university of houston essay word count

Apply Texas Essays 2022‒2023

Apply texas essays 2023.

If you live in Texas or plan on applying to schools there, it’s likely that you’ve heard of the Apply Texas portal . At Texas schools, the Apply Texas essays are an important part of the application process. In fact, the Apply Texas essays are the best way to let your personality, experiences, and interests impress admissions teams. 

In many ways, Apply Texas—including the Apply Texas essays—resembles the Common Application. So, you can likely repurpose plenty of information from the Common Application as you complete the Apply Texas application. 

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to tackle each of the Apply Texas essays. We’ll discuss:

• General information about the Apply Texas portal 
• How to respond to each of the Apply Texas essay prompts
• Different Texas college requirements
• The importance of the Apply Texas essays
• More useful essay resources from CollegeAdvisor

Now, let’s start our deep dive into the Apply Texas essays. But first, let’s talk about the Apply Texas application more broadly. 

What is Apply Texas?

Apply Texas is a college application portal where students can apply to higher education institutes in Texas. The portal was created in order to allow students to fill out one application for all Texas schools. Students will create an Apply Texas login in order to access their applications. 

However, while many of the best colleges in Texas require an Apply Texas login to complete their application, some don’t. So, make sure to check the application requirements for every school. 

Apply Texas essay vs. the Common Application essay

You may be wondering, what’s the difference between the Apply Texas essay and the Common Application essay? Well, logically, Apply Texas can only be used to apply to schools in the state of Texas. However, some Texas schools may also accept applications through the Common Application or Coalition Application. If that’s the case, then you can decide which portal to use. 

Overall, the Apply Texas essay format is similar to the Common Application essay format. This means that many of the tools you’ve used for your Common Application essay will help you complete your Apply Texas essays. You can also look at Common App essay examples to help you write the Apply Texas essays. 

Understanding the Apply Texas essay requirements

Different schools will have different requirements when it comes to the Apply Texas essay prompts. Some schools may not even require an essay at all. 

For example, Texas State University applicants will complete their applications using the Apply Texas login. While Texas State only lists their essay as “highly recommended,” you should still complete it. You can also check out some Apply Texas essays examples to bolster your application. 

The Apply Texas application also has its own unique Apply Texas essay prompts, which differ from the prompts on the Common App. So, while you might be able to repurpose your Common App essay for one of the Apply Texas essay prompts, you should think carefully about your choice of topic. 

What schools use Apply Texas?

Many two- and four-year universities in Texas use Apply Texas. This includes the majority of public universities as well as some private colleges. 

However, you should always double-check each school’s admissions site to see which application portal you should use. Each school’s requirements will vary. 

You can use Apply Texas to apply to some of the best colleges in Texas , including UT Austin and Texas A&M University. However, Rice University—the top college in Texas, according to U.S. News—does not use Apply Texas. 

Understanding the Apply Texas essay format

If you’re planning to apply to multiple Texas schools, you should create an Apply Texas login. However, all schools’ requirements will be different. This means the Apply Texas essay format could slightly vary.

While you’ll find one Apply Texas essay word limit on the application itself, different schools will recommend different word counts. You may also not complete all of the Apply Texas essays for every school.

So, top Texas universities such as the University of Houston , Texas Tech , and TCU will have slightly different requirements, even though you’ll use the same Apply Texas login to access their applications. Use our College Search Feature below to learn more about each school’s unique features!

What are the Apply Texas essays?

Next, let’s check out the Apply Texas essays. 

There are three Apply Texas essay prompts. You’ll complete different Apply Texas essays depending on which schools you apply to. For example, some schools may require that students respond to the Apply Texas essay A, while others may let you choose your prompt.  

Below, we’ve provided a chart with each of the Apply Texas essay prompts. 

Applicants should also note that Apply Texas word limits will vary by school. In this chart, we’ve provided the word limit suggested by the portal itself. However, you should adapt your word count to each university’s requirements. 

Remember to consider school supplements 

Additionally, note that some universities will require other short essays as well as one of the Apply Texas essay prompts. 

For example, the UT Austin application will differ from the Baylor application even though both will use an Apply Texas login. Likewise, the UT Austin application requirements aren’t exactly the same as the UT Dallas application requirements. So, always be sure to double-check the admissions sites for school specifics. 

Before tackling your Apply Texas essays, try to read some Apply Texas essays examples. This will give you an idea of the different ways to approach the essay. The Apply Texas essay format can vary, so looking at Apply Texas essays examples can help you think outside of the box. 

How long should Apply Texas essays be?

As you tackle the Apply Texas essays, you should keep the word count in mind. According to the Apply Texas application portal, you have 800 words for each of your essays. 

However, when it comes to the word limit, you’ll want to see what each university requires or recommends. Every school’s requirements will be different. 

Let’s check out a couple of schools in Texas and compare their approach to their Apply Texas essay word limit. 

The University of Texas Austin requires its applicants to respond to Apply Texas Essay A if using the Apply Texas application. Their word limit is 500-700. Additionally, students will complete three required short answer essays with word limits of 250-300 words. They can also choose to complete a fourth optional essay (also 250-300 words). 

Alternatively, Texas Tech does not require applicants to complete an essay. However, the essay is “highly recommended.” So, as usual, consider this optional essay a requirement. If using the Apply Texas application, Texas Tech gives students the option to respond to Apply Texas Essay A or B. They have placed a 500-word limit on this essay. Check out some tips from Texas Tech admissions to write your Apply Texas essays. 

Texas Christian University

The TCU admissions office requires applicants to complete one essay. However, which of the Apply Texas essays students write is up to them. The word limit is 300-500 words, so you’ll need to impress TCU admissions with a concise, authentic, and passionate essay. 

As you begin your Apply Texas essays, check out Common App essay examples and Apply Texas essays examples to help you prepare.

Apply Texas Essay A

Tell us your story. what unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today.

The Apply Texas Essay A seems to be the overwhelming favorite among universities using the Apply Texas essays. This prompt asks students to “tell us your story.” Simple enough, right? 

Of course, a prompt this broad can feel overwhelming. However, it’s a great opportunity to show admissions who you are. This is your chance to really make your application stand out by sharing something that you haven’t yet revealed (or expanded upon) in other parts of your Apply Texas application. 

This prompt is quite similar to one of the Common Application prompts. So, if you want some inspiration, you can check out Common App essay examples. 

Which Texas colleges require it?

Surprisingly, many universities in Texas do not require applicants to submit an essay. However, if a school includes an “optional” essay requirement, you should still submit one. The Apply Texas essays are a great way to stand out and enrich your application narrative. 

That being said, some universities in Texas do require applicants to submit Apply Texas Essay A. For instance, Texas A&M requires applicants to respond to Apply Texas Essay A. And, as we mentioned, the UT Austin application also requires Apply Texas Essay A.  

Remember, while going through the Apply Texas application, double-check the essay requirements. They will vary depending on each school. 

How to write Apply Texas Essay A

Like many college essays, Apply Texas Essay A asks you to share experiences that have made you who you are. Whether you have a million ideas or are drawing a complete blank, don’t worry. We’re here to help.

Let’s check out the best way to respond to Apply Texas Essay A.

You could probably tell many stories. Apply Texas Essay A asks you to share just one. This leaves a lot of room for interpretation. 

So, think about significant moments in your life. It could be easier to focus on the last few years, as you’ve probably grown a lot throughout high school. 

Make a list of moments that have changed or shaped you as a person. No moment is too small to include. As long as it shows some growth—and you can write authentically and passionately about it—then it’s a good topic. 

Answer the prompt completely

Now, the prompt mentions an opportunity or challenge. Don’t blatantly point out this in your draft by stating “this was a huge challenge/opportunity.” Most likely, if you’ve chosen a story that shows your personal growth, then it’s probably an opportunity or challenge. And, if you tell your story well, this will come through. 

You will need to clearly show how that moment that you’re sharing has shaped who you are today. For example, let’s say that you want to discuss the day you went to your first protest. From that moment forward you’ve been passionate about activism. That clearly shows how pivotal this moment was in your life. Maybe it’s even shaped what you’d like to study or your future career. 

Remember to research your school, too. Well-written Apply Texas essays will be specific to each individual school. For example, if writing an essay for Southern Methodist University , check out their specific programs and offerings. Even though this isn’t a “why school” essay, you can still link your interests and growth to the school.

Write passionately

This isn’t the time to write vague statements that could apply to any high school student. Your story should be unique to you. Make sure to choose your topic wisely to highlight your passion and authenticity. 

Don’t be afraid to get creative. Set the scene. Remember that it’s much more impactful to show rather than tell when writing. If we continue with our protest example, you might open your essay by describing the atmosphere using descriptive language that puts the reader right there with you. Then, you can reflect back on how this moment has affected you to date. 

Apply Texas Essays – Topic B

While a few schools require applicants to answer the Apply Texas essay A, some may ask you to choose which essay to respond to. Let’s review the second of the Apply Texas essay prompts:

Some students have an identity, an interest, or a talent that defines them in an essential way. If you are one of these students, then tell us about yourself.

Again, the goal of this prompt, like all of the Apply Texas essays, is to let you show each school what makes you unique. You should also aim to relate it back to your aspirations. For example, how does who you are shape what you want in your future?

Approaching Apply Texas Essay B

Topic B asks you to explore a part of your identity. Is there something you can point out that shows your values, character, and personality?

For example, maybe you’ve been dancing ballet since you started walking. Maybe it’s become a form of meditation or a way for you to express yourself. Perhaps it’s taught you discipline. It doesn’t matter how it’s shaped you (although it should be in a positive way)—you just need to show how it has impacted you. 

If you decide to focus on an “identity” instead of an “interest,” then you’ve got even more options to choose from. You can choose to highlight your background, experiences, family, values, or other key features. 

