Essays & Short Answers

  • UT Austin Required Essay in the Common App, or
  • Topic A in ApplyTexas
  • Please keep your essay between 500–700 words (typically two to three paragraphs).

Summer/Fall 2024 and Spring 2024 Essay Topic

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

Submitting Your Essay

You can submit your essays:

  • In conjunction with your application.
  • Using the Document Upload System in MyStatus.

*Students do not need to submit other Common App essays. We’ll only review what is required,

Short Answers

  • Submit the required short answers to prompts in your admission application.
  • Answers are limited to no more than 40 lines, or about 250–300 words per prompt, typically the length of one paragraph.

Summer/Fall 2024 Prompts

  • Why are you interested in the major you indicated as your first-choice major?
  • Describe how your experiences, perspectives, talents, and/or your involvement in leadership activities (at your school, job, community or within your family) will help you to make an impact both in and out of the classroom while enrolled at UT.
  • The core purpose of The University of Texas at Austin is, “To Transform Lives for the Benefit of Society.” Please share how you believe your experience at UT Austin will prepare you to “Change the World” after you graduate.

Optional Short Answer

  • Please share background on events or special circumstances that you feel may have impacted your high school academic performance.

Spring 2024 Prompts

Submitting your short answers.

You can submit your short answers with either your Common App or Apply Texas application. Short answer responses must be completed in order to submit your application.

  • Transfer applicants must submit one essay responding to Topic A.
  • Applicants to the School of Architecture and Studio Art, Art Education and Art History are required to upload Topic D in addition to Topic A. 

Essay Topics

Topic a (required).

The statement of purpose will provide an opportunity to explain any extenuating circumstances that you feel could add value to your application. You may also want to explain unique aspects of your academic background or valued experiences you may have had that relate to your academic discipline. The statement of purpose is not meant to be a listing of accomplishments in high school/college or a record of your participation in school-related activities. Rather, this is your opportunity to address the admission committee directly and to let us know more about you as an individual, in a manner that your transcripts and the other application information cannot convey.

Topic D (School of Architecture majors and Studio Art, Art Education and Art History majors only)

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, 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?

Submitting Your Essay(s)

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

 UT Austin

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

ut austin video essay

2 Awesome UT Austin Essay Examples

ut austin video essay

The University of Texas at Austin is one of the hardest colleges to get into in Texas . With a competitive acceptance rate, the school is moderately selective. Writing strong essays, however, will certainly boost your chances. 

UT Austin requires one long essay and three short answers, with an additional optional short answer question. There are also a handful of program-specific prompts. 

In this post, we’ll analyze sample essays written by a real applicants, sharing what they did well and what could be improved.

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. 

Read our UT Austin essay breakdown to get a comprehensive overview of this year’s supplemental prompts. 

Essay Example #1

Prompt: Using a favorite quotation from an essay or book you have read in the last three years as a starting point, tell us about an event or experience that helped you define one of your values or changed how you approach the world. Please write the quotation, title and author at the beginning of your essay (prompt from the 2020-2021 cycle). 

“Fortunately, among these people a man was judged according to his worth and not according to the worth of his father.”

– Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart 

Like most children, I aspired to my father. 

I saw my dad as an image of whom I wanted to be. Charismatic, genuine, respected among his peers – he embodied the qualities I saw essential to being a successful person. 

The most appealing to me, however, was my father’s medical background. As the first person to attend university in our extended family, he had always been revered for his accomplishment of becoming a doctor. 

As a direct consequence, biology was a keen passion during my childhood. I remember how each evening, as I was being tucked into bed, I would unload an avalanche of questions on my dad, many of them amusingly simple such as: If my body is 70% water, why don’t I have water spilling out of my finger every time I get a papercut? In school, I’d stay after class to probe my teachers about the topics I had read of but did not yet comprehend. And anytime I was asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I, without a whiff of doubt, bolted out I was going to be a doctor. 

However, as I got older, I developed new interests – in particular, social science and leadership – which did not always align with my childhood goals of medicine and biology. 

With this dichotomy in my mind, I decided to spend my sophomore summer volunteering at a hospital. 

Once there, it suddenly dawned on me that, for my entire life, I had viewed being a doctor through rose-tinted glasses since the reality of being a medical professional differed wildly from my perceptions. The dozens of biology textbooks I had read had not prepared me for a single drop of blood, as seeing just one could send me into an exhausting realm of dizziness. With every additional day of volunteering, it became painfully clear – I could not follow in my father’s footsteps. 

Disappointed, I began contemplating what made my experience in the hospital so bad and if anything could be done to improve people’s – whether patients’, doctors’, or volunteers’ like myself – experience. Then, a light-bulb switched on: what if I could improve the look of the hospital? As it stood, the hospital was incredibly run-down and inspired depression rather than hope. 

With a goal to improve the hospital’s appearance and thus create a friendlier environment for the people inside, I started the Better Setting – Better Getting project, which was going to decorate the hospital with photographs of nature. Having done so, there was a question of financing ー with the hospital administration over-budget, I had to source the funding entirely from the private sector. It was challenging but, a few dozen cold-calls and a handful of live-pitches later, I found a corporate partner that recognised my vision. Finally, I was ready to make my goal a reality. Legal roadblocks and printing nuances still stood in the way, but, with the enthusiastic support of the hospital community, I was able to navigate my way through. Today, dozens of wall-sized nature photos emit joy and hope into the halls of the hospital. 

My hospital volunteering, which had begun with heartbreak and disillusion, turned out to be a defining experience of self-discovery. It helped me close my chapter on medicine, a chapter I had so often doubted, and helped me validate my passion for leadership; it allowed me to operate free of doubt, knowing that I don’t have to follow my father’s footsteps. Above all, it made me realise that, although I would never be a doctor, I could nonetheless have a positive impact on society in my very own way.

What the Essay Did Well

The author begins with a quote from a historical fiction novel that the author has read. Although their essay topic doesn’t tie directly in with the novel’s plot, the quote they chose is profound and serves as a hook that piques the reader’s interest about the essay subject. 

The author starts the essay by mentioning their father. Their use of first person and writing style makes their first lines seem like the narration at the beginning of a film. This introduction draws the reader in as it seems like the author is building up to something. Similarly, your introduction should start as if you are telling a story to provide the most engaging experience for the reader. 

The author then delves more into their father’s background and describes his medical prowess by showing, rather than telling, readers about it. Instead of saying that his father is exceptional, the author presents a specific detail about how he was the first in his family to attend university. Phrasing your writing like this allows the reader to infer through descriptive detail rather than simply absorbing your words at face value. Ensuring that you create this immersive writing style might take more time, but it is worth it as it will make your essay more memorable to admissions officers.

Eventually, the third-to-last paragraph is the climactic point the reader has been waiting for. It is the most important part of the essay ー it’s time for the author to describe how they grew from the incident. During this portion of your essay, you should take readers through your thought process as you begin to formulate a solution for your conflict. It is not enough to say that you learned something new or to merely state that you felt like a changed person. You must provide concrete examples of how you reached a solution and what that solution entailed. Here, the author mentions their distaste for the hospital, specifically, its aesthetic. This sets readers up to hear their solution. 

In the next paragraph, the author describes how they resolved part of their issues with the hospital and were able to grow into their new career path. When detailing your solution, make sure you are centering yourself as the agent of change and give specific details as to your specific impact in your environment. In this essay, the author doesn’t just say “I learned that I had a passion for business.” Rather, they show readers how their skills developed and mention specific steps they took, like live pitching and navigating legal roadblocks. 

The author concludes this essay by summarizing their journey and bringing their essay back to their chosen quote. By wrapping up their essay in this manner, they underscore their growth in a way that flows well and is easy to read. Furthermore, their open-ended, future-facing final thoughts demonstrate that they intend to continue growing. This inclusion is a key part of any good essay; ending your essay on a strong, future-facing note evokes confidence and illustrates a readiness for the challenges that come with college and beyond.

What Could Be Improved

One area of improvement for this essay is that the section on their transformation is relatively brief. The author spends multiple paragraphs giving context but only dedicates one to the actions behind their growth. The author might want to trim other areas of the essay in order to fully develop this paragraph. They could describe what they did more thoroughly, and really delve into the steps they took to carry out the mentioned processes like so:

Essay Example #2

Prompt: Why are you interested in the major you indicated as your first-choice major?

I woke up. The curtains filtered the sun rays, hitting my face directly. I got up, looked from the bathroom to the kitchen, but my dad wasn’t there. I plopped on the couch, then the door opened. My dad walked in, clutching a brown paper bag with ninety-nine cent breakfast tacos. After eating, we drove to a customer’s house. He sat me in a chair, lifted the floorboard, and crawled under the house to fix the pipes. As he emerged, he talked, but my mind drifted to the weight of the eleven-millimeter hex wrench in my hand. My interest in mechanical engineering originates from my dad, who was a plumber. When I was fifteen, my dad passed away from cancer that constricted his throat. Holding his calloused hand on his deathbed, I wanted to prevent the suffering of others from cancer. Two years later, when I was given a topic of choice for my chemistry research paper, I stumbled upon an article about gold nanoparticles used for HIV treatment. I decided to steer the topic of gold nanoparticles used for cancer treatment instead, entering the field of nanotechnology. After reading numerous articles and watching college lectures on YouTube, I was utterly captivated by topics like using miniscule devices to induce hyperthermia as a safe method of cancer treatment. Nanotechnology is multi-disciplinary, reinforcing my interest in pursuing mechanical engineering as a gateway to participate in nanoscience and nanotechnology research at the University of Texas at Austin. I have learned that nanotechnology is not limited to stories like mine, but to other issues such as sustainable energy and water development that I hope to work towards. It is important for me to continue helping others without forfeiting my interest in nanotechnology, working in collaboration with both engineering and the medical field.

The introduction of this essay stands out for its narrative style. The first sentences only give hints of the story to come, which builds intrigue and keeps the reader engaged. The introduction transitions seamlessly into a vivid, personal story that shows where the author’s academic interests come from. Using a short anecdote like the one in this essay is the most effective way to explain your major choice.

The author then guides readers through their intellectual journey of discovering their academic passions. They demonstrate their passion by discussing specific details about cancer treatments and nanotechnology. Indeed, “nerding out” over your intellectual interests is an excellent way to prove that you are highly motivated to learn about them in college.

