2026–27 application cycle
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor supplemental essays
Every writing prompt on the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor application, with word limits, taken from the application itself. 2 prompts.
- Prompt 1Required550 words max
Why this school
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?
How to approach it
This is a why-us prompt. The trap is describing the school back to itself; rankings and campus beauty read as filler. Name the two or three specific things (a program, a professor's work, a structure like open curriculum) you would actually use, and tie each to something you have already done.
- Prompt 2Required300 words max
How you'll contribute
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.
How to approach it
For a challenge prompt, the challenge is the setup, not the essay. Spend most of the words on what you did and how you changed. Readers are wary of trauma used as currency; growth is the currency.
Common questions
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor essays, answered
How many essays does University of Michigan-Ann Arbor require?
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor lists 2 writing supplements for the 2026–27 cycle, all required. That is on top of the main personal statement.
How long are the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor supplemental essays?
Word limits across the listed prompts add up to roughly 850 words. Budget real time for them: supplements are where admissions sees your specific interest in University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.
Do the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor supplemental essays matter?
Yes, and more as selectivity rises. Grades and scores put you in the pool; supplements are one of the few places you control what the reader learns about you, and a generic why-us essay is one of the most common self-inflicted wounds in admissions.
What Spike does with this
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