uf essay prompt 2023

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University of Florida’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Honors program short response.

American novelist Henry Miller once said, “My hunger and curiosity drive me forward in all directions at once.” Students in the University of Florida Honors Program are known for pursuing multiple interests and passions.

Tell us about a subject or topic that you find intellectually stimulating and are curious to learn more about while in college. Which direction(s) do you imagine your hunger for that subject or topic will take you while at UF? How do you envision the honors program’s academic and extracurricular resources will support you along the way?

Extracurricular Short Response

Please provide more details on your most meaningful commitment outside of the classroom while in high school and explain why it was meaningful. This could be related to an extracurricular activity, work, volunteering, an academic activity, family responsibility, or any other non-classroom activity.

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University of Florida Supplemental Essays 2024-25 — Prompt & Advice

August 12, 2024

At the turn of the millennium, the University of Florida welcomed 63% of Gator applicants to Gainesville and functioned as a fairly accessible and highly affordable option for residents of the Sunshine State. However, by 2024, while still extremely affordable, the task of becoming a Gator has become far more difficult. They now receive over 67,000 applications and accept roughly 25% of those who apply. Incoming freshmen now possess an average unweighted GPA of 3.93 and SAT scores of 1320-1470. Another commonality amongst accepted students is that they write an excellent University of Florida supplemental essay.

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

When applying to an institution like the University of Florida that rejects more than 7 of every 10 applicants, you’ll need to put maximum effort into every area of the application, including the Common App and supplemental essay. Below is the University of Florida’s required supplemental prompt for the 2024-25 admissions cycle along with our advice for composing a winning essay.

University of Florida Supplemental Essay – Required

Please provide more details on your most meaningful commitment outside of the classroom while in high school and explain why it was meaningful. This could be related to an extracurricular activity, work, volunteering, an academic activity, family responsibility, or any other non-classroom activity. (250 words)

The University of Florida is not necessarily asking you to write about the activity where you earned the most prestigious awards or held the highest position of leadership. The university is going to see all of your activities in that section of the Common App. As such, you want to ask yourself which of your entries is crying out for more explanation and detail. Which one is closest to your heart and most representative of your unique passions? Pick the option that will allow you to deliver additional detail that may be memorable to the admissions reader. Start this process by asking yourself, “What is the most interesting and consequential moment that I have experienced in one of my extracurricular activities?” If you can identify one clear-cut moment, that is likely the activity worth sharing with the UF admissions staff.

University of Florida Supplemental Essays (Continued)

At the core of this essay prompt, the UF admissions officers are really trying to figure out what you will bring to the Gainesville campus community . Again, what you achieved in a particular extracurricular activity will already be viewable in your Common App Activities Section and the Common App Honors Section , so you don’t want to make that the focus of this essay. Instead, you may want to touch on some of the following areas related to your role as a community member:

• How you function as a member of a team.
• Your leadership ability.
• Your passion, commitment, and drive.
• A commitment to social justice and equity.
• How you respond to challenges and obstacles.
• Illustrate how you have demonstrated maturity and dependability.

How important are the University of Florida supplemental essays?

The University of Florida lists six factors as being “very important” to the admissions committee. They are: GPA, standardized test scores, talent/ability, character/personal qualities, extracurricular activities, and the rigor of your secondary school record and most relevant to this blog—the application essay. It’s important to keep in mind that UF places both the essays and extracurricular involvement in the top tier of importance. Therefore, this essay is something of a two-for-one. Further, the essay is rated as being of greater importance than class rank, standardized test scores, or your state residency status.

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Looking for additional writing resources? Consider checking 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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University of Florida 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Early Action: Nov 1

Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 15

The Requirements: 1 essay of 250 words

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Activity

Please provide more details on your most meaningful commitment outside of the classroom while in high school and explain why it was meaningful. This could be related to an extracurricular activity, work, volunteering, an academic activity, family responsibility, or any other non-classroom activity. (250 words)

What would your life be mundane without? Elaborate on an activity, responsibility, or passion that is meaningful to you. Unlike an activities resume entry, this should be expanded to reflect your priorities, worldview, and sense of purpose. Do you babysit your cousins when your aunt gets called into work? How does it feel to support your family members in this way and what does the phrase, “it takes a village,” mean to you? Do you foster rescue cats until they find their forever homes? What does this hobby mean to you? Maybe you inherited your animal love from your dad who used to work as a farmhand. Use your experiences to tell admissions something about you they wouldn’t already know from your list of extracurriculars. What gives your life meaning? Why do you wake up in the morning? What are you working toward?

Honors College Only:

As albert einstein once said, “the important thing is not to stop questioning. curiosity has its own reason for existing.” reflecting on this, what academic subjects, learning opportunities, or extracurricular activities are you most excited to engage in during your college experience how do you imagine or hope the uf honors program will help feed your curiosity and help you achieve your aspirations (400 words).

This is a classic Why Essay even if it’s not incredibly obvious, although rather than asking only about your interest in the university in general, UF also wants to know why you are applying for the Honors Program. This essay calls for—say it with us now—research! Block off a solid hour or two to noodle around UF’s website , looking at the courses, clubs, research opportunities, study abroad experiences, musical ensembles, intramural sports teams, or anything else about the school that attracts you. The prompt focuses on curiosity, so mention every aspect that appeals to you in a college experience, even if they don’t connect elegantly into one major or focus. Take some time to learn about the Honors Program in particular, noting which courses, student activities, teaching assistantships, or retreats will help quench your thirst for discovery and prime you to reach your personal, academic, and professional goals. How does UF in general and the Honors Program in particular fit your hopes, dreams, and expectations for your college experience and beyond?

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3 Writing Tips for the University of Florida Essay Prompts

College Essays

Are you applying to the University of Florida? You'll need to answer some essay prompts as part of your application.   Read this guide to learn what the University of Florida essay prompts are, what admissions officers are looking for in your response, what you should include and avoid in your answers, and what strong UF college essay examples look like.

What Are the University of Florida Essays?

The University of Florida accepts both the Common Application and the Coalition Application, and applicants must answer one of the Common Application prompts. 

As part of your application, you'll also need to answer an additional UF-specific essay prompt, and you'll have the option of answering three additional essay prompts. Your answer to each prompt can be up to 250 words. Here's the prompt:

• Please provide more details on your most meaningful commitment outside of the classroom while in high school and explain why it was meaningful. This could be related to an extracurricular activity, work, volunteering, an academic activity, family responsibility, or any other non-classroom activity

We'll go over how to best answer this supplement question in the next section.

The UF Essay Prompt, Analyzed

In this section, we explain what the prompt is asking for, why UF is interested in this information, what information you should include (and what information to avoid), and what a strong example answer could look like.

Please provide more details on your most meaningful commitment outside of the classroom while in high school and explain why it was meaningful. This could be related to an extracurricular activity, work, volunteering, an academic activity, family responsibility, or any other non-classroom activity.

What the prompt is asking for: A description of the one extracurricular you feel is most important to you.

Why UF is interested: Students who are dedicated to something show they are passionate, interested in learning, and have a strong work ethic. These are all characteristics colleges want their students to have, so having something you're committed to is a major boost to your application. Seeing what you choose also gives UF a better sense of who you are and what you value.

Potential topics to discuss: What the extracurricular, is how long you've involved with it, how much time per week/month/etc. you dedicate to it, what activities your involvement includes, why you consider it meaningful. 

Topics to avoid: Listing multiple activities or simply describing the extracurricular without explaining why it's important to you.

Example: "The extracurricular most important to me is my involvement in my high school's Model UN team . I've been involved for four years, since I was a freshman. We meet once a week during the school year to prepare for the four conferences we participate in each year. As a Model UN member, I research different political events and international relations topics, then debate the issues with other team members to build my skills in those areas. Model UN is so important to me because, not only did it solidify my choice to major in International Relations, it strengthened me personally. As a result of my participation, I've improved my debate skills, become a more confident public speaker, and have much more experience finding a compromise even between very different groups."

Tips for the UF Essay Prompt

Follow these three tips when completing the University of Florida supplement essays to make sure your answers are as strong as possible.

#1: Keep Your Answers Concise

You only have 250 words per prompt. That isn't that much! This means your responses need to be brief and to the point if you're trying to fit a lot of information in. You likely have a lot of reasons why a particular extracurricular is the most important to you.

#2: Show Your Strengths

Even though the prompt is short, it’s still an opportunity for you to impress the admissions committee. You can dive into how you've been involved in your extracurricular, as well as any leadership roles you may have had. Try to include themes you've mentioned in other parts of your application , such as your longer essay. For example, if you mentioned that your dream is to be a doctor, try to highlight experiences that reflect that, such as volunteering at a hospital.

#3: Be Honest and Passionate

Sometimes students think they need to tell a story that the admissions committee wants to hear...so they make things up. Do not lie in your college essay—admissions counselors are  great  at sniffing out fibs! 

Instead, lean into the passions and experiences that make you unique . For instance, maybe you made a quilt and entered it in the fair. That's awesome! Just make sure you're explaining why it's meaningful for you! Maybe your grandmother taught you how to quilt and you worked on it together, which taught you the importance passing knowledge down from one generation to the next. 

Summary: UF College Essay Examples

There is one main University of Florida essay, and it'll be the Coalition or Common Application (depending on which application you use) prompt of your choice. But there are also additional UF essay prompts to answer. These shorter prompts are a way for the UF admissions committee to learn more about you and have the most accurate look at your application.

Here is where you can discuss extracurricular activities, anything that prevented you from participating in extracurriculars, certain programs you took part in, and anything else you think is important for the people reviewing your application to know. As you answer these UF essay prompts, remember to keep your responses short, don't feel pressured to answer every prompt, and highlight your strengths.

What's Next?

Considering the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship? Our guide to Bright Futures Scholarship programs answers all the questions you're wondering about.

Want to bring up your GPA? Read about four ways to bring up your high school grades fast .

Interested in community service ideas? Check out our guide to 129 great community service projects .

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Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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University of Florida Supplemental Essays 2024 | Strategies and Insights for Success

Getting into the University of Florida (UF) has become much harder in recent years. UF used to be known for being accessible and affordable, but now, with over 67,000 applications, less than 30% of students get accepted. Those who do make it often have strong academic records, with GPAs ranging from 4.4 to 4.6 and ACT scores between 30 and 34. Many students believe that writing the great University of Florida Supplemental Essays played a big role in their acceptance. To improve your chances of getting into UF, you need to excel in all parts of your application, including the Common App and the supplemental essay.

In this guide, we’ll go over the 2023-24 UF supplemental essay prompt and provide tips on how to write a strong, standout essay.

University of Florida Supplemental Essays

Question 1 (Required)

Please provide more details on your most meaningful commitment outside of the classroom while in high school and explain why it was meaningful. This could be related to an extracurricular activity, work, volunteering, academic activity, family responsibility, or any other non-classroom activity. (250 Word Limit)

At the University of Florida, this essay prompt invites you to delve into the essence of your high school experience beyond academics. Here’s how you can ace this essay:

• Choose Significance Over Prestige : Focus on an activity that resonates deeply with you rather than one where you garnered the most accolades.
• Highlight Personal Growth : Reflect on a pivotal moment within your chosen commitment and how it shaped your character or perspective.
• Demonstrate Community Contribution : Showcase your role as a contributing member of your community, emphasizing qualities like teamwork, leadership, passion, and resilience.
• Connect to Future Campus Engagement : Illustrate how your experiences will enrich the University of Florida community, emphasizing your potential contributions to campus life.

