UMich Supplemental Essays: A Strategic Guide

How can you make sure that your University of Michigan application stands out? Understanding your audience is one key step, so making sure that you have a grasp on what makes UMich special is crucial. As you think about how to write your University of Michigan supplemental essays, remember these core values that shape the University of Michigan:

1. Strong academics and intellectual rigor

At the University of Michigan, students are pushed to think critically and engage in high-level research from the get-go through special funding and programs like the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP). Students often engage in interdisciplinary learned by taking a wide variety of classes, or by pursuing special dual-degrees like the ones offered at the Ross School of Business.

2. Leadership, service, and public impact

The University of Michigan values students who are committed to the public good through engagement with the communities around them. Civic engagement and social partnership is encouraged through programs like the Ginsberg Center.

3. High-level undergraduate research and funding

As one of the top public research institutions in the world, the University of Michigan is a great place to pursue your goals as an independent learner and dive into your own original work. Through the UROP, students can connect with research mentors, participate in specialty summer programs like the Detroit Community-Engaged Research Program, and connect with peers through tight-knit seminars of other student researchers.

4. Diverse communities that connect unique experiences and perspectives

The University of Michigan encourages its student to foster a sense of leadership through engaging with diverse perspectives. Programs like those offered through Global Michigan support students exploring their passions through studying abroad, while programs such as the Michigan Learning Communities allow students to live with and learn from their peers in small, learning-oriented dorms.

How to Write the University of Michigan Supplemental Essays (2025-2026)

At the University of Michigan, we are focused on developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future. In your essay, share with us how you are prepared to contribute to these goals. This could include the people, places, experiences, or aspirations that have shaped your journey and future plans. (Required for all applicants; 100 word minimum; 300 word maximum.)

This question is seeking to understand how you’ll contribute to the University of Michigan’s campus, and whether you’ll fit in with their core values and mission. You’ll want to emphasize what in your past has allowed you to grow and develop an alignment with the University of Michigan’s identity: commitment to rigorous and complex thought, leadership, and community.

Here’s a strategy we recommend for approaching this essay:

1. Choose a specific experience that that shows growth and leadership potential. That doesn’t mean you had to be a leader in the traditional sense – use this opportunity to focus on qualities that demonstrate leadership, such as:
   1. Initiative
   2. Open-mindedness (challenging assumptions or exploring new ideas)
   3. Mentorship
   4. Advocacy
2. Connect this experience to your own and the University of Michigan’s Michigan’s values through self-reflection. How did this experience teach you or show you something about leadership? What kinds of questions or goals did this experience generate for you?
3. End by emphasizing how these values and experiences will translate into your impact on campus. Help the admissions officers see who you want to become on campus and how you’ll bring your own strengths to the opportunities offered by the University of Michigan – try to connect it to a Michigan-specific opportunity, such as the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program or the Michigan Learning Communities.

Describe the unique qualities that attract you to the specific undergraduate college or school (including preferred admission and dual degree programs) to which you are applying at the University of Michigan. How would that curriculum support your interests? (Required for all applicants; 100 word minimum; 550 word maximum.)

This prompt (commonly known as the “Why Major?” essay) is asking how the University of Michigan’s offerings are a good fit for your intellectual interests and future goals. In essence, they’re asking you to prove that you’ll maximize your potential here and seize the opportunities they have. You’ll want to demonstrate an understanding of the college’s identity and your own personal connection to it, showing how it will support and expand your academic journey.

As you write this essay, keep these tips in mind:

1. Be specific about your academic interests and explain what motivates you to pursue them. Your admissions readers will want to see that you have purpose and drive– that you’re ready to study and apply yourself at the higher level that college demands.
2. Name courses, labs, and programs that will support your goals. Don’t just name-drop; make sure to explain how you plan to participate in these opportunities, and explain how they fit into your broader passions and interests.
3. Avoid generic praise. Each of your sentences should only apply to the University of Michigan. A good test for this is to check whether you can substitute the name of any other school into your sentence. For example, if you’re writing about the University of Michigan’s commitment to research, try to narrow down the specific research opportunities that you’ll take advantage at Michigan– lots of universities describe themselves as research-oriented, so make sure you know exactly what you’ll be able to do at the University of Michigan!

Some great programs to look into at the University of Michigan are:

• Engaged Michigan
• U-M Entrepreneurship and Innovation
• Global Scholars Program
• LSA Honors Program
• The Residential College program

Conclusion

Good luck on your draft! As long as you keep in mind the core values that make the University of Michigan unique, you’ll be able to write UMich supplemental essays that standout and highlight your strengths as a prospective student.

At Essay Cafe, we offer comprehensive essay reviews to make sure your essays are your biggest advocates in the admissions office. If you’re unsure about your essay strategy or need a trusted second opinion, you can request a review or book a 1:1 session by creating an account here.

Curious about how to write the rest of your supplemental essays? Check out more guides here.