UT Austin essay prompts
2026-27verified The University of Texas at Austin admissions
These are the most recent published prompts. Final 2026-27 supplements typically land by early August. UT Austin's official page does not label these prompts with an application cycle; this is the live version as of July 2026. For freshman applicants, the Common App personal essay fulfills the essay requirement. Transfer applicants submit Topic A instead (a statement of purpose about their first-choice major), and School of Architecture transfers also submit Topic D; those are not included here.
Essay (freshman)
Please keep your essay between 500-650 words (typically two to three paragraphs). The Common App personal essay will complete the UT Austin essay requirement.
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.
500 to 650 words · Required · freshman
Required short answers (freshman)
Submit the required short answers to prompts in your admission application. Answers are limited to no more than 40 lines, or about 250-300 words per prompt, typically the length of one paragraph.
Why are you interested in the major you indicated as your first-choice major?
300 words max · Required · freshman
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.)
300 words max · Required · freshman
Optional short answer (freshman)
Answers are limited to no more than 40 lines, or about 250-300 words per prompt.
Please share background on events or special circumstances that you feel may have impacted your high school academic performance.
300 words max · Optional · freshman
About the application
Applies via the Common App.
Make your next draft count.
Common questions
- What are the UT Austin essay prompts for 2026-27?
- UT Austin lists Essay (freshman) (1 prompt); Required short answers (freshman) (2 prompts); Optional short answer (freshman) (1 prompt) for 2026-27.
- How many essays does UT Austin require?
- UT Austin requires 3 essays based on the published group instructions for 2026-27. The page lists 3 required and 1 optional prompts.
- What are the word limits for the UT Austin supplemental essays?
- The published word and character limits are 500 to 650 words, 300 words max.