What kind of campus community member will you be?

This essay isn’t just about showcasing your past accomplishments; it’s about painting a vivid picture of your future role as a member of the UF community. Here’s what you should focus on:

• Teamwork and Leadership : Highlight your ability to collaborate effectively with others and your capacity for leadership roles.
• Passion and Drive : Showcase your enthusiasm and commitment to making a difference, whether it’s in academics, extracurriculars, or community service.
• Social Justice and Equity : If relevant, discuss your dedication to promoting fairness and inclusivity within your community.
• Maturity and Dependability : Provide examples of how you’ve demonstrated responsibility and maturity in the face of challenges.

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How important are the University of Florida supplemental essays?

The UF admissions committee considers the supplemental essays as one of the top factors in the evaluation process. Alongside GPA, standardized test scores, and extracurricular activities, these essays provide valuable insights into your character, passions, and potential contributions to the UF community. Therefore, investing time and effort into crafting compelling essays can significantly enhance your chances of admission.

University of Florida Supplemental Essays – Conclusion

The University of Florida’s supplemental essays offer applicants a crucial opportunity to showcase their unique experiences, values, and aspirations beyond their academic achievements. By carefully crafting thoughtful responses to these prompts, students can demonstrate their personal growth, community engagement, and readiness to contribute meaningfully to campus life. As UF continues to evolve as a highly competitive institution, these essays play a vital role in helping the admissions committee select candidates who not only excel academically but also embody the values of leadership, resilience, and service. Therefore, applicants should approach these essays with diligence and authenticity, recognizing their importance in shaping their admissions outcomes at the University of Florida.

How to Write the University of Florida Supplemental Essays 2024–2025

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The University of Florida (UF) is a top-rated public university located in the city of Gainesville. Their many accomplished alumni include football player Tim Tebow Senator Marco Rubio; sportscaster Erin Andrews; and former Senator, current NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. If you’re looking for an acceptance letter, you’ll need to nail down your University of Florida supplemental essays. This article will take you through each prompt, including the honors program application prompt.

University of Florida’s 2024-2025 Prompts

There are a few different types of essays required by UF. However, there is only one prompt required for all applicants. That said, there are also three optional prompts that all applicants can elect to answer. You could choose to answer none of the three optional prompts, all of them, or any other combination. Lastly, there is one prompt that is required for applicants to the honors program. Note that this prompt has a longer word count than the others.

In this article, we’ll explain all of the University of Florida supplemental essays. If you’re only answering some of the prompts, feel free to skip around. All of the prompts are listed below. Let’s dive in!

All Applicants

Required : please provide more details on your most meaningful commitment outside of the classroom while in high school and explain why it was meaningful. this could be related to an extracurricular activity, work, volunteering, an academic activity, family responsibility, or any other non-classroom activity. (250 words or fewer), optional : do you have any employment or family obligations that limit your participation in extracurricular activities if so, please describe. (250 words or fewer), optional : have you participated in or been assisted in your college preparation and search by programs outside of classroom, such as educational talent search, take stock in children, upward bound, boys and girls club, etc. please provide the name of the program, details/benefits of your involvement, and how long your experiences continued. (250 words or fewer).

• Optional : Is there any additional information or extenuating circumstances the Admissions Committee should know when reviewing your application? Please provide more information in less than 250 words. (250 words or fewer)

Honors Program Applicants

As albert einstein once said, “the important thing is not to stop questioning. curiosity has its own reason for existing.” reflecting on this, what academic subjects, learning opportunities, or extracurricular activities are you most excited to engage in during your college experience how do you imagine or hope the uf honors program will help feed your curiosity and help you achieve your aspirations (400 words or fewer), we’ll review your essay.

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General Tips

Supplemental essays are never easy to write, but there are some general rules-of-thumb that can make the process a little easier. Here, we’ll dive into two tips in particular. The first is research, the second is authenticity.

Research is key to nailing your University of Florida supplemental essays. Any applicant who has a thorough understanding of the opportunities available to them at the University of Florida will fare better in the application process than any applicant who has thrown UF on their college list after simply reading their website. In your essays, you should mention, by name, specific programs, professors, extracurriculars, and so on that interest you.

These should be qualities of UF that aren’t just generally interesting, but are of particular interest to you. In other words, look up programs related to your intended major, professors who teach courses you might take, clubs you would want to join, etc. Researching UF before you begin to write these essays won’t just boost your level of detail on the page. It’ll also give you genuine reasons to be excited about attending the University of Florida. While less tangible, your motivation will shine through in your essays as excitement and passion. Moreover, it will be easier to get yourself to work on these essays if you’re genuinely excited about attending the University of Florida, because you understand what great opportunities will be available to you if you’re lucky enough to become a student there.

Authenticity

Authenticity is a word that’s thrown around a lot in the context of college essays. But what does it mean in practice? Following upon the point made about research in the section above, you need to have genuine motivations under your belt when you’re writing these essays. Moreover, you need to write about your real interests, experiences, and curiosities.

Admissions officers are highly capable readers who will be able to tell, in most cases, if a student is faking their interest in physics or the depth of their involvement in student government. It’s not worth your or anyone else’s time fabricating an interest or life experience that sounds good. Instead, think deeply about who you are, how you spend your time, and what you’ll bring to the table at UF. Then, write about these honest parts of yourself, with the requisite details included. Authenticity is the only way you can truly stand out from the crowd in the application process.

Now let’s break down the University of Florida supplemental essays specifically, prompt by prompt.

University of Florida Supplemental Essays: All Applicants

The following prompts apply to all applicants, but only the first is required.

As the one required prompt for all applicants, this is probably the most important of your University of Florida supplemental essays. For many applicants, this is the only prompt you’ll answer. When you read the prompt, it can be helpful to go phrase by phrase to break it down.

The prompt begins with, “Please provide more details.” The “more” in this phrase implies that you have already provided details. In this case, the prompt is referring to your activities list. The prompt continues, “Please provide more details on your most meaningful commitment outside of the classroom while in high school.” Evidently, the admissions team at UF wants to hear more about a commitment that appears elsewhere in your application .

Note that in the first sentence of this prompt, the word “meaningful” is used twice. Therefore, it’s your job to show the reader how and why the commitment you choose to explore in this essay is meaningful. To express this meaning, you need to be specific and personal. Why is this commitment meaningful to you ?

Notice how expansive the parameters of this prompt are. You can take the word “commitment” liberally. Not only could this commitment be “related to an extracurricular activity, work, volunteering, an academic activity, family responsibility, or any other non-classroom activity,” but it could also be another type of commitment that has been meaningful to you in your high school years. If you’re having trouble coming up with the right commitment to explore, consider how you’ve spent the hours of your high school years. What did you spend the most time on outside of school? This is likely your ideal essay topic.

After answering the last essay question, you may feel that there are some parts of your life left untouched in your application. For instance, you may have spent meaningful time throughout your high school years caring for a younger sibling or working a part-time job. If that is the case, you may have also struggled to find time to take up a sport or join a club. Here is your opportunity to explain these obligations.

Some of the qualities admissions officers look for in applicants include maturity, work ethic, and empathy. If you worked a job or took care of family responsibilities for any significant amount of time in high school, you likely displayed (and continue to display) one or more of these qualities. With humility, consider the ways that you can demonstrate those qualities in this essay, like your other University of Florida supplemental essays.

This question only applies to applicants who have experience with the programs listed above. If so, you’ll want to be as specific as possible in your response. Not only should you name the program, but you should provide as many details as you are comfortable (and can fit in 250 words or fewer) regarding your involvement. The prompt also asks for the duration of your experience.

In addition, if you have strong opinions about your experience with the program, whether positive, negative, or something in between, you’ll may want to provide those opinions as well. Doing so will add layers to your short essay that may help the admissions team better understand you as a person.

Overall, this essay shouldn’t require any added pressure. Instead, it’s a useful opportunity for the admissions team to understand how their applicants navigate high school, choose to apply to UF, and put their applications together. As long as your response is honest and specific, you’ll give the admissions officers what they’re looking for.

Optional : Is there any additional information or extenuating circumstances the Admissions Committee should know when reviewing your application? If so, please provide more information in less than 250 words. (250 words or fewer)

For many applicants looking back at their applications, something seems missing. If there was a drop in your grades during sophomore year and nowhere else in your application did you have the opportunity to explain this situation, this essay is your chance.

If you faced a significant hardship in your personal life, perhaps you want to explore that hardship here. Or if you faced a financial or other barrier to participating in certain extracurricular activities (for instance, you were accepted into a selective academic summer camp but couldn’t afford to attend), then you may wish to provide those details in this essay.

The above are just a few of the many examples of topics you could write about in this essay. Before beginning your draft, think about your application as a whole. Does it truly show you as you are? As a student, classmate, friend, and family member? If so, then remember, this prompt is optional. But if not, you’ll want to provide details here. “Details” is a key word. You’ll need to be specific for the admissions team, who doesn’t necessarily know you very well, so they can fully understand the situation you choose to describe. Once again, be genuine and specific, and this essay has the potential to strengthen your application.

University of Florida Supplemental Essay: Honors Program Applicants

Note that this prompt is only required for honors program applicants.

Applicants to the honors program at the University of Florida are expected to be a level above the general applicant pool. These students are especially intellectually curious, motivated, and accomplished. In order to prove that you deserve a spot in the honors program, you are asked to write this additional essay.

Although it’s more work for the applicant, a successful honors program essay will pay off in the long run by giving the student access to greater resources and more individualized academic attention. Before you write this essay, you should read up on the particular opportunities available to you through the UF honors program . In this essay, you may want to mention specific opportunities at UF that will help you pursue your intellectual hunger further. Doing so will demonstrate to the admissions team your sincerity and commitment.

When the admissions team asks the above questions to honors program applicants, they are expecting to hear from students who know their interests and know how they will take advantage of UF’s resources once enrolled. Thus, it can be helpful to structure your essay around those elements.

For instance, you can start by describing one subject or topic that is intensely interesting to you. Then, envision how this interest will motivate your academic studies in college. Be specific and open-minded in your answer by naming particular resources you’ll seek support from without limiting yourself to a certain path. Whatever topic and essay structure you choose, do your research and let your words exude your passion. You’ve got this!

If you need help polishing up your University of Florida 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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Nailing the UF Supplemental Essays for the 2023-2024 Admissions Cycle

The college application process is a crucial period in any student's life, and when it comes to the University of Florida (UF), this process includes crafting a captivating set of supplemental essays. In this blog post, we will offer targeted, step-by-step guidance to ace each University of Florida essay prompt.

General Prompt

Please submit a personal essay about who you are. We suggest a limit of 500 words.

This is your opportunity to tell your story in your own unique voice. Who are you as an individual? What experiences have shaped you, and what do you value most? Be sure to weave in your personality, values, and motivations. This essay is broad, but the key is to be authentic and introspective.

Example Essay

I come from a vibrant cultural melting pot nestled within the sun-kissed landscapes of Miami, Florida, where my Cuban heritage and American upbringing intersect. The enchanting salsa music echoing down the streets, my grandmother's tantalizingly spiced arroz con pollo, and the passionate baseball debates at the local café - these elements of my Cuban heritage provide a rhythm and warmth to my everyday life. Simultaneously, the annual traditions of roasting a Thanksgiving turkey or watching the Fourth of July fireworks paint the canvas of my American identity. These diverse cultural threads have woven the tapestry of my values and perspective, celebrating resilience, diversity, and tradition.

