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How to Write the University of Maryland Essays 2023-2024

The University of Maryland does not have traditional supplemental essays, but it does have six required “complete this sentence” prompt. Your answers to these questions will need to be within 650 characters, but you’ll have plenty of space to reveal unique and distinctive parts of your personality to the admissions committee.

Make sure you give yourself enough time to craft thoughtful responses to these prompts, as you want to take full advantage of every opportunity you have to share something about yourself with the admissions officers. This unique kind of prompt presents a great opportunity to showcase something that might not be found elsewhere in your application.

Considering how competitive college admissions have become in just a few years, the more your responses stand out to admissions officers, the better your chances of admission will be.

Want to know your chances at UMD? Calculate your chances for free right now.

University of Maryland Supplemental Essay Prompts

Prompt 1: If I could travel anywhere, I would go to… (650 characters)

Prompt 2: The most interesting fact I ever learned from research was… (650 characters)

Prompt 3: In addition to my major, my academic interests include… (650 characters)

Prompt 4: My favorite thing about last Thursday was… (650 characters)

Prompt 5: Something you might not know about me is… (650 characters)

Prompt 6: Because we know that diversity benefits the educational experience of all students, the University of Maryland values diversity in all of its many forms. This includes (but is not limited to) racial, socio-economic, gender, geographical, and sexual orientation. We are interested in hearing about your own individual life experiences. In a few sentences, will you please describe how you have learned, grown, been inspired or developed skills through one or more components of diversity. (650 characters)

If I could travel anywhere, I would go to… (650 characters)

This is a very straightforward prompt. A strong response will identify a place, and share a little bit about why you’ve picked this particular place.

Keep in mind that your response should be unique to you and should teach your reader something about your personality or interests. If your answer sounds like something any random person might say, you need to work on specificity. Here are some examples to show you what we’re talking about.

Generic response: “Rome, because I’ve always wanted to see the Colosseum.”

Personal response: “Rome, because I’ve studied Latin since middle school. My father, a classics professor, spent so many happy hours teaching me how to read the works of Ovid, Virgil, Cicero, and the other greats, in their original language. Whenever we happen to pass by old churches or college buildings, we stop to read their insignias and mottos, which are most often in Latin. All these fond memories make me feel deeply connected to the Greco-Roman world, and I think that seeing historic sites like the Colosseum in person would augment the reading I’ve done and enrich my understanding of classical antiquity.” (598 characters)

The first response is very generic because just about anybody you ask would probably love to see the Colosseum. The second response answers the crucial question— why? —which should be at the core of your response. Your particular reason for choosing the place you choose is where your personality and individuality will shine through.

Obviously, the source of specificity will depend on you and your personal experiences. If you haven’t studied Latin (or if you studied it but didn’t like it), this response clearly wouldn’t work for you. Think about what truly interests you, then narrow your thinking down to places that are integral to that interest. For example, if you’re really invested in country music and its history, you might be particularly interested in visiting Nashville, the epicenter of that genre.

Finally, remember that this place doesn’t have to be a city. You could also say something like “The Pro Football Hall of Fame” or “Abbey Road Studios.” In fact, you even have the freedom to be a little more creative with your place in history. You might want to travel to a different time period entirely. The prompt posits that you can travel anywhere , but doesn’t specify that it has to be somewhere modern. Perhaps you love early R&B and disco music. You might want to travel to Detroit in the 1960s, when Motown Records was beginning to dominate those genres.

A word of caution: If you are going to get extra creative and pick a different time period, be sure to avoid generic clichés. For example, writing that you want to travel to the future—to give your future self advice, or to drive a flying car, or to see where climate change has gone, etc.—is a cliché and won’t contribute much to your application.

In terms of location, you probably shouldn’t go much bigger than a city. Saying something like “The United Kingdom” or “China” may make you sound clueless, as countries are too large and diverse to understand in their entirety with just one trip. Aiming for something too broad detracts from the specificity that a strong response to this kind of essay requires.

Rather than settling for a generic response, think about the main reason you personally want to go to this place, and narrow your response from there. Instead of “The United Kingdom,” you could write “The Scottish Highlands,” and instead of “China,” you could write “The Great Wall of China.”

The most interesting fact I ever learned from research was… (650 characters)

If you haven’t done research before, don’t worry. Most high school students haven’t done a serious research project, and nowhere does the prompt say that the research has to be yours.

