2026–27 application cycle
University of Colorado Boulder supplemental essays
Every writing prompt on the University of Colorado Boulder application, with word limits. All of it taken from the application itself. One prompt.
- Prompt 1Required250 words max
Your field of study
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.
How to approach it
This prompt wants the origin story and the proof, not your resume. Pick the moment the interest became yours. Show one or two things you did about it on your own. Let the school see how you think when nobody assigns the work.
Common questions
What do students ask about these essays?
How many essays does University of Colorado Boulder require?
University of Colorado Boulder lists 1 writing supplement for the 2026–27 cycle, all required. That’s on top of the main personal statement.
How long are the University of Colorado Boulder supplemental essays?
Word limits across the listed prompts add up to about 250 words. Budget real time for them. Supplements are where admissions sees your real interest in University of Colorado Boulder.
Do the University of Colorado Boulder supplemental essays matter?
Yes, and more so at the hardest schools to get into. Grades and scores put you in the pool. Supplements are one of the few places you control what the reader learns about you. A generic why-us essay is one of the most common mistakes students make.
What Spike does with this
Get help planning University of Colorado Boulder essays.
Spike helps you tie each prompt to something you’ve actually lived. It helps you outline and revise, and it won’t write the essay for you.
The full counselor launches in November.