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How to Write the Most Common Supplemental College Essays: A Complete Guide

Note: This post focuses on supplemental essays. If you want advice on the Common App prompts, check out our guide to the Common App essays .

Your grades are in, your test scores have been sent, and recommendation letters have been uploaded…but there’s one last component of your college applications left: the essays. For many students, essays are the final and most daunting hurdle to clear before hitting submit.

Your essays, however, are your opportunity to tell admissions officers how you want them to remember you. Maybe you didn’t do so well on the SAT, or maybe you got a lower grade than you hoped for in Honors Chemistry, but you can’t change your grades or scores.

The essays, however, are entirely in your control. There is so much freedom to tell your story and what makes you unique. Our mission at CollegeVine is to make the essay-writing as stress-free as possible. Read on for our tips and tricks on writing a college essay that will give you the best chance at getting that thick envelope!

Content overview:

• Why this college?
• Why this major?
• Elaborate on an extracurricular activity or work experience.
• Discuss a community you belong to that has impacted who you are today.
• Crafting the essay
• Avoiding pitfalls

Want to learn more about Supplemental Essays? Check out one of our popular recorded live streams on this topic.

Common Types of College Essays

Colleges will find a hundred different ways to ask a question, but most of the time, the prompt boils down to one of the following common essay themes.

Common Essay #1: Why this college?

Students’ most common mistake on a “Why this college?” essay is lack of specificity; in particular, some students will list attributes that can apply to multiple schools, which is what you want to avoid at all costs.

When it comes to a “Why this college?” essay, you need to discuss qualities and programs specific to that school. It is not enough to merely list or name-drop, however. Instead, talk about why this item is important to you. Here’s how this plays out:

What not to do:

I want to go to the University of Southern California because it is a highly ranked school in Los Angeles. In addition, I like its Cosmic Writers Club, as well as the Incubate USC program. I am especially excited about the abundant film resources.

Why the previous response doesn’t work:

There are many reasons you want to avoid a response like this. Let’s start with the first sentence: replace the school’s name with UCLA and the accuracy doesn’t suffer. What this means is that the sentence is not specific enough to USC. In addition, you never want to state, or even imply, that you’re applying to a school due to prestige or ranking.

The exception for the previous rule is if a school is ranked highly for a specific program of interest. For example, if you want to pursue creative writing and a school has the number one creative writing program in the country, you can mention this because it is a quality specific to that school. A school’s overall prestige, however, should not be mentioned in your essay.

Why else doesn’t this response work? Let’s look at the second sentence. The writer does well to mention specific programs within USC. However, the response fails to discuss why they liked these programs or how they would benefit from having access to them.

What to write instead:

As someone with a lasting love for writing and a blossoming passion for entrepreneurship, I was so excited to find a large urban school like the University of Southern California that would give me the resources to pursue both. From classes with award-winning authors—amongst them Professor T. Boyle, whose environmental fiction works are similar to those I hope to someday publish—to clubs like the Cosmic Writers Club, which unites author hopefuls, USC offers more resources than I could ever exhaust in my journey to publish my first book.

On the business side, USC is known for fostering the type of creativity and innovation needed in pursuing start-ups. In particular, I was so excited to learn of the Incubate USC program, a unique mothership of ideas that nurtures the creativity of students. With the help of this program, I would be able to pursue my growing interest in the world of start-up ventures.

Why the previous response works:

This response not only mentions programs and resources specific to USC, but it shows how the student would take advantage of these opportunities. In addition, this response portrays passion and ambition, infusing elements of the student’s personality while still staying focused on answering the prompt.

Other things to keep in mind:

• The first time you say the school’s name, you should write it out. After that, you can abbreviate.
• Avoid writing what every other applicant is going to write. For example, every NYU applicant is going to mention NYU’s location in New York City. Unless you have a unique twist on this, you should skip it.
• Don’t mention frivolous things like dorms or dining halls. Your reasons for liking a school should be more substantial.
• Do your research. For example, don’t say you’ve always wanted to go to a city if you’re writing an essay for a rural school.
• Do not copy and paste your “Why this college?” essay and simply change the school name. Many non-Harvard admissions officers have received essays from students about why they want to go to Harvard. If your “Why this college?” essay is so general that you can copy and paste it, your reasoning will not impress admissions officers.

For more tips on writing this essay, see our complete guide to the “Why this college?” essay , including a real sample essay.

Common Essay #2: Why this major? 

One of the most important things to remember is that admissions officers are not looking for a résumé. This is not to say you can’t discuss your activities and how they culminated a passion for a specific major. The challenge, however, is to use these activities to tell a story rather than a mere list of achievements.

How do you do this? Share your thought processes. Many times it is the thoughts surrounding an activity more than the activity itself that will show the reader your journey to choosing a major.

Other tips:

• Don’t ever say that your reason for choosing a major is money-making potential. If you want to mention life beyond college, then talk about how this major will help you achieve your dreams. If your dream is to produce a feature-length film and a film major will help you get there, say that. But don’t say your dream is to be a rich film producer.
• Undeclared? That’s totally okay. Just be sure to list a couple potential majors, and explain your interest in those. Under no circumstances should you say you have absolutely no idea, as that will make you look like you don’t care. For more tips, see our post on how to write the “Why this major?” essay if you’re undecided .

For more tips on writing this essay, see our complete guide to the “Why this major?” essay , including a real sample essay.

Common Essay 3: Elaborate on an extracurricular activity or work experience.

Is there an activity or work experience in your application that you have more to say about? Maybe there’s a story behind it that you want to tell. Some questions to consider are:

• How did you become interested in this extracurricular?
• What is your role in the activity or work experience?
• Why do you do it?
• Have you experienced growth within the activity over time?

There are endless angles you can pursue here, but your essay should, in short, show your motivation behind participating in a certain activity or job.

What you don’t want to do, however, is simply restate something that’s been said elsewhere. If you have already spotlighted an activity in another essay for a given college, don’t write about the same activity. Your goal here is to share new information and your breadth of experiences.

As with the “Why Major?” prompt, it is more powerful to share a story with the reader rather than to detail the activity itself.

For more tips on writing this essay, see our complete guide to the Extracurricular Activity essay , including a real sample essay.

Common Essay 4: Discuss a community you belong to that has impacted who you are today.

“Community” can mean many things, so there are many possible approaches to this prompt. Some applicants respond with a community they’re linked to through culture, and others through sports or a club.

One thing you can emphasize is personal growth—or other aspects of who you are as a person—that has come from belonging to this community. The majority of the essay should, in fact, center around how being part of this group has changed or impacted who you are as a person.

What to avoid:

• Do not discriminate against other communities in your response.
• Try not to talk about your community in broad terms, but instead focus on your place within this community.
• Avoid using the essay as a chance to complain. If you choose to talk about challenges in a certain community, find a way to give your essay a sense of resolution. This can consist even of talking about how you’ve grown as a person or learned how to confront these obstacles in a productive way.

Writing the Essay

Phase 1: ideation.

Highlights of this section:

• Thinking of an idea
• Portraying individuality
• Staying true to yourself
• General tips and tricks

Now that you’re familiar with some of the most common types of essay prompts, let’s dive into the ideation process. Here are some questions that it’s good to ask yourself when you’re just starting out, particularly when the prompt deviates from the more straightforward archetypes above:

• What makes you unique?
• What is your story?
• Is there something you weren’t able to say in your application that you think admissions officers should know?
• Did you mention something earlier in your application that you want to elaborate on?