Overall, your topic should be unique to you. And, again, don’t be afraid to get creative in writing this essay. Your Apply Texas essays shouldn’t read like a resume; they should be engaging while still answering the prompt. 

Apply Texas Essay Prompts – Topic C

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a university that requires students to respond to the last of the Apply Texas essays. However, you may be given the option of which Apply Texas essay prompts you’d like to respond to. So, let’s check out Essay C.

You’ve got a ticket in your hand – Where will you go? What will you do? What will happen when you get there?

You may notice that this essay seems quite different from the other Apply Texas essays—it gives you a lot more freedom. So, you can really dive into the creativity of this topic. However, remember to not get too carried away and forget that, in the end, you’re still writing a college essay. The main goal, like the other Apply Texas essay prompts, is to show who you are as a person and an applicant. 

Crafting a response to Essay C

For Essay C, your process doesn’t have to be wildly different than it was for the other Apply Texas essay prompts. First, decide what you’ll write about. Start by brainstorming options if nothing comes to mind right away. 

Maybe you have a topic in mind immediately. That’s great! If you can write passionately about your ticket destination and activity, then that’s the topic for you.

Once again, get creative. You could go to a magical land, back in time, outer space, or to a remote island. The ticket and the destination don’t matter—it’s what they show about who you are. 

Most importantly, make sure to tie in your career goals or future aspirations. How will this trip impact you and your future? What experience will you have that will shape you?

Exploring Texas college’s essay requirements

When it comes to factors such as the Apply Texas essay word limit or Apply Texas essay prompts, requirements will vary by school. While the general Apply Texas application will be the same, the Apply Texas essay format will be different. Namely, each school will request different Apply Texas essay prompts. 

Let’s look at some of the essay requirements for the best colleges in Texas:

As you can see, while the Apply Texas application is uniform, the essay requirements vary greatly by school. For instance, you’ll see the Apply Texas essays for the Baylor application vs the University of Houston application are not the same. So, always double-check with your university’s admissions sites for all requirements. 

And, don’t forget, when it comes to “optional” essays, treat them as though they are required. While Texas A&M admissions requires an essay, Texas Tech does not. However, strong essays will impress both Texas Tech and Texas A&M admissions. After all, Apply Texas essays are the best way for schools to get to know you better. 

How important are the Apply Texas essays?

When it comes to the admissions process, the Apply Texas essays are extremely important. In general, college essays let applicants share a part of their personality that they haven’t highlighted elsewhere in their application. 

Additionally, most schools use a holistic admissions approach when evaluating students. That means that they review all parts of the application: GPA, essays, extracurricular activities, recommendations, and more. In fact, with more schools going test-optional, essays are an even more significant piece of your application puzzle. 

All to say: strong Apply Texas essays can make a huge difference. So, give yourself ample time to write them.

5 Tips to Make Your Apply Texas Essays Stand Out

Since the Apply Texas essays are so important in the admissions process, you’ll want to do everything you can to make yours stand out. 

5 tips to write Apply Texas essays that impress 

1. meet the requirements.

This may seem obvious, but you need to make sure that you understand the requirements for each school. Double-check the word counts and requirements for each to make sure that you hit all targets. 

2. Choose a topic carefully

Your topic is the most important part of the process. If you choose a topic that you aren’t authentically passionate about, it will show. Don’t think about what admissions wants to hear. Instead, choose a topic that you can easily write about. Then go back and fine-tune your essay to answer every aspect of the prompt. 

3. Get creative

Your Apply Texas essays should be engaging and unique. Don’t feel like you need to stick to a certain format. Set the scene and capture your audience. This is your opportunity to show who you are as well as your writing chops. So, as long as you answer each prompt fully, get as creative as you’d like!

4. Show personal growth

Your Apply Texas essays should show how you’ve evolved. Ideally, you should connect your personal growth to future aspirations in college and beyond. No matter the prompt, this is your opportunity to shine. These are college essays, so you want to show what you’ll bring to campus with your responses. 

5. Start early!

The last thing you want to do when it comes to your Apply Texas essays is wait until the last minute. Creating impactful essays will take time. You’ll brainstorm, draft, edit, and redraft. You should also leave enough time to have someone else proofread your essay for mechanical errors. Likewise, if they don’t understand the narrative, you’ll want to rework your story and message so that it makes sense to a reader. 

Apply Texas Essays & More Essay Resources from CollegeAdvisor

Writing the Apply Texas essays can feel overwhelming. That’s why we’ve compiled many essay resources to help you create your best essays. While admissions requirements and essay prompts will change, the overall goal of your college essays stays the same: show admissions who you are and why you belong at that university. 

Before writing essays, you’ll also want to research specifics about the school. We have college pages that outline acceptance rates, enrollment, majors, and more to give you some quick facts on different schools in Texas. To jumpstart your research, check out the Baylor University , Texas A&M University , and University of Texas Austin pages . However, make sure to also do a deep dive into each university’s website to learn more about specific programs and campus life. 

Essay guides and other resources

Follow up by checking out our essay guides. These guides are specific to individual universities. You may even find it helpful to look at past essay guides such as our Baylor , Texas A&M , or UT Austin essay guides. Again, while prompts may change, the end goal of the essays stays the same. 

Additionally, check out the most recent guides such as this 2022-2023 Texas Christian University guide for the most up-to-date tips on making your essays stand out to TCU admissions. Looking at example essays can also help you get inspired. 

CollegeAdvisor has a wealth of resources to help you on your college journey. No matter if you’re trying to create the best Baylor application or impress Texas A&M admissions, our team can help. For expert guidance on the Apply Texas essays and more, schedule a meeting with our team here .

This essay guide was written by Sarah Kaminski. Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.

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How to Apply as a Graduate Student

It's time to submit your application to University of Houston-Clear Lake and get the next phase of your education under way. We are honored that you've selected our school as the location for your graduate studies, so we want to do everything possible to ensure a smooth and successful application process.

Important Application Notice

The following programs will be using the UHCL Graduate Application Portal for domestic and international graduate students:

• Business Administration MBA
• Health Service Psychology Psy.D.
• Psychology MS
• Psychology MS with Human Factors Concentration
• Psychology MS with Neuroscience and Behavior Concentration 
• Biological Sciences MS
• Biotechnology MS
• Engineering Management MS
• Environmental Science MS
• Mathematical Sciences MS
• Occupational Safety and Health MS
• Statistics MS
• Systems Engineering MS

All Other Programs

If you are applying to a graduate program not listed above:

Visit Apply Texas

1) Know Your Deadlines

• Complete your online application to UHCL.
• Some programs have special applications procedures, so you will need to submit the correct documentation outline by the college offering your graduate program.
• If you are planning to enroll in a UHCL program that is taught off-campus or online, you should select the program on the application that includes your preferred campus location (e.g. HSH-Nursing RN-BSN-Pearland); or, you may also choose the online option (e.g. BUS-Finance MS-Online).
• It is important to select the correct program so you receive important information relating to your chosen campus and to maintain accurate enrollment records.
• Please note: selecting off-campus or online programs will not prevent you from enrolling in additional courses at the Clear Lake campus.

2) Pay the Application Fee

We require that you pay a non-refundable application fee:

• Standard graduate application fee: $45.00
• Doctoral students: $105.00
• International students: $75.00
• Doctoral international students: $135.00

You can pay online through Apply Texas , UHCL Graduate Application Portal , or through E-Service using your institution-issued student ID.

3) Send Your Transcripts

Degree seeking students should submit official transcripts from every college or university attended to the Office of Admissions. These should be sent to UHCL electronically from the universities you attended.

Request your transcripts from your college or university through an EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) system, e.g. TRex (for Texas institutions). You can also ask your school administrator to send us a PDF version of your official transcript through Naviance, Speede, or any other secure eDoc Service. If a service asks for a university email address please use: [email protected] . Preferred method for faster service.

• Master's applicants should submit transcripts showing an earned bachelor's degree.
• Doctoral applicants should provide transcripts showing an earned master's degree.

While we prefer electronic transmission of transcripts, you may also mail or hand-deliver (if hand delivering please check university hours prior to coming to campus) transcripts to:

Office of Admissions University of Houston-Clear Lake 2700 Bay Area Blvd. Houston, Texas 77058

• Transcripts must be in a sealed envelope from the issuing institution, and must be printed no more than 60 days prior to receipt by UHCL Admissions.
• Some programs may also require the submission of official transcripts to the department of your degree program. International students should see International Admissions for additional requirements.

4) Send Your Scores

• Official GMAT, GRE or MAT scores must be submitted as required by the department of your degree program. Please see the catalog and/or website for the required scores.
• Scores must be sent directly from the testing agency. Test scores should not be more than five years old. Before submitting a test score, determine if you qualify for a graduate test score exemptions.
• 550 on the paper-based TOEFL exam;
• 79 on the TOEFL (iBT) exam;
• 6.0 on the IELTS exam;
• 53 on the PTE exam; or,
• You can successfully complete level 112 in the ELS Intensive English Language program.
• Your scores cannot be more than two years old, and only those received directly from the testing center will be accepted.
• You can also review the New Student Information section in our online or paper catalog to determine if you qualify for a waiver of this requirement.

Once all of the required official documents are received, an admission decision will be made and you will be notified in writing. Each academic school has a different admission review process including varying review schedules. For questions about admissions requirements or procedures, contact the Enrollment Management Counselor for your academic college.

We look forward to receiving your application for your graduate studies here at UHCL.

Graduate Admission Deadlines

• Graduate Deadlines
• Fall New Degree-Seeking Students - August 1 Returning UHCL Students - August 15
• Spring New Degree-Seeking Students - January 5 Returning UHCL Students - January 15
• Summer New Degree-Seeking Students - May 1 Returning UHCL Students - May 25

Some graduate programs have special deadlines and requirements. For more information, visit Graduate Admissions . Check the status of your application online through E-Services using your UHCL student ID.

