utah state application essay prompts

Search Utah State University:

Earned admission, we want you at usu.

Not only do we want to welcome you to Utah State, we also want to help you succeed as an Aggie. Please take time to review your next steps  which will  help qualify you for admission and ensure you’re prepared for academic life at Utah State. NOTE: Follow the next steps and requirements based on your GPA.  

Spring 2024 Students

2.0 - 2.79 GPA

1.99 GPA or Below

What Is Earned Admission

If your high school GPA is between a 2.0-2.79, our Earned Admission pathway can help you qualify for admission to Utah State.

With our Earned Admission path, you complete an online, self-paced Preparing for College Workshop prior to the beginning of the semester you plan to start attending USU. In this workshop you will identify your own strengths and challenges, define the habits of mind of a successful college student, meet with an Aggie Advocate, and register for courses that will help you succeed at USU. Upon completion of the workshop, you will have earned admission to USU in good standing.

The Preparing for College Workshop must be completed by the deadline for the semester you plan to enroll at USU. If you are not able to complete the workshop by the completion deadline, you can request to move your admission to the next available term. Please plan accordingly and begin as soon as possible.

There is no cost to the Preparing for College Workshop. However, there are check points along the way that must be completed prior to confirming your enrollment, signing an on-campus housing contract, starting new student orientation, and registering for classes.

If you are not able to complete the student success course by the deadline, you will be dropped from your USU courses and on-campus housing (if applicable).

If your high school GPA is between a 2.0-2.79, our Earned Admission pathway can help you qualify for admission to Utah State. Learn more

• Your Next Steps
• Apply for admission to USU (if you haven't already done so).
• Read the full terms & conditions for the Earned Admission pathway.
• Schedule a meeting to talk with your assigned admissions specialist about the Preparing for College Workshop.
• Create your USU password . Your USU password requires you to know your A-Number and is used to log in to most USU systems. 
• Register for workshop .
• Access workshop (after registering).
• Be admitted and become an Aggie. Visit usu.edu/whatsnext for more information about confirming your enrollment, signing an on-campus housing contract, and starting orientation.
• Deadlines & Timeline

Start today – While you can complete the Preparing for College Workshop at your own pace, keep the following deadlines in mind to avoid having to adjust your admission term to a later semester.

• Qualify for Admission — Upon completion of the workshop, you will be admitted in good standing to a four-year program at USU.
• Develop Skills — Identify your own strengths and challenges as it relates to college success.
• Receive Support — You will work with an Aggie Advocate who will help you identify and register for USU classes.
• USU Class Registration — You will be able to complete orientation and register for USU classes on time, with your class (after completing the workshop).
• Student Life — You can sign a contract for on-campus housing after completing the workshop, so you’re ready to live on campus your first semester and experience Aggie life. Make sure to sign up early to get a spot.
• Optional Courses — Y ou also have access to optional study skills, English, and math prep classes to further set you up for success.

Terms and Conditions

Please note that by accepting this Earned Admission pathway you are agreeing to the following:

• I understand that I am admitted to Utah State University only after completing the Preparing for College Workshop by the deadline. Only admitted students can pay the enrollment deposit, sign an on-campus housing contract, begin orientation, and register for classes.
• I understand that I need to enroll in and begin the Preparing for College Workshop by the posted deadline for the semester I wish to enroll.
• I understand that I can work with USU to change my admission offer to the next available semester if needed.
• Eligibility Requirements

To participate in the Earned Admission path students must:

• Have a cumulative high school GPA between a 2.0-2.79
• Be a domestic U.S. student (International students are currently not eligible for this path)
• Be an incoming first-year or transfer student with less than 24 post-high school credits
• Have applied for admission to USU within the past year (Apply at applynow.usu.edu )
• Receive a formal offer from the Admissions Office to participate in the Earned Admission path
• Contact Information

For more information, please contact the Admission Office at 435-797-1079 or [email protected] .

For detailed information about the Earned Admission pathway, schedule a meeting to talk with your assigned admissions specialist .

• Program FAQ

Can all students participate in the Earned Admission path?

• Be a Domestic U.S. Student. (International Students are currently not eligible for this path.)  
• Be an incoming first-time freshman or a transfer student with less than 24 post high school credits.
• Have applied for Admission to USU within the past year. (Please apply at applynow.usu.edu.)
• Have received a formal offer from the Admissions Office to participate in the Earned Admission path. (While lower high school grades will not disqualify a student from being considered for the Earned Admission path, applicants are still required to demonstrate that they meet all non-academic university admissions requirements such as meeting the university’s English proficiency requirement and demonstrating that they can behaviorally be a good citizen at USU.)  

Is there a cost for the Preparing for College Workshop?

Do i receive credit for completing the preparing for college workshop, am i considered to be an enrolled usu student while i take the preparing for college workshop.

No. You will take the Preparing for College Workshop prior to being admitted to Utah State University, so you are not considered to be an enrolled (or matriculated) student while you take this workshop. 

Can I sign an on-campus housing contract before I complete the Preparing for College Workshop?

Can i attend athletic events, use the computer lab, live on on-campus housing, or use various usu student services while i take the preparing for college workshop, what if i don’t complete the preparing for college workshop before the deadline for my first semester, am i fully admitted to usu after i complete the preparing for college workshop, can transfer students and returning usu students do earned admission, how do i sign up for the college success workshop, what happens when i finish the preparing for college workshop, will i be admitted to my chosen major, is there a timeline to finish the preparing for college workshop, how do i move my admission to the next available term, will i receive a usu email account when i register for the preparing for college workshop.

• Optional Courses

The Preparing for College Workshop is required, but you will have access to optional study skills, English, and math prep classes through our partnership with Straighterline (a company that provides self-paced online courses) .

For questions and help with these Straighterline courses, please email our Straighterline student support team at  [email protected] .

Student Success (optional)

English (optional), math (optional), on this page.

• What is Earned Admission
• Terms & Conditions

CollegeVine's essay prompt database

Find your college’s application essay prompts for 2023-24

Latest essay prompts for the top 100 schools.

At CollegeVine, our goal is to make the college application process a little less stressful, so we’ve compiled the latest essay prompts for the top 100 schools in one easy, searchable database.

Also, every year we create free guides on “ How to Write X School’s Essays ” for the top 100 schools. In these guides, we give you tips and tricks on how to approach each prompt. As such, our prompt database also contains a link to each school's Essay Breakdown.

Manage your college essays in one place for free.

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60+ College Essay Prompts From Actual 2023-2024 Applications

Ideas to inspire every college applicant.

Writing a college application essay can be a stressful task for a lot of students. The more practice they get in advance, the better! This roundup of college essay prompts gives applicants a chance to explore their thinking, polish their writing, and prepare to make the best possible impression on selection committees. Every one of these questions is taken from real college applications for the 2023-2024 season, so they’re meaningful and applicable to today’s high school seniors.

Common App 2023-2024 College Essay Prompts

2023-2024 coalition for college essay prompts, life experiences college essay prompts, personal college essay prompts, academics college essay prompts, creative college essay prompts.

Hundreds of colleges and universities use the Common App process . For many schools, this includes responding to one of several college essay topics, which can change each year. Here are the essay prompts for the current application cycle (check with your chosen school/s to see if an essay is required).

• Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
• The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

• Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
• Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
• Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

• Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
• Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

More than 150 colleges and universities use the Coalition for College process . Here are their essay prompts for 2023-2024.

• Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.

• What interests or excites you? How does it shape who you are now or who you might become in the future?
• Describe a time when you had a positive impact on others. What were the challenges? What were the rewards?
• Has there been a time when an idea or belief of yours was questioned? How did you respond? What did you learn?
• What success have you achieved or obstacle have you faced? What advice would you give a sibling or friend going through a similar experience?

• Submit an essay on a topic of your choice.

Answer these questions by sharing specific examples from your own experience.

• Who is your favorite conversation partner? What do you discuss with that person?
• Discuss a time when reflection or introspection led to clarity or understanding of an issue that is important to you.
• Share an example of how you have used your own critical-thinking skills on a specific subject, project, idea, or interest.

• Describe a time when you were challenged by a perspective that differed from your own. How did you respond?
• What are the best words of advice you have received? Who shared them, and how have you applied them in your own life?
• Elaborate on an activity or experience you have had that made an impact on a community that is important to you.
• Using your personal, academic, or volunteer/work experiences, describe the topics or issues that you care about and why they are important to you.
• Who do you agree with on the big, important things, or who do you have your most interesting disagreements with? What are you agreeing or disagreeing about?
• Reflect on a personal experience where you intentionally expanded your cultural awareness.
• When was the last time you questioned something you had thought to be true?
• Discuss the significance to you of the school or summer activity in which you have been most involved.
• Reflect on a time when you or someone you observed had to make a choice about whether to act with integrity and honesty.
• Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time.

