How to Write the UT Austin Essays 2025-2026

Since the University of Texas at Austin is a selective school, writing strong essays is essential for making your application stand out. UT Austin’s application has three prompts (one of which is optional) for all applicants, along with additional writing requirements for students applying to these programs: Architecture, the School of Civic Leadership, Art History, Nursing, and several of the university’s prestigious honors programs.

 

UT Austin Supplemental Essay Prompts

 

Short Answer Questions, All Applicants

 

Prompt 1 (required): Why are you interested in the major you indicated as your first-choice major? Please limit your response to 250-300 words.

 

Prompt 2 (required): Think of all the activities — both in and outside of school — that you have been involved with during high school. Which one are you most proud of and why?

(Guidance for students: This can include an extracurricular activity, a club/organization, volunteer activity, work or a family responsibility.) Please limit your response to 250-300 words.

 

Prompt 3 (optional): Please share background on events or special circumstances that you feel may have impacted your high school academic performance.

 

If your response to this question is similar to one of the Common App Personal Essays, feel free to simply copy and paste the important parts of your essay here.

 

Please limit your response to 250-300 words.

 

Architecture Applicants

 

Prompt 1: Short answer: Inherent in the design disciplines the capacity to impact the world around us. What does the opportunity to develop such capacity mean to you and your approach to your college education? Please limit your response to 250-300 words.

 

Prompt 2: Reflect upon how your personal experiences have led you to your choice of major. Provide three (3) images that visually tell that story. Images may include personal photographs, drawings, creative content and mixed media, or other visual materials from your creative or life experience. AI generated submissions are acceptable but must be clearly identified as such.

 

IMPORTANT: You must convert your three images into one PDF document before uploading it. Provide a written narrative that supports your reflection. Please limit your response to 50-75 words.

 

School of Civic Leadership Applicants

 

Prompt 1: Your study at UT Austin would enable you to think deeply about serious questions that arise as we consider what it means to live well and lead well. What is one significant question you want to answer through your study in UT Austin Civics Honors? Why does this question matter? Please limit your response to no more than 200 words.

 

Prompt 2: The American founders thought carefully about what it means to build a legacy. The legacies they built have shaped American culture and law. How can a person build a worthy legacy today? How do you want people to remember you? Please limit your response to no more than 200 words.

 

Art History Applicants

 

Prompt: In art history classes, one might hear the line “Art has structured—and continues to structure—our world.” Why, in your opinion, does studying the art of the past and present matter in today’s global world? (500 words)

 

Nursing Applicants

 

Short Answer Prompt 1: Discuss the factors that have influenced your desire to pursue a career in Nursing.

 

Short Answer Prompt 2: How have your academic and extracurricular activities prepared you to pursue a degree in Nursing?

 

Canfield Business Honors Applicants

 

Prompt: Teamwork and community are pillars of the Canfield Business Honors Program. When reviewing your resume, is there a particular aspect that reflects these values? Tell us more about this experience and how you will bring these values to Canfield Business Honors. Limit your response to 300 words.

 

Electrical and Computer Engineering Honors (ECE) Applicants

 

Prompt: Describe your significant activities, employment, and achievements, particularly those relevant to the study of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Also describe your educational and career goals. Please limit your response to no more than 500 words.

 

Honors Electrical and Computer Engineering and Business (ECB) Applicants

 

Prompt: Texas Honors Electrical and Computer Engineering and Business (Texas ECB) is a powerful dual degree program looking for students who are dedicated to both an electrical and computer engineering and business honors education. Why do you see this as a combination of skills for your career goals? What have you done in high school, in the classroom and outside, to prepare you for honors engineering and business course work? Please limit your response to no more than 500 words. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Texas ECB website for additional requirements to complete their application.

 

Liberal Arts Honors Applicants

 

Prompt 1: Prospective students cite many reasons for pursuing education in the liberal arts, and we would like to know why you want to do so. In 250 words or less, tell us why you want to study the liberal arts. Consider (but don’t feel obligated to answer all) questions like: Why should anyone study liberal arts at all? Why does the world need the liberal arts? What does your liberal arts degree get you? What will you do with your liberal arts education?

 

Prompt 2: Help us get to know you better. Please write five sentences (numbered 1–5) that give us some insight into you, your life, your interests and your experiences. There are no right answers — feel free to be creative and think outside the box.

 

Moody College Honors Applicants

 

Prompt: Communication is a fundamental part of human life, influencing every aspect of the world around us. Future communicators like yourself must wrestle with the question of whether communication is motivated by self-interest or cooperation. Discuss an example from a communication discipline (advertising, communication studies, communication and leadership, journalism, public relations, radio-tv-film or speech language hearing sciences), that supports one of the two perspectives. Please limit your response to no more than 250 words.

 

Natural Sciences Honors Applicants

 

Prompt: Each of the three CNS Honors Programs has a distinct profile. Why are you a good fit for the Dean’s Scholars, Health Science Scholars, or Polymathic Scholars program? How will you contribute to that community?

 

Human Ecology Honors Applicants

 

Prompt: Briefly describe why you have chosen to apply to the School of Human Ecology Honors Program, specifically Nutritional Sciences or Human Development and Family Sciences Honors. Please limit your response to no more than 250 words.

 

Plan II Honors Applicants

 

Prompt 1: Analyze the ways in which technology (you can determine the technology you want to focus on) impacts critical thinking and community in higher education. How can an interdisciplinary education like Plan II Honors best equip students to thrive in this environment? Please limit your response to no more than 250 words.

 

Prompt 2: Help us get to know you better. Please write five sentences (numbered 1-5) that give us some insight into you, your life, your interests and your experiences. There are no right answers — feel free to be creative and think outside the box.

 

Texas Honors Computer Science and Business (Texas CSB)

 

Prompt: Texas CSB is an innovative dual degree program looking for students who are dedicated to both computer science and business. Why do you see this as a powerful combination of skills for your career goals? What have you done in high school to prepare you for computer science and business course work? Please limit your response to no more than 500 words. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Texas CSB website for additional requirements to complete their application.

 

Texas Robotics Applicants

 

Prompt: Why are you interested in robotics? How will this undergraduate robotics program help you achieve your personal and/or career goals? What impact do you hope to make in the field of robotics? Please limit your response to 500 words.

 

Turing Scholars Applicants

 

Prompt: Describe your significant activities, employment, and achievements, particularly those relevant to the study of computer science. Also describe your educational and career goals. Please limit your response to no more than 500 words.

 

All Applicants, Prompt 1 (Required)

Why are you interested in the major you indicated as your first-choice major? Please limit your response to 250-300 words.

 

This is a textbook example of the classic and common “Why This Major?” college application essay. This essay is important to demonstrate to the admissions committee that you are passionate about the area of study you are interested in. Whatever major is your first choice, you need to take time to reflect and think about what drew you to pursue this field of study.

 

As detailed in CollegeVine’s complete “Why This Major?” essay breakdown, a couple of key topics to cover are how you developed this interest and your goals in studying this major. We’ll cover some of that here, but be sure to visit that article for a thorough walkthrough of this kind of essay!

 

In your response, show how you’ve looked into research or career opportunities that appeal to you, and describe the steps you have taken to pursue your interest, whether it be through hobbies, jobs, research opportunities, readings, etc.

 

Do you have personal reasons for choosing this major? Detail those reasons, and explain how a personal experience, inspirational character, or something else have impacted your life and decision to study your major.

 

Here are some examples to show you how this essay could take shape:

 

• Biology – You have been a passionate bird-watcher for most of your life. Your father would take you around to various parks and teach you how to identify various bird calls, differentiate between males and females within a species, and more. This has developed into an interest in the evolutionary and migratory behavior of birds, and you wish to pursue biology as the stepping stone to further graduate studies specializing in birds.

 

• Radio-Television-Film – Growing up, you’ve always had a fascination with movies and have become a huge movie buff. You’ve been especially interested in how the creative team creates and rigs up the physical special effects and props. In your spare time, you and your friends make your own home films, and you are often the one who researches and creates any special effects and props with your available budget and resources. Though your home productions are not the most well-refined, you’ve had fun, and you want to pursue Film to get a better understanding of how to professionally create crazy shots and break into the industry.

 

• Linguistics – Your family moved around a lot throughout your childhood, and in every new town or city you lived in, you were fascinated by the different slang and accents of the people around you. You’ve lived everywhere—Louisiana, Vancouver, Long Island, South Dakota, Southern California—and you want to further understand how these regional quirks developed and how they affect the culture of an area today.

 

All Applicants, Prompt 2 (Required)

Think of all the activities — both in and outside of school — that you have been involved with during high school. Which one are you most proud of and why?

(Guidance for students: This can include an extracurricular activity, a club/organization, volunteer activity, work or a family responsibility.) Please limit your response to 250-300 words.

 

This prompt falls under the Extracurricular essay archetype, which asks you to reflect on one activity that has made a meaningful impact on your high school experience. Whether it’s a club, a sport, volunteer work, or even a family responsibility, the key is to explain why you are proud of this activity, and why it’s relevant to understanding what kind of college student you’ll be.

 

To get started, consider these brainstorming questions:

 

• Which activity made you feel the most accomplished or fulfilled?
• Did you overcome any challenges or obstacles while participating in this activity?
• What did this activity teach you about yourself, your values, or your community?
• How did this activity impact others? Did you help your team, organization, or family in a meaningful way?
• Why are you proud of this activity in particular? Is it because of personal growth, skills you developed, the difference you made, or something else entirely?
• How did you start in this activity, and how did your role evolve over time?

 

While you may have several impressive activities, the goal is to focus on one that holds particular personal significance to you, regardless of how prestigious or “impressive” it may seem on paper.

 

The admissions committee is looking for more than just a description of the activity—they already have your activities list. Therefore, in this essay they want you to go beyond just credentials and accolades by providing insight into what this experience reveals about your character, values, and growth.

 

Focus on how this activity shaped you as a person. Did it help you grow in confidence, empathy, or leadership? Did it teach you perseverance, teamwork, or time management? Alternatively, did your participation impact others or contribute to a larger cause?

 

Here are some examples of potential topics:

 

• Student A is passionate about art and mental health. She might write about how she has tried out different mediums, from watercolors to clay, to depict her own experiences with anxiety, and how consciously exploring her emotions in the physical world has helped her get a better handle on her anxiety.
• Student B, a soccer player, could write about how he led his team through a tough season. After their coach was diagnosed with cancer, the student assumed additional responsibilities as captain, such as compiling film and coordinating with the team bus driver, which taught him the importance of stepping up and harnessing your own abilities under adverse circumstances.
• Student C, who works at her family’s restaurant on weekends, could focus on how this responsibility taught her time management, customer service skills, and the value of hard work. She might focus on a busy holiday season when she had to take on new tasks, which was stressful, but also rewarding as she got to bring festivity and cheer to people’s lives.

 

When writing your essay, you want to employ narrative elements to tell a story: How did you first get involved? What was your role, and how did it grow? Did you face any challenges along the way? How did you overcome them? Use specific examples to illustrate your points. Don’t just say “I was the team captain”—describe a key moment that demonstrates your leadership and why it made you proud.

 

Now, let’s look at some example responses.

 

Bad example: “I’ve been part of the debate team for all four years of high school, and I’m most proud of my participation because I have won several awards, including first place in the regional competition. Debate has improved my public speaking skills and helped me learn how to argue effectively. I’ve also made a lot of friends through the club and become a better leader by mentoring younger team members. Overall, it has been a rewarding experience that I’m very proud of.”

 

It should be fairly obvious that this is a weaker response. It’s too general and reads more like a résumé entry than a reflective essay. The student lists achievements without explaining their personal significance, and fails to share specific moments that contextualize those achievements. We’re also missing reflection on why debate matters to them beyond awards and leadership titles.

 

Good example: “The smell of sautéed onions and fresh tortillas fills the tiny kitchen of our family’s food truck as I pass plates to customers with a quick ‘Buen provecho!’ It’s a rhythm I’ve mastered over three years of weekend shifts, moving between the register and the grill with my mom. But last fall, when my dad broke his leg, I had to take on more responsibility, managing inventory, driving the truck to events, and even negotiating contracts with new vendors.

 

I was proud of how I stepped up to ensure our family business ran smoothly during a tough time. But what made me prouder was the realization that I had the resilience and leadership to handle unexpected challenges. The hours were long and tiring, but the sense of accomplishment I felt watching our regular customers enjoy a meal made it all worth it.”

