Essay Guide - Helpful Advice for Writing Your Personal Statement - University of Michigan Supplemental Essay Questions for the 2015-2016 Common Application

Sep 22, 2026

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Essay Guide provides structured guidance for writing personal statements for the University of Michigan within the 2015-2016 Common Application. It outlines required short answer and supplemental essay prompts, including community/group identity and college-specific attraction questions for freshmen and transfer applicants. The guide also explains how personal statements should differ from other application materials, emphasizes engaging the admissions reader, and describes key characteristics of strong essays such as clarity, honesty, depth, and quiet confidence. It further presents a writing process with prompt questions to help applicants organize content, explain gaps, and document goals, skills, and obstacles.

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Helpful Advice for Writing Your Personal Statement

University of Michigan Supplemental Essay Questions for the 2015-2016 Common Application

Short Answer

Essay #1: Community

Essay #2: College qualities (Freshmen)

Essay #2: College qualities (Transfer)

Writing Personal Statements

Context Considerations

Overview of the Essay

Importance of the Personal Statement

Characteristics of a Good Personal Statement

Process for Writing the Essay

THE ESSAY GUIDE HELPFUL ADVICE FOR WRITING YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT 2015-2016 UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN SUPPLEMENTAL ESSAY QUESTIONS FOR THE 2015-2016 COMMON APPLICATION: SHORT ANSWER Required for all applicants. Approximately 100 words (maximum 150) . If you could only do one of the activities you have listed in the Activities section of your Common Application, which one would you keep doing? Why? | ESSAY \#1
Required for all applicants.
Approximately 250 words (maximum 300) .
Everyone belongs to many different communities and/or groups defined by (among other things) shared geography, religion, ethnicity, income, cuisine, interest, race, ideology, or intellectual heritage. Choose one of the communities to which you belong, and describe that community and your place within it. | | --- | | ESSAY \#2
Required for all FRESHMEN applicants.
500 words maximum (Common App will allow up to 650) .
Describe the unique qualities that attract you to the specific undergraduate College or School (including preferred admission and dual degree programs) to which you are applying at the University of Michigan. How would that curriculum support your interests? | ESSAY \#2 Required for all TRANSFER applicants. 500 words maximum (Common App will allow up to 650) . Describe the unique qualities that attract you to the specific undergraduate College or School to which you are applying at the University of Michigan. How would that curriculum support your interests? TIP-How to Get a Word Count: In MS Word, highlight the text that you wish to count. Go to the Tools menu and select “Word Count”. If you do not highlight any text, MS Word will count every single word on the page. WRITING PERSONAL STATEMENTS CONTEXT CONSIDERATIONS What is a Personal Statement? A personal statement, or essay, offers an opportunity to show aspects of yourself that will not be obvious in other areas of your application. It is important that personal statements are not simply material contained elsewhere in the application. Think of the statement as the single opportunity in your package to let the admissions committee hear your voice. Often, committees sort through large numbers of applications and essays. You want your essay to engage the reader, and to clearly demonstrate what makes you a unique candidate-different from the rest of the students who are also applying. OVERVIEW OF THE ESSAY Some applications ask more specific questions than others. There is no set formula to follow in shaping your essay, only choices for you to make, such as whether you should write an essay that is more autobiographically focused or one that is more professionally focused. Personal statements are most important when you are applying to an extremely competitive program, where all the applicants have high test scoresand GPAs, and when you are a marginal candidate and need the essay to compensate for low test scores or a low GPA. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PERSONAL STATEMENT The personal statement is an important part of your application package. Depending on the topic you choose, the essay you write provides additional evidence of your intellectual and creative achievement. The essay is also the only opportunity for the readers of your application to get a feel for you as a person as well as for you as a student. The essay is also the place where you can put your academic record into the context of your opportunities and obstacles. CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD PERSONAL STATEMENT Before you write a single word, make sure you know what is expected of a successful college essay. A good essay... Conforms to guidelines: If the essay instructions tell you that the essay should be two pages long, on white 8. 5x11 inch paper, then the essay should be two pages long, on white 8. 5x11 inch paper. Exudes confidence that you will be successful no matter what: A good essay doesn’t beg or brag. Colleges and universities want to admit

FAQs

What is the short answer prompt for the 2015-2016 Common Application?

If you could only do one activity from your Common Application Activities section, which would you keep doing and why? The response should be approximately 100 words (maximum 150).

What does Essay #1 ask applicants to write about?

Essay #1 asks you to choose one community you belong to and describe that community and your place within it. It is required for all applicants and is approximately 250 words (maximum 300).

What should a strong personal statement demonstrate?

A strong personal statement is reflective, thoughtful, and honest, showing what you gained perspective on and what you want for your future. It should engage the reader by giving a vivid picture of you, focusing on your achievements, obstacles, and goals, with depth rather than breadth.

Sep 22, 2026

Upload by Jacob