uiuc second choice major essay

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How to Write the UIUC Essays 2022-2023

Located in the vast cornfields of east-central Illinois, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is widely renowned as one of the country’s most influential public research universities. In fact, it has ranked first in National Science Foundation award funding for six consecutive years.

Many sources consider UIUC one of the top 50 universities in the world, and some have even ranked its engineering school in the top five worldwide.

Boasting over 24 million items in its library collection, it’s no secret that UIUC is an intellectual powerhouse. On top of that, it’s also a haven for sports lovers. UIUC was one of the founding members of the Big Ten Conference, a tradition that has remained strong, as evidenced by its 21 NCAA teams.

We at CollegeVine are here to give you numerous tips on how to tackle your UIUC essays! Want to know your chances at UIUC? Calculate your chances for free right now.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Supplemental Essay Prompts

All major applicants.

Prompt 1: If you’re applying to a major: 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. (150 words)

Prompt 2: If you’re applying to a major: Describe your personal and/or career goals after graduating from UIUC and how your selected first-choice major will help you achieve them. (150 words)

All Undeclared Program Applicants

Prompt 1: If you’re applying to Our Undeclared Program: What are your academic interests and strengths? You may also include any majors you are considering. (150 words)

Prompt 2: If you’re applying to Our Undeclared Program: What are your future academic or career goals? (150 words)

All Applicants With Second-Choice Major (Including Undeclared)

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. (150 words), all major applicants, prompt 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. (150 words).

At first glance, this prompt seems pretty straightforward, and there isn’t much space for extraneous storytelling. 

However, what gives this prompt its difficulty is the necessity of going above and beyond. Not only do you need to identify the experiences that shaped your interest in your selected major, but you need to provide deeper reflections as to why those experiences impacted you in the way they did. 

For that reason, it’s not enough to simply list the experiences that led you to your chosen major. For example, you shouldn’t just say, “I first discovered my passion for film in English class, when I had to write a take home essay about the movie adaptation of The Picture of Dorian Gray . I furthered my interest in film by making my own home documentary alongside a couple friends. I also started volunteering at a local arthouse cinema to understand a more commercial perspective on film…”

Rather, it’s better to go deeper with a given example and provide insights into what motivates your passions. Instead of simply listing experiences related to film, you might instead say, “My English teacher assigned our class a take-home essay, where we analyzed the movie adaptation of The Picture of Dorian Gray . Looking at the movie through a closer lens gave me a deeper appreciation for the small decisions directors make and the big impacts they can have…” 

The admissions readers at UIUC want to see that you have the necessary experiences under your belt to thrive in your chosen course of study, and they also want to see that you will be passionate and motivated while doing so! Make sure to show them both your experiences and your deeper insights about those experiences, and you’ll have a strong essay on your hands. 

All Major Applicants, Prompt 2 

Describe your personal and/or career goals after graduating from uiuc and how your selected first-choice major will help you achieve them. (150 words).

The trick to this prompt is making sure you convey a clear personal or career goal, while also relating your intended course of study to that goal. 

Thus, you should acknowledge the following main points while answering this prompt: 

• What are your future personal or career goals? 
• How will your chosen major help contribute towards those goals? 

Let’s address each of these points separately. 

1. What are your future personal and/or career goals?

The prompt plainly states that your response needs to identify your future personal or career goals. If you have a clear idea of what your goals are, that will make this part easy. In that situation, you would have presumably chosen a course of study that will serve as a stepping stone towards your longer-term ambitions. 

On the other hand, UIUC knows that your interests will change over the next four years, and that nothing is set in stone. If you’re uncertain about your career goals, it’s also okay to identify a few possible career paths that interest you. Another option is to discuss the type of work you wish to do (e.g. helping deliver aid to marginalized communities) as opposed to the specific career title.

Keep in mind that UIUC gives you the option of specifying your personal goals as well, and not just your career goals. This is a wording change from the 2021-2022 cycle, so it’s certainly intentional. Your personal goals should still be related to your major, but don’t have to be as career-focused. For instance, some solid personal goals to mention would be things like becoming a stronger public speaker, learning to program in a certain coding language, doing research on a specific topic, or writing a novel. 

As long as you can make a compelling case as to how your chosen major relates to your future ambitions, you will be in good shape for this essay. 

2. How will your chosen major help contribute towards those goals?

Once you have identified your personal or career goals, you also need to indicate what aspects of your chosen course of study will help you achieve those goals. 

This will mean both speaking about your major in broad terms, as well as identifying some features of UIUC’s course of study that serve you particularly well. This is not a “why UIUC” essay, so showing depth of research is not the top priority, but it will strengthen your response nonetheless. 

While this essay does not require personal reflections in the way that many other college essays do, it is still important for your voice to come through in deeper analyses that show you understand the significance of your major-goal combination at a deeper level. 

To accomplish this, make sure you are always stating why a particular aspect of your intended major serves your goals. For instance, it is not enough to say, “I hope to be a lawyer for the United Nations, so I want to take the course Governing Globalizations.” You might instead write, “Courses such as Governing Globalizations, which explore the historical, moral, socio-economic, and political dimensions of an emerging global society, will provide me with the interdisciplinary background to thrive as an international lawyer.” 

All Undeclared Program Applicants, Prompt 1

If you’re applying to our undeclared program: what are your academic interests and strengths you may also include any majors you are considering. (150 words).

This prompt is similar to the one above about how your past experiences relate to your intended major; it’s just a more open-ended version.  However, you still want to ground your interest in specific examples or experiences, rather than talking about your interests in a broad way (anyone can do that, so you want to connect it to who you are). It’s also best to limit your selection to 2-3 interests/strengths, as you only have 150 words. Otherwise, you may appear too unfocused.

For example, say you’re interested in creative writing and political science. You might share how you wrote a collection of short poems based on your family’s immigration experience, and how you found it a great way to reflect on those experiences. You may describe how fulfilling it was when the poems were published in a local magazine and strangers reached out to tell you how much they resonated with them. For political science, you have just started exploring the field after taking AP Government, and may be interested in immigration policy, but are trying to decide between that and your more creative endeavors.

One distinction here is that you do not necessarily have to discuss a potential major at all , if you don’t want to. You can simply focus on some of the topics you’re interested in or have a talent for. On the other hand, if you do want to allude to potential majors, that will also work just fine.

It’s okay to talk about the reasons you’re undecided (and you should), but make sure to avoid self-deprecating language that might indicate that being undecided is a weakness. For instance, don’t say, “I want to major in math, but [insert self-doubt].” Instead, it will be better to frame things positively, where you talk about the things you love about your potential subjects. 

All Undeclared Program Applicants, Prompt 2 

If you’re applying to our undeclared program: what are your future academic or career goals (150 words).

As above, this prompt shares some similarity with the corresponding prompt for applicants who have decided on a major. However, rather than relating your chosen major to your intended career, this prompt gives you even more liberty. You can discuss your future academic or career goals, and furthermore, you don’t have to relate your course of study to your intended career if you don’t wish to do so. 

Regarding career goals, much of the same advice applies. If you know you want to be a computational social scientist, but you don’t know which degree will best help you get there, that’s perfectly fine. You can just discuss the joys of gaining social insights from large-scale network and content analysis. In general, feel free to simply discuss what jobs or careers you hope to one day pursue, and make sure your passion shines through. 

On the other hand, if you are unsure of your specific career path, you can speak about the type of work you hope to do. For instance, “Although I do not yet know my specific career path, I am certain it will be somewhere in the realm of environmental justice. I am excited by the prospects of participating in food justice programs at urban farms, as well as lobbying for public land preservation alike. I hope to ground myself in further environmental justice experiences by…” 

Similarly, maybe you know you wish to pursue a certain academic opportunity, although you do not yet know where it will lead you. It is okay to talk about opportunities at UIUC and postgraduate alike. For instance, maybe you really want to be a Fulbright scholar one day. Tell the admissions readers all about it! 

This prompt might be difficult for you because it is so open-ended. One piece of advice that might help is to simply ground it in yourself, your own narrative, and your own value system. Although this essay does not center a personal narrative in the way your Common App essay will, relating your future plans with your core values is helpful both because it gives the essay cohesion, and because it shows you are introspective. Strong personal reflections are great for demonstrating maturity and self-awareness. 

All Applicants With Second Choice Major (Including Undeclared)

This prompt is similar to the previous one about your first-choice major, so you should approach it in largely the same manner. The only nuance is that you don’t necessarily have to relate your second-choice major to any personal or career goals, if you don’t want to (though it’s always helpful to!). 

It’s still important to ground this essay in meaningful experiences with this field. Since the essay asks about your interest in this major, it can be easy to simply write all the reasons you love the major without actually sharing more about who you are. You want to avoid that! For example, anyone could write an essay about why environmental science is so great and important, but only you can discuss how the river in your hometown was polluted by a garment factory, or how fulfilling it was to teach kids at the elementary school how to compost. 

After explaining your interest, make sure to share how this second-choice major relates to your future goals. Since it’s a second-choice major, you may not have as concrete of an answer, and that’s okay, but UIUC still wants to know how you might make an impact with this major should you study it. For the hypothetical student interested in environmental science, they may want to work in environmental policy to prevent pollution, or become a teacher so that the younger generation learns to love and care for the earth.

