Application Guide
Application Update
Starting in spring 2025, East Carolina University (ECU) will require standardized test scores for admission. To meet ECU’s admissions standards, all applicants must meet the requirements set forth by Undergraduate Admissions, including submitting ACT or SAT scores for the 2025 Cohort Application. Therefore, students who wish to apply for the program must include their ACT or SAT scores with their STEPP application materials.
STEPP is offering multiple virtual Q&A sessions in April where prospective students, families, educators, and counselors can ask questions about SAT/ACT requirements.
The STEPP Application Guide contains details of the application process and required documents. The first phase of the application process has three steps (accordion links below). Click on the accordion link for the section you want to read to expand and show more detailed information. Please review all the details in the application guide before starting the application. Completing this step will help ensure that you are fully aware of STEPP’s eligibility and application requirements before investing time and effort in the application process.
When Should I Apply to STEPP?
Are you considering applying to the STEPP Program? Find out when you can apply now using the tool below.
WHEN SHOULD I APPLY TO STEPP?
Steps to Apply
STEP 1 – SUBMIT THE APPLICANT PROFILE FORM
Applicant Profile Form
The Applicant Profile Form is the first step for all applicants and must be completed before submitting the rest of your application materials.
This form:
- let’s STEPP know that you intend to apply for the 2025 cohort.
- provides STEPP with your contact information and preferences so we can communicate with you throughout the application process.
- ensures that you are routed to the correct set of application forms and instructions based on your application type (Traditional Freshman, Freshman Plus, or Transfer).
- unlocks your access to the rest of the application forms and generates automatic emails with the links to those forms
On this form, you will provide contact information and demographic data about yourself. Applicants, please be sure to enter your contact information on this form – not your parents’. You will be asked to enter your parents’ contact information on the Family Information Form in step 2 of the application process.
When you submit your completed Applicant Profile Form:
- You will receive an automated email confirming that you have successfully submitted this form.
- The application system will unlock your access to the rest of the application forms and will send you automated emails with the link to each form.
STEP 2 – SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION MATERIALS
Overview
All STEPP application materials will be submitted electronically, using a combination of online forms and file sharing/ uploading. Each required application item includes details about where and how to submit the information/materials.
For most of the application materials, you will have the flexibility to submit each item separately, at different times, and in any order. There are two exceptions to this:
- The Applicant Profile Form must be submitted first. (As a result, it is listed separately as step 1.)
- You will receive the links to all the other forms via email after you submit the Applicant Profile Form. The other forms cannot be accessed until you have completed the Applicant Profile Form; however, you can preview each form by watching its tutorial/walkthrough video. Links to those videos can be found in the checklist below.
- The Wrap-Up Form must be submitted last.
HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION MATERIALS
Completing Online Forms
Some information will be submitted via online forms.
- We have split this information up into separate forms (instead of a single, long application form), so you’ll have the option to complete this part of the process all at once or to tackle each section one at a time.
- You will be able to save your progress on a partially completed form and return later to finish and submit it. You can also return to a form you have already submitted to make updates or edits.
- When you save or submit each form, it will provide you with a Return Code that you will need to enter in order to access your saved form again. Please be sure to copy down the Return Code for each of your forms. If you lose your Return Code and need to access a form again, please contact STEPP for assistance.
The Application Materials Checklist includes a complete list of the required forms.
Some of these forms are stand-alone items; this means that everything you need to do or submit for that item is contained within the form itself. Once you’ve submitted the form, you’re completely done with that item.
However, some of the forms are one component within another item on the checklist. This means you will also be submitting something else along with the form in order to fulfill an application requirement. Whenever a form is linked to another item, there will be detailed instructions on both the online form and the item’s description.
Before you submit each online form, please check the following:
Is the form fully complete, with no items left blank?
Please be aware that each form is designed to streamline your interaction with it. In many sections, you will only be shown the questions that are relevant to you based on your previous answers. As a result, some questions will not be visible until you enter a response to a different item, so skipping one question may result in missing several other required questions.