Lastly, the end of the essay looks forward to the future. We learn that the author’s dream is to cure cancer, and they want to do it by gaining multidisciplinary knowledge about engineering and medicine. We learn too that UT Austin is a part of the author’s vision. They show their interest in the school by discussing more than the major they want to pursue at UT Austin, highlighting research and the opportunity to explore new applications of nanotechnology.

The main area for improvement in this essay is its formatting. While formatting is far less important than the content of an essay, it can do much more than you would think to make your essay more impactful. This essay only needs one formatting change — paragraph spacing. Here is an example of the improvements:

I woke up. 

The curtains filtered the sun rays, hitting my face directly. I got up, looked from the bathroom to the kitchen, but my dad wasn’t there. I plopped on the couch, then the door opened. My dad walked in, clutching a brown paper bag with ninety-nine cent breakfast tacos. 

After eating, we drove to a customer’s house. He sat me in a chair, lifted the floorboard, and crawled under the house to fix the pipes. As he emerged, he talked, but my mind drifted to the weight of the eleven-millimeter hex wrench in my hand. 

My interest in mechanical engineering originates from my dad, who was a plumber. When I was fifteen, my dad passed away from cancer that constricted his throat. Holding his calloused hand on his deathbed, I wanted to prevent the suffering of others from cancer. 

Two years later, when I was given a topic of choice for my chemistry research paper, I stumbled upon an article about gold nanoparticles used for HIV treatment. I decided to steer the topic of gold nanoparticles used for cancer treatment instead, entering the field of nanotechnology. After reading numerous articles and watching college lectures on YouTube, I was utterly captivated by topics like using miniscule devices to induce hyperthermia as a safe method of cancer treatment. 

Nanotechnology is multi-disciplinary, reinforcing my interest in pursuing mechanical engineering as a gateway to participate in nanoscience and nanotechnology research at the University of Texas at Austin. I have learned that nanotechnology is not limited to stories like mine, but to other issues such as sustainable energy and water development that I hope to work towards. 

It is important for me to continue helping others without forfeiting my interest in nanotechnology, working in collaboration with both engineering and the medical field.

This new paragraph spacing makes the essay much easier to read. Separating certain parts into paragraphs puts powerful emphasis on the ideas that need them; for example, turning the sentence “I woke up” into its own paragraph creates a captivating hook that intrigues readers into finding out what happens next.

With the new format, it is also easier to see that the fourth paragraph would benefit from a few transitional phrases. To connect the author’s interests in mechanical engineering and cancer solutions, the paragraph could be reworded like so: 

My interest in mechanical engineering originates from my dad, who was a plumber. My interest in finding solutions to cancer — and how mechanical engineering could create them — comes from my dad too. When I was fifteen, he passed away from cancer that constricted his throat. Holding his calloused hand on his deathbed, I wanted to prevent the suffering of others from cancer. 

Where to Get Your UT Austin Essays Edited

Do you want feedback on your UT Austin 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. In fact,  Alexander Oddo , an essay expert on CollegeVine, provided commentary on the essays in this post. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

ut austin video essay

Mastering McCombs

Texas master of science programs blog, admissions update: introducing our new video assessment.

Beginning with the 2023-2024 admission cycle, we are excited to introduce a dynamic video assessment component to the application. This is replacing our video essay that applicants historically uploaded as part of their application. The video assessment will ask questions based on a number of competencies and give us a chance to see how you think on your feet!

Shortly after you submit your MS application and your application fee is paid, you will receive an invitation to complete the Texas McCombs MS Video Assessment! All applicants will have 7 days to complete the assessment upon receiving access to the video submission platform. The number of questions asked depends on the program(s) you applied to (see below for more detail) and will take no more than 30 minutes to complete. Applicants will be allowed to practice before submitting their video assessment and will have 60-90 seconds to answer each prompt.

What is the Admissions Committee looking for?

This video assessment helps the Admissions Committee better understand who you are in your own voice and allows us to assess your communication skills. Within the video assessment each program is evaluating different competencies. Check out your program of interest below to learn more about what we look for in a strong applicant:  

MS Business Analytics (Full-Time and Working Professional)  

Career Motivation & Aspirations : The MSBA Admissions Committee is looking for a genuine interest in pursuing an MSBA and a clear understanding of how it will help to achieve their professional goals. Strong applicants put significant thought and consideration into their decision-making in applying for this program. They should understand why Texas McCombs is the right place to pursue their MSBA and how it will set them up for professional success.

Technical Skills & Analytical Thinking: MSBA students possess strong technical skills and an analytical mindset. Applicants should be prepared to discuss their coding skills and give examples of times they’ve built or worked on programming applications.

Curiosity & Motivation: The MSF Admissions Committee wants to understand what motivates applicants not just to get the job done, but to go above and beyond. MSF students are intellectually curious and utilize an enterprising and tenacious approach to problem-solving. Applicants should demonstrate ambition and the ability to deliver results.

Analytical Thinking & Problem Solving: MSF students have an analytical mindset. They can gather and synthesize information, independently identify multiple ways to solve a problem, make deductions, conduct critical analysis, and can determine the best solution for any situation. The MSF Admissions Committee is looking for applicants that show potential to strategically synthesize information to solve complex problems at a high level.

Career Focus & Understanding of Program : The MSF Admissions Committee is looking for a genuine interest in pursuing an MSF and a clear understanding of how it will help to achieve their professional goals. Strong applicants put significant thought and consideration into their decision-making in applying for this program. They should understand why Texas McCombs is the right place to pursue their MSF and how it will set them up for professional success.

MS IT & Management

Career Motivation & Aspirations: The MSITM Admissions Committee is looking for a genuine interest in pursuing an MSITM and a clear understanding of how it will help to achieve their professional goals. Strong applicants put significant thought and consideration into their decision-making in applying for this program. They should understand why Texas McCombs is the right place to pursue their MSITM and how it will set them up for professional success.

Collaboration: Successful MSITM students foster collaboration because they value working with and learning from others. They see and value others’ perspectives, creating a supportive space to solve problems as a team. They excel at being a teammate and work conducively with anybody.

Time & Priority Management: MSITM students should be able to demonstrate a realistic appraisal of their life, prioritize conflicting responsibilities, and consistently complete tasks on time. They are detail-oriented, mature, self-guided and have concrete strategies to balance their academic, personal, and professional life.

Ability to Try & Learn New Things/Resilience: The MSITM Admissions Committee is looking for candidates who are able to try and learn new skills despite it being unfamiliar and new to them. They should possess perseverance with their ability to respond appropriately to disappointment and setbacks and accept failure as part of the learning curve.

Technical Skills & Analytical Thinking: MSITM students possess strong technical skills and an analytical mindset. Applicants should be prepared to discuss their coding skills and give examples of times they’ve built or worked on programming applications.

MS Marketing

Curiosity & Motivation: The MSM Admissions Committee wants to understand what motivates applicants not just to get the job done, but to go above and beyond. MSM students are intellectually curious and utilize an enterprising and tenacious approach to problem-solving. Applicants should demonstrate ambition and the ability to deliver results.

Analytical Thinking & Problem Solving: MSM students have an analytical mindset. They can gather and synthesize information, independently identify multiple ways to solve a problem, make deductions, conduct critical analysis, and can determine the best solution for any situation. The MSM Admissions Committee is looking for applicants that show potential to strategically synthesize information to solve complex problems at a high level.

Career Focus & Understanding of Program: The MSM Admissions Committee is looking for a genuine interest in pursuing an MSM and a clear understanding of how it will help to achieve their professional goals. Strong applicants put significant thought and consideration into their decision-making in applying for this program. They should understand why Texas McCombs is the right place to pursue their MSM and how it will set them up for professional success.

Note: If you are applying for two Master of Science programs, you will need to complete a video assessment for each program.

Tips for a Successful Video Assessment

  • Practice: You will be able to respond to practice questions for as long as you wish. Take advantage of this opportunity! The more you practice, the more comfortable you’ll be with the technology when answering real prompts.
  • Test Technology: The Video Assessments are conducted through the Kira platform. It will require a desktop or laptop computer (no smart phones/tablets) with a functioning webcam, microphone, and internet connection. We recommend connecting directly to your internet for the most reliable internet connection – and make sure you have plenty of charge on your laptop or that you’re plugged in! Most browsers are compatible (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera) but the platform will not work well on Safari.
  • Pace Yourself: We limit the responses to 60-90 seconds because it is great practice for your McCombs experience. Keeping responses concise but clear is important when recruiting for jobs. However, you want to make sure you answer each question in full! The practice questions will be a great way to gauge what a minute or more actually feels like when responding to a question.
  • Be Professional, but Comfortable: If you’re nervous, practicing in front of a mirror or with a friend or colleague is a great way to get the nerves out. Did you answer the question? Did you rush it? Take the prep time to outline your answer in your mind first, and then address it calmly and confidently. You can also jot some quick talking points down on a piece of paper to help jog your memory – just don’t forget to maintain good eye contact when you record your formal responses. Don’t get TOO comfortable – this shouldn’t feel too formal but maintaining an appropriate level of professionalism is always a good idea (this includes professional language and attire).
  • Be Yourself! The questions we ask were not designed to trip you up or be impossible to answer, but rather to give you a chance to draw from your experiences. We’re using this video assessment to get to know YOU, beyond the limits of a traditional application. This is your chance to share your story, give us examples, and explain why you’re choosing an MS program at McCombs in your own voice.

If you have any questions during the application process, we’re here to help. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your admissions team at:

MSBA (Full Time & Working Professional): [email protected]

MSF: [email protected]

MSITM: [email protected]

MSM: [email protected]

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

ut austin video essay

Get Free Profile Evaluation

How to write the ut austin supplemental essays + examples.

UT Austin tower

Reviewed by:

Former Admissions Committee Member, Columbia University

Reviewed: 10/23/23

Writing the UT Austin essays requires introspection, creativity, and time! To learn how to ace this application component, read on!

University of Texas at Austin clock tower

If you’re planning on applying to the University of Texas and are making your way down your application checklist, you may hit a roadblock when it comes to the supplemental essays . 

These essays often prove to be the most demanding aspect of college applications, as they call for transforming your thoughts into captivating words and leaving a lasting impression on the admissions committee. But fear not! This guide has got you covered! In it, we’ll break down each of the UT Austin essays. 

UT Austin Supplemental Essay Prompts 2023-2024

Student writing essay in notebook

Before we delve into how to write the UT Austin supplemental essays , let’s go over the prompts. You’ll be required to answer one essay prompt and a few short answers. 