Where to Get Your University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Essays Edited 

Do you want feedback on your UIUC essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free  Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools.  Find the right advisor for you  to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

UIUC Supplemental Essays 2023-24 – Prompts and Advice

September 13, 2023

The University of Illinois — Urbana Champaign is one of the top public universities in the entire United States. Top-ranked computer science, engineering, and business programs, in particular, attract an endless stream of high-caliber applicants from around the globe. Great grades and test scores will put aspiring members of the Fighting Illini on strong footing. However, you are also required to address 2-3 UIUC supplemental essay prompts.

 (Want to learn more about How to Get Into UIUC? Visit our blog entitled:  How to Get Into the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign: Admissions Data and Strategies  for all of the most recent admissions data as well as tips for gaining acceptance.)

Let’s dive right in and begin examining the 2023-24 UIUC supplemental essays. Two important notes:

• You will be addressing 2-3 of these essays, depending on which category you fall into.
• Each response is a max of 150 words.

UIUC Supplemental Essays: 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..

UIUC is not necessarily asking you to write about the in-class or extracurricular experience which led to you earning the most prestigious awards or holding the highest position of leadership. The university is going to see all of your accomplishments in the Honors and Activities sections of the Common App. As such, you want to ask yourself two main questions:

1) Which experience best illustrates my passion and commitment to my first choice major?

2) Which experience is closest to my heart and most representative of my unique passions?

Pick the option that will allow you to deliver additional detail that may be memorable to the admissions reader. Start this process by asking yourself, “What is the most interesting and consequential moment that I have experienced in a classroom setting or in my extracurricular activities?” If you can identify one clear-cut moment, that is likely the activity worth sharing with the UIUC admissions staff.

2) Describe your personal and/or career goals after graduating from UIUC and how your selected first-choice major will help you achieve them.

This prompt shares some of the same elements of a traditional “Why Us?” essay, but UIUC is particularly interested in hearing about why the curriculum in your desired academic department is attractive to you—not so much about your love for the football team or the beautiful campus. Below are some quick tips for writing an essay that will help your admissions cause:

• Cite specific academic programs , professors ,  research opportunities , internship/externship programs ,  study abroad programs ,  student-run organizations , etc.
• State why your chosen program is the perfect fit for you  and why you are the perfect fit for it.
• Offer insight into your future personal/academic/career goals. It’s okay if you’re not 100% sure what you want to do at age 25 (most teens are not). Feel free to speculate based on your current mindset and interests.

In summary, you’ll want to dedicate time to researching more about your prospective college/department and what makes it truly world-class. The more specific you can get here, the better your UIUC essays will be!

UIUC Supplemental Essays: If You’re Applying to Our Undeclared Program in the Division of General Studies:

1) what are your academic interests please include 2-3 majors you’re considering at illinois and why..

Your strengths will likely be evident from other data points (AP scores, classroom grades, SAT/ACT results, etc.). Therefore we recommend focusing the bulk of your response on your specific academic interests that relate to your major of choice.

Whether it’s a general love for math/science or literature or a specific interest in aerospace engineering or 19th century French novels, use this opportunity to share what makes you tick, the ideas that keep you up at night, and what subject inspires you to dream big. What topic makes you read books and online content until your eyes bleed? Share the manner in which you relentlessly pursue knowledge. Whether it’s falling down a Wikipedia rabbit hole about the nature of time or consuming thousands of hours of podcasts on game theory, this is a chance to illustrate the ways in which you are an obsessive learner with an endless thirst for information. The admissions reader should emerge from reading this essay with the sense that you are a sincerely curious young person with a strong intellectual drive.

Finally, be sure to connect these interests to 2-3 majors at Illinois and support your reasoning with school-specific offerings and resources, like academic departments , courses , research initiatives , etc.

2) What are your future career or academic goals? You may include courses you took in high school and how these impacted your goals.

Note that this question is a bit different than the one asked of students with a firm first-choice major. We recommend providing a straightforward answer here. If you are Undeclared, you may not have a firm idea of your academic goals, but you can use your current academic interests (the ones explored in the question above) as well as past academic experiences to guide your answer. Similarly, your career intentions may be relatively unformed. Use this space to share academic/career areas that may be of interest. Don’t sweat it if your plans are still in a nascent stage. This is normal for a 17 or 18-year-old, and UIUC will understand.

UIUC Supplemental Essays: 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..

See answer #1 for those selecting a major. You are essentially repeating this process for a different field. However, you probably don’t want to have two completely unrelated majors/career goals. For example, if your first choice was business and your second choice was economics, it’s easy to explain the relationship. If the fields are more disparate (e.g. Dance & Chemical Engineering, be sure to provide a thorough explanation.

How important are the essays at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign?

UIUC only labels two factors as being “very important” to the admissions process. Those factors are: the rigor of your high school coursework and your GPA. The essays are “important” to the application review. In fact, the essays are rated as being of equal importance to test scores, extracurricular activities, and talent/ability.

Want Personalized Essay Assistance?

If you are interested in working with one of College Transitions’ experienced and knowledgeable essay coaches as you craft your UIUC supplemental essays, we encourage you to  get a quote  today.

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Thinking of attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign? Then you've come to the right place. For this highly-ranked public school, you'll need to submit a personal statement with your application. But what should you include in your UIUC essay to make you stand out?

Read on to learn what the current UIUC essay prompt is and how to write a great UIUC essay. We also show you a real UIUC essay example to give you an idea of what a great statement looks like.

Feature Image: Adam Jones /Flickr

What Is the UIUC Essay?

All applicants must answer two to three UIUC prompts and one Common Application prompt as part of their application for admission.

Your UIUC prompt will change based on whether you 1) are applying to a major, 2) are applying to UIUC's Undeclared Program, or 3) have selected a second-choice major (including Undeclared). Each response should be about 150 words. 

Here are this year's UIUC prompts:

If you're applying to a major:

• 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.

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 UIUC's Undeclared Program:

• What are your academic interests and strengths? You may also include any majors you are considering.
• 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.

Students are also required to select one Common application essay prompt from a range of choices and write a response. 

You can view the full list of Coalition application essay prompts here and all of the Common Application essay prompts here. 

How to Write the UIUC Essay: Topics and Tips

The University of Illinois essay is an important part of your application since it's the only personal essay you'll write for the school. This makes it the only area on the UIUC application in which you can show off your personality, academic passion, and storytelling skills.

The overall point of this statement is for UIUC to learn more about you as a person and what qualities you'll bring to the school if you enroll.

In addition, UIUC has a YouTube series on admissions counseling that includes some useful videos with tips on how you can write an effective UIUC essay:

Now that you have a general sense of what UIUC will be looking for in your application essay, let’s break down each UIUC application essay prompt one by one. 

Myllini Major-Specific Prompt #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.

Here's your chance to show your passion for your first-choice major! You have a lot of leeway here: maybe you took a class that lit a fire inside you, maybe you joined a club related to the subject, or maybe you participated in a related activity. Be careful, though. You only have 150 words, and UIUC is asking for an experience related to your major, not why you selected it in the first place. This is a time for you to show that you're already taking steps toward engaging with your chosen major!

Choose a story that is meaningful to you, and remember to be as detailed as you can within the constraints. Show the UIUC admissions counselors that you care about your chosen major, and you're already engaging with it.

Myllini Major-Specific Prompt #2

Unlike the first essay, which asks you about your past experience, this is where you get to dream big and show UIUC what you want to do with your degree. Remember to write this as if you've already been accepted to UIUC—they want to know how you'll represent them in the world! You only have 150 words, but you can do a lot in that space. If, for example, you want to be an aerospace engineer, you should check out UIUC's Aerospace Engineering website and connect their specific courses, professors, and extracurriculars to your post-degree goals. Maybe you want to work for NASA, and the UIUC robotics team will aid you in successfully applying. Be as specific as you can! And show UIUC that they are the best school for you to achieve your goals.

Myllini Undeclared Prompt #1

What are your academic interests and strengths? You may also include any majors you are considering. Much like the Major-Specific Prompt #1, this prompt asks you to share what you're passionate about, and where you excel academically. Be specific! Rather than saying "I've always been good at English and I like it," go into detail: perhaps you won an essay contest, or your op-ed was featured in the school paper. Maybe writing poetry is the best way you can connect your outer and inner worlds. If you have a few majors in mind, definitely mention them here! It's always good to show that you have a specific plan for your college career , even if you're not 100% sure what you want to major in yet. 

Myllini Undeclared Prompt #2

What are your future academic or career goals? This question mirrors Major-Specific Prompt #2, and asks you to talk about your ideal future. Maybe you know you want to get a graduate degree in sociology, or you're certain that you want to spend a few years with the Peace Corps before working with the U.S. Department of State. The key here is to remember that undeclared doesn't mean unplanned. Many students have specific career goals, but they see multiple paths to achieve them. This is your chance to show the future self you want to be, and how UIUC will get you to your goal.

Myllini Second-Choice Major Prompt #1

Please explain your interest in your second-choice major or your overall academic or career goals. You'll only need to answer this question if you've applied to a second-choice major! This prompt should look pretty familiar: you can choose to answer either the Major-Specific Prompt #1 or the Major-Specific Prompt #2. The trick here is to show that your second-choice major is deliberate and useful for your future goals. You're not just picking a second-choice major because you really, really want to get into UIUC in any way, shape, or form. If you have a secondary interest that's almost as strong as your first-choice major, consider answering the first prompt. If you have a very strong career goal that multiple majors could feed into, consider answering the second.

Whichever choice you make, remember to clearly state why UIUC is the best schoo l for your major or career path!

