byu essay questions 2022

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How to Write the Brigham Young University Essays 2023-2024

 BYU has six supplemental essays, which are required for all applicants. This is likely one of the most extensive supplemental essay packages you’re going to have, so make sure you leave yourself ample time to brainstorm for, write, and revise your essays.

While only you know exactly how to draw on your own experiences to build a connection between yourself and BYU, in this post we’re going to break down each prompt for you and provide a general approach that will lead to a strong response. Then, all that’s left for you to do is apply that approach to your own background, personality, and goals for college!

Note that, because BYU is not a Common App school, you’ll have to log on to their school-specific application platform in order to see word/character limits for these prompts. Be sure to do that  before  you start writing, or otherwise you may accidentally write a response that’s way too long or short, and end up having a whole bunch of extra work to do when you thought you were done.

BYU Supplemental Essay Prompts

Prompt 1: Describe a topic, idea, or experience that you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. What have you done to learn more or engage further in the topic, idea or experience? What resources do you use to learn more?

Prompt 2: Have you become aware of significant needs in your family, school, and/or community? Please explain how you have worked toward meeting those needs.

Prompt 3: Briefly describe a time that your efforts have fallen short, a goal was not accomplished, or an aspiration was not achieved.  What steps did you take to recover from this defeat? What resources did you use? How and why are you different today?

Prompt 4: We strive to create a rich and varied educational environment through admitting students with a wide range of:

Skills and talents

Life experiences, perspectives, tell us your story. what will you contribute to our university community be specific..

Prompt 5: A BYU education will be spiritually strengthening. BYU students have a unique opportunity to seek learning by study and by faith. Describe the reasons you want to learn in an environment like this.

Prompt 6: Thoughtfully consider the extracurricular activities you have been involved in and select two to write about. Enter your first activity below and the second activity on the following page.

Select an activity you would like to write about:

Please provide a short description of the specific activity: (300 characters)

How long have you participated in this activity?

Why did you choose to participate in this activity? How have you benefited from your participation?

Describe a topic, idea, or experience that you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. What have you done to learn more or engage further in the topic, idea or experience? What resources do you use to learn more?

This prompt is designed to gauge your love of learning and genuine interest in scholarship. One of BYU’s Aims is Intellectually Enlarging, meaning the school is looking for people who have a desire to learn and who seek out answers to questions beyond what is required or mandated by school or work. It is an opportunity for admissions officers to learn something about you that isn’t conveyed or fully developed on other parts of your application. 

Potential examples of topics might include:

• A scientific concept that blows your mind
• A type of media you enjoy consuming
• A unique hobby or skill you taught yourself
• A favorite sport you can play for hours 

Your topic can be literally anything—as long as you can write about it with an academic tone. Just avoid overly casual topics or language as these will not illuminate your personality in the most flattering light. For example, an applicant that writes about bingeing Netflix shows has a much weaker essay than one that couches their Netflix addiction as a side effect of their love of screenwriting. 

When determining your topic, make sure to delve deep and choose something that is specific enough to differentiate your essay from others’. For example, instead of writing about a generic academic subject, choose a concept or theory that resonates with you the most. Here is an excerpt of a response that achieves this:

“I can easily remember when I stopped hearing music and truly began listening to it. Mrs. Petersen, our music teacher, was playing a recording of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons for my fourth grade class. I closed my eyes and there I was—in springtime, with birds overhead, and soon enough, winter, braced against a biting wind of sound. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever heard, and from that moment forth, I dedicated myself to understanding how it worked. 

Studying music theory as I do is like unraveling a rich tapestry woven of pitch, melody, rhythm, and timbre…” 

From here, the student can go in multiple directions with their response. They can explore how their studies of music theory helped them develop as a musician or composer. Or, they can talk about how learning music theory has enabled them to think more analytically about other art forms, like literature.

The next portion of the prompt asks how you have advanced your understanding of the topic on your own and what resources have helped you do so. Avoid mentioning school-mandated resources like classes or required readings; rather, mention ways that you have explored the topic outside of any structured obligation. Have you checked out library books on the subject? Do you dive into Reddit subthreads or fashion YouTube playlists to learn more? Is there an organization or community you founded or joined to help you gain knowledge? Here, it is important to keep up reader engagement by showing, rather than telling, how you sought out additional resources. 

Another key element of your response is a future-facing component. One of BYU’s Aims stresses Lifelong Learning and Service; you should try to incorporate this sentiment in the last couple lines of your response. This will give admissions officers an idea of how you plan to continue exploring this topic in the future, or sharing your love of it with others. Going off of the previous example, a fitting conclusion might go like this: 

“ Studying music theory has allowed me to think differently and listen to the world as I never had before. I intend to study music composition at BYU, and I look forward to learning even more about the inner workings of the world’s musical traditions.”

However you choose to relay your topic, make sure to maintain a narrative-like quality and include specific, descriptive details. The point is to make your essay so unique that no one else could write it. The more well-thought-out and engaging your essay is, the more likely it is to resonate with admissions officers.

Have you become aware of significant needs in your family, school, and/or community? Please explain how you have worked toward meeting those needs.

This prompt asks you to recount your participation in community service. One of BYU’s Aims is Lifelong Service, so it might help to read their website’s breakdown of what it means to their school before you start writing. 

To brainstorm for this essay, think about times where you’ve addressed needs for others. This could be anything from babysitting your younger siblings while your parents work full-time to making blankets for dogs at your local animal shelter. Try to make your topic something that isn’t necessarily apparent from the rest of your application. If you choose an organization already listed out in your extracurriculars, make sure to focus on a specific instance rather than generalizing your role. Here are two examples of potential responses to this prompt: 

Weak: “As a Girl Scout, I have participated in multiple community service projects in my community. I have baked cookies for the elderly, written letters to soldiers overseas, and helped make blankets for my local animal shelter. I organized and executed these activities because community service is important to me.”

Strong: “At lunch, some kids played soccer. Others texted or played iPhone games. I made blankets. For my Girl Scout Gold Award, I decided to target a community near and dear to my heart: the animal shelter. As a weekly volunteer, I saw how many of the dogs had nothing in their concrete kennels and I vowed to change that. I created a school-wide fundraiser to raise money for supplies and spent my Saturday mornings shopping in our downtown textile district. During our lunch period, a few volunteers and I would make no-sew blankets and toys out of various fabrics.”

The first response states the author’s contributions in a straightforward manner that does not convey exactly what efforts they put into improving their community. The overall general descriptions do little to set them apart from other applicants. Meanwhile, the second essay takes readers through specific actions that the author took towards their goal. It is more vivid and immersive in nature, which allows admissions officers to get a better idea of the student’s personality. The first response tells admissions officers that the student is dedicated, while the second shows them through specific details. 

Briefly describe a time that your efforts have fallen short, a goal was not accomplished, or an aspiration was not achieved. What steps did you take to recover from this defeat? What resources did you use? How and why are you different today?

