unc asheville application essay prompt

University of North Carolina at Asheville

• Cost & scholarships
• Essay prompt

Want to see your chances of admission at University of North Carolina at Asheville?

We take every aspect of your personal profile into consideration when calculating your admissions chances.

University of North Carolina at Asheville’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Brings you joy short response.

We are excited by the possibility of you joining our community and want to get to know you beyond the facts and figures. In that spirit, we ask you to briefly write about something that brings you joy.

Common App Personal Essay

The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response. Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don‘t feel obligated to do so.

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.

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?

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

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?

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

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?

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.

What will first-time readers think of your college essay?

We are still accepting applications for Fall 2023.

UNC Asheville offers a distinct experience for original minds. We dare to break down conventions, overcome obstacles, and expand horizons. UNC Asheville’s education is affordable, adaptive, and endlessly relevant.

This is an experience where every path leads to a new vista and where the future is a frontier—vast and bright and close enough to touch. Apply now for a hands-on, inspiring, and personalized education.

Apply online via The Common Application Apply online via The College Foundation of N.C.

Application Deadlines

NC Residency

If you would like to be considered for NC residency, complete the Residency Determination Service prior to submitting your application to ensure a timely and efficient application process. Complete your Residency Determination .

Statement on Civic Engagement

At UNC Asheville, our comprehensive admissions review process ensures each applicant is assessed on an individual basis with the safety of our campus as a primary consideration. We welcome peaceful action and purposeful civic engagement among UNC Asheville students, and also support those actions among our prospective students. Participation in non-violent civil protest and peaceful expression will not influence admissions decisions at UNC Asheville.

Questions about UNC Asheville or the application and financial aid process? We’re happy to help. Contact the Office of Admission & Financial Aid at [email protected] or 828.251.6481, or reach out to one of our Admission Counselors .

University of North Carolina (UNC) 2020-21 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Regular Decision: 

UNC 2020-21 Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: 2 essays of 200-250 words each, 1 additional essay

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Community, Activity

In addition to the essay you provided with your Common Application, please choose two of the prompts below and respond to each in 200-250 words. Your essay responses below should be different from your common app essay response.

Carolina aspires to build a diverse and inclusive community. we believe that students can only achieve their best when they learn alongside students from different backgrounds. in reading your responses, we hope to learn what being a member of such a community would mean to you. , expand on an aspect of your identity (for example, your religion, culture, race, sexual or gender identity, affinity group, etc.). how has this aspect of your identity shaped your life experiences thus far.

UNC wants to accept students who will contribute to the diversity and inclusivity on campus. When considering an aspect of your identity to expand upon, we recommend choosing one that has had the biggest impact on the way you experience and interact with the world. Ideally, the unique aspect you select should come with a couple anecdotes. Maybe you want to write about your gender identity, and give admissions a glimpse into what it’s like to be a young trans person in 2020. Perhaps you embody #BlackGirlMagic and always take the opportunity to celebrate your heritage and community. Regardless of the part of your identity that you choose to address, be specific and use this opportunity to speak to admissions in your own authentic voice.

If you could change one thing about where you live, what would it be and why?  

Although you may be tempted to write the first thing that comes to mind (make it beachfront! free pizza Fridays! build a bowling alley!), admissions is looking for a serious response that addresses a current issue. The good news (if you want to see it that way?) is that there’s no shortage of contemporary issues for you to address here, so the key is to pick the problem that is closest to your heart. Maybe you’re incredibly passionate about the environment, and you would love to create a clean energy initiative in your town. Perhaps you want to zoom out and interpret “where you live” as your country as a whole: Do you envision living in a country with no child hunger? Don’t forget to answer the “why” part of the question as well, and bonus points if you can show admissions that you’re already taking steps to make this change happen in your community. Are you organizing peaceful protests in your small Midwestern town to raise awareness about the impending dangers of global warming? Do you use your social media platforms to inform your peers about youth homelessness? Remember that UNC is looking to accept passionate students who are informed and eager to be part of the solution.

Describe someone who you see as a community builder. What actions has that person taken? How has their work made a difference in your life?  

Who do you look up to and why? UNC wants to know about your idol and/or mentor in order to learn more about what’s important to you. So, start by thinking about the term “community builder.” Who comes to mind? Perhaps for you, it’s your aunt, who hosts cookouts every Sunday in the spring and summer to bring your extended family together to bond over grilled veggies and potato salad. What have these cookouts meant to you? Or, maybe you’ve never met the person you’d like to write about. Maybe you follow someone on Instagram who is constantly informing you (and their other followers) about issues impacting your community. Have these posts inspired you to call your state representatives to voice your frustrations and demand change? No matter who you choose, try not to spend too many words on their actions, and instead focus on how their work has made a difference in your life. It is you , after all, that UNC will be considering inviting to campus next fall.

