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How to Write the Indiana University Bloomington Essay 2023-2024

Located in Bloomington, Indiana, Indiana University Bloomington — often known as IU — is a large public research university with a reputation of being known as a “ Public Ivy .” Offering a more affordable, yet intensive education, IU is a popular choice among applicants who are looking for a rigorous environment. The school is consistently ranked in the top 100 national universities.

With programs such as the Kelley School of Business, the School of Education, and the School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering, IU provides students with a wide array of academic opportunity. Beyond coursework, however, the university also boasts an active social life, with a decent portion of its student body participating in Greek life.

IU’s supplemental essay is an important part of the college application process. There is no need to worry — CollegeVine has prepared the following guide to help you tackle this essay.

Indiana University Bloomington Supplemental Essay Prompt

Describe your academic and career plans and any special interests (e.g., undergraduate research, academic interests, leadership opportunities, etc.) that you are eager to pursue as an undergraduate at indiana university. if you encountered any unusual circumstances, challenges, or obstacles in completing your education, share those experiences and how you overcame them. (200-400 words).

This prompt is essentially a “ Why This Major ?” and “ Why This College? ” essay combined. Readers are looking to understand which of IU’s programs and opportunities you will take advantage of to further your career. First, discuss your academic and career interests and goals; second, explain how Indiana University specifically would help you reach these aspirations.

The first part of this essay should ideally answer the question: What do you want to be when you grow up? This part of the essay should present a cohesive picture of your passion in a specific academic field. Start off with a personal anecdote that showcases your interest in a single course of study or future career.

Keep this introduction concise, yet vivid, grasping the reader’s attention. For example, you could begin with a description of performing the oboe in a dark, packed auditorium on a bright stage at the state symphony, or the immense pride and relief you feel after distributing the school newspaper you and your staff worked on for countless hours.

Next, detail your accomplishments and experience in this field — remember to show more than tell. Provide evidence of your interest through your actions during a research project or an extracurricular activity. For example, instead of saying “I like both science and art,” illustrate the year you spent researching the brain’s ability to store memories through Dali’s paintings, and how this caused you to view the process of recollection as more of an art rather than a hard science, leading to your desire to study both neuroscience and art history. Not only does this show your interest in both fields, it also implies you are curious and innovative.

This paragraph is also a chance to portray your ability to grow and conquer challenges in your given field. So, rather than writing “I won state for Mock Trial,” describe the struggles you overcame and the growth you experienced in your role as president of your school’s mock trial team. By weaving narration throughout the paragraph, you will be able to portray a more authentic and unique story.

Lastly, connect your aspirations to IU. Specificity is key here. Avoid being vague and general with sweeping statements like “Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business is perfect for me” or “As a student at IU, I could study abroad.” Vague statements demonstrate a lack of interest and lack of effort. Research and learn about the qualities and programs that make Indiana University unique and special to your needs. What are unique programs or extracurriculars at Indiana University, and what will they teach you? What is a quality of IU that is important to you? Avoid generic responses that could apply to any other university.

If you want to be an investment banker through Kelley, describe the focused skillset you will gain from the school’s investment banking workshop, or the network you will create from the small classes and tight-knit community of the Kelley Business Honors Program. An aspiring global correspondent could describe the IU’s worldly approach towards learning and interning in London through the Media School’s “Summer in London” program.

Your primary goal is to connect your accomplishments and aspirations with the opportunities that await you at IU; however, avoid listing every possible activity you could participate in and stay focused.

• Start with a personal, vivid anecdote conveying your interest in a single field.
• Share a narrative of you overcoming an obstacle in this field; provide evidence of your experience in this interest.
• Describe the essence or quality of a program or activity at IU that would help you grow in this area.

Where to Get Your IU Essay Edited

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

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

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

Indiana University Bloomington 2023-24 Supplemental Essay Guide

Early Action: Nov 1

Regular Decision Deadline: Feb 1

You Have: 

Indiana University Bloomington 2023-24 Application Essay Question Explanation

The Requirements: 1 essay of 200-400 words.

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Why

Describe your academic and career plans and any special interest (for example, undergraduate research, academic interests, leadership opportunities, etc.) that you are eager to pursue as an undergraduate at Indiana University. Also, if you encountered any unusual circumstances, challenges, or obstacles in pursuit of your education, share those experiences and how you overcame them. (200-400 words) This essay may be used in scholarship consideration.

This supplemental essay prompt packs a punch. It’s a why essay combined with an optional additional info essay. Read it carefully and be sure to include each part they’re requesting, if applicable. Start by writing about your area of study and why you chose it. What sort of career is possible after you graduate? Are there offerings at IU Bloomington that will prepare you for your dream job? Get familiar with the IU Bloomington website to make sure admissions knows you’ve done your homework. 

The second part of this prompt is an additional info essay — and it’s only necessary if you’ve experienced extenuating circumstances that need to be explained (prolonged absences, a drop in GPA, etc.). Remember, it’s not how you fell down, but how you got up that’s important, so don’t be afraid to talk about what happened and what you learned from the experience.

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Indiana University-Bloomington (IU) Supplemental Essay Guide: 2021-2022

Not sure how to write an Indiana University supplemental essay? CollegeAdvisor.com ’s guide to the Indiana University application essay will show you exactly how to write an engaging Indiana University supplemental essay and maximize your chances of admission. If you need help crafting your IU application essay, create your free account or schedule a free advising consultation by calling (844) 343-6272 .

Indiana University Application Essay Guide Quick Facts:

• U.S. News considers Indiana University a more selective university.
• The IU acceptance rate is 80.4%.
• Indiana University is ranked #68 in the U.S. News list of National Universities.

Does Indiana University Require Essays?