 

This example, as opposed to the first one, vividly describes the student’s experience working at their family’s food truck, creating a tangible image of their environment and role. We can see their ability to handle responsibility and the development of their leadership skills, even as they keep their tone humble. They also reflect thoughtfully on how they learned to handle unexpected situations and became more resilient as a result.

 

Overall, we can easily connect their involvement in this activity to their potential to succeed in college and beyond. In other words, we understand why it should matter to admissions officers that they were part of this activity. To ensure your essay is equally successful, choose a deeply personal experience, and tell a story which allows you to reflect on how this activity has shaped you as a person.

 

All Applicants, Prompt 3 (Optional)

Please share background on events or special circumstances that you feel may have impacted your high school academic performance.

If your response to this question is similar to one of the Common App Personal Essays, feel free to simply copy and paste the important parts of your essay here.

Please limit your response to 250-300 words.

 

This essay is optional and provides you the opportunity to explain extenuating circumstances that have affected your education during high school. This is not the space where you would include a creative essay about your passion for math or make a political statement. Rather, this is room for you to let the UT Austin admissions committee know about any extenuating circumstances that may have affected your academic performance.

 

Although in the near-past, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected and is still affecting many students across the world in various ways. If applicable to you, this could be a situation that you may want to explain to the admissions committee.

 

Other non-COVID-related experiences may have also impacted you. If there is such a circumstance—such as a loss of job, the sickness of a close relative, something related to mental health, or something else that has affected your school performance—let UT Austin know here, so that the admissions committee may take it into consideration while reading your application.

 

If any of these extenuating circumstances are written in your Common App personal statement, then you can include an excerpt here.

 

With all that said, do not use this space as a way to excuse poor performances. Be direct, and let the circumstances speak for themselves. Also keep in mind that many students were disrupted by COVID-19 in similar ways, so you should only write about circumstances that went beyond those common experiences.

 

There’s no need to take up the full allotted space or even really to write a whole essay; just use as much space as is needed to explain your situation.

 

Architecture Applicants, Prompt 1

Short answer: Inherent in the design disciplines the capacity to impact the world around us. What does the opportunity to develop such capacity mean to you and your approach to your college education? Please limit your response to 250-300 words.

 

The admissions committee is hoping to get a sense of your goals and reasons for applying to the Architecture program at UT Austin.

 

While impacting the world sounds like a weighty topic, UT Austin isn’t looking for you to embellish. The admissions committee wants to hear how you would apply an education in architecture to help the world in any capacity, and that goes for anything from your local community to the globe.

 

First define your reasons for pursuing architecture. This is important—the prompt asks what the capacity to impact the world means to you, so you need to reflect on how you’ll impact the world and why you want to do it in that way. For more tips on how to do this properly, check out CollegeVine’s guide to writing the “Why This Major?” essay.

 

Consider your personal motivations before you begin writing. Do you want to design houses in low-income neighborhoods since you grew up in low-income housing that wasn’t efficient or livable? Or do you want to design apartments with sustainability in mind since you’re from Hawaii and have seen how construction can disrupt the environment?

 

To craft a good essay, show rather than telling—ground abstract ideas in a vivid story or concrete example. Also, connect design to personal values by showing how your lived experience informs your design philosophy.

 

Try to bridge the past and the future. Link your recognition of the impact of design to how you’ll embrace opportunities in college. To that end, also highlight your growth mindset—convey openness to experimentation, failure, and iteration in your education.

 

Finally, avoid using clichés. Don’t just say something generic like “design makes the world better” or “I want to help people.” Instead, specify how and why.

 

When possible, mention specific UT Austin resources that will help you achieve your goals, as the prompt asks how your goals shape your approach to your college education. For the student who wants to create sustainable architecture, they may mention courses like “Modern History of Sustainable Architecture” or wanting to be in one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S., Austin, which offers many opportunities for hands-on experience in sustainable development.

 

Consider these example students to see how this response could possibly take shape:

 

• Sofia, product design hopeful: Growing up with a grandmother who had arthritis, she noticed how everyday objects (like kitchen tools or door handles) could be either empowering or disabling. She wants to approach her college design education with a focus on universal design, making accessibility central.
• Marcus, graphic design student: After designing protest posters during a local environmental campaign, he realized that visuals can mobilize communities. In college, he hopes to pair design with social science to learn how communication changes behavior.
• Aisha, architecture applicant: She grew up in a dense, noisy apartment building where shared spaces fostered community. She wants to explore sustainable housing design and sees college as a laboratory to experiment with spatial storytelling and social impact.

 

This prompt asks you to do more than state that design has an impact—it challenges you to define what that impact means to you and how it will guide your college journey. The best responses will balance personal storytelling with forward-looking reflection, showing admissions officers both where your design philosophy comes from and how you’ll cultivate it through your education.

 

By grounding your essay in a concrete moment, linking it to your values, and tying it to your approach to learning, you’ll avoid generic claims and instead demonstrate a clear, authentic voice. Think of your essay as your first design project in college: it should be intentional, functional, and uniquely yours.

 

Architecture Applicants, Prompt 2

Reflect upon how your personal experiences have led you to your choice of major. Provide three (3) images that visually tell that story. Images may include personal photographs, drawings, creative content and mixed media, or other visual materials from your creative or life experience. AI generated submissions are acceptable but must be clearly identified as such.

IMPORTANT: You must convert your three images into one PDF document before uploading it. Provide a written narrative that supports your reflection. Please limit your response to 50-75 words.

 

This is a short prompt that touches on the idea of the common “Why This Major?” prompt archetype. The admissions committee wants to see through your eyes and get an idea of your vision of the world.

 

Be concise in your statement, and make sure your photos have a common thread, even if it’s not initially obvious. For example, you could submit photos of the skyline at important locations or times to you, or you could submit photos of various objects that inspire you.

 

This is a fairly open-ended prompt, and you can spin it to really show the admissions committee your unique outlook on the environment around you, and the ways this has led you to this major.

 

This is also a chance to showcase your creativity and artistic skill. While the program doesn’t require you to submit a portfolio, submitting some of your artwork would give you more of an opportunity to stand out, particularly because UT Austin allows you to mix and match the format of your submissions.

 

Another way to make your response more cohesive and concise is to submit work with an overarching theme, whether that’s various pictures of your neighborhood at sunset, or artwork you made in response to a specific topic. Tying the three submissions together with a bow will give the admissions committee a stronger sense of how you think about the big picture.

 

This is not just about stating your intended major—it’s about showing your journey to that choice. The images should highlight pivotal experiences, moments of curiosity, or creative expression that connect authentically to your field of study. The written narrative ties those visuals together into a clear, cohesive story.

 

To help you decide on the images you might want to choose, consider these questions:

 

• What sparked your initial interest in this field? (e.g., childhood fascination, hands-on experience, personal challenge, etc.)
• What’s a moment that deepened your interest? (e.g., a class project, internship, competition, volunteer work, etc.)
• How do you engage with this subject outside of school? (e.g., hobbies, independent research, creative work, etc.)
• Can you represent your “origin,” “growth,” and “future” in three images?

 

You should aim to have a narrative flow in your images. Each image should represent a stage of your journey (from early interest to exploration to commitment). Also, establish a personal connection by choosing visuals that only you could use—avoid generic stock-like imagery unless it’s stylized in a personal way.

 

Make sure to have clarity in your writing. The 50- to 75-word reflection should explain what the images mean, not just restate what’s clearly visible. Finally, prioritize authenticity over polish—a rough sketch, a candid photo, or a messy notebook page can feel much more real than a perfect AI-generated rendering.

 

Here’s a strong example of the images a student might submit for this prompt, along with a very brief description of their meaning and importance:

 

“A photo of the crooked LEGO tower I built at age seven — shows the spark, my obsession with balance and form.

 

A sketch from high school of my grandmother’s crumbling courtyard — captures my desire to preserve memory through space.

 

An AI-generated image of an open-air library I dream of designing — reflects my future; creating structures that don’t just stand, but invite communities to gather, remember, and grow together.”

 

All in all, this prompt challenges you to think beyond words and embrace storytelling through visuals. By choosing images that highlight your personal connection, growth, and future vision, you can craft a narrative that feels both creative and authentic.

 

Remember, the essay isn’t about perfect design skills or polished artwork—it’s about showing how your unique experiences naturally led you to your intended major. With thoughtful image selection and a concise reflection, you’ll leave admissions officers with a vivid, memorable glimpse into your journey.

 

School of Civic Leadership Applicants, Prompt 1

Your study at UT Austin would enable you to think deeply about serious questions that arise as we consider what it means to live well and lead well. What is one significant question you want to answer through your study in UT Austin Civics Honors? Why does this question matter? Please limit your response to no more than 200 words.

 

This prompt is a sort of “Why This Major?” style prompt, albeit one that requires some deeper elaboration. UT Austin is asking you to identify a big, meaningful question that matters to you personally and intellectually, then to explain why studying Civics Honors there will help you explore it.

 

This prompt wants to know a few things about you. First, the program wants to know what philosophical, political, or social question motivates you. Second, it asks why this question is not only intellectually interesting, but also personally important. And finally, the prompt seeks to know how Civics Honors will give you the tools to explore and address the question. This essay should show curiosity, values, and how you see yourself as a future leader and thinker.

 

When thinking about what kind of question you want to explore in the Civics Honors program, consider these brainstorming questions to guide your essay planning:

 

• What moral, political, or civic dilemma do you find yourself returning to in class discussions, debates, or your own reflection?
• Is there a moment in your life when this question became real or personal?
• Why does this question feel urgent today (e.g., for your generation, community, or the nation)?
• How might UT’s Civics Honors curriculum (e.g., great texts, debates, interdisciplinary study, etc.) help you wrestle with it?

 

A good response will be specific—pick one clear, significant question (not a laundry list of smaller questions). Also make sure you establish a tangible personal connection. Show why the question matters to you, not just “to society.” You’ll also want to show your Intellectual curiosity by demonstrating that you want to explore ideas, not just state simple answers.

 

Finally, showcase the ways in which your leadership or impact can be exemplified through your exploration of this question—in other words, show how your exploration of this question might inform the way you serve others.

 

Here are some hypothetical student examples to show you ways in which this kind of essay can take shape:

 

• A first-generation Mexican American who grew up translating for her parents at hospitals. Her question: “How can democratic institutions better serve non-English-speaking citizens without alienating them?” This comes from her lived experience and connects to the Civics Honors program’s focus on justice and citizenship.
• A debate captain fascinated by The Federalist Papers who wonders: “What balance of liberty and security best sustains a democracy in the digital age?” He ties this to both his debate background and his interest in law.
• A community organizer in high school who helped start a voter registration drive. Her question: “How do we restore trust in civic participation when polarization discourages dialogue?” This links to her leadership and UT’s program on civic renewal.

 

Let’s take a look at example responses to see what you should do and what you should avoid doing in your response:

 

Good example: “When my school board voted to remove two novels from the curriculum, I noticed the loudest voices came from adults who had not read them. My classmates, whose perspectives were dismissed, were left wondering if our voices counted. Since then, I keep asking: What role should young people play in decisions that shape civic life?

 

This question matters to me because I have seen how policies designed without youth input often fail to address our lived realities. At sixteen, I helped organize a student forum with our superintendent, where we proposed alternatives rather than just protesting. That experience convinced me that youth engagement is not just symbolic—it can be transformative.

 

Through Civics Honors, I want to explore how philosophers from Locke to Rawls imagined civic agency, and how modern democracies can institutionalize youth participation. This question matters not only for the fairness of our institutions but also for the legitimacy of democracy itself.

 

UT’s emphasis on discussion-based seminars and its partnership with the Civitas Institute will allow me to connect historical frameworks with practical reforms, preparing me to advocate for systems where young voices are heard, not sidelined.”

 

Why this works: The essay ties a big civic question to a specific personal experience, shows both personal stakes and broader impact, and blends storytelling with intellectual depth. It also demonstrates clear fit with UT Civics Honors resources without sounding generic.

 

Bad example: “The question I want to explore is: How can we make the world a better place? This matters to me because I believe everyone should have equal opportunities. I want to learn about history, philosophy, and government so I can help others. UT Austin’s Civics Honors will let me read important texts and learn from professors who are experts in their fields. By thinking deeply about leadership and ethics, I will be able to grow as a person and make a difference in society.

