supplemental essay for university of wisconsin madison

Required Application Materials and Documents

In order for your application to be reviewed for admission, it must be submitted with the non-refundable application fee or fee waiver, and all supporting documents must arrive in our office by our deadline . We highly recommend allowing ample time for materials to arrive.

Any outstanding materials will be noted under “Tasks” on your “To Do List” in your Student Center .

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First-Year Applicants

A first-year student includes anyone who is currently a student in high school or who has not taken college coursework since graduating from high school.

First-Year Application and Materials Deadlines

Applications and all required application materials must arrive in our office by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on the noted deadline dates.

Please note that it may take up to 72 hours for our system to reflect that you have submitted an application; you will receive an email the next business day acknowledging its receipt.

Students who submit their application within 5 days of the deadline will not receive a reminder of materials that are missing from their application.

Early Action is non-binding. You’ll receive your admissions decision earlier but will not be required to commit until the national deadline of May 1.

Transfer Applicants

A transfer student is anyone who has attended another college or university after graduating from high school and wishes to enroll in an undergraduate degree program at UW–Madison.

In order to be eligible for transfer admission, you must have completed or be in the process of completing at least 24 transferable semester hours of college-level work after high school graduation. AP, A-Level, IB, and CLEP cannot be used toward the 24 transferable credit requirement. We do not admit freshman-level transfer students.

Transfer Application and Materials Deadlines

Required first-year application materials.

We cannot begin to review your application until all required materials are received. These deadlines and requirements pertain to both domestic and international applicants.

Application requirements for admission to the university are the same for all students, regardless of the academic major/area of interest.*

*Students who wish to be considered for direct entry to a program in the areas of dance or music will also need to complete an additional application and an audition. Learn more about our Direct Entry  process.

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1. Admissions Application

First-year applicants can apply using either the Common Application  or the Universities of Wisconsin Application

UW–Madison does not prefer one application over the other. Please choose only one application and use only that application all the way through to submission.

Please note that we do not start processing fall term applications until September 1.

Applicants will be asked to identify both a first and second choice major when completing the application for admission. If we are unable to offer you admission to your first choice major, your second choice will be considered in our application review to assess interest and preparation. Due to the competitive nature of some of our programs, admissions expectations may be different for students pursuing majors in business, engineering, dance, and music. We encourage you to visit our direct entry page to learn more.

2. Application Fee

The application fee is $70.00 US and is non-refundable.

Electronic payment is preferred. If you apply using the Universities of Wisconsin Application, the fee can be paid by check or money order, drawn on a bank located in the United States and payable to the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Send the check or money order to the Office of Admissions and Recruitment . Please include the applicant’s name with payment. Do not send cash.

Application fee waivers are available for applicants with financial hardship. Eligible students can request a fee waiver as part of their application. If you did not request an application fee waiver at the time of application, but are eligible to have your fee waived, you may print the Application Fee Waiver Request Form and have your counselor/advisor submit it to the Office of Admissions and Recruitment. If the College Board or ACT grant you a fee waiver, we will also accept it.

3. Two Essays

As part of our holistic review, we refer to the essays you submit to understand more about you. What you choose to share gives us an idea of who you are and what you want to accomplish as part of our community. Tell us about you and your unique story to help us know you beyond your GPA and test scores. Your essays might also be used for campus program and scholarship review.

If you apply using the Common Application, you will be asked to respond to one of the  first-year Common Application essays . If you apply with the Universities of Wisconsin Application, you will need to answer the following prompt:

• Each student is unique. Please tell us about the particular life experiences, talents, commitments, and/or interests you will bring to our campus.

All applicants will also need to respond to this prompt:

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

Keep these tips in mind as you work on your writing:

• Develop your thoughts before you begin the writing process, and create an outline.
• The maximum word count for each essay is 650, but we recommend planning for 300–500 words.
• Do not type directly into the web form. Instead, work on your draft in word processing software.
• Allow time to develop and revisit your writing.
• Check for spelling mistakes and ask someone to proofread your final version.
• Be genuine and honest in your writing.

4. Course and Grade Information

We require course and grade information from all schools you attended for grades 9–12.

If you apply via the Common Application, you may meet this requirement one of two ways*:

• Self-report your coursework within the application to meet the course and grade information requirement to complete your application for admission

– OR – 

• Have your school submit an official transcript from your school(s).

If you apply via the Universities of Wisconsin Application, you may meet this requirement one of two ways*:

• Submit an unofficial transcript within the Universities of Wisconsin Application at the time you complete it

       – OR – 

*If you have already graduated from high school, an official final transcript with your graduation date is needed to meet this requirement.

How to Send Official Transcripts

Students applying from outside the United States can find  country-specific official transcript requirements here .

If you were or are homeschooled, we will need additional documentation to complete a full, holistic review of your application. Learn more about specific application policies and requirements .

If you earned your General Educational Development (GED) certificate or a High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) , submit your official score report in addition to all high school or home school transcripts.

Note: official transcripts from all schools and colleges attended (including dual credit) will be required prior to enrollment. Incorrect reporting of courses and/or grades may result in your admission offer being revoked and scholarship awards being forfeited. Official college transcripts are also required to award college credit. Official transcripts should be sent directly from each school attended.

GPA and Class Rank:  Applicants are expected to achieve a high level of performance in the course work they pursue and an increasingly strong academic record. We ask for your GPA and class rank. We also realize that many schools consider GPA on different scales and some do not report GPA or class rank at all. We consider both GPA and rank in the context of your school. We typically see unweighted, academic GPAs between a 3.8 and a 4.0, and a class rank in the 85–97 percentile.

5. One Required Letter of Recommendation

We require you to submit one letter of recommendation written by someone who can attest to your academic ability, such as a teacher, school counselor, or faculty member. If you choose, you can also submit another letter of recommendation from an additional source, such as an employer, coach, research mentor, community leader, or clergy. Students with an interest in engineering are encouraged to obtain a letter of recommendation from a math or science teacher. Remember to have a discussion with your chosen recommender first to see if they are willing and able to provide a letter.

We encourage applicants who have been away from formal classroom teaching for an extended period to request a letter of recommendation from someone who can speak to their academic potential, such as an employer (preferably a supervisor or manager), a program or departmental trainer, or some other individual in an official instructional capacity.

Those who apply using the Common Application should request a recommendation through that system.

If you apply using the Universities of Wisconsin Application, select the link that best describes your situation:

• Invite someone to submit a recommendation  (I have my NetID)
• Invite someone to submit a recommendation  (no NetID)

Recommendations that are mailed to our office: Letters of recommendation must be sent directly from the school and/or recommender, in a sealed envelope. Recommendations  must include the applicant’s full name, birth date, and campus ID number (if known). Additionally, letters of recommendation from a school staff member may also be sent through Naviance. Please note that letters of recommendation expire after one year from the date it is written.

6. TOEFL, IELTS, and DET Scores (English Language Proficiency)

First-year applicants educated in non-English speaking countries must submit an official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test (DET) score, unless English was the primary language of instruction in all four years of secondary school.

All English proficiency exams should be sent electronically, directly from the testing service.

Please note: Sending official test scores from the testing agency does have an additional costs and will add 3-6 weeks to the application completion process. Plan to send your test scores early to ensure your scores arrive before the the materials deadline.

We do not superscore any English Proficiency exam and score reports cannot be older than two years from the time you apply.

How to Send Official Test Scores

Duolingo English Test (DET)

• Minimum accepted score: 115+
• When submitting your score(s): Search category should be “Undergraduate,” then select “University of Wisconsin–Madison”
• Please do not send to offices listed under “Other,” as we are unable to retrieve those scores
• The DET should be sent with sub-scores
• Minimum accepted score: 6.5+.
• IELTS does not require a code.
• Select our account name, “University of Wisconsin, Madison Undergraduate”
• Please do not send paper copies of your IELTS scores.
• We do accept the IELTS Indicator.
• Minimum accepted score: 80+
• When submitting your score(s): TOEFL test code is 1846
• We do not accept “MyBest” score from TOEFL nor any English Proficiency exam
• For each TOEFL you submit, we will require the full score report
• We do not accept the TOEFL iTP Plus for China, but we will accept the iBT Special Home Edition

If you believe this requirement does not apply to you, or if you qualify for an English Language Proficiency Exam Waiver based on our policy, please check your “Student eForms” on your Student Center home page for an ELP Waiver Request” . To begin the waiver process, select “Admissions” from the left-side menu, then select “ELP Waiver Request” and complete the form. The ELP Waiver Request will not be visible until your transcripts are received in our office and removed from your To-Do List in your Student Center. If you have completed the ELP Waiver Request and this task is still present, please allow our office 14 business days to review your request. If it has been longer than 14 business days, please email our office at [email protected].

Optional First-Year Application Materials

7. act and sat scores (test optional through the spring 2027 term).

Including scores from either the ACT or the SAT with your application is optional for students applying for admission through the spring 2027 term, with an application deadline of October 1, 2026.

You will not be disadvantaged in our evaluation process if you do not include these scores for consideration in your application.

More information on our test optional policy can be found by viewing our  ACT/SAT Test Optional FAQs .

You will indicate your choice regarding including test scores at the time of application. The choice that you indicate on your application is final.

If choosing to include ACT or SAT test scores with your application, submit your official scores directly from the testing site.

Please note sending official test scores from the testing agency does have an additional cost and will add 2–4 weeks to the application completion process.  Our test code is 4656 for the ACT and 1846 for the SAT. Do not send your results rush (SAT) or priority (ACT); we receive all scores electronically on a daily basis so there is not an advantage to rush or priority delivery.

Statement on Score Choice:  Students choosing to include test scores with their application are encouraged to submit all exam scores. It can be a benefit to see your complete testing history as part of our comprehensive review, and since we will only consider your highest score (by test date), there is nothing to be gained by suppressing scores through Score Choice. However, applicants are free to use the College Board’s Score Choice option for the SAT and/or the similar option offered by ACT. Superscores are not considered in our review.

Required Transfer Application Materials

Transfer students can apply using the  Universities of Wisconsin Application .

You will be asked to identify both a first and second choice major when completing the application for admission. If selecting a major in the School of Business or College of Engineering as your first choice major, you must select a second choice major outside of the School of Business or the College of Engineering. If we are unable to offer you admission to your first choice major, your second choice will be considered in our application review. Due to the competitive nature of some of our programs, admission expectations may be different for students pursuing majors in business, engineering, dance, and music. We encourage you to visit our direct entry page  to learn more.

Application fee waivers are available for applicants with financial hardship. Eligible students can request a fee waiver as part of their application. If you did not request an application fee waiver at the time of application, but are eligible to have your fee waived, you may print the Application Fee Waiver Request Form and have your counselor/advisor submit it to the Office of Admissions and Recruitment.

The application fee is not required if your last school attended is a UW System institution and it is within one year of enrollment as a degree seeking student at that institution.

You will need to answer the following prompts:

If you are applying to transfer from another Universities of Wisconsin institution, you will only be required to submit the second essay.

College Transcripts:

We require course and grade information from your enrollment in any and all colleges and universities. This should include all college-level coursework completed to date, including your current term in progress, and (if applicable) college classes taken while in high school.

You must submit an official transcript from all institutions(s) in which you were enrolled to meet the course and grade information requirement to complete your application for admission.

Official transcripts should be sent directly from each school attended.

Applicants that are currently or were previously enrolled at a UW College, a UW System branch campus, or UW Colleges Online must submit their transcripts according to the UW System guidelines .

High School Transcripts:

We require official high school transcript(s), sent to us by your school. We review your high school record to check for proof of graduation, the completion of core preparation requirements, and to learn more about your educational background. High school grades will play a more important role in the admission review for applicants who have completed fewer transferable college credits. If you earned your General Educational Development (GED) certificate or a High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED), submit your official score report in addition to all high school or home school transcripts. If you were or are homeschooled, we will need additional documentation to complete a full, holistic review of your application. Learn more about specific application policies and requirements .