As I anticipate my journey at the University of Florida, I aim to contribute to the rich diversity of the campus community. I am particularly intrigued by the Multicultural & Diversity Affairs Program. The prospect of fostering meaningful cross-cultural dialogues through this initiative aligns closely with my personal goals and cultural background.

Optional Prompts

Describe a time when you made a meaningful contribution to others in which the greater good was your focus. Discuss the challenges and rewards of making your contribution. (450 words)

Here, UF wants to understand your community involvement and ethical values. Choose a specific moment when you positively impacted others. Discuss the challenges faced, solutions found, and the rewarding outcomes. Demonstrate your growth and commitment to contributing to the greater good.

When Hurricane Irma mercilessly ripped through my hometown of Miami in 2017, it left in its wake a trail of destruction. The poorer neighborhoods, including my own, bore the brunt of the calamity. Amid the chaos, I felt a deep-rooted urge to contribute to my community. Using my high school as a platform, I coordinated a relief drive, urging my peers to donate food, clothes, and their time.

Organizing such an endeavor was not without its hurdles. Power outages disrupted communication, making coordination a significant challenge. Despite the logistical problems, the community response was astounding. We gathered a sizable amount of supplies, enough to assist over 100 families. Witnessing my community unite in the face of adversity and knowing my role in facilitating that unity was a reward in itself. This endeavor reaffirmed my commitment to community service and is a value I intend to bring to the University of Florida, especially through initiatives like the Gator Good.

Has there been a time when you've had a long-cherished or accepted belief challenged? How did you respond? How did the challenge affect your beliefs? (450 words)

This prompt seeks to gauge your ability to handle intellectual challenges and personal growth. Choose a belief, explain why you held it, discuss the event that challenged it, and delve into the aftermath. This essay showcases your ability to adapt, learn, and evolve.

As a product of a devout Catholic family, my religious faith was an integral part of my identity. However, a close friendship with an agnostic classmate put my long-cherished beliefs under a new lens. Our stimulating dialogues revolving around faith, science, and morality invoked in me a sense of discomfort, yet these conversations were enlightening.

To reconcile my faith with the emerging questions, I turned to literature, reading about theology and secular humanism. Rather than eroding my faith, this intellectual journey deepened it, lending it a nuanced, empathetic, and more tolerant nature. I learned the significance of open dialogue, the strength in acknowledging differences, and the beauty of diversity. I aim to bring this attitude of acceptance and respect for differing viewpoints to UF's multicultural campus.

Prompts for Specific Schools

Each college within UF has its own prompt. This is an opportunity to demonstrate your clear interest in your chosen field and how studying it at UF will benefit you.

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences: Describe a problem in your life. Include how you dealt with it and how it influenced your growth. (400 words)

For this prompt, think about a significant challenge or problem in your life, how you approached it, and how it influenced your personal development. It allows you to display your problem-solving skills and resilience. Link this back to your academic pursuits within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

When my younger brother was diagnosed with dyslexia, my family and I found ourselves navigating a maze of challenges. In addition to managing my school work, I found myself tutoring my brother, researching his condition, and grappling with my feelings of helplessness. Instead of being overwhelmed, I chose to confront the problem proactively. I dedicated myself to understand dyslexia and developed a personalized learning plan for my brother.

This incident provided me with first-hand experience of the power of personalized learning and ignited my interest in psychology and cognitive science. I look forward to delving into these subjects at UF’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The Cognitive Psychology and Developmental Science courses seem particularly interesting, aligning perfectly with my academic aspirations.

College of the Arts: Describe an experience that has shaped your artistic practice. (400 words)

UF wants to understand your artistic journey. Describe a significant artistic experience, how it shaped your craft, and why it matters. Connect this to the offerings of the College of the Arts, highlighting specific programs or opportunities that you are excited about.

Witnessing Frida Kahlo's "The Two Fridas" for the first time was an experience of profound artistic awakening for me. Kahlo’s raw portrayal of emotional pain and inner turmoil resonated deeply with me, inspiring me to view art as a potent vehicle for personal expression and social commentary. This interaction with Kahlo's masterpiece was transformative for my artistic style and approach, leading me to explore themes of identity and cultural dichotomy through vibrant colors and symbolic elements.

The University of Florida's College of the Arts offers the ideal environment for me to further hone my artistic skills and broaden my conceptual understanding. The Art and Social Change course is particularly appealing to me, promising a rich exploration of the interplay between art, society, and transformation.

The key to excelling in these UF essays is to be reflective, personal, and precise. Illustrate why you are an ideal fit for UF and how UF is the perfect environment for you to achieve your goals.

Good luck, future Gators!

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A Great University of Florida Essay Example

What’s covered:.

• Essay Example  
• Where to Get Feedback on Your Essay  

The University of Florida is a large public university in Gainesville that is known for both its academics and party scene. You have to really stand out in order to gain admission to this selective university, which is why your essays have to shine. In this post, we’ll share a real essay a student submitted to the University of Florida, and outline its strengths and areas of improvement. (Names and identifying information have been changed, but all other details are preserved).

Please note: Looking at examples of real essays students have submitted to colleges can be very beneficial to get inspiration for your essays. You should never copy or plagiarize from these examples when writing your own essays. Colleges can tell when an essay isn’t genuine and will not view students favorably if they plagiarized. 

Read our University of Florida essay breakdown to get a comprehensive overview of this year’s supplemental prompts.

Essay Example 

Prompt: Please provide more details on your most meaningful commitment outside of the classroom while in high school and explain why it was meaningful. This could be related to an extracurricular activity, work, volunteering, any academic activity, family responsibility, or any other non-classroom activity. (250 words)

Attending high school in the U.S brought me many new experiences, but also disappointments. At my school, students mostly learned how to memorize theory. Lessons were conducted simply as teachers lectured the students until the bell rang. The old-fashioned teaching style with the lack of critical thinking led students to crumble into the shells. Therefore, I decided to make changes by creating a Speech and Debate Club in my school so that students could learn to comfortably express their viewpoints and further gain confidence in public speaking. 

As the club’s leader, I created an environment that encouraged the members to freely voice their viewpoints and solutions for problems happening in our community and society. To help them improve their critical thinking and public speaking skills, I signed up all members for the State Speech and Debate Championship. I also took an active role in scheduling practice for the members after school and helping them find logical evidence and outline their speeches. I also trained the members to find flaws in the opponent’s arguments. With these efforts, we won the Silver Medal in Public Forum Debate and Sportsmanship Awards in the State Speech and Debate Championship.

Even though the Speech and Debate Club is only a year old, I believe it is meaningful for many students in helping them comfortably articulate their ideas to make positive changes in our school and community. 

What the Essay Did Well

This essay does a good job of picking an extracurricular activity that was meaningful to this student and explaining why it was important to them. “ Extracurricular ” essays are a great opportunity to provide context on why you participated in a certain activity in high school and showcase the impact it had on you. This student fully answers the prompt by both explaining what the activity was and why it was important to them.

The opening paragraph also reveals a lot about how this student thinks and how they value education. They aren’t shy about their criticism of the traditional learning model, where students memorize and regurgitate information. The University of Florida wants to admit students who think critically and want to challenge the status quo, so this paragraph is a great way for admissions officers to see that this is the type of student they want. This isn’t to say that you need to disparage your school and teachers, but a good essay should reveal some insight into the way you think and value learning.

What Could Be Improved

The biggest thing this essay needs to work on is showing, not telling . The author tells us that they created an environment where people could share ideas. The author tells us that they helped members of the club strengthen their speeches. The author tells us the training they provided helped their team win a medal at the championship. But they don’t show us anything. 

The way the essay is currently written, it reads more as a resume description. Admissions officers will learn the same information from this essay as they will from reading the activities section of the application. The point of this essay is to humanize these accomplishments and highlight key traits of your personality or growth. 

Rather than telling us what occurred, this student should show us the conversations they had with struggling team members to display their leadership skills. Rather than telling us they created a safe environment, they should show us unlikely friendships being made through their club and the joy they felt. Rather than telling us they won, the student should describe what it felt like to hear their school’s name: “ The world stood still. All I could hear over the thunderous thump of my heart were gulps of excess air. Wait, what did they say?! We won!”

Show, don’t tell is old advice, but it really can make all the difference in an essay. If this student rewrote the story so the reader was actively placed in the moment, it would be far more successful.  

Where to Get Feedback on Your Essay 

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

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

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University of Florida Admission Essays

When delving into the University of Florida essay examples, one can truly appreciate the pivotal role these essays play in the college application process. These UF essay examples serve as a canvas for applicants to organically portray their distinctive qualities and aspirations, allowing their individuality to shine through the written narrative. Now, let's unravel the significance and intricacies of these UF essay examples, exploring how they contribute to the holistic evaluation of prospective students.

Main Facts about University Of Florida Essays

Located in Gainesville, Florida, the University of Florida is renowned for its academic excellence, vibrant campus life, and diverse opportunities. Here's a concise overview of key aspects that define the essence of UF:

• Academic Excellence: UF is renowned for its commitment to academic rigor, offering a diverse range of undergraduate and graduate programs across various disciplines.
• Campus Life: The campus is a dynamic hub of student activities, fostering a lively and inclusive community. From student organizations to cultural events, UF provides a rich and engaging environment beyond the classrooms.
• Research Prowess: As a leading research institution, UF actively contributes to advancements in various fields. Students have the opportunity to engage in groundbreaking research initiatives, aligning with the university's commitment to innovation.
• Diversity and Inclusion: UF values diversity and strives to create an inclusive community that embraces students from various backgrounds. This commitment to diversity enhances the overall learning experience and promotes a global perspective.
• State-of-the-Art Facilities: The University of Florida boasts modern facilities, including cutting-edge laboratories, libraries, and recreational spaces. These resources enhance the overall learning environment for students.

When it comes to essays, here are some key facts:

• UF emphasizes a holistic admissions approach.
• UF essays provide a glimpse into an applicant's character.
• UF seeks students with a passion for learning and community engagement.
• Admission decisions consider both academic achievements and personal qualities.
• UF fosters an inclusive and dynamic learning environment.

Whether it's the pursuit of academic excellence, a vibrant campus life, groundbreaking research opportunities, a commitment to diversity, or state-of-the-art facilities, the University of Florida stands as a distinguished institution that shapes the educational journey of its students.

University Of Florida Requirements

When aspiring to meet the University of Florida requirements, understanding the criteria is crucial for a successful admission journey. Embarking on this path involves addressing five key components:

• High School Transcripts: UF places significance on academic achievement throughout high school. Submitting comprehensive transcripts reflects your dedication to scholastic excellence.
• SAT/ACT Scores: The evaluation process includes a scrutiny of standardized test scores. Adequate preparation for the SAT or ACT is essential to meet UF's criteria and showcase your academic readiness.
• Letters of Recommendation: Crafting a compelling application involves seeking letters of recommendation that provide insights into your character and potential. Choose recommenders who can authentically attest to your academic capabilities and personal qualities.
• Extracurricular Activities: UF values a holistic approach to admissions, considering engagement beyond academics. Highlight your involvement in extracurricular activities, demonstrating a well-rounded profile that extends beyond the classroom.
• Admissions Essay: The UF college essay examples serve as a powerful tool in conveying your narrative. Craft an essay that not only meets the specified requirements but also reflects your unique perspective, passions, and aspirations. Explore UF college essay examples for inspiration on how to effectively articulate your story.

