texas a&m essay prompts 2024

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How to Write the Texas A&M University Essays 2024-2025

Texas A&M University has three required essay prompts on its application. You are asked to write about your personal story, a life event that has prepared you for success in college, and a person who has profoundly impacted your life. There is also an optional essay prompt about any additional challenges or opportunities you have had to overcome. 

In addition to the general essays, there are 5 optional essay prompts that students can answer to bolster their scholarship consideration. Although these prompts are certainly optional, CollegeVine always encourages you to take every opportunity a college gives you to share more about yourself and your ambitions. Answering all of these prompts will maximize your consideration for scholarships, so you should definitely respond to as many as you can, especially since Prompts 1-4 are so short.

Texas A&M receives tens of thousands of applications from students with strong academic records, so the essays are your opportunity to stand out from the crowd, by painting a picture of yourself that shows what you have to offer beyond the numbers.

Read these Texas A&M essay examples , from a real accepted student, to inspire your own writing!

Texas A&M Essay Prompts

All applicants.

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? (750 words)

Prompt 2: Describe a life event which you feel has prepared you to be successful in college. (250 words)

Prompt 3: Tell us about the person who has most impacted your life and why. (250 words)

Prompt 4 (optional): If there are additional personal challenges, hardships, or opportunities (including COVID related experiences) that have shaped or impacted your abilities or academic credentials, which you have not already written about , please note them in the space below. (250 words)

Scholarship Applicants (Optional)

Prompt 1: Why have you chosen to apply to Texas A&M University? (10-50 words)

Prompt 2: Why have you chosen your academic major(s)? (10-50 words)

Prompt 3: Briefly describe any educational plans you have beyond earning your bachelor’s degree. (10-50 words)

Prompt 4: What are some of your life goals and objectives? (10-50 words)

Prompt 5: Tips to consider when writing the below essay: Leadership can be demonstrated by positions you hold as an officer in a club/organization, but other types of leadership are important too. Leaders can emerge in various situations at any given time, including outside of school. Share a brief description of the type of leadership qualities you possess, from school and non-school related experiences including leadership in your job, your community, or within your family responsibilities. Then, share how you hope to demonstrate leadership as a member of our campus community.

Describe an example of your leadership. Be sure to describe your actions and the actions of those around you and to explain what you accomplished. (550 words)

All applicants, 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 (750 words).

Notice that you are encouraged to speak about an opportunity or a challenge—this is a classic example of the “Overcoming Challenges” essay . When faced with this prompt, many students believe that they must talk about a tragedy in order to grab the attention of admissions officers, but this isn’t true. An essay can easily be thoughtful, insightful, and an engaging read without utilizing this specific emotional appeal.

Still, stories about difficult circumstances are often memorable. They are most effective when focused primarily on the student’s journey of working through the challenge instead of the challenge itself. 

You’re trying to stand out, so beware of overused tropes like the following:

• Mental illness: It takes enormous strength to heal from and learn to manage a mental illness. Still, they may be tricky to write about. Read our article for more information on covering mental illness and disabilities within your application .
• Getting a bad grade in a class but then working hard to raise it.
• Sports stories such as winning/losing the “big game” or getting injured.
• Death of a pet or family member.
• Mission trip which made you realize how lucky and privileged you are.

Side note: Sometimes students face challenges that are outside of their control and which have negatively impacted their academic and/or extracurricular performance. If this has been your experience, and you don’t want to explain them within this essay response, you may ask one of your recommenders to do so through their letter of recommendation, or explain it in the shorter prompt #4.

Now, there’s no such thing as a “bad” or “good” essay topic; students have gotten into top schools with essays about Costco, pizza deliveries, and sparkling water. It often matters less so what you write about than how you write about it! 

These common essay topics are only doable when well-written, specific, and featuring a fresh take. The story of how fixing your calculus grade taught you the value of hard work is not nearly as interesting as that of a student who is diagnosed with dyscalculia—a disability which creates a difficulty in understanding and working with math and numbers—and then opens up a dyscalculia awareness club with plans to become a special education teacher.

The latter story would demonstrate the student’s ability to turn preconceived weaknesses into strengths, and admissions officers will quickly see that though he may initially struggle with long division, this student is nonetheless a creative problem-solver.

Please be aware that although it is possible to make a “common” topic interesting, it is easier to write about a situation that is unique to begin with. Also, don’t feel pressured to write about a challenge, especially if the situation has happened so recently that you haven’t fully finished processing or growing from it.

With all of this in mind, let’s get into brainstorming! Many people begin their ideation process through writing long lists or even talking into their phones in an untethered stream-of-consciousness. Do whatever it takes to get your creative juices flowing! 

As you reflect, you may consider these questions:

• Which values and skills do you hold closest to your heart? Honesty? Hard work? Clear communication? Diversity? Environmental stewardship? Activism? Where did these priorities come from?
• What are you most grateful for? What are you most proud of? What risks have you taken which have paid off?
• What do you like to do? When and how did you get into it?
• How would your family and friends say you have changed for the better over the years, and why?
• Look back at your list of extracurricular activities. Which ones were challenging and/or special opportunities? When have you tried something new?

Practice self-compassion while considering topics, and know that none are too big or too small. You can write about anything from taking a summer math class (even though you’re more of an English person) to being a camp counselor to giving your first speech in front of a crowd.

Overall, the admissions officers are looking for growth. They want to see the circumstances you turned into opportunities for improvement. You may even reflect upon a situation that initially seemed like an unpleasant challenge but later revealed itself as a hidden opportunity. For example, you may have reluctantly let your friend drag you to a business club meeting before discovering a passion for economics and rising as a club leader.

Ideally, your story will be unique and offer a fresh perspective. Be specific about the challenge or opportunity you were presented with, and think about how it changed you for the better. 

Remember, they are literally asking for you to “tell [them] your story,” so consider using a narrative format, especially if storytelling is a talent of yours. 

Here’s a general outline: 

• If you choose to go with a traditional storytelling format, we recommend beginning with a vivid anecdote featuring rich imagery to draw the reader in or an unexpected premise which makes one have to read on in order to fully understand. 
• From there, you may dive into who you were at the time, how you felt and how you acted, before moving towards your turning point—the challenge or opportunity—from which you decided to grow. 
• Explain how, exactly, the turning point influenced you. Ask yourself: How did it make you feel? Excited and ready for more, or initially anxious? How did it impact you? Perhaps you learned something new about yourself, or maybe now you’re kinder, more confident, or a harder worker. 
• To mix it up a bit, you could even play with sequencing, perhaps starting with a moment of success before reflecting on all of the growth you had to complete to get to that point.

Finally, you are human, so you don’t have to portray yourself as perfect in the end. You are using this essay to talk about what may be one of your greatest strengths or sources of pride, but make sure to stay balanced with a humble tone.

All Applicants, Prompt 2

Describe a life event which you feel has prepared you to be successful in college. (250 words).

This prompt is similar to the first in that it is asking about a life event, but there are two things to note. Firstly, the word limit is quite small, so there is less room for a vivid, image-laden introduction. Secondly, the prompt does not specify challenge or opportunity, so you have more creative freedom in your answer.

Before you begin writing, you should think about the different paths you can take when answering this question:

• Is there a unique event (that you didn’t write about in the first prompt) that has made a substantial impact on how you study, take exams, learn in general, or see a certain aspect of the world (that might have inspired your desired major, if you have one)?
• Besides any unique events, what other occurrences have prepared you for any aspect of college life? The aspects can be academic, interpersonal, career-oriented, social, etc.
• Which of these events are positive and which are negative?
• Based on whether you answered the previous prompt with a challenge or an opportunity, do you want to double down on positive/negative or do you want to have one of each?

One effective way to address this prompt is to think of what you want to major in. If there is a life event that drew you to a specific field, you can discuss how you have looked into this field already and how you are equipped to take classes in it. If you haven’t decided on a major, you can think of skills you have picked up that aren’t necessarily academic but can translate well into being a student.

Examples of some events that helped prepare you for college success include:

• How experiencing a long drought inspired you to study agriculture to explore more sustainable farming practices.
• How deciding to teach yourself ukulele for 3 years straight improved your learning strategies, taught you self-discipline and time management, and encouraged you to be open to new ideas.
• How an internship at a publishing company improved your reading and writing skills, taught you to work collaboratively, and gave you experience working within deadlines. (This can segue into you wanting to study publishing/English, or it can just be used as an example of skill-honing even if you don’t want to study that!)

You have ample opportunity to talk about intriguing and unusual experiences, but as with the first prompt, you should avoid cliché topics unless you are able to add depth to them. For example, you would not want to write about how losing a school baseball game taught you to accept failure.

However, you might be able to spin that kind of story into something more interesting by talking about how you lost that game because you stayed up the night before studying for a physics exam, which ended up revealing to you how much you love physics more than baseball. You could then move into a discussion about how that turning point taught you how to manage time better, how to set priorities better, and what you wanted to pursue in college. Again, be mindful that the word limit is small so you must be succinct.

These supplemental essays are supposed to give an impression of who you are as a person. Don’t be afraid to go outside the boundaries of common, everyday life events if there is something really distinct that you experienced. The questions are intentionally vague to give students elbow room to write something unique if they want to.

All Applicants, Prompt 3

Tell us about the person who has most impacted your life and why. (250 words).

This is a common prompt in essays and interviews , and it can be difficult overwhelming to decide on a role model. Many students default to a parent/sibling for this question, and though that’s a valid choice, it’s extremely common. You can write a good essay with this choice, but it’s harder to stand out. 

If you do decide on a family member, be sure to provide granular detail about how this person impacted your life. While anyone can write about their family members, only you can tell the specific stories of how your family member impacted you. Admissions officers don’t want to hear how caring your mom is; they want to know about the time she gave the scarf off her neck to someone who said they were cold. 