Remember that your essays, and application in general, should read like a portfolio in which all components are complementary without being redundant. If the application is like a drawing, then the essays should contribute to creating one coherent image without sketching the same line more than once or leaving gaps in the drawing.

Don’t shy away from being quirky! The more you present yourself as your own unique person, the more likely the admissions officer is to remember you. Take the following cases, for instance:

• A football player who scores a winning touchdown in the last five seconds of the game.
• A football player who knits scarves for residents of a retirement home in his free time.

In the first case, telling this story doesn’t do anything to differentiate this football player from others. However, the second story portrays a unique student with two interests the reader might not otherwise have paired together. Individuality is the goal here.

Of course, don’t exaggerate , lie, or pretend to be someone you’re not. In particular, don’t write something just because you think the admissions officer wants to hear it. They have read enough applications to separate the genuine voices from the insincere. As such, your only job is to put your true self on the page!

Here are some other things to keep in mind while brainstorming college essay topics:

• Narratives will always be more successful because they engage the reader emotionally. They are also an easy way to demonstrate how you’ve changed and grown over time.
• If you have already emphasized something in your application, don’t dedicate an essay to it unless can share an entirely new perspective. When in doubt, choose a new topic.
• Your essay doesn’t have to be about something rare and incredible. You don’t have to have started a company or traveled the world to write a solid essay. In fact, some of the strongest essays have taken a simple, perhaps even everyday occurrence, and portrayed it in a beautiful way that shows a unique way of thinking.
• Be sure to answer all aspects of the prompt while still giving the reader insight into who you are. It’s very easy to speak about some topics in third-person or broad terms (example: “What is your idea of success?”). Don’t do this. Instead, find a way to link the prompt to your own life.

Overall, think of the essays as a way to let the admissions officer get to know you on a personal level. Humanize yourself.

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Phase 2: Crafting the Essay

• Show, don’t tell.
• Perfecting the first and last sentence
• What does the essay say about me?

You have likely heard this next tip a hundred times throughout high school, but it’s vital to writing a strong essay: show, don’t tell . The whole point of essays is to give insight into who you are and how you think. Can you effectively do that if you’re merely listing off things that happened? Nope. Let’s take a lot at two examples:

• An example of telling: The cat ran out the door, and I got scared.
• An example of showing: The doorbell rang, accompanied by the creak of the mailbox as the mailman slipped the day’s envelopes inside. I ran downstairs and threw the door open, knowing today was the day I was going to hear back. My excitement made me oblivious, though, and it wasn’t until I saw a blur of dark fur dash through the open door that I realized my mistake.

The second example takes the facts and turns it into a story. It gives the reader a sense of anticipation as well as a character to identify with and root for. That’s what “show, don’t tell” does for your essay.

Now let’s talk about the two most important parts of your essay: the first sentence and the last sentence.

Your first sentence’s job is to hook the reader. Aim for a first sentence that surprises, even slightly jars, the reader to wake them up and get their full focus on your essay. Here are some examples:

• It wasn’t supposed to be blue.
• Was the car meant to sound like that?

In both cases, the writer has intentionally withheld information, providing just enough to leave the reader wanting to know the rest of the story. What isn’t supposed to be blue? What happens next?

As for the last sentence, its job is to resolve the essay, leaving the reader with a sense of peace and finality. Give the reader one last great impression to remember you by. Here’s an example:

“I’ve learned to hold my failures close; not so close that they burden me, per say, but just

close enough that they can guide me as I journey onward.”

This sentence works because it gives the reader a sense that, though the story continues on in the form of the narrator’s ongoing journey, the story on the page has been resolved. It feels peaceful.

Now then, after you’ve completed your first draft, the next thing you want to do is ask yourself the following question : What three things about me can the reader get from reading this essay? If you’re having trouble answering this question, then the essay needs to share more about you. Otherwise, you’re ready for revision!

Phase 3: Revision

• Careless errors
• Staying under the word limit
• Getting a second opinion

You’ve done the hard work. You came up with a brilliant idea and poured your heart and soul into the writing. Now comes the tedious part: revision.

Most importantly, college essays need to be absolutely devoid of grammatical or spelling mistakes . You don’t want to give your admissions officer the impression that you didn’t care enough to proofread, especially after all of your hard work.

Another aspect that tends to frustrate students is the word limit. If you’ve made it under the word limit, great! If not, here are some methods of cutting down.

• Example: In visiting your campus, it occurred to me that the method with which you schedule your classes is ideal because…
• This can be cut down to: The way you schedule your classes is ideal because…
• Most times phrases such as “I think,” “I believe,” “it seems,” and other similar wording is not necessary and simply takes up extra space. Use your judgement, but generally, these phrases get the boot.
• Keep an eye out for the word “that.” This can almost always be cut.
• If you use a long hyphen (—), no space is needed between words. This will bring your word count down. Don’t get too hyphen happy, though!

If the above tips are not enough to get you below the word limit,  you may need to remove entire paragraphs. If a paragraph does not drive the story forward, or is unnecessary in understanding the progression of the story, you may want to remove it.

Once your essay is mistake-free and below the word limit, your next task is to send it to at least three trusted individuals. Ask them the following questions to guide their suggestions:

• Does it make sense?
• Does it sound like me?
• What does it say about me? (Check that this aligns with what you want it to say about you).

Take note of their responses and decide what changes you want to implement. Be receptive, but remember to stay true to yourself and your vision.

Avoiding Pitfalls:

• Avoid discussion of taboo subjects or things that can be perceived as controversial. Everyone is entitled to their own views, but you don’t want to chance saying something controversial that your reader might disagree with.
• Never appear discriminatory in any way. Colleges tend to be vastly left-wing and progressive.
• Don’t turn in work that isn’t your own. When does accepting another person’s edits become plagiarism? If they are rewriting entire sentences in their own words, it is no longer your own work.
• Avoid clichés! It is okay to write about a common experience (like a sports injury or service trip), but only if you have a unique take on them. Don’t write on a popular topic if you will simply describe the same lesson that everyone else learned.
• Don’t write your essay directly into the application text box or it may not save your work. Write it in a separate document and copy and paste it later. Then, double check that the format is correct.

At the end of the day, your essays should just leave the reader thinking: I want to have a conversation with this student. You want to show that you’re an multifaceted, mature person with an interesting story to tell. At CollegeVine, we’re rooting for you all the way—go get writing!

Want help with your college essays to improve your admissions chances? Sign up for your free CollegeVine account and get access to our essay guides and courses. You can also get your essay peer-reviewed and improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.

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List of Supplemental Essays Required By Top Colleges

By Michaela • October 31, 2021 • College Application Early Admission

Looking for a quick reference to the essays required by the colleges on your list? Check out our list of supplemental essays required by many of the top colleges students apply to each year. If you need help with these essays schedule a meeting with one of our essay coaches today!

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Undergraduate Admissions

Application instructions.

UConn considers all first-year applicants for Honors and merit scholarship eligibility upon initial review. There is not a separate application or supplement for Honors or scholarship consideration. Due to the number of applications received, interviews are not part of the admissions process. International applicants should visit the International First-Year Applicants  page.

A completed first-year application includes:

First-year applicants must complete either the Common Application or Apply Coalition with Scoir . There is no preference in application choice and  only one application is required.