As you navigate the University of Florida requirements, keep in mind that each element plays a crucial role in presenting a comprehensive picture of your capabilities and potential as a student. Delve into UF college essay examples to gain valuable insights into the application process and elevate your chances of securing admission.

Role of University Of Florida Supplemental Essays in Application

University of Florida's admissions process, the supplemental essays play a pivotal role, serving as a unique lens through which applicants can showcase their individuality and depth. These essays go beyond the quantitative metrics of grades and test scores, offering a qualitative dimension to the evaluation process.

Unlike the conventional application components, the University of Florida supplemental essays provide a platform for applicants to delve into their personal narratives. They enable aspiring students to articulate their passions, experiences, and aspirations in a more nuanced manner, fostering a holistic understanding of their character.

The admissions committee seeks to uncover the essence of each applicant, and the supplemental essays act as a vehicle for this exploration. Through these essays, prospective students can highlight not only their academic prowess but also their unique perspectives, resilience, and the distinctive qualities that set them apart.

Moreover, the supplemental essays align with UF's commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive community. Applicants are encouraged to share perspectives that contribute to the rich fabric of the university's student body, creating a mosaic of backgrounds, experiences, and ambitions.

In essence, the role of University of Florida supplemental essays transcends the traditional boundaries of the application. They serve as a medium for self-expression, allowing applicants to paint a vivid and authentic portrait of themselves. As you embark on the journey of crafting these essays, remember that each word is an opportunity to not only meet the criteria but also to stand out in the competitive landscape of college admissions.

For inspiration and guidance, consider exploring UF supplemental essay examples and University of Florida supplemental essay examples. These resources provide valuable insights into the types of narratives that have successfully navigated the admissions process, offering a roadmap for crafting impactful and authentic supplemental essays that align with the essence of the University of Florida.

University Of Florida Supplemental Essay Prompts

Engaging with the University of Florida supplemental essay prompts is an opportunity for applicants to articulate their personal narratives and align their aspirations with the values of UF. These prompts are carefully crafted to elicit thoughtful responses, allowing applicants to showcase their unique perspectives and experiences.

When contemplating the supplemental essay prompts, aspiring students can benefit significantly from reviewing UF supplemental essay examples. Examining successful examples provides valuable insights into the effective construction of responses, helping applicants understand the tone, depth, and authenticity expected by the admissions committee.

By exploring UF supplemental essay examples, applicants gain a clearer understanding of how to address the prompts in a compelling manner. This process not only enhances the quality of the responses but also increases the chances of creating a narrative that resonates with the values of the University of Florida.

Let's explore the specific prompts for the University of Florida supplemental essays for 2023.

UF Supplemental Essay Prompts for 2023

1. Reflect on a Personal Challenge: Share a significant personal challenge you've faced and elaborate on how it has shaped your character and resilience. Consider how overcoming this challenge has influenced your personal growth and outlook on life.

Example: Navigating a language barrier, I learned to appreciate diverse perspectives and developed a passion for breaking down communication barriers, influencing my pursuit of linguistics.

2. Contribution to Diversity: Discuss how your background, identity, or experiences have contributed to the diversity of the UF community. Emphasize the value you place on inclusivity and your commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment.

Example: Growing up in a multicultural household, I celebrate diversity. As a future Gator, I aspire to create spaces where every voice is heard, fostering an environment that cherishes differences.

3. Academic and Career Aspirations: Articulate your academic and career goals and explain how the University of Florida's programs and resources align with your aspirations. Discuss specific opportunities at UF that will contribute to your professional development.

Example: Aspiring to be a marine biologist, UF's cutting-edge research facilities and partnerships with marine institutes make it my ideal academic home, propelling me towards impactful marine conservation efforts.

How to Write UF Essays That Worked

Crafting compelling UF essays requires a strategic approach that goes beyond meeting the criteria. Delve into the following tips to not only fulfill the requirements but also create essays that leave a lasting impression:

• Understand the Prompt: Before diving into your response, thoroughly comprehend the essay prompt. Identify the key themes and requirements, ensuring that your essay aligns with the essence of the question.
• Show, Don't Tell: Instead of merely stating facts, immerse your reader in your experiences. Use vivid language and concrete examples to paint a detailed picture, allowing the admissions committee to connect with your narrative on a deeper level.
• Be Authentic and Reflective: Your UF essay is an opportunity to showcase your true self. Reflect on your experiences, values, and aspirations genuinely. Authenticity resonates with readers and strengthens the impact of your narrative.
• Connect with UF's Values: Demonstrate a clear understanding of the University of Florida's values and how they align with your own. Showcase how you will contribute to the UF community and embody the university's mission in your academic journey.
• Edit and Seek Feedback: Refinement is key. Edit your essays meticulously for clarity, coherence, and conciseness. Additionally, seek feedback from teachers, peers, or mentors to gain diverse perspectives and refine your essays further.

As you embark on this writing journey, explore UF essays that worked and UF admission essay examples. Analyzing successful examples provides valuable insights into effective storytelling and structure. By combining these examples with the aforementioned tips, you'll be well-equipped to craft UF essays that not only meet the criteria but also resonate profoundly with the admissions committee.

University Of Florida Essay Examples: Crafting Your Narrative

Exploring UF essay examples serves as an invaluable compass for prospective applicants, offering insights into effective storytelling and successful application strategies. These examples, often referred to as UF admission essay examples, provide a firsthand glimpse into narratives that resonated with the admissions committee.

By delving into UF essay examples, aspiring students can gain a deeper understanding of the writing style, tone, and themes that have proven successful. These examples serve as practical guides, illustrating how to effectively address prompts, showcase individuality, and align personal narratives with UF's values.

UF college essay examples, specifically those that have earned admission, illuminate the path toward creating impactful essays. Analyzing such examples aids in deciphering the nuances of successful applications, empowering applicants to craft essays that stand out in the competitive admissions landscape.

Explore the goals of UF essays and discover how to use them effectively. Here are 10 UF essay topics examples to inspire your writing:

• Overcoming a Personal Challenge
• Contributions to Diversity
• Academic and Career Aspirations
• Community Service Impact
• Passion for a Specific Field
• Leadership Experience
• Cultural Identity Reflection
• Lessons Learned from Failure
• Innovation and Creativity
• Extracurricular Journey

These examples not only offer inspiration but also serve as benchmarks for self-evaluation. As applicants embark on their writing journey, utilizing UF admission essay examples becomes a strategic tool for honing their storytelling skills, ensuring that their narratives captivate the attention of the admissions committee and contribute to a memorable and compelling application.

Conclusion for University Of Florida Essays

As you embark on the journey of shaping your University of Florida essays, consider each word as a brushstroke, contributing to a vivid and authentic self-portrait. Let your unique qualities and aspirations shine through, transforming your UF essay examples into compelling testaments of your character. Your authentic voice is the key to creating narratives that resonate. Best of luck as you navigate the intricate process of the UF application, where your narratives have the power to leave an indelible mark on the admissions committee.

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University of Florida (UF) Supplemental Essays Guide: 2021-2022

Not sure how to approach the University of Florida supplemental essays? CollegeAdvisor.com’s guide to the University of Florida supplemental essays will show you exactly how to write engaging UF supplemental essays and maximize your chances of admission. If you need help responding to the UF essay topics, create your free  account  or  schedule a free advising assessment  by calling (844) 343-6272.

University of Florida Essay Guide Quick Facts:

• UF has an acceptance rate of 31.0%— U.S. News  ranks the University of Florida as a  highly selective  school.
• There is  one  school-specific UF supplemental essay required for all applicants. If you are planning to apply to the UF Honors Program, you will complete an additional  two  UF essays. This means applicants to the UF Honors Program will complete a total of three UF supplemental essays.

Does the University of Florida have supplemental essays?

Yes. Whether you apply through the  Common App  or  Coalition App , you will respond to at least one UF essay prompt. Your UF admissions essay lets the admissions team learn more about you as they review your application.

Any freshman applying through the Common App or Coalition App also can apply to FHP, the University of Florida’s First-Year Honors Program. In addition to the required UF admissions essay, students applying to FHP must complete two additional UF supplemental essays.

While some schools handle honors admissions separately, UF includes all application materials for FHP in the standard UF application. This includes every UF admissions essay. Students completing the UF supplemental essays for the Honors Program, therefore, will submit all three UF essays through the Common or Coalition App. This means that you must complete the UF essays for the Honors Program before you submit your final application.

Need some help writing your Common App essay? Get great tips from our Common App essay  guide .

How many supplemental essays does the University of Florida have?

There are  three  total University of Florida supplemental essays included on the 2021-2022 application.

The University of Florida has  one  UF essay prompt every student is required to complete. Additionally, if you choose to apply to their Honors Program, you must write another  two  UF supplemental essays. The first required UF essay prompt asks about your extracurricular engagements. In contrast, the UF essay topics for the Honors Program ask about your interest in the program and your academic priorities.

Before writing your essays, you’ll want to have an idea of your intended major. If you haven’t already, use our College Search Feature to explore the wide range of majors offered at UF!

How do I write the University of Florida supplemental essays?

Here are some helpful tips to help you get started on the University of Florida supplemental essays!

To begin, the University of Florida supplemental essays give you an opportunity to showcase what motivates you, which academic topics interest you, and how you engage with the world around you. Therefore, think of the UF supplemental essays as your chance to introduce yourself to the admissions team on your own terms.

As you brainstorm the UF essay topics, remember your audience. Admissions officers read thousands of UF supplemental essays. Ultimately, if you are vague, superficial, or misleading, your UF essays won’t help the UF admissions team understand who you are. To maximize your UF supplemental essays’ impact, you’ll want to be as specific, genuine, and authentic as possible.

If you’re having trouble finding topics for your UF essays, don’t worry! We will discuss each UF essay prompt individually below. But first, here are some more technical tips to keep in mind when writing your University of Florida supplemental essays.

Overall, the most important thing your University of Florida supplemental essays should do is answer the UF essay prompt. Even if you write a perfect UF admissions essay, it has failed to serve its main purpose if it doesn’t answer every aspect of the prompt.

Each of the University of Florida supplemental essays has a maximum word limit. In each essay, make sure to stick to the word limit and use your space wisely. For example, if you find yourself quoting someone famous or writing about a friends’ experiences, ask yourself how it relates back to you. In fact, the more “you” that you include in your UF admissions essay, the better!

The admissions team reads countless UF essays every year. This makes it particularly important that your UF admissions essay is as clear and polished as possible. Essentially, the more straightforward and refined your writing is, the more easily your ideas and personality will shine through! For this reason, you’ll want to be sure to give yourself enough time to draft, revise, and proofread your University of Florida supplemental essays.

Below, we have provided the 2021-2022 UF admissions essay prompts. Along with the prompts, you’ll find a breakdown of how to approach each UF admissions essay. As a bonus, we included both the general UF essay prompt and the Honors Program prompts. Additionally, we’ll also discuss tips for narrowing down your UF essay topics. If you follow these tips, you’ll write University of Florida supplemental essays that will help you stand out in admissions.

University of Florida Supplemental Essays – Question 1 (Required)

Please provide more details on your most meaningful commitment outside of the classroom while in high school and explain why it was meaningful. This could be related to an extracurricular activity, work, volunteering, an academic activity, family responsibility, or any other non-classroom activity (250 words or less).