Some other potential people to write about include a teacher or close friend. Some people have teachers who completely changed their outlook on a subject or on learning as a whole. If this describes a teacher you once had, you might be interested in this choice. Be sure to provide detailed examples about the teacher’s personality and/or pedagogy.

Don’t just say, “Mrs. Johnson made me like math.” Describe how she did it and why you like math now. Some people have friends who have completely changed (or even saved) their lives. Often, our closest friends are people we grew up with and know intimately. This deep knowledge of a person and his impact on your life can give you a lot of details to write about.

You might have a community leader (pastor, coach, shopkeeper) who taught you to think beyond your immediate circle and begin to engage with the wider community. This kind of person is another great example of someone outside your nuclear family who influenced your life for the better.

Though there is a plethora of people you can write about, there are a few that you should do your best to avoid , even if they truly have impacted your life:

• Cliché famous historical figures – Abraham Lincoln, Mother Teresa, and Martin Luther King Jr. are all very important figures with highly potent influence all the way to the present day. Unfortunately, they are also written about far too much. 
• Polarizing political figures – It’s hard to keep bias out of the admissions process, so you risk putting off whoever is reading your essay. It’s also not likely that politicians impact your life more than your immediate circle.

As with the previous prompt, be mindful of the lower word limit. You can definitely share 1-3 anecdotes, but you only have 250 words, and you want to spend some of that on reflection.

All Applicants, Prompt 4 (optional)

If there are additional personal challenges, hardships, or opportunities (including covid related experiences) that have shaped or impacted your abilities or academic credentials, which you have not already written about , please note them in the space below. (250 words).

This prompt is optional, and while we typically recommend that you respond to optional prompts, this one is asking about additional info not reflected in your application—so you should only write a response if you truly have something to add. 

Notice that this is very similar to the first prompt, but it’s more focused on hardships and challenges. Unlike the first prompt, this would be a fine space to address any issues in a straightforward manner—you don’t have to worry about coming up with an original topic. Some potential things you can address include divorce, tragedy, financial hardships, family responsibilities, learning disabilities, etc. 

The specification of “COVID related experiences” also allows you to discuss any particular issues you faced due to the pandemic. Since everyone has been going through the pandemic, we only recommend discussing COVID if you had a particularly disruptive experience.

Finally, don’t forget that this prompt also allows you to elaborate on any positive opportunities that shaped your high school career. If you have a unique extracurricular that you haven’t written about yet (beyond the Common App Activities section), you can write about it here. You could also talk about your experience at a leadership program or a mentor you had.

Basically, anything goes, as long as it impacted you significantly, and isn’t addressed properly in the rest of your application.

Scholarship Applicants, Prompt 1

Why have you chosen to apply to texas a&m university (10-50 words).

This prompt is a standard Why This College question, but it’s a bit trickier because of the word limit, which is very short. Your response will need to be streamlined but still meaningful. In just a couple of sentences, you’ll have to explain why you want to attend Texas A&M by showing a strong connection between your interests and the offerings at the university.

One of the most crucial elements to this prompt is the length. It’s restrictively short, so every word matters. In order to fit a worthwhile answer in this word limit, you’ll need to focus on one, perhaps two, concrete reasons for applying.

To begin, think over these questions to plan your response:

• How does Texas A&M align with your academic and career goals?
• What unique aspects of Texas A&M’s culture, community, or values resonate with you?
• What made Texas A&M stand out from other schools you considered?
• What specific programs, clubs, or other opportunities at Texas A&M are most exciting to you? Why?

Of course, in addition to the length, it’ll also be important to demonstrate a personal connection to the university by highlighting something about Texas A&M that aligns with your background or goals. Make sure to avoid generic reasons, like TAMU’s general reputation, location, or size, or anything else that could be applied to many other schools. Be very clear and precise about why you’re drawn to Texas A&M.

Again, because of the word limit, it’s vital that you write concisely and specifically. Pick one main reason, and flesh it out as much as possible within only a couple of sentences. Some examples of what you could write about in this short of a space are below:

• Student A led their robotics club in high school and is excited about the unique leadership opportunities offered by TAMU’s Engineering Honors program. They could write about the university’s focus on leadership development and the Aggie Spirit that fosters collaboration and community support.
• Student B grew up on a ranch and has always had a passion for animal care. They’re drawn to Texas A&M’s top-ranked Animal Science major and the hands-on experiences available through internships and the Small Animal Hospital.
• Student C is passionate about serving their country and is particularly attracted to the strong military tradition at Texas A&M and the Corps of Cadets. They appreciate the school’s dedication to building leaders who prioritize honor and service.

When choosing the reason you plan to write about, ensure that you’re not too vague. Focus on one key element that truly connects to your interests, and be specific about why something appeals to you.

Check out this example to see what a good response might look like: 

“ I’m eager to join the Aggie family and pursue aerospace engineering through Texas A&M’s hands-on labs, like the Oran W. Nicks Low Speed Wind Tunnel, which will let me apply my passion for fluid dynamics to real-world aerospace challenges .”

This answer is specific to Texas A&M’s aerospace engineering program and connects the student’s passion for fluid dynamics to a particular facility at the school. The student shows that they’ve researched the program and know how it will help them achieve their goals and does so in only 40 words.

By focusing on one feature that excites you and connecting it to your personal interests, you can create a compelling and memorable response within the word limit!

Scholarship Applicants, Prompt 2

Why have you chosen your academic major(s) (10-50 words).

This prompt is a standard Why This Major essay, but like Prompt 1, it’s a bit challenging because of the word limit. In 50 words or less, you need to make your response specific, direct, and personal. Texas A&M admissions officers want to understand your motivation for choosing the major, what sparked your interest, and how it aligns with your future goals.

You want to show why you care about this subject and how it relates to your future plans, so try to tie your background or interests to the major. This could be a class you loved, a project you completed, or a personal hobby that connects to your major. Get started with some brainstorming questions:

• When did you first become interested in your major?
• Was there a specific moment, experience, or person that sparked your passion?
• How has this interest evolved over time?
• What goals do you hope to achieve with this major in college and beyond?
• Is there a specific aspect of this field that excites you the most?

With limited space, your answer should avoid being vague or overly general. There’s no room for fluff, so get straight to the point and explain a particular experience, moment, or realization that solidified your interest in the major to demonstrate your passion for the field. 

Let’s take a look at some potential example ideas for responding to this prompt: 

• Student A developed a deep interest in mechanical systems after spending summers in his grandfather’s garage working on cars and building custom bikes. He hopes to explore how engineering can push the boundaries of design and sustainability, working toward eco-friendly innovations in automotive engineering.
• Student B noticed plastic debris strewn across the beaches during a trip to the Texas coastline. That moment sparked a passion for environmental conservation, and she now wants to focus on restoring ecosystems and finding sustainable solutions to environmental challenges through Texas A&M’s environmental studies program.
• Student C’s younger brother has a rare genetic disorder, and growing up watching his treatment process ignited her fascination with medical research. She chose Biomedical Sciences to pursue a career in genetic research, aiming to contribute to advancements that can help families like hers.

In under 50 words, every sentence should serve a purpose. Leave out any unnecessary details that don’t directly contribute to explaining your choice, but make sure to provide insight into your personal connection.

Stay focused on your unique journey to choosing your major. Avoid general statements about the major’s popularity or job prospects—focus on your personal connection to the field. Be as specific as possible, even in this limited word count—one well-chosen example can make all the difference! 

Here’s a good example of effective, concise writing:

“ When my science fair project on 3D-printed prosthetics won first place, I realized the impact biomedical engineering could have on people’s lives. I’m eager to develop affordable, innovative solutions for underserved communities by diving deeper into Texas A&M’s research opportunities in the Biofabrication lab .”

This response is specific, personal, and shows genuine interest in the major. The student ties their interest to a concrete experience (science fair project), explains what excites them about the major, and connects it to future goals (helping underserved communities).

Scholarship Applicants, Prompt 3

Briefly describe any educational plans you have beyond earning your bachelor’s degree. (10-50 words).

This essay prompt asks you to share any educational goals you have beyond your undergraduate studies, such as pursuing a master’s degree, PhD, professional programs, or certifications. If you’re uncertain about your future educational plans, it’s okay to say so—just frame it in a way that shows you’re open to possibilities and growth. Although we encourage you to answer all available prompts, this is one you might choose to skip if you don’t plan to obtain an advanced degree. 

This is a future-focused question that helps admissions understand your long-term academic goals and how driven you are to continue learning. They want to see if you’ve thought beyond your bachelor’s degree and have a vision for where additional education might take you. Consider these questions to help you get an idea of what to write about:

• Are you interested in a specific field of study that requires graduate or professional school (e.g., law, medicine, engineering, business)?
• Do you want to specialize further in your field through graduate education or research?
• Are there certifications or specialized programs that would benefit your long-term goals?
• How will these future educational plans align with your intended career?

Make sure to focus on your post-graduate educational goals, and avoid repeating information you’ve already mentioned elsewhere in your application. Ideally, this answer connects to your career goals, as your future educational plans should align with your intended profession or academic interests. Additionally, mentioning a tangible and achievable goal will be more effective than a vague or overly ambitious one, and again, even if you’re unsure of your exact plans, indicate that you’re committed to continuing your education in some capacity.

This prompt is straightforward, but that doesn’t mean you can afford to be generic. Since you only have 10-50 words, you need to be very clear and concise in explaining your plans. Your response should show that you’ve thought carefully about your future educational goals and should ideally connect to the broader context of your ambitions or career plans. Here are some potential ideas for topics:

• Student A is a political science major with an interest in civil rights and advocacy. After earning their bachelor’s degree, they plan to attend law school to specialize in civil rights law and help marginalized communities.
• Student B is majoring in environmental engineering and wants to pursue a master’s degree to focus on sustainability and renewable energy solutions. This student envisions working on large-scale environmental conservation projects.
• Student C is a history major who wants to pursue a PhD in medieval studies. They hope to become a professor and conduct research on the intersection of religion and politics in medieval Europe.