Yes. In addition to the Personal Statement that you’ll write for the Common App or Coalition App , you’ll also complete one Indiana University supplement essay. Since there’s only one IU essay prompt, you should do everything you can to make sure your essay stands out. 

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

What is Indiana University’s Supplemental Essay?

There is only one school-specific IU essay prompt, which is required for all applicants. There are no additional IU supplemental essays for first-year applicants. Your Indiana University essay should be between 200 and 400 words. 

Indiana University application essays can cover a breadth of topics. Above all, the Indiana University application essay aims to help the admissions team get to know you. The IU essay prompt gives you the freedom to write about the topics that best illustrate who you are and how you will use an education from IU. Take advantage of the Indiana University application essay to maximize your admissions odds. 

How do I Write Indiana University’s Supplemental Essay: Question 1

Describe your academic and career plans and any special interest (for example, undergraduate research, academic interests, leadership opportunities, etc.) that you are eager to pursue as an undergraduate at Indiana University. Also, if you encountered any unusual circumstances, challenges, or obstacles in pursuit of your education, share those experiences and how you overcame them. This essay may be used in scholarship consideration. (400 word maximum)

This IU application essay is a combination of the classic “why college?” and “why major?” prompts. In 400 words, your Indiana University essay should clearly articulate your reasons for applying to Indiana University. It should also show your vision for your time as a Hoosier. 

The IU essay prompt also lets you discuss challenges that have impacted your education. Often, you can integrate these challenges into the narrative of your Indiana University essay since you overcame them in pursuit of your goals. Your IU application essay should focus on connecting your experiences to your future at Indiana University. 

When brainstorming for this IU essay prompt, ask yourself what you want to be when you grow up. Write down your dreams, goals, career interests, academic pursuits, and hobbies. When reading your IU supplemental essay, the admissions team should learn what is important to you and how you would spend your time on their campus.

An effective Why IU supplemental essay will think beyond the IU acceptance rate and Indiana University ranking. When answering this IU essay prompt, don’t just think about IU as a means to an end. Instead, think of this Indiana University application essay as a “why fit” essay. Your college experience is a two-way street; you will both contribute to and benefit from the IU community.

Tell a story

In your Indiana University application essay, try to tell a story. Your college essay shouldn’t read like a five-paragraph essay. To draw your reader in, try opening your IU supplemental essay with an anecdote. How can you immediately put the reader in your shoes? Establish an element of mystery? Dramatize your opening? Select a story that shows growth, curiosity, determination, or another positive trait that you’ll highlight in your Indiana University essay. 

In your IU application essay, make sure you include personal details. Whenever you make a claim about yourself in your Indiana University essay, provide examples to support it—show, don’t tell. If you write that you have an entrepreneurial spirit, back it up with a story from your life. If you include that you have a passion for mentoring others, provide a story from a time you mentored someone. IU does not expect that you will be involved in the same activities in college that you were in high school; still, your IU application essay should show the reader your character and skills. 

Be specific

As well as being personal, your Indiana University application essay should be specific. There are many great options for college, and you could succeed at many different schools. So, why do you want to attend IU? In your IU supplemental essay, strive to answer this question: How will the opportunities at IU make your goals a reality? There are countless majors and minors to choose from at Indiana University.  So, what will your educational path look like?

Do your research on reasons to attend IU. What specific classes, research opportunities, professors, clubs, and organizations will you take advantage of? When answering the IU essay prompt, clearly state how you would make the most of the specific opportunities you discuss. Don’t just name-drop professors. 

Writing a personal and specific Indiana University essay will help you stand out amidst thousands of other Indiana University application essays. Don’t write things in your Indiana University application essay that you could write about any other college. Conversely, avoid writing about topics that many students could also discuss in their Indiana University essays. 

Show don’t tell

Throughout your Indiana University essay, show instead of telling. This will help you convey the most interesting and effective story. When discussing a program that sparked your interest in your major when answering the IU essay prompt, paint the picture and help the reader understand your daily work. If you write about an extracurricular activity in your IU application essay, detail how it felt to accomplish something in that activity. Use vivid descriptions instead of just stating the facts.

When answering the IU essay prompt, make sure to clarify the stakes of your story. As you respond to the IU essay prompt, clarify why your interests matter. Why should the reader admit you? In your IU application essay, show the reader why accepting you would make IU a better place. Use your Indiana University application essay to highlight your potential!

Throughout your Indiana University application essay, use self-reflection to tell an authentic story. Discuss what matters to you and why. What values do you prioritize? Your IU supplement essay should emphasize your defining traits. 

In your Indiana University application essay, you should also avoid cliches. Don’t just name a program or extracurricular because it sounds impressive; authenticity will help your application the most. Also, avoid general statements about the school in your Indiana University essay as well as simple emotional appeals. Don’t just compliment the school—instead, discuss what you will bring to IU in your IU supplemental essay. 

Remember to discuss both your skills and IU’s offerings in your Indiana University application essay. College is a two-way street and “fit” is extremely important. So, use your IU supplemental essay to show how you would fit into the IU community.  

Indiana University Application Essay Draft Key Questions:

• Is your Indiana University supplemental essay both specific and personal?
• When discussing challenges, do you explain how you overcame them?
• Do you tell a cohesive and interesting story in your Indiana University essay?
• Did you proofread your IU application essay for grammar and clarity?

Additional Tips for Writing the Indiana University Application Essay

Be sure to leave yourself time to edit and revise your IU application essay! Indiana University admissions has two deadlines : Early Action on November 1, 2021, and Regular Decision on February 1, 2022. 

Before submitting your application, think about how every aspect of it will be perceived by the IU admissions team. Do you tell them as much as you can about who you are? Make sure that your IU supplemental essay paints a clear picture of your goals, motivations, and future plans. Your IU application essay should be consistent with the rest of your application; it should also add details to your profile that the reader doesn’t glean from the rest of your application. 