We require you to submit one letter of recommendation written by someone who can attest to your academic ability, such as a teacher, school counselor, or faculty member. Students with an interest in engineering are encouraged to obtain a letter of recommendation from a math or science teacher. Remember to have a discussion with your chosen recommender first to see if they are willing and able to provide a letter. *

* While we would prefer to receive a letter from the most recent year/semester, many students are taking courses virtually due to COVID-19 and making connections virtually may be challenging for some students. If you think a letter from a past high school teacher, high school counselor, college teacher, or academic advisor can speak to your current strengths as a student, we will accept those letters to make admission decisions.

Transfer applicants educated in non-English speaking countries must submit a official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test (DET) score, unless English was the primary language of instruction in all four years of secondary school or a college level English composition course was successfully completed at an accredited US institution. This requirement will not be waived for English composition taken at U.S. branch campuses abroad.

We do not superscore any English Proficiency exam and score reports cannot be older than 2 years from the time you apply.

Optional Transfer Application Materials

7. act and sat scores (optional).

Scores from either the ACT or the SAT are not required of transfer applicants. However, you are welcome to provide us your scores. Your results will be considered as supplemental academic information and may help strengthen your application. Test scores can be sent directly from the testing service. Our test code is 4656 for the ACT and 1846 for the SAT. Do not send your results rush (SAT) or priority (ACT); we receive all scores electronically on a daily basis so there is not an advantage to rush or priority delivery.

Additional Required Materials for International Students

Application materials and process for reentry students, application materials and process for second degree students.

University of Wisconsin-Madison 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Early Action: Nov 1

Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 15

University of Wisconsin-Madison 2024-25 Application Essay Question Explanation

The Requirements: 1 essay of 650 words (or less)

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Why

How to Write the UW-Madison Supplemental Essay

Luckily for you, UW-Madison asks applicants to submit just one (1) supplemental essay. The essay is an opportunity for you to give admissions “an idea of who you are and what you want to accomplish as part of [their] community.” In order to write a distinct essay, we recommend being genuine and specific when discussing your interest in the university and your academic goals. Keep reading for more tips and examples!  

UW-Madison Essay Prompt Breakdown

Tell us why you would like to apply to the university of wisconsin-madison. in addition, please include why you are interested in studying the major(s) you have selected. if you selected undecided please describe your areas of possible academic interest. (you may enter up to 650 words, but 300-500 is recommended)..

This sneaky prompt is a twofer, though both parts cover classic why essay territory: admissions wants to know just what appeals to you about the University of Wisconsin-Madison. So, take a moment to look inside. What exactly do you want out of your college experience? Research opportunities? Weekend football games? To dip your toe into city life? Now, if you were to imagine a Venn diagram of your expectations and the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s offerings, what would land in the overlap? The only way to know for sure is to do your research!  

The goal is to show admissions that you’ve done your homework. Make sure Admissions Officers know that you’ve already thought about what you want to do when you get there and that you’re ready to act on those hopes and dreams and so forth. 

But, wait, there’s more! The second part of the prompt gives you the opportunity to include information about specific academic programs at Madison that appeal to you. So just as before, utilize the school’s website, but this time pay careful attention to the specific majors and academic offerings that catch your eye. What do you love about your chosen major and/or minor? If you’re interested in UW’s Gender & Women’s Studies pr ogram, can you describe what you will take away from this program and how it relates to your long-term ambitions ? How did you become interested in this field, and what resources does Madison provide that will help you achieve your goals? Finally, if you’re undecided, think about what makes Madison the ideal environment for your academic exploration. How do you plan to hone in on the perfect major as you attend? Remember, the more details you include, the better.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in UW-Madison Essays

We have been reading UW-Madison essays for over twenty years now, so we know a thing or two about the most common mistakes students make. The most common mistakes to avoid are repeating the prompt in your essay (don’t waste your words), trying to sound like an academic (admissions wants to hear your authentic voice!), and using cliches (they’re ineffective and—let’s face it—lazy).

Why Choose College Essay Advisors for UW-Madison Essays

We at College Essay Advisors have been guiding students one-on-one through the essay writing process for the UW-Madison supplement for over twenty years. We take a holistic approach to this essay, considering each student’s application package as a whole and identifying their strengths to highlight. Our Advisors accommodate each student’s scheduling needs to virtually brainstorm, draft, and revise winning essays. It’s incredibly important to us that each student’s voice is preserved, and we pride ourselves in helping students to write successful UW-Madison essays that differentiate them from similarly qualified applicants. For more information, submit a contact form below or review our one-on-one advising services or list of student acceptances .

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We'd love to help you finalize your essay!

Frequently Asked Questions

UW-Madison requires one (1) essay of 650 words or fewer.

UW-Madison is looking for genuine, honest essays that will help them get to know you beyond your GPA and test scores. The more specific your essays, the more they will stand out from the pack, so it’s in your best interest to take the time to provide a detailed description of your interests and vision of life as a student at Wisconsin.

In order to make your UW-Madison essay stand out, we recommend giving yourself plenty of time to brainstorm , reflect on your stories, and piece together a cohesive narrative that reveals new information about who you are and what you hope to accomplish without relying on common cliches.

"[My son] was accepted to Wisconsin as a direct admit to the business school! With their holistic reviews, I know his essays stood out. He had a few friends who were denied from Wisconsin and I truly believe it was [my son's] essay that put him over the top. I am so grateful to you and College Essay Advisors for your guidance and expertise in helping him to craft his amazing essays!"

– CEA Parent, University of Wisconsin, Class of 2025

"Thank you so much for making those edits! I couldn't have gotten it within the word count without you. At first I was hesitant about some of the changes, but upon closer look, I realized that many of the sentences you took out were redundant. As you commented, some of the points were still made without having to explicitly say them. Seriously, I can not thank you enough for all of your help. I really appreciate you taking me on as a client with such time restraints."

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University of Wisconsin-Madison Supplemental Essays 2024-25 — Prompts & Advice

August 7, 2024

The University of Wisconsin—Madison has joined the ranks of other premier flagship universities that high-achieving teens from all around the country/world now line up for a chance to attend. Like  UVA,   UNC—Chapel Hill , and the  University of Michigan , UW-Madison requires its in-state residents to sport excellent grades and test scores. Further, it has an even higher bar for out-of-state hopefuls. This makes the University of Wisconsin – Madison supplemental essay more important than ever before.

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

In evaluating applicants, the University of Wisconsin—Madison places a strong emphasis on the quality of one’s essays. Below are UW-Madison’s supplemental prompts for the 2024-25 admissions cycle along with our advice for creating a needle-moving admissions essay.

2024-2025 University of Wisconsin-Madison Supplemental Essay Question—Common App

The following prompt is the only supplemental essay that students will encounter when applying to UW-Madison via the Common App:

Tell us why you decided to apply to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In addition, please include why you are interested in studying the major(s) you have selected. If you selected undecided, please describe your areas of possible academic interest. (650 words max)

Prospective Badgers face a two-parter here. You are tasked with presenting a compelling case as to:

1) Why you want to attend UW-Madison.

2) Why you have picked your particular academic discipline.

University of Wisconsin Madison Supplemental Essay (Continued)

As you move through the “Why Us?” and “Why this Major?” portions of this essay, consider taking some of the following steps to address why UW-Madison is the perfect fit for you  and  why you are the perfect fit for UW-Madison:

• How did your interest in your major of choice begin and how has it matured over the years?
• How do you pursue knowledge about your subject of interest? Talk about sources of learning (teachers, podcasts, books, news, etc.).
• While pursuing your majors(s)/interest(s) of choice, how will you take advantage of the university’s immense resources both inside and outside of the classroom? Be sure to cite specific academic programs , professors,  research opportunities , internship/externship programs ,  study abroad programs , etc. Discuss why they pique your interest.
• How will you be an active, contributing member of the Badger student body? What special talents and passions will you bring to the University of Wisconsin-Madison? Check out this list of nearly  1,000 student-run organizations  on campus.
• Lastly, show evidence of how your past/current endeavors (academic and extracurricular) will carry over onto UW-Madison’s campus.

Again, if you are applying through the Common App, this essay will be the only supplement you need to worry about. However, if you elect to apply via the UW System Application (as some in-state students applying to multiple UW campuses do), you need to address the next prompt as well.

2024-2025 University of Wisconsin-Madison Supplemental Essay Question—UW System Application

Each student is unique. Please tell us about the particular life experiences, talents, commitments, and/or interests you will bring to our campus. ( 650 words)

This open-ended prompt is a platform from which you can share more about an academic or extracurricular achievement, detail a personal interest, chronicle a challenge/obstacle you overcame, or just share a meaningful event in your life.

No matter which route you choose, what truly matters here is that you use this essay as an opportunity to reveal something deep and important about yourself. The sky’s the limit as long as your topic is personal and sheds light on who you are as an applicant and prospective community member.

Remember, these essays will be your best chance to forge a human connection with an admissions officer since UW-Madison is too large a school to offer you an interview. In sum, be honest, vulnerable, sincere, and reflective in your essay and the result will be a compelling composition that will ultimately aid your admissions chances.

How important is the essay at the UW-Madison?

The essays are “very important” to the University of Wisconsin–Madison admissions committee. The only other factor rated this highly is the rigor of one’s secondary school record. GPA, recommendations, and state residency are rated as “important.” In other words, the University of Wisconsin is clearly very interested in the quality of your essay. Therefore, we can conclude that the admissions committee will weigh your essays heavily in their evaluation of your candidacy.

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Interested in working with one of College Transitions’ experienced and knowledgeable essay coaches as you craft your University of Wisconsin—Madison supplement? We encourage you to get a quote  today.

Looking for additional writing resources? Check out the following:

• Common App Essay Prompts
• 10 Instructive Common App Essay Examples
• College Application Essay Topics to Avoid
• How to Quickly Format Your Common App Essay
• Should I Complete Optional College Essays?
• How to Brainstorm a College Essay
• 25 Inspiring College Essay Topics
• “Why This College?” Essay Examples
• How to Write the Community Essay
• College Essay

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How to Write the UW–Madison Supplemental Essays 2024–2025

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The University of Wisconsin–Madison , home of the Badgers since 1848 , is known as a formidable research institution with high expectations for their applicants. Their storied alumni include Senator Tammy Baldwin, astronaut Laurel Clark, author Joyce Carol Oates, naturalist John Muir, and many others. Looking to become a Badger? First, you’ll need to write your UW-Madison supplemental essays. Let’s dive in.

University of Wisconsin–Madison’s 2024-2025 Prompts

UW-Madison asks for two essays, but you might only need to complete one of them. The first prompt is only applicable to students applying through the Universities of Wisconsin Application. So, if you’re applying through the Common App, you only need to worry about the second essay. The second essay is required for all applicants.

Note that although the essays can both extend to 650 words, the admissions team recommends planning for a 300-500 word essay. Keeping your essay(s) concise, at least in the initial draft(s), could enable you to add extra details in your later drafts if needed. Without further ado, here are the prompts for the UW-Madison supplemental essays:

Universities of Wisconsin Application Essay:

• Each student is unique. Please tell us about the particular life experiences, talents, commitments, and/or interests you will bring to our campus.

Required Essay for All Applicants:

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

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General Tips

Both of these essays permit more words than the average college essay. Apart from the Common App personal essay, which has the same word count maximum of 650 words, most college essays tend to be less than 500 words, with most required to be less than 300. Therefore, the UW-Madison supplemental essays present some challenges, but also some freedoms.

With longer supplemental essays, students tend to either have trouble writing too much, or not writing enough. To tackle the first problem, it can be helpful to restrict yourself to a smaller word count for the first draft. Then, if you later realize anything essential is missing, you have the space to add it in. In order to keep the word count down, focus on avoiding passive voice, cutting down on your conjunctions (use punctuation marks instead), and using more concise verbs. For instance, “I thought” is more concise than “I was thinking.” Little changes like this one can help your whole essay shrink to fit the space it’s allotted.

To tackle the second issue of not writing enough, look for areas where the reader might have questions. If you have a description in your essay, make that description more vivid. If you jumped through a narrative, consider providing more of the interim steps. Remember, though, your essay can be 300 words without any penalty. As long as you comprehensively answer the question asked by the prompt, you’ll be okay.