• Describe a time you did not meet expectations and what impact the experience had on you.

These essay topics give schools a better sense of who you are, what you value, and the kind of student citizen you might be.

• What drives you to create, and what do you hope to make or have you made?
• Which book, character, song, monologue, or piece of work (fiction or nonfiction) seems made for you? Why?
• What would you want your future college roommate to know about you?
• How has your own background influenced the types of problems you want to solve, the people you want to work with, and the impact you hope your work can have?

• Describe any meaningful travel experiences you’ve had.
• What would you want to be different in your own country or community to further principles of equality, equity, or social justice?
• What strength or quality do you have that most people might not see or recognize?
• If you could live your life fighting for one cause, what would it be and why?
• What gives meaning to your life?
• If you wrote a letter to yourself to be opened in 20 years, what would it say?
• If you had the power to change the course of history in your community or the world, what would you do and why?

• Choose one of the communities to which you belong, and describe that community and your place within it.
• What is the greatest compliment you have ever been given? Why was it meaningful to you?
• Explain how a text you’ve read—fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or literature of any kind—has helped you to understand the world’s complexity.

Topics like these show your academic interests and demonstrate your commitment to learning and discovery.

• What does it mean to you to be educated?
• What is your motivation for pursuing higher education?
• Describe your reasons for wanting to attend the specific school you’re applying to. Who or what factored into your decision?
• Academic inquiry starts with bold questions. What are some of the bold questions you have pondered that get you excited, and why do they interest you?

• What has been your best academic experience in the last two years, and what made it so good?
• If you decide to take a “gap year” between high school and college, what would you do during that time?
• Many schools place a high value on diverse student populations. How can you contribute to and support a diverse and inclusive student population at your chosen school?
• Imagine you were just awarded a research grant for a project of your choice. What are you researching and why?
• What do you love about the subject(s) you selected as potential major(s)? If undecided, share more about one of your academic passions.

• Describe a time when you’ve felt empowered or represented by an educator.
• Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.

Use these college essay topics to show off your creativity and innovative thinking.

• You are tasked with creating a new category for the Nobel Prize. Explain what it would be, why you chose your specific category, and the criteria necessary to achieve this accomplishment.

• Pick one person—a historical figure, fictitious character, or modern individual—to converse with for an hour, and explain your choice.
• If you could witness a historic event (past, present, or future) firsthand, what would it be and why?
• If you could have a theme song, what would it be and why?
• Discuss a book that you would call a “great book.” What makes the book great in your view?
• If you could give any historical figure any piece of technology, who and what would it be, and why do you think they’d work so well together?
• If I could travel anywhere, I would go to …
• My favorite thing about last Tuesday was …
• Write a short thank-you note to someone you have not yet thanked and would like to acknowledge.
• If you had 10 minutes and the attention of a million people, what would your TED Talk be about?
• What are your three favorite words in the English language? Explain what they mean to you.
• Imagine that you could have one superpower. What would it be and how would you use it? What would be your kryptonite?

• Which Ben & Jerry’s ice cream flavor (real or imagined) best describes you?
• If you could create a college course that all students would take, what would it be about and why?
• What website is the internet missing?

How do you help your students prepare their college application essays? Come share your ideas and ask for advice in the We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook .

Plus, check out  the ultimate guide to college scholarships.

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10 Winning Scholarship Essay Examples From Real Students

Make your application shine. Continue Reading

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Utah State University Requirements for Admission

Choose your test.

What are Utah State University's admission requirements? While there are a lot of pieces that go into a college application, you should focus on only a few critical things:

• GPA requirements
• Testing requirements, including SAT and ACT requirements
• Application requirements

In this guide we'll cover what you need to get into Utah State University and build a strong application.

School location: Logan, UT

This school is also known as: USU

Admissions Rate: 93.7%

If you want to get in, the first thing to look at is the acceptance rate. This tells you how competitive the school is and how serious their requirements are.

The acceptance rate at Utah State University is 93.7% . For every 100 applicants, 94 are admitted.

This means the school is a nearly open admissions school. They accept nearly all students, so for the most part, you just need to submit an application to get in. But if you don't meet all their application requirements, you'll be one of the very few people who gets rejected.

We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies . We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools , from state colleges to the Ivy League.

We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools.

Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.

Utah State University GPA Requirements

Many schools specify a minimum GPA requirement, but this is often just the bare minimum to submit an application without immediately getting rejected.

The GPA requirement that really matters is the GPA you need for a real chance of getting in. For this, we look at the school's average GPA for its current students.

Average GPA: 3.61

The average GPA at Utah State University is 3.61 .

(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA.

With a GPA of 3.61, Utah State University requires you to be above average in your high school class. You'll need at least a mix of A's and B's, with more A's than B's. You can compensate for a lower GPA with harder classes, like AP or IB classes. This will show that you're able to handle more difficult academics than the average high school student.

SAT and ACT Requirements

Each school has different requirements for standardized testing. Only a few schools require the SAT or ACT, but many consider your scores if you choose to submit them.

Utah State University hasn't explicitly named a policy on SAT/ACT requirements, but because it's published average SAT or ACT scores (we'll cover this next), it's likely test flexible. Typically, these schools say, "if you feel your SAT or ACT score represents you well as a student, submit them. Otherwise, don't."

Despite this policy, the truth is that most students still take the SAT or ACT, and most applicants to Utah State University will submit their scores. If you don't submit scores, you'll have one fewer dimension to show that you're worthy of being admitted, compared to other students. We therefore recommend that you consider taking the SAT or ACT, and doing well.

Utah State University SAT Requirements

Many schools say they have no SAT score cutoff, but the truth is that there is a hidden SAT requirement. This is based on the school's average score.

Average SAT: 1180

The average SAT score composite at Utah State University is a 1180 on the 1600 SAT scale.

This score makes Utah State University Competitive for SAT test scores.

Utah State University SAT Score Analysis (New 1600 SAT)

The 25th percentile SAT score is 1070, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1300. In other words, a 1070 on the SAT places you below average, while a 1300 will move you up to above average .

Here's the breakdown of SAT scores by section:

SAT Score Choice Policy

The Score Choice policy at your school is an important part of your testing strategy.

Utah State University has the Score Choice policy of "All Scores."

This means that Utah State University requires you to send all SAT scores you've ever taken to their office.

This sounds daunting, but most schools don't actually consider all your scores equally. For example, if you scored an 1300 on one test and a 1500 on another, they won't actually average the two tests.

More commonly, the school will take your highest score on a single test date. Even better, some schools form a Superscore - that is, they take your highest section score across all your test dates and combine them.

Some students are still worried about submitting too many test scores. They're afraid that Utah State University will look down on too many attempts to raise your score. But how many is too many?

From our research and talking to admissions officers, we've learned that 4-6 tests is a safe number to submit . The college understands that you want to have the best chance of admission, and retaking the test is a good way to do this. Within a reasonable number of tests, they honestly don't care how many times you've taken it. They'll just focus on your score.

If you take it more than 6 times, colleges start wondering why you're not improving with each test. They'll question your study skills and ability to improve.

But below 6 tests, we strongly encourage retaking the test to maximize your chances. If your SAT score is currently below a 1070, we strongly recommend that you consider prepping for the SAT and retaking it . You don't have much to lose, and you can potentially raise your score and significantly boost your chances of getting in.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

Utah State University ACT Requirements

Just like for the SAT, Utah State University likely doesn't have a hard ACT cutoff, but if you score too low, your application will get tossed in the trash.

Average ACT: 24

The average ACT score at Utah State University is 24. This score makes Utah State University Moderately Competitive for ACT scores.

The 25th percentile ACT score is 20, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 27.

ACT Score Sending Policy

If you're taking the ACT as opposed to the SAT, you have a huge advantage in how you send scores, and this dramatically affects your testing strategy.

Here it is: when you send ACT scores to colleges, you have absolute control over which tests you send. You could take 10 tests, and only send your highest one. This is unlike the SAT, where many schools require you to send all your tests ever taken.

This means that you have more chances than you think to improve your ACT score. To try to aim for the school's ACT requirement of 20 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can. When you have the final score that you're happy with, you can then send only that score to all your schools.