What is the Acceptance Rate for IU?

The IU acceptance rate is approximately 80%. However, the IU acceptance rate for the Kelley School of Business as a freshman is around 40%. The median GPA for applicants accepted to IU for the fall 2021 class was 3.91, while the median SAT and ACT scores were 1300 and 29, respectively. Read the full list of admissions requirements here . 

Don’t focus too much on the IU acceptance rate. Instead, spend your energy making your Indiana University application essay the best it can be. Since so many factors impact the IU acceptance rate, focus on the ones within your control. 

Want more tips on how to use the IU acceptance rate (and any other school’s rate) to build your school list? Check out our expert’s guides on acceptance rates and rankings . 

Indiana University Application Essay – Final Thoughts

In your IU essay, be unique and original but also genuine and honest. Instead of trying to predict what the admissions team wants to hear, focus on telling your personal story. Do your research on your future major so you can connect yourself with opportunities at IU. Be clear, concise, and specific in your responses to the Indiana University essay prompt; you only get one chance! There is no cookie-cutter IU student, so highlight what makes you stand out. Good luck!

This guide was written by Caroline Marapese , Notre Dame ’22. For more CollegeAdvisor.com resources on Indiana University, click here . Want help crafting your IU University supplemental essay? Create your account or schedule a free advising consultation by calling (844) 343-6272.

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, any examples of iu supplemental essays.

Hey everyone, I'm about to start working on my Indiana University (IU) application. Does anyone know where I can find some good examples of IU supplemental essays to get an idea of what I should be aiming for? Thanks!

Hello! While I can't provide you with specific essay examples, I can definitely give you some tips and guidelines on how to write a strong IU supplemental essay. The main essay prompt for Indiana University is: “Describe your academic and career plans and any special interest (for example, undergraduate research, academic interests, leadership opportunities, etc.) that you are eager to pursue as an undergraduate at Indiana University. Also, if you encountered any unusual circumstances, challenges, or obstacles in pursuit of your education, share those experiences and how you overcame them.” (200-400 words)

To create a strong essay, consider the following tips:

1. Be Specific: Clearly describe your academic and career goals, as well as any special interests you have. Mention specific programs, clubs, or resources that IU offers that align with your goals and interests.

2. Show Your Enthusiasm: Demonstrate your excitement about attending IU and how your academic or extracurricular interests will help you be a successful student at the university.

3. Discuss Challenges: If you encountered any obstacles or challenges during your academic journey, share your experiences and explain the steps you took to overcome them. Show your resilience and ability to adapt.

4. Demonstrate Growth: Emphasize the growth and progress you've made in your academic or extracurricular pursuits, and how your experiences have prepared you to succeed at IU.

5. Make it Personal: Share personal anecdotes or experiences that showcase your personality and provide insight into who you are as an individual. This helps the admissions committee understand you better and sets your essay apart from others.

6. Proofread and Revise: Ensure your essay is well-written, clear, and free of errors. Consider asking a trusted friend, family member, or counselor to review your essay for feedback.

To learn more, read this blog post: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-indiana-university-bloomington-essays/

As you work on your essay, remember to focus on your unique experiences, demonstrate your strong interest in attending IU, and illustrate your growth and determination. Good luck!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

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We’re here to make the application process as smooth as possible for you. In addition to the information provided in our How to Apply pages, here are a few more top questions students and families ask during the application process.

Which application do I choose?

Freshman applicants.

Indiana University Bloomington accepts the Apply IU Application and the Common Application. No preference is given for any one application platform, and the materials needed to complete each are the same. The application review process is also the same for both platforms. To learn more about which application may be the best option for you, we encourage you to visit the Apply IU Application and Common Application websites.

Transfer applicants

Apply for admission to IU Bloomington by using the Apply IU Application .

What is Advising & Major Exploration Services?

Advising & Major Exploration Services (or AMES, formerly known as University Division) provides academic advising for pre-business, pre-nursing, pre-social work, and exploratory students at IU Bloomington. 

Pre-business, pre-nursing, and pre-social work students who start in AMES can immediately begin their preparation for their preferred program. You'll have access to the same courses and prerequisites as direct admits, so you don’t have to wait to start pursuing your goals.

Exploratory students will work with AMES advisors to:

• Explore programs
• Learn about the requirements for your chosen major or majors
• Complete a formal application or automatically certify into a program

All along the way, students in AMES receive advising from experts who understand the many academic options available and can help guide them on a course to achieve their goals—both for their education and their career.

Learn more about AMES

What is direct admission?

At IU, direct admission refers to admission to specific academic programs and degree-granting schools. You may be admitted to IU through Advising & Major Exploration Services or be directly admitted into programs at one of IU Bloomington’s 12 schools.

To be directly admitted to a program, you must select an eligible major on your application for admission to IU and meet that school’s direct admission criteria. The eligibility requirements and processes for receiving direct admission are different for each school or college. To learn more about direct admission, including instructions on how to request review for direct admission, visit each school’s admissions page.

• College of Arts + Sciences
• Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design
• Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies
• Jacobs School of Music (Direct admission for the Jacobs School of Music is based upon a successful audition and/or interview.)
• Kelley School of Business
• Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering
• O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs
• School of Education
• School of Nursing
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• School of Social Work
• The Media School

Can I apply using more than one application (freshman applicants)?

Although there are two applications to choose from, you should submit only one application. There is absolutely no advantage to submitting multiple applications and this may even result in a delay in the review of your application and receipt of your admission decision. In the event that you submit multiple applications, the first complete application will be considered for admission. Please also note that application fees are non-refundable.

Why am I experiencing issues submitting my application and/or fee payment?

If you are applying on a desktop or laptop, make sure you allow pop-ups and enable third-party cookies so that your application and fee payment will be submitted correctly. If you experience any payment issues, please contact us at [email protected] or 812-855-0661 . Please note that the Apply IU Application does not work properly with Internet Explorer.