In this response, don’t be too vague with statements about how you plan to attend grad school – explain why, and for what. Briefly outline what type of education you’re interested in and why. Make sure your future educational plans logically connect to your overall career or academic goals, so your response is cohesive.

Now, let’s take a look at a good example response:

“ I plan to attend medical school to specialize in pediatric neurology. My goal is to contribute to research and provide better treatment options for children with neurological disorders. ”

This response is clear, concise, and shows the student’s specific focus on a medical specialty. It connects their educational plans to a tangible career goal, indicating a deep level of thought and intention. At only about 35 words, it could even stand to be a little longer.

By keeping your response focused, clear, and connected to your future aspirations, you can write a strong, concise answer to Texas A&M’s supplemental prompt on educational plans!

Scholarship Applicants, Prompt 4

What are some of your life goals and objectives (10-50 words).

This prompt is asking you to briefly discuss your life goals and objectives. Like Prompts 1-3, you have very little space at just 10-50 words, so you need to be concise and focused. The key to crafting a strong response is choosing one, possibly two, clear and meaningful goals that are important to you, and showing why they matter in your life.

This is not the place to list everything you want to achieve. Instead, you should give a snapshot of one or two significant goals that reflect your values and aspirations, both personally and professionally. Avoid general, vague statements like “I want to be successful” or “I want to help people” without explaining how. To begin, check out some of these brainstorming questions:

• What are the main personal or professional goals you have in life right now?
• How do these goals reflect your core values or interests?
• What specific steps are you currently taking to achieve these goals?
• What challenges or experiences have influenced these goals?
• How might attending Texas A&M help you achieve these objectives?

Prioritize explaining how the goals reflect your passions, beliefs, or interests with a connection to your personal values. Show how these goals guide your future plans and how they are motivating your actions, and make sure each sentence is clear, impactful, and to the point.

Don’t just say that you want to be successful or have an impact – explain what success means to you and how you want to achieve it. Your goals should reflect something important about who you are. Avoid generic goals that don’t show your individuality. You have very limited space, so focus on one or two major goals rather than trying to fit in everything you want to do. Finally, avoid wasting words on empty phrases like “I hope to make the world a better place” without explaining what that looks like for you.

Some ideas of response topics are below:

• Student A is a prospective biology major interested in public health who wants to become an epidemiologist to combat infectious diseases in underserved communities, inspired by her experiences volunteering at a free health clinic.
• Student B is an engineering student with a passion for sustainability and hopes to create affordable, eco-friendly housing through innovative design and sustainable construction practices, influenced by his high school project that focused on renewable energy.
• Student C’s goal is to become a teacher who advocates for equitable education, especially in underserved communities, after witnessing the achievement gap firsthand in her public school system.

You can use this short response to leave a strong impression on Texas A&M’s admissions committee by focusing on your unique ambitions and being precise in your language. The key is clear, purposeful writing. Let’s take a look at a good example with the proper length:

“ By combining my love for biology and public health, I aim to become a physician focused on global health, addressing healthcare disparities in developing nations. My long-term goal is to build sustainable healthcare solutions in underserved areas .”

This response is specific, focused, and shows clear motivation. The student explains both what they want to do (become a physician focused on global health) and why (address healthcare disparities), while also indicating a long-term goal of creating sustainable healthcare systems.

Scholarship Applicants, Prompt 5

Tips to consider when writing the below essay: leadership can be demonstrated by positions you hold as an officer in a club/organization, but other types of leadership are important too. leaders can emerge in various situations at any given time, including outside of school. share a brief description of the type of leadership qualities you possess, from school and non-school related experiences including leadership in your job, your community, or within your family responsibilities. then, share how you hope to demonstrate leadership as a member of our campus community..

This prompt is a variation of the Extracurricular and Impact on Community/Community Service essay archetypes. It asks you to reflect on your leadership qualities and how you’ve demonstrated them in various aspects of your life, both inside and outside of school. Leadership here isn’t limited to formal positions—Texas A&M wants to see how you’ve taken initiative in unique situations and how you’ve influenced others. They also want to understand how you plan to carry these qualities into the campus community.

Your essay should cover:

• A specific example of a leadership experience (school, job, community, or family)
• Your actions and decisions as a leader and how you influenced the people around you
• What you achieved through your leadership
• How you plan to demonstrate leadership at Texas A&M

It’s also different from the rest of the prompts because of the word limit – this essay can be much longer than the others, so you have a considerable amount of space to work with and are less restricted in your writing.

To help you get started, answer these brainstorming questions:

• What leadership roles have I held formally? (Club president, sports captain, etc.)
• When have I taken initiative even when I didn’t have an official title? (In group projects, family matters, at work)
• How have I positively influenced others?
• Have I led by example in challenging or unexpected situations?
• What obstacles did I face in this leadership experience? How did I overcome them?
• What are my core leadership strengths? (Collaboration, delegation, problem-solving, empathy, communication)
• How can I bring these qualities to Texas A&M’s campus community? In what specific areas or groups could I contribute?

A strong response to this prompt will tell a clear, compelling story. Choose a leadership experience that showcases your unique strengths and impact – it could be a formal leadership role or an informal situation where you stepped up, but focus on your actions. Texas A&M wants to see how you led, not just what your group did. Highlight your specific decisions, challenges you faced, and how you handled them.

Then, show your impact on others: How did your leadership influence or inspire others around you? Did your actions lead to a successful outcome for your team, group, or community? Finally, connect your leadership to A&M: Be specific about how you’ll use your leadership skills on campus. Name organizations, initiatives, or community spaces at Texas A&M that align with your goals.

For some inspiration, look over these hypothetical examples of topics:

• Growing up in a single-parent household, Student A took on family responsibilities at a young age. As the captain of his soccer team, he helped his teammates both on and off the field, organizing study groups for players struggling with academics. At Texas A&M, he hopes to continue fostering a sense of community by mentoring other first-generation college students through the Regents’ Scholars Program.
• Student B led a team of younger workers at her part-time grocery store job. When a major staffing shortage hit, she organized a schedule that ensured coverage and trained new employees. At Texas A&M, she wants to use her organizational skills to take a leadership role in the Student Employment Office, helping fellow working students balance their academic and professional lives.
• As the president of her school’s STEM club, Student C led an outreach initiative that brought hands-on science activities to underfunded local elementary schools. She hopes to continue her passion for outreach by leading the Aggie STEM program at Texas A&M, inspiring young students to pursue careers in science and engineering.

Your topic should not be a cliché leadership example without a unique and personal story behind it. While being a club president or sports captain is impressive, these roles are common. Make sure to add meaningful insight to help your response stand out. Additionally, don’t just state the tasks you completed as a leader—reflect on why those tasks mattered, what you learned, and how they changed the people or situation around you.

It’s also important to show how you worked with others, but don’t forget that the essay should emphasize your role as a leader. What did you do to make things happen? For the TAMU aspect of your essay, avoid vague statements like “I hope to lead in the Texas A&M community.” Be specific about which areas or organizations you’ll contribute to and how you’ll apply your leadership skills.

Let’s go over a good example response.

“ As my younger sister sat across from me at the kitchen table, her eyes wide with confusion over her math homework, I realized something needed to change. As the oldest of four kids, I had always helped out with household tasks, but this was different. With my parents working two jobs, my siblings were falling behind in school. I knew I had to take on a more active role. I organized daily tutoring sessions, setting up a rotating schedule with other older students in the neighborhood to help younger kids with their schoolwork. Over time, I saw my sister’s confidence grow as she started to grasp the concepts. The biggest reward came when she passed her math exam with flying colors.

At Texas A&M, I’m eager to continue mentoring others. The Aggie Homework Helpline, which offers virtual tutoring, is a perfect opportunity to give back and help students facing academic struggles, just like my sister. I can’t wait to contribute to this program and bring the same dedication to helping others that I brought to my family .”

This example tells a personal story of leadership that isn’t tied to a formal role but shows significant initiative. The writer highlights their impact on others and draws a direct connection to a specific program at Texas A&M.

By following these strategies and examples, you can craft an essay that showcases your unique leadership qualities and demonstrates how you’ll contribute meaningfully to the Texas A&M community. Good luck!

Where to Get Your Texas A&M University Essays Edited For Free

Want feedback on your Texas A&M University essays to improve your chances at admission? When you’ve proofread your essay a dozen times, it can be hard to even spot where there’s room for improvement. That’s why we’ve created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also sharpen your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays!

Need feedback faster? Get a  free, nearly-instantaneous essay review  from Sage, our AI tutor and advisor. Sage will rate your essay, give you suggestions for improvement, and summarize what admissions officers would take away from your writing. Use these tools to improve your chances of acceptance to your dream school!

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

College Readiness

Freshman student resources.

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

• Answer the question.

Your essay shouldn’t be a complete autobiography. Instead, it should use a specific instance to answer the question and reveal more about your unique personality. Be sure your essay doesn’t repeat things listed elsewhere on the application. Do more than recount the experience, explain how it changed or impacted you.

• Be authentic.

Your writing style should match your personality. If you’re an outgoing, spunky person, your essay shouldn’t be stiff and super formal. At the same time, remember your audience and avoid using terminology that only teenagers would understand. Make sure your writing is natural (no thesaurus necessary).

• Be detailed.

Essay topics are generally broad, but your response should be specific.  Focus on details that set you apart. Your essay should highlight that uniqueness and how you’ll be an asset to the university.

• Proofread your essay.

Check your essay for grammatical errors. Run a spellcheck and then proofread it again. Ask a teacher or counselor to read your essay as well.

College Fairs

A college fair is an event where recruiters from different universities present information about their schools. Whether you’re early in your college search or have a specific question for your dream school, this is a great opportunity to talk to recruiters with first-hand knowledge. Follow these tips to stand out at your next college fair!