 

This question matters because the world has many problems, such as poverty, inequality, and discrimination. I want to be someone who can help solve them. Through my study, I hope to learn strategies to become a strong leader. UT Austin is the perfect place for me to grow my skills and knowledge so I can go out into the world and make a positive impact.”

 

Why this doesn’t work: Too vague (“make the world better”), no concrete personal story, overuses clichés, and doesn’t show a unique motivation.

 

Finally, here are some common mistakes you’ll want to avoid making in your own response:

 

• Being too broad: “How can we solve poverty?” is too sprawling for 200 words.
• Generic questions: Avoid clichés like “What is the meaning of life?” unless you connect one to a concrete civic context.
• Overly academic tone: Don’t make it sound like a textbook—use your voice.
• Skipping the “why it matters” part: The second half of the prompt is crucial; don’t just pose a question without connecting it to yourself.

 

School of Civic Leadership Applicants, Prompt 2

The American founders thought carefully about what it means to build a legacy. The legacies they built have shaped American culture and law. How can a person build a worthy legacy today? How do you want people to remember you? Please limit your response to no more than 200 words.

 

This is a prompt about legacy and personal values. The goal here is not to write a grand, sweeping statement about how you’ll “change the world” (too cliché), but to root your response in something small, authentic, and connected to your real life and goals. At only 200 words, you’ll need to be concise, vivid, and personal.

 

The question asks you to reflect on what makes a legacy meaningful in today’s world, and to explain how you personally hope to be remembered—not in abstract terms, but in ways tied to your values, actions, or aspirations.

 

Here are some brainstorming questions to help you plan out how you’re going to approach your essay:

 

• What moments in your life so far have left an impact on others, even in small ways?
• What qualities do you hope people associate with your name (e.g., kindness, persistence, curiosity)?
• If a friend gave a toast about you at graduation, what would you hope they’d highlight?
• What issue, value, or skill do you want to “pass down” to others, the way the founders passed down ideals?

 

A strong essay will accomplish a few goals. Primarily, zoom in on the personal: Don’t try to define “legacy” in a general way—ground it in your lived experience. Also make sure to show rather than telling. For example, instead of saying “I want to be remembered as kind,” describe a concrete moment when your kindness shaped someone’s life.

 

In your essay, balance your tone between humility and ambition. You don’t need to promise you’ll be a future president or Nobel Prize winner; a small but deeply meaningful legacy can be powerful too. And finally, tie your legacy to values and action—legacy isn’t just what you want, but how you’ll live it day to day.

 

Let’s take a look at some hypothetical student examples to illustrate how you might tackle this topic:

 

• Javier, aspiring urban planner: After seeing how a lack of green space affected his neighborhood, he wants to be remembered for designing parks that give kids the joy of playing outside safely.
• Mei, STEM mentor: She runs a coding club at her local library and hopes to be remembered by younger students as the person who made tech feel exciting and accessible.
• Amira, musician: She hopes her legacy will be in the songs she writes for her local choir, remembered not for fame but for how her music brought people together across generations.

 

The following good and bad example responses will help you get an idea of what you should and shouldn’t do in your own response.

 

Good example: “When my debate partner forgot her lines at regionals, I whispered them to her, line by line, until she found her rhythm again. We didn’t win that round, but afterward she told me, ‘You made me feel like I wasn’t alone.’ That’s the kind of legacy I want to build—not in trophies or titles, but in the quiet ways people remember that I stood beside them.

 

Legacy today doesn’t have to mean writing laws or building monuments. It can mean creating pockets of courage in everyday life—helping my classmate push through stage fright, encouraging my younger brother when his science fair project collapsed, or mentoring new debaters who think their voices don’t matter.

 

If people remember me as the person who believed in them when they didn’t believe in themselves, that’s enough. To me, a worthy legacy isn’t about the size of the impact, but rather its depth.”

 

Why this works: It’s personal, specific, and humble, while still showing leadership and impact.

 

Bad example: “I want my legacy to be one of greatness. The founders created an entire country, and I want to create change just as large. I hope people remember me as someone who worked hard, was kind to others, and changed the world through innovation.

 

For example, I am very passionate about technology, and I know I will build something important in the future, like an app that helps millions of people. I want to be remembered as someone who dreamed big and made their dreams come true. Legacy is about doing something that nobody else can do, and I want to be remembered for my unique contributions to society.”

 

Why this doesn’t work: Besides the lack of humility in this response, it’s vague (“greatness,” “innovation”), not connected to any personal stories, and sounds generic. Almost any student could write this.

 

There are some common mistakes you’ll want to try to avoid making in your response:

 

• Being too vague: “I want to be remembered for making a difference” doesn’t mean much unless you show how you intend to do so.
• Going too big: Avoid sweeping claims like “I want to cure cancer,” unless you can tie the claim to your actual experiences (e.g., summer cancer research internship, family connection, etc.).
• Writing a résumé in disguise: This isn’t about listing achievements—it’s about the impression you want to leave.
• Overly generic virtues: Many students write things like “hardworking” or “kind.” You need a story to make those values feel real.

 

Art History Applicants

In art history classes, one might hear the line “Art has structured—and continues to structure—our world.” Why, in your opinion, does studying the art of the past and present matter in today’s global world? (500 words)

 

Here, UT Austin is asking you to reflect on the significance of studying art history in today’s global world specifically. Admissions officers want to see that you can think critically about the value of art, how it impacts society, and what insights it offers about current and past cultures.

 

To get started, here are some brainstorming questions:

 

• How has art shaped society in the past? Can you think of any historical art movements that changed political, social, or cultural perspectives?
• How does contemporary art reflect today’s global issues, such as climate change, migration, or social justice movements?
• Why is it important to preserve and study art from different cultures and time periods? What do we learn from works of art from a past time?
• What specific pieces or movements in art history have impacted your view of the world?
• How can art inspire change, foster understanding, or build bridges between different cultures?

 

You don’t have to answer all of these questions—you only have 500 words, after all—but hopefully they give you a general sense of the kinds of things you might discuss in your essay.

 

Note that many of the above questions are designed to help you think of specific examples. While the prompt asks for your opinion—and this is ultimately a reflective essay, not an academic one—you should support your ideas with actual artistic movements and real works of art, to make your points more impactful.

 

Including examples like Renaissance art, 19th-century Impressionism, or modern street art will make your essay more persuasive. And the more specific, the better! If you have a particular artist you admire, or even an individual work you find especially compelling, find a way to incorporate it!

 

Check out some possible topics below:

 

• Student A is passionate about the design of cities with communal gathering spaces, a topic they explored through their Latin class by doing a project on the Roman forum. They could draw a connection to the modern world by talking about how feelings of loneliness and isolation increase as more people move to the suburbs, and how they see revamped urban planning playing a major role in building a more community-oriented society, where people have the opportunity to connect with and learn from others.

 

• Student B is curious about how the endless stream of visuals we receive through social media impacts our perception of the world, especially of atrocities. They could reflect on how artists like Francisco Goya or Käthe Kollwitz used their art to protest war and injustice. They could also discuss how today nearly anybody can harness the power of artistic protest, but that this unprecedented access has led to oversaturation, which diminishes the overall impact of any individual piece.

 

• Student C is of Italian heritage, and their extended family in Florence takes a great deal of pride in the city’s long artistic legacy. They might discuss how many people identify strongly with an artwork from their country’s past, but how many people also feel a personal connection to art from a place they’ve never visited. Additionally, they could talk about the ways in which art can be a medium to simultaneously take pride in your own identity and understand that of others, especially in a world that is both polarized and interconnected by technology.

 

Notice that all three of these examples don’t just talk about the modern world in general, but about the specifically global nature of our world—through building connection, protesting injustice, and exploring identity, respectively. Admissions officers choose the wording of these prompts carefully, so make sure the element of “today’s global world” is clearly addressed.

 

These examples also show how the art of the past should inform our understanding of contemporary issues, and vice versa. You don’t want to just discuss ancient art in isolation, but show why studying ancient art today still matters on a practical level, whether that’s by driving social change, preserving cultural identity, or shaping technological advances.

 

In other words, you want to explain why you’re drawn to the field of art history in the first place—in the year 2025, specifically.

 

Finally, to see how to turn your brainstorming into an actual essay, check out the following excerpts from example essays:

 

“Whether it’s ancient cave paintings or modern digital art, art has always allowed people to express themselves. So, studying art helps us understand each other better. For example, the Mona Lisa is recognized all over the world, which speaks to the universality of the human experience. Studying famous works like this helps us see that we have more in common than we think.”

 

As you might realize, this example lacks depth. There are many statements—such as “studying art helps us understand each other better,” “the universality of the human experience,” and “we have more in common than we think”—which are vague, and are not supported by personal reflections on the student’s own life and experiences.

 

The student also fails to identify a specific aspect of the modern world that art can help us understand, so we don’t get a sense of what they’re hoping to do with their art history degree.

 

“As someone deeply interested in global environmental issues, I have found that studying the works of artists like German Romantic painter Caspar David Friedrich reveals the ways in which humans have viewed and responded to nature over time. His painting Wanderer above the Sea of Fog captures the way humans can deceive themselves into thinking they have power over nature, an idea which resonates today as we grapple with climate change.

 

Just as Romantic artists responded to the Industrial Revolution’s disruption of natural landscapes, today’s artists like Olafur Eliasson use their platforms to advocate for environmental awareness and remind us of our fragile relationship with the Earth. In my own work, I incorporate tangible signs of the destruction we’re causing, like dry kelp tangled in a net or a Coke can rusted into a piece of wood.

 

Climate change can feel like too massive of an issue for any individual to do anything about, but by reminding people that there are signs of the havoc we’re causing all around us, I hope to encourage everyone to do their part, no matter how small.”

 

This much stronger essay provides a clear link between historical and contemporary art, and analyzes both through the student’s concern over the global issue of climate change. The student chooses specific works of art and artists, and even discusses how they seek to add to the artistic dialogue around this issue in their own work, so the essay has both depth and personal relevance.

 

Nursing Applicants, Short Answer Prompt 1

Discuss the factors that have influenced your desire to pursue a career in Nursing.

 

This prompt allows you to discuss why you chose Nursing as your first choice program. In essence, it is a standard (albeit program-specific) version of the classic “Why This Major?” prompt archetype. Be sure to check out CollegeVine’s full detailed breakdown of the “Why This Major?” prompt archetype for more information on how you best respond to this prompt!

 

Although you’ve already answered why you want to pursue your first choice major in the short answers section of the application, this extra space really allows you to dive deeper into why you decided to pursue nursing as a career. You can add additional anecdotes about why you chose nursing that you might not have had space to include in your short answer response

 

Before beginning this response, write down the qualities you feel a good nurse would have. Are they compassionate, culturally aware, patient, knowledgeable, etc.?

 

Maybe you’ve undertaken activities that correspond with those qualities. Or perhaps instead, your motivations to pursue a career in nursing are more related to your own general life experiences. Is someone close to you in that occupation? Have you previously worked in a healthcare-related role? Have you had your own medical issue where a nurse meaningfully changed your perspective on medicine?

 

Be specific, and dive into details on how your activities or life experiences relate to developing an interest in nursing and a nursing career. Using anecdotes about specific instances or events is crucial in offering new information that will keep admissions officers engaged, and teach them about your passion for nursing.

 

Nursing Applicants, Short Answer Prompt 2

How have your academic and extracurricular activities prepared you to pursue a degree in Nursing?

 

In many ways this prompt builds on both the “Why This Major?” and extracurricular prompt archetypes. More than being asked why you want to pursue this course of study, you’re being asked to elaborate on the experiences and activities that have prepared you to undertake it.

 

This essay is designed to test:

 

• Whether you’ve explored nursing in meaningful ways.
• Whether your interest comes from a genuine blend of experiences, not just a vague desire to “help people.”
• Whether you can show preparation and maturity through your academics and extracurriculars.

 

The admissions officers want to see evidence of your commitment, not just your enthusiasm.

 

Similarly to the previous prompt, before beginning your response, write down the qualities you feel a good nursing student would have. Are they patient, studious, caring, dedicated, etc.?

 

Then, write down the academic achievements and extracurricular experiences you’ve had that correspond with those qualities. Did you volunteer for your local Red Cross, or organize a fundraiser for your local care facilities? Did you work in a nursing home, or at a daycare to gain experience working with people with varying needs? What classes did you take in high school to prepare yourself for a college nursing program?

