How to Write Perfect ApplyTexas Essays (2023)

The ApplyTexas college application contains many essay prompts, and each of the most popular Texas colleges has different essay requirements that they expect applicants to answer.

So how can you get tips on writing your best ApplyTexas essays, no matter what school you're applying to?Look no further than this article, which provides a thorough breakdown of all possible ApplyTexas trial indications. We'll explain what each message looks for and what the admissions officers hope to know about you. Plus, we'll give you our top strategies to make sure your essay meets all of these expectations and help you find your best essay topics.

To help you navigate this extensive guide, here's an overview of what we'll be talking about:

• What are the ApplyTexas essays?
• Comparison of ApplyTexas essay messages A, B and C
• Dissection of Topic A of the ApplyTexas Essay
• Dissection of Topic B of the ApplyTexas Essay
• Dissection of Theme C of the ApplyTexas Essay
• Dissecting ApplyTexas Essay Topic D
• Briefly: Apply Texas Essay Topic E (Transfer Students Only)

What are the ApplyTexas essays?

The ApplyTexas AppIt's basically the Texas version ofcommon application, which is used by many American universities.It is a unified university application. process that is accepted by all public universities in Texas and many private ones.(Note that some schools that accept ApplyTexas also accept Common App.)

The ApplyTexas website is a good source to find out if your destination university accepts the ApplyTexas application. With that said, the best way to confirm exactly what your school expects is to visit the admissions website.

Why do universities want you to write essays?

Admissions officers are trying to assemble classes full of interesting and vibrant students with different backgrounds, strengths, weaknesses, goals, and dreams. One tool that universities use to identify a diverse set of perspectives isthe college essay.

These essays are an opportunity for you to show admissions officers those sides of you thatare notreflected in the rest of your application.This is where you describe where you come from, what you believe in, what you value, and what shaped you.

This is also where you look mature and insightful - twoUniversities with the best qualities look for applicants. This is important because universities want to find young people who finishthrive when faced with the independence of college life.

Filling a freshman class is like dealing with those jelly beans of all flavors ofharry potter: admissions just wants to make sure you avoid the ones that taste like earwax.

Apply Texas Writing Requirements

Hayfour test indicationson the ApplyTexas application for freshman admissions (Topics A, B, C, and D). For topics A, B, and C, there are slight variations in the message for students who are transferring or wanting to be readmitted. We'll cover each variation just below the main theme breakdown. There's alsovarious short answer promptsfor UT Austin and Texas A&M, as well as Topic D for art and architecture degrees and E subjectFor transfer students only. While there are no strict word limits, colleges generally suggest keeping essays between one and one and a half pages.

Texas colleges and universities have different application requirements, including the essay or essays they want.Some schools require essays, some list them as optional, and some use a mix of required and optional essays. Many schools use essays to determine scholarships, honors program eligibility, or admission to specific courses.

Here are some examples of essay submission requirements from various Texas schools:

Austin Autonomous University

• You are required to write an essay onTheme A
• you also have to answerthree short answer prompts
• If you are applying for an art/art history, architecture, nursing or social work course, you will need to writea specific short answer to your main
• UT Austin also accepts thecommon application

A&M de Texas

• You are required to write an essay onTheme A
• If you have an engineering degree, you will need to writea short answer
• Texas A&M also accepts thecommon application

Southern Methodist University

• You must write an essay aboutTheme A
• You can (but you don't have to) write an essay aboutB theme
• you also have to answertwo short answer prompts
• SMU also accepts the common application and the coalition application and has its own online application, so you have the option ofpick and choose the application you want to fill out

Texas Christian University

• You can write an optional essay onany of the topics (A, B or C)
• You may also have to writetwo short answer questions
• TCU also accepts the Common Application and the Coalition Application has its own online application so that is another school to go to.you can choose the app you want to use

Dazzled by her options, she was filled with hopeful optimism. and tenderness

Comparison of ApplyTexas essay messages A, B and C

There are three ApplyTexas threads that try to get to the heart of what makes you the person you are in three different ways. But because Themes A, B, and C focus on things that arebasicfor you as a personIt can be difficult to come up with a completely unique idea for everyone, especially since, on first reading, these prompts can sound very similar.

Before we dissect all of the ApplyTexas writing prompts, let's look athow A, B and C differ from each other.You can keep these differences in mind as you try to think of topics to write about.

Apply Texas prompts

These are the most recent prompts for Topics A, B, and C on the ApplyTexas application.

Theme A

Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges did you experience throughout your high school career that shaped who you are today?

B theme

Most students have an identity, interest, or talent that essentially defines them. Tell us about you.

C theme

You have a ticket in your hand, where will you go? What are you going to do? What will happen when you get there?

How to differentiate topics A, B and C

A helpful way to keep these topics separate in your mind is to create a general category for each one:Theme A is out, Theme B is in, and Theme C is the future.

In other words, Topic A asks about the impact of challenges or opportunities on you and how you dealt with that impact. On the other hand, Topic B asks about your inner passions and how they define you. Finally, Topic C wants to know where you go from here.These very broad categories will help youbrainstorm ideas and life experiences that you can use for your essay.

While many of the stories you think of can be shaped to fit each of these suggestions, think aboutwhat is the experiencemostreveal about youIf it's about how you've been shaped by your external community, it would probably fit well with Theme A. If it's a story about your passions, save it for Theme B. If it's primarily about an event that you think predicts your future, save it for Theme B. you will do it? probably works fine for Theme C.

(Note: If you are a transfer student writing the essay variation for topics A, B, or C, remember that these variations still ask about the outside, inside, or future, respectively.)

