The UNC Chapel Hill supplemental essays give you a few different ways to help the school understand what you bring to the campus and community and why the two of you belong together.
Want to get a better sense of what UNC Chapel Hill is looking for before you start writing? You’ll find an extensive, by-the-numbers look at its offerings, from enrollment and tuition statistics to student life and financial aid information, on its Common Data Set. For deep insights into how this public research university envisions student success (and how it wants to grow and evolve), read its strategic priorities. Reading through this will give you a strong idea of UNC Chapel Hill’s values.
What are the UNC Chapel Hill supplemental essay prompts?
UNC Chapel Hill Supplemental Essay Prompt #1
Discuss one of your personal qualities and share a story, anecdote, or memory of how it helped you make a positive impact on a community. This could be your current community or another community you have engaged. (250 word limit)
UNC Chapel Hill Supplemental Essay Prompt #2
Discuss an academic topic that you’re excited to explore and learn more about in college. Why does this topic interest you? Topics could be a specific course of study, research interests, or any other area related to your academic experience in college. (250 word limit)
UNC Chapel Hill Global Opportunities Prompt
Why do you want to participate in the global opportunities you’ve selected, and in what ways are you hoping to grow through the experience(s)? (250 word limit)
(Note: This short answer question is only available to students who select to participate in "Global Opportunities" in the CommonApp)
How to Write Each Supplemental Essay Prompt for UNC Chapel Hill
UNC Chapel Hill supplemental essay prompt #1
(250 word limit)
As a public university, UNC Chapel Hill puts a lot of value in people and the diverse experiences they bring to the table. School officials want to understand how you relate to and engage with the world around you. The Common App personal statement offers an opportunity to help schools see a big part of who you are as a person, while supplemental prompts like these give you a chance to show another side of yourself, something else you bring to the table with the college.
For a full guide to community essays, check out that guide. Here’s the short version:
General Tips:
Don’t repeat what’s in your personal statement. The prompts are explicitly asking you to talk about something new. Take advantage of the opportunity to do so.
Brainstorm a list of communities and see which ones you would be the most excited to write about. Here are different ways to approach the idea of community:
Place: Groups of people who live/work/play near one another
Identity: Groups of people who share a common race, sexuality, ethnicity, or other marker of identity
Action: Groups of people who create change in the world by building, doing, or solving something together (ex.: Black Lives Matter, Girls Who Code, March for Our Lives)
Interest: Groups of people coming together based on a shared interest, experience, or expertise
Circumstance: Groups of people brought together either by chance or external events/situations
Get specific. Share specific moments, experiences, and actions. Be creative and use details that give you a distinctive/memorable voice.
Use the space they give you. You only get about 250 words per answer, so try to use it all up. If you don’t have 200-250 words to say about something, consider writing about something else.
When you can, try to make your answers school-specific. Because it’s a big public school, UNC Chapel Hill receives a ton of applications. The more you can do to demonstrate that you’ve done your research, the better chance you have of standing out. Universities want to feel wanted. While the prompt doesn’t explicitly mention UNC, you have the option of adding a bit of “Why us?” at the end, showing how you want to engage with the UNC community.
With community, clarify impact. Why does impact matter? It helps the reader understand why they should care. Hopefully, the topic you’ve chosen is something you’re already pretty jazzed about. The key here is getting your reader to be just as jazzed as you, and showing impact is the way to do it. Here are some ways to think about impact:
Numbers. Perhaps what you choose to talk about has a particularly shocking statistic. Maybe your interest in that topic inspired you to do something that had a significant numerical effect. Consider adding specific numbers to bolster your claims and give your readers a sense of magnitude.
Anecdotal evidence of impact, or quotations. Impact doesn’t have to be quantitative to convey urgency, importance, or power. The more of you that you put in your essay, the better.
Personal impact (on you, the author) in the form of lessons learned, skills gained. It’s especially interesting to note if these skills transferred to other areas of your life.
Write it long first, then cut it. In our experience, this tends to be easier than writing a very short version and then trying to figure out what to add.
