BYU Admissions Essays
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How You Live the Four Aims
Your admissions essays play a key role in helping the university understand who you are, what you value, and how you’re living the principles found in the BYU aims.
Showcase Growth Beyond the Classroom
Be sure to highlight your extracurricular experiences as a FlexGE student—such as service, leadership, work, and church involvement—as these show how you’re developing attributes beyond the classroom.
Start writing early so you have time to reflect, revise, and seek feedback. Use available resources like the Research & Writing Center, FlexGE academic advisors, and Enrollment Services counselors to help you craft strong, thoughtful essays.
Transfer Admissions Essay Questions
Before you begin writing, take time to read through the BYU admission essay questions and reflect on your experiences. Consider holding a quick brainstorming session and jotting down anything that comes to mind—you might uncover ideas you hadn’t considered before. Use those insights to jumpstart your first drafts.
Describe a topic, idea, or experience that you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. What have you done to learn more or engage further in the topic, idea, or experience? What resources do you use to learn more?
Have you become aware of significant needs in your family, school, and/or community? Please explain how you have worked toward meeting those needs.
Briefly describe a time that your efforts have fallen short, a goal was not accomplished, or an aspiration was not achieved. What steps did you take to recover from this defeat? What resources did you use? How and why are you different today?
We strive to create a rich and varied educational environment through admitting students with a wide range of:
- goals
- interests
- skills and talents
- life experiences
- perspectives
- cultures
Tell us your story. What will you contribute to our university community? Be specific.
A BYU education will be spiritually strengthening. BYU students have a unique opportunity to seek learning by study and by faith. Describe the reasons you want to learn in an environment like this.
Why are you applying to transfer from your current institution? How has your initial college experience prepared you for the academic rigor of BYU? Tell us what you have done to challenge yourself academically. Be specific.

Research & Writing Center
BYU Research & Writing Center (RWC) is a great resource for admissions essay help. Their team can help you brainstorm, organize, and polish your essays to clearly express your experiences and goals. Be sure to check out their admissions essay tips handout for helpful guidance as you write. Appointments are free and available both in person and online—don’t wait to get started!

Enrollment Services Counselors
Before submitting your BYU admissions essays, schedule a one-time appointment with Enrollment Services counselor Sarah Cook. She can help you strengthen your application by offering feedback on your essays and guidance on how to reflect the BYU aims through your grades and campus involvement. Be sure to have your essays written before your appointment.
To schedule, call 801-422-7075.