What UT Austin looks for
- A genuine origin story for your major, not a list of reasons it's marketable.
- Pride that's specific and earned, shown through what you actually did.
- Growth or impact made visible, not just a description of an activity.
- Focus and clarity, since 300 words rewards depth on one thing over breadth.
UT Austin supplemental prompts (2026-27)
Why This Major?
10-300 wordsRequired“Why are you interested in the major you indicated as your first-choice major?”
How to approach it. Trace where the interest actually started and show how you've pursued it since, ideally pointing toward what you'd do with it. UT admits by major, so make the connection between you and this specific field unmistakable.
Activity Pride
10-300 wordsRequired“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?”
How to approach it. Pick the activity that means the most, not the most prestigious one, and show the specific reason you're proud. Focus on what you did and what changed because of it rather than restating your resume.
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UT Austin essay FAQ
- How many supplemental essays does UT Austin require?
- Two required short essays, each up to 300 words.
- How long are the UT Austin supplemental essays?
- Each of the two essays can run up to 300 words.
- How can I tell if my UT Austin essay is strong?
- Strong UT essays make your major interest specific to you and show real pride through concrete action. Halo scores your drafts against a UT Austin-specific rubric so you can see where the why-major essay reads generic and where the activity essay just restates your list instead of revealing growth.
Sources & official links
- UT Austin official website
- UT Austin on College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education)
- Prompts and requirements are published by UT Austin on its official application and admissions pages.
Prompts shown are from the 2026-27 cycle and reflect each school’s officially published questions. Schools release new supplements each year; we update these guides each cycle.