That time a spilled box of stuffed frogs made you want to learn everything there is to know about French cooking? Probably Theme C.

Dissection of Topic A of the ApplyTexas Essay

Now, let's do a complete deconstruction of everything you need to know about Topic A, the first ApplyTexas essay.

o prompt

Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges did you experience throughout your high school career that shaped who you are today?

What is the question message and how should you answer it?

This ad wants to seehow your external environment shaped you as a high school student.You can tell by the fact that the indicator uses the phrase "your story" that it wants to know whatyouI think it had the biggest impact on you.

Step 1: Describe your environment

The first part of the instruction is about identifying and describing specific experiences you had as a high school student.You don't want your essay to seem too vague, so be sure to focus on one or two specific experiences. The message suggests reinstating something "unique" or something that impacted you in a way that hasn't affected anyone else.

You will want to choose some aspect of your environment that you canvividly describe and this is very important to you.It doesn't necessarily have to be important in a positive way, butit doesit must have had a significant impact on his personal development.

It must also be some aspect of your environment that has beenpart of your life for a while.After all, you are describing something that affected you "throughout your high school career."

Step 2: Explain how this environment shaped you

You should not only describe your environment, you should also discusshow that environment impacted you as a person.How has this particular aspect of your environment shaped you into the person you are today?

It's best if you can think of one or two specific anecdotes or stories about how your environment shaped you as a high school student. For example, don't just say that your family made you a hard worker—to describein details how watching your mom come home from a full day of work just to get ready for night classes has shown you that reaching your goals is worth working for, even when it's hard.

Being a tomato in a pea was difficult for Frank, who could never understand the peas' obsession with photosynthesis.

What do readers hope to learn about you?

Readers look for two main things. First, they want to see whatyou can be mature and considerate of your surroundings.Are you curious about the world around you? If you really observed and took an interest in your environment, you will be able to describe the people and places that impacted you as a high school student in subtle and insightful ways.

Second, they want to seeHow do you stand out from your surroundings?This can be done in two ways: (1) you can emphasize how you are somehow different from your environment and how this has affected you, or (2) you can emphasize how you have learned positive qualities from the environment around you. Basically, how did your environment make you a special and interesting person?

How can your essay give them what they want?

How can you be sure that your essay is really responding to the message? Here are some key strategies.

#1: Choose a specific aspect of your environment

You will need to select something specific from your general environment to focus on. You can collect ideas such as your family, home, neighborhood, or community ofvarious directions.

For example, your family may describe your immediate family, extended family, or found family. Your home can be the specific house or houses you grew up in, but it can also be your hometown, block, apartment building, or even your country. Your neighborhood can be your street, subdivision, cul-de-sac; It can be an urban area or the rural countryside. Your community can be any community you have been a part of, from your school community to your church community to your town.

As you consider which aspect of your environment to choose, think about the significant things that have happened to you in relation to your environment. Remember, you will need to go beyond describing how important the settings are to you.show how that makes you important.

#2: How did that environment make you special?

So you should considerwhat in your environment made you a person who stands out.Again, this could be about how you overcame some aspect of your environment or how your environment positively promoted qualities or traits in you. You want to make sure you have aclear messagethat links your environment to one, two or three special traits that you have.

try to think ofspecific stories and anecdotesrelated to your interactions with the environment, and then carefully analyze them to reveal what they show about you. The important adults in your life can help you generate potential ideas.

#3: Think of the essay as a movie

Like a good movie script,an accurate college essay characters, some action and a touching but happy ending.When planning your personal statement, try to think of the story you're telling in cinematic terms. In this way, you can ensure that your essay has the following characteristics:

• Context:As you describe your surroundings, it's critical to take the time to give a vivid sense of place. You can do this by describing the actual physical environment, the main "characters" in your community, or a combination of both.

• Bets:Movies drive the action, giving the characters a lot of stakes. You know, win or lose, life or death. Even if you are describing your environment in positive terms, there should be a sense of conflict or dynamic change. In the anecdote(s) you have selected to write, what do you have to gain or lose?

• Resolution of external conflicts:If there is some kind of external conflict (with a neighbor, family member, friend, council, etc.), it is necessary to show a certain level of resolution.

• Resolution of internal conflicts:Inner conflict is essentially about how you changed in response to the event or experience. You will need to clearly lay out what happened inside of you and how these changes fueled you as a person.

Did you feel ALL the feelings? Can you name all these feelings? Oh yeah? So what's the name of the one in the lower right corner?

#4: Add details, description, and examples

Your essay will really stand out if you add effective examples and descriptions.

For example, imagine that Karima decides to describe how learning to navigate public transportation as a high school freshman made her resourceful and helped her explore the city in which she grew up. She also talks about how exploring the city ended up affecting her. How should you frame her experience? Here are some options:

Version 1

I was nervous about taking El alone for the first time. At the station there were many passengers and adults who looked impatient but confident. At first, I was very afraid of getting lost, but over time I became as confident as those passengers.

Vversion 2

I felt a mixture of nervousness and excitement when I first entered the Howard Red Line turnstile. What if I get lost on the way to the museum? I was worried that I would appear to be a nuisance to all the grumpy passengers on the platform. If I needed help, would they help me? Was I brave enough to ask? When the metal doors opened, I pressed my nails into my palms and ran after a woman with a red briefcase. Success! At least for the first step. I found a seat facing the side and grabbed my macramé bag with my notebook and drawing supplies. A map hung above my seat. Pressing my finger on the colored grid, I found my stop and counted how many were left. I spent the entire train ride staring at that map, straining my ears to hear everything the conductor said. Now when I think back to the first time I rode the El solo, I smile. What seemed so daunting at the time is just an everyday way of getting around now. But I always look down the platform to see if there are nervous children milling about in the crowd and offer them a smile.