Your response should show your reader that you are informed about the research that goes on at places like the University of Maryland. Of course, research is not the only thing universities do, but being surrounded by cutting-edge researchers in a wide range of fields is an opportunity that is difficult to find outside of a university campus.

We don’t mean to say you have to cite some dense, obscure study on molecular neuroscience. If that’s what you’re interested in, great! As long as your response is genuine, your chosen topic is fair game. Don’t make the mistake of writing about some deep scientific research if that isn’t what piques your interest, but be careful not to write about something too trivial either.

That being said, research is done in a vast array of subjects, so there’s no pressure to write about any one topic over another. Below are some examples of facts from a variety of fields that would work just as well as something from a hardcore STEM study.

• Consistent physical exercise throughout life correlates with better mental health in old age.
• Sea turtles use magnetoreception to find the same breeding grounds each year.
• The Egyptian pyramids have passages leading up from the burial chamber, which ancient Egyptians believed the dead pharaoh could climb through to join the gods in heaven.

Given the 650 characters you’re allotted, you should also share a short explanation of why you find this particular fact so interesting. For example, for the aforementioned sea turtle fact, you could write:

“[The most interesting fact I ever learned from research was…] sea turtles find the same breeding grounds each year with magnetoreception. Magnetoreception is a sense that allows turtles (and other animals) to perceive Earth’s magnetic field. Learning this fact made me truly appreciate nature’s diversity—turtles have an entire sense that we lack! This newfound appreciation created by one fact I just stumbled upon inspired me to embark on an exploratory journey that culminated in an internship at a local environmental center.” (467 characters, excluding the prompt’s characters)

Try to avoid picking a fact that is so long that you don’t have space to elaborate. 650 characters isn’t the largest amount of space, but simply stating your fact probably shouldn’t take up most of it. That being said, you don’t necessarily have to elaborate at a level as deep as the above example to have an excellent response. You may have a strong and thorough response with just 300 characters or so.

In addition to my major, my academic interests include… (650 characters)

The key phrase here is “in addition to my major.” Remember that you should use these supplemental prompts to share information about yourself that your reader cannot find elsewhere in your application.

So if your intended major is neuroscience, your answer here shouldn’t be “biology.” That is technically a different academic interest, but it doesn’t really tell your reader anything new. If they know you want to major in neuroscience, they can already safely assume you have at least some interest in biology.

Remember that your reader also has your high school transcript and activities list. Maybe math isn’t your intended major, but if you’ve taken AP math classes and done math camps during your high school summers, writing about math won’t be sharing something new with your reader. Your personal experiences already strongly indicate that you’re interested in math.

Your response also shouldn’t just be a list of other interests you have. A laundry list of interests won’t give the admissions committee any sense of why you’re interested in these things. The “why” is where your personality shines through. Without it, your reader won’t really have anything to take away from your response.

Now that we’ve covered what you shouldn’t do, let’s talk about how you should approach this prompt. As noted above, you want to pick an interest that is genuinely different from the things already seen in the rest of your application. As long as you’re honest, there’s no right or wrong way to do this. UMD wants to see that you’re academically inclined and intellectually curious, not that you’re only interested in one particular thing.

The second part of your response is the why . Say you’re a prospective history major and the other area you’re interested in is sports psychology. Your response might read something like this:

“[In addition to my major, my academic interests include…] sports psychology, because I was raised a diehard Miami Heat fan, and I’ve always wondered what helps some players thrive under pressure while others fold. I think that the field is interesting as it explores not only how players play, but also how they act in their personal lives in the spotlight. Even to those not interested in sports, the field is very useful in that its findings can be extrapolated and applied to society at large. After all, everyone wants to be able to perform at an optimal level.” (507 characters, excluding the prompt’s characters)

Alternatively, say you’re a prospective engineering major and you also have an interest in music theory. A strong response would be:

“[In addition to my major, my academic interests include…] music theory, because I’ve always wanted to know how movie and television composers use sound to enhance the emotional content of a scene. I’ve always been fascinated by the ways music is used to complement cinema. There are videos online in which a song is changed or removed from a scene, and something that simple can have a profound impact on the scene. I have been teaching myself guitar for four years, and even though I’m competent on a technical level, my theoretical understanding is lacking.” (501 characters, excluding the prompt’s characters)

These responses share interests that are not only not distinct from their respective majors, but that are also probably not discussed anywhere else in the application. It’s an unfortunate reality that college applications often capture only a thin slice of who you are while leaving out things like sports fandom, which may be a huge part of your personality and identity. If you can share one of those things here, your response will be all the better for it.

