academic goals essay for college

How to write a winning scholarship essay about your academic goals

Have you ever opened up a scholarship application only to find that you have to write yet ANOTHER scholarship essay, this time about your academic goals? We get it. There’s a lot of writing involved when you’re applying! Well, we’re here to guide you through your academic goals essay, with scholarship essay tips and a template. We’ve even got a surprise for you at the end that will save you time on your scholarship applications.

1) Start brainstorming and writing as early as possible.

2) understand your current goals of where you are now, and your future goals of where you want to be., 3) stay positive., 4) keep it personal., 5) spell check., 6) be proud of your academic goals essay., what are you studying right now, what do you enjoy, what are you not-so-crazy about in your current studies, what do you want to achieve in college, what things outside of pure academics, might complement your academic goals, how will your academic goals help you achieve other goals, what has inspired these goals, how will you hold yourself accountable with your academic goals, bonus: let your academic goals influence your college class planning, it’s here your academic goals essay brainstorm template, extra bonus: apply for scholarships more easily, with going merry .

6 tips for scholarship essay success

Writing any scholarship essay takes time, thought, and energy. The earlier you start, the better!

Your goals today may change tomorrow. Think about where you are now in your high school career – what are you studying that you love? What would you like to change? What do you aim to accomplish in college? Ask yourself these questions and write down those goals.

No one is perfect – we all have our hardships and our downfalls. But think positively when it comes to your academic goals. If you didn’t do so hot in one subject, try not to include that exact phrasing in the essay, but think about how you can turn that around into a positive.

Similar to personal statements , share your story – a moment that brought you to where you are today. Especially for local scholarships, the providers want to feel like they’re supporting real people to achieve their academic dreams. So make sure you share enough personal details about where you are and where you want to be.

Using a tool like Grammarly helps check your spelling and grammar as you’re writing. Ask a friend, family member, or expert to review your academic goals essay before you submit it with your scholarship application. This will help your writing for college appear polished and professional.

You did it! You wrote it! That’s your work, and now it’s up to the scholarship providers to review and accept your application.

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Points to consider while writing your academic goals scholarship essay:

Think about your current studies in high school. If you’re a high school junior, think about what classes you’re currently taking, and what you plan to take next year as a senior. If you’re a high school senior, reflect on your last two semesters of classes. What’s your curriculum look like? You might be taking an English class, Math, a focused class, such as Sociology, maybe a World Religions course, Geography, Government and an elective such as music, art, or physical education.

We all know a high school teacher who made going to class enjoyable because of their personality – OR – we just really loved the subject (No one? Just us? Okay…it was Mr. Nixon’s Law class that made research and debating against classmates fun for us).

Capitalize on the enjoyable aspects of that class in your academic goals essay. Explain how your teacher made the class engaging in a way that helped you retain information while also enjoying the class. Consider what the ideal academic class would look like in college. Would you aim to take a similar course in college where the professor promotes engaged learning? Or would you prefer to sit in a lecture hall where you can listen, digest detailed information, write down notes, and ask questions as needed? Think about your learning style as you organize your academic goals essay.

Going back to the point of staying positive, think through a subject that you’re currently not too thrilled about, and get creative with how you can turn that into an academic goal.

Ex: Statistics was one of the most challenging subjects of my junior year curriculum. However, I know I’ll need to have sufficient knowledge of the subject to major in Psychology in college. My goal is to find a study buddy – a colleague, a tutor, someone skilled in the subject, to improve my understanding of the subject so I can later help patients understand research study statistics in the future.

It might be a 3.5 GPA. Or you might want to walk across the stage on graduation day with summa cum laude cords. Maybe you want to become president of the student government association on campus.

The great thing about college is that you’re furthering your education, and you’re growing as a person! You’re learning about yourself, how you work, how you interact, and there are so many opportunities to get involved on campus. Think about how these fits in with your academic goals by naming any organizations, department clubs, and honor societies that catch your eye.

How might your near-term academic goals help you in your future (e.g. career after college)–or how might they help others (e.g. your friends, family, future customers/patients)? Think long-term: what will your current academic goals help you achieve further down the line? Whom might that impact?

Ex: Taking 18 credits helped us knock out our required wellness course during the second semester of our freshman year of college. By sophomore year, we could focus on classes related to our major and enjoy time after class. We later graduated a semester early thanks to study habits and credits. We spent time at the on-campus career center, working through mock interviews. Then, we later landed a job soon after graduation, working for a company and helping them bring on new customers.

All of this happened as a result of creating academic goals to plan classes early and work through those credits.

Everyone finds inspiration from different outlets. Whether it’s your parents, a teacher, your guidance counselor, classmates, siblings, or even an athlete, briefly describe who inspired these goals. Heck, you might have inspired yourself to make these goals! If it wasn’t someone who inspired you, discuss what inspired you to set these goals in your academic goals essay.

Writing down goals for ourselves is great. It makes our goals seem more concrete once we talk or write about them. Now, it’s time to make those goals happen! Toward the end of your academic goals essay, you might want to explicitly state your plan for holding yourself accountable to these goals — this will seem impressive to a scholarship provider who wants to make sure their award money is going to someone who’s serious about their future.

How might you stay accountable? Maybe your best friend can text you every Wednesday to check in with you mid-week on your progress. Or maybe that’s too much, and you’ll just set a reminder on your phone to check in with yourself once a week. Or maybe you’re a real planner– and you’ve created clear milestones for the next couple years, and you’ll check in regularly to make sure you’re hitting them. Whatever it is, bringing your lofty academic goal down to concrete steps is likely to make your academic goals essay stronger.

Don’t just think of your scholarship essay on academic goals as a chore that you complete and then never look at again. Once you’ve written it, let it help serve as your beacon as you decide what majors or classes to take, or what student organizations to join.

Then you can plan your semesters accordingly. For example:

Jot down your goals for your class schedule, what you plan to do with your time before, after, and in between classes.
Consider what time of day you would be most effective in taking the classes necessary to meet your academic goals. Are you a night owl or a morning person? Do you need lots of time between classes to really digest the material?
How many classes (or credits) do you plan to take? You can take a full load of classes, usually up to 18 credits per semester depending on the school, without going over your tuition limit, to help give you a lighter load your junior and senior years. Or, you can take the standard 12 – 16 credits per semester to avoid overloading your schedule and leaving room for socializing and other activities. This may also affect your graduation year. So if part of your academic goals (or your plan for reducing tuition ) requires you to graduate early — you’ll also want to plan this out!

Ready to start brainstorming to write your essay?

Print this sheet – OR – if you want to fill out this sheet digitally, make a copy to save and edit on your device by going to File > Download > Microsoft Word, OpenDocument Format, etc.

Also, check out this helpful list of the 10 most common scholarship essay topics!

Top 10 Most Common Scholarship Essay Prompts Graphic

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9 10 Academic Goals Examples to Supercharge Your Student Success

Becoming a successful student involves more than just going to classes and remembering facts for the test. It is about establishing a mentality of learning and evolving continuously, and distinct academic goals are a key aspect of that. These are the lights that lead the way and help you stay on track as you navigate through the trials and tribulations of your studies, whether it’s the demands of testing or the stuff that life throws at you. But, just as importantly, by clearly defining and outlining your academic objectives, you give your study a sense of intention and purpose. Whether it’s achieving a particular GPA, mastering a challenging topic, or participating in enriching extracurricular, strong academic Goals are the foundation of both short- and long-term academic success.

Establishing concrete goals and the quest of excellence are frequently linked in the academic sphere. Before delving into these Academic Goals Examples, it is important to recognize services like Scholarly Help that provide workable ways to handle several Tasks. With options like pay someone to do my online class , Scholarly Help ensures you stay on track without compromising other responsibilities. This comprehensive guide explores ten powerful academic goals examples designed to elevate your student success to unprecedented heights. Whether your academic goals are designed to improve your critical thinking habits, advance your time management skills, or explore interdisciplinary thinking to further your academic career, they should provide students with a path toward overall intellectual and personal development. Rounding up different students through carefully structured college academic goals. All must necessarily form the basis of individual reality and opportunities.

Mastering Time Management

One of the building blocks for academic achievement is the effective management of time. The ability allows students to combine studies with other activities, namely work, daily life, or personal life. To manage time effectively, learners are recommended to:

Plan a Weekly Schedule: set certain hours and days to work, study, and engage in other activities;
Set Priorities: determine poses that are urgent and important, then focus on a solution;
Do not Get Distracted: if some activities or processes are distracting, generate disadvantages.

Enhancing Study Skills

Improving study abilities might result in better comprehension and recall of course material. Students should focus on:

Active Learning Techniques: Engage with the material such as holding discussions, teaching others, and transforming what one learned to real-life application.
Effective Note-Taking: Employ methods like Cornell Note-taking System to organize and refresh notes.
Regular Review Sessions: Set regular study dates to refresh one’s memory and prepare for exams.

Setting Specific Academic Targets

Setting clear, specific targets helps students stay motivated and measure progress. Examples of specific academic goals include:

Achieve Specific GPA: Aim to reach or maintain a specific grade point average each semester.
Improving Grades in Challenging Subjects: Identify subjects where improvement is needed and set goals accordingly.
Completing Assignments Ahead of Deadlines: Plan to finish assignments before the due date to allow time for revisions.

Expanding Knowledge beyond the Classroom

Gaining knowledge outside the classroom can enhance academic performance and provide a broader perspective. Students can achieve this by:

Reading Extensively: Explore Books, Journals, and articles related to their field of Study.
Attending Seminars and Workshops: Participate in events offering additional insights and networking opportunities.
Engaging in Research Projects: Collaborate with professors or peers on research projects to deepen understanding of specific topics.

Developing Critical Thinking Skills

Critical thinking is vital for problem-solving and making informed decisions. Students can cultivate these skills by:

Questioning Assumptions: Always ask why and consider alternative viewpoints.
Analyzing Arguments: Evaluate the evidence and logic in different arguments.
Reflecting on Learning: Regularly review what has been learned and how it applies to real-world situations.

Building Effective Communication Skills

Strong communication skills are essential for academic and professional success. Students can enhance these skills by:

Participating in Class Discussions: Engage actively in discussions to practice articulating thoughts clearly.
Writing Regularly: Practice writing essays, reports, and articles to improve writing abilities.
Presenting Projects: Take opportunities to present work in front of an audience to build confidence and clarity.

Fostering Collaboration and Teamwork

Collaboration with peers can lead to better understanding and innovative solutions. Students should focus on:

Joining Study Groups: Collaborate with classmates to discuss topics and solve problems together.
Participating in Group Projects: Develop teamwork and leadership skills by working on group assignments.
Engaging in Extracurricular Activities: Join clubs and organizations that encourage teamwork and collective problem-solving.

Seeking Feedback and Continuous Improvement

Constructive feedback helps identify areas for improvement and guide academic growth. Students should:

Ask for Feedback: Request feedback from professors and peers on assignments and presentations.
Reflect on Criticism: Use feedback to identify strengths and weaknesses, developing action plans for improvement.
Commit to Lifelong Learning: Embrace continuous learning and improvement in all aspects of life.

Utilizing Academic Resources

Taking full advantage of available academic resources can enhance learning and performance. Students should:

Visit the Library Regularly: Utilize resources for research and study.
Use Online Databases: Access academic journals and articles online to support studies.
Seek Academic Support Services: Utilize tutoring, writing centers, and academic advising offered by the institution.

Preparing for Future Careers with Academic Goals

Setting academic goals with future careers in mind provides direction and motivation. Students should:

Identify Career Goals: Determine career aspirations and align academic goals accordingly.
Gain Relevant Experience: Pursue internships, part-time jobs, and volunteer opportunities related to the field of study.
Develop Professional Skills: Focus on skills like resume writing, interviewing, and networking to prepare for the job market.

Setting and meeting academic goals necessitates dedication, strategic planning, and consistent effort. By focusing on these ten academic goal examples, students can improve their learning experience, and performance, and set themselves up for future success. Remember that the key to academic success is to set specific, attainable goals and work hard to meet them.

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Applying For Scholarships

Writing Tips for a Career Goals Essay (2023)

Jennifer Finetti Mar 1, 2023

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For your college scholarship essay, you may be asked about your career goals. The scholarship committee wants to see how investing in your education will help your career. Do you have a definitive plan? Will a college education fit into that plan? These are the answers they want to see.

In this guide, we will provide some scholarship essay examples about career goals to jumpstart your essay writing.

Writing tips for career goals scholarship essays

Here are some quick tips for writing career goal scholarship essays:

Write about career goals that tie into the scholarship. This doesn’t mean you have to lie about your career goals to make them fit. Find a way to relate them to the scholarship committee or other elements of the scholarship.
Be precise about your career goals. Avoid vague statements that suggest you do not have a plan. Judges like to see determination because it shows they’re making a worthy educational investment.
Discuss how your education will help you achieve your career goals. The scholarship will assist with your education. Show a connection between the two so they can see why you deserve this scholarship.
If you mention multiple goals, indicate which one you feel most strongly about. Longer essays may allow you to mention a backup plan, but the committee needs to see where your focus lies.
Avoid cliché statements. Describe how your specific talents, experiences, and degree pursuits will help you succeed.
Point out solutions, not problems. You may mention struggles you’ve had in the past, but pinpoint how you will learn from them. Moreover, show how those struggles led to your career goals.
Organize your thoughts in a fluid manner. This will most likely be in chronological order, starting with your degree and progressing through your career growth.
Write, revise, rest, revise. This goes for any essay writing. Write the first draft from start to finish. Then read through it and edit any grammar or flow errors. Take a break, preferably overnight, and then re-read your content with fresh eyes.

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Example 1: Scholarship essay about career goals (100 words)

In a 100-word scholarship essay, you need to quickly make your point. There is not enough room for a lengthy intro or backstory. Use concise, comprehensive statements to deliver the most information in the fewest words.

I’m a sophomore at Texas Tech University, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Companion Animal Science. After graduation, I hope to attend Texas A&M to become a veterinarian serving rescue organizations and animal shelters. I was born and raised in the south, where it is common for people to abandon animals in rural areas. Those animals then go into a rescue – emaciated, frightened, and confused. I want to work with rescues to provide affordable veterinary medicine to the animals they save. This scholarship would help me continue my education and potentially save thousands of abandoned animals in the future.

Word count: 99

Example 2: Scholarship essay about career goals (250 words)

With a 250-word scholarship essay, you have a little more room to discuss the details of your career goals. You can explain situations from your past that inspired your career pursuits. You could use one paragraph to talk about your short-term goals and another to talk about your long-term goals. Just make sure the big picture ties into the scholarship.

My name is Patrick Holden and I am a freshman at the University of Michigan, majoring in English and minoring in linguistics. I plan to become an English teacher, but this wasn’t always what I had in mind. When thinking about my future, I always saw myself in some sort of corporate office, perhaps as an executive assistant or a loan officer at a bank. My father works in the finance office for a car dealership and my mother works at a call center. I assumed I would follow a similar, albeit boring, path in life. In my junior year of high school, everything changed. My English teacher inspired me in ways I could have never imagined. She got me to love writing, literature, etymology, and everything about the English language. She made me want to be a better student in all of my classes, and she helped me see the value of education. I decided then that I wanted to inspire other students just as she did for me. My parents are unfortunately not able to contribute much toward my college expenses. I have earned a tuition scholarship based on my ACT score, but I still need additional funding for books and supplies. English majors have particularly high book costs because we have to purchase multiple books for each class. With the help of this scholarship, I could afford to continue my degree and become an English teacher.

Word count: 240

Example 3: Scholarship essay about career goals (500 words)

With 500 words or more to play around with, you have plenty of space to talk about your career goals. Maintain the same theme throughout the scholarship essay. Each paragraph should connect to the next, and they should all work together to describe your career plan. Avoid making disconnected statements for the sake of word count. In the end, the scholarship committee should have a clear view of your educational plans and professional aspirations.

Internet marketing has gone from an optional method of advertisement to a vital step in business outreach. Even small businesses in remote towns look to the internet to attract customers and spread the word about their services. I am currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Business Marketing with an emphasis on Digital Marketing. With this training, I will be able to enter a profession that will only grow year by year. When I was younger, I found print advertisements to be fascinating. I loved reading the newspaper with my father just to see the full-page ads in between stories. When I got older though, those ads became less appealing because they were not adaptive. They seemed dated, static and ill-fit for changes in society. That’s when I discovered internet marketing. It was still in its infancy when I was in middle school, but by the time I graduated high school, it had become a staple in business development. I loved the way internet marketers had to constantly adjust to fit Google’s algorithms, new mobile devices, and new audiences. I knew this was the career for me. Originally, I planned to focus solely on business marketing because there were not many digital marketing degrees available. Over the last two years though, several schools throughout the country have developed internet marketing courses that explain fundamental methods of search engine optimization, website analytics, and more. These are the foundations I will build my career around. The best part about internet marketing is that there is always something new to learn. I can use my creative mind and exploratory nature to try new advertising methods that help businesses succeed. Every time they do well, I do well. This is the kind of job fulfillment most people can only dream of, but my educational plan and job prospects will allow me to achieve it. I have picked up some freelance jobs online to supplement my studies and help pay for my education. It is difficult to maintain a steady stream of income in freelance because I spend so much time on my school work. This scholarship could offset some of the costs and reduce my workload as a whole. While I will still work throughout the semester and full-time in the summers, having extra financial aid would greatly reduce my stress in college. I look forward to a future where I can use my marketing skills to help business owners achieve their career goals. I plan to spend the first few years after graduation working for a successful, long-standing digital marketing company. After I have enough on-the-job training to feel confident in my abilities, I will open my own internet marketing company in Chicago, where my family lives. I have a clear picture of where I will be in the next 10 years, and I know this degree is going to help me get there.

Word count: 481

Scholarship Essay

Jennifer Finetti

As a parent who recently helped her own kids embark on their college journeys, Jennifer approaches the transition from high school to college from a unique perspective. She truly enjoys engaging with students – helping them to build the confidence, knowledge, and insight needed to pursue their educational and career goals, while also empowering them with the strategies and skills needed to access scholarships and financial aid that can help limit college costs. She understands the importance of ensuring access to the edtech tools and resources that can make this process easier and more equitable - this drive to support underserved populations is what drew her to ScholarshipOwl. Jennifer has coached students from around the world, as well as in-person with local students in her own community. Her areas of focus include career exploration, major selection, college search and selection, college application assistance, financial aid and scholarship consultation, essay review and feedback, and more. She works with students who are at the top of their class, as well as those who are struggling. She firmly believes that all students, regardless of their circumstances, can succeed if they stay focused and work hard in school. Jennifer earned her MA in Counseling Psychology from National University, and her BA in Psychology from University of California, Santa Cruz.

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Essay on Academic Goals For College Students

Students are often asked to write an essay on Academic Goals For College Students in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Academic Goals For College Students

Understanding academic goals.

Academic goals are targets students set for their education. They guide students in their learning journey. These goals can be short-term, like getting good grades in a semester, or long-term, like graduating with honors.

Importance of Academic Goals

Types of academic goals.

There are many types of academic goals. Some students aim to improve their grades. Others may want to learn new skills or subjects. Some might aim to participate in research projects or internships. Each goal is unique to the student’s interests and career plans.

Setting Achievable Goals

When setting academic goals, students should make sure they are achievable. They should consider their abilities and resources. Goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). This helps students track their progress and stay motivated.

Reaching Academic Goals

250 words essay on academic goals for college students, what are academic goals.

Academic goals are targets that students set for their education. College students might create these goals to improve their skills, gain more knowledge, and get better grades.

Why are Academic Goals Important?

Setting academic goals helps students stay focused. It gives them a clear path to follow. When students know what they want to achieve, they can plan their study time better. They can also avoid wasting time on things that don’t help them reach their goals.

Examples of Academic Goals

There are many types of academic goals. Some students might aim to get a certain grade in a class. Others might want to learn a new skill, like public speaking or research methods. Some might want to read a certain number of books each semester.

How to Set Academic Goals

To set academic goals, students should think about what they want to achieve. Then, they should make a plan to reach these goals. The plan might include things like studying for a certain number of hours each day or joining a study group.

Reaching academic goals takes time and effort. Students should keep track of their progress and adjust their plans as needed. If a goal seems too hard to reach, they might need to break it down into smaller, more manageable goals.