Here, admissions officers want to see how you deal with adversity. When choosing a topic, try not to pick something overdone like a poor grade or losing a sports game. Instead, write about something that is unique to you. 

The first thing you need to do is establish the context of the defeat. Talk about the instance and the way it made you feel. Use an active voice and vivid details to give it an anecdote-like quality. 

For example, someone who was training for a half marathon might not have achieved their personal record time despite training daily for 4 months. 

Another student might not have been accepted into a pre-medical program that would have helped them gain field experience and choose a career path. 

Next, think about how you moved past the failure, and what specific steps you took to ameliorate the situation. Show admissions officers how you felt by taking them through your thought process; this added vulnerability will make your essay more personable. 

Writing about frustration, anger, or sadness is valid, but make sure you do so in a way that isn’t overly victimizing or putting down others. It is important to keep your tone professional while conveying these feelings in order to make your essay resonate the most strongly.

After writing your reaction, walk readers through the steps you took to recover from the failure. The prompt asks you multiple questions: how you recovered, resources you used, and how and why you are different. You should touch on all of these but it is okay if within the limited response you don’t elaborate on all of these. Keep these questions in the back of your mind while writing the prompt, but don’t answer them sequentially; rather, phrase your answer like a narrative for the most ideal flow and compelling response. Keep your response forward-facing and focus on what you did to fix the situation instead of dwelling on the failure; this will show your character to admissions officers.

The applicant who was training for a marathon might talk about how they reframed their mentality to revolve around how they felt while running rather than breaking their personal records. They can describe mixing up their training regimen and changing their diet to make running a more pleasurable experience, rather than a competitive one.

An essay about being rejected from a pre-medical program might have made the author question their desire to be a doctor. However, by compiling their own resources and seeking out volunteer experience, they learned that they are willing to put in the work to pursue the field, which has underscored their desire to become a medical professional.

By describing the steps you took to work around the failure in a narrative-like manner, you can create a compelling essay that demonstrates your character to admissions officers. 

We strive to create a rich and varied educational environment through admitting students with a wide range of:

BYU wants to know what sets you apart from other students. This is an opportunity for you to mention something that is not mentioned elsewhere on your application. Think about your various identities and the unique ways they intersect. This topic might seem overly broad, but just think of it as there being no wrong answer. As long as your essay remains academic in tone, you can craft a masterful narrative about anything.

Avoid mentioning clichés or being redundant on your application. For example if you have already discussed your career interest in another essay, make this essay about something completely different. Also, avoid being too general with your topic. For example, instead of mentioning the culture you are a part of in a holistic manner, name a couple specific traditions that you enjoy participating in and elaborate on those.

If you need inspiration or a starting off point, read over the school’s Aims and look at the website with example essays. Doing so may jog your memory or provide you with a better idea of what kind of candidate the school is looking for. A good check to see whether you have selected a good topic is to take a step back and think if anyone else could have written your essay. If the answer is no, you’re in good shape! If the answer is yes, make your topic even more personal and specific.

A BYU education will be spiritually strengthening. BYU students have a unique opportunity to seek learning by study and by faith. Describe the reasons you want to learn in an environment like this.

BYU may have been started by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but you don’t need to be a believer to attend. If you are a member of the church, or even of another religion, this is a great time to affirm what you believe, what your religious tradition means to you, and why you believe this is the best setting in which to learn. If you are not religious, this is a time to reflect what appeals to you about BYU’s values, and the school’s overall learning environment. Here are some questions to help you brainstorm, whether you are a believer or not.

• What does faith or devotion mean to you? What does it look like in everyday life, and how might it contribute to a positive learning environment?
• How might shared values and beliefs make a community stronger? How can you explore your own values and beliefs in the BYU community?
• Even within one community, there can be diversity of beliefs and practices. How do you envision both learning from the BYU community, and contributing to the diversity of belief on campus?

Once you have some ideas for your essay, it’s time to start writing. Remember to check the application for specific word and character limits, as these limits will be crucial in planning your essay. Though you may have many pages’ worth of thoughts on this prompt, college essays require you to state your thoughts as efficiently as possible–you need to be brief, but also thoughtful. Depending on how you want to structure your essay, you can do that in a lot of different ways. 

One very effective way to structure a college essay is by using a single event or story to illustrate your values and character. This is a dynamic way to help admissions officers get to know you without resorting to a laundry list of qualities and information. If you are using an anecdote, or a few anecdotes, to tell BYU about yourself, make sure you are choosing stories that focus on you and demonstrate the qualities you want to share. While you may find other stories from your life more exciting, the point of this particular narrative is that it showcases your personality and what’s important to you.

If you don’t want to use a story to answer this prompt, you may want to describe your potential engagement with BYU by envisioning a future for yourself on campus. This is another great way to show the BYU admissions team who you are, as you are almost doing their job for them, and painting a picture of the ways you hope to contribute to their community. Like the previous approach, this essay structure will be most effective with specific examples. Rather than just saying that your faith inspires you to serve others, talk about how you hope to volunteer with the Adopt a Grandparent group through Brigham Young’s Y-Serve program. 

This is a great time to dig a bit deeper into BYU and flex your knowledge of the university. The whole reason why the BYU admissions committee is reviewing your application is to imagine you on campus–what you’d do, and why they should want you there–and a response that utilizes this approach effectively will directly answer those two questions. Just remember to always connect the things you hope to do on campus to the spiritual focus of this question.

Thoughtfully consider the extracurricular activities you have been involved in and select two to write about. Enter your first activity below and the second activity on the following page.

Please provide a short description of the specific activity: , why did you choose to participate in this activity how have you benefited from your participation .

These next prompts go together and allow you to elaborate on your current extracurricular activities. This is an opportunity for you to expand upon your application and give some of your activities more than a simple description. While your short description and how long you’ve participated in this activity should be relatively straightforward, answering why you chose to participate in it and how you have benefited should take on a more narrative-like quality.

Here is an example of a potential response.:

“Donate Life is a club dedicated to raising awareness about organ donation and transplants. I have participated in this club for four years, first as an active member and then as a board member, and eventually, President. However, my connection to organ donation goes farther back than high school. When I was thirteen, my cousin was able to receive a heart transplant from someone who had recently passed in a car accident. Seeing her recovery inspired me to make this opportunity available for more people. In this club, I hold weekly lunch seminars during which students can learn more about how they can contribute to the movement. We participate in marathons and other nonprofit events to get the word out and to encourage people to sign up to donate their organs. This past summer, we were able to get over 5,000 signatures pledging to sign up for organ donation in the event of the person’s passing. My Donate Life family and my real family experiences have shown me the importance of being an active community member who pushes for positive change and encourages others to do the same.”

Whatever you choose to write about, make sure that your voice shines through and that you list your specific contributions by mentioning the work you did in a tangible manner. 