Both versions set the same story, plot-wise, but the second version takes the train ride (and therefore the author)come to lifeadding specific and individualizing details such as the following:

• Visual cues:The reader "sees" what the author sees through descriptions such as "gloomy people crowding the platform," "woman with a red briefcase," and "colored railing."

• Emotional responses:We experienced the feelings of the author: she "felt a mixture of nervousness and excitement." She wonders if she's brave enough to ask for help. The train ride was "so scary then," but she now feels like "every day."

• Differentiation:Although the passengers are mostly a monolithic group, we can see some individuals, like the woman with the red briefcase.

ApplyTexas Topic A Essay Ideas

There is no better topic for this essay message (or any other), but I have includedsome potential ideas belowto help you start your own brainstorming:

• Describe a time when you organized the people around you around a common local cause.

• Enhance a close relationship with one or more family members

• Identify a particularly significant place in your neighborhood (such as a certain park or tree) and why it has been so important in your life, especially in recent years.

• Being a minority in your school or neighborhood

• Going through a cultural or religious rite of passage as a high school student.

• Moving from one place to a totally different place and dealing with culture shock

Apply Texas Subject A for Transfer, Transition, or Readmittance Students

If you are applying for a transfer or readmission, you probably already have some college experience. So in this case, ApplyTexas offers apersonal statementoption that allows you to write about your life beyond your high school years. This option also asks you to demonstrate what in your external environment made you a unique individual. But if, for example, you dropped out of college and are now reapplying, you might want to address how some aspect of that experience impacted who you are now. Otherwise, follow the tips above for the default notice in Theme A.

Here is the current A writing topic for transfer candidates:

The statement of purpose will provide an opportunity to explain any extenuating circumstances that you feel may add value to your application. You can also explain unique aspects of your academic background or valuable experiences you may have related to your academic discipline. The statement of purpose is not intended to be a list of high school accomplishments or a record of your participation in school-related activities. Instead, this is your opportunity to approach the admissions committee directly and tell us more about yourself as an individual in a way that your transcripts and other application information cannot convey.

And that's when I realized that I, too, had become an ostrich, accepted and adapted to their peck-and-run culture.

Dissection of Topic B of the ApplyTexas Essay

Next, let's follow the same process for ApplyTexas Theme B, taking it apart piece by piece and reassembling it.

o prompt

Most students have an identity, interest, or talent that essentially defines them. Tell us about you.

What is the indicator asking?

At first glance, this indicator seems rather vague. "Tell us about yourself" isn't exactly the most detailed set of instructions. But if we dig a little deeper, we can see that there are actuallytwo very specific thingsthis question is asked.

#1: What defines you?

This ad states that "the majority of students", which probably includes you! - has some kind ofdefining trait.This could be "an identity, an interest or a talent", so you need to express what this defining characteristic is for.youspecifically.

For example, are you an amazing knitter? Do you spend your spare time researching cephalopods? Are you a connoisseur of independent cinema or mystery novels? Or maybe you have a religious, cultural, ethnic, or LGBTQ+ identity that is very important to you. Any of these things could plausibly be themain, framing subjectof your writing.

#2: How does this defining trait fit into "you" in general?

Even if you have some sort of defining trait, it's not all you are. Essentially you needcontextualize your defining characteristicwithin his larger personality and identity. This is where the "tell us about yourself" part comes in. What does your defining characteristic say about you as a person? And how does this fit into your overall personality, values, and dreams?

Only in the middle of the forest could he explore his true passion: moss.

What do readers hope to learn about you?

Admission readers expect to learn two main things:

#1: What are you passionate about?

It is essential that this essay communicategenuine passionfor what you write College is a lot of work, and passion is a major driving force when things get hectic. So readers are looking for students who are really engaged with the world around them and excited about things!

#2: How you see yourself (and how successfully you can communicate it)

A strong and well-developed sense of self goes a long way in coping with all the changes you will go through when you go to college. Even if you change and grow a lot as a person during your college years, having a sense of your own traits and core values ​​will help you.help make these changes exciting instead of scary.

Universities are looking for a developed sense of self. In addition, they are looking for students whothey can communicate messages about themselves with clarity, confidence, and cohesion.

How can your essay give them what they want?

The challenge with this ad is to give a complete picture of you as a person while maintaining the message about your defining characteristic. You need to be focused but understanding. Let's explore the best ways to showcase your passion and frame your identity.

#1: Define the main message

First, you needselect that defining trait.This can be almost anything, as long as you are genuinely interested in that trait and feel that it represents some essential aspect of you.

It should also be something that you can describe throughstories and anecdotes.Just saying "I have red hair and that defines me" makes writing pretty boring! On the other hand, a story about how you started a photography project consisting of portraits of redheads like you and what you learned about yourself from that experience isverymore interesting.

Be careful to select something that will introduce you toa largely positive light.If you select a trait that doesn't seem too serious, like your enduring and enduring love of onion rings, you risk coming off as immature at best and downright disrespectful at worst.

you also wantchoose something realistic— don't say you're the greatest mathematician who ever lived unless you are, in fact, the greatest mathematician who ever lived (and you probably aren't). Otherwise, you will look out of touch.

#2: Fit your message into the big picture

Then consider how you can use this feature to painta fuller picture of you as a person.It's great that you're passionate about skiing and are a member of a ski team, but what else does that say about you? Are you an adventurous adventurer who loves to take (reasonable) risks? Are you a nature lover with a taste for exploration? Do you love being part of a team?