My favorite thing about last Thursday was… (650 characters)

Only you know what you did last Thursday, so the best advice we can give here is to not overthink your answer. Most people don’t do anything revolutionary on an average Thursday. UMD doesn’t expect you to have cured cancer on a normal day of the week. What they do expect is that you can engage with—and bring energy to—seemingly mundane situations. This is a useful skill that will help you thrive in college and beyond.

In order to address this prompt successfully, all you really have to do is describe the situation and give your reader some sense of what made it your favorite part of the day. Bear in mind that you don’t have to write about last Thursday literally. Think of something eventful that you took part in recently, but don’t feel restricted to the day mentioned in the prompt. UMD’s use of “last Thursday” is figurative. You can write about any average day that didn’t happen too long ago. No one is going to check that your event happened on a Thursday.

Here are some examples of weak and strong responses to this prompt.

Weak: “getting dinner with my friend.”

Strong: “having a picnic at dinnertime with my friend and watching the sunset. There’s nothing like munching on a DIY vegan charcuterie board and drinking sparkling cider at the golden hour. My friend and I grew up together and are as close as sisters. For years we did everything together, from shopping to cooking and from learning to swim to learning to drive. She and I used to hang out a lot before she moved, so I feel lucky whenever I get to spend quality time with her on an otherwise average day.” (495 characters)

For this particular prompt, even a few extra details—like those that are included in the strong example—can go a long way. Most people enjoy getting dinner with friends, but the strong response shows the reader why , for you personally, this particular dinner was so meaningful.

As we mentioned at the beginning of this post, 650 characters is more than you might assume. Take advantage of the space you have to make your response as personal as possible, but also don’t write more than you need to just to reach the limit. Based on the rest of your application, the admissions committee has some understanding of what you’re like in the classroom or on the basketball court. Now show them what you’re like on a regular old Thursday.

Something you might not know about me is… (650 characters)

A prompt this open-ended can be overwhelming at first. But as we advised with the previous prompt, don’t overthink your answer! This fun fact doesn’t have to be anything crazy or an attempt to impress the admissions committee—that’s what the rest of your application is for. Just share something unique to you that isn’t already discussed elsewhere in your application.

This last part about being unique is key—if your answer to Prompt 3 (the one about academic interests) was something about liking astronomy, your answer here shouldn’t be something about stargazing every night. Remember that you only have so many opportunities to share information about yourself with the admissions committee, so take advantage of each one.

That being said, you have free rein to write about pretty much anything! Below are some examples of potential topics you could respond to this prompt with. Your response also may look nothing like these, which is completely fine. We just want to get your mental gears turning by giving you a sense of what a good response might begin with.

Something you might not know about me is…

• I can do a double backflip off a diving board.
• I have every word to Taylor Swift’s album Reputation memorized.
• For my eighteenth birthday, I went skydiving and passed out in the air.
• I’ve won my fantasy football league three years in a row.
• Every New Year’s Day, my dad cracks the ice on the pond near our house and my family does a polar plunge together.

Since you have a longer character count, you should elaborate on your fun fact, whatever it may be. For example, a hypothetical student might extend the above skydiving example and write something like this:

“[Something you might not know about me is…] for my eighteenth birthday, I went skydiving and passed out in the air. As a child, I saw a show about skydiving and became so infatuated with the idea that it became the one thing I had to try. My parents were not thrilled but agreed that I could try when I was 18. The time finally came, and the plane ascended with me finally on it. I was signed up for a tandem jump where I was tethered to an instructor. We jumped, and some combination of excitement, dread, and altitude made me pass out, so I missed most of the experience! By the time I came to, we were near the ground already, so I definitely need to try this experience again someday.” (644 characters, excluding the prompt’s characters)

You might not use all 650 characters to respond to this prompt, and that’s okay. Don’t try to reach the character limit and end up rambling or writing something confusing. For example, imagine if the backflip example above read like this:

“[Something you might not know about me is…] I can do a double backflip off a diving board. One time I was at the pool and kept making the lifeguard nervous every time I did it. It ended up being fine though, because it’s a skill I had gotten really good at by then.” (221 characters, excluding the prompt’s characters)

By the end of this response, a reader might not even remember what the original fun fact was, even though it’s only 221 characters.