• Find out which colleges are attending the fair and research them beforehand. Having prior knowledge about a school shows you’re interested. Some colleges consider interest an important part of the admissions process.
• Ask questions that can’t be answered by the college’s website. What is the best dorm? Which majors are most popular? Leave the fair knowing something you didn’t know before.
• Take the initiative and introduce yourself to recruiters. Standing face-to-face with a college rep allows you to go beyond general inquiries — you can ask questions that are unique to your circumstances. These answers help narrow down your college options.
• Jot down your impressions of different colleges. Taking notes is a good active listening skill to learn and will be useful later when choosing which schools to apply to.
• Some fairs offer additional information sessions on specific topics like financial aid, scholarships, admissions essays, etc. These sessions are opportunities to hear from the admissions office and gather more information about certain programs.

Visit Campus

Most students apply to as many as 12 colleges and visit a majority of those. Visiting a large campus (like Texas A&M’s 5,200 acres) can be daunting and the colleges you visit might run together. We’ve put together some tips to help you keep track of your touring process:

• Schedule your visit while school is in session. Choose a date that allows you to get a realistic idea of student life.
• No one knows campus better than current students. Ask students at the next table or sitting on a nearby bench what they like best about the college or what they like best about being in college in general.
• In addition to the guided campus tour, wander around campus. If there are any facilities that are important to you, find them and have a look for yourself. Make sure you visit the library and the freshman dorms.
• School newspapers highlight issues that students consider important and give you an idea of the campus culture. Texas A&M’s student newspaper is The Battalion, and it was started in 1893.
• Keep track of the details you like and don't like from your visit. What did you see that excited you? Can you imagine staying in the school’s dorms? The answers to these questions can help narrow down your college options.

Schedule a visit today!

Keeping Up with Your Accomplishments

The college admissions process relies heavily on what accomplishments you report. Academic awards, community service, student organizations and more can all look great on a college application. But what should go on and what shouldn’t?

• Be sure to list organizations you’re heavily involved in. It’s better to have a major impact on a few organizations than minimal involvement in several organizations.
• Highlight times you’ve been a leader or shown initiative. Universities like students who arrive on campus ready to lead clubs and organizations.
• Include your characteristics that will contribute to a diverse and unique student body. Texas A&M seeks to enroll students with different geographic, cultural, political and economic backgrounds.
• Let us know what unique skills you will bring to campus and how they’ll add value to the student body.
• If you’re active in the community, we want to know about it. This includes work, community service, youth organizations, religious groups, reading clubs, etc.

Application Tips

Prospective students should apply using the  Common App . Students may also apply through ApplyTexas. The application you choose will not affect your admission decision. Only one application per student.

• Describe a life event which you feel has prepared you to be successful in college.
• Tell us about the person who has most impacted your life and why.
• If there are additional personal challenges, hardships, or opportunities (including COVID related experiences) that have shaped or impacted your abilities or academic credentials, which you have not already written about , please note them in the space below.
• Check the college website for deadlines and plan to complete your essays and forms a few weeks before they’re required. Mark these earlier deadlines on your calendar and don’t miss them.
• In addition to thoroughly proofreading your essay, check your entire application for grammatical errors before submitting it. Save your application, put it aside for a day and then check it over again for errors. If you can, have a teacher or parent proofread it as well.
• Make a copy of each piece of your application. Save personal identification numbers, passwords and notes or emails from admission officers. This documentation can save you if a problem arises with your application.
• Anything that needs to be mailed, including your application itself, should be sent in several weeks before it is due. This allows time for delivery and processing. You should also take required admissions tests well in advance in case you don’t earn a qualifying score the first time you take them.
• The Applicant Information System (AIS) offers you access to view the status of your admissions application at all stages of the process, from application receipt through display of the final decision. You will gain access once your application is received and processed. AIS can be accessed via the Applicant tab .

Test-Optional Admissions

SAT and/or ACT scores are not required to complete an admission file. Students are encouraged to continue to submit standardized test scores to help satisfy TSI requirements if admitted. Submission of tests scores will not create any unfair advantage or disadvantage for those students who provide them.

Test-Optional FAQs

Does Texas A&M require SAT and/or ACT scores?

Freshman applicants are not required to provide test scores to complete their admission file.

What does it mean to be “Test Optional?”

Test optional means that you are not required to provide SAT and/or ACT scores to the university as part of your admission file.

Does Texas A&M prefer that I provide test scores?

Texas A&M encourages you to send your test scores if you have them. Test scores will only be used to benefit you in the admission process. You will not be penalized for low test scores or no test scores.

Will it benefit me to provide test scores?

Submitting tests scores will provide additional information with respect to your academics and can be used to satisfy TSI requirements if admitted.

Will I be penalized if I provide low test scores?

No. Low test scores will not disadvantage you or make you less competitive in the review process.

If I have several test scores, will you super score?

No. Texas A&M does not super score.

Will I be penalized if I don’t take the test?

No. You will not be penalized in the admission process if you choose not to take the SAT or ACT.

If I don’t provide test scores, what will you look at?

All academic factors will be considered as part of the holistic review of your admission file.

I’m a home-schooled student, do I have to provide test scores?

No. Freshman applicants are not required to submit test scores.

I’m a home-schooled student and don’t take the test, how will you assign my rank?

Your class rank will be assigned using all academic factors provided as part of your admissions file.

Will this policy stay in place all year?

Yes.  This policy is in place all year and the foreseeable future.

Will subject tests be considered now?

No. Subject test scores will not be used in place of traditional SAT or ACT scores for admission purposes.

Do my scores have to be submitted through the testing agency or will you take them off my high school transcript?

Test scores must be provided to us directly from the testing agency.

If test scores are removed from the equation, how will holistic review work?

We will consider all academic and non-academic factors you provide as part of your admission file.

What is the last date I can take the SAT or ACT and still have it considered as part of my admission file?

Due to recent SAT and ACT scheduling issues, we will accept December test scores as part of your admission file. You should request scores to be sent to us at the time of testing. We must receive your December test scores by December 15 for consideration.

Fee Waivers

Freshman students who qualify for a fee waiver will be able to certify their eligibility on the ApplyTexas application. Additional documentation may be required upon request.    Transfer students requesting a fee waiver must provide a copy of an award letter from the current institution showing a Pell Grant was awarded or a copy of the Student Aid Report (SAR) found within a current FAFSA. The information shown in the SAR will be reviewed to determine eligibility for a waiver. Checking the fee waiver box on the application will not satisfy the fee waiver requirement. The award letter or SAR may be uploaded through the Applicant Information System (AIS) or sent by mail.

High School Coursework

Texas a&m university’s recommended coursework includes:.

• 4 years of English 
• 4 years of Mathematics - Three of the courses should be Algebra I, II and Geometry 
• 4 years of Science - Two courses should come from Biology I, Chemistry I or Physics I
• 2 years of the same foreign language 

You may earn credit at Texas A&M from the following exams:

• Advanced Placement (AP) SAT subject tests International Baccalaureate (IB) program

Dual Credit and Early College High Schools

College coursework completed prior to high school graduation:

• Students with more than 40 hours cannot be admitted to Blinn TEAM or Gateway .
• You should choose courses that match your major. Degree plans are available in the Texas A&M University Undergraduate Catalog .

Texas A&M University

• Cost & scholarships
• Essay prompt

Want to see your chances of admission at Texas A&M University?

We take every aspect of your personal profile into consideration when calculating your admissions chances.

Texas A&M University’s 2024-25 Essay Prompts

Life event short response.

Describe a life event which you feel has prepared you to be successful in college.

Overcoming Challenges Short Response

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

Important Person Short Response

Tell us about the person who has most impacted your life and why.

COVID Impact Short Response

If there are additional personal challenges, hardships, or opportunities (including COVID related experiences) that have shaped or impacted your abilities or academic credentials, which you have not already written about, please note them in the space below.

Scholarship Essay

Tips to consider when writing the below essay: Leadership can be demonstrated by positions you hold as an officer in a club/organization, but other types of leadership are important too. Leaders can emerge in various situations at any given time, including outside of school. Share a brief description of the type of leadership qualities you possess, from school and non-school related experiences including leadership in your job, your community, or within your family responsibilities. Then, share how you hope to demonstrate leadership as a member of our campus community.

Describe an example of your leadership. Be sure to describe your actions and the actions of those around you and to explain what you accomplished.

Scholarship Short Response 1

Why have you chosen to apply to Texas A&M University?

Scholarship Short Response 2

Why have you chosen your academic major(s)?

Scholarship Short Response 3

Briefly describe any educational plans you have beyond earning your bachelor’s degree.

Scholarship Short Response 4

What are some of your life goals and objectives?

What will first-time readers think of your college essay?

Texas A&M University 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Regular Decision: 

Regular Decision Deadline: Dec 1

You Have: 

Texas A&M University 2024-25 Application Essay Question Explanation

The Requirements: Two required essays of 250 words each; one optional essay of 250 words

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Oddball , Additional Information

Describe a life event which you feel has prepared you to be successful in college. (250 words)

This prompt is incredibly vague, which is kinda awesome because it sets you up to talk about almost anything you want. Which life event has sparked personal growth? What do you think it takes to be successful and how do you embody those qualities? Maybe a parent’s fragile health situation challenged you to take on more responsibilities than the average teenager, preparing you for the hard work ahead. Or perhaps you learned to love your football team’s playback sessions, as they forced you to routinely examine your mistakes, welcome constructive criticism, and guide you toward self-improvement. Whatever story you choose to tell, be sure to infuse it with personal details that no one else could include in their essay.

Tell us about the person who has most impacted your life and why. (250 words)

Who is the first person to come to mind when you read this prompt? The person you write about can be someone in your immediate circle, larger network, or on the world stage. Remember that the person you choose is going to say a lot about what you value and respect in others. Maybe an adult in your life has served as a mentor and role model for you, or perhaps the person who has impacted you most is a close friend and confidant. Once you identify the person you’d like to write about, be sure to summarize who they are to you, how they have impacted your life, and how you’ve changed as a result of knowing them.