Select at leasttwo or three positive messagesyou want to communicate about yourself in your essay about your main characteristic.

Brody has added his special brand of XYZ to everything he's made for that touch of bro-tea.

#3: Show, don't tell

It is much more interesting to read about the things you do that demonstrate your main characteristics than to hear you list them. Don't just say, "Everyone comes to me for advice because I'm sensible and reasonable." In fact, it describes situations thatshowpeople who ask for advice and you offer reasonable and balanced advice.

#4: Watch your tone

It's important to be careful with your tone when writing an essay that is (very overtly) about how good it is. You want to show your own special qualities.without appearing glib, sober, conceited, or narcissistic.

Let's say Andrew wants to write about figuring out how to garden even though his backyard is in full shade, and how that desire turned into a passion for gardening. She might launch into rants about garden store clerks not knowing which plants are right for which light, the previous owner's terrible habit of using the yard as a pet toilet, or pain in her knee that prevented her from taking proper posture. to weed

Alternatively, you could describe how you researched the complex gardens of royal palaces, planning your garden based on the color and height of the plants, using trial and error to see which plants would flourish, and you became so involved in this work that you often got lost. . time track

One approach makes you seem whiny and self-absorbed, whilethe other makes him sound like someone who can handle a tough situation.

Apply the writing ideas from the Texas topic B

Again, there is no single best approach here, but I have outlined some potential issues below:

• Are you known for being really good at something or for being an expert on a specific topic? How does this affect your identity?

• Discuss how you got involved in a particular extracurricular activity and what it means to you. What did you learn by participating in it?

• Describe something you have done a lot of research on in your spare time. How did you discover this interest? What did you learn as a result?

• What is your most obvious personality trait? How has this trait impacted your life? (You can ask friends and family for help with this.)

• Relate the importance of your LGBTQ+ identity

• Discuss your religious or cultural background and how that defines you.

• Describe your experience as a member of a minority community

Apply Texas Subject B for Transfer, Transition, or Readmittance Students

The ApplyTexas variation on Theme B is specifically designed for two different possible application situations. The first is for people applying as non-degree or graduate students (also known as "transition students"). If so, they ask you to discuss what courses you want to take and what you hope to accomplish if you are admitted. This means that they still want you to focus this essay on what you are passionate about, as mentioned above, but they hope that this passion will be grounded in courses that the university offers more directly.

The second is for students who reapply after being suspended for academic reasons. If so, they ask you to describe any actions you have taken to improve your academic performance and provide a reason why you should be reinstated. You will still need to focus on your positive traits in this variation, so it can be a tricky task. As in the example above, you'll need to pay attention to your tone and not sound whiny. Instead, face the cause of your academic suspension and what you learned from that experience, then turn it into a new strength. Perhaps you have learned new study habits that you can describe to them. Maybe working full time while furloughed has improved your work ethic. Whatever you choose, show how a negative situation turned into a positive learning experience for you, and focus on the better person you are now because of it.

This is the current message for writing topic B for transfer candidates:

If you are applying as a former student and have been suspended for academic reasons, please briefly describe the steps you have taken to improve your academic skills and explain why you should be reinstated. If you are applying as a non-degree or graduate candidate, please briefly describe the specific goals you would like to achieve if he is admitted, including the courses he would like to enroll in.

Are you a diamond in a world of hearts?

Dissection of Theme C of the ApplyTexas Essay

Now we can take Topic C apart to get a good idea of ​​how to approach this prospective trial.

o prompt

You have a ticket in your hand, where will you go? What are you going to do? What will happen when you get there?

What is the question message and how should you answer it?

If Topic A and Topic B of ApplyTexas were about your past experiences, Topic C wants you togive readers a glimpse of their imagined possibilities.

There are basically two possible approaches to this question. Let's break them down here.

Option 1: Describe your long-term goals

One approach to this message is to use your wording asthe opportunity to describe your long-term goals for your career and life.

For some students this will be a simple endeavor. For example, suppose you have always wanted to be a doctor. You spend your time volunteering at hospitals, helping out at your mom's clinic, and studying biology. You could easily frame your "ticket" as a ticket to medical school. Just pick a few of the most exciting moments from those past experiences and discuss the general trajectory of your interests and your essay will probably be a winner!

But what if you're still not sure about your long-term goals? Or if you feel like you really don't know where you're going next week, let alone next year or 10 years from now? Read option 2!

Option 2: Demonstrate reflective imagination

While you can certainly interpret this as a direct question about your future, you can also use it as an opportunity to be more imaginative.

Note that this entire question is based on the ticket metaphor.The ticket can take you anywhere; up to you.It could be a real place, like your grandmother's house, the Scottish Highlands, or the Metropolitan Museum. Or it could be some fantastic place, like a Paleolithic time machine.

The important thing is that you use the destination you have chosen, and what you plan to do there, toIt shows that you are a loving and enthusiastic person who is actively involved in the world around you.

Renata doesn't want a train ticket; she just wants a boat.

What do readers hope to learn about you?

If you're on a direct path to a specific field of study or career, admissions officers will definitely want to know about it.Having motivated, goal-oriented, and passionate students is a huge asset to any university. If this sounds like you, make sure your essay conveys not only your interest, but also your deep love for the subject, as well as any related clubs, activities, or hobbies you had in high school.