Universities of Wisconsin Application Essay

Each student is unique. please tell us about the particular life experiences, talents, commitments, and/or interests you will bring to our campus. (650 words or fewer).

You choose: would you prefer to answer this essay prompt or complete a Common App personal essay? If you choose to write the Common App personal essay, skip ahead to the next prompt. Note that the latter is a more flexible option. Your Common App personal essay can be used for thousands of different college applications. That said, the admissions team at UW-Madison don’t maintain a preference for one essay over the other. The choice is yours.

If you choose to answer this prompt, you can approach it pretty similarly to how you would a Common App personal essay. In this particular essay, you have the opportunity to show who you are as a person. Specifically, you could write about an accomplishment you’ve achieved, a challenge you’ve overcome, an extracurricular you’ve pursued, an academic interest you hope to pursue at UW-Madison, etc. In other words, you’ll want to write about who you are, so that the reader knows who you’ll be at UW-Madison.

It’s advisable to focus on just a few life experiences, talents, commitments, and/or interests you possess, or even just one of these, versus listing answers to all of the above. Note that the prompt uses the wording “and/or.” This implies that you need not touch upon every item in the list provided.

When beginning this essay, you may want to start with an outline. You could write a narrative essay about a life experience you’ve had or a time when your talent(s) shone. Alternatively, you could describe a challenge you’ve overcome in order to pursue your commitments or interests. Most importantly, whether the topic of your essay is big or small, it should be meaningful to you.

University of Wisconsin–Madison Required Essay

Tell us why you would like to attend the university of wisconsin–madison. in addition, please include why you are interested in studying the major(s) you have selected. if you selected undecided, please describe your areas of possible academic interest. (650 words or fewer).

This is your “Why University of Wisconsin-Madison?” essay. For this kind of essay, research is your friend. First, identify your prospective area(s) of study. Then, look up specific courses, professors, programs, and other opportunities in your department(s) of interest that will be available to you if you attend UW-Madison. Next, identify any non-academic reasons that UW-Madison is a school on your college list. These reasons should be specific to UW – Madison . Lastly, structure your essay around these details that you have researched.

Ideally, your essay does not merely list the opportunities at UW-Madison to you. Instead, your essay goes a step further and expresses why these opportunities excite you and how these opportunities will help you achieve your goals. Your reasons for applying to UW-Madison should have some unique elements. Without any unique elements, the admissions team might not see why UW-Madison is a better fit for you than another school. In other words, you might leave the reader feeling that you are not eager to attend UW-Madison and excited about the education they offer.

Specificity is important in this essay. By sharing why you specifically would like to attend UW-Madison, and your specific reasons for wanting to attend, you demonstrate interest . According to UW-Madison’s Common Data Set , their admissions team does not track each student’s level of interest in attending the University. Therefore, this essay might be your only opportunity to show the UW–Madison admission team how excited you are to attend. Bring your passion for UW–Madison and your well-researched, specific pieces of information to this essay, and you’ll do great.

If you need help polishing up your UW-Madison supplemental essays, check out our College Essay Review service. You can receive detailed feedback from Ivy League consultants in as little as 24 hours.

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How to Perfect Your University of Wisconsin-Madison Supplemental Essays

Applying to the University of Wisconsin-Madison is an exciting step in your academic journey! If you're preparing your application, you'll need to tackle their supplemental essays. The essay prompts for the University of Wisconsin-Madison are designed to help the admissions committee understand your motivations and academic interests. Here are the specific essay prompts for 2024:

Essay Prompts for the University of Wisconsin-Madison:

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

You have up to 650 words to craft a compelling narrative that will resonate with the admissions team. In this blog post, we'll dive into how you can effectively approach these prompts and make your supplemental essays stand out.

Why You Decided to Apply to the University of Wisconsin-Madison

The first part of the prompt asks, "Tell us why you decided to apply to the University of Wisconsin-Madison." This is your chance to explain what makes UW-Madison your top choice. Reflect on what aspects of the university excite you most. Is it the vibrant campus community, the renowned faculty, the research opportunities, or perhaps the Badger spirit in athletics?

Be specific in your response. Instead of making broad statements, focus on personal anecdotes and experiences that have fueled your interest in UW-Madison. Mention particular programs, classes, or resources that align with your goals. For a more in-depth and tailored approach, consider using Sups AI . With Sups AI, you can brainstorm your ideas and receive valuable feedback from current students who have walked the same path.

Why You Are Interested in Studying the Major(s) You Have Selected

The second part of the prompt is closely tied to the first: "In addition, please include why you are interested in studying the major(s) you have selected." This is where you delve into your academic interests and how UW-Madison can help you achieve your aspirations. If you've chosen a specific major, explain what sparked your interest in this field. Were there specific moments, classes, or projects that inspired you?

Discuss how UW-Madison's academic offerings will support your goals. For instance, highlight specific faculty members whose research interests align with yours, or emphasize unique lab facilities or study abroad programs. Use Sups AI to refine your narratives and perfect your articulation of why UW-Madison is the ideal place for your studies.

Writing About Being Undecided

If you've selected "undecided" as your major, the prompt asks you to "describe your areas of possible academic interest." This can seem daunting, but it's an excellent opportunity to showcase your curiosity and open-mindedness. Share the subjects or disciplines you're most excited about exploring. Discuss what academic experiences you hope to gain and how you plan to use UW-Madison's diverse offerings to find your passion.

Don't worry if you haven't pinpointed a specific path yet; admissions officers understand that academic interests can evolve. To ensure you present a well-rounded exploration of your interests, turn to Sups AI . This AI platform has already helped 10k students gain insights into their academic journeys, providing personalized feedback and one-on-one chats with current students who have successfully navigated their own unique paths.

Final Tips for Crafting Your Supplementary Essays

Here are a few final tips to keep in mind as you draft and refine your supplemental essays:

Be Authentic: Authenticity resonates with admissions officers. Speak from the heart and share your genuine enthusiasm for UW-Madison.

Proofread: Ensure your essays are free of grammatical errors and typos. A well-polished essay reflects your attention to detail.

Seek Feedback: Utilize Sups AI for brainstorming and feedback. The platform provides unique insights and valuable perspectives that can enhance your essay.

So, as you sit down to write your University of Wisconsin-Madison supplemental essays, remember these tips and leverage the expert guidance available through Sups AI . Your thoughtful, well-crafted responses can make a significant impact on your admissions journey. Good luck!

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How to Write the University of Wisconsin-Madison Supplemental Essays

Tell us why you decided to apply to the university of wisconsin-madison. in addition, please include why you are interested in studying the major(s) you have selected. if you selected undecided please describe your areas of possible academic interest. (you may enter up to 650 words, but 300-500 is recommended)..

The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s supplemental essay is a great opportunity to showcase your voice to the admissions committee and convey your academic passions and knowledge of the school. When writing your UW-Madison supplement, be sure to address both parts of the prompt: explain your interest in the majors you’ve selected and discuss what draws you to UW-Madison. UW-Madison generously provides a word count of up to 650, so you have ample space to elaborate on the past experiences and values that have led you to your area of study, and also write about the school-specific resources at UW-Madison that you would like to take advantage of during your undergraduate career.

Before you begin drafting your UW-Madison supplemental essay, you’ll want to do some “why school” research. UW-Madison offers 20+ schools with many niche majors and certificates ; therefore, you’ll want to spend some time on the website to identify the specific program that is the best fit for you. If UW-Madison offers programs that can’t be found at any other universities that align with your interests, you can cite these and make an even stronger case for why UW-Madison is the best school for you! Some particular academic strengths of UW-Madison include its programs in Education, Agriculture, Communication, Biological Sciences, Social Sciences, Business, Engineering, and Economics. You can look through the web pages of specific departments and schools, and see if there are general resources that are well-suited to you. For instance, UW-Madison’s Integrated Liberal Studies programs, Living-Learning Communities, First Year Interest Groups, and Honors programs integrate communal life with academic pursuits in a way that may be appealing to you.

As with any “why school” essay, you’ll want to not only cite school-specific resources, but also share what you know about the school’s values and reflect upon how these values align with your own. UW-Madison often emphasizes the “Wisconsin Idea”, or the idea that a successful state university should inspire its students to seek truth and apply the resulting knowledge to benefit themselves and society. UW-Madison students are highly involved with their communities and the causes that matter to them. In your UW-Madison supplemental essay, you’ll want to explore how your academic and personal journey to date has reflected the principles of the Wisconsin Idea, and discuss which academic course of study, extracurriculars, and other opportunities at UW-Madison will put you in a position to serve others and bring positive change to society.

If you apply with the UW System Application, you will need to answer the following prompt:

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

If you apply to UW-Madison through the UW system rather than the Common Application, this is the equivalent of the Common Application’s personal statement. Unlike the Common App, you won’t get a choice of prompts to respond to–you must answer this question, and the “why school” supplement if you are applying to UW-Madison.

For this UW essay, carefully examine the wording of the prompt before you dive into writing. UW admissions readers are looking for you to discuss something you’ve actively done rather than something that’s happened to you, so to select a strong topic, you’ll want to reflect on any memorable accomplishments, initiatives you started, intellectual interests you’ve pursued, or risks you’ve taken in the past four years. These can be in the context of your academics, extracurriculars, or personal life. Then, it’d be best to gravitate towards a specific moment–rather than a story that covers a long span of time–and select one that was highly influential in determining your academic path, personal values, or worldview.

This is a multi-part prompt, so ensure that you are answering each question within the prompt. You should respond directly to all parts of the prompt, including “something you’ve done,” “what you’ve learned,” “how did this particular moment in your life influence you,” and “how will it continue to influence you [in college].” While you don’t need to answer the questions of “success or challenge” or “turning point” in language that’s as head-on (e.g. sentences like “My accomplishment was a success” or “This was a turning point for me”), it should be very clear and obvious to admissions readers whether you’re writing about a success or challenge, and how that event worked as a turning point in your life.

If you have already written a personal statement for the Common Application, you’re in luck if you’ve responded to prompt #2 (“The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?”), prompt #5 (“Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.”), or potentially even prompt #3 (“Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?”). There is significant overlap between these prompts and UW’s, so it’s likely that you can recycle your Common App essay with some light modifications. In particular, make sure that you add material that addresses the final part of the prompt, discussing how the moment you selected will influence your approach to your journey as an undergraduate. That being said, if you’ve already written an essay for the Common App, we definitely recommend applying to UW through the Common App! Best of luck with your UW-Madison essays!

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University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison) Supplemental Essays Guide: 2021-2022

Not sure how to approach the UW-Madison essay prompts? With tips from an Ivy League graduate, CollegeAdvisor.com’s guide to the UW-Madison essay prompts will show you exactly how to write engaging essays for your UW-Madison application and maximize your chances against the UW-Madison acceptance rate.

Want help crafting your UW-Madison essay prompts? Create your free  account  or  schedule a free consultation  by calling (844) 343-6272.

UW-Madison  Supplemental Essay Guide Quick Facts:

• The UW-Madison acceptance rate is 57%— U.S. News  ranks UW-Madison as a  competitive  school.
• We recommend answering all UW-Madison supplemental essays comprehensively and thoughtfully.

What is the acceptance rate for the University of Wisconsin-Madison?

According to U.S. News, the UW-Madison acceptance rate is 57%. Last year, over 53,000 students applied to the school, which was a  17% increase  over the previous year. While the UW-Madison acceptance rate increased temporarily to about 60%, the normal rate falls near 57%. Like most schools, UW-Madison was  test-optional  last year in response to COVID. This year, they’ve continued the test-optional policy. Admissions experts believe that changes in testing requirements have caused the spike in applications that most schools have experienced.

So, what does this mean for you? Well, it does indicate that the UW-Madison supplemental essays will be an important part of your application. Without mandatory test scores and given the rise in applications, admissions officers will pay more attention to other aspects of your application.

In other words, for your best chance against the UW-Madison acceptance rate, we recommend that you take time to make sure that your responses to the UW-Madison essay prompts reflect your strengths.