Has each item on the form been checked for accuracy? (e.g., to catch things like typos or clicking on a different option than intended, etc.)
Uploading Documents & Other Items
Some materials will be submitted by uploading them to your application.
- You will be able to upload new items and edit or delete items you have previously uploaded throughout the application process.
The Application Materials Checklist below includes a complete list of the required items to submit.
- Clicking the link for each item on the checklist will take you to the detailed instructions for that item.
- Please be aware that some items have multiple components or steps and may require you to submit more than one file/document. You will need to read the detailed description of each item carefully to ensure that you submit all the necessary components.
Guidelines for Uploaded Files
- Please submit all items as PDF files only.
- Many other file formats can be easily converted to PDF by selecting a menu option such as: save as PDF/export to PDF / download as PDF/print to PDF / etc. You can also find guidance online for how to convert specific types of files to PDF.
- Please name each file you upload using the following format:
- Your last name, a single dash (-), and the name of the item
- Examples: Smith-transcript Jones-ACT Accommodations Johnson-evaluation
- Capitalization and spaces don’t matter, and neither does the exact wording of the item name. For example, any of the following file names would be perfectly fine:
Smith-transcript / SMITH – Transcript / smith-highschooltranscript / Smith – SVHS Transcript
STEP 3 – CHECK FOR STATUS UPDATES
Overview
Submitting your Wrap-Up Form signals to STEPP that you have completed step 2 of the application process and are ready to move to step 3.
Here’s what happens after STEPP receives your Wrap-Up Form:
- First, we’ll check and process all the materials you’ve submitted so far.
- If we’re missing any items or information that we need at this stage, we’ll notify you and give you the opportunity to submit those materials.
- Once we confirm that we have all the required materials, we’ll notify you that your application is complete.
- During May and June, the STEPP Admissions Committee completes an initial review of each applicant and decides which students will advance to the next phase of the admissions process, which involves participating in STEPP’s interview process during July.
- Once the committee has finished screening applications, we’ll notify you whether you have been selected to advance to the next phase and participate in the interview process.
- If you are invited to interview, STEPP will also send you more detailed information about the interview process and schedule, along with your admission status update.
Your Role & Responsibilities during Step 3
- Check your email regularly for updates and notifications about your application status.
- Submit any items or information that STEPP requests in your status updates.
- Share any relevant updates to your application materials in a timely manner.
- Remember, you can continue to access/update the items you’ve uploaded to your individual applicant folder and the info you’ve shared in your online forms (using the Return Code for each form) at any time, even after the application deadline has passed.
Required Application Materials to Submit
Application Materials Checklist
Each of the application materials below has a link to a detailed description and instructions on this webpage.
Application Tutorials
Application Deadline
The application deadline for the 2025 cohort of the STEPP Program is May 15, 2024.
Recommendations
If a student has asked you to provide a recommendation in support of their application to STEPP’s 2025 cohort, please use the link the below to access the Recommendation Form.
Upload Application Materials
If a student has asked you to submit other items for their STEPP application (e.g., transcript, IEP, etc.), please use the link below to access the Application Materials Upload Form for Educators
Applicant Profile Form
The Applicant Profile Form is the first step for all applicants and must be completed before submitting the rest of your application materials.
On this form, you will:
- provide contact information and demographic data about yourself.
- Applicants, please be sure to enter your contact information on this form – not your parents’. You will be asked to enter your parents’ contact information on the Family Information Form in step 2 of the application process.
When you submit your completed Applicant Profile Form:
- You will receive an automated email confirming that you have successfully submitted this form.
- The application system will unlock your access to the rest of the application forms and will send you automated emails with the link to each form.
Family Information Form
On this form, you will:
- provide contact information and demographic data about your parents and siblings.
- enter information about any other immediate family members, if applicable (e.g., legal guardian, spouse, children, etc.)
The link to your Family Info Form will be emailed to you after you submit the Applicant Profile Form.
Education Information Form
On this form, you will:
- list all the high schools you have attended (grades 9-12) and provide key information about each school (location, type, dates attended, etc.).
