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Founded in 1853, the University of Florida (UF) is consistently regarded as one of the top public universities in the nation and describes itself as an “intellectual theme park driven by imagination, dreams and ambition.” What’s not to love about that?

And if the campus hammocks, year-round warmth, and nearby beaches weren’t appealing enough, what’s really attracting students is the big work being done on campus. UF is a research powerhouse, boasting over $900 million in research spending last year, making it a magnet for students passionate about discovery, sustainability, and innovation.

If you’re wanting to become part of Gator Nation—enjoying world-class academic and research opportunities alongside that quintessential Floridian lifestyle—then you’ve come to the right place.

But before you jump into our essay guide, you might want to first get a clearer sense of all that UF is looking for in its students. You can explore 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. And for insights into how the university envisions itself and its role, and how it wants to grow and evolve, read its strategic plan. Reading through these will give you a strong idea of what UF values.

What Are the University of Florida Supplemental Essay Prompts?

Prompt 1 (required)

Please provide more details on your most meaningful commitment outside of the classroom while in high school and explain why it was meaningful. This could be related to an extracurricular activity, work, volunteering, an academic activity, family responsibility, or any other non-classroom activity. (100-250 words)

Prompt 2(optional)

Do you have any employment or family obligations that limit your participation in extracurricular activities? If so, please describe. (250 words)

Prompt 3 (optional)

Have you participated in or been assisted in your college preparation and search by programs outside of the classroom, such as Educational Talent Search, Take Stock in Children, Upward Bound, Boys and Girls Club, etc.? If so, please provide the name of the program, details/benefits of your involvement, and how long your experiences continued. (250 words)

Prompt 4 (optional)

Is there any additional information or extenuating circumstances the Admissions Committee should know when reviewing your application? If so, please provide more information in less than 250 words.

UF Honors Program

As Albert Einstein once said, “The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” Reflecting on this, what academic subjects, learning opportunities, or extracurricular activities are you most excited to engage in during your college experience? How do you imagine or hope the UF Honors Program will help feed your curiosity and help you achieve your aspirations? (150-400 words)

How to Write Each Supplemental Essay Prompt for the University of Florida

How to Write UF Supplemental Essay Prompt #1

The extracurricular activity essay prompt is a common one—especially for selective schools—because it’s a great way to get a glimpse into your values/interests/experiences/skills through the lens of an activity that’s meaningful to you.

So if you’ve been crushing it as an intern at a local tech startup, volunteering at an urban gardening nonprofit, and babysitting your neighbor’s insane twins for extra cash, which one do you write about?

It depends!

Your most impressive activity may not always make for the best essay. (Crazy, right?) You could write an incredible essay about working at McDonald’s as a vegetarian and a totally boring essay about being ASB President or working on Wall Street.

Notice, too, that the prompt asks you to reflect on how your work or extracurricular activity has influenced you—why this has been a meaningful experience. This means you’ll want to pick an activity that has helped shape one of your core values or interests.

You’ll find an in-depth, step-by-step guide to writing extracurricular activity essays at this link. We recommend using that post to guide you as you’re writing.

But if you want to see the short version, here’s what to do:

Go to your Common App activities list and pick 2-3 of your most impressive or important (to you) activities.
Then, go through the Best Extracurricular Activity Brainstorm I’ve Ever Seen (AKA the BEABIES exercise), either mentally or by filling out the chart. This will help you decide which topic might yield the most content for your essay. If you’re unsure, maybe do a simple outline for two different topics.
Write a draft! To guide you, each of those columns could provide a sentence or two of your first draft that you can later tweak and add some style to.

Pro tips:

Be careful about writing about an activity that you’ve already shared a lot about elsewhere on your application. If you’ve already written about your most important extracurricular activity in your main Common App personal statement, for example, write about your second or third most important activity. This essay is your chance to say “Hey, here’s this other cool thing I’ve spent some time doing that I haven’t told you about yet!”
While you may worry that a less “impressive” (in terms of accomplishments) extracurricular activity won’t show off your strengths as well, consider using your Activities List and Additional Information sections to emphasize what you’ve done, and use this essay to show a more uncommon side of yourself.

Here’s a solid example essay.