Additionally, remember that the UW-Madison acceptance rate is not the only factor to consider when building your school list. Make sure that you’re looking at schools holistically. For more information on how to evaluate the UW-Madison acceptance rate (and more details on the data behind acceptance rates), read  our article .

What is the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s ranking?

The UW-Madison ranking is #42 in  National Universities , according to U.S. News.

Other U.S. News UW-Madison rankings: the UW-Madison ranking in  Best Undergraduate Teaching  is #71; UW-Madison ranking in  Best Value Schools  is #81; and the UW-Madison ranking in  Top Public Schools  is #14.

In terms of specific programs, the UW-Madison ranking is #15 in  Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs , and the US Madison ranking is #19 in  Nursing .

Finally, the UW-Madison ranking is #64 in  First-Year Experiences .

These are just some of the UW-Madison rankings. However, a school’s rankings should not be the only thing you take into consideration when compiling your college list. You should also consider other factors—including the school’s location, programs available, and size—when you look at schools. The UW-Madison rankings are not the only important factor in deciding to apply.

Keep in mind that the best college for you may not be the one you expected! There are a lot of different resources available when it comes to researching colleges; be sure to consult a few to ensure you create a comprehensive list.

Need help creating a college list? Check out our resources on the college list process  here .

Does the University of Wisconsin-Madison require essays?

Yes. In addition to the  Common App   personal essay, there are specific UW-Madison essay prompts. The UW-Madison supplemental essays differ depending on how you submit your application. The Common Application and  UW System Application  are available for all applicants. You will be required to write a “Why UW-Madison” essay no matter how you submit your application.

Need tips on writing your Common App essay? Check out our  blog article .

How many essays does the University of Wisconsin-Madison require?

In addition to the Common Application Personal Statement, there is one required UW-Madison essay that all applicants must complete: the “Why UW-Madison” essay.

However, if you apply through the UW application portal rather than the Common App, you will have to submit a second UW-Madison essay. This second essay functions as a replacement for the Common App essay. If you apply via the UW application portal, give yourself ample to complete both UW-Madison essay prompts.

Does the University of Wisconsin-Madison care about essays?

Yes, all colleges care about your essays, UW-Madison included. The UW-Madison essay prompts are a great chance to show admissions officers something new about yourself. When responding to the UW-Madison essay prompts, you will want to demonstrate that you would be a great fit for their UW-Madison. This is especially true when writing the “Why UW-Madison” essay. This is referred to as demonstrated interest (DI). DI is a tool the admissions officers use to determine how interested a student is in attending their particular school. By writing specific “Why UW-Madison” essays, students can show their DI in attending UW-Madison and increase their admissions odds.

The high UW-Madison ranking indicates that students may apply just because of UW-Madison’s prestige. In response to this, admissions officers will be on the lookout for students whose interest in the school runs deeper than its reputation. For more information on DI and how to use it to your advantage, check out this article from  Forbes .

Finally, in light of the UW-Madison acceptance rate, well-crafted responses to the UW-Madison essay prompts will strengthen your application. Don’t underestimate the UW-Madison essays and their impact.

Does the University of Wisconsin-Madison have a “Why UW-Madison” essay?

Yes. This is the classic supplemental essay question, and the UW-Madison essay prompts are no exception—all colleges want to know what makes them special to you. The “Why UW-Madison” essay is your chance to showcase any research you have done about UW-Madison while you’ve been writing your UW-Madison supplemental essay or as you’ve been completing the rest of the application.

Given the UW-Madison acceptance rate, your research will be an important part of acing the why UW-Madison essay. Why? When it comes down to two candidates with similar GPAs and extracurriculars, a strong “Why UW-Madison” essay can be the determining factor in who is admitted.

UW-Madison Essay Prompts – Question 1 (required)

Tell us why you decided to apply to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In addition, please include why you are interested in studying the major(s) you have selected. If you selected “undecided” please describe your areas of possible academic interest. (650 words maximum).

How do I write a good essay for UW-Madison?

The rest of this guide will show you how to write engaging UW-Madison supplemental essays.

Let’s start with the first UW-Madison essay, which is required of all applicants. You have 650 words to respond to this why UW-Madison essay, which is the same length as the Common Application’s personal statement. You should be prepared to spend a fair bit of time both researching and writing this UW-Madison essay, considering its length.

For this UW-Madison essay, avoid over-generalizing with statements like “The campus is beautiful” or “I just feel like I belong there.” Instead, offer concrete examples of why you belong there. You should do research into specific aspects of the UW-Madison community that appeal to you.

This UW-Madison essay prompt has two parts. First, the prompt asks why you decided to apply to UW-Madison. Then, it asks why you are interested in your chosen academic field. You’ll want to ensure you respond to both parts of the question. If you are undecided in your major, you will still want to address your academic interests and explain how attending UW-Madison would help you to hone these interests and discover a major that excites you.

Do your research

Before answering the first part of this UW-Madison essay prompt, do some reading. For example, you can look into  extracurricular activities , research, or  travel opportunities  that only UW-Madison offers to its students. You might also review the  calendar  of student events. The  list of student organizations  on their website can be a great resource to find campus organizations you’d like to join.

If you want to get your finger on the pulse of student life, check out UW-Madison’s student publications. Additionally, leverage the alumni network to ask questions about previous students’ experiences. This can help you learn about student-specific traditions and events that you can’t read about on the website.

Start free-writing

If all of these options seem overwhelming, try starting with a structured free-write session. Take about 15-20 minutes and create two lists. Under one, list every reason why you want to attend UW-Madison. Under the second list, list every reason why you selected your major. If you’re unsure of your major, list every area of academic interest that you may want to pursue. Then, take an additional 15 minutes and draw connections between the two. Perhaps you listed that you want to participate in UW-Madison’s  DSE Mentorship Program  for undergraduate engineers. If you also engineering as a possible major, that’s a great connection to highlight in your essay.

The second part of this UW-Madison essay prompt is a great way to demonstrate your academic and intellectual goals. Take a look at their list of 9,192 courses and 288 undergraduate majors and certificates. Pick three courses that look interesting and explain why each of those courses appeals to you. How would you benefit from taking these courses? How do your previous academic experiences set you up for success?

Avoid statistics

You want to avoid listing out numbers and statistics that admissions officers already know. For instance, instead of spending words talking about how the average class size is 31, explain specifically which professors you would be excited to learn from in such a personal teaching environment. If you are interested in two contrasting majors, you should support both of them with anecdotes about your academic experiences.

This is the space to show off your expert investigation skills and name-drop courses, clubs, professors, and research opportunities only available at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Colleges can tell when you swap out their name for another University and submit the same “Why here?” answer. Your application will be stronger if your answer to this “why UW-Madison” essay could not be swapped with any other schools’ applications.

UW-Madison Essay Draft Key Questions:

• Do you prove that you’ve done research on the school?
• Do you explain what unique opportunities UW-Madison would provide you that you could not get anywhere else?
• Does your draft provide specific details about what you hope to do while on UW-Madison’s campus?

UW-Madison Essay Prompts – Question 2

If you apply using the Common Application, you will be asked to respond to one of the freshman Common Application essays. If you apply within the UW System Application, you will need to answer the following prompt:

This part is all about you. Tell us about something you’ve done—academically or personally—and what you’ve learned from it. Was it a success or a challenge? Did it represent a turning point in your life? How did this particular moment in your life influence you, and how will it continue to influence your education? (650 words maximum).

Who completes this prompt?

Not everyone applying to UW-Madison will complete this UW-Madison essay. If you are applying to UW-Madison through the Common App, you will  not need  to respond to this UW-Madison essay prompt. If you are applying through the UW Systems Admissions Application then this UW-Madison essay will be the substitute for your Common App personal essay. This means you will want to spend a fair amount of time drafting your response to this UW-Madison essay prompt, since UW-Madison will not read your Common App personal essay if you apply through their college-specific portal.

There are several different parts to this UW-Madison essay prompt. At first glance, it may seem quite general. “Something you’ve done” is a pretty broad topic. However, the follow-up questions might qualify your chosen topic a bit more. You’ll need to describe how you learned from the situation. Was it something you succeeded in or was it a challenge you overcame? Did you find it to be a turning point that pushed you into a new phase of your life? You should be sure to address the final part of this UW-Madison essay prompt—about the event’s influence—and discuss how it will influence your education moving forward.

Avoid cliches

For this UW-Madison essay prompt, you could expand on something that is already present in your application. However, make sure that your topic is proportional to the length of this UW-Madison supplemental essay. For example, if you decide to write about an extracurricular, you will want to select something that you have a large role in. You should then discuss an anecdote that really challenged you, and as a result, prompted you to grow. Topics such as scoring an A on a big exam or winning an important sports game can be a little clichéd. Try to think of a unique situation that you overcame and the skills that you gained from that experience.

One of the most important parts of this UW-Madison essay is how your topic will impact your education. Make sure you discuss how you will contribute to academic life at UW-Madison. However, don’t repeat anything you already said in your “Why UW-Madison” essay. Overall, you want to make sure this UW-Madison supplemental essay shows who you are as a person and how you have grown. Given the relatively low UW-Madison acceptance rate, you should present detailed, well-written answers to the UW-Madison essay prompts.

UW-Madison Essay Prompts: Final Thoughts

Completing the UW-Madison essay prompts can seem daunting in light of the UW-Madison acceptance rate and high UW-Madison rankings. However, you shouldn’t let that discourage you from applying. The UW-Madison supplemental essays are a great opportunity to introduce yourself to UW-Madison admissions officers. With the lower UW-Madison acceptance rate, these UW-Madison essay prompts can boost your application if you have a lower-than-average GPA or  SAT score .

Use this guide as a step-by-step aid when approaching the UW-Madison supplemental essays, and start earlier than you think you should. Don’t be afraid to ask for revisions from someone; it’s helpful to have another set of eyes checking your UW-Madison supplemental essays for grammatical errors, tone, and clarity. Good luck!

This 2021-2022 essay guide on UW-Madison was written by  Laura Frustaci , Harvard ‘21. For your best chance against the UW-Madison acceptance rate, and more CollegeAdvisor.com resources, click  here . Want help crafting your UW-Madison supplemental essays? Create your free  account  or  schedule a free consultation  by calling (844) 343-6272.

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Home — Application Essay — University — UW–Madison

UW–Madison Admission Essays

Understanding the intricacies of university application essays is crucial for aspiring students. The University of Wisconsin–Madison, renowned for its rigorous academic environment, demands essays that reflect a student's intellectual capabilities and personal growth. In fact, analyzing UW Madison essay examples can offer significant insights into the level of depth and articulation expected by such prestigious institutions. These essays are a vital component of the application process, offering a unique opportunity for students to showcase their individuality, experiences, and aspirations. In this guide, we'll explore various aspects of the University of Wisconsin–Madison essay requirements, providing insights and examples, including those akin to UW Madison essay examples, to help students navigate this critical aspect of their university applications.

Key Features of UW–Madison Essays

The University of Wisconsin–Madison's essay requirements are strategically designed to assess a candidate's alignment with the university's educational ethos and academic vigor. These essays, transcending mere writing tasks, provide a window into an applicant's personality, intellectual curiosity, and potential impact on the university's dynamic community. In this context, UW Madison application essay examples can serve as invaluable guides, illustrating how to effectively engage with the essay prompts. These prompts encourage deep reflection on personal growth, academic objectives, and societal responsibilities, allowing students to demonstrate their suitability for the rigorous academic environment of UW–Madison. Engaging with the essence of these essays and crafting responses that resonate with the admissions committee are crucial for enhancing admission chances, underlining their significance in UW–Madison's holistic application process.

• Essays emphasize personal development, academic aspirations, and community involvement.
• Annually updated prompts reflect current topics and values.
• They provide a platform for students to express their individual viewpoints.

University of Wisconsin–Madison Admission Requirements

Securing admission to the esteemed University of Wisconsin–Madison involves fulfilling a range of stringent criteria. The university selects students who exhibit academic excellence, well-rounded personalities, leadership skills, and alignment with its core principles and culture. These criteria aim to identify not only academically adept students but also those ready to positively contribute to the campus community. Every application aspect, from scholastic achievements to extracurricular involvement and personal essays, undergoes thorough evaluation to ensure the selected candidates are ideally suited for UW–Madison's diverse and dynamic environment.

