Texas Topics:
Last Minute Change to the UT Austin Essay Prompts?
School is (finally) out for the summer, which means many hopeful Longhorns are hard at work on their UT applications before their senior year begins. However, there have been whisperings through the grapevine that the University of Texas at Austin may actually be changing their essay topics this July. In other news, if you’re a rising senior hoping to begin college in the fall of 2018, put down your pencils or close your Word documents. The essay you’re working on right this second might not actually be the essay UT Austin is asking for come this fall.
As of right now, the University of Austin requires applicants to submit two essays along with your ApplyTexas application. The current UT Austin essay topics include the following, along with a major-specific topics for students applying to architecture, art history, design, studio art, visual art studies/art education, nursing, and social work.
Topic A: What was the environment in which you were raised? Describe your family, home, neighborhood or community, and explain how it has shaped you as a person.
Topic B: Most students have an identity, an interest or a talent that defines them in an essential way. Tell us about yourself.
Topic C: You’ve got a ticket in your hand—Where will you go? What will you do? What will happen when you get there?
Topic S: There may be personal information that you want considered as part of your admissions application. Write an essay describing that information. You might include exceptional hardships, challenges, or opportunities that have shaped or impacted your abilities or academic credentials, personal responsibilities, exceptional achievements or talents, educational goals, or ways in which you might contribute to an institution committed to creating a diverse learning environment.
This year, however, we could be facing some essay prompt changes. Admissions counselors at UT are also surprised by the last minute curveball, but they couldn’t give us too many specifics. Potentially, students will only be required to write one of the essays (likely essay A) and answer additional supplemental questions (not yet released). But that is only a possibility. The essays could very well remain the same if the changes are not approved internally. Per the admissions officers, we should know for sure during the second week of July.
My advice? Brainstorm ideas, craft general outlines, and cross your fingers that they will be applicable come July.
Happy writing!