 

When it comes to academics, consider which science classes (biology, anatomy, chemistry, psychology, etc.) stood out to you during your schooling and why. Perhaps you’ve taken AP, IB, dual enrollment, or community college courses that gave you deeper exposure to the field. Also, recall if you’ve done a project, lab, or paper related to healthcare or patient care.

 

With respect to extracurricular activities, think about any time you’ve volunteered or shadowed in hospitals, nursing homes, or clinics. If you have any such experiences, what specific moments stand out in your memory? Also, did you join HOSA (Future Health Professionals), a Red Cross club, or any science/medical society at school? Have you worked in any caregiving role (e.g., babysitting, EMT training, patient transport, pharmacy tech, CNA, family caregiving, etc.)?

 

The above coursework, academic endeavors, extracurricular activities, jobs, and life experiences are the kinds of experiences you can draw from to make a compelling case for yourself as a future nursing student.

 

Beyond these things, ask yourself the following questions:

 

• What’s the most vivid story or moment where I felt: “This is what I want to do for the rest of my life”?
• What qualities do I have (e.g., empathy, patience, precision, resilience, etc.) that have been tested and sharpened through these experiences?
• How do I see nursing as a blend of science and service, and how have my past experiences reflected that?

 

Offer specific details of how your academic experiences and extracurricular activities relate to your ability to succeed and excel in the nursing program.

 

Chances are you’ve already listed your activities out in another section of your application. Using anecdotes about these particular events, classes, and activities is essential, as this is the best way to provide new information that will show admissions officers that you’re ready for this program.

 

Canfield Business Honors Applicants

Teamwork and community are pillars of the Canfield Business Honors Program. When reviewing your resume, is there a particular aspect that reflects these values? Tell us more about this experience and how you will bring these values to Canfield Business Honors. Limit your response to 300 words.

 

Through this prompt, the admissions committee wants to know about a specific experience from your resume that demonstrates your ability to collaborate and contribute to a community, and how you plan to carry these experiences into the Canfield Business Honors Program.

 

In other words, your response should not only describe a past experience where teamwork and community were essential, but should also explain how you will embody and continue to live out these values at CBHP. The essay should be reflective, personal, and forward-looking.

 

To get started, consider these questions:

 

• What is a team or group experience on your resume where you worked closely with others? This could be a club, sports team, volunteer organization, business project, or group assignment.
• How did you contribute to the team’s goals? What role did you play?
• How did this experience build a sense of community among the members? Did you initiate any efforts to foster collaboration or inclusivity?
• What were the challenges of working with a group, and how did you overcome them?
• How do these lessons and skills from this experience prepare you for the collaborative environment at Canfield Business Honors?
• In what ways do you plan to contribute to the CBHP community? What leadership, teamwork, or community-building skills will you bring?

 

As you brainstorm, make sure you’re being thorough. Simply stating that you were part of a team or community without providing details of your role will make your essay feel flat. Be specific about your contributions and actions, to highlight a unique experience that shows distinctive personal growth—generic narratives, like about sports teams, likely won’t be the best choice here.

 

And remember, the essay should not only reflect on your past experiences, but should also explicitly tie them to how you will contribute to the CBHP community. Don’t just summarize the experience—relate it to your future at UT Austin.

 

Check out some example topics below:

 

• Student A was the captain of her high school debate team, where she worked with members of varying skill levels to develop their speaking abilities and foster a collaborative environment. By implementing peer mentorship and organizing weekly strategy sessions, she helped build a stronger, more unified team. At Canfield Business Honors, she plans to apply these skills by mentoring peers and contributing to team-based case studies and projects.

 

• Student B co-founded an entrepreneurship club at his high school, where he led teams to launch mini business ventures. In this role, he learned the importance of delegation, open communication, and aligning team goals. He worked to build a community where all members felt ownership of projects, organizing feedback sessions and team-building exercises. He is excited to bring his passion for collaboration and leadership to CBHP, where he aims to continue fostering an inclusive, innovative community.

 

• Student C led a volunteer project to create a community garden, where she organized and worked alongside a diverse group of volunteers. Her role involved assigning tasks, resolving conflicts, and ensuring that everyone felt included in decision-making. She learned how to adapt her leadership style to different personalities and motivations, and she plans to bring these insights to Canfield Business Honors by promoting teamwork in business projects and encouraging inclusivity in group discussions.

 

A strong essay response will concretely demonstrate your team-building abilities, whether that’s through leadership, support, conflict resolution, or any other active contribution to team success. Once you do this, you’ll want to look forward, describing your role at Canfield Business Honors by discussing how these experiences have prepared you to succeed at UT Austin and to contribute to the program’s collaborative environment.

 

Overall, be personal and reflective, rather than just summarizing your accomplishments. Admissions officers want to see more than just the nuts and bolts of what you did. What they really care about is how and why this experience was meaningful to you.

 

Lastly, let’s read through some excerpts from example responses.

 

“As captain of the soccer team, I learned the importance of teamwork. We all had to work together to win games, and I made sure to lead by example by encouraging my teammates even during hard practices or tough losses. Teamwork is a valuable skill that I will bring with me to Canfield Business Honors, where I will continue to work hard with my peers to achieve success.”

 

This example is vague and generic, and it relies on superficial language that fails to engage the reader. There are no specific examples of the student’s contributions to their team, nor is there any real connection to CBHP besides a brief mention at the end. In contrast, consider this next example:

 

“Last year, as president of my school’s business club, I was tasked with organizing our first school-wide entrepreneurship competition. While I could have managed the project on my own, I knew that true innovation comes from collaboration. So, I formed a planning committee that included underclassmen, who were typically overlooked for leadership positions.

 

Together, we brainstormed, designed marketing materials, and reached out to local business owners to serve as judges. By fostering open communication, I ensured that everyone’s ideas were heard, and that our final event was a reflection of our entire team’s creativity and hard work.

 

This experience taught me that leadership is about empowering others, and I’m excited to bring this inclusive approach to Canfield Business Honors. Whether through case study teams or student-led initiatives, I look forward to building a collaborative, supportive community at CBHP.”

 

This response, in contrast to the first, focuses on a specific leadership experience, shows how the student built a sense of community, and connects these skills directly to what they plan to contribute at CBHP. The language is personal and reflective, showing personal growth.

 

In summary, focus on a specific example from your resume that demonstrates your ability to work with others and contribute to a community. Also, reflect on how this experience will help you make an impact at Canfield Business Honors. Show your personal growth and vision for how you’ll bring these values to the program.

 

Electrical and Computer Engineering Honors (ECE) Applicants

Describe your significant activities, employment, and achievements, particularly those relevant to the study of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Also describe your educational and career goals. Please limit your response to no more than 500 words.

 

This prompt is essentially a combination of the common “Why This Major?” and Extracurricular prompt archetypes. You are asked to describe your activities, employment, and achievements that are specifically related to Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE). Additionally, you’ll need to discuss your educational and career goals, which should ideally build on the picture painted by the activities you mention.

 

To get started, think about the following brainstorming questions:

 

• What activities or projects have you done that directly connect to ECE? Have you been part of a robotics club, worked on coding apps or devices, or interned at any tech-related companies? What specific skills have you developed through these experiences, such as coding, circuit design, or machine learning?
• What achievements, awards, or recognitions have you earned in ECE-related areas? Have you won any competitions, hackathons, or school awards? Or, have you completed a personal project or built something that showcases your skills in ECE?
• How have these experiences influenced your decision to pursue ECE, and what parts of your ECE experiences made you want to explore this more deeply? Why are you excited about this field, and how have your past experiences confirmed that excitement?
• What are your educational and career goals, and how do you hope to grow in ECE at UT Austin? Are there particular courses, professors, or research areas you’re excited about? Do you have a specific career path in mind—such as working in AI, renewable energy, robotics, or another ECE field?

 

The goal is to show how your experiences have shaped your interest in ECE, and how they’ve prepared you to pursue a degree in this field. UT Austin admissions wants to see that you are not only passionate about ECE, but that you’ve also gone out of your way to pursue this interest in tangible ways, such as through projects, jobs, internships, clubs, or self-learning initiatives.

 

For example, did a school robotics competition spark your interest in electrical systems? Did a coding challenge at work make you want to dive deeper into machine learning?

 

Additionally, your career goals should make sense based on your activities and achievements thus far. The admissions committee wants to see that you have a clear, thoughtful vision for how you’ll use your ECE degree, and talking about a project you did on self-driving cars, only to pivot and say your dream is to design prosthetics, would lead to a disjointed essay—even if each of those topics is good in isolation.

 

As you describe your experiences, you also want to avoid generalities; detail the exact projects, internships, or activities you’ve been involved in. Instead of simply saying, “I interned at a tech company,” explain what you worked on, how it improved your skills, and how that all relates to ECE.

 

Here are some hypothetical example students’ topics to help inspire your writing:

 

• Student A is an electronics club president who was fascinated by electronics after participating in a high school summer camp where she built her first basic circuit. Since becoming the club president, she has led workshops on Arduino programming, and has also interned at a local start-up, where she worked on an IoT project to create smart home devices. She plans to focus on embedded systems at UT Austin and hopes to eventually design advanced consumer electronics.

 

• Student B has been passionate about robotics since he participated in a middle school competition. In high school, he built a robot that competed in a national tournament, and even won a design award. At UT Austin, this student wants to explore artificial intelligence applications in robotics. Looking toward the future, he hopes to bring AI into more practical, everyday scenarios in order to streamline people’s personal lives in addition to their professional ones.

 

Finally, let’s get into some example response excerpts:

 

“I’ve always been interested in technology and love solving problems, which is why I want to study Electrical and Computer Engineering at UT Austin. Throughout high school, I’ve taken advanced math and science courses, which prepared me for a future in engineering. I also interned at a tech company, where I learned how to code and work on electrical circuits.

 

At UT Austin, I’m excited to take classes in electrical engineering and work with talented professors. I know that this will help me achieve my goal of working in tech after graduation.”

 

This excerpt is too vague. The student doesn’t give any specific details about what they did at their internship or how it impacted their passion for ECE. There’s also no real personal connection. The essay feels like a summary of activities rather than an engaging story about the student’s journey.

 

Also, the future goals mentioned are not specific enough—there’s no mention of what area of tech the student is interested in or how they plan to use their degree to achieve their goals.

 

In contrast, consider this stronger example excerpt:

 

“Ever since I disassembled my first remote control car at age 10, I’ve been fascinated by how circuits and code interact to bring electronics to life. This curiosity led me to join my high school’s electronics club, where I learned to build Arduino-based projects and even led workshops on basic circuit design.

 

Last year, I interned at TechNext, a start-up that specializes in smart home technology. There, I worked on a team that developed a prototype for an IoT-enabled thermostat. My role involved coding the interface that allowed users to control the device remotely, and I collaborated with electrical engineers to integrate sensors into the system.

 

At UT Austin, I’m eager to dive deeper into the embedded systems and microcontroller programming I began exploring during my internship. The University’s state-of-the-art centers, like the Wireless Networking and Communications Group, will give me the hands-on experience I need to continue pushing the boundaries of smart technology. My ultimate goal is to develop innovative consumer electronics that make everyday life more efficient and enjoyable.”

 

This response is much better than the previous one. The student starts with a vivid personal anecdote that shows where their interest began. They then explain specific experiences and projects they’ve worked on to give us a more concrete idea of what their hands-on experience looked like. The response also ties the student’s past experiences to their future goals in a logical way, which shows that they’ve thought deeply about how UT Austin will help them achieve their ambitions.

 

In summary, make sure your essay is detailed, is engaging, and clearly connects your past experiences to your future aspirations in Electrical and Computer Engineering at UT Austin and beyond.

 

Honors Electrical and Computer Engineering and Business (ECB) Applicants

Texas Honors Electrical and Computer Engineering and Business (Texas ECB) is a powerful dual degree program looking for students who are dedicated to both an electrical and computer engineering and business honors education. Why do you see this as a combination of skills for your career goals? What have you done in high school, in the classroom and outside, to prepare you for honors engineering and business course work? Please limit your response to no more than 500 words. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Texas ECB website for additional requirements to complete their application.

 

This essay prompt falls under the common “Why This Major?” prompt archetype, as it asks applicants to explain their career goals and preparation for a dual degree program in Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) and Business at Texas ECB.

 

What distinguishes this prompt from a standard “Why This Major?” prompt, however, is that the “major” in question is actually an interdisciplinary dual-degree program, which means that you’ll want to focus on the intersection of two fields, rather than just one major in isolation.