A Real UIUC Essay Example + Analysis

To help give you a better idea of what your own UIUC essay could look like, here is one real UIUC essay example we found online, written by an admitted student.

Keep in mind that this essay was written for an old prompt that's no longer on the MyIllini application. However, this essay is still a great example of how college counselors want to see students talk about their interests and passions. 

Here is the prompt:

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? (250 to 650 words)

And here is the essay:

The chicken, or the egg? The hours I’ve spent pondering this question are countless. People frequently debate the seemingly simple idea of which came first. To me, it is more than just a question, but an example of how human beings think. The question of “Which came first?” captivates me because it is a question without an answer. It has been asked for centuries and no progress has been made, but it still continues to be brought up. I think this is because humans prefer clear-cut answers. Like in any kind of competition, ending with a tie between teams or individuals isn’t a satisfying conclusion. People would rather the competition continue for extra time than admit there’s no real winner, or in this case, no real answer. So even though it’s obvious there will be no agreement, the debate over chickens and eggs continues. When people label something a “chicken-egg” situation, it means there is no way to establish the order of cause and effect, again leaving a feeling of uncertainty. But human nature is to seek an answer. The chicken-egg question shows humanity’s inability to accept unfinished business, and this fascinates me most. People want closure in all aspects of life, and big questions like this are no exception. I think the question “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?” is so interesting because people will always try to answer it knowing they will never find a solution. It shows that humans desire understanding above all else. When I want to learn more about this concept, I turn to my grandfather. He doesn’t have a degree in philosophy or psychology, yet he’s a reliable source on almost any subject given his extensive years spent at the University of Life. With so many experiences under his belt, he understands unanswerable questions much better than I do. “The only truth is uncertainty,” he tells me when I once again dive deep into the possibility of eggs without chickens or chickens without eggs. In his words, the most beautiful parts of life are the questions we can’t answer but spend out whole life trying to. My own desire for answers keeps me thinking about this question for hours on end. I think there’s good points to grandpa’s perspective, but as an eighteen-year-old entering college, I don’t know if I can accept that the only answer is no answer just yet. Until I can, I’ll gather my own evidence and continue to spend my days wondering whether Aristotle was eating chicken and waffles or omelettes for breakfast.

What Makes This UIUC Essay Work?

• It’s got a great hook. The applicant starts the essay with a familiar philosophical question: “The chicken, or the egg?”. This pulls the admissions committee into the essay by making them ponder the question too. The applicant then analyzes the question and provides their own unique interpretation of what it’s really getting at. As the applicant says at the end of the first paragraph, “To me, it’s more than just a question, but an example of how human beings think.” By stating their unique take on the chicken vs egg dilemma, the applicant shows the admissions committee that they can interpret complex ideas and analyze tough questions. These are qualities that UIUC wants their incoming class of students to have!
• It’s clear, focused, and easy to follow: A topic like this one could easily go off the rails, but the applicant keeps the essay focused by responding to exactly what the prompt is asking in the correct order. The first paragraph states the idea that the applicant finds engaging. The next two paragraphs explain why the applicant finds this idea “captivating” and connects their engagement with the idea to deeper meanings about human nature, which also demonstrates why this topic causes the applicant to “lose all track of time.” The fourth paragraph states who the applicant turns to when they want to learn more about this question, and explains what they have gained from exploring this question with their grandpa. The applicant wraps up the essay with a conclusion that describes how their approach to the chicken vs egg question relates to the kind of student they will be at UIUC. The clear structure, clean prose, and adept analysis all make this essay easy to understand and exciting to read

How Could This UIUC Essay Be Even Better?

• It could be more specific about why the idea is captivating: Although this UIUC essay is well written and tightly focused, it isn't super specific about why the applicant personally relates to the question about the chicken and the egg. The applicant does a great job explaining what they feel this debate reveals about human nature, but doesn’t say much about why that debate is meaningful to them.
• It could have a stronger conclusion : Although the applicant makes a great attempt at tying their essay response into why they will be a great fit for UIUC, the conclusion could do a bit more to show how this is the case. Reframing the last paragraph so it explains how the applicant’s approach to uncertainty makes them the perfect UIUC candidate could make this essay even stronger.

3 Essential Tips for Writing a Great UIUC Essay

To wrap up, here are four essential tips to keep in mind as you write your U of I application essay.

#1: Don't Just List Your Accomplishments

At first glance, some of the UIUC essay prompts may seem like an invitation to list all of your amazing accomplishments. But none of these prompts actually want you to do that! Instead, you need to use expertly crafted stories to convey everything you have to offer as an applicant to UIUC.

The point of the UIUC essay is to give the admissions committee more detailed and personal commentary on why you've chosen their school and why you would be a great addition to their student community. Leave the list of accomplishments for your resume. Telling a genuine story is the best way to show how your life experiences have shaped you into the perfect candidate for admission to UIUC.

#2: Highlight Your Passion

While the essay prompts all have a different focus, the main goal of each one is to draw out what you’re passionate about and why. With each prompt, what you're really trying to do is demonstrate your passion to the UIUC admissions committee.

In other words, what motivates you to learn? What drives you more than anything else? And why are you so enthusiastic about bringing your ideas, experiences, and character to UIUC?

By highlighting your passions and interests, you're also showing the UIUC admissions committee who you are and what's important to you, both academically and more broadly.

To really make your passion stand out in your University of Illinois essay, take the following steps:

• Be as specific as possible —give us real names and use visceral descriptions to make us feel as though we're there experiencing and feeling everything with you
• Be honest —the admissions committee wants to get to know the real you, and it can only do this if you're writing in an authentic voice that's true to who you are

#3: Polish and Proofread

My final tip is to give yourself plenty of time to polish and proofread your UIUC essay.

In your rough draft, keep an eye out for obvious typos and technical mistakes, such as errors in punctuation, grammar, and spelling. Also, look for any areas that are awkward, incomplete, out of place, or unclear.

Once you've edited your essay on your own, give it to someone else to read, such as a parent, teacher, or tutor. Ask them to make technical corrections as needed and to offer you advice on what you might be able to improve in terms of story, cogency, and overall effectiveness.

What's Next?

Applying to other colleges in the midwest? Check out our expert guides to how to write the UChicago essays , the Notre Dame essays , and the Michigan State essay .

If you're using the Common App to submit your college applications, you'll need to figure out which essay prompt is the best one for you .

Learn more about how to get into the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign by visiting our UIUC admission requirements page .

Want to write the perfect college application essay? Get professional help from PrepScholar.

Your dedicated PrepScholar Admissions counselor will craft your perfect college essay, from the ground up. We'll learn your background and interests, brainstorm essay topics, and walk you through the essay drafting process, step-by-step. At the end, you'll have a unique essay that you'll proudly submit to your top choice colleges.

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Hannah received her MA in Japanese Studies from the University of Michigan and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California. From 2013 to 2015, she taught English in Japan via the JET Program. She is passionate about education, writing, and travel.

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UIUC College Essay Example Prompts

Whether you decide to apply to UIUC through Common App or myIllini, you’ll have to conquer the dreaded essay portion of the application. Fear not! When writing your essay, you have several options to choose from , so you can select the topic you’re most comfortable with.

For your application, you only need to choose one prompt to complete (along with two major-specific responses). Your essay should be between 250 and 650 words. In this blog, we’ve provided an example response for one of our college essay prompts . The concept we wrote about may seem a little silly, but we hope this example gives you an idea of how to craft your own response. Here we go!

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?

The chicken, or the egg? The hours I’ve spent pondering this question are countless. People frequently debate the seemingly simple idea of which came first. To me, it is more than just a question, but an example of how human beings think.

The question of “Which came first?” captivates me because it is a question without an answer. It has been asked for centuries and no progress has been made, but it still continues to be brought up. I think this is because humans prefer clear-cut answers. Like in any kind of competition, ending with a tie between teams or individuals isn’t a satisfying conclusion. People would rather the competition continue for extra time than admit there’s no real winner, or in this case, no real answer. So even though it’s obvious there will be no agreement, the debate over chickens and eggs continues.

When people label something a “chicken-egg” situation, it means there is no way to establish the order of cause and effect, again leaving a feeling of uncertainty. But human nature is to seek an answer. The chicken-egg question shows humanity’s inability to accept unfinished business, and this fascinates me most. People want closure in all aspects of life, and big questions like this are no exception. I think the question “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?” is so interesting because people will always try to answer it knowing they will never find a solution. It shows that humans desire understanding above all else.

When I want to learn more about this concept, I turn to my grandfather. He doesn’t have a degree in philosophy or psychology, yet he’s a reliable source on almost any subject given his extensive years spent at the University of Life. With so many experiences under his belt, he understands unanswerable questions much better than I do. “The only truth is uncertainty,” he tells me when I once again dive deep into the possibility of eggs without chickens or chickens without eggs. In his words, the most beautiful parts of life are the questions we can’t answer but spend out whole life trying to.

My own desire for answers keeps me thinking about this question for hours on end. I think there’s good points to grandpa’s perspective, but as an eighteen-year-old entering college, I don’t know if I can accept that the only answer is no answer just yet. Until I can, I’ll gather my own evidence and continue to spend my days wondering whether Aristotle was eating chicken and waffles or omelettes for breakfast.

Now that you’ve had a chance to mull over your opinion on Aristotle’s breakfast choices, think about what topic you might like to write about in your application. Remember, it’s not about trying to perfectly replicate this example or write what you think the admissions office wants to hear. The essay section of your application is your chance to let colleges get to know you on a more personal level, so show them who you really are! If you take your time and write about what’s important to you, you’ll be writing college essay prompts like a pro in no time.

