Indiana University Supplemental Essay
The IU Bloomington application requires you to submit an Indiana University supplemental essay. However, the prompt you respond to will depend on the application platform you use to apply. If you apply via the Common App, your personal statement essay will serve as your Indiana University essay. However, if you apply via the Apply IU Application, you’ll need to complete a separate Indiana University supplemental essay.
Indiana University–Bloomington, the flagship campus for the IU system, is ranked #38 on the U.S. News list of Top Public Schools. Students from all over the country apply for the chance to join IU Bloomington’s 40,000+ undergraduate students. The Indiana University supplemental essay gives applicants space to connect their goals to specific programs, values, or opportunities at IU. Taking the time to improve yours can help your application stand out!
In this guide, we’ll focus on breaking down the Indiana University prompt. If you need help writing your Common App personal statement essay, check out our resources for sample essays and our top writing tips!
Indiana University Admissions: Quick Facts
Indiana University–Bloomington Quick Facts
- Indiana University Acceptance Rate: 78%
- Indiana University Supplemental Essay Requirements:
- 1 (~650 word) personal statement essay OR
- 1 (~400 word) IU-specific essay
- Indiana University Application: Students can apply using the Common Application or the Apply IU Application. Make sure you submit your Indiana University supplemental essay along with all other application materials when applying.
- Indiana University Application Deadlines:
- Early Action: November 1
- Regular Decision: February 1
- Indiana University Essay Tip: If applying through the IU application, you’ll have to write a school-specific supplemental essay. In your essay, be sure to mention specific details about IU’s offerings and connect them back to your personal goals and interests.
Please note that essay requirements are subject to change each admissions cycle, and portions of this article may have been written before the final publication of the most recent guidelines. For the most up-to-date information on essay requirements, check the university’s admissions website.
Does Indiana University require essays?
Yes, all students will submit one essay as part of their Indiana University application. If you apply using the Common App, your personal statement essay will count as your Indiana University supplemental essay. However, if you submit an Apply IU Application, you’ll be asked to write a personal statement essay based on an IU-specific prompt.
Since there’s only one Indiana University supplemental essay, you should do everything you can to make sure your essay stands out. This is true no matter which type of essay you write. While this guide focuses on the IU-specific essay, we’ll review both the Common App and Apply IU Application essay prompts in the next section.
What is Indiana University’s supplemental essay?
If you apply through the Common App, your Indiana University supplemental essay prompts are the same as the Common App prompts. The word limit for the personal statement is 650 words. Here are this year’s prompts:
Common App Essay Prompts
1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
4. Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
7. 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.
There is only one school-specific IU essay prompt. This Indiana University supplemental essay is shorter than the Common App personal statement essay. Here is the IU essay prompt:
Indiana University Essay Prompt
In 200–400 words, you’ll be asked to describe your academic and career plans and any special interest (for example, undergraduate research, academic interests, leadership opportunities, etc.) that you are eager to pursue as an undergraduate at Indiana University. If you encountered any unusual circumstances, challenges, or obstacles in pursuit of your education, you may share those experiences and how you overcame them. Please note that this essay may be used for scholarship consideration. Find more information about completing your essay on our FAQ page.
Indiana University supplemental essays can cover a breadth of topics. Above all, the Indiana University supplemental essay aims to help the admissions team get to know you. The IU essay prompt gives you the freedom to write about the topics that best illustrate who you are and how you will use an education from IU.
How do I write Indiana University’s supplemental essay?
Describe your academic and career plans and any special interest (for example, undergraduate research, academic interests, leadership opportunities, etc.) that you are eager to pursue as an undergraduate at Indiana University. If you encountered any unusual circumstances, challenges, or obstacles in pursuit of your education, you may share those experiences and how you overcame them. (400 word maximum)
This IU application essay is a combination of the classic “Why College” and “Why Major” prompts. In 400 words, your Indiana University essay should clearly articulate your reasons for applying to Indiana University. It should also show your vision for your time as a Hoosier.
The IU essay prompt also lets you discuss challenges that have impacted your education. Often, you can integrate these challenges into the narrative of your Indiana University essay since you overcame them in pursuit of your goals. Your IU application essay should focus on connecting your experiences to your future at Indiana University.
When brainstorming for this IU essay prompt, ask yourself what you want to be when you grow up. Write down your dreams, goals, career interests, academic pursuits, and hobbies. When reading your IU supplemental essay, the admissions team should learn what is important to you and how you would spend your time on their campus.
An effective Why IU supplemental essay will think beyond the IU acceptance rate and Indiana University ranking. When answering this IU essay prompt, don’t just think about IU as a means to an end. Instead, think of this Indiana University supplemental essay as a “fit” essay. Your college experience is a two-way street; you will both contribute to and benefit from the IU community.
Tell a story
In your Indiana University supplemental essay, try to tell a story. Your college essay shouldn’t read like a five-paragraph essay. To draw your reader in, try opening your IU supplemental essay with an anecdote. How can you immediately put the reader in your shoes? Establish an element of mystery? Dramatize your opening? Select a story that shows growth, curiosity, determination, or another positive trait that you’ll highlight in your Indiana University essay.