Finally, the examples above hopefully show that your fun fact can be just that—fun. You don’t have to be super serious with every single supplemental essay prompt you come across. A more lighthearted response can actually be a good thing—college applications are generally quite dry, so it can be a good idea to remind your reader that you’re more than a GPA and a Common App essay you’ve revised 43 times.

Because we know that diversity benefits the educational experience of all students, the University of Maryland values diversity in all of its many forms. This includes (but is not limited to) racial, socio-economic, gender, geographical, and sexual orientation. We are interested in hearing about your own individual life experiences. In a few sentences, will you please describe how you have learned, grown, been inspired or developed skills through one or more components of diversity. (650 characters)

This is one instance of the very common diversity prompt . When colleges have a diversity prompt, they want to know about your own personal background and how it has influenced your worldview and perspectives.

In June 2023, the United States Supreme Court struck down the use of affirmative action in college admissions. The ruling, however, still allows colleges to consider race on an individual basis, which is one reason many schools are now including diversity prompts as one of their supplemental essay prompts. If you feel that your racial background has impacted you significantly, this is the place to discuss that.

In general, such a common prompt can be approached with a traditional answer. You might consider answering this prompt with what you think is the most important part of your identity, then a small discussion about how that aspect of diversity is relevant to you and your general life experiences.

Such a response might be written about one of the following scenarios:

• Using your fluency in another language to help members of a specific community.
• Interpreting a text in class differently from your classmates because of your ethnic culture.
• Having a friend of a different background who has changed your perspective on something important (this speaks to the “been inspired” part of the prompt).
• Having an illness or disability that helps you view accessibility through a different lens than your peers.
• Being part of a niche interest group/fandom and trying to represent the group faithfully when talking to people who aren’t members of it.

Simply listing things that generate diversity should be avoided. Sure, diversity includes different ethnicities/races, gender identities, sexual orientations, countries of origin, and languages, but writing that laundry list out doesn’t contribute much to your application.

Also, bear in mind that the traditional markers of diversity aren’t the only ones you can discuss. There are other aspects of identity that contribute to a diverse campus, including socioeconomic classes, hometowns, illnesses/disabilities, and even interests or hobbies.

Diversity encompasses all the aforementioned attributes, but you should strive for individuality and specificity in your response. This prompt, like all the others, is an opportunity to showcase your unique life perspective. You don’t want to waste this opportunity by writing down some bland dictionary definitions. Think of what diversity means to you and what you consider to be a particularly significant aspect of diversity. From there, think of personal anecdotes or stories about how that aspect of diversity has contributed to your growth or development as a person.

Where to Get Your University of Maryland, College Park Essays Edited

Do you want feedback on your UMD essays? After rereading your essays over and over again, it can be difficult to gauge where your writing needs improvement, especially since these prompts are so short. We created our free Peer Essay Review tool to help students like you  get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

How to Write the University of Maryland Supplemental Essays 2023–2024

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University of Maryland (UMD) is renowned for its innovative research programs and support for entrepreneurship . UMD’s accomplished alumni include Google co-founder Sergey Brin, comedian Larry David, and Carly Fiorina, the first woman to lead a Fortune Top-20 company. Hoping to follow in their footsteps? First, you’ll need to master the UMD supplemental essays. Let’s dive in.

University of Maryland’s 2023-2024 Prompts

If i could travel anywhere, i would go to… (650 characters or fewer), the most interesting fact i ever learned from research was… (650 characters or fewer), in addition to my major, my academic interests include… (650 characters or fewer), my favorite thing about last thursday was… (650 characters or fewer), something you might not know about me is… (650 characters or fewer), because we know that diversity benefits the educational experience of all students, the university of maryland values diversity in all of its many forms. this includes (but is not limited to) racial, socio-economic, gender, geographical, and sexual orientation. we are interested in hearing about your own individual life experiences. in a few sentences, will you please describe how you have learned, grown, been inspired or developed skills through one or more components of diversity. (650 characters or fewer).

General Tips

These six prompts are unique among supplemental essay questions asked by universities. Instead of requiring a word count, each prompt has a character count of 650 or fewer. This works out to approximately 90-150 words, depending on how long your words are and how close you come to hitting the character limit. Put differently, these are very short essays. Only a couple sentences will be required for each question.

The admissions officers at UMD ask these questions to learn about who you are as a person. Because of this, you can and should bring your authentic self to the page. Humor is welcome in these responses, as long as you still appropriately answer the question at hand.