Example essay:

We worked into the moonlight, the children transforming an old library into a stage while the adults managed the heavy, dangerous debris.
When Hurricane Ian destroyed the theater, it also destroyed a sliver of structure in my life.
The majority of my memories occur at my local community theatre. The fragrance of stale coffee, cherry air freshener, and old shoes combined with the keynotes of the bright lights warming my face, the uncertainty of auditions, and the excitement of opening night live within me.
Each cast brought diversity. People of all ages and backgrounds united to form a beautiful community with varying perspectives on life and its purpose. The scripts brought a story we got to interpret and tell, demonstrating to audience members the complexities of humanity.
Working with adults from a young age taught me the importance of self-advocacy. My adolescence shouldn’t be seen as a limitation of my potential but rather as a motivator to influence the future that will become my own.
The theatre community came together to salvage the community’s heart and continue the annual tradition of A Christmas Carol. The show opened to a sold-out crowd just sixty days after the storm.
While it was heartbreaking to see my once vibrant “home-away-from-home” left to a metal skeleton, I soon realized that memories aren’t tangible and survive as long as our actions reflect the lessons they teach us.
The flame the theatre ignited will burn within me forever, the memories providing light and guidance.

Tips + Analysis

Consider starting your essay with a little tension. Kicking off the essay with a problem can be a great way to lead into why your meaningful commitment was, in fact, so meaningful. This student does a great job of dropping us right in the middle of the obstacle—cleaning up post-Hurricane—and getting the reader emotionally invested in the topic. (For more on different techniques for essay hooks, check out this guide.)
Use uncommon storytelling to help better convey the impact of what you’ve done. It’s easy (but not really a good thing) to turn the details of this accomplishment into something that resembles a resume: I did this and this, and then I did this. And while accurate, a story like this lacks personality. But as soon as you add some imagery and descriptive action verbs—“The fragrance of stale coffee, cherry air freshener, and old shoes,” for example—you get a much clearer sense of what this building (and the cleanup) meant to the student. (For more on how to “(mostly) show, don’t tell”, head here.)
Don’t forget to name those impacts, even if they’re brief. It’s important to connect your story to a meaningful outcome. What was the result of the time and energy you put into this? How did the experience change your understanding in some way? The impact might be a personal transformation, but it can also include the effect your work had on others or your community. This student included both. Being part of the theater group taught them that through advocacy, they could “influence the future that will become my own.” But there was also another impact, too: hastening the cleanup so the theater was performance-ready in just two months.

And here’s another solid example written for a different school’s (shorter) version of this prompt.

Example essay:

I look up at the wall. This feels impossible.
“Just go for it!” my friend Jack says to me. “It seems harder than it is.”
During my first year climbing, I spent much time contemplating all possible routes and strategies. But gradually I’ve realized: because my perspective is limited as I stand on the ground, there’s only so much I can tell from looking ahead. Sometimes it is better to just go for it. Over the last couple of years, this lesson has served me well: Had I known the difficult rhyme patterns I’d have to follow, I may not have written my play. Had I known the amount of reading ahead of me, I may not have started my research on Neo-Confucianism.
“Come on, [Student]!” Jack again.
I look up at the wall. Still feels impossible.
But I put a hand on it. Then a foot. Then pull up.

— — —

Tips + Analysis

Start off with something kind of unexpected. In a 175-word essay, we don’t necessarily expect someone to admit that something could go wrong. However, this author is honest about feeling doubt as she looks up at the wall she’s trying to climb. This draws readers in as they question how she’ll overcome this obstacle and find a way to get to the top. It creates suspense and also shows that the author is willing to be vulnerable.
Make connections. Although this essay is primarily about one activity (climbing), the author cleverly weaves in connections to other activities. She notes that the lessons she learned from climbing have given her the guts to write her own play and the motivation to start researching Neo-Confucianism. Those activities aren’t the focal point of the essay, but they help us learn more about the applicant. Although you actually do have to choose only one activity to answer this prompt, this is a great example of how you can use connections to smuggle in more parts of yourself.
Show growth. At the start of this essay, the author is at an impasse. Climb the wall or don’t climb the wall? Impossible or managable? By the end, the author has demonstrated that she’s the kind of person willing to take on the seemingly impossible. What we like is that she doesn’t focus on whether or not she actually got to the top of the wall. She’s more interested in the mindset it takes to get started. The growth she demonstrates is subtle, but the fact that she can reflect on it well shows maturity and self-awareness.
Choose an uncommon topic (if you can). Sure, this student could’ve written about being president of the debate club. Or how she’d played piano for eight years. But many students write about those things. You know what fewer students write about? Climbing.
Clarify meaning. While what’s meaningful about the above activity is fairly implied (with the reflection on how/why climbing has shifted her perspective and understanding), the essay could be strengthened for UF by spending a bit more time explicitly discussing why this has been a meaningful way to spend time.

– – –

Want to read a few more? Here are a few other extracurricular essay examples we love.

