Writing Prompts for First-Year Applicants
Following are our writing prompts for first-year students applying for fall 2025 admission.
Following are our writing prompts for first-year students applying for fall 2025 admission.
You'll answer two to three prompts as part of your application. The questions you'll answer will depend on whether you're applying to a major or to our undeclared program, and if you've selected a second choice. Each response should be approximately 150 words. If you're applying through Common App, you'll find our major-specific writing prompts in the "Writing" tab of our supplemental questions after adding us as one of your colleges.
You'll also answer one essay prompt as part of your application. Prompts are the same whether you apply through myIllini or the Common App. Select and answer the prompt of your choice from the full list found on the Common App website. Your essay response can be anywhere from 250 to 650 words total.