While the University of Alabama's general undergraduate application typically does not require an essay, you will likely need to submit one for scholarship opportunities, the Honors College, or specific academic programs via the myBama portal. 📝 Common Essay Requirements
Most essay submissions at UA are handled after your initial admission, once you have access to your student account.
Honors College: Often requires a short essay (around 350-500 words) as part of the supplemental application found on myBama .
Competitive Scholarships: The scholarship application within myBama may ask for essays highlighting your academic pursuit or community impact .
New College: Applicants for this self-designed major must submit a "Self-Statement" essay of 400-600 words .
Blackburn Institute: This leadership program requires specific essays by a set annual deadline . 🛠 Writing Support Resources
If you are currently working on an essay for a class or application, the university provides several tools to help: mybama
University Writing Center: Offers one-on-one feedback on any stage of the writing process, from brainstorming to final grammar checks .
Brainfuse Tutoring: A 24/7 online service where you can submit a draft to the "Writing Lab" and receive expert comments within 24 hours .
Wavelength: A collection of high-quality student essays from first-year writing courses that serve as examples of successful academic writing at UA . ✅ Submission Checklist Wavelength
At the University of Alabama (UA), myBama is the centralized online portal for students, faculty, and staff to access campus services, personal information, and academic tools. If you need to create a "write-up"—whether it is a disciplinary document, a position description, or an academic paper—the process depends on your role and the specific type of document required.
1. Employee Performance "Write-ups" (Disciplinary/Counseling)
For managers and supervisors at UA, a performance write-up (corrective counseling) follows a specific structure: This is your command center
Identify Information: List the employee's details and the specific issues or policies being discussed.
Summarize Facts: Detail the events leading to the conversation based on fact-finding.
State Concerns: Clearly and concisely explain why the behavior or performance is a concern, maintaining a constructive and non-punitive tone.
Action Plan: Develop specific, measurable steps for improvement. Include a follow-up date to check progress.
Signatures: Ensure the employee signs and dates the written form to acknowledge the discussion. 2. Creating a Position Description (PD)
Faculty and staff often use myBama to access systems like PageUp for HR tasks. To create a new write-up for a job role: the Honors College
Log into myBama and navigate to the Employee tab or the PageUp system portal. Select "New Position Description".
Complete all mandatory fields, attach organizational charts, and include justification for the new or modified position. 3. Academic and Professional Writing Support
If your write-up is an academic assignment or professional document (like a resume or cover letter), UA provides several specialized resources:
This is your command center. Key sections:
Many students get lost because myBama has dozens of links. Let's simplify it.
Not sure if switching your major from Finance to Marketing will delay graduation? In Degree Works, use the "What If" analysis. Type in a hypothetical major and the system will show you exactly how your existing credits would apply to the new degree.