Where to Get Your Brigham Young University Essays Edited

Writing essays takes a lot of time and focus, and after seeing the same essay time and time again, it can be hard to tell what to change. Going through the editing process with another pair of eyes can help identify areas where your essay could be stronger, as well as areas that you’re already doing well. CollegeVine has created a free Peer Review Essay Tool , where you can get feedback on your essay, and give feedback to other students just like you!

CollegeVine also offers essay review by our team of experienced advisors, who have helped hundreds of students submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you and get the feedback you need to make your application a success!

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BYU has three application deadlines each year for transfer applicants:

• Apply by June 1 to be admitted in fall semester.
• Apply by August 1 to be admitted in winter semester.
• Apply by December 15 to be admitted in spring and summer terms.

You qualify as a transfer applicant as soon as you have enrolled in any university classes after graduating from high school. If you want to avoid submitting your high school transcript, you will need to have at least 24 graded credits completed. But you can apply as a transfer applicant before reaching 24 credits.

BYU does not penalize applicants for applying more than once, so it doesn’t hurt to apply at every opportunity.

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Application essays are a key part of your application to BYU. Your essays should demonstrate how you embrace the Aims of a BYU Education . Rather than just a list of accomplishments, your essays should show how your experiences have prepared you to contribute to the BYU community and the world. Before submitting your essays, we recommend you have them reviewed by the BYU Research & Writing Center.

Application Essay Tips Research & Writing Center

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A transfer application to BYU requires one recommendation from a person of your choosing (not a relative). Be sure to choose someone familiar with you and your recent work such as a professor or supervisor. Contact them in advance and ask if they are willing to recommend you. It’s a good idea to share information with them like a resume or "brag sheet" to help them know what to write.

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, byu application—what kind of questions should i expect.

Hi, I'm starting to work on my BYU application and I was wondering if anyone could give me an idea of what kind of questions the application will have? Are there essay prompts? If so, what topics do they cover? Thanks in advance!

Hello! It's great that you're getting started on your BYU application. While the specific questions and prompts might change slightly from year to year, CollegeVine offers an annually updated breakdown of all the prompts: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-brigham-young-university-essays

When approaching these essays, consider how you can convey your unique experiences and personality while demonstrating your alignment with BYU's mission and values. Make sure to check the current application for the most up-to-date prompts before starting your essays. Good luck with your application!

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“Susie was a tremendous help with my BYU essays. She helped me come up with ideas and phrase them in a way that accurately supported my ideas. Susie was very positive and supportive throughout the editing process and had excellent suggestions for changes. The essays were the extra strength that I needed to get into BYU.”

“Susie was a big help getting me into BYU. I had heard from everyone that the essays were the most important part of getting accepted and wanted to do a great job on them. Before I started working with Susie, I had ideas but wasn't sure what to write about. Susie gave me great advice and helped me brainstorm much better topics than what I originally had. After I wrote the essays, Susie gave me professional editing help so that the essays expressed my ideas how I wanted them to. Overall, I can guarantee that the help Susie gave me really increased my odds of getting into BYU.”

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Acceptance Criteria

Acceptance into the baccalaureate nursing program is based on a number of criteria including, but not limited to, academic performance, healthcare experience, assessments, interviews, other parts of the application and your service list.

Students must complete all pre-requisite courses with at least a C (a C- is not satisfactory progress). * All Independent Study/transfer classes (if taken) must have grades posted on transcript by application deadline. English as a Second Language (ESL) students have additional pre-requisites. Please see the Advisement Center for more information.

ACT or SAT or TOEFL

Student must have an ACT or SAT or TOEFL (for English as a Second Language students only) on file at BYU in order to apply.

The application has specific details and a template to follow for the resume. Please follow these directions.

Essay Questions

Students must respond to short answer essay questions. Be sure to check for spelling and grammar before submitting.

Healthcare Experience

The college of nursing is looking for at least 6 months if possible but any experience will do. It can be through volunteer or work experience. Healthcare is a wide umbrella so it doesn’t necessarily have to be a CNA. There will be a short answer essay question in relation to the experience.

Recommendations

Recommendations are online forms to be filled out by the recommender, not letters. Recommendations should come from someone who knows the applicant well and who can address the character traits identified on the form. Applicants can select individuals from the following options: organizational leader, co-worker, supervisor, coach, employer or teacher. (High school teachers often know the applicant better than a BYU professor.) The recommender should not be a parent, sibling, spouse, other family member, or close friend (i.e. roommate).

Interviews may be conducted online via a video link or in person and may be pre-recorded or live. If follow-up questions are needed, the student will be notified. More specific information will be in the application.

Instructions

If the instructions in the application itself are not followed, the application will not be considered.

Acceptance Data

For current acceptance data, please see the Basic Information Packet .

Undergraduate Learning Outcomes

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How much do the BYU admissions essay prompts change year to year?

I am a rising high school senior, and I want to get my application in as soon as possible, so I am considering using last semesters admission essay prompts and writing the essays so that I can turn in my application as soon as possible. Is this a mistake?

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Undergraduate, common questions.

How much is tuition? For a full-time student Undergraduate Under- graduate LDS 12+ Credits $3,152 per semester NON-LDS 12+ Credits $6,304 per semester As BYU's sponsor, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints subsidizes tuition prices with its members' tithing funds. In principle, each student attending BYU is on scholarship. Graduate LDS 8.5+ Credits $3,966 per semester NON-LDS 8.5+ Credits $7,932 per semester Business and Law Students LDS 8.5+ Credits $7,318 per semester NON-LDS 8.5+ Credits $14,636 per semester As BYU's sponsor, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints subsidizes tuition prices with its members' tithing funds. In principle, each student attending BYU is on scholarship. More Tuition Details >

How To Get Into BYU (2024)

Tips and tricks for getting admitted into Brigham Young University, complete with an overview of the application, sample admit essays, GPA requirements, and more.

Posted July 8, 2024

Admissions Panel: Tips and Strategies for BYU Applicants

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Table of Contents

Overview of byu.

Brigham Young University , located in Provo, Utah, is a private university sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Established in 1875, BYU offers a diverse range of academic programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels.

BYU is notable for several things. Most of its students are members of the Church of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) and follow an honor code that includes standards related to dress and grooming, academic honesty, and drugs and alcohol. It is consistently ranked as one of the best-value universities . Likewise, BYU is often ranked among the top universities for foreign language degrees in part because of the LDS church’s heavy emphasis on missionary service.

Can You Go to BYU if You Are Not a Member of the LDS Church?

While it was founded and is supported by The LDS Church, BYU embraces students of all faiths and beliefs. Admission decisions are based on academic merit, personal achievements, and character, rather than religious adherence.