Submission of the $80 application fee (non-refundable) is available through the chosen application. Check or money order is also an acceptable form of payment and should be sent to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions directly with the applicant's name (as seen on the application) and date of birth. An applicant who indicates fee waiver eligibility on the application should speak with their high school counselor to confirm the fee waiver form or SAT/ACT fee waiver is submitted to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Your application fee will be waived upon receipt of the fee waiver.

The personal essay is required and provides the applicant an opportunity to add a unique voice to the application as well as demonstrate writing ability. The personal essay is a component on the Common Application or the Coalition Application and should range between 250 and 650 words.

Two letters of recommendation are optional, but can distinguish an applicant's character and are preferred. Recommendation letters can be sent electronically, by fax, or by postal mail.

Guidance on the use of Artificial Intelligence

The Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR) is an online system used in place of a high school (secondary school) transcript which allows first-year applicants attending a U.S. high school to self-report all courses and associated grades earned from grades 9 through 12. With a variety of grading scales across the country, the SRAR allows us to automatically recalculate and weigh student grade point averages (GPAs) to ensure equal consideration is given to each applicant's academic profile.

Students applying to the main campus in Storrs, or any of our four regional campuses, should obtain a copy of their unofficial high school transcript in order to complete the SRAR.

Students who are attending high school outside of the U.S. and are applying for the Fall 2025 entry term will be able to utilize the SRAR beginning August 1, 2024.

SRAR FAQs   How to link your SRAR

Any student who does not complete the SRAR may instead submit an official high school transcript(s) which the Office of Undergraduate Admissions will then use to recalculate the applicant's GPA as a part of the admissions review process. Transcripts should include senior year classes, class rank (if applicable), and latest grades earned. Postsecondary official transcript(s) from each institution attended are also required whether or not credit is desired or expected. Transcripts must be submitted to UConn directly from the secondary institution, either electronically or by mail in a sealed envelope.

Students who have completed the State High School Equivalency Diploma (GED) should send an official copy of their diploma and a complete set of scores to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Official transcript(s) of any work completed in high school are also required.

All academic credentials not written in English must be accompanied by an official, certified English translation.

At UConn, we understand that one test may not accurately define a student's academic progress and potential, which is why we are allowing first-year applicants the choice to submit standardized test results through the fall 2026 admission cycle. No admission decision shall be impacted, and no student disadvantaged, if a standardized test score is not provided.

If an applicant decides that their standardized test score is an accurate reflection of academic ability, and would like to have it considered as part of the application review, UConn requires official SAT or ACT scores to be sent directly from the appropriate test provider. The writing section of the SAT or ACT is not required or used in the application process. We will combine the highest scores from each subsection of an exam to create the best overall score (superscore) for exams taken more than once. Fall applicants are strongly encouraged to take the exam prior to December to assure scores are received by the application deadline of January 15. SAT or ACT scores are not required for students 25 years or older at the time of application.

Institutional Codes: SAT - 3915 ACT - 0604

Test Optional FAQs

The University of Connecticut is an immigration-blind institution. All students applying to UConn are encouraged to disclose their immigration status, which allows us to correctly process an application and provide certain benefits associated with a student's immigration status.

Application information may fit in a box, but our applicants shouldn't. Certain populations require additional components to the application.

Home-schooled applicants are asked to provide equivalent instruction documentation of their academic curriculum. Please ensure that your outline is specific and comprehensive. Students should submit syllabi and transcripts, a portfolio or learning log, standardized test scores (optional), and official college transcripts, if applicable. Please indicate whether the curriculum has been conducted under an accredited homeschool program or any other accredited alternative program. Documentation should verify that the home-school program meets the applicant's local or state high school graduation requirements.

Fine Arts Additional Application Components

Programs in the School of Fine Arts require additional components paired with the undergraduate application for admission consideration. Admission decisions to the School of Fine Arts will not be made until the Office of Undergraduate Admissions receives the results of your additional requirement. Electronic submission through SlideRoom is available for all Fine Arts majors. For more information, including program-specific details, visit the School of Fine Arts admissions page.

Additional Application Component : Submit your Acting-BFA application via SlideRoom and schedule your audition by  January 15 .

Audition Dates: Saturday, December 7, 2024 Sunday, December 8, 2024 Sunday, January 19, 2025 Saturday, January 25, 2025 Sunday, January 26, 2025

Program Contact Information: [email protected]

Web: drama.uconn.edu/apply

Additional Application Component : Submit your portfolio via SlideRoom .

Program Contact Information: [email protected] (860) 486-3930

Web: art.uconn.edu/admission

Additional Application Component : Submit your essay via SlideRoom .

Additional Application Component : Submit your portfolio via SlideRoom  by  January 1 .

Web: drama.uconn.edu

Program Contact Information: [email protected] (860) 486-6765

Web: dmd.uconn.edu/apply

Additional Application Component : Schedule your audition.

Audition Dates: Saturday, December 7, 2024 Friday, January 3, 2025 Saturday, January 4, 2025 Friday, January 10, 2025 Saturday, January 11, 2025

Program Contact Information: [email protected] (860) 486-3728

Web: music.uconn.edu/programs/apply

Audition Dates: Sunday, November 3, 2024 Saturday, December 7, 2024 Sunday, January 5, 2025

Program Contact Information: [email protected]

Web: drama.uconn.edu/programs/puppet-arts/bfa-puppetarts-application

Additional Application Component : Submit a Theatre Studies Application via SlideRoom and schedule your interview.

Interview Dates: Interview dates will become available in Fall 2024.

Program Contact Information: [email protected] (860) 486-1635

Web: drama.uconn.edu/programs/theatre-studies/admission

The Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR) is an online system used by applicants to enter, track, and submit courses and grades, test scores, and related documents to participating colleges and universities. The SRAR is single-entry and replaces the high school transcript typically used during application review.

Filing the SRAR is free; there is no cost associated with creating an SRAR account or completing the SRAR.

Students can create an SRAR account to begin self- entering, tracking, and submitting grades on the SRAR as early as their sophomore year; however, a student cannot link their SRAR to UConn until they've started an application and have received their NetID.

First-year students attending a high school in the U.S. have the ability to submit the SRAR. Home-schooled students are also able to self-report. If you attended any schools that are not homeschool, be sure to include those institutions and accompanying courses and grades on the SRAR.

Students who have completed a GED should submit an official copy of the diploma with a complete set of scores in lieu of the SRAR.

Students applying through the Common Application must create an SRAR account . Students who apply Coalition on Scoir will be able to link their SRAR account.

To complete the SRAR, students should obtain a copy of their unofficial high school transcript which should include all courses and final grades earned from grades 9-11, as well as grade 12 courses in progress and all course attempts, repeats, and withdrawals. Completion of the SRAR takes approximately 45 minutes.

Students applying to participating colleges and universities in Florida will complete the Self-Reported Student Academic Record (SSAR), while the Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR) is used and accepted by all other self-reporting institutions . The SSAR and SRAR are integrated, but each requires its own account.

Students who have started or completed the SSAR for a participating college or university in Florida and are now applying to a university using the SRAR may easily import the SSAR into the SRAR ( or vice versa ).

All course names and course grades should be entered exactly as they are shown on a student's transcript; this includes weighted grades, pass/fail, letter grades, and grades with pluses/minuses. Select the most appropriate level of each course by reviewing the details on your transcript. Consult with your school counselor if you have questions regarding choosing the appropriate course level. All course attempts, including repeats and withdrawals, must also be included.

