The most accurate AI grader for UT Austin essays.

    Kolly was built and calibrated on hundreds of thousands of essays from students who actually got into The University of Texas at Austin and the rest of the T20.

    UT Austin essay prompts for 2026-27

    Copy the prompt you are answering into the prompt field above, then paste your draft, so the readers grade the answer against the question it has to answer.

    These are the most recent UT Austin prompts Kolly has verified, checked . UT Austin may have updated them since, so check The University of Texas at Austin admissions before you submit.

    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

    All UT Austin supplemental essays, with word limits and the published source.

    How Kolly grades a UT Austin essay

    The grade covers the same six dimensions as every Kolly read: hook, theme, detail, authenticity, reflection, and writing, each scored from 0 to 5. The big number is a percentile that shows where your draft lands among accepted essays of the same type from top US schools. UT Austin readers, like their counterparts at peer schools, read fast and form an impression in the first paragraph. The verdict quotes the line that lands and names the weakest moment, so you know what to fix first.

    Why Kolly instead of a ChatGPT read

    ChatGPT and other general models grade against writing in general, which is not what UT Austin readers do. Kolly grades against essays that got in, and four readers argue over the draft before they vote, so a polished answer that says nothing specific gets called out instead of praised. The quick read is free without an account. A free Kolly account adds the full review: a stronger scoring model, notes on each paragraph, and a fix-it plan.

    Grading your personal statement?

    Use the main college essay grader for a Common App essay that goes to every school on your list. For acceptance rates, test scores, and cost, see The University of Texas at Austin admissions.