To start, this UF essay prompt asks you to choose your single “most meaningful commitment.” Even if multiple experiences pop into your head, you must narrow your UF essay topic down to just one commitment. The best University of Florida supplemental essays will use one commitment to reveal fundamental aspects of an applicant’s identity.

If you need help choosing your UF essay topics, try making a list using UF’s suggested categories. These include: Extracurricular, Work, Volunteering, Academic Activity, Family Responsibility, Other. While writing, remember that this list can include a sport you’ve played, a job you’ve held, or even a responsibility toward a sibling. Once you’ve completed your list, circle three to five topics that engage you most. Do a five-minute free-write for each. If there’s a topic you can’t stop writing about, there’s a good chance that might be your most meaningful commitment!

Once you’ve selected your essay topic, you can consider the rest of the UF essay prompt. This first UF essay prompt is quite open-ended, which gives you plenty of opportunities to showcase your identity. While “Please provide more details” isn’t very specific, remember that your UF admissions essay is an opportunity for the admissions team to get to know you. As you write, make sure to always connect your topic back to who you are.

Struggling to answer this UF essay prompt? Here are some questions to guide your response:

What did I do?  Be specific. If your topic is a sport, like basketball, discuss details of playing basketball that your reader might not know. For instance, you might describe waking up at 6 am for practice, practicing drills and collaborating with teammates, or performing under the pressure of a crowd.

Why did I do it?  What was the motivation behind your commitment? Let’s continue with the basketball example. Is basketball something you and your little brother grew up playing together? Does playing a sport help with your anxiety? Were you inspired by a certain professional athlete? Including the reason why you pursue the activity will strengthen your response to this UF essay prompt.

What did I take away from this commitment? Learning happens in all places. While this UF admissions essay asks you to describe an activity outside the classroom, asking “what did I learn?” will help take your response to this UF essay prompt from a summary into a story. Maybe you discovered a new passion, a new skill, or a new way of problem-solving. Maybe your commitment to basketball translated into commitment in your classes? Or maybe the teamwork you cultivated in practice changed the way you helped your family at home?

As you expand upon your UF essay topics, think about how your commitment shaped who you are. This will give you a compelling ending to your UF admissions essay.

UF Supplemental Essay Draft Key Questions:

• Does my UF admissions essay reference one (not two, or three) commitment outside of my classes?
• Does my essay show why this is important to me?
• Do I show how I engaged in this activity?
• Does my essay reflect what I gained from this experience?

University of Florida Honors Program Supplemental Essays – Question 1 (Required)

Why is applying for the UF Honors Program important to you? Which aspects of the program’s three pillars of opportunity, community, and challenge pique your interests? How would you engage with the program to exemplify these pillars yourself? How does the program factor into your long-term goals? Please be specific (400 words or less).

The first step in tackling this UF essay prompt is to read about the UF Honors Program’s  3 Pillars of Value . As you think about your UF essay topics, ask yourself what about these pillars draws you to the program. Why are these ideals crucial to your college experience?

If you’re struggling to find specific details to discuss in your UF essays, think about your current situation. What are you missing in your high school academic career that you want to experience in college? If your classes aren’t challenging enough, you might want to talk about “challenge” and why the Honors Program would give you the academic rigor you need to reach your greatest potential. Or, if you feel you haven’t met many like-minded individuals in your high school, you might want to talk about “community” and why the Honors Program would provide opportunities to support and be supported by peers. If you aspire to do research or attend a graduate school, you might want to talk about “opportunity” and how the Honors Program will connect you with advisors to put you on track for those experiences.

Think about the future

While this brainstorm can help you begin choosing your UF essay topics, the Honors Program  Application Tips  reminds prospective students that this UF essay prompt is meant to be forward-facing. This means the admissions team wants to hear about what you imagine for your future rather than what you’ve completed in your past. This is where the second half of the UF essay prompt comes into play.

Imagine the Honors Program as a stepping-stone: what will you do in the Honors Program, and how will that help you reach your goals? Be sure to answer these questions with specific details about the Honors Program. For example, if your dream is to join the medical field, you might reference the Honors Program’s Pre-Health Coordinator and the Professional Development courses you will take to prepare you for medical school.

No matter what draws you to the Honors Program, remember to be specific, answer all four questions in the UF essay prompt, and proofread, proofread, proofread!

• Does my UF admissions essay reference specific details about the Honors Program?
• Do I include both why I am interested in the Honors Program and what I plan to do if I get in?
• Does my essay communicate why the Honors Program is important in reaching my academic goals?

University of Florida Honors Program Supplemental Essays – Question 2 (Required)

Identify two topics you have previously studied that do not traditionally overlap. How do you envision you might bring these topics together during your time in Honors to engage a pressing societal, medical or technological concern? The concern you wish to engage could be of local, national, or global scope, but you should be clear about the issue you want to address. For the purposes of this essay, the topics you identify need not have been formally studied in high school, but you should have studied them since beginning in high school (300 words or less).

This UF essay prompt asks you to think along interdisciplinary lines to express your unique academic goals. This gives you a crucial opportunity to illustrate why you belong in an intellectually rigorous space like UF’s Honors Program.

Choosing a Topic

The first challenge of this UF essay prompt is to choose two topics that do not traditionally overlap. If you are having trouble choosing your UF essay topics, use your transcript and make a bulleted list of your classes divided into basic high school subjects: English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Foreign Language, and the Arts. Think about which classes on this list you most enjoyed, and start combining subjects with seemingly little relation. The more unorthodox your combination, the more unique your UF admissions essay will be. For example, if you first choose Statistics and Chemistry, you may want to keep brainstorming as those have quite a bit of overlap. However, if you choose Chemistry and Music, you’ll have a less traditional pair that will make for a fascinating UF admissions essay. Strong UF essays can come from unexpected places!

Choosing a Concern

Next, turn away from your academic interests and choose the societal, medical, or technological concern you’d like to address. Unlike some other UF essays, this UF essay prompt focuses on how you think rather than who you are. As you choose your concern, therefore, focus on how you will engage the topic rather than why it is important to you. Remember, you’ve chosen this topic because it needs to be addressed, and your reader knows that. If you have a specific, personal connection that impacts the way you view the problem (and will ultimately tackle it), keep your justification brief and always connect back to how you will engage with the topic at hand. The best UF essays will offer concrete, specific details on how an applicant plans to tackle their chosen concern.

As you complete your University of Florida supplemental essays, be sure to reference their Application Tips to ensure you have a strong application.

• Does my essay include two topics that I will combine to solve a problem (not one, not three)?
• Do I show how my two chosen topics inform and relate to one another?
• Does my essay reflect how I plan to engage with this topic (not just why I am interested)?

How hard is it to get into the University of Florida honors program?

The University of Florida Honors Program is a highly challenging and therefore highly competitive program. Last year, the acceptance rate was 13%—well below the University’s acceptance rate. Students who are accepted have excellent scholarly credentials, are leaders in their communities, and plan to push themselves alongside their fellow Honors Gators.

It is important your University of Florida supplemental essays showcase why you belong in the Honors Program. Students accepted to the UF Honors program also have high test scores and GPAs as well as strong UF supplemental essays. You can read more about the 2020 Admitted Student Profile, the Honors review process, and the timeline for the 2021-2022 application cycle  here .

What are the requirements to get into the University of Florida?

Your University of Florida supplemental essays are only one element of your UF application. The University of Florida’s Admissions page provides a list of minimum  requirements for freshman applicants . That means you need to meet or exceed the following benchmarks to have a competitive application outside of your UF supplemental essays:

• Graduation:  You must be on track to graduate from a regionally accredited or state-approved secondary school or the equivalent (G.E.D., etc.).
• Academic Credits:  You need 16 academic units distributed across English, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, and Foreign Language.
• Grade Point Average:  Your cumulative GPA must be at least a C.
• Conduct:  You must have a record of good conduct. Any major issues may disqualify your application from being considered, regardless of your academic credentials.
• SAT or ACT:  You must submit test scores from the SAT and/or the ACT. If you have taken a test multiple times, UF will take the highest scores for each subsection and superscore to create the highest possible total score.

University of Florida Supplemental Essays: Final Thoughts

As you think about the University of Florida supplemental essays, remember that no single element of your application will determine your admissions results. The UF admissions team uses a  holistic review process , meaning they take everything into consideration: your grades, test scores, extracurriculars, background, and UF supplemental essays. Admissions will consider your UF supplemental essays alongside your other academic credentials to better understand who you are as a student and how you will enrich the University of Florida community. While your transcript and test scores reflect the kind of student you already are, your UF essays will help them see what kind of student you can become.

While writing the University of Florida supplemental essays can be time-consuming, remember your UF essays—including both your Personal Statement and your UF supplemental essays—are the one part of your application where you have complete control. Be sure to take your time and make your University of Florida supplemental essays as strong as they can be! Give yourself time to think about the UF essay topics before you get started. Consider what you’ve already included in the rest of your application and use the UF essays to share something new about who you are.

If the thought of distilling yourself into a few short essays seems daunting, spend some time daydreaming about what going to the University of Florida could mean to your future. Think about the possibilities and opportunities you are excited to take on. Let that excitement shine through in your UF supplemental essays. Good luck!

This 2021-2022 essay guide on UF was written by Stefanie Tedards. For more CollegeAdvisor.com resources, click  here . Want help crafting your University of Florida supplemental essays? Create your free account or schedule a no-cost advising consultation by calling (844) 343-6272.

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How to write the university of florida essays: the easy-breezy guide.

Apply to the University of Florida with powerful essays.  Apply to college with your admissions advantage by  enrolling in one of our college application boot camps .

Does your college fantasy include reading outside in the sunshine underneath a palm tree? What about sipping 100% all-natural orange juice on your way to math class? Okay, I might be pushing the Florida stereotype a little hard here.

In all seriousness, if you are craving some sunshine and an incredible academic environment, the University of Florida might be the place for you.

The University of Florida has an acceptance rate of 38%.

While not located directly adjacent to the ocean, Gainesville is a close enough drive to the beach that you can flip through a good chunk of your psych flashcards on the way there (in the passenger seat, of course).

According to their website , the University of Florida is ranked as one of the top ten public colleges in the United States. Their student body is made up of students from the United States and all over the world.

What are the University of Florida essay requirements?

Prospective students must apply for admission via the Coalition for Access, Affordability, and Success application. Personal essays are limited to 2,500 characters, and there are five options to choose from.  To learn more about writing the Coalition essays, check out our guide here .

In addition to the personal essay, the University of Florida requires that you answer five short-answer questions.

These responses can be no longer than 950 characters. With this limitation, it’s especially important for you to carefully craft your responses and make every word count.

List and describe your community service activities. Please include your role in the activity and level of responsibility. List and describe each job you’ve had, including dates of employment, job titles and hours worked each week. Do you have any employment or family obligations that limit your participation in extracurricular activities? Please describe. List any programs or activities that helped you prepare for higher education, such as University Outreach, Talent Search, Upward Bound, etc. Is there any other information for the Admissions Committee to consider when your application is reviewed?

These questions are fairly straightforward but also incredibly important, as they allow the admissions committee to gain a deeper understanding of your day-to-day life and journey to college.

While few of these questions may not apply to you, you should still read each of the following paragraphs carefully in order to get the most out of your answers.

Community Service

List and describe your community service activities. Please include your role in the activity and level of responsibility.

The first short-answer question asks you to list your community service activities, including your roles and level of responsibility. Let’s first clarify what constitutes as community service.

