Supplemental essays · 2026–27 application
Illinois Institute of Technology supplemental essays.
All 4 essay questions Illinois Institute of Technology asks this year, word for word, with the word limits and how to approach each one.
Checked against iit.edu and the Common App application on October 17, 2026
What you write: Four short answers. The boxes have no minimum, so they may be optional.
Why Illinois Tech
Why are you interested in Illinois Institute of Technology?
How to approach it
- Name things you could only find at this college: a class, a professor, a program, a tradition.
- Tie every detail to something true about you.
- Swap test: if another college’s name fits your sentence, it’s too general.
Why your major
Tell us why you are pursuing your selected major. If you are undecided on a major, tell us about the academic areas of interest to you. Include how you hope to use your IIT education to support them in achieving your passions and goals.
How to approach it
- Start with the moment the interest began.
- Show what you’ve already done about it: a class, a project, a book, a job.
- Say where you want to take it, even if you’re not sure yet.
Your background and perspective
How have your background and lived experiences shaped your perspective, and how would you bring those insights to the classroom and community at Illinois Tech?
How to approach it
- Say plainly what the community is.
- Show your place in it with one real scene.
- End with what you’d bring to campus.
Anything else
Would you like to share additional information not covered in your application?
How to approach it
- Answer the exact question asked, in the first few lines.
- Use one real example instead of three general ones.
- Read it out loud before you submit.
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