The required essay prompt should be around 500-700 words , typically two the three paragraphs. However, your responses to the short answer prompts should be no more than 40 lines or 250-300 words . 

Required Essay Prompt #1

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

Short Answer Prompt #2

“ Why are you interested in the major you indicated as your first-choice major?”

Short Answer Prompt #3

“ Describe how your experiences, perspectives, talents, and/or your involvement in leadership activities (at your school, job, community, or within your family) will help you to make an impact both in and out of the classroom while enrolled at UT.”

Short Answer Prompt #4

“ The core purpose of The University of Texas at Austin is ‘To Transform Lives for the Benefit of Society.’ Please share how you believe your experience at UT Austin will prepare you to ‘Change the World’ after you graduate.”

Optional Short Answer Prompt #5

Students may also answer the following short answer if it applies to them:

“Please share background on events or special circumstances that you feel may have impacted your high school academic performance.”

How to Write Each Essay Prompt for UT Austin

Now, we’ll delve into how to answer each of UT Austin’s prompts to ensure your responses are original, insightful, and interesting! We’ll go through specific UT Austin essay requirements and also provide successful essay examples to begin your creative process. 

Two female students writing essays

How to Write UT Austin Required Essay #1 + Analysis and Tips

Analysis of UT Austin’s required essay prompt : This prompt, by asking you to “tell your story,” calls for some personal reflection on your life so far. UT Austin wants to get to know you as a well-rounded person beyond your application materials. They want to know the things that have shaped and formed you in your life. 

The various opportunities and challenges you’ve experienced say a lot about who you are. By asking you to tell these anecdotes, the admissions committee wants to see you display humility, self-awareness, gratitude, and a desire to learn and grow. Think deeply about significant moments in your life and how they have made you different. 

To write a strong essay for UT Austin, consider following these tips:

Tip #1: Dig into Your High School Memories

Female student looking at photos

Time for a little throwback session! Sit down with a cup of coffee, tea, or whatever else floats your boat, and start digging up all those unique experiences you had during high school. For most of you, you’re likely in your senior year, so this shouldn’t be too hard!

Remember those times when life threw something special at you or maybe even knocked you off your feet? Jot all of these memories down so you can go through them and pick the most meaningful ones to talk about. 

Tip #2: Find the Common Thread

Now that you've got a bunch of high school memories in front of you, see if there's a common theme or a big idea that ties them together. It could be a passion, a challenge you faced head-on, or a turning point that changed the game for you.

Tip #3: Be Descriptive!

Get creative with your writing! Paint a picture with your words. Make your essay engaging and fun to read. You want those admissions officers to be hooked from the start to the finish. 

Tip #4: Get Real and Vulnerable

text that says "Be honest"

No need to put on a show here to worry about what you think the admissions committee wants to hear. Be yourself! 

Share your stories and feelings with authenticity. The admissions committee wants to see the genuine you, not some perfectly polished version. Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable, share your feelings and emotions, and demonstrate your growth.

Tip #5: Talk About Unique Opportunities

Share those opportunities that set you apart from the crowd. Maybe it was an internship, a special extracurricular , a passion project , or a chance to travel. 

Show them how these experiences opened up new doors and helped you grow.

Tip #6: Face the Challenges, No Holding Back

Person climbing mountain

Life's not always rainbows and sunshine. The admissions committee wants to hear about your struggles and your ability to overcome them. So, discuss those tough moments that you thought you’d never get through, how you pushed on, and what you learned along the way.

Show the committee how all these experiences—the good, the bad, and the ugly—shaped the awesome person you are today. 

Tip #7: End On a High Note

End your essay with a forward-looking approach. You’ve spent most of your essay reminiscing about high school and the lessons you learned from it. Now think about what’s next! 

Offer the admissions committee some insight into your academic and career aspirations. Talk about how you plan on fulfilling these goals at UT Austin and what you plan on contributing to this school!

How to Write UT Austin Short Answer #2 + Analysis and Tips

Textbooks lined up

Short answer #1 analysis : The first short answer is relatively straightforward. There’s a reason you chose your intended major, and now’s your time to demonstrate your passion and explain why your selected program interests you! 

UT Austin is dedicated to making a real difference in the world, so it’s essential you take your essay beyond the realms of your immediate college career. Think about what you’ll do with your education and how you’ll impact those around you!

Keep these tips in mind to ensure you nail this short answer:

  • Showcase your passion and genuine interest : Avoid essay topics that you think the committee wants to hear. Instead, ensure your sincere passion for the major you've selected is evident throughout your essay. Explain why it excites you and what specific aspects of the subject matter resonate with you.
  • Connect to your background : Reflect on any relevant events, challenges, or opportunities that influenced your decision. Share one or two brief anecdotes or stories that demonstrate how your experiences have shaped your aspirations and academic path. This will make your essay personal and engaging. 
  • Highlight your skills and alignment with UT Austin : Explain how your skills, strengths, and natural abilities align with the chosen major. Describe specific talents or aptitudes that you possess and how they complement the demands of your academic program and profession.
  • Emphasise UT Austin's program and opportunities : Demonstrate your knowledge and interest in UT Austin's program. Research its offerings, faculty members, research opportunities, and distinctive features related to your chosen major. Explain how these aspects appeal to you and align with your goals.
  • Discuss your future aspirations : Share your long-term aspirations and how pursuing this major will enable you to make a positive impact in your chosen field and beyond. Discuss how you envision using the knowledge and skills gained from this program to contribute to society or address real-world challenges. 

How to Write UT Austin Short Answer #3 + Analysis and Tips 

Students volunteering

Short answer #2 analysis : With this prompt, UT Austin wants to see drive and commitment to make a difference in the university community as well as proof that you’ve made a difference in other spaces as well. 

This question should demonstrate self-awareness, passion, and motivation. UT Austin wants to know how your past experiences have brought you to where you are, and they also want to know more about your future aspirations. 

By demonstrating your potential to have a positive impact both in and out of the classroom, you can present yourself as a well-rounded candidate that will make great contributions to the UT community!

Implement these tips into your second short answer response:

  • Highlight your key qualities and experiences : Provide an overview of the experiences, perspectives, talents, and leadership activities that define you as an individual but avoid listing them without adding context and depth. Explain how they contribute to your overall character and worldview.
  • Emphasize leadership skills and potential : Discuss your involvement in leadership activities. Illustrate how you have taken initiative, influenced others, or demonstrated a commitment to creating positive change. All of these traits are highly valued by UT Austin!
  • Talk about your future : Demonstrate how your specific attributes and experiences will allow you to make a positive impact both in and out of the classroom at UT Austin. Explain how your perspectives and background have shaped your understanding of different issues and will enrich class discussions.
  • Connect back to UT Austin : Show that you have done your research on UT Austin's values, culture, and community. Explain how your experiences, perspectives, and talents align with the university's mission and how you plan to contribute to the campus environment. 
  • Be genuine and specific : Throughout your essay, be authentic and avoid any vagueness. Share specific anecdotes and examples to illustrate your points, and be descriptive! Show, don't tell, and immerse your readers into your experiences so they connect to them better.

How to Write UT Austin Short Answer #4 + Analysis and Tips

Person holding small globe

Short answer #3 analysis : This short answer is one of the more challenging UT Austin essays. It requires students to look ahead past their college career and think critically about how they plan on bettering the world. 

While the previous questions are focused on your passions in a more general sense, this prompt asks you to think about your aspirations at UT Austin specifically. How does your desire to attend UT Austin connect to your dreams and goals? 

Here are some tips on how to approach this question:

Tip #1: Be Realistic

The admissions committee isn’t looking for any sappy or exaggerated goals. They aren’t expecting you to cure cancer or find life on Mars. 

Think about what realistic impact you want to have on the world. Whether it be changing the lives of your patients as a healthcare worker, helping address social issues, or simply being a strong advocate for the environment, any effort to better the lives of others counts!

Tip #2: Be Specific

Don’t make vague statements about your passion to change the world, healthcare, poverty, or any other broad topic. Be specific and clearly state your long-term aspirations and the specific ways you envision changing the world after graduation. 

Think about who exactly you want to help, what issue you aim to address, and the tools you’ll use to do so. 

Text thats says "focus on your goals"

Tip #3: Connect UT Austin's Offerings to Your Goals

Showcase your understanding of UT Austin's unique offerings and how they align with your ambitions. Discuss specific academic programs, research opportunities, clubs, or organizations that UT Austin offers and explain how they will support your personal and professional growth towards your goal of changing the world.

Tip #4: Discuss Your Commitment to Impact

Emphasize your dedication and commitment to creating a positive impact. Demonstrate that you are not just interested in pursuing your career for personal gain, but that you genuinely care about making a difference in the lives of others and improving society.

Tip #5: Be Ambitious

Be ambitious in your goals, but also be realistic about the steps you'll take to achieve them. Demonstrate that you have a clear plan for how your experience at UT Austin will serve as a stepping stone to creating a lasting impact on a broader scale. Demonstrate you have direction and know what it’ll take to reach your goals.

Tip #6: Wrap Up with Confidence and Gratitude

text that says "thank you"

Conclude your essay with a strong and confident statement that reinforces your commitment to changing the world and your gratitude for the opportunity to do so at UT Austin. Leave a lasting impression on the reader that highlights your passion and determination.

How to Write UT Austin Optional Essay #6

Answering the optional essay is simple; stick to the facts and be honest. There is no need to be overly descriptive or create a compelling narrative out of your circumstances. 

This essay should only help the admissions committee learn more about the extent of your circumstances, how they prevented you from achieving your best, and how you attempted to overcome them. As such, you’ll want this essay to be relatively short. It should not exceed one to two paragraphs. 

Examples of UT Austin Supplemental Essays That Worked

It can be really helpful to look at examples of successful essays for inspiration. Below, you’ll find essay examples from accepted UT Austin applicants! We’ll look at each example closely to examine what worked about it. 