The online application is scheduled to close for Graduate students after the Returning UHCL Student deadline of each semester.

Applying After the Priority Deadline

New, non-degree seeking, and returning UHCL students applying after the deadlines above may be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis. Please contact the appropriate graduate enrollment counselor for more information. A $50.00 Late Registration Fee or $50.00 Late Payment may apply.

Review the UHCL Academic Calendar for registration and payment dates and deadlines.

Virtual Graduate Recruitment Fair

June 26 at 6 p.m. CST

Join Us Virtually via Zoom!

Graduate Virtual Q&A Sessions

Connect with us during our virtual graduate Q&A sessions. This is the perfect time to connect, learn more, and check the status of your application.

Monday, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. CST Tuesday, 2-4 p.m. CST Wednesday, 3-5 p.m. CST Thursday, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. CST

Join the Q&A Session via Zoom

Special Admission Deadlines and Requirements

College of business.

• Accounting M.S.
• Admission Deadline Standard Graduate Admission Deadline
• Application A standard university application is required.

Criteria that require submission of a standardized test score :

Less than 3.000 cumulative GPA on the last 60 hours of coursework (3.000 GPA preferred on the last 60 hours of coursework) and submission of GMAT score.

Criteria that waive a standardized test requirement:

The College of Business will provide a GMAT examination waiver to applicants to the MS in Accounting program who meet one (1) of the following requirements :

• Majoring in a business-related area at an institution with AACSB business accreditation; AND have at least 18 credit hours of upper-division business-related courses at an institution with AACSB business accreditation with an overall GPA of at least 3.0 in those courses; or
• Earned a bachelor's degree in a science, engineering, or mathematics related major at an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education; AND has a GPA of at least 3.0 in upper-division courses at the institution; or
• Earned a graduate degree in business from an AACSB-accredited university or a Ph.D., M.D., Ed.D., D.D.S., or J.D. from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (or U.S. licensure).

Standard Graduate Admission Deadline

Apply online through the UHCL Graduate Application Portal .

Applicants to the MBA program may qualify with a standardized test waiver if any of the following conditions are met:

• earned a bachelor’s degree from a qualified institution with a 3.000 or greater cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 scale) from the degree granting institution, or
• earned an advanced degree from a qualified institution, or
• completes the MBA certificate start with a 3.000 or greater GPA in the certificate. 

Domestic applicants who have completed a bachelor's, degree from a qualified institution with less than a 3.0 GPA , may choose admission to the MBA program with a standardized test waiver through the MBA certificate start . Applicants to the MBA certificate start must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.500 (on a 4.0 system).  Qualified applicants who are admitted to MBA certificate start program must complete their graduate certificate with a 3.000 or greater GPA in the certificate to be granted acceptance into the MBA core program.

All other applicants will be reviewed for admissions by program faculty.  This evaluation will consider all academic coursework and standardized test performance.

• Environmental Management M.S.

Criteria that require submission of a standardized test score : Less than 3.000 cumulative GPA on the last 60 hours of coursework and submission of GMAT score.

• 3.000 cumulative GPA on the last 60 hours of coursework; and Earned a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in a country where English is the native language or from an accredited college or university in a country on the  SBEC-approved list of countries ; or
• Earned a graduate or professional degree from a country where English is the native language or on the  SBEC-approved list of countries ; or
• Earned a Ph.D., M.D., Ed.D., D.D.S. or J.D. from accredited U.S. institution (or U.S. licensure).
• Finance M.S.

Criteria that require submission of a standardized test score :  Less than 3.000 cumulative GPA on the last 60 hours of coursework and submission of GMAT score. Criteria that waive a standardized test requirement:

• 3.000 cumulative GPA on the last 60 hours of coursework; and Earned a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in a country where English is the native language or from an accredited college or university in a country on the SBEC-approved list of countries ; or
• Earned a graduate or professional degree from a country where English is the native language or on the SBEC-approved list of countries ; or
• Earned a Ph.D., M.D., Ed.D., D.D.S. or J.D. from accredited U.S. institution (or have U.S. Licensure).
• Human Resource Management M.A.

Applicants to the MA in Human Resource Management program may be admitted with a standardized test waiver if they meet one of the following criteria:

• Earned a bachelor's degree from a qualified institution with a 3.000 or greater GPA from the degree granting institution, or
• Earned a bachelor's degree from a qualified institution with a 3.000 or greater GPA on the last-60 hours of coursework attempted, or
• Earned an advanced degree from a qualified institution.
• Management Information Systems M.S.

Applicants to the MIS program may qualify with a standardized test waiver if any of the following conditions are met:

• Earned a bachelor’s degree from a qualified institution with a 3.250 or greater cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 scale) from the degree granting institution, or
• Earned an advanced degree from a qualified institution, or

Criteria that require submission of a standardized test score:

Less than 3.000 cumulative GPA on the last 60 hours of coursework and submission of GMAT score (GRE acceptable for MHA).

Applicants that do not meet the criteria to waive the standardized test requirement must also submit:

• 3 Letters of Recommendation
• Current Resume
• Personal Statement of Career Goals

Applications for the MHA/MBA must also submit:

• 3 letters of recommendation
• Current resume
• Personal statement of career goals

College of Education

• Clinical Mental Health Counseling, MS.

Fall: March 1 Spring: September 1

• University Application
• Counseling Master's Degree Program Application
• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited institution
• The GRE/MAT is waived for applicants who have earned a 3.000 GPA in the last 60 hours of coursework
• A combined GRE score of 294 and a writing score of 3.5
• An MAT score of 390 minimum
• Applicants hold a Master's degree from an accredited institution are not required to submit GRE or MAT scores

The following documents must be uploaded to your UHCL E-Services account (assigned after you have completed the ApplyTexas online application):

• Resume - A brief resume with relevant work experiences, honors, presentations, papers or other life experiences that you would like to have considered for admission to the Counseling Program
• Formal Essay - The essay should be maximum 500 words. Content should explain your reasons for pursuing counselor training as well as your career goals.
• Counseling Program Application
• Three Professional Reference Forms
• Self-Rating Sheet
• Background Check Form: Clinical Mental Health Counseling M.S. / Counseling M.S.

Applicants seeking admission to pursue the Counseling M.S. with School Counselor Certification must also upload the following:

• Texas Teacher Service Record (You can request this from your school district HR department.)
• TEA Ethics Training Completion Certificate
• Receipt for TEA Admission Fee  – Please visit the UHCL E-Commerce site to pay the $37.00 Texas Education Agency (TEA)-Advanced Certificate Program Admission Fee (scroll to correct certification).  This fee is payable by credit/debit card only and is non-refundable; therefore, it is your responsibility to ensure that you are in the correct program and certification.  TEA requires all educator preparation programs to collect this fee and forward it to TEA.  TEA uses it to monitor your TEAL (TEA Login) account at the TEA website.  Once you have paid the fee, your will be emailed a receipt.  You need to upload the receipt.
• Supplemental Admissions Form  
• Certificate(s) of completion of TEA-required school district training in Mental Health/Substance Abuse/Youth Suicide Prevention
• Curriculum and Instruction Ed.D.

Fall Only: August 15

Both university and program applications are required.

• Master's Degree from an Accredited Institution
• A combined score of 297 on the Verbal and Quantitative portions of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and a minimum score of 4.0 on the Analytical Writing portion of the GRE. The GRE must have been taken within the last five years. In the application process for the Doctoral Program in Curriculum and Instruction, applicants have the option of providing a writing sample, where the writing activity is proctored at UHCL, in lieu of the GRE.

Please structure your letter as follows:

Paragraph I – Why do you wish to pursue a doctoral-level degree? Paragraph 2 – What are your career goals and how will this degree help you accomplish your long-term goals? Paragraph 3 – What are your research interests as they relate to education? Paragraph 4 – What are your scholarly and professional accomplishments as they relate to education? Paragraph 5 – How does your prior work experience relate to your interest in the doctoral program?

• Three reference forms  - At least one reference must be from a supervisor or other administrator familiar with the applicant's work. If possible, at least one of the Reference Forms should be from a professor involved in the applicant's master's program.
• Letter of Support
• Educational Leadership Ed.D.

Fall Only: June 1

• GRE Scores Not Required: The GRE requirement will automatically be removed after successful submission of the admission application.
• Students should submit official transcripts from every college or university attended to the University of Houston-Clear Lake, Office of Admissions or International Admissions.
• Please review New Student Admissions in the Graduate Catalog under Transcripts and Records Information to learn how to submit an official college transcript to UHCL.
• Paragraph 1 - Why do you wish to pursue a doctoral-level degree in Education Leadership?
• Paragraph 2 - What are your career goals and how will this degree help you accomplish your long-term goals?
• Paragraph 3 - What are your research interests as they relate to education?
• Paragraph 4 - What are your scholarly and professional accomplishments as they relate to your educational leadership?
• Paragraph 5 - How does your prior work experience relate to your interest in the doctoral program focusing on educational leadership?
• Three reference forms - At least one reference must be from a supervisor or other administrator familiar with the applicant's work. If possible, at least one of the Reference Forms should be from a professor involved in the applicant's master's program.
• Letter of Support from Employer
• Educational Management M.S.

The UHCL application is available online through Apply Texas .