500 Words Essay on Academic Goals For College Students

Academic goals are targets or objectives that students set for their learning. They provide a clear idea of what students want to achieve at the end of their college journey. For college students, these goals are important as they guide them towards success and help them to focus on their studies.

Academic goals can be short-term or long-term. Short-term goals could include getting good grades in a particular subject or finishing a project on time. Long-term goals might be graduating with honors, getting into a master’s program, or even writing a book.

Setting Academic Goals

Challenges in achieving academic goals.

Achieving academic goals isn’t always easy. It requires hard work, dedication, and discipline. Students may face challenges such as lack of time, difficulty understanding the material, or lack of motivation. To overcome these challenges, students can seek help from their professors, use study aids, or join study groups.

Strategies for Achieving Academic Goals

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

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Achieving Academic Goals for College Students

Categories: Life Goals Personal Goals Personal Growth and Development

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Updated: 21 November, 2023

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13 SMART Goals Examples for College Students

As college students, we often find ourselves juggling multiple responsibilities, from academic pursuits to extracurricular activities and part-time jobs.

With so much on our plates, setting goals is key to success. Whether it’s acing that difficult course or landing an internship at a top company, having SMART goals can provide the roadmap to reaching our ambitions.

In this article, we will explore 13 compelling examples of SMART goals tailored to college students. These practical examples will inspire you to create your own tailored goals for a successful college experience.

So grab a pen and paper as we dive into the world of SMART goal setting.

Table of Contents

What is a SMART Goal?

The SMART goal-setting method is valuable for college students aiming to excel academically.

SMART ( specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based ) provides a structured framework for goal setting in an academic context.

Let’s explore each component to understand its importance.

Specificity is crucial. Clearly defined goals increase the likelihood of success. For instance, if you aim to improve your academic performance, avoid vague goals.

Instead, specify actions such as dedicating focused study sessions to particular subjects or seeking additional help. Specificity ensures a clear path to achieving your academic aspirations.

Transforming general objectives into quantifiable ones enhances tracking and evaluation. For example, setting a measurable goal could involve achieving a certain GPA by the end of the semester.

Having a target allows you to monitor your academic progress effectively, clearly indicating your achievements.

Realism is key when developing goals. Ambitious objectives, such as achieving academic excellence, require careful consideration of your time and resources.

It’s important to set attainable goals that align with your capabilities. Being practical in your approach ensures a balanced and sustainable effort toward academic success.

Understanding the relevance of your academic goals is crucial for sustained motivation. Ask yourself why achieving a specific academic milestone matters to you.

Perhaps it’s a step toward securing a desired internship or pursuing a particular career path. Ensuring your goals are relevant not only clarifies your purpose but also fuels your motivation during challenging times.

Setting a specific timeline is essential for academic goal achievement. A defined endpoint creates a sense of urgency, propelling you forward in your student journey.

Without a clear deadline, the risk of losing focus and missing academic milestones increases. Ensure your goals are time-bound, allowing you to stay committed and driven toward academic excellence.

1. Excel in Academics

“I’ll achieve academic excellence by maintaining a GPA of 3.8 or higher throughout the next academic year. That involves dedicating focused study sessions daily and seeking additional help when needed.”

Specific: The SMART goal is clear, focusing on maintaining a specific GPA.

Measurable: Progress will be measured by the GPA achieved each semester.

Attainable: A GPA of 3.8 is challenging but realistic with consistent effort.

Relevant: College students should be focused on achieving academic excellence.

Time-based: The goal is set for accomplishment for the academic year.

2. Manage Time Effectively

“I’ll manage my time by creating a weekly schedule that allocates dedicated time to each academic subject, extracurricular activities, and personal commitments. I aim to follow this schedule consistently over three months.”

Specific: The goal specifies creating a weekly schedule for effective time management.

Measurable: Success is determined by consistent adherence to the weekly schedule.

Attainable: It requires a level of persistence to reach this SMART statement.

Relevant: Time management is vital to academic success and happiness.

Time-based: You have a three-month end date for goal completion.

3. Prioritize Fitness and Well-Being

“For the 6 months ahead, I’ll prioritize my fitness and well-being by engaging in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week and incorporating mindfulness practices daily.”

Specific: The goal outlines specific activities for prioritizing fitness and well-being.

Measurable: Adherence to 150 minutes of exercise and daily mindfulness practices can be quantified.

Attainable: This is attainable with dedication to a consistent exercise routine.

Relevant: College student must stay fit and healthy to focus properly on their studies.

Time-based: Attainment of this statement is expected after 6 months.

4. Secure a Summer Internship

“I’ll secure a summer internship by submitting applications to at least 10 companies within two months. I’ll also actively network with professionals in my field to boost my chances of obtaining a valuable internship opportunity.”

Specific: Apply to 10 companies to find an internship during the summer.

Measurable: You could count the number of applications submitted and networking activities.

Attainable: Applying to 10 companies is reasonable within a two-month deadline.

Relevant: Securing a summer internship aligns with the career aspirations of a college student.

Time-based: Two months are required to accomplish success.

5. Build Professional Networks

“In four months, I want to expand my professional connections and gain valuable insights into my chosen career path. I’ll attend two networking events per month and connect with professionals on LinkedIn.”

Specific: The goal outlines actions, including attending events and using LinkedIn for networking.

Measurable: Count the number of networking events attended and LinkedIn connections made.

Attainable: Attending two events per month and connecting on LinkedIn is absolutely doable.

Relevant: Building professional networks is key to career development.

Time-based: You have four whole months to reach goal achievement.

6. Demonstrate Leadership Skills

“I’m committed to showcasing leadership skills during my college tenure by actively engaging in group projects, leading student organizations, and mentoring fellow students. By the end of my academic program, I aim to be recognized as a reliable leader.”

Specific: The goal outlines explicit actions (group projects and leading organizations) to show leadership skills.

Measurable: Assess recognition as a reliable and effective leader by the end of the academic program.

Attainable: Engaging in group projects and leading organizations is realistic within the college setting.

Relevant: Demonstrating leadership skills is pertinent for personal and professional development.

Time-based: Success is expected by the end of the academic program.

7. Manage Finances Responsibly

“To cultivate responsible financial habits throughout college, I will create and adhere to a monthly budget, limit discretionary spending, and save a specific percentage of my income from part-time work. I’ll establish a solid financial foundation by the end of sophomore year.”

Specific: You plan to budget and save to manage finances responsibly.

Measurable: Following the monthly budget and achieving the set savings percentage are quantifiable indicators.

Attainable: Creating a budget and saving a percentage of income is feasible for a college student.

Relevant: Responsible financial management is crucial for long-term financial health.

Time-based: You have until the end of your second year to meet the goal.

8. Enhance Language Proficiency

“I’ll dedicate 30 minutes daily to language learning apps, participate in language exchange programs, and read one book in the target language each month. I aim to achieve an advanced level of proficiency in two years.”

Specific: You know the overall objective and timeline to boost language proficiency.

Measurable: Progress is measurable through participation in language exchange programs and reaching an advanced proficiency level.

Attainable: Dedicating 30 minutes daily and participating in programs are reasonable steps.

Relevant: Language proficiency enhances communication skills and cultural understanding.

Time-based: You have two years to accomplish long-term excellence.

9. Complete Research Project

“I hope to submit the final project by the end of my junior year. I’ll complete a comprehensive research project by conducting literature reviews and collecting data.”

Specific: Complete a research project by the end of your junior year using literature reviews and data collection.

Measurable: Evaluate the completion and submission of the final research project regularly.

Attainable: Conducting literature reviews and data collection is achievable within the time frame.

Relevant: Completing a research project contributes to your skill development.

Time-based: The SMART goal is set for submission within the junior year.

10. Contribute to the Community

“To actively contribute to my college community, I want to engage in volunteer activities, join community service clubs, and organize at least one community outreach event for 7 months.”

Specific: You have precise actions available—volunteering and organizing events—to contribute to the community.

Measurable: Recognition as a dedicated contributor can be assessed through testimonies from others.

Attainable: Engaging in volunteer activities and organizing events is realistic during college.

Relevant: Contributing to the community fosters a sense of responsibility and community engagement.

Time-based: The statement is set for completion over 7 months.

11. Focus on Personal Development

“I will attend personal growth workshops, engage in reflective journaling, and set and achieve specific personal goals. I hope to enhance my overall well-being and self-awareness over three years.”

Specific: You have activities, like workshops and goal setting, for personal development.

Measurable: Ensure you follow the listed action items to succeed.

Attainable: Attending workshops and setting personal goals is achievable over three years.

Relevant: Personal development contributes to overall happiness and life satisfaction.

Time-based: The goal is set for enhancement over the next three years.

12. Adopt Healthier Habits

“In three months, I’ll adopt healthier habits by incorporating 30 minutes of physical activity into my daily routine, choosing nutritious meals, and getting at least 7 hours of sleep each night.”

Specific: You will create healthier habits, including physical activity, nutritious meals, and sufficient sleep.

Measurable: Progress is measurable through daily adherence to the outlined habits and improvements in wellness.

Attainable: Incorporating 30 minutes of physical activity and prioritizing sleep is achievable within the specified deadline.

Relevant: Adopting healthier habits contributes to long-term health for college students.

Time-based: You should expect goal completion after three months.

13. Strengthen Technology Skills

“I will enroll in online courses, participate in coding challenges, and complete at least two technology-related projects. I aim to demonstrate advanced technology skills within 6 months.”

Specific: Enroll in courses and complete projects to improve your technology skills.

Measurable: Check the completion of online courses, participation in coding challenges, and successful project completion.

Attainable: Proactively follow the action items for skill enhancement.

Relevant: Strengthening technology abilities aligns with career development in a tech-driven world.

Time-based: You have a 6-month window for goal attainment.

Final Thoughts

Setting SMART goals can significantly benefit students by providing a well-defined roadmap for their academic and personal development.

The examples provided in this article demonstrate the effectiveness of the SMART framework in improving study habits, time management, and overall excellence.

By incorporating these examples into their goal-setting process , college students can enhance their motivation and focus while achieving meaningful outcomes.

Students must remember that establishing SMART goals is just the first step; consistent effort and adaptability are key to realizing these objectives.

As they embark on this journey of self-improvement, college students are encouraged to take advantage of the resources available to them and seek support from peers or mentors along the way.

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12 Effective “Why This College?” Essay Examples

What’s covered.

Essay 1: UPenn Nursing
Essay 2: UPenn
Essay 3: UW Madison
Essay 4: Northwestern
Essay 5: NYU
Essay 6: NYU
Essay 7: Boston University
Essay 8: Boston University
Essay 9: Tufts
Essay 10: Tufts
Essay 11: Georgia Tech
Essay 12: Georgia Tech

Where to Get Your Essays Edited

The “ Why This College?” essay is one of the most common supplemental prompts. These school-specific essays help colleges understand if you’re a good fit for them, and if they’re a good fit for you.

In this post, we’ll share 12 “Why This College?” essay examples from real students and explain what they did well, and what could be improved. Read these examples to understand how to write a strong supplemental essay that improves your chances of acceptance.

Please note: Looking at examples of real essays students have submitted to colleges can be very beneficial to get inspiration for your essays. You should never copy or plagiarize from these examples when writing your own essays. Colleges can tell when an essay isn’t genuine and will not view students favorably if they plagiarized.

Essay Example #1: UPenn Nursing

Prompt: How will you explore your intellectual and academic interests at the University of Pennsylvania? Please answer this question given the specific undergraduate school to which you are applying (650 words).

Sister Simone Roach, a theorist of nursing ethics, said, “caring is the human mode of being.” I have long been inspired by Sister Roach’s Five C’s of Caring: commitment, conscience, competence, compassion, and confidence. Penn both embraces and fosters these values through a rigorous, interdisciplinary curriculum and unmatched access to service and volunteer opportunities.

COMMITMENT. Reading through the activities that Penn Quakers devote their time to (in addition to academics!) felt like drinking from a firehose in the best possible way. As a prospective nursing student with interests outside of my major, I value this level of flexibility. I plan to leverage Penn’s liberal arts curriculum to gain an in-depth understanding of the challenges LGBT people face, especially regarding healthcare access. Through courses like “Interactional Processes with LGBT Individuals” and volunteering at the Mazzoni Center for outreach, I hope to learn how to better support the Penn LGBT community as well as my family and friends, including my cousin, who came out as trans last year.

CONSCIENCE. As one of the first people in my family to attend a four-year university, I wanted a school that promoted a sense of moral responsibility among its students. At Penn, professors challenge their students to question and recreate their own set of morals by sparking thought- provoking, open-minded discussions. I can imagine myself advocating for universal healthcare in courses such as “Health Care Reform & Future of American Health System” and debating its merits with my peers. Studying in an environment where students confidently voice their opinions – conservative or liberal – will push me to question and strengthen my value system.

COMPETENCE. Two aspects that drew my attention to Penn’s BSN program were its high-quality research opportunities and hands-on nursing projects. Through its Office of Nursing Research, Penn connects students to faculty members who share similar research interests. As I volunteered at a nursing home in high school, I hope to work with Dr. Carthon to improve the quality of care for senior citizens. Seniors, especially minorities, face serious barriers to healthcare that I want to resolve. Additionally, Penn’s unique use of simulations to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world application impressed me. Using computerized manikins that mimic human responses, classes in Penn’s nursing program allow students to apply their emergency medical skills in a mass casualty simulation and monitor their actions afterward through a video system. Participating in this activity will help me identify my strengths and areas for improvement regarding crisis management and medical care in a controlled yet realistic setting. Research opportunities and simulations will develop my skills even before I interact with patients.

COMPASSION. I value giving back through community service, and I have a particular interest in Penn’s Community Champions and Nursing Students For Sexual & Reproductive Health (NSRH). As a four-year volunteer health educator, I hope to continue this work as a Community Champions member. I am excited to collaborate with medical students to teach fourth and fifth graders in the city about cardiology or lead a chair dance class for the elders at the LIFE Center. Furthermore, as a feminist who firmly believes in women’s abortion rights, I’d like to join NSRH in order to advocate for women’s health on campus. At Penn, I can work with like-minded people to make a meaningful difference.

CONFIDENCE. All of the Quakers that I have met possess one defining trait: confidence. Each student summarized their experiences at Penn as challenging but fulfilling. Although I expect my coursework to push me, from my conversations with current Quakers I know it will help me to be far more effective in my career.

The Five C’s of Caring are important heuristics for nursing, but they also provide insight into how I want to approach my time in college. I am eager to engage with these principles both as a nurse and as a Penn Quaker, and I can’t wait to start.

What the Essay Did Well

This essay has many positive aspects, but the most impressive one is the structure. Utilizing the Five C’s of Caring to discuss Penn’s offerings was a genius way of tying in this student’s passion for nursing while also making their essay exciting and easy to read. Beginning each paragraph with the respective adjective helped focus the paragraph and allowed the student to demonstrate how they exemplify each quality without explicitly stating it. The student wasn’t afraid to think outside the box and add creativity to their essay structure, which really paid off.

Another positive is how specific and specialized the Penn resources and opportunities the student mentions are. This essay did not fall into the trap of name-dropping professors or programs. In every paragraph, there was a connection to something the student wants to do at Penn to further themselves in the respective characteristic they were describing.

Not only did this student mention a resource at Penn—whether it was a professor, a class, or a club—in every paragraph, but they elaborated on what that resource was and how it would help them achieve their goal of becoming a nurse. The what and how is what sets this essay apart from other supplements that just name-drop resources for the sake of it. The amount of detail this essay went into about some of these resources makes it clear to the admissions officers reading the essay that this student has seriously looked into Penn and has a strong desire to come to campus and use these resources.

What Could Be Improved

One thing this essay could do to make it stronger is improve the first paragraph. The student does a good job of setting up Sister Roach and the Five C’s, but they don’t mention anything about their desire to study or pursue nursing. The first paragraph mentions both Sister Roach and Penn, but left out the student. This could be fixed by simply adding something along the lines of “I can’t wait to embody these values as a nursing student at Penn” to the paragraph.

Essay Example #2: UPenn

Prompt: Considering the specific undergraduate school you have selected, how will you explore your academic and intellectual interests at the University of Pennsylvania? For students applying to the coordinated dual-degree and specialized programs, please answer these questions in regard to your single-degree school choice; your interest in the coordinated dual-degree or specialized program may be addressed through the program-specific essay. (300-450 words)

I always loved watching the worms when it rained. I used to put my little raincoat on, sit on the doorsteps, and watch them move toward the puddles. My younger brother, forever intent on destroying the world around him, would try to stomp on the worms, and I would run after him screaming. In my imagination, the brain looked like a pile of squiggly worms. However, my neuroscience curiosity has since grown beyond a worm’s habits.

For example, my mother thought that I was insane when I wanted to watch American Murder: The Family Next Door . To her immense relief, I was interested in the psychology of the criminal rather than the crime itself. Although neuroscience is my primary interest, I also hope to learn more about the intersection between law and medicine at the UPenn College of Arts and Sciences. I’ve been able to explore this topic through various projects at school such as presentations on juvenile crime and the death penalty.

At the University of Pennsylvania, I look forward to taking classes like Forensic Neuroscience (BIBB 050) as well as Neuroscience and Society (PSYC 247) both of which directly combine my two interests. Hopefully, the Take Your Professor to Dinner program resumes as I would make sure to talk to Dr. Daniel Langleben about his research on forensic functional brain imaging over a meal of Philly cheesesteaks.

I also hope to participate in the Race, Science, and Society Program where I can discover how race biases and neuroscience go hand-in-hand and contribute to the fight against racism. The Beyond Arrests: Re-Thinking Systematic-Oppression Group immediately caught my attention while looking at Penn’s opportunities to engage in relevant dialogue. My fascination with the criminal system began with reading Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment , and Penn will both fuel that curiosity as well as introduce new questions about the world of justice reform.

As an eight-year Latin scholar and a five-time reader of the Percy Jackson franchise, I would like to take classes in the Penn Classical Studies department where I can learn more about the impact of ancient cultures on society today. Classes such as Greek and Roman Medicine (CLST 271) would intersect my interests in medicine and classical civilizations.

Although I do harbor a deep love for Philly cheesesteaks and enjoyment of running in strange places like the Woodlands Cemetery, the range of programs to support my diverse interests and unmatched opportunities to put learning into action make me confident that the University of Pennsylvania is the best university for me to succeed.

The real strength in the essay lies in the sheer number of details this student is able to include in a short space, without sacrificing style and flow. The first two paragraphs really have nothing to do with Penn, but the inclusion of them makes this response feel like an essay, rather than a list of offerings at Penn. Striking the balance is important, and the anecdote at the beginning ultimately humanizes the writer.

From the three unique courses to the specific professor and his research to the race and criminal justice programs, this student has clearly done their homework on Penn! The key to this essay’s success isn’t just mentioning the offerings at Penn that excite the student, but the context that explains how each opportunity fits into the student’s academic interests.

Adding book titles like Crime and Punishment and Percy Jackson to support their passion for the criminal justice system and classics are extra details that help us learn more about how this student pursues their passions outside of the classroom. Finding little ways to humanize yourself throughout the essay can take it from good to great.

One area of improvement for this essay is the structure. It follows a very traditional “ Why This College? ” framework—start with an anecdote, then discuss classes, and then extracurriculars and programs—that gets old quickly for admissions officers.

A great way to add some spice to the format would be to use a sample schedule for the day. This essay mentions three different classes, two different groups, and a Take Your Professor to Dinner opportunity. Together, that’s the recipe for a full day at UPenn!

There are a few ways to play around with an essay that follows a typical day-in-the-life. Maybe each paragraph starts with a time and explains what they do during that hour. Maybe they narrate walking through campus on their way from one class to the next and what they just learned. However they choose to go about it, adding in a playful spin to the traditional essay structure is one of the best ways to instantly set an essay apart from the crowd.

Essay Example #3: UW Madison

Prompt: Tell us why you decided to apply to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In addition, please include why you are interested in studying the major(s) you have selected. If you selected undecided, please describe your areas of possible academic interest. (650 words)

Essay – # Day 117

7:30 am… As I open my eyes, I look at the pinboard in front of my bed. Written in red block letters are two of the many goals of my life: “Make life better and more independent for the Visually impaired; Inspire kids to explore the field of STEM, making them the future problem solvers.“

Keeping these goals afresh in mind, I freshen up and prepare for the first class of the day, ECE 533 Image Processing. As the professor explains the Applications of Image Processing in Computer Vision, a light bulb sparks in my mind. I can modify the head contraption of PERIPHIS to identify objects in peripheral vision and alert the wearer via an earpiece using Text to Speech (TTS).