What if I’m a 21st Century Scholar?

If you are an Indiana resident and a 21st Century Scholar, please indicate that you are a 21st Century Scholar when you are completing your application for admission to IU.

What if I have received a special type of diploma or honors?

When you are competing your application for admission to IU, please indicate if you will receive any special diploma or honors, such as the following:

• Core 40 Diploma
• AICE Diploma
• Academic Honors Diploma
• National Achievement Scholar
• National Merit Semifinalist

What if I don’t have a major in mind?

Many students come to IU wanting to explore their options for a major—and that’s a good thing. If you are undecided about a specific major, mark “Exploratory (general)” on your application.

Note: The College of Arts and Sciences has its own Exploratory option. If you know you would eventually like to pursue a program in the College, but aren't sure which one, please choose "Exploratory (College)" on your application.

How much do you need to know about my high school senior year schedule (freshman applicants)?

To confirm that you will have met the high school course requirements for admission set by the IU faculty, we need to receive your full senior year schedule (not just your fall courses). We won't begin our review until this information is received.

Here are some additional pointers:

• If your school is on semesters , list your fall and spring classes.
• If you have full-year classes , list them once for fall and list the same classes again for spring.
• If you’re on trimesters , use fall, winter, and spring; list your classes three times, once for each term.

How can I ensure that my birthdate and other personal information are correct?

When entering your information, make sure to review your birthdate to make sure that you haven’t accidentally put numbers in the wrong order.

Making sure all the numbers and other information are correct will help avoid delays in processing your application.

Is an essay required?

As part of your application, regardless of which platform you choose, you will need to submit an essay. If you are applying through the Common Application, you can choose from any of the essay prompts in the application. If you are applying through Apply IU, you will need to submit the IU-specific essay using the prompt below.

IU-specific essay: In 200–400 words, describe your academic and career plans and any special interest (for example, undergraduate research, academic interests, leadership opportunities, etc.) that you are eager to pursue as an undergraduate at Indiana University. Also, if you encountered any unusual circumstances, challenges, or obstacles in pursuit of your education, you may share those experiences and how you overcame them. Please note that this essay may be used for scholarship consideration.

Should I submit supplemental information with my application, such as a counselor or teacher recommendation?

Letters of recommendation are not required as part of the application process. However, if you would like to submit these documents because they provide additional information about your academic and personal merit/accomplishments that is not indicated elsewhere in your application materials, we will accept one counselor recommendation and one teacher recommendation. Recommendations or other supplemental documents should be submitted with your official high school transcript (using your school's process for submitting electronic or paper transcripts) or included as part of your Common Application submission if you are applying through this platform.

How do I qualify for a fee waiver?

Please note that the application fee can be waived for students who have demonstrated financial need. If you feel that your financial circumstances may qualify you for a fee waiver, make sure you request a fee waiver when completing your application. Also, if you are a 21st Century Scholar or a Balfour Scholar, the application fee will be waived if you indicate you participate in one of these programs when you complete your application.

If you are submitting the Apply IU Application, you will need to submit a completed ACT , SAT , or NACAC fee waiver form that has been verified by your high school counselor. If you are submitting the Common Application, you will need to complete the fee waiver section on your profile and your counselor will need to verify your eligibility. Please note that regardless of which application you submit, an admission decision will not be made until we receive a fee waiver form/verification or your $65 application fee.

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General Scholarship Application

What is the general scholarship application.

The General Scholarship Application is utilized to determine a student's eligibility for a diverse range of IU Bloomington scholarship opportunities such as general IU scholarships and departmental scholarships specific to the student's academic program. This application includes a series of questions and an essay that should take less than 60 minutes to complete.The General Scholarship Application is open to all students, incoming and current, and is encouraged to be submitted each year for continued scholarship consideration.

This application ensures that students have equitable access to scholarship opportunities, emphasizing Indiana University's commitment to supporting student success. Please utilize the FAQs listed below for additional information and instruction regarding the General Scholarship Application. 

Things to know when accessing the application: 

• Applicants (incoming  and  current students) should be logging in to the Applicants and Administrators tab,  not the References and Reviewers tab . *See instructions below
• For incoming students, students  must create their IU computing account before they will be able to log in to the IU Scholarships task for accessing the General Scholarship Application. 
• Students can update their application after their initial submission by logging back into the IU Scholarships task, navigating to the "My Applications" tab, finding the General Application box, and selecting "Update". 

Steps to Access the General Scholarship Application

• You will need your 10-digit ID number provided in your admission email to create this account.  Please note that it may take up to 48 hours to activate your newly created computing account.
• After you have created your IU computing account and this account is activated (again, this can take up to 48 hours), you will go to One.IU and search for "scholarships" in the search bar. You will select the IU Scholarships task. 
• Once you have selected the IU Scholarships task, you will log in to the Applicants and Administrators tab through selecting the "Sign in with your CAS Credentials" option. Your "CAS Credentials" are the username and passphrase set by the student when creating their IU computing account. 
• You should not be attempting to log in under the References and Reviewers tab and should not be creating a Blackbaud ID. 
• The General Application is used to determine eligibility for many scholarships at IU. The application includes a series of questions and an essay, which should take less than 60 minutes to complete. Fill out the application and click "Finish and Submit." 
• Once you submit the General Scholarship Application, select "Other Recommended Opportunities" to see any additional scholarship opportunities you might be eligible for. You may need to complete additional applications to be considered for certain scholarships.
• Should you need to update your application after submitting, you will need to log back into the IU Scholarships task and navigate to the "My Applications" tab. Once there, scroll to the General Application and select "Update". If you update your application, please ensure you click "Finish and Submit" after making updates as the application will not automatically resubmit. 

