What should I write about in the BU Honors College essay?

The Kilachand Honors College essay at BU is definitely its own unique challenge. This supplement usually wants to gauge how you approach complexity, your intellectual curiosity, and your ability to think beyond standard classroom learning. They aren’t just looking for academic achievements or a summary of your interests—they want to see how you engage with challenging ideas and interdisciplinary thinking.

A strong Kilachand essay often examines a "big question" or challenge that doesn’t fit neatly into one subject area, or explores a problem with no easy solution. The key is to pick something you’re genuinely interested in or puzzled by—something that makes you think deeply. For example, one student wrote about the ethical dilemmas of artificial intelligence, not just as a technical issue, but by weaving in perspectives from philosophy, society, and technology. Instead of just stating their opinion, they discussed how they would engage with others to better understand the topic and seek collaborative solutions.

If you’re debating topic ideas, ask yourself: Is this a question that excites me to discuss or research? Can I show how I’d approach it from multiple angles, not just one academic lens? Avoid writing about generic personal growth stories or reusing your Common App essay. For instance, instead of focusing on a personal challenge like moving schools, zoom out and find a wider question that connects to your experience—like how transitions shape identity in different cultures and communities, and how you would want to study those themes across disciplines at Kilachand.

It’s also powerful to briefly connect your curiosity or your chosen topic to the specific Kilachand experience. How do the program’s interdisciplinary seminars, living-learning community, or focus on societal issues tie into the questions you’re interested in? Don’t just repeat what’s on their website—find a real connection between your way of thinking and what Kilachand offers.

Ultimately, originality, openness to complexity, and a keen sense of inquiry matter most. If you’re excited about your question and can show how it connects to life at Kilachand, that’ll shine through more than any specific topic choice.