How to Write the University of Texas at Austin 2024-2025 Supplemental Essays

As you gear up to apply to the University of Texas at Austin, you'll need to tackle the supplemental essays. These essays provide a unique opportunity to showcase your passion, achievements, and any special circumstances that have influenced your high school journey. Here's a breakdown of the prompts and tips on how to approach them:

University of Texas at Austin Supplemental Essay Prompts:

Required: Why are you interested in the major you indicated as your first-choice major? (300 words)

This prompt asks you to reflect on your academic interests and motivations. Be sure to:

  • Be specific: Discuss the moment or experiences that sparked your interest in this major.

  • Show your passion: Highlight any courses, projects, or extracurriculars that deepened your engagement with the field.

  • Connect to UT Austin: Mention any specific programs, professors, or resources at UT Austin that align with your interests.

For instance, if you're interested in Computer Science, you might discuss a coding project that challenged you or a hackathon you participated in. Mention how UT Austin's cutting-edge research labs or a renowned professor inspired you.

Need help refining your ideas? Platforms like Sups AI can assist you in brainstorming and polishing your essay. With their AI counseling and one-on-one chats with current students, you'll get valuable feedback and insights.

Required: Think of all the activities — both in and outside of school — that you have been involved with during high school. Which one are you most proud of and why? (300 words)

This prompt allows you to delve into an activity that holds significant meaning to you. To craft a compelling response:

  • Choose wisely: Pick an activity that had a profound impact on you or to which you contributed significantly.

  • Show personal growth: Explain how this activity helped you develop new skills, overcome challenges, or gain new perspectives.

  • Be reflective: Illustrate why this activity is meaningful and how it has shaped your aspirations.

Whether it's leading a robotics club, volunteering at a local shelter, or balancing family responsibilities, ensure your narrative is authentic and heartfelt. Sups AI can help you identify key experiences and articulate them effectively.

Please share background on events or special circumstances that you feel may have impacted your high school academic performance. (300 words)

This prompt invites you to provide context to your academic record. It's crucial to:

  • Be honest and concise: Clearly describe any challenges you faced, such as health issues, family responsibilities, or other personal circumstances.

  • Focus on resilience: Highlight how you dealt with these challenges and what you learned from them.

  • Show progress and improvement: If applicable, mention any upward trends in your academic performance or how the situation improved over time.

If you've already covered similar details in your Common App personal essay, feel free to repurpose relevant sections here. Tools like Sups AI can help you ensure your narrative is coherent and impactful.

Remember, your supplemental essays are a chance to showcase different facets of your personality and experiences. With resources like Sups AI, you can get expert guidance and feedback to make your application stand out. Good luck!