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Requirements: 2 essays of 500 words each
Supplemental Essay Type(s): Personal Statement, Why, Community
It’s not uncommon for colleges to ask applicants about a time when they faced adversity. If you wrote about a time when you overcame a challenge in your Common App essay, we recommend responding to two of the other three prompts. If not, we encourage you to consider experiences or periods of your life in which you tackled adversity head-on. Writing about a difficult time in your life requires both vulnerability and perspective. Instead of focusing on the obstacle or bump in the road you were up against, spend most of the words at your disposal on how you rose to the occasion to overcome the challenge at hand. This is your opportunity to show admissions that you are a developing, maturing young adult with ambition and work ethic. As you zero in on a key moment, ask yourself: What healthy coping mechanisms or communication skills did you develop? Who, if applicable, did you choose to lean on for support and why? What did you learn about yourself? How will you approach difficult situations moving forward? Be honest and open, and we’re sure admissions will be impressed.
This is a classic community essay, through and through. Admissions wants to know what or who has made you into the young adult submitting this application. Where do you come from? What has shaped you, and how has that made you unique? What you focus on here can be reflective of larger cultural constructs or specific to your family alone. The University of Central Florida is looking to add diverse perspectives to the melting pot that is their student body. Meditate on how you identify and how the people, places, and perspectives you’ve grown up around have molded you into the person you are today.
This supplemental essay prompt is incredibly common, and a great place to start is by familiarizing yourself with UCF’s website to build a list of reasons why you’re applying. Since the prompt is quite broad, nothing is off-limits. You can address academics, school culture, social life, research opportunities, you name it. Once you feel comfortable with your research findings, show off your fit! Your essay should demonstrate not only why UCF is the perfect fit for you, but also why you’re the perfect fit for UCF. How would UCF allow you to continue exploring your interests? What would you contribute to class discussions or social clubs? Whatever your angle, make sure to tell admissions something new! Don’t re-trace old academic territory that you already covered in your personal statement and be sure to go beyond the basic facts and figures listed on the school website.
What do you contribute to your community that no one else could? Whether this prompt seems like it was made for you or is a total head-scratcher, we encourage you to dig a little deeper than your first thought. What about your history, experiences, perspectives, or talents might be worth highlighting for an admissions officer? And how can the experience, perspective, or talent you choose enrich the learning environment at UCF? Maybe you have always been an organizer and you are the glue that holds your summer camp community together during the school year. How will you bring people together on campus? Maybe you were raised on a farm and developed a strong work ethic at a young age as you helped your parents tend to the fields. Will you be a natural leader in group projects and take initiative in the many clubs you’d like to join? Be sure to connect your personal story to a future vision of yourself at UCF.
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