Thank you for your interest in applying to Carolina. The 2009 first-year application will be available very soon, but in the meantime, why not get a head start by checking out this year's essay questions?
Because we can't meet all of our applicants personally, the essays are a very important part of the application. Please note that your essays will be evaluated not only for admission, but also for
possible selection for the Honors Program and merit-based
scholarships.
For the 2009 application, we will require applicants to respond to two of the prompts below. One of your essays should be short (about 250 words) and one essay
should be longer (about 500 words).
- We tend to spend our time doing the things we know we do well—running because we’re good runners, or painting because we’re talented artists. Tell us about a time when you tried something for which you had no talent. How did it go?
- If you were principal of your school, what one thing would you change first, and why?
- What one thing would you hope to be remembered for after four years at Carolina? What do you hope would be your most memorable contribution—to the life of our community and the experience of your fellow students?
- Is there someone in your school who should attend college but for some reason can’t or won’t? What's standing in this student's way? What might help this student move forward?
- Carolina seeks students who are exceptionally curious. Tell us about a time when your curiosity led you someplace you weren’t expecting to go.
- Tell us about your best teacher ever—or your toughest, or your worst. What distinguished this teacher from the others you’ve known?
- If you have written an essay for another school’s application that you really like, feel free to use it as your longer essay for us. Please be sure to tell us (a) what essay you are answering and (b) why you think this essay represents you well (your explanation will not be included in the essay word count).
Again, thank you for your interest in Carolina. We look forward to reading your essays and learning more about you. Please continue to visit our website and look for the 2009 application, which will be available very soon.