After the class, I see Professor Mohit Gupta at the WISION Lab, where he shares his insights from the Block World Cameras system, which helps to geometrize 3D Man-made environments. We brainstorm ways we can implement this system on PERIPHIS.

Deep in the discussion and intrigued by my curiosity, he asked me where my interest in this niche field sparked during high school, and then I recount the incident from 9th grade:

“In Hindi – Agar aaj mere paas paise hote to ye din na dekhna padta” (If I had money, I would not have had to see this day.)

These were the words of Aadiya, a glaucoma patient, who couldn’t help but cry in despair as she injured herself in an accident just because she couldn’t sense the incoming traffic. During my visit to “Baroda Association for Blind (BAB)” for a survey, I saw and experienced firsthand how hard and inaccessible it is for an underprivileged visually impaired to locomote without anyone’s assistance.

What happened next was my first adventure into the world of Computer Science and Engineering. I dedicated the next four years to find an affordable solution to a pressing problem. It was called PERIPHIS, a smart wearable that helps alert the visually impaired wearer of impending danger while locomoting.

When I finally presented this device to Aadiya, the smile on her face made me realize how big an impact technology can make in one’s life.

11:00 am… As I head to the Engineering Hall to complete my assignments of COMP SCI 570

Introduction to Human-Computer Interaction, I crossways with my roommate from the Chadbourne Residential College, who is also interested in researching applications of Computer Vision in real life. We fix a time to chat later.

1:20pm… After a quick bite, I head to Human-Computer Interaction Laboratory. I expand my knowledge on different applications of Computer Science to make human life better than I found. I get fascinated when I see a few students building a child-friendly humanoid robot to teach kids the principles of Coding and AI. I hop in and share insights from my experience of being the President at AiGoLearning and kindling interest in STEM for young children. I explain how crucial the UI is when it comes to technology for the young.

5:00pm… To blow off some steam and socialize, I meet up with my fellow countrymen and artists at the Indian Graduate Students’ Association. We discuss and plan the upcoming Diwali Night Music at Shannon Hall. I feel proud to share my national identity while bringing out my musical self by contributing as a Tabla player at the student organization.

As I close my day, I reflect and think of the most unique resource at UW. It is not the labs, research facilities, classes, but the people, including the professors and students, all aligned to a single goal: “Solving problems to make society a better place.”

10:00pm… I find my way back to my dorm room and write with red block letters on my pinboard: “Meet with at least 1 Badger every day and gain new insight from them.”

This essay is a stellar example. The day in the life formatting is a common way to spice up your “Why This College?” essay, but the way this writer executes it is nearly flawless.

Opening with the vision board makes the student’s college goals clear from the very start, and this was cleverly done since vision boards are naturally one of the first things you see when you wake up.

The student then takes us to specific courses and labs and shares their thoughts on how they could improve their invention, PERIPHIS. The author seamlessly includes background information on PERIPHIS by including this hypothetical conversation with a professor who speaks their native language.

As we go through the day, we can see that this student will not only be involved academically, but also socially. We learn how important their culture is to them and how they plan to share it with the campus community.

This essay does everything a “Why This College?” essay should: it shares the student’s goals and motivations behind them, how the university can support those goals, and how the student will engage with the campus beyond academics.

There’s not much this essay could improve, besides a few formatting and wording issues. The first line of this essay—“ Essay – # Day 117”—is a great attention-grabber, but the placement of the # symbol is confusing and perhaps should’ve been in front of the number.

There are also a couple spots where wording is a bit awkward, such as these lines:

I crossways with my roommate from the Chadbourne Residential College, who is also interested in researching applications of Computer Vision in real life. We fix a time to chat later.

It should instead say something like “I run into my roommate” and “We schedule a time”. This is likely due to English not being the student’s native language, but could’ve easily been caught by proofreading from a native speaker.

Essay Example #4: Northwestern

Prompt: While other parts of your application give us a sense of who you are, we are also excited to hear more about how you see yourself engaging with the larger Northwestern community.

In 300 words or less, help us understand how you might engage specific resources, opportunities, and/or communities here. We are curious about what these specifics are, as well as how they may enrich your time at Northwestern and beyond.

For as long as I can remember, I have seen my parents, both farmers, struggling to produce food because of the challenges presented by the environment. Joining Northwestern’s community, and majoring in Environmental Engineering, will allow me to understand what are the reasons behind climate change and learn how to stop them and/or prevent them from happening.

Having witnessed how plant diseases affect crops, I would like to collaborate in the PLANT-Dx project and in its widespread application. I strongly believe that it will be able to help farmers to improve the quality and quantity of their production, and reduce famine around the world. At some point in my education, I want to take advantage of the study-abroad programs Northwestern has to offer and learn about farming practices in a different part of the world. In addition, I want to conduct research on sustainable alternative farming methods that adapt to the new environmental conditions and that can be practiced in countries with fewer resources.

Apart from having access to outstanding professors, rigorous academics, and cutting-edge research resources, I will be able to be part of a close-knit community genuinely curious about others’ activities, truly passionate about what they do, and not afraid to step out of their comfort zone to make of this world a better place. Being part of Engineers for a Sustainable World at Northwestern will allow me to get to know people that share one of my passions in addition to learning and teaching how to apply sustainable practices in daily life.

I am already looking forward to marching through the Weber Arch.

This essay is extremely cohesive, as it focuses on the student’s agricultural background and desire to study environmental engineering. The student mentions a couple resources specific to Northwestern, such as the PLANT-Dx project and Engineers for a Sustainable World.

Because of the background information the student provided, their motivations for participating in these opportunities is also clear. We can see that Northwestern would be a school that would help them achieve their goals.

There are two main aspects of the essay that could be improved: the writing and its specificity.

To begin with, the intro paragraph is a bit clunky and vague. The student should have specified the challenges the environment has presented to their parents’ farming with detailed imagery about droughts or torrential rain. The final sentence about climate change is also much too broad, and the student should’ve stated a goal in a smaller niche of environmentalism.

For example, here’s what a rewritten strong intro paragraph might look like:

The drought this year was bad, and the once-flourishing tomato crops on my family’s farm were afflicted with Southern Blight. As my family and our community struggled to put food on the table for the third year in a year, I resolved to major in Environmental Engineering at Northwestern to learn how to preserve our agriculture in the face of climate change.

Another writing error is the typo in the final paragraph, where they write “to make of this world a better place”. It’s important to proofread your essay and have others help you proofread as well!

Finally, while the essay mentions a couple specific Northwestern resources, the other resources they mention are too vague. The student could’ve improved by mentioning a specific study abroad program and a current research project on sustainable alternative farming methods. Most colleges let you study abroad and conduct research, so you need to explain why Northwestern is the best place for your goals.

Essay Example #5: NYU

Prompt: We would like to know more about your interest in NYU. What motivated you to apply to NYU? Why have you applied or expressed interest in a particular campus, school, college, program, and or area of study? If you have applied to more than one, please also tell us why you are interested in these additional areas of study or campuses. We want to understand – Why NYU? (400 words)

“A futuristic way of looking at academics,” the student panelist said during a New York University virtual information session. I reflected on a conversation I had with my grandma; she couldn’t understand how her vegetarian granddaughter could build a career in the food industry. However much I tried convincing her that vegetarianism was the future, as it offers substantial benefits to the environment and can offer health benefits to a growing population with the same environmental resources, she insisted that tofu would never provide the same satiation as meat. She was raised in a community where meat consumption was embedded in the culture, and its production is a large part of the country’s economy. In contrast, I had the privilege of living a few steps from San Francisco, with many restaurants and grocery stores dedicated to plant-based meat alternatives. Trying innovative recipes and products eventually allowed me to develop my own recipes. Upon my move to Nicaragua, where my grandmother is from, I found my food options to be limited, expensive and hard to find. So I developed my own small-scale solutions that did not break the bank and satiated grandma.

An institution that implements forward-thinking is what I need to reach my goals of changing the future of plant-based diets and people’s views on vegetarianism. NYU’s Nutrition and Food Studies program offers multiple disciplines of food studies that I will apply to my aspirations as a vegetarian. I plan to study under Adjunct Faculty Kayleen St. John, whose success in the plant-based industry and her teaching of the ‘Foundations of Plant-Based Nutrition’ in The Vegetarian Times excites me. The variety of classes like Introduction to Food History, Food Photography, and Food Systems: Food & Agriculture will give me an overview of what is available in the food industry to be prepared for all fields. Not to be cliche, but NYU’s proximity to the city is essential for the rapidly changing vegetarian industry. The multiculturalism available in NYC and NYU will allow me to understand the food system and diets of various cultures, religions, and areas. I can explore the extremes of the food industry, from fancy restaurants to public school cafeterias. These juxtapositions, much like the one I experienced after my move to Nicaragua, will allow me to broaden my reach and demonstrate that the vegetarian diet is not something reserved for select groups but a diet attainable to all.

A core strength of this essay is the fact it takes its time to provide the reader with ample background on why this student is interested in nutrition and food studies and how they have grappled with difficult questions and surrounding this topic in the past. It’s okay to not mention anything about NYU for a whole paragraph if you are using that space to bring depth to your interests and tell the reader the crucial backstory behind pursuing your intended degree.

Another positive aspect is the inclusion of New York City for a purposeful reason. NYU admissions officers read thousands of essays that just talk about living in NYC for the sake of NYC—this is not what they want to hear. In contrast, this essay focuses on the vast and lively food scene in New York that the student considers to be an invaluable asset to her NYU education. This is a time where including New York actually plays to the appeal of NYU, rather than making it seem like the student is simply applying for the city.

Finally, this student clearly demonstrates that they are someone who wants to change the world for the better, but through their personal niche. NYU is looking for people who express this desire to be a changemaker, but oftentimes sweeping statements like “I want to change the world” come across as vague and disingenuous. The essay does mention changing diets and looking to the future, but it is focused within the student’s specific area of interest, making the claim to change the world more determined and authentic.

This essay could be made stronger if there was a bit more personal reflection included. The first paragraph provides a lot of details on the student’s vegetarianism and how it conflicts with her grandmother and her heritage. What it doesn’t include very much of is how the student thinks and feels about her diet being at odds with that of her family.

Does this student feel they are betraying their heritage by being vegetarian? What emotions do they feel when people criticize vegetarianism? Why did they go vegetarian in the first place? Probing questions like these that get to the emotional core behind the story in the first paragraph would really help to build out this student’s backstory. We want to understand what their emotional responses and reasoning processes look like, so finding ways to include those into an already expositive paragraph would further bolster this essay.

Essay Example #6: NYU

My mother never takes off her Cartier necklace that my father gave her 10 years ago on their anniversary. As a child, I didn’t fully understand this attachment. However, on my 15th birthday, my aunt gifted me a ring, which was uniquely designed and made up of three rings linked together. Wearing it every day and making sure I would never lose it, I didn’t treat it like my easily replaceable childhood necklaces; it was my piece of luxury. This sparked my deep curiosity for the luxury world. The niche strives to provide the finest and most memorable experiences, as equally as my Japanese attention to detail and my French appreciation towards aesthetic beauty. In a constantly shifting environment, I learned that luxury chases timeless excellence.

NYU Stern’s BS in business and a co-concentration in management and marketing will fully immerse me in the business side of luxury fashion that I aim to pursue a future career in. The luxury marketing track, offered only by NYU, will enable me to assemble the most suited classes to reflect my interests. Specifically, NYU Stern’s exciting electives such as The Dynamics of the Fashion Industry seminar and Brand Strategy & Planning will encourage me to develop the skills that I was introduced to and grew keen on when running a virtual sustainable fashion auction.

As someone who has moved around from Paris to Tokyo, to Chicago and now Athens, I thrive in meeting and collaborating with others from diverse backgrounds. The school’s strong global outlook, demonstrated through Stern’s International Business Exchange Program, further sets NYU apart for me, as it is crucial to building essential soft skills. This opportunity allows me to experience new cultural approaches to luxury business which I can bring back with me to New York, and therefore push me to become a well-rounded business student. Similarly, I am excited to take part in the array of student clubs offered, such as the Luxury and Retail Association (LARA), which I learned about after connecting with and talking to current students. Seeing past talks from employers of companies like Conde Nast, I am eager to learn outside of the classroom from future speakers.

Finding myself in new situations constantly, I always seek new challenges and explorations – to me, it is clear that NYU Stern will push me to create the finest and most unique learning experiences of timeless excellence.

This essay has an amazing introduction paragraph. It doesn’t mention anything about NYU or what this student is planning on studying, which is what makes it so intriguing. The reader doesn’t know where this student is headed after making such a seemingly unrelated statement about jewelry, but we want to find out.

Not only does this essay immediately capture the reader’s attention, it maintains a succinct and direct tone that helps the reader effortlessly flow from one paragraph to the next. The student chose to include three opportunities at NYU that excite them and fully elaborate on them. This serves as an excellent example of more is less.

We aren’t bombarded with a laundry list of classes, professors, and clubs the student wants to take. Instead, the student took a focused approach and described why they were excited by each offering they highlighted. Going deeper into a smaller number of opportunities at the college still shows this student did their research, but it allows for their backstory and goals to be discussed in far greater detail.

While this student does a good job of elaborating, they also mention a few key aspects of their personality as throw-away lines, when it would have been great to elaborate further on them. For example, they mention running a virtual sustainable fashion auction (cool!), but don’t provide us with any details on what that actually entails, how they got involved with it, what they enjoyed about it, etc. They also mention moving around a lot in the context of developing a diverse perspective, but they don’t include any emotional insight into what that was like.

Although there are only 400 words available, and you don’t want to spend too much time discussing the past, it would be nice to see just a sentence or two that delves into the details of this student’s background. The fashion auction and moving around clearly had an impact on the student, so we want to know what that was. If they are choosing to include these details, they must be important in the student’s decision to pursue business at NYU, so they shouldn’t be afraid to divulge the emotional significance to the reader.

Essay Example #7: Boston University

Prompt: In no more than 250 words, please tell us why BU is a good fit for you and what specifically has led you to apply for admission.

Boston University’s College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) attracts me because of its support of interdisciplinary study among its wide array of majors. In fact, the CAS now offers a course that combines biology, chemistry, and neuroscience. As I hope to conduct medical research into brain disorders, I plan to pursue all three areas of study. These cross-disciplinary connections at BU will prepare me to do so.

CAS’s undergraduate research program would allow me to work with a mentor, such as Dr. Alice Cronin-Golomb or Dr. Robert M.G. Reinhart related to their research on neurological disorders. With them, I can advance the work I have already completed related to Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). In a summer class at our local university, my partner and I extracted data from fMRI and PET studies and inputted them into a coding program. We then created an indicator map, which we imported into another software program, AFNI, to display significant activity in the brain regions affected by DID. Seeing the representation of our data thrilled me because I knew it could eventually help people who live with DID. I want to experience that feeling again. Successfully analyzing these fMRI and PET studies and learning to code drives me to pursue more research opportunities, and this desire motivates me to study at a university that offers research opportunities to undergraduates. BU’s interdisciplinary approach to psychology and support for independent undergraduate research will optimally prepare me for a career as a neurological researcher.

This student clearly outlines BU-specific resources (the interdisciplinary course and undergrad research program), plus how these resources align with their professional goals (to become a neurological researcher). They do name professors, but since their work clearly relates to the student’s interests, it doesn’t look disingenuous, and shows that the student has done research on their fit with BU. The student also provides background on why they want to pursue research, and shows that they already have experience, which makes their interest in the undergrad research program more concrete.

The only thing missing from this essay is the student’s fit with BU in terms of extracurriculars and social life. “Why This College?” essays should also cover extracurriculars, as colleges are also interested in how you’ll contribute to their community.

In general, these essays should be academic-leaning (especially if they’re under 250 words), but you should still address some social aspects of the college that appeal to you (we recommend about 70% academics, 30% social, with more or less focus on social aspects depending on the word count).

Since the student probably already detailed their previous research in their Common App activities section, they could’ve just summarized their research background in one sentence (instead of 78 words, which is 31% of the total word count!), and used that valuable space to talk about a specific social aspect of BU that interests them.

Essay Example #8: Boston University

Prompt: In no more than 250 words, please tell us why BU is a good fit for you and what specifically has led you to apply for admission.

I am fascinated by research, though completely uninterested in the disciplines traditionally associated with it, such as STEM fields. I need to find a school that will balance my desire to conduct research with my interest in political science.

While many schools boast in-depth student research programs for those looking to cure diseases or develop solutions to global warming, few tout their support for humanities research. Additionally, many universities that do allocate funding to social science research typically reserve these monies for graduate students or upperclassmen. BU, with the help of its Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program, will allow me to conduct research on the topics that most intrigue me, such as gender disparity in politics, or the relationship between dominant parties in power and the country’s economy and involvement in foreign affairs. Furthermore, I can begin these studies as early as my first year. Not only can I take classes with professors like Sandra McEvoy or Dino Christenson to develop my interests in a classroom setting, but I could also work with one of them to develop new knowledge in the topics that we both enjoy learning about. With this knowledge base and experience conducting studies with top professors in a respected research institution, I will be well-prepared for my future law career. I want to learn in an environment that encourages independent study no matter one’s field of interest or experience, and BU’s support of intellectual curiosity for all of its students makes it a perfect fit for me.

This student knows exactly what they want, and they’re not afraid to state it bluntly. Their intro paragraph is totally honest about their interests (or lack of interest), and we immediately understand one of their main college goals: to conduct political science research.

The student mentions a specific resource, the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program, as well as an alignment with BU’s value of encouraging independent study in all fields. Showing alignment with a specific value of the university is a great way to take your essay to the next level.

This essay shows us that the student would be a great fit for BU and would take advantage of its research opportunities.

The writer mentions some of their research interests, but doesn’t explain the motivation behind them. We don’t actually learn very much about the student themself, which is a common flaw of “Why This College?” essays. The essay would’ve been stronger if they’d explained why they’re interested in “gender disparity in politics, or the relationship between dominant parties in power and the country’s economy and involvement in foreign affairs.” For example, maybe they feel strongly about abortion rights and are upset about the way men have been legislating women’s rights.

The student also names two professors whose classes they’d like to take and with whom they’d like to do research, but we aren’t told which classes they’re interested in, or which topics they could cover together. You want to avoid “name-dropping” professors without context in your essay. If the student shared the names of specific classes or research topics and why they’re interested in them, that would’ve strengthened their essay.

Essay Example #9: Tufts

Prompt: Why Tufts? (100 words)

When Deanne, Tufts’ admissions counselor, visited my school, she immediately caught my attention by emphasizing Tufts’ diverse yet unified campus. Tufts’ inclusive definition of diversity goes beyond merely recruiting students from a variety of backgrounds. Tufts seeks to integrate these categories of diversity and pushes its students to learn from one another. One such intersectional program that attracts me is CAFE (Conversation, Action, Faith, and Education). By joining CAFE, a community that promotes interfaith education, I will learn from my peers, become more understanding of other religious backgrounds, and apply this broader understanding to my academic work at Tufts.

It’s hard to write a “Why This College?” essay in 100 words. This essay does a good job sticking to one unique element of Tufts—its intersectionality. Since Tufts also cares about demonstrated interest, it’s great that the student also mentioned speaking with an admissions counselor.

We unfortunately don’t learn very much about the student from this essay. Why do they care about diversity and interfaith programs? How does this relate to their academic and career goals? While the word count is super short, they could’ve cut these lines and jumped right into the specific resource they’re interested in: Tufts’ inclusive definition of diversity goes beyond merely recruiting students from a variety of backgrounds. Tufts seeks to integrate these categories of diversity and pushes its students to learn from one another.

Here’s an example of a stronger version of this essay:

When a Tufts admissions counselor visited my school, she immediately caught my attention by emphasizing Tufts’ diverse yet unified campus. As a Muslim hoping to go into International Relations, I want to attend a school that not only recruits diverse students, but pushes them to learn from one another. I hope to join intersectional programs such as CAFE (Conversation, Action, Faith, and Education). By joining this community that promotes interfaith education, I will gain the necessary perspective and compassion to become a human rights lawyer in countries with religious conflict, such as my homeland Azerbaijan.