Senior year course grades should be entered as "in progress" if submitting the SRAR prior to receiving a final course grade; courses taken during the summer months should be included with the courses and grades from the preceding school year; and any high school level coursework completed while in middle school for which high school credit was given should be included on the SRAR in the Middle School year.

Students with multiple transcripts from multiple high schools should start by entering the courses and grades from the school from which they are graduating. If courses from previous schools show with grades on the most current transcript, students may enter those courses under their current school. Students must obtain a copy of any previous transcripts from prior high schools if the courses and grades from those schools are not listed on the current transcript and enter that school(s) separately.

Students applying to our main campus in Storrs must complete and submit the SRAR no later than January 15 . Students applying to any of our four regional campuses (UConn Avery Point, UConn Hartford, UConn Stamford, or UConn Waterbury) must complete and submit the SRAR no later than May 1 .

Students accepted to UConn and have committed to attending by submitting the enrollment deposit fee are asked to send an official final transcript by July 1 .

The SRAR is compatible with a variety of course lengths including full year, trimester, semester, quarterly, and block scheduling grading schemes. On the Enter Coursework page, simply select the course length for which the final grade was received.

Students who need to request a change(s) after the SRAR is submitted should contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions by emailing [email protected] or calling (860) 468-3137 .

For technical support, please contact Scarlet Computing Solutions by emailing [email protected] .

While COVID-19 has impacted the ability to access standardized tests for many students, UConn was considering the move to test optional prior to this crisis. A holistic approach has always been at the crux of our application review, which allows for full evaluation of a student's academic ability and potential. By allowing students to choose whether or not they feel a standardized test is an accurate reflection of their progress and potential, we believe this will provide applicants with the ability to showcase their overall achievement, diverse experiences in the context of their environment, and produce a well-rounded pool of candidates. This pilot program allows the opportunity for self-study of our applicant pool, and evaluation of the effective use of test scores in our overall holistic review process.

If you feel that your standardized test score reflects positively, or compliments your academic achievement, we welcome the opportunity to review it as a component of your application for admission. If you feel that your academic course work might be a better indicator of your ability to succeed at the university level without taking a standardized score into consideration, that is also perfectly acceptable.

No. Applicants who are interested in having standardized test scores considered as part of the application review process should continue to submit official scores through the testing agency. If official test scores have not been received by UConn, they will not be considered part of the application review.

No. All applicants will continue to be automatically considered for merit scholarship and Honors Program eligibility during the application review process regardless of whether standardized test scores have been submitted.

Applications are evaluated holistically with specific attention paid to academic performance, strength of coursework, involvement, and leadership qualities. Learn more about our review process and the areas we consider at Apply to UConn .

As a recruited student-athlete, submitting a test score as part of your application for admission consideration is optional. However, you are still required to follow all initial eligibility requirements set forth by the NCAA Eligibility Center. If you have questions, please contact UConn's Athletics' Compliance Office .

Withdrawing Your Application

There are many reasons why students may decide that they need to withdraw their application for admission. Applicants needing to withdraw their application can simply complete the Withdraw Form found in the applicant portal .

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Colleges that Don't Require Supplemental Essays

Padya Paramita

May 9, 2022

As you prepare for the college admissions cycle, you might be tempted to add schools to your list that require less work than others. While some schools like Yale have over five supplemental essays, there are colleges that have none! So, we offer you a list of colleges that don’t require supplemental essays . Although most colleges definitely want to see students answer school-specific prompts to determine fit, there are several top colleges that don’t require supplemental essays , including Williams, Middlebury, and Northeastern. Take a look at the full list below.

Liberal Arts Colleges that Don’t Require Supplemental Essays

• Albion College
• Allegheny College
• Bates College
• Beloit College
• Coe College
• Colby College
• Colgate University
• College of the Holy Cross
• Connecticut College 
• Denison University
• DePauw University 
• Dickinson University
• Drew University
• Franklin and Marshall College
• Furman University
• Gettysburg College 
• Goucher College
• Grinnell College
• Hamilton College
• Hanover College
• Hollins University
• Hope College
• Illinois Wesleyan University
• Juniata College
• Kenyon College
• Middlebury College
• Muhlenberg College
• New College of Florida 
• Oberlin College
• Rhodes College
• Ripon College
• Sewanee—University of the South
• Siena College 
• Skidmore College
• Spelman College
• St. John’s College (essay optional except for Pharmacy program)
• St. Lawrence University
• Susquehanna University 
• Thomas Aquinas College
• Union College
• Ursinus College
• Wesleyan University (there are essays only for international students)
• Whitman College
• Willamette University
• Williams College

National Universities That Don’t Require Supplemental Essays

• Binghamton University
• Case Western Reserve University
• Clark University
• Clemson University
• DePaul University
• Drexel University
• Florida State University 
• Gonzaga University
• Miami University—Oxford
• Michigan State University
• New Jersey Institute of Technology
• Northeastern University
• Ohio State University
• Purdue University
• Seton Hall University
• Stevens Institute of Technology
• Stony Brook University  (Honors College has essay requirement)
• SUNY Buffalo
• Temple University
• Tulane University
• University of Alabama
• University of Arkansas
• University of Colorado -Denver
• University of Connecticut
• University of Dayton 
• University of Delaware
• University of Denver
• University of Iowa
• University of Minnesota
• University of Nebraska—Lincoln
• University of New Hampshire 
• University of the Pacific
• University of Pittsburgh
• University of St. Thomas

How to Successfully Apply to Colleges That Don’t Require Supplemental Essays

So, since you don’t have to write essays, how exactly do you convince admissions officers that you’re a strong applicant? You must take advantage of the following components:

• Personal Statement - The personal statement is a common essay that goes to all of the colleges you apply to within one application system—and colleges that don’t require supplemental essays are no exception to this rule. The most common of these are the Common App personal statement prompts. You only have to write about one of the prompts provided by the Common App. The word limit is 650 words, which is a scant number to narrate a powerful story without leaving out too many important details. At the end of the day, you can write about anything, as long as it tells a story unique to you.
• Activities List - When it comes to building a strong extracurricular activities list, it’s important to prioritize your passions, career interests, and ways to establish yourself as a leader. Prestigious colleges want to see tangible achievements and commitment towards activities you enjoy. And if you see a gap in the activities at your school, or find an opportunity to involve a greater community, don’t be afraid to start your own initiative! Once you’ve built your extracurricular profile, make sure you take advantage of the Common App activities list and describe what you did in order of impressiveness.
• Letters of Recommendation - A college recommendation letter is a note from someone who knows you well in an academic or professional setting, highlighting your best qualities and why they recommend you for a position or institution you’re applying for. For most cases, colleges require letters of recommendation from two teachers, one from your guidance counselor, and provide the option of one additional recommendation that could come from a coach or club advisor. They should be written by teachers who know you the best. 

Now that you have an idea of which fall among colleges that don’t require supplemental essays , you can carefully conduct research to make sure you want to apply—and would genuinely be happy there. Don’t just blindly apply to schools just because there are fewer essay requirements. But, these should save you some time in terms of the essay load so take advantage of these if you want to add some targets or safeties as well. Happy searching!

Tags : college essays , Colleges that Don't Require Supplemental Essays , no supplemental essays , colleges with no essays , applying to college , supplemental essays

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Lists & Rankings > College Admission > Colleges For B Students, Late Bloomers, And Underachievers

Colleges and Universities That Don't Require Supplemental Essays

List produced by the facts.