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Thank you, Ishaan; we’re glad you’re finding this information helpful!

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How to Respond to the 2023/2024 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Essay Prompts

Cece Gilmore is a Content Writer at Scholarships360. Cece earned her undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Arizona State University. While at ASU, she was the education editor as well as a published staff reporter at Downtown Devil. Cece was also the co-host of her own radio show on Blaze Radio ASU.

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Bill Jack has over a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. Since 2008, he has worked at Colby College, Wesleyan University, University of Maine at Farmington, and Bates College.

Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is mainly located in Champaign, Illinois. Technically, UIUC is located in the “twin cities” of Champaign and Urbana, so you may not always be in Champaign if you decide to attend! Founded in 1867, UIUC is the flagship institution of the University of Illinois system. The UIUC supplemental essays are split up based on whether you are applying to a specific major or their undeclared program. Therefore, it is important to have an idea of what you want to study before you begin filling out the UIUC application. 

Also see: How to write an essay about yourself

Before answering the UIUC supplemental essay questions

The UIUC supplemental essay questions are divided based on whether applicants are applying to a specific major, undeclared program or have a second-choice major. 

Therefore, it is important to do your research on UIUC and the academic programs available. Figure out what drives you and what you picture yourself doing in the future. If your future is not clear, do not worry! You still have plenty of time to explore and figure out what you are interested in by becoming an undeclared major. 

You will have to answer two-three short-answer questions depending on whether you’re applying to a major or undeclared program and if you have selected a second choice major.

Each short answer response should not exceed 150 words. This is not a lot of space for creative freedom, so be sure to be clear and concise. Do not drag on! Make sure you simply just answer the question and put your personality on the page. 

Don’t miss: Tips for a successful college application

If you’re applying to a major

If you are applying to a major , there are two UIUC supplemental essays you will need to complete (150 words each).

First essay

“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.”

To begin answering this prompt, you should first describe what exactly your first-choice major is. You can give some background into how you discovered your passion for this subject. For example, maybe you want to study biology because you were obsessed with a particular lab you completed in high school. 

After giving a brief description of your major, talk about some meaningful experiences you have had that have added to your desire to study this topic. For example, you can choose to write about a particular “aha” experience in your biology class or a mandatory book for English class that changed your perspective on life. You can also choose to write about an outside the classroom experience such as a club or volunteer work you have done. You can even talk about a figure in your life that has inspired you. The limits are endless! 

Ensure that whatever experiences you choose to write about that they connect back to your first-choice major. 

Second essay

“Describe your personal and/or career goals after graduating from UIUC and how your selected first-choice major will help you achieve them.” 

The second supplemental essay question for applicants who have selected a first-choice major is pretty straightforward. What do you envision yourself doing after college? What is the career you are working towards with this major? 

This question will allow admissions officers to see that you are working towards something bigger than yourself. They want to see that you have a plan ready for your future. 

So, describe exactly what you intend to do with your degree from UIUC. Be sure to mention why this particular path is the right one for you. 

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If you’re applying to uiuc’s undeclared program.

If you’re applying to the undeclared program, there are two UIUC supplemental essays you will have to write (150 words each). 

“What are your academic interests? Please include 2-3 majors you’re considering at Illinois and why.” 

Having your future aspirations figured out is not something that is required to attend university. Therefore, do not stress if you are not exactly sure what you want to major in at UIUC. 

Luckily, their undeclared program is a popular option for incoming freshmen. In this program, you are able to explore different majors while still remaining on track for graduation. 

Therefore, this prompt wants to get you thinking about where your academic strengths and interests lie. Are you a book lover and cannot wait to go to English class every day? Do you love learning new languages? Is calculus your jam? Wherever your strengths and interests lie, be sure to write about all of them. Include some background information on why you love these particular subjects. Maybe your mom read to you every night when you were younger, and your love of reading continues to this day. Or, maybe you always were the banker while playing Monopoly so math is now your favorite subject 

Just remember not to exceed 150 words in your response! 

Also see: An insider’s view of what goes on inside a college admissions office

“What are your future career or academic goals? You may include courses you took in high school and how these impacted your goals.” 

As mentioned above, you do not need to have your life figured out! Therefore, your answer to this question does not need to be extremely specific. Rather, it can be quite broad. 

For example, if you do not know what you want to do, but you enjoy reading and working as a camp counselor for first graders over the summer, you can talk about your love for this and how it may open a door to teaching in your future career. You can even be more broad and say that you picture yourself helping others in your future career because that is what makes you feel good. 

UIUC does not want you to have your future figured out and does not expect you to! They just want to see that their undeclared applicants are thinking about their futures and potential career paths. 

If you’ve selected a second-choice major (including undeclared) 

If you’re applying to a second-choice major you will need to answer one supplemental essay question (150 words). 

“Please explain your interest in your second-choice major or your overall academic or career goals.” 

A second-choice major is essentially a “backup” major. It means if you are not admitted to your first-choice major, you will then be considered for your second-choice major. 

Essentially, like the other UIUC supplemental essays, this question wants to get to the bottom of the “why?” Why do you want to study this as your second choice? Why is this option not your first choice? 

Be sure to include how studying this major will still help you reach your career goals despite not being your first choice major. Why does this secondary area of study appeal to you? 

Next steps after applying to UIUC 

Once you have completed your UIUC supplemental essays – congratulations! Be sure to read over your responses or ask a trusted friend to read them over for you. Remember, you want to submit a flawless essay, not one filled with silly mistakes that make you seem careless.

Make sure you do not repeat any information throughout your responses, despite the questions being similar. Be sure to reveal new information throughout your application so admissions officers get a well-rounded idea of “you.” 

Now that you have beautiful and flawless UIUC supplemental essay answers written, it is officially time to submit your application! 

Once your application is submitted, be sure to check your UIUC portal and email for updates on your application status.

In addition, show demonstrated interest in UIUC by following them on social media or scheduling an in-person tour. This will give you an opportunity to get to know UIUC a little better, and give UIUC the chance to get to know you as well. 

Best of luck in the rest of your college admissions journey! 

Additional resources

If UIUC is the first school you have applied to or the last or somewhere in the middle, we know you need some help along the way! Luckily, we have an abundance of resources at your fingertips. 

Not sure if UIUC should be the only school you apply to? Check out our guide on how many schools to apply to . Make sure to read up after about how to find safety, reach, and match schools . 

If financing and affordability is a main concern when it comes to a higher education, make sure that you apply for all the scholarships you qualify for! 

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Other colleges to consider

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• Pennsylvania State University (Throughout PA)

Frequently asked questions about the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Essay Prompts

How important are the uiuc supplemental essays, when are the application deadlines for uiuc, can i get creative with my uiuc supplemental essay answers, scholarships360 recommended.

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Choosing a Major

At the University of Illinois, you can apply for up to two majors. If you have a strong passion for working in the engineering industry, we highly encourage you to select two engineering majors. This will prompt the admission review staff to exhaust all options to admit you into one of our engineering majors. To determine which programs to select as a first and second choice, follow the tips provided below.

Think about where your interests are focused, and decide how you want to apply them within disciplines of engineering.

For example, a student that is interested in robotics could major in electrical engineering to focus on designing the circuitry structure of the robot, or they could major in materials science & engineering to focus on determining the best materials for the robot. Other majors like mechanical engineering, computer science, computer engineering, and engineering mechanics could easily be applied as well for a career in robotics.

Majors and Minors

Select two engineering majors that relate closely to your interest.

As a college, we’ve categorized our majors into four main areas: Nature, Motion, Information & Interdisciplinary. In the diagram below you can see how our majors fit and overlap within these categories. The three majors directly in the middle make up our most interdisciplinary majors; their curriculum spans across many of the engineering disciplines. Whether you have a singular or multidisciplinary interest, we offer majors to match.

Interdisciplinary Curriculum

When making your first-choice selection, keep in mind that there are some majors that are first-choice-only majors due to their demand. 

Those majors for first-year engineering applicants include computer science (including CS+X), computer engineering, and mechanical engineering. For transfer engineering applicants, computer science (including CS+X), computer engineering, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering are first-choice-only options.

If you are interested in a first-choice-only major, you must select it as your first major when you apply. If you find yourself struggling between which first-choice-only major to choose, then consider talking with some of our current students in those majors , checking out the curriculum , or take our Majors Quiz to see which major(s) are the best match for your interests.

When making your second-choice selection, consider a major that is closely related to your first choice. 

It is okay to select a second choice major that is not in engineering or not closely related to your first choice if you have a strong interest in that major as well. If you are struggling to decide on a second choice, here are some tips: 

• Take our Majors Quiz to see how your interest relates to our majors.
• Visit the Admission Office majors page to find related majors.  Click on your first choice major and scroll to the bottom to see the related majors.  

Make sure that your answer to the writing prompt about your second-choice major is not identical to your first-choice major. 

Provide the reviewer with new information about yourself so they have additional content to consider in your application review. It is okay for some information to overlap, just make sure that your answer is not identical. Write a separate essay that can stand alone. In addition, strive to write a 150 word answer for the short-answer writing prompt questions. We want to hear all about your interest in our majors.