• High academic performance, evidenced in GPA and standardized tests.
• Diverse extracurricular engagement demonstrating leadership and initiative.
• Impactful personal statement and supplemental essays.
• Recommendation letters from academic or professional mentors.
• Proof of adherence to the university's values and ethos.

Role of UW-Madison Supplemental Essay Examples in Applications

UW-Madison supplemental essay examples in the application process is instrumental for prospective students. These examples serve as a vital guide, illustrating the depth of analysis, personal reflection, and writing quality expected by the University of Wisconsin–Madison. By studying these examples, applicants gain crucial insights into crafting essays that go beyond academic metrics, highlighting their unique personalities and experiences. Effective UW Madison supplemental essay examples showcase critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and an understanding of the university's core values, such as community engagement and academic excellence. They teach the art of storytelling and the importance of specific details for impactful narratives. While these examples are valuable resources, it's essential for applicants to maintain authenticity and originality in their essays. The examples should inspire, not be replicated, guiding students to produce essays that are true to their experiences and resonate with UW-Madison's ethos.

UW-Madison Supplemental Essay Examples: Prompts for 2023

Committed to a comprehensive and all-encompassing review process, UW–Madison has introduced several thought-provoking supplemental essay prompts for the 2023 cycle. These prompts aim to allow applicants to display various facets of their personalities, experiences, and future plans. The prompts are crafted to elicit responses that showcase the applicant's self-reflection abilities, challenges they've overcome, and their vision for the future. They also provide a glimpse into how applicants envision their contributions to the university community. Collectively, these prompts are vital in the application, offering a stage for applicants to persuasively argue why they are an excellent match for UW–Madison.

• Challenge and Growth: Applicants share a significant challenge they've overcome and the lessons learned, demonstrating resilience and personal growth.
• Academic and Career Aspirations: This prompt asks students to detail their goals and how UW–Madison can aid in achieving them, focusing on the alignment of the applicant's plans with the university's resources.
• Community Contribution: Applicants discuss how they plan to contribute to the UW–Madison community, showcasing their understanding of community values and social responsibility.

These prompts encourage applicants to provide thoughtful, personal responses, illustrating their readiness for university life and their potential to enrich the UW–Madison community. Effective responses range from narratives about overcoming personal adversities and articulating clear academic and career pathways to well-planned community engagement and leadership roles within the university.

Guidelines for Writing UW–Madison Supplemental Essays

Writing compelling supplemental essays for UW–Madison is a vital part of the application process. These essays offer an opportunity to stand out and show the admissions committee your unique identity beyond academic metrics. To gain a clearer perspective, reviewing University of Wisconsin Madison supplemental essay examples can be extremely beneficial. These examples provide practical insights into effective storytelling and structuring, helping you understand how to convey your experiences and aspirations authentically. Here are essential tips to help craft impactful and memorable essays, inspired by the strategies evident in University of Wisconsin Madison supplemental essay examples:

• Interpreting the Prompts: Carefully read and understand each essay prompt. Reflect on how your experiences and aspirations align with the questions posed.
• Self-Reflection: Engage in introspection about your experiences, challenges, and accomplishments. Authentic, self-aware essays often leave a lasting impression.
• Authentic Voice: Write in a manner that's true to your personality. Authenticity is crucial for connecting with the admissions officers.
• Specific Examples: Use detailed examples and stories to bring your essays to life. Specific experiences add depth and relatability to your narrative.
• Structured Approach: A well-organized essay with a clear beginning, middle, and end enhances readability and impact. Ensure your essay flows logically.

Remember, UW–Madison's supplemental essays are your chance to provide the admissions committee with a deeper understanding of your character, values, and ambitions. A well-crafted essay can significantly impact your application.

Leveraging UW–Madison Essay Examples for Success

UW–Madison essay examples are invaluable resources for understanding what the admissions committee seeks. These examples often showcase creativity, depth, and a strong connection with the university's values. Utilizing these essays as models can aid in developing your own narratives, while emphasizing the importance of maintaining originality and authenticity in your writing:

• Reflecting on Challenges and Growth at UW–Madison
• Learning from Failures: A Journey to Success
• Charting a Path in Environmental Advocacy
• Community Service: Lessons in Leadership
• The Influence of Personal Research on Academic Choices
• Promoting Educational Inclusivity: A Personal Mission
• Harmonizing Music with Academic and Career Goals
• Resilience: Turning Obstacles into Opportunities
• Embracing Multilingualism and Global Perspectives
• Envisioning Sustainable Practices at UW–Madison

Maximizing Impact with UW–Madison Essay Examples

In conclusion, UW–Madison essays are an integral part of the application, offering a platform for students to express their individuality and suitability for the university. To effectively navigate this crucial aspect, examining University of Wisconsin Madison essay examples can be incredibly instructive. These examples provide a clearer understanding of the expected caliber and style, aiding students in crafting their narratives. Understanding and adhering to the essay requirements, drawing inspiration from such examples, and infusing personal experiences and insights into your writing can significantly enhance your chances of admission. Remember, well-written essays, much like the University of Wisconsin Madison essay examples, can profoundly influence the admissions committee's decision, emphasizing the importance of dedicating time and effort to develop compelling, authentic stories.

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How to write the university of wisconsin-madison essays 2020-2021: the complete guide.

Wisconsin may not be home to New York City, but if your heart desires a sprawling campus with countless ways to enjoy the outdoors, look no further than the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

It has an acceptance rate that hovers around 51%.

The university sits on 936 acres – that’s not a typo, folks – it’s really that huge. The campus is located between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona.

Beyond a range of academic programs, the university offers extensive opportunities to play sports, join clubs, and participate in on-campus and community activities. Applying to the University of Wisconsin-Madison can be done either through the Common App or directly through the UW website .

What are the University of Wisconsin-Madison supplemental essay requirements?

Two essays are required for admission to the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Click above to watch a video on Wisconsin Madison Supplemental Essays.

If you apply through the Common App, you will have to answer question #2 below, in addition to the first question.

If you apply through the UW System Application, you will need to respond to both of the following:

1 ) Tell us about something you’ve done—academically or personally—and what you’ve learned from it. Was it a success or a challenge? Did it represent a turning point in your life? How did this particular moment in your life influence you, and how will it continue to influence you as you pursue your college education? 2) Tell us why you would like to attend the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In addition, please include why you are interested in studying the major(s) you have selected. If you selected undecided, please describe your areas of possible academic interest.

In the UW System Application, the maximum word count allowed is 650 words. However, according to the “Application Tips” page on the UW website, admissions prefers for you to plan for 300-500 words.

Note: If a university publishes an application tips page, follow it precisely. Not only will your application be stronger, but admissions will be able to tell you did your research.

Wisconsin – Madison Supplemental Essay 1: Academic & Personal Achievements

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

Before writing this essay, it’s important to note that UW isn’t looking for a resume or laundry list. Don’t get trapped into writing a list of achievements.

It’s important to the admissions committee to understand the story of your achievements. In order to tell that story, you must begin to analyze what you’ve accomplished and learned from those achievements.

Therefore, we must identify the two separate pieces to this prompt.

• Your academic and personal accomplishments.
• Lessons learned from those achievements and challenges.

As you begin to break down your accomplishments, think about the communities, projects, academic pursuits, extracurricular activities, and teams to which you’ve contributed. UW suggests developing your thoughts with an outline before you begin writing.

Don’t limit yourself to academic or official accomplishments. Also consider your contributions to:

• Religious institution (ex. church, mosque, synagogue)
• Volunteer organization (ex. Meals on Wheels)
• Neighborhood/city/county/state

For each of these communities, brainstorm people/places/ideas/events you believe often go unnoticed and are important to you. 

Don’t get hung up on language. “Achievements” and “accomplishments” are subjective. You can also write about small personal victories and contributions that led to a greater result. All told, you don’t need to have won a ribbon or trophy to justify your action as an achievement.

When brainstorming achievements, consider creating a bubble map for a visual representation of your ideas. If you’re digitally savvy, you could use a tool like Bubbl.us to create your map.

Once you have a detailed list , start narrowing down your choices by considering what is most important to you.

• The more you care about a pursuit, the more you will be able to write about it and convey your passion.
• Again, don’t shy away from topics that are strictly personal to you – that’s what this essay is all about!

Your goal is to find an accomplishment or string of achievements that are closely related.

• Did you take care of a sick sibling while mom worked to pay the bills?
• Were you a founder or leader of an extracurricular activity that grew by 15% during your high school career?
• Did you raise $200 for a political campaign or charity that worked on issues you care about?

Now that you’ve identified achievement(s), it’s time to start drafting an essay. Context is always important when you are writing to strangers.

• Start your essay by providing some background information, a cold hook, or a quote.

While context is important, do keep it short. You want to save the majority of your word count for explaining why the achievement is important to you.

The second part of the essay is critical:

• UW – Madison wants to know how you’re a better person for having achieved or struggled?
• And how will you bring that change to their campus?

Don’t be afraid to talk about your challenges—in life, failure and struggle are often the best teachers.

You spent the first part of your essay introducing and describing your achievement. This includes the actions you took to succeed (20- 25% of your essay).

Now, spend close to 30-40% of the essay explaining what you learned from those accomplishments. If you’re having trouble thinking of how you changed, brainstorm these questions:

• What qualities did I need to display to accomplish this goal?
• How am I a better person for having gone through this challenge?
• What qualities of mine can I improve?
• Were there qualities that I did improve?

Once you’re done with this part, it’s time to move to the last part of your essay: explaining how you’ll implement your lessons learned into your education. Spend the rest of your essay on:

• Describing how your learning pattern has changed
• Your newfound appreciation for teamwork
• Developing a conceptual understanding of a field
• A budding curiosity of a teaching style
• Affirmed passion for an educational vector

Whatever you choose, make sure you’re telling UW – Madison that you’re a developing student who is looking forward to implementing your lessons learned on campus.

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Wisconsin – madison supplemental essay 2: why this school.

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

In the second essay, you will have to address why you applied to the University of Wisconsin-Madison and what you hope to get out of the academic experience.

The first part of this prompt is fairly standard and, if you’re applying to multiple universities, it should start to sound familiar.

However, your response to the question shouldn’t sound familiar to UW’s admissions committee. Instead, your answer must be tailored to you and the University of Wisconsin-Madison specifically.

• The litmus test for this requirement is to read through your final draft and ask: Could this essay be submitted to any other university other than the University of Wisconsin?
• If you answered “yes,” you need to revise .

The best way to prepare for this essay is to perform research. This, by the way, is not only beneficial for your essay but will also help you to get an idea whether this school is the right fit for you.

• First, browse through the University of Wisconsin-Madison website.
• Don’t stop at the admissions page. Explore the plethora of information on academics, research opportunities, sports, clubs, daily living, and so on.
• Search for more information about UW on college review websites, which often feature testimonials from current students.
• If possible, go to the campus for a tour to see in person what the university has to offer.
• Most important: Research the academic program you’re interested in. Explore professors, projects, fellowships, internships, career counseling, grants, and public-private partnerships.

All of the above research will fuel your essay and give you concrete reasons to help you describe why you are applying to the school. When writing your essay, try to focus on one significant reason or a few reasons instead of just a single superficial idea, such as “academics” or “because I’m receiving a swim scholarship.”

As a rule, never write about one of the following topics:

• Social life

Then, think about what you want to get out of your college experience and how your future goals are related to obtaining a degree.

When describing your reasons for applying, use detail, and then link those details back to your professional or academic goals.

Admissions officers want to see that their university is an important channel that will help you achieve your college and career goals.

Even if you have yet to decide on a major, you should address this question through the lens of your academic interest(s). Consider both your research and academic/extracurricular history.

• What majors or academic programs are you interested in pursuing? What you write about now isn’t final, so don’t worry if you waver between different subjects. Choose a subject.
• Are there research programs or co-ops for which you are interested in applying?