Female student holding pen on paper

Sample Essay #1

Your UT Austin essays need to be concise, captivating, and creative to effectively answer this prompt:

Take a look at this example essay:

“‘Gone but never forgotten’---the solemn inscription on the plaque dedicated to my best friend, displayed prominently in our high school. A phrase intended to offer comfort, but one that will always ring hollow for me. The reality remains stark; gone is still gone. No matter how many times I replay his infectious smile or reminisce about our sunlit summers spent surfing until sundown, he remains forever confined to the realm of memories.
Losing my best friend to cancer was a heart-wrenching blow that shattered my world. We had shared dreams, laughter, and endless plans for our future. His untimely departure left an emptiness in my heart and a void in my life that seemed impossible to fill. Grief consumed me, and the once vibrant light of my high school years dimmed significantly. Coping with the loss of such a young, budding life was a challenge unlike any other, and it tested my emotional strength to its limits.
But, In the face of this overwhelming and seemingly unending pain, I found solace in the support of my family and friends. Their unwavering presence and understanding helped me navigate through the darkest times. I realized that I was not alone in my grief and that reaching out for support was not a sign of weakness but an act of bravery. This experience taught me the power of empathy and the significance of connection, shaping my understanding of the value of relationships in life.
While the loss of my best friend left a permanent scar, it also sparked an awakening within me. I became acutely aware of the fleeting nature of life and the importance of cherishing every moment. As I struggled to regain my sense of purpose, I sought solace in volunteer work at a local cancer support center. Being able to offer comfort and empathy to patients and their families on their own journeys was a cathartic experience that helped me heal and provided me with a newfound sense of direction.
Amidst the challenges, high school also offered unique opportunities for personal growth and self-discovery. I found inspiration in the arts, particularly through music and painting. These creative outlets became my refuge, allowing me to express emotions that words could not convey. Art became a powerful medium through which I could heal and explore my own emotions, and it ignited a passion that continues to fuel my aspirations.
As I delved deeper into my artistic pursuits, I discovered my ability to inspire others through storytelling. I started sharing my experiences through writing and public speaking, aiming to bring hope and awareness to those facing similar struggles. This newfound purpose motivated me to excel academically and to embrace every opportunity for growth that high school offered.
With newfound resilience, I became an active member of various clubs and organizations that focused on cancer awareness and support. I initiated fundraisers and awareness campaigns, determined to make a difference in the lives of those affected by this dreadful disease. In doing so, I found strength in unity, as we came together as a community to support a common cause.
Through the highs and lows of high school, I have evolved into a compassionate, determined, and empathetic individual. The loss of my best friend has taught me that life is fragile and unpredictable, urging me to make the most of every opportunity and to embrace challenges with unwavering resolve.
As I prepare to embark on the next chapter of my journey at UT Austin, I am filled with a sense of purpose and determination. I aspire to study medicine, combining my love for the arts with my passion for healthcare to bring comfort and healing to those in need. The experiences of my high school years have shaped me into a resilient individual who values empathy, compassion, and the power of connection. I am confident that my journey through grief and self-discovery will not only enable me to excel academically but will also empower me to change lives and make a lasting impact both in and out of the classroom. So, while my best friend may be gone forever, his legacy will live on; through me, the sunsets I now surf through alone, the patients I will heal, and the grieving families I will support when all they have left to hold are intangible memories.”  

Why It Works

This essay stands out because of its deeply personal exploration of the writer's journey from grief to resilience, fueled by a passion for cancer awareness and healing. 

The unique fusion of art, medicine, and storytelling highlights the writer's distinct personality, aspirations, and well-roundedness. Their commitment to community engagement, coupled with a clear academic focus on medicine, also aligns well with the university's values. 

Short Answer #1 Example

Hand holding pile of books

Below, you’ll find an example essay answering the following prompt: 

“Why are you interested in the major you indicated as your first-choice major?”

Here’s another example essay to draw inspiration from:

“In 'The Alchemist,' Paulo Coelho writes, 'And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.' This profound sentiment resonates deeply with my decision to pursue an English major at UT Austin. For me, the study of English is a transformative journey of self-discovery and a pursuit of understanding the interconnectedness of humanity through the written word.
Like Santiago, the protagonist in 'The Alchemist,' I believe that our desires and dreams can shape our destinies. In the enchanting world of literature, I find myself constantly drawn to the power of storytelling, where words become vessels for ideas, emotions, and shared experiences. 
Choosing UT Austin as the home for my academic pursuits was an easy decision. The English program's reputation for fostering intellectual curiosity and nurturing creativity aligns perfectly with my academic goals. The diverse range of courses, from classic literature to contemporary poetry, promises to provide a comprehensive understanding of literary traditions, nurturing my ability to critically analyze and interpret texts.
Beyond the curriculum, I am excited about the vibrant literary community at UT Austin. Engaging with like-minded peers in literary clubs, workshops, and events will undoubtedly enrich my perspective and encourage meaningful discussions on the intricacies of literature. Moreover, I envision utilizing my passion for writing to contribute to UT Austin's literary publications and participate in creative writing workshops. Embracing opportunities to share my voice, whether through poetry or prose, is essential to my growth as a writer and communicator.
Ultimately, my decision to pursue an English major at UT Austin is driven by a deep-rooted passion for storytelling, a desire to understand the complexities of human existence, and a conviction that words possess the power to change lives.”

Why Essay #1 Worked

This essay begins with an interesting quote that intrigues the reader from the very first line. Then they artfully connect this quote to their personal and academic aspirations, which reflects a thoughtful consideration of the applicant's choice of major and resonates with the transformative power of education.

The alignment of their academic interests with UT Austin's English program also showcases a well-researched understanding of the university's offerings. 

Short Answer #2 Example 

Two male students shaking hands

You’ll need to do some serious brainstorming and reflecting to write an essay that answers this prompt well: 

“Describe how your experiences, perspectives, talents, and/or your involvement in leadership activities (at your school, job, community or within your family) will help you to make an impact both in and out of the classroom while enrolled at UT.”

You can use the following UT Austin essay to guide you in your brainstorming process:

“My journey leading up to UT has been shaped by a tapestry of experiences: my responsibilities at home, my passion for basketball, and my commitment to community service. Balancing two part-time jobs throughout high school to ease the financial burdens at home has instilled in me a strong work ethic and a determination to excel both academically and personally.
As a devoted basketball enthusiast, the court has become my sanctuary, teaching me invaluable lessons in teamwork, perseverance, and leadership. The discipline and dedication required in sports have translated into my academic pursuits, where I strive for excellence with the same fervor I bring to the game.
My commitment to community service is deeply rooted in my family's legacy of veterans, who have instilled in me the importance of giving back. Volunteering at local animal shelters, soup kitchens, and hospitals and organizing charity events has allowed me to witness the transformative power of service firsthand. As such, I am driven by a desire to make a meaningful impact on the lives of others, both in and out of the classroom.
At UT, these experiences and perspectives will serve as my compass for engagement and leadership. As a student-athlete, I intend to contribute my skills to the campus basketball team, fostering a sense of camaraderie and sportsmanship. On the academic front, my diverse background will enrich classroom discussions, bringing unique perspectives to the table.
Outside the classroom, I aspire to collaborate with service-oriented organizations, amplifying their impact on the community. Moreover, my leadership experience, gained from organizing charity events and coordinating community initiatives, will be instrumental in rallying fellow students to join forces for common causes. I am eager to embrace the enriching opportunities that UT has to offer, using my talents to foster a nurturing environment where empathy, determination, and teamwork thrive.”

Why Essay #2 Worked

The essay effectively highlights how all of this student’s experiences have shaped their character, instilling qualities like a strong work ethic, determination, teamwork, and leadership. 

Their commitment to community service reflects a genuine desire to give back, and their intention to bring this commitment to UT's campus showcases their dedication to making a positive difference in the university community. 

Short Answer #3 Example

nurse bandaging patient's hand

For UT Austin’s third short answer essay, it’s important to include meaningful details. However, remember to be concise when answering the following prompt: 

“The core purpose of The University of Texas at Austin is, ‘To Transform Lives for the Benefit of Society.’ Please share how you believe your experience at UT Austin will prepare you to ‘Change the World’ after you graduate.”
Below is a sample essay to help you craft your own detailed and concise response: 
“Aspiring to become a nurse, I am driven by a profound sense of compassion and a genuine desire to make a positive impact on people's lives. The core purpose of The University of Texas at Austin resonates deeply with my aspirations, and I believe my experience at UT Austin will empower me to change the world through the profession of nursing.
UT Austin's esteemed nursing program will provide me with a comprehensive and cutting-edge education, equipping me with the knowledge and skills needed to deliver high-quality care to diverse populations. The renowned faculty and state-of-the-art facilities will cultivate my clinical expertise, enabling me to make a tangible difference in patients' lives.
Through hands-on experiences and clinical rotations, UT Austin will offer me invaluable opportunities to work with real patients and understand their unique needs and challenges. These experiences will shape me into a compassionate and empathetic caregiver, dedicated to advocating for the well-being of each individual.
Additionally, UT Austin's commitment to community engagement and service aligns perfectly with my vision of making a difference in society. Participating in health outreach programs and volunteering at local clinics will provide me with a broader perspective on healthcare disparities and strengthen my commitment to serving underserved communities. The diverse and inclusive environment at UT Austin will enhance my cultural competence and foster my ability to provide patient-centered care to individuals from different backgrounds.
My experience at UT Austin as a nursing student will be transformative, preparing me to be a compassionate and skilled healthcare professional. Rooted in the university's core purpose of transforming lives for the benefit of society, I am confident that I will graduate as a competent nurse ready to embrace the challenges of the healthcare field and positively impact the lives of those I serve.”

Why Essay #3 Works

The student grounds their aspiration to become a nurse in a genuine compassion for others and a desire to create a positive impact, which resonates well with the university's core purpose. 

The essay also effectively outlines how UT Austin's nursing program is a perfect fit for the applicant, highlighting the comprehensive education, renowned faculty, and state-of-the-art facilities that will prepare them to deliver high-quality care. 

These points present a strong case for how UT Austin’s program will empower this student and how she will contribute to the university’s community. 

Optional Essay Example

Female student working in library

Remember, you only need to respond to this prompt if it applies to you: 

For your reference, here’s a sample essay explaining the circumstances that prevented a student from achieving the GPA they intended to:

“During my high school years, I encountered a unique set of circumstances that significantly impacted my academic performance. After my single mother was unexpectedly fired from her job and faced challenges finding another, our family's financial stability became uncertain. In order to support my mother and contribute to household expenses, I took on multiple part-time jobs, which demanded a substantial portion of my time and energy. As I juggled work commitments alongside my academic responsibilities, I found it increasingly challenging to maintain the GPA I had envisioned, a 3.8. While my determination to succeed academically remained steadfast, the added responsibilities and time constraints hindered my ability to dedicate as much time to my studies as I desired.
Despite these challenges, I persevered, ensuring that I gave my best effort in every aspect of my life. Balancing work and studies taught me invaluable time management and prioritization skills, but it also meant sacrificing some extracurricular opportunities that could have enriched my high school experience further. While my academic performance may not have reflected the 3.8 GPA I initially aimed for, I am proud of the resilience I demonstrated in the face of adversity. The experiences I gained from shouldering responsibilities beyond academics have shaped me into a diligent and empathetic individual. I believe these life lessons will undoubtedly serve me well as I embrace new challenges and opportunities in the future.”