Essay Example #10: Tufts

Prompt: Why Tufts? (100 words)

Someday I hope to conduct medical research in developing countries; Tufts attracts me because of its wide array of majors it offers and support for undergraduate research. To understand the human brain, I hope to study biology, neuroscience, and psychology. In addition to outstanding faculty in each of these areas, Tufts also organizes initiatives including the International Research Program. Through this program, I would work with other students and faculty members on an international project related to brain diseases. This opportunity will give me a taste of my future career and help me narrow the scope of my later studies.

This essay does a better job of sharing the student’s goals with us compared to the previous Tufts essay. We learn that the applicant is interested in medical research in developing countries on brain diseases, and that Tufts has a program to support international research.

The essay still mentions some resources that could apply to many schools, which is not an effective use of the tiny word count. For example, they say: “Tufts attracts me because of its wide array of majors it offers and support for undergraduate research” and they mention the “outstanding faculty” in the fields they plan to study.

They also don’t tell us their motivation behind studying brain diseases abroad, and it feels like there’s a significant story there. Giving some background would’ve further strengthened their essay.

Finally, they mention that they still need to narrow the scope of their studies; while it’s fine to be undecided on your career and majors, you don’t need to spend your precious word count saying that in your essay. They could’ve instead shared a couple potential avenues they’re considering.

Here’s what the student could’ve written instead:

Outcomes for schizophrenia patients are better in developing countries than in developed ones. I hope to research the reasons behind this and improve the treatment options in the US for the cousin I grew up with. In college, I want to study biology, neuroscience, and psychology. Tufts attracts me because of its unique interdisciplinary BS in Cognitive and Brain Science and its International Research Program. Through this program, I could do the research I’ve dreamt of doing with a faculty member and other students, preparing me for my future career as either a researcher or clinician.

Essay Example #11: Georgia Tech

Prompt: Why do you want to study your chosen major specifically at Georgia Tech? (300 words)

Climate change is a human rights issue.

There the headline was, screaming on my phone screen. I think about those suffering from a lack of clean water. I think about those suffering from a lack of clean air.

I often think back to that headline – it’s what drives my passion for environmental engineering. As an environmental engineer, I can mitigate air pollution and design water treatment systems that address the water injustices that people face. However, it’s not just about creating a technology that cleans water; it’s about changing people’s lives. New technologies can make a lasting difference in humanitarian issues worldwide; Georgia Tech’s research on creating a toilet that turns human waste into clean water for those in need of improved sanitation aligns perfectly with my interests.

At Georgia Tech, through the student-led organization, Engineers for a Sustainable World and the InVenture Prize, I can translate the knowledge gained from my classes into a concrete vision. I can design and implement hands-on sustainability projects around Atlanta and invent a water sanitation system for the on-site acquisition of clean water.

Georgia Tech can also provide me with ample research opportunities, such as the broad area of Healthy Communities in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering. I can further pursue my interest in developing solutions to deliver clean water while welcoming new areas of inquiry. An area I would like to explore would be the controlling of dangerous matter in the air to reduce health hazards; reducing the impact of climate change is of utmost importance to me.

Studying environmental engineering at Georgia Tech would well prepare me to develop solutions to climate-related issues. With the countless opportunities that Georgia Tech has to offer, I know there is nowhere else where I can receive a better environmental engineering education.

What the Essay Did Well l

This essay begins with an attention-grabbing statement that leaves the reader wondering how this will relate to the student’s interest in Georgia Tech. They then transition seamlessly into how climate change and human rights motivate their desire to become an environmental engineer.

The student mentions several resources specific to Georgia Tech that would help them achieve their goals, such as the research on the toilet turning waste into water, Engineers for a Sustainable World, InVenture Prize, and Healthy Communities research. It’s clear that they did their research and have reflected on their fit with the campus community.

They end the essay explicitly stating that Georgia Tech is the best place for them to grow, and the reader is certainly convinced of this by the end.

This essay is quite strong, so there’s not much that the student could’ve improved. That said, there is one sentence that is a bit awkwardly worded: New technologies can make a lasting difference in humanitarian issues worldwide; Georgia Tech’s research on creating a toilet that turns human waste into clean water for those in need of improved sanitation aligns perfectly with my interests.

Instead, the student could’ve written:

New technologies can make a lasting difference in humanitarian issues worldwide; Georgia Tech aligns with this value of mine and is even developing a toilet that turns human waste into clean water for those who need improved sanitation.

Essay Example #12: Georgia Tech

From my first Java project, a somewhat primitive graphing calculator, I realized that CS unlocks a different way of thinking. My brain races at speeds it seldom touches with other subjects. Every part of CS, from conceptualizing a plan to executing a solution, is another piece of a puzzle I’m eager to solve and affords the most opportunities for creative problem-solving and application.

“Progress and Service,” Georgia Tech’s motto, tells me there’s no better place to explore my curiosity and deepen my CS skills while simultaneously helping make the world a better place, my ultimate goal for a college education.

In the classroom, I look forward to GT’s threads program, where I can tailor the curriculum to suit my career choice after exposing myself to all technical aspects of CS.

I’ll apply my specialized learning with Tech’s fascinating research opportunities. Professor Pandarinth’s brain-machine interfacing software means a lot to me. My uncle passed away from a freak accident after extensive paralysis because potential treatments were unaffordable. Exploring this revolutionary brain decoding software wouldn’t just involve me in cutting-edge artificial intelligence technology research, I’d be personally driven to ensure its success and accessibility.

I’m at my best building towards tangible results. I learned this on my robotics team using design skills to create a technically complex robot that tackles anything from shooting balls to hanging on a balance beam. I’m excited to expand my skills on the RoboJackets team, applying my career interests to build ferocious BattleBots and autonomous race robots that compete on the Indy Speedway, two events that sound ridiculously fun.

Of course, I can’t skip hackathons. These competitions molded my interest in coding so I want to give back to Georgia Tech’s Hack-Community by planning HackGT and the Catalyst Mentorship program as a member of the Hexlabs team.

The student’s passion for CS shines through this essay. They explain what they love about the subject (the problem-solving aspect) and they share that they hope to make a difference through CS, demonstrating alignment with Tech’s motto of “progress and service”.

It’s clear that this student has done their research, mentioning specific academic programs, research, and clubs. We can see that they’d be greatly engaged with the campus community.

Finally, this essay is also down-to-earth. The student doesn’t try to use impressive vocabulary or formal language. In fact, they even describe some extracurriculars as “ridiculously fun.” While you shouldn’t get too informal in your essays, this student’s casual tone in this context makes them feel more approachable and more excited about the prospect of going to Georgia Tech.

This essay has a couple sentences that are confusing to read:

Every part of CS, from conceptualizing a plan to executing a solution, is another piece of a puzzle I’m eager to solve and affords the most opportunities for creative problem-solving and application.

This sentence could’ve been broken up and rewritten as:

Every part of CS, from conceptualizing a plan to executing a solution, is another piece of a puzzle I’m eager to solve. For me, the field affords the most opportunities for creative problem-solving and application.

This sentence also uses incorrect grammar—the comma should be replaced with a semicolon:

Exploring this revolutionary brain decoding software wouldn’t just involve me in cutting-edge artificial intelligence technology research, I’d be personally driven to ensure its success and accessibility.

These details would make the essay more readable.

The organization of the essay could also be reworked. The student mentions Tech’s motto of “progress and service,” but doesn’t follow up until later with an example of how they’d use CS for the greater good. Using CS for social good isn’t ultimately the theme of their essay, so this section would’ve been better placed at the end of the paragraph about AI technology research, or at the very end of the essay. The essay actually ends abruptly, so placing the section at the end might’ve tied it up nicely, if the student could’ve placed more emphasis on how they plan to use CS to improve society.

Do you want feedback on your “Why This College” essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

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Examples of Scholarship Essays for the “Career Goals” Question

Emily Wong is a writer at Scholarships360. She’s worked as a social media manager and a content writer at several different startups, where she covered various topics including business, tech, job recruitment, and education. Emily grew up and went to school in the Chicago suburbs, where she studied economics and journalism at Northwestern University.

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Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.

Female student eating an apple while sitting at desk with open computer as she writes notes about scholarship essay examples about career goals

Writing an essay is often the trickiest part of the scholarship application, not to mention the most time-consuming. However, the essay section also allows room for creativity and individuality. If you can communicate effectively, you can use the essay portion to stand out from the crowd. Let’s go over some tips for writing, as well as a couple of scholarship essay examples about career goals.

How to write a scholarship essay

At this point, you’ve probably gained plenty of experience writing papers for school. However, it may still take a couple of tries to nail the scholarship essay. Since scholarship teams often have to get through a lot of applications, it’s important to stand out while staying concise. Here are some simple guidelines for writing scholarship essays.

See also: How to write a winning scholarship essay (with examples!)

Take five minutes to brainstorm

Before you even start your essay, take some time to gather your thoughts. Think about what you’ll want the paper to focus on. Why did you choose to pursue your career path in the first place? Where do you want to be in five years? How would this scholarship help you further your studies and work toward your goals?

Once you’ve jotted down a few ideas, choose one or two to center your essay on. Identifying the focus of your paper, it’ll make it easier to keep your thoughts organized. In turn, it’ll make it easier for the reader to follow.

Related : How to start a scholarship essay (with examples!)

Stay within the word limit

Unlike the four-page essays that you may have written in English class, scholarship essays are often only a paragraph or two. In order to respect the selection committee’s time, be wary of going too far about the specified word count. A general rule of thumb is to stay within 20 words above or below the limit. That may entail a few rounds of edits to get the wording just right.

Stay positive!

Feel free to use part of your essay to talk about your life’s challenges. After all, the selection committee often wants to give the award to a candidate who needs it. However, make sure your anecdote doesn’t devolve into a sob story. If you’re going to bring up hardships you’ve endured, try to balance it by talking about how you’ve overcome them. By demonstrating resilience, you can show readers how you would use the scholarship to succeed in your current situation.

Leave time to proofread

Especially for a short scholarship essay, proofreading can take as little as 5-10 minutes. Still, it can be tempting to just hit “submit” after your first draft. However, being too impulsive can leave your essay riddled with typos and grammatical errors.

Try to avoid unnecessary mistakes by finishing your draft at least 24 hours before the scholarship deadline. That way, you can proofread it with fresh eyes before you submit it.

If you’re struggling to close out your essay, read how to end a scholarship essay in five steps .

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How to write a 100-word “career goals” essay.

When writing a 100-word essay, you’ll have to choose your content carefully. Since space is limited, you’ll want to identify the most important details to include beforehand.

First and foremost, make sure to clearly communicate your current pursuits. Talk about your academic and extracurricular activities related to your career goals. Additionally, it’s important to be specific about what you plan to do in the future. Then, if you have extra room, you can talk about how the scholarship will help you reach your goals.

My name is Alison MacBride, and I’m a sophomore at the University of Illinois. I’m currently pursuing a major in Journalism with a minor in Natural Resource Conservation. After completing my program, I plan to combine my areas of interest to become an environmental journalist.

During high school, I volunteered at an eco-conscious farm, where I learned about how our actions affect the earth. Since then, I’ve been set on raising awareness for the environment. This scholarship would go a long way in helping me finish my degree with the skills I need to investigate and report about critical issues.

Word count: 100

How to write a 250-word “career goals” essay

For the 250-word essay, you can go into more detail. Give the readers some context by talking about how you first got interested in your chosen career. Storytelling can be especially effective in engaging your audience. Try to capture their attention by choosing one or two concrete examples and relaying them vividly.

Additionally, you can spend more time talking about the scholarship and how it’ll make a difference in your studies. Go into more detail about how and why you need the award, but remember to keep it positive! For more help, check out how to write a 250 word essay .

I first decided that I wanted to pursue a career in environmentalism in early high school. The summer after my freshman year, I joined a volunteer program at an eco-conscious farm in my community. In addition to helping out with the operations, I learned about current environmental issues related to farming and other consumer industries.

After learning about the agricultural industry’s impact on the planet, I was inspired to make a difference. The next year, I started a monthly earth magazine at my high school in which we broke down environmental issues and offered tips on how to be more eco-friendly. When I started college, I founded an on-campus publication with the same mission.

In recent years, I’ve been troubled to see how some media outlets downplay the gravity of issues like climate change and deforestation. I’ve admired reporters who publish trustworthy and comprehensible information about environmental issues, and I aim to follow in their footsteps.

When I entered college, I was initially concerned that I wouldn’t have enough money to finish my degree. Fortunately, I’ve been able to cover most of my tuition using merit scholarships and paychecks from my part-time job on campus. Receiving this scholarship would allow me more time to focus on acing my classes and pursuing environmental advocacy work on campus.

Word count: 261

Final thoughts

Planning is essential in making your “career goals” essay clear and concise. Hopefully, these scholarship essay examples about career goals can be your guide to writing a scholarship-winning essay. Good luck!

Additional resources

Maybe you need to write a longer scholarship essay? We can help with our writing a 500 word essay guide ! Be prepared and learn how to write essays about yourself and how to craft an impressive personal statement . Learn the differences between a personal statement and a statement of purpose as the terms might come up on college websites. If you haven’t decided on a college already, check out our guide on how to choose a college . No matter where you are in your educational journey, make sure that you apply for all the scholarships you qualify for!

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10 SMART Goals for College Students (Goal-Setting Tips and Examples)

Content Partnership Specialist

December 18, 2023

College is an exciting time and amazing opportunity, and there are many aspects of college life to look forward to! From extracurricular activities, social events, and campus culture to internships, volunteer opportunities, and research projects—the world is your oyster. 😌👌

But all of those things can also become a little overwhelming: your class schedule, academic goals, campus life, and of course, your future career to think about. That’s why it’s important to set goals–not just any goals, but SMART goals .

Studies have shown that many college students fail to accomplish their goals due to a lack of planning . Don’t let that happen to you. Start planning your goals the SMART way.

In this post, we’ll give you a crash course on SMART goals and how to use them to make the most of your college education, groom you for graduation day, and help you prepare for your dream job!

What Are SMART Goals for College Students?

Why is setting collegiate goals important.

1. Goal-setting app and templates
2. Organized class schedule and attendace
3. Effective note-taking
4. Start time blocking

5. Maintain accountability and a strong GPA

6. collaborate with classmates and professors, 7. practice soft and hard skills, 8. improve budget management skills , 9. start planning career goals , 10. sign up for volunteer work or internships, the smart way to set and achieve your academic goals.

It’s clear why we set goals—to get us to our desired outcome. However, it’s not always clear how to start or how to get there.

This is where SMART goals come in.

Using the SMART goal framework gives your college goals a timeline and specific targets to help you create a realistic game plan and a roadmap to success . It’s also effective because it forces you to set measurable goals to help you track your progress.

So what does the acronym SMART stand for? Here you go:

Get in the habit of making specific college goals and note what exactly you’re aiming for, who’s responsible for it, what action items are needed, etc. The more granular you are with your goal, the easier it will be for you to work on it.

Set quantifiable goals to help you keep track of your progress and give you an idea of what to adjust in your strategy or pace to get you on track to hit your goal.

Understand where you currently stand regarding your overall goal, and create one that’s attainable but challenging nevertheless because, without a good challenge, there’s no growth.

Set academic goals that are relevant to your career or education, and make sure your goal is connected to your overarching goals. This way, each step you take will lead you toward your goal and help you progress in the right direction.

Every goal should have a deadline. Assigning a due date for each goal can create a sense of urgency and help you prioritize effectively .

It’s never too early or too late to use the SMART goal-setting method. Start practicing it now to break your goals down into manageable steps and achieve them with less stress.

As a college student, you’re most likely juggling different parts of your life all at the same time. Everything from prerequisites to writing papers to getting ready to enter the workforce—it’s definitely a lot to manage. This is exactly why setting college goals is necessary. And learning how to reach them is even more important.

Setting collegiate goals is an effective way to create an overarching vision, and specific action plans to make it all happen.

Additionally, your goals will help you stay focused on what you want and what matters and avoid committing to other things that don’t serve you and your goals.

So, to help you start on the right foot, you can use a project management tool with a goal-setting and tracking feature to manage your schoolwork, projects, and more and keep track of your goals—all in one place.

So whether you’re a high school student trying to get into college, a current college student looking for an effective way to manage your goals, or a graduate student working on your capstone project, use these tips and examples to help you create your own SMART goals!

How to Reach your Academic Goals (Tips and Examples)

1. use a goal-setting app and templates to keep track of your smart goals.

It’s time to dive into what your SMART goals should look like.

Let’s say your professor assigned you a 12-page academic paper on a given topic with multiple sections to cover, and it’s due at the end of the second semester of school, which is usually 15 weeks for most colleges.

And because it takes a lot of time and effort to write a well-written report, you’ll need to break it down into smaller chunks to help you focus one section at a time (and avoid feeling overwhelmed and…procrastinating). 👀

SMART goal example

Here’s an example of an effective SMART goal to reach your goal of writing a well-researched paper and completing it on time: I will complete one section each week for 12 weeks , then dedicate week 13 and 14 to editing my paper to complete my paper by week 15 (or insert due date).

Now that you have a SMART game plan, you’ll also need a progress-tracking system.

To help you with that, ClickUp offers a free SMART Goals Template to help you create an organized list of your weekly goals, add important details to each task, such as due dates, and more.

And because ClickUp is completely customizable, you can configure the platform to fit your needs and support your unique goals.

Create your own Custom Status to give every stage a designated name and make it easier for you to track your progress, add Custom Fields to personalize your view, and so much more.

2. Create an organized class schedule and show up to class

Managing both personal and school schedules can feel like a test itself for most college students. You’re in charge of showing up, doing the work, and keeping up with life’s demands all at once. This could lead to burning out if you don’t have an organized plan and schedule! Stay on top of your calendar and ace your way through school by creating a monthly schedule that clearly shows all the tasks, projects, class sessions, and whatever else is on your plate for the month.

Every 4th week of the month, I will create a monthly calendar that outlines my classes, deadlines, and important activities for the upcoming month.

Pro tip

Use this free Monthly Schedule Template by ClickUp to help you create an organized monthly schedule and foresee upcoming classes or important activities to prevent accidentally forgetting about them or showing up to class unprepared for a pop quiz. 👀

3. Don’t just take any notes—take effective notes in class

It’s always a good idea to take notes during class lectures, especially when learning something new or complex. College students must learn how to create functional and organized notes to enhance their learning and help them retain information.

Write key words, ideas, and new terms during lectures. And look out for when your professor says something slowly and cleary—they’re trying to hint that it’s important. 😉 Now, as for retaining the information, remember that frequency makes a difference. You should review notes at least 5-7 times to get a higher recall.

I will take notes in each class and review them at the end of each school day to help me retain the information.

Improve your note-taking skills by learning effective strategies that work best with your learning style and using note-taking apps .

Quickly jot down notes on a Notepad or use the ClickUp Docs feature to create detailed and beautifully outlined notes. These features are great for note-taking because of their rich-formatting features, which let you change fonts, add colorful banners to highlight important notes, add nested pages to keep your notes organized, and so much more.

You can also use the free Ultimate Guide to Using ClickUp Docs to give you a step-by-step guide on using the styling options to create well-organized and formatted notes.

The Ultimate Guide to ClickUp Docs Template by ClickUp

Best of all, ClickUp is available on the mobile app—take your notes wherever you go, and jot down new notes directly on your smartphone or device. (Just let your professors know you’re taking notes— not playing around with your phone in class. 😉)

4. Block out time for studying each day

As a college student, chances are you’re always busy trying to juggle schoolwork and life outside of school. This makes a great time to learn how to improve your time management skills—an important soft skill you’ll need to master in life!

Bonus: Life planning templates !

I will dedicate and block out three hours a day to studying and schoolwork.

Get better at managing your hectic schedule by time blocking and tracking time spent on tasks .

Start blocking time dedicated to studying or working on completing your schoolwork to allocate uninterrupted time to get your work done. Allocating time will help you prioritize your time more effectively and create healthy work habits that’ll stay with you beyond your years in school.

You can also use this Class Schedule and Time Study Template by ClickUp to give you a framework to start with. It’s free to download and comes with a Start Here Doc to guide you as you create your class schedule and study time calendar.

A strong GPA indicates that you’re getting good grades and excelling in your classes.

College and high school students need to maintain a high GPA to show competency in school and to help earn academic honors and scholarships. Moreover, it makes you more competitive in the job market and increases your chances of getting into graduate school.

