Perhaps what you choose to talk about has a particularly shocking statistic. Morning Afternoon Evening. You could write about something more personal, like your family history, or something pertaining to your academic interests, unc chapel hill essay, like the history of women in computer science! Expand upon one aspect of your identity. Think of the answer to that question as unc chapel hill essay frame for your essay and fill the details in with the words you have left. The author here uses her first paragraph to expand on a part of her identity being Asian American and the second paragraph to expand on how that part of her identity has shaped her values and perceptions.
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill requires all applicants to write two essays and answer four short answer prompts. Applicants to the honors college or the Global Gap Year Fellowship will also be required to submit an additional essay for their respective program. Because of how many applicants UNC Chapel Hill gets each year with comparable GPAs and test scores, essays are the chief way admissions officers differentiate between applicants and ultimately decide which student they want at their university, unc chapel hill essay. Read this UNC Chapel Hill essay example to inspire your writing.
Do you want to know your chances of getting into UNC? Calculate your chances for free right now. In addition to the unc chapel hill essay you provided with your Common Application, please choose two of the prompts below and respond to each in words. Your essay responses below should be different from your common app essay response. Carolina aspires to build a diverse and inclusive community. We believe that students can only achieve their best when they learn alongside students from different backgrounds. In reading your responses, we hope to learn what being unc chapel hill essay member of such a community would mean to you. Option 1: Describe a peer you see as a community builder.
What actions has that peer taken? How has their work made a difference in your life? Option 2: Describe an aspect of your identity for example, your religion, culture, race, sexual or gender identity, affinity group, etc. How has this aspect of your identity shaped your life unc chapel hill essay thus far? Option 3: If you could change one thing to better your community, what would it be? Why is it important and how would you contribute to this change? How does history shape who you are? Please submit a short essay that describes your academic interests and the ways you believe Honors Carolina can help you pursue them. Why do you want to take a service-based Gap Year before entering Carolina and in what ways are you hoping to grow during this time?
Before we dive into the specifics of unc chapel hill essay to answer each of these short prompts, remember that limiting your responses to only 25 words requires writing answers that are straightforward and direct. Be honest with what you write, unc chapel hill essay, but also think critically about the different aspects of your personality you are highlighting with each answer. However, overanalyzing what you think the admissions officers want you to write misses the point of showcasing your individuality. One family tradition I cherish: 25 words, unc chapel hill essay. Writing about a family tradition should be something highly personal and important to you. There are many different traditions you could choose to write about.
Perhaps you and your mom make homemade tamales every month to donate to a homeless shelter. You could possibly talk about how your family always decorates your house as a spooky haunted house for Halloween. The possibilities really are endless here. The key is to choose a tradition that is important and unique to your family. It can be happy, sentimental, or ridiculous, but it has to be yours. This I believe: 25 words. This prompt is very open-ended which gives you a lot of flexibility. Here are a few ideas of what you could do with a prompt like this:.
The quality I most admire in myself: 25 words. You should start by brainstorming a few facets of your personality you think admissions officers should know about. A common mistake students typically make with this type of prompt is trying to present themselves as too impressive. Your response should be about one quality, not a laundry list of ways you are exceptional. While you can talk about more generic qualities like your confidence, honesty, determination, or optimism, responses that are more unique will probably be more interesting for admissions officers. Or possibly you admire the way you organize your binders in your locker because it means you save time between classes when you know exactly where everything belongs.
Examples like these are humorous and creative, but still will provide some insight into your personality. One protagonist I identify with: 25 words. It might feel overwhelming to choose just one character you identify with especially for avid book or movie fansbut this is another great chance for you to show one of your personality traits through the lens of a different character. In fact, you could pick just about anyone you wanted! A female student who wants to be a world leader might talk about how she identifies with the resilience and tactfulness Cleopatra displayed in the face of discrimination and doubt, unc chapel hill essay.
Although the prompt asks for a protagonist, perhaps you feel there is a certain villain who is misunderstood and you believe they were the protagonist of their story. There are an infinite number of options for you to unc chapel hill essay from. You should make sure there is something in common with whatever protagonist you choose. Here, unc chapel hill essay, UNC hopes to understand what kind of people and ideas you value and assess whether they are comparable to the type of students, unc chapel hill essay, faculty, and values found at UNC. In answering this prompt, it is helpful to research the qualities and skills UNC values in its students and faculty.