Why This Optional Essay Works

This answer sticks to the facts and clearly articulates the circumstances the student faced, how they tried to improve their situation, and what they learned from it. The student keeps a positive tone throughout and does not place blame or try to evoke pity from the admissions committee!

Get More Sample Essays Here!

Looking at sample essays can work wonders for your own inspiration and motivation. If you want to check out more college application essays written by admitted students, take a look at our college essay database down below! 

FAQs: UT Austin Essays

Below, you’ll find the answers to any remaining questions about the UT Austin essays!

1. How Many Essays Does UT Austin Require?

UT Austin requires all of its applicants to answer one long essay and three short essays. There is an additional optional essay for students that faced circumstances that negatively affected their high school experience. 

2. Does UT Look At the Common App Essay?

Yes, the Common App essay will be considered in the admissions committee’s evaluations. 

3. Does UT Look At Coalition Essays?

No, UT Austin only uses the Common Application or the Apply Texas application . 

4. How Long Does UT Austin Supplemental Essay Need to Be? 

The UT Austin required essay should be between 500-700 words. However, the short answer essays only need to be 250-300 words. 

5. How Important Are Essays for the University of Texas at Austin? 

According to UT Austin’s most recent common data set , the application essays are taken into consideration. This means that you’ll have make sure your essays are stellar so that your application stands out! 

Final Thoughts

Overall, your UT Austin essays are not just about showcasing your achievements, but also about how your unique journey has shaped you into the person you are today. Embrace the challenges you've faced and the lessons you've learned along the way. 

Be confident in your abilities and potential. Show them how you can make a positive impact both inside and outside the classroom at UT Austin. UT Austin is looking for a diverse array of individuals, so let your personality and potential shine brightly in your essays!

First name, vector icon of a person

Get A Free Consultation

You may also like.

Personal Statement vs. Statement of Purpose: Key Differences

Personal Statement vs. Statement of Purpose: Key Differences

The New Digital SAT Format: What You Need to Know

The New Digital SAT Format: What You Need to Know

ut austin video essay

MBA Watch Logo

Texas McCombs New Video Assessment: Tips & Strategy

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • Share on Reddit

Texas McCombs School of Business

The Rowling Hall Entrance of Texas McCombs School of Business.

Texas McCombs has made several notable and candidate-friendly changes to its MBA application. Key changes to the McCombs MBA application include:

  • Singular essay question 
  • New video assessment
  • Standardized test waiver (GMAT, GRE, or EA)
  • McCombs Admission Connection – optional but highly encouraged

Among the most notable is the debut of a video assessment, which McCombs lauds as a way for candidates “to share their story in their own voice” while simultaneously reducing bias in the application process through a more “structured and consistent assessment experience.” In a recent info session, McCombs admissions reps offered some notable insights (what they’re seeking) as well as omissions (no sample questions just yet). As a Fortuna Admissions coach who is experienced in helping candidates position a successful application to McCombs, I’m offering my insights on how to prepare for this new application component.   

First, a little context: Considered a “public Ivy,” Texas McCombs is a world-class public university with a 431-acre campus nestled in Austin, the 11th largest city in the United States. By contrast, its full-time MBA class is made up of less than 250 students, making it one of the smaller top-20 MBA programs. Its unique culture – both diverse and welcoming – is central to its identity, and the Princeton review and lauded it as the #1 MBA campus environment for three consecutive years (2019-2021). You’ll do well to keep this in mind in preparing your application. 

McCombs is sincere when it says it’s looking to get to know who you are; more than once during a recent virtual admissions event did a McCombs rep say that the video assessment is where you can add “color and depth to your application.” As such, consider the new video assessment an opportunity to showcase your personality and character, in addition to your verbal and presentation skills. As Fortuna Director Caroline Diarte Edwards says in her related article on how to prepare for the MBA video essays , “The MBA admissions committee wants a peek into who you are in an unscripted way – your motivations, your personality, your communication style. They want to know how you think on your feet (a vital skill in the MBA classroom).” While a video component may feel like a formidable challenge (especially at seven questions), it is a great evolution for candidates. There’s an energy you can transmit in a video that a two-dimensional medium won’t have. Done well, you stand to express yourself with a depth of sincerity and authenticity that is sometimes difficult to capture in written word. 

Check out this 7-minute strategy session on MBA video questions with Fortuna’s Melissa Jones, former INSEAD Assistant Director, and Poets&Quants Editor-in-Chief John A. Byrne.

ABOUT THE NEW MCCOMBS VIDEO ASSESSMENT

Here’s what we know so far about the new McCombs video assessment: All candidates will respond to a total of seven questions – five randomly generated and two that will be the same for all applicants. While the two standard questions haven’t been released, a safe bet is that they will include some version of ‘why MBA’ and ‘why McCombs.’ It’s also valuable to know that in distilling its written essay to a single question, McCombs has done away with its ‘introduce yourself’ question, which was previously an optional written essay or 60-second video essay. (View my related blog on how to tackle the McCombs MBA Essay .)

Like the video platforms for other MBA programs like Yale or Kellogg, the video assessment will be available to candidates who have submitted an application (and fee) for seven days from receiving the invitation. You can practice as many times as they wish before completing the final video assessment. You’ll have up to 30 seconds to think, then up to three minutes to respond to each question.

Be prepared to answer behavioral-based questions steeped in competencies that McCombs views as central to success in business school and beyond. These eight competencies include:

  • Adaptability/Resilience
  • Empathy/Inclusivity
  • Collaboration
  • Career Goals
  • Verbal Communications
  • Self-Awareness

With behavioral style questions, you can expect prompts on very specific examples of what you did – along with why, what was going through your mind at the time, the impact on others, and the outcome. With only three minutes to respond, it’s essential to make your answers clear and concise. An example behavioral question is: “Tell me about a time you faced a challenge at work and how you influenced the outcome.” While it doesn’t offer example questions, the McCombs blog says that more tips will be provided in the coming weeks. The full application will be open in August. 

Beyond these stated competencies, do your research to understand the school’s values and what McCombs cares about. Some possible questions that might map to the McCombs stated values include: 

  • Human-Centered: Tell us about a time when you helped to promote diversity and inclusion? 
  • Future Focused: Tell us about a time you’ve used technology to be more effective? 
  • Innovator Connected: Tell us about a time you gained buy-in from others on a new idea? 
  • Collaboratively Minded: Tell us about a time when you dealt with someone who was difficult. How did you handle that situation?

Finally, as you prepare, imagine how to convey what’s not obvious in your resume, credentials, or LinkedIn profile. What will help make your application sticky and memorable, adding to your overall narrative? Reflect on the stories you want to tell and offer dimensions that might be missing from elsewhere in your application. 

For a deeper dive on how to shine in your MBA video assessment, including tips for preparing and sample questions, view MBA Video Essay Tips , by Fortuna’s Caroline Diarte Edwards.

ut austin video essay

Questions about this article? Email us or leave a comment below.

  • Stay Informed. Sign Up! Login Logout Search for:

ut austin video essay

GMAT Score: Understanding The New GMAT Focus Edition

Caroline Diarte Edwards

Navigating The New GMAT Focus Edition And GRE

Mba predictions for 2024.

Dr. Judith Silverman Hodara Fortuna

Are You Ready For An MBA? Ask Yourself These 4 Questions

  • Specialized Masters Program Directory Business Analytics Hub MBA Admissions Consultant Directory Online MBA Hub Home Assess My MBA Odds

Our Partner Sites: Poets&Quants for Execs | Poets&Quants for Undergrads | Tipping the Scales | We See Genius

  • Top MBA Programs
  • UT Austin McCombs

A Look Inside McCombs MBA Admissions (with Video Essay Tips!)

At Menlo Coaching, we’re fans of the UT Austin McCombs School of Business. Its extensive ties to the city of Austin and its deep business relationships with members of the Texas Triangle make it an ideal place to explore a wide variety of industries. Hook ‘em horns!

David White, our Founding Partner, sat down with Rodrigo Malta, the Managing Director of MBA Recruiting and Admissions to get the inside scoop on Admissions at McCombs.

This part of the interview includes:

  • Defining Fit at McCombs
  • Diversity of McCombs Applicants
  • Video Essay: Focus on the Content & Keep it Authentic 

You can watch more from David and Rodrigo, with videos covering McCombs and its Ties to Dallas, Houston, (and Beyond) , as well as McCombs MBA Employment Reports and Career Center .

Interview with McCombs Admissions Director

Ready to start your application? Apply to McCombs

Who does McCombs admit?

In addition to wanting driven, results-oriented applicants, UT Austin McCombs values students that are willing to be collaborative and community-oriented. Much like the unofficial slogan of the city in which it operates—“Keep Austin Weird”—McCombs looks for applicants that are a bit open to taking unconventional routes to the final product, unafraid to make some mistakes, willing to tinker with good ideas, open to feedback and curious. 

As an institution with small classes, McCombs tends to be uninterested in applicants that are looking at the MBA as a way to arrive at a specific, predetermined job, or to check a box and get a credential. Likewise, the business school is not interested in admitting applicants who are not open to working with others.

Early Birds Toolkit

Learn 3 Steps You Should Take NOW to Improve Your Profile for R1 2024

In MBA admissions, starting early can significantly boost your chances. 

But there are no shortcuts, and while R1 2024 deadlines might seem far off, building your profile takes time.

Our Early Birds Toolkit has everything you need to get started right now —leave your name and email, and we’ll send you three actionable steps to elevate your profile, plus time-saving tools for faster progress.

Diversity and Profile of the McCombs Applicant

Often discounted as a regional school, the fact that McCombs sends 20% of its class to the West Coast and 10% to the Northeast, means it is eager to send their students all over the world and are happy to accept applicants with career goals outside of the Texas Triangle. 