* Green "Yes, connect me!" buttons indicate a featured school

• Albion College (Albion, MI): An application essay is recommended but not required.
• Binghamton University (Binghamton, NY): No additional essays are required, but students may submit special talent supplements. Yes, connect me!
• Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, OH): Additional materials are an optional way to enhance your application. Yes, connect me!
• Clemson University (Clemson, SC): No personal essay is required with the Common or Coalition Application.
• Colby College (Waterville, ME): Supplemental essays aren't required, but students may opt to submit a video through InitialView Elevator Pitch.
• Connecticut College (New London, CT): No supplemental essays are requested beyond the Common Application personal statement requirement.
• DePaul University (Chicago, IL): Personal essays are optional and not required for first-year student applicants; however, test-optional applicants are encouraged to submit the essay through the Common App.
• DePauw University (Greencastle, IN): An additional essay beyond the personal statement is required to be considered for the Honor Scholar Program.
• Dillard University (New Orleans, LA): If a first-year applicant doesn't meet certain requirements, they must submit two letters of recommendation and a personal statement (a three-to-five-paragraph essay outlining your future aspirations) for further consideration.
• Drexel University (Philadelphia, PA): A 250–650-word essay via the Common or Coalition Application is the only writing requirement for most applicants, while certain programs in the Westphal College of Media Arts and Design require an additional writing supplement. Essays submitted on paper or emailed directly to the University are not accepted.
• Fairleigh Dickinson University (Teaneck, NJ): Essays, résumés, and recommendation letters are optional but welcome.
• Fordham University (Bronx, NY): An essay as part of the Common Application is required, but other writing opportunities are optional; applicants will not be penalized if they choose to skip these sections. Yes, connect me!
• Grinnell College (Grinnell, IA): No fee to apply and no required supplement.
• Kent State University (Kent, OH): Personal essays aren't required for first-year applicants.
• Kenyon College (Gambier, OH): Prospective students who have an interest or talent they would like to share may submit an optional portfolio.
• Middlebury College (Middlebury, VT): A supplemental essay is not required; any additional materials submitted beyond what are required are not guaranteed to be reviewed by admissions readers.
• Muhlenberg College (Allentown, PA): Only a personal essay is required of applicants.
• New Jersey Institute of Technology (Newark, NJ): An additional essay on a specific topic is required to apply to the Honors College.
• Northeastern University (Boston, MA): Additional essays are not required beyond the personal statement through the Common or Coalition Application. Yes, connect me!
• Seton Hall University (South Orange, NJ): An essay through the Common Application is the only writing requirement. Yes, connect me!
• Siena College (Loudonville, NY): The essay is optional for the majority of applicants, though many students still choose to submit one to help the admissions team learn more about them. Applicants also have the option to submit a graded English or history paper from junior or senior year to show off their best work. Yes, connect me!
• Skidmore College (Saratoga Springs, NY): Supplemental materials will be reviewed but aren't required; however, an additional essay is required in order to apply for the College's Porter-Wachenheim Presidential Scholarships in Science and Mathematics.
• Spelman College (Atlanta, GA): Students who are invited to the honors program will be required to submit an additional essay.
• Stevens Institute of Technology (Hoboken, NJ): Just one personal statement is required of applicants.
• Stony Brook University (Stony Brook, NY): Additional essays are required for Honors, WISE, University Scholars, Scholars for Medicine, and Scholars for Dental Medicine applicants.
• The Ohio State University—Columbus (Columbus, OH): Freshman applicants to the Columbus campus are only required to write a Common Application essay, while no essay is required for admission to OHIO's regional campuses. Yes, connect me!
• The University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa, AL): No personal essay is required for first-year student applicants.
• University at Buffalo (Buffalo, NY): The University may ask applicants to submit a personal statement and/or mid-year grades if they apply without test scores.
• University of Arkansas (Fayetteville, AR): A personal essay isn't required through the Common App, but supplemental essay prompts are available for students who would like to apply for scholarships.
• University of Colorado, Denver (Denver, CO): The personal statement is the only writing sample submitted during the application process. Yes, connect me!
• University of Connecticut (Storrs, CT): A personal essay through the Common Application is the only writing requirement for prospective students. Yes, connect me!
• University of Dayton (Dayton, OH): Just one essay is required of applicants.
• University of Denver (Denver, CO): No essays are required beyond the Common App personal statement.
• University of Iowa (Iowa City, IA): If a student doesn't provide ACT or SAT scores at the time of application, they may be required to submit additional academic documents or a personal statement to receive an admission decision.
• University of Minnesota—Twin Cities (Minneapolis, MN): No essays are required, but applicants have the option to submit short answers to supplemental questions.
• University of Nebraska—Lincoln (Lincoln, NE): A personal essay isn't required for admission, but applicants must write a 500-word essay about themselves with a focus on leadership, career goals, and community service to be considered for the University's Leadership, Service & Diversity Enhancement Scholarships.
• University of New Hampshire (Durham, NH): No supplemental essays or writing prompts are required other than the essay required as part of the Common Application.
• University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA): A personal statement or the Common Application essay is required for scholarship consideration as well as for students applying test-optional. It could also increase your chances with guaranteed admission programs or help explain extenuating circumstances. Yes, connect me!
• University of St. Thomas (St. Paul, MN): Applicants aren't required to answer the University's essay questions, but it's "highly recommend" to do so, especially if you apply without test scores.
• University of Vermont (Burlington, VT): An optional essay is available as a chance for the University to get to know you better. Yes, connect me!
• University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA): A personal statement is the only writing requirement for prospective students.
• Wesleyan University (Middletown, CT): The submission of supplemental materials is optional.

Source: Moon Prep

Want more information on how this list was compiled? Find out more about  where our Lists & Rankings come from .

About This List

Having schools on your list that don’t require supplemental essays gives you more time and energy to apply to more colleges and programs. The following schools do not require supplemental essays as of the 2022–2023 application season. Please keep in mind that if you're interested in special programs such as honors, Nursing, or scholarship opportunities, you may still be required or encouraged to write essays—especially if you don't submit standardized test scores. (This list was compiled by our friends at Moon Prep , with additional research by CollegeXpress.)

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How To Tackle The Weirdest Supplemental Essay Prompts For This Application Cycle

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Writing the college essay

How do you write a letter to a friend that shows you’re a good candidate for the University of Pennsylvania? What reading list will help the Columbia University admissions committee understand your interdisciplinary interests? How can you convey your desire to attend Yale by inventing a course description for a topic you’re interested in studying?

These are the challenges students must overcome when writing their supplemental essays . Supplemental essays are a critical component of college applications—like the personal statement, they provide students with the opportunity to showcase their authentic voice and perspective beyond the quantitative elements of their applications. However, unlike the personal essay, supplemental essays allow colleges to read students’ responses to targeted prompts and evaluate their candidacy for their specific institution. For this reason, supplemental essay prompts are often abstract, requiring students to get creative, read between the lines, and ditch the traditional essay-writing format when crafting their responses.