 

To start brainstorming for this essay, consider the following questions:

 

• How do you envision combining Electrical and Computer Engineering with Business in your future career?
• What unique opportunities does the Texas ECB program provide that will help you achieve your goals?
• Have you worked on any engineering projects or business ventures that illustrate your interest in both fields?
• Which courses or extracurriculars have sparked your passion for engineering? How have you demonstrated leadership or a business mindset in these areas?
• Do you have any role models or mentors who have followed a similar path that inspires you?

 

In developing your answers to these questions, there are two key parts to address: why you want to study under Texas ECB and what preparation you’ve done. Highlight relevant coursework, extracurricular activities, projects, and experiences that have prepared you for the dual degree’s honors-level demands, and then connect your past to what you want to accomplish in your career. Make sure to showcase both academic and non-academic involvement in engineering and business alike, rather than concentrating on one field alone.

 

Read through these example topics for some inspiration:

 

• Student A is an aspiring tech entrepreneur with a focus on AI solutions. Growing up in Austin’s startup culture, he participated in a robotics team where he worked on automating drone flight. He realized that while his engineering skills were crucial, business acumen was necessary to bring innovative ideas to market. He now plans to combine technical expertise in ECE with the business skills needed to launch his own AI solutions company. His background in competing in coding competitions and shadowing experiences in his uncle’s software company will illustrate how he’s prepared for Texas ECB’s demands.

 

• Student B is passionate about sustainable energy technology. She has spent the last two years volunteering with a local nonprofit that brings solar technology to underserved communities. While designing energy systems, she also managed their budget, realizing that understanding finance is key to making sustainable solutions affordable and scalable. She envisions a career developing and managing green technology firms, and has already taken AP Physics and Economics to begin building her dual-field expertise.

 

• Student C wants to lead in the tech consulting space. As the president of his high school’s business club, he led a team to develop a consulting project for local small businesses focused on marketing outreach, where he found his knack for combining technical solutions with business strategy. He is drawn to the Texas ECB program’s interdisciplinary focus because he sees tech as the key to continue refining business strategies in an increasingly competitive landscape.

 

The strongest responses to this prompt will clearly explain the synergy between ECE and business. Don’t just state that you are interested in both fields in isolation; explain why this particular combination is essential to your career vision.

 

You’ll also want to be specific about classes, projects, internships, leadership positions, or personal initiatives that have inspired your interest in the first place. Use personal storytelling to show your passion—rather than relying on factual statements—to help yourself stand out compared to other students with similar interests.

 

Finally, demonstrate genuine interest in the Texas ECB program specifically. Go beyond the general appeal of the program. Reference specific features, like opportunities for hands-on learning, the honors community, or unique Texas ECB courses that excite you.

 

Now, let’s examine some excerpts from example essays:

 

“I am passionate about both engineering and business, which is why I am interested in the Texas ECB program. I have taken several engineering and math courses in high school and also participated in a business club. I see the combination of engineering and business as a great way to prepare for a career, and I know Texas ECB will help me reach my goals. The program’s strong reputation, rigorous courses, and knowledgeable faculty will provide me with the skills I need to succeed.”

 

Obviously, this essay is too generic. It doesn’t explain the student’s specific interest in the combination of ECE and business or why this program is uniquely suited to their goals. The essay lacks personal details or experiences that show why the applicant is prepared for this program, and it fails to demonstrate genuine enthusiasm for Texas ECB’s unique offerings.

 

Alternatively, consider this other example excerpt:

 

“In my junior year, I launched a small business developing smart home devices with my robotics team. Our goal was to create affordable, customizable systems that could optimize energy usage. However, when it came time to pitch our idea, I realized that even the most sophisticated technology would struggle without a strong business foundation. That’s when I recognized the need for a deeper understanding of both the technical and business sides of engineering innovation.

 

At Texas ECB, I’m excited to delve into the program’s focus on interdisciplinary learning. The ability to tackle real-world problems through both technical analysis and business strategy will prepare me to lead my own tech startup in the renewable energy sector. The program’s emphasis on hands-on learning, such as the opportunity to work on engineering projects through the Longhorn Startup Lab, aligns perfectly with my entrepreneurial aspirations.”

 

Comparatively, this excerpt clearly explains how the student’s high school experience connects to their interest in both engineering and business. The student describes a clear moment of realization about the importance of business knowledge, and shows a concrete understanding of Texas ECB’s opportunities. This response is much more personal and specific, and demonstrates the student’s passion for this interdisciplinary approach.

 

By following these guidelines, you can craft a compelling essay that showcases your passion for the Texas ECB program, and your readiness for the challenges you’d inevitably face in earning your dual degree.

 

Liberal Arts Honors Applicants, Prompt 1

Prospective students cite many reasons for pursuing education in the liberal arts, and we would like to know why you want to do so. In 250 words or less, tell us why you want to study the liberal arts. Consider (but don’t feel obligated to answer all) questions like: Why should anyone study liberal arts at all? Why does the world need the liberal arts? What does your liberal arts degree get you? What will you do with your liberal arts education?

 

This essay is similar to the common “Why This Major?” prompt archetype, which asks you to describe your academic interests, with the added layer of needing to explain how they align with the liberal arts, and how a liberal arts education connects to your future ambitions.

 

To get started, reflect on the following brainstorming questions:

 

• What excites you about the liberal arts? Consider specific subjects, themes, or ideas that engage you—rather than just “flexibility,” go a step further, to “the flexibility to explore the intersection between fields that might seem unrelated, like Latin and chemistry.”
• How have your personal experiences shaped your interest in the liberal arts?
• How do you believe a liberal arts education will help you reach your future goals?
• What benefits do you think the liberal arts have for broader society? How can a liberal arts mindset help us address today’s global issues?
• Why does the interdisciplinary nature of the liberal arts appeal to you? Think about how combining specific subjects can enhance your understanding of each one, and of the world as a whole.
• Do you have a particular career in mind? If so, how will a liberal arts education help you get there? If not, how will a liberal arts education contribute to your future success more generally?

 

Although there are many ways to approach this essay, as “the liberal arts” is a big, nuanced idea, the admissions committee wants to see a clear connection between your personal, intellectual, and career goals and a liberal arts education. They also want to understand how you view the broader significance of the liberal arts in the world today.

 

Check out some example topics below:

 

• Student A, a student interested in psychology and sociology, is fascinated by how societal structures influence individual behavior. Her experiences tutoring younger students, and seeing how their circumstances impacted their ability to study, inspired her to start thinking about how to create a more equitable education system. In college, she wants to explore the intersection between her existing interests and public policy, so that she can get a clearer sense of how she can actually enact some of her ideas for change.

 

• Student B is passionate about writing and storytelling. He grew up in a bilingual household, where he constantly translated for his grandparents, and so he saw how language shapes thought. He plans to major in English and study linguistics within a liberal arts framework to understand the power of language in shaping identity and culture. His goal is to become a writer and translator, and to bridge cultural gaps through his work.

 

• Student C is drawn to history and philosophy, and is especially curious about how leading philosophers shaped societal approaches to governance and justice, for better or for worse. In her junior year, she did a capstone paper on how ideas from Plato’s Republic still shape political discourse today. She hopes to continue this research as she works towards her long term goal of working in international law with a focus on diplomacy.

 

A good response to this prompt will be specific about how your experiences and interests align with a liberal arts education. Whether through extracurricular activities, personal hobbies, or academic projects, your essay should reflect how your journey so far has naturally led you to studying the liberal arts.

 

You’ll want to avoid generalizations like “a liberal arts degree teaches critical thinking” or “liberal arts degrees are well-rounded.” Instead, tie these ideas directly to your personal experiences—the key question you’ll want to answer is why critical thinking or well-roundedness matter in the field(s) you’re passionate about.

 

Finally, if you can, make sure you address all elements of the prompt, including the ones focused on the broader significance of the liberal arts. Answer the “Why should anyone study liberal arts?” or “Why does the world need the liberal arts?” question with a thoughtful reflection on the societal value of this approach to education, by connecting your personal goals to the universal.

 

The three examples above all do this, by focusing on educational reform, intercultural learning, and diplomacy, respectively. If you don’t know exactly what you want to do, that’s okay—touch on some paths you’re thinking of pursuing, and discuss how a liberal arts education will empower you regardless of which one you choose, or potentially even help you choose one in the first place.

 

Now, let’s look at some sample responses.

 

“I want to take a liberal arts approach to studying economics to hone my critical thinking and problem-solving skills, which are valuable in today’s rapidly changing job market because employers want people who can adapt. The liberal arts also provide a broad education, which will help me as I pursue a job in finance after graduation, as I’ll need to understand how all different sectors of the economy work.”

 

If you think this essay is vague and uninspired, you’d be right. It doesn’t show any real passion for the liberal arts, nor does it explain the student’s personal, specific connection to the field. The student comes across as somewhat shallow, and thinking of only how their degree would help their résumé, rather than the deeper analytical and reflective skills they could learn.

 

Let’s look at a stronger example:

 

“When I was 8, I received a book of Greek myths for my birthday, and spent the entire summer enthralled by the stories of gods and heroes. Those stories have anchored my understanding of many of the books I’ve read since: to me, Gatsby’s green light emblematizes the Greeks’ reckoning with the idea that we can never escape our own fate.

 

Today, as technology hurls us into the future at ever greater velocities, we need now more than ever to remember the core ideas that have always grounded human thought, which is why I hope to study comparative literature and education. Students today must be able to trust in their intuition, rather than getting blinded by the power of tools like generative AI, and being reminded of the generations of thinking that have led to this moment is key to that.

 

My goal is to become an elementary school teacher in order to empower students early on. By teaching them the stories and values that humanity has always cherished, I hope to show them that they are part of the broader fabric of human existence, which has been woven for thousands of years, and which no technology will ever be able to replace.”

 

This essay is much stronger. It tells a clear story of how the student’s love for storytelling and curiosity about the universality of the human experience began, then connects their personal passion to a broader societal trend (rapid technological growth) and explains the relationship they see between the liberal arts and this trend, as well as how they see themselves working towards a better world in the future.

 

Their response is specific and personal, and portrays them as intellectually curious. As you write your own essay, focus on checking those three boxes, and you’ll be sure to show the UT Austin Honors Program why you’re a great fit for their community!

 

Liberal Arts Honors Applicants, Prompt 2

Help us get to know you better. Please write five sentences (numbered 1–5) that give us some insight into you, your life, your interests and your experiences. There are no right answers — feel free to be creative and think outside the box.

 

This open-ended prompt is asking you to provide five distinct sentences that reveal key aspects of your personality, background, interests, and experiences. The flexibility here can be daunting, but on the flip side, you have the opportunity to present five different facets of yourself in a concise and engaging way.

 

The goal is to give readers a well-rounded sense of who you are in just a few sentences, so each one should be meaningful and carefully thought out. Even though this is a short supplement, you should still carve out ample time for brainstorming, writing, and editing. Fitting your ideas into such a small space can sometimes be more challenging than generating content to meet a longer word count.

 

To help you come up with ideas for these five sentences, think about the following questions:

 

• What are your key personality traits? Be specific, and go beyond just “nice” or “smart.” Are you introspective, ambitious, nostalgic, adventurous?
• What experiences or hobbies define you? What are you passionate about outside the classroom, or even outside your extracurricular list?
• What’s a fun or quirky fact that others might not know about you but that helps describe who you are?
• What’s something that has shaped the way you see the world? It could be a cultural experience, a personal challenge, or even a book or conversation that left a lasting impression.
• How do you interact with others? Are you a leader, a team player, someone who brings people together, something else entirely?

 

Since you’re limited to just five sentences, you’ll need to be strategic in selecting the most impactful and engaging details about yourself. And you also want to make sure you aren’t simply repeating information that can already be found elsewhere in your application. Each sentence should add a new dimension to your story to give the admissions committee a more fleshed-out look at who you are beyond your academic achievements.

 

To construct a compelling response, you’ll want to be specific and to avoid general statements. Instead of saying “I love reading,” say, “I spent last summer lost in the works of Gabriel García Márquez, enchanted by the magical realism of One Hundred Years of Solitude.”

 

Remember, your goal in these essays is to set yourself apart from other applicants, and the more specific you can be, the more clearly admissions officers will see how you’re different even from someone else who might have a similar hobby.

 

Also, as always—show, don’t tell. In other words, use vivid imagery and details to show who you are, rather than just making blunt, factual statements. Instead of saying, “I love playing the guitar,” you might write, “My favorite feeling is the rush of adrenaline surging through me every time I strum the final chord at my garage band’s gigs.”