Here’s a great example essay.
Example:
You wouldn’t think an American Asian Affinity Space would be diverse, after all its whole premise is centered around one specific identity. However, members of the affinity space at my high school come from several different grades, genders and ethnicities. The group included a sophomore from China, a junior from Pakistan, and members from Korea, Japan, and even Israel. We each had unique stories of living as an Asian-American, yet, we had all chosen to come to this affinity group. As we spent time together, we were able to find shared experiences, like our parents preparing packed lunches for us from our country and being too embarrassed to bring them to school. Whether eating humbow or biryani, we all knew what it was like to feel out of place.
My work with the AAAS got me thinking about what diversity can look like, and what it means to embrace diversity. On the one hand, you can find diversity even when people appear to be alike. By exploring our differences, we can continue learning from each other even when it seems we have shared backgrounds and values. At the same time, people who seem really different may have shared human experiences, feeling like the "other" or being embarrassed by their parents, that can bring them together. Moving forward, I want to learn about people’s differences, hearing their stories and learning about their backgrounds while also creating spaces for people to have shared experiences that bring people together.
— — —
Tips + Analysis
Challenge a misconception or generalization. This applicant does a great job of subverting expectations when it comes to her American-Asian identity. She highlights how her affinity group was more diverse than one might generally expect. By doing this, she demonstrates a compelling ability to self-reflect and see nuance within important cultural spaces. The idea that diversity is more than what meets the eye is a mature and complex insight that makes this essay stand out. This is a prompt that allows you to show off your ability to “see behind the curtain,” so to speak, when it comes to a specific community or identity. Acknowledging an assumption and then challenging it is an excellent way to do this.
Highlight growth. When you answer this prompt, it’s great if you can create a narrative arc by showing how you developed within a specific identity. In this case, the author talks about her growing ability to find common ground with other members of her affinity group. In this way, she’s showing her values of inclusion, culture, and diversity. Although this is a short essay, having a “story” is very helpful. Think of the narrative arc as a rope that you can use to pull your reader through your answer. Showing how you changed over time or learned more about yourself compels people to keep reading.
Use paragraph structure to clarify your main points. The author here uses her first paragraph to expand on a part of her identity (being Asian American) and the second paragraph to expand on how that part of her identity has shaped her values and perceptions. She also touches on how this ties into her ongoing interest in creating inclusive spaces and embracing difference. This is a really nice way to answer the prompt because it’s very clear which part of the question she’s answering in each paragraph. The first paragraph sets the scene of the past, and then the second one speaks more to the present and future. Having a paragraph break also gives the reader a chance to breathe before moving right into the second half of the answer. Try to use the structure of your piece to amplify your content.
Connect to the future. As we mentioned, the author does a nice job of segueing into how the lessons she learned from her American Asian Affinity group have inspired her interest in creating more inclusive spaces. This is something you should do in your essay too. You don’t have to be super specific about what you want to do (although you definitely can!), but giving your reader a sense of how this aspect of your identity would impact what you do or who you’d interact with in college helps them better understand what kind of student you’d be.
And here’s another example essay:
When I met Bella, my ears didn’t work. I could hear, but not listen. When I conversed with friends, we were in our own universes. There was little empathy, just interruptions and distractions. And because nobody around me seemed to have the desire to listen, I gave up on it too.
From the moment Bella and I were crowned co-winners of a middle-school cup-stacking competition, each winning half of a coveted cookie cake, things changed. I soon realized how perceptive Bella was to people’s feelings.
Our chats morphed into meaningful conversations and fits of laughter. She was the first friend I came out to as bi. After telling her, I waited nervously for the uncomfortable acceptance and frantic search for other conversation topics. But instead, she looked me in the eye and said she loved me no matter who I loved. Then, she asked curious questions rather than trying to ignore my identity. And I was there for Bella too. When she told me about the emotional distance she felt growing up far away from her dad who lives in South Korea, I supported her, not trivializing her pain with dismissive reassurances. Since our cup-stacking battle, we’ve been strong for each other.
