Common App, UT Austin, and Texas A&M
Most colleges use established essay prompts to help students share meaningful experiences from their lives. These prompts guide students toward stories that reveal character, values, and personal growth. Understanding the major prompts helps students choose topics that align with their lived experiences and support strong, reflective writing.
Common App Personal Essay Prompts (650 words)
The Common App personal essay is accepted by more than 1,000 colleges. Students choose one prompt from the list below. Each prompt encourages storytelling rooted in personal experience, reflection, and insight.
The Seven Common App Prompts
Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, please share your story.
The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.
These prompts work well for students who want to explore a formative moment or a steady pattern in their lives. Personal anecdotes are especially effective because they help admissions officers understand the student’s perspective and development.
UT Austin Essay Requirements
UT Austin continues to accept both the Common App and ApplyTexas. Beginning with Fall 2025 admissions, the university has simplified its writing requirements. The long 650‑word growth essay and the three older supplements have been removed. Students now complete one required essay and two short supplemental responses. These changes reduce the overall writing load for applicants.
Required Essay (500–650 words)
Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.
This prompt is identical to Common App Prompt #7.
By definition, this means that students can respond to any Common App prompt, not just #7. Students therefore may submit any essay that reflects their lived experiences, personal growth, or meaningful insights.
Supplemental Essays (250–300 words each)
1. First‑Choice Major Essay
Why are you interested in the major you indicated as your first‑choice major?
Students can explain how their interest developed and how their experiences shaped that interest. A clear narrative works well here. Students may reference academic exposure, personal projects, responsibilities, or observations that guided their thinking. When exploring career pathways, students can consult the U.S. Department of Labor’s ONET database for detailed descriptions of hundreds of occupations. Themes from ONET can help students articulate long‑term goals in a grounded way.
2. Activity or Responsibility Essay
Think of all the activities — both in and outside of school — that you have been involved with during high school. Which one are you most proud of and why?
(Guidance for students: This can include an extracurricular activity, a club or organization, volunteer activity, work, or a family responsibility.)
This prompt invites students to highlight a meaningful experience. Students may describe how they contributed to a group, supported others, developed a skill, or took on a responsibility. Many students choose to reflect on leadership, service, or steady commitment. A focused anecdote helps illustrate the significance of the experience.
Optional Essay
Please share background on events or special circumstances that you feel may have impacted your high school academic performance.
Students may use this space if they experienced significant adversity such as financial hardship, family responsibilities, health challenges, or loss. This prompt is optional and should be used only when the context helps admissions officers understand the student’s academic record.
Texas A&M Essay Requirements
Texas A&M accepts both ApplyTexas and the Common App. The university uses one required essay, two supplemental essays, and several scholarship‑related “stealth” questions. Engineering applicants no longer complete a separate engineering supplement.
Required Essay
Texas A&M’s required essay prompt is the same across both platforms:
“Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today?”
Students can describe meaningful experiences, responsibilities, or challenges that influenced their development. Personal anecdotes help illustrate growth and perspective.
Supplemental Essays (Common App Writing Section)
Essay Topic 1 (250 words)
Tell us about the person who has most impacted your life and why.
Students may describe a family member, mentor, teacher, coach, or another individual who influenced their values or direction. A brief anecdote helps show the nature of the relationship.
Essay Topic 2 (250 words)
Describe a life event which you feel has prepared you to be successful in college.
Students can reflect on a responsibility, challenge, project, or experience that strengthened their readiness for college‑level work and independence.
Engineering Supplement
The Engineering Essay/Short Answer Question is no longer part of the freshman application. No engineering supplement is required.
Stealth Essays (TAMU Endowment Scholarships)
These questions appear in the scholarship section after the writing portion of the application. Students enter responses directly into text boxes. These questions do not appear on ApplyTexas.
- Why have you chosen to apply to Texas A&M University? (50 words)
- Why have you chosen your academic major(s)? (50 words)
- Briefly describe any educational plans you have beyond earning your bachelor's degree. (50 words)
- What are some of your life goals and objectives? (50 words)
- How do you show leadership in your life? How do you see yourself being a leader at Texas A&M University?
or
Describe an example of your leadership. Be sure to describe your actions and the actions of those around you and to explain what you accomplished. (550 words)
These responses help the scholarship committee understand the student’s motivations, goals, and leadership experiences.
Engineering Honors Essays
The Engineering Honors application opens in early November 2026. Requirements for this cycle have not yet been released. In prior years, applicants completed three 500‑word short answers, one 1,000‑word supplement, and submitted a separate letter of recommendation. Students interested in Engineering Honors should monitor Texas A&M’s official updates.
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