- list any postsecondary schools you have attended and provide key information about each school.
- describe the academic support you have received in high school and (if applicable) in college. You will also indicate the type of disability support documentation (e.g., IEP, 504 Plan, etc.) your school provides and how you will be submitting that documentation to STEPP.
- Additional instructions and details that are relevant to the info covered on this form can be found in the following sections of this checklist: High School Transcript, Report Card, and Current Individual Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan
HIGH SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT
Transcript Requirements
You do NOT need to submit an official transcript. (In general, an official transcript is signed and sealed by a school administrator and either sent directly to the recipient or given to the student in a sealed envelope.
- STEPP will accept an unofficial copy of your transcript, if it includes all the same information and follows the same format as an official transcript. If it meets the other criteria, the copy you submit does not need to be signed/sealed, and it does not matter whether it comes directly from the school or from you.
- However, we cannot accept unofficial transcripts that use an entirely different format or do not include required information that would be found on an official transcript.
Your transcript must include a complete listing of your high school coursework, your final grade in each class, and a cumulative GPA that reflects all the courses you have completed so far. STEPP also requires the following details about your high school’s grading scale, which many schools include on their transcripts. If these items are not listed on your transcript, then you will need to submit alternate documentation of them.
- The numerical range for each letter grade (e.g., B = 83-86, B+ = 87-89, etc.)
- The GPA quality points assigned to each letter grade (e.g., B = 3.0, B+ = 3.3, etc.)
- Information about types of courses that are weighted (e.g., Honors, AP, etc.), and weighted GPA quality point values.
If you have attended more than one high school, please ensure that the transcript from your current school reflects your complete academic record from 9th grade to present and a cumulative GPA that includes all your high school coursework. If it does not, you will need to request a separate transcript from each previous high school you have attended.
If you have completed any postsecondary coursework, you will also need to submit college transcripts reflecting those courses. However, if the only college courses you have taken are dual-enrollment classes that are listed on your high school transcript, then you do not need to submit a separate college transcript.
If your high school has a “school profile” sheet, we highly recommend submitting this along with your transcript.
Submitting Your Transcript
Transcripts must be submitted directly to the STEPP Program. STEPP does not have access to transcripts that are sent to the ECU Admissions Office, and items sent to Admissions will not reach us.
Your transcript must be submitted electronically as a PDF file. There are two options for this:
- You can upload the file directly within the Education Info Form; or
- You can have your school submit the file via the Application Materials Upload Form for Educators
It does not matter which of these options you choose. When you complete the High School Transcripts and Report Card section of the Education Information Form, you will be given the option to either upload the file at that time or to select or “My school will upload this item instead.”
REPORT CARD
Report Card Requirements
Acceptable formats for report cards include:
If your school issues paper report cards, then you can submit a scanned copy or a photo of the report card that has been converted to a PDF file.
If your school allows you to access your grades online, we will also accept a PDF file version of a screenshot or printout from the online portal that shows your current grades in each class.
Are you required to submit a report card?
If your current grades are not reflected on your transcript, you will need to submit your most recent report card. However, if your transcript already includes midterm grades (or another estimate of your current grades) in all the classes you are currently taking, then you do not need to submit a report card.
Submitting Your Report Card
Your report card must be submitted electronically as a PDF file. There are two options for this:
- You can upload the file directly within the Education Info Form; or
- You can have your school submit the file via the Application Materials Upload Form for
Educators.
It does not matter which of these options you choose. When you complete the School Transcripts and Report Card section of the Education Information Form, you will be given the option to either upload the file at that time or to selector “My school will upload this item instead.”
If you receive an updated report card later during the admissions process, please submit the new version even if you have already submitted a previous report card. This will ensure that the admissions committee is able to review your most recent academic progress.
INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION PLAN (IEP) OR 504 PLAN (OR OTHER DOCUMENTATION OF ACCOMMODATIONS)
There are two components to this requirement:
Part 1 – Online Form
The first step is to answer the questions about your academic/disability supports and documentation in the Academic Support section of the Education Information Form.