ACT Superscore Policy

By and large, most colleges do not superscore the ACT. (Superscore means that the school takes your best section scores from all the test dates you submit, and then combines them into the best possible composite score). Thus, most schools will just take your highest ACT score from a single sitting.

We weren't able to find the school's exact ACT policy, which most likely means that it does not Superscore. Regardless, you can choose your single best ACT score to send in to Utah State University, so you should prep until you reach our recommended target ACT score of 20.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and ACT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

SAT/ACT Writing Section Requirements

Currently, only the ACT has an optional essay section that all students can take. The SAT used to also have an optional Essay section, but since June 2021, this has been discontinued unless you are taking the test as part of school-day testing in a few states. Because of this, no school requires the SAT Essay or ACT Writing section, but some schools do recommend certain students submit their results if they have them.

Utah State University considers the SAT Essay/ACT Writing section optional and may not include it as part of their admissions consideration. You don't need to worry too much about Writing for this school, but other schools you're applying to may require it.

Final Admissions Verdict

This school offers nearly open admissions, which means they give almost every student an offer of admission. To be safe, you should aim for a 1070 SAT or a 20 ACT or higher . If you can achieve this, you're pretty much guaranteed a spot in the incoming class.

Admissions Calculator

Here's our custom admissions calculator. Plug in your numbers to see what your chances of getting in are. Pick your test: SAT ACT

• 80-100%: Safety school: Strong chance of getting in
• 50-80%: More likely than not getting in
• 20-50%: Lower but still good chance of getting in
• 5-20%: Reach school: Unlikely to get in, but still have a shot
• 0-5%: Hard reach school: Very difficult to get in

How would your chances improve with a better score?

Take your current SAT score and add 160 points (or take your ACT score and add 4 points) to the calculator above. See how much your chances improve?

At PrepScholar, we've created the leading online SAT/ACT prep program . We guarantee an improvement of 160 SAT points or 4 ACT points on your score, or your money back.

Here's a summary of why we're so much more effective than other prep programs:

• PrepScholar customizes your prep to your strengths and weaknesses . You don't waste time working on areas you already know, so you get more results in less time.
• We guide you through your program step-by-step so that you're never confused about what you should be studying. Focus all your time learning, not worrying about what to learn.
• Our team is made of national SAT/ACT experts . PrepScholar's founders are Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers . You'll be studying using the strategies that actually worked for them.
• We've gotten tremendous results with thousands of students across the country. Read about our score results and reviews from our happy customers .

There's a lot more to PrepScholar that makes it the best SAT/ACT prep program. Click to learn more about our program , or sign up for our 5-day free trial to check out PrepScholar for yourself:

Application Requirements

Every school requires an application with the bare essentials - high school transcript and GPA, application form, and other core information. Many schools, as explained above, also require SAT and ACT scores, as well as letters of recommendation, application essays, and interviews. We'll cover the exact requirements of Utah State University here.

Application Requirements Overview

• Common Application Not accepted
• Electronic Application Available
• Essay or Personal Statement
• Letters of Recommendation
• Interview Not required
• Application Fee $50
• Fee Waiver Available? Not available
• Other Notes

Testing Requirements

• SAT or ACT Considered if submitted
• SAT Essay or ACT Writing Optional
• SAT Subject Tests
• Scores Due in Office None

Coursework Requirements

• Subject Required Years
• Foreign Language
• Social Studies
• Electives 4

Deadlines and Early Admissions

• Offered? Deadline Notification
• Yes Rolling Rolling

Admissions Office Information

• Address: Old Main Hill Logan, UT 84322
• Phone: (800) 488-8108 x8108
• Fax: (435) 797-3900
• Email: [email protected]

Other Schools For You

If you're interested in Utah State University, you'll probably be interested in these schools as well. We've divided them into 3 categories depending on how hard they are to get into, relative to Utah State University.

Reach Schools: Harder to Get Into

These schools are have higher average SAT scores than Utah State University. If you improve your SAT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.

Same Level: Equally Hard to Get Into

If you're competitive for Utah State University, these schools will offer you a similar chance of admission.

Safety Schools: Easier to Get Into

If you're currently competitive for Utah State University, you should have no problem getting into these schools. If Utah State University is currently out of your reach, you might already be competitive for these schools.

Data on this page is sourced from Peterson's Databases © 2023 (Peterson's LLC. All rights reserved.) as well as additional publicly available sources.

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Bsn application process.

The BSN (Logan) Nursing program is admitting students twice per year – for fall and spring semesters. Students who apply from January 1 to February 15 will be considered for Fall admission. Students who apply from July 1 to August 15 will be considered for Spring admission.

• Fall 2024: 30 students will be admitted
• Spring 2025: 30 students will be admitted

Complete Application

• Submit all official college transcripts (if transfer student) ; or high school or GED verification to USU Admissions.
• TOEFL score is required for non-native English-speaking students.

Complete Prerequisites

• Prerequisite course requirements must be completed with a grade of “B-” or better. Three course attempts for any one prerequisite course will be accepted, with a maximum of 10 total repeats, including transfer or equivalent courses.
• BIOL 2060 Microbiology
• BIOL 2320 Human Anatomy
• BIOL 2420 Human Physiology (within 5 years of admission date)
• Chemistry: CHEM 1110 General Chemistry I and CHEM 1115 General Chemistry I Laboratory* (CHEM 1115 not required, if not offered where CHEM 1110 was completed.)
• HDFS 1500 Human Development Across the Lifespan
• STAT 1040 Introduction to Statistics, or
• STAT 1045 Introduction to Statistics with Elements of Algebra, or
• STAT 2000 Statistical Methods
• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) or Medical Assistant (MA) certficate.

Pay Nursing Application Fee

Complete online bsn application.

• Submit copy of receipt for non-refundable $59.00 application fee in PDF format .
• Application Essay . Be prepared to write about your own personal experiences with topics such as care of others, life challenges, responsible behaviors, the many facets of diversity, and success. Essay questions and instructions will be emailed to applicants each Friday during the application cycle. (If you submit your application on Tuesday, you will receive the essay instructions and questions on Friday. If you submit your application on Saturday, you will receive the essay questions the following Friday.) You will not see these questions as you upload your documents. Check your email junk/spam folders. 
• Resume . A template is provided to list your education, employment, and other information in a standard format. Calculate in advance the number of hours you’ve worked as a CNA or MA, if applicable. You will have the opportunity to list your other employment. The template does not need to be re-uploaded as a PDF document.
• Proctored at a USU testing center. Instructions for registering .
• All sections of the HESI A2 exam are required, except  for the Physics section.
• Elsevier offers a study guide to prepare for the exam.
• This is an assessment that will take less than 30 minutes to complete and can be taken at home. You will be sent an email from [email protected] to a link to access the assessment after you have submitted your application. Please remember to check your junk/spam folders if you do not see the email shortly after you submit your application. 

Application Process

• General application
• Resume template - The template does not need to be re-uploaded as a PDF document.
• HESI A2 exam results
• MHS EQ-i 2.0 assessment
• Application Essay questions - Essay questions and instructions will be emailed to applicants on Fridays throughout the application cycle. You will not see these questions as you upload your documents. Check your email junk/spam folders.
• Video interviews

Students will be notified of application status, and whether or not it was advanced to the subsequent phase. Meeting the minimum requirements to apply to the Nursing Program does not guarantee acceptance.

Courses to complete by spring or fall semester of the application year.

The following courses are program prerequisites and must be completed with a B- grade or better. For Fall admission , these courses must be completed by the Spring semester of your application year. For Spring admission , these courses must be completed by the Fall semester of your application year (the semester before you plan to enter the program). 

• CHEM 1120 General Chemistry II
• CHEM 1125 General Chemistry II Lab
• NDFS 1020 Science and Application of Human Nutrition
• NURS 2500 Pathophysiology for Nursing

Accepting Position

Upon admission, scholarship application.

A wide variety of  scholarships are available to nursing students. For Fall semester entry to the program, apply for scholarships by the May 1 deadline. For Spring semester entry , apply by the October 24 deadline. 

Meet Preclinical Requirements

• Create or update your USU   compliance management tool with American Databank (ADB)
• Urine drug screen and background check - initiated with your ADB/Complio account
• Immunization records, especially Hepatitis B immunity (requirement is a reactive/positive Hepatitis B titer blood draw) - start gathering documents early

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, college essay prompts: complete list, analysis, and advice.

College Admissions , College Essays

When talking about college essays, we tend to focus on the Common Application prompts , and it's true that many students will need to write a Common App essay. However, there are actually quite a few schools, including both public and private universities, that don't use the Common App and instead ask applicants to respond to their own college essay prompts.