These points can be helpful for you to consider or reference if you are having a hard time pinpointing a specific interaction with a particular community leader. For the most successful essay, it is crucial that you write about an authentic moment. To begin the brainstorming process, draft a list of individuals that come to mind immediately. Possible examples include peers, local activists, teachers, club leaders, coaches, directors, conductors, religious leaders, etc. Then reflect upon what values or practices resonate with you. How does this person facilitate community? Can I discuss them for an entire essay? After briefly glancing down at the stand in front of him, Mr, unc chapel hill essay. We watch as the audience leans forward, to hear the unc chapel hill essay of the flute.
As I glance at my sheet music for my entrance, not for another thirty measures, I am reminded of something Grauer said to us. When asked why music was important, he responded. But you never know when someone is going to walk into this symphony hall, needing for their life to be saved, unc chapel hill essay, too. I started my career in music out of obligation. Answering this question could take as little as two sentences or it could be a more prominent part of your essay. Ask yourself:. Maybe your mentor taught you the importance of mental health and wellness—you could write about ActiveMinds at UNC. Or, perhaps your community builder taught you fearlessness— you could talk about joining a club that sounds appealing, but slightly intimidates you like a dance ensemble, mock trial, unc chapel hill essay, etc.
Grauer seems a little too painful right now, I am drawn to what an undergraduate mentor in music might teach me and how I might continue to live and espouse the teachings Grauer has taught me at my university. Although I unc chapel hill essay to pursue a degree in Public Health, specifically in Health Policy and Management, I do not want to surrender the community music has given me. Having the chance to play in the Carolina Bluegrass Band or the Global Rhythms Ensemble would give me the chance to be a part of community that has taught me the lessons of discipline, practice, and perseverance, and allow me to bring sustained joy to myself, other members of the ensemble, and the audience.
Describe an aspect of your identity for example, your religion, culture, race, sexual or gender identity, unc chapel hill essay group, etc. If this sounds like you, please share your story. Based on this context, the prompt can be reframed to be the following:. Expand upon one aspect of your identity. Reflect on how this aspect has shaped your life experience so far, unc chapel hill essay, and how it would benefit or shape your experience at UNC at Chapel Hill, unc chapel hill essay. This prompt requires you to select one facet of your intersectional, multifaceted identity. Because the word limit is words, it is important to select only one meaningful part of your identity.
You should briefly show how this aspect of your identity has impacted your life. For example, if you were writing about your female identity, a forgettable essay might read:. Growing up with only brothers, I was often treated differently and unfairly. The writer merely regurgitated the language of the prompt! How might you make this more exciting? Try adding an anecdote or quick metaphor. A stronger response would look something like this:. I began my mental checklist: core—engaged. Shoulders—down and back. Feet—landing softly on the sliding gravel. My brother turns over his shoulder, to give me a sneer and a snide remark. I can see my father waiting, arms outstretched by the oak tree at the end of our street.
And I have to win. I must. As the only woman in my family, pursuing a career in STEM, I feel like I am always a few paces behind. For years, I occupied the shadow of my older brothers, watching their accomplishments be more celebrated than mine, simply because of their male identity. I have worked unc chapel hill essay studied in androcentric spaces, namely labs and conventions, unc chapel hill essay, and felt like my contributions were being swallowed by louder, unc chapel hill essay, more masculine voices. This can be brief—even one sentence. This explanation can be a continuation of your identity and life experience. Show how UNC is the perfect fit for you and your identity. This portion of the essay involves extensive research into the school.
essay about my community
Option 1: Describe a peer you see as a community builder. What actions has that peer taken? How has their work made a difference in your life? Option 2: Describe an aspect of your identity for example, your religion, culture, race, sexual or gender identity, affinity group, etc. How has this aspect of your identity shaped your life experiences thus far? Option 3: If you could change one thing to better your community, what would it be? Why is it important and how would you contribute to this change? How does history shape who you are? Please submit a short essay that describes your academic interests and the ways you believe Honors Carolina can help you pursue them.
Why do you want to take a service-based Gap Year before entering Carolina and in what ways are you hoping to grow during this time? Before we dive into the specifics of how to answer each of these short prompts, remember that limiting your responses to only 25 words requires writing answers that are straightforward and direct. Be honest with what you write, but also think critically about the different aspects of your personality you are highlighting with each answer. However, overanalyzing what you think the admissions officers want you to write misses the point of showcasing your individuality. One family tradition I cherish: 25 words. Writing about a family tradition should be something highly personal and important to you. There are many different traditions you could choose to write about.