Brigham Young University (BYU) Facts & Figures

• # of International Students: 1,241
• Total # of Graduate Students: 2,842

Demographics + Ethnicity

• Female: 51%
• Single: 58.5%
• Top 3 Nations: Canada, Mexico, South Korea
• Caucasian: 81%
• Hispanic or Latino: 9%
• 2 or More Races: 4.5%
• Pacific Islander: 1%
• American Indian: < 1%
• Transfer Acceptance Rate: 64.8%
• Middle 50% GPA: 3.86-4.00
• Middle 50% ACT: 27-32
• Middle 50% SAT: 1290-1440
• # of Undergraduate Majors: 198
• # of Undergraduate Minors: 113

Undergraduate Tuition (2024-2025)

• Members of the LDS Church: $3,344 per semester
• Non-Members: $6,688 per semester

Undergraduate Cost of Attendance

• On-Campus: $10,396
• Off-Campus: $11,364
• Books and Supplies:$392
• Personal Expenses: $1,984
• Transportation: $2,480
• Loan Fees: $64
• On-Campus: $22,004
• Off-Campus: $22,972
• On-Campus: $28,692
• Off-Campus: $29,660

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BYU Application Deadlines (2024-2025)

• Applications Open: August 28, 2024
• Priority: November 1, 2024
• Regular Decision: December 16, 2024
• Decisions Released: February 17, 2025

BYU Application Components

Upon submitting your application, only an unofficial high school transcript is required. If admitted, an official transcript must follow.

Class registration relies on the official transcript being received and verified. BYU evaluates GPAs without weighting but considers the rigor of the coursework.

Letters of Recommendation

The BYU application requires three types of letters of recommendation:

• Seminary Recommendation
• Must have taught you a math, English, science, or social science class in your junior or senior year
• Anyone who knows you well and is not a relative. For example, extracurricular supervisors or sports team coaches.

The recommender will receive an email containing a link to a form that they must complete. This form asks recommenders to rate the student on various criteria:

• Demonstrates integrity, and trustworthiness, and fulfills commitments
• Creates a safe environment for classmates to participate and share observations
• Demonstrates problem-solving ability and sound thinking
• Sets and achieves challenging goals

The second part is a section for open-ended responses to specific prompts, such as “What evidence do you see of the applicant challenging themselves academically?”

Please note that BYU only accepts recommendations through this specific form within the application. It is important to communicate this to your recommenders to ensure they do not attempt to submit a separate letter.

Ecclesiastical Endorsement

All applicants, regardless of their affiliation with the LDS church, must submit an ecclesiastical endorsement. This endorsement includes agreeing to abide by the BYU Honor Code and the Dress and Grooming Standards and meeting with two religious leaders to verify that you understand the standards and are capable of committing to them.

Standardized Test Scores

BYU is test-optional through winter 2026. However, as it states on the application, "Applicants are encouraged to submit a test score if they feel it is a good representation of their academic abilities."

What does this mean? Well, you should at least try to take the test and aim for the average of the most recently admitted class. In 2024, the middle 50% of ACT scores were 27-32; for the SAT, it was 1290-1440. For the most recent application cycle, 58.4% of applicants chose to submit a test score.

If you have a lower GPA, it's more important that you do well on the test. If you have a high GPA but score low on the test, you probably won't want to submit the score. The ideal situation, of course, is that you have both a high GPA and test score.

ACT vs. SAT

Take the test that is best for you. Many students naturally score higher on one test than the other. We recommend taking a practice test for both — see how you score and how you felt during each. How was the timing and pacing of questions? How did you do on each section?

BYU SAT Requirements & ACT Requirements

As the BYU site states: "Freshmen applicants who have completed sufficient accredited high school work will have the option to apply with or without an ACT or SAT test."

See here for ACT/SAT guidelines for transfer applicants, international applicants, homeschooled applicants, and concurrent enrollment applicants.

For more info, read The ACT vs. SAT: Which to Take and How to Ace Both and The Best Free Resources to Prepare for the ACT and SAT .

BYU Application Essays

BYU Essay Prompts (2024-2025)

The essays are one of the most important aspects of the application. Freshmen applicants are required to write essays on five topics:

• Describe a topic, idea, or experience that you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. What have you done to learn more or engage further in the topic, idea, or experience? What resources do you use to learn more? (1500 character limit)
• Have you become aware of significant needs in your family, school, and/or community? Please explain how you have worked toward meeting those needs. (1500 character limit)
• Briefly describe a time that your efforts have fallen short, a goal was not accomplished, or an aspiration was not achieved. What steps did you take to recover from this defeat? What resources did you use? How and why are you different today? (1500 character limit)
• Skills and talents
• Life experiences
• Perspectives
• Cultures Tell us your story. What will you contribute to our university community? Be specific. (1500 character limit)
• A BYU education will be spiritually strengthening. BYU students have a unique opportunity to seek learning by study and by faith. Describe the reasons you want to learn in an environment like this. (1500 character limit)

You will also be asked to write about two additional activities to help the AdCom get to know who are as a person. You'll have 300 characters to describe the activity and then 1500 characters to explain why you chose to participate in it and how you benefitted from it.

BYU Essay Tips

• Weave a cohesive narrative. Your application should show who you are, where you've been, and where you're going.
• Don't exaggerate. You don't need to have solved cancer or won a Nobel prize to get into BYU. While you do need to be involved in activities, it's more important that you own what you have done and can explain the significance of it.
• Show impact. How have you impacted your communities? How has your involvement in clubs, sports teams, etc. made those groups better? The BYU AdCom wants to admit students who will make BYU a better place. By showing that you've done that in your other activities, you'll make a stronger case for why they should let you in.
• Get deep. The key to powerful essays is sufficient self-reflection. Take time to understand why you made the decisions you did throughout high school, what you care about in a collegiate experience, why you actually want to go to BYU (specifically), how you will make the most of your time there, and what you're interested in long-term.

BYU Essay Examples

Example BYU Essays From Admits

Use these example essays from successful BYU applicants to help you write the best possible essays

In addition to the essays, BYU applicants will also need to select two activities to go deeper into (1500 character limit). As BYU states:

"While you have most likely been involved in many different activities, you will have an opportunity to write about two activities that will help us get to know you as an individual. You will be able to describe the activity, how long you have participated in it, and how you have benefited from your participation."

New AI Essay Policy & Tips

Starting with the 2023-2024 application and continuing to this year, BYU has added a new step to the application process. You will be required to agree to an Essays and Activities Commitment and adhere to the following:

• You must not pay anyone to assist you with your application
• You may not use generative AI tools (such as ChatGPT) to write your responses
• The work you submit must be entirely your own
• You may seek feedback from others to ensure clarity and effectiveness in responding to prompts
• You may use tools like Grammarly to aid in the writing process

If you have any questions regarding your essays, BYU offers free help through representatives . Be aware that BYU uses software to analyze all admission essays and responses and may revoke admission offers to any student whose essay is determined to have been generated by AI or plagiarized in any form.