Bella unplugged my ears. That’s why she was the first person I interviewed for my podcast, Portraits, about people in my life. I know that as an empathetic listener, I am more vulnerable now, but, thanks to Bella, I understand how to communicate love. (246 words)
— — —
Tips + Analysis:
Consider starting with a punchy first line. This author’s first line is super strong. All she says is, “When I met Bella, my ears didn’t work.” This raises lots of questions. Who’s Bella? What do you mean your “ears didn’t work?” How did you meet this Bella person? This is the best kind of hook because it elicits more questions than answers. It’s also short and to the point. It’s not overly convoluted. And don’t worry, it’s okay to disorient your reader a bit in the first line. It intrigues people and makes them want to keep reading, particularly when the essay focus isn’t directly on yourself.
Highlight your values. Though this essay does focus some on another person, the author shows us that she cares about empathy and open dialogue. You’ll need to talk about other people to some degree for this prompt. Just remember to be sure that, ultimately, you’re still the main character here.
Embrace vulnerability. This essay is chock full of vulnerability. The author talks about her sexuality and her journey toward a greater sense of empathy. A great essay isn’t just about showing off all your great accomplishments. In fact, reflecting on how you’ve changed over time shows that you’re introspective and adaptable. Nobody is perfect, and oftentimes it works to your advantage to embrace that. A great question to ask yourself if you’re writing for this prompt is: How did this community/experience help me grow? Think of the answer to that question as the frame for your essay and fill the details in with the words you have left.
And here’s another example.
Example:
My earliest memory of orchestra wasn’t about the orchestra, but what happened after. I was ten, and a kind retirement community resident was so enamored by our performance, she invited my family to her apartment for cookies. This was a glimpse of what was to come: standing ovations, the tears in my neighbor’s eyes when my music reminded her of her hometown, the community my fellow string members and I formed over nervous glances before the curtain went up. I knew my peers could benefit from these rewards, so I started a strings club at my high school.
The school band teacher agreed to conduct, and I spread the word through social media and flyers. The club started off as a small-but-mighty group of four, but grew as we tutored beginner violinists. At the end of our first concert, I was moved by the shared hugs, the high-fives, and the satisfaction on the students’ faces as they saw a teary family member in the audience.
I’m proud of our strings club, but I still have the nagging sense that it isn’t enough. Our school was only the third out of thirty in the county to begin an orchestra club, so there are still hundreds of students who can benefit from being a part of the orchestra community. It would require school administrators to recognize the impacts orchestral music can have on teens’ growing brains, but I hope to one day see many more string clubs at schools across our county.
— — —
Tips + Analysis
Be positive about a negative. This applicant skillfully addresses the need for orchestral music while not criticizing administrators or bashing the school for not having a strings club. She paints positive pictures of cookies with a retiree, students bonding over high-fives, and the tearful support of parents. Depending on your topic, it can be useful to acknowledge what’s already good or working, then frame your experiences or actions as a way to make your community even better.
Show your advocacy or activism streak. This prompt is an invitation to all those with drive to serve a cause. Maybe you’re an advocate for the environment—have you pushed for safer crosswalks or more bike racks to encourage pedestrian traffic? Think about ways you’ve engaged to better your community. What do you care about that hasn’t been addressed elsewhere in your application? Whatever you choose, whether it stems from a cause or a hobby, expressing genuine interest by flexing your values and conveying your enthusiasm will make the reader care too.
UNC Chapel Hill supplemental essay prompt #2
This is a pretty standard “Why Major” prompt. For a larger guide to the “Why Major” essay, click here. Below is a condensed version.
One possible approach:
Think of this as a quick origin story.
Step #1: Imagine a mini-movie of the moments that led you to your interest and create a simple, bullet-point outline.
Step #2: Put your moments (aka the “scenes” of your mini-movie) in chronological order, as it’ll help you see how your interests developed. It also makes it easier to write transitions.
Step #3: You’ll likely want to include a specific thesis that explicitly states your central argument—in this case, what you want to study and why. This thesis can come at the beginning, middle, or end of your essay.