However, if you take a more creative approach to this message, please note that in this essay (as in all other ApplyTexas essays)oasmatters much more thanThat. Don't worry if you don't have a specific goal in mind yet. No matter what your eventual academic career, career, or other pursuits, every activity you've done so far has taught you something, whether it's work ethic, mastering a skill, learning from a mentor, interacting with peers, dealing with setbacks. , understanding your own learning style or perseverance.Your essay is an opportunity to show that knowledge and maturity.

So no matter which destination you choose for your ticket (theThat), wants to communicate thatcan think of future (and imagined!) possibilities convincingly based on past experiences(oas).

Whether you take the ideas of "where are you going" and "what are you doing" in a more literal or more abstract direction,the admissions committee wants to make sure that whatever you study, you get something meaningful out of it.They want to see that you're not just floating through life on the surface, but that you're actively absorbing the qualities, skills, and knowledge you'll need to succeed in the world.

How can your essay give them what they want?

Here are some ideas on how to show that you have thoughtful and compelling visions of possible futures.

#1: Choose where you are going

Will it be a more direct interpretation of your goals (my ticket is to the judging bench) or a more creative one (my ticket is to Narnia)? Whatever you choose, make sure you choose a destination that isreally attractive to you.The last thing you want is to appear boring or fake.

#2: Don't over- or under-exert

Another key point is to avoid overreaching or underreaching. For example, it's okay to say that you'd like to get involved in politics, but it's a bit conceited to say that you'll definitely be president of the United States. Make sure that whatever destination you select for your ticket, it does not appearunnecessary boasting instead of simple aspiration.

At the same time, make sure that your chosen destination makes sense in thecontext of a college essay.Maybe what you really want is a ticket to the potato chip factory; however, this essay may not be the best place to delve into this imagined possibility.

While you can, of course, choose an extravagant location, you must be able toanchor it in a real vision of the type of person you want to become.Don't forget who your audience is! College admissions officers want to find studentsthey are very eager to learn.They also want to be exposed to new thoughts and ideas (not just new French fries).

#3: Exercise

Once you've chosen a destination, it's time to consider the other components of the question: what will you do when you arrive at your destination? What will happen there? Try to think of some key messages thatReconnect with yourself, your talents, and your goals.

#4: Base Your "Journey" on Specific Anecdotes and Examples

The way this question is phrased is very abstract, so it's important that you base your thoughts about your destiny (either more directly or more creatively) onanecdotes and concrete examplesthat show that you are caring, committed, passionate and motivated.

This is even more important if you're going the creative route and writing about an unusual place. If you don't keep things somewhat grounded in reality, your essay may seemfrivolous.Be sure to take full advantage of this opportunity to share real-life examples of your desirable qualities.

Imagine Eleanor's essay is about how she wants a ticket to Starfleet Academy (for the uninitiated, this is the fictional school in the Star Trek universe where people train to be Starfleet officers). Which of the following essays conveys the most about her potential as a student?

Version 1

My ticket is to the Starfleet Academy. There, I would train to be a part of the Commando division so that I could command a starship. Once I captained my own starship, I would explore the depths of space to interact with alien life and learn more about the universe.

version 2

I've loved Star Trek ever since my dad started playing me VHS copies of old episodes on our old VCR. So if I could have a ticket anywhere, it would be to Starfleet Academy to train in the commando division. I know you would make an excellent commanding officer. My ten years of hapkido experience taught me discipline and how to think on my feet. Working as a hapkido instructor at my dojo for the past two years has honed my leadership and teaching qualities, which are essential for any Starship commander. Furthermore, I have the curiosity and sense of adventure necessary for a long career in the unknown reaches of space. I currently exercise my thirst for exploration through my photography blog. Using my DSLR camera, I locate and photograph dark and hidden places that I find in my city, on family trips and even on day trips to nearby cities. I carefully catalog locations so that others can follow in my footsteps. After all, documentation is another important part of space exploration on a starship.

Both versions communicate the same things about the imagined fate, but the second essay shows much better who Eleanor is as a person.All we really learn from the first bit is that Eleanor must like Star Trek.

We can also infer that he probably enjoys leadership, exploration, and adventure, as he wants to command a starship. But we don't know for sure.Admissions officers shouldn't have to infer who you are from your essay; your essay should explain it to them.

Already in the second rehearsal, Eleanorclearly explains the qualities that would make her a great commanding officer andprovides examples of how you exemplify these qualities.He links abstract destiny with concrete things in his life, such as hapkido and photography. This provides a much fuller picture of what Eleanor could bring to the student body and to the school as a whole.

Eleanor just wants to explore the last frontier..

Apply the writing ideas from the C topic of Texas

I've created some sample essay ideas for the two different approaches to this message.

Possibility 1: Your Concrete Goals

• Describe your goal to pursue a particular academic field or career and discuss how specific classes and/or extracurricular activities sparked that passion.

• Discuss how your plans to go into politics, project management, or another leadership role were prompted by a leadership experience (this could be a direct leadership position at a club or job, or a more indirect leadership experience). or unplanned, such as having to take charge of a group)

• Talk about how your desire to teach or train in the future was sparked by an experience in which you taught someone else how to do something (for example, tutoring or helping a sibling deal with a particularly challenging class or learning problem). )

• Describe your goal of performing on stage in the future and discuss how your past public creative experiences (eg, being in a play, organizing an art exhibit, performing with an orchestra, participating in dance, etc.) ) have led him to this goal. aim

Possibility 2: Creative/Abstract Destiny

• What would you do if you could visit the world of a favorite childhood book or TV series? What qualities does this show about you?

• Is there a family member or friend you would like to visit with your ticket?

• Is there a specific historical period that you would like to travel back in time to?