If there are additional personal challenges, hardships, or opportunities (including COVID related experiences) that have shaped or impacted your abilities or academic credentials, which you have not already written about, please note them in the space below. (250 words)

Let us start by saying: this prompt is not for everyone. If your GPA has not dramatically increased or decreased during your high school career, move along. If, on the other hand, you’re thinking, “Yes! An opportunity for me to explain!” then read on.  Your transcripts are like Garfield Minus Garfield . Sure, we can see that something’s changed from frame to frame, but we don’t know why. Grades need context. Admissions doesn’t know why or how things happened—good or bad—so ake a look at your grades and note any anomalies or odd jumps/drops. Think back to that time in your life and tell your story. Maybe your family struggled with financial instability or the loss of a loved one. Maybe you started meeting virtually with a tutor and climbed from a fall semester C in geometry to a spring semester A. No matter your story, you are not alone in your journey of ups and downs—high school is a veritable war zone of distractions and possibilities. And, remember, everyone loves a comeback. 

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How to Write the Texas A&M Supplemental Essays: Examples + Guide 2024/2025

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction.

• What are the Texas A&M supplemental essay prompts?
• How to write each supplemental essay prompt for Texas A&M
• Prompt #1: Personal essay
• Prompt #2: "Life event" essay
• Prompt #3: "Impactful person" essay
• Prompt #4: Optional additional information essay

Located in aptly named College Station, Texas, A&M University has evolved significantly since its founding nearly 150 years ago. The Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas was originally formed to teach military tactics and the agricultural and mechanical arts (the A&M in the school’s name is a symbolic nod to this past), alongside traditional classical and scientific studies. 

Today, Texas A&M is a premier research facility with the triple distinction of holding land-, sea- and space-grant designations, while its Corps of Cadets is the largest uniformed body outside the national service academies.  

Although Texas A&M is rooted in tradition, it’s by no means stuck there. Its long-term vision focuses on four pillars: transformational education; discovery and innovation; impact on state, nation, and world; and university as a community. Understanding this vision can help you write essays that reflect those same morals and values.

For deeper insights into these pillars and how this public university envisions fostering long-term student success and making a global impact, read through its strategic plan and vision for the decade ahead . And to get a better understanding of what Texas A&M is looking for in its Aggies, a by-the-numbers look at its offerings, from enrollment and tuition statistics to student life and financial aid information, is available on its Common Data Set . 

Note: Texas A&M accepts applications via the Common App and ApplyTexas . It’s worth pointing out that the maximum word counts for A&M’s supplemental responses vary based on which application portal you’re using. We’ve noted the word counts for both portals below

What are the Texas A&M University supplemental essay prompts?

Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today? (Required, 10-750 words for Common App, 9,600 characters max for ApplyTexas portal)

Describe a life event which you feel has prepared you to be successful in college. (Required, 10-250 words for Common App; for ApplyTexas portal “As the name indicates, responses should be short and concise. Typical length ranges from a few sentences to a paragraph.”)

Tell us about the person who has most impacted your life and why. (Required, 10-250 words for Common App; for ApplyTexas portal “As the name indicates, responses should be short and concise. Typical length ranges from a few sentences to a paragraph.”)

Optional: If there are additional personal challenges, hardships, or opportunities (including COVID related experiences) that have shaped or impacted your abilities or academic credentials, which you have not already written about , please note them in the space below. (250 words for Common App; for ApplyTexas portal “As the name indicates, responses should be short and concise. Typical length ranges from a few sentences to a paragraph.”)

How to write each Supplemental Essay Prompt for Texas A&M University

How to write texas a&m supplemental 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? (Required, 10-750 words for Common App; 9,600 characters max for ApplyTexas portal)

Essay prompts don’t get more open-ended than this. While it may seem overwhelming to have such a broad prompt, it’s actually an amazing opportunity. You now have the latitude to share with A&M something about who you are beyond your grades and test scores. 

If you’re applying to other colleges using the Common Application or Coalition Application and think you need to write a second personal statement for A&M to match this prompt, don’t panic . Here’s some valuable advice for you: Choose a subject for this essay that can also answer a prompt for other schools on the Common App (which sets a max limit of 650 words) and/or Coalition Application (which suggests but doesn’t strictly limit your essay to 500-650 words).

If you’re applying to A&M through ApplyTexas, they suggest this Topic A essay be 500-750 words , but that’s just a suggestion—you won’t be penalized in any way for going over (or under) that suggested word budget. Things are a little different if you’re applying through the Common App: Your maximum word count is 750, and you’ll paste your Topic A essay into the A&M Questions section of the Common App. You’ll want to not also submit your Common App personal statement when you’re asked if you want to include it or not (A&M won’t consider it, and it’s likely the same essay as your Topic A anyway).

In either case, we recommend you spend only the number of words necessary to tell your story in a concise, complete, and compelling manner, without going to extremes one way or another.

We know that you’re thinking. “Can I really use the same essay for all three application portals?”

All the prompts for these application systems are so broad and open-ended that you can pretty much write about any topic (well, almost any ). But, more importantly, by focusing on writing one main essay for three application types, you can spend more time drafting and revising it so that it’s really, really great. #efficiency

“But what if I’m not applying to other schools using the Coalition Application or Common App?

Then write your deepest story. 

What do we mean by that?

There’s so much to say about writing your personal statement that we’ve created an entire step-by-step video course . Oh, and it’s pay-what-you-can. :) But if you want the short version, check out this free, one-hour guide . It covers the three core parts of writing a great college essay: brainstorming your topic, structuring your essay, and revising it to make sure it’s doing its job.

This essay, written for the University of Texas at Austin, does a great job at answering this Topic A prompt.

I am fascinated by the ways that microscopic biomolecules like proteins, fats, sugars, and nucleic acids come together to create an incomprehensibly complex organism. The systems of the body are vast and intricate, and yet, one tiny mistake can be the difference between health and disease. Biology is about searching for that one small missing piece, the single A out of 3 billion, swapped with a T, that can mean the difference between normal hemoglobin and single-cell anemia, a disease that comes with a lifetime of complications. From the little boy hunched over his science kit to labs in AP Bio, my search for that special missing piece has continued to drive me down the many important avenues of my life. My mom signed me up for my first acting class when I was 4, and I jumped right into my role as a male Glinda the Good Witch, complete with sparkly pants and vest. I was hooked. On the day of the show, racked with nerves, I stood in front of the crowd of parents as I did my best to remember what seemed like a bajillion lines. I fell in love with the cheers of proud parents and bored siblings. Afterwards, I ran over to my parents and begged them to sign me up for another show. Although my initial performance was not exactly what one would call moving, as I grew, so did my dedication to discovering how to portray a realistic emotional arc of a complex character. Acting, to me, is about finding the missing, hidden piece and unlocking the mystery of a character's dreams and motivations. Another mystery I’ve come to marvel at is the complex, intricate ways that numbers can model situations. I love looking at a confusing question, seemingly unrelated to anything I’ve learned, and stripping it down to its basic concepts. For example, the limit as x approaches 1 of (4(-2+x)-4)/(x-1) is just asking for the slope of the line y=4x-8, where x is -1. From Algebra I to AP Statistics and AP Calculus BC, math has become a game, as I scavenge for the missing pieces that can turn a dataset of 100 heights into the probability that a randomly selected person is 5-feet tall. When I discovered the world of politics, I became engrossed in the moral dilemmas, ethical trade-offs, and the profound effects the people we elect can have on society. I watched with disgust as same-sex couples were denied the right to marry, migrants were locked in cages, cops shot unarmed Americans, and mass shooters massacred hundreds while politicians offered little more than “thoughts and prayers.” Searching for the missing pieces of justice, I have turned my outrage into action—organizing and attending protests, educating friends and family on current issues like climate change and presidential abuse of power, and leading a voter registration campaign at my high school. From the newsie Davey's righteous anger, to the DNA double-helix, to local linearization, to gun reform, my search for the missing pieces in the world around me comes together to assemble a portrait of the person I am today. But, like the world around me, my portrait is still missing pieces, especially when I try to sort out the puzzle of my future career. Will I be a lawyer, crafting complex arguments, defending the civil liberties of the neglected and abused? Or a lawmaker, working to create a more just system of laws that benefit the masses, not just the top one percent? I’m not sure, but one thing’s for certain: My search for the missing pieces of my life has taught me to look beyond the easy, obvious answers, and instead work to devise multifaceted solutions to intricate world problems. As I continue my quest, the question is: What other pieces will I find along the way? (643 words) — — —

Tips + Analysis

Look for unusual connections. Remember that admission officers want to see the unique sides of you that don’t come through in the four corners of your application. This student takes a potentially simple theme—missing pieces—and uses it to show dramatically different sides of himself: acting, math, politics, and biology. The result? We walk away with a better understanding of who this student is and how he’ll contribute to a college campus.

Showcase your knowledge. It’s perfectly OK to show you know what you’re talking about when it comes to your favorite subject. But there’s a way to do it without losing your reader in complex lingo. This student is obviously well-versed in biology and math, yet he weaves slightly technical explanations of the biological component of hemoglobin and the limit of X in a conversational way that displays genuine curiosity and interest without over-jargoning the essay.

Don’t be afraid to have fun. It’s easy to think your personal statement has to be super-serious and to the point. After all, your future is at stake here, right? But we’re confident in saying schools are also looking for students who enjoy life, seize opportunities, and have a sense of humor about the things life throws at them. This student shows he’s well-rounded by balancing the serious topics of migrants’ rights and LGBTQIA+ equality with the descriptive visuals of him as “Glinda the Good Witch, complete with sparkly pants and vest.”