While many schools simply want to know “why do you want to attend our school?” others break the mold, inviting students to think outside of the box and answer prompts that are original, head-scratching, or downright weird. This year, the following five colleges pushed students to get creative—if you’re struggling to rise to the challenge, here are some tips for tackling their unique prompts:

University of Chicago

Prompt: We’re all familiar with green-eyed envy or feeling blue, but what about being “caught purple-handed”? Or “tickled orange”? Give an old color-infused expression a new hue and tell us what it represents. – Inspired by Ramsey Bottorff, Class of 2026

What Makes it Unique: No discussion of unique supplemental essay prompts would be complete without mentioning the University of Chicago, a school notorious for its puzzling and original prompts (perhaps the most well-known of these has been the recurring prompt “Find x”). This prompt challenges you to invent a new color-based expression, encouraging both linguistic creativity and a deep dive into the emotional or cultural connotations of color. It’s a prompt that allows you to play with language, think abstractly, and show off your ability to forge connections between concepts that aren’t typically linked—all qualities that likewise demonstrate your preparedness for UChicago’s unique academic environment.

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How to Answer it: While it may be easy to get distracted by the open-ended nature of the prompt, remember that both the substance and structure of your response should give some insight into your personality, perspective, and characteristics. With this in mind, begin by considering the emotions, experiences, or ideas that most resonate with you. Then, use your imagination to consider how a specific color could represent that feeling or concept. Remember that the prompt is ultimately an opportunity to showcase your creativity and original way of looking at the world, so your explanation does not need to be unnecessarily deep or complex—if you have a playful personality, convey your playfulness in your response; if you are known for your sarcasm, consider how you can weave in your biting wit; if you are an amateur poet, consider how you might take inspiration from poetry as you write, or offer a response in the form of a poem.

The goal is to take a familiar concept and turn it into something new and meaningful through a creative lens. Use this essay to showcase your ability to think inventively and to draw surprising connections between language and life.

Harvard University

Prompt: Top 3 things your roommates might like to know about you.

What Makes it Unique: This prompt is unique in both form and substance—first, you only have 150 words to write about all 3 things. Consider using a form other than a traditional essay or short answer response, such as a bullet list or short letter. Additionally, note that the things your roommate might like to learn about you do not necessarily overlap with the things you would traditionally share with an admissions committee. The aim of the prompt is to get to know your quirks and foibles—who are you as a person and a friend? What distinguishes you outside of academics and accolades?

How to Answer it: First and foremost, feel free to get creative with your response to this prompt. While you are producing a supplemental essay and thus a professional piece of writing, the prompt invites you to share more personal qualities, and you should aim to demonstrate your unique characteristics in your own voice. Consider things such as: How would your friends describe you? What funny stories do your parents and siblings share that encapsulate your personality? Or, consider what someone might want to know about living with you: do you snore? Do you have a collection of vintage posters? Are you particularly fastidious? While these may seem like trivial things to mention, the true creativity is in how you connect these qualities to deeper truths about yourself—perhaps your sleepwalking is consistent with your reputation for being the first to raise your hand in class or speak up about a cause you’re passionate about. Perhaps your living conditions are a metaphor for how your brain works—though it looks like a mess to everyone else, you have a place for everything and know exactly where to find it. Whatever qualities you choose, embrace the opportunity to think outside of the box and showcase something that admissions officers won’t learn about anywhere else on your application.

University of Pennsylvania

Prompt: Write a short thank-you note to someone you have not yet thanked and would like to acknowledge.

What Makes it Unique: Breaking from the traditional essay format, this supplement invites you to write directly to a third party in the form of a 150-200 word long letter. The challenge in answering this distinct prompt is to remember that your letter should say as much about you, your unique qualities and what you value as it does about the recipient—all while not seeming overly boastful or contrived.

How to Answer it: As you select a recipient, consider the relationships that have been most formative in your high school experience—writing to someone who has played a large part in your story will allow the admissions committee some insight into your development and the meaningful relationships that guided you on your journey. Once you’ve identified the person, craft a thank-you note that is specific and heartfelt—unlike other essays, this prompt invites you to be sentimental and emotional, as long as doing so would authentically convey your feelings of gratitude. Describe the impact they’ve had on you, what you’ve learned from them, and how their influence has shaped your path. For example, if you’re thanking a teacher, don’t just say they helped you become a better student—explain how their encouragement gave you the confidence to pursue your passions. Keep the tone sincere and personal, avoid clichés and focus on the unique role this person has played in your life.

University of Notre Dame

Prompt: What compliment are you most proud of receiving, and why does it mean so much to you?

What Makes it Unique: This prompt is unique in that it invites students to share something about themselves by reflecting on someone else’s words in 50-100 words.

How to Answer it: The key to answering this prompt is to avoid focusing too much on the complement itself and instead focus on your response to receiving it and why it was so important to you. Note that this prompt is not an opportunity to brag about your achievements, but instead to showcase what truly matters to you. Select a compliment that truly speaks to who you are and what you value. It could be related to your character, work ethic, kindness, creativity, or any other quality that you hold in high regard. The compliment doesn’t have to be grand or come from someone with authority—it could be something small but significant that left a lasting impression on you, or it could have particular meaning for you because it came from someone you didn’t expect it to come from. Be brief in setting the stage and explaining the context of the compliment—what is most important is your reflection on its significance and how it shaped your understanding of yourself.

Stanford University

Prompt: List five things that are important to you.

What Makes it Unique: This prompt’s simplicity is what makes it so challenging. Stanford asks for a list, not an essay, which means you have very limited space (50 words) to convey something meaningful about yourself. Additionally, the prompt does not specify what these “things” must be—they could be a physical item, an idea, a concept, or even a pastime. Whatever you choose, these five items should add depth to your identity, values, and priorities.

How to Answer it: Start by brainstorming what matters most to you—these could be values, activities, people, places, or even abstract concepts. The key is to choose items or concepts that, when considered together, provide a comprehensive snapshot of who you are. For example, you might select something tangible and specific such as “an antique telescope gifted by my grandfather” alongside something conceptual such as “the willingness to admit when you’re wrong.” The beauty of this prompt is that it doesn’t require complex sentences or elaborate explanations—just a clear and honest reflection of what you hold dear. Be thoughtful in your selections, and use this prompt to showcase your creativity and core values.

While the supplemental essays should convey something meaningful about you, your values, and your unique qualifications for the university to which you are applying, the best essays are those that are playful, original, and unexpected. By starting early and taking the time to draft and revise their ideas, students can showcase their authentic personalities and distinguish themselves from other applicants through their supplemental essays.

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University of Connecticut | UConn

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University of Connecticut | UConn’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Medicine program essay 3.

Please describe a role you have held in a meaningful group/peer-related activity.

Special Program in Law Essay 1

Please discuss why you are applying to the Special Program in Law and how you feel your undergraduate studies at UConn will further your interest in law.

Special Program in Law Essay 2

What opportunities or events have you experienced which informed your interest in the study of law and what do you hope to contribute to the profession of ethical legal practice?

Medicine Program Essay 1

Please briefly share the influences on your decision to pursue the field of medicine, including shadowing experiences and other medical related activities.

Medicine Program Essay 2

Please describe your interests, activities, hobbies, etc., outside the area of health sciences.

Special Program in Dental Medicine Essay 1

Please briefly share the influences on your decision to pursue the field of dentistry, including shadowing experiences and other dental-related activities.

Special Program in Dental Medicine Essay 2

Special program in dental medicine essay 3.

Why are you applying to the Special Program in Dental Medicine at the University of Connecticut

Common App Personal Essay

The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response. Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don‘t feel obligated to do so.

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you‘ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

What will first-time readers think of your college essay?

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Making Your Peace with the Supplemental Essays: It's Easier... and More Complicated…. than You Might Think (2022 Updates)

As if writing the personal essay for college apps wasn't enough, many colleges also like to see supplemental essays! They're not trying to torture you though, it's more a way for them to get to know you even better, so be sure to write these supplements -- and take your time and do your research for each one. Even though these essays can be short, they are really important! This is your opportunity to explore all that awesomeness that you do and want to be or to explain the context of your life, so they can have a greater understanding of your application.