• Bachelor's Degree and a 3.000 GPA over the last 60 semester credit hours.
• GRE is not required if GPA in last 60 hours is 3.000 or above.
• Minimum required GRE scores: 294 combined on the Quantitative & Verbal, 3.5 Analytical Writing
• Hold a valid Texas Teaching Certificate

The following items must be uploaded to your UHCL E-Services account (assigned after you have completed the ApplyTexas online application):

• Letter of Support from School Building Administrator
• Teacher Service Record (TSR)
• College of Education Advanced Certification Program Application
• Why do you wish to pursue a master’s degree in Educational Management?
• Describe the strengths and/or experiences you possess that will be an asset to you in this program.
• In what ways will this degree enable you to make meaningful contributions to your school community (staff, scholars, families, community)?
• What can you tell us about yourself and your experiences that will make you a good candidate for the Principal as Instructional Leader program?
• What does leadership mean to you?
• How do you use critical self-reflection in your professional growth?
• Explain how you plan to balance self-care, role responsibilities/expectations, and the rigor of a graduate program?
• Upload the video of YouTube as "unlisted" and then paste the link to your video into a word document and upload it to your E-Services Account.

Admission Essay and Interview video will be scored based on program established rubrics.

Once your application has been approved, you will be prompted to formally accept your office of admission to the program and pay a required $37 TEA Admission fee.

• Counseling M.S.

Summer Only: April 1

• Principal as Instructional Leader Certification
• Master's Degree and a 3.000 GPA over the last 60 semester credit hours.
• GRE is required if GPA in last 60 hours is 2.750-3.000

Admissions Essay and Interview video will be scored based on program established rubrics

• School Library and Information Science M.S. with School Librarian Certification
• Bachelor’s Degree and a 3.000 GPA over the last 60 semester credit hours.
• Why do want to be a school librarian?
• What experiences have you had working with a school librarian?
• How would you describe a highly effective school librarian leader?

Admission Essay will be scored based on program established rubric. Once your application has been approved, you will be prompted to formally accept your office of admission to the program and pay a required $37 TEA Admission fee.

• School Librarian Standard Certification EC-12

Admission Essay will be scored based on program established rubric.

• Superintendent Certification
• Hold a valid Texas Teaching Certificate and a valid Texas Administrator Certificate
• Why do you wish to pursue a Superintendent certification.
• What can you tell us about yourself and your experiences that will make you a good candidate for the Superintendent certification program?

Admissions Essay and Interview video will be scored based on program established rubrics. Once your application has been approved, you will be prompted to formally accept your office of admission to the program and pay a required $37 TEA Admission fee.

College of Human Sciences and Humanities

• Behavior Analysis M.A.
• Deadline: January 15*

*Applications received after this date will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. If you submit an application after the January 15 deadline, please contact [email protected] to confirm that your application was received.

• Select Four-year College/University and Graduate School.
• Program application is only available within the selected Fall semester
• Select "HSH-Behavior Analysis" as your first choice major only

Documents for admission are submitted after completion of the Apply Texas application. All required documents are due by the program application deadline.

• Prerequisites: Bachelor's degree or higher, preferably in a related field such as psychology, education, or special education. In addition, applicants should identify coursework or practical experience associated with Behavior Analysis.

Required Supplemental Documents:

• Curriculum Vitae: An expanded résumé describing previous education; all work experience; relevant course work and relevant volunteer activities; any honors, presentations, papers, avocations or other relevant life experiences.
• Statement of purpose and goals, not to exceed 1,000 words, describing your reasons for wanting this degree and how it fits into career goals
• Two letters of recommendation, preferably at least one from an academic source, should be submitted directly by the recommenders to [email protected] . No form is required. Recommendations from academic faculty and/or work supervisors who know you well are especially appreciated.

Application Packet

After initial review of the application materials (application, recommendations, and supplemental material) an admissions committee will invite selected applicants to campus for an interview. Interviews will typically be scheduled in February. Applicants will be notified of their program admission status by April 15.

• Clinical Psychology M.A.
• Final Deadline: January 25 
• Program application is only available within the selected Fall semester.
• Select "HSH-Clinical Psychology" as your first choice major only. 
• If you would like to take the General GRE Exam, please visit their website www.gre.org .
• UHCL GRE Code: 6916 – UNIV HOUSTON CLEAR LAKE – Grad
• Prerequisites: The program requires five prerequisite undergraduate psychology courses (15 hours): Introductory Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, and three courses (9 additional hours) of upper-level psychology courses. Upper-level psychology courses that may provide good preparation for the program include, but are not limited to, Social Psychology, Theories of Personality, Human Growth and Development, and Research Methods and Statistics. Preference is given to applicants with all prerequisites completed.
• Statement of purpose and goals (not to exceed 1,000 words): describing your reasons for wanting this degree and how it fits into career goals.
• Three (3) letters of recommendation and recommendation forms should be submitted directly by the recommenders to [email protected] . Recommendations from academic faculty and/or work supervisors who know the applicant well are preferred.
• Program Application Fee: In addition to the university application fee, there is an additional program application fee of $35 for the Clinical Psychology M.A. program. The program application fee may be paid by credit card online or by check payable to "University of Houston-Clear Lake" and sent to: Clinical Psychology Program Applications University of Houston-Clear Lake 2700 Bay Area Blvd., Box 73  Houston, TX 77058

After initial review of the application materials (application, recommendations, and supplemental material) an admissions committee will invite selected applicants to campus for an interview. Interviews will typically be scheduled in March. Applicants will be notified of their program admission status by April 15. 

• Cross-Cultural and Global Studies M.A.

Apply online through Apply Texas  for admission to the University of Houston-Clear Lake as a graduate student.

Documents for admission are submitted after completion of the Apply Texas application. All required documents are due by the Graduate and International Admissions application deadlines.

• Recommended last 60-hour GPA of 3.0 or higher.

If the last 60-hour GPA is below a 3.00 or an applicant has not completed a prior advanced degree, student admission files will be sent to the program for individual review.

Individual Review Requirements: To complete individual review, submit a statement of purpose to the program via email at [email protected] .

• Statement of Purpose (not to exceed two single-spaced pages): describing the reasons for desiring this degree and how it fits into your career goals.
• Digital Media Studies M.A.

Apply online through Apply Texas for admission to the University of Houston-Clear Lake as a graduate student.

• Select Four-year College/University and Graduate School
• Program application is only available within the selected Fall or Spring semester
• Select "HSH-Digital Media Studies" as your first choice major only

Academic Requirements:

• Please review New Student Admissions in the Graduate Catalog under Transcripts and Records Information to learn how to submit an official college transcript to UHCL. 

To be considered for admission, students are required to submit a production portfolio accompanied by a statement of purpose. The following documents must be sent to the program via email to Dr. Leo Chan at [email protected] .

• Production Portfolio: All portfolio pieces must be accessible online. We do not accept physical objects such as slides or CDs. If passwords are necessary to access the pieces, it is the student's responsibility to communicate them. The committee will not reach out if pieces are not readily accessible. No more than 20 individual pieces should be submitted. The applicant must make clear his or her involvement in the production of each piece. Examples for successful portfolio pieces are written strategic or creative writing materials, graphic design examples, a 15-minute film documentary, a series of digitally prepared photographs with a theme, a website, an app or a game. The most important function of the portfolio is to demonstrate to the selection committee that the intentions outlined in the statement of purpose may be achieved, based on the student's existing experience and skills.
• Statement of Purpose: describing previous education, work experience, and relevant coursework. Include why you are interested in Digital Media and why you are interested in our program. The statement should be no more than 800 words. Send Submit the statement with a resume and a portfolio link to your UHCL E-Services account (assigned after you have completed the Apply Texas online application) and email directly to the Digital Media Studies Program Director: Dr. Leo Chant at [email protected] .
• Exercise and Health Sciences M.S.
• Fall: April 1
• Spring: October 1
• Recommended cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• CV/Resume: describing previous education, work experience, relevant coursework, relevant volunteer activities, any honors, published papers, or other relevant life experiences. Should include names and contact information of 3 references that can speak to applicant's academic and/or professional experience.
• Statement of Purpose (approximately 500 words): describing the applicant's experience and interest in Exercise & Health Sciences in general, and specifically the program at UHCL. Include any relevant information that will help program faculty know you better. 
• Students begin the program in the fall or spring semesters.
• Decisions are sent to applicants by November 15 (spring) and June 1 (fall).
• Applicants who apply after the deadline may be given consideration to the extent that positions for the program are not yet filled. 
• Application Deadline: December 15
• Log In or first users create a new account
• Select Fall term and student type (Domestic or International)
• Select "College of Human Sciences and Humanities"
• Select "Clin Psych/School Psych PsyD"
• Three (3) letters of recommendation and ratings: Students identify recommenders through the UHCL Graduate Application Portal. Once recommenders and contact information is submitted, recommenders will receive an email to a link to submit the letter of recommendation and ratings. Letters of Recommendation and ratings from academic faculty and/or work supervisors who know the applicant well are preferred.
• Program Application Fee: In addition to the university application fee, there is an additional program application fee of $50 for the Health Service Psychology Psy.D. program. The program application fee may be paid by credit card online or by check payable to "University of Houston-Clear Lake" and send it to:  UHCL PsyD Program Applications University of Houston-Clear Lake 2700 Bay Area Blvd., Box 73 Houston, TX 77058

The following qualifications are the typical qualifications. They are not requirements, as all applications are reviewed.

• Degree Requirements: Earned Bachelor's, Master's, or Specialist degree in psychology, clinical psychology, school psychology, or a closely related discipline.
• GPA Qualifications: GPA of 3.3 or higher for those entering with an undergraduate degree only or GPA of 3.5 or higher for those entering with graduate credit or an earned graduate degree.
• History M.A.
• Humanities M.A.
• Industrial Organizational Psychology M.A.
• Deadline: February 15 
• Select "HSH-Industrial/Organizational Psychology-Pearland" as your first choice major only.
• Do not apply to Psychology or General Psychology, as these are different programs, and acceptance into Psychology does not mean you are accepted into the I/O program.