In order order to write your UMD supplemental essays effectively, you will need to be concise and precise. Avoid passive voice, roundabout language, and nonessential descriptive language. When possible, use specific details to make your points, and avoid generalizations. Keeping these general tips in mind during your writing and editing process will help bring your UMD supplemental essays to the next level.

University of Maryland Short Essay Questions

All of the UMD supplemental essays are required, so it may be useful to read through the questions before beginning your drafts in order to get a sense of the scope you’re working with. Now, let’s break each prompt down.

For a college essay prompt, this is a relatively fun, light-hearted question. That said, it has more layers than might be discerned at first glance. You don’t have to take the question literally: consider time travel, intergalactic travel, etc. What if you could travel to the interior of the mitochondria? What if you could follow the trajectory of the asteroid that struck the Yucatán Peninsula? Or what if you could travel to the future to see the impact of AI on human society?

In order to bring your most creative, genuine answer to the page, you might want to invest in a brainstorming session. Make a list of 8-10 different places (or times) you could, hypothetically, travel to. Then, narrow down your list to the few that seem most enjoyable to write about. Make sure that the ideas you narrow down to are manageable enough to write about in 650 characters or fewer. Then, write a couple sentences about each idea and choose your favorite for this essay topic.

This brainstorming process might sound like more work than necessary, but the process is likely to produce a much more original and engaging essay than just writing about the first thing that pops into your head. Of course, you can also modify this process to suit your working style. Whatever you do, have fun with it, and don’t hesitate to get creative in this response, perhaps more than any of the other UMD supplemental essays.

This prompt is open-ended, just like the first one. Note the prompt’s usage of the word “research.” In order to narrow down the many interesting facts that you surely know, consider the occasions when you have researched topics. This research counts whether it was big or small, but if you have any larger-scale, higher-commitment research projects under your belt, this essay could be your opportunity to share some of that research with the reader.

The prompt specifically requests one fact that you have learned from research. Therefore, be sure to distill your response’s topic to a single piece of information, even if you describe more details relating to the fact in the essay as well. Given the low character count mandated for this essay, though, you may just want to stick to the fact, brief context as to how you researched this fact, and why you find it interesting.

This response can go in many different directions. If your academic interests are numerous, feel free to list them with only the briefest explanations. On the other hand, if you have fewer, but deeper interests, then you may want to list just two or three additional interests with a bit more explanation.

Regardless of how much explanation you have space to provide, bear in mind the following:

• You list more than one academic interest .
• Your academic interests are distinct from your major .
• This list should not be exhaustive .

To address each of the above points, you might notice that the prompt asks for academic interests , plural. Second, these interests are in addition to your major (thus, they do not include and are not overlapping with your major). Third, you’re asked to list what your academic interests include , meaning that these are not all of your academic interests.

In other words, the admissions team would like to see that you are broadly curious, even outside of your chosen discipline. This is because well-rounded students are often assets to academic communities. These students tend to bring multifaceted perspectives, develop interdisciplinary research, and connect with peers across departments.

Think about all the classes in high school that you have enjoyed, outside the area you’ve chosen to major in. Consider the topics you’ve enjoyed reading about or watching documentaries on. If any of the topics you’ve enjoyed learning about are studied in academic contexts, then they can work for this answer.

This is another question seeking out your personality and individuality. Contrary to popular belief, admissions officers aren’t looking to fill classes with like-minded people. Instead, they seek to build communities full of diversity. This includes diversity of personality and life experience. By describing your favorite thing about last Thursday, you bring a bit of your personality and life experience to your application.

If you’re struggling to see how this essay response fits into the larger picture of your college application, consider the parts of you that haven’t made it into your application. Is it your fun-loving relationship with your younger sister? The joy you find in skateboarding with friends after school? Your excitement when your favorite YouTuber uploads a new video? Think expansively, and see if any of those parts of you fit into last Thursday.

Alternatively, write up a brief list of everything that happened last Thursday. Once you’ve settled on your favorite thing about the day, consider turning your short essay into a narrative (that is, a story). If 650 characters or fewer seems like not enough space to craft a real story with a beginning, middle, and end, look up “Six Word Memoirs” for inspiration. There are thousands available online, and they demonstrate the power you can imbue in just a few words.

This essay question gives you another opportunity to zoom out and consider all the parts of you that have or have not made it into your college application. Although this prompt is set up to expect a surprising conclusion to the sentence, remember that the UMD admissions officers don’t know much about you. The way you would finish this sentence when writing to a friend or family member is very different than the way you would finish it when writing to a stranger.

