An essay is required for most undergraduate program applications. Essays are an important part of your application and help provide context beyond your academic record. When drafting your essay, we recommend using a word‑processing program outside of the application system. Be sure to save your work, then copy and paste the final version into the application.
Accounting
Cover the points below in an essay of 100–500 words.
Write an essay that will help the Admissions Committee learn who you are, independent of your GPA and academic accomplishments. Here is a list of topics that you can consider addressing when writing your essay:
- Tell us something unique about yourself that we cannot get from your grades alone. In other words, what differentiates you from every other School of Accountancy applicant? As examples, tell us about your background, experiences, extracurricular activities, challenges, interpersonal skills, leadership skills, motivation, and so forth.
- Briefly tell us why you want to be a BYU accounting major.
- To the extent not previously discussed, highlight anything that you feel is important for the Admissions Committee to know in considering your application, including any personal hardships or events that you have faced that may have affected you or your studies.
Please write a 50–300 word response to the following prompt:
- Please review the BYU Marriott vision, mission, and values at https://marriott.byu.edu/our-story/mission/.
- After reviewing the BYU Marriott vision, mission, and values, share an example of how you have exemplified one of these values in your leadership or service to others.
(Updated March 2026)
Business Management
Please write a 100–200 word response to following questions:
- Why are you applying to this major?
- What type of career are you intending to pursue with this major?
Please write a 300–500 word response to following prompt:
- Business Management is designed to provide an overview of multiple functional areas of business without emphasizing a specific area. Some of the challenges inherent in this approach include a lack of specialization, challenging career placement, no student cohort, and electives with variable availability.
- Please explain your understanding of these potential difficulties and how you plan to be successful within these constraints
In 50–300 words, respond to the following prompt:
- Please review the BYU Marriott vision, mission, and values at https://marriott.byu.edu/our-story/mission/.
- After reviewing the BYU Marriott vision, mission, and values, share an example of how you have exemplified one of these values in your leadership or service to others.
(Updated March 2026)
Entrepreneurial Management
In 100–400 words, respond to the following prompt:
- You will be given a link to complete a survey asking you about your experiences and interests.
- After completing the survey, please describe how these experiences and others listed on your résumé have prepared you for the entrepreneurial management major.
Answer each question prompt in separate responses of 50–300 words.
- Using a specific experience as an example, describe your process for collecting and analyzing data to evaluate an entrepreneurial opportunity, make a decision, or solve a problem.
- Please review the BYU Marriott vision, mission, and values at https://marriott.byu.edu/our-story/mission/. After reviewing the BYU Marriott vision, mission, and values, share an example of how you have exemplified one of these values in your leadership or service to others.
(Updated March 2026)
Experience Design and Management
In 100–400 words, respond to the following prompt:
Demonstrate how the vision, mission, and values of the ExDM major (designing and managing experiences grounded in truth, practicing courageous curiosity and creativity, building community, and managing experience impact) will help you achieve your educational and professional goals. To help you write your response, please be sure to address the following:
- What are your educational and professional goals?
- What have you done prior to applying to the ExDM program to achieve your educational and professional goals?
- How will experiences in the ExDM program help you achieve your educational and professional goals?
- What else has uniquely prepared or qualified you to succeed in the ExDM program?
In 50–300 words, respond to the following prompt:
- Please review the BYU Marriott vision, mission, and values at https://marriott.byu.edu/our-story/mission/. After reviewing the BYU Marriott vision, mission, and values, share an example of how you have exemplified one of these values in your leadership or service to others. (50–300 words)
(Updated March 2026)
Finance
In 200–500 words, concisely and precisely address the prompt below.
- What led you to choose finance as a major? How have your experiences prepared you for the rigors and culture of the program?
In 50–300 words, respond to the following prompt:
- Please review the BYU Marriott vision, mission, and values at https://marriott.byu.edu/our-story/mission/. After reviewing the BYU Marriott vision, mission, and values, share an example of how you have exemplified one of these values in your leadership or service to others.
