Colleges › University of Minnesota › Essay 1
University of Minnesota Essay Prompt 1 (2026-2027)
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities's supplemental essay 1 of 4 for the 2026-2027 application: the prompt, the limit, when it is due, and how to answer it. Verified on August 7, 2026.
“Tell us about your academic and career interests. The U of M has 8 freshman-admitting colleges and more than 150 majors. Please share a few words about what you'd like to study in college, career paths that interest you, or your favorite subjects in school.”
Limit: 150 words. Deadlines: Early Action: November 1, 2026. Regular Decision: January 1, 2027.
What University of Minnesota is really asking
Do you know which of the eight colleges you belong in, and why?
The mistake most applicants make
Listing three unrelated majors to keep options open. That reads as not having looked.
Do this instead
Name the subject, the college at the U that houses it, and the experience that led you there. If you are undecided, say which two fields and what question links them. 150 words is one clear paragraph.
How to spend 150 words
150 words (1000 characters is roughly 150 words) is one paragraph. One specific moment or detail, then what it shows about you, then the connection to this school or question. No introduction, no summary.
How to start
Jim starts by asking you: “What is the subject you would pick if you had to decide today, and what happened that made you lean that way?” Answer it with Jim, free →
Rate My University of Minnesota Essay 1
3 ratings a day. Your draft is scored by our AI and is not saved on our servers. The score is Jim's read of this draft, not a prediction of admission.
Writing the University of Minnesota essays? Jim has every University of Minnesota prompt, word limit, and deadline loaded. He asks the questions that surface your story and gives feedback on your drafts, in your own words. Free to start, no credit card.
Draft it with JimFAQ
What is the University of Minnesota essay 1 prompt for 2026-2027?
"Tell us about your academic and career interests. The U of M has 8 freshman-admitting colleges and more than 150 majors. Please share a few words about what you'd like to study in college, career paths that interest you, or your favorite subjects in school." The limit is 150 words.
How long should the University of Minnesota essay 1 be?
150 words. 150 words (1000 characters is roughly 150 words) is one paragraph. One specific moment or detail, then what it shows about you, then the connection to this school or question. No introduction, no summary.
When is the University of Minnesota essay due?
With the application: Early Action: November 1, 2026. Regular Decision: January 1, 2027.
Can Jim help me write the University of Minnesota essay?
Yes. Jim, the AlphaApply.ai counselor, has every University of Minnesota prompt and deadline loaded. He asks the questions that surface your story and gives feedback on each draft. He never writes it for you. Free to start.
The other University of Minnesota prompts
Prompt and limit for 2026-2027, verified on August 7, 2026. Always confirm on University of Minnesota-Twin Cities's official admissions site before submitting.