 

Finally, this is a space to have fun and be imaginative. UT Austin specifically encourages you to be creative and think outside the box, so don’t be afraid to present a quirky or unexpected part of yourself. College applications are generally quite dry by nature, so injecting some energy here can make a positive impression on admissions officers.

 

For example, you could say something like “I can recognize any Taylor Swift song in under two seconds,” or “Every Halloween, my twin and I pick a different couple’s costume to parody—in response to Barbenheimer, we went as Oppenheimer and Einstein, not Barbie and Ken.”

 

You don’t want to come across as superficial, so make sure you’re still demonstrating something positive about yourself (dedication and creativity, respectively, in the examples above), but you should feel free to present the traits you’re highlighting in a fun way.

 

To conclude, let’s look at a complete package of five sentences:

• The smell of homemade tortillas sizzling on the griddle always takes me back to my grandmother’s kitchen, where I learned that love and tradition are the most important ingredients in any recipe.

• After a rainy afternoon, you’ll probably find me crouched in my backyard, trying to capture the perfect macro shot of raindrops clinging to flower petals.

• Whether it’s figuring out how to fix a flat tire on my bike or finding a way to integrate environmental design into urban planning, I can’t resist a good challenge.

• My fascination with how language shapes our thoughts began when I overheard my parents switch effortlessly between Spanish and English, their conversations shifting in tone with each language.

• Nothing beats the feeling of crossing the finish line after my morning 5K run—it’s my time to push my limits and set the tone for the rest of the day.

 

In this example, each sentence offers a unique insight into the student’s life, from their cultural background (sentence 1) to their hobbies and personality traits (sentences 2-5). There’s a clear balance between creativity, intellectual curiosity, and personal values, and the sentences engage the reader by using vivid, specific sensory details.

 

To summarize: this prompt is your chance to show the UT Honors Program who you are in just five sentences. Be sure to touch on different topics, and explore them creatively and in depth by using immersive language rather than general statements or clichés. And lastly, remember that this is a space where you can have fun!

 

Moody College Honors Applicants

Communication is a fundamental part of human life, influencing every aspect of the world around us. Future communicators like yourself must wrestle with the question of whether communication is motivated by self-interest or cooperation. Discuss an example from a communication discipline (advertising, communication studies, communication and leadership, journalism, public relations, radio-tv-film or speech language hearing sciences), that supports one of the two perspectives. Please limit your response to no more than 250 words.

 

This prompt focuses on an ethical reflection on the concept of communication. The key to crafting a strong response to this prompt is to show analytical depth, ethical reasoning, and a strong grasp of communication as a social force.

 

This prompt asks you to take a stance—is communication primarily motivated by self-interest or by cooperation? After you decide, you must then choose a communication discipline (e.g., journalism, advertising, PR, radio-TV-film, etc.) and illustrate your stance with a concrete example.

 

The best essays won’t just explain the inner workings of a discipline—they’ll show how a specific moment, campaign, or practice embodies one of the two motivations provided. You’ll want to blend theoretical insight with a real-world example and your own critical reflection.

 

Here are some brainstorming questions to guide your thinking and planning before you begin writing:

 

• When have you noticed communication being used to manipulate or persuade for self-gain (e.g., advertising, political propaganda, etc.)?
• Conversely, when have you seen communication used to build trust or understanding (e.g., investigative journalism, inclusive advertising, social justice campaigns, etc.)?
• Which communication field are you most passionate about, and how do you see ethics or motivation playing a role in it?
• Can you reference a specific ad campaign, film, news event, or PR moment that supports your argument?

 

A good response will do a few things. Primarily, make sure you establish a clear stance—pick just one side (self-interest or cooperation). Avoid trying to make an argument for both. Next, choose a strong specific example. Reference a campaign, film, or communication theory that can support your argument in a robust way.

 

Also be sure to prioritize analysis over summary. Don’t just describe what happened; explain why it showcases a motivation of self-interest or cooperation. Show a connection to your own interests by subtly linking your analysis to your own communication goals or perspectives. And finally, employ concise but vivid language—you only have 250 words, so make every sentence analytical or illustrative.

 

Take a look at these hypothetical student examples to see some different ways in which this kind of essay can take shape:

 

• Maya, a journalism enthusiast, argues that investigative journalism embodies cooperation because it often exposes corruption to protect the public good. She uses the Panama Papers as an example, showing journalists worldwide collaborating for transparency.
• Leo, interested in advertising, takes the self-interest stance. He analyzes Fyre Festival’s deceptive marketing as a case where branding trumped honesty, revealing how persuasive media can prioritize profit over truth.
• Tiana, a film student, argues that documentaries like “13th” demonstrate cooperative communication, using film as a medium to educate and mobilize collective understanding about justice and reform.

 

Here are some good and bad example excerpts to show you what you should and shouldn’t do in your own response:

 

Good example: “When Dove launched its ‘Real Beauty’ campaign in 2004, it seemed to celebrate cooperation—encouraging women to embrace their natural selves. Yet, upon deeper investigation, it reflects how communication in advertising is often motivated by self-interest.

 

Dove’s parent company, Unilever, also owns Axe, whose commercials have objectified women. This contradiction reveals that the brand’s empowerment message was not purely altruistic—it was a strategic effort to expand its consumer base.

 

This duality fascinates me as an aspiring communications strategist. Advertising often disguises self-interest under the language of unity or empowerment. The ‘Real Beauty’ campaign demonstrates how emotionally intelligent messaging can drive massive profit, but also how communicators carry responsibility in shaping culture.

 

Communication is never neutral. Every slogan, image, and caption carries an intention—sometimes sincere, sometimes strategic. Understanding that tension is what makes the field of advertising so complex and so human.”

 

Why this works: Takes a clear stance, arguing the self-interest perspective. Uses a specific, well-known campaign. Offers nuanced ethical insight. Connects personal curiosity to the example.

 

Bad example: “Communication is about cooperation because people use it to understand each other and work together. For example, in journalism, reporters write stories to help people stay informed about the world. Without communication, we wouldn’t be able to solve problems or learn from each other.

 

Communication helps people cooperate in every part of life, from social media to the news. I think this is very important because good communication makes the world a better place.”

 

Why this fails: Generic, no clear example. Repeats broad ideas without analysis. Doesn’t show deeper knowledge of communication as a discipline.

 

Finally, note these common mistakes so that you can avoid them:

 

• Writing a summary of a campaign or movie without analysis.
• Trying to argue “both sides” to sound balanced—instead, take a firm stance.
• Using generic examples (e.g., “Social media helps us connect” or “Ads try to sell products”).
• Forgetting the ethical question—the prompt is about motivation, not just effectiveness.

 

Natural Sciences Honors Applicants

Each of the three CNS Honors Programs has a distinct profile. Why are you a good fit for the Dean’s Scholars, Health Science Scholars, or Polymathic Scholars program? How will you contribute to that community?

 

This prompt is essentially a hybrid between the “Why This Major?” and “Why This College?” prompts, but with a focus on how you fit into the specific honors program you’re applying for at the University of Texas College of Natural Sciences (CNS), rather than on the school as a whole. You’ll need to explain why the program is the right fit for you, as well as what you will contribute to the honors community.

 

First, remember that the three programs (Dean’s Scholars, Health Science Scholars, Polymathic Scholars) have different emphases:

 

• Dean’s Scholars: Focuses on research as well as academic excellence in the sciences and emphasizes connection and community among students.
• Health Science Scholars: Centers on students interested in health-related careers, and blending research with service.
• Polymathic Scholars: Encourages interdisciplinary study, by allowing students to pursue science alongside a custom field of study.

 

To answer effectively, you’ll need to reflect on your academic background, current passions, and future goals, and explain not only why you’re a good fit for your chosen program right now, but also how you’ll continue to grow through it over the next four years.

 

Here are some questions to help you get started:

 

For Dean’s Scholars:

 

• What scientific research or projects have you been involved in?
• Why do you want to pursue research at a high level, and what skills will you bring to a research-oriented community?
• What areas of scientific inquiry are you passionate about, and how will this program in particular help you explore them?

 

For Health Science Scholars:

 

• Why are you passionate about health sciences or healthcare?
• How have your experiences (internships, volunteering, shadowing) shaped your desire to join the health sciences field?
• What specific opportunities (research, service, leadership) in this program excite you?

 

For Polymathic Scholars:

 

• What other fields, besides the natural sciences, interest you?
• Why is it important for you to blend these fields, and what unique perspective does this interdisciplinary approach offer that you couldn’t get by studying each field in isolation?
• What is a custom field of study you might pursue, and how does it relate to your long-term goals?

 

Make sure you research the particular honors program you’re applying for. A common mistake is writing an essay that could apply to all three programs instead of targeting your chosen one. So, rather than saying something general like you “love science” or “want to help people,” or simply rattling off a list of every single one of your achievements, be specific about your interests and experiences, and how one particular program aligns with your goals.

 

You also need to show how you’ll contribute to the community—in other words, why you’re a good fit for the program, not just why it’s a good fit for you. Be concrete about your potential contributions, as your goal is to show what you’d add that nobody else could.

 

Check out some examples of topics for each program:

 

• Dean’s Scholars: Student 1 is a biochemistry major fascinated by genetic research. In high school, she worked in a university lab studying CRISPR technology and attended a summer program in molecular biology. She sees Dean’s Scholars as an ideal community to pursue her passion for genetics further, and to do outreach in the Austin community to encourage younger students to get involved with research early like she did.

 

• Health Science Scholars: Student 2 wants to become a pediatrician and has been involved in health-related volunteering since high school, doing things such as working at a local children’s hospital checking in children to receive their Covid-19 vaccines. Health Science Scholars’ emphasis on blending service and research resonates with his desire to explore how to make healthcare environments less intimidating or scary to children.

 

• Polymathic Scholars: Student 3 is passionate about neuroscience and art history. She envisions a future studying the intersection of brain function and creativity. Polymathic Scholars would allow her to explore a custom field of study: neuroaesthetics, the study of how the brain processes and creates art. She is excited to collaborate with both science and humanities students, contributing to the program’s intellectual diversity.

 

Finally, let’s examine some excerpts of example responses:

 

Dean’s Scholars Example: “I’ve always loved science, and especially enjoyed my biology classes in high school. Dean’s Scholars would allow me to learn from top professors and pursue research opportunities in the areas that most fascinate me, such as how climate change is impacting biodiversity.”

 

This example is obviously too vague. Although the student briefly touches on a topic that interests them, they don’t provide any detail about what they’ve done to explore it in the past, nor what they’re specifically going to do through the program to delve more deeply into it.

 

Health Sciences Scholars Example: “As I stood in the neonatal unit, cradling the tiny hand of a premature baby, I knew that healthcare was my calling. Volunteering at St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital introduced me to the complex, emotional world of pediatric care, and I’m determined to continue taking a service-oriented approach to research, to ensure patients always remain front and center in my work.

 

Through the Health Science Scholars program, I hope to distribute brochures every winter that not just encourage people to get their vaccines, but that also explain their long-term benefits, beyond simply avoiding the flu this season.”

 

This much more compelling example cites a personal experience that has a clear connection to the future. The student demonstrates both an understanding of the program and a commitment to contributing to it through service and leadership.

 

By crafting a well-researched, specific, and personal essay, you’ll be able to show the admissions committee not only why you’re a great fit for the program, but also how you’ll enrich the CNS Honors community at UT Austin.

 

Human Ecology Honors Applicants

Briefly describe why you have chosen to apply to the School of Human Ecology Honors Program, specifically Nutritional Sciences or Human Development and Family Sciences Honors. Please limit your response to no more than 250 words.

 

This prompt is a standard “Why This Major?” essay, as it asks students to explain why they are drawn to a specific honors program in the School of Human Ecology (either Nutritional Sciences or Human Development and Family Sciences (HDFS)).

 

The admissions committee wants to understand your academic motivations, personal connections to your desired field of study, and how the honors program at UT Austin specifically will support your goals.

 

To begin, think about these brainstorming questions:

 

• What personal experiences have influenced your interest in Nutritional Sciences or HDFS? Was there a particular event or situation that sparked your interest?
• Why are you passionate about studying human health, family dynamics, or nutrition? Have you done any relevant research, volunteer work, or extracurricular activities?
• How do you plan to use your degree in the future? How will this specific honors program at UT Austin help you achieve those goals?
• What about UT Austin’s honors program in the School of Human Ecology stands out to you? Are there specific professors, research opportunities, or other resources that align with your interests?
• What draws you to the honors program? Do you value the smaller classes, research opportunities, or academic rigor? How will being part of an honors cohort impact your experience?