Perhaps you are really interested in medicine and engineering, leaning toward pursuing biomedical engineering. You could take a look at the senior design courses where you work in a team with a clinician or industry professional to create a product.

When writing your essay, link back to previous ideas and your big-picture goals.

Let the university know that they’re the perfect fit, and you are passionate and enthusiastic about their program offerings.

• Don’t write about what you think they want to hear.
• Instead, be honest and allow the admissions committee to see your interests and values through your response.
• Ultimately, what UW – Madison has to offer needs to relate to you.
• Don’t spend too much time complimenting their academic offerings. Trust me, they know they’re a great school. They want to know why you think you’re a good fit.

We strongly recommend that you include the following elements in your essay:

• A short introductory story or hook that explains your interest in the field, major, or program.
• Toward the end of your essay, explain your professional ambitions and how you’d use your UW education to contribute to your community, country, or the world.

Here’s an outline of a “Why UW – Madison” essay that effectively answers this prompt:

• Your parents were never interested in community politics and barely ever voted. A few years ago, a local politician approved the building of a large chain store near your home, which lead to increased pollution and traffic in your community.
• You canvassed to stop the construction, but it wasn’t enough. You didn’t get enough signatures. Still, this process sparked your love for politics. You realize that your parents were mistaken.
• You want to study in UW – Madison’s political science program because you’re interested in increasing voter turnout. UW has a fellowship and multiple research programs in this vector.
• After explaining how you’d take advantage of a fellowship and research opportunity, you want to become a community organizer. UW will help you do that.

Conclusion: Writing the University of Wisconsin – Madison Supplemental Essays

Before submitting your essays, you should definitely check out the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s page of Application Tips . There you’ll learn more about the university’s vision and advice for applying.

In regards to essays, here’s a short list of the university’s advice:

• Plan for 300-500 words, although the maximum is 650
• Revise, proofread, and share your writing with a peer/trusted adult
• Be honest and authentic in your writing

If you have questions that are particular to the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s requirements, they welcome you to contact them directly.

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"Why University of Wisconsin"

University of Wisconsin-Madison

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

80 - 650 words

( University of Wisconsin-Madison )

Why This Essay Works:

• Shows They Know The School Well : This essay uses a lot of a great, specific references about UW Madison that show that the author has done their research and know the school well. Your reasons for applying in these "Why Us?" essays should be as specific as possible. This essay uses references to specific professors and their work, lab equipment ("biolayer interferometry"), courses, and features about campus. All of this works to create a compelling reason why this student would be a good fit, while also demonstrating strong interest in the school. When writing "Why Us" essays, doing your research to find unique and specific aspects is most important.
• Connects To Area Of Study : Even for "Why Us?" essays that don't explicitly ask you to write about your major, referencing your intended major is often a strong reason "why." By connecting what you want to study with what the school offers, you can show how your studies would be made even better. Admissions officers are trying to imagine how you'd fit into campus, so try showing them how you'd be engaged in the specific department. Researching the department is also a good idea, as often times it is easier to find unique qualities about a department (like "Biochemistry department") than it is to find about the school as a whole.
• Shows Personality And Humor : This essay starts off with a somewhat unserious introduction, referencing Wisconsin's reputation for cheese-making. Although this is casual and humorous, it serves as an engaging introduction into their main ideas about what the school offers. Using humor can show your personality, while also making it more fun for admissions officers to read. They'll be more likely to find your essay likable if you can include small moments of lightheartedness. This student also shows their personality through interjecting their thoughts (like this is doing here) using parentheses, which works to bring the reader into your thought process.

What They Might Change:

• Avoid Prefacing Your Ideas : In this intro, the author sets up three points that they use as criteria for what they want in a school. However, this ultimately ends up creating unnecessary repetition because they later they discuss each of those points in detail. In general, avoid prefacing your ideas or thoughts. That is, you don't have to "prepare" or "introduce" what you're about to say to the reader. Instead, it is usually more compelling to just start with those juicy details rather than setting them up.

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How to Write the University of Chicago Essays 2024-2025

The University of Chicago is famous for its unconventional supplemental essay prompts, and this year is no exception. While there is one traditional prompt that asks you to write about your interest in UChicago, the star of your essay package will be your response to one of six incredibly outside-the-box prompts (with the sixth being a choose your own adventure).

Because the brainstorming you’ve done for all your other college essays is unlikely to help much here, you want to make sure you leave yourself extra time to really give these prompts the attention they require. One thing you’ll quickly realize is there’s no way to “brute force” your answer—you just need to be patient and let your ideas develop.

In this post, we’ll break down each prompt for you, so that, while you’ll still have to harness your own creativity, you can be confident in your overall approach.

Read these UChicago essay examples written by real students to inspire your own writing!

Before You Begin Writing 

The University of Chicago’s prompts are famous (infamous? both?) for being different, quirky, and sometimes downright weird. Have you ever seen the word cheese or pie in a college essay prompt before? I’m guessing not. But don’t get discouraged or overwhelmed—the weirdness of the UChicago prompts makes them ripe with opportunity to explore your passions, interests, and personal oddities. 

You know that subject you avoid in casual conversation, because it turns you into a gushing ball of enthusiasm that could talk for hours ? UChicago wants to hear about it. Whether it’s feminist literature of Southeast Asia, modern perception of African art, or your job at Colonial Williamsburg, UChicago has happily passed you the mic. 

While your creative opportunity has few bounds, there are some key strategies to conquering the UChicago essays. Keep this checklist of things in mind as you write: 

Unconventional topics often require unconventional styles. 

UChicago essays should definitely be viewed as a piece of creative writing, rather than a dry analysis. When you are in college, you will be asked to write thesis-driven essays, but that’s not what the UChicago essays are asking for. You need to have a clear focus, but you should be comfortable disrupting the familiar rhythms of essay prose.

Strategies can include vivid (and we mean vivid ) imagery, addressing the reader directly, sentence fragments, CAPS, lists, and anything else! Toss in some wild jargon from your field, phrases from another language, anything you’ve got—as long as you explain them. You should try to be imaginative, engaging, and colorful while maintaining an authentic voice and staying focused with your subject matter.

Communicate who you are as an academic.

The point of your essay is still to tell admissions officers about yourself. Give them an image of how you will perform in and contribute to an academic environment. You can’t just gush about your topic—you have to prove that you can engage with it at a highly intellectual level. Explain research protocol, cite specific books you’ve read, mention your AP and IB classes, or give examples of how you’ve collaborated with others to produce results. 

UChicago admissions don’t want a student who says “I love physics”; they want a student who says “I love physics so much that I stayed up until 4 am reading Cosmos by Carl Sagan, and I use meatballs to diagram the moons of Jupiter to my friends, and I took Calc III because I plan on studying mechanical engineering with a focus on aerospace materials.” Be detailed about your studies; be explicit in your interests. 

Marry yourself to your topic.

Be sure to include the first person; you are the main character here, not whatever subject you’re writing about. The subject is an avenue to tell admissions officers about you. You aren’t trying to get your latest film, your famous lasagna, or your community service project into the university— you are trying to get in . Don’t be afraid to center yourself. How do these objects from your past illuminate facets of your personality? What do your interests say about you ?

And, as always, answer the prompt!

Print out the prompt, circle key words, hang it on your mirror. Read it, then read it again, and again . Sit with the prompt, get some (probably crazy!) ideas, then repeat the process! Many UChicago prompts are dense in their weirdness. Some of them take time to even understand. Many prompts will reveal themselves to you in your everyday life (after you’ve read them over and over again). Some of them just take deep thought. The key is to keep thinking and focus on what the prompt is asking. You’ve got this!

UChicago Supplemental Essay Prompts

Prompt 1: How does the University of Chicago, as you know it now, satisfy your desire for a particular kind of learning, community, and future? Please address with some specificity your own wishes and how they relate to UChicago.

Prompt 2:  Choose one of the six extended essay options below and upload a one- or two-page response. Please include the prompt at the top of the page. Past extended essay prompts can be found on our website .

Option A: We’re all familiar with green-eyed envy or feeling blue, but what about being “caught purple-handed”? Or “tickled orange”? Give an old color-infused expression a new hue and tell us what it represents. – Inspired by Ramsey Bottorff, Class of 2026

Option B: “Ah, but I was so much older then / I’m younger than that now” – Bob Dylan. In what ways do we become younger as we get older? – Inspired by Joshua Harris, Class of 2016

Option C: Pluto, the demoted planet. Ophiuchus, the thirteenth Zodiac. Andy Murray, the fourth to tennis’s Big Three. Every grouping has something that doesn’t quite fit in. Tell us about a group and its unofficial member, why (or why not) should it be excluded? – Inspired by Veronica Chang, Class of 2022

Option D: “Daddy-o”, “Far Out”, “Gnarly”: the list of slang terms goes on and on. Sadly, most of these aren’t so “fly” anymore – “as if!” Name an outdated slang from any decade or language that you’d bring back and explain why you totally “dig it.” – Inspired by Napat Sakdibhornssup, Class of 2028

Option E: How many piano tuners are there in Chicago? What is the total length of chalk used by UChicago professors in a year? How many pages of books are in the Regenstein Library? These questions are among a class of estimation problems named after University of Chicago physicist Enrico Fermi. Create your own Fermi estimation problem, give it your best answer, and show us how you got there. – Inspired by Malhar Manek, Class of 2028

Option F: And, as always… the classic choose your own adventure option! In the spirit of adventurous inquiry, choose one of our past prompts (or create a question of your own). Be original, creative, thought provoking. Draw on your best qualities as a writer, thinker, visionary, social critic, sage, citizen of the world, or future citizen of the University of Chicago; take a little risk, and have fun!

How does the University of Chicago, as you know it now, satisfy your desire for a particular kind of learning, community, and future? Please address with some specificity your own wishes and how they relate to UChicago.

The pressure’s on to be unique here, since EVERY SINGLE APPLICANT to UChicago will be answering this required “Why School?” question. Here’s what you need to do:

Provide a tangible connection to UChicago. 

This is composed of specific elements of the university that appeal to you, and UChicago’s website is a great place to delve into these. Be sure to be “particular,” as they stipulate, and give them the “specificity” they’re asking for. Examples include research opportunities at Argonne Labs, the marketing classes in the Business School, or an internship offered through the Creative Writing program. 

Don’t write about UChicago’s general attributes, like fame, prestige, or “intellectual rigor.” And please don’t try to be clever and refute the old canard that UChicago is the place “Where Fun Goes to Die.” Application readers have seen this hundreds, if not thousands of times. And besides, why talk about a tired UChicago stereotype when you can talk about something cool? 

Describe your intangible connection as well. 

How is UChicago a place that aligns with your values, dreams, and goals? How do you vibe with it? For example, if I wanted to write about the Creative Writing internship, I would state explicitly how it draws me in: 

“ I want to attend a college that values the innovative nature of indie comics publishing as much as I do. So, I’m impressed by UChicago’s commitment to providing internships in comics writing through Bult Publishing and The Artifice magazine. One of my goals as a writer is to gain firsthand experience in comics publishing, specifically small houses, and the Creative Writing program at UChicago hits the mark, resoundingly. ”

Engage with faculty and students, if possible. 

This is a perfect place to talk about specific interactions, like sitting in on an inspiring seminar during a campus visit, hearing a professor speak, or seeing how UChicago has prepared a friend for his career. 

However, always be sure to tie these experiences into your own goals and interests! For example, don’t just name-drop a certain Professor Smith. Instead, take the opportunity to find a personal connection to Smith’s research and how great UChicago is for supporting people like her. Your format should be

        Program/Individual/Major – UChicago’s Values – My values

If you want to learn more about a specific professor or their subject, don’t be afraid to politely email them or contact their department. Many love to talk about their work and their interests, or would love to put you in touch with current students. This will better inform you about the school and give you a great edge for this prompt. And, more importantly, you’ll probably get great advice for your higher education journey. Note: the earlier you prepare for this, the better!

It’s worth noting that there is no recommended essay length, but sticking to around 500 words should do the trick. It’s long enough to share the reasons you’ll thrive at UChicago, but not too long that the admissions officers will start to get bored.