This form will ensure that STEPP has accurate information about how your school documents your disability supports, the type of documentation you will be submitting, and your other educational/academic supports and accommodations.
Part 2 – Submit Your IEP or 504 Plan (or other documentation of accommodations)
The second step is to submit your disability support documentation.
Your documentation must be submitted electronically as a PDF file. There are two options for this:
- You can upload the file directly within the Education Information Form when you complete it in part 1; or
- You can have your school submit the file via the Application Materials Upload Form for Educators.
In most cases, it does not matter which of these options you choose. When you complete the Academic Support section of the Education Information Form, you will be given the option to either upload the file at that time or to select “My school will upload this item instead.”
Required Materials & Information to Submit
The Educational Information Form will ask you what type of document your school uses to document your disability supports. The current (or most recent) version of that document is what you need to submit to STEPP.
If your school does not use IEPs or 504 Plans, please note that the “Accommodation Plan, Learning Plan, Academic Plan, or similar school document” option covers all other types of school support plans, regardless of what they are called. Submitting a copy of your school support plan – regardless of its name or format – will fulfill
the IEP/504 requirement.
If you receive school-based academic support but do not know whether it is documented, please check with your academic support providers at school to ask whether any documentation exists. If no formal documentation exists, you will need to work with your academic support providers to informally document the disability supports you receive. This can be done in any format and does not need to be an official school document. STEPP will accept any item that provides the requested details about your disability supports/accommodations as fulfilling this application requirement.
The Educational Information Form will also ask you to describe the educational supports, resources, and assistance you use that are not already reflected in your school documentation.
Please note that this question is required for all applicants because it helps STEPP to develop a clearer understanding of all the resources that support your academic and educational success – not just the ones that are reflected in your school disability documentation.
You do not need to repeat any information that is already described in the IEP (or other document) that you submit. However, this is where you will tell us about any other resources you use, whether formal or informal. (e.g., tutoring, academic coaching, assistance from family/friends, etc.)
The link to your Education Info Form will be emailed to you after you submit the Applicant Profile Form
APPLICATION MATERIALS INFORMATION FORM
On this form, you will:
- provide key info about some of the items you are submitting, which assists STEPP in processing your application.
- answer various questions that are a required part of the STEPP application and/or the general ECU application.
The following topics/sections are included on this form:
| ECU & STEPP Applications | Psychoeducational Evaluations | Supplemental STEPP Application Materials |
| Recommendations | College Admission Testing | Disclosures |
ACT/SAT SCORES
ACT AND/OR SAT SCORE REPORTS
All applicants must submit complete scores from at least one ACT or SAT testing session. STEPP accepts both the ACT and the SAT and has no preference regarding which test you take.
If you have taken the ACT and/or SAT more than once, we encourage you to submit scores from all your test sessions. Our Admissions Committee uses “superscores” (combining your highest section scores across multiple testings) and considers trends or progress that may be reflected when multiple sets of scores are available.
There are two components to this requirement:
Part 1 – Online Form
- The first step is to answer the questions about your ACT and/or SAT testing in the College Admission Testing section of the Application Materials Information Form.
- The form will ask you for the approximate dates (month and year) of your ACT and/or SAT tests
along with a series of questions about your accommodations on those tests. - Based on your answers, the form will tell you whether you need to complete the next step.
Part 2 – Submit Your ACT/SAT Score Report
The second step is to submit a copy of your ACT and/or SAT score report.
At this time, the STEPP Program cannot accept score reports directly from the SAT or ACT testing services. Scores sent to ECU by the testing services go to the Admissions Office; the STEPP Program cannot access those records. Thus, you must send your score reports directly to STEPP as part of your application packet.
- Since we cannot accept official scores through the standard reporting procedure, we accept unofficial score reports in various formats. Most applicants submit either a scanned copy of the score report they received or a PDF of the online score report.
- The score report you submit must include all the following information: your full name, the date of the test, and all your scores from that testing session (including the total/composite and each section or sub score).