How to Write UF Supplemental Essay Prompt #2

(optional): Do you have any employment or family obligations that limit your participation in extracurricular activities? If so, please describe. (250 words)

UF realizes that not every student has the same opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities, and this (truly optional) question gives you the chance to explain the reasons why your Activities List isn’t as robust as you maybe wish it were.

That being said: Only answer if you have outside obligations that have significantly impacted your extracurricular activities and you haven’t already mentioned these in the Additional Information section.

If you respond, be brief and to the point, focusing on facts over excuses. What might that look like?

Share what your obligation is, how it’s impacted your time, and how it’s shaped you.

One example:

“I work 20 hours a week at Kroger to help support my family, which has limited my ability to join clubs or play sports. However, I was recently promoted to assistant manager—the store’s youngest—and have developed strong leadership and time management skills during my two years there.”

Focusing on the skills and growth these responsibilities have given you, not just the challenges, provide deeper context to your application.

Some other employment or family obligations that you can cover here include (but aren’t limited to):

Caring for younger siblings or elderly/homebound family members
Lack of access to transportation
Working for the family business
Lack of funds to pay for sports, musical instruments, or club fees

How to Write UF Supplemental Essay Prompt #3

(optional): Have you participated in or been assisted in your college preparation and search by programs outside of the classroom, such as Educational Talent Search, Take Stock in Children, Upward Bound, Boys and Girls Club, etc.? If so, please provide the name of the program, details/benefits of your involvement, and how long your experiences continued. (250 words)

This is another truly optional prompt. If you haven’t benefited from one of these outside-the-classroom programs during high school, move on to the next question.

But if you did receive support from one of the programs above (or a similar one), you’ll want to include the details here.

Once again, include clear, concise details about the program(s) you participated in and their impact on your college preparation journey.

Begin by naming the program, describing its purpose and summarizing your involvement.
Include specific benefits you gained—such as mentorship, resources, or skills.
And highlight the duration of your participation.

How to Write UF Supplemental Essay Prompt #4

(optional): Is there any additional information or extenuating circumstances the Admissions Committee should know when reviewing your application? If so, please provide more information in less than 250 words

By the time you get to this question, you’ve probably shared all you want to. But if for some reason you find that there’s still some important information still missing from your application that would help the reader have a more complete understanding of who you are and what’s important to you, this is your chance to add it.

Consider this a mini Additional Information section—a place to explain a dip in grades, a personal hardship you’ve experienced, or a research or work opportunity you’ve had.

Don’t worry if you don’t have anything to add here. We assure you that many students don’t.

UF Honors Program

Prompt: As Albert Einstein once said, “The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” Reflecting on this, what academic subjects, learning opportunities, or extracurricular activities are you most excited to engage in during your college experience? How do you imagine or hope the UF Honors Program will help feed your curiosity and help you achieve your aspirations? (150-400 words)

The Honors Program essay is a blend of the “Why This Major” and “Why This College” essays, so we’ve linked our in-depth guides to both. But in case you want to just jump right to it, here are two key points you’ll want to consider:

What are the things you’re really excited to learn more about and get more involved in while in college?
How will specific opportunities within the Honors Program help you achieve the goals you’ve set for yourself?

If you’re not already familiar with the UF Honors Program and what it offers, now is a great time to read up on it.

You’ve got a pretty broad word count range here, so use the word count you need to tell the story you want to tell. Don’t feel like you have to hit that 400-word mark if you feel your essay is complete after 300.

Example essay:

I would love to study biomedical engineering. My goal is to create affordable medicine that is able to fight disease more effectively and efficiently.

My interest began with required research on an unfamiliar topic for my high school biology class. I chose to investigate biomedical engineering. I plunged into scientific papers on how medicine worked, specifically delivery systems, and read through National Institute of Health publications. In fact, I have hundreds of NIH papers on my desk even now as I continue to research this independently. The more I read, the more my interest grows. The summer of 2023, I worked under Dr. James M. Burke as part of the Kenan Fellows High School Summer Internship Program at the UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology. I learned many new lab techniques and have also been able to experience conducting real research and collaborating in a laboratory. The Burke lab focused on antiviral response in cells, and my contribution involved identifying and eliminating drugs that were ineffective. This experience solidified my interest in an academic and professional career in biomedical engineering.

In college, I’m not only looking to continue this research but also to broaden the scope of my knowledge and skills. Specifically, I’d love to investigate new methods to fight cancer beyond chemotherapy. Currently at University of Florida, the Cancer Targeting and Therapeutics (CTT) program is accelerating the discovery and implementation of new ways to fight cancer. This kind of cutting-edge research draws me to the University of Florida because it offers an incredible opportunity for an undergraduate to be able to collaborate with these labs on this new technology.