Prompt 2, Option A

We’re all familiar with green-eyed envy or feeling blue, but what about being “caught purple-handed” or “tickled orange” give an old color-infused expression a new hue and tell us what it represents. – inspired by ramsey bottorff, class of 2026 .

Brainstorming Your Topic

Like many of UChicago’s prompts, while the topic here is incredibly quirky, you actually do have a clear anchor for your brainstorming: expressions that include a color. To start your brainstorming, you’ll want to generate a list of such expressions, but to do so, we’d advise against just sitting there and wracking your brain.

Instead, you’ll likely find that trying to think of these expressions using context will be more productive. For example, think about whether there are any phrases you use often that could work. Maybe you’ve described yourself as a black sheep before, or when you talk about your best friend, you say they have a heart of gold.

Or, just glance around wherever you’re sitting, and see if anything inspires you. Maybe your mom’s Halloween decorations remind you of “white as a ghost.” Or the nice china that’s out for your dad’s birthday makes you think of being “born with a silver spoon in your mouth.”

The main thing is to just give yourself time, and jot down any potential options as they come to you. If you think of something during soccer practice, make a note to yourself on your phone during your next water break, and add it to your running list later. Don’t count on remembering something the next day–there’s no guarantee it’ll stick in your brain, no matter how brilliant it is!

Try to come up with 5-10 possibilities. You can have more if you want (although at a certain point continuing to brainstorm likely won’t be particularly productive), but you don’t want to have fewer. If you only have two to choose from, you might find that neither is strong enough to support a whole essay.

Once you have those possibilities, think about which ones speak to you the most, and then think of how you’d want to revise them, and which revised versions are most compelling. Which new color you choose, and why, is entirely up to you–maybe you just want to swap in your favorite color, or maybe you think first of what you want your new expression to mean, and work from there. 

Either way, remember that you shouldn’t be afraid to get creative! If you want to talk about being a periwinkle sheep, or having a heart of vermillion, you can do so. Just make sure you’ll be able to show that you have a reason for choosing such an unusual, specific color–you don’t want to seem like you just cracked open the thesaurus for fun.

Tips for Writing Your Essay

Once you’ve chosen your “new hue,” your focus should shift to the second half of the prompt: what it represents, as that’s what you’re going to spend your essay explaining. There are two main things you want to keep in mind as you write:

Creativity 

You’re probably already sick of hearing this tip, but UChicago wouldn’t ask such unusual questions if they wanted ordinary responses. So, don’t have your new hue represent the same thing but with a different color swapped in. For example, being a periwinkle sheep shouldn’t just mean you’re the most whimsical person in a group. 

Rather, try to show off your ability to put your own spin on something. Being a periwinkle sheep could instead mean that you have a lot of friends, but also a strong sense of your own identity–periwinkle is close enough to white that such a sheep could fit in, but also distinct enough that it will be noticeably different from the rest of the flock.

Your Own Personality

As unconventional as UChicago’s prompts are, ultimately your goal is the same as in any other college essay–you want to teach admissions officers about who you are, and why you’d be an asset to their campus community. So, your explanation of your new hue should connect to your own life, not just talk about the expression you’ve created in an academic sense.

For example, maybe you use the idea of a periwinkle sheep to explain how you’ve struggled to find your own identity in high school, and often latched on to different hobbies or friend groups, but since you discovered how much you love cooking, you feel much more grounded.

The connection doesn’t have to be this direct–you can still demonstrate who you are even if you wouldn’t use your new expression to describe yourself. As an alternative, you could draw a comparison between being a periwinkle sheep and doing puzzles, one of your favorite hobbies, by explaining how in a periwinkle sheep, like in a puzzle, you can simultaneously see all the different pieces of who they are and the full picture. You could then talk about some of your favorite puzzles over the years, and what you learned about yourself from assembling them.

However direct or indirect your approach is, make sure that you incorporate plenty of specific anecdotes and experiences from your own life. In other words, show, don’t tell. Just stating that you struggled to find your identity doesn’t teach admissions officers much, because that’s true of many people in high school. Instead, describe some of the specific things you latched onto while trying to find yourself, and reflect on how you felt about them at the time, whether positive or negative, and how you’ve grown since then.

Prompt 2, Option B

“ah, but i was so much older then / i’m younger than that now” – bob dylan. in what ways do we become younger as we get older – inspired by joshua harris, class of 2016 .

This is the most open-ended of UChicago’s prompts this year, so if you’re a philosopher at heart, this could be the prompt for you! If, however, you want a little more structure to guide your thinking, you’ll likely want to choose one of the other options, which do more to provide you with a specific (if unconventional) topic.

If you do decide to tackle this one, you’ll want to start your brainstorming by asking yourself some broad questions, which will hopefully eventually lead you to a more focused idea that you can structure your essay around. For example:

• What do you associate with youth?
• What do you associate with growing older?
• Reflect on your own life: when you compare your childhood to today, how has the way you view the world changed or stayed the same?
• What are your goals for the future, and how do you see lessons from your past helping you achieve them?

Once you’re thinking generally about youth and aging, start trying to generate a list of memories or experiences you’ve had that reflect your thoughts about this topic. Grounding your ideas in specific examples will ensure that admissions officers can easily understand what you’re trying to say. 

Remember, they aren’t reading this essay by the fire at home–they’re reading dozens of essays a day. If there are any points they don’t immediately understand, they don’t have time to reflect on them, even if they’d like to, because they have so many applications to get through. So, clarity is absolutely essential.

For example, maybe you want to write about living in the moment. You might reflect on the happy summer afternoons you spent at your local playground as a kid, and how you could always find something to do. You could then think about how that connects to recent efforts you’ve made to spend less time on your phone, to encourage yourself to instead do things like play with your family dog, or help your parents with cooking dinner, that you won’t be able to do once you go to college.

This is the kind of prompt where brainstorming is more than half the battle. Before you actually start writing, make sure you have a comprehensive outline that includes your overarching point, examples that illustrate that point, and the connections between these examples.

The connections in particular are key. Since the topic of this essay is so abstract, you want to make sure that you concretely connect each anecdote to the next. If you leave the connections up to your reader, they might not have time to make them on their own, and even if they do, there’s no guarantee they fit the different pieces together correctly.

Additionally, do keep in mind that this is still a college essay, which should demonstrate who you are, and in particular your readiness for this next step in your educational journey. Since this prompt is centered around your thoughts on quite a personal topic, making the connection between your ideas on that topic and your identity as a whole should be easier than with some of the other options. 

Still, you want to make sure that your readers–who, remember, are complete strangers with only a small amount of background context on you from your common app info session–will be able to identify key personality traits from your essay that will help distinguish you from other applicants. You don’t want to just seem reflective, as all applicants who respond to this prompt will likely come across as reflective.

Instead, think of more distinctive traits that you pride yourself on in general, like your sense of humor, your love of giving thoughtful gifts, or your passion for ancient history. Choose 2-4–you don’t want to go overboard, as then your essay will be difficult to follow–and think about how you can incorporate those details into your essay. 

You can do so in big ways, by choosing anecdotes that clearly illustrate them, or small ones, like a quick line comparing something in your life to the Egyptian Empire. The key is just that, after finishing your essay, UChicago admissions officers will understand what makes you, you, not just what you think about aging.

Mistakes to Avoid

Again, this is the most philosophical prompt, so you’ll want to take care that your essay doesn’t accidentally become too academic. Your goal isn’t to provide a template for how people should live their lives, but to explain how your thoughts on aging reflect your intellect, curiosity, and overall potential as a UChicago student. 

If you’re unsure whether your essay is striking the right tone, asking friends, teachers, or family members to take a look is a great idea. Someone who doesn’t already know what you’re trying to say can usually give you a more objective sense of whether what you’re trying to communicate about yourself is coming across clearly.

Prompt 2, Option C

Pluto, the demoted planet. ophiuchus, the thirteenth zodiac. andy murray, the fourth to tennis’s big three. every grouping has something that doesn’t quite fit in. tell us about a group and its unofficial member, why (or why not) should it be excluded – inspired by veronica chang, class of 2022 .

Like the first prompt, and unlike Option B, this option gives you narrow parameters for your brainstorming, which is both helpful, as you know what to focus on, and difficult, since those parameters are around a topic that you’ve likely never spent much time thinking about.

You’ll likely find that trying to think of unofficial members right off the bat will be challenging. Instead, start a step further back, with just groups. These could be sports teams, musical bands, groups of fictional characters, categories like the colors of the rainbow, or just about anything you can think of that refers to a well-defined set. 

Ideally, you’ll also have some personal interest in the groups you consider. If you think of the Rolling Stones because they’re your dad’s favorite band, but you don’t know anything about them, you’ll likely struggle to write an effective essay.

As you consider different groups, think about whether there’s an unofficial member. For a lot of groups, there might not be. But, as always with a UChicago essay, being creative is the whole point, so don’t discard any of your options without first thinking a little more deeply about them.

For example, maybe you’re thinking about ingredients, and your mind goes to s’mores. Even though most people probably wouldn’t think beyond the classic marshmallow, chocolate, and graham cracker, maybe your family has always included bananas, so that’s the “unofficial member” you want to write about. That totally works! If anything, other people not thinking of this idea is a positive–this is your essay, after all.

Your unofficial member can also be more obvious. Maybe you’re a huge Star Wars fan, and have always thought the main trio of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia should in fact be a main quartet, and include Chewbacca. This being a more widespread inclusion/exclusion debate shouldn’t scare you off. So long as you feel a genuine personal investment in Chewbacca’s inclusion in the group, you’ll be able to write an excellent essay on this topic.

One last thing to note is that the group, and unofficial member, you choose doesn’t have to be famous. UChicago says explicitly that they want you to tell them about the group, so it’s okay if they don’t have prior knowledge of it. You could even choose one from your personal life–for example, maybe one of your cats is a dog at heart, and always joins your two dogs on their romps in the backyard. 

While that kind of topic might seem mundane or silly, in reality extremely personal topics can often stand out the most, as there’s a much lower chance of anyone writing about something similar. Plus, the whole point of college essays is to give admissions officers a sense of who you are on a daily basis, beyond the numbers in your transcript and activities list, and an “ordinary” topic is often a natural way to provide that information.

Of course, there are countless ways to write a strong essay, so if you can’t think of a highly personal topic, don’t panic! Our point is just to not rule out such topics as you brainstorm, as they can often be highly effective.

Like with many UChicago prompts, there are two prongs here: laying out an unusual topic for you, and then telling you what to do with that topic. Here, your task is to explain whether or not your unofficial member should be included, and why. Do remember, though, that your overarching goal is, as always, to use your justification to demonstrate something about who you are, and why you would be an asset to the UChicago community.

If, say, you’re using the s’mores example above, your argument for inclusion shouldn’t be based on the natural flavor of the banana balancing the other, processed ingredients. Instead, think about how your opinion connects to your values, or other key features of your identity.

For example, maybe you compare each ingredient to one of your core personality traits. The graham cracker could be your resilience, the chocolate your empathy, the marshmallow your love of daydreaming, and the banana your love of the outdoors. You could then justify your position by explaining how all four things are necessary to create a full picture of who you are.

Alternatively, for the Star Wars example, maybe you write about how, as a kid, you had a hard time making friends, and seeing a band of heroes which included a creature of another species was inspiring for you. You could talk about how Chewbacca gave you confidence that you could find belonging without changing who you are, and then describe how you carved out a key role for yourself on your high school volleyball team, despite not being tall.

If these justifications seem too personal, that’s actually a good sign! The point of this essay isn’t to convince the whole world to put bananas on their s’mores–the point is to convince UChicago admissions officers to accept you. So, the more personal, the better.

Along those same lines, you want to make sure to incorporate plenty of specific anecdotes. Don’t just say “I found belonging on my volleyball team.” Instead, describe how, at tryouts, you felt your familiar insecurity, until one of the coaches, who also wasn’t tall, took a personal interest in you and encouraged you to concentrate on your passing, with the goal of becoming a defensive specialist who wouldn’t need to play at the net.