A typical McCombs class is made up of about one third business students, one third technical engineering and computer science students, and one third liberal arts students. All of them go through the McCombs MBA core curriculum no matter their background and previous experience. This means that there can be community focus: a CPA taking an accounting course helps an engineer succeed, just as an engineer taking a tech-focused course helps a CPA succeed.

The McCombs Video Essay: Content and Authenticity

McCombs uses a video essay option for their applications which can be daunting to consider. It is important to remember that applicants can still make a charming submission without high production values and bells and whistles. McCombs is focused on the content more than the format. Successful applicants have even made their videos in a hotel room using a laptop or iPhone.

Related Articles

  • The McCombs MBA Program Overview
  • The McCombs MBA: Its Ties to Dallas, Houston (and Beyond)
  • McCombs MBA Employment Reports and Career Center

Stay on top of the latest insights.

Advice, tips and insights from the admissions dream team., table of contents, texas mccombs new video assessment: what to expect & how to prepare.

Rowling Hall Entrance at Texas McCombs

The Rowling Hall Entrance of Texas McCombs School of Business

Texas McCombs has added a fourth application round to its Full-Time MBA admissions cycle and has announced several significant changes to application components.

The changes are intended to “ reduce bias, foster inclusivity, and improve accessibility in the admissions process,” according to program officials at University of Texas Austin. 

Key changes to the McCombs MBA application include:

  • A fourth deadline of May 9, 2024
  • A cover letter replaces the former required essay
  • The video assessment is reduced to a total of five questions from seven
  • More standardized tests are accepted, with waivers allowed
  • An optional peer interview is introduced

Complete details on the changes are available here . As a Fortuna Admissions coach who is experienced in helping candidates position a successful application to McCombs, I have summed up my insights on how to respond and prepare for these new application components here.

First, a little context: Considered a “public Ivy,” the University of Texas at Austin is a world-class public university nestled in a famously quirky and colorful city. Its full-time MBA class is made up of less than 250 students, making it one of the smaller top 20 MBA programs. Its unique culture – both diverse and welcoming – is central to its identity, and the Princeton review and lauded it as the #1 MBA campus environment for three consecutive years (2019-2021). 

With a mantra of “Human Centered. Future Focused,” McCombs is sincere when it says it’s looking to get to know who you are in the application process. The school introduced the video interview last year as a more accessible, personal alternative to more traditional essays and an interview.

The video is designed to reduce bias in the admissions process by providing all applicants with a structured and consistent assessment experience. It helps the admissions committee experience the “real you,” beyond a resume, test scores, and transcripts, while applicants can share their story in their own voice. 

First, Getting Your Application In

By adding a fourth application round, McCombs has taken a bit of the pressure off candidates by giving them a bit more time to perfect and submit their applications. Deadlines for August 2024 admission are: 

  • Round 1: October 10, 2023
  • Round 2: January 5, 2024
  • Round 3: March 26, 2024*
  • Round 4: May 9, 2024

*International applicants must apply by the Round 3 deadline.

McCombs is also expanding accepted standardized test options to include the GMAT Focus (once it is available, in the fall), the GMAT, GRE, and Executive Assessment. The test score requirement may be waived if an expired test score (taken five or more years ago) is submitted or the merit-based test waiver petition is filed before applying..

New this year, instead of an essay, applicants must submit a cover letter “summarizing your aspirations, qualifications, and personal and professional experiences that make you a strong candidate for the Texas Full-Time MBA program.” This is intended to learn who you are as an applicant, so it’s essential to address the classic questions: “Why an MBA?” and “Why a McCombs’ MBA?”

At 500 words, it gives you a little more space and latitude than many essays do to make your case and convey your unique strengths, experiences, hopes and dreams. The admissions committee is, of course, also evaluating your communication and writing skills, so it’s important to be clear and concise. Previously, McCombs offered an optional essay or video to introduce yourself. Advice from my related blog on how to tackle the McCombs MBA essay may be useful for introducing yourself in the cover letter.)

How to Handle the Video  

After you submit your application and pay your fee, you will receive a link to complete the video assessment online. All candidates will respond to a total of five questions, and you’ll have seven days from receiving the invitation to complete the videos. 

First comes a fun, get-to-know-you question that the admissions committee will not score. Then you will record a response to four questions, with a 90-second time limit for each question. You can practice as many times as you wish before completing the final video assessment. You’ll have up to 30 seconds to think, then up to 90 seconds to respond to each question.

McCombs advises you to prepare for these videos much like you would for an interview. Be prepared to answer behavioral-based questions steeped in competencies that McCombs views as central to success in business school and beyond. These top three are:

  • Adaptability/Resilience
  • Empathy/Inclusivity

They are also looking for evidence of motivation, career goals, well-roundedness, verbal communications skills, poise and professionalism.

With behavioral style questions, you can expect prompts on very specific examples of what you did – along with why, what was going through your mind at the time, the impact on others, and the outcome. With only 90 seconds to work with, it’s essential to make your answers clear and concise. An example behavioral question is: “Tell me about a time you faced a challenge at work and how you influenced the outcome.” 

It’s also smart to anticipate questions rooted in the characteristics McCombs cares about. Some possible questions that might map to the McCombs stated values include:

  • Human-Centered: Tell us about a time when you helped to promote diversity and inclusion.
  • Future Focused: Tell us about a time you’ve used technology to be more effective.
  • Innovator Connected: Tell us about a time you gained buy-in from others on a new idea.
  • Collaboratively Minded: Tell us about a time when you dealt with someone who was difficult. How did you handle that situation?

Finally, as you prepare, think about how to convey what’s not obvious in your resume, credentials, or LinkedIn profile. What will help make your application memorable, adding to your overall narrative? Reflect on the stories you want to tell and offer dimensions that might be missing from elsewhere in your application.

Consider the new video assessment as an opportunity to showcase your personality and character, in addition to your verbal and presentation skills. As Fortuna Director Caroline Diarte Edwards says in her related article on how to prepare for the MBA video essays , “The MBA admissions committee wants a peek into who you are in an unscripted way – your motivations, your personality, your communication style. They want to know how you think on your feet (a vital skill in the MBA classroom).”

While a video component may feel like a formidable challenge, it is a great evolution for candidates. There’s an energy you can transmit in a video that will never come across in a two-dimensional medium. Done well, you stand to express yourself with a depth of sincerity and authenticity that is sometimes difficult to capture in written words.

Check out this 7-minute strategy session on video question tips with Fortuna’s Melissa Jones and Poets&Quants’ John Byrne. Follow Fortuna’s YouTube channel for all video blogs & strategy sessions. 

Don’t Pass on the Peer Optional Interview

In keeping with its “Human-Centered, Future-Focused” culture, McCombs invites all MBA applicants to complete their application process in a human-centered way with a short, optional peer interview with a current Full-Time MBA student. 

Replacing last year’s similar Admissions Connection, the peer interview is structured similarly to a regular admissions interview. A student ambassador will ask up to three questions that focus on your collaborative skills and your motivation for earning an MBA. The rest of the interview is open to your questions. The student ambassador will provide feedback about your interaction to the admissions committee. 

McCombs highly encourages these interviews, and we concur. They’re optional, and with just two or three questions in 30 minutes or less, they are relatively low stakes. However, they give you a chance to learn more, connect with potential classmates, and add another personal impression of the real you that can cap off a winning application.

Let’s Get You In

Fortuna Admissions is a dream team of former MBA Admissions Directors and Officers from 18 of the top 20 business schools, including Texas McCombs . With our unparalleled collective expertise, we are able to coach you to develop a clear vision of your goals for business school and beyond. We work closely with you throughout the application process and provide expert guidance at every stage to maximize your chances of admission to a top school.

Our free consultations are consistently rated as the best in the industry. To learn more about Fortuna and assess your chances of admission to McCombs and other top programs, request a  free consultation .

Want More Advice? 

For a deeper dive on how to shine in your MBA video assessment, including tips for preparing and sample questions, view MBA Video Essay Tips , by Fortuna’s Caroline Diarte Edwards.

  • Texas McCombs MBA Essays for 2022-2023: Tips & Strategy
  • B-School Profile for Texas McCombs
  • Request a copy of Fortuna’s Insider Tips Report for Texas McCombs

Updated July, 2023

Fortuna’s  Sharon Joyce is an MBA Admissions Coach and former Berkeley Haas Associate Director of Admissions. For a candid assessment of your chances of admission success at a top MBA program, sign up for a  free consultation .

  • Posted on July 5, 2023
  • By Sharon Joyce

Share this article on social media

Sign up now for a free 30-minute discovery session to get personalized feedback on your profile and learn how Fortuna can help you secure admission to your dream school!

Sign up for a free consultation

close the modal window

Sign up for our free bi-weekly newsletter and get the best MBA admissions advice straight to your inbox.

First Name *

Last Name *

Start the year off right: 94% of our students were accepted to their top choice schools over the last five years!

command-education-logo

Command Education Guide

How to write ut austin’s essays, updated for 2023-2024.

Why are you interested in the major you indicated as your first-choice major? Please limit your response to 250-300 words.

Explanation:

This essay prompt is asking why you are interested in studying your first-choice major at UT Austin. The admissions officers want to know where your passion stems from. Provide some background details about how your interest in this field came about. Then, look back at your activities list and include experiences that demonstrate your interest and dedication to honing skills necessary for your major of choice.

Do not forget to actually include the name of the specific UT Austin major! Next, include specifics about that major at UT Austin- what specific resources and opportunities would you pursue should you be admitted? Include details like specific classes, hands-on learning opportunities, renowned professors and/or their research. Lastly, write about how majoring at UT Austin will help you successfully achieve your career goals.

Describe how your experiences, perspectives, talents, and/or your involvement in leadership activities (at your school, job, community, or within your family) will help you to make an impact both in and out of the classroom while enrolled at UT. Please limit your response to 250-300 words.

This prompt asks about all types of experiences, some of which might not have found their way onto your activities list, so go beyond and pull from those unique involvements and aspects of your life where you have demonstrated leadership. As always, show, don’t tell, how you display leadership through these experiences. You can show this by writing about the new school club you started, that school project you lead, or your responsibilities as an older sibling or as captain of your soccer team. Include how you hope to bring these leadership experiences with you to UT Austin and make an impact on their campus. UT Austin considers itself a bold, ambitious leader , so if applicable, include details that show that type of leadership. Also, don’t forget to answer the full question, and include details about how you will make an impact both in and out of the classroom – how will you impact the UT Austin community? As one of the most diverse campuses in the nation , UT Austin values diversity, inclusion, equity, and helping all people. In writing about your impact outside the classroom, we encourage you to focus on how your leadership experiences can help you embody these values as a member of the UT Austin community.