End with a clear “So what?” This student takes the opportunity at the end of his essay to restate his theme about searching for missing pieces. And then he leaves us with a takeaway—a “So what?” moment that demonstrates he’s still just as curious as ever: “But, like the world around me, my portrait is still missing pieces, especially when I try to sort out the puzzle of my future career.”

how to write Texas A&M Supplemental Essay Prompt #2

You might panic at the two different (like, really different) word counts for the same essays in the different portals. But let’s take a deep breath together first. Inhale. Exhale. Better? 

Your response can be a few sentences to a few paragraphs, depending on what you have to say about the topic, but we’d generally recommend you use a good portion of the possible word count, since these essays are an opportunity to show the school who you are and what you bring to the community.

Here are some tips on brainstorming and writing your response:

Help your reader see your life. Be sure to focus on specific details that respond to the prompt, but also be reflective. How have you changed because of this event? What did it teach you about yourself or the world? How is your perspective different than it was before? How have your values been shaped?

Focus on growth. Your response doesn’t need to be all sunshine and roses and puppy kisses. But your readers are generally more interested in the actions you took in response to an event and what you learned from it than they are in the event itself—show us the transformation you went through and the insight you gained. 

Aim for less common. Stories like a sports injury or winning/losing the big game tend to appear in a lot of essays. That doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t use them—but it’s way harder to write them in a way that shows how you’re different from other applicants. Your event/experience doesn’t have to be truly unique—cause it’s rare for that to exist—but aim for that end of the spectrum. What are some experiences in your life that shaped you in powerful ways and that your peers probably don’t have really similar versions of?

While we don’t have an A&M-specific sample to share, here’s a sample essay for a similar prompt from UT-Austin, with analysis.

As Co-Head of Roman2Roman, a program intended to help integrate incoming ninth-graders into my school community, I have become a creative, open-minded, and empathetic leader by understanding the dynamics of communication and responsibility.  From leading bi-weekly committee meetings to pairing 135 freshmen with older mentors, coordinating with administrators, planning and orchestrating events for 350 people, and finding unique ways to involve the greater community, my role in the R2R program has equipped me with managerial skills that will be helpful in college and beyond.  As a result of my leadership experience, I was selected to be Co-Head of The Student Service Learning Board. In this role, I organized successful food, clothing, and book drives, in addition to planning meal-packing projects for the homeless, card-design activities for veterans, and beach clean-ups to support local parks, all of which involved participants ages K-12. Within my family’s Farm Foundation, I also assumed leadership responsibilities as I coordinated our annual Thanksgiving meal donation at the local fire station which entailed fundraising, communications, purchasing, packaging, and operations.  As a Longhorn, I hope to expand my leadership opportunities and make a lasting impact on the UT community. Through establishing meaningful connections among R2R members, and understanding the importance of an inclusive community, I am interested in getting involved with The Transfer Student Agency of Student Government as a way to help incoming transfer students integrate into the UT community. I’d love to participate in The McCombs Leadership Program to hone my leadership skills through retreats and workshops focusing on cooperation, communication, and contributions to society. Hunger and Homelessness Outreach would also be an ideal opportunity for me to continue my leadership and service and utilize my experiences on the SSLB and my family’s farm foundation to organize volunteer opportunities to aid members of the Austin community. — — —

Think beyond extracurriculars. While it seems logical to connect an extracurricular activity in your response, and you can definitely do so, don’t feel like that’s the only way to answer this question. Much like the Topic A prompt, this “life event” topic is deliberately broad. Unlike the Topic A prompt however, you’re given license to even pull events from beyond the high school-era you. Even so, we recommend you …

Make connections beyond the single life event. Whether your meaningful life event happened during high school or earlier, it’s important to show how you’ve implemented the lessons learned from that event into your life today. So while the student in the example above initially is detailing their experience of Roman2Roman, they list several examples of how that opportunity at leadership helped them develop far more than simple leadership skills—enabling them to strengthen managerial, planning, and collaboration skills that will help ensure their success in college.  

Consider connecting your growth with future opportunities at A&M. While the prompt doesn’t specifically ask about how you’ll continue these interests at college (just how they’ll help you be successful there), some clear tie-ins will help solidify your expression of interest. In the example above, after demonstrating their leadership skills developed during high school, the student shows that they’ve considered how they’ll continue to build on leadership by participating in the McCombs Leadership Program and Hunger and Homelessness Outreach, among others.

And here’s another essay, also written for UT-Austin, that could work well for this prompt.

Sitting at my desk, a rainy day in quarantine, an email arrived from a teacher: Would I join the GSS fellowship? My school’s Global Seminar Series developed out of a realization that in a time of limited connection, we could harness technology for high school girls from Tanzania to Thailand to Texas to learn about and collaborate on addressing global issues.  As a Fellow, I work with school administration to cultivate a network connecting 200+ students from 19+ countries to leaders in fields such as STEM, Business, and Government/Non-profit organizations. Throughout 16 seminars, our goal is to inspire our participants and support them as changemakers.  During the week, my responsibilities are planning based: brainstorming, content and resource development, and speaker outreach. During the seminars, I cultivate conversation and make sure everything runs smoothly. Saturdays, when the seminars happen, are my favorite, especially once they are over and students stay on the Zoom to chat (we’re going to start holding a mid-week connection session to facilitate more of this!).  One Zoominar explored the intersection of medicine and technology in the pandemic. Doctors and healthcare workers from CT to South Africa spoke of measurable and meaningful benefits of cross-boundary and cross-sector collaboration made possible by Zoom, Teams, and Azure. Moderating our panel discussion, I was struck by the vastness over which technology supports us, despite COVID imposing geographic limitations.  Later in the session, as I facilitated smaller discussions with students in breakout rooms, I wondered if, perhaps, the silver lining of COVID is knowing that when we thoughtfully utilize technology, developing a global community, we can foster otherwise impossible progress. I hope to continue developing community in order to foster innovation.  — — —

how to write Texas A&M Supplemental Essay Prompt #3

While this might seem like a pretty straightforward prompt, appearances can be a little deceiving. Many students take this prompt at face value, writing 250 words solely on the person who’s most impacted them and why they’ve been so influential. And while we’re thrilled that you’ve got someone in your life you can write so effusively about, don’t forget the purpose of these essays: for your readers to learn something new about you that will help you get a “yes” from admission officers. 

As great and impactful as Grandpa Fred or Coach Burns is, A&M isn’t considering them for admission. They’re considering you. So give the admission officers what they want: insight on how this person has impacted you so much that you now exemplify the values, skills, and characteristics they’ve taught you.

In short: Make sure you’re still the main character of your essay.

The essay below, while written for another school, shows one way to successfully approach this prompt. 

When I met Bella, my ears didn’t work. I could hear, but not listen. When I conversed with friends, we were in our own universes. There was little empathy, just interruptions and distractions. And because nobody around me seemed to have the desire to listen, I gave up on it too. From the moment Bella and I were crowned co-winners of a middle-school cup-stacking competition, each winning half of a coveted cookie cake, things changed. I soon realized how perceptive Bella was to people’s feelings.  Our chats morphed into meaningful conversations and fits of laughter. She was the first friend I came out to as bi. After telling her, I waited nervously for the uncomfortable acceptance and frantic search for other conversation topics. But instead, she looked me in the eye and said she loved me no matter who I loved. Then, she asked curious questions rather than trying to ignore my identity. And I was there for Bella too. When she told me about the emotional distance she felt growing up far away from her dad who lives in South Korea, I supported her, not trivializing her pain with dismissive reassurances. Since our cup-stacking battle, we’ve been strong for each other. Bella unplugged my ears. That’s why she was the first person I interviewed for my podcast, Portraits, about people in my life. I know that as an empathetic listener, I am more vulnerable now, but, thanks to Bella, I understand how to communicate love. (246 words)  — — —

Find a balance. Yes, we want to hear about that person who impacted you—you can’t write this essay without talking about them. But as we mentioned above, that’s only part of the story. The (much) bigger part is how you’re different now because of that person. While we learn a bit about Bella in the essay above, we learn even more about the author and how she’s different because of Bella’s influence: She’s a more empathetic listener. More vulnerable. A better communicator. 

Consider the obscure. Your mom. Malala Yousafzai. Your basketball coach. Taylor Swift. All are important and relevant, but as an essay topic, they might be a little too common and make it harder for you to stand out. But what about the 5’0” basketball player on your team who taught you a lesson in overcoming obstacles? Or how a not-super-well-known character in your favorite novel changed your worldview in some meaningful way? These more obscure topics can be just as (sometimes even more) impactful than those topics making headlines.

Show, don’t tell . If you’ve read other College Essay Guy material, you already know we’re big on showing versus telling. We’ve got a great blog about it here , but here’s the TL;DR: If you’re trying to demonstrate that you’ve learned the importance of creative problem-solving, then show the reader specific examples of how you’ve taken that lesson and applied it to your real life. The student in the example above shows her improvement in listening by giving specific examples, like how she supported Bella in meaningful ways as she talked about her father.

how to write Texas A&M Supplemental Essay Prompt #4

Optional: If there are additional personal challenges, hardships, or opportunities (including COVID related experiences) that have shaped or impacted your abilities or academic credentials, which you have not already written about, please note them in the space below. (Max. 250 words for the Common App; for ApplyTexas portal “As the name indicates, responses should be short and concise. Typical length ranges from a few sentences to a paragraph.”)

If you’ve already filled out your Common App, this might sound like a familiar question. And that’s great news for your typing-weary fingers! If you’re using the Common App for your A&M application and you’ve already completed the Additional Information and COVID responses, you can leave this blank. If you’re using ApplyTexas to submit your application , you can use your same answer for this question as you’ve done on the Common App. 

And if you haven’t gotten started on either, here are our can’t-miss tips.