Your score report must be submitted electronically as a PDF file. There are two options for this:
- You can upload the file directly within the Application Materials Form when you complete it in part 1; or
- You can have your school submit the file via the Application Materials Upload Form for Educators.
It does not matter which of these options you choose. When you complete the College Admission Testing section of the Application Materials Information Form, you will be given the option to either upload the file at that time or to select or “My school will upload this item instead.
ACT/SAT ACCOMMODATIONS DOCUMENTATION
There are two components to this requirement:
Part 1 – Online Form
- The first step is to answer the questions about your ACT and/or SAT accommodations in the College Admission Testing section of the Application Materials Information Form.
- The form will ask you for the approximate dates (month and year) of your ACT and/or SAT tests along with a series of questions about your accommodations on those tests.
- Based on your answers, the form will tell you whether you need to complete the next step.
Part 2 – Submit Documentation
The second step is to submit the documentation of your ACT and/or SAT accommodations. Your documentation must be submitted electronically as a PDF file. There are two options for this:
- You can upload the file directly within the Application Materials Form when you complete it in part 1; or
- You can have your school submit the file via the Application Materials Upload Form for Educators.
It does not matter which of these options you choose. When you complete the College Admission Testing section of the Application Materials Information Form, you will be given the option to either upload the file at that time or to select or “My school will upload this item instead.”
Required Documentation to Submit
- If you did not request accommodations for any of your ACT or SAT tests, then you will only need to complete part 1. The online form will confirm this when you answer the questions in the College Admission Testing section.
- If you requested accommodations but your request was denied, please submit either the denial letter /documentation provided by the testing service or a brief written description of the situation.
- If you were approved to use accommodations for any of your testing sessions:
- Please submit a copy of the official notification you received from the College Board (SAT) or the ACT testing service.
- The appropriate documentation to submit might be referred to as an “Eligibility Letter” (SAT) or a “Decision Notification” (ACT).
- The documentation you submit must include your full name and a list of the accommodations you were approved to receive.
If you received accommodations for both the SAT and the ACT, you will need to submit the corresponding documentation from both testing services (even if both testing services approved the same accommodations).
If you have taken either test more than once… (i.e., you took the SAT more than once or you took the ACT more than once):
- and received the same accommodations for each session: You only need to send in one set of documentation.
- and received different accommodations for each session: Please submit documentation for each session.
If you do not have a copy of the necessary documentation, we recommend contacting your school (or other test administrator) to request a copy of the approval notification that they received from the testing service. If your school or test administrator cannot provide this documentation, you may need to request a copy of your accommodations approval directly from the testing service.
If you were approved to use accommodations for a testing session, but you did not end up using those accommodations, please submit a brief written description of the situation.
Standardized Testing Requirement Update
Starting in spring 2025, East Carolina University (ECU) will require standardized test scores for admission. To meet ECU’s admissions standards, all applicants must meet the requirements set forth by Undergraduate Admissions, including submitting ACT or SAT scores for the 2025 Cohort Application. Therefore, students who wish to apply for the program must include their ACT or SAT scores with their STEPP application materials.
STEPP is offering multiple virtual Q&A sessions in April where prospective students, families, educators, and counselors can ask questions about SAT/ACT requirements.
CURRENT PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL EVALUATION OR RE-EVALUATION
There are two components to this requirement:
Part 1 – Online Form
- The first step is to answer the questions about your evaluations in the Psychoeducational Evaluations section of the Application Materials Information Form.
- The form will ensure that STEPP has accurate information about the evaluation(s) you will be submitting and any upcoming re-evaluations you have scheduled
Part 2 – Submit Documentation
The second step is to submit your evaluation. There are two options for this:
- You can upload the file directly within the Application Materials Form when you complete it in part 1; or
- You can have your school submit the file via the Application Materials Upload Form for Educators.
It does not matter which of these options you choose. When you complete the Psychoeducational Evaluations section of the Application Materials Information Form, you will be given the option to either upload the file at that time or to select or “My school will upload this item instead.”