The core purpose of The University of Texas at Austin is, To Transform Lives for the Benefit of Society. Please share how you believe your experience at UT-Austin will prepare you to Change the World after you graduate. Please limit your response to 250-300 words.*

The admissions officers are looking for applicants who are genuinely committed to UT Austin’s core values – learning, discovery, freedom, leadership, individual opportunity and responsibility. Be sure to include some of these values when discussing your experience at UT Austin. Be specific about the resources and opportunities at UT Austin that will help prepare you to make a difference post-graduation.

Optional Short Answer (250-350 words):

Please share background on events or special circumstances that you feel may have impacted your high school academic performance.

If your response to this question is similar to one of the Common App Personal Essays, feel free to simply copy and paste the important parts of your essay here. Please limit your response to 250-300 words.

This is a good opportunity to demonstrate any context or environment-specific challenges you have faced and have had to overcome. These could include: socioeconomic status, family responsibilities or unique circumstances, cultural background, race and ethnicity, language spoken in your home, or a transition that proved difficult to adjust to. Additionally, you can use this space as an opportunity to explain a time you failed academically, and demonstrate how you worked to overcome this setback.

UT Austin Essay (Required):

Note: This is the only long essay UT-Austin requires. We do not require any of the Common App Personal Essays. Common App Personal Essays will not be used in our holistic review process.

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

Please keep your essay between 500–700 words (typically two to three paragraphs).*

This prompt is answered in either the CommonApp or the ApplyTexas application. As UT Austin does not require you to submit a Common App Personal Essay, feel free to use that essay to answer this prompt!

ut austin video essay

  • Privacy Overview
  • Strictly Necessary Cookies

command-education-logo

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognizing you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

Facebook

University of Texas at Austin 2020-21 Essay Prompt Guide

Regular Decision: 

University of Texas at Austin 2020-21 Application Essay Question Explanations 

The Requirements: 1 essay of 500-700 words; 3 essays of 250-300 words

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Community , Why , Additional Info , Personal statement

All freshman applicants must submit a required essay, Topic A in ApplyTexas and the UT Austin Required Essay in the Coalition application. Please keep your essay between 500–700 words (typically two to three paragraphs).

Tell us your story. what unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today (500-700 words).

Whether you’re using the Coalition or ApplyTexas to apply to UT Austin, you’ll have many opportunities to document your greatest high school achievements. So for this essay, it’s important that you focus on telling a personal story (it’s right there in the prompt!) that doesn’t appear elsewhere on your application. What opportunities and challenges were specific to your high school experience? The goal isn’t to craft a list, so aim to focus on one central story that describes either an opportunity or a challenge. When brainstorming , on the other hand, we recommend writing the longest list you can think of: two columns or a Venn diagram documenting every hurtle or special chance you got throughout high school. 

As you consider your “opportunities,” keep in mind that your reflection on the event or opportunity that shaped who you are today will be a source of great insight for admissions. Maybe being fluent in Tagalog opened up a unique opportunity for you to start an online exchange between your school and a school in the Philippines.  Or were you invited to perform with your dance group at a community event? Did this experience launch you to seek out other performance opportunities, spurring your interest in entrepreneurship? As you sift through your “challenges” route, aim to showcase qualities like resilience, perseverance, or simply an ability to turn lemons into lemonade. Perhaps the long commutes on the bus between home, school, and your internship taught you about time management or inspired an interest in urban planning. The challenges you choose to write about can be serious (dealing with bullies or discovering a learning disability) or seemingly banal (a public speaking #fail). While the possibilities are almost endless, students should be careful not to choose challenges that may seem trite (getting a B on a big project or winning lottery tickets to Hamilton). 

Regardless of the direction you choose to pursue, remember to make sure that admissions is learning something new about you through personal anecdotes and specific details. 

All applicants must submit three required short answers and may submit one optional short answer responding to prompts in your admissions application. Answers are limited to no more than 40 lines, or about 250–300 words, typically the length of one paragraph. Note Special Requirements: Architecture, Art and Art History, Nursing, and Social Work require additional short answer questions of their applicants. 

Required short answer 1: , why are you interested in the major you indicated as your first-choice major.

This prompt sounds simple enough: describe what you want to study and why you like it so much that you’re willing to dedicate four years of your life to it (at the very least). While you might be tempted to get technical or poetic in your response, your reader will expect you to connect your intended major to some prior experience and/or passion. In other words, tell a story. Lucky for you, we would have advised you to start with an anecdote anyway. The most memorable essays spring from concrete descriptions of your experiences. What excites you and why? When was the last time you got drawn down a Reddit rabbit hole – and what was the topic? While you don’t need to pinpoint the exact moment you became interested in ancient history or calculus, try to zero in on some inspiring experience. What was the best TED Talk you ever watched? The first time you spoke to your new friend in ASL? Your story should showcase your unique connection to your chosen course of study. And don’t forget to talk about UT Austin! By the end of your essay, your reader should not only know why you are passionate about your chosen major, but also what excites you about Austin’s program. In admissions, we call that your fit!

Oh and a quick shoutout to all the undecideds out there: don’t worry! If you can’t decide, then tell a story that demonstrates your wide range of interests or natural curiosity. Focus on the opportunities UT Austin offers across departments and how you plan to explore once you arrive on campus. It’s normal to want to try new things at the start of college!

Required Short Answer 2:

Leadership can be demonstrated in many ways. please share how you have demonstrated leadership in either your school, job, community, and/or within your family responsibilities..

When answering this question, resist the urge to rewrite your resume. UT Austin isn’t asking you for a list! Remember: it’s your job, as an applicant, to use every essay as an opportunity to reveal something new about yourself. Admissions even gives you a runway for your brainstorming : you can talk about leading at school, your job, in the community, or within your family! Think of a moment when you were in a position where you worked really hard to help a group of friends or loved ones. Maybe you are always the one helping your younger siblings with school projects, and you struggled to find ways to attain and keep your little brother’s attention. Maybe as a volunteer you were in charge of teaching new staff the proper policies for walking dogs at the local shelter. Perhaps, during a group project at school, you organized and planned all of your meetings and drove home classmates who wouldn’t have otherwise been able to attend group sessions outside of school hours. Try to isolate a single leadership moment, and bring it to life with vivid details. Describe where you were, what was happening around you, and what you were feeling. Discuss what challenges you faced, and what you ultimately learned from the experience. Don’t shy away from challenges, or even failures, since these are exactly the kinds of character-building experiences that can demonstrate resilience and quick thinking.

Required Short Answer 3:

Please share how you believe your experiences, perspectives, and/or talents have shaped your ability to contribute to and enrich the learning environment at ut austin, both in and out of the classroom..

In short, this is an essay about diversity and the aspects of your life and experience that distinguish you from your peers. For some applicants, the answer might be obvious: you might have been the only one at your school with a certain background, belief system, or inherited skill set. But whether this prompt seems like it was made for you or just a total head-scratcher, we encourage you to dig a little deeper than your first thought. What about your history, experiences, perspectives, or talents might be worth highlighting for an admissions officer? And how can the experience, perspective, or talent you choose enrich the learning environment at UT Austin? Maybe you grew up in a military family that moved around a lot, and you want to write about how this experience has shaped your ability to make new connections super quickly. Perhaps you’ll teach your floor-mates about what makes for a great ice breaker. Maybe you were raised on a farm and developed a strong work ethic at a young age as you helped your parents tend to the fields. Perhaps you will be a natural leader in group projects and take initiative in the many clubs you’d like to join. Be sure to connect your personal story to a future vision of yourself at UT Austin. The most important thing to remember for this prompt is that your experience, perspective, or talent is dynamic and specific to you and who you are, and no one else.

Optional Short Answer:

Please share background on events or special circumstances that may have impacted your high school academic performance, including the possible effects of covid-19..

This is UT Austin’s version of the Additional Info essay, which means that unless you have something crucial to explain to admissions – and there is absolutely NOWHERE else on the application for you to write about it – you should skip this essay. Think about it: If you were an admissions officer, would you really want to read one more essay per applicant? 

That being said, this essay is perfect for students who have encountered outstanding challenges, and need an opportunity to explain them. In fact, we recommend saving those details for an Additional Info essay, so that you can use the rest of your application to highlight other parts of your amazing personality. So, if something has happened that affected your academic performance, this is a great opportunity to explain the circumstances. Did an illness during your junior year cause your participation in clubs, sports, and activities to take a hit? Did a family emergency cause an overall drop in your GPA? A drop in grades or a gap in your resume does not define you. Remember to make this essay not about the things you couldn’t control, but the actions you took to improve the situation. You don’t want to come off as a victim of circumstance, but as a resilient person who can take steps to positively affect their situation.

About CEA HQ

View all posts by CEA HQ »

Ivy Divider

We have school-specific prompt guides for almost 100 schools.

Contact us for information on rates and more!