Once you have those pieces, you have a few structural options:
Opening
A. A quick hook that thematically sets up where you’ll take us, and, ideally, shows an aspect of your intellect/personality (If you do this, it can be stylistically effective to bookend—to end the essay by linking back to what you opened with.)
B. An initial moment that sparked your interest
C. Your thesis
Body (but to clarify, this essay can be a single paragraph if you choose)
The moments of your mini-movie, illustrating both the development of your interest and some of your core values
Ending
One option: Go narrower—perhaps link to specific aspects of Yale that will help you continue on your path toward a future goal.
Another option: Go wider—name the road you hope to follow (for example, career path, organizations you’d like to work with, the greater value/implications of studying what you want to).
And last, a quick tip: Be sure this essay is consistent with your personal statement if you’ve mentioned aspects of your major/career there.
Here’s an example essay (written for a Why Major prompt with a smaller word count) to point you in the right direction.
Example:
After attending a three-week summer camp researching epigenetics, I knew that molecular biology was what I wanted to study as the next step towards a research-oriented biotech career.
However, research for research’s sake isn’t what I’m interested in. Molecular biology has huge implications for human health, with the ability to alter gene expression or protein function as a possible avenue for the treatment of almost any disease.
Because of these potential impacts, molecular biology is a field that’s ripe for unethical exploitation, as seen in Gattaca or Brave New World. I want to make sure that research is conducted with everyone’s best interests in mind, so that the benefits from discoveries will be able to help more than just those that can afford it, and so that they can be used safely and effectively.
— — —
Tips + Analysis
Identify the relevant movie moments. This student’s “movie moment” is their time at summer camp, when they knew they wanted to study molecular biology. Note that it can be useful to get even more detailed and cinematic, but you’ll want to avoid simply repeating the activities list. And with the prompts fairly small word count, spending less time on the what allows for more word count space to focus on why this is important to them.
A step towards a larger goal. This student writes about how they want to study molecular biology as a next step towards a research-oriented biotech career—a great, direct reason for their why. If you already know what you want to pursue careerwise, a great way to frame it is by talking about how a certain major will help you achieve those goals. If you don’t know what you want to do in or after college, you can still take inspiration from this by talking about how this major will help you achieve a different goal, like learning about something you’re curious about or exploring an issue that matters to you.
Discuss larger scope, impact, and your role in it. While already within the first sentence/paragraph, we know the what and why (step towards research-oriented biotech career), the rest of this essay goes into greater depth to explain this direction, especially in relation to research. They talk about the big picture for how molecular biology can impact human health, but the golden nugget is when they talk about where they see themselves fitting into that picture: making sure that research is beneficial to everyone and discoveries can be used safely and effectively.
Sprinkle in points of connection. This wasn’t necessary, but definitely a nice touch—this student sprinkled in references to Gattaca and Brave New World, which does a few things: (1) tells us a tiny bit more about the student and maybe some of the media they like to engage with, (2) that they’re able to make connections between things they’ve read/watched and what they’re learning about in real life, and (3) creates an aha moment for the reader, especially if they’ve read/watched these things; it creates even more of a visual without the student having to explain exactly what those unethical exploitations are.
Here’s another example from an applicant with an impressive depth of exploration:
Example:
Over the past summer, I conducted research as a full-time intern at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The primary purpose of my research was to engineer a more efficient halogenase enzyme. This enzyme was designed to decrease costs and increase the yield of halogenated products used to create a novel biomaterial for F-35 aircraft. Applying all the knowledge I’d gained throughout high school to figure out this problem was an incredible introduction to the world of multidisciplinary science.
I built on my years spent studying organic chemistry, biochemistry, and microbiology, both in school and Science Olympiad, with a focus on utilizing engineering principles in order to create a product. Throughout the summer, I enjoyed being able to apply my knowledge collaboratively, pulling from a vast range of scientific fields. It’s this experience that has greatly influenced my decision to continue applying myself interdisciplinarily and continue my undergraduate studies in biomedical engineering.