Luckily, college essay prompts tend to be pretty similar to each other. In this guide, I'll list all the college essay questions for popular schools in the US (and a few abroad) and then break down the patterns to help you brainstorm topics and plan how to approach multiple essays efficiently. After reading this guide, you'll be able to strategize which essays you'll write for which colleges.

Feature image: Mayr /Flickr

Why Do Colleges Ask For an Essay?

The short answer: the essay gives admissions committees a sense of your personality beyond the statistics on the rest of your application. The essay is your chance to show the committee your unique perspective and impress them with your maturity and insight.

College application essay prompts are written with this goal in mind. Admissions officers want to give you the chance to share your interests, aspirations, and views on the world, so most prompts ask about how your experiences have shaped you or what you're excited about studying or doing in college. I've collected a ton of examples below and provided some analysis to help you begin planning and crafting your own essays.

Keep in mind that the personal statement alone won't be enough to get you in— your grades and test scores are still the most important factors in your application . That being said, a stellar essay can help bring a borderline applicant over the top or give an excellent but not extraordinary student the opportunity to stand out in a competitive applicant pool.

As such, the essay tends to matter most for very competitive schools. Non-competitive schools generally don't ask you to submit an essay.

Complete List of College Essay Prompts

This list collects the 2022 college essay prompts for major state universities, top-50 schools, and other popular schools which have their own unique questions. They're divided by region, with all optional essays listed at the end.

I left off the Common App supplements, as those often require a substantially different approach. I also stuck to four-year schools, meaning I didn't include special two-year programs, such as Deep Springs College or Miami Dade College's Honors Program (both of which require essays).

Finally, note that these prompts are for freshman applicants, so the requirements might be different for transfer students .

General Applications

There are three general applications you can use to apply to many different schools at once:

Common Application

Universal college application, coalition application.

Each application has its own personal statement requirement. Some schools will ask for additional supplemental essays.

Many more schools accept the Common App than they do the UCA or Coalition Application , though some will accept more than one of these applications.

For the Common App essay, you pick one of the prompts and write 250-650 words about it. Here are the prompts for the 2022-2023 school year:

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma—anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

The UCA essay prompt is completely open ended and has a 650-word limit. Here is the 2022-2023 prompt:

Please write an essay that demonstrates your ability to develop and communicate your thoughts. Some ideas include: a person you admire; a life-changing experience; or your viewpoint on a particular current event.

For the Coalition Application, you'll pick one of five prompts listed below. While there is no hard word limit, the range guidelines are 500-650 words. Here are the prompts for 2022-2023:

What interests or excites you? How does it shape who you are now or who you might become in the future?

Describe a time when you had a positive impact on others. What were the challenges? What were the rewards?

Has there been a time when an idea or belief of yours was questioned? How did you respond? What did you learn?

What success have you achieved or obstacle have you faced? What advice would you give a sibling or friend going through a similar experience?

Now that you know the essay requirements for the three general applications, let’s look at the application essays for specific schools . To keep things organized, we’ve grouped schools based on the region of the US in which they’re located.

Northeast/Mid-Atlantic

The Great Dome at MIT

Georgetown University

Georgetown asks applicants to write one short essay (about half a single-spaced page) and two longer essays (approximately one single-spaced page each). Each applicant must respond to the first two prompts and can choose among the other four based on the specific program she's interested in.

Short Essay: Briefly (approximately one-half page, single-spaced) discuss the significance to you of the school or summer activity in which you have been most involved.

All Applicants: As Georgetown is a diverse community, the Admissions Committee would like to know more about you in your own words. Please submit a brief essay, either personal or creative, which you feel best describes you.

Applicants to Georgetown College: What does it mean to you to be educated? How might Georgetown College help you achieve this aim? (Applicants to the Sciences and Mathematics or the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics should address their chosen course of study).

Applicants to the School of Nursing & Health Studies: Describe the factors that have influenced your interest in studying health care. Please specifically address your intended major (Global Health, Health Care Management & Policy, Human Science, or Nursing).

Applicants to the Walsh School of Foreign Service: The Walsh School of Foreign Service was founded more than a century ago to prepare generations of leaders to solve global problems. What is motivating you to dedicate your undergraduate studies to a future in service to the world?

Applicants to the McDonough School of Business: The McDonough School of Business is a national and global leader in providing graduates with essential ethical, analytical, financial and global perspectives. Please discuss your motivations for studying business at Georgetown.

For more Georgetown application tips, check out our articles on the Georgetown essays and how to get into Georgetown .

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

MIT doesn't ask for a single personal statement but rather asks applicants to respond to a series of questions with just a paragraph or two of about 200 words each .

We know you lead a busy life, full of activities, many of which are required of you. Tell us about something you do simply for the pleasure of it.

Describe the world you come from (for example, your family, clubs, school, community, city, or town). How has that world shaped your dreams and aspirations?

MIT brings people with diverse backgrounds and experiences together to better the lives of others. Our students work to improve their communities in different ways, from tackling the world’s biggest challenges to being a good friend. Describe one way you have collaborated with people who are different from you to contribute to your community.

Tell us about a significant challenge you've faced (that you feel comfortable sharing) or something that didn't go according to plan. How did you manage the situation?

For more details on how to get into MIT , read our other articles on the MIT application process , tips for MIT essays , and an example of a real MIT acceptance letter !

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Indiana University Bloomington

IU asks for 200-400 words on your plans and interests.

Describe your academic and career plans and any special interest (for example, undergraduate research, academic interests, leadership opportunities, etc.) that you are eager to pursue as an undergraduate at Indiana University. If you encountered any unusual circumstances, challenges, or obstacles in pursuit of your education, share those experiences and how you overcame them. Please note that this essay may be used in scholarship consideration.

University of Illinois

The University of Illinois asks for two essays (or three only if you selected a second-choice major other than what's noted on your application). All responses should be approximately 150 words.

You'll answer two to three prompts as part of your application. The questions you'll answer will depend on whether you're applying to a major or to our undeclared program, and if you've selected a second choice. Each response should be approximately 150 words. If You're Applying to a Major: 1.  Explain, in detail, an experience you've had in the past 3 to 4 years related to your first-choice major. This can be an experience from an extracurricular activity, in a class you’ve taken, or through something else. 2.  Describe your personal and/or career goals after graduating from UIUC and how your selected first-choice major will help you achieve them. If You're Applying to Our Undeclared Program in the Division of General Studies: 1.  What are your academic interests and strengths? You may also include any majors you are considering. 2.  What are your future academic or career goals? If You've Selected a Second-Choice Major (Including Undeclared): Please explain your interest in your second-choice major or your overall academic or career goals.

If you're applying to UIUC, check out our UIUC essay tips article as well!

University of Wisconsin–Madison

All applicants must complete two essays for UW–Madison. The essays should be 250-650 words in length and may be used for scholarship and campus program review.

If you apply through the Common Application, you’ll be asked to reply to one of the freshman Common Application essays in lieu of the first essay prompt below, but you’ll be required to respond to the second prompt below. 

If you apply through the UW System Application, the following two essays are required:

This part is all about you. Tell us about something you've done — academically or personally — and what you've learned from it. Was it a success or a challenge? Did it represent a turning point in your life? How did this particular moment in your life influence you, and how will it continue to influence you as you pursue your college education?

Tell us why you would like to attend the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In addition, please include why you are interested in studying the major(s) you have selected. If you selected undecided please describe your areas of possible academic interest.

Kyle Field at Texas A&M ( Ed Schipul /Flickr)

The ApplyTexas application is used by all Texas public universities and some private colleges. There are four ApplyTexas essay prompts. Which ones you need to respond to will depend on where you're applying. UT Austin, for example, requires applicants to submit at least one essay responding to Topic A on the ApplyTexas application. .

While there's no set word limit, the online application will cut off each essay at 120 lines (~1000 words).

Topic A: Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today?

Topic B: Most students have an identity, an interest, or a talent that defines them in an essential way. Tell us about yourself.

Topic C: You've got a ticket in your hand – Where will you go? What will you do? What will happen when you get there?

Topic D: Please Note: The essay in this section is specific to certain college majors and is not required by all colleges/universities that accept the Apply Texas Application. If you are not applying for a major in Architecture, Art, Art History, Design, Studio Art, Visual Art Studies/Art Education , you are not required to write this essay.

Personal interaction with objects, images and spaces can be so powerful as to change the way one thinks about particular issues or topics. For your intended area of study (architecture, art history, design, studio art, visual art studies/art education), describe an experience where instruction in that area or your personal interaction with an object, image or space effected this type of change in your thinking. What did you do to act upon your new thinking and what have you done to prepare yourself for further study in this area?