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UIUC Supplemental Essays 2023-24

If you’re interested in attending UIUC, writing effective UIUC essays is an important step toward gaining admission. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), located in eastern Illinois , stands out as one of the premier public universities in the nation. Consequently, UIUC Admissions assesses thousands of applications and UIUC supplemental essays annually to identify strong candidates.

With UIUC’s acceptance rate hovering around 45%, many students are curious about the key to gaining admission. While a strong academic record is important in any application, the UIUC supplemental essays are crucial to your application journey. Your essays offer admissions officials a glimpse into your academic interests and how they align with UIUC offerings. Therefore, your UIUC essays can be the deciding factor in the success of your application.

Our guide to the UIUC supplemental essays will walk you through strategies to use while writing your UIUC essays. We will explore the UIUC application requirements and analyze UIUC essay prompts, including the UIUC why major essay and why UIUC essay. In each section, you’ll find valuable insights to help you craft outstanding UIUC essays. With this guide, you’ll be ready to craft compelling UIUC essays that are certain to impress University of Illinois Admissions.

First, we’ll go over some UIUC Admissions quick facts. Then, we’ll take a look at the prompts for each of the UIUC supplemental essays and how to answer them. If you’re ready to learn all about the UIUC essays, let’s get started!

UIUC Admissions: Quick Facts

University of illinois at urbana-champaign quick facts.

• UIUC Acceptance Rate: 45% – while UIUC’s acceptance rate is higher than other top universities, U.S. News still considers UIUC moderately selective. 
• UIUC Application Platforms: UIUC accepts the Common Application & myIllni Application
• Students will respond to one essay prompt from the list of 2023-2024 Common Application Essay Prompts . Prompts are the same whether you apply through myIllini or the Common App. 
• Students will respond to specific UIUC essay prompts depending on their choice of major. Your UIUC essays may include a UIUC why major essay and why UIUC essay.
• Early Action: November 1st
• Regular Decision: January 5th 

Please note that essay requirements are subject to change each admissions cycle, and portions of this article may have been written before the final publication of the most recent guidelines. For the most up-to-date information on essay requirements, check the university’s admissions website.

Does University of Illinois Urbana Champaign require an essay?

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) requires applicants to submit UIUC supplemental essays as part of the application process. To start, all applicants must complete one personal statement essay, ranging from 250 to 650 words. This University of Illinois essay allows candidates to showcase their unique perspectives, experiences, and aspirations. The good news is that the UIUC essay prompts for this essay mirror the Common Application essay prompts. So, if you are applying to other schools via the Common App, you don’t need to write a new essay for UIUC. 

In addition to your personal statement, applicants must also submit 2 to 3 additional UIUC supplemental essays. The number of essays you write and the UIUC essay prompts you’ll respond to will depend on your chosen major(s). These major-specific UIUC supplemental essays allow applicants to delve deeper into their academic interests. In these essays, students can demonstrate an understanding of their chosen field of study and how their passions align with UIUC.

Ultimately, UIUC supplemental essays play a crucial role in providing the University of Illinois admissions committee with a comprehensive understanding of each applicant. Supplemental essays are UIUC’s main tool for seeing beyond what is reflected in a student’s academic achievements and standardized test scores. Once we go over the UIUC essay prompts, you’ll see just how important and valuable these essays can be to your application.

In the next sections, we will dive deeper into the major specific prompts. We’ll show you how to respond to these UIUC essay prompts to ensure your UIUC essays strengthen your application.

UIUC Major-Specific Prompts

For those applying to a specific major at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), you can expect two major-specific UIUC essay prompts. These UIUC essays can be thought of as a UIUC why major essay and why UIUC essay. Together, these prompts are designed to gain deeper insights into your academic and personal aspirations. 

Major-specific University of Illinois Essay Prompt #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. (150 words).

To craft your first UIUC why major essay, you must recount a recent, significant experience related to your first-choice major. Whether it’s an extracurricular activity, a memorable class, or any other relevant context, the connection to your intended major should be clear. Take the opportunity to provide a detailed narrative that showcases your hands-on involvement and its impact on your academic journey.

Major-specific University of Illinois Essay Prompt #2

Describe your personal and/or career goals after graduating from uiuc and how your selected first-choice major will help you achieve them. (150 words).

Your second UIUC why major essay can also be thought of as a why UIUC essay. In your essay, you’ll want to articulate your personal and/or career goals following graduation from UIUC. However, you’ll also need to explain how completing your first-choice major at UIUC aligns with and contributes to these aspirations. This prompt requires thoughtful reflection on your long-term vision, drawing clear connections between your academic pursuits at UIUC and your personal and professional journey. 

Strong college candidates will have clear goals and a track record of commitment to their education. By addressing these UIUC essays with sincerity and depth, you can present a compelling case for your suitability and enthusiasm for your chosen major.

UIUC Undeclared Major Program Essay Prompts

Students applying to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) as an undeclared major can also anticipate two UIUC essay prompts. These UIUC supplemental essays are specifically tailored for students who are still undecided. These UIUC supplemental essays are similar to the major-specific essays in that you’ll still be discussing your academic interests and future goals.

Undeclared Major University of Illinois Essay Prompt #1

What are your academic interests please include 2-3 majors you’re considering at illinois and why. (150 words).

This essay invites you to share varied academic interests, requesting that you include specific majors you are considering at Illinois. Be sure to select specific major programs, rather than more general areas of study, and elaborate on the reasons behind your choices. This University of Illinois essay lets you showcase your curiosity and thought process in exploring potential academic paths. So, even if you’re undecided, you can still show the admissions committee what topics pique your curiosity.

Undeclared Major University of Illinois Essay Prompt #2

What are your future career or academic goals you may include courses you took in high school and how these impacted your goals. (150 words).

For this essay, you must articulate your future aspirations for college and beyond. You are also encouraged to look back on previous experiences and include details about high school courses that have inspired you. This University of Illinois essay prompt allows you to reflect on not just what you want to accomplish but also why . In your essay, aim to create a narrative that demonstrates the alignment between your educational background and future endeavors. 

Even if you aren’t sure what you want to study, that doesn’t mean you can’t wow admissions with your essays. By responding thoughtfully to these UIUC essays, you can present a well-rounded picture of your academic interests and future ambitions. 

UIUC Second-Choice Major Essay Prompt

For those who have chosen a second-choice major, including undeclared, UIUC provides a specific essay prompt to delve into your motivations and aspirations. Although this University of Illinois essay is technically optional, UIUC strongly recommends students select a second-choice major and complete this essay.

Second-Choice Major University of Illinois Essay Prompt

Please explain your interest in your second-choice major or your overall academic or career goals. (150 words).

This University of Illinois essay allows applicants to convey the reasons behind selecting a secondary major or to elucidate their broader academic and professional objectives. In responding to this UIUC essay prompt, consider sharing the factors that fuel your interest in the chosen second major and how it aligns with your overall academic and career trajectory. Whether you have a clear career path or are exploring various academic avenues, use this essay to showcase your thoughtful consideration of your academic journey and your second-choice major’s role in shaping your educational and professional aspirations. Crafting a compelling response to this prompt will strengthen your application by giving the admissions committee valuable insights into your motivations and future plans at UIUC.

How to write UIUC Essays?

You will notice that UIUC essays are uniquely tailored to outline your personal experiences within your interests. This reflects UIUC’s commitment to truly understanding who you are as a student and how your academic environment can contribute to your desired development.

With limited space, your essays need to be focused and concise, and writing them may require a touch of creativity. Approaching the UIUC essays requires careful consideration and authenticity to effectively communicate how UIUC aligns with your academic interests. Therefore, use the following steps to help craft your UIUC supplemental essays:

Self-reflection is Key

Self-reflection is a crucial first step in preparing your UIUC supplemental essays. Take the time to delve into who you are, what matters to you, and why you are an exceptional fit for UIUC. Focus on your individuality and consider what aspects of your personality and experiences have been vital to your growth. This preliminary exploration is pivotal to choosing strong topics for each of the UIUC essay prompts.

Choose the Common App Prompt That Fits You

While the major-specific UIUC essays will depend on your selected major, you do have the opportunity to choose your personal statement prompt. When deciding between the UIUC essay prompts, choose the one that aligns best with your experiences and interests. For instance, if overcoming a challenge has significantly shaped your perspective, consider the UIUC essay prompts related to resilience. Similarly, if you’ve achieved a noteworthy accomplishment, opt for the UIUC essay prompts inviting reflection on success. Your goal when choosing between the UIUC essay prompts is to pick one that effectively showcases your best qualities. (Especially those that make you a valuable addition to UIUC’s academic community.)

Be Creative, Be Different, Stand Out

Given the intimate nature of UIUC supplemental essays, don’t be afraid to be creative! Craft your narrative with innovation, experimenting with storytelling elements such as chronology and story arcs. Use dialogue and imagery to enhance the personal touch of your UIUC essays, providing admissions with a vivid portrayal of your unique qualities. Instead of merely stating preferences, vividly illustrate your interests. For instance, rather than stating a love for reading, you might vividly depict the hours spent engrossed in books.

By adhering to these steps, you will undoubtedly capture the attention of the admissions team. Remember, there is no singular formula for writing UIUC essays. Infuse your personality and distinctive experiences into your UIUC supplemental essays (and answer the prompts!) and you’ll be on the right track. Beyond these guidelines, you can find more detailed writing advice in this article on “ How to Write Better Essays .” 

Does UIUC care about essays?

