Cooper Union 2025-26 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide 

Cooper Union 2025-26 Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: Two essays of 350 words; one essay of 250 words

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Why, Community

The Cooper Union is a small, highly specialized, and academically challenging school in New York City. Beyond these traits, what specific aspects of our community and resources excite you? In what ways are you inspired to contribute to and benefit from our learning community? (350 words)

To ace this essay, make sure you visit Cooper Union’s website and do some research. What is unique about their community and resources? Beyond your projected major, what excites you about becoming a student at Cooper? Once you’ve gotten a good sense of what the university has to offer, think about how you see yourself fitting into the community. How can your experiences, perspectives, or talents enrich the learning environment for others? What you focus on here can really run the gamut, but it should be something that you feel will help you to contribute to Cooper’s community in a distinctive way. Maybe you’re looking forward to doing undergraduate research with a particular professor. Perhaps you’re excited to join the Luddite Club, where you can unplug with your peers and introduce them to the joys of playing bridge. Crucially, make sure you also discuss how Cooper might shape your perspective during your time there. How do you expect to be changed or influenced by your undergraduate education at this particular school?

What drives your interest in pursuing your chosen major (e.g., Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Computer Science)? How do you envision engaging with Cooper’s labs, research opportunities, and faculty? (350 words)

This is Cooper’s version of a classic Why Essay. Admissions wants to both learn about your academic interests and see how their offerings will suit your passions. While you might be tempted to get technical or poetic in your response, your reader will expect you to also connect your intended major with some prior experience and/or passion. In other words, tell a story and help them understand your journey to this moment. What excites you and why? If you can build a bridge between your own interests and the resources available at Cooper, you’ll be well on your way to demonstrating your fit. So set aside an hour or two and commit to some serious research on Cooper’s website. (Sorry, there’s no way around this, folks!) Look up information about news and research coming out of your department of interest, the professors and labs, and the opportunities other undergrads have had studying in your field of choice. Your ultimate goal is to show that your interest in Cooper (just like your intellectual curiosity) runs deep!

If you were to give a 30-minute lecture on a specific topic to an audience, what would your topic be and why? Why does this topic interest you, and what do you want others to understand or appreciate about it? (250 words)

This is your chance to highlight an interest and passion that may not appear elsewhere on your application. Reach beyond the traditional academic areas and think about what ideas keep you up at night or send you down internet rabbit holes. Maybe you love stand-up comedy and would deliver a talk about the evolution of the genre from Lenny Bruce to Atsuko Okatsuka. Perhaps your love of soccer would inspire a lecture on the intricate relationships among players and how a strong foundation of trust is key to building a solid team. Remember to focus on not just what you’re interested in, but also why you want to share it with others. What insights can you bring that others might miss? How can you shed light on underappreciated aspects of your topic? There is no right or wrong answer here, so write about the subject that interests you the most!