Documents for admission are submitted after completion of the Apply Texas application.  All required documents are due by the program application deadline.

• General GRE Exam, www.gre.org .
• GRE scores expire after 5 years of the testing date.
• Submit official GRE scores to UHCL through the ETS system. It may take ETS two weeks from the date the test is taken to send the official score report.
• Must have at least 12 hours of upper level undergraduate courses consisting of 3 hours of Statistics and 9 hours of any combination of Psychology, Business, Sociology, or Anthropology.
• If some of these courses have not been taken, you are still eligible to apply if all other expected requirements are met, but would be required to take these prerequisite classes while enrolled.
• CV/Resume: describe your previous education, work experience, relevant coursework, relevant volunteer activities, any honors, published papers or other relevant life experiences.
• What interests you most about I/O Psychology?
• What are you most proud of so far in your academic or professional career?
• Letter of Reference (optional): from those familiar with your ability to succeed in graduate-level study.
• All accepted students begin the program in the fall semester.
• We review applications in March and notify applicants in April.
• Literature M.A.
• Nursing Education and Leadership, M.S.N.
• Select "HSH-Nursing Education and Leadership" as your first choice major only

The following two documents must be uploaded to your UHCL E-Services account (assigned after you have completed the Apply Texas online application):

• Production Portfolio: Proof of Current Registered Nurse License verification in the United States.
• CV/Resume: Describing previous education, work experience, relevant coursework, relevant volunteer activities, any honors, presentations, and publications as applicable.
• Statement of Purpose (approximately 500 words): Describe the applicant's experience and interest in the Nursing Education and Leadership program at UHCL.  

Applications are accepted for the fall and spring semesters and are reviewed throughout the year on a rolling basis. 

• Psychology M.S.
• Summer 2024: May 21
• Fall: August 1

Documents for admission are submitted after completion of the application. All required documents are due by the Graduate and International Admissions application deadlines.

Admission in the Psychology M.S. concentrations (Human Factors and Neuroscience) may be given as an incoming or current UHCL student. Students may initially seek acceptance into the Psychology, M.S. then apply to the concentrations by the deadlines for the following Fall semester. Acceptance into the Psychology, M.S. program does NOT guarantee acceptance into the concentration programs.

• PSYC 2301 or equivalent (three hours).
• Course in statistics. Students whose undergraduate work does not include three hours in statistics must take PSYC 4370 or PSYC 4371.
• Students are expected to demonstrate graduate-level writing ability. Those students whose writing is deemed unacceptable will be advised to take remedial courses.

Applicants who have completed the prerequisites with an undergraduate GPA of 3.5 or higher or those who have completed advanced degrees will be automatically admitted. Those with a GPA below 3.5 and/or have not completed the prerequisites will be individually reviewed by program faculty, who will make an admission decision based on the application file

• School Psychology SSP
• Select "HSH-School Psychology SSP" as your first choice major only. 
• GRE Scores Not Required: The GRE requirement will be automatically removed after successful submission of the admission application.
• Recommended GPA of 3.25 or above for the last 60 hours of undergraduate work.
• Recommended Foundation Courses: it is highly recommended that applicants have successfully completed at least 12 hours of undergraduate Psychology coursework (e.g., Introductory Psychology, Child Psychology or Adolescent Psychology, Abnormal Psychology and other an upper-level psychology course).
• Three letters of recommendation and recommendation forms should be submitted directly by the recommenders to [email protected] . Recommendations from academic faculty and/or work supervisors who know the applicant well are preferred.
• Program Application Fee: In addition to the university application fee, there is an additional program application fee of $35 for the School Psychology S.S.P. program. The program application fee may be paid by credit card online or by check payable to "University of Houston-Clear Lake" and send it to: School Psychology Program Admissions University of Houston-Clear Lake 2700 Bay Area Blvd, Box 73 Houston, TX 77058 281-283-3491 

After initial review of the application materials (application, recommendations, and supplemental material) an admissions committee will invite selected applicants to campus for an interview. Interviews will typically be scheduled in February or March. Applicants will be notified of their program admission status by April 15.

• Sociology M.A.

Individual Review Requirements: To complete individual review, submit/upload a statement of purpose to your UHCL E-Services account and to the program via email at [email protected] .

College of Science and Engineering

• Biological Science M.S.
• GRE total scores should be at least 290 (140 Verbal + 150 Quantitative). GRE is waived if GPA is 3.0 or better with BS degree
• Foundation Courses (C or better): Calculus I, Organic Chemistry 1 & II with labs, Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry I, Physiology (plant or human or animal), Statistics, and at least 2 of the following: Microbiology for Science Majors, Ecology, Cellular Physiology, Molecular Biology.
• Additional Requirements – Undergraduate degree in Biology or closely related field
• Biotechnology M.S.
• GRE is not required and can be waived. If submitted, GRE total scores should be at least 290 (140 Verbal + 150 Quantitative). If GRE is not submitted, applicant must submit 3 letters of recommendation, resume, and personal statement of research and future plans.
• Those not meeting GRE and/or GPA standards will be required to meet additional performance criteria.
• Foundation Courses (C or better): Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry I, Physiology (plant or human or animal), Computational Statistics, Cellular Physiology, and Molecular Biology.
• Additional Requirements – Undergraduate degree in Biology, but other degrees may apply if preparation includes significant number of core courses in Biological Sciences as well as appropriate chemistry, physics and mathematics courses.
• Chemistry M.S.
• GRE Total Score of 290 (150 Quantitative)
• Foundation Courses (C- or better): 8 hours of General (Freshman) Chemistry I and II with laboratory, 8 hours of Organic Chemistry I and II with laboratory, 12 hours of upper-level Chemistry courses in any of the following areas: Inorganic Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Organic Chemistry.
• Computer Information Systems M.S.
• Undergraduate degree in a related field
• Foundation Courses: High level programming language preferably an Object-Oriented programming such as Java, C++ or C#, Calculus I or Business Calculus, Modern systems Analysis and Design, Design of Database Systems, Business Data Communication, Web Application Development
• Computer Engineering M.S.
• An undergraduate degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical/Electronics Engineering, Computer Science or other disciplines related to Computer Engineering
• The applicant received a B.S. degree from an ABET-accredited program.
• The applicant has at least 2 years of industry or government work experience in a program related field after receiving BS degree. One recommendation letter from a supervisor or an employment verification letter is needed to verify the work experience)
• The applicant has another master's degree
• If 2.5 <= GPA < 3, GRE Quant. >= 155 and GRE total >= 290
• If 2.2 <= GPA < 2.5, GRE Quant. >= 160 and GRE total >= 290
• Foundation Courses: Digital Circuits, Electronics, Computer Architecture, Microcontroller Programming, Microprocessor Interfacing, Analysis & Design of Linear Systems, Digital System Design, C Programming, Discrete Math, Differential Equations
• Data Science M.S.
• GPA of 3.0 in an undergraduate degree.
• GRE is not required for students with a Master or Ph.D. degree or a Bachelor degree from an accredited US university.
• Foundation Courses (C or better in the following courses or their equivalent): DASC 5031 - Python for Data Science Credit Hours: 3, DASC 5032 - Data Structures for Data Science Credit Hours: 3, STAT 3334 - Probability and Statistics for Scientists and Engineers Credit Hours: 3
• Environmental Science M.S.
• Target scores minimum 290 total (150 on Quant)
• Foundation courses (C or better): Calculus I, Organic Chemistry 1/Lab, Statistics, Physics I and II/Labs
• Bachelor Degree in Natural Science or other degree if background includes at least 34 hours of Natural Science and 6 hours of Math
• Engineering Management M.S.

The EMGT program offers a holistic review process, in which, applications are reviewed based upon academic degree, work experience, GPA, and GRE if submitted.

Bachelor Degree:

• Science, engineering, or other disciplines related to Engineering Management.
• If applicants have a bachelor's degree from other disciplines, then, at least one year of work experience in a technical field is required.
• Recommended minimum of GPA of 3.0 on the last 60 credits.
• GRE of 290 with verbal 140 and 145 quantitative Or GMAT of 500 with minimum quantitative score of 35.
• Applicants with a GPA 3.0 or above.
• Applicants with at least one year of post-graduate full-time work experience in a technical field.

Foundation Courses: Calculus I and Probability and Statistics

Supporting Documents:

• Resume summarizing applicants' career objectives and professional experience.
• Two letters of reference from academic advisors or supervisors at work who can verify applicant's employment history.
• These are required documents and must be submitted for your application to be processed. Documents should be uploaded to your student portal under To-Do or Checklist Items.
• GRE is waived but may be submitted if GPA is less than 3.0. Scores will then need to be Total Score of 290 (150 Quantitative)
• Foundation Courses: Lineal Algebra, Differential Equations, Advanced Calculus
• Additional Requirements – Undergraduate degree in Math; Students with other degrees may apply if undergraduate course work includes a substantial number of advanced credit hours in math courses.
• Physics M.S.
• GPA > 3.2
• Applicant has another grad degree (MS or higher)
• Undergraduate degree in Physical Sciences discipline, Mathematics and/or Engineering; Other degrees may apply if the coursework meets the preparation requirements in the catalog
• Foundation Courses: Calculus I, II, and III, University Physics I and II with labs, Modern Physics with lab, Intermediate Mechanics, Intermediate Electromagnetism, Quantum Theory, Thermodynamics & Statistical Mechanics.
• Set I) Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Complex Variables, Probability & Stats for Scientists & Engineers, or
• Set II) Mathematical Methods for Physics & Engineering I and II
• Software Engineering M.S.
• Not required with cumulative GPA >= 3.0
• Undergraduate degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or other computing or engineering discipline.
• Foundation Courses: Data Structures and at least two other programming classes. Programming classes such as C, C++, Java or Object Oriented Programming are examples.
• Statistics M.S.
• A 4-year bachelor's degree with a 3.0 cumulative GPA
• GRE with a minimum Quantitative score of 152 is required if GPA is below 3.0.
• Foundation Courses: Intro to Probability, Intro to Statistics and at least two of the following: Linear Algebra, Calculus I, Calculus II
• Additional Comment - Holding an undergraduate degree in mathematics, engineering, computing, or sciences would be an advantage. However, any college graduate can be successful in this program if they have completed a course in Linear Algebra and the undergraduate calculus sequence. Prospective students that have not taken these courses should talk to academic advisors about how to enroll in those courses with post-baccalaureate status.
• Systems Engineering M.S.
• Can be waived if applicant has another grad degree (MS or higher) or based on relevant industry experience
• Undergraduate degree in a related field including preparation coursework as listed in the catalog
• Foundation courses: Math through differential equations, calculus-based probability and statistics, a programming language