• Of course, volunteering for an organization such as the American Red Cross or the Boys and Girls Club certainly is community service.
• However, community service is also any time you willfully volunteer your time or resources in order to do good for the public.
• If you have used your skill sets to help an organization in your community, be it a business or community outreach nonprofit, it is community service.
• You might have built an app for a local environmental protection group.
• You might have used your skills in photography to help document some events for a brochure for a nonprofit organization. These types of activities are community service.

For example:

• Have you ever helped to organize a Thanksgiving canned food drive at your school?
• Have you collected clothing donations at your church or other religious institution?
• Do you volunteer to help your dad out at work, where he cares for elderly patients?
• Have you volunteered to tutor the neighbor’s children in Mandarin?

All of the above examples would be appropriate to list.

There is one caveat:

• Perhaps you volunteered at Goodwill in order to meet the requirements of a court order to have a crime expunged from your record.
• While that’s a good outcome for you, it is not an appropriate example for this short-answer question.

Next, you should list your role and level of responsibility.

This provides more context about how you interact during your volunteer work.

• This doesn’t mean that your role as an entry level volunteer is “useless.”

Admissions officers know that volunteers at all levels are important to the success and mission of any organization or cause.

When listing your role, try to be specific. Instead of listing “volunteer,” try a title similar to one of the following:

• Volunteer Coordinator
• Front Desk Volunteer
• Research Assistant
• Community Relations Volunteer
• Bookshop Assistant
• Food Donation Manager
• Social Media Manager
• Graphics Consultant

These examples are much more specific than “volunteer” and can give the committee a hint to the type of work you were doing in your position.

The term “level” refers to whether you had any standing in the hierarchy of the organization.

• For example, “manager” and “assistant” are terms that indicate level.

In this prompt, the University of Florida specifically uses the term “list” and “describe” in the directions.

This is important because it means you should do both (albeit briefly). For example, your response might start with:

• Social Media Coordinator, Asheville Arts Foundation: shared articles about new exhibits, posted Facebook event pages, and created graphics to promote those events.

The above example is brief, descriptive, and follows the directions. It may be true that you have more community service activities to list than the character count allows.

As such, you should only write about the experiences that you have participated in the longest, are most invested in, and demonstrate your uniqueness.

Work Experience

List and describe each job you’ve had, including dates of employment, job titles and hours worked each week.

The work experience section has very similar requirements to the community service short response. You might be thinking, “Hey! This sounds just like a resume.” It is similar to writing a resume, except you don’t have to mess with pesky formatting.

Beyond listing and describing your work experience, you should also mention how many hours you work a week, how long you have been with a company, and your job title.

Check out this example:

• January 2018-Present, Chic-Fil-A, Team Member: Work 15 hours a week running the cash register, refilling customer drinks, and assisting drive-thru.

If you only have one job to list, you have room to be a bit more descriptive. If you have had multiple jobs, you will need to be consistently brief.

When listing your jobs, consider whether it is appropriate to list every job.

• Perhaps you worked for three days at Urban Outfitters and then quit because you found out you couldn’t take off during Spring Break.
• This is not an appropriate job to list because, to the admissions committee, it would appear that you are not committed.

To streamline your response, list your work experience starting with the most recent. If you still work in a position, you can note “present” for the end date.

If you simply haven’t had any work experiences, enter “Not Applicable.”

By taking the time to write “Not Applicable,” the committee understands that you are not refusing to answer the question but that it does not apply to you.

Obligations

Do you have any employment or family obligations that limit your participation in extracurricular activities? Please describe.

In the third question, you should list any work or home obligations that have interfered with your ability to participate in extracurricular activities. If you have a list of activities that is a mile long, type in “Not Applicable” and move on to the next question.

However, not everyone is able to participate in extracurricular activities. The following list includes obligations that may have interfered with your participation:

• Helping parents to run a family restaurant
• Working full-time to be able to afford bills
• Having a young baby to care for at home
• Caring for younger siblings
• No or limited access to transportation
• No or limited access to funds to pay for the extras associated with extracurricular activities, such as cleats for soccer or canvas for the art club
• Caring for disabled or elderly parents/family members

Don’t be hesitant to list this information.

There is no shame in needing to put family obligations above extracurricular activities. However, admissions can’t read your mind, and it is important that you describe these obligations so that they can have a broader context when considering your application.

For this section, you are asked to describe the obligation. Be cautious here.

The admissions committee doesn’t need to know the entire backstory that led up to an obligation. Instead, briefly discuss the obligation(s), how you are involved, and why this prevents you from participating in extracurricular activities.

Preparing for Higher Education

List any programs or activities that helped you prepare for higher education, such as University Outreach, Talent Search, Upward Bound, etc.

There are a variety of organizations that help students to attain their dreams of higher education.

• If you participated in groups such as Advance via Individual Determination (AVID), Upward Bound, Talent Search, University Outreach, or any others, you should list them.

Sometimes, universities reserve spots or give preference to students who have participated in these programs. Colleges also like to see that you have been planning ahead for college.

Although it’s not stated explicitly, if you have enough room, briefly describe in what way you worked with the organization. This information will be helpful to admissions, especially if you participated in a program for multiple years.

• From 6th-12th grade, I participated in the AVID program during the school day. While I had to give up an extracurricular class, it was worth it because by participating in the program, I learned…

It’s important to be honest on your application. If you’ve heard that a program exists in your school but you didn’t participate, you should not list it.

If the question does not apply to you, write “Not Applicable.”

Other Considerations for the Committee  

Is there any other information for the Admissions Committee to consider when your application is reviewed?

In the final section, you are provided the opportunity to add additional comments that you believe admissions should consider with your application. This is a chance to provide background information on anything that might look “off” on your application.

• For example, perhaps you attended four different high schools because your parents serve in the military.
• If that information did not appear anywhere else in your application, it would be appropriate to list that here.
• If you sustained a serious injury while playing sports and missed 40 consecutive school days, list that information in this section.
• You should explain to admissions that you were participating in physical therapy and on bed rest during this time.

If there is space, it wouldn’t hurt to mention that you Skyped into class and submitted work digitally in order to stay up-to-date with your schoolwork.

Another appropriate example would be if you had to take a class online because it was not offered at your school.

• Some schools do not have enough students demonstrate interest in AP courses, such as Computer Science A or the Physics C courses.
• If you took the initiative to be the only person in the school taking such a course through an online program, that deserves to be highlighted to the admissions committee.

As with all other responses above, simply list “Not Applicable” if you have nothing to write in a section.

Conclusion: Writing the University of Florida Essays

While responding to the above questions, remember that you are limited in your character count.

Since these are short-answer questions, the admissions committee does not want to know why you volunteer with Meals on Wheels or what you get out of the experience. Instead, focus briefly on what you do for the organization.

Overall, you should only elaborate when absolutely necessary. It’s important to show the committee that you can explicitly follow directions. While there is so much more you might have to say, save it for the personal essay! Remember, you can read more about how to write that essay here .

As with any writing, be sure to proofread and have another person review your work. You want to put your best foot forward on every application.

Short-answer responses are just as important to review as your personal essay.

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2023-2024 Florida

• Thread starter wysdoc
• Start date Mar 23, 2023

Plain-spoken Texan

• Mar 23, 2023

“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” Click to expand...

“If there is a meaning in life at all, then there must be a meaning in suffering. Suffering is an ineradicable part of life, even as fate and death. Without suffering and death, human life cannot be complete.” Click to expand...

“A man who becomes conscious of the responsibility he bears toward a human being who affectionately waits for him, or to an unfinished work, will never be able to throw away his life. He knows the 'why' for his existence, and will be able to bear almost any 'how.'” Click to expand...

“Being human always points, and is directed, to something or someone, other than oneself - be it a meaning to fulfill or another human being to encounter. “ Click to expand...

ishouldnotbehere

Full member.

• Jun 23, 2023

Is anyone prewriting last year's secondary? How did you guys approach the second prompt about the students' reflections?  

scaredapplicant23

ishouldnotbehere said: Is anyone prewriting last year's secondary? How did you guys approach the second prompt about the students' reflections? Click to expand...

YodaPineapple

• Jun 24, 2023

UF is one of the few schools where I would not pre-write, as their prompts tend to change every year.  

scarletblaze

• Jul 15, 2023

Has anyone received secondaries yet?  

• Jul 16, 2023

scarletblaze said: Has anyone received secondaries yet? Click to expand...

• Jul 17, 2023

schools taking their sweet time to send secondaries this year💀  

BetterLateThanNever.

ishouldnotbehere said: Nope Click to expand...

• Jul 19, 2023

IS Received 7/18  

Xqcowadwo said: IS Received 7/18 Click to expand...

AnonymousAnt said: Can you share prompts please? I’m assuming they’re new from last year. Click to expand...

OreoLover365

Xqcowadwo said: Same prompts Click to expand...

dopaminedoc

IS received 7/19  

• Jul 20, 2023

dopaminedoc said: IS received 7/19 Click to expand...

Can you plz post the secondary instead of saying “same as last year” lol @Xqcowadwo  

Xqcowadwo said: 1) Please limit your response to 250-500 words If you are not a full-time student during this application cycle, in particular at any time between August 2023 and July 2024, please detail your current and planned activities below. 2) The medical profession is frequently described as being both a science and an art. One could summarize this by saying that patients must “be well cared for” (science) but they must also “feel well cared for” (art). We work to teach our students not only the scientific principles of medicine, but also the core values of medicine, often called “professionalism”. Toward this end we keep patients at the center of our education and often reflect on their stories with our students. The exciting advances in our understanding of the biological basis for disease have led to the emergence of a host of targeted therapies and amazing technologies improving the duration and quality of our patients’ lives. The better a physician knows his/her patient, the better decisions they will make together as they approach important healthcare related questions. This so-called shared decision-making model is one key feature of patient centered care. Practicing the art of medicine in this way yields a physician patient relationship (PPR) that is both therapeutic and mutually enriching. However, many of these same technologies have the unintended consequence of separating us from our patients, both literally and figuratively. In addition, the industrialization of medicine and use of electronic health records have led to a decrease in the time physicians spend with their patients further eroding the strength of the PPR. At the UFCOM, we have many strategies to equip our students to preserve their own humanity and that of their patients. One of the most important is the ability to make connections with and get to know their patients. Frequently such connections become the student’s first taste of the joy of medical practice. In fact, the UFCOM version of the Hippocratic Oath includes the following affirmation. “I will remember with gratitude and humility those whose illness or injury provided examples from which I learned, and, in their honor, I will continue the pursuit of knowledge.” In our polarized society, the importance of such virtues as humility and gratitude have perhaps never been greater. Over the last two decades, the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California Berkeley has offered strong scientific support for the importance of such virtues as gratitude and humility in human well-being. But it should also be remembered that philosophers and theologians have cherished these virtues for centuries. For example, when mounting a legal defense for a friend, Cicero observed, “while I wish to be adorned with every virtue, yet there is nothing which I can esteem more highly than the being and appearing grateful. For this one virtue is not only the greatest, but is also the parent of all the other virtues.” Offering a similar endorsement for the virtue of humility, Augustine of Hippo observed, “Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues hence, in the soul in which this virtue does not exist there cannot be any other virtue except in mere appearance.” Students at UFCOM regularly write about and discuss encounters with patients that shape their professional identity in important ways. In so doing, we all learn to become better physicians and human beings. Here are two such reflections, by our students, one a poem and the other an essay. Read and reflect on both and then choose one and describe how the writer grew from the experience. Consider the affirmation from the Hippocratic Oath in your response. 3) The profession of medicine has always had an explicit contract with society about our expertise and competence but it also includes an important affirmation. Namely, that we will subordinate self-interest to patient interest when the needs of our patients require us to do so. This does not mean we do not take care of ourselves and one another, but it does mean we willingly take on risks to ourselves that many others would not. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought this commitment to light as many medical professionals labored on the front lines caring for the sick despite the potential dangers. When we consider medical practice and hence, medical education, one could ask what sorts of virtues or character traits equip young medical professionals for such a noble calling. Many come to mind including courage, compassion, intellectual honesty and integrity. But recently attention has been given to the ability to stay with a task or course even when one is tired, discouraged and the work is daunting and laborious. Terms such as “resilience”, “endurance”, “perseverance”, “determination” or “grit” describe this character trait. Dr. Angela Duckworth has explored this in detail in her book “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance” ( Angela Duckworth ). Cultivating this virtue, in ourselves and one another, offers a tangible means to lean against the depersonalizing and emotionally exhausting forces at work in healthcare. As physicians, we have the privilege of caring for people who are in the most difficult places of their lives. Being present during these times can be both a source of joy as we help our patients, but can also challenge our own emotional health and resilience. Struggling to make sense of suffering induced by disease, social forces and human agency has brought an occasion for growth among many of us who work in healthcare. As you grow into your new identity as a physician, you will come face to face with the suffering of other human beings. In fact, we will all have to face our own losses as we go through medical training and practice. Put simply, none of us is exempt from suffering. As the Nigerian novelist Chinua Achebe (1930-2013) once observed, “When suffering knocks at your door and you say there is no seat for him, he tells you not to worry because he has brought his own stool.” Holocaust survivor and renowned psychiatrist Viktor Frankl, (1905-1997) wrote an account of his time in the concentration camp called, “Man’s Search for Meaning”. It has sold more than 10 million copies in 24 languages and offers profound insights into how finding meaning in suffering sustains us during our darkest times. Below are several quotes from Dr. Frankl that deal with finding purpose and meaning in suffering. After reading and thinking about his insights, chose one or two and tell us about experiences where you have seen these principles at work either in your own life, or in the lives of others. Click to expand...