FAQs for Incoming Students

How do i access the general scholarship application.

Once a student has receive their official admission to IU Bloomington, they are then eligible to submit the General Scholarship Application. Students should follow the steps listed below for accessing and submitting the application: 

• Create your  IU computing account , if you have not already done so.   You will need your 10-digit university ID number provided in your admission email to create this account. Please note that it may take up to 24 hours to activate your account.  
• Log in to the  IU Scholarships  task in  One.IU  using your IU computing account (IU credentials).   Do not log in using your guest account. Once logged in, select the General Application to start filling out your General Application.  
• Complete the General Application.   The General Application is used to determine eligibility for many scholarships at IU. The application includes a series of questions and an essay, which should take less than 60 minutes to complete. Fill out the application and click "Finish and Submit." Please ensure that you answer all questions thoroughly.  
• Complete any additional applications.   Once you submit the General Scholarship Application, select "Other Recommended Opportunities" to see any additional scholarship opportunities you might be eligible for. You may need to complete additional applications to be considered for certain scholarships.  

Do I need to enroll at IU Bloomington before I can access the General Scholarship Application?

No. Newly admitted, incoming students do not need to submit their Intent to Enroll to be able to access and submit the General Scholarship Application. 

When is the General Scholarship Application due?

The General Scholarship Application has a deadline of  February 1st by 11:59 p.m. EST for all incoming students. 

Can I submit the General Scholarship Application after the February 1st deadline for incoming students?

While you are technically able to submit the General Scholarship Application after the February 1st deadline, any applications submitted after this deadline will not be considered.

What do I do if I don't receive my admission decision prior to the General Scholarship Application's February 1st deadline?

Unfortunately, if a student does not receive their admission decision prior to the General Scholarship Application's deadline of February 1st, they will not be able to submit this application. While they would not be able to submit this application for scholarship consideration during their first year, all continuing students are able to, and are encouraged to, submit the General Scholarship Application each year for continued scholarship consideration. 

I thought that based on submitting my application for admission by November 1st I would be considered for scholarship opportunities. Why should I submit the General Scholarship Application too?

While it is true that  Early Action applicants will be considered for a selection of merit-based scholarship opportunities, all incoming student should also submit their General Scholarship Application if they wish to be considered for additional IU scholarship funding. 

Why are some of the scholarships in my "Recommended Opportunities" not relevant to me?

While most of the scholarship opportunities included in the "Recommended Opportunities" section are tailored to each student, there are some opportunities that have eligibility criteria that is not accounted for in the General Scholarship Application and must be self-reported. 

Who is reviewing my General Scholarship Application submission?

When you submit the General Scholarship Application, you're automatically considered for various scholarships from different awarding departments across the Bloomington campus. Which scholarships you are considered for depends on if you meet the scholarship’s eligibility criteria. Each awarding department manages its own scholarship opportunities, so the review of your application will be completed internally. This means that your application could be reviewed by multiple departments depending on what scholarships you qualify for

I need to upload a document for one of the Recommended Opportunity applications, but the document won't upload.

To upload any required documents, you must follow the instructions below:

• Your file must be either a .pdf or .docx form.
• Your file’s name cannot include the following: Commas, apostrophes, and non-alphanumeric characters outside of a-z, A-Z, and 0-9 .
• If your file contains any prohibited characters, your file will be rejected for uploading.

Once you have ensured that your file type and name meet the above requirements, you will be able to upload your file and submit your application.

FAQs for Current/Returning Students

Current students should follow the steps listed below for accessing and submitting the General Scholarship Application each year: 

Should I submit the General Scholarship Application after my first year?

Yes. Students are encouraged to continue to submit their General Scholarship Application each year that they are an IU Bloomington student. This is to ensure that the student is continuing to be reviewed and considered for additional IU scholarship opportunities.

When is the General Scholarship Application due for current/returning students?

There is not a set deadline for current students, so we encourage students to submit the General Scholarship Application as early as possible to ensure maximum scholarship consideration. 

We’re here to guide you

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Writing Tutorial Services

Personal statements & application letters, personal statements and application letters.

The process of applying for jobs, internships, and graduate/professional programs often requires a personal statement or application letter. This type of writing asks writers to outline their strengths confidently and concisely, which can be challenging.

Though the requirements differ from application to application, the purpose of this type of writing is to represent your goals, experiences and qualifications in the best possible light, and to demonstrate your writing ability. Your personal statement or application letter introduces you to your potential employer or program director, so it is essential that you allow yourself enough time to craft a polished piece of writing.

1) PREPARE YOUR MATERIALS

Before you sit down to write, do some preparation in order to avoid frustration during the actual writing process. Obtain copies of documents such as transcripts, resumes and the application form itself; keeping them in front of you will make your job of writing much easier. Make a list of important information, in particular names and exact titles of former employers and supervisors, titles of jobs you have held, companies you have worked for, dates of appropriate work or volunteer experiences, the duties involved etc. In this way, you will be able to refer to these materials while writing in order to include as much specific detail as possible.

2) WRITE A FIRST DRAFT

After you have collected and reviewed these materials, it is time to start writing. The following is a list of concerns that writers should keep in mind when writing a personal statement/application letter.