Therefore, a way to rephrase this prompt is, “Something I would like you to know about me is… ” Phrased this way, the essay becomes less about giving the reader a surprising, exciting piece of information and more about filling in one of your application’s blanks. You can take this essay as an opportunity to explain a confusing part of your academic profile. You could also share a quirky skill you’ve developed. Alternatively, you could describe an aspect of your personality that otherwise wouldn’t come through on the page. The options are almost endless.

Moreover, there might be something that you thought about writing into your last essay (”My favorite thing about last Thursday was… ”), but that didn’t happen last Thursday. If so, this essay response is your opportunity to write about it!

This is an expansive essay question that asks you to explore the role diversity has had in your life. However, like the more light-hearted essay questions above, you’re still restricted to 650 characters or fewer. In other words, this prompt, perhaps more than the rest of the UMD supplemental essays, presents a tall order.

If you’re stuck on ideas, here a few mini-prompts to get you started:

• Describe a conversation you’ve had that was influenced by the differences between you and your conversation partner. In other words, if you are your conversation partner shared all the same identities, the conversation would have gone differently.
• Describe an occasion when an aspect of your identity impacted a significant decision in your life.
• Explain how you gained a new perspective through encountering diversity.
• Explain how you have changed as person after encountering different types of people.
• Describe a travel experience you have had that significantly impacted on your worldview.

Note that UMD defines “diversity” broadly, writing that it “includes (but is not limited to) racial, socio-economic, gender, geographical, and sexual orientation.” Therefore, if you hold an identity that isn’t covered by the most standard definition of diversity, that doesn’t mean you can’t write about it.

That said, because of the limited space in which to answer this essay question, don’t feel pressure to write about a very complex identity or life experience. This essay question should be taken seriously, but you don’t have to cover a lot of ground to write an effective essay. Keep your answer focused and specific!

If you need help polishing up your UMD 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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Mastering UMD Supplemental Essays: Tips for 2022-23 Admissions

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Introduction

The University of Maryland (UMD) supplemental essays are a crucial aspect of the application process for prospective students. While the main application provides an overview of an applicant's academic achievements and extracurricular involvement, the supplemental essays offer a deeper insight into their personality, values, and aspirations. These essays give admissions officers a chance to evaluate applicants beyond their test scores and grades, allowing them to understand the individual behind the application.

UMD offers a variety of prompts for their supplemental essays, each designed to elicit unique responses from applicants. These prompts often revolve around themes such as personal growth, community engagement , and intellectual curiosity. By exploring these themes in their essays, applicants have an opportunity to showcase their passions and experiences that align with UMD's core values.

Crafting compelling UMD supplemental essays requires careful thought and preparation. Applicants should take time to reflect on their own experiences and identify key moments or challenges that have shaped them personally or academically. It is important to choose prompts that resonate with them and allow them to highlight their strengths and unique qualities.

When writing UMD supplemental essays, it is essential to be authentic and genuine. Admissions officers are looking for individuals who will contribute positively to the campus community and demonstrate a strong fit with UMD's mission and values. Applicants should strive to convey their true selves through their writing, showcasing their passions, interests, and goals.

In addition to authenticity, it is important for applicants to pay attention to structure, grammar , and overall clarity in their writing. Clear organization of ideas helps readers follow along easily while proper grammar ensures effective communication of thoughts. Proofreading multiple times before submitting is crucial in order to catch any errors or inconsistencies.

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Common Themes and Prompts for UMD Supplemental Essays

The University of Maryland (UMD) supplemental essays play a crucial role in the admissions process. These essays provide applicants with an opportunity to showcase their personality, experiences, and goals beyond what is captured in their general application. Understanding the common themes and prompts for UMD supplemental essays can help applicants craft compelling responses that stand out to the admissions committee.

Theme 1: Diversity and Inclusion

One common theme in UMD supplemental essay prompts revolves around diversity and inclusion. The university values a diverse student body and wants to know how applicants will contribute to this inclusive community. For example, one prompt might ask applicants to discuss how they have contributed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment in their school or community.

To address this theme effectively, applicants should reflect on their experiences with diversity and inclusion. They can discuss instances where they have actively promoted inclusivity or worked towards breaking down barriers. It is important for applicants to demonstrate not only an understanding of diversity but also a commitment to fostering inclusivity throughout their academic journey.

