The Apply Texas essays, not unlike the UC essays, carry a lot of weight for an applicant. The questions are pretty straightforward, but in the same vein as the Common Application Essay. In fact, if an applicant will be applying to the UT schools and some private schools outside of Texas, I recommend writing an Apply Texas essay which can double as a Common Application essay. And because the maximum word counts for these essays are quite long, keep it at 650 words. Here are some tips for the Apply Texas essays.
Topic A: Describe a setting in which you have collaborated or interacted with people whose experiences and/or beliefs differ from yours. Address your initial feelings, and how those feelings were or were not changed by this experience. It is likely that this collaboration will have taken place inside the classroom, or in an academic atmosphere. Good! It should! Like any good essay, detail is key. This is a typical “how did you grow” essay. Keep this in mind when you write it.
Topic B: Most students have an identity, an interest, or a talent that defines them in an essential way. Tell us about yourself. As long as you articulate passion in whatever you choose to write about, you can’t go wrong. Picture yourself explaining to a person what your interest is, and try to duplicate that excitement into your essay.
Topic C: You’ve got a ticket in your hand – Where will you go? What will you do? What will happen when you get there? This may be my favorite essay of any application I work on. Reason: a ticket can be for anything. A plane ride. An amusement park ride. Even a dry cleaning ticket. Originality is key. Take the reader on a ride.