Yes, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) certainly cares about your UIUC supplemental essays. UIUC takes pride in its thorough admissions process . While academic excellence is essential, UIUC recognizes that true potential encompasses more than just grades. This holistic approach is exemplified by the significance attributed to things like your background, interests, and previous accomplishments and challenges. These things are hard to tell from numbers alone, which is what makes your UIUC supplemental essays so important.

The emphasis on UIUC supplemental essays reflects the university’s strategic decision to identify individuals who resonate with its values of academic excellence, innovation, and a commitment to societal impact. The UIUC essays offer applicants a platform to share their personal stories, experiences, and aspirations, enabling the admissions committee to better understand each candidate’s unique qualities and perspectives.

Therefore, crafting impactful UIUC supplemental essays is one of the most important steps in the application process. UIUC essays are not just a showcase of writing skills but a window into your character, revealing your commitment to contributing to UIUC’s academic and innovative community.

What is the UIUC known for?

UIUC is renowned for its exceptional academic programs, cutting-edge research initiatives, and a vibrant campus community. UIUC consistently ranks among the top public universities in the United States and is recognized for its outstanding engineering, computer science, and business programs. So, let’s dive deeper into some of UIUC’s best qualities:

Top-Tier Engineering Programs

UIUC is consistently recognized for its outstanding engineering programs, particularly electrical engineering and computer science. (U.S. News has UIUC ranking #5 in Best Undergraduate Engineering and Computer Science Programs). The Grainger College of Engineering has a distinguished reputation for producing graduates who excel in the technological and industrial sectors.

Cutting-Edge Research Facilities

UIUC is a research -intensive institution with state-of-the-art facilities. For example, the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology is a hub for interdisciplinary research, fostering collaborations among scientists, engineers, and scholars to address complex global challenges.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship

The university strongly commits to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. The Research Park at UIUC provides a supportive ecosystem for startups and industry partnerships, allowing students and researchers to translate their ideas into real-world applications.

Academic Excellence in Business

UIUC’s Gies College of Business consistently ranks among the best in the nation. (U.S. News’ UIUC ranking highlights Gies as one of the Top 10 public undergraduate business programs in the country.) The Gies College of Business offers cutting-edge programs, including the highly regarded MBA. It is known for its emphasis on experiential learning and preparing students for leadership roles in the business world.

Diverse and Inclusive Campus

UIUC takes pride in its diverse and inclusive campus community. With students from around the globe and a wide range of cultural organizations within its 800 clubs and student organizations , the university provides a dynamic environment that encourages cross-cultural understanding and collaboration.

It’s no secret that UIUC is a top-tier institution. Known for academic excellence, research impact, and diversity, UIUC prepares its graduates for success in a rapidly evolving global landscape.

More supplemental essay resources from CollegeAdvisor

As you begin crafting your application for UIUC, consider exploring additional resources from CollegeAdvisor to enhance your preparation. These valuable tools are designed to provide expert guidance throughout the application process, ensuring you present your strongest and most authentic version of yourself. CollegeAdvisor’s resources go beyond the conventional and offer tailored advice for navigating specific aspects of the application journey.

Here are a few resources to check out before you start your application to UIUC:

• How to Get into UIUC Guide : This guide is a treasure trove of information, offering a detailed roadmap for securing admission to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It provides strategic insights into UIUC’s admissions process, tips for writing compelling UIUC essays, and advice on showcasing your unique qualities to stand out in the competitive applicant pool.
• College Essay Topics : Crafting impactful essays is a crucial aspect of the application process. This College Essay Topics resource assists you in exploring creative and meaningful ideas for your essays. It provides inspiration and guidance to help you tell your story in a way that resonates with admissions committees.
• How to Start a Personal Statement : Your very first sentence will set the tone for your entire essay. This resource offers practical tips on how to start a personal statement effectively, helping you capture the reader’s attention from the outset. Learn how to craft a compelling opening that reflects your voice and establishes a strong foundation for your narrative.

Exploring these resources will undoubtedly enhance your understanding of the application process. That way, you can feel empowered to create compelling materials, increasing your chances of success at UIUC and other esteemed universities.

UIUC Supplemental Essays – Final Thoughts

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ( UIUC ) presents a unique and dynamic opportunity for prospective students. With UIUC ranking #30 in the nation by Forbes, UIUC stands as one of the nation’s premier public universities in the Midwest . UIUC’s rigorous admissions process underscores its commitment to identifying candidates who both excel academically and align with its values.

The UIUC application process goes beyond standardized test scores, reflecting the university’s commitment to understanding the values and aspirations of each applicant. As such, the UIUC supplemental essays are incredibly important. UIUC essays require self-reflection, creativity, and a genuine connection to UIUC’s academic environment.

Before you go, here are some final takeaways from our guide to the UIUC supplemental essays. 

Navigating the UIUC essay prompts

• The major-specific UIUC essay prompts offer applicants a chance to showcase hands-on involvement and articulate how their chosen major aligns with their personal and career goals.
• Undeclared major applicants can express their academic interests and future aspirations through the tailored UIUC essay prompts, providing a glimpse into their exploration of potential academic paths.
• The UIUC second-choice major essay prompts allow applicants to delve into the motivations behind their secondary major or articulate broader academic and professional objectives, adding depth to their application.

Tips for writing your UIUC essays

• Resources from CollegeAdvisor, such as the “How to Get into UIUC Guide,” “College Essay Topics,” and “How to Start a Personal Statement,” provide strategic insights and practical tips to enhance your application journey, especially your UIUC essays.
• UIUC supplemental essays are essential for conveying your unique qualities and commitment to UIUC’s academic and innovative community. Approach the UIUC essays with authenticity, creativity, and a genuine connection to the university’s values, ensuring your application stands out in the competitive University of Illinois admissions process.

With these strategies, you can create UIUC essays that meet the requirements, stand out, and make a lasting impression on the UIUC admissions committee. We wish you the best of luck with your application and writing your UIUC supplemental essays. And good luck on your application journey!

This article was written by senior advisor, Ashley Hollins . Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.

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Deadline Update: We want to ensure anyone applying for federal financial aid has enough time to make an informed decision regarding their college choice! For this reason, we're extending our enrollment decision deadline to May 15.

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What do you need help with, applying through common app, self-reporting your courses & grades, how to write your application essays, application fee waivers, uiuc majors, application checklist.

Planning to apply through Common App? Watch their video to walk through the process from start to finish. You can also apply to UIUC through myIllini .

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If you still have questions after watching Common App's walkthrough, you can also check out their super-thorough guide.

If you apply through myIllini, you'll self-report your courses and grades in your application. If you apply through Common App, we'll email you instructions on how to do this after we receive your application. Either way, we encourage you to check out our video walkthrough playlist and FAQ as you work!

Language & School Info

Courses/Grades 9-11

Courses Year 12

When you apply to UIUC, you'll be asked to answer two to three major-specific prompts and an essay question . View example answers below!

1. Tell us why you're interested in your chosen major.

Questions you'll answer depend on whether you're applying to a major or to our undeclared program , and if you've selected a second-choice major . Each answer should be around 150 words.

Example Answers

2. Write a personal essay.

Answer the prompt of your choice from Common App's full list . Your essay response can be anywhere from 250 to 650 words total.

Example Answer

If the cost to apply to college is weighing you down, fee waivers can help! At UIUC, fee waivers must be submitted by a high school counselor or other school official. If you think you qualify, ask your counselor to submit our fee waiver form .

You'll be asked to choose a major within our application. Not sure what you want to major in yet? That's okay! We're here to help you discover the perfect path for you.

Explore Major Options

You can explore all of UIUC's majors–including descriptions, career options, post-grad stats, and more–on our website.

Explore More

Need Help Deciding?

If you're unsure of where to start, take a quiz to discover UIUC majors that relate to your personality type.

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Go Undeclared

At UIUC, you can also apply to our undeclared program in the Division of General Studies (DGS) and choose a major later!

Learn More about Undeclared

Not sure where to start, or just want to be certain you've done everything needed to apply? Here's a quick checklist to help!

Submit your application.

You can apply through myIllini or Common App . We don't give preference based on your application choice, so do what's easiest for you!

Pay your application fee or have your counselor submit a fee waiver.

When you submit your application, you'll pay a nonrefundable fee by credit card. If you qualify for a fee waiver, make sure your counselor submits our fee waiver form .

Submit your courses and grades.

If you apply through Common App, we'll email you a link to report this information after you submit the application. (If you apply through myIllini, this is part of the application.)

See if you have additional requirements .

For example, if you're applying into a talent-based major like art, dance, music, or theatre, you'll need to complete an audition or submit a portfolio.

Check your status.

You can view your status page and confirm all is good to go by clicking on your application in myIllini . If you apply through the Common App, we'll create a myIllini account for you after you submit your application.

More College Prep Resources

Check out the resources below for additional help as you apply, including general college prep resources.

• Applying to UIUC Video How-Tos
• Paying for College Resources
• Preparing for UIUC Blogs
• UIUC General College Prep Blogs
• Undocumented Student Resources
• Niche College Admissions Blogs

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How to write the university of illinois urbana champaign essays 2020-2021: the precise guide.

The University of Illinois has a beautiful campus only 140 miles south of Chicago, in the twin cities of Urbana and Champaign.

The university is proud of its accomplishments and highlights these on their website. The University of Illinois was ranked the 14th best public university according to the U.S. News and World Report’s 2017-2018 ranking.

The University of Illinois Urbana Champaign has an acceptance rate that hovers around 60%.

In its history, 28 faculty and alumni have been awarded Pulitzer Prizes. Additionally, the school offers over 150 undergraduate programs .

