How do I choose which ApplyTexas essay prompt to answer for my college application?

When choosing which ApplyTexas essay prompt to answer, the key is to start by thinking about your OWN story—what parts of you do you want the schools to really get to know? Take a close look at each prompt and ask yourself, "Which prompt would let me showcase aspects of myself that aren't already obvious from my transcript or resume?"

Here's a quick summary of the most popular prompts:

- Topic A usually asks about your background or environment and how it has shaped you. This one works best if you have a specific community, challenge, or experience that fundamentally influenced your perspective or goals.

- Topic B tends to focus on your goals, like a creative work, experience, or idea that has been important to your intellectual journey. Choose this if you have a particular interest or ambition that is central to your identity and connects to what you want to study.

- Topic C typically invites you to describe a problem you've solved or would like to solve. This is a great fit if you have a real story of leadership, innovation, or advocacy.

If several of your stories could fit more than one prompt, take a moment to outline each one. Which version sounds most like you? Which one is the most engaging or memorable? For example, if you started a robotics team in your small town, Topic A could let you talk about your environment and how it motivated you, while Topic B could focus on your passion for engineering growing out of that experience.

Colleges like UT Austin and Texas A&M want to see authenticity and self-reflection. They are less concerned with what you talk about and more interested in what your story reveals about your character and your potential. Be honest and specific—if something is important to you, that passion will come through.

Also, try not to stretch a story to fit a prompt where it feels forced. Authenticity matters more than trying to pick "the right" prompt. For instance, one student wrote about watching her grandfather fix clocks in small-town Texas—she tied it to Topic A by explaining how that shaped her work ethic and view on time and community.

After writing a rough draft, ask someone who knows you well if the essay sounds like you or just an applicant. If it doesn’t feel personal, reconsider either the story or the prompt.

Bottom line: Let the prompt serve your story, not the other way around! Start by asking what YOU want to share, match it to the prompts, and draft with honesty. That approach always stands out.