We go into all the ApplyTexas prompts in detail here !

University of Georgia

For UGA, applicants must write two essays, one 200-300 words and one 250-650 words . Both essays are required for all applicants. The longer personal essay uses the Common Application prompts for 2023 ; the prompt for the shorter essay is as follows:

The c ollege admissions process can create anxiety. In an attempt to make it less stressful, please tell us an interesting or amusing story about yourself from your high school years that you have not already shared in your application.

For a more detailed discussion of the UGA essays, read this article .

The Campanile at UC Berkeley

University of California

Students applying to the UC system must respond to four out of eight short personal insight questions. The maximum word count for each response is 350 words.

• Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.
• Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.
• What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
• Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
• Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?
• Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.
• What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
• Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?

Learn more about the UC essays , the UC application , and how to choose which UC schools to apply to with our complete guides .

University of Oregon

Applicants to the University of Oregon are required to submit one essay of 650 words or fewer. You also have the option to write a second essay (maximum of 500 words), but it’s not required.

The essay prompts are as follows:

The UO is interested in learning more about you. Write an essay of 650 words or less that shares information that we cannot find elsewhere on your application. Any topic you choose is welcome. Some ideas you might consider include your future ambitions and goals, a special talent, extracurricular activity, or unusual interest that sets you apart from your peers, or a significant experience that influenced your life. If you are applying to the UO's Robert D. Clark Honors College, feel free to resubmit your honors college application essay.

Optional second essay: As you've looked into what it will be like to attend Oregon, you've hopefully learned what makes Ducks Ducks. No two are alike, though, so tell us what makes you you, and how that connects to our campus community. We are interested in your thoughts and experiences recognizing difference and supporting equity and inclusion, and choosing one of these two options will guide you in sharing those thoughts. You can learn more about equity and inclusion at Oregon by visiting the Equity and Inclusion website . Maximum statement length is 500 words. This statement is not required.

University of Washington

In addition to its specific prompts, the University of Washington gives specific advice about what its admissions officers consider to be good writing before the prompts:

"At the UW, we consider the college essay as our opportunity to see the person behind the transcripts and the numbers. Some of the best statements are written as personal stories. In general, concise, straightforward writing is best, and good essays are often 300-400 words in length.

Essay Prompt (Required): Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped shape it. Maximum length: 650 words.

Short Response (Required): Our families and our communities often define us and our individual worlds. Community might refer to your cultural group, extended family, religious group, neighborhood or school, sports team or club, co-workers, etc. Describe the world you come from and how you, as a product of it, might add to the diversity of the UW. Maximum length: 300 words

You can also find more tips on the University of Washington essays in this blog article .

International

Generally speaking, international schools are less likely to ask for an essay, since admission tends to be heavily focused on grades and test results. However, a few popular international schools do ask for a personal statement as part of their application.

Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UK Schools)

UCAS is a general application for UK schools (similar to the Common App in the US). There's no specific prompt for the personal statement—instead, applicants are required to write an essay describing what they want to study, why they want to study it, and what they bring to the table. There is a 4,000-character/47-line limit.

University of British Columbia

UBC asks applicants to fill out a personal profile consisting of five to seven short-answer questions that vary depending on the program you're applying to. Answers should be 50-200 words.

Depending on which degree program you apply to, you’ll be asked to answer some or all of the following questions on the UBC application:

• Tell us about who you are. How would your family, friends, and/or members of your community describe you? If possible, please include something about yourself that you are most proud of and why.
• What is important to you? And why?
• Family/community responsibilities
• Creative or performing arts
• Work/employment
• Service to others
• Tell us more about one or two activities listed above that are most important to you. Please explain the role you played and what you learned in the process. You will be asked for a reference who can speak to your response.
• Additional information: You may wish to use the space below to provide UBC with more information on your academic history to date and/or your future academic plans. For example: How did you choose your courses in secondary school? Are there life circumstances that have affected your academic decisions to date? What have you done to prepare yourself specifically for your intended area of study at UBC?
• Please submit the names of two referees who know you well and can comment on your preparedness for study at UBC. Examples of referees include an employer, a community member, a coach, a teacher/instructor, or anyone who knows you well. One of the referees you select must be able to speak to one of the activities/experiences described in one of your long-answer responses above. For applicants who are currently attending a high school, one of your referees must be a school official (e.g., Grade 12 or senior year counsellor, teacher, or IB coordinator). Neither referee should be a friend, family member, or paid agent.

Some programs of study may ask applicants to respond to the questions above and some additional, program-specific questions when completing the personal profile.

University of Cambridge

Optional Essays

Some schools don't require an essay from all applicants but do recommend or require an essay for certain programs. I've listed a selection of those prompts below.

Arizona State University

Students applying to the Barrett Honors College at ASU must submit one essay of 300 to 500 words in response to one of the following prompts (your response may be critical or creative):

Prompt 1 Discuss how a specific piece of art (painting, literature, photograph, etc.) or popular culture (song, comic book, etc.) helped you realize something new about yourself or the world. What was that realization, and how did the piece of art or pop culture bring about this change in your thinking? Do not simply describe the piece of art or pop culture; instead, focus on its effect on you and how it makes you a good fit for the Barrett Honors College experience. Prompt 2 Tell us about a habit or way of thinking that others would recognize as “uniquely you.” This is something you value and would hesitate to give up because it is a distinct part of who you are or what makes you different - why is it so? Be sure to share how this aspect of your identity makes you a good fit for the Barrett Honors College experience.

City University of New York

Applicants to Macaulay Honors College must write two essays: an “about you” essay, and an essay describing your plans for college. Each response should be around 500 words, give or take a few within reason.

Essay 1: About you. (Select one of the options below.) Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. OR Tell us about an area or activity, outside of academics, in which you have invested a lot of time and effort. Tell us why. What did you learn? How was it meaningful?

Essay 2: About your plans for college. Please discuss all points below. Why do you want to go to an honors college ? There are many benefits of being a Macaulay student, such as the Macaulay community, special courses, Honors advisement, cultural passport, opportunities funds, and other financial benefits. Please describe how these features will shape you and your college experience, including, what you expect to bring to the college community and what you expect to get out of your college experience.

Florida International University

Only applicants who don't meet the criteria for automatic admissions and whose applications undergo holistic review will need to submit a 500-word essay:

Students requesting appeal or additional review of their admission status must submit a written statement including:

Your goals and educational or professional objectives

A summary/explanation of past academic performance

Information and/or circumstances that may have affected past academic performance

• Any other information the student wishes to have considered

Ohio University

For the Ohio University application, students who've been out of school for more than a year must submit an essay explaining what they've done in their time off from school.

Applicants who have been out of high school for more than one year must submit an essay detailing activities since graduation.

Additionally, applicants to the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism are encouraged, though not required, to submit an essay detailing how they want to help shape the future of journalism.

For all other applicants, submitting an essay here is optional; however, if you do wish to write an essay, the application suggests that you describe any academic challenges you’ve faced, academic and career objectives, or involvement in community affairs (recommended length is 250-500 words).

Those interested in Ohio University's OHIO Honors Program (including the Cutler Scholars Program) are required to answer the following essay prompt (limit 250 words):

Students in the OHIO Honors Program represent all majors on campus and take engaging honors courses while applying what they learn outside of the classroom. Students choose from classes and experiences across three pathways: community engagement, research and creative activity, and leadership . Students in OHP can move among the three pathways as their interests evolve and they develop their goals. What pathway is most exciting to you right now, and why?

Finally, those interested in the Honors Tutorial College are must answer the following two essay prompts (in about 500 words each):

HTC Question 1: Please explain why you have chosen your particular program(s) of study.

HTC Question 2: We expect that one reason you seek a tutorial education is for the one-on-one interaction with faculty, but other than that, what interests you about pursuing a tutorial-based undergraduate education? What aspects of your education and life experience have prepared you for a tutorial education with its emphasis on research and creative activity?

Type 1: Questions About a Meaningful Experience

This type of college essay question is the most common. The exact focus of these prompts can vary quite a bit, but they all ask you to reflect on an important experience. Some questions specify a type of experience whereas others don't, simply opting to have applicants write about whatever matters to them.

There are three basic sub-types that you'll see when dealing with these prompts. Let's look at an example of each.

#1: Overcoming a Challenge

These prompts ask about how you dealt with a particular challenge or solved a problem. Below is a typical example of this question type from the MIT application:

Tell us about the most significant challenge you've faced or something important that didn't go according to plan. How did you manage the situation?