Essentially, UIUC is a campus that values hard work and recognizes accomplishments. Therefore it is of the utmost importance that you spend quality time researching the school and assembling a stellar application.

What are the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign Supplemental Essay Requirements?

There are two ways to submit your application to the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. The first option is to submit through the Coalition App . For more information on writing the Coalition essays, click here . Transfer students may not use this method to apply.

Alternatively, you may submit your application through the myIllini portal on the UIUC website. Freshman applicants that use this method must complete a required essay and an additional optional essay.

Click above to watch a video on UIUC Supplemental Essays.

These are the prompts:

Explain your interest in the major you selected and describe how you have recently explored or developed this interest inside and/or outside the classroom. You may also explain how this major relates to your future career goals. If you’re applying to the Division of General Studies, explain your academic interests and strengths or your future career goals. You may include any majors or areas of study you’re currently considering. Limit your response to 300 to 400 words. If you select a second-choice major other than the Division of General Studies on your application, write a second essay explaining your interest in this major, too. Again, limit your response to 300 to 400 words.

How Do I Select a Major?

The essay options for the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign are both tied to your future goals as a student and professional. Before writing your essay, you should spend some time looking at the academic programs offered by the university.

• You want to ensure that you are writing about a program that currently exists at the school.
• Otherwise, this mistake could be grounds for the admissions committee to reject your application.
• Why would you want to go to a college that didn’t offer the program you’re interested in pursuing?
• And why would the admissions committee tolerate a candidate who didn’t do his research?

Additionally, you want to be able to fluidly and intelligently discuss the program that you are interested in. Details from the UIUC website will bolster your essay and reflect that you have done your research before applying.

• For example, if you are interested in the electrical engineering and computer science department, describe how you have pursued that interest throughout your coursework in high school and in your extracurriculars.
• Perhaps you took an AP computer science course, attended a programming summer course, or conducted related research at a nearby university.
• Make sure you have evidence to back up your interest in the major you intend to pursue, and also make sure you can tie it back to the department of interest.
• Your demonstrated interest in computer science and economics could have sparked an interest in cryptography and cryptocurrency. The overall goal is to make sure you have a coherent storyline for the choices you have made to pursue a specific major.

If you do not already have a major in mind, consider your hobbies and interests :

• …do any volunteer work?
• …participate in extracurricular activities?
• …work a job?

Think about your experiences during these activities and what you enjoy about them.

• You may begin to see a common thread such as “being physically active” or “helping people in need.”

This line of thinking will help you to find an area of focus to discuss in your selection of either “General Studies” or a more specific major.

For example, maybe your most memorable high school experience came from a leadership position where you were able to mentor younger students and teach them foundational basics in English and journalism. This could allow you to write about your interest in pursuing a major in reporting or writing.

Should I Write Both Supplemental Essays?

As noted above, the second essay question is optional. If you have absolutely no idea what you would like to study in college, it’s best to choose the “Division of General Studies” and complete only the first essay.

We caution you against writing the second prompt if you feel no passion or interest for it. Why? It’s important that you avoid writing an essay that seems forced or inauthentic.

The admissions committee will be able to tell right away that your essay doesn’t accurately describe your passions.

However, perhaps your heart is torn between becoming a computer science major or studying English to become a teacher.

• Writing two essays in this situation would be beneficial because it gives you the opportunity to express your interests in two different spheres.

For example:

• In the first essay, you may discuss how you have been drawn to a computer science degree ever since you took a coding summer course at a local university.
• You might discuss how you see yourself working in a career that would allow you to be both creative and exact in your daily work.
• Then, in your second essay, you could discuss how becoming an English teacher would allow you to pursue a career path that would make a difference in the daily lives of young people.
• You could describe your experience in the tutoring club at your high school and how great it feels to be able to help a peer improve their schoolwork.

There are other situations for which you should write two essays.

• Perhaps you are passionate about one program but you also want to explore your options once in college.
• You could write one essay for the General Studies track and another for your more specific interest.

You might also consider whether you are applying for a program that is particularly competitive.

• If that’s the case, you may want to write two essays in order to show admissions that you don’t have an “engineering or nothing else” mentality.
• If you don’t get into the program that you want right away, there are often other opportunities in college to switch majors.

Get personalized advice!

Uiuc supplemental essay #1: a journey from interest to degree to career.

In this essay, you are asked to explain how you explored or developed your interest in a particular major. It’s important to realize that the path to choosing a major is filled with countless, subconscious micro decisions.

Look back at the questions above regarding choosing a major.

• Did any of your experiences in a class, participating in an extracurricular , or working inspire you to make that choice?

You also want to consider what you have done to explore your potential career choice after recognizing your interest.

• Did you sign up for a Marine Biology-themed summer camp program after taking Environmental Science in 9th grade?
• Or maybe you chose to take a fourth science and math class even when it was optional at your high school.

These are important choices that you want to mention in your essay.

Whenever possible, describe both inspiration and initiative as they are related to your essay.

• “Inspiration” refers to the people, places, experiences, or events that shaped your future degree and career goals.
• “Initiative” means specific choices that you have made to further explore your interests.
• In the example above, your science teacher’s class may have been a catalyst and inspiration for pursuing a career in biology.
• Choosing to go to a science summer camp and taking an extra academic class reflects initiative on your part.
• These two factors work together to tell your story.

Remember that there are thousands of people submitting essays and many of them may have similar interests.

Therefore, you must include specific details to tell your personal story.

In order to accomplish this, consider using emotional and descriptive language to elevate your writing.

• Rather than saying “I took another academic science class because I liked it,”
• …you might instead write, “Deciding to give up an elective course in order to take a challenging science class was difficult. However, I told myself that the late nights of studying and homework would be worth it. I left my first class elated and felt instinctively that I had made the right decision.”

If you are choosing “General Studies,” transfer this advice to describing your academic interests and strengths.

• Perhaps you have been taking band since you were in the 6th grade.

This is an opportunity to explore that journey and to highlight your many joys and successes over the past seven years.

For this option, you may need to narrow down your variety of interests to 2-3 for the sake of the word count.

• Think about which topics you can write most passionately about and those for which you have examples of inspiration and initiative (as defined above).
• If you do have an idea of what you would like to do as a career or majors you are considering, you should mention them in your essay.

Regardless of whether you are writing about a particular major or general program, remember that you can use examples from experiences in or outside of school.

Be descriptive in telling your story and be selective with your details in order to stay within the maximum word count of 400 words.

Linking Experiences to Career Goals

Once you have discussed your interests and experiences, connect your story to your future career goals.

Although your professional life post-graduation may seem very far away, remember that the admissions committee is looking at the big picture. They want to understand how and why their program(s) will propel you to where you need to be in order to achieve your dreams.

In this section, it’s even more important to use emotional language as you are discussing not only your dreams but also your identity.

Describe to your readers why you feel called to enter this particular line of work. Consider these questions in preparation for writing:

• What do you think you could bring to the field?
• What do you want to accomplish?
• Why do you think this line of work is important?

Connect back to ideas that you established early on in describing your interests. If you spend the beginning of your essay talking about your amazing experience on a hiking trip and how much you like the outdoors but then tell the reader you would like to study Culinary Arts, your essay will be disjointed.

However, perhaps on your hiking trip, you learned how to identify edible plants and picked mushrooms that you later cooked in a group class. This specificity now allows you to connect your interest, which, at first, seemed unrelated to your career goal.

UIUC Supplemental Essay 1 Examples

UIUC Essay Prompt 1 Example:

The feeling still gives me a rush. After pouring my heart and soul out onto the editor, scripting programmatic prose in the form of for-loops and conditional statements, I move my cursor towards the horizontal green triangle and click: magically, my name appears on the console line. From the early days of “Hello, World!” to the startup websites and newspaper mobile apps, my penchant for programming developed due to my insatiable appetite for turning ideas into an interactive reality using lines of text. However, the topic that has increasingly piqued my interest has repercussions that could potentially reduce the need for me to program at all. Don’t get me wrong: after reading about the notion of “machine learning” for the first time, I was still particularly hesitant. Teaching a computer to think? It just didn’t seem like a plausible idea, nonetheless even practical. As time went by, more news notifications popped up on my phone containing this specific buzz phrase, and I became less and less naive and more and more curious regarding its applications. Eventually, at my first internship, I finally got a chance to build my first neural network and see exactly what everyone had been fussing over. I hurriedly perused through an incredibly technical textbook, copied down the shortest example I could find, and hit run. I closely watched as a succinct collection of 60 lines of code became trained to classify handwritten digits, doing so with a stellar accuracy of over 90%. Since then, I can confess to spending hours in the office with the sole purpose of feeding networks dozens of types of images: HeLa cells, dogs and cats, sets of fashion clothing, you name it. Every time I hit run, I become in awe at how a couple of words can somehow learn to act like a human; yet, I contemplate further about how this “revolution” of artificial intelligence has just begun. After all, maybe the ways in which we see this technology driving the future of our world are a tad bit too crazy; at the same time, maybe they’re not crazy enough.