• Is there a destination you have always wanted to go to?

remembertie your imaginative destiny to concrete detailsabout their special qualities!

Theme C for Transfer, Transition, or Readmittance Students

ApplyTexas offers a variant of Topic C if there is personal information you want them to consider with your application, for example,becauseyou are transferring to a new school. They still want you to focus on the future, but they encourage discussion of any struggles, challenges, extenuating circumstances, or opportunities that have affected your academic skills and credentials (in a positive way). They also want you to discuss how these circumstances can help you contribute to a diverse college community. In this case, this variation is not fundamentally different from the ticket question, it just asks for a more specific approach. So if this variation applies to you, use the advice above for question C, option one.

This is the current message for the C writing topic for transfer candidates:

There may be personal information that you want to be considered as part of your application for admission. Write an essay describing this information. It may include unique difficulties, challenges, or opportunities that have shaped or impacted your academic skills or credentials, personal responsibilities, exceptional achievements or talents, educational goals, or ways in which you can contribute to an institution committed to creating a diverse learning environment.

A future coaching bus drivers was a no-brainer for the founding member of the eponymous club.

Dissecting ApplyTexas Essay Topic D

If you are applying to one of the many fields in the fine arts, you may need to write this essay.

o prompt

Personal interaction with objects, images, and spaces can be powerful enough to change the way someone thinks about specific issues or topics. For your desired area of ​​study (architecture, art history, design, studio art, visual arts studies/art education), describe an experience in which instruction in that area or your personal interaction with an object, image, or space has affected this kind of change in Your thinking. What did you do to act on your new thinking and what did you do to prepare for further study in this area?

What is the indicator asking?

If you are applying to study architecture, art, or art history, one of the essays you will probably have to write is this one.The subject of this essay tries to ask as broadly as possible about an experience with art that moved you in some way.This means that your options for answering the question are quite varied. So what are the two different parts of this notice? We'll see.

Part 1: Observation and reaction

Think of a time when you experienced that feeling of wonder when looking at something man-made. This is the reaction and situation that the first part of the essay wants you to recreate.The message is primarily interested in your ability to describe and identify exactly what quality stopped you in your tracks.The wide variety of impressive item options offered by the gauge tells us that your level of taste will not be judged here.

You can focus on a learning experience, which includes classes and extracurricular activities, or you can focus on a direct experience where you encountered an object or space without the mediation of a class or teacher.The only limit to your object of attention is that it is something done by someone other than you.Your reaction should be a conversation with the original artist, not navel gazing.

The key to this part of the essay is thatits description must continue in a story of change and transformation.What the essay topic asks you to show is not only that you were impressed by something you saw or learned, but also that you absorbed something from that experience that impacted your own art in the future.

When you see the Angkor Wat Temple, you can't help but get excited because at least humans haven't wasted all their time on Earth.

Part 2: Absorption

This brings us to the second part of the compose indicator:this is where you need to move from the past to the present,and then at least make a significant gesture towards the future.

It is one thing to look at a work of art, such as a sculpture or a form of architecture, and be moved by its grace, boldness, or vision. But it is a sign of a mature and creative mind to be able to take seriously what is meaningful to you.youabout this work and then transmute this experience into his own art.

This essay wants to see that maturity develop in you;therefore, you must explain exactly how your own creative vision changed after that significant encounter you described. What qualities, philosophy, or themes are you now trying to infuse into what you create?

More importantly, this essay message establishes that being affected by something once is not enough. That's why in this second part of the topicyou also need to explain what you have been doing to continue to have exciting encounters with other creative works.

You also have some choice when it comes to answering, "What did you do to prepare for further study in this area?" For example, you can describe how he searched for other works by the same artist who first moved him. Or you could describe researching new media or techniques to emulate something you've seen. Or you can discuss learning about the period, genre, school, or philosophical theory the original artwork came from to gain a more contextualized understanding.

What do readers hope to learn about you?

If you are planning an academic career in visual arts or architecture, then you are entering a long conversation started by our rock painting ancestors and continued by all human cultures and societies since.

This essay wants to make sure that you are not creating art in a vacuum and that you have had enough education and awareness to be inspired by others.By showing how you react to works that move you, not with jealousy or rejection, but with appreciation and recognition of another person's talent and ability, you are showing that you are ready to participate in this ongoing conversation.

At the same time, this essay asks you to show your own creative preparation.Describe not only the work you have produced, but also your ability to introduce new elements into that work, in this case, inspired by the piece you have described. That way, he can show that he's not a one-note artist, but that he's mature enough to alter and develop what he does.

Inspired by Michelangelo's supposed advice to simply "remove the marble that is not the sculpture," I will now write my essay simply without using words that should not be on the page.

How can your essay give them what they want?

What are some of the best practices for revealing the intricacies of art in written form? Here are some helpful tips as you brainstorm and write your essay.

#1: Choose a work of art or a learning experience

After choosing between these two contexts,further narrow your selection.If you are writing about an educational encounter, don't forget that it can also come from an informal situation. For example, you could write about something you learned on your own in a documentary, a museum visit, or an art book.

If you are writing about a direct experience with art,Don't necessarily settle for a classic piece.Alternatively, you can talk about a little-known public sculpture, a particularly impressive building or bridge you saw while traveling, or a gallery exhibit.

whatever you end up writing,make sure you know some of the identifying details.You don't need to know the answers to all of the following questions, but do your best to do your research so that you can answer at least two or three of them:

• Who is the artist?
• Where is the exhibited piece?
• What kind of job is this?
• What materials was it made of?
• When it was done?