The honors program at the University of Florida will allow me to connect with like-minded scholars who strive to excel and encourage collaboration. The honors college offers advanced classes, such as genetics, that I would like to take. It also offers professional development classes in engineering that I would like to use to further my education beyond basic science. Additionally, the honors college provides the opportunity to learn more deeply about regenerative medicine through presentations from University of Florida faculty and other national experts in the field on topics, such as organ replacement and tissue synthesis.

University of Florida’s honors college would provide the ideal opportunity for me to pursue knowledge in biomedical engineering while also contributing to advancements in science and medicine. (396)

Tips & Analysis

Share meaningful-to-you topics, not ones you think will make you look or sound smart. UF wants to hear your honest interests here. What are you passionate about continuing to explore in college—and what are you excited to finally be able to try on campus? Speaking knowledgably and enthusiastically about a topic will go a long way in impressing admission officers (but simply writing what you think they want to hear generally won’t). It’s clear the student above has some zeal for affordable, effective medicine because of their progression of deepening experience—from an initial paper on biomedical engineering to their work in the Burke Lab.
Get into specifics about the Honors Program. Once you’ve dug into the Honors Program, think about how its offerings will help you grow academically, personally, and professionally. Sharing why the program’s Signature Experiences or Reading Day Retreat resonates with your interests is a way to show your research and connection. While this student mentions the Honors Program’s advanced classes and professional development opportunities, they could also get even more specific, naming a class or past speaker that shows their enthusiasm for (and understanding of) the program.
Avoid speaking about things you could do on any campus. Mentioning study abroad opportunities, for example, aren’t usually the best use of word count in a Why This School essay. Why? Nearly every campus has a study abroad program, so mentioning one doesn’t necessarily show fit between you and the school. Instead, take this student’s lead and name Honors Program-only opportunities—like genetics classes and industry-renowned speakers—that support your goals and interests.

And here’s another example essay that does a great job of showing why they’re a great fit for the UF Honors Program.

Example essay:

Following my summer internship for a United States Congressman, I was eager to apply the skills I had learned from him and his staff. I secured a spot as a delegate for the 2023 Florida Girl State Conference, a week-long mock-state government.

The program's purpose exists annually to instill leadership skills, promote civic engagement, and better youth knowledge of the political process. We campaigned for office throughout the week, took a mock bar exam, and wrote and debated bills. My bill focused on mandating longer content warnings on programs that contain gun violence.

Girls State instilled advocacy skills that inspired me to conduct an individual research project that explored Instagram usage in relation to American adolescent desensitization.

I surveyed a randomly selected sample of high school seniors about their perceptions regarding school safety and gun violence combined with their self-reported screen time to identify a correlation between Instagram usage and desensitization levels to gun violence. My findings furthered current research that social media negatively influences mental health.

In college and beyond, I want to expand my research and continue to work with other passionate individuals to promote policies that strengthen mental health and encourage equity.

The opportunity to work one-on-one with UF faculty, especially Dr. Morris’s work in social media and mental health, through the University Scholars Program would be advantageous. The opportunity to publish my findings in scholarly journals, including the Journal of Undergraduate Research, would be beneficial to accomplishing my goals.

With a major in Political Science, courses such as “Policy, Ethics and Public Leadership” and “Race, Law and the Constitution,” in addition to the annual MLK Celebration Events, will help me further my understanding of how policies can impact equity as well as increase my knowledge of diverse cultures and traditions.

I will engage in the Latina Empowerment Symposium to join a group of other committed students to engage in dialogue to explore approaches and create resources to combat various forms of global oppression.

To give back in Gainesville, I aim to empower minorities by hosting educational and social advocacy workshops. I will join Gators for Gainesville to foster positive relationships with Gainesville’s community through initiatives such as Project Downtown and St. Francis House.

UF Honors’s core values of inclusion, freedom, and discovery support my goal of furthering my understanding of diverse backgrounds and researching and promoting policies that foster equity for all. (396)

Want advice on dozens of other supplemental essays?
Click here

Special thanks to Julia for contributing to this post.

Julia published her first “book” on the elusive Pika in elementary school and has been writing fervently ever since. She’s thrilled to unite her quirky love of grammar and master’s in psychology to help students tell their most meaningful stories. Her favorite punctuation mark is the apostrophe because, in the words of Imagine Dragons, it’s “a symbol to remind you that there’s more to see.”

Top values: Collaboration | Family | Productivity

How to Write the University of Florida Supplemental Essays: Examples + Guide 2024/2025

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