We hope you’ll share with us the activities that you’ve found especially worthwhile. We also hope you won’t feel compelled to tell us everything you’ve ever done or, worse yet, to do things that mean little to you just because you think we want you to do them. We also hope you’ll remember—because we never forget—that low-profile pursuits can be just as meaningful as ones that draw more attention, and that fewer activities can be just as good as more, and sometimes even better. Although starting a new club, for example, can be a great experience and helpful to others, so can caring for siblings, parents, or grandparents, or working outside the home to put food on the table, or being a good and caring friend. We hope you won’t feel as though you have to do the former, especially if your doing so will keep you from doing the latter. For all these reasons, although we’re glad to receive complete résumés, we don’t require or encourage them. Instead, if you choose to submit something that goes beyond what you’re providing through your Common Application, we encourage you to keep it brief; focus less on including everything than on choosing and explaining the things that have meant the most to you; and upload it here.

Didn’t see this prompt on UNC’s application at first glance, did ya?! This long-winded prompt can be found in the “Activities” section of the Common App. As the prompt itself says, take this opportunity to elaborate on an activity, experience, or responsibility that is meaningful to you. You can write about the sense of family you found within your recreational basketball team, the friendship that grew from a tutoring gig, or the gift you were able to give your mom after weeks of flipping burgers at your local fast food joint. Whatever you choose to write about here, remember that admissions is looking for quality over quantity. Use this space to give admissions insight into what is important and poignant to you!

About CEA HQ

View all posts by CEA HQ »

We can help!

Contact us for information on rates and more!

• I am a * Student Parent Potential Partner School Counselor Private College Counselor
• Name * First Last
• Phone Type Mobile Landline
• Street Address
• Address City State / Province / Region Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos Islands Colombia Comoros Congo Congo, Democratic Republic of the Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Curaçao Cyprus Czechia Côte d'Ivoire Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Heard Island and McDonald Islands Holy See Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macao Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Macedonia Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestine, State of Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russian Federation Rwanda Réunion Saint Barthélemy Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Sint Maarten Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Sweden Switzerland Syria Arab Republic Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania, the United Republic of Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Türkiye US Minor Outlying Islands Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Viet Nam Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, U.S. Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Åland Islands Country
• Which best describes you (or your child)? High school senior High school junior College student College grad Other
• How did you find CEA? Internet Search Podcast New York Times Guidance counselor/school Social Media YouTube Friend Special Event Delehey College Consulting Perks at Work Other
• Common App and Coalition Essays
• Supplemental Essays
• University of California Essays
• University of Texas Essays
• Resume Review
• Post-Grad Essays
• Specialized Services
• Waitlist Letters
• Private School Essays
• General College Counseling
• School list with priorities noted:
• Anything else we should know?
• Phone This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

School Stats:

• Agnes Scott College
• Alvernia University
• American University
• Amherst College
• Babson College
• Bard College
• Barnard College
• Baylor University
• Bennington College
• Bentley University
• Berry College
• Bethany College
• Bishop’s University
• Boston College
• Boston University (BU)
• Bowdoin College
• Brandeis University
• Brown University
• Bryn Mawr College
• Bucknell University
• Butler University
• California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
• California Lutheran University
• Capitol Technology University
• Carleton College
• Carnegie Mellon University (CMU)
• Catawba College
• Centre College
• Chapman University
• Claremont McKenna College
• Clark University
• Clemson University
• Coastal Carolina University
• College of Charleston
• College of William and Mary
• College of Wooster
• Colorado College
• Colorado School of Mines
• Columbia University
• Cornell University
• Culver-Stockton College
• D'Youville University
• Dartmouth College
• Davidson College
• Dickinson College
• Drexel University
• Duke University
• Earlham College
• Elon University
• Emerson College
• Emory University
• Flagler College
• Fordham University
• George Mason University
• The George Washington University
• Georgetown University
• Georgia State University
• Georgia Tech
• Gonzaga University
• Hamilton College
• Hampshire College
• Harvard University
• Harvey Mudd College
• Haverford College
• Hillsdale College
• Hofstra University
• Howard University
• Illinois Institute of Technology
• Illinois Wesleyan University
• Ithaca College
• Johns Hopkins University
• Kalamazoo College
• Lafayette College
• Lehigh University
• Lewis and Clark College
• Linfield University
• Loyola Marymount University (LMU)
• Lynn University
• Macalester College
• Manchester University
• Marist College
• Mary Baldwin University
• Meredith College
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
• Monmouth College
• Moravian University
• Morehouse College
• Mount Holyoke College
• New York University (NYU)
• North Carolina State
• North Park University
• Northwestern University
• Occidental College
• Oklahoma City University
• Olin College of Engineering
• Pepperdine University
• Pitzer College
• Pomona College
• Princeton University
• Providence College
• Purdue University
• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• Rice University
• Roger Williams University
• Saint Anselm College
• Saint Elizabeth University
• Santa Clara University
• Sarah Lawrence College
• Scripps College
• Seattle Pacific University
• Seattle University
• Siena College
• Smith College
• Soka University of America
• Southern Methodist University
• Spelman College
• St. John’s College
• Stanford University
• Stevens Institute of Technology
• Stonehill College
• Swarthmore College
• Syracuse University
• Texas A&M University
• Texas Christian University (TCU)
• The College of Idaho
• The New School
• Trinity College
• Tufts University
• Tulane University
• UNC Wilmington
• University of California
• University of Central Florida (UCF)
• University of Chicago
• University of Cincinnati
• University of Colorado Boulder
• University of Florida
• University of Georgia (UGA)
• University of Illinois Chicago (UIC)
• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• University of Maryland
• University of Massachusetts Amherst
• University of Massachusetts Lowell
• University of Miami
• University of Michigan
• University of Minnesota
• University of Mississippi (Ole Miss)
• College of Mount Saint Vincent
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)
• University of North Carolina at Charlotte
• University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• University of Notre Dame
• University of Oklahoma
• University of Oregon
• University of Pennsylvania
• University of Pittsburgh
• University of Richmond
• University of Rochester
• University of San Diego
• University of San Francisco
• University of Southern California (USC)
• University of Texas at Austin
• University of Tulsa
• University of Vermont
• University of Virginia (UVA)
• University of Washington
• University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Vanderbilt University
• Vassar College
• Villanova University
• Virginia Tech
• Wake Forest University
• Washington and Lee University
• Washington University in St. Louis
• Wellesley College
• Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)
• Yale University

Want free stuff?

We thought so. Sign up for free instructional videos, guides, worksheets and more!

One-On-One Advising

Common App Essay Prompt Guide

Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

• YouTube Tutorials
• Our Approach & Team
• Undergraduate Testimonials
• Postgraduate Testimonials
• Where Our Students Get In
• CEA Gives Back
• Undergraduate Admissions
• Graduate Admissions
• Private School Admissions
• International Student Admissions
• Common App Essay Guide
• Supplemental Essay Guide
• Coalition App Guide
• The CEA Podcast
• Admissions Stats
• Notification Trackers
• Deadline Databases
• College Essay Examples
• Academy and Worksheets
• Deferral Guides
• Get Started

Admission & Aid

At the University of North Carolina Asheville, our students and faculty are on a dedicated quest for the extraordinary through collaborative classroom discussion, innovative research, adventures across the Blue Ridge Mountains, and just about anything else you can imagine. 

By applying to UNC Asheville, you’re joining an inclusive and supportive campus situated in a vibrant cultural epicenter, further enriched by an engaged and talented local community.

Learn more about UNC Asheville’s admission requirements, application deadlines, tuition, and financial aid. Discover what makes UNC Asheville an exceptional university to grow, explore, and form genuine connections that will last a lifetime.

On This Page:

First-year admission.

First-year applicants to UNC Asheville are either in high school at the time of applying or have not received college credit since graduating from high school. Apply online using the Common Application or the College Foundation of North Carolina to take your first step!

First-Year Application Deadlines

Fall Semester:

• Early Action: November 1
• Regular Decision: February 1

We welcome applications after the February 1 Regular Decision deadline, which are considered on a space-available basis.

Spring Semester:

• Regular Decision: November 15

Transfer to UNC Asheville

Transfer students have attended college after graduating from high school, and seek enrollment in an undergraduate program at UNC Asheville. Our transfer admission team will help you navigate the move from a community college or other institution to UNC Asheville. Transfer students also apply via the Common Application or the College Foundation of North Carolina .