#2: Find out why this particular job impressed you

The decisive moment in this essay will beyour ability to explain what affected you about the object you are writing about.Why is it different from other works you have seen? Do you think you (or you) were in the right place at the right time to be touched by it, or would it have affected you no matter where or when you saw it? Did he talk to you because he shared some of your ideals/philosophies/tastes, or because he was very different from them?

Be careful with your explanation, as it can easily become so vague that it doesn't make sense, or so obscure and "deep" that you lose the reader.Before you start trying to put it in writing, try discussing what you plan to say with a friend, parent, or teacher. Do they understand what you say and believe you?

#3: Make a timeline of your own creative works

When you think about what you are doing or plan to do during your high school career,What is the trajectory of your ideas?How has your understanding of the materials you want to work with changed? And the message you want your works to convey? Or the way you want others to see your work? What is the reason you feel compelled to be creative?

Now that you have created this timeline,See if your shifts in thinking overlap with the artistic experience you plan to describe.Is there a way to combine what was so exciting for you about this work with the way you've seen your own ideas about art evolve?

#4: Use a mix of specificity and comparisons in your description

Just as nothing ruins a joke like explaining it, nothing ruins the wordless experience of looking at art like talking yourself to death.Still, you need to find a way to use words to give the reader an idea of ​​what the piece that moved them actually looks like.—particularly if the reader is not familiar with the work or the artist who created it.

Here is my suggested tip for good art writing.First, be specific about the object.Discuss its colors, size, what it appears to be made of, what your eye sees first (brighter colors vs. softer, darker colors, for example), what it represents (if figurative), where it is in relation to the viewer, whether or not no, you can see the marks of the tools used (such as brush strokes, scratches from carving tools, etc.).

Second, stay away from the concrete andbe creative with language using techniques such as comparative description. Use your imagination to create emotionally resonant similes. Is there a form of movement (eg, flying, crawling, falling) that this piece resembles? Does this remind you of anything in the natural world (for example, a falling leaf, a forest canopy blowing in the wind, waves, moving sand dunes)?

If the work is figurative, imagine what happened immediately before the moment it captures.What happened right after this point? Using these types of non-literal descriptors will allow your reader to understand both the actual physical object and its aesthetic appeal.

The Stormtrooper's hypnotic performance was like diving into a diamond-encrusted Sarlacc pit to be slowly digested over a thousand years by disco music.

Dissection of UT and Texas A&M short-answer prompts

BothAustin Autonomous UniversitymiA&M de Texasrequire short answers as part of the freshman application. For both schools, some notices are required by all applicants, while others are required by those applying for certain courses or departments.

We will see the indications for UT Austin followed by the indication for Texas A&M.

UT Austin Short Answer Prompts

UT Austin requires three short responses from all freshman applicants and also provides an optional notice. Each short answer must beno more than 250-300 words,or a paragraph.

If you are applying for art and art history, architecture, nursing, or social work, you will need to submit the following in addition to your short answers above:

Art and Art History

In 500 words or less, tell us about a time when a work of art, artist, or art teacher impacted your life. How did that inspire you to pursue an education in the arts?

Architecture

Inherent in design disciplines is the ability to impact the world around us. What does the opportunity to develop such a capacity mean for you and your approach to your college education?

Nursing

Social work

Discuss why you chose Social Work as your major and how a UT Austin Social Work degree will prepare you for the future. Please limit your response to 450-500 words.

What are these short answer prompts from UT Austin asking?

Obviously, all of these short-answer prompts ask very different questions, but they do have some similarities in terms of their overall goals.

The first set of prompts basically wants to knowwhat you can offer UT Austin and why you would be a perfect fit as a student here.They also want to know why you chose UT Austin and your particular course. In other words, all of these prompts essentially work together as one."Why this university?" rehearsal.

For major specific prompts, you are asked two basic things:

• How did your relevant experiences up to this point lead you to want to study this particular field (ie art/art history, architecture, nursing, or social work)?

• What do you plan to do with your degree from UT Austin?

How can you give UT Austin what they want?

Admission officers will belooking for evidence that you are genuinely interested in the school, the course you have chosen, and the career you want to pursue.Be sure to identify the features of the program that appeal to you. In other words, why UT Austin? What makes you fit well here?

Be as specific as possible in your answers.Since you won't have a lot of space to write much, try to focus on a specific anecdote, skill, or goal that you have.

Admissions officers also want to see thatyou have an aptitude for your chosen career,so if you have any relevant work, research or volunteer experience, they will definitely want to know about it! It's good to take a broad view of what's relevant here.

They are finally lookingpeople who have clear objectives, as well as a general idea of ​​what they want to do with their degree.Interested in working with a specific population or specialty? Because? What led you to this conclusion?

Or maybe instead of writing short answers, you could just send this selfie.

Texas A&M Short Response Prompts

UT Austin requires three short answers from all freshman applicants. Each short answer must be250-300 words.

All Texas A&M engineering applicants must also submit a brief response to the following notice:

Describe your academic and career goals in the broad field of engineering (including computer science, industrial distribution, and engineering technology). What and/or who influenced you inside or outside of the classroom that contributed to these goals?

What are these short answer messages from Texas A&M asking?

The first three short answer prompts are designed for the admissions committee.learn who you are as a person,and what moments/people/values ​​are important to you. This is an opportunity for you to show another side of yourself that you feel shows your true personality.

The engineering notice wants to know two essential things:

• What are your future goals for your specific field of interest (ie, the type of engineering field you want or are considering entering)?

