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University of Georgia

UGA's one short essay asks about a book that changed you, and the "why" is everything.

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Supplemental essays

1 required

UGA short essay length

200-300 words (350 max)

Common App essay

250-650 words

Testing

SAT/ACT required

What UGA rewards

UGA keeps it refreshingly simple. Beyond your Common App personal statement (250-650 words), first-year applicants write one UGA-specific short essay of 200-300 words (the Common App will let you run up to 350). That is the whole supplement. One prompt, and it is the same one UGA has used for years: tell us about a book that had a serious impact on you around the middle-to-high-school transition, and focus on why, not the plot.

The catch is that "easy to answer" is not the same as "easy to do well." Because everyone gets the same prompt and only a couple hundred words, this essay is where thousands of strong applicants sound identical. Note too that for Fall 2026 UGA requires SAT or ACT scores again, so the essay is not carrying your file alone. Your job here is small and exact: pick a real book, then prove it changed how you think or act, in concrete detail, before your word count runs out.

01Genuine reading, not impressive reading. UGA says outright they do not want a book report, and they are not scoring you on how literary your pick is. A graphic novel, a cookbook, a self-help paperback, or a worn library copy of a kids' series can all win if the impact is real. Reach for the title you actually carried around, not the one you think looks smart.

02The why over the what. The prompt's whole instruction is to spend more time on why the book mattered and less on what it is about. Readers reward essays where most sentences are about you (your thinking, your choices, your before-and-after) and only a thin layer is about the book itself.

03A clear before and after. Impact means change. The strongest responses show who you were before the book and who you became after, even in a small way. UGA wants evidence of personal and academic discovery during a real chapter of your life, so a visible shift beats vague admiration.

04Specificity and honesty in a tight space. With 200-300 words, there is no room to warm up. UGA rewards essays that drop you straight into a concrete moment and trust one honest detail to do the work. Earnest and specific reads far better here than clever and general.

Essay prompts for 2026-2027

1 prompt for UGA, each broken down with annotated examples.

The Book That Changed You200-300 words suggested (350 max on the Common App)

The transition from middle to high school is a key time for students as they reach new levels of both academic and personal discovery. Please share a book (novel, non-fiction, etc.) that had a serious impact on you during this time. Please focus more on why this book made an impact on you and less on the plot/theme of the book itself (we are not looking for a book report).

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Deadlines

Early Action deadlineOctober 15 (supporting docs ~2 weeks later)

Regular Decision deadlineJanuary 1 (docs due January 15)

Cost

Sticker price$28,830

Avg net after aid$16,800

Meets full needPartial

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How to get inAcceptance rate, the GPA and SAT profile, and what UGA weighs most Supplemental essays1 prompt, each broken down with annotated examples Cost & financial aidAverage $16,800/yr after aid · net price by income + calculator InterviewDoes UGA interview? Format, tips, and practice The UGA Reader ProScore your draft against UGA's exact prompts

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UGA FAQ

What is UGA's acceptance rate?

For Fall 2026 entry, UGA requires SAT or ACT scores from all first-year applicants. The test-optional pathway used in recent cycles has ended, with only limited hardship exceptions. Grades and curriculum rigor drive roughly 75% of UGA's academic read; test scores make up the rest. At UGA, a strong application essay and a well-balanced school list matter alongside your grades and test scores.

What supplemental essays does UGA require?

UGA requires 1 supplemental essay 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 UGA cost?

UGA's published sticker price is about $28,830 per year, but the average family pays $16,800 after financial aid. Your net price depends on your family income; use the calculator to estimate yours.

Does UGA require SAT or ACT scores?

UGA requires SAT or ACT scores as part of the application.

When are UGA's application deadlines?

UGA's application deadlines are Regular Decision deadline January 1 (docs due January 15). Add UGA to your plan on EssayLens to track its deadlines automatically.

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