Theme 2: Academic and Career Goals

Another common theme focuses on academic and career goals. UMD wants to understand how applicants envision utilizing their education at the university and beyond. For instance, one prompt might ask applicants to describe their intended major or field of study and explain why it aligns with their long-term goals.

When approaching this theme, it is essential for applicants to showcase their passion for their chosen field of study. They should articulate specific reasons why they are interested in pursuing that particular major or career path at UMD. Additionally, highlighting any relevant experiences or achievements can strengthen their response and demonstrate their dedication to achieving these goals.

Theme 3: Community Engagement

Community engagement is also an important aspect of the UMD experience, as the university encourages students to be active participants in both campus life and the broader community. Applicants may encounter a prompt asking them to discuss how they plan to engage with the UMD community and make a positive impact.

To craft a strong response for this theme, applicants should demonstrate their understanding of the importance of community engagement. They can discuss specific ways in which they have been involved in their current community and how they plan to continue this engagement at UMD. Whether through volunteering, leadership roles, or participation in clubs and organizations, applicants should highlight their commitment to making a difference and contributing to the UMD community.

By understanding these common themes and prompts for UMD supplemental essays, prospective applicants can approach their responses with clarity and purpose. It is important to remember that these essays provide an opportunity for applicants to showcase their unique qualities and experiences, so taking the time to craft thoughtful and compelling responses is crucial. With careful consideration and reflection, applicants can increase their chances of standing out in the competitive admissions process at the University of Maryland.

Tips and Strategies for Crafting Compelling Essays

Crafting compelling essays for the University of Maryland (UMD) supplemental application is a crucial step in standing out among other applicants. To help you in this process, here are some valuable tips and strategies to consider.

Tip 1: Start Early and Plan Ahead

Starting early and planning ahead is essential when it comes to writing your UMD supplemental essays. Giving yourself enough time allows for brainstorming, drafting, revising, and editing. It also helps alleviate stress and ensures that you submit your best work. Creating a timeline can be an effective way to stay organized throughout the essay-writing process. Break down the tasks into manageable chunks, setting specific deadlines for each stage. This approach will help you avoid last-minute rushes and allow for thorough revisions.

Tip 2: Show, Don't Tell

When crafting your UMD supplemental essays, it's important to remember the adage "show, don't tell." Instead of simply stating facts or making general statements, use specific examples and anecdotes to illustrate your points. This technique not only makes your essays more engaging but also allows admissions officers to get a glimpse of who you are as an individual. By providing vivid descriptions and personal experiences, you can make your essays more memorable and impactful.

Tip 3: Tailor Your Essays to UMD

Researching UMD thoroughly is crucial in order to tailor your essays specifically to the university. Take the time to explore UMD's website, read about its programs, faculty members, campus culture, and any recent initiatives or accomplishments. Incorporate this knowledge into your essays by highlighting how your interests align with what UMD has to offer. By demonstrating a genuine understanding of the university's values and opportunities, you can show admissions officers that you are genuinely interested in becoming part of their community.

Tip 4: Seek Feedback and Revise

Seeking feedback from others is an invaluable part of the essay-writing process. Share your drafts with trusted teachers, mentors, or family members who can provide constructive criticism and suggestions for improvement. Consider their feedback carefully and make revisions accordingly. It's important to remember that the revision process is not just about correcting grammar and punctuation but also about refining your ideas and ensuring clarity in your writing. By seeking feedback and revising your essays multiple times, you can polish them to perfection.

By following these tips and strategies, you can craft compelling UMD supplemental essays that showcase your unique qualities and demonstrate why you are a perfect fit for the university. Remember to start early, use specific examples, tailor your essays to UMD, and seek feedback throughout the process. Good luck!

In conclusion, understanding UMD supplemental essays is crucial for prospective applicants to the University of Maryland. These essays provide an opportunity for students to showcase their unique qualities, experiences, and aspirations that may not be fully captured in other parts of their application. By carefully crafting compelling responses to the prompts, applicants can demonstrate their fit with the university's values and contribute to a diverse and vibrant campus community.

Throughout this blog post, we have discussed the importance of supplemental essays in the UMD application process. We have explored common themes and prompts that applicants may encounter, such as discussing academic interests, personal growth experiences, or contributions to the community. Additionally, we have provided tips and strategies for crafting compelling essays, including conducting thorough research on UMD's programs and resources, showcasing genuine passion and enthusiasm, and seeking feedback from trusted mentors or advisors.