Office of Admissions

Phone: 281-283-2500 Fax: 281-283-2522 Email: [email protected] SSCB 1.101 2700 Bay Area Blvd, Box 13 Houston, TX 77058-1002 Office Hours: Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

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July 8, 2023

College Essay Length: Go to the Maximum Word Count

Previously Published on September 24, 2017:

College applicants should use the real estate offered in college essays to make their case — all of it! If the maximum word count for a college admissions essay is 650 words, applicants should not write 500 words. They should write 650 words — or pretty close to it.

When you’re a real estate developer in Manhattan, and you’re allowed to build twenty-five stories, you don’t construct ten stories and dedicate the rest of the space for the native pigeons of Manhattan. You build up —twenty-five levels. The pigeons have the skies.

And yet even though it seems only logical that college applicants should use all of the allotted real estate to make their case in essays, to tell their stories, to distinguish themselves in super competitive applicant pools, it never ceases to amaze us how many students write essays that don’t come anywhere near the maximum word count. Instead, they leave the space on the table to the disservice of their candidacies.

Students Should Go to the Word Limit in Every College Essay

It’s not as though students only make the mistake of leaving words on the table in their Common Application Personal Statement . They also often do so in their equally as critical supplemental essays.

If Brown University asks applicants to write a 200-250-word essay on how students would take advantage of the Open Curriculum, as the Ivy League school does on its 2022-2023 application, students should not offer them 200 words. College applicants are not interior designers — blank space does not look lovely. They should submit 250-word essays. 

When Brown admissions officers come across an essay that doesn’t come close to the school’s maximum word count, they’re likely to think, “This student doesn’t love our school enough to put in the work to write an essay just for us. She probably wants to go elsewhere.”

And if that thought crosses the mind of an admissions officer, the odds are strong that the same admissions officer is unlikely to offer that student a spot in the incoming class. And, of course, this doesn’t just apply to Brown — it applies to every highly selective institution in America.

Students Should Use the Maximum Word or Character Count in Short Answers Too

We can’t stress enough the importance of taking advantage of the real estate an applicant is afforded in essays to make their case. But don’t be fooled that an essay only means boxes on The Common Application that allow students to include 100 words or more.

After all, many top schools pose short answer questions too. Maybe they’re called short-takes. On the 2022-2023 application, the University of Southern California , for instance, asks applicants to name their favorite movie of all time, their dream job, favorite trip, and favorite snack, among others.

Students should go up to the maximum character count in these opportunities too — and  opportunities  is the apropos word because they’re opportunities to wow admissions officers, present a window into a student’s world and distinguish themselves from other talented applicants. In short, students should not just name their favorite movie — they should say why concisely.

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September 24, 2023

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How Long Should Your College Essay Be? What Is the Ideal Length?

What’s covered: , personal statement length vs. supplemental essay length, are college essay word limits hard, what if a college essay word count isn’t given, what if you need to submit a graded paper, where to get your essays edited.

Students often spend hours agonizing over the best topics for their college essays. While it’s natural to wonder whether your personal statement is original or compelling enough, there’s one aspect of the process that shouldn’t cause you undue stress—how many words should a college essay be? Fortunately, with a little research, you can uncover the ideal college essay length for all your applications.

Unlike high school assignments, which typically have a strict page requirement, most colleges provide a word limit or word range for their application essays. This practice helps ensure that essays are the same length regardless of font or formatting. A good guideline is that students should strive to get as close as possible to the upper limit of the word range without exceeding it. Keep reading to learn more about best practices for college essay length.

How many words should a college essay be? Personal statements are generally 500-650 words. For example, the Common Application , which can be used to apply to more than 800 colleges, requires an essay ranging from 250-650 words . Similarly, the Coalition Application , which has 150 member schools, features an essay with a recommended length of 500-650 words.

650 words is the most common limit for your personal statement, but some schools may ask students to write more or less. For example, ApplyTexas , a platform used to apply to Texas public universities and other select colleges, requests essays with requirements that vary by school. For example, students applying to UT Austin will need to submit an essay of 500-700 words, along with three short-answer questions of 250-300 words each.

On the other hand, the University of California (UC) application includes a Personal Insight section with eight prompts . Students are asked to respond to any four of these prompts, with each response topping out at 350 words.

Additionally, some schools request a few supplemental essays, which are typically shorter than a personal statement. These questions are designed to gain more information about a student’s interests and abilities, and may include topics like your reasons for wanting to attend their school, your desired major, or your favorite activity.

Most schools require 1-3 supplemental essays, though some may require more or none at all (see our list of top colleges without supplemental essays ). These essays tend to be around 250 words, but some may be just as long as your main essay. For example, Cornell requires applicants to write a second supplemental essay (of 650 words max) that is specific to the program they’re applying to. The exception to this is the Cornell College of Engineering, for which applicants are required to compose two supplemental essays of 250 words max each.

For best results, keep your essays within the word range provided. While you don’t have to hit the count exactly, you should aim to stay within a 10% difference of the upper limit—without including fluff or filler. For example, if the school requests 500 words, try to ensure that your essay is between 450 and 500 words.

For the Common App, try to stay within 550-650 words, even though the given range is 250-650. Any submission shorter than 500 words will make it look as though you simply didn’t care enough to give your best effort. An essay shorter than 500 words won’t be long enough to truly share who you are and what matters to you.

Exceeding the word count isn’t an option—the application portal cuts off anything over the maximum number of allowed words. This is something you want to be particularly careful of if you’re drafting your essay in a Word or Google document and pasting it into the application.

Although most schools provide applicants with a specific word count, some offer more general guidelines. For example, a college may ask for a particular number of pages or paragraphs.

If you aren’t given a word count, try to adhere to the best practices and conventions of writing. Avoid writing especially short or overly long paragraphs—250 words per paragraph is generally a safe upper limit. If you’re asked to write a certain number of pages, single- or double-spaced, stick to a standard font and font size (like 12-point Times New Roman).

In the event that the college doesn’t offer any guidelines at all, aim for an essay length of around 500 words.

While essays are the most commonly requested writing sample, some colleges ask for additional pieces of content. For example, Princeton University requires students to submit a previously graded paper for evaluation .

Princeton offers guidelines that cover length, but if another school requests an old paper and doesn’t offer length requirements, a paper ranging from 3-5 pages should yield the best results. The goal is to select a paper long enough to showcase your writing skills and unique voice, but short enough that the admissions officer doesn’t get bored reading it.

Is your essay effective while staying within the required word count? It’s hard to evaluate your own writing, especially after rereading it numerous times. CollegeVine’s free Peer Essay Review provides an opportunity to have your essay reviewed by a fellow student, for free. Similarly, you can help other students by reviewing their essays—this is a great way to refine your own writing skills.

Expert advice is also available. CollegeVine’s advisors are prepared to help you perfect your personal statement and submit a successful application to your top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

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• Writing Tips

The Word Limit in Academic Writing (and How to Stick to It)

3-minute read

• 24th September 2016

Even the phrase “word limit” can cause panic among students . For some it’s the challenge of writing enough, while others find it hard to stick within the limit given. In either case, it can lead to spending more time worrying about the length of your paper than the content!

But why do college papers come with set word limits? And what should you do to ensure you don’t write too much or too little?

Why Have a Word Limit?

There are two main reasons that academic papers usually come with a word limit:

• Fairness It’s impossible to grade two papers of vastly different lengths (e.g., 20,000 compared to 2,000 words) on the same scale. The word limit makes sure that everyone taking the same class knows what is expected of them.
• Communication Skills As well as testing your knowledge, college papers are about communicating clearly and concisely. Setting a word limit forces you to consider what you’re saying more carefully, helping you to develop your writing skills.

Sticking to the word limit is, therefore, part of being a good academic, since being a long way over or under could suggest you’ve misjudged the scope of the essay topic or that you’re having trouble communicating your ideas.

How to Stick to the Word Limit

Although many colleges give you roughly 10% leeway on the word limit, you should aim for your finished paper to be as close to the suggested word count as possible. If you find yourself writing too much, you can reduce the word count by:

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• Editing out repetition, redundant words and padding phrases
• Cutting down long or unnecessary quotations
• Reducing the number of examples or case studies used (if you’ve included several)
• Using the active voice instead of the passive voice

More generally, you should re-read your work and eliminate anything that isn’t directly related to the question you’re answering. As well as helping you stick to the word limit, this will make your work more focused, which could boost your grades.

How to Increase Your Word Count

If you’re struggling to write enough, the temptation might be to add padding phrases like “in my opinion” or long block quotations until you hit the minimum word count. But this will simply detract from the clarity of your writing.