Resist the urge to use the whole word count. Instead, use only the space needed to say what you need to say. No more, no less. This is especially true if you’re completing this prompt for the Common App, where you’ve likely already completed responses to the COVID-19 and Additional Information sections and you can’t think of what on earth more you could possibly write about. Which brings us to …

Say something new. Don’t repeat things you’ve already included elsewhere in your application. This would be the place to explain how the lack of Wifi impacted your grades during remote learning or to add important details about the nonprofit organization you started that didn’t fit in your activities list. If you’re not sure what to include, head over to our guides on How to Use the Common App Additional Information Section and How to Write About Coronavirus/COVID-19 in Your College Essay & Application.

Don’t feel obligated to fill it out at all. This section is optional (really!). So don’t feel like you have  to write something just because there’s space there. You want to add value to your application, not empty words. Little frustrates (and bores) an admission officer more than reading a whole lot of nada.

Special thanks to Julia for writing this post

Julia published her first “book” on the elusive Pika in elementary school and has been writing fervently ever since. She’s thrilled to unite her quirky love of grammar and master’s in psychology to help students tell their most meaningful stories. Her favorite punctuation mark is the apostrophe because, in the words of Imagine Dragons, it’s “a symbol to remind you that there’s more to see.”

Top values: Collaboration | Family | Productivity

Want advice on dozens of other supplemental essays? Click here

Texas A&M University Supplemental Essay Prompts 2024-2025

Students applying to Texas A&M University can use either the Common App or ApplyTexas . The application you choose will not affect your admission decision, but only one application per student is allowed. Therefore, select the option that best suits your needs between the two. Essays should be submitted as part of the application or uploaded in the Applicant Information System (AIS) .

Essay Prompts

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

Word Limit: 750 

Prompt: Describe a life event which you feel has prepared you to be successful in college.

Word Limit: 250

Prompt: Tell us about the person who has most impacted your life and why.

Prompt: If there are additional personal challenges, hardships, or opportunities (including COVID related experiences) that have shaped or impacted your abilities or academic credentials, which you have not already written about, please note them in the space below.

Curious about what factors Texas A&M values in applicants?

Explore texas a&m university admissions statistics , free masterclass, the top school admissions formula.

Table of Contents

How to get off the college waitlist with a letter of continued interest, what the court’s ruling on affirmative action means for students applying to university, what stanford looks for in applicants: what you need to know to stand out, is stanford still committed to diversity after the 2023 supreme court ruling, how race influences stanford university admissions: everything you need to know (2024 update).

• UNC-Chapel Hill: Admission Statistics 2024
• Duke: Admission Statistics 2024
• Ohio State: Admission Statistics 2024
• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: Admission Statistics 2024
• University of Washington: Admission Statistics 2024
• Northwestern University: Admission Statistics 2024
• University of Connecticut: Admission Statistics 2024
• Purdue University: Admission Statistics 2024
• Villanova University: Admission Statistics 2024
• Georgia Institute of Technology: Admission Statistics 2024
• MIT: Admission Statistics 2024
• North Carolina State: Admission Statistics 2024
• UC Santa Barbara: Admission Statistics 2024
• Lehigh: Admission Statistics 2024
• Boston University: Admission Statistics 2024
• University of Florida: Admission Statistics 2024
• Virginia Tech: Admission Statistics 2024
• Florida State: Admission Statistics 2024
• Carnegie Mellon: Admission Statistics 2024
• Rutgers University - New Brunswick: Admission Statistics 2024
• Brandeis: Admission Statistics 2024
• Boston College: Admission Statistics 2024
• Wake Forest: Admission Statistics 2024
• Michigan State: Admission Statistics 2024
• University of Pittsburgh: Admission Statistics 2024
• UC Berkeley: Admission Statistics 2024
• University of Michigan: Admission Statistics 2024
• UT Austin: Admission Statistics 2024
• UCLA: Admission Statistics 2024
• Case Western Reserve: Admission Statistics 2024
• University of Georgia: Admission Statistics 2024
• UC San Diego: Admission Statistics 2024
• Vanderbilt: Admission Statistics 2024
• The George Washington University: Admission Statistics 2024
• University of Wisconsin – Madison: Admission Statistics 2024
• University of Maryland: Admission Statistics 2024
• Stony Brook: Admission Statistics 2024
• New York University: Admission Statistics 2024
• Johns Hopkins: Admission Statistics 2024
• Princeton: Admission Statistics 2024
• Northeastern: Admission Statistics 2024
• Yale: Admission Statistics 2024
• William & Mary: Admission Statistics 2024
• Tufts University: Admission Statistics 2024
• The Pennsylvania State: Admission Statistics 2024
• Tulane University: Admission Statistics 2024
• UC Davis: Admission Statistics 2024
• Santa Clara University: Admission Statistics 2024
• California Institute of Technology: Admission Statistics 2024
• How to Use the Common Data Set to Build Your College List

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Discover how the Supreme Court ruling on Affirmative Action reshapes college admissions and learn strategies to craft standout application.

Applying to Stanford? Find out what it takes to get in. Explore their holistic admissions process and the key qualities Stanford values in applicants.

Discover how Stanford increases student diversity through outreach programs, financial aid, and inclusion efforts, paving the way for equity in education.

Learn how Stanford evaluates applications in light of race and diversity for 2024 admissions following the Supreme Court’s ruling on affirmative action.

UC Activities and Awards Section: Debunking Myths and Misconceptions

Break free from UC application myths and misconceptions! Learn the truth about what UC values, and create a stronger, more authentic application.

How to Write the Texas A&M Supplemental Essays 2024–2025

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Texas A&M University is a value-driven public research institution founded in 1876. With numerous colleges, schools, and campuses , Texas A&M provides myriad academic and extracurricular opportunities to students. Their vibrant athletics community brings with it many traditions , strong campus culture , and even unique terminology . Texas A&M’s accomplished alumni include numerous musicians, CEOs, athletes, politicians, actors, and more. Hoping to join their ranks? First, you’ll need to nail your Texas A&M supplemental essays. Let’s dive in.

Texas A&M’s 2024-2025 Prompts

Required short essay questions, tell us your story. what unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today (750 words or fewer), describe a life event which you feel has prepared you to be successful in college. (250 words or fewer), tell us about the person who has most impacted your life and why. (250 words or fewer), optional short essay question, if there are additional personal challenges, hardships, or opportunities (including covid related experiences) that have shaped or impacted your abilities or academic credentials, which you have not already written about , please note them in the space below. (250 words or fewer), we’ll review your essay.

Receive edits in as little as 24 hours

General Tips

The Texas A&M supplemental essays may feel intimidating at first glance. They potentially cover a lot of the same ground. For instance, a “life event that you feel has prepared you to be successful in college” might prominently feature “the person who has most impacted your life.” However, your application will greatly benefit from each essay having a distinct focus. If you can successfully write each of these essays about different topics, then you’re well on your way toward providing the Texas A&M admissions team with a holistic understanding of who you are as a person.

Therefore, you should consider reading through the essay prompts thoroughly before you begin writing them. Then, try to come up with the topics that you want to write about. Again, do this before you begin writing any of the essays. This will allow you to strategize so that your essay topics don’t overlap!

While providing redundant information about yourself isn’t necessarily a bad thing, providing new information in each portion of your application allows the admissions team to build a much more nuanced profile on you. In addition, you will show that you are a multidimensional person with diverse experiences and interests. Lastly, by focusing each essay on a unique topic, you also provide the reader with more food for thought about you. The more the reader is thinking (positively) about you, the better odds for your application.

Texas A&M Required Short Essay Questions

This prompt is very open-ended, and it has a relatively high word limit. To many students, that might make this prompt sound rather difficult. That said, there’s a good chance you’ve already written this essay. On the Common App website, Texas A&M’s admissions team remarks, “If you have already answered a similar prompt via your Common App essay(s), please feel free to copy and paste your Common App essay(s) into the appropriate box.” In other words, if you are submitting a Common App essay, and the essay you’ve written also fulfills this prompt, then you should feel free to reuse that essay here. (Looking for tips on how to write a strong Common App essay? Check out article here .)

Note that not all Common App essays will fit Texas A&M’s prompt. To be specific, their prompt focuses on your high school career and its opportunities and challenges. If your Common App personal essay is devoted to discussing a time in your life that was not within your high school years, then you should not reuse that essay here. Similarly, if your essay does focus on your high school years but neglects to discuss any unique opportunities or challenges you have experienced, then you may need to write a second essay.

When writing this essay, you can take a similar approach to how you wrote your Common App essay, in the event that you have written one. Focus on discussing yourself and your unique life experiences. Telling a story from your life is a great way to keep the writer engaged, but it needs to be backed up with specific, concrete descriptions. Try to immerse your reader in the story by showing instead of telling . In other words, highlight sensory details: what do you see, hear, touch, smell, and taste? Use these details to show your emotion and growth to the reader.

This prompt is open-ended, but most students will want to either focus on a challenge they’ve overcome and/or a lesson they’ve learned. For instance, you may have attended a pre-college program that you feel has prepared you for college. If so, describe the specific lessons you have learned and how you believe they will translate into an experience at Texas A&M.

Most students won’t have pursued a pre-college experience, though. If that sounds like you, think about the challenges you have faced in your life that might reflect or foreshadow the challenges you are likely to face in college. Focus on one life event that has been particularly impactful. Occasions when you have displayed resilience, strength, courage, and/or maturity are all good candidates for this essay. If you have gained self-confidence through a particular challenging experience, then consider writing about that experience here.

Lastly, you can also focus on a lesson or lessons you have learned in your life thus far. For instance, perhaps a teacher gave you a key piece of wisdom that continues to influence you. Perhaps you educated yourself on a complex topic using online resources. Or perhaps you worked a job that has given you the work ethic and perspective that can only benefit a college student. This job may even have provided you with the necessary funds to attend college. Whatever lesson you choose to write about, specifically explain what that lesson is. Then, extrapolate how that lesson will help you be successful in college. Remember, even a bit of confidence can go a long way. Don’t shy away from humility in this essay!