What does Optional mean in college admissions?

Sometimes, colleges will say an essay is optional, but I encourage you to write every essay unless it doesn’t apply to you at all.

What’s the point of all these supplemental essays?

The point is to paint a picture of you on their college campus. They want to see who you are and what you’ve done and how you are going to bring that to their specific campus. Each of these essays involves digging in and learning more about yourself and what’s important to you and then how that you who you are fits in with what they offer on their campus. Each of these essays requires research about what they offer and elements of you.

Often, these essays are more important than the Personal Essay. Colleges ask these questions for a reason -- and it’s usually to make sure they learn more about you and the HUMAN you are (not a test-taking, grade-making, EC-doing machine) and how you will bring that human (you) to THEIR specific campus. They also want you to show them some love and show them you’ve done the work -- the research -- to know why you want to be there.

Here’s something you might not know...colleges sometimes like to hide their supplements. These essays can be sneaky little devils and they aren’t always found in the writing section. Sometimes they call them questions --- with 250-word answers:) Be sure to check the different sections of the Common App for where they might be hiding, like in Activities, Family, and Academics. As you’re organizing your essays, make sure you go through the entire common app, step by step to find the hidden essays -- it’s like a treasure hunt!

THE WHY COLLEGE ESSAY

The most important thing to remember about a “Why College” essay is that it’s really a “Why You on our College Campus Essay.”

This essay is just as much about you as the college.

Why do they need you on their campus?

What will you bring?

So, in essence, this should be an essay that ONLY YOU could write about ONLY THIS SCHOOL. If any sentence could apply to any other school or applicant, scratch it. Here’s an idea from College Essay Guy: take a sheet of paper and divide it down the middle. On one side list all the awesome stuff about you. On the other side list all the amazing stuff about the college. Where do you see overlaps? That’s the substance of your essay. Make sure you include SPECIFICS in your essay. Do your research, and let them know you’ve done your research:

If you’ve visited (or virtually visited in pandemic times), say so. And talk about what you saw and liked and why it was specifically appealing to you.

Read the student newspaper online. Find events and articles that appeal to you.

Follow the admissions department on social media, and learn what interests you about their campus. Mention something they’ve profiled recently and why it’s specifically interesting to you.

Read the website, especially the admissions website, carefully. Most college websites tell you exactly what they’re looking for. Are you that person? If so, demonstrate to them why. If not, well, maybe this school isn’t a great fit for you.

Read the college’s mission statement. Does their mission mesh with your personal mission?

Check out classes that look interesting to you. Look at course lists on the website. Do you find classes that you can see yourself attending? Tell them why this would be a great class for you. What will you get out of it? What can you contribute?

Find professors that appeal to you. Maybe even reach out to them and learn about their programs.

Again, devour their website. Check out clubs and activities on campus. What can you bring to the campus and how do you see yourself being involved?

Here’s some info from me about the Why College Essay with some tables that can help you plan your Why College Essay .

Also, Tulane has a great How-To for the Why College Essay on their admissions blog . Read it.

More Info about the Why College Essay:

u/4suka shared what they learned at a JHU workshop and I think it’s great info to share with y’all here: “I went to a supplemental essay workshop with JHU and … they (AOs at the workshop) essentially exemplified that we didn't even have to mention specific programs about the school so much as use the supplement as an opportunity to write another mini-personal statement that connects our values and motivations to Hopkins'. "You don't have to mention any classes or anything, we already know what we have, you're just wasting words unless that specific class you mention is essential to your description/expression of values," basically.” link to JHU workshops

Here’s some great advice on Instagram from Todd Denning, Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Tufts: “The Why Tufts supplemental essay question, may seem pretty straightforward, but be sure to put plenty of thought into it. A “good” answer to this question will, of course, depend on you and what draws you to Tufts. A quick piece of advice: avoid the “features” trap. Yes, it’s ok and perfectly normal to be drawn to the amenities of a college or university, but we (The Admissions Committee) want to better understand why you think Tufts is a good fit for you. Rather than focusing on the features (residence halls, bucolic campus, professors), point to some of the “feels” (an eye-opening conversation you had with a current student, the university’s Liberal Arts identity, the deep civic and political engagement on campus, and so on.) A university is more than just a collection of buildings, clubs, and classes, so get creative and be thoughtful with our Why Tufts!” Also here’s a link to an Instagram post with more great advice from Tufts Admissions .

THE LEADERSHIP ESSAY

I want you to think about leadership a little differently. I don’t know if you know or follow Mark Manson, but he posted this last fall on social media and I was struck by it: “Leadership is doing the sh!t nobody else wanted to do in a way nobody else thought possible.”

So, you see, leadership is about way more than being Captain High School or President Every Club. Think about all the different kinds of leadership there are. You don’t have to be a specific leader at your school like a president or captain or prefect.

Are you a leader in your own life? Do you make decisions for yourself?

Are you a leader in your family? Older sibling? Care for grandparents? Oldest cousin who everyone goes to for advice?

Are you a leader among your friend groups? Do you make plans? Are you the “parent” of the group? Do you control the social calendar?

Are you a leader in the classroom? Do you like to be the coordinator and organizer for group projects? Do you lead class discussions? Do teachers rely on you to be an active participant?

Are you a leader in your school? Do you hold leadership roles? Or do you organize without needing some kind of title? Do you help underclassmen? Do you encourage others?

Are you a leader in your community? Do you help in your religious community? Do you volunteer as a tutor? Do you organize drives for causes?

And finally, do you have a job? A job demonstrates leadership and willingness to learn and work with others and to contribute to your own financial stability or that of your family.

Leadership is more than a title, it’s about what you do. And how will you demonstrate that leadership specifically on their campus? Do your research.

THE EXTRACURRICULAR ESSAY

Choose your activity: Pick the one with the most hours, blood, sweat, and tears, and that’s the most important to you (could be school club, sport, summer activity, job, family responsibilities, personal hobby or interest)

Discuss your history with the activity, any challenges or obstacles you’ve come across, failures you’ve learned from it, and successes. Be sure to describe in detail what you’ve learned and experienced.

Go into the why -- why is this activity important to you.

Then the how -- how will you use what you’ve learned and experienced with this activity and bring it to their campus -- be specific. Are there clubs or activities on their campus you can be part of?

THE WHY MAJOR ESSAY

First, I suggest you apply with a major -- even if you’re not certain. Many students change their minds. Admissions offices know that, but they like to know that you have some sense of direction. It’s important that you give them a clear idea of WHY you’ve chosen this major. So, once again, details are important. I see this is more of a why me in this major at this school essay than just a why major essay. Your job is to create a picture of you on their campus based on what you’ve already done and what you hope to do. Mention and Describe WHY these were meaningful to you and how they relate to the major:

Courses you’ve taken in high school (or on Edx, Coursera, Khan Academy, etc)

Activities you’ve participated in that have related

Independent or personal research or hobbies that relate

Research and discuss the following within your potential major:

Classes you are excited by on their campus (look at course offerings)

Potential professors who you’d like to take classes with

Potential research projects you’d like to be involved in

Clubs and activities the college offers that are related to your major

Discuss how you see your major playing into your future --- even if you’re not completely sure what you want that future to be.