I will increase my grade point average from 3.0 to 3.5 by the end of the semester.

Score high and keep your grades up by staying organized with your schoolwork. One way to do this is by setting up a task management system to help you easily see what’s on your to-list and when they’re due so you never miss a deadline that could impact your grades!

You can also use this Class Assignment Template by ClickUp to help you keep your current and future assignments front and center and all your notes together in one place.

As you may already know, school isn’t just all about doing individual work. You have to learn how to collaborate with others as well—another soft skill that you need to work on to prepare yourself for future jobs.

College students must explore collaboration opportunities, join student organizations, and work with their colleagues and professors to expand their knowledge and learn from others.

I will get involved on campus and join a student group during my first semester.

And to make collaboration as seamless as possible, use project management tools with collaboration features such as Whiteboards and Docs. ClickUp Whiteboards allow you to work with your classmates and professors in the same place simultaneously, making it easier to get group projects done, especially when collaborating remotely.

Give it a go and use the free Introduction to Whiteboards Template by ClickUp to help you get started!

Soft skills refer to interpersonal qualities such as communication , problem-solving, leadership, teamwork, and flexibility.

Hard skills, on the other hand, are highly specific abilities related to a particular job or industry, such as computer programming or accounting.

So why is it important to work on these skills?

It’s important to work on both soft and hard skills because they are both essential to having a successful career. Soft skills are necessary for interacting with others and forming relationships, while hard skills give you knowledge and proficiency in a specific area.

Together, they can be powerful tools to help you reach your short and long-term goals .

I will sign up for a 12-week online creative writing workshop on Coursera by February 14th to improve my writing abilities.

Document your goal, make sure to check the deadline for registration, and use a Personal Development Plan Template by ClickUp to keep track of your personal growth plans, course activities, due dates, and so much more.

As a young adult, it’s important to learn how to manage your finances effectively to gain control over your financial future.

Knowing how to budget, save money and plan for the future can help you achieve financial independence. Several tools are available to help you do this, such as creating a budget, setting up savings accounts, and tracking expenses.

I will categorize my expenses by type and create a budget plan for each month.

Visualize your spending and plan out your weekly or monthly budget with the Personal Budget Template by ClickUp

This customizable budget template Comes complete with step-by-step instructions on how to optimize your budget with easy-to-use Formula Fields to help you stay on top of your finances.

Regardless of your chosen industry, creating a career plan will help you see your desired future and any potential blockers and determine what steps you need to take. You can start by identifying what field you’re interested in to get a general idea of what your potential career path could look like.

Once you figure out which industry or field interests you, do some research to determine the skills and qualifications necessary for success. This could include reading current trends, obtaining certifications, or taking specialized classes.

I will research a career in computer science by this Friday and create a career pathway by next Sunday to help me visualize my five-year plan.

You can use the Career Path Template by ClickUp to create career plans and pathways that seamlessly integrate your personal career aspirations with organizational objectives—all while demonstrating opportunities for employee growth and learning.

Volunteer work and internships are great ways to gain valuable professional experience, network with industry professionals, and explore potential career paths.

Not only will this help you become more competitive in the job market, but it can also provide a great chance to gain insight into the work culture in different industries.

By leveraging the knowledge and experience you gain through volunteer work and internships, you can take the next steps in your career journey with confidence.

Your college career center is likely holding several events, workshops, and career and internship fairs to connect employers to college students like you. Meeting and engaging with recruiters is a great way to get noticed ahead of submitting an application. Check with your school’s center for upcoming events and opportunities to engage!

I will choose my top three internship programs and then schedule an informal interview with each of them by the end of the first semester to learn more about their requirements.

Jumpstart your career and keep track of your internship and job applications by using the Job Search Template by ClickUp . Manage your applications, add notes and due dates to ensure you don’t miss the deadline, and so much more.

Bonus Template: ClickUp Yearly Goals Template

College is an exciting journey filled with endless possibilities.

And to help you make the most of your educational experience, you should start setting academic goals the SMART way. You don’t need to wait until the new year to make new goals, you can create them anytime!

Setting SMART goals and using an intuitive goal-tracking tool like ClickUp can help you break down your college, career, and personal goals into smaller and achievable steps—allowing you to focus on one thing at a time while working on the bigger picture.

You can also take advantage of the free resources like its goal-setting templates to help you jumpstart your academic goals faster and become a more productive student overall.

So remember to take it one day at a time, enjoy the ride, and cherish every moment. Have fun, get involved, network, stay organized and make the most out of your college career!

You got this! 🎓🎉

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Career Goals Essay For Scholarships (With Examples)

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Career Goals Essay
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Vision Statement

Find a Job You Really Want In

Scholarship programs often want you to write a career goals essay to see that you have a clear plan for how you’ll apply your education to a specific career path. This helps show a scholarship committee why you’re seeking funds for the next step on the path toward your success.

Answering “what are your career goals” effectively can help increase your odds of impressing landing a scholarship opportunity. If you’re a prospective student applying for scholarships, this article will provide tips on how to write a career goals essay, along with essays on career goals examples to help you get an idea of what scholarship committees are looking for.

Key Takeaways:

When you’re writing a career goals essay, make sure to write about the goals that are relevant to the scholarship.

Be honest and use your own voice to stand out in your scholarship essay.

Go into detail about how the scholarship will help you achieve your goals.

What is a career goals essay?

Why scholarship essays ask about career goals, example career goals essay prompts, career goals essay examples, tips for writing a scholarship essay about career goals, what to write in a career goals essay if your goals have changed, career goals essay for a scholarship faq.

A career goals essay is a personal written explanation that discusses your background, why you’re interested in participating in the program, and what career you’d like this degree to lead into. A scholarship essay functions to explain why you want to achieve your professional goals and how you intend to get there.

In almost every application process, a portion asks the candidate to answer an essay question. When applying to an educational program, like an MBA, the essay prompt usually relates to your career goals .

Scholarship essays ask about career goals to assess your enthusiasm for the program, learn more about how the scholarship will help you, and ensure that you’ve considered how the program will help you achieve your goals for the future:

Assess your enthusiasm. Passion is important for scholarship administrators, and if you’re able to articulate your enthusiasm for a specific career path , it will show that you’re determined to meet the requirements to reach that goal. The most specific and well-thought-out your essay is, the easier it will be for a reader to understand your devotion and commitment to the program and the field it will allow you to enter.

Learn how the scholarship will help you. Having a firm grasp of your career goals is great, but it’s equally important that you express exactly how the specific program relates to those goals. This shows that you’ve researched the merits of the program and understand exactly how it fits into your professional goals.

Show you’ve considered your future. This goes along with the first two points — show that you know how to set goals and consider the path toward achieving those goals, and you’ll have an easier time convincing the reader that you’ll know how to set goals while participating in the program. They’ll see that you know how to prioritize education because you have a clear vision for navigating your career path.

While some scholarships might come right out and simply ask, “What are your career goals?” most will rework the question into something different that still accomplishes the same goal.

Below are some examples of career goals essay prompts that a scholarship program could pose to its applicants:

Discuss your career goals. Many scholarships prefer the most direct approach when giving an essay prompt to their applicants. This type of question gives the candidate a lot of wiggle room to discuss their passions, motivations, and career goals.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years ? This question is often used as a prompt for a career goals essay because it gives the applicant a timeline to describe their aspirations. It forces them to be realistic about where their career will be and how they will accomplish this within the next ten years.

How will this scholarship contribute to your professional success? A scholarship committee wants to be sure that the money they’re giving will contribute to a student’s overall professional success. This question asks about the applicant’s game plan in the long-term and evaluates how this program is going to assist in their future.

What is your dream job ? Since a dream job is often categorized as a person’s career goals, this is a common question phrasing in scholarship essays. Asking about a candidate’s dream job answers whether this program aligns with the student’s long-term career goals.

What matters most to you and why? Sometimes, a scholarship essay prompt won’t ask about your career or future at all. Instead, they’ll ask a question like this that assesses your motivations , values, and character.

Use these examples of career goals essays for scholarships to help write your own. Pay special attention to how they’re organized, rather than the content, to inspire your own career goals essay:

Career goals essay example 1 – Discuss your career goals

When I was six years old, I was riding bikes with my older sister around our neighborhood. She had just taught me how to ride, and I was excited to have to freedom to explore with her. When she was rounding a particularly difficult bend to see around, a car happened to be coming along at the same time. It struck her. That bike ride changed our lives forever. Over the next year, I went with my sister every Tuesday and Thursday to her physical therapist ’s appointments to help her regain walking strength. Watching her physical therapist patiently assist my sister back to becoming herself awoken something in me. A passion for helping others in the same way eventually turned into a career goal of becoming a physical therapist myself. I decided to get my bachelor’s degree in exercise science. After graduating in 2019, I knew that the next step for me was to attend a graduate program in physical therapy. I was accepted to Lassell University Master of Science in Rehabilitation Services. This presented me with my latest goal along my career path, and I’m eagerly waiting to start. This scholarship would help me afford the wonderful opportunity to be a part of the Lassell University class of 2023, allowing me to continue working towards my ultimate career goal of becoming a physical therapist and helping others to become themselves again.

Career goals essay example 2 – Where do you see yourself in ten years?

In ten years, I will have been successfully running my own construction business for about five years. I’m currently a second-year student at the University of Texas, pursuing a master’s degree in business administration. I decided to get my MBA because I knew it would be a positive asset toward my long-term career goal of owning a construction business. In my high school years, I worked as a construction apprentice for a local business. I loved many aspects of the business, such as building something from nothing. I knew that I wanted to incorporate this work into my long-term career, but I didn’t want to work as an apprentice . This led me to pursue business. In ten years and with the help of this scholarship, I will have graduated with my MBA almost a decade prior . After graduation, I plan to take a business administration internship with a carpentry business to help myself get a footing in the field. After about two years of this, I will have started my own construction business.

Career goals essay example 3 – What matters most to you and why?

The people I surround myself with matter most to me. Whether it be my relatives, friends, or professional acquaintances, I always care the most about the happiness of the people around me. Making the people around me happy matters the most to me because I truly because we find our happiness through others. I believe that this drive to make a positive impression on the people around me is what drove me towards a career as a nurse . I always thought of hospitals as places where people need someone to support them and make their day a little happier. I wanted to be one of those who spend their careers positively impacting people in need. This scholarship will enable me to finally afford nursing school and go after my dream job full force.

Career goals essay example 4 – What are your short- and long-term career goals, and how will earning this degree contribute to achieving those goals? Please provide a minimum of 200 words.

My short-term career goals involve working directly with underprivileged young people to increase the literacy rate in my community. As a student of an underfunded and understaffed school, I’ve seen firsthand how much of an impact early literacy education makes on long-term achievement. It broke my heart to see my peers embarrassed at their struggle with reading at an advanced age, and this shame added another dimension to their lack of opportunity. Being a literacy educator for young people would allow me to serve this community directly to show them not only the necessity of strong written communication skills, but the joy of reading for pleasure. This program focuses specifically on early literacy, and would provide me a direct route to a career in serving the community I hope to serve. As for long-term career goals, I hope to one day create a program where socioeconomically parents can bring their children for literacy education, not only to increase their ability to navigate the world of language, but also to instill confidence and joy in the written word. What drew me to this program was that it also has administrative, legal, and business dimensions that would set me on the path toward achieving this goal.

Here are some tips to keep in mind for writing a career goals scholarship essay:

Write about goals relevant to the scholarship. Although you may have many different kinds of goals for your personal and professional future, a scholarship essay only discusses objectives that are relevant to the program you’re applying for.

Be honest. Applying for a scholarship is stressful because the applicant’s education is usually reliant on receiving these funds in one way or another. Even though it’s tempting to exaggerate your skills or pretend you’re more passionate about something than you are to make yourself a more competitive applicant, it’s a bad move.

Use your own, unique voice. The essay portion of a scholarship application is your chance to stand out by using your voice. Nobody else, regardless of their academic or professional achievements, is you. Make this clear in your career goals scholarship essay by keeping your unique written voice engrained in the words you produce.

Be specific. A big reason that scholarship committees ask applicants to write a career goals essay is to determine how prepared they are in planning their long-term professional goals. They aren’t interested in providing a scholarship to students who aren’t going to follow through with their career plans.

Explain long and short-term goals . Even if the essay prompt asks you to describe where you see yourself in ten years, you still need to tell them the steps leading towards this picture of success.

Include the short-term goals that add up to your larger career objectives in your essay response. Explain how accomplishing the smaller goals gives you an advantage when tackling long-term ones.

Explain how the program and scholarship will help you. Before writing your career goals essay, consider how this program and scholarship will help you in your career. The answer to this question is essential.

Follow the essay formatting guidelines. This may sound obvious, but it’s surprisingly easy to forget this step when your essay is finally flowing and when you’re scrambling to get it submitted on time.

Check, double-check , and triple-check the essay guidelines for content, word count, and formatting requirements. If you miss any of these steps, your essay may be immediately disqualified no matter how good it or the rest of your application is.

Many times career goals essays are written by students who have already completed at least some college or are applying to a post-graduate program and need more money to continue.

There’s a good chance that your career goals have changed since you started or graduated college. For example, say you wanted to be an engineer , so you got your undergraduate degree in engineering but realized you didn’t like it after working in the industry for a few years.

You decided that nursing would be more up your alley, and now you’re applying for a scholarship for a nursing program. While this isn’t unusual, it can make it more difficult to write a career goals essay since your past work doesn’t necessarily match your future goals.

In this case, you’ll simply need to explain why you changed your career path and why this next one is the best choice for you. Share your decision-making process to show that you haven’t taken the switch lightly, and talk about what you’ve already done to try to pursue this path.

How do you write a career goal for a scholarship essay?

You write a career goal for a scholarship essay by sharing your passion, explaining both your long- and short-term goals, and relating your goals to the scholarship.

Explain why you want to pursue the career you’re pursuing, where you hope to be in the future and how you plan to get there, and how the scholarship will help you do this.

How do you describe your career goals in an essay?

You describe your career goals in an essay by explaining what you want to do in your career, why you decided on this career path, and what you’ve done so far to make that a reality.

You can usually work these factors into any prompt you receive, so think through them before you start writing so that you can use them as an outline of sorts.

What are career goals examples?

Examples of career goals include:

Working as a grant writer for a nonprofit organization.

Becoming a department manager and eventually an executive in your field.

Owning your own plumbing company.

Caring for underserved communities as a nurse practitioner .

What are some goals for success?

Some goals for success include growing in your role, building your network, and finding joy in the job. Most careers don’t just happen overnight and require you to set the right milestones that work best for you. Not everyone will have the same goals for success.

How do you start a career goals essay for a scholarship?

You can start a career goals essay for a scholarship by directly answering the prompt. Most scholarship prompts include a word count of between 200 and 500 words, so it’s essential that you immediately respond to the prompt. Attention-grabbing sentences and narratives can be helpful for setting the scene, but an efficient and direct answer will show a clarity of mind that helps enhance the quality of your answer.

BLS – Career planning for high schoolers

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Sky Ariella is a professional freelance writer, originally from New York. She has been featured on websites and online magazines covering topics in career, travel, and lifestyle. She received her BA in psychology from Hunter College.

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Learning Goals Examples for College Students

Set yourself up for success with learning goals examples. Discover how to set academic goals in a wide range of college subjects.

Learning Goals Examples for College Students

Setting specific goals isn’t just about ticking off checkboxes; it’s about charting a path toward academic excellence and personal growth. As a college student, you juggle lectures, exams, and study sessions. That’s where learning goals come into play—they help you focus, measure your progress, and keep your eyes on the prize, whether acing your finals or mastering a complex concept.

If you’re overwhelmed with the mountain of essays and assignments, remember there’s help around the corner. You can partner with an online essay writer for easier learning and better results. But first, let us help you determine your learning goals.

What is a Learning Goal?

A learning goal is a clear and concise statement that outlines what you aim to learn or accomplish in a specific area of your studies. Unlike general hopes or wishes, a learning goal is targeted, giving you a specific endpoint to aim for. For example, instead of vaguely wanting to “get better at math,” a learning goal would be “understanding and applying the quadratic formula successfully in algebra.”

Setting these goals is crucial because they provide direction and motivation. They help you organize your study time effectively, ensuring every hour you invest is a step toward something meaningful. Having these goals allows you to monitor your progress, which can be incredibly satisfying and motivating.

How to Set Effective Goals

Now that you know the definition of learning goals, let’s see how to set an objective that will be effective.

Be Specific: Unclear plans are difficult to attain. Specify what you want to accomplish.
Make it Measurable: Put numbers to it if you can. How many chapters will you read? How many practice essays will you write?
Achievable: Aim high but stay realistic. Overly ambitious goals can be discouraging.
Relevant: Your objectives should match your overall educational or employment goals.
Time-bound: Set a deadline. When do you hope to accomplish this goal?

Learning Goals Examples for Core Academic Subjects

Navigating different academic subjects requires a set of clear and specific goals to ensure success and deeper understanding. A student who starts a plan to get a better grade in a course has a goal that reflects proactive academic management and personal accountability. Here are the examples of learning goals for major subjects:

Mathematics is all about understanding concepts and applying them effectively. Aim to:

Master the fundamentals of algebra to solve equations and inequalities.
Understand and apply the principles of geometry to real-world problems.
Develop skills to analyze and interpret statistical data.
Learn calculus concepts to differentiate and integrate functions.
Improve problem-solving speed and accuracy in quantitative sections.
Explore advanced topics like discrete mathematics for computer science applications.
Learn to use mathematical software tools like MATLAB or R for computations.

Science goals encompass a broad scope of fields:

Master the basic concepts of Newtonian physics.
Explore biological systems and their functions in human biology.
Learn to document and present scientific findings accurately.
Understand chemical properties and reactions in organic chemistry.
Analyze the impact of environmental changes on ecosystems.
Develop proficiency in using scientific equipment and conducting experiments safely.
Study the principles of genetics and their applications in real-world scenarios.

Literature encourages exploration and analysis of written works:

Analyze classic literary works and understand their historical context.
Compare and contrast different literary genres.
Improve ability to write structured literary essays.
Explore various literary theories and apply them to texts.
Develop interpretive skills to understand symbolism.
Create a portfolio of personal responses to different texts.

Examples of student learning goals for history learners include:

Analyze the causes and effects of significant historical events.
Compare different historical interpretations and perspectives.
Develop skills to assess historical sources critically.
Study the development of political systems and ideologies.
Understand the cultural, social, and economic factors in history.
Learn to write comprehensive history essays.

English learning goals focus on language mastery and effective communication:

Develop an advanced vocabulary for academic and professional use.
Master the fundamentals of grammar.
Improve writing skills across various styles, including expository and persuasive.
Enhance reading comprehension of complex texts.
Learn to construct well-argued essays and reports.
Improve editing and proofreading skills for clarity and accuracy.

Foreign Languages

Learning a foreign language can have the following objectives:

Achieve conversational fluency in the target language.
Understand and apply basic grammar of the foreign language.
Develop a vocabulary for everyday use and professional contexts.
Practice listening skills through audio resources and real-life conversations.
Use language skills in real-world situations, such as travel or business.

Art goals can foster creativity and technical skills, for example:

Master basic drawing and painting techniques.
Explore various mediums and materials, like sculpture or digital art.
Study art history to understand different movements and influences.
Develop a personal artistic style and portfolio.
Learn to critique art constructively and analytically.
Utilize technology in art creation, such as graphic design software.

Learning goals are more than just academic targets; they are stepping stones to greater understanding and success in your college career. By setting and pursuing well-thought-out goals, you’re building a foundation of knowledge and skills to support your academic and career aspirations for years.

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TeachThought is an organization dedicated to innovation in education through the growth of outstanding teachers.

Academic Goals for College Students

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When teachers create a lesson plan , they set their objectives beforehand. The same thing applies when professionals arrange for a meeting. Why is it? It’s because setting goals gives clarity to the direction and methods you should take. To practice this habit, start setting your objectives as early as college. Set academic goals for college students now and secure the future that you want.

6+ Academic Goals for College Students Examples

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2. Sample Academic Goals for College Students

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4. Formal Academic Goals for College Students

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7. Improving Academic Goals for College Students

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What Are Productive Academic Goals for College Students?

Your college academic goals are the objectives that you wish to achieve during or after the duration of your academic life. These goals can be for the organization or your personal development. Most student goals include achieving a high GPA, publishing a thesis paper , and filling a position in the student council.