Required Documentation to Submit
In order to fulfill the application requirements, the evaluation you submit must be both current and comprehensive. If your available evaluations do not meet the following criteria, please refer to the information on the next page* for further instructions.
To be considered “current,” an evaluation must be from within approximately the past three years.
- For students applying to the 2025 cohort, evaluations conducted in January 2021 or later will generally be considered current.
- Slightly older evaluations (i.e., evaluations conducted in 2019 or 2020) may be accepted on a case-by-case basis. However, evaluations from before 2019 (i.e., those that are more than five years old) will generally not be acceptable.
To be considered “comprehensive,” an evaluation must meet specific criteria:
- These criteria include complete scores for both aptitude and achievement testing, a diagnosis, and recommended academic accommodations.
- The criteria are described fully on the ECU Disability Support Services (DSS) website at https://accessibility.ecu.edu/students/request-accommodation/learning-disability-ld-documentationrequirements/
If you have more than one current evaluation, we recommend submitting both/all of them. This applies to any type of evaluation relevant to your academic/educational functioning or disability supports (e.g., psychoeducational, psychological, neuropsychological, educational, speech-language, medical, psychiatric, occupational therapy, etc.).
Please be aware that STEPP sometimes requests previous evaluations (in addition to the current evaluation) in order to develop a more comprehensive understanding of an applicant’s profile. If you have been evaluated more than once within the past six years (from 6th grade to present), we recommend submitting your previous evaluation(s) from that timeframe along with your current evaluation.
Before submitting your evaluation, please double-check that all the pages are present, including any score reports or tables appended to the end of the report. STEPP often receives evaluations that are missing pages simply because it’s easy to accidentally skip a page when copying or scanning these documents.
If your available evaluations do not meet STEPP’s criteria…
- … but you will be reevaluated before July 2024:
- Complete the Psychoeducational Evaluations section of the Application Materials Info Form and be sure to include the date of your upcoming reevaluation.
Submit your available evaluations (as described above) as a placeholder for STEPP to review in the meantime. - After your new evaluation is complete, submit the new report to STEPP as soon as it is available.
- Complete the Psychoeducational Evaluations section of the Application Materials Info Form and be sure to include the date of your upcoming reevaluation.
- … and you will not be reevaluated before July 2024:
- Complete the Psychoeducational Evaluations section of the Application Materials Info Form.
Submit your available evaluations (as described above) for STEPP to review.
However, please be aware that STEPP cannot waive the requirement for a current and comprehensive evaluation. We will review any evaluations you submit to determine whether they will be sufficient; however, it is important for you to proceed with the application process with the understanding that we may be unable to move forward without updated testing.
- Complete the Psychoeducational Evaluations section of the Application Materials Info Form.
TEACHER RECOMMENDATION FORMS
Required Recommendations
- Two (2) recommendation forms are required.
- Both required recommendations must come from teachers who have taught you in a core academic subject class within the past 3 years and who are very familiar with your academic abilities.
- Core academic subjects: English, math, science, foreign language, and social studies (history, civics, government, economics, etc.)
- You must submit recommendations from two different subject areas.
- You may substitute a recommendation from an Exceptional Children (Special Education) teacher for one of your two required recommendations.
- This recommendation must come from someone who has either taught you in a curriculum assistance course (or similar learning support course) or who has co-taught you in a core academic course.
- EC case managers, academic coaches, and other educators who have not been your classroom teacher will be considered supplemental recommendations and will not count as one of your two required recommendations
Additional & Supplemental Recommendations
You are welcome to submit additional recommendations from core academic teachers.
You may also submit supplemental recommendations from:
- Teachers who have taught you in non-core classes such as fine arts, health, physical education, technology, career/technical education, or any other elective courses. ]
- Individuals who have worked closely with you in a non-teaching capacity, such as a school/guidance counselor, case manager, tutor, coach, advisor, psychologist, employer, etc.
The maximum number of recommendations that STEPP will review is seven. (Most applicants submit 3-4 recommendations.)
Submitting Recommendations
All recommendations (required/core and additional/supplemental) must be submitted online via the STEPP Program Recommendation Form.