Answer the Question: A major problem for all writers can be the issue of actually answering the question being asked. For example, an application might want you to discuss the reason you are applying to a particular program or company. If you spend your entire essay or letter detailing your qualifications with no mention of what attracted you to the company or department, your statement will probably not be successful. To avoid this problem, read the question or assignment carefully both as you prepare and again just prior to writing. Keep the question in front of you as you write, and refer to it often. Consider The "I" Problem: This is a personal statement; using the first person pronoun "I" is acceptable. Writers often feel rather self-conscious about using first person excessively, either because they are modest or because they have learned to avoid first and second person ("you") in any type of formal writing. Yet in this type of writing using first person is essential because it makes your prose more lively. Using third person can result in a vague and overly wordy essay. While starting every sentence with "I" is not advisable, remember that you and your experiences are the subject of the essay. Avoid Unnecessary Duplication: Sometimes a writer has a tendency to repeat information in his or her personal statement that is already included in other parts of the application packet (resume, transcript, application form, etc.). For example, it is not necessary to mention your exact GPA or specific grades and course titles in your personal statement or application letter. It is more efficient and more effective to simply mention academic progress briefly ("I was on the Dean's List"; or "I have taken numerous courses in the field of nutrition") and then move on to discuss appropriate work or volunteer experiences in more detail. Make Your Statement Distinctive: Many writers want to make their personal statements unique or distinctive in some way as a means of distinguishing their application from the many others received by the company or program. One way to do this is to include at least one detailed example or anecdote that is specific to your own experience—perhaps a description of an important family member or personal moment that influenced your decision to pursue a particular career or degree. This strategy makes your statement distinctive and memorable. Keep It Brief: Usually, personal statements are limited to 250–500 words or one typed page, so write concisely while still being detailed. Making sure that each paragraph is tightly focused on a single idea (one paragraph on the strengths of the program, one on your research experience, one on your extracurricular activities, etc.) helps keep the essay from becoming too long. Also, spending a little time working on word choice by utilizing a dictionary and a thesaurus and by including adjectives should result in less repetition and more precise writing.

Personal Statement Format

As mentioned before, the requirements for personal statements differ, but generally a personal statement includes certain information and can follow this format (see following model).

Introduction Many personal statements begin with a catchy opening, often the distinctive personal example mentioned earlier, as a way of gaining the reader’s attention. From there you can connect the example to the actual program/position for which you are applying. Mention the specific name of the program or company, as well as the title of the position or degree you are seeking, in the first paragraph. Detailed Supporting Paragraphs Subsequent paragraphs should address any specific questions from the application, which might deal with the strengths of the program/position, your own qualifications, your compatibility with the program/position, your long-term goals or some combination thereof. Each paragraph should be focused and should have a topic sentence that informs the reader of the paragraph’s emphasis. You need to remember, however, that the examples from your experience must be relevant and should support your argument about your qualifications. Conclusion Tie together the various issues that you have raised in the essay, and reiterate your interest in this specific program or position. You might also mention how this job or degree is a step towards a long-term goal in a closing paragraph. An application letter contains many of the same elements as a personal statement, but it is presented in a business letter format and can sometimes be even shorter and more specific than a personal statement. An application letter may not contain the catchy opening of the personal statement but instead includes detailed information about the program or position and how you found out about it. Your application letter usually refers to your resume at some point. Another difference between a personal statement and an application letter is in the conclusion, which in an application letter asks for an interview.

3) REVISING THE PERSONAL STATEMENT/APPLICATION LETTER

Because this piece of writing is designed to either get you an interview or a place in a graduate school program, it is vital that you allow yourself enough time to revise your piece of writing thoroughly. This revision needs to occur on both the content level (did you address the question? is there enough detail?) and the sentence level (is the writing clear? are the mechanics and punctuation correct?). While tools such as spell-checks and grammar-checks are helpful during revision, they should not be used exclusively; you should read over your draft yourself and/or have others do so.

As a child I often accompanied my father to his small coin shop and spent hours watching him work. When I was older, I sometimes set up displays, waited on customers, and even balanced the books. This experience instilled in me the desire to own and manage my own business someday, yet I understand that the business world today is more complex. This complexity requires more education, and with that in mind, I am applying to the Master's of Business Administration program at Indiana University Bloomington (IUB). In addition to my helping out in my father’s business, I have had numerous other work experiences that further enhance my qualifications for this program. My resume enumerates the various positions I have held at Kerasotes Theaters, Chili's restaurants, and Indiana University's new Student Recreational Sports Center (SRSC), and what all of these positions have in common is an emphasis on serving the public effectively. Further, as an assistant manager at the Showplace 11 and a staff coordinator at the SRSC, I have gained valuable expertise in managing employees and creating work schedules. Both of these positions have allowed me to develop my sales and people skills, which are extremely important in an increasingly service-driven marketplace. Not all of my work experience has been as a paid employee. Part of my volunteering experience at Middleway House, the local battered women's shelter, involved extensive work on computers, including word processing, organizing databases and creating spreadsheets. Also, I recently participated in an internship program for academic credit with the Eli Lilly corporation in the personnel division. As a management intern, I was able to watch the workings of a major corporation up close and would like the opportunity to combine my experiences with the theoretical background available in the MBA program at IUB, with its emphasis on computers, marketing and human resources. My successful internship is one element of my overall academic success as an undergraduate here at IUB, yet I have also made time for a variety of extracurricular activities, including working for my sorority and competing in intramural basketball. My positive experiences here have resulted in my desire to stay in Bloomington to continue my academic endeavors; furthermore, continuing my education here would allow me to make important business contacts, with the career goal of opening my own computer consulting firm in the Midwest.

Produced by Writing Tutorial Services, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN

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Is it worth applying to SSA scholarships?

in the title, basically, will I get any substantial extra aid?

My stats and such are posted in the chance me below.

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/2159723-chance-me-ut-austin-unc-chapel-hill-carnegie-mellon-u-mich-p1.html

Thanks for the help!!!

My daughter only received 3,000 yearly from provost and applied to SSA with good recommendations. She did not take ACT, 1370 SAT not super scored she only took it once; with a 3.98 weighted GPA but her school has a very limited number of college/ap classes available. Her full scholarships after SSA combined for $16,500 yearly. It was nearly mid April before they were all awarded.

