The purpose of this resource is to help students prepare for the Gies College of Business ICT application essays. Many of the suggestions may also be applicable to other ICT application essays.
Application Overview
What’s considered:
- Course completion and GPA (at least 3.0)
- Progress towards general education requirements (especially LOTE)
- Three required essay prompts
- Option additional essay prompt for admissions committee
What’s not considered:
- High school grades, ACT/SAT scores, or any items from your initial UIUC application
- Selected Gies major (no space limits)
- Letters of recommendation
General guidance for applicants:
- The acceptance rate is only 30-35% each year, so it’s important to be open-minded.
- Attend a virtual admission information session or attend drop-in academic advising to learn more about the ICT process.
- Remember, these essays are an opportunity to reflect on your experiences and goals. Focus on being authentic and genuine in your writing!
Essay Prompts
Professional Essay (200–350 word limit):
Prompt: How do your current academic interests, professional goals, and strengths fit with your requested major in Gies Business? In what ways do you hope to explore areas of growth and develop professionally?
1. How do your current academic interests, professional goals, and strengths fit with your requested major in Gies Business?
- Academic interests could include specific subjects or courses that you’ve taken in your first year at UIUC or subjects in high school. Explain how those interests align with the courses of your selected major, or field overall, and express your excitement to explore them.
- Example: Economics, accounting, languages, and data analytics
- Professional goals may discuss the job you want, type of company you want to work for, industries you want to work in, certifications or a higher degree you hope to obtain, etc. Convince the reader that your selected major is crucial to gaining the necessary skills and knowledge to reach both your short-term and long-term goals.
- Example: I want to obtain a master’s in accounting to be eligible for the CPA exam. I aspire to work for a public accounting firm as an international tax consultant.
- Strengths are your soft and hard (technical) skills. Include 1-2 soft and at least 1 technical skill. Explain how they relate to your desired major/field and how you can leverage your skills within the classroom, a professional setting, or a future job.
- Example: Communication, public speaking, attention to detail, and data analysis
2. In what ways do you hope to explore areas of growth and develop professionally?
- This could include participation within an RSO, obtaining an internship, taking a relevant course, or anything specific that would help you achieve your ultimate professional goals.
- Example: I hope to build a network through Accounting Club, utilize Gies Career Services to obtain a summer tax internship, and take Professor Hutchens’ ACCY 544: International Tax course to expand my knowledge of taxation and grow as an accounting professional.
Personal Essay (200–350 word limit):
Prompt: What do you value? Describe an experience that has helped shape your personal values. What did you learn from this experience and how do these values show up in your actions?
1. What do you value?
- It’s best to start with creating a list of what you value and are passionate about. This should showcase more of who you are outside of an academic setting on a more personal level.
- Example: Community/relationships, consistency, learning, and running
2. Describe an experience that has helped shape your personal values.
- Consider a challenging time that required you to adapt in order to overcome an obstacle.
- Example: I committed to an intense 6-month training regimen for my first marathon while adjusting to a college campus environment.
3. What did you learn from this experience?
- Share with the reader what you learned about yourself and your abilities. Consider the main takeaways from your experience.
- Example: By challenging myself academically in classes and personally during training, I learned the importance of goal setting and surrounding myself with a supportive community. I not only made meaningful friends and earned a 4.0 my first semester, but also adhered to my training goals and completed my first marathon.
4. How do these values show up in your actions?
- This is where you tell the reader about the skill(s) you gained throughout this experience and how you maintain this in your current life. Additionally, explain how you can bring this strength to improve the Gies community.
- Example: I continue to foster relationships and my love for running by attending weekly UIUC Run Club events. Through my exploration of my accounting interest as a student in Gies, I hope to bring my values of community, consistency, and goal setting to inspire peers.
Engagement Essay (200–350 word limit):
Prompt: During your first year in college, in what ways were you significantly engaged either on- or off-campus, how were these engagements meaningful to you, and what have you learned from these experiences? This could be related to a part-time job, a student club/organization, volunteer/community work, family responsibility, or any other non-classroom activity.
1. Introduce your engagements
- Begin this essay by explaining how you were involved in a job, RSO, leadership position, and/or volunteer experience. Mentioning 2-4 activities (academic, professional, personal interest, and leadership/volunteer) is recommended. Remember, quality over quantity.
- They want to hear about what you learned from a campus job, the RSO event you helped organize, or even the family responsibilities you held while being a student.
- Introduce the activities you will discuss in the body of the essay (may be similar to a thesis in an academic paper).
- Example: I grew throughout my first year at Illinois by learning about careers through Accounting Club, gaining analytical skills working at Campus Recreation, and meeting new people while volunteering for Illini Service Dogs.
2. Engagement (repeat for each activity)
- Questions to consider: What did you do? How was this engagement meaningful to you? What have you learned from this experience?
- Example: As a new member of Accounting Club (AC), I engaged in various events to expand my understanding of tax opportunities and build my network…
- Additionally, explain the outcome of your work if you had any notable accomplishments.
- Example: By joining the social committee, I built stronger relationships with members while organizing monthly events for 100+ attendees. This opportunity enhanced my communication skills and prepared me to take on the social chair role, which I am excited to begin in the fall semester.
3. Conclusion of essay
- This is where you tie it all together and reaffirm your commitment to these activities (if you hope to stay involved). You can mention any leadership roles you will begin, even if your term starts the following semester.
- Give a glimpse into what you hope to join in Gies, preferably an engagement that is specifically designed for Gies students.
Additional considerations prompts (200 words or less):
Prompt: You should answer one or more of the following prompts as they may pertain to you, which will be considered in our admissions review:
- An explanation of low grades and/or circumstances that affected your academic performance.
- Description of unique, personal information that you would like the admission review committee to consider during the review process.
- You do not need to answer these prompts unless you believe it’s necessary. Keep in mind, either prompt is optional. Sometimes it is best to not draw attention to something you consider “bad,” such as a B in ECON 103.