Transfer Application Deadlines

November 15

We welcome applications after each transfer deadline, which are considered on a space-available basis.

International Student Admission

Application deadlines for international students are the same as our first-year and transfer processes. Below are the final deadlines to submit all materials and documentation. Please note that these deadlines cannot be extended to ensure your visa is processed on time.

Those who currently hold or seek an F-1 Visa or other authorized non-immigrant visa category are welcome to engage in full-time or part-time academic studies. International students must submit additional documentation to complete the admission and enrollment processes at UNC Asheville. 

Final Application Deadlines for International Students

Application deadlines for international students are the same as our first-year and transfer processes. Below are the final deadlines to submit all international student-specific materials and documentation. To ensure your visa is processed on time, these deadlines cannot be extended.

Admission Information For Additional Student Populations

UNC Asheville has specific admission requirements for returning, non-degree, early college, and dual enrollment students, as well as for post-baccalaureate, and teacher licensure candidates. We also provide admission information for Veterans and those aged 65+ who are interested in tuition-free course auditing.

Affordable Tuition and Generous Financial Aid

At UNC Asheville, we’re committed to making a life-changing education an accessible one so you can focus on your future. We’ve been named a Best Buy and Best Value university by The Princeton Review , The Fiske Guide to Colleges , and Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine . 

As a testament to this commitment, 68% of our undergraduates receive generous financial aid and/or scholarships. Students must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for need-based financial aid. All incoming first-year students are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships. 

Additionally, in-state residents benefit from incredibly low tuition rates and North Carolina’s Fixed Tuition Program. Tuition and fees are covered through Access Asheville for those in-state students with a household adjusted gross income of $80,000 or less.

Net Price Calculator

Plan ahead using our Net Price Calculator, a UNC Asheville financial aid tool that estimates your total cost of attendance based on your unique financial and family circumstances. We’ll provide a breakdown of your total expenses and financial aid package, and show you the estimated net price.

Why Apply to UNC Asheville?

A Unique Education

As North Carolina’s designated public liberal arts and sciences university, we connect curiosity with thinking critically, courage with pushing boundaries, imagination with making an impact, and opportunity with fulfilling a civic responsibility. You’ll develop essential skills that prepare you for your career, your community, and all the new paths you’ll uncover.

Endless Opportunities

Pursue your passions through master’s level research within 65+ academic programs. Build your professional network with your peers and faculty mentors. Embrace the abundant opportunities in Asheville, where creative spirit meets a booming economy, making it one of America’s greatest small cities for young professionals.

Affordable Education for Your Career Success

Invest in an affordable education that equips you to thrive in today’s job market. At UNC Asheville, you’ll accomplish more than a degree: you’ll find your life’s purpose—without the burden of excessive student loan debt.

 Student Spotlights & Stories

Unleash your potential – apply to unc asheville.

At the University of North Carolina Asheville, you’ll experience an unparalleled liberal arts and sciences education. Take the next step and apply to become a Bulldog!

Need Help with Your Application? Contact the Admission Team!  

Connect with our team in the Office of Admission & Financial Aid for assistance navigating the application process!

UNC Asheville is operating under Condition 3 (Closure) until at least Monday, October 21, 2024. Classes will not resume until at least Monday, October 28, 2024.

Application Deadline Update : For students directly affected by Hurricane Helene, we’re extending our early action deadline to October 31, 2024. For all others, the deadline remains October 15, 2024. We’re here to help if you have any questions.

Advice for Your Application

We asked our admissions counselors to help answer your questions about writing samples, letters of recommendation, and extracurricular activities.

writing samples

Sharing your voice..

The writing portion of your application is an opportunity to show us your authentic self. Assistant Director Logan Jacobs provides three quick tips:

• Share specific details.
• Write a draft or two.
• Ask your friends to read your essay.

Letters of Recommendation

Select a teacher in a core subject who knows you best..

Assistant Director Ebony Potts shares what to consider when you ask a teacher to write your letter of recommendation from a teacher.

Core subject areas can include:

• Social science
• World language

Extracurricular Activities

Show us what’s meaningful to you..

We know that your life is busy and your time is valuable. Understanding how you spend your time outside of the classroom helps us understand what’s important to you. Assistant Director Emily O’Brian shares why we’re so excited to hear about your extracurricular activities.

Special Opportunities

Express interest in special programs..

Assistant Director Bryan Tyrpin shares how you can be considered for unique opportunities at Carolina.

Related Stories

Application prompts for 2024-2025, first-year application, transfer application.