general idea of what to strive for and what to avoid.
Good example
“The first time I opened my uncle’s broken radio, I didn’t know the difference between a transistor and a capacitor. But as I traced each wire, I felt like I was unraveling a secret language. That moment of discovery, realizing that invisible currents could create sound,stayed with me.
By ninth grade, I was designing my own circuits, soldering together clumsy amplifiers that buzzed more than they sang. I wasn’t discouraged though; I was hooked. Last summer, I interned at a local makerspace, where I worked on building a low-cost hearing aid prototype. Seeing my mentor’s neighbor test it and smile at the faint sound of her granddaughter’s laughter was the moment I knew: I want to spend my life making technology that restores connections people thought they had lost.”
This example works because it starts with a vivid and personal scene (opening a broken radio) that shows curiosity in action. Instead of generic statements, the student uses storytelling and detail, like tracing wires and building “clumsy amplifiers,” to reveal persistence and growth. The essay then connects this fascination to real-world impact through the hearing aid prototype, tying past exploration to a meaningful future goal. It stands out for being specific, emotional, and forward-looking rather than abstract or résumé-like.
Now let’s take a look at a weaker example.
Bad example
“I have always loved engineering because it is about problem-solving and innovation. In high school, I joined the Robotics Club, took AP Physics, and participated in Mathletes. These experiences taught me teamwork and critical thinking skills, which I believe will help me in my future studies. My goal is to become an engineer and make a difference in the world by helping people through technology.”
You can probably tell that this example isn’t particularly compelling. It’s quite vague without any meaningful details or examples, and it doesn’t explain why engineering matters to the writer beyond a superficial interest in the subject and a platitude. Also, the student repeats basic information that could be listed on a résumé (such as taking AP Physics) without providing deeper insights into their journey or aspirations.
Finally, there are some common mistakes you’ll want to avoid making yourself. One of the biggest mistakes students make in this type of essay is one we have already discussed: treating it like a résumé. Simply listing classes you’ve taken or clubs you’ve joined doesn’t tell admissions officers anything about why this subject matters to you.
Another common pitfall is leaning on vague or overused statements like “I love math because it challenges me” or “I want to be a doctor to help people.” These phrases don’t particularly reveal anything unique about you. Likewise, avoid focusing only on future goals without grounding them in past experiences. The best essays balance passion with specificity, showing how your curiosity developed and why this program is the right next step in your journey.
With all this in mind, be sure to personalize your essay by sharing your unique story and why this major matters to you. You can use vivid storytelling to make your response stand out and keep the reader engaged with individualized details. Research UC’s program offerings, both academic and extracurricular, and include specific elements that excite you, showing how they mesh well with your academic goals.
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