Instead, the answer is usually to go back over your work and look for things that could be improved with a little additional attention. This might involve:

• Addressing anything from your essay question that you’ve overlooked
• Adding illustrative examples to support a point
• Considering different sources and views on the same issue
• Using short quotations as evidence for your arguments

Moreover, whether you’ve written too much or too little, getting someone else to read your work and offer feedback is a fantastic idea (especially if you ask a professional for help). This will help you to identify areas that could be expanded or cut in the next draft, so eventually you should be able to get your essay to the required length.

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Essays & Short Answers

Summer/Fall 2025 Essay

Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

Please keep your essay between 500–650 words (typically two to three paragraphs).

Spring 2025 Essays

All freshman Spring 2025 applicants must submit a required essay:

• UT Austin Required Essay in the Common App, or
• Topic A in ApplyTexas

Please keep your essay between 500–700 words (typically two to three paragraphs).

Spring 2025 Essay Topic

Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today?

Submitting Your Essay

You can submit your essays:

• In conjunction with your application.
• Using the Document Upload System in MyStatus.

*Students do not need to submit other Common App essays. We’ll only review what is required.

Short Answers

• Submit the required short answers to prompts in your admission application.
• Answers are limited to no more than 40 lines, or about 250–300 words per prompt, typically the length of one paragraph.

Summer/Fall 2025 Prompts

• Why are you interested in the major you indicated as your first-choice major?
• Think of all the activities — both in and outside of school — that you have been involved with during high school. Which one are you most proud of and why? ( Guidance for student s: This can include an extracurricular activity, a club/organization, volunteer activity, work or a family responsibility.)

Optional Short Answer

Please share background on events or special circumstances that you feel may have impacted your high school academic performance.

Spring 2025 Prompts

• Describe how your experiences, perspectives, talents, and/or your involvement in leadership activities (at your school, job, community or within your family) will help you to make an impact both in and out of the classroom while enrolled at UT.
• The core purpose of The University of Texas at Austin is, “To Transform Lives for the Benefit of Society.” Please share how you believe your experience at UT Austin will prepare you to “Change the World” after you graduate.

Submitting Your Short Answers

You can submit your short answers with either your Common App or Apply Texas application. Short answer responses must be completed in order to submit your application.

• Transfer applicants must submit one essay responding to Topic A.
• Applicants to the School of Architecture are required to upload Topic D in addition to Topic A. 

Essay Topics

Topic a (required).

The statement of purpose will provide an opportunity to explain any extenuating circumstances that you feel could add value to your application. You may also want to explain unique aspects of your academic background or valued experiences you may have had that relate to your academic discipline. The statement of purpose is not meant to be a listing of accomplishments in high school/college or a record of your participation in school-related activities. Rather, this is your opportunity to address the admission committee directly and to let us know more about you as an individual, in a manner that your transcripts and the other application information cannot convey.

Topic D (School of Architecture majors only)

Personal interaction with objects, images and spaces can be so powerful as to change the way one thinks about particular issues or topics. For your intended area of study, describe an experience where instruction in that area or your personal interaction with an object, image or space effected this type of change in your thinking. What did you do to act upon your new thinking and what have you done to prepare yourself for further study in this area?

Submitting Your Essay(s)

Calculate for all schools

Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, what's the target word count for a strong college essay.

Hey guys! I've heard various numbers thrown around for the 'perfect' length of a college essay. I'm aiming to write something meaningful but concise. What’s the sweet spot for word count that allows you to fully express yourself without rambling on too long?

Hi there! Ah, the elusive 'perfect' length for a college essay—I get this question a lot. The most common length for a main college essay, like the one for the Common Application, is approximately 500-650 words. This range is broad enough to develop your ideas thoroughly but concise enough to hold the admissions officers' attention. Think of it as telling a story: you need a clear beginning, middle, and end, with each paragraph contributing something essential to your message.

For example, if you're discussing a significant experience, use just enough detail to illustrate the impact it had on you without getting bogged down in every minute aspect. Remember, every word should serve a purpose in advancing your narrative or explaining your character. Another tip is to be aware of any specific word count requirements from the colleges you're applying to; some may have their unique guidelines. Good luck with your essay—it's a great opportunity to let your personality shine through.

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

What to do When You’re Over Word Count

• Sasha Chada
• April 29, 2022

Table of Contents

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You’ve written a great essay, finished editing, and are proud of what you’ve accomplished. It tells the story of you, as a person and scholar, and shows you in a great light. But when you go to put it into the Common App, your essay is over the allotted word count, and won’t fit. What do you do?

The essays you’ll have to write for colleges have a strict word count (generally, some schools use alternate methods, but all restrict your space in some way; Rutgers, for example, counts your letters). This is often a challenge for our students, who either struggle to meet the word count or, more often, struggle to cut their essays to fit it.

In this article, we’ll share tips and tricks for cutting essays to fit into a strict word count, and a few for making sure your essays aren’t too short.

Paring Down

The first thing to be aware of is that strict wordcount edits is one of the final steps when editing an essay. We recommend your essays stay within 20-30 words of the limit if you’re over in draft form, but it’s fine to play with the extra space while drafting. Paying strict attention to your word count while writing can limit your creativity, but you should be tangentially aware of it. If your final draft is more than 100 words over the count, you may need to lose an entire paragraph.

Here’s our quick guide to how much you’ll likely need to cut based on how far you are over the word count:

• 200+ Words over: Long paragraphs, consider reformatting the essay entirely.
• 100+ Words over: Paragraphs, possibly sections of longer paragraphs.
• 50+ Words over: Several sentences, sections of paragraphs.
• 20+ Words over: Sentences.
• Less than 10 words over: Individual words.

Cutting Paragraphs

If you need to cut entire paragraphs, you may need to reconsider the structure of your essay as a whole. Read through each paragraph and determine: a) how it contributes to the essay as a whole, and b) whether it is necessary for the structure of the essay. 

Print out a copy of your essay, and read through it, while writing beside each paragraph what the main point is, and how it builds on the story of the essay. If you can’t answer those questions, you can cut that paragraph without hurting the overall story you’re telling.

If you find that some parts of a paragraph are necessary, but most are extraneous, then cut what isn’t needed, and leave the remainder either as a stand-alone paragraph, or fold it into another paragraph where it will fit well. 

Cutting Sentences

This is similar in some ways to cutting paragraphs, but on a smaller scale. If you’ve done the exercise with paragraphs, you know what each is saying about your journey through the essay, and how it contributes to the overall message. Now, when reading through a single paragraph, see how each sentence within it contributes to what the paragraph is saying.

Does this sentence add necessary detail, advance the audience’s understanding of what you experienced, or share development you underwent? How does this sentence add to the overall story told by the paragraph?

Sentences which add unnecessary details or repeat information you’ve already stated can be cut. Look for redundancies in detail, language, or phrasing; never say the same thing twice in one paragraph. Repeating information lessens its impact when you have limited verbal real estate.

You may only have to cut one sentence, or you may have to cut several through the essay. Either way, this is an easier way to bring an essay down to word count than cutting individual words, as you remove larger pieces at once.

Cutting Words

Oddly, this is the most difficult of the cutting options, because words affect the flow and tempo of a sentence; a well crafted sentence has a natural flow and cadence, and the reader speaks it aloud in their mind. Removing words can interrupt this flow, like a boulder in a stream, which makes choosing how and where to cut words challenging. 

The first thing to look for is redundancies, where several words say the same thing in a sentence. While redundant adjectives can be used to prove a point, unless this is an overarching theme in your essay, these are the first and easiest to cut.

Next, look for places where you use many words which can be rephrased using fewer. This is a difficult concept to grasp just from reading it, so we’ve included some examples below:

• Then I realized what I’d been missing the entire time
• The lessons of the sea, once learnt, are unforgettable.
• I saw two roads diverge before me, each leading to something I desperately wanted.

This is not a good technique to cut many words, but is instead to make the final push, and take an essay that’s almost at the proper word count down to where it needs to be. This should only be done after cutting sentences or paragraphs, as it isn’t a good way to cut more than 5-10 words from an essay.

A final note: If you are using Google Docs to draft your essay, it will count hyphenated words as a single word, whereas the Common App will count them as two. Be aware of this when trying to cut an essay down to size.

What if You’re Under Word Count?

This depends on how far under word count you are. If you’re within 50 words of the limit, you’re fine not exactly meeting the word count, so long as your essay is solid. Don’t disrupt a strong essay by trying to exactly meet a word count.

If you’re more than 100 words under the limit, you should consider the structure of your essay. Have you said everything that needs to be said? Are details clear without being overwhelming? Does your essay transition naturally from one paragraph to the next? Is there anything unclear or under-explained? 

These are all places where adding more detail can help. Your essay should flow naturally, and not leave readers confused at the end of it. Transitions link paragraphs naturally, and shouldn’t be sudden or jarring.

Finally, consider your use of adjectives; can you use more of them to spice up your essay and give it more personality? Adjectives help define the tone and mood of an essay; processions may be somber or lively, victory triumphant or bitter-sweet. Adjectives help convey your emotions and thoughts on what’s being discussed to the reader. Don’t over use them, but including them in key places reinforces the message of the essay.

Final Thoughts

Not every college has strict word count requirements for their essays (notably MIT, though they do ask you to limit excesses of the pen), but the majority do. Making an essay fit within the allotted word count is a challenge, and that’s part of the test colleges set by giving the essays. They want to know you can express yourself, and do it well, and importantly do it concisely. Using a few words to say a lot is a skill, and one that colleges like to see.

If you’re having trouble even starting your essay, check out our article here . We know college essays can be stressful, as they are like nothing else you’ve written before, and unlike anything else you’ll write again. If you want further guidance on college essays, or anything else in the admissions process, schedule a free consultation today. We’re always eager to help students get into the college that’s best for them.