@momiu2023 My daughter is accepted to Kelley and got $4000 yearly. She also got accepted to our in state business school UMASS Isenberg. She would really rather go to Kelley but is struggling with the decision due to financial reasons. Would you mind giving more details about how your daughter received that much scholarship? And not to pry but was some of it due to family income etc? We are fortunate to be in a situation that we live fairly comfortable but we are unfortunate where we really cannot afford to pay for our 3rd child tuition in full. We are in that grey area of make enough not to get aid but not enough to pay in full. Are you in state or out of state? We are out of state and I notice there are many scholarships for in state students. Thank you

@momiu2023 wow. Congrats to her. Am glad I filled out the SSA essays. Figured wouldn’t be that much opportunity. Perhaps there is. Was glad to get the deans award of 11k but more merit would make IU more competitive to other schools.

@Finalchildof3 Congratulations on your Admissions. S20 was also admitted to Kelley. He was hoping to be in the top range of the Dean Scholarship but he only received $6000 . He was invited to apply to the Holland scholarship which could potentially add another $6000. However, he has chosen to NOT apply and move on from IU altogether. Part of the reasoning has been affordability and the fact that he did not want to write more essays knowing full well that the results would not be there. Had he been able to be on the top range of the Deans Scholarship, then it would have made a lot of sense to apply via the SSA portal in order to increase his chances of receiving more scholarships.

What is your in-state school? Not sure what your other options are, but Isenberg is an excellent Business school. Have you visited IU and Kelley?

@1917souci We have not visited the school yet. We did a tour of southern schools last spring but fall sports have prohibited us from visiting the northern schools she applied to. WE are waiting on Ohio State and then we are going to do a loop but IU is her top choice. We are in MA so UMASS Isenberg is our state school. She got $4000 a year for IU but we do not see an invitation to fill out SSA. Is this something we can ask for? or are we just not looking in the right place. I appreciate any help you or anyone can offer. Im just trying to help my daughter go to the school she really wants to go to, Thanks

@Finalchildof3 We received an email a few weeks after he was admitted, inviting him to apply to this scholarship via the SSA portal. When you go on the IU portal, you should be able to click on a little box that says scholarships. This is where you should be able to find the SSA information.

D18 goes to OSU and LOVES IT. S20 was also admitted to OSU and he is waiting for scholarship information. We are an OOS state for both schools so merit is very important. I visited IU twice. Probably one of the most beautiful schools out there and very different than OSU. I love OSU for different reasons. One of which is the location. Different vibes, but no right or wrong.

My son received an invitation to apply for the SSA when the crimson envelope came in the mail. Then two days ago he received a letter in the mail reminding him that the deadline to apply is January 15th. I just wanted to let you know of the deadline in case any of you are interested in applying. It was a fair amount of work and took a bit for my son to complete.

Does anyone know what the criteria is for SSA? Im thinking maybe my daughters stats are just not good enough for a SSA invite. We scoured every piece of paper and email and IU portal and do not see any mention of SSA. Thanks

@Finalchildof3 I cannot tell you the answer to this. I don’t think it is merely driven by stats. For example, I have two IU applicants this year. They are twins who were both admitted, but have very different stats. My lower stat child received an SSA invitation and my higher stat kid did not. Strange, I know. I did call the scholarship office to confirm, just in case it was a mistake. They couldn’t explain it to me, but said it was right. No rhyme or reason known to us.

Does anyone know about the writing style they’re looking for in the SSA analytical essay? It says to do something that interests you, yet it also seems to ask for it to be written like a research paper. Not sure whether I should add any first person, or personal references, at least in the introduction.

My son is currently a senior in Kelley. He received the initial 11k and with the SSA he got another 6k per year. I want to let everyone know- he filled out the SSA every year and got an additional 1-2k in scholarship money each year! (We are OOS) He studied abroad last spring and applied for additional study abroad scholarships and got 2 of them- one from Hutton and one from Kelley- that entire semester cost us under $1,200! So if you decide to go to IU I highly recommend you apply for scholarships yearly.

@1S1Dforcollege - thanks for the help! I hope your son has enjoyed Kelley - what other schools did he consider and how’s experience been at IU? Thanks

He has had a great experience at Kelley! Had summer internships between sophomore and junior year and again last summer. He is in the consulting workshop and has a consulting job lined up after graduation. He was accepted to His dream school- Michigan as a direct to Ross, but no merit money so out of our budget. Also offered a full tuition scholarship to Temple, but not the campus he wanted. IU checked many boxes and he had many opportunities which he took full advantage of, turned out to be his “dream school!”

@1S1Dforcollege - very nice…was it difficult to get into the consulting workshop? Thanks again for your feedback!

@1S1Dforcollege - you’re right 75k vs. 25-35 w/merit or even less is a huge difference…am waiting to see what I can get from SSA after the Deans 11k.

You have to complete an application and then there is an interview process. They only take 30 students per year so it is rather competitive. Most of these kids already have jobs at some of the top consulting firms, before second semester even starts.

Are both kids going to the same school in IU? It looks like some of the schools use the SSA, like Computing, and others do not, like Kelley.

We have been pretty impressed with IU, but do find these sorts of things unsettling as we consider the place. Given the size of IU and how much goes on there, I worry that the system may be hard to navigate. It is not made better by this sort of unclear stuff that leaves you with this unsettled feeling that maybe you missed something that others were somehow informed about.

Congrats to your son! Sounds like he has made his experience at Kelley really worthwhile. How did he feel about the level of competition there? With close to 2,000 kids in a class and only 30 in this workshop, 80 or so in IB etc., are the kids constantly having to jockey for position? Do they have to pick career paths quickly to make sure they are in good shape to get these spots? MY DS was DA to Kelley and really likes it. I can see how the size allows them to offer a really wide range of things, which is part of what my son likes. But I am trying to get my head around whether that also means there is constant competition for everything. A little competition is good, but if you need to be constantly on to keep getting the resources, I would think that gets old.