To address a question like this, you need a topic that has real stakes —that is, something that you genuinely struggled with. Even though it can seem as though you should only discuss positive experiences and feelings in your college essay (you want to impress your readers with how awesome you are!), unwavering positivity actually hurts your essay because it makes you seem fake.

Instead, be honest : if you're writing about a negative experience, acknowledge that it was unpleasant or hard and explain why. Doing so will just make your overcoming it that much more impressive.

#2: Engaging With Diversity

Questions about diversity ask how you interact with those who are different from you . See an example below from the Common Application:

When approaching this type of question, you need to show that you're thoughtful about new ideas and perspectives. Colleges are full of students from all kinds of backgrounds, and admissions officers want to know that you'll be accepting of the diversity of other students, even if you don't necessarily agree with them.

Also, make sure to pick a specific instance to focus on. Writing a general essay about how you accept others won't impress admissions officers—you need to show them an example of a time that you did so.

#3: Growing Up

Finally, this type of prompt asks about a transitional experience or rite of passage that made you feel like an adult. I've reprinted another example from the Common App:

For these types of prompts, you want to show personal growth. Explain to the reader not just who you are but also how you've changed . (Really, this is a good idea no matter which prompt you're addressing!)

College can be challenging, so admissions officers want to know that you have the maturity to deal with (likely) living on your own, managing your own life, and planning for your future.

Regardless of the exact prompt, the key to this type of college essay is to show what you've learned from the experience. Admissions officers don't care that much about what happened to you—they care about what you think and feel about that event. That's what will give them a sense of who you are and what kind of college student you'll make.

Be Careful About Reusing Essays

A common question students have is whether you can just write one essay and submit it to every school. The answer is, unfortunately, no. As you can see, college essay questions differ enough that there's no way you could use the same essay for every single one (not to mention the fact that many schools require two or more essays anyway!).

However, it does sometimes work to reuse an essay for more than one school. The key is that the prompts have to be asking about basically the same type of thing.

For example, you could use the same essay for two prompts that both ask about a time you solved a problem, but you probably wouldn't want to use the same essay for one prompt that asks about a problem you solved and one that asks about a time you interacted with someone different from yourself.

You can also reuse an essay by submitting an essay originally written for a specific prompt for a more general prompt as well. For example, you could submit your ApplyTexas topic A app (how your family, home, neighborhood, or community shaped you as a person) for the Coalition essay prompt (the one about a meaningful story from your life and what you learned). In that case, you might want to tweak the essay slightly to address the question of what you learned more explicitly, but you could likely use the same personal statement with minimal changes.

The other reason this instance of essay recycling works is because the ApplyTexas and Coalition applications have compatible word limits. In general, you can't reuse a 600-word essay for a prompt with a 250-word limit. Why? Because by the time you've cut out that many words, you'll usually be left with something that either doesn't make much sense or that doesn't show much about you (since you've only left enough of the story to explain what happened).

Although, technically, you could use a short essay (200-300 words) for an application with a higher word limit (say, 500-650 words), I strongly advise against doing this. If you have the space to tell a more in-depth story and explain your perspective and feelings in more detail, you should take it.

Reusing a much shorter essay out of laziness is a waste of an important opportunity to impress the admissions committee. (You can, however, write a longer essay on the same topic.)

Ultimately, whether you can use a recycled essay for a given prompt will depend on the specific prompts involved and your chosen topic. However, I've outlined some general guidelines below.

Once you write a first draft, put it in a drawer for a week. Taking some time away from it will allow you to come back to it with fresh eyes. Then, try to read your essay from the perspective of someone who knows nothing about you. Would they be able to understand the story? Do you explain clearly what you learned? Does your intro grab the reader's attention?

It can also be helpful to ask someone you trust, such as a parent, teacher, or peer, to read your essay and give you feedback. Really listen to what they say and think about how you can improve your writing.

Finally, try reading your essay aloud. This will help you catch any weird or awkward phrasings.

What's Next?

If you're struggling with how to approach your personal statement, consider looking at some college essay examples .

The essay is just one part of the college application process. Check out our guide to applying to college for a step-by-step breakdown of what you'll need to do.

Finally, if you're planning to take the SAT or ACT , consider taking a look at our expert test-prep guides for some helpful advice on whatever you might be struggling with.

Alex is an experienced tutor and writer. Over the past five years, she has worked with almost a hundred students and written about pop culture for a wide range of publications. She graduated with honors from University of Chicago, receiving a BA in English and Anthropology, and then went on to earn an MA at NYU in Cultural Reporting and Criticism. In high school, she was a National Merit Scholar, took 12 AP tests and scored 99 percentile scores on the SAT and ACT.

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How to help your child get into BYU: The application essays can make or break their acceptance

By college essay builder | posted - sept. 28, 2022 at 3:00 p.m., (college essay builder).

Estimated read time: 6-7 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

Does your child have what it takes to get into BYU?

The stakes of getting accepted to BYU are getting higher and higher. It is estimated that over 12,000 students will apply to BYU — Provo this fall. And using last year's acceptance rates , more than 4,000 won't make the cut.

With such a large pool of applicants, the BYU Admissions Committee is often tasked with choosing between highly-qualified applicants who all meet the minimum requirements. And since BYU is not currently requiring standardized test scores, it is even more difficult for applicants to stand out.

With all of these factors, parents want to know:

"Is there anything I can do to improve my child's chances for acceptance to BYU?" The answer to this question is an absolute "yes!"

How the BYU application essays can make or break your child's acceptance

By the time your child begins their BYU application, nearly all of the application criteria (transcripts, activities, awards, etc.) is fixed and can't be influenced or changed — with one notable exception: the essays.

The BYU application essays have become one of the most critical ways your child will be evaluated by the admissions committee. This is because the essays are the best way for the committee to get to know your child on a personal level to determine how well they have demonstrated their preparation and alignment with the Mission and Aims of BYU .

In fact, the BYU essays are the only real controllable factor your child has at this point that can either help or hurt their chances of getting accepted.

The wrong way to write BYU application essays

Just sitting down to "knock out" the essays without understanding what BYU is looking for is a huge mistake. Successful BYU essays require deep introspection, multiple drafts and a good deal of pre-work. Students who don't allow time for these crucial activities end up writing sub-par BYU essays that suffer from one or more of the following issues:

Too generic

It isn't natural for most high-school seniors to be vulnerable and genuine. This often results in superficial essays that don't give enough information about your child for BYU admissions to complete a proper evaluation.

This year, BYU has shortened most of the essays by 500 characters. The lower the character count, the more difficult it is for students to effectively address everything the prompt is asking for. Consequently, students can easily spend too much of their essay telling a story but not allowing enough space for important connections and reflections.

No effective feedback

Most students work on their BYU essays right up to the deadline and don't have the proper time to get feedback and make revisions. If parents do read the essays, they often don't know how to provide the most helpful feedback. This cycle often results in substantial errors in essay structure, content and grammar.

The right way to write BYU application essays: The 3 most important questions

Susie Boyce, founder of College Essay Builder , has been helping students write BYU application essays since 2007. Over the years, she has discovered three fundamental questions that all successful BYU essays must effectively answer. These three questions are:

Do my child's essays show that they value the aims of a BYU education?

Each BYU essay should correlate directly to one or more of the Aims of a BYU Education . It is critical that the stories and examples your child uses in their essays make the connection clear and personal. A close look at the BYU admissions website emphasizes that BYU uses the aims to evaluate all areas of the application — especially the essays.

Do my child's essays help them stand out from thousands of other applicants?

This fall, BYU will receive more than 70,000 essays. Given the sheer volume, how will you ensure your child's essays stand out and are memorable for all the right reasons?

The key to this question is helping your child identify events, people and stories from their life that highlight their genuine and unique experiences. This requires vulnerability; the essays should tell compelling stories showing your child's journey, growth and transformation. These personal stories can become the heart of each essay, connecting the reader to your child in an unforgettable way.

Do my child's essays demonstrate their character, values, testimony and potential as a BYU student?

BYU has provided some direct expectations about what they want to see in your child's essay on their admissions website :

"...make sure you read the prompt and answer what's being asked. If there's something about you we should know, make sure to include it in your essay responses!"

Why does BYU want your child to share so much? Because the essays are the best chance admissions counselors have to understand and evaluate your child's character, values, testimony and potential as a BYU student.