All the instructions your references will need are included in the online form. You just need to give them the link below.
https://redcap.ecu.edu/surveys/?s=YDDX8D4R4JRHFFDR
What applicants need to do:
Share the link to the recommendation form with each person who is recommending you. Complete and submit the Recommendations section of the online Application Materials Information form. This is where you will tell STEPP who will be providing your recommendations.
Please note that the link to the recommendation form is for the people who are recommending you. You need to share that link with them, but you do not fill out any part of that form yourself. The only recommendations-related info that you need to submit directly to STEPP is included as part of your Application Materials Information form.
Other Info about Recommendations
Your teachers and other references are welcome to also submit a letter along with their form, and they will be able to upload a letter within the online form. However, recommendation letters without an accompanying form will not be considered. Please be aware that if any part of the Recommendation Form is left blank or rated “unable to judge” by your core academic teachers, the STEPP Program may require you to submit further recommendations from other core academic teachers.
The link to your Application Materials Info Form will be emailed to you after you submit the Applicant Profile Form
Essay Information Form
This form helps STEPP to develop a clearer understanding of your writing process.
On this form, you will:
- describe any assistance you received with your essay, any resources or assistive technology you used, and other relevant information about your essay-writing process.
Completing the Essay Info Form is the last step of the Essay / Writing Sample requirement. (This is different from most of the other application items, where the online form is often the first step.) You will not be able to answer the questions on this form until you have finished your essay and are ready to submit all drafts and the final version.
- Essay Prompts- Use the following prompts to develop a personal essay. Be sure to address each prompt in your essay.
- Why are you interested in attending ECU?
- What are your goals for the future?
- Describe the impact you feel your learning disability has had on your school experiences so far.
- Describe the impact you feel your learning disability may have on your goals for the future.
- How do you believe that participating in the STEPP Program will help you achieve your goals and overcome the challenges related to your learning disability?
- What other information would you like to share with the STEPP Admissions Committee that you believe will assist them in considering your application? (e.g., achievements, awards, training, personal statements, etc.)
Detailed instructions for the essay requirement can be found in the following sections of this checklist: Essay and Draft of Essay- Writing Prompts
The link to your Essay Info Form will be emailed to you after you submit the Applicant Profile Form.
ESSAY AND ESSAY DRAFTS – WRITING PROMPTS
Essay Requirements
All applicants are required to compose a personal essay based on specific writing prompts. You must submit all three of the following items to fulfill the essay requirement:
- The completed/final draft of your essay
- All outlines, rough drafts, and other developmental materials used to create your essay
- Information about your essay-writing process
More detailed information about specific requirements for each of the three required components can be found in the step-by-step descriptions below, as well as on the following page.
Part 1 – Write Your Essay
Use the following prompts to develop a personal essay. Be sure to address each prompt in your essay.
- Why are you interested in attending ECU?
- What are your goals for the future?
- Describe the impact you feel your learning disability has had on your school experiences so far.
- Describe the impact you feel your learning disability may have on your goals for the future.
- How do you believe that participating in the STEPP Program will help you achieve your goals and overcome the challenges related to your learning disability?
- What other information would you like to share with the STEPP Admissions Committee that you believe will assist them in considering your application? (e.g., achievements, awards, training, personal statements, etc.)
Throughout your writing process, keep in mind that you need to save a copy of each version or draft of your essay to submit along with the final draft/completed essay.
Please carefully review the guidance and tips on the following page before you begin your essay writing process.
Part 2 – Submit Your Final Essay and All Drafts
The second step is to submit all your essay materials. Your final essay and your drafts must be submitted electronically as PDF files. Upload the files directly within the Essay Information Form when you complete it in part 3
Part 3 – Online Form
The third step is to answer the questions about your essay-writing process on the Essay Information Form. This form is intended to help STEPP to develop a clearer understanding of your writing process. It will ask you to describe any assistance you received with your essay, any resources or assistive technology you used, and other relevant information about your essay-writing process.