• What environmental or external factors (such as a person/mentor, a volunteer experience, an article or book you read, etc.) contributed to the development of these goals?

How can you give Texas A&M what it wants?

Be as specific as possible in your answers.Since you won't have a lot of space to write much, try to focus on a specific anecdote. Each of the first three prompts is pretty broad, so make your answer interesting and personal by focusing on telling a personal story rather than making broad, general statements that most students might make.

For the engineering indicator, what admissions officers want to know here is simply what your biggest engineering ambition is and how you got there.

Since you don't have much space to write your short answer,You will want to be as specific as possible.Admissions officers want to see that you have a bright future in mind for what you want to do with your engineering degree. For example, do you intend to do a PhD? Because? Do you have a specific career in mind?

Besides,be sure to specify the main inspiration or motivation behind this goal.For example, did you have a high school teacher who encouraged you to study engineering? Or perhaps you decided on a whim to take a computer course, which you ended up loving.

Remember that inspiration for your engineering goals doesn't have to be limited to something school-related. If you get stuck, think broadly about what initially interested you in the field.

The thinking doesn't end here for transfer students.

At a Glance: ApplyTexas Essay Topic E (Transfer Students)

US transfer students and international transfer students are generally required to submit an additional essay in the next notice (oryou must submit an essay on one of the theme variations listed above).

o prompt

Choose an issue that is important to you (the issue can be personal, school-related, local, political, or international) and write an essay explaining what that issue means to you, your family, your community, or your generation.

What is the indicator asking?

This notice, aimed at transfer students, essentially wants to know what difficulty, challenge or social problem has affected you personally (or a larger group of which you are a part) andWhy do you think this particular thing is so important to you?

For example, you may identify as LGBTQIA+ and have experienced personal discrimination in your local community because of your sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Or maybe you grew up in a wealthy family, but have only recently begun to see how pervasive the problem of homelessness really is, and are now making a more conscious effort to find ways to remedy this problem in your own community.

The problem you choose does not have to be related to a larger social problem; It could be a learning disability you have, for example, or the fact that you no longer share the same religious beliefs as your family.

The most important part of this question isthe connection between the problem and yourself.In other words, why is this topic so important toyou? How has this affected your life, your goals, your experiences, etc.?

How can your essay give them what they want?

This essay is a way for admissions officers to get to know you and what is important to you personally on a much deeper level than some of the other essay topics allow, soDon't be afraid to delve into topics that are very emotional, personal, or special to you.

Also, be sure to clearly explain why this particular issue, especially if it is a broader societal issue that affects many people, is important to you.you.Admissions officers want to know about the challenges you faced and howaffirmativelycontributed to his own growth as a person.

In Summary: Tips for Writing Essays from ApplyTexas

The ApplyTexas application containsfour essay prompts (topics A, B, C, and D), with different schools requiring different combinations of required and optional essays.There are also short answer prompts for UT Austin and Texas A&M, as well as an E topic for transfer students only.

One way to keep these three similar writing topics (A, B, and C) separate in your mind is to create a general category for each one:

• Topic A is about yourfor
• Theme B is yoursinside
• Theme C is about yourfuture

Now, let's briefly summarize each writing topic:

Writing theme A

• Overview:He wants you to describe unique experiences you had as a high school student and how they shaped who you are as a person.
• Tips:
  • Choose a specific aspect of your environment
  • Describe how it made you special
  • Describe the scenario, the risks and the resolution of the conflict.
  • Add details, description and examples

Writing Topic B

• Overview:Offers an opportunity to describe a defining characteristic and how it fits into the larger vision of you
• Tips:
  • Define the main message.
  • Fit that core message of yourself into the big picture.
  • Show things about yourself, don't tell.
  • Watch your tone to make sure you show off your great qualities without coming across as narcissistic, bored, talkative, or conceited.

Writing Theme C

• Overview:It asks you to describe "where you are going" in a literal, goal-oriented, or more imaginative sense.
• Tips:
  • Choose where you're going, but don't overdo it or underestimate it.
  • Embody your destiny. How does this relate to you?
  • Base your “journey” on specific anecdotes and examples

Writing topic D

• Overview:He wants you to describe how a piece of art or artistic experience affected you to ensure that you are ready to enter the field of fine art.
• Tips:
  • Choose a work of art or a specific art learning experience
  • Find out exactly why this job or event impressed you
  • Browse your own work to see how this piece of art has affected your creativity.
  • Use a combination of concrete descriptions and comparisons when writing about the artwork.

short answer prompts

• Overview:Specific to UT Austin and Texas A&M applicants; art/art history/architecture/nursing/social work candidates for UT Austin; and engineering candidates for Texas A&M
• Tips:
  • Describe your relevant experiences and interests up to this point
  • Please describe what appeals to you about the program and how you will use your title (i.e. your future goals)
  • Treat the required UT Austin prompts as part of a "Why this college?" rehearsal

Writing Topic E (Transfer Students)

• Overview:Specific to US and international transfer applicants.
• Tips:
  • Pick a topic that means a lot to you and has a clear effect on how you see yourself.
  • Emphasize how this problem or how you dealt with it has had a positive impact on your personal growth.

What's next?

Curious about the other college writing options?If the host university also accepts the Common Application, seeour guide to common application writing promptsto see if they suit you better.

Interested in seeing how others have handled this part of the app?We havea summary of more than 100 accepted essays from various universities.

Stuck on what to write?Read our suggestions forhow to come up with great writing ideas.

Are you working on the rest of your college applications?We have great advice onhow to find the right college for you,how to write about your extracurricular activities, miHow to ask for letters of recommendation from teachers.