In your IU application essay, make sure you include personal details. Whenever you make a claim about yourself in your Indiana University essay, provide examples to support it — show, don’t tell. If you write that you have an entrepreneurial spirit, back it up with a story from your life. If you include that you have a passion for mentoring others, provide a story from a time you mentored someone. IU does not expect that you will be involved in the same activities in college that you were in high school; still, your IU application essay should show the reader your character and skills.
Be specific
As well as being personal, your Indiana University supplemental essay should be specific. There are many great options for college, and you could succeed at many different schools. So, why do you want to attend IU? In your IU supplemental essay, strive to answer this question: How will the opportunities at IU make your goals a reality? There are countless majors and minors to choose from at Indiana University. So, what will your educational path look like?
Do your research on reasons to attend IU. What specific classes, research opportunities, professors, clubs, and organizations will you take advantage of? When answering the IU essay prompt, clearly state how you would make the most of the specific opportunities you discuss. Don’t just name-drop professors.
Writing a personal and specific Indiana University essay will help you stand out amidst thousands of other Indiana University supplemental essays. Don’t write things in your Indiana University supplemental essay that you could write about any other college. Conversely, avoid writing about topics that many students could also discuss in their Indiana University essays.
Show don’t tell
Throughout your Indiana University essay, show instead of telling. This will help you convey the most interesting and effective story. When discussing a program that sparked your interest in your major when answering the IU essay prompt, paint the picture and help the reader understand your daily work. If you write about an extracurricular activity in your IU application essay, detail how it felt to accomplish something in that activity. Use vivid descriptions instead of just stating the facts.
When answering the IU essay prompt, make sure to clarify the stakes of your story. As you respond to the IU essay prompt, clarify why your interests matter. Why should the reader admit you? In your IU application essay, show the reader why accepting you would make IU a better place. Use your Indiana University supplemental essay to highlight your potential!
Throughout your Indiana University supplemental essay, use self-reflection to tell an authentic story. Discuss what matters to you and why. What values do you prioritize? Your IU supplement essay should emphasize your defining traits.
In your Indiana University supplemental essay, you should also avoid cliches. Don’t just name a program or extracurricular because it sounds impressive; authenticity will help your application the most. Also, avoid general statements about the school in your Indiana University essay as well as simple emotional appeals. Don’t just compliment the school — instead, discuss what you will bring to IU in your IU supplemental essay.
Remember to discuss both your skills and IU’s offerings in your Indiana University supplemental essay. College is a two-way street and “fit” is extremely important. So, use your IU supplemental essay to show how you would fit into the IU community.
Indiana University Supplemental Essay Draft Key Questions:
- Is your Indiana University supplemental essay specific and personal?
- When discussing challenges, do you explain how you overcame them?
- Do you tell a cohesive and interesting story in your Indiana University essay?
- Did you proofread your IU application essay for grammar and clarity?
Additional tips for writing the Indiana University supplemental essay
Be sure to leave yourself time to edit and revise your IU application essay! Indiana University admissions has two deadlines: Early Action on November 1 and Regular Decision on February 1.
Before submitting your application, think about how every aspect of it will be perceived by the IU admissions team. Do you tell them as much as you can about who you are? Make sure that your IU supplemental essay paints a clear picture of your goals, motivations, and future plans. Your IU application essay should be consistent with the rest of your application; it should also add details to your profile that the reader doesn’t glean from the rest of your application.
What is the acceptance rate for IU?
The IU Bloomington acceptance rate is approximately 78%. However, the Kelley School of Business has a far lower freshman acceptance rate, highlighting how admissions competitiveness can vary widely by program at IU. The median GPA for applicants accepted to IU for the fall 2025 class was 4.0, while the median SAT and ACT scores were 1354 and 31, respectively.
Don’t focus too much on the IU acceptance rate. Instead, spend your energy making your Indiana University supplemental essay the best it can be. Since so many factors impact the IU acceptance rate, focus on the ones within your control. You can read the full list of admissions requirements here.
Want more tips on how to use the IU acceptance rate (and any other school’s rate) to build your school list? Check out our expert’s guides on acceptance rates and rankings.
Indiana University Supplemental Essay – Final Thoughts
In your IU essay, be unique and original but also genuine and honest. Instead of trying to predict what the admissions team wants to hear, focus on telling your personal story. Do your research on your future major so you can connect yourself with opportunities at IU. Be clear, concise, and specific in your responses to the Indiana University essay prompt; you only get one chance! There is no cookie-cutter IU student, so highlight what makes you stand out. Good luck!
This guide was written by Caroline Marapese, Notre Dame ’22. For more CollegeAdvisor.com resources on Indiana University, click here. Want help crafting your IU University supplemental essay? Create your account or schedule a free advising consultation by calling (844) 343-6272.