Please note that the online form is the last step for the essay – in contrast to most of the other application items, where the online form is often the first step. You will not be able to answer the questions on the Essay Information form until you have finished your essay and are ready to submit all drafts and the final version.
General Guidance & Requirements
The STEPP Admissions Committee is primarily interested in getting to know you better through the content of your essay and better understanding your writing process. Therefore, your essay should express your own ideas in your own voice and should reflect your writing style and abilities along with your responses to the prompts.
Your final draft must be typed, but your rough drafts and other materials may be handwritten.
Please be sure to label all your essay materials in some way so the Admissions Committee can easily differentiate amongst your final draft, rough draft(s), and any other developmental materials. You will also need to make sure your name is on each draft.
There are no requirements about the essay’s length. Focus on the content instead of the length and take as much or as little space as you need to answer the prompts thoroughly.
The format and writing style you use for your essay is completely up to you. There are no requirements about spacing, typeface, font size, or any other aspects of how you present the content of your essay. If you’re already comfortable with a particular format or writing style, please feel free to use it; however, you don’t have to use any specific format or style.
The Writing Process – Assistance, Resources, & Support
You may use support, resources, assistance from other people, and/or technology at any stage of your writing process. In fact, we encourage you to access the resources you usually use while writing an assigned essay. However, keep in mind that any supports you use should help refine your writing, but should not fundamentally alter it. In other words, your resources may help you express yourself more effectively in writing, but the final essay should still clearly reflect your ideas, style, and ability.
Please ensure that your responses on the Essay Information Form create a clear picture of the resources you used, the individuals who helped you, and the specific types of support or aspects of the writing process that each person helped with. In addition, the markup on your drafts should differentiate between any edits/changes that were suggested by others versus those that you made independently.
Although many students do choose to use various supports, resources and assistance during their essay writing process, please note that getting help on the essay is entirely optional.
- We emphasize the option to get help because we want students to know that they can feel free to use their usual supports; but if your usual supports don’t involve outside assistance, then that’s perfectly fine too!
- If you completed all stages of the writing process without any support, you will still need to answer the questions on the Essay Information Form. Please do not leave any items blank; instead, you can enter “n/a” or simply tell us that you did not use any assistance.
The most important thing to know about the essay requirement is that the STEPP Admissions Committee truly does not want it to be a source of stress or anxiety for you!
It may help to keep in mind why the STEPP application process includes an essay requirement at all. For us, the essay serves two main purposes:
First, and most importantly, it lets us directly hear and understand your perspective on the essay topics in your own words. All your application materials are about you, but the essay is also by you.
Second, it gives us some insight into your writing process and approach to the task. Even though that’s only one aspect of your academic experiences, it’s an opportunity for us to learn more about you in a way that’s different from what your other application materials provide.
The bottom line is that we want you to take the essay seriously and submit something you feel is a good representation of you; but it’s only one part of the big picture of you that we develop through the admissions process. Furthermore, we know that writing is not a strength for every student, and the Admissions Committee naturally keeps that in perspective while reviewing applications.
Wrap Up Form
The Wrap-Up Form is the last step for all applicants and should be completed after submitting all your other application materials. This form has two main sections:
- In the Statement of Completion section, you will double-check the list of required materials and indicate the status of each item. (i.e., whether it has been submitted/requested yet)
- In the Certify, Sign, & Submit Your Finalized Application section, you and your parent will both sign the form to certify that your application is complete and accurate and to indicate that you understand and agree to the terms described.
Submitting your Wrap-Up Form signals to STEPP that you have completed step 2 of the application process and are ready to move to step 3. Please refer to the Application Process – Step 3 section of the instructions for more information on what happens after we receive this form.
The link to your Wrap-Up Form will be emailed to you after you submit the Applicant Profile Form.
STEPP 2025 Application
Step 1 – Submit Applicant Profile Form
Step 2 – Submit Application Materials
Step 3 – Check for Status Updates
Application Checklist
Please review application process and application materials checklist thoroughly before starting application.
Application Workshops
Schedule a Virtual Application Assistance Session to ask questions or get help with the application process.