CU Boulder Supplemental Essays 2026–27: Prompts & Tips

Applicants to University of Colorado Boulder must write 1 essay totalling about 250 words [1]. This guide covers the single required short-answer question that all first-year applicants face. Depending on your chosen program, such as the College of Music, the university may require additional materials or portfolios.

What do you hope to study, and why, at CU Boulder? Or if you don't know quite yet, think about your studies so far, extracurricular/after-school activities, jobs, volunteering… (250 words)

What do you hope to study, and why, at CU Boulder? Or if you don't know quite yet, think about your studies so far, extracurricular/after-school activities, jobs, volunteering, future goals, or anything else that has shaped your interests.

What this prompt is really asking: CU Boulder wants to see the origin story of your academic interests and how you plan to pursue them on their campus. By explicitly offering an "undecided" path, the admissions team shows they care more about your intellectual curiosity and how your past experiences connect to your future than they do about locking you into a rigid career track.

A strong approach:

• Pinpoint a catalyst: Open with the specific moment, class, or job that sparked your interest in a subject. Ground the essay in a concrete experience rather than a broad statement about loving science.
• Name specific resources: Connect your interest directly to CU Boulder. Mention a particular lab, a specialized upper-level course, or an undergraduate research program that aligns with your goals.
• Embrace being undecided: If you are unsure of your major, highlight two or three disparate interests. Explain how exploring them at CU Boulder will help you find a cohesive path forward.

Most common mistakes:

• Listing without explaining: Dropping five different CU Boulder professors into a 250-word essay leaves no room to explain why you want to work with them.
• Skipping the why: Stating that you want to study aerospace engineering is not enough. You must explain the underlying motivation behind that choice.
• Writing a resume: Repeating your activities list wastes valuable space. Focus on the intellectual or emotional impact of one or two key experiences.