To effectively do this, your child must address each prompt completely and deeply. Take time to identify stories and examples that showcase how they have grown and developed in these four areas and write conclusions that make a powerful connection to what BYU is looking for.

The bottom line

You can do something to improve your child's chances for acceptance to BYU. Helping your child write their best BYU application essays is the most important way you can accomplish this goal.

But you don't have to do this alone. College Essay Builder has created a comprehensive application essay course for BYU that leads your child step-by-step through the process of writing all the BYU application essays. With the help of videos, downloads, templates and examples, your child will be writing their best BYU essays faster and more effectively than any other method.

In this course your child will learn:

• How to personalize the BYU Aims and meaningfully connect them to each essay.
• How to identify and tell compelling personal stories that demonstrate their potential as a successful BYU student.
• How to approach each essay prompt to address BYU's specific expectations.
• How to start each essay to "hook" the reader.
• How to conclude each essay to make a powerful connection.
• How to write clear and concise paragraphs that answer each prompt completely and deeply.
• How to edit and revise their essays utilizing proprietary feedback guides.

The stakes are too high to not do everything you can to help your child get accepted.

And the most controllable thing you can do right now to increase your child's chances of acceptance to BYU is to help them write their best BYU essays by enrolling them in the full essay course for BYU today.

And for a limited time, use the coupon code KSL50 to get $50 off the full course price.

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Find yourself at the u.

Freshmen are students attending an accredited college or university for the first time, or who have only enrolled in college courses prior to high school graduation. In other words, your college career is just beginning. Time to set the pace for an amazing four years and beyond.

Your Future Begins with U

Submit your application.

Prior to submitting your application, make sure to review Admissions Standards .

The following checklist must be complete by the Common Application deadline:

• Complete and submit the Common Application
• Pay the application Fee or have an approved Fee Waiver
• Course names
• Graduation date if applicable
• An official ACT or SAT score is required if you are applying from non-accredited US high school, Home School, or if you took the GED or HiSET exam to earn the equivalent of a high school diploma.
• For all other applicants, ACT or SAT score submission is optional. If you marked YES to having scores considered for admission when you completed the Common App, you have 30 days from the date you submitted your application to submit your official ACT or SAT scores.
• See Test Optional FAQ for more information.

Here’s what you need to know before you start:

• It takes about 45 minutes to an hour to complete the Common Application.
• You will need your high school counselor’s contact information.
• A copy of your transcript can be helpful.
• You are not required to submit a letter of recommendation or a personal essay.
• You will need to answer the University of Utah questions in addition to the Common App questions.
• The fee is $55 for domestic students and $65 for international students
• The fee is non-refundable and must be paid online through the Common Application.
• A first-time Freshman who has a permanent address in Utah or attend(ed) a tribal high school located in Utah
• Military Connected (meaning a student is an active military member, veteran, or the dependent of an active military member or veteran)”

If you are an international student, please click here for more information .

For more information watch our Common App tutorial videos .

Send Official High School Transcripts

Please have your high school submit your official high school transcript. Emailed transcripts will not be considered official.

• Please be aware that if you select your high school counselor as a recommender in the Common App, they can submit your transcripts directly through Common App.
• Paper transcripts can be mailed directly from the high school or brought in an envelope sealed by the high school to: The University of Utah Office of Admissions 201 South 1460 East, Room 250S Salt Lake City, UT 84112
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• If prompted for a recipient email address when ordering your transcript, please use [email protected] . Transcripts sent directly through email or fax will not be considered official.
• If you have taken the GED or HiSET exam in place of a high school diploma, please have your official scores sent directly from the GED or HiSET website.

Emailed transcripts will not be considered official.

Send Official Test Scores

If you have the option of submitting SAT or ACT scores and would like them to be considered with your application, you must submit them within 30 calendar days from when you submit your application. Any files, however, that do not have test scores received by the application deadline may be reviewed without test scores.

For more information, check out Undergraduate Admission Standards .

If you have changed your mind after submitting your application about whether or not you would like your test scores considered, please contact your admission counselor letting them know your name, UNID, and the change you would like to make.

You can find your admission counselor here:

Meet your Counselors | Admissions (utah.edu).

If you are now requesting to have your test scores considered, you will be held to the timelines listed above.

We recommend submitting your scores as soon as possible.

Track Your Application

We’ll evaluate your application once we receive all required application materials.

Follow the status of your application here , but please allow 7-10 business days for the online tracker to reflect newly received materials.

Remember to answer the University of Utah specific questions in the Common Application.

Application Deadlines

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Did you know the University of Utah is a PAC-12 Top Affordable School? We offer a full range of scholarships, grants, work-study, and loans to make college as affordable as possible.

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Incoming first year and transfer students : You may apply through the University of Utah general admissions application. We use the Common App essay prompts. The prompts are provided within the application. Upload essays via the U application. Applicants who submit completed applications, pay application fees (or have them waived through the Office of Admissions), and submit transcripts and test scores (TEST SCORES ARE OPTIONAL - NOT REQUIRED) to the University Office of Admissions will be reviewed by the Honors College. For first-year students to be considered for the Honors College priority date, students must submit a complete application (including transcripts and applicable test scores) to the University by the priority deadline.

**If you experience technical difficulties when uploading your Honors essay to the University of Utah student application or have previously applied to the U for general admission and did not upload an Honors essay, please attach your essays in one single .doc or .pdf to [email protected] .

new student Deadlines

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University of Utah Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts & Tips

• Cracking Med School Admissions

The University of Utah secondary application reflects on the medical school’s values.  The admissions committee wants to recruit a diverse group of medical school students with varied backgrounds and experiences. Through our Cracking Med School Admissions experiences, we’ve seen that the University of Utah favors students who have or have had affiliations with Utah state. You need a compelling “Why University of Utah.” Read more of our University of Utah secondary application tips below. 

The prompts for the University of Utah secondary application change each year, so we would not recommend you to pre-write this. However, please note that there is a two-week deadline once your receive the official University of Utah Medical School secondary application.

Our Cracking Med School Admissions team can help you submit strong University of Utah School of Medicine secondary essays through our secondary essay editing . 

• Personally Tailored Essays
• Edits by Stanford & Harvard-trained Doctors
• We study your application strengths to see what unique attributes we’ll bring to the medical school

University of Utah Medical School Secondary Application Questions: 2023 – 2024

University of utah secondary application: md application essays.

Note: The essay prompts changed from last year’s application

• Tell us why you are interested in pursuing a career in medicine at the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine. How does our program align with your personal and professional goals? What can you contribute to our exceptional learning experience? (300 words max)
• Describe how health disparities have impacted you, your community, and/or the communities you have served? What lessons have you learned and how do you plan to use this knowledge to address health equity as a medical student at our program and as a future physician? (300 words max)
• (If applicable – re-applicants)  Upon reflection and self-assessment, please share with us your areas of demonstrated growth since your previous application. Please highlight examples of your continued commitment to medicine. (300 words max)

University of Utah Secondary Application: RUUTE Scholars Essay Prompts

• According to your experiences, what does rural and underserved mean to you? (200 words max)
• How would participation in RUUTE help you fulfill your career aspirations? (150 words max)
• Why do you believe this program will be a good fit for you? (150 words max)

University of Utah Secondary Application: Population Health Program Essay Prompts

• Please share your interest in the Population Health Program  (no word count limit)
• What are your career interests and future professional goals? (no word count limit)
• Please describe how you have demonstrated commitment to Population Health concepts during your academic and professional experiences: (no word count limit)
• What does Population Health mean to you and how do you plan on implementing it into your future education and professional career? (no word count limit)

Tips to Answer University of Utah Medical School Secondaries

  University of Utah Medical School Secondary Application Tip #1: It is extremely important to convey University of Utah School of Medicine in your secondary application. That’s why it’s the University of Utah Medical School secondary application’s essay #1!

• Read our HIGH-YIELD blog post  Why this Medical School? Secondary Essay Example   for more tips on how to answer “Why University of Utah School of Medicine.”
• Read more about the University of Utah Medical School pathways here . 

University of Utah Medical School Secondary Application Tip #2: The strongest University of Utah medical school secondary applications we have read are ones in which the applicant tells stories . We think you can write stories about patient care or community work in all of the MD essays. 

University of Utah Medical School Secondary Application Tip #3: RUUTE scholars are part of the Rural & Underserved Utah Training Experience curriculum. It is important to discuss your interests in rural medicine and the underserved. To answer the University of Utah RUUTE Scholars essays strongly, you should write about your experience with working in rural areas and with underserved communities. As stated in our other tips, it is important to tell stories. In this case, we would tell at least one story of a clinical experience in a rural setting. Additionally, if you want to discuss other individuals or personal experiences living in rural areas, that would make you a strong candidate. Finally, you should convey your aspirations and vision to work in rural Utah or underserved areas of Utah. 