— — —
And as a bonus, here’s a good example of a strong Why Major essay that was written for Yale but offers a solid framework to emulate (note, though, that you’ll get over double the space for your Why Major).
Example:
Storytelling has shaped me. At four, I read The Lion King until I’d memorized it. I’d snuggle in bed as my dad read Wilderness Champion or Tom Sawyer. Later, I found audio and visual storytelling, mesmerized by This American Life and Whiplash. Now, I create my own stories through newspaper satire, podcasting, and locally-broadcasted radio.
My major at Yale would be the next chapter in my life of storytelling. I’d explore past narratives and how they can be digitally innovated. Whether exploring media’s disfiguration of truth, developing screenplays, or analyzing mise-en-scene, I hope to pioneer new networks of connection. (99 words)
— — —
UNC Chapel Hill Global Opportunities Prompt
(250 word limit)
(Note: This short answer question is only available to students who select to participate in "Global Opportunities" in the CommonApp)
In the Common App portal, UNC offers several opportunities for students to engage in what they call “Global Opportunities.”
Here’s what they say:
Carolina’s Global Guarantee provides access for all Carolina students to a transformative global education, with opportunities to learn from cultures and societies around the world—and to learn about the ways our world is interconnected. Whether through study abroad or through rich global content and experiences incorporated into the Carolina curriculum, our students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills fundamental to their success as they become the next generation of global leaders.
Your selections won’t affect your admission to the University in any way and there is no limit to the number of programs you can express interest in in this section. If we are able to offer you one of these opportunities, it will appear in MyCarolina at the same time as your admissions decision.
More information can be found at https://admissions.unc.edu/apply/special-opportunities/
We’ll list out the different programs below. For general guidance, you can treat this essay essentially as a combo “Why Major/Why X Subject Area” and “Why us?” essay—show what in your academic or personal background connects to the program, and how it will help you to continue on your path.
For the “Why Major” aspects, you’ll find a step-by-step guide to writing this essay at this link, but here’s the short version:
Step #1: Imagine a mini-movie of the moments that led you to your interest and create a simple, bullet point outline.
Step #2: Probably put your moments (aka the “scenes” of your mini-movie) in chronological order, as it’ll help you see how your interests developed. It also makes it easier to write transitions.
For the “Why Us?” aspects, spend some time further researching what the program offers, and show why and how those opportunities connect to your interests and values.
Global Gap Year Fellowship
The Global Gap Year Fellowship allows students to defer their enrollment at Carolina to complete a year of service abroad. The fellowship includes mentoring, global networking, and an $8,000 stipend to help students complete their service commitment.
Joint Degree Program with National University of Singapore
The Joint Degree Program allows students to expand their global network and gain cultural awareness through two to four semesters in Singapore while earning a dual degree from the National University of Singapore and Carolina. This program requires students to major in Economics, English Literature, Geography, History or Political Science.
Russian Language Flagship Program
The Russian Language Flagship Program provides students a competitive edge for their career through opportunities to develop a professional level of proficiency in Russian, a language deemed critical to U.S. national security. Beyond coursework, students can participate in individualized tutoring and cultural programming, spend a summer of intensive Russian language study in a Russian-speaking country, and complete a Capstone academic year in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Summer Study Abroad Fellowship
The Summer Study Abroad Fellowship provides students with a one-time award of $5,000 to fund study abroad experiences after their first, second, or third year of study at Carolina in over 80 programs offered by the UNC Study Abroad office as well as programs with course credit offered through academic departments.
Carolina Spring Forward
Carolina Spring Forward provides the opportunity to study abroad in Costa Rica, Ireland, Scotland, South Korea, or Spain with other Carolina students during the spring semester of their first year. Students will take pre-approved courses that fulfill UNC requirements and will be eligible for scholarship funding.
Special thanks to Jon for writing to this post
Jon (he/him) knows the value of writing from a place of personal truth. As a classically trained theater artist, he is committed to crafting authentic stories that reflect the range of human experience.
Top Values: Mindfulness | Adaptability | Self-Expression