How to Construct Productive Academic Goals for College Students

Achievements during college would look good on your professional resume or application letter for higher education. That said, you should participate in extracurricular activities and involve yourself in community services. Despite that, you can’t just join everything available. You should choose the ones that would hone you to your best potential, hence constructing your college academic goals.

1. Plan SMART

In planning for the goals that you will set, ensure that they are smart. SMART is an acronym that stands for specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound. Surely you can think of several academic goals, do not write goals that are too far-fetched. To avoid doing that, filter your goals by asking yourself if they go under the smart goals .

2. Differentiate Short-Term From Long-Term Goals

Short-term and long-term goals differ on how much time they take to achieve. To be specific, a long-term goal takes about a year or more to attain, while short-term goals are achievable after weeks or a few months. Categorize your list of goals between these two, and prioritize the most crucial at the given moment.

3. Devise a Study Plan

You can’t achieve your plans without putting in an effort. So, consider creating a study plan that would help to remind you of your syllabus and exam dates. A week before an exam, you can also customize a personal five day study plan based on your learning strategy. Set the goal of strictly observing your study plan.

4. Establish Connections

One of the most critical points you should consider in your goal-setting is making connections. Expanding your social and professional networks will be very helpful in your future professional life. Doing this would promote growth in both mindset and skillsets. Also, the more connection you develop with people of importance, the more opportunity you have when you graduate.

What are examples of workable academic goals?

Academic goals differ from one person to another. Setting a target grade for each curriculum and implementing good study habits are examples of workable goals for college students. Also, aim to hone your competence in leadership skills, and join clubs that you enjoy. You can also include activities that will enhance your skills in both essay writing and academic writing.

What are the different types of goals?

Process goals, performance goals, and outcome goals are the various types of goals. Outcome goals refer to the goals involving winning or achieving something great. The actions you plan to do, such as studying and practicing, are process goals. Lastly, if you base a goal on your standard, it’s a performance goal.

Why do you need a student goal?

When people don’t set goals in their lives, they often also lose motivation. Having an aim will help you determine the actions you need to take to achieve your career goals and to live a productive life. Also, it will help in organizing your plans and measuring your career progress and academic success.

Adults often say that you can start seeing the real world after getting ahold of your diploma certificate . That statement excites some but causes the majority of youths to feel uneasy. Prepare for that moment full of uncertain factors and challenges, and do your best to build a foundation and back yourself up with well-constructed academic goals for college students.

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College Essay Prompts: Complete List, Analysis, and Advice

College Admissions , College Essays

When talking about college essays, we tend to focus on the Common Application prompts , and it's true that many students will need to write a Common App essay. However, there are actually quite a few schools, including both public and private universities, that don't use the Common App and instead ask applicants to respond to their own college essay prompts.

Luckily, college essay prompts tend to be pretty similar to each other. In this guide, I'll list all the college essay questions for popular schools in the US (and a few abroad) and then break down the patterns to help you brainstorm topics and plan how to approach multiple essays efficiently. After reading this guide, you'll be able to strategize which essays you'll write for which colleges.

Feature image: Mayr /Flickr

Why Do Colleges Ask For an Essay?

The short answer: the essay gives admissions committees a sense of your personality beyond the statistics on the rest of your application. The essay is your chance to show the committee your unique perspective and impress them with your maturity and insight.

College application essay prompts are written with this goal in mind. Admissions officers want to give you the chance to share your interests, aspirations, and views on the world, so most prompts ask about how your experiences have shaped you or what you're excited about studying or doing in college. I've collected a ton of examples below and provided some analysis to help you begin planning and crafting your own essays.

Keep in mind that the personal statement alone won't be enough to get you in— your grades and test scores are still the most important factors in your application . That being said, a stellar essay can help bring a borderline applicant over the top or give an excellent but not extraordinary student the opportunity to stand out in a competitive applicant pool.

As such, the essay tends to matter most for very competitive schools. Non-competitive schools generally don't ask you to submit an essay.

Complete List of College Essay Prompts

This list collects the 2022 college essay prompts for major state universities, top-50 schools, and other popular schools which have their own unique questions. They're divided by region, with all optional essays listed at the end.

I left off the Common App supplements, as those often require a substantially different approach. I also stuck to four-year schools, meaning I didn't include special two-year programs, such as Deep Springs College or Miami Dade College's Honors Program (both of which require essays).

Finally, note that these prompts are for freshman applicants, so the requirements might be different for transfer students .

General Applications

There are three general applications you can use to apply to many different schools at once:

Common Application

Universal college application, coalition application.

Each application has its own personal statement requirement. Some schools will ask for additional supplemental essays.

Many more schools accept the Common App than they do the UCA or Coalition Application , though some will accept more than one of these applications.

For the Common App essay, you pick one of the prompts and write 250-650 words about it. Here are the prompts for the 2022-2023 school year:

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma—anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

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.

The UCA essay prompt is completely open ended and has a 650-word limit. Here is the 2022-2023 prompt:

Please write an essay that demonstrates your ability to develop and communicate your thoughts. Some ideas include: a person you admire; a life-changing experience; or your viewpoint on a particular current event.

For the Coalition Application, you'll pick one of five prompts listed below. While there is no hard word limit, the range guidelines are 500-650 words. Here are the prompts for 2022-2023:

What interests or excites you? How does it shape who you are now or who you might become in the future?

Describe a time when you had a positive impact on others. What were the challenges? What were the rewards?

Has there been a time when an idea or belief of yours was questioned? How did you respond? What did you learn?

What success have you achieved or obstacle have you faced? What advice would you give a sibling or friend going through a similar experience?

Now that you know the essay requirements for the three general applications, let’s look at the application essays for specific schools . To keep things organized, we’ve grouped schools based on the region of the US in which they’re located.

Northeast/Mid-Atlantic

The Great Dome at MIT

Georgetown University

Georgetown asks applicants to write one short essay (about half a single-spaced page) and two longer essays (approximately one single-spaced page each). Each applicant must respond to the first two prompts and can choose among the other four based on the specific program she's interested in.

Short Essay: Briefly (approximately one-half page, single-spaced) discuss the significance to you of the school or summer activity in which you have been most involved.

All Applicants: As Georgetown is a diverse community, the Admissions Committee would like to know more about you in your own words. Please submit a brief essay, either personal or creative, which you feel best describes you.

Applicants to Georgetown College: What does it mean to you to be educated? How might Georgetown College help you achieve this aim? (Applicants to the Sciences and Mathematics or the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics should address their chosen course of study).

Applicants to the School of Nursing & Health Studies: Describe the factors that have influenced your interest in studying health care. Please specifically address your intended major (Global Health, Health Care Management & Policy, Human Science, or Nursing).

Applicants to the Walsh School of Foreign Service: The Walsh School of Foreign Service was founded more than a century ago to prepare generations of leaders to solve global problems. What is motivating you to dedicate your undergraduate studies to a future in service to the world?

Applicants to the McDonough School of Business: The McDonough School of Business is a national and global leader in providing graduates with essential ethical, analytical, financial and global perspectives. Please discuss your motivations for studying business at Georgetown.

For more Georgetown application tips, check out our articles on the Georgetown essays and how to get into Georgetown .

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

MIT doesn't ask for a single personal statement but rather asks applicants to respond to a series of questions with just a paragraph or two of about 200 words each .

We know you lead a busy life, full of activities, many of which are required of you. Tell us about something you do simply for the pleasure of it.

Describe the world you come from (for example, your family, clubs, school, community, city, or town). How has that world shaped your dreams and aspirations?

MIT brings people with diverse backgrounds and experiences together to better the lives of others. Our students work to improve their communities in different ways, from tackling the world’s biggest challenges to being a good friend. Describe one way you have collaborated with people who are different from you to contribute to your community.

Tell us about a significant challenge you've faced (that you feel comfortable sharing) or something that didn't go according to plan. How did you manage the situation?

For more details on how to get into MIT , read our other articles on the MIT application process , tips for MIT essays , and an example of a real MIT acceptance letter !

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Indiana University Bloomington

IU asks for 200-400 words on your plans and interests.

Describe your academic and career plans and any special interest (for example, undergraduate research, academic interests, leadership opportunities, etc.) that you are eager to pursue as an undergraduate at Indiana University. If you encountered any unusual circumstances, challenges, or obstacles in pursuit of your education, share those experiences and how you overcame them. Please note that this essay may be used in scholarship consideration.

University of Illinois

The University of Illinois asks for two essays (or three only if you selected a second-choice major other than what's noted on your application). All responses should be approximately 150 words.

You'll answer two to three prompts as part of your application. The questions you'll answer will depend on whether you're applying to a major or to our undeclared program, and if you've selected a second choice. Each response should be approximately 150 words. If You're Applying to a Major: 1. Explain, in detail, an experience you've had in the past 3 to 4 years related to your first-choice major. This can be an experience from an extracurricular activity, in a class you’ve taken, or through something else. 2. Describe your personal and/or career goals after graduating from UIUC and how your selected first-choice major will help you achieve them. If You're Applying to Our Undeclared Program in the Division of General Studies: 1. What are your academic interests and strengths? You may also include any majors you are considering. 2. What are your future academic or career goals? If You've Selected a Second-Choice Major (Including Undeclared): Please explain your interest in your second-choice major or your overall academic or career goals.

If you're applying to UIUC, check out our UIUC essay tips article as well!

University of Wisconsin–Madison

All applicants must complete two essays for UW–Madison. The essays should be 250-650 words in length and may be used for scholarship and campus program review.

If you apply through the Common Application, you’ll be asked to reply to one of the freshman Common Application essays in lieu of the first essay prompt below, but you’ll be required to respond to the second prompt below.

If you apply through the UW System Application, the following two essays are required:

This part is all about you. Tell us about something you've done — academically or personally — and what you've learned from it. Was it a success or a challenge? Did it represent a turning point in your life? How did this particular moment in your life influence you, and how will it continue to influence you as you pursue your college education?

Tell us why you would like to attend the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In addition, please include why you are interested in studying the major(s) you have selected. If you selected undecided please describe your areas of possible academic interest.

Want to write the perfect college application essay? We can help. Your dedicated PrepScholar Admissions counselor will help you craft your perfect college essay, from the ground up. We learn your background and interests, brainstorm essay topics, and walk you through the essay drafting process, step-by-step. At the end, you'll have a unique essay to proudly submit to colleges. Don't leave your college application to chance. Find out more about PrepScholar Admissions now:

Kyle Field at Texas A&M ( Ed Schipul /Flickr)

The ApplyTexas application is used by all Texas public universities and some private colleges. There are four ApplyTexas essay prompts. Which ones you need to respond to will depend on where you're applying. UT Austin, for example, requires applicants to submit at least one essay responding to Topic A on the ApplyTexas application. .

While there's no set word limit, the online application will cut off each essay at 120 lines (~1000 words).

Topic A: Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today?

Topic B: Most students have an identity, an interest, or a talent that defines them in an essential way. Tell us about yourself.

Topic C: You've got a ticket in your hand – Where will you go? What will you do? What will happen when you get there?

Topic D: Please Note: The essay in this section is specific to certain college majors and is not required by all colleges/universities that accept the Apply Texas Application. If you are not applying for a major in Architecture, Art, Art History, Design, Studio Art, Visual Art Studies/Art Education , you are not required to write this essay.

Personal interaction with objects, images and spaces can be so powerful as to change the way one thinks about particular issues or topics. For your intended area of study (architecture, art history, design, studio art, visual art studies/art education), describe an experience where instruction in that area or your personal interaction with an object, image or space effected this type of change in your thinking. What did you do to act upon your new thinking and what have you done to prepare yourself for further study in this area?

We go into all the ApplyTexas prompts in detail here !

University of Georgia

For UGA, applicants must write two essays, one 200-300 words and one 250-650 words . Both essays are required for all applicants. The longer personal essay uses the Common Application prompts for 2023 ; the prompt for the shorter essay is as follows:

The c ollege admissions process can create anxiety. In an attempt to make it less stressful, please tell us an interesting or amusing story about yourself from your high school years that you have not already shared in your application.

For a more detailed discussion of the UGA essays, read this article .

The Campanile at UC Berkeley

University of California

Students applying to the UC system must respond to four out of eight short personal insight questions. The maximum word count for each response is 350 words.

Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.
Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.
What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?
Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.
What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?

Learn more about the UC essays , the UC application , and how to choose which UC schools to apply to with our complete guides .

University of Oregon

Applicants to the University of Oregon are required to submit one essay of 650 words or fewer. You also have the option to write a second essay (maximum of 500 words), but it’s not required.

The essay prompts are as follows:

The UO is interested in learning more about you. Write an essay of 650 words or less that shares information that we cannot find elsewhere on your application. Any topic you choose is welcome. Some ideas you might consider include your future ambitions and goals, a special talent, extracurricular activity, or unusual interest that sets you apart from your peers, or a significant experience that influenced your life. If you are applying to the UO's Robert D. Clark Honors College, feel free to resubmit your honors college application essay.

Optional second essay: As you've looked into what it will be like to attend Oregon, you've hopefully learned what makes Ducks Ducks. No two are alike, though, so tell us what makes you you, and how that connects to our campus community. We are interested in your thoughts and experiences recognizing difference and supporting equity and inclusion, and choosing one of these two options will guide you in sharing those thoughts. You can learn more about equity and inclusion at Oregon by visiting the Equity and Inclusion website . Maximum statement length is 500 words. This statement is not required.

University of Washington

In addition to its specific prompts, the University of Washington gives specific advice about what its admissions officers consider to be good writing before the prompts:

"At the UW, we consider the college essay as our opportunity to see the person behind the transcripts and the numbers. Some of the best statements are written as personal stories. In general, concise, straightforward writing is best, and good essays are often 300-400 words in length.

Essay Prompt (Required): Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped shape it. Maximum length: 650 words.

Short Response (Required): Our families and our communities often define us and our individual worlds. Community might refer to your cultural group, extended family, religious group, neighborhood or school, sports team or club, co-workers, etc. Describe the world you come from and how you, as a product of it, might add to the diversity of the UW. Maximum length: 300 words

You can also find more tips on the University of Washington essays in this blog article .

International

Generally speaking, international schools are less likely to ask for an essay, since admission tends to be heavily focused on grades and test results. However, a few popular international schools do ask for a personal statement as part of their application.

Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UK Schools)

UCAS is a general application for UK schools (similar to the Common App in the US). There's no specific prompt for the personal statement—instead, applicants are required to write an essay describing what they want to study, why they want to study it, and what they bring to the table. There is a 4,000-character/47-line limit.

University of British Columbia

UBC asks applicants to fill out a personal profile consisting of five to seven short-answer questions that vary depending on the program you're applying to. Answers should be 50-200 words.

Depending on which degree program you apply to, you’ll be asked to answer some or all of the following questions on the UBC application:

Tell us about who you are. How would your family, friends, and/or members of your community describe you? If possible, please include something about yourself that you are most proud of and why.
What is important to you? And why?
Family/community responsibilities
Creative or performing arts
Work/employment
Service to others
Tell us more about one or two activities listed above that are most important to you. Please explain the role you played and what you learned in the process. You will be asked for a reference who can speak to your response.
Additional information: You may wish to use the space below to provide UBC with more information on your academic history to date and/or your future academic plans. For example: How did you choose your courses in secondary school? Are there life circumstances that have affected your academic decisions to date? What have you done to prepare yourself specifically for your intended area of study at UBC?
Please submit the names of two referees who know you well and can comment on your preparedness for study at UBC. Examples of referees include an employer, a community member, a coach, a teacher/instructor, or anyone who knows you well. One of the referees you select must be able to speak to one of the activities/experiences described in one of your long-answer responses above. For applicants who are currently attending a high school, one of your referees must be a school official (e.g., Grade 12 or senior year counsellor, teacher, or IB coordinator). Neither referee should be a friend, family member, or paid agent.

Some programs of study may ask applicants to respond to the questions above and some additional, program-specific questions when completing the personal profile.

University of Cambridge

Optional Essays

Some schools don't require an essay from all applicants but do recommend or require an essay for certain programs. I've listed a selection of those prompts below.

Arizona State University

Students applying to the Barrett Honors College at ASU must submit one essay of 300 to 500 words in response to one of the following prompts (your response may be critical or creative):

Prompt 1 Discuss how a specific piece of art (painting, literature, photograph, etc.) or popular culture (song, comic book, etc.) helped you realize something new about yourself or the world. What was that realization, and how did the piece of art or pop culture bring about this change in your thinking? Do not simply describe the piece of art or pop culture; instead, focus on its effect on you and how it makes you a good fit for the Barrett Honors College experience. Prompt 2 Tell us about a habit or way of thinking that others would recognize as “uniquely you.” This is something you value and would hesitate to give up because it is a distinct part of who you are or what makes you different - why is it so? Be sure to share how this aspect of your identity makes you a good fit for the Barrett Honors College experience.

City University of New York

Applicants to Macaulay Honors College must write two essays: an “about you” essay, and an essay describing your plans for college. Each response should be around 500 words, give or take a few within reason.

Essay 1: About you. (Select one of the options below.) Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. OR Tell us about an area or activity, outside of academics, in which you have invested a lot of time and effort. Tell us why. What did you learn? How was it meaningful?

Essay 2: About your plans for college. Please discuss all points below. Why do you want to go to an honors college ? There are many benefits of being a Macaulay student, such as the Macaulay community, special courses, Honors advisement, cultural passport, opportunities funds, and other financial benefits. Please describe how these features will shape you and your college experience, including, what you expect to bring to the college community and what you expect to get out of your college experience.

Florida International University

Only applicants who don't meet the criteria for automatic admissions and whose applications undergo holistic review will need to submit a 500-word essay:

Students requesting appeal or additional review of their admission status must submit a written statement including:

Your goals and educational or professional objectives

A summary/explanation of past academic performance

Information and/or circumstances that may have affected past academic performance

Any other information the student wishes to have considered

Ohio University

For the Ohio University application, students who've been out of school for more than a year must submit an essay explaining what they've done in their time off from school.

Applicants who have been out of high school for more than one year must submit an essay detailing activities since graduation.

Additionally, applicants to the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism are encouraged, though not required, to submit an essay detailing how they want to help shape the future of journalism.

For all other applicants, submitting an essay here is optional; however, if you do wish to write an essay, the application suggests that you describe any academic challenges you’ve faced, academic and career objectives, or involvement in community affairs (recommended length is 250-500 words).

Those interested in Ohio University's OHIO Honors Program (including the Cutler Scholars Program) are required to answer the following essay prompt (limit 250 words):

Students in the OHIO Honors Program represent all majors on campus and take engaging honors courses while applying what they learn outside of the classroom. Students choose from classes and experiences across three pathways: community engagement, research and creative activity, and leadership . Students in OHP can move among the three pathways as their interests evolve and they develop their goals. What pathway is most exciting to you right now, and why?

Finally, those interested in the Honors Tutorial College are must answer the following two essay prompts (in about 500 words each):

HTC Question 1: Please explain why you have chosen your particular program(s) of study.

HTC Question 2: We expect that one reason you seek a tutorial education is for the one-on-one interaction with faculty, but other than that, what interests you about pursuing a tutorial-based undergraduate education? What aspects of your education and life experience have prepared you for a tutorial education with its emphasis on research and creative activity?

Type 1: Questions About a Meaningful Experience

This type of college essay question is the most common. The exact focus of these prompts can vary quite a bit, but they all ask you to reflect on an important experience. Some questions specify a type of experience whereas others don't, simply opting to have applicants write about whatever matters to them.

There are three basic sub-types that you'll see when dealing with these prompts. Let's look at an example of each.

#1: Overcoming a Challenge

These prompts ask about how you dealt with a particular challenge or solved a problem. Below is a typical example of this question type from the MIT application:

Tell us about the most significant challenge you've faced or something important that didn't go according to plan. How did you manage the situation?

To address a question like this, you need a topic that has real stakes —that is, something that you genuinely struggled with. Even though it can seem as though you should only discuss positive experiences and feelings in your college essay (you want to impress your readers with how awesome you are!), unwavering positivity actually hurts your essay because it makes you seem fake.

Instead, be honest : if you're writing about a negative experience, acknowledge that it was unpleasant or hard and explain why. Doing so will just make your overcoming it that much more impressive.