Additionally, BYU offers specific essay advice on their website:

• Understand the principles of AIMS and use them in your application
• Generally, prioritize recent experiences over older ones
• Avoid repetition -your essays should not merely duplicate your resume. Instead, use them to showcase different facets of yourself and your experiences
• Remember that the only way BYU will know things about you is for you to explicitly tell them. The admissions committee cannot read your mind; the picture they’ll see is the one you put right in front of them.
• Your essays must reflect your own words and ideas. While others can assist in reviewing them, the content must be your authentic work.
• Above all, be genuine!

The BYU Aims outline the goals of a BYU education. Importantly, they are also part of the criteria that the Admissions Committee uses to evaluate potential applicants.

On its website, BYU outlines the AIMS:

"BYU seeks to develop students of faith, intellect, and character who have the skills and the desire to continue learning and to serve others throughout their lives. These are the common aims of all education at BYU. Both those who teach in the classroom and those who direct activities outside the classroom are responsible for contributing to this complete educational vision. A BYU education should be:

• Spiritually Strengthening
• Intellectually Enlarging
• Character Building
• Leading to Lifelong Learning and Service"

In your application, it's crucial to weave in the different Aims. BYU wants students who embody these characteristics; by showing that you do so, you are more likely to be admitted. To get started, make a list for each Aim with any activities/extracurriculars, awards, honors, themes, etc. from your life. Then, you can assign each to a different part of the application. See more about the BYU Aims below.

How to Prepare for BYU Admissions as a High Schooler

Preparing for the BYU application starts years before the deadlines. Here are several things to start doing in your underclassman high school years:

• Join clubs and take leadership positions
• Participate in service projects and organizations
• Take AP classes and do well in them (PS: Read What AP Test Scores Do Colleges Accept? )
• Pursue extracurricular activities
• Cultivate good relationships with teachers, school counselors, and church leaders (bishop, stake president, etc.)

What GPA Do You Need to Get Into BYU?

BYU sets high academic standards for admission, with the middle 50% GPA of admitted students ranging from 3.86 to 4.00 — indicating that most students have achieved straight As or nearly so.

This places BYU among the most competitive private religious universities in the nation. As BYU continues to grow in prominence, competition for admission intensifies. While the university takes a holistic approach to reviewing applications, a higher GPA significantly enhances your chances of acceptance.

Aim for an unweighted 4.0 GPA; if you fall short, strive for at least a 3.86. If your GPA is lower, compensate by excelling in the standardized test. Additionally, take AP-level courses to raise your weighted GPA and demonstrate your readiness for college-level academics.

BYU Application Tips

1. paint the picture of a byu student.

On its website, BYU says that there is “no secret formula for admission.” They consider all parts of the applicant holistically and are looking for the AIMS of BYU Education (see above). These principles guide the entire application process, so it's crucial to embody them across all aspects of your application.

• Spiritually Strengthening – They recommend applicants graduate from the LDS seminary and arrive spiritually prepared. The goal of the university is to provide a spiritually uplifting environment in which to gain an education.
• Intellectually Enlarging – Prospective students are advised to pursue challenging coursework in high school and maintain involvement in extracurricular passions. This dual commitment prepares students for academic rigor and personal growth.
• Character Building – Applicants should be just as strong morally as they are mentally; they should have a solid work ethic, be resilient, and be honest.
• Lifelong Learning and Service – One unofficial motto of BYU is, “Enter to learn, go forth to serve.” Service is a major component of the LDS church and the school, and applicants should have a love of and commitment to serving others.

To align with BYU's expectations, highlight your academic readiness, spiritual preparedness (for LDS applicants), diligence, and alignment with BYU's values. BYU seeks students who will uphold its honor code, prioritize academic excellence, and contribute positively to the campus community.

2. Engage Meaningfully in Extracurricular Activities

Don’t pursue activities that you think BYU “wants” to see in its applicants. Instead, find what brings you joy, and develop your talents in those areas, which may include but are not limited to:

BYU doesn’t care about what you spend your time on (to a certain extent), but rather how you spend your time. Are you becoming a better person? Developing new skills? Contributing to the community? Taking on leadership positions?

As stated on its website, BYU encourages applicants to illustrate their impact through specific examples of meaningful community involvement in their application essays. Don’t take this advice lightly.

Read: How to Build the Best Extracurriculars for College

3. Choose Between the ACT and SAT Based on Your Strengths

BYU holds no preference for either the ACT or SAT, so it's important to select the test that aligns best with your skills and strengths. While both exams cover similar content areas, they differ significantly in format and approach.

Although BYU's average GPA is notably high, the average ACT/SAT scores are slightly less competitive. This presents an opportunity for applicants to distinguish themselves through strong standardized test performance. Each year, the average ACT scores of admitted students increase so aim for a higher-than-average score.

We recommend taking practice tests for both the ACT and SAT to determine which one you perform better on. Develop a comprehensive study plan focusing on improving your weaker areas. Avoid last-minute cramming; preparing for standardized tests requires months of consistent practice, studying, and retaking practice tests to enhance your performance.

By strategically selecting and preparing for the ACT or SAT, you can optimize your chances of achieving a competitive score that strengthens your BYU application.

4. Graduate from Seminary

Historically, graduating from seminary was a crucial requirement for LDS applicants seeking admission to BYU, and it continues to hold significant importance. This achievement not only aligns with BYU's core value of "Spiritually Strengthening" but also signifies your readiness for the university's spiritually enriching environment. Additionally, seminary graduation enhances your connection to potential recommenders, who can serve as mentors and advocates in your application process.

5. Invest in Your Essays

The BYU admissions committee has a specific formula that weighs different parts of the application. Supposedly, one of the most important factors, if not the most important , is the essays. A compelling essay has the potential to offset lower test scores or GPA and illuminate aspects of your candidacy that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Craft a cohesive narrative in your essays that remains focused and builds towards a clear point. Ensure your responses directly address the prompt, reflecting consistently on their relevance to your personal experiences. Your essays should be uniquely yours; if someone else could write the same essay, you probably have some editing to do.

6. Develop Leadership Skills – BYU Values Future Leaders

While listing extracurricular activities is essential, elevating yourself to leadership positions within those activities significantly enhances your prospects for admission to BYU.

Holding leadership roles demonstrates a deep commitment to your interests, cultivates effective communication and interpersonal skills, and showcases your potential for high achievement. BYU actively seeks candidates who show initiative and the capacity to lead, making leadership experience a compelling asset in your application.

7. Foster Meaningful Connections with BYU Staff

All colleges aspire to admit students who want to go to their school. By showing genuine interest in the university’s specific programs, the AdCom will see that getting in means more than checking a box. There are many different ways to do this, but here are a few ideas:

• Participate in campus tours
• Attend on-campus events (Examples: BYU Education Week, seminars, weekly forums, sporting events, sports camps, FSY, plays/musicals, etc.)
• Reach out to the BYU admissions counselors; ask for guidance and inquire about trends they’ve seen in the admissions process

By actively participating in these activities, you not only gain a deeper understanding of BYU but also showcase your genuine commitment and enthusiasm, thereby strengthening your candidacy for admission.