@nonamefits Yes, they applied to the same school, same major. It didn’t bother me much that higher stat kid didn’t get the SSA offer, because to be honest, it’s harder to get her to do the extra scholarship apps. However, I called to see what the protocol was to be sure the other was correct, and literally nobody In the scholarship office could explain it. Very peculiar.

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Indiana University Undergraduate College Application Essays

These Indiana University college application essays were written by students accepted at Indiana University. All of our sample college essays include the question prompt and the year written. Please use these sample admission essays responsibly.

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College Application Essays accepted by Indiana University

Nine mile nicole e. dipaolo, indiana university.

As is the case with many twelve-year-old sixth graders, I used to be a little self-centered. I was in the middle of puberty, with hormones raging and jumbling my mind in all kinds of ways, and the fact that I was slightly socially awkward and seen...

Willow Tree Anonymous

June 4th 2006

The volunteers in the red shirts direct us to enter our corrals. It's race time. Twenty-three thousand of us cram into our assigned areas and stand shoulder-to-shoulder, no room to move. I know what lies in wait—fifty-four...

A Keyboard in my Crib Anonymous

(Note: This was for an undergraduate transfer application.)

My musical journey began innocently enough, in my infancy, with a toy keyboard placed in my crib as a diversion. Though I would not begin formal instruction on an instrument for several...

Finding Your Animal Totem Brad Boyle

"On Thursday," announced my religion teacher, "we will be going to the zoo to find our animal totems." For those that don’t know, an animal totem represents the Native American belief that each person has a connection to a specific animal. I was...

My Life Jordan Williams

“Jooooorrrrddddannnnn,” my mom screamed with utter fear and panic in her voice. Surprisingly, amongst all of the chaos, her voice was all that I heard. I’m not sure if I was disoriented, bewildered or just in complete shock but at that particular...

Home Away From Home Laith Nasfat Shehadeh

For many of my friends, summer break means swimming at the local pool and hanging out at our downtown movie theater. Yet for me, summer means traveling 6,000 miles to a completely different country, where I speak a completely different language...

Hook, Line and thinker. Dan Schwarz

To many, it may seem farfetched to associate the feeling of being perfectly content with a sport as salty as fishing, but not to me. The way the cork grip of a fishing rod gingerly held between my fingers instills the feeling of being so...

Fingerprints Paris Silverman

Taking my spot in the third seat, I face the coxswain as she commands our boat. As we push off the dock, adrenaline runs through my veins. As my stomach leaps into my throat, hands sweating, I tenuously maintain my grip on the oar. As the “new...

Dealing with Failure in the Floral Business Anonymous

It was an ideal day for a wedding. The sun was shining and was seventy degrees on top of one of downtown Cleveland’s taller rooftops. The airshow was to my right, and the entire span of the Cleveland skyline to my left. The wind died down as we...

From America with Russian Love Fiona Jenna Blumin

A vivacious and carefree four-year-old, I dropped my paintbrush, splattering globs of blue paint all over my t-shirt and classmates nearby. Immediately, my thin lips transformed into an enormous grin. My grandpa, or as we say in Russian, my ...

97% Allegra Mendonsa

97%. That is the survival rate for thyroid cancer. It’s the first thing I looked up after my diagnosis. I felt like something inside me shattered. I told myself I could live with that because, statistically speaking, I would be okay.

However, my...

A Tale of Two Teeth Anonymous

Sweat droplets streamed down my cheeks. It was an odd, balmy April day and my friend Grant and I had just finished an amiable game of street hockey when boredom began to claw at our minds. As the sun started to sink below the horizon, I focused my...

Costumes Emma Sapp

My love for wearing costumes developed as a child. Even today, I’d have to say, I still enjoy wearing them. As the president of the DECA chapter at my school, I get to dress up in pant suits and pearls, while role-playing as a CEO. While my...

Only Time Will Tell Anonymous

I’ll always remember that drive; there was a crisp summer breeze sailing in through my window and the taste of early-morning dew still hung in the air. My heart was beating so fast, I could hardly hear my favorite song, “Sweet Caroline”, blasting...

Beauty Anonymous

Anyone can find beauty in ordinary things: the ivory snow falling outside a foggy window on a January morning, the rainbow that appears after a thunderstorm, or the almost formulaic pink and orange hues of a sunset over the horizon. But these...

More Than a Reflection Morgan Jankowski

There are times when I gaze out of the windows of the South Shore Train and see nothing more than the softened edges of verdant forests and the blurred outlines of monotonous buildings. I watch as the clouds move, change shape, and reform yet...

Camper to Counselor Anonymous

I stood on the platform above Corey Lake at Camp Eberhart, goosebumps slowly forming as my teeth chattered from the cold wind’s touch on my bare skin. My eyes fixated on the dark blue hues and the ripples forming in the water below me. My hands...

Last Place...? Stacy Park

My choir director points at me, whispering, “You’re next.” Those daunting words make me falter back to my chair. As I wait for my turn, my hands start trembling with fear. I immediately slap my wrist hard enough for the choir director to turn...

The Edge Jillian Konikow

A six-year-old girl stands at the edge, unsure about the leap she must take. She is nervous; very aware of the challenge at hand and the expectations she must meet. In the next moment, she finds herself suspended in the air, entering the watery...

Uninvent Your Camera Anonymous

Photos freeze the world in place for just a moment. In the rapidly moving world, it’s refreshing to look at a photo, stop the earth’s spin, and live in the past for a few minutes. Photos are sentiments—souvenirs of a time and place that has...

Packet of Tissue Anonymous

“You are going to a boarding school in Singapore,” said my parents one day.

The decision to send me off to boarding school came as a surprise for my family’s acquaintances. It came as a shock to me --- especially since I did not even know what the...

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