University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign

1. Background, identity, interest, or talent: Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
2. Facing adversity: 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?
3. Challenging an idea: Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
4. Gratitude: Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
5. Personal growth: Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
6. Intellectual curiosity: Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
7. Topic of your choice: Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

The Common App enforces the length inside the application.

1. Explain, in detail, an experience you've had in the past 3 to 4 years related to your first-choice major. This can be an experience from an extracurricular activity, in a class you've taken, or through something else.
2. Describe your personal and/or career goals after graduating from Illinois and how your selected first-choice major will help you achieve them.

Applicants who choose a first-choice major (applicants applying Undeclared answer different prompts instead).

1. What are your future career or academic goals? You may include courses you took in high school and how these impacted your goals.
2. What are your academic interests? Please include 2-3 majors you're considering at Illinois and why.

Applicants applying Undeclared (they answer these instead of the first-choice major essay prompts).

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

Applicants who apply with a second-choice major.