8. Bonus Tip: Take Foreign Language Courses

While not a formal recommendation for admissions, the BYU AdCom weighs classes differently based on certain factors. For example, Honors and AP classes are weighted more heavily than base-level classes. Also, BYU is rumored to pay extra attention to foreign language classes. Another unofficial motto of the school is, “The world is our campus” and the curriculum and standards emphasize the importance of a global education. The BYU Study Abroad Programs are very strong, and over 60% of the student body speaks multiple languages.

By enrolling in foreign language courses, you demonstrate your readiness to contribute to this global perspective, potentially enhancing your application to BYU.

Get Into BYU With the Help of an Expert

Navigating the college application process can be intimidating, but with the guidance of experienced coaches and resources, you can approach it with confidence and clarity. Our team offers a variety of undergraduate admissions coaches who specialize in every aspect of the application journey. Below are some of our top undergrad admissions coaches; see all those with BYU experience here .

Here are several other resources to help you navigate through your applications:

• How to Write a College Application Resume
• The Top 40 College Scholarships
• 4 Tips to Elevate Your College Essay
• Top Questions to Ask a College Admissions Officer

BYU Application FAQs

Does BYU require foreign language?

No, Brigham Young University (BYU) does not require a foreign language for admission. However, having completed foreign language courses in high school can enhance your application and demonstrate academic diversity. Some majors might have specific foreign language requirements, so it's always a good idea to check the program details.

What are the BYU admission requirements?

To gain admission to BYU, applicants must submit the following:

• A completed online application form
• Official high school transcripts
• An ecclesiastical endorsement
• Five essays and two additional activities
• Optional ACT or SAT scores
• Three letters of recommendation
• Additionally, BYU considers your high school GPA, extracurricular activities, leadership roles, and service experiences.

Is it hard to get into BYU?

BYU has a competitive admissions process. The acceptance rate for 2024 was 68.7%, making it moderately selective. Admissions decisions are based on a holistic review of your academic achievements, test scores (if submitted), essays, recommendations, and extracurricular involvement. Strong applicants typically have high GPAs, impressive essays, and robust service or leadership experiences.

Is BYU test-optional? What are BYU's SAT/ACT requirements?

Yes, BYU has adopted a test-optional policy until winter 2026. Applicants for the upcoming academic years can choose whether to submit their ACT or SAT scores. While test scores are not mandatory, submitting them can still strengthen your application, especially if your scores are above the university's average range:

• SAT: 1290-1440

Submitting scores within or above these ranges can bolster your application, even though it is not required. Always check the latest admissions guidelines for the most current information.

How many credits do you need to get into BYU?

BYU does not specify a minimum number of high school credits required for admission. However, a strong college preparatory curriculum is recommended, including:

• 4 years of English
• 3-4 years of mathematics
• 2-3 years of science
• 2 years of social science

Additional coursework in foreign language, arts, and technical education can be beneficial.

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Parable of the Cane

Winter 2023 Issue

Each BYU Homecoming includes an essay contest, sponsored by descendants of George H. Brimhall, to honor a BYU founder. The 2022 contest honors James E. Talmage, Apostle and Brigham Young Academy alumnus and professor. Here is the winning essay, by English graduate student Isaac James Richards (BA ’22).

My eyes froze on the email: “Coffee at 10 a.m. on Friday?”

I was applying to graduate schools, and I wanted to make a good first impression on this professor and potential advisor.

Do I wait to explain in person that I don’t drink coffee?  I wondered.  Or do I try to do that over email? There will surely be other beverage options available, right?

Looking back, I’m amused at my anxiety. Growing up in Rexburg, Idaho, hadn’t given me much experience with coffee culture.

Despite the professor’s assurances that I could order a different drink, I  did  end up staring at a menu of nothing but coffee. When I mumbled, “What do you have besides coffee?” to the barista, she paused, then said with a shrug, “I guess I could make you a lemonade?”

James E. Talmage cared about fitting in at graduate school, too. At age 19, he left Provo by train for Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. Upon arrival Talmage realized that the fashion among students was to use a stylish cane or walking stick. He promptly purchased one and noted in his journal: “This may seem a very trivial item, but it illustrates one of my favorite theories, viz, that a traveler should be strictly cosmopolitan, and ever conform to the ways of the particular community wherein he may be.”

I felt that same pressure as I attended my first academic conference in Baltimore, Maryland. While there I used a free afternoon to visit Johns Hopkins University , where Talmage studied during his second year of graduate school. I tried to imagine a bespectacled young Talmage eagerly bent over a chemistry book in the historic George Peabody Institute Library.

That same day I was invited to a reception at Pickle’s Pub —a bar just blocks away from Saratoga Street, where Talmage rented his first room in Baltimore. This time the awkwardness settled even deeper into my stomach. Academia was certainly widening my sphere: first a coffee shop, now a bar! Summoning my courage, I swallowed hard and marched out into the rain. I wanted something stronger than a lemonade—so I ended up with a Sprite.

Talmage continued in his journal: “All the men smoke here; I do not intend to smoke for that reason, because by doing so I sacrifice a principle, but by simply using a cane I sacrifice no principle, but at the same time conform to [the customs of] the people here.”

Talmage’s parable of the cane distinguishes between conformity and uniqueness, reminding us that both have their limits. Being unique isn’t just about breaking rules and conventions. There are some things that shouldn’t be broken—like commandments and covenants. In fact, what makes us  unique  in all the world is what we have in  common : the truths of the restored gospel.

Talmage balanced tradition and innovation when the Church and BYU were undergoing dramatic changes. He wrote a textbook on science when such a topic was seen as worldly and anti-religion by many Church members. He was present in the Tabernacle when Wilford Woodruff delivered the Manifesto, ending plural marriage. He saw Brigham Young Academy mature into a true institution of higher education. Talmage wasn’t afraid of what he would learn. He brought the best of the world and the uniqueness of BYU together.

As an aspiring scholar and professor, I’m inspired by Talmage’s poise on the balance beams of the world.

We all want to fit in, and we all want to be unique. The parable of the cane is about successfully balancing on that tightrope—conforming when it may not matter, but never compromising when it does. Remember the coffee incident? That professor asked me to present research with him in New Orleans. And the Sprite? No one judged me. And remember how I was applying to graduate school? I’ve been invited to attend a top PhD program. When the acceptance package arrived on my doorstep, inside I found a mug and two large bags of coffee.

