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Maryland

University of Maryland, College Park

Six tiny 650-character short answers that reward specificity, humor, and a real point of view over polish.

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Required short answers

6

Limit per answer

650 characters (~100 words)

Format

Complete-the-sentence + diversity prompt

Testing

Test-optional through Fall 2027

What Maryland rewards

University of Maryland does not assign a traditional one-page supplement. Instead, first-year applicants answer six required short responses, each capped at 650 characters, which is only about 100 words apiece. Five are playful complete-the-sentence prompts, and the sixth is a longer question about your experience with diversity and community. Maryland is test-optional through the Fall 2027 cycle, which means these answers, your grades, and your activities carry more weight, not less.

The core challenge is not length. It is restraint. You have roughly a tweet and a half to make each answer land, so vague, safe, or list-like writing dies fast. Specificity is the whole game here. A reader skims all six in under two minutes, so each one needs a concrete detail, a real voice, and a reason it could only have come from you.

01Concrete detail over polish. With 650 characters there is no room for throat-clearing. The answers that work name a specific place, fact, person, or moment in the first few words. Maryland readers reward a vivid noun far more than a smooth-sounding sentence.
02Genuine voice and humor. The complete-the-sentence format is built for personality. A dry joke, an odd obsession, or an honest small confession reads as human. Trying to sound impressive across all six is the fastest way to blend in.
03Range across the six. Treat the answers as a set, not six separate essays. If every response is about your intended major, you waste the format. The strongest applicants show a curious mind, a sense of humor, a value, and an academic spark across the group.
04Community contribution. The diversity prompt is not asking you to prove hardship. It rewards a clear, specific story of how some part of your background or experience shaped how you think, learn, or show up for others.

Essay prompts for 2026-2027

3 prompts for Maryland, each broken down with annotated examples.

Academic interests beyond your major650 characters (about 100 words)

In addition to my major, my academic interests include…

Something we might not know about you650 characters (about 100 words)

Something you might not know about me is…

Learning and growing through diversity650 characters (about 100 words)

Because we know that diversity benefits the educational experience of all students, the University of Maryland values diversity in all of its many forms. This includes (but is not limited to) racial, socio-economic, gender, geographical, and sexual orientation. We are interested in hearing about your own individual life experiences. In a few sentences, will you please describe how you have learned, grown, been inspired or developed skills through one or more components of diversity.

See all 3 prompts and get a read

Your chance

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Add your GPA, test scores, and profile to estimate your odds at Maryland and build a balanced list.

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Deadlines

Early Action deadlineNov. 1 (non-binding)
Early Action decisionsBy Feb. 1
Regular Decision deadlineJan. 20
Regular decisionsBy April 1
Enrollment confirmationMay 1

Cost

Sticker price$29,996
Avg net after aid$16,500
Meets full needPartial
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How to get inAcceptance rate, the GPA and SAT profile, and what Maryland weighs most Supplemental essays3 prompts, each broken down with annotated examples Cost & financial aidAverage $16,500/yr after aid · net price by income + calculator InterviewDoes Maryland interview? Format, tips, and practice The Maryland Reader ProScore your draft against Maryland's exact prompts
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Maryland FAQ

What is Maryland's acceptance rate?

Around 44% of applicants are admitted, but Maryland reads more than 60,000 applications a year, so the short answers do real work in separating students with similar grades. Essays are listed as an important factor alongside course rigor, talent, first-generation status, and state residency. At Maryland, a strong application essay and a well-balanced school list matter alongside your grades and test scores.

What supplemental essays does Maryland require?

Maryland requires 3 supplemental essays on its application. On EssayLens each prompt is broken down with annotated examples, and you can get a free admissions-style read of your draft against the exact prompt.

How much does Maryland cost?

Maryland's published sticker price is about $29,996 per year, but the average family pays $16,500 after financial aid. Your net price depends on your family income; use the calculator to estimate yours.

Does Maryland require SAT or ACT scores?

Maryland is test-optional: you can apply without SAT or ACT scores, and strong scores are just one factor among many when you do submit them.

When are Maryland's application deadlines?

Maryland's application deadlines are Early Action deadline Nov. 1 (non-binding); Early Action decisions By Feb. 1; Regular Decision deadline Jan. 20; Regular decisions By April 1; Enrollment confirmation May 1. Add Maryland to your plan on EssayLens to track its deadlines automatically.

Campus photo via Wikipedia.

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