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University of Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah4-yearPublic

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University of Utah’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Select-A-Prompt Short Response

Required
350 Words

If you would like to apply to the Honors College, you are required to upload one document that contains a response for each of the following prompts. The Honors College expects that all essays submitted through the Common Application are conceived of and written by the applicants themselves. Please review the Honors College website to get more information about Intellectual Tradition courses before responding to the prompts.


Option 1

Intellectual Tradition courses in the Honors College help prepare students to make informed decisions about complex, interdisciplinary problems. Each course asks big or universal questions that transcend historical bounds. You are tasked with creating a new Intellectual Tradition course. Please name your course and describe the topics and questions it would cover.


Option 2

What is it that interests you about the Liberal Arts and Sciences education (hint: look this term up) offered by the Honors College?

Common App Personal Essay

Required
650 words

The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response. Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don‘t feel obligated to do so.


Option 1

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.


Option 2

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?


Option 3

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?


Option 4

Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?


Option 5

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.


Option 6

Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?


Option 7

Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you‘ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

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