Here’s another UIUC Essay Prompt 1 Example:

Thinking about the “why” when it comes to business always keeps me going. For me, the “why” is not about the money. Thus, after months of researching how to alleviate poverty in India, my friends and I founded Palm Empower, a nonprofit that connects underprivileged artisans and their products to American consumers; the artisans then keep the profits.  As communications director, I facilitated our partnership with the charity Ekal Vidyalaya, who linked us to families in Jharkhand that were interested in creating products for us to sell. Once the products were manufactured and shipped, I combined supply-chain strategies to my co-founders’ distribution services and negotiated product pricing with American consumers to generate sales.  Afterward, we focused our marketing on connecting directly to buyers and donors. I collaborated with my co founders to present our idea at local events and tell the true stories of the Indian families we were trying to help. We sold 300 products and raised another $1,000 for our mission on our first day.  I built the abilities to manage my nonprofit after extensive work as part of student council. As director of policy, I catalyzed change amongst our student body in order to improve our school environment. For example, many students wanted to take action when it came to eating food: The traditional cafeteria setting was sometimes unacceptable to students, who wanted to enjoy a half hour of leisure during their seven-hour school day in a different way. As the summer season approached, I introduced initiatives to the principal that would enable students to eat lunch outside in one of our courtyards. This would let students to enjoy their meals in a picnic-like setting. After students took turns signing our petition, and the principal eventually approved the plan.  My experience in building our message through Palm Empower and student council has helped me discover my passion for solving problems through creativity and social entrepreneurship. I want to use principles of business management to defeat financial instability. Although this issue is complex, I will do my part to reduce poverty through innovation and learn the nuances of creating social ventures. Ultimately, I want to start a business similar to my nonprofit and fight for those facing financial instability. 

Advice from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign Admissions Page

On the Urbana Champaign website, the undergraduate admissions page lists six different qualities they look for in an essay. Below, we will outline questions related to those qualities that you should ask yourself before writing and submitting your essay:

Be Memorable.

• Could any high school student have written my essay, or is it specific to my story?
• Did I use emotional language and description?
• Do I give enough detail for my readers to understand my experiences?

Be Prepared.

• Did I brainstorm before writing my essay?
• Am I aware of important deadlines?
• Have I asked a peer or adult to proofread my essay and give me feedback?

Be Yourself.

• Is my response honest?
• Can I hear my own voice in my writing?
• Did I use specific examples to support my statements?
• Have I adhered to the word count limit?
• Am I careful about word choice and clarity of my writing?
• Have I omitted any vague statements that leave my reader needing more information?

Be Focused.

• Have I fully answered all parts of the prompt?
• Do I effectively use transitions to move from one topic to another?
• Can my reader tell the interrelatedness of my interests and career goals?

Be Professional.

• Do I use a formal tone with my reader?
• Did I check my response for spelling and grammar errors?
• Does my essay reflect maturity on my part?

Conclusion: The University of Illinois Urbana Champaign Supplemental Essays

In this guide, we have reviewed important strategies for writing a powerful essay that is sure to impress the admissions committee.

Don’t feel nervous if you have not already decided on a major. As discussed, the essay prompt guides you to reflect on your strengths and goals instead.

If the school expected you to already be committed, that likely would not have been an option in the prompt.

Before submitting, review your essay one last time.

If you have been thoughtful, reflective, and precise, you are ready to send your response onward.

Stay on track and ease your anxiety with our second-to-none college application assistance.

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Prompt's How-to Guide for the UIUC Essay

The uiuc essay prompt, and how to nail it (2020-2021)..

Are you excited about going on to college? Does the prospect of only having to study the things you love — or that you think will get you to your chosen career — make you giddy?

Great! Then writing your short essay for the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is going to be easy — it’s just asking about what you plan to do at UIUC and why.

Still, if you’d like a little guidance for nailing this, take a look at our complete guide to the UIUC’s short essay — drawn from our long experience at Prompt helping applicants get accepted. (Note: this blog post will be updated soon - but while the UIUC prompt has changed slightly this year, our approach is still on-point.)

And if you’d also like personalized guidance from people who’ve done this thousands of times, get started with us here .

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign short essay prompts for 2020-2021

• Explain your interest in the major you selected and describe how you have recently explored or developed this interest inside and/or outside the classroom. You may also explain how this major relates to your future career goals. If you're applying to the Division of General Studies , explain your academic interests and strengths or your future career goals. You may include any majors or areas of study you're currently considering. Limit your response to 300 to 400 words.
• If you select a second-choice major other than the Division of General Studies on your application, write a second essay explaining your interest in this major, too. Again, limit your response to 300 to 400 words.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 2023-24 Supplemental Essay Guide

Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 5

You Have: 

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 2023-24 Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: 2-3 essays of 150 words each

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Why

The admissions committee at the University Illinois Urbana Champaign wants to know about your academic interests and career goals. The prompts change slightly depending on whether you’re hoping to attend with a declared major or not. Regardless, you should be prepared to write concisely and authentically about your plans and goals!

If You’re Applying to a Major:

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. (150 words).

For this essay, d escribe an experience you’ve had that relates to your first-choice major. Admissions is literally asking you to speak about this experience in detail, so don’t hold back. Did you work on a science experiment that taught you about the basics of organic chemistry? Maybe you watched those crazy robotics videos online and thought, “Hmm, I should understand how those work so I can protect my future family when A.I. takes over in 2050.” (I mean, honestly, have they not watched Black Mirror ?!) Throughout high school, you’ve been exposed to so many different subjects, and admissions wants to know why this one in particular has caught your eye.

Describe your personal and/or career goals after graduating from UIUC and how your selected first-choice major will help you achieve them. (150 words)

After explaining why your major is the right choice for you, look ahead five or ten years and imagine how it will catapult you into a fulfilling career—one that you may not have access to otherwise. Maybe when you were younger, you fell in love with stargazing and memorizing constellations and knew you wanted to be involved in a space-related field when you grew up—UIUC’s Astronomy program will help you get there! Build a bridge between your past and your future for admissions so they can see your commitment and demonstrated interest in this field.

If You’re Applying to Our Undeclared Program in the Division of General Studies:

What are your academic interests please include 2-3 majors you’re considering at illinois and why. (150 words).

There’s only one trick to generating a straightforward explanation of your academic interests: be honest. Since you probably don’t know what you want to major in or are in the process of paring down your list, don’t waste time trying to think of what admissions “wants” you to say! Choosing anything other than your true interests would be a misrepresentation of who you are and a disservice to you and the admissions office. To narrow your focus, try to tell a story with your choices. How can you use your life experiences to reveal something about what you value and what excites you intellectually? 

Try to illustrate a general inclination (e.g., journalism, English, and media/cinema studies go hand-in-hand). Or if you really feel like you could go any direction, try to show a balance, picking majors across fields that link to each other in a way that makes sense (e.g., mathematics, linguistics, and music composition all use special notations). Do whatever you can do to give admissions the full picture of who you are.

What are your future career or academic goals? You may include courses you took in high school and how these impacted your goals. (150 words)

Even if you’re undecided, it’s important to remember that UIUC seeks to invite movers and shakers to campus, students with big dreams and plans to make them happen. You don’t have to use this prompt to outline your 30-page plan for eliminating world hunger—in fact, with only 150 words to work with, we definitely advise against it! Think about the areas that pique your interest and where your curiosity originated. Was it a philosophy class you took junior year? Or, perhaps what spurred your interest wasn’t a class at all. Maybe you knew you wanted to be at the forefront of the fight against climate change and global warming after watching a poignant documentary with your family that hit close to home. How do you plan to contribute to this effort and how will your time at UIUC set you up for carbon neutral success? (Maybe their Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences major is a good place to start?) Whatever way you decide to answer this prompt, be sure to show admissions that you have an actionable, long-term goal in mind.

If You’ve Selected a Second-Choice Major (Including Undeclared):

You have selected a second-choice major. please explain your interest in that major or your overall academic or career goals. (150 words).

For this essay, admissions understands that you haven’t got it all figured out yet. And that’s okay! A lot of very successful people have leapt in and out of various disciplines or have even found common ground where they overlap (think philosophy and economics or agriculture and business). You’re allowed (encouraged, even!) to have many interests, and admissions wants to know where your strengths lie. 

Why does this secondary area of education appeal to you? What applications can you see blossoming from studying in this field? We recommend doing another dive into UIUC’s course offerings to show that this isn’t just an afterthought; additionally, feel free to share any previous experiences (in or out of the classroom) that have led you to this choice. Once you’ve succinctly demonstrated your interest, look to the future and explain how UIUC’s offerings will help you achieve your end-goals when it comes to your selected second-choice area of study.

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UIUC Second Major Choice Essay

Hi. I am applying to UIUC in the college of engineering as an undecided major. according to their website, the competition is fierce and I should choose a second major as well. I thought of choosing Electrical engineering. However, it requires that I write an additional essay for me choosing the second major. Now, I have covered every point regarding engineering in my first major essay. Hence, I don’t have anything to write for the second one. Any suggestions?

Please reply ASAP!

If you feel the two majors are similar enough and you don’t have anything to differentiate among your interests, coursework, EC, test results, hobbies etc, then you have the option to use the same essay. Undecided Engineering is obviously a vague one in terms of interest statements, you could simply add something about being genuinely undecided? My son used the same one for Engineering Physics and LAS Physics. Here is the official answer:

FAQ: https://admissions.illinois.edu/FAQ/applicant-freshman

Can I use the same essay for both my first and second choice?

We recommend you craft separate essays. When evaluating your essays, we’re looking for the reason you’re interested in the major you selected, whether it’s your first choice or your second choice. If you feel that your second choice corresponds with your first choice, it’s possible to reuse portions of your first-choice essay. However, we still want to see a true interest and understanding of your second-choice major through your essay.

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