Perhaps you and your mom make homemade tamales every month to donate to a homeless shelter. You could possibly talk about how your family always decorates your house as a spooky haunted house for Halloween. The possibilities really are endless here. The key is to choose a tradition that is important and unique to your family. It can be happy, sentimental, or ridiculous, but it has to be yours. This I believe: 25 words. This prompt is very open-ended which gives you a lot of flexibility. Here are a few ideas of what you could do with a prompt like this:. The quality I most admire in myself: 25 words. You should start by brainstorming a few facets of your personality you think admissions officers should know about.
A common mistake students typically make with this type of prompt is trying to present themselves as too impressive. Your response should be about one quality, not a laundry list of ways you are exceptional. While you can talk about more generic qualities like your confidence, honesty, determination, or optimism, responses that are more unique will probably be more interesting for admissions officers. Or possibly you admire the way you organize your binders in your locker because it means you save time between classes when you know exactly where everything belongs.
Examples like these are humorous and creative, but still will provide some insight into your personality. One protagonist I identify with: 25 words. It might feel overwhelming to choose just one character you identify with especially for avid book or movie fans , but this is another great chance for you to show one of your personality traits through the lens of a different character. In fact, you could pick just about anyone you wanted! A female student who wants to be a world leader might talk about how she identifies with the resilience and tactfulness Cleopatra displayed in the face of discrimination and doubt. Although the prompt asks for a protagonist, perhaps you feel there is a certain villain who is misunderstood and you believe they were the protagonist of their story.
There are an infinite number of options for you to choose from. You should make sure there is something in common with whatever protagonist you choose. Here, UNC hopes to understand what kind of people and ideas you value and assess whether they are comparable to the type of students, faculty, and values found at UNC. In answering this prompt, it is helpful to research the qualities and skills UNC values in its students and faculty. These points can be helpful for you to consider or reference if you are having a hard time pinpointing a specific interaction with a particular community leader. For the most successful essay, it is crucial that you write about an authentic moment. To begin the brainstorming process, draft a list of individuals that come to mind immediately.
Possible examples include peers, local activists, teachers, club leaders, coaches, directors, conductors, religious leaders, etc. Then reflect upon what values or practices resonate with you. How does this person facilitate community? Can I discuss them for an entire essay? After briefly glancing down at the stand in front of him, Mr. We watch as the audience leans forward, to hear the pianissimo of the flute. As I glance at my sheet music for my entrance, not for another thirty measures, I am reminded of something Grauer said to us.
When asked why music was important, he responded. But you never know when someone is going to walk into this symphony hall, needing for their life to be saved, too. I started my career in music out of obligation. Answering this question could take as little as two sentences or it could be a more prominent part of your essay. Ask yourself:. Maybe your mentor taught you the importance of mental health and wellness—you could write about ActiveMinds at UNC. Or, perhaps your community builder taught you fearlessness— you could talk about joining a club that sounds appealing, but slightly intimidates you like a dance ensemble, mock trial, etc.
Grauer seems a little too painful right now, I am drawn to what an undergraduate mentor in music might teach me and how I might continue to live and espouse the teachings Grauer has taught me at my university. Although I wish to pursue a degree in Public Health, specifically in Health Policy and Management, I do not want to surrender the community music has given me. Having the chance to play in the Carolina Bluegrass Band or the Global Rhythms Ensemble would give me the chance to be a part of community that has taught me the lessons of discipline, practice, and perseverance, and allow me to bring sustained joy to myself, other members of the ensemble, and the audience.
Describe an aspect of your identity for example, your religion, culture, race, sexual or gender identity, affinity group, etc. If this sounds like you, please share your story. Based on this context, the prompt can be reframed to be the following:. Challenge a misconception or generalization. This applicant does a great job of subverting expectations when it comes to her American Asian identity. She highlights how her affinity group was more diverse than one might generally expect. By doing this, she demonstrates a compelling ability to self-reflect and see nuance within important cultural spaces.
