Supplemental essays · 2026–27 application
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign supplemental essays.
All 5 essay questions University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign asks this year, word for word, with the word limits and how to approach each one.
Checked against admissions.illinois.edu on October 17, 2026
What you write: Two or three essays, depending on your major choices, plus the Common App essay.
First-choice major applicants answer prompts 1–2; undeclared applicants answer 3–4 instead. Anyone with a second-choice major also answers 5. About 150 words each.
An experience related to your major
Explain, in detail, an experience you’ve had in the past 3 to 4 years related to your first-choice major. This can be an experience from an extracurricular activity, in a class you’ve taken, or through something else.
First-choice major applicants.
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 goals after Illinois
Describe your personal and/or career goals after graduating from Illinois and how your selected first-choice major will help you achieve them.
First-choice major applicants.
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.
Undeclared: your goals
What are your future career or academic goals? You may include courses you took in high school and how these impacted your goals.
Undeclared applicants.
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.
Undeclared: your academic interests
What are your academic interests? Please include 2-3 majors you’re considering at Illinois and why.
Undeclared applicants.
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 second-choice major
Please explain your interest in your second-choice major or your overall academic or career goals.
Only if you list a second-choice major.
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.
Want a mentor on your essays?
Clarity Prep members get a mentor who reads every draft with them, knows their whole application and checks in every week until it’s done.