Prompt: UNC-Chapel Hill Supplement
Discuss an academic topic that you’re excited to explore and learn more about in college. Why does this topic interest you? Topics could be a specific course of study, research interests, or any other area related to your academic experience in college. (250 word limit)
Essay
My middle school debate coach was the first to explain climate change to me. Although I couldn’t grasp her passion then, years of debating topics like carbon taxes have helped me slowly piece together her exigence. Extreme weather events strip families of their livelihoods, spark conflicts over necessities, and submerge entire cities. This awareness became the catalyst of my desire to fight global warming.
However, interning with USC and researching the renewable job transition subsequently changed my perspective on the climate response. Our problem isn’t creating enough green jobs: it’s bringing those jobs into fossil fuel-dependent communities. I realized businesses have an overwhelming responsibility to spark change. Those policies I debated––high-speed rail, nuclear energy, organic agriculture––all require private backing to be successful.
So at UNC, I’m excited to explore how business leaders should tackle the climate crisis. That will begin in the Steven D. Bell Hall, where I’ll leverage its adaptable learning spaces in courses like the newly revised “People, Profit, Planet, and Purpose.” Its goal of making businesses drive positive change parallels the sustainability-themed Shark Tank competitions I’ve organized as Vice President of my school’s Business Club.
Additionally, I’m excited to join the Sustainable Business Club, where I’ll lead fellow Tar Heels in developing Carolina-specific Impact Projects, debate in mock COP summits, and orchestrate park cleanups, as I already do with my Community Environmental Hiking Club.
As my generation faces the biggest challenge of this century, I’ll utilize “lux, libertas,” life and liberty, in leading this international fight.
Tips for Writing
- Essays are super annoying but also super important! So even though you’ve probably heard this a million times before, I’ll say it again: start your essays early, especially if you’re like me and tend to brood over every word in your essays. Senior year is a lot.
- For those “why us” essays, I’ve created a formula for myself:
- 1) find a major of choice – some schools will have cool majors that are quirky and kinda hidden!
- 2) search for activities, clubs, and initiatives the university has to offer along that major of choice
- 3) talk about yourself: every admission officer will read hundreds, if not thousands of essays about their school’s programs. Drawing parallels between your unique journey and their mission will make you stand out and seem like a great fit.
- 4) Have an intro or at least a start that isn’t bland––again thousands of essays.
- For any question that demands some sort of deep reflection about who you are as a friend, intellectual, or person: my advice is that it isn’t that deep! You do want to come off as smart and a great person, but make sure you have a bit of your true self in your answer. Brainstorm a little and write about what comes to mind. If you have to make yourself seem better than you are, that’s totally fine. You want to get into a good college, right? Game is game.
- Speaking of games, make a game out of writing your essays! This may not apply to everyone, but I love gamifying things I have to do. Finish the USC essay and you win a walk. Research and write an outline for Rutgers HC’s essay, and you can go to DQ with the boys. Might not work for everyone, but it works for me.