 

The key is to demonstrate a clear, thoughtful connection between your personal experiences, academic interests, and reasons for applying to this program. You’ll need to dig deeper than just “I want to be challenged,” and show how UT Austin’s School of Human Ecology Honors Program will help you achieve your academic, career, or personal goals.

 

Here are some example topics to consider:

 

• Student A has a passion for public health and food insecurity after spending a summer volunteering at a local food bank. They’re particularly interested in UT Austin’s Nutritional Sciences honors program because of the opportunity to work on research addressing food insecurity in underserved communities. The student could discuss how the program’s emphasis on research and interdisciplinary collaboration aligns with their goal of becoming a public health nutritionist.

 

• Student B became interested in HDFS after seeing the impact of divorce on their younger brother’s development. As their brother became a teenager, they took on a more active role in supporting him and offering him stability by doing things like taking him to practice, which made them curious about how family structure and dynamics influence young people’s emotional well-being. They want to join UT Austin’s honors program to study family systems more deeply and participate in faculty-led research on early childhood intervention programs.

 

The most compelling responses will have a specific personal connection and mention an experience or story that influenced your interest in the field.

 

You should also include specific courses, research labs, or faculty members that make UT Austin the right place for you, and explain why you are interested in the honors aspect of the program. Don’t just say “I want to work with well-renowned faculty.” Instead, go a step further and name a specific faculty member whose work aligns with your interests.

 

Finally, tie your academic interest to your future plans. Admissions officers want to see that your choice is purposeful, which you can demonstrate by showing how this honors program will help you achieve your ambitions.

 

Read through these example responses for some inspiration and ideas of what you should and shouldn’t do in your own response:

 

Bad example: “I have always been interested in how people interact with each other, which is why I want to study Human Development and Family Sciences at UT Austin. I like that the honors program is more challenging and will allow me to work with top professors. I want to learn more about families and how they influence individuals so that I can work in counseling one day.”

 

This essay is not terribly effective. It’s too vague, as the student does not provide a strong personal connection to the field, or explain why UT Austin’s honors program specifically appeals to them as opposed to some other school with a similar program. There are no details about how the program will help them achieve their goals or what specific resources they are excited about.

 

Good example: “Growing up in a household where food was both a source of comfort and conflict, I became fascinated by the relationship between nutrition and mental health. After my mother was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder, I witnessed firsthand how dietary changes transformed her well-being. This experience fueled my curiosity about the science behind nutrition and motivated me to explore Nutritional Sciences at UT Austin.

 

I’m particularly excited about the honors program because it offers the opportunity to conduct hands-on research on metabolic disorders, an area I am passionate about. The chance to collaborate with Dr. Molly Bray on her groundbreaking research on Circadian clocks aligns perfectly with my goal of pursuing a career in dietetics, where I can help patients manage chronic diseases through nutrition.”

 

This response is much more specific and personal. The student clearly explains how their interest in Nutritional Sciences grew from personal experience, connects this interest to their future goals, and references UT Austin’s specific research opportunities that will help them achieve those goals.

 

Plan II Honors Applicants, Prompt 1

Analyze the ways in which technology (you can determine the technology you want to focus on) impacts critical thinking and community in higher education. How can an interdisciplinary education like Plan II Honors best equip students to thrive in this environment? Please limit your response to no more than 250 words.

 

Beyond the first half of the prompt, the second half is a mix of the Academic Interest and “Why This College?” archetypes. Overall, the prompt asks you to first take a stance on how a specific technology influences critical thinking and community in higher education, and then to show how the interdisciplinary structure of Plan II Honors prepares you to succeed in that context.

 

UT Austin’s Plan II Honors Program seeks students who think critically across disciplines and are aware of the broader implications of technology and education. This prompt evaluates how you think about the relationship between technology and learning, how you connect that thinking to your personal academic interests, and why Plan II’s interdisciplinary approach makes the program the best environment for you.

 

Here are some brainstorming questions to guide your planning for this prompt:

 

• Which technology fascinates or concerns you most in education—AI (like ChatGPT), virtual classrooms, social media, data analytics, etc.?
• How has this technology changed how students think, communicate, or collaborate?
• How do you personally engage with it—as a student, researcher, artist, or user?
• Which aspects of Plan II (small seminars, thesis requirement, liberal arts integration) would help you approach technology’s impact more thoughtfully?

 

A good response will do several things. Most importantly, you’ll want to take a clear stance: e.g., “AI can deepen critical thinking when used as a tool, not a crutch.” Also be sure to show a personal connection—maybe you used ChatGPT to brainstorm a philosophy paper and reflected on its limits.

 

Don’t forget to integrate Plan II naturally. To this end, mention specific features—such as seminars blending literature and data ethics, discussion-based learning, or the senior thesis—as ways to study your chosen issue. Finally, strike a balance between tech and humanity. Show that you understand both innovation and its ethical/cultural consequences.

 

Here are some hypothetical student examples to show you how a response might take shape:

 

• Sofia, a philosophy and computer science enthusiast, writes about AI’s dual role in expanding access to knowledge but reducing original thought. She connects this to Plan II’s emphasis on Socratic dialogue, which trains students to challenge algorithmic conclusions through human reasoning.
• Ethan, a future journalist, explores how social media reshapes academic community by fostering performative rather than reflective discourse. He sees Plan II seminars as a return to authenticity—a space for nuanced debate that transcends online echo chambers.
• Maya, an aspiring educator, examines virtual classrooms’ potential to democratize education but also alienate learners socially. She ties this to Plan II’s interdisciplinary exploration of pedagogy, psychology, and digital ethics.

 

Let’s take a look at good and bad example excerpts in order to see the kinds of things you should and shouldn’t do in your essay:

 

Good example: “When ChatGPT first appeared in my freshman year, classmates used it to finish essays in minutes. I used it differently—to argue with it. When I asked for interpretations of Plato’s Republic, it gave concise summaries, but not once the spark of confusion that leads to insight. That difference made me wonder: what happens to critical thinking when questions have instant, confident answers?

 

Technology like AI can democratize access to ideas, but it also tempts us to outsource thought. Plan II’s interdisciplinary seminars, where discussion replaces memorization, resist that temptation. A course like ‘Ethics and the Digital Mind’ would let me merge philosophy with computer science to ask not just how AI works, but whether it should. Writing the senior thesis would challenge me to build, test, and critique digital tools through a humanist lens.

 

In a world increasingly shaped by algorithmic certainty, Plan II offers the uncertainty that fuels genuine inquiry—the kind that no chatbot can automate.”

 

Why this works: This response is specific and personal—it starts with a unique anecdote about debating ChatGPT. It shows genuine curiosity and critical thinking, not just tech skepticism. The example connects naturally to Plan II’s discussion-based and interdisciplinary learning. Finally, it ends with a memorable insight that ties technology back to human inquiry.

 

Bad example: “Technology has changed everything about education. Students now rely on the internet and AI for almost all of their work, which can both help and hurt critical thinking. While technology connects people, it can also make them more distant.

 

Plan II will help me balance these changes by letting me explore many subjects and think about technology from different perspectives. With its small classes, diverse courses, and amazing professors, I can learn how to use technology responsibly and grow as a student.”

 

Why this doesn’t work: This response is vague—“Technology has changed everything” says very little. There is too much generic praise; this could apply to any honors program. Lastly, the student offers no personal insight or specific engagement with Plan II.

 

Finally, these are common mistakes that you’ll want to avoid making in your own response:

 

• Writing a generic essay about technology (e.g., “Technology changes everything!”).
• Treating Plan II as interchangeable with the concept of interdisciplinary learning broadly.
• Listing features of Plan II without explaining how you will use them.
• Sounding pessimistic or alarmist without nuance—balance critique with curiosity.

 

Plan II Honors Applicants, Prompt 2

Help us get to know you better. Please write five sentences (numbered 1-5) that give us some insight into you, your life, your interests and your experiences. There are no right answers — feel free to be creative and think outside the box.

 

This prompt is the same as the second Liberal Arts Honors prompt, so you can refer to that breakdown above.

 

Texas Honors Computer Science and Business (Texas CSB) Applicants

Texas CSB is an innovative dual degree program looking for students who are dedicated to both computer science and business. Why do you see this as a powerful combination of skills for your career goals? What have you done in high school to prepare you for computer science and business course work? Please limit your response to no more than 500 words. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Texas CSB website for additional requirements to complete their application.

 

This prompt is essentially a “Why This Major?” essay focused on two majors (Computer Science (CS) and Business), and it wants you to discuss why you’re passionate about both subjects, how they complement your career goals, and how your high school experiences have prepared you for this interdisciplinary path.

 

To start thinking about this prompt, consider the following questions:

 

• What specific career path are you considering that requires both CS and Business? Is it tech entrepreneurship, product management, or something else?
• What excites you about the intersection of technology and business? How do you see these fields working together?
• What hands-on experiences have you had in CS or Business? Have you coded a project, led a business club, or completed an internship?
• How do the skills you’ve gained from both fields complement each other? For example, has learning about algorithms improved your problem-solving in business situations?
• What courses, extracurriculars, or personal projects have helped you prepare for the dual degree program?
• How will the Texas CSB program help you achieve your future goals? Be sure to explore the Texas CSB website and mention specific opportunities that stand out to you.

 

UT Austin’s Texas CSB program is competitive and innovative, so your response should highlight both your intellectual curiosity and practical experience in these fields. The admissions committee wants to see a clear and well-thought-out connection between your past experiences, academic goals, and career aspirations, so that they can have confidence you’d take advantage of all this program has to offer.

 

To demonstrate your fit, outline specific career paths, industries, or even individual roles you’re interested in, and explain why those require both fields. Admissions officers also want to know why you’re prepared to thrive in both fields, so highlight your relevant experiences throughout high school, and explain how they’ve shaped your interest in the two fields. Do make sure to always tie these experiences back to your long-term goals.

 

Finally, show that you’ve done your research on the Texas CSB program. Reference specific aspects of the program, like its interdisciplinary approach, opportunities for internships in Austin’s tech hub, or courses or professors that excite you. Show that you’re serious about the program, not just applying for prestige, and that you’re ready to hit the ground running.

 

Take a look at these three example topics for inspiration:

 

• Student A has always been passionate about technology and problem-solving. In high school, she led her school’s coding club and created an app that helps local businesses manage their supply chains more efficiently. She could write about how her experience coding the supply chain app showed her that technology can transform small businesses, which sparked her interest in tech entrepreneurship. She would mention how the Texas CSB program offers the perfect blend of technical and business knowledge that will prepare her to launch her own startup in the future.

 

• Student B became interested in both CS and Business after an internship at a fintech startup. While there, he saw how software developers worked closely with the business team to create financial products. He also runs an online business selling custom-made accessories, which gave him firsthand experience in marketing, finance, and operations. This student could write about how the intersection of CS and Business is essential for the future of fintech, where both technical skills and business acumen are necessary to create innovative financial products. He would highlight the unique curriculum at Texas CSB and how it aligns perfectly with his career goal of becoming a product manager at a fintech company.

 

• Student C has always loved computers, having participated in hackathons and having built her own websites over the years. Her interest in business came from her family’s small retail business, an endeavor with which she helped her parents by designing a website and managing online sales. She could discuss how her experience with her family business opened her eyes to the need for tech solutions in small businesses, as not all business owners have a young person around to help out. She could mention how the dual degree from Texas CSB will give her the tools to bring impactful technological changes to small and medium enterprises.

 

Let’s read and analyze a couple of example response excerpts:

 

Bad example: “I’ve always been interested in technology and business, which is why the Texas CSB program is perfect for me. In high school, I took AP Computer Science and was a member of the business club. This combination taught me how both fields are important, and I want to continue exploring them in college. I think that Texas CSB will give me the opportunity to do this and help me in my future career, as both fields are especially relevant in our continually changing modern economy.”

 

As you can probably tell, this excerpt is vague and generic. The student provides only a shallow explanation of where their interest in these fields comes from, and doesn’t say anything about the intersection they see between them. There’s also no mention of specific experiences or how the Texas CSB program will help them achieve their career goals—or indeed what those goals even are. This could be a general response to any program’s application prompt.