  • I am a * Student Parent Potential Partner School Counselor Private College Counselor
  • Name * First Last
  • Phone Type Mobile Landline
  • Street Address
  • Address City State / Province / Region Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos Islands Colombia Comoros Congo Congo, Democratic Republic of the Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Curaçao Cyprus Czechia Côte d'Ivoire Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Heard Island and McDonald Islands Holy See Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macao Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Macedonia Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestine, State of Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russian Federation Rwanda Réunion Saint Barthélemy Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Sint Maarten Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Sweden Switzerland Syria Arab Republic Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania, the United Republic of Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Türkiye US Minor Outlying Islands Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Viet Nam Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, U.S. Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Åland Islands Country
  • Which best describes you (or your child)? High school senior High school junior College student College grad Other
  • How did you find CEA? Internet Search New York Times Guidance counselor/school Social Media YouTube Friend Special Event Delehey College Consulting Other
  • Common App and Coalition Essays
  • Supplemental Essays
  • University of California Essays
  • University of Texas Essays
  • Resume Review
  • Post-Grad Essays
  • Specialized Services
  • Waitlist Letters
  • School list with priorities noted:
  • Anything else we should know?
  • Name This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
  • Agnes Scott College
  • Alvernia University
  • American University
  • Amherst College
  • Babson College
  • Bard College
  • Barnard College
  • Baylor University
  • Bennington College
  • Bentley University
  • Berry College
  • Bethany College
  • Bishop’s University
  • Boston College
  • Boston University (BU)
  • Bowdoin College
  • Brandeis University
  • Brown University
  • Bryn Mawr College
  • Bucknell University
  • Butler University
  • California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
  • California Lutheran University
  • Capitol Technology University
  • Carleton College
  • Carnegie Mellon University
  • Catawba College
  • Centre College
  • Chapman University
  • Claremont McKenna College
  • Clark University
  • College of Mount Saint Vincent
  • College of William and Mary
  • College of Wooster
  • Colorado College
  • Colorado School of Mines
  • Columbia University
  • Cornell University
  • Culver-Stockton College
  • D'Youville University
  • Dartmouth College
  • Davidson College
  • Drexel University
  • Duke University
  • Earlham College
  • Elon University
  • Emerson College
  • Emory University
  • Flagler College
  • Fordham University
  • George Mason University
  • Georgetown University
  • Georgia State University
  • Georgia Tech
  • Gonzaga University
  • Harvard University
  • Harvey Mudd College
  • Haverford College
  • Hillsdale College
  • Hofstra University
  • Illinois Institute of Technology
  • Illinois Wesleyan University
  • Indiana University Bloomington
  • Ithaca College
  • Johns Hopkins University
  • Kalamazoo College
  • Lafayette College
  • Lehigh University
  • Lewis and Clark College
  • Linfield University
  • Loyola Marymount University (LMU)
  • Lynn University
  • Macalester College
  • Malone University
  • Manchester University
  • Marist College
  • Mary Baldwin University
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
  • Meredith College
  • Monmouth College
  • Moravian University
  • Morehouse College
  • Mount Holyoke College
  • New York University (NYU)
  • North Park University
  • Northwestern University
  • Occidental College
  • Oklahoma City University
  • Olin College of Engineering
  • Pepperdine University
  • Pitzer College
  • Pomona College
  • Princeton University
  • Providence College
  • Purdue University
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
  • Rice University
  • Saint Elizabeth University
  • Santa Clara University
  • Sarah Lawrence College
  • Scripps College
  • Seattle Pacific University
  • Smith College
  • Soka University of America
  • Southern Methodist University
  • St. John’s College
  • Stanford University
  • Stonehill College
  • Swarthmore College
  • Syracuse University
  • Texas A&M University
  • Texas Christian University
  • The College of Idaho
  • The George Washington University
  • The New School
  • Trinity College
  • Tufts University
  • Tulane University
  • University of California
  • University of Central Florida (UCF)
  • University of Chicago
  • University of Cincinnati
  • University of Colorado Boulder
  • University of Florida
  • University of Georgia
  • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
  • University of Maryland
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst
  • University of Miami
  • University of Michigan
  • University of Minnesota
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)
  • University of North Carolina at Charlotte
  • University of North Carolina at Greensboro
  • University of Notre Dame
  • University of Oklahoma
  • University of Oregon
  • University of Pennsylvania
  • University of Pittsburgh
  • University of Richmond
  • University of San Diego
  • University of San Francisco
  • University of Southern California (USC)
  • University of Texas at Austin
  • University of Tulsa
  • University of Vermont
  • University of Virginia (UVA)
  • University of Washington
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • Vanderbilt University
  • Vassar College
  • Villanova University
  • Virginia Tech
  • Wake Forest University
  • Washington and Lee University
  • Washington University in St. Louis
  • Wellesley College
  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)
  • Yale University

Email

Want free stuff?

We thought so. Sign up for free instructional videos, guides, worksheets and more!

ut austin video essay

One-On-One Advising

Common App Essay Guide

Common App Essay Prompt Guide

Common App Essay Guide

Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

YouTube Tutorials

  • YouTube Tutorials
  • Our Approach & Team
  • Undergraduate Testimonials
  • Postgraduate Testimonials
  • Where Our Students Get In
  • CEA Gives Back
  • Undergraduate Admissions
  • Graduate Admissions
  • Private School Admissions
  • International Student Admissions
  • Common App Essay Guide
  • Supplemental Essay Guides
  • Coalition App Guide
  • The CEA Podcast
  • Admissions Stats
  • Notification Trackers
  • Deadline Databases
  • College Essay Examples
  • Academy and Worksheets
  • Get Started

IMAGES

  1. 10 Tips for UT-Austin's New Short Answer Essays

    ut austin video essay

  2. UT Austin / Common App Essay Guide

    ut austin video essay

  3. UT Austin Essays Guide (DON'T MAKE THESE CRUCIAL MISTAKES!!)

    ut austin video essay

  4. UT Austin MSBA video essay

    ut austin video essay

  5. Reading My UT Austin Supplemental Essays

    ut austin video essay

  6. UT Austin MSBA Video Essay

    ut austin video essay

VIDEO

  1. While vs during #english#learnenglish #easyenglish #viral #vocabulary #communicationskill

  2. Doordash Superbowl Commercial

COMMENTS

  1. Essays & Short Answers

    Transfer Essays (Spring 2024) Transfer applicants must submit two essays responding to Topic A and an additional topic below. (Summer 2024 and beyond) Transfer applicants must submit one essay responding to Topic A.

  2. How to Write the UT Austin Essays 2023-2024

    UT Austin's application involves one long essay and four short essay questions (one of which is optional), with additional writing requirements for students applying to these programs: Art/Art History, Architecture, Nursing, and Social Work. Read this UT Austin essay example to inspire your own writing. UT Austin Essay Prompts Tell us your story.

  3. How to Write the University of Texas-Austin (UT) Supplemental Essays

    What are the University of Texas Austin supplemental essay prompts? Prompt #1 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? (500-700 words) Prompt #2

  4. 2 Awesome UT Austin Essay Examples

    UT Austin requires one long essay and three short answers, with an additional optional short answer question. There are also a handful of program-specific prompts. In this post, we'll analyze sample essays written by a real applicants, sharing what they did well and what could be improved.

  5. Admissions Update: Introducing our New Video Assessment!

    This is replacing our video essay that applicants historically uploaded as part of their application. The video assessment will ask questions based on a number of competencies and give us a chance to see how you think on your feet!

  6. UT Austin Application Advice

    Watch me break down the UT Austin application. I'll be sharing my insight with applying along with the top secret tips that helped me get in. Good luck to th...

  7. UT Austin MSBA Video Essay (Admitted)

    This video essay answers the MSBA prompt below:Imagine that you are at a job interview after completing the MS Business Analytics. Give a one- to two-minute ...

  8. How to Write the UT Austin Supplemental Essays + Examples

    Required Essay Prompt #1 "Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today?" Short Answer Prompt #2 "Why are you interested in the major you indicated as your first-choice major?" Short Answer Prompt #3

  9. University of Texas at Austin 2023-24 Essay Prompt Guide

    9m 2w 19d We can help you draft in time for submission! University of Texas at Austin 2023-24 Application Essay Question Explanations The Requirements: 1 essay of 500-700 words; 3 essays of 250-300 words Supplemental Essay Type (s): Community, Why, Additional Info, Personal statement

  10. UT Austin MBA Video Essay Intro

    Introduction UT Austin MBA Video Essay Intro - Brandon Galang Brandon Galang 108 subscribers 17K views 4 years ago Huge thanks to Daniel Nguyen for helping me produce this! Check out his work...

  11. University of Texas at Austin

    300 Words The core purpose of The University of Texas at Austin is, To Transform Lives for the Benefit of Society. Please share how you believe your experience at UT-Austin will prepare you to Change the World after you graduate. Read our essay guide to get started. Submit your essay for free peer review to refine and perfect it.

  12. Texas McCombs New Video Assessment: Tips & Strategy

    First, a little context: Considered a "public Ivy," Texas McCombs is a world-class public university with a 431-acre campus nestled in Austin, the 11th largest city in the United States. By contrast, its full-time MBA class is made up of less than 250 students, making it one of the smaller top-20 MBA programs.

  13. A Look Inside McCombs MBA Admissions (with Video Essay Tips!)

    The McCombs Video Essay: Content and Authenticity McCombs uses a video essay option for their applications which can be daunting to consider. It is important to remember that applicants can still make a charming submission without high production values and bells and whistles. McCombs is focused on the content more than the format.

  14. Texas McCombs New Video Assessment: What to Expect

    The school introduced the video interview last year as a more accessible, personal alternative to more traditional essays and an interview. The video is designed to reduce bias in the admissions process by providing all applicants with a structured and consistent assessment experience.

  15. Discussing "Why UT" in your Essay A and Short Answers

    Discussing "Why UT" in your Essay A and Short Answers — Tex Admissions UT doesn't explicit ask why you want to attend. Nevertheless, you should provide specific reasons why UT is a great fit for you.

  16. Nine Examples of UT-Austin Transfer Apply Texas Essay A Statement of

    UT requires all prospective external transfer students to write a 600-750 word response to Apply Texas Essay A: The statement of purpose will provide an opportunity to explain any extenuating circumstances that you feel could add value to your application.

  17. McCombs School of Business

    0:00 / 2:01 MSBA | McCombs School of Business | UT Austin | Video Essay | Admitted Nittala Venkata Sai Aditya Subscribe 4 451 views 1 year ago Imagine that you are at a job interview after...

  18. UT Austin essay examples?

    Hello! While I can't share specific essays, I can provide some guiding principles and tips to help you in writing your UT Austin essays. Keep in mind that colleges, including UT Austin, are looking for essays that showcase your personality, your unique experiences, and how you will contribute to their campus community. To write a high-quality essay, consider these key suggestions: 1.

  19. How to Write UT Austin's Essays

    UT Austin requires students to answer three short answer questions about their academic interests, personal experiences and ambitions in 250-300 words. The school also gives students the option to share a fourth essay detailing an event or facet of their background that impacted their academic performance. Lastly, while UT Austin does not review the Common App Personal Essay in their ...

  20. University of Texas at Austin 2020-21 Essay Prompt Guide

    The Requirements: 1 essay of 500-700 words; 3 essays of 250-300 words Supplemental Essay Type (s): Community, Why, Additional Info, Personal statement All freshman applicants must submit a required essay, Topic A in ApplyTexas and the UT Austin Required Essay in the Coalition application.

  21. UT Austin

    Video essay for The Univerity of Texas at Austin - Masters in Business Analytics program.

  22. UT Austin Video Essay

    Imagine that you are at a job interview after completing the MSF. Give a one- to two-minute argument for why you are the best person to hire. Begin with a de...