The more you can let admissions officers live your experiences alongside you, and witness your thoughts and feelings firsthand, the more invested they will be in your candidacy.

The biggest potential pitfall with this essay is choosing a group that isn’t clearly defined. Since your goal is to use your opinion on this matter to showcase who you are more generally, you don’t want to have to spend a whole bunch of space explaining what your group, and unofficial member, even is. Creativity is a plus, but shouldn’t come at the expense of being efficient with your words.

Prompt 2, Option D

“daddy-o”, “far out”, “gnarly”: the list of slang terms goes on and on. sadly, most of these aren’t so “fly” anymore – “as if” name an outdated slang from any decade or language that you’d bring back and explain why you totally “dig it.” – inspired by napat sakdibhornssup, class of 2028 .

For the previous prompts, we’ve encouraged you to brainstorm your topic in an indirect way, because their focus is on such unusual things. For this prompt, however, just reflecting on your favorite slang expressions that have gone out of style will likely be effective, since slang by definition is something that you’re exposed to in everyday life.

You can also consider the following questions to further inspire you:

• Are there any books or movies from past generations that you enjoy? What kind of slang do they use?
• Are there any slang terms you’ve heard your parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. use that you enjoy?
• Have you ever watched or read an interview with a celebrity from the past and enjoyed a slang expression they used?

Note that, while the examples listed are mainly from the 60s-80s, UChicago is allowing you to cast a broad net, over slang expressions from “any decade or language.” So, if there’s a term you remember from your childhood, that’s fair game! You could even go further back, to terms you may have heard in movies from the 1900s, or even further back than that, to terms that you may have read in, say, Shakespeare.

If you know any other languages, you can also draw on them, but do remember that the term you choose still needs to be outdated. If you learned the non-English language in school, rather than natively, you might not know much about past slang, but resist the temptation to look up terms just to write a standout essay. You’ll need to justify your desire to bring back this term, after all, which will be difficult to do if you don’t actually know anything about it.

Choosing a compelling slang term is key, but that’s just the first step to writing a strong essay. The bulk of your response will be dedicated to explaining “why you totally ‘dig it.’”

This explanation should go beyond just talking generally about liking the sound of the word, or feeling it picks out something distinctive that other words don’t quite capture. You can start there, but you should quickly get to making a connection between this word and your own personality. After all, the point of this essay isn’t to teach UChicago about a new piece of slang–it’s to teach them about you!

For example, say you choose the term “eighty-six,” which was used in the 1950s as a verb, which meant to throw someone out of a place. Maybe your elderly neighbor taught you this expression when you were helping him weed his garden as a kid, and you continued to weed together, “eighty-sixing” the invasive plants, all the way up until he passed away last year. You could talk about how he became a mentor for you during the time you spent with him in the garden, and 

The last thing you do want to make sure to do is actually answer the question, and explain why you want to bring this term back. Even if you tell a rich, captivating story, if you leave that element out, the essay will feel incomplete. You don’t have to spend a ton of space on it, but you do want to make sure your reasoning is connected to the story you’ve told. For the above example, a quick line in the conclusion would do the trick, along the lines of:

“By bringing ‘eighty-six’ back into common lingo, I hope that others find, like I did, that throwing something out can, paradoxically, lead to treasures boomeranging back to you: wisdom, connection, and a friend who I will remember for the rest of my life.”

You don’t necessarily have to have a preexisting personal connection to the term you choose, although that will streamline your writing process. But if you’re thoughtful about meaningful experiences you’ve had that could have some relation to your term, you can definitely use the essay itself to make that link.

For example, say you instead had heard the term “eighty-six” in a movie, and had looked up the definition, but hadn’t thought much more about it, even though you thought it was a fun expression. 

In this essay, perhaps you reflect on how your affinity for the term shouldn’t be surprising, as many of your favorite activities involve eighty-sixing: as a diver, you’re always throwing yourself off the board; as an older brother, you love picking up your much younger siblings and throwing them onto the bed; and a lifelong dream of yours is to go skydiving, which you have been trying to convince your parents to let you do for your 18th birthday.

This essay might conclude with something like: “When I one day convince people to start saying eighty-six again, perhaps it will be with a new connotation: not just throwing someone out of something, but also into something new, and potentially wonderful.”

One last note: while the bulk of your essay should be explaining the significance of the term, you still do need to introduce it and provide a definition. There are a lot of different ways you can do this effectively, but one thing you definitely don’t want to do is just say “The slang term I would bring back is [x], which means [y].” Such a dry approach is unlikely to do anything to grab admissions officers’ attention.

Instead, describe the moment when you first heard this term, or an experience you’ve had that illustrates its meaning. This kind of “in medias res” (Latin for “in the middle of things”) strategy does much more to immediately get admissions officers personally invested in your story and curious about your personal perspective, compared to a literal definition that they could find in any old textbook.

As always, creativity is of the essence. While the first terms that come to mind might be ones like “groovy” that are widely known as outdated, these likely won’t make as strong of an impression on admissions officers as ones that feel more distinct to you. As noted above, your ultimate goal is to use the term to illustrate something about yourself, and that will be easier if you choose a somewhat unique term.

Prompt 2, Option E

How many piano tuners are there in chicago what is the total length of chalk used by uchicago professors in a year how many pages of books are in the regenstein library these questions are among a class of estimation problems named after university of chicago physicist enrico fermi. create your own fermi estimation problem, give it your best answer, and show us how you got there. – inspired by malhar manek, class of 2028.

Like Option D, as far as UChicago prompts go, this is one of the more straightforward ones to brainstorm for, as estimations are likely something you have occasionally wondered about in your regular life. Maybe you’ve often looked at your family’s pet parrot and wanted to know how many feathers she has, or you’re a soccer fan and you’d love to know how many miles Lionel Messi has run in games across his career.

One piece of advice that will help once you get to actually writing your essay is to brainstorm estimations that, like the examples above, have some connection to your personal life. As always, your goal is to use your quirky topic to shine light on some key aspects of your personality, and that will be much harder to do if your estimation doesn’t have anything to do with your interests or who you are. In other words, if you don’t like soccer, the Lionel Messi example probably won’t lead to a good essay.

One last thing to keep in mind: you can get creative with the actual thing you’re estimating. The examples given by the prompt include a “how long” question, not just “how many” ones. Some other things you could measure include:

• Weight: What is the total weight of all the kebab carts in New York City?
• Sound: How loud would every cat in the world purring simultaneously be?
• Speed: How fast would a cart being pulled by every horse in the world go?
• Price: How much would it cost to buy every item ever signed by Paul McCartney?

And don’t be afraid to even go beyond these suggestions!

Once you’ve chosen a Fermi estimation problem, your task is twofold: answer it, and explain how you did so. But remember (especially if you’re a STEM person), this is a college essay, not a math problem. So, your goal actually isn’t to provide an accurate estimate, but to “solve” the problem in a way that shows UChicago how you think, and proves you have ability to get creative.

Your answer doesn’t even have to be an actual number. For example, you could “answer” the cats purring question poetically, by comparing the sound to other things–quieter than dogs barking, but louder than footsteps in fresh snow. You could also take a humorous approach, and say that Lionel Messi must have run at least 3 miles in his career.

Of course, you are also welcome to take an honest stab at the estimation. The specific approach you take is not what matters–what matters is that, in providing your answer, you teach admissions officers something about yourself. They aren’t reading this essay to actually learn how many feathers a parrot is, but to learn how well you would fit into the UChicago campus community, so that is the question that should be at the forefront of your mind as you write your essay–your answer should draw on your own experiences and background, not parrot feather density and your estimate for how many square inches of skin your bird has.

For example, maybe in justifying your earnest estimate of 2,318 feathers on your parrot, you talk about the summer you spent volunteering at a local owl rescue center, where you learned owls have around 10,000 feathers. You then talk about the yearly trips you have taken to visit your family in Puerto Rico, and how the drastic difference in climate between where you’re from and the tropics, your parrot’s native home, makes you think he would have about ¼ as many feathers as an owl.

Or, for one of the unconventional approaches, maybe in talking about all the world’s cats purring simultaneously, you contrast the comfort you got from your cat purring on your chest every morning with the motivation you got from your barking dog, which was abrasive enough to jolt you out of bed. You could then talk about losing your cat one snowy winter night, and how even though you were both soaked and freezing by the time you found her, and came down with pneumonia the day after, there was a peace in your reunion unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before.

The main thing you want to avoid with this prompt is forgetting to respond to some piece of it. Remember, you’ve been given three tasks:

• Create your own Fermi estimation problem
• Give it your best answer
• Show us how you got there

The thing you’re most likely to accidentally gloss over is giving your best answer to the problem. While “showing your work,” aka explaining your personal connection to this estimation problem, should absolutely be the main focus of your essay, and, as noted above, your answer doesn’t even have to be direct, you do want to make sure you provide an answer of some sort. Given how much thought UChicago puts into choosing their essay prompts, you never want to leave any element unaddressed. 

Prompt 2, Option F

And, as always… the classic choose your own adventure option in the spirit of adventurous inquiry, choose one of our past prompts (or create a question of your own). be original, creative, thought provoking. draw on your best qualities as a writer, thinker, visionary, social critic, sage, citizen of the world, or future citizen of the university of chicago; take a little risk, and have fun.

Again, this prompt is, on the surface, granting you a lot of leeway. UChicago even ends it with an exclamation point! But you should always remember: they expect a disciplined, thorough, rigorous essay. Don’t let your sense of fun and frolic drown out your serious intellectual ideas.

Pick a prompt that inspires you to write, and connects with your academic interests. If a prompt jumps out at you, and you’re immediately filled with ideas, it’s probably a good fit. Just take it slowly, jot your thoughts down, and get to work. 

Involve your personal connection to that prompt. If you’re not answering any of the 6 prompts UChicago has issued this year, the onus is on you to prove that you and the archival prompt you’ve picked are a match made in heaven. This means having a lot of knowledge and personal investment in your subject matter, and an angle/perspective totally unique to you. 

If making your own question, remember this: YOUR QUESTION IS YOUR HOOK. So make sure it’s not a question that could be found on a standard-issue application, like “When did I overcome a challenge?” or “What’s a place that feels like home?” These prompts are everywhere. They won’t get the job done, and they won’t make an unforgettable first impression. But “Why did I lock myself in the basement and watch The Bee Movie for eighteen hours?” That’s a different story. 

If you look at past UChicago prompts, they tend to be fond of certain things: numbered lists, fairy tales, common phrases, and items of pop culture that can be re-contextualized. They also like hearing your answers to famous questions, and you might have a unique answer to “Et tu, Brute?” or “Do you like pina coladas and getting caught in the rain?” Just remember that the novelty of the question, while the hook of your essay, is not its substance. If your biography and scholarly interests don’t involve pina coladas, or rain, you might just have to pick a different question to answer – as wonderful as that eternal question is.

UChicago essays take a lot of time and thought—but don’t overthink it. The university wants to hear what you have to say, in its full form. That’s why they give you a page limit, and not a word limit—no last minute cutting! Fully develop your ideas in a way that feels natural. If a paragraph needs to be a little thicker, or if you need to include a longer quote from your favorite author, don’t worry about it. These essays can be fun to write and extremely effective.

You can look up lots of examples of essays online, but try not to get intimidated. It’s the nature of the UChicago essays to encourage everyone to showcase their expertise—which is exactly what you should try to do! You may read sample essays and think, “Wow. I’ve never spent a month in Arizona digging up fossils. How can I ever compete?” Try to reframe the essays as a Giant Celebration of everyone’s achievements and interests not a Competition.

If you’ve written your UChicago essay and are looking for feedback, you might want to check out our free peer essay review . Since the UChicago essay prompts are weird, it’s important to get an extra set of eyes on them to make sure they are clear and engaging! You can also improve your own writing skills by editing other students’ essays.

If you need feedback even faster, you can get a free, nearly-instantaneous essay review  from Sage, our AI tutor and advisor. Sage will rate your essay, give you suggestions for improvement, and summarize what admissions officers would take away from your writing. Use these tools to improve your chances of acceptance to your dream school!

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