As you embark on your journey towards applying to UMD for the 2022-23 admissions cycle, it is essential to start working on your supplemental essays early. Give yourself ample time to brainstorm ideas, draft multiple versions of your responses, and revise them until they truly reflect your unique voice and perspective. Remember that these essays are an opportunity to stand out from other applicants and make a lasting impression on the admissions committee.

We hope that this guide has provided you with valuable insights into mastering UMD supplemental essays. By following our tips and advice, you can approach these essays with confidence and increase your chances of securing admission to one of Maryland's premier institutions. Good luck with your application process!

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Responding to the University of Maryland Essay Questions

Written by Abigail Anderson on October 19th, 2018

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• Think strategically about how you can reflect UMD’s own values back to them in your answers.
• Don’t be overly strategic to the point where your answers sound disingenuous or made up just for your application. UMD makes it very clear that their application review process is holistic and they are simply trying to learn more about their applicants. Your answers should sound (reasonably) like a 17-year-old.

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By Nangs412 June 4, 2023 in University of Maryland Baltimore (Anne Arundel CC)

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starting a thread for the 2023-2024 cycle!

submitted 5/31, verified 6/1 

#UMB #universityofmaryland

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FutureDermPA99 13 posts

PAdreams23 8 posts

santokki 5 posts

maddier29 4 posts

Nov 29 2023

Jun 15 2023

Jun 22 2023

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June 18, 2023

Hi! I submitted my CASPA May 16 and was verified same day. They sent me a CASPA received email on May 17 and their supplemental on May 19. 

June 21, 2023

I received my supplemental app yesterday 6/20!

July 25, 2023

i got an email stating i will get a status update in october.. did anyone else get this? 

Hi! I received a confirmation email yesterday that UMB received my application!

6 hours ago, maddier29 said: Hi! I received a confirmation email yesterday that UMB received my application!

me too! do you know if there is a  supplemental this year? if you look at last years posts it looks like they don't start until pretty late in the cycle 

16 hours ago, Nangs412 said: me too! do you know if there is a  supplemental this year? if you look at last years posts it looks like they don't start until pretty late in the cycle 

It says on their website there is a supplemental but I'm not sure when it will get sent out???

Submitted 5/29, verified 5/30, got the “application received” email 6/14, got the “application has been reviewed” email (with supplemental app attached) today 6/19.

FutureDermPA99

I submitted on 06/13 and received confirmation on 6/14 that they received my app.

On 6/21/2023 at 9:20 AM, maddier29 said: I received my supplemental app yesterday 6/20!

Congrats! When did you submit your app?

On 6/22/2023 at 10:29 AM, FutureDermPA99 said: Congrats! When did you submit your app?

I submitted 5/29 and was verified the same day!

• 5 weeks later...

I’m a little confused on what the website says. Do we have to have our undergraduate degrees before we are allowed to apply? I am currently about to go into my senior year of undergrad.

I submitted 6/13 and received the supplemental today 08/10! 

How long after sending in the supplemental did you guys get a confirmation that it was received? 

RedBlossom10

Hi everyone! Does the supplemental have essays or is it just filling in more info?

18 hours ago, RedBlossom10 said: Hi everyone! Does the supplemental have essays or is it just filling in more info?

Just filling in more info 

My application was verified on 06/23. I received my supplemental today!

On 8/4/2023 at 9:41 PM, prePAboop said: I’m a little confused on what the website says. Do we have to have our undergraduate degrees before we are allowed to apply? I am currently about to go into my senior year of undergrad.

I believe you need to already have received degree to apply

• 1 month later...

Haven’t heard anything yet 🫣

ThePAfromPA

@padreams23 nope haven't heard anything about interview invites yet...

Just got an interview invite! 

I also just received and interview invite!!

just received an interview invite!!

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, umd supplements advice.

I am a high school junior, and I'm starting to work on my UMD application. I'm curious if anyone has any suggestions on how to tackle the supplemental essays successfully? Thanks in advance for your help!

Hi there! It's great that you're planning ahead to tackle the UMD supplemental essays. Fortunately, CollegeVine has an article breaking down each of the school's prompts, which you can find here: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-university-of-maryland-essays

Remember, the supplemental essays are an opportunity to show admissions officers who you are beyond your grades and test scores. Make sure your passion, personality, and growth shine through in your writing. Good luck!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.