Illinois asks two or three short essays of about 150 words each in the Illinois questions on the Common App. With a first-choice major: an experience related to that major and your goals after graduation. Applying undeclared: your future goals and your academic interests (two or three majors you are considering). If you list a second-choice major, one more essay about it.
All of the prompts are about your academic direction. Illinois admits by major, so these answers are where it sees your interest is real.
Illinois's questions at a glance
| Question | Limit | Who answers it | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| An experience related to your first-choice major | 150 words | Applying with a first-choice major only · Required | Why this major or school |
| Your goals and your first-choice major | 150 words | Applying with a first-choice major only · Required | Why this major or school |
| Undeclared: your future goals | 150 words | Applying Undeclared only · Required | Why this major or school |
| Undeclared: your academic interests | 150 words | Applying Undeclared only · Required | Why this major or school |
| Your second-choice major | 150 words | Optional | Why this major or school |
Which questions you see depends on where you apply: Applying with a first-choice major; Applying Undeclared. Answer only the ones for yours.
How to plan the Illinois supplement
- 1Use your strongest major-related experience in the first essay and your goals in the second; do not repeat the same story.
- 2If you add a second-choice major, explain how it connects to your first, or why it is a real alternative.
- 3150 words: one experience, one reason, one goal.
1. An experience related to your first-choice major
Illinois's wording · 150 words · Applying with a first-choice major only · Required“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.”
What it is really asking. An experience from the past three or four years related to your first-choice major, explained in detail.
How to approach it
- 1Choose one recent experience and give real detail.
- 2Show what you did and learned.
- 3Link it to the major in the last line.
Mistakes to avoid
- Several experiences in passing.
- A childhood story.
Full guide: How to Write Illinois' "Experience Related to Your Major" Essay
2. Your goals and your first-choice major
Illinois's wording · 150 words · Applying with a first-choice major only · Required“Describe your personal and/or career goals after graduating from Illinois and how your selected first-choice major will help you achieve them.”
What it is really asking. Your personal or career goals after Illinois and how your first-choice major will help you reach them.
How to approach it
- 1State a goal you can explain.
- 2Connect the major to it step by step.
Mistakes to avoid
- A job title with no reason.
Full guide: How to Write Illinois' "Goals After Graduation" Essay
3. Undeclared: your future goals
Illinois's wording · 150 words · Applying Undeclared only · Required“What are your future career or academic goals? You may include courses you took in high school and how these impacted your goals.”
What it is really asking. Undeclared: your future career or academic goals, and how high school courses shaped them.
How to approach it
- 1Name a direction and the courses that pointed you there.
Mistakes to avoid
- Saying you have no idea.
More on this kind of question: How to write the "Why this major" essay
4. Undeclared: your academic interests
Illinois's wording · 150 words · Applying Undeclared only · Required“What are your academic interests? Please include 2-3 majors you’re considering at Illinois and why.”
What it is really asking. Undeclared: your academic interests, with two or three Illinois majors you are considering and why.
How to approach it
- 1Name the majors and what links them.
Mistakes to avoid
- Majors with no reason.
More on this kind of question: How to write the "Why this major" essay
Second-choice major essay: answer it if you apply with a second-choice major.
5. Your second-choice major
Illinois's wording · 150 words · Optional“Please explain your interest in your second-choice major or your overall academic or career goals.”
What it is really asking. Your interest in your second-choice major, or your overall goals.
How to approach it
- 1Show the connection to your first choice or why it is a real option.
Mistakes to avoid
- A backup with no interest shown.
More on this kind of question: How to write the "Why this major" essay
What our grader checks in your Illinois answers
Every answer is judged against a checklist for its kind of question plus one check written for Illinois's own wording. Each area comes back Met, Partly or Missing, and those verdicts (with the word limit) set the answer's readiness: Ready, Nearly there or Needs work. There is no score out of 100.
| Question | Illinois's own check |
|---|---|
| An experience related to your first-choice major | Explains one experience from the past 3 to 4 years related to the first-choice major, in detail. |
| Your goals and your first-choice major | Names personal or career goals after Illinois and how the first-choice major will help achieve them. |
| Undeclared: your future goals | It ties the academic interest to what Illinois offers, not to the field in general. |
| Undeclared: your academic interests | It ties the academic interest to what Illinois offers, not to the field in general. |
| Your second-choice major | It ties the academic interest to what Illinois offers, not to the field in general. |
The type checklists are on the supplemental essay grader page.
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