University of Utah Medical School Secondary Application Tip #4:  If you are a re-applicant, it’s very important to discuss the following in the re-applicant essay:

• Reflections about why your application was not as strong last cycle. 
• How you addressed the weaknesses. 
• Clinical opportunities you’ve improved. Reflect on what you learned about patient care.
• Any activities (clinical experiences, extracurricular activities, volunteering) that you have completed in Utah since the time of your previous application.

University of Utah Medical School Secondary Application Tip #5: Get our help to edit your University of Utah secondary application essays. We can help you through our secondary essay packages . Have questions about how you can stand out? Contact us below.

[ Read Other Secondary Essay Tips:  University of Colorado, University of Vermont , University of Washington ]

Your medical school application Coaches, Mentors, & Cheerleaders

We Personally Advise Every Student We Work With.

Rachel Rizal, M.D.

Changing the trajectory of people’s lives.

Undergraduate Princeton University, cum laude

Medical School Stanford School of Medicine

Residency Harvard, Emergency Medicine

Awards & Scholarships Fulbright Scholar USA Today Academic First Team Tylenol Scholarship

Rishi Mediratta, M.D., M.Sc., M.A.

Advising students to attend their dream schools.

Undergraduate Johns Hopkins University, Phi Beta Kappa

Residency Stanford, Pediatrics

Awards & Scholarships Marshall Scholar Tylenol Scholarship Global Health Scholar

stand out from other applicants with our secondary essay edit packages

Download your secondary essay guide.

Use this essay guide and workbook to write standout secondaries.

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University of Utah Medical School Secondary Application Questions: 2022 – 2023

• n 2019 the UUSOM began a strategic transformation process to emphasize community, relationships, and professionalism in the learning culture. How does our program align with your career goals? How will you contribute to this learning culture?  (150 words max)
• The School of Medicine aims to create a culture of inclusion and anti-racism in health education and healthcare delivery. How have you promoted or advocated for health equity in your experiences? How do you envision contributing to the UUSOM and the communities we serve? (150 words max)
• Reflecting on the past few years of the pandemic, what has the impact of COVID-19 been on you and/or your community? What lessons have you learned about yourself? (150 words max)

Our students successfully receive interviews at their reach schools.

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University of Utah Medical School Secondary Application Questions: 2021 – 2022

• Explain why you are choosing to apply to the University of Utah School of Medicine. (200 words max)
• Share any disruptions in your academic, volunteer, work, and/or personal life related to COVID-19 that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider.
• What was one of your biggest lessons learned about yourself and how this lesson effected your outlook on the role of medicine?
• Share creative ways in which you were able to serve your community during the crisis.
• What hardships have you faced as a result of the global pandemic
• What does health equity mean to you? Please comment on your personal commitment and attributes towards your definition of health equity and how it will impact the future of medicine. (200 words max)

RUUTE Scholars

University of utah medical school secondary application questions: 2020 - 2021.

• For non-Utah residents : Explain why you chose to apply to the University of Utah School of Medicine. Please indicate if you have a connection to the state of Utah. (1,000 characters max)
• If you are interested in becoming a RUUTE Scholar : What does rural and underserved mean to you? (3,300 characters max)
• (Optional) Explain how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted you. You may use this space to reflect upon your experiences during this time period. (1,500 characters max)
• If you are a reapplicant : Explain what you have done to strengthen your application. (500 characters max)
• If you marked that you will not be enrolled in courses from 2020-2021, explain your activities. (1,000 characters max)

University of Utah Medical School Secondary Application Questions: 2019 – 2020

• Community/Volunteer Service
• Physician Shadowing
• Patient Exposure

University of Utah Medical School Secondary Application Questions: 2018 – 2019

There were no essay prompts for the 2018-2019 cycle.

University of Utah Medical School Secondary Application Questions: 2017 – 2018

There were no essay prompts for the 2017-2018 cycle.

University of Utah Medical School Secondary Application Questions: 2016 – 2017

There were no essay prompts for the 2016-2017 cycle.

University of Utah Medical School Secondary Application Questions: 2015 – 2016

• The essay question is an opportunity for you to present yourself and your motivations for pursuing a career in medicine to the Admissions Committee. Please describe the concept of professionalism.  (2,000 characters max)

University of Utah Medical School Secondary Application Questions: 2014 – 2015

• Tell us about a difficult or challenging situation that you have encountered and how you dealt with it. In your response, identify both the coping skills that you called upon to resolve the dilemma and the support person(s) from whom you sought advice.
• At the University of Utah School of Medicine, we are committed to building a superb educational community with students of diverse talents, experiences, and opinions. What would you as an individual bring to our medical school community?

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University of Utah School of Medicine Secondary Essay Prompts

These are the secondary application essay prompts for University of Utah School of Medicine. To put your best foot forward and maximize your chance of an interview invitation, visit our secondary application editing page .

About University of Utah School of Medicine

Secondary Deadline: 30 days after the secondary application is received Secondary Fee: $100 FAP Waiver: Full Fee Waived CASPer Required: No Screens Applications: Yes Accepts Application Updates: No

The University of Utah School of Medicine Office of Admissions serves the State of Utah, our medical school and the healthcare profession by admitting well qualified and prepared medical students. Through a holistic culture based on valuing teamwork, professionalism, compassion, and communication, we strive to select a diverse and innovative class who exemplify dedication, service to their community and patients, leadership, research skill, and academic excellence.

The University of Utah School of Medicine Office of Admission will inspire and transform the application process through quality, education, and innovation to serve the state of Utah and beyond.

All prompts have a 300 character limit. 

1. The Admissions Committee will evaluate your application based on your participation in the activities listed below. Describe your involvement in each of the recommended activities.

• Community/Volunteer Service
• Physician Shadowing
• Patient Exposure

There were no secondary application essay prompts from this medical school application cycle.

How would you navigate uncertainty from the perspectives of either a patient, a physician, or medicine? (2650 characters)

Disclaimer: The information on this page was shared by students and/or can be found on the medical school’s website. Med School Insiders does not guarantee the accuracy of the information on this page.

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University Affairs

USU Launches New Scholarship Application System

By Marcus Jensen | December 13, 2021

Utah State University launched its new scholarship application system, ScholarshipUniverse. The system allows students to quickly and efficiently view scholarships that are available to them, giving them a personalized list of scholarships for which they meet the specific requirements.

On Dec. 1, 2021, Utah State University launched its new scholarship application system, ScholarshipUniverse . The system allows students to quickly and efficiently view scholarships that are available to them, giving them a personalized list of scholarships for which they meet the specific requirements.

“Utah State University continues to develop ways to provide a better experience for our students,” said Robert Wagner, vice president for Academic and Instructional Services. “We know they are concerned about the costs associated with higher education. USU’s high quality academic degrees should be financially accessible with help from supportive tools, such as ScholarshipUniverse . Students can spend more time achieving their education goals and less time worrying about how to pay for them.”

The system lists more than 7,000 private and institutional scholarships that are available to eligible students. Upon entering the new system for the first time, students will see a gray bar at the top of the screen, prompting them to answer questions about themselves. Based on answers, the system will automatically match students to scholarships for which they meet the minimum requirements to apply. As of the first week of the system’s launch, USU students submitted more than 16,000 scholarship applications, for both university and private scholarships.

“The USU General Scholarship Application removes the barrier of finding scholarships at the institution,” said Craig Whyte, executive director of Student Financial Support. “As the central scholarship platform for college and departmental awards, the application provides easy access and reduces the challenges and complexities of discovering what scholarship a student can apply for.”

Many scholarships require students to simply hit apply, while others require additional information, including essays or personal recommendations. All these submissions are placed within the new comprehensive scholarship system.

The revamped application system is part of USU’s continuing efforts to improve the financial viability of higher education for its incoming and current students.

Students are encouraged to log into USU’s General Scholarship application page  to see which scholarships are available for them for the fall 2022 semester and beyond.

Marcus Jensen News Coordinator University Marketing and Communications [email protected]

Robert Wagner Executive Vice President Utah State University 435-797-0945 [email protected]

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Comments and questions regarding this article may be directed to the contact person listed on this page.

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For more information or to register for an in-person or virtual campus tour, visit https://admissions.utah.edu/visit/ .  We also offer campus tours in Spanish. También ofrecemos recorridos por el campus en español.

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