The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Obviously. The school is known for having strong academic programs, and just under 20,000 undergraduates attend. The acceptance rate is around 23%.

UNC changed their supplement this year. You’ll choose two of the three options, and the word count maximum is 250. Keep reading for our tips:

Expand on an aspect of your identity (for example: your religion, culture, race, sexual or gender identity, affinity group, etc.) How has this aspect of your identity shaped your life thus far?

Before you tether yourself to one of the examples that are given by UNC, make a list of 15 things that make you who you are. Don’t limit yourself! Your list can include anything from being an only child to your role as an active member of your church. You can be a chef, an avid board game enthusiast, or someone who is deeply tied to an aspect of your culture.

Take a look at your list. We like to start here because the word “identity” can be super overwhelming, especially when you’re given examples. So, if after looking at your list, your race or gender is what you feel most tied to do, that’s great. But it’s also just fine if you feel like another aspect of your identity, such as your role as Chief Technology Officer of your house, is better at speaking to who you are. 

Once you’ve defined your identity aspect, tell a story. Use as much detail as possible. In fact, you should start by writing down everything you remember about an experience. Expand on the aspect of your identity by taking the reader through a day in the life, a memorable experience, or a series of micro stories that align to paint a picture. 

If you could change one thing about where you live, what would it be and why?

This is a slightly updated version of a similar question from last year and we are here for it! This is a great question because you’re able to zoom in on a specific ~thing~ that you care about. The best way to brainstorm is to think about local examples of widespread issues. In order to successfully go from a macro idea to a micro example, you need to explain why you care about the issue that you’re choosing to write about. A student from Flint, Michigan could write about the disastrous water issue in their hometown, using their experience as the framework through which they discuss global issues related to access to clean water.

Keep in mind the UNC is asking you why you want to change things, not how. This is also great news! It means that you don’t need to have a technical fix at the ready, you simply need to be genuine about your desire for change and explain why it matters to you. 

Describe someone who you see a community builder. What action has this person taken? How has their work made a difference in your life? 

Unless someone immediately came to mind, we suggest skipping this prompt. Secondary characters can be great when they’re dropped into a longer essay and are used to reflect your good qualities, but an essay that is **exclusively** about someone else is never a good idea. By definition, this essay will not be about you, the person who is applying to UNC. If you insist to move forward, limit your brainstorm sessions to those people who have inspired YOU to take action. Also, don’t use Barack Obama or anyone else who is Very Famous.  

It’s doubtful that all three prompts are going to speak to you. Narrow it down to two, and try brainstorming both. You should move forward when you’re certain you’ve chosen the right one.

Need help streamlining the process? Contact us here.