#2: Engaging With Diversity

Questions about diversity ask how you interact with those who are different from you . See an example below from the Common Application:

When approaching this type of question, you need to show that you're thoughtful about new ideas and perspectives. Colleges are full of students from all kinds of backgrounds, and admissions officers want to know that you'll be accepting of the diversity of other students, even if you don't necessarily agree with them.

Also, make sure to pick a specific instance to focus on. Writing a general essay about how you accept others won't impress admissions officers—you need to show them an example of a time that you did so.

#3: Growing Up

Finally, this type of prompt asks about a transitional experience or rite of passage that made you feel like an adult. I've reprinted another example from the Common App:

For these types of prompts, you want to show personal growth. Explain to the reader not just who you are but also how you've changed . (Really, this is a good idea no matter which prompt you're addressing!)

College can be challenging, so admissions officers want to know that you have the maturity to deal with (likely) living on your own, managing your own life, and planning for your future.

Regardless of the exact prompt, the key to this type of college essay is to show what you've learned from the experience. Admissions officers don't care that much about what happened to you—they care about what you think and feel about that event. That's what will give them a sense of who you are and what kind of college student you'll make.

Once you write a first draft, put it in a drawer for a week. Taking some time away from it will allow you to come back to it with fresh eyes. Then, try to read your essay from the perspective of someone who knows nothing about you. Would they be able to understand the story? Do you explain clearly what you learned? Does your intro grab the reader's attention?

It can also be helpful to ask someone you trust, such as a parent, teacher, or peer, to read your essay and give you feedback. Really listen to what they say and think about how you can improve your writing.

Finally, try reading your essay aloud. This will help you catch any weird or awkward phrasings.

What's Next?

If you're struggling with how to approach your personal statement, consider looking at some college essay examples .

The essay is just one part of the college application process. Check out our guide to applying to college for a step-by-step breakdown of what you'll need to do.

Finally, if you're planning to take the SAT or ACT , consider taking a look at our expert test-prep guides for some helpful advice on whatever you might be struggling with.

Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download them for free now:

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Alex is an experienced tutor and writer. Over the past five years, she has worked with almost a hundred students and written about pop culture for a wide range of publications. She graduated with honors from University of Chicago, receiving a BA in English and Anthropology, and then went on to earn an MA at NYU in Cultural Reporting and Criticism. In high school, she was a National Merit Scholar, took 12 AP tests and scored 99 percentile scores on the SAT and ACT.

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STOCKTON – The San Joaquin Delta College Board of Trustees invites the public to submit comments on the Board’s goals for the 2024-25 academic year.

The Board’s oversight and guidance is critical to the success of the College. Draft goals for the year include the following:

Student centered: Expect and continue to monitor progress on establishing and assessing student access, success, and support, particularly for disproportionately impacted student populations.
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Organizational effectiveness: Expect and monitor progress on strengthening organizational effectiveness and campus climate.
Strengthening accountability and relationships: Continue to strengthen Board accountability and relations, including communication amongst trustees, between the Board and CEO, and with constituency groups.

More detail on each goal is available here: bit.ly/DeltaBOTGoals24-25Info

“Delta College serves a vital role in the community, providing job training and affordable pathways to four-year colleges and universities,” said Board President Dr. Charles Jennings. “We invite members of the public to provide feedback on the Board of Trustees’ draft goals and to help shape the Board’s priorities for the coming year.”

Comments may be submitted by filling out the following form: bit.ly/DeltaBOTGoals24-25 . Comments may also be sent in writing to the San Joaquin Delta College President’s Office, 5151 Pacific Avenue, Stockton, Calif., 95207.

About Delta College

Offering more than 200 degrees and certificates, Delta College is a top destination for students wishing to learn a new trade, upgrade their skills, or earn transfer units to four-year colleges and universities. Established in 1963, the College serves a diverse population of over 26,000 students at its campuses in Stockton and Mountain House, as well as online and at satellite facilities across the region. For more information, visit www.deltacollege.edu .

Highlights of CFA’s 2023-2024 Academic Year, a Photo Essay

Photo by Will Horne

From captivating and vibrant exhibitions, concerts, and performances both on campus and at renowned venues to impactful conversations and events with our students, alums, and artists around the country, CFA’s 2023-2024 year is one for the books!

As we embark on a new academic year at Boston University College of Fine Arts (and an exciting new chapter at BU with Dr. Melissa L. Gilliam beginning her tenure as the University’s 11th president), we’re taking a moment to reflect on the highlights of CFA’s 2023-2024 year!

Jump ahead to a semester!

summer 2023

spring 2024

summer 2024

SUMMER 2023

Summer destinations cfa, broadway, and abroad.

Stefano Meo as Rigoletto and members of the chorus in Opera på Skäret’s Rigoletto, wearing costumes designed by Susan Mickey, School of Theatre director.

Stefano Meo as Rigoletto and members of the chorus in Opera på Skäret’s Rigoletto. Photo by Andreas Hylthén

Rigoletto director Leslie Swackhamer (front right) invited Mickey (front left) to design the opera’s costumes. Behind them are the students Mickey brought with her: Duncan Michael (CFA’25) (from left), Gregg Wiggans (CFA’25), Yao Kuang Lee (CFA’25), and Dante Gonzalez (CFA’24).

Rigoletto director Leslie Swackhamer (front right) invited Susan Mickey (front left) to design the opera’s costumes. Behind them are the students Mickey brought with her: Duncan Michael (CFA’25) (from left), Gregg Wiggans (CFA’25), Yao Kuang Lee (CFA’25), and Dante Gonzalez (CFA’24). Photo by Andreas Hylthén

Traveling to Sweden for a professional opportunity in costume designing and directing was an experience shared among a handful of BU School of Theatre students last summer. Directing student Gregg Wiggans (CFA’25), and costume design students, Yao Kuang Lee (CFA’25), Duncan Michael (CFA’25), and Dante Gonzalez (CFA’24) spent last July in the countryside of rural Sweden, working with Opera på Skäret on the company’s production of Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto .

Ballet Bag (2021), a 2021 soft sculpture by Rose Nestler, one of 13 contemporary artists whose work was featured in STUFFED. Photo by Julian Massari (ENG’26)

Photo by Greg Mills. Pictured, from left to right are BU alums Jillian Oliver, David Lurie-Perret, John Zdrojeski, Greg Bird, and Alex Wyse

Over the summer, the exhibition STUFFED was on view at BU Art Galleries’ Faye G., Jo, and James Stone Gallery. It featured works by 13 female artists who use pliable materials in new ways. And in New York City, a Terrier-heavy Broadway show was playing at the Belasco Theatre. From the cast to design to production, eight BU alums were involved in the Tony-award-winning show Good Night, Oscar starring Sean Hayes.

Fall in Love With New Works, Classic Works , and our Community of Alums & Students

i love you and i always will, or charlie’s play. Photo by Sarah Coleman (CFA’24)

2023 BU Fall Arts Fair. Photo by Emily Wang (COM’26)

Actors Russell Hornsby (CFA’96) and Michelle Hurd (CFA’88) speaking at BU College of Communication’s symposium, Black Media: Reflecting on the Past and Reimagining the Future. Photo by Emily Wang (COM’26)

BU School of Theatre’s 2023-2024 season kicked off with the movement-based show, i love you and i always will or charlie’s play , which ran at BU’s Joan & Edgar Booth Theatre on September 9 and 10, 2023. BFA Theatre Arts performance alum Tommy Vines (CFA’24) was the show’s producer, director, playwright, and lead actor!

That same week, BU hosted its annual BU Fall Arts Fair, where students are invited to explore all the arts that BU and Boston offer through conversations with members from BU Arts Initiative, BU arts programs, academic units, and selected Boston area arts organizations.

Later in the month, during BU’s Alumni Weekend, actors and Terrier proud alums Russell Hornsby (CFA’96) and Michelle Hurd (CFA’88) returned to BU for the College of Communication’s symposium Black Media: Reflecting on the Past and Reimagining the Future .

2023 CFA Distinguished Alumni Awards. Photo by Doug Levy

On Thursday, September 21, the CFA community – students, alumni, friends, faculty, and staff – came together to celebrate and honor three inspiring BU alums: multifaceted artist Joseph Pereira (CFA’96), artist and educator Adrienne Elise Tarver (CFA’07), and playwright and director Chay Yew (COM’92).

watch the alumni awards highlights

BU’s annual Fringe Festival also kicked off around this time! The decades-long collaboration between BU School of Theatre and BU School of Music: Opera Institute expands to uplift new and unique works in music and visual arts in addition to producing new and rarely performed works of opera and theatre. Spurred by the dynamic and diverse programs within CFA, the 27th annual Fringe featured additional programming from BU School of Visual Arts and School of Music.

Alice Tierney, a co-production of BU Opera Institute and School of Theatre. Photo by Jacob Chang-Rascle

Marcus; or the Secret of Sweet, presented by BU School of Theatre. Photo by Rodrigo Larios

Hydrogen Jukebox, a co-production of BU Opera Institute and School of Theatre. Photo by Jacob Chang-Rascle

The cast of Priscilla, a next stage workshop, by Edward Sturm (CFA’24)

The Gutter, presented by BU School of Visual Arts and its MFA Visual Narrative Class of 2024. Photo by Wenbin Huang (CFA’25)

CFA magazine winter 2024 issue comes out!

The 2024 winter issue of CFA magazine features BU alums making instrumental impacts across fields from art to education to healthcare, in all corners of the world! They’re community organizers, arts leaders, education advocates, playwrights, painters, singers, podcasters, filmmakers, and revolutionaries.

read this issue

From October 3rd through December 9, the expansive traveling exhibition, An Adventure in the Arts , arrived at BU Art Galleries’ Faye G., Jo, and James Stone Gallery. The exhibition provided a crash course in 20th-century art history, featuring works by the most influential artists of that century, including Childe Hassam , Andy Warhol , Willem and Elaine de Kooning , Jasper Johns , and Jackson Pollock .

An Adventure in the Arts. Photo by Emily Wang (COM’26)

And across Commonwealth Avenue at 808 Gallery, the 75th annual Boston Printmakers 2023 North American Print Biennial returned to BU. The highly anticipated juried exhibition of artists living and working in North America showcased artwork ranging from traditional print processes and digital media to work in more expansive, interdisciplinary approaches.

The Boston Printmakers 2023 North American Print Biennial. Photo by Wenbin Huang

Spooky season took over Wheelock Family Theatre (WFT) with the musical production of America’s favorite kooky, spooky clan, The Addams Family . The show, which ran from October 13 through November 19, opened WFT’s 2023-2024 season.

The Addams Family: Gomez Addams (Luis Negron) (from (left), Morticia Addams (Aimee Doherty), Pugsley Addams (Jack Baumrind), Lurch (Sam David Cohen), Grandma (Jane Staab), Wednesday Addams (Emilia Tagliani), and Lucas Beinecke (Timothy Bevens). Photo by Jake Belcher

Throughout the semester, solo and group exhibitions were on view at Gallery 5, which offers undergraduate students within the BU School of Visual Arts an exhibition space to conceptualize, propose, plan, and install professional-quality exhibitions. Pictured below is the Senior Graphic Design Show, Sight of Sound , a collaborative exhibition featuring Risograph prints and animations inspired by the world of sound and music.

Gallery 5 Senior Graphic Design Show, “Sight of Sound.” Photo by Wenbin Huang

The biannual ART@Sloane exhibition showcased work from School of Visual Arts students. During the 2023-2024 year, the work resided in the Metcalf Trustee Center’s Portrait Gallery, located on the 9 th floor at One Silber Way.

Fall 2023 ART@Sloane exhibition

It’s a full house at CFA’s Concert Hall! A hive of activity for gatherings, recitals, masterclasses, and concerts such as the Symphonic Chorus & All-Campus Orchestra Concert conducted by Dr. Daniel Parsley , assistant professor in choral conducting and director of choral activities at BU.

Symphonic Chorus & All-Campus Orchestra Concert

To close out the fall 2023 semester at CFA, BU School of Theatre presented Orlando , based on the Virginia Woolf novel, at the Joan & Edgar Booth Theatre from December 2-9.

Sarah Ruhl’s play follows the story of a young nobleman in a love affair with Queen Elizabeth I. As he endeavors to make his way as a poet and lover, Orlando’s escapades keep him at the heart of a maximalist, over-the-top tale where gender and gender preferences shift regularly, usually with hilarious results. The BU School of Theatre production was helmed by director Vanessa Ogbuehi , a Philadelphia-based theatre director, performer, and producer of new and devised work.

BU School of Theatre’s production of Orlando. Photo by Katie Nelson

SPRING 2024

A thriving arts scene at cfa (and beyond) .

CFA kicked off the new year with two unique and thought-provoking exhibitions. Painting& , which was on view from January 18 – March 8 at Faye G., Jo, and James Stone Gallery, featured four artists – Cicely Carew , Chanel Thervil , Kate Holcomb Hale , and Soyoung L. Kim – interrogating the definition of painting. Organized by guest curator Mallory A. Ruymann in collaboration with the BU Art Galleries team, the exhibition highlighted the ways in which painting has transformed into an expansive expression incorporating a variety of mediums and techniques.

Painting& exhibition. Photo by Emily Wang (COM’26)

And at 808 Gallery, BU Arts Initiative in partnership with BU Art Galleries, presented the special exhibition, Natural Wanderment: Stewardship. Sovereignty. Sacredness . , part of the expansive Project 562 : Changing the Way We See Native America.

Natural Wanderment exhibition. Photo by Tom Tranfaglia

Created by acclaimed visual artist and social documentarian Matika Wilbur , who is from the Tulalip & Swinomish Tribes, Project 562 is a bold creative expedition to collaborate with each of the 562-plus sovereign Native American nations in the United States in their own territories for superb photographic portraits and compelling narratives of contemporary Native American identity.

At the end of January, BU School of Music returned to New York City’s renowned Carnegie Hall for a special recital featuring a select group of talented graduate music students. The 2024 BU Spotlight concert at the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall featured competition winners Andrew Bearden Brown (CFA’24), Sheng Chan (CFA’25), An-Chi Lin (CFA’25), Yuyeon Lee (CFA’27), Valentina Pulido Pardo (CFA’24), Richard Rivale (CFA’26), and Zhen Wang (CFA’27).

2024 BU Spotlight Concert at Carnegie Hall. Photo by Craig Williston

The weekend of February 29 through March 3 was a busy one for BU School of Theatre with two main productions playing! At Booth Theatre, Cendrillon , a co-production of BU Opera Institute and School of Theatre, told the well-known fairy tale about a young girl wronged and her ultimate redemption through her discovery of true love. Jules Massenet’s ethereal music carries the audience into a dreamlike world of enchantment.

Cendrillon. Photo by Jacob Chang-Rascle

The immersive theatrical experience, One Penny Down , written by BU School of Theatre director and associate professor of playwriting, Kirsten Greenidge , was performed at Studios on 3. When Summer is gifted a copy of Anna Karenina for her first Mother’s Day, the little details of her own life begin to add up in ways she hadn’t quite thought of before. When the family makes a seemingly ordinary trip to their mall’s old-school department store, Summer’s world is changed forever.

One Penny Down. Photo by Katie Nelson

Major congratulations to vocal performance undergraduate students Mirah Johnston (CFA’24) and Stella FitzGerald (CFA’24, BUTI’18) who were honored with the 2023 Dimmock Vocal Award ! The Ellalou Dimmock Memorial Award is presented to students who demonstrate excellence in vocal performance throughout their undergraduate studies. The CFA community celebrated the winners at a special CFA Concert Hall recital and reception in February. The vocalists performed with Douglas Sumi , Lecturer in Music, Vocal Repertoire and Coaching collaborating on piano.

Douglas Sumi and Stella FitzGerald perform at the CFA Concert Hall. Photo by Emily Wang (COM’26)

Douglas Sumi and Mirah Johnston perform at the CFA Concert Hall. Photo by Emily Wang (COM’26)

This year, vocal performance students took the stage… not just at CFA, but globally at The Popayán International Music Festival in Popayan, Colombia! Grace Christensen (CFA’24) and Mirah Johnston (CFA’24) performed alongside Assistant Professor of Music, Voice David Guzman . The festival began in 1964 and in its long history has provided more than 4,000 artists, including soloists, chamber ensembles, orchestras, and choirs from 36 countries to perform in the capital of Cauca.

The Popayán International Music Festival. Photo by Michael Rotiroti

Popayán, Colombia. Photo by Michael Rotiroti

Back at CFA, BU School of Visual Arts was thrilled to have Multiple Formats: Contemporary Art Book Symposium and Art Book Fair return to BU! Organized by Christopher Sleboda , Associate Professor of Art, Graphic Design, and the BU Graphic Design MFA and BFA programs , Multiple Formats: Contemporary Art Book Symposium and Book Fair weaves together conversations about artist books and higher education, pedagogical practices involving artist books, artist advocacy, and artist book distribution, collection, and access. The event spanned three action-packed days, beginning with a keynote lecture by Ashley James , Associate Curator of Contemporary Art at the Guggenheim Museum. It was followed by a full day of workshops, talks, and programs, and it ended on a Saturday with more than 125 exhibitors showcasing their work and creative practices to the BU community and Greater Boston Area friends and neighbors.

Multiple Formats Art Book Fair. Photo by Emily Wang (COM’26)

Our friends at Wheelock Family Theatre put on two family fun productions over the spring. Adorable penguins took up residence on WFT’s stage with the beloved children’s classic, Mr. Popper’s Penguins . The play is about a struggling house painter in Minnesota who dreams of adventures to far-off lands. His life changes when he is gifted a live penguin, Captain Cook, by an Arctic explorer he’s befriended.

Later in the season, the theatrical adaptation of Madeleine L’Engle’s classic young adult (YA) fantasy novel, A Wrinkle in Time , was performed at WFT. The story, which pits 13-year-old Meg Murray against evil forces that have kidnapped her father to a distant planet, transformed YA fiction and was one of the first books for young readers featuring a female heroine in a science fantasy setting, and its themes of magic, divinity, faith, and the battle between good and evil.

Michael Jennings Mahoney (far left standing with a smile on his face) and Kristian Espiritu (far right standing with a stern look on her face) star as Mr. and Mrs. Popper in Wheelock Family Theatre’s production of Mr. Popper’s Penguins, based on the novel by Richard and Florence Atwater.

Michael Jennings Mahoney and Kristian Espiritu star as Mr. and Mrs. Popper in Wheelock Family Theatre’s production of Mr. Popper’s Penguins, based on the novel by Richard and Florence Atwater. Photo by Jake Belcher

Eviva Rose (left) as Charles Wallace Murry, Beza Mekonnen as Meg Murry, and Miles Allen as Meg’s friend Calvin in a scene from Wheelock Family Theatre’s production of A Wrinkle In Time. Photo by Jake Belcher

Big news was announced this year with CFA appointing new directors for the Schools of Theatre, Music, and Visual Arts! A playwright, a painter, and the founding cellist of a world-renowned string quartet became the new leaders of the three schools within CFA on July 1.

Award-winning playwright Kirsten Greenidge , associate professor of playwriting and theatre arts, became the director of the School of Theatre. Marc Schepens (CFA’12), senior lecturer in art, painting, began a two-year term as interim director of the School of Visual Arts. And Michael Reynolds , professor of music, cello, and the Muir String Quartet cellist since 1979, now leads the School of Music.

read the announcement

Kirsten Greenidge

Marc Schepens

Michael Reynolds

Now we’re heading towards the middle-end of the spring semester at CFA which is an exciting time – celebrating soon-to-be-grads before Commencent season begins through thesis exhibitions, senior recitals, showcases, and more.

Up first, BU School of Visual Arts presented the 2024 MFA Thesis exhibitions from April 2-20, highlighting the work of 61 graduating MFA students – the largest cohort to date – in Graphic Design, Painting, Print Media & Photography, Sculpture, and Visual Narrative programs.

MFA Graphic Design Thesis Exhibition at 808 Gallery. Photo by Wenbin Huang

MFA Visual Narrative Thesis Exhibition at Commonwealth Gallery. Photo by Wenbin Huang

MFA Painting Thesis Exhibition at Stone Gallery. Photo by Wenbin Huang

MFA Print Media & Photography Thesis Exhibition at 808 Gallery. Photo by Wenbin Huang

This was the first thesis exhibition for the Print Media & Photography and Visual Narrative programs since their launch in 2022. Also new this year was the sculpture thesis being a satellite show off-campus, on view at an empty space that was once a drugstore and pharmacy in the neighborhood of Allston.