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• Apply Texas College Essay Prompts for Class of 2023

January 17, 2022 By Jolyn Brand

The Apply Texas application is a common application form for most Texas public universities. It allows students to input their information for several different colleges at once. ApplyTexas college essay prompts for class of 2022 are:

• Essay A:   Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today?
• Essay B:  Some students have an identity, an interest, or a talent that defines them in an essential way. If you are one of these students, then tell us about yourself.
• Essay C:  You’ve got a ticket in your hand – Where will you go? What will you do? What will happen when you get there?

Each school requires a different combination of these three college essays-some require all three, some just one or two, or others make certain ones recommended or optional. Some schools even use these essays for both admissions decisions AND scholarships so it’s important to put time and effort into each one!

UT Short Answer Question Requirements

As part of ApplyTexas, all freshman applicants will also respond to  short-answer questions .

Fall 2022 Prompts-Required Short Answers (250-300 words each):

1.     Why are you interested in the major you indicated as your first-choice major?

2.     Describe how your experiences, perspectives, talents, and/or your involvement in leadership activities (at your school, job, community, or within your family) will help you to make an impact both in and out of the classroom while enrolled at UT.

3.     The core purpose of The University of Texas at Austin is, “To Transform Lives for the Benefit of Society.” Please share how you believe your experience at UT-Austin will prepare you to “Change the World” after you graduate.

4.     Please share background on events or special circumstances that you feel may have impacted your high school academic performance, including the possible effects of COVID-19.

Texas A&M University-  3 Short Answer Questions for all applicants

• Texas A&M University believes that diversity is an important part of academic excellence and that it is essential to living our core values (loyalty, integrity, excellence, leadership, respect, and selfless service). Describe the benefits of diversity and inclusion for you personally and for the Texas A&M campus community. (250-300 words)
• Tell us about the person who has most impacted your life and why.
• Describe a life event which you feel has prepared you to be successful in college.

Texas A&M University- Short answer question for Engineering majors (Priority deadline- October 15)

Engineering Essay : Describe your academic and career goals in the broad field of engineering (including computer science, industrial distribution, and engineering technology). What and/or who has influenced you either inside or outside the classroom that contributed to these goals?

The Apply Texas application has moved to https://goapplytexas.org/

Applying to colleges with the common app, be sure to check out the common app essay prompts here., share this:.

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Best Ways To Increase Word Count in an Essay

• Smodin Editorial Team
• Published: May 23, 2024

Are you writing a homework essay and struggling to meet the minimum word count requirements? Or maybe you’re finding it challenging to add substance without sacrificing quality.

In this guide, we’ll cover simple strategies to increase word count in an essay while also improving the quality of your writing. These methods include using AI tools like Smodin, refining your paraphrasing, and mastering sentences.

1. Use AI Writing Tools

Using AI writing tools can help make your essay longer. These tools can provide assistants in various ways:

• AI tools like Smodin can analyze your text. They suggest alternatives, letting you expand on ideas without harming your writing.
• AI tools can help you find chances to break up or combine sentences. This will increase the required word count while keeping things clear and flowing.
• These tools can recommend synonyms. They replace generic terms, adding depth to your essay.
• AI writing assistants, like Smodin Writer , can give tailored suggestions based on your essay’s topic and tone. They ensure your desired word count increases and fits your writing goals.

Adding AI writing tools to your essay-crafting process can be a powerful way to boost your word count easily. They can also improve the quality of your work.

2. Write Short Stories

Adding stories to your essay is a compelling way to add words and engage your readers, especially when it comes to creative writing. Here’s how you can effectively utilize storytelling:

• Add anecdotes : They give context and detail to your points while adding extra words.
• Develop vivid characters and scenarios : Use them to illustrate your ideas and add depth to your writing.
• Use vivid language to paint a picture for your readers : It will immerse readers in the story while increasing your word count.
• Use emotional appeal : Connect with your reader through stories. The stories should evoke feelings and resonate with their experiences.

Weaving stories into your essay boosts word count. It also makes your content more engaging and memorable. Consider using AI tools like Smodin. They can refine your storytelling and improve your narrative flow.

3. Expand Paragraphs

Expanding paragraphs is a strategic approach. It will increase the word count and improve the depth and coherence of your essay. Here are key tactics to effectively expand your paragraphs:

• Add detail and explanation to your main points : This will make your writing more substantial and longer.
• Eliminate filler words : As you expand, watch for words that do not add meaning which will negatively affect your essay length.
• Strengthen body paragraphs : Develop your body paragraphs by connecting ideas logically and cohesively.
• Use transitional phrases : These help you move between ideas and paragraphs. They keep your essay flowing and positively increase the word count.

By expanding your paragraphs carefully, you can boost your word count. This will enrich your writing’s quality and structure. AI tools, like Smodin, can help here, too. They will streamline and improve how you expand paragraphs.

4. Add Examples

Adding examples to your essay is a powerful way to support your arguments. It also makes your writing more engaging. Here are some strategies for effectively incorporating examples into your writing:

• Use relevant examples : They must relate to the topic and support your arguments. Avoid using examples that are unrelated or confusing.
• Use many examples : They can emphasize different parts of your argument and make your writing more complete.
• Use examples from different sources : They give a full view of the topic. They show your skill at analyzing and evaluating diverse views.
• Use examples to contrast and compare : Using examples to contrast and compare ideas can highlight their strengths and weaknesses. It can provide a more nuanced understanding of the topic.
• Use examples to clarify complex concepts : They can make concepts easier to understand.

Adding examples to your essay provides evidence to back your arguments. It also makes your writing more engaging and persuasive.

5. Clarify Sentences

When aiming to increase your essay’s word count, clear sentences are crucial. They add substance and depth to your writing. Here are key strategies to enhance clarity and expand your content effectively:

• Provide more detail : Elaborate on key points by adding more detail and examples to enrich your explanations.
• Use descriptive language : It illustrates concepts and engages readers deeply.
• Clarify your statements : Make them clear and short. Avoid ambiguity and complexity.
• Emphasize the key points : Do this to reinforce your arguments and provide a full understanding.
• Add more depth : Dive deeper into topics by exploring various angles and perspectives to enrich your analysis and clarify statements.
• Avoid unnecessary information : Trim away details that do not matter or add to the main ideas. This keeps your writing clear.

These strategies will help you clarify your sentences and add depth to your content. They will also increase the word count while keeping your essay relevant and coherent.

6. Use Quotations

Using quotes in your essay can boost word count and add credibility and depth to your arguments. Here are some effective ways to use quotations in your writing:

• Use quotes from quality sources : They will give solid evidence for your claims.
• Adding authority : Quotes from experts or well-known figures can add a sense of authority to your writing and boost the validity of your arguments.
• Emphasizing key points: Similar to using examples, quotations can be used to highlight key ideas or perspectives that align with your argument.
• Provide different viewpoints : Integrate quotes with diverse viewpoints. They enrich the discussion and show a complete understanding of the topic.
• Use quotes strategically : They will strengthen your argument and persuade your readers.
• Cite relevant quotes : Remember to cite quotes correctly as per your school or university’s guidelines.

By skillfully using quotes, you can improve your writing, increase your word count, and enrich your essay with valuable insights and perspectives.

7. Expand the Introduction and Conclusion

The intro and conclusion of your essay are crucial. By expanding these sections, you can boost your word count and strengthen the coherence and impact of your writing.

Expanding the introduction:

• Provide more detail : Start your essay with a more detailed and engaging hook to capture your reader’s attention.
• Introduce the topic thoroughly : Spend more time setting the context and giving background on it.
• Connect ideas : Make clear connections between your introduction and the body of your essay. This ensures a smooth transition.
• Show off your writing : The introduction sets the tone for the whole essay. Aim to showcase your writing skills from the very first sentence well.
• Write the introduction last : While this may seem like a backward approach, it’s the best way to ensure you include all the necessary details in your intro.

Expanding the conclusion:

• Revisit key points : Summarize the main arguments and ideas from your essay. Give a full recap for your readers.
• Offer more insights : Explore the broader meaning of your topic. Or suggest new research and discussion topics.
• Tie your conclusion to the introduction : This will create a cohesive essay.
• Write with intention : Invest time crafting a thoughtful conclusion. Make it impactful to leave a lasting impression on your professor or teacher.

By adding to your introduction and conclusion, you can increase your essay’s word count. You will also improve the structure, coherence, and impact of your writing.

8. Add Transition Phrases

As mentioned, adding transition phrases to your school or college essay is a strategic way to increase your word count. It also improves the flow and coherence of your writing. These phrases act as bridges between ideas. They help your readers navigate your essay smoothly.

Here are some effective ways to utilize transition phrases to boost your word count:

• Use transition words and phrases to connect your ideas. Do this for both paragraphs and sections. It will make your essay cohesive and well-structured.
• Use a variety of transitions. Try a range of phrases, such as “in addition,” “furthermore,” “on the other hand,” and “in conclusion.” They will add depth and complexity to your writing.
• Ensure the phrases you use are right for the context. They should guide your readers through your arguments well.

By adding transition phrases to your essay, you can increase your word count. This will also improve the clarity, flow, and coherence of your writing.

Let Smodin Boost Your Word Count

Learning to increase word count in essays is not just about quantity. It’s also about improving the quality and impact of your writing.

These techniques will change your own writing process and help you write essays and research papers that resonate with your professors and teachers, no matter how many words you need.

Platforms like Smodin use AI to offer a simple solution to essay writing. They help you increase your word count easily. Here’s how Smodin can help you:

• Smodin uses AI to analyze your text and suggests ways to add words in addition to removing unnecessary words.
• Smodin can help with paraphrasing. It can also add depth and length to sentences.
• Use Smodin to improve your writing. It gives suggestions on grammar and style.
• Tailored recommendations to suit your specific writing needs and goals.

Explore Smodin’s services today to improve your writing.