The idea that diversity is more than what meets the eye is a mature and complex insight that makes this essay stand out. Acknowledging an assumption and then challenging it is an excellent way to do this. Highlight growth. In this case, the author talks about her growing ability to find common ground with other members of her affinity group. Think of the narrative arc as a rope that you can use to pull your reader through your answer. Showing how you changed over time or learned more about yourself compels people to keep reading. Use paragraph structure to clarify your main points. The author here uses her first paragraph to expand on a part of her identity being Asian American and the second paragraph to expand on how that part of her identity has shaped her values and perceptions.
She also touches on how this ties into her ongoing interest in creating inclusive spaces and embracing difference. The first paragraph sets the scene of the past, and then the second one speaks more to the present and future. Having a paragraph break also gives the reader a chance to breathe before moving right into the second half of the answer. Try to use the structure of your piece to amplify your content. Connect to the future. As we mentioned, the author does a nice job of segueing into how the lessons she learned from her American Asian Affinity group have inspired her interest in creating more inclusive spaces. This is something you should do in your essay too. I was ten, and a kind retirement community resident was so enamored by our performance, she invited my family to her apartment for cookies.
I knew my peers could benefit from these rewards, so I started a strings club at my high school. The school band teacher agreed to conduct, and I spread the word through social media and flyers. The club started off as a small-but-mighty group of four, but grew as we tutored beginner violinists. Our school was only the third out of thirty in the county to begin an orchestra club, so there are still hundreds of students who can benefit from being a part of the orchestra community. Be positive about a negative.
This applicant skillfully addresses the need for orchestral music while not criticizing administrators or bashing the school for not having a strings club. She paints positive pictures of cookies with a retiree, students bonding over high-fives, and the tearful support of parents. Show your advocacy or activism streak. This prompt is an invitation to all those with drive to serve a cause. Think about what gets you fired up, and how that energy could be used to better your community. Whatever you choose, whether it stems from a cause or a hobby, expressing genuine interest by flexing your values and conveying your enthusiasm will make the reader care too. Speaking of your advocacy work …. Keep it real istic. Make sure you address a real issue—with realistic solutions.
This author wanted a strings club, got the band teacher on board, started with just four participants, and things grew from there. Notions of solving traffic jams with flying cars or creating a utopian society where everyone sings while they skip to work may be fun, but this question is probing for your values and your problem-solving skills for real-world challenges. Think in thirds. In this example, those three parts looked like this: 1 getting wider support for strings clubs, 2 the rewards of standing ovations and community-building, and 3 … um …? See how breaking it up this way exposes the gap in this essay?
Much like history shapes who you are, learning from past responses can shape your own college application. Which means we have no examples yet to share. Here are questions and tips you may want to consider:. Find a historical moment that influenced you in some way. How you define history is wide open here. The key is to choose something that brings it home to you. What role s does history play in your present? You can touch on a couple of those ways or explore one with greater depth. Does history shape how you interact with others? Does it give you context to appreciate your world in new ways?
A cautionary note: It may be wise to avoid polarizing topics, to avoid the risk of offending your reader. What do you hope your reader learns about you? What are the values you hope your essay conveys? Are those values coming through? If not, tweak it to make sure it does. Still not sure? Finally, if your response incorporates a quote as the prompt did , be sure you triple check the authenticity and give credit where credit is due. This is also new this year, but you can find some great advice on how to write responses to short-answer questions like these in this blog. With these tips and examples in mind, you should be ready to start mapping out your own Venn diagram.
Special thanks to Luci for contributing to this post. Luci is an audiophile and storyteller with a love of all things radio and writing. How do you honor those ancestors? What has influenced your identity? What do you believe and how will your worldview bring something of value to the community at UNC-Chapel Hill? The more specific your words are, the more memorable your answers will be. If you can paint a funny picture or display a knack for wit, take this chance. Consider this to be an opportunity to fill in any blanks in your application. Finally, for 3, we recommend writing down as many words as possible that come to mind before landing on your favorite. View all posts by Emma Harrington ». We thought so.
Sign up for free instructional videos, guides, worksheets and more! Score our Exclusive Video Brainstorming Guide and more! University of North Carolina UNC Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide. We try our best to make sure our guides are as up to date as possible, but we still recommend confirming each prompt and word count with the school in question. About Emma Harrington View all posts by Emma Harrington ». Need help getting started? Supplemental Essay Prompt Guides:. One-On-One Advising.
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