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Law Library

Study Aids for Law Students

• Aspen Learning Library - Formerly the Wolters Kluwer Online Study Aids Library
• AudioCaseFiles
• LexisNexis Digital Library
• Themis Law School Essentials
• Bar Exam Sample Essays
• Sample Exams
• Black Letter Outlines
• Emanuel CrunchTime
• Emanuel Law Outlines
• Examples and Explanations
• Gilbert Law Summaries
• Glannon Guides

Many state bar associations post former bar exam essay questions and sample answers on their websites. These model answers are useful for studying for the bar and final exams.

Search online for state bar exam questions and answers, or use the list provided at the bottom of this page. Access is free.

• Try writing a response to a practice question, then comparing your response to the model answer.
• Some bar exam questions require the application of state law (e.g., California civil procedure), and may not be helpful if you are studying federal law. Read the question carefully. 
• Subject coverage will vary by exam and by state.

1L Subjects:

• Civil Procedure (federal and state questions)
• Constitutional Law
• Contract Law
• Criminal Law

2L/3L Subjects:

• Business Organizations
• Conflict of Laws
• Criminal Procedure
• Family Law/Community Property
• Professional Responsibility/Ethics
• Secured Transactions (Uniform Commercial Code 2)
• Wills & Trusts

Sample Exam Questions & Answers By State

• Mississippi
• Pennsylvania
• UBE  (Many of the states on this list administer the UBE, but the states offer more recent model essay answers than the UBE)
• << Previous: Themis Law School Essentials
• Next: Sample Exams >>
• Last Updated: Jan 27, 2022 9:12 AM
• URL: https://guides.law.byu.edu/studyaids

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New Freshman Scholarships

Welcome to BYU! We're so happy you are considering coming here. You should apply for freshman scholarships during your senior year of high school, even if you plan to leave on your mission before attending BYU. As a prospective new freshman, you are eligible to apply for undergraduate scholarships beginning with the term/semester you are admitted. You must complete a scholarship application by the appropriate deadline in order to be considered. You must also apply for admissions by the admissions deadline . Also, the Russell M. Nelson, Heritage, and National Merit scholarships require your ACT or SAT score for consideration. Make sure to send your scores to BYU. We will use the highest ACT or SAT score we receive, even if it's not the one on your admissions application.

Freshman student scholarships will now include consideration of non-academic factors, including financial need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). For awarding purposes, we will assume that if you do not complete this federal need analysis, you do not have financial need.

Available Scholarships

The Russell M. Nelson Scholarship is the most prestigious scholarship offered at Brigham Young University. Recipients are among the most academically gifted students who enter the university. However, the scholarship is not awarded on academic merit alone. Recipients must also demonstrate the highest standards of character, leadership, integrity, testimony, devotion to the Church, and modesty in word, action, dress, and grooming, thereby modeling the values outlined in the For the Strength of Youth pamphlet.

We select 50 new entering freshman students each year to receive this award, which is valued at 150% of Latter-day Saint tuition for eight semesters. Applicants should complete the essay portion of the regular scholarship application. The scholarship committee will review that information as well as information from the admissions application to determine the recipients of this scholarship. You must also submit your ACT or SAT score for consideration.

The Heritage Scholarship is an eight-semester, full Latter-day Saint tuition scholarship awarded to incoming freshman students. These scholarships honor the intellectual, spiritual, and cultural heritage of the Church and the university. Heritage Scholarships require your ACT or SAT score for consideration.

If you are a National Merit finalist, have listed BYU as your first-choice school, and qualify to receive a multi-year scholarship, it is possible you would receive a BYU-sponsored National Merit Scholarship which pays full LDS tuition for eight semesters; however, it is not guaranteed. Also, BYU-sponsored National Merit Scholarships require your ACT or SAT score for consideration.

National Merit Scholarships are sponsored by three different entities. Scholarships are sponsored by National Merit, a corporation, or by a university. National Merit selects the scholarships they will be sponsoring, corporations select the scholarships they will be sponsoring and then a list is sent to each university listing everyone else who listed that school as their first-choice school. BYU evaluates the list and selects the students they want to sponsor. For a student to be selected as a recipient of a BYU-sponsored National Merit Scholarship, they must initially qualify for a Russell M. Nelson Scholarship or a Heritage Scholarship. If the student is a recipient of one of these two scholarships, is a National Merit finalist with BYU as the first-choice school and is not being sponsored by National Merit or by a corporation, BYU would then select them as a National Merit Scholar. If a student is being sponsored by National Merit or a corporation, they would not be eligible to receive a BYU-sponsored National Merit Scholarship. All National Merit decisions will be announced after June 1.

Students who are initially awarded a Heritage Scholarship and are then selected as a BYU-sponsored National Merit Scholarship recipient will have the Heritage Scholarship replaced by the National Merit Scholarship. The National Merit pays full member tuition for 8 semesters. The $500 basic National Merit stipend is part of full tuition. Students do not receive an extra payment.

If a student is the recipient of the Russell M. Nelson Scholarship (presidential scholarship) and is a National Merit finalist, he/she would receive the dollar amount of the Nelson Scholarship and receive the recognition of being a National Merit scholar. As stipulated by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, the merit stipend would be $500. The Presidential Scholarship would supplement the annual National Merit stipend to provide the student with a total award of 150% of LDS tuition for eight semesters.

The Sterling Scholar Award Program is sponsored by KSL and Deseret News. It recognizes outstanding scholastic achievement of high school seniors in the state of Utah.

There are several categories in which students compete. High schools may nominate one candidate to compete in each category and students may only compete in one category. Each high school determines how nominees are selected. From the nominees, they select a semi-finalist who will then move on to the Regional Level to compete.

The five regions are: Wasatch Front, Northeast Utah, Central Utah, Southwest Utah, and Southeast Utah.

If a student is the winner in his/her category on the Regional (or final) Level, BYU offers them a full member tuition scholarship for two semesters.

If a student qualifies for a scholarship offered by the Financial Aid Office separate from the Sterling Scholarship, we will offer the student whichever scholarship is of greater monetary value. For instance, if a student qualifies for a half tuition scholarship and is a Sterling Scholar winner in their region, we would offer them the Sterling Scholarship. If they qualified for a full tuition scholarship and they are a winner, we would offer them the original full tuition scholarship rather than the Sterling Scholarship.

If students will be going on a mission right out of high school, they will need to apply for admission to BYU for the Fall following their high school graduation to claim the Sterling Scholarship. We will defer the scholarship while they are on their mission. However, if they neglect to claim it right out of high school and then immediately defer, it will not be available.

University scholarships are awarded for 1/2 or full Latter-day Saint tuition. Scholarships are awarded based on a holistic review of several factors that include academic performance, rigor of program, and financial need. Particularly because of the financial need component, we strongly recommend that you fill out the essay section of the scholarship application to be considered for all possible scholarships.