MFA Sculpture Thesis Exhibition at former drugstore/pharmacy in Allston. Photo by Wenbin Huang

Alongside the MFA Thesis Exhibitions, the MA Art Education students install artwork created by their K-12 students from Boston-area schools, transforming Gallery 5 into a colorful and joyful showcase.

2024 MA Art Education Thesis Exhibition. Photo by Wenbin Huang

The spring 2024 opera, La clemenza di Tito , a co-production of BU Opera Institute and School of Theatre, was performed at BU’s Tsai Performance Center from April 18-21. Mozart’s penultimate opera, La clemenza di Tito (The Clemency of Titus) is driven by paranoia and manipulation which culminates in a conflicted ruler’s struggle to discover the greater power of mercy over revenge.

La clemenza di Tito. Photo by Jacob Chang-Rascle

Another celebratory, community event CFA enjoys each year is the annual Kahn Career Entry Awards , which celebrates outstanding graduating CFA-ers and helps launch their artistic careers.

The 2024 Kahn Awards recipients were James Gold (CFA’24) , Spencer Hart-Thompson (CFA’24) , Kimly Mengyin Wang (CFA’24) , Madeline Riddick-Seals (CFA’24) , Emily Rice (CFA’24) , and Tommy Vines (CFA’24). Madeline was the grand prize winner and plans to use the award to delve deep into Bennett Side, a historically Black working-class neighborhood in Enterprise, through oral history and design.

From left: Emily Rice (CFA’24), Tommy Vines (CFA’24), Madeline Riddick-Seals (CFA’24), Spencer Hart-Thompson (CFA’24), Kimly Mengyin Wang (CFA’24), and James Gold (CFA’24). Photo by Emily Wang (COM’26)

Sold-out show! BU School of Theatre’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s Pulitzer-winning musical, Sunday in the Park with George , ran from April 25-28 at BU’s Joan & Edgar Booth Theatre. Inspired by the painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat, Sunday in the Park with George , Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s stunning masterpiece, merges past and present into beautiful, poignant truths about life, love, and the creation of art.

Show director Clay Hopper (CFA’05), Senior Lecturer, Directing, adds, “In an atomized world, where our connections to each other can be so mediated that we lose sight of why we’re connecting in the first place, this play is a bright sunbeam, a ray hope of hope that our capacity to perceive beauty in all things — and to make that beauty — is our strongest connection of all.”

Sunday in the Park with George. Photo by Katie Nelson

Boston University Symphony Orchestra and Symphonic Chorus returned to Boston’s historic Symphony Hall on Saturday, April 27! An annual tradition where BU students get to perform on the same stage as the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the 2024 BU concert showcased performances by the BU Symphony Orchestra conducted by James Burton, former Director of Orchestral Activities and Master Lecturer, Music, and the BU Symphonic Chorus led by Daniel Parsley, Director of Choral Activities and Assistant Professor in Choral Conducting.

2024 BU Symphony Hall Concert. Photo by Jake Belcher

Now entering May, CFA and the BU community came together to celebrate the graduating BU School of Theatre Class of 2024 at the annual Theatre Showcase ! Serving as a celebration and the group’s formal introduction to the professional theatre community, students showcased their work at a Boston Showcase and a week later in New York City.

meet the theatre class of 2024

Boston Design, Production, and Management Showcase at Booth Theatre. Photo by Katie Nelson

Performance students from the graduating theatre class. Photo by Katie Nelson

The 2024 BFA thesis exhibitions were hosted by BU School of Visual Arts from May 2-11. The shows featured the works of 33 students graduating from BFA programs in painting, sculpture, printmaking, and graphic design.

The BFA Graphic Design Thesis Exhibition, which was on view at 808 Gallery, explored four overarching themes: design for social impact, community-focused design, the portrayal and exploration of social phenomena, and the intersection of technology and graphic design.

2024 BFA Graphic Design Thesis Exhibition. Photo by Wenbin Huang

Curated by Beth Kantrowitz , art consultant and curator, the BFA Painting, Sculpture, and Printmaking Thesis Exhibition titled, In Their Own Words , conveyed students’ feelings through their art. “The depth and creativity evident in the words and artwork of the Painting, Sculpture, and Printmaking class of 2024 struck me profoundly and set the tone for this exhibition,” says Kantrowitz.

2024 BFA Painting, Sculpture, and Printmaking Thesis Exhibition. Photo by Wenbin Huang

Commencement season in full effect! On Saturday, May 18, the CFA Class of 2024 walked across the stage and reflected on their greatest achievements during their time at BU. The 2024 CFA Convocation Speaker was Opera Director David Kneuss (CFA’70), who recently completed his tenure at the Metropolitan Opera where he served as Executive Stage Director for 25 years.

The Convocation Student Speaker, BFA Theatre Arts student Edward Sturm (CFA’24), spoke to the graduating class and said, “As we leave Boston University, I hope that you don’t forget to marvel at what we’ve accomplished. I hope you take a real sense of gratitude, along with the deep connections, the fond memories, and the rich artistry I know you have. The world is waiting for you.”

David Kneuss (CFA’70) addressing the CFA Class of 2024. Photo by Hannah Osofsky

2024 CFA Convocation. Photo by Hannah Osofsky

Theatre arts major Edward Sturm (CFA’24) addressing the CFA Class of 2024. Photo by Hannah Osofsky

SUMMER 2024

At home at bu.

Summer at CFA can seem a bit more quiet compared to the rest of the academic year, but that doesn’t mean things aren’t happening! BU Art Galleries proudly presents two exhibitions.

Currently on view: A Summer Place at BU’s Faye G., Jo, and James Stone Gallery brings summer and cozy feelings of home through the paintings of Breehan James , assistant professor of art, painting, and Nancy Wissemann-Widrig , whose award-winning artistic career spans decades. “A Summer Place is an archive of everyday things and a window to nature’s close embrace,” says show curator Emily Lanctot , who selected an array of works created by the artists at their rustic summer homes.

Nancy Wissemann-Widrig (left) and Breehan James at the exhibition, A Summer Place. Photo by Jake Belcher

Patrons at BU’s Faye G., Jo, and James Stone Gallery to see the exhibition, A Summer Place. Photo by Jake Belcher

A Summer Place. Photo by Tom Tranfaglia

And for those walking along Commonwealth Avenue, works by artist Matt Murphy can be seen at the 808 Gallery windows. In Quarrel , Murphy plays with an interchange between sculpture and painting, striving to disrupt the illusion of painting by inserting the wall in between elements, allowing viewers to see the artwork as a physical object before immersing themselves in the painted illusion.

Quarrel at 808 Gallery windows. Photo by Tom Tranfaglia

Summertime is also when a lot of CFA-ers do work beyond the classroom . From internships and arts administrative roles to theatre summer stock and workshopping new material, read up on what CFA students are working on outside of CFA.

Summer at CFA means a new magazine issue!

The summer issue of CFA magazine features a very Boston cover story. Meet Massachusetts artist Robert T. Freeman (CFA’71,’81), whose painting “Black Tie” hangs inside the Massachusetts governor’s office. This latest issue highlights BU alums making impacts across all fields. They’re innovating in virtual reality, narrating audiobooks, organizing youth orchestras, costume designing for Cirque du Soleil, and even curating games for The New York Times (we’re talking Wordle and Connections).

read the latest issue

We hope you enjoyed revisiting some of our favorite CFA moments from this past year just like we did! Stay in the know of upcoming CFA events, our theatre production season, art exhibitions, concerts, and social gatherings by following us on social ( Facebook , Instagram , X ) and explore CFA News and our Calendar of Events !

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL 25 TEAM BUILDER DEEP DIVE

Create your own dream team with team builder in ea sports college football ‘25..

Hey College Football Fans, welcome back to the Campus Huddle! We have one last topic prior to the worldwide launch of EA SPORTS™ College Football 25 tonight. Did you think that we forgot about Team Builder?

The most important thing to know is Team Builder for College Football 25 will arrive later TONIGHT on web! Before we let you in to create your dream team, let's see what is in store for you.

BUILDING TEAM BUILDER

When the Team Builder tool was unveiled back in 2009, millions of fans were able to bring their custom creations to the field. Now, with the release of EA SPORTS™ College Football 25 we’re thrilled to be able to bring back this feature which was beloved by so many.

When the return of our College Football 25 was confirmed, it became clear that fans wanted Team Builder to return as well. One of the first things we did as a team was figure out what it would take to bring the feature back, and to improve upon what we had already built.

We met with creators, spent hours rewatching many different Team Builder videos, read blogs and wish lists, and even hired people from within the community to help design and build Team Builder. One of the first people brought back onto the team was Senior Engineer Chris Markuck, who was one of the original architects of Team Builder in 2009. When Chris got word that Team Builder was coming back, it was an easy decision for him to return to EA and lead the charge of bringing one of the community’s favorite features back.

Our approach to Team Builder centered around three core pillars. First it was about creating a Deep Creation Suite where our players felt a strong sense of ownership and were empowered to create and customize their schools more than ever before. Our second pillar was Discover & Share , which was about making it easy to discover great content and content creators, as well as providing the ability to share your creations with others. Finally, our third pillar was about Elevating Creators where we wanted to celebrate creators for their creative accomplishments.

With our three core pillars in mind, let’s dive into the details where we will outline how you can create teams using the Team Builder website and import them into your Dynasty.

ACCESSING THE WEBSITE

To access the website, you’ll need to create or use your EA Account information to log in. After that, you’ll utilize the College Football URL to access Team Builder for College Football 25.

This main screen is where we showcase and elevate all the work done by our most devoted fans. You’ll be able to see the top downloaded and highest-rated teams by members of the community. We’ve also made it easier to search for existing content. In addition, our filters allow you to sort by uniform provider or by state. Think you’ve got what it takes to make it to the top of the list?

CREATING A BRAND AND IDENTITY

After selecting “Start Creating,” the first thing you’ll be tasked with is creating your school’s identity and brand. This is where you’ll get to define the basics of your program, like its name, nickname, logos, uniform provider, and team colors.

For logos, you will be able to add a primary, secondary, and tertiary logo. Your primary logo is what will be used throughout the in-game UI in Dynasty mode. Your secondary and tertiary logos will be able to be added to your uniform and field. As a part of your logo creation, you will be able to upload your own logos or choose from one of our recolorable generic logos.

In College Football 25’s Team Builder you will be able to select Nike, Adidas, or Under Armour as your uniform provider. This will impact the equipment your players wear, the name and number fonts you can choose from, as well as what jersey and pant stitch pattern your team uses. For example, if you select Nike you will be able to choose from the Vapor Fusion and Vapor Untouchable jersey stitch patterns. The stitch pattern you select will change which stripe patterns that are available and compatible with that stitching.

When selecting your team colors, you can utilize the eyedropper tool to set the team colors from your primary logo. For more advanced users, you can customize each color’s hue, saturation, brightness, Hex, or RGB value. We’ve also provided all existing school team colors under Presets.

In an age where teams are constantly trying to expand and modernize their uniform suite, we wanted to give users the ability to reflect that in their work. To give users the ultimate amount of customization, we’ve expanded the amount of uniform presets you can have to 5 total. If you’re counting socks, that means your team can have up to 5 helmets, 5 jerseys, 5 pants, and 5 socks or 625 uniform combinations, giving you the ability to showcase new looks on the field each game.

Before we go into how you can customize the various uniform parts, let’s orient you to the preview area. This is where you can navigate the camera to rotate the parts of the uniform you are editing. In the center of the screen, is the preview area, utilizing the mouse button you can scroll around the assets horizontally or vertically. Or zoom in and out using the scroll wheel. There are auto preset camera controls that you can select that will auto focus to various angles for you to view your creations. Test around as you desire.

Once in the editor, the helmet is the first part of the uniform that you can customize. Start by choosing your base color and then choose your reflectiveness. For the helmet reflectiveness, you can choose from matte, shiny, or chrome. In addition to customizing the base helmet shell reflectiveness, in the accessories section you can change the color and reflectiveness of the facemask, chinstrap strap and cup, front bumper, and back bumper.

Once you’ve customized the base helmet shell, it’s time to start decorating it with logos and stripes. Begin by choosing your helmet stripe from one of our available presets and customize its color. If you’d like to add helmet numbers you can do that too. We’ve added four preset placement options (front, back, left side, and right side), but you can also use the advanced placement editor to customize the size, position, and spacing to place them anywhere on the helmet.

Now let’s talk about where the fun really begins with custom layers.

CUSTOM LAYERS

No modern uniform editor would be complete without the ability to incorporate custom designs and logos. So we’re giving users the ability to add custom layers onto each element of the uniform. Under “Custom Layers'' for helmets, for example, you’re able to add up to 7 custom layers on the helmet, each having their own unique properties and placement options on the helmet. For each layer, you will have the ability to choose from one of our existing assets or upload your own image. You can then customize the finish of that layer choosing between shiny, matte, satin, or chrome.

Adjusting the logo once it’s on the helmet is easy. You can adjust the dimensions, flip or rotate it, and place it in the exact spot you want. This is the same functionality for both titles. You will even be able to customize the reflectiveness of every single logo!

Customizing the Jersey represents a big area of opportunity. For College, you’ll have the ability to select from Adidas, Nike, or Under Armour, to better represent the wide variety of uniforms used at the FBS level and beyond.

Based on your apparel brand that you selected, you’ll have a specific set of Jersey stitch patterns, or chassis, available for you to start with. Once you select the stitch pattern, you’ll then have that provider’s real-life stripes, designs, cuffs, collars, and fonts available to you. Note that certain chassis go with specific stripe patterns and designs.

For college, the design team has worked closely with all 3 providers with authenticity in mind. And if we’re missing something? Don’t worry. We’re working closely with each company to release additional post-launch content throughout the year to give users more ways to create the perfect look.

There’s still room for customization if you’d like to add your own personal touch. Don’t forget you can still add layers on the jersey asset. So if you want to put your team name on the front of the jersey or have a unique design running down the sides of your jersey, it’s all available to you. Just make sure to save so you don’t lose your work!

PANTS/SOCKS

After you’ve completed the perfect jersey, it’s time to work on the pants. You’ll have plenty of stripes to choose from, as decided by the provider. You still have the ability to add layers to your pants, as well as set the color of the accessories.

For the socks, you’ll be able to set the color on the “Oversock”, the color of the “Base/Undersock '' and the Brand color on the sock on the collegiate site. And just like that, you’ve completed your first uniform set! But you’ve still got more work to do.

GOTTA HAVE ALTERNATIVES

Creating an alternate uniform is easy. Let’s say you want to create a set that’s the same as your away uniform but with different colors. When you’re creating one of the uniform elements like helmets or jerseys, select the Preview Uniform option in the right-hand corner.

When you’re creating one of the uniform elements like helmets or jerseys, select the Preview Uniform option in the right-hand corner.

Then, click the plus sign and select Duplicate from “Away” to pull over all the existing designs, and name the new uniform. Then you can close preview, select the new alternate at the top, and get to editing!

YOUR OWN HOME FIELD

Now that your team is swagged out with the perfect uniform suite, it’s time to create the perfect home stadium. You’ll have 8 components of your stadium that you can set: Stadium, Crowd, Surface, Logos, Endzone, Numbers, Sidelines, and Benches. Each component has unique properties that you can set.

Start by choosing from one of the existing 134 team stadiums and rename it to be your own. With your stadium set, it’s time to customize your crowd. You can set the primary and secondary color your crowd wears on gameday. Want everyone to do a white out every Saturday? Set both your primary and secondary crowd colors to white. You can also adjust the percentage of the crowd that wears each color by adjusting the slider.

Once your stadium and crowd are locked in, it’s time to customize your field. Start by selecting whether your field is grass or turf, as well as its color. You can choose a natural field color or go crazy with any color you can think of. Next add logos to your field. We’ve added preset locations at midfield and the 25/20 yard-lines for you to quickly create your field. With that being said, if you want to go deeper with customization you can add up to 5 custom layers and place those logos anywhere on the field. For your endzones, you can choose from one of the existing endzone designs and recolor it or you can build your own custom endzone with custom layers.

With your base field in place, put the finishing touches on it by customizing your field number font, the number position , the number frequency (every 10 yards or every 5 yards), the arrow position (top, center, or bottom), whether a G appears at the goal line, and the number color and outline. Additionally, you can color the 20 and 50 yard lines, as well as the goal line. Lastly, customize your field sidelines and bench areas. Both options allow you to choose from one of our existing recolorable templates.

PROGRAM/FRANCHISE

The last piece is the players. On the last tab, you’ll have the opportunity to modify the players that will play for you on the field.

On the College Football 25 side, you’ll be able to set your playbooks and select from 7 generic roster types that you can further adjust to fit your playing style. You want to adjust your starting running back to be a 5 '5, 350-lb bowling ball? Or how about a pair of 6’8 receivers on the outside. Go for it.

Once you are satisfied with your creation, you are ready to submit and publish your team. Hit the submit button and this will take you to a Preview Screen where an overview is presented for approval. After you review all your uniforms and team data, you will publish the team that you can jump over to the console and import into your College Dynasties!

DOWNLOAD CENTER

Now it’s time for you to explore our download center, are you looking to download your friends or favorite creators' custom teams? How about looking to share your custom team? Head over to the Create and Share section in the main menu and select the Download Center . This is where you will be able to begin exploring!

Once you're in, you can browse through a diverse array of content. At the very top is featured content. This is content that we have handpicked to showcase the great work of creators. This will be updated periodically to ensure we are always keeping the download center fresh, while also giving creators the ability to showcase their incredible work.

Once you find the school that you feel suits you best all you will need to do is just download it directly to your console. And don't worry, we've made it super easy to keep the community safe and enjoyable, you can report any offensive content you come across and even preview items before downloading.

If you’re hunting for something specific, just press the Triangle/Y button on your controller. This will open up a powerful search tool where you can look for content by keywords, usernames, content types, and more. It's all about making sure you find exactly what you’re looking for.

IMPORTING YOUR TEAM INTO DYNASTY MODE

As we talked about in the Dynasty Deep Dive , importing a Team Builder team into Dynasty is available only in a private cloud Dynasty. You will be able to import up to 16 teams per Dynasty. When you’re starting a new league, only the commissioner has the ability to import custom teams and this can happen exclusively at the beginning of the season and will not be possible at any other point.

When importing a team, you have the option whether or not you want to replace the team’s roster. This allows you to maintain the existing team’s roster and only change their uniforms and field. Regardless of whether or not you replace the roster, your Team Builder team will inherit some of the characteristics of the team it’s replacing. This includes their rivalries, their coaching staff (unless you decide to bring in a new coach), their My School grades, and their team records. Be sure to keep this in mind when you are deciding who to replace.

A NOTE FROM US

When developing Team Builder, our goal was to give fans the freedom to bring their creativity to life and share their passion and designs with the community. In order to facilitate this, we knew that we had to offer you the ability to bring your creations to life with deep customization while building an experience that matched what we set up to do.

This goal meant we needed to lean into a more robust tool set for a web-based solution that gave fans as much freedom for creation and customization as we could build.

Since this Team Builder experience will be new not only for you but our team as well, we want to ask for your feedback. Since this is a new journey, we are inviting you, the community, to share your feedback with us in our official College Football 25 Community Forum so we can hear your thoughts on the experience for creators and fans of those creations. We will use that space and our other channels to keep you informed of changes, enhancements and quality-improvements we will be making throughout the year. We would love your feedback and input as our team continues to evolve Team Builder throughout the season.

TIME TO BUILD YOUR TEAM

Now, all that’s left is to take them to glory. We are so proud that we could bring this beloved feature back to you and we can't tell you enough how excited we are to see what creations you all will put together to make this feel like it is your game. Well, it is time to put our pens down and get to creating our own teams as well! Are you ready?

- Team Builder Developer Team

College Football 25 launches worldwide on July 19th, 2024. Pre-order the Deluxe Edition* or the EA SPORTS™ MVP Bundle** and play 3 days early. Conditions and restrictions apply. See disclaimers for details. Stay in the conversation by following us on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , YouTube , and Answers HQ .

Score the MVP Bundle*** to make game day every day, and get both Madden NFL 25 (when Early Access goes live on 8/13) and College Football 25 with bonus pre-order content.

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