OreoLover365 said: Thank you @Xqcowadwo ! Is there no “additional information” question this year? Last year it was “ Optional: If you think there is any additional information that would help the admissions committee in its review of your application, including any disruptions in your academic/volunteer/work/personal life related to COVID-19, please use the space below.”(750 words). Click to expand...

spongebobdoc

• Jul 21, 2023

does the "please limit ur response to 250-500 words" apply to questions 2 and 3? also, we have to reply to only one prompt for question 2 right, bc it says reflect on both.  

• Jul 22, 2023

Anyone else get a secondary?  

ishouldnotbehere said: Anyone else get a secondary? Click to expand...

• Jul 23, 2023

IS verified 5/31 no secondary yet  

AnonymousAnt said: I don't mind these secondary questions at all but am I the only one who thinks they read more like an analytical english assignment rather than having anything to do with one's candidacy for medical school? Click to expand...

floridaresident said: does the "please limit ur response to 250-500 words" apply to questions 2 and 3? also, we have to reply to only one prompt for question 2 right, bc it says reflect on both. Click to expand...

lolitachiquita

IS, verified 7/13 still no secondary, I have completed and submitted every other FL school  

kaleidoscope1202

lolitachiquita said: IS, verified 7/13 still no secondary, I have completed and submitted every other FL school Click to expand...

OOS reapplicant verified 6/27, still no secondary  

MusicalMangoMan

kaleidoscope1202 said: +1. I’m a re-applicant to this school and did my undergrad here. I have finished the secondaries for FSU, USF, FAU, UCF, and FIU. I don’t know what they’re doing Click to expand...

MusicalMangoMan said: Dang man, I'm not even verified yet and only barely started pre-writing. Do you think I could finish all FL schools (besides Miami) in under a week? In total I'm applying to 25 MD schools, but I want to prioritize my in state. Click to expand...

• Jul 24, 2023

+ 1 IS verified 6/13 finally  

+1 IS recieved, verified 7/18  

for the activities section, do we just include what we are currently doing or everything from our activities section? the form specifies what we're doing prior to attending UF, but the " University Admissions cannot see your AMCAS and they use this activity timeline for residency review " from the email makes it seem like they have access to none of our activities on our application  

thegazette said: for the activities section, do we just include what we are currently doing or everything from our activities section? the form specifies what we're doing prior to attending UF, but the " University Admissions cannot see your AMCAS and they use this activity timeline for residency review " from the email makes it seem like they have access to none of our activities on our application Click to expand...

OOS secondary received  

@wysdoc Here are some additional questions on the UFCOM secondary: 1. *REQUIRED If you are not a legal resident of Florida according to your AMCAS application, write a statement describing your association with the State of Florida below. This statement is required even if you have no ties to the State of Florida. (no apparent word count) 2. (optional) Reflect upon your life experiences, values and/or personal background. Do any or all of these help frame how you envision your future contributions to the health and wellbeing of others as a physician and if so, how? (500 words max) 3. There is a page for selecting introversion and extroversion traits/statements but no essay associated with it  

Purple&Gold8

Medical school applicant.

amdocahe said: OOS secondary received Click to expand...

IS, received this morning too  

So we just have to wait until we get our UFID# in 36-48 hours before we can submit our secondary application??  

SultanateIV

• Jul 25, 2023

For the extraversion / intraversion section, can you pick statements from both sides? Or are we limited to just picking from one side  

SultanateIV said: For the extraversion / intraversion section, can you pick statements from both sides? Or are we limited to just picking from one side Click to expand...

OreoLover365 said: I think you can pick statements from both sides. That's what I am going to do unless someone tells me otherwise Click to expand...

DougEFreshh

Is it pointless to apply as an OOS applicant with no ties to the state of Florida? I wanna know that im not wasting my time writing this lengthy secondary?  

Dougieb said: Is it pointless to apply as an OOS applicant with no ties to the state of Florida? I wanna know that im not wasting my time writing this lengthy secondary? Click to expand...

HopefullySomewhere

• Jul 26, 2023

AnonymousAnt said: If you have the 30$ and some time to spare, why not. But keep in mind they only interviewed 80 out of 2200 OOS applicants, and I’d bet that those 80 either went to UF or have connections to the state in other ways. Click to expand...

HopefullySomewhere said: Out of the new class only 2/120 were OOS. It’s basically pointless to apply to FSU as OOS with no ties Click to expand...

Has anyone gotten their UF ID?  

SultanateIV said: Has anyone gotten their UF ID? Click to expand...

OreoLover365 said: Yeah I got mine last night. Took about 36 hours Click to expand...

Similar threads

• Mar 17, 2023

• Mar 21, 2023

• Oct 18, 2023
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First-year essay prompts

Common App has announced the 2024-2025 essay prompts.

Solutions center for first-year students

Solutions center for transfer students.

UC Essay Prompts 2024-2025: Tips for Success

It’s November, and you’re hunched over your laptop staring at the UC application portal. You’ve already hit submit on your GPA and test scores. But then, you scroll down to the part labeled “Personal Insight Questions.” That’s when the real work begins. You know these UC PIQs matter — big time. These are your chance to show the admissions team who you are beyond your grades and numbers.

Over 200,000 students apply to UC schools every year, all competing for the same spots. The UC essay prompts are what will make you stand out. 

The good news is you’ve got options. With 8 prompts to choose from, you get to select the 4 that let you share your unique experiences, whether it’s how you lead, your creative side, or how you’ve handled challenges. The prompts may seem tricky, but with some thought and the right approach, you can use them to show the real you. 

Let’s get started.

UC Personal Insight Questions: How Does It Work?

When you’re working on your UC application, the PIQs are where things start to get real. The University of California system wants more than just your grades and test scores — they want to know who you are. 

That’s where these UC essays come in. Here’s the deal: the UC PIQs give you the chance to share experiences and qualities that don’t fit into numbers or transcripts. They want to know what makes you unique, and this is your chance to tell them. If you're struggling and considering to pay for paper writing , EssayPro is here to assist.

You’ll choose 4 out of 8 prompts , and each of your responses can be up to 350 words long. You have some flexibility here, which is great. You get to decide which prompts allow you to share the most about yourself.

The purpose of these UC essays is simple, too: they let the admissions team see the real you. These essays are a way to highlight personal stories, accomplishments, and qualities that may not show up in other parts of your application. Maybe you’re great at organizing community events, or perhaps you’ve developed a talent for solving complex problems. Whatever it is, the UC PIQs help you show that off in a way that numbers just can’t.

• Choose 4 out of 8 prompts. You can mix and match which ones resonate with you most.
• Word limit? 350 words per response. It’s short, so make every word count.
• No pressure, but this is important. Your UC PIQs are a big part of how the admissions team will evaluate you. So, spend time choosing the prompts that give you the best shot to stand out.

Key Deadlines

For Fall 2025 admission:

• Application opens: August 1, 2024
• Submission window: October 1 – December 2, 2024
• You can start early, but the final deadline to submit is December 2, 2024, at 11:59 PM PST . Don’t cut it close: give yourself plenty of time to review and edit your essays before submitting!

Here’s what to keep in mind when you're figuring out how to write UC essays: don’t overthink it. Focus on authenticity and specific examples . Admissions officers have seen it all, so skip the clichés and get real. You don’t need to have climbed Mount Everest or cured a disease — talk about what you’ve learned, how you’ve grown, and what matters to you. 

UC Essays, Handled

EssayPro’s pros make writing UC essays easy. You pick the prompt, we do the rest.

What’s Your Goal on Your UC Application?

When writing the UC essay prompts, keep your goal clear: you want to stand out in a good way. This means showing the admissions team how you're different from other students applying from your school or community. 

But it’s not just about being different; it’s about demonstrating that you’ve made the most of the opportunities you’ve had. 

Most importantly, you want to connect your experiences to the key points of comprehensive review. Show them not just what you’ve done, but how it’s shaped who you are and what you’ll bring to UC.

If you’re wondering, “Who can write my admission essay ?” , EssayPro has the expert writers you need. 

How to Prepare for a UC Essay

Getting ready for the UC essay prompts can feel overwhelming, but there’s a process to make it manageable. Here’s what you need to do:

• Understand the prompts : First, take some time to really go through all eight UC personal insight questions. Read them carefully and see which ones spark ideas or memories. The goal is to show who you are outside of your grades, so think about moments that highlight your personality and experiences.
• Pick the right prompts : You only need to choose 4 out of 8 PIQ prompts, so pick the ones that let you show off different sides of yourself. Maybe one prompt is perfect for talking about a leadership role, while another lets you explore your creative side or how you overcame a tough situation.
• Brainstorm ideas : Now’s the time to start jotting down ideas. Think of specific events or experiences that answer each prompt. Did you lead a project at school? Help a sibling with a challenge? These real-life examples make your essays stronger and more relatable.
• Reflect on what you learned : Don’t just write about what happened. Focus on how these experiences shaped you. How did they change your perspective or teach you something important? This is where your essays will stand out, by showing not just what you did, but how it impacted you.
• Outline before you write : A simple outline can help you organize your thoughts. Think intro, main example, reflection, and a strong ending. This way, when you start writing, you’re not staring at a blank page trying to figure out where to begin.
• Be real and specific : Skip the vague stuff like “I’m a hard worker” or “I overcame challenges.” Get into the details. What exactly did you do? How did it feel? Why does it matter to you? These specifics will make your essay stand out from the generic answers other students might write.
• Edit, revise, repeat : Don’t worry if your first draft isn’t perfect — it’s not supposed to be. Write it all out, then come back to it with fresh eyes. Tighten things up, cut out the fluff, and make sure your essay is clear and engaging. And remember, each essay should show a different side of you.

