Academic Interest
250 wordsPlease tell us what you are interested in studying at college and why. Undecided about your academic interest(s)? Don't worry - tell us what excites you about the academic division you selected. Remember that all of our first-year students enter officially "undeclared" and work closely with their team of academic advisors to discover their academic passions. You can explore all of our majors and programs on our website.
Paragraph 1: The Academic Spark
- Start in the middle of the action with a vivid, recent high school experience or personal spark that dramatizes the exact moment your academic curiosity was triggered.
- Focus on a narrow, highly localized intellectual question or problem that genuinely captivated you.
- What is best to include is a concrete scene showing active problem-solving or curiosity in action.
- What to avoid and what not to include are childhood clichés, such as claiming a toy from when you were nine years old permanently bonded you to your career path, or broad declarations about changing the world.
Paragraph 2: Academic Projects and Proof
- Explain your academic exploration within high school, detailing rigorous coursework, independent studies, or specialized class projects that challenged your thinking.
- Describe your active reasoning and takeaways when grappling with complex subject matter.
- What is best to include is a description of how you think and learn, highlighting the specific questions or methodologies that excite you.
- What to avoid and what not to include is a simple list of grades, AP classes, or scores, which reads as a dry repetition of your transcript.