This essay prompt asks you to write about a person who has significantly impacted your life. That said, there is also an implicit question about who you are. In other words, as you write about this person, consider the ways your reader might use your description of this person to extrapolate who you are. For instance, if you write about how you admire this person’s consideration of others, the reader will understand that you place a high value on being considerate to others.

You can (and should) take the extra step of expressing to the reader not only why this person is important to you, but also how they have impacted. After describing the lessons this person has taught you, describe the ways that these lessons resonate with you. You can indicate how your thinking patterns or worldview have changed as a result of this person’s influence. Be specific!

Whether this person introduced you to a new political ideology or taught you how to bake bread, this person has evidently changed your life in some way. If you are able to identify that change, ascribe it to that person, and express it to the reader, then your essay should successfully show the reader who you are.

Texas A&M Optional Short Essay Question

For many applicants looking back at their applications, something seems missing. If there was a drop in your grades during sophomore year and nowhere else in your application did you have the opportunity to explain this situation, this essay is your chance.

If you faced a significant hardship in your personal life, perhaps you want to explore that hardship here. Or if you faced a financial or other barrier to participating in certain extracurricular activities (for instance, you were accepted into a selective academic summer camp but couldn’t afford to attend), then you may wish to provide those details in this essay. Make sure to only discuss these topics if you have not yet addressed them in another section of your application.

The above are just a few of the many examples of topics you could write about in this essay. Before beginning your draft, think about your application as a whole. Does it truly show you as you are? As a student, classmate, friend, and family member? If so, then remember, this prompt is optional. But if not, you’ll want to provide details here. “Details” is a key word. You’ll need to be specific for the admissions team, who doesn’t necessarily know you very well, so they can fully understand the situation you choose to describe. Once again, be genuine and specific, and this essay has the potential to strengthen your application.

If you need help polishing up your Texas A&M supplemental essays, check out our College Essay Review service. You can receive detailed feedback from Ivy League consultants in as little as 24 hours.

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Accueil » Tips & Guide » Texas A&M Essay Prompts 2024 [Supplemental Essays With Examples]

Texas A&M Essay Prompts 2024 [Supplemental Essays With Examples]

Published November 25, 2023 · · Updated August 24, 2024 · 9 minutes · by Kamerpower ·

Texas A&M Essay Prompts 2024 [Supplemental Essays With Examples] . To complete Texas A&M’s supplemental essay requirements, applicants must respond to an essay prompt and at least two short answer questions. Texas A&M University has three required essay prompts on its application. You are asked to write about your personal story, a life event that has prepared you for success in college, and a person who has profoundly impacted your life . 

There is also an optional essay prompt about any additional challenges or opportunities you have had to overcome. There is another prompt specifically for College of Engineering applicants. Only students applying to the College of Engineering need to answer both Texas A&M essay prompts.

Texas A&M Short Answer Application Essay Prompts

When Texas A&M introduced short answer questions to their application in 2020, many students felt panicked. Applications are already writing-intensive, so the thought of even more required writing was an overwhelming prospect. These short answer questions are intended to benefit students by giving them more opportunities to show why they should be an Aggie.

What are the essay prompts for Texas A&M? With Supplemental Essay

Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today? (750 words)

Describe a life event which you feel has prepared you to be successful in college. (250 words)

Tell us about the person who has most impacted your life and why. (250 words).

Prompt 4 (Optional):

If there are additional personal challenges, hardships, or opportunities (including COVID related experiences) that have shaped or impacted your abilities or academic credentials, which you have not already written about, please note them in the space below. (250 words).

College of Engineering Applicants Prompt:

Describe your academic and career goals in the broad field of engineering (including computer science, industrial distribution, and engineering technology). What and/or who has influenced you either inside or outside the classroom that contributed to these goals? It is important to spend time addressing this question as it will be considered as part of engineering review process. (500 words)

REQUIRED Apply Texas and Common App Essay:

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

Essay Tips for Texas A&M Essay Prompts 24-25

#1. be authentic..

Your writing style should match your personality. If you’re an outgoing, spunky person, your essay shouldn’t be stiff and super formal. At the same time, remember your audience and avoid using terminology that only teenagers would understand. Make sure your writing is natural (no thesaurus necessary).

#2. Answer the question.

Your essay shouldn’t be a complete autobiography. Instead, it should use a specific instance to answer the question and reveal more about your unique personality. Be sure your essay doesn’t repeat things listed elsewhere on the application. Do more than recount the experience, explain how it changed or impacted you.

#3. Be detailed.

Essay topics are generally broad, but your response should be specific. For example, COVID-19 is a challenge that has affected everyone in a different way. By focusing on details, you set yourself apart. Everyone is living through the pandemic, but your experience is unique to you. Your essay should highlight that uniqueness and how you’ll be an asset to the university.

#4. Proofread your essay.

Check your essay for grammatical errors. Run a spellcheck and then proofread it again. Ask a teacher or counselor to read your essay as well.

What are Texas A&M Essay Prompts Tips?

Texas a&m essay university supplemental prompt #1.

End with a clear “So what?” Explain how the opportunities or challenges have changed you and made you a better person. This should be more than just an enumeration of experiences, but rather an exploration of why and how the event truly made a difference in your life.

Texas A&M Essay University Supplemental Prompt #2

While you must describe the person and event, that’s not really the admission officers’ focus. Be sure to spend a good chunk of your word count focusing on HOW this has prepared you and WHY it matters. How have you changed because of this person/event? What have they taught you about yourself or the world? How is your perspective different because of them?

Texas A&M Essay University Optional Prompt 

Don’t fill this section out if you feel it doesn’t apply to you: This section is optional (really!). So don’t feel like you have  to write something just because there’s space there. You want to add value to your application, not empty words. That said, if there are additional challenges, hardships, or opportunities that have shaped you, take advantage of this section.

Texas A&M College of Engineering Applicants Essay Prompt Tips

You can largely treat this as a Why Major essay. Imagine a mini-movie of the moments that led you to your interest, and create a simple, bullet point outline. Can you find (and describe) the unique influences that set you apart from other aspiring engineering students? For example, who are the people in your life that inspired you to pursue engineering? What unique experiences have you had with technology (e.g., robotics or programming)? And what aspects of engineering stand out most to you?

General Tips For Responding To Texas A&M Essay Prompts

Tell us about the person who has most impacted your life and why. (250 words).

Who is the first person to come to mind when you read this prompt? The person you write about can be someone in your immediate circle, larger network, or on the world stage. Remember that the person you choose is going to say a lot about what you value and respect in others. Maybe an adult in your life has served as a mentor and role model for you, or perhaps the person who has impacted you most is a close friend and confidant. Once you identify the person you’d like to write about, be sure to summarize who they are to you, how they have impacted your life, and how you’ve changed as a result of knowing them.

This prompt is incredibly vague, which is kinda awesome because it sets you up to talk about almost anything you want. Which life event has sparked personal growth? What do you think it takes to be successful and how do you embody those qualities? Maybe a parent’s fragile health situation challenged you to take on more responsibilities than the average teenager, preparing you for the hard work ahead. Or perhaps you learned to love your football team’s playback sessions, as they forced you to routinely examine your mistakes, welcome constructive criticism, and guide you toward self-improvement. Whatever story you choose to tell, be sure to infuse it with personal details that no one else could include in their essay.

REQUIRED Short Answer Prompt

Texas A&M University believes that diversity is an important part of academic excellence and that it is essential to living our core values (loyalty, integrity, excellence, leadership, respect, and selfless service). Describe the benefits of diversity and inclusion for you personally and for the Texas A&M campus community. 

Diversity is a broad term, so before students start writing, they should think about all of its implications. Diversity can include race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious and cultural beliefs, socioeconomic background, immigration status, physical disabilities, and neurological differences, among many other aspects of identity.

Students should also consider the other key term in this question: inclusion. Diversity is one thing, but any environment needs to be inclusive (accepting and encouraging of diversity) in order to allow all different kinds of people to thrive within a community.

Once they’ve taken a step back, it’s time to focus on the two parts of the prompt: 

Part 1: Describe the benefits of diversity and inclusion for you personally

Part 2: and for the Texas A&M campus community.

First, they’ll need to zoom in to their personal experiences: What kinds of diverse communities have they been a part of? How have those communities helped them? How did they personally grow from their experiences within those communities? They can keep those values that A&M describes (loyalty, integrity, excellence, leadership, respect, and selfless service) top of mind while they brainstorm.

Next, students need to think about why it’s important for a college community to be both diverse and inclusive. As a thought experiment, students can imagine themselves in an environment with people with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and beliefs. In what ways will that make their college experience richer—both inside and outside the classroom?

As students write, they should cite personal examples from their own lives. They only have 250-300 words, but that should be enough for a quick anecdote. And if a student doesn’t come from a diverse background, they can use this space to talk about why it’s important for them to be part of a diverse culture on campus and how it will help them grow. Students may also want to consult A&M’s own statement on the diversity page of their website.

Prompt 4 (Optional)

If there are additional personal challenges, hardships, or opportunities (including COVID related experiences) that have shaped or impacted your abilities or academic credentials, which you have not already written about, please note them in the space below. (250 words). 

This prompt is optional, and while we typically recommend that you respond to optional prompts, this one is asking about additional info not reflected in your application—so you should only write a response if you truly have something to add.  The specification of “COVID related experiences” also allows you to discuss any particular issues you faced due to the pandemic. Since everyone has been going through the pandemic, we only recommend discussing COVID if you had a particularly disruptive experience.

Finally, don’t forget that this prompt also allows you to elaborate on any positive opportunities that shaped your high school career. If you have a unique extracurricular that you haven’t written about yet (beyond the Common App Activities section), you can write about it here. You could also talk about your experience at a leadership program or a mentor you had.

Recommendation

• Guide: How To Write and Format A College Essay [Common App essay]
• Top 25 Perfect College Essay Examples Common App
• Texas A&M Acceptance Rate: University Admissions
• Statement Of Purpose Examples For College, Graduate School

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