Lastly, manage your time. These essays are important, so don’t leave them until the last minute. Give yourself plenty of time to brainstorm, write, and revise. Trust me, when you see your polished UC PIQs, it’ll be worth it!

UC Essay Prompts: Questions & Guidance

When it comes to the personal insight questions, the key is to be yourself. These questions are designed to let you express who you are, what matters to you, and what you want to share with the UC admissions team. 

Our guidance for each question is here to help if you get stuck, but ultimately, it’s about showing your personality. These essays aren’t about giving the “right” answer — they’re about giving your answer. 

So, take the time to reflect on your experiences and write in a way that feels true to you.

1. Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time.

Whether you were a team captain, a mentor to someone younger, or simply the one who took charge when things needed to get done, leadership can come in many forms.

• Focus on a key moment: Think about a time when things didn’t go as planned and you had to step up. Maybe your group project was falling apart, and no one was taking charge, so you organized a plan and assigned roles. 
• Emphasize teamwork and delegation: Leadership isn’t about doing everything yourself. Did you ever lead a group where you had to rely on others? Talk about how you delegated tasks and trusted your team to handle their parts. 
• Reflect on personal growth: A true leadership experience leaves you different from how you started. Did leading a group teach you something new about patience or compromise? 

Example Scenarios:

• Perhaps you spent hours figuring out how to help your younger sibling with math, finding creative ways to explain concepts. 
• Or maybe you were in charge of a group of kids at a summer camp and had to teach them a complicated dance routine. You worked through frustration, found a way to motivate everyone, and got the job done.

The key to answering UC prompts is to find a moment that highlights your leadership skills, but more importantly, shows who you are when things aren’t easy. 

2. Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.

Creativity isn’t just about art or music — it’s how you solve problems, think differently, and come up with new ideas. Whether it’s inventing a clever solution, thinking outside the box, or creating something unique, this UC personal insight question is your chance to show how your creative side works.

• Think beyond traditional creativity: Creativity can show up anywhere: organizing an event, fixing a broken gadget, or finding a new approach to a school project. It’s about how you approach problems and bring fresh ideas into everyday situations.
• Be specific: Focus on a real moment when your creativity came through. Did you figure out a unique solution when things went wrong? Or bring new energy to a project that needed help?
• Highlight impact: Show how your creative thinking made a difference. Did it improve something? Help others? Solve a problem no one else could?
• When your family’s Wi-Fi crashed, you used a backup router and created a temporary fix to keep everyone connected during an important meeting.
• You turned a boring class presentation into an interactive quiz game, getting your classmates excited and engaged in the lesson.

3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?

We all have something we’re naturally good at or something we’ve worked hard to master. This UC PIQs prompt is your chance to talk about that talent or skill that really sets you apart and how it’s grown with you over time.

Need inspiration? Check out Common App essay prompts examples for ideas on how to present your best self.

• Focus on passion and dedication: Maybe you were always great at playing the guitar, but after years of practice and attending workshops, you’re now composing your own music. Show the journey, not just the result.
• Demonstrate how it helps others: Think about how your talent impacts others. Maybe your skill in graphic design led you to help classmates design their own posters or even create logos for local businesses. 
• Tie it to future goals: Your skill likely plays a role in what you want to do in the future. Maybe your love for math led you to tutor struggling classmates, and now you dream of becoming a math teacher or an engineer. 
• You’ve always been the one fixing tech problems at home, ever since you were a kid who loved tinkering with gadgets. Over time, this talent grew, and now you’re helping classmates troubleshoot their devices or leading a tech club at school.
• Writing has always come naturally to you, but over the years, you’ve turned it into something bigger. From writing short stories in your free time to leading the school newspaper, your love for writing has helped you express yourself.

4. Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.

These UC personal insight questions are all about how you made the most of a great opportunity or pushed through a challenge that could have held you back. Whether it’s something positive or an obstacle, it’s about your growth and perseverance.

• Focus on how it changed you: Did you get into a special program or face a real struggle in school? Share how the experience made you grow. Did it build your confidence, teach you something new, or change the way you see things?
• Be detailed: Don’t just mention the opportunity or barrier — get into the story. What steps did you take to succeed or overcome? What was difficult about it, and how did you push through? Show the real effort you put in.
• Show your perseverance: If it was a barrier, focus on how you didn’t give up. Maybe you struggled with a subject or had to balance work and school, but through hard work and determination, you found a way to succeed.
• You got accepted into an advanced STEM program that allowed you to work in a lab with real scientists. The hands-on experience not only deepened your love for science but gave you a real sense of direction for your future.
• English wasn’t your first language, and school was tough at first. You took extra classes, practiced every day, and eventually became confident enough to join the debate team and even help other students struggling with language barriers.

5. Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?

Challenges can shape who we are, and this UC essays prompt is about sharing a tough experience, how you handled it, and how it affected your academic path.

• Lean into the emotional side: Challenges shape who you are. Maybe your challenge was balancing school and taking care of a sick parent, and it felt like you had to grow up faster than your friends. Share how this situation pushed you emotionally.
• Step-by-step process of overcoming it: Big challenges can seem impossible when you’re in the thick of them, but breaking them down makes them feel more manageable. Did you ask for help? Change your study habits? Find a new way to manage your time?
• How it shifted your perspective: Did this challenge change the way you approach education or life in general? Did it push you to work harder? Help you develop new skills? Make you more focused?
• When a family member became seriously ill, you had to take on extra responsibilities at home, which was a huge adjustment. You had to learn how to balance taking care of things at home with keeping up in school. 
• You’ve struggled with dyslexia for years, making reading assignments especially tough. But instead of letting it hold you back, you worked with a tutor, used new study techniques, and developed strategies to excel in your classes.

6. Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.

We all have that one subject that really sparks something in us. This UC prompts question is your chance to talk about what gets you excited about learning and how you’ve taken that interest beyond the classroom.

• Make your excitement jump off the page: When you talk about your favorite subject, don’t just say you love it — show it. Maybe you remember the first time you mixed two chemicals in a lab and saw an unexpected reaction. Let your passion leap out.
• Show your dedication outside of class: Passion doesn’t stop at the classroom door. Maybe you spend your weekends watching YouTube tutorials on astrophysics. The fact that you go out of your way to learn more on your own.
• Connect it to your bigger dreams: If your passion for a subject is shaping your future, explain how. For instance, maybe your love for environmental science has led you to take action — perhaps you started a local initiative to clean up your community.
• You’ve always been fascinated by the human body. In class, you soaked up everything about cell biology, but it didn’t stop there. You volunteered at a local hospital, shadowing doctors and learning about how different systems work in real-life medical cases. 
• You love reading about historical events, but you’ve taken it further by starting a history club at school. Outside of class, you’ve attended local history lectures and even wrote an article on a lesser-known historical figure for the school newspaper.

7. What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?

This UC essay prompts question is about showing how you’ve made an impact. It’s not about grand gestures — sometimes, the small things you do make the biggest difference.

• Focus on small actions with big impact: You don’t need to have led a massive change to make a difference. Maybe you noticed that your school didn’t have enough after-school activities, so you started a debate club. 
• Share your motivation: What inspired you to act? Maybe growing up, mental health was a topic that was never discussed in your household, so when you saw classmates struggling, you wanted to create a safe space for them. 
• Show the ripple effect: Did your efforts continue to make a difference even after you moved on? Did it improve the environment around you? Bring people together? Solve a problem?
• Noticing the lack of a proper recycling system at your school, you took the initiative to start one. You gathered a group of volunteers, worked with the administration, and got it up and running. 
• You saw a need in your local community during the pandemic, so you organized a group to deliver groceries to elderly neighbors. This simple act of kindness made a big difference for people who couldn’t safely leave their homes.

8. Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?

Here’s where you can get a little personal. These personal insight questions let you share something that hasn’t come up yet in your application but still plays a big role in who you are. 

• Share a story that really matters to you: Think about something that’s helped shape your character but hasn’t fit into the other questions. Maybe you’ve spent years caring for a grandparent, and through that experience, you’ve learned about patience.
• Focus on qualities that set you apart: You don’t need to list more achievements. Instead, focus on what makes you tick. Maybe you’re the person who always brings people together, whether it’s organizing a game night for friends or starting a project.
• Connect it to the UC community: Think about how these qualities will help you thrive at UC. If you’re passionate about environmental activism, share how you can’t wait to join UC’s sustainability initiatives and continue making an impact.
• You’ve always been shy, but working at a local bookstore over the summer pushed you out of your shell. Now, you’re more confident in speaking up and taking initiative — skills that will help you thrive in UC’s collaborative environment.
• Growing up in a bilingual household, you’ve developed a deep appreciation for different cultures and languages. This has sparked a passion for global studies an

Common Mistakes to Avoid in UC Essays

Here are some common mistakes students often make when answering the personal insight questions (PIQ prompts) for the University of California. 

1. Mistake: Being too vague

Why it’s a Problem: General statements like “I’m a hard worker” don’t give admissions officers much to go on.

How to Avoid It: Be specific! Instead of saying you worked hard, describe a time you overcame a challenge or pushed through something difficult.

2. Mistake: Rehashing your resume

Why it’s a Problem: Simply listing your activities won’t show who you are beyond the numbers.

How to Avoid It: Use the PIQ prompts to tell a story. Instead of saying you volunteered, talk about a meaningful experience you had while volunteering and how it shaped you.

3. Mistake: Lack of reflection

Why it’s a Problem: Describing what happened without reflecting on what you learned misses the point.

How to Avoid It: Focus on how the experience changed you. Did it make you more empathetic, resourceful, or confident? Admissions officers want to see how you’ve grown.

4. Mistake: Choosing the wrong prompts

Why it’s a Problem: Picking prompts that don’t resonate with your experiences can make your essays feel forced.

How to Avoid It: Choose PIQ prompts that allow you to show different sides of yourself. Think about which moments in your life best illustrate your values, strengths, and growth.

5. Mistake: Trying to impress instead of being real

Why it’s a Problem: Writing what you think the admissions team wants to hear can come across as inauthentic.

How to Avoid It: Be yourself. Authenticity shines through. Share real stories and moments that genuinely matter to you, even if they seem small. They’ll resonate much more.

The UC essay prompts give you the chance to show the real you — beyond your grades and test scores. Don’t stress too much, just be yourself and tell your story. With a bit of thought and reflection, these essays can help you stand out and show the admissions team what makes you unique. 

You’ve got this!

Your UC Essays, Done Right

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How to Write UC Essays?

What are uc essays looking for, how to make a uc essay stand out.

Daniel Parker

is a seasoned educational writer focusing on scholarship guidance, research papers, and various forms of academic essays including reflective and narrative essays. His expertise also extends to detailed case studies. A scholar with a background in English Literature and Education, Daniel’s work on EssayPro blog aims to support students in achieving academic excellence and securing scholarships. His hobbies include reading classic literature and participating in academic forums.

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.