BYU administers private scholarships donated to BYU by individuals, companies, trusts, etc. for students who fit within certain criteria, such as descendants of scholarship donors, members of a specific area, ward, or stake, or graduates of certain high schools. In such cases, BYU determines the recipients of these scholarships. Typically, the scholarships cover 1/2 or full Latter-day Saint tuition.

Though optional, we strongly recommend students fill out the essay section of the scholarship application to be considered for all possible scholarships, since we often use the essays to identify which students fit the criteria for these scholarships. We also use information collected in the Geographical Information and the Descendant sections to award these scholarships, so we recommend filling out those sections as well.

Need-based scholarships are awarded based primarily on financial need but with academic performance as a component for consideration. Scholarships are typically awarded for 1/2 or full Latter-day Saint tuition. Need-based scholarships require completion of the FAFSA each year by January 20th for the upcoming academic year.

Though optional, we also strongly recommend completing the essay section of the scholarship application to be considered for all possible scholarships based on your circumstances.

Departmental scholarships are awarded directly through the department. Most departments don't offer scholarships to entering freshmen; however, you can check to see if your department does award scholarships to freshmen by contacting the department directly or reviewing the Departmental Scholarships page.

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How to help your child get into BYU: The application essays can make or break their acceptance

By college essay builder | posted - sept. 28, 2022 at 3:00 p.m., (college essay builder).

Estimated read time: 6-7 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

Does your child have what it takes to get into BYU?

The stakes of getting accepted to BYU are getting higher and higher. It is estimated that over 12,000 students will apply to BYU — Provo this fall. And using last year's acceptance rates , more than 4,000 won't make the cut.

With such a large pool of applicants, the BYU Admissions Committee is often tasked with choosing between highly-qualified applicants who all meet the minimum requirements. And since BYU is not currently requiring standardized test scores, it is even more difficult for applicants to stand out.

With all of these factors, parents want to know:

"Is there anything I can do to improve my child's chances for acceptance to BYU?" The answer to this question is an absolute "yes!"

How the BYU application essays can make or break your child's acceptance

By the time your child begins their BYU application, nearly all of the application criteria (transcripts, activities, awards, etc.) is fixed and can't be influenced or changed — with one notable exception: the essays.

The BYU application essays have become one of the most critical ways your child will be evaluated by the admissions committee. This is because the essays are the best way for the committee to get to know your child on a personal level to determine how well they have demonstrated their preparation and alignment with the Mission and Aims of BYU .

In fact, the BYU essays are the only real controllable factor your child has at this point that can either help or hurt their chances of getting accepted.

The wrong way to write BYU application essays

Just sitting down to "knock out" the essays without understanding what BYU is looking for is a huge mistake. Successful BYU essays require deep introspection, multiple drafts and a good deal of pre-work. Students who don't allow time for these crucial activities end up writing sub-par BYU essays that suffer from one or more of the following issues:

Too generic

It isn't natural for most high-school seniors to be vulnerable and genuine. This often results in superficial essays that don't give enough information about your child for BYU admissions to complete a proper evaluation.

This year, BYU has shortened most of the essays by 500 characters. The lower the character count, the more difficult it is for students to effectively address everything the prompt is asking for. Consequently, students can easily spend too much of their essay telling a story but not allowing enough space for important connections and reflections.

No effective feedback

Most students work on their BYU essays right up to the deadline and don't have the proper time to get feedback and make revisions. If parents do read the essays, they often don't know how to provide the most helpful feedback. This cycle often results in substantial errors in essay structure, content and grammar.

The right way to write BYU application essays: The 3 most important questions

Susie Boyce, founder of College Essay Builder , has been helping students write BYU application essays since 2007. Over the years, she has discovered three fundamental questions that all successful BYU essays must effectively answer. These three questions are:

Do my child's essays show that they value the aims of a BYU education?

Each BYU essay should correlate directly to one or more of the Aims of a BYU Education . It is critical that the stories and examples your child uses in their essays make the connection clear and personal. A close look at the BYU admissions website emphasizes that BYU uses the aims to evaluate all areas of the application — especially the essays.

Do my child's essays help them stand out from thousands of other applicants?

This fall, BYU will receive more than 70,000 essays. Given the sheer volume, how will you ensure your child's essays stand out and are memorable for all the right reasons?

The key to this question is helping your child identify events, people and stories from their life that highlight their genuine and unique experiences. This requires vulnerability; the essays should tell compelling stories showing your child's journey, growth and transformation. These personal stories can become the heart of each essay, connecting the reader to your child in an unforgettable way.

Do my child's essays demonstrate their character, values, testimony and potential as a BYU student?

BYU has provided some direct expectations about what they want to see in your child's essay on their admissions website :

"...make sure you read the prompt and answer what's being asked. If there's something about you we should know, make sure to include it in your essay responses!"

Why does BYU want your child to share so much? Because the essays are the best chance admissions counselors have to understand and evaluate your child's character, values, testimony and potential as a BYU student.

To effectively do this, your child must address each prompt completely and deeply. Take time to identify stories and examples that showcase how they have grown and developed in these four areas and write conclusions that make a powerful connection to what BYU is looking for.

The bottom line

You can do something to improve your child's chances for acceptance to BYU. Helping your child write their best BYU application essays is the most important way you can accomplish this goal.

But you don't have to do this alone. College Essay Builder has created a comprehensive application essay course for BYU that leads your child step-by-step through the process of writing all the BYU application essays. With the help of videos, downloads, templates and examples, your child will be writing their best BYU essays faster and more effectively than any other method.

In this course your child will learn:

• How to personalize the BYU Aims and meaningfully connect them to each essay.
• How to identify and tell compelling personal stories that demonstrate their potential as a successful BYU student.
• How to approach each essay prompt to address BYU's specific expectations.
• How to start each essay to "hook" the reader.
• How to conclude each essay to make a powerful connection.
• How to write clear and concise paragraphs that answer each prompt completely and deeply.
• How to edit and revise their essays utilizing proprietary feedback guides.

The stakes are too high to not do everything you can to help your child get accepted.

And the most controllable thing you can do right now to increase your child's chances of acceptance to BYU is to help them write their best BYU essays by enrolling them in the full essay course for BYU today.

And for a limited time, use the coupon code KSL50 to get $50 off the full course price.

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What is an opinion that you have? Why should a reader agree with your opinion? What is a course of action people should take? Why? Questions like these can lead to a persuasive essay. A  persuasive  essay  is a type of opinion writing that not only gives your opinion and support but also tries to convince the reader to agree with you (WritingCity, n.d.). In this chapter, you will write a persuasive essay that uses research to support your ideas. 

WritingCity. (n.d.).  Differences between opinion, persuasive, and argument writing . www.writestepswriting.com. Retrieved December 17, 2022, from http://wjhlibrary.weebly.com/uploads/1/3/1/9/13197742/writing_chart.pdf

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Access it online or download it at https://open.byu.edu/up_writing_fall/argumentative_essays .