 

In contrast, consider the following excerpt:

 

Good example: “In sophomore year, I worked with a local bakery to help them set up an online ordering system. While I had no previous experience with business, I quickly realized how crucial it was to understand customer behavior to create a user-friendly interface—that isn’t something we covered in my coding classes.

 

Over the next few months, I collaborated with the bakery’s owners to develop a simple but effective online store, complete with customer data analytics to track popular items and optimize pricing strategies. This project sparked my passion for technology and entrepreneurship by showing me how powerful these fields can be when combined.

 

Through the Texas CSB program, I hope to continue exploring this intersection. The program’s focus on interdisciplinary learning and hands-on projects will provide me with the skills I need to build innovative tech solutions for businesses. I am particularly excited about courses like ‘Data Structures’ and ‘Innovation & Entrepreneurship,’ which will allow me to apply my technical skills to real-world business challenges and prepare me to lead a tech startup of my own.”

 

This example is much more effective. It provides a specific story that shows how the student has already combined CS and business in the past, and reflects on how that experience has shaped their future goals. The student also references specific opportunities at Texas CSB to show that they’ve researched the program.

 

By following these tips and providing specific, reflective examples to anchor your points, you can craft a compelling essay that demonstrates your readiness for the Texas CSB program!

 

Texas Robotics Applicants

Why are you interested in robotics? How will this undergraduate robotics program help you achieve your personal and/or career goals? What impact do you hope to make in the field of robotics? Please limit your response to 500 words.

 

This prompt falls into the  “Why This Major?” archetype, with the added point asking you about your future career goals. The prompt asks you to connect three key ideas:

 

• Your personal connection to robotics — how your interest began and what drives it.
• UT Austin’s specific resources — how this program will help you reach your goals.
• Your long-term impact — what difference you want to make in the robotics world.

 

In other words: Why robotics? Why Texas Robotics? Why you?

 

The admissions team is looking for authenticity and specificity. They want to see that your interest is deep, sustained, and self-motivated, not just a buzzword-driven interest in AI or automation.

 

To start reflecting on ideas before you write, consider these brainstorming questions:

 

• When did you first become interested in robotics? Was it through a specific project, competition, or class?
• What problem in the world do you think robotics can solve? Why does that matter to you personally?
• Have you built, coded, or designed anything robotic before—even in a small way?
• Which disciplines of robotics (mechanical, electrical, software, AI, human-robot interaction, etc.) fascinate you the most?
• How does UT Austin’s interdisciplinary approach (through Texas Robotics and the Cockrell School of Engineering) align with your goals?
• What professors, labs, or projects at UT excite you? (Examples: The Human Centered Robotics Group, the Autonomous Mobile Robotics Laboratory, the Learning Agents Research Group)
• What impact do you hope your work will have—on healthcare, the environment, accessibility, or industry?

 

A good response will do several things. A strong essay will tell a story of curiosity. To that end, describe a moment that sparked your fascination—for example, a failed attempt to build a line-following robot in ninth grade that taught you patience and precision.

 

Next, a strong response will show technical and creative engagement. Talk about what specific aspects of robotics interest you—like control systems, computer vision, or prosthetic design—and what you’ve done to explore them.

 

Don’t forget to connect authentically to UT Austin. Reference specific opportunities, such as classes, laboratories, professors, and research opportunities. Also consider the university’s culture of collaboration across departments and UT’s emphasis on applied research.

 

Also, be sure to link to long-term impact. Show a purpose that’s bigger than yourself, such as improving accessibility for people with disabilities, developing sustainable robotic agriculture, or advancing ethical AI-human collaboration.

 

And finally, use vivid, personal storytelling. Your essay should feel like only you could have written it.

 

Consider these hypothetical student examples to see some ways in which this essay can take shape:

 

• Maya, the prosthetics innovator: Growing up with a sibling who lost mobility in one hand, Maya began tinkering with 3D-printed prosthetic designs in high school. She’s drawn to UT’s Human-Centered Robotics Lab and dreams of developing affordable, responsive prosthetics that blend AI-driven muscle feedback with low-cost materials.

 

• Leo, the autonomous agriculture researcher: After spending summers on his family’s ranch near Lubbock, Leo became fascinated by how robotics could address labor shortages and water efficiency in farming. He plans to study under Texas Robotics faculty, working on environmental and field robotics to create drones and robots that monitor crop health sustainably.

 

• Nisha, the AI ethics advocate: A computer science enthusiast passionate about fairness in AI, Nisha wants to explore human-robot interaction through the Learning Agents Research Group. She’s interested in building socially aware robots that assist elderly care populations—ensuring that empathy and equity guide future designs.

 

Let’s take a look at some good and bad example response excerpts in order to see the kinds of things that work and the kinds that don’t.

 

Good example: “The first robot I ever built couldn’t turn left. My ninth-grade science fair project—a cardboard rover powered by salvaged printer motors—spun helplessly in circles until 2 a.m. I was frustrated, but also fascinated: how could something as simple as one faulty motor disable the entire system? That night sparked my obsession with control systems.

 

At UT Austin, I’m eager to explore the Human-Centered Robotics Lab, where precise motion control meets human adaptability. Combining what I’ve learned in Python and CAD design with UT’s interdisciplinary Robotics Portfolio Program, I hope to develop autonomous prosthetics that translate neural signals into fluid motion.

 

In the long term, I want to design devices that restore independence to people with limb differences—not as replacements, but as empowering extensions of their identity.”

 

Why it works: This example begins with a vivid anecdote and shows technical growth and persistence. It connects clearly to UT Austin’s resources and the student’s future impact. Finally, it balances personal passion with professional purpose.

 

Bad example: “I’ve always been interested in technology and robots because they represent the future. UT Austin’s robotics program is one of the best in the nation, and I want to learn coding and design to help make robots that improve people’s lives. Courses like “Intro to Robotics” will give me the skills I need to succeed, and I look forward to collaborating with professors and peers who share my passion. In the future, I hope to create robots that make the world a better place.”

 

Why it doesn’t work: This example is generic; it could apply to any school. It lacks storytelling and a personal connection. It also lists opportunities without depth. Finally, phrases like “make the world a better place” are vague and clichéd.

 

Here are some common mistakes to avoid:

 

• Generic praise of the program: Don’t just say, “UT has a strong robotics program.” Explain why its interdisciplinary setup or specific labs align with your goals.
• Vague impact statements: Avoid phrases like “I want to make the world a better place.” Be concrete—how will you do it through robotics?
• Overly technical jargon: While some technical detail shows depth, make sure the essay reads smoothly for non-specialists too.
• Listing resources without context: Don’t just name-drop professors or labs—describe how you’d contribute to or learn from them.

 

Turing Scholars Applicants

Describe your significant activities, employment, and achievements, particularly those relevant to the study of computer science. Also describe your educational and career goals. Please limit your response to no more than 500 words.

 

This essay is a combination of the Extracurricular and “Why This Major?” archetypes. UT Austin wants to know two things: what you’ve done so far that’s relevant to computer science, and what your future goals are (as well as how computer science fits into these goals).

 

To start brainstorming, consider the following questions:

 

• What significant activities (clubs, projects, competitions, or personal initiatives) have you participated in that are relevant to computer science?
• Have you taken part in any coding competitions, hackathons, or other tech-related events?
• Have you held any internships or jobs where you developed technical skills, or worked on any projects related to computer science?
• What are your favorite programming languages or areas of computer science (e.g., AI, cybersecurity, software development, etc.)? How have you applied these concepts to real projects or experiences?
• What sparked your interest in computer science? Was it a class, a project, a mentor, or a particular event or experience?
• What are your long-term educational and career goals in the field of computer science?
• How does studying at UT Austin’s computer science department align with your goals?

 

You’re asked to describe specific activities, achievements, or employment that showcase your experience and interest in computer science, which means this is your chance to share how you’ve actively engaged with the field, whether through school clubs, internships, coding projects, competitions, or independent study.

 

The second part is all about your future. You’ll need to lay out your career aspirations and how studying computer science at UT Austin will help you achieve them. Think deeply about why this field excites you and where you want to take your passion.

 

Your response should balance your past experiences and future aspirations in computer science, but ideally with slightly more emphasis on your future. After all, UT Austin is trying to imagine who you’ll become over the next four years and beyond, not just understand who you are right now.

 

Let’s look over some example topics to show you how this essay can take shape:

 

• Student A’s love for coding started in middle school when he built his first game app on a simple coding platform for kids. He joined the computer science club in high school and led a team to develop a mobile app for managing school assignments. He also interned at a local software company, where he helped improve the UI/UX of their app. His essay focuses on these experiences to explain how he fell in love with user-centered design and how he hopes to continue working on app development at UT Austin by working at the Mobile & Pervasive Computing Lab.

 

• Student B developed a passion for cybersecurity after participating in her school’s CyberPatriot team, where she learned about network security and ethical hacking. She attended a summer camp on cybersecurity and had the opportunity to connect with someone who currently works for a large company analyzing system vulnerabilities. Her essay discusses her goal to pursue a career in cybersecurity, and how UT Austin’s Center for Identity and its focus on security align with her ambitions.

 

• Student C’s interest in computer science began with a fascination with AI and machine learning. He participated in a research project at his high school, where he worked with a mentor to develop an algorithm that could predict student performance based on study habits. His essay explains how this experience solidified his interest in AI, and how he looks forward to joining UT Austin’s Machine Learning Laboratory to further develop his skills and contribute to innovative research.

 

To craft a compelling essay, describe your experiences in computer science in detail, focusing on what you did, what you learned, and how these experiences shaped your passion for the field. Whether you’ve created an app, built a website, or participated in a robotics competition, explain your role and the technical skills you applied.

 

Also show why you love computer science! Don’t just list activities—describe what excites you about coding, algorithms, or technology. Have you spent late nights debugging a program because you were determined to solve a problem? Let the reader feel your enthusiasm.

 

While the prompt doesn’t explicitly ask you to address UT Austin, mentioning how their programs can help you is a great way to take your essay to the next level. Look at specific courses, professors, research labs, or student organizations that align with your interests.

 

These should be things that can’t be found at any other school—rather than just vaguely saying you’d like to do research, identify a specific project UT Austin has been involved in that you find intriguing. In other words, what do you see as unique about UT Austin’s computer science program, and why does it appeal to you?

 

Finally, you’ll need to articulate where you see yourself in the future. Whether you’re aiming to work in software development, AI, cybersecurity, or data science, tie your past experiences to your long-term ambitions. Be sure to explain how a computer science degree, from UT Austin specifically, will help you achieve your goals.

 

To see how to put it all together, let’s check out some example response excerpts:

 

“I have always been interested in computer science because I love solving problems. In high school, I took computer science classes and participated in various extracurriculars, including coding competitions and a summer camp. I am passionate about technology and believe it is the future of our society. My goal is to become a software developer and work for a big tech company like Google or Microsoft. I believe that UT Austin will give me the knowledge and skills I need to succeed.”

 

As you’ve probably already guessed, this response is too vague and generic. The student doesn’t provide specific examples of their activities or reflect on what they’ve learned. Their passion for computer science is mentioned but not demonstrated through personal anecdotes. Additionally, their career goals are generic, and there’s no clear connection to UT Austin’s unique offerings.

 

In contrast, consider this other example:

 

“The steady hum of the CPU filled my room as I frantically scrolled through pages of code. I was determined to solve the bug in my program, but my brain felt like it was running in circles. After hours of trying different approaches, I finally found the error—an unclosed bracket. This small victory is one of the many reasons I love computer science.

 

My journey began when I joined my school’s robotics team. I was tasked with programming our robot for the regional competition, and, although it was my first time coding, I became captivated by the logic and creativity required to bring the robot to life. Since then, I’ve developed several small apps, from a weather tracker to a virtual pet.

 

My most significant achievement was creating a platform that helps students manage their homework, which taught me how software development can be used to enhance educational experiences. Through Turing Scholars, the honors core classes I would take during my first two years would give me the comprehensive foundation I need to develop a more sophisticated sense of how computer science can be harnessed to drive education forward.”

 

This response, as opposed to the first one, is engaging and personal. It starts with a vivid anecdote that shows the student’s determination and passion for coding. The student then gives specific examples of their projects and links these experiences to their future career goals. Finally, mentioning a feature of the Turing Scholars Honors Program demonstrates that the student has researched UT Austin and sees how the university can support their particular ambitions.

 

By following these guidelines, you can create a compelling, personal, and well-rounded essay that demonstrates your passion for computer science and your fit for UT Austin’s program.

 

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