THE COMMUNITY/IDENTITY/BACKGROUND/PERSPECTIVE ESSAY

Many colleges want to know more about your community, your background, or your identity, and how you play a part in it -- and what they really want to know is how you will play a part in the community on their campus and in their community and what you might bring to their campus with your special perspective.

Decide which community you want to describe. Communities can be super small or large: country, state, city, religion, ethnicity, neighborhood, school, club, activity, online, family, siblings, friends, social groups, and more.

If you’re stuck I encourage you to think like an ant and look at your world from the tiniest being around -- what communities do you see? Where do you fit into that setting? Or look at the world from a giant lens and see where you fit. You don’t have to be a certain ethnicity or religion or be a team player or a club member to be part of a community. Even if you’re kind of a loner, there is some community you’re part of somewhere.

Once you’ve decided, discuss and explain:

How the community has molded you

Challenges and obstacles you’ve faced because of it (if any)

Lessons learned from the community

How you have impacted your community

How you plan to continue being part of this community on their campus

Give details -- do your research about what they offer on your campus that might allow you to continue to be involved

If you’re discussing a community that might be hard to continue involvement (your family) on their campus, talk about how you will use what you’ve learned from your involvement in your community on their campus.

THE ADDITIONAL INFO ESSAY

The Additional Info Essay is there for you for just that -- adding info to your application that they won’t otherwise be able to learn about. Basically, this space is available for you to provide whatever information you feel the admissions team needs to know in order to understand the context of your application. This is an important space and it can be used for lots of different aspects of your application. You could:

Expand on an EC: when you’re not given the opportunity to do so in the application and you have an activity that is particularly meaningful and time-consuming to you -- and your application wouldn’t be complete without the admissions officers understanding more about this activity, you can add it here. You can bullet point here or write it like a Why EC essay.

Why College: If you have a particularly compelling reason why this is the right college for you, and you aren’t given the opportunity to present it in the application, you might want to let them know here. See the Why College Section.

Life Isn’t Always Fair -- Share your Story

Sometimes you need to be able to explain the circumstances in your life -- and colleges want to know about any hardships you’ve had.

They want to understand the context of your application, so don’t worry about thinking you’re asking the colleges to feel sorry for you. I hear kids say that all the time.

This is your real life. Let them know. They can’t know about your challenges and obstacles unless you tell them.

Be proud of yourself for making it through your challenges and moving on to pursue college -- that’s an accomplishment on its own!

I feel like the Additional Info section is the place to talk about them; that way you can use your Personal Essay to get into details about other aspects of who you are beyond whatever challenges life has presented you.

Some Aspects of Your Life Might Require More Context: adversity and hardship, sexual orientation, gender issues, family income and background, family obligations, mental health issues, deaths, divorce, drug-related incidents, illness, and even legal problems. If any of these have affected your school performance, you need to make sure to explain these events or issues.

For more information and my thoughts and u/McNeilAdmissions ’ thoughts about writing about Trauma in Your Applications, be sure to check out this post.

More Phoenix, Fewer Ashes (I wish I could take credit for that metaphor -- I think it’s also from a story u/Ninotchka shared on a2c)

Address your issue or circumstance BRIEFLY and be straightforward. Don’t dwell on it.

Next, focus on what you did to take care of yourself and how you handled the situation. Describe how you’ve moved forward and what you learned from the experience.

Then, write about how you will apply those lessons to your future college career and how you plan to help others with your self-knowledge as you continue to help yourself as you learn more and grow.

Show them that, while you can’t control what happened in the past, you’ve taken steps to gain control over your life and you’re prepared to be the college student you can be.

Remember to keep the focus on the positives and what you learned from your experiences.

Make sure your essay is at least 90% phoenix, the rest ashes.

DISCIPLINARY ISSUES ESSAY (See More Phoenix, Fewer Ashes Above)

First, briefly tell the story. Step up and take responsibility for whatever your issue is. Do NOT blame anyone else.

Spend most of the essay talking about what you’ve learned, what positive impact the lesson had on you, and how you’ve grown from the experience. Be specific about steps you’ve taken to learn more.

End by explaining how the experience will make you a better college student.

Demonstrate that you are taking ownership and taking steps to change your life. You won’t hide from this event, and you’ve worked hard to move past it.

THE COVID-19 QUESTION

From over 300 College Admissions Deans: …”we encourage students to communicate any factors specific to their circumstances that impeded their academic performance. Those factors might include:

lack of access to the internet

no quiet place to study

or the various family responsibilities described above.

We encourage students to describe concretely how any of these circumstances have negatively affected their academic performance or ability to engage in activities that matter to them. It is helpful to know, for example, how much time students spent per week taking on a family responsibility, such as taking care of a sick relative. “ My summary of the “Collective Statement from over 300 College Deans” is here .

Question on Common App: Community disruptions such as COVID-19 and natural disasters can have deep and long-lasting impacts. If you need it, this space is yours to describe those impacts. Colleges care about the effects on your health and well-being, safety, family circumstances, future plans, and education, including access to reliable technology and quiet study spaces.

♻️ REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE

Many colleges will ask similar questions. It’s ok to rework an essay to make it work for one school and then another.

Do make sure you do specific research for that college to include like:

School Traditions

School Values, Culture, and Mission

Classes that interest you

Profs that fit what you’re looking for

Research Opportunities that fit in with what you want to learn more about

Clubs and Activities that help you explore more about who you are and what interests you

Where you learned your research (website, tour, virtual visit, info session, social media, school paper, etc)

Write a one size fits all essay

Use the WRONG name of the college!

SUGGESTION!

Organize your supplemental essays. I suggest organizing your supplemental essay by colleges and common supplemental essays on a spreadsheet. Then, I suggest making google doc folders for each college and copying and pasting the topic and word count at the top of a google sheet as you’re organizing. In addition to the spreadsheet, write the Why College, Why EC, Why Major, and so on at the top so that when you’re searching for that Why EC essay you’ve already written, you can easily find it.

ONE LAST TIP -- When you’re submitting your apps, sometimes you have to submit the supplemental essay after you’ve submitted everything else, so be sure to go back and make sure all your supplements have been submitted. This is especially true in my experience with Rice -- but I’ve also heard of it with other schools.

LIVE STREAM SUPPLEMENTAL ESSAY WORKSHOP

💜And finally, for those of you who made it all the way to the end of this post, I’m inviting you to a FREE One-Hour Supplementary Essay Workshop (Livestreamed & Recorded on YouTube and Twitch ) – Sunday, September 11 at ELEVEN AM Central Standard Time. Here's what it is: I will walk you through all the different kinds of Supplemental Essays you might find and the steps to take to write them demonstrating the best you on your best day, with plenty of time for questions at the end. NOTE: This work session won’t include essay review or editing (stay tuned for the Editing Workshop set for October 16), so it’s more for those of you who either aren’t completely happy or comfortable with your current supplemental essays or those of you who are ready to get started.

Details Again:

BadAss College Apps LiveStream: Supplemental Essay Workshop

Sunday, September 18, 2022

11 AM Central Standard Time

Recorded on YouTube

Links: YouTube , Twitch

Even though these Supplemental Essays can often be short, they are super important and must show that you’ve taken your time, given thought, highlighted yourself, and done your research on the college. Your job is to make them see you as an active member of their campus. Every word counts.

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Haverford College 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Guide

Early Decision: Nov 15

Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 10

Haverford College 2024-25 Application Essay Question Explanations

Haverford