(Updated March 2026)
Global Supply Chain Management
Please write a 100-300 word response to the following question:
We want to admit students who will be successful supply chain managers. Key attributes for successful supply chain managers include a passion for supply chain management, a desire to make a difference, a focus on effective and efficient systems and continuous improvement, and the ability to collaborate with people/organizations domestically and internationally.
- How have you prepared for the global supply chain major and how has your preparation helped you develop a passion for GSCM? We suggest you include an overview of any interactions with GSCM students, participation in GSCM activities, GSCM classes taken, applicable work experience/internships, leadership opportunities, etc. In addition, describe in detail one or two specific experiences.
Respond to the following prompt in 50–300 words:
- Please review the BYU Marriott vision, mission, and values at https://marriott.byu.edu/our-story/mission/. After reviewing the BYU Marriott vision, mission, and values, share an example of how you have exemplified one of these values in your leadership or service to others.
(Updated March 2026)
Human Resource Management
Please write a 200-400 word response to the following question:
- Why are you applying to the Human Resource Management Major, and what personal attributes, background, or experiences do you feel will help you excel in Human Resource Management? (For example, you may reference involvement in student organizations such as SHRM, HR-related internships or jobs, etc.)
- Please review the BYU Marriott vision, mission, and values at https://marriott.byu.edu/our-story/mission/. After reviewing the BYU Marriott vision, mission, and values, share an example of how you have exemplified one of these values in your leadership or service to others. (50–300 words)
(Updated March 2026)
Information Systems
This essay is optional. Respond to the prompt in 200 words or less.
- Explain any grade irregularities or other extenuating circumstances in your academic record.
(Updated March 2026)
Marketing
Cover the points below in an essay of 100–600 words.
- We want to admit students who will be successful marketers. The key attributes of successful marketers include a passion for marketing, strong work ethic, and the ability and desire to learn. Market yourself by demonstrating evidence of these attributes from your life experiences such as prior work experience, internships, competitions, club participation, or coursework. Describe in detail one or two specific experiences.
Respond to the following prompt in 50–300 words:
- Please review the BYU Marriott vision, mission, and values at https://marriott.byu.edu/our-story/mission/. After reviewing the BYU Marriott vision, mission, and values, share an example of how you have exemplified one of these values in your leadership or service to others.
(Updated March 2026)
Strategic Management
Please write a 300-500 word essay, responding to following questions:
- Why are you applying to the strategy major/minor?
- What is it about a career in this area that appeals to you and why?
- What personal attributes, background, or experiences do you feel will help you excel in the strategy program?
Respond to the following prompt in 50–300 words:
- Please review the BYU Marriott vision, mission, and values at https://marriott.byu.edu/our-story/mission/. After reviewing the BYU Marriott vision, mission, and values, share an example of how you have exemplified one of these values in your leadership or service to others.
(Updated March 2026)
General Essay Suggestions
Your essay helps the admissions committee understand who you are beyond your transcript and résumé. It should provide insight into your experiences, preparation, and character.
- Be specific. Use concrete details from your own experiences. This is especially important when describing common activities such as missions, clubs, or service. Specificity helps your story stand out.
- Share what isn’t on your résumé. Rather than repeating bullet points, explain the context behind an experience. Talk about what you learned, why it mattered, and how it shaped you.
- Demonstrate growth. If you choose to write about weaknesses or challenges, focus on what changed because of the experience and how you have developed as a result.
- Connect your experiences to business where possible. Nearly any job or service experience can build skills relevant to business. For instance, working in a local grocery store can teach you about customer service, inventory management, process improvement, or even innovation (such as online ordering and self‑checkout systems).
- Be genuine. Essays that reflect your authentic perspective are more compelling than essays written to sound impressive or overly polished. AI tools can help you edit, but your final essay should reflect your own voice and experiences.