While some surprises can be wonderful: the birthday party where your friends jump out and cheer “HAPPY BIRTHDAY” as you walk in, the spring beach trip with unseasonably warm weather, the encouraging text from a friend… not all surprises are sources of joy. Ever the optimist, I am encouraged to report that UT Austin provided potential applicants with the excellent surprise of simplifying the content and number of its short answer questions for the upcoming application cycle. (Never mind my opinion on the previous questions…) Let’s get to the nuts and bolts of how to respond succinctly and elegantly to the TWO required UT Austin short answer questions.
Since this year’s applicants are by nature new to the process, I must remind everyone that ‘short answer’ absolutely does not mean ‘less important.’ These answers are a pilar of UT’s holistic review. The answers to these questions are equally if not more significant to the application than the main essay. Keeping that in mind, let’s analyze the prompts.
Why are you interested in the major you indicated as your first-choice major?
The ‘why this major’ question is nothing new. A well-crafted response to this question will not only clarify your thoughts on your intended area of study, but also explain the evolution of your interest in the topic. To explain such in 250-300 words (or, no more than 40 lines, typically the length of one paragraph – as the UT Austin website states) is an exercise in the mastery of the short story.
These are well crafted using a chronological structure, with one or two sentences per “AHA moment” to trace the first inkling of interest toward your major back to the moment when you really knew. No room for undeclaredness here students; conviction is your best friend. Own your choice confidently and passionately. Another approach, and this is a matter of craft, is to begin the first sentence or two with a story of you doing something that relates to your major, or an illustration of something you have done that clearly demonstrates your passion for the subject.
Remember, however, that the twist of lime in every gorgeous ‘why this major’ essay is a nod to the university itself. Yes, it is possible to write one of these and recycle parts of it each time you are asked, but there is always a nuance of ‘why this college’ embedded into the response. Save a sentence or two to mention the unique opportunities provided in this major at UT, and your answer will be complete. The trick to all short answer questions is flawless editing and economy of words. To tell the story well – write it longer and cut ruthlessly until it fits into the word count parameters.
Think of all the activities — both in and outside of school — that you have been involved with during high school. Which one are you most proud of and why? (Guidance for students: This can include an extracurricular activity, a club/organization, volunteer activity, work or a family responsibility.)
This, dear students, is an invitation to elaborate, or go as deep as word count will allow into one of your extracurricular activities. An authentic answer will require you to examine your why, as your biggest accomplishment will not always be the one that is your proudest. Your first step is to quiet the noise and think – not about the thing that SOUNDS most important on paper, or the thing that brings the most joy, but the one that has brought you the most satisfaction.
Authenticity is your best alignment, as it will be easy for any reader to tell if you are saying what you THINK the college wants to hear, vs. what honestly is a source of pride. Is it something that has caused you to grow? If so, how? How has this growth or self-examination impacted those around you? Has this activity had a big impact on your family, community, or school? How?
Pride often comes from acquiring a new skill or displaying tenacity in the face of adversity/difficult tasks. Of course, describe what you did, but focus on the changes made or lessons learned. Wrap it up with the impact your activity had on those around you. Starting with a story is a beautiful beginning. Describe the impact your activity has made, then into the micro of why you are proud of it. Go big to small in this short essay is one structural idea that can work for you!
Important Consideration for Both Essays
Although I mentioned that portions of the ‘why this major’ may be reused in the case of other applications, there is an unspoken rule for these short answer questions is to give a nod to UT Austin itself, as in: why do you want to study this major AT UT AUSTIN. This isn’t the main focus of your essay, but somewhere in your response to one or both of these prompts, students should mention that UT is the best college for them in terms of their major and/or their desire to continue their impactful extracurricular activity at UT. Simple!
As with any piece of writing on the college application, the goal of all your short answer questions is to surprise the reader with your succinct, literate writing while drawing them in with excellent storytelling. Think about the volume of applications that admissions officers must read in any given cycle. Make yours as succinct as an encouraging text, and as enjoyable as a warm day at the beach in April. Good luck!
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