UIUC Supplemental Essays 2024-2025: Writing Tips + Examples

Applicants to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) must submit two or three supplemental essays. The exact number depends on whether they select a second-choice major. The prompts for the required essays will also vary based on the applicant’s first-choice major or if they apply to the undeclared program.

UIUC has an acceptance rate of 42.4%, making it a fairly selective school. However, don’t be misled by that number—UIUC is highly ranked in several areas, including an impressive #9 spot among the best public schools.

To help improve your chances of being accepted, we’ll discuss how to write UIUC supplemental essays, including tips and examples of strong responses.

• UIUC Supplemental Essay Prompts
• How to Write the UIUC Supplemental Essays (Specific Major)
• How to Write the UIUC Supplemental Essays (Undeclared Program)
• How to Write the UIUC Supplemental Essay (Second-Choice Major)
• Mistakes to Avoid When Writing UIUC Supplemental Essays
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

UIUC Supplemental Essay Prompts

UIUC requires two to three supplemental essays on top of the Common App personal statement. How many and what specific prompts you need to answer depends on a few things.

If you’re applying to a specific major, here are the prompts:

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

If you’re applying to the undeclared program in the division of exploratory studies:

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

If you’ve selected a second-choice major (including undeclared):

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

As you can see, UIUC has very program-specific prompts. We’ll go through all of them individually below.

How to Write the UIUC Supplemental Essays (Specific Major)

If you selected a specific major for your first choice, get ready to talk about the journey that shaped your decision and your aspirations after graduation.

For this prompt, UIUC wants to see a recent concrete example of your engagement with something related to your first-choice major. The admissions team is looking for genuine passion, insight into your chosen field, and proof of growth or learning from that experience.

Brainstorming ideas

To help you choose a recent related experience, here are some ideas to get you started:

• Review your activities. List extracurriculars, classes, projects, or other personal endeavors related to your major. Are you an aspiring Animal Sciences major who volunteered at your local animal shelter? Or a future biochemist who participated in the Summer Science Program?
• Focus on specific moments. Pinpoint a single, impactful event or task. Did you overcome a hurdle? Did you have a moment of clarity or a new understanding?
• Connect it to your major. What aspects of your chosen major excite you? Let your experience reflect that passion. Did you enjoy babysitting toddlers and children, which could be helpful in the Early Childhood Education program?

Essay structure tips + examples

Once you’ve chosen an experience you want to talk about, here’s how you can write about it:

• Briefly set the stage. You don’t have a lot of words to work with for the prompt, so immediately start the scene. What were you doing, and where?
• Give details. Describe the event in detail—what happened, your role, and specific insights gained. How did this experience solidify your interest?
• Connect it to your ambitions. Summarize how this experience has shaped your academic goals or future ambitions in your chosen field.

Let’s say your selected major is computer science, and you participated in a hackathon where your team built a mobile app for local food bank donations. Your essay could look something like this:

• “The fluorescent lights of the hackathon hummed, a stark contrast to the late-night energy. My team, running on caffeine and ambition, faced a huge standstill: our food bank donation app’s database refused to synchronize. I immersed myself in Firebase documentation, tracing the error through lines of code. The breakthrough arrived when I recognized a misplaced asynchronous function, a tiny detail that had massive implications. 
• “As the app’s real-time donation counter finally sprang to life, a rush of accomplishment surged through me. This wasn’t just fixing a bug, it was witnessing the tangible impact of my code. Seeing how data flow could directly support community needs solidified my drive to pursue Computer Science. The experience emphasized the power of problem-solving and the potential for software to bridge gaps, reinforcing my desire to contribute to innovative, impactful projects.”

This is a good essay since you get the context of the experience/challenge right from the start. Rather than simply saying your app’s database wasn’t synchronizing, you also hinted at its gravity and the work you and your teammates have already put into it.

Then you showed what you did, and how you fixed the problem. You also inserted your realizations from the experience and how it connects to your aspirations.

In this essay, you’ll talk about how your major will help you achieve specific, realistic goals after you graduate from UIUC.

Brainstorming ideas

This is a prompt that looks for very specific things. Here are tips to help you put together some good ideas:

• Think of your goals. What do you want to achieve professionally and personally? Where do you see yourself in 5, 10, or 20 years? Do you hope to establish your own architecture firm? Think about experiences or influences that shaped your career vision.
• Look at UIUC resources. How will UIUC’s programs, faculty, or research opportunities help you achieve your goals?
• Connect the dots. Identify how the skills, knowledge, or network gained from your major will help you reach your goals.

Essay structure tips + examples

When you already have a vision for your future self, here’s how you can write about it:

• Start with your goals. Introduce your primary career or personal goal.
• Connect to your major. Explain how your program can help you with the specific skills or knowledge you’ll gain.
• Discuss UIUC’s role. Mention specific UIUC resources or opportunities. Talk about coursework, research opportunities, internships, or other aspects that can be especially helpful.

Let’s say you want to develop sustainable urban design as a civil engineer. You can start your essay by immediately introducing your vision. In this case, say you want to create resilient and eco-conscious cities.

You can connect it to your major by explaining how UIUC’s civil engineering emphasizes structural analysis and environmental engineering, which will give you the technical expertise needed to design infrastructure that minimizes ecological impact.

Talk more about how UIUC, in particular, can help you achieve your goal. Maybe the labs and research opportunities, especially in sustainable materials and smart city technologies, are especially useful in developing innovative solutions.

End the essay by reiterating how UIUC and its civil engineering program can help you reach your goals.

How to Write the UIUC Supplemental Essays (Undeclared Program)

Not sure what you want to major in as a UIUC student yet? That’s okay, the admissions officers still want to know what you might be interested in.

Even though you’re applying to the undeclared program, UIUC still wants to see your intellectual curiosity and how it aligns with UIUC’s academic offerings.

Brainstorming ideas

You don’t have to wait until the start of your junior year to really think about what program to join. To help you reflect on your interests and possible majors, here are some brainstorming ideas to get you started:

• Think of your interests. Think about classes, projects, or extracurriculars that have inspired you. What particular topics are you most curious about? Look for any recurring patterns in your interests. Did you realize your favorite part of any exam was the essay portion where you can showcase your writing skills? Did you spend hours on YouTube learning how to sew your own clothes?
• Connect them to possible majors. Research potential majors that align with your interests. If you’re an artist, Studio Art isn’t your only option. You can also think of Graphic Design or the design concentrations in the Theater program.
• Explain the connections. Think of why each of your options can be a good fit for your interests. If you’re an artist who’s also passionate about the environment, the Graphic Design program lets you take electives in sustainability while furthering your skills in other aspects of art. Alternatively, Sustainable Design is a program that focuses on designing sustainable communities.

Essay structure tips + examples

When you have two or three majors in mind, here’s how you can talk about them:

• Start with your interests. Introduce your academic passions.
• Connect to specific majors. Explain how your interests relate to certain majors.
• Give specific reasons for those majors. Explain why each major appeals to you. You can mention courses, research, or faculty that interest you. Talk about how these interests and potential majors will help shape your academic journey.

Maybe your main academic interest is the world of biological systems and their application to solving global challenges. Here’s a sample response for that:

• “My main academic interest is the complex world of biological systems and their application to solve global challenges. This passion makes me consider Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) and Bioengineering at UIUC.
• “MCB interests me because of its exploration of cellular mechanisms and genetic pathways—particularly UIUC’s focus on genomics and developmental biology. Meanwhile, Bioengineering combines engineering principles and biological knowledge, which aligns with my aspiration to design innovative medical technologies.
• “I am drawn to UIUC’s state-of-the-art labs and research opportunities, especially in tissue engineering and synthetic biology. The idea of working with experts and contributing to groundbreaking research in these fields excite me. Ultimately, I hope to leverage my understanding of biological systems to develop solutions that improve human health and well-being.”

This is a strong essay since you immediately state your interest and which majors you’re considering to support that. You also explain your reasons for choosing each program by giving topics and other aspects that especially interest you. You then end the essay by expressing excitement that whichever of the two programs you ultimately choose, you have the same goal.

This prompt wants to see your long-term vision and how your past experiences, particularly in high school, have shaped it.

Brainstorming ideas

• Think of your goals. What career or academic path do you see yourself on? Do you envision closing sales with clients? Do you see yourself in the laboratory mixing chemicals?
• Remember high school. Think of high school experiences (from classes to extracurriculars) that were the most impactful to you. Did you enjoy interacting with children as a volunteer at UNICEF? Did you end up in a rabbit hole while researching the foundational theories of entrepreneurship?
• Make the connection. Explain how those experiences influenced your goals. Did you love your foreign language classes and hope to become a translator/interpreter?

Essay structure tips + examples

Once you have your ideas ready, here’s how you can structure your response:

• Introduce your goals. State your future career or academic aspirations.
• Describe the impact of your high school experience. Talk about your impactful high school experience and what you realized from it.
• Explain the connection. Explain how your experience/s influenced your academic or career journey and how UIUC fits in.

Keeping in mind the tips above, here’s a sample essay:

• “My future academic goal is to contribute to advancements in renewable energy research. In high school, AP Environmental Science sparked my fascination with sustainable solutions. The course’s exploration of climate change and energy alternatives inspired me to find innovative ways to reduce our carbon footprint. Additionally, my physics courses gave me a strong foundation in understanding energy principles. Being part of the Environmental Protection Agency Student Internship Program also gave me hands-on experience working in related fields.
• “These experiences solidified my decision to pursue a degree that can let me study and innovate energy systems—such as Renewable Energy Systems Engineering or Mechanical Engineering. I am particularly interested in UIUC’s research in solar and wind energy technologies. I aspire to work on developing more efficient and cost-effective renewable energy solutions, contributing to a sustainable future.”

This is a good response since you state your goal clearly at the start. You continue by citing several high school experiences that shaped your goal. Despite applying to the undeclared program, you still mentioned majors that can help you achieve those aspirations and what about UIUC interests you that’s related to your goal.

How to Write the UIUC Supplemental Essay (Second-Choice Major)

If you selected a second-choice major (even if it’s the undeclared program), you have another essay to write.

For this prompt, UIUC wants a clear explanation of either why this second option is appealing to you or what your overall academic/career goals are.

Brainstorming ideas

To help you think of which part of the prompt you should answer, here are some brainstorming ideas:

• Think of your interests. What other areas of study or career paths appeal to you? Consider classes, projects, or personal moments that sparked your interest and try to pinpoint events that solidified your career or academic goals.
• Explore your second choice. Look for connections between your first and second choices, if possible. Maybe your first- and second-choice majors are Statistics and Computer Science. If you’re accepted in your second choice, what aspects of it are appealing to you and what are its other potential applications?
• Reflect on your broader goals. What are your overall goals? What career do you want to have when you graduate? Maybe you’re an aspiring data scientist, and both Statistics and Computer Science give you a good foundation in different aspects of it.

Essay structure tips + examples

If you want to talk about your interest in your second choice, here’s how to structure your essay:

• Introduce your major. What’s your second choice? You can introduce it as a major that’s connected to your first choice, or a program that satisfies a completely different interest. You can say something as simple as “Beyond computer science, I’m also deeply fascinated by mathematics.”
• Explain your interest in the major. Why did you choose that particular major as a second choice? What about it interests you? It can be something like, “The theoretical underpinnings of computation, particularly discrete mathematics and number theory, amaze me. I see mathematics as the fundamental language of problem-solving, providing the abstract framework for algorithms and data structures.”
• Highlight specific appealing aspects. What about that program at UIUC makes you interested? Going back to the mathematics example, you can say something like, “UIUC’s strong mathematics department, with its focus on pure and applied mathematics, offers the ideal environment to explore these connections.”

Meanwhile, if you choose to talk about your overall academic or career goals, here’s how you can structure your essay:

• State your goals. Clearly state your overarching academic or career goals. For example, you can start your essay with “My overarching goal is to contribute to the development of sustainable and ethical AI systems.”
• Connect to your interests. Explain how your interests align with these goals. For instance, you can say, “I would like to work on projects that prioritize fairness and transparency after realizing the potential impact of AI on society. This involves a multidisciplinary approach, combining my interests in computer science, ethics, and social justice.”
• Lay out a plan. Provide specific examples of how you plan to achieve these goals. This doesn’t need to be foolproof, but it’s a good idea to show UIUC that you already have some plan in mind for how you might use their resources to your advantage. For example: “I plan to leverage UIUC’s resources, including its AI research labs and ethics courses, to gain the necessary knowledge and skills. Post-graduation, I aim to work in research or development, focusing on AI applications that benefit society while minimizing potential harm.”

Mistakes to Avoid When Writing UIUC Supplemental Essays

UIUC supplemental essays have very program-specific prompts, so it might be a bit easier to slip up in your essays. To prevent you from making mistakes, here are some pitfalls to be aware of while you’re writing:

1. Failing to show personal reflection

Simply stating what you did without saying what you learned shows a lack of self-awareness. UIUC wants a story where you show what you learned and how the experience changed you.

So, don’t just say “I was in the robotics club, and we built a robot for a competition.” Be specific. Show what the experience meant to you. You can do it by writing “Through the robotics club, I learned the importance of collaborative problem solving, and that failure is a necessary step to innovation. When our robot failed to complete the task, we analyzed the problem and redesigned the arm. This experience taught me resilience.”

2. Lacking connection to UIUC

UIUC’s prompts are very specific to the program/s you put in your application. You should talk about why you selected those programs, and the other underlying question is how can UIUC in particular be a good fit for you as well.

If you’re applying for psychology, don’t just say “I’m interested in studying psychology.” Say why you want to study in the program, and why in UIUC among other institutions that also offer psychology. So, you can instead say something like “I’m interested in psychology’s focus on cognitive processes and social dynamics, particularly UIUC’s research in human-computer interaction.”

3. Ignoring the prompt’s specific requirements

Not following the prompt’s requirements can show a lack of attention to detail. Outline your response before writing your essay to help you check if the structure responds to what the prompt is asking for.

For example, for the prompt that asks for two to three majors you’re considering and why, the why is very important. Don’t just say you’re choosing between neuroscience, neural engineering, and behavioral neuroscience. Explain that maybe you’re very interested in how the brain works and you’re thinking of going deeper into either how that affects behavior or how it intersects with engineering.

The word count is also part of the prompt’s requirements, so make sure your essays are cohesive and compelling while staying under 150 words.

4. Submitting an essay with errors

Submitting an essay with grammar issues and typos also reflects poorly on your attention to detail and ability to articulate your thoughts clearly. It can also confuse the reader and distract them from your main message.

Before submitting your essays, proofread and revise several times. Have someone else look over your essay so you know how your essay comes across to other people. A college essay editor can especially help you craft responses that will be impactful to admissions officers.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does UIUC have supplemental essays?

Yes, UIUC has supplemental essays. They are major-specific prompts that should be answered in 150 words each.

2. How many supplemental essays does UIUC have?

UIUC has two to three supplemental essays. How many and what prompts you choose from depends on whether you’re applying to a specific major or to the undeclared program, and if you have a second-choice major.

3. How important are UIUC supplemental essays?

UIUC supplemental essays are very important since they let you showcase your personality, academic interests, and career ambitions and articulate how the institution can help you achieve your goals.

Takeaways

UIUC supplemental essays reveal your unique perspective, showing why you’re a strong candidate and how you’ll contribute to the UIUC community.

• You’ll need to submit two to three supplemental essays, depending on whether you’ve selected a second-choice major. However, the two prompts you answer will depend on if you applied to a specific major or to the undecided program.
• Some mistakes to avoid when writing UIUC supplemental essays are failing to show personal reflection, lacking connection to UIUC, ignoring the prompt’s specific requirements, and submitting an essay with errors.
• Writing major-specific essays can feel especially nerve-wracking since UIUC really wants to see from the start how you’ll fit in within the certain community you’re applying for. Fortunately, a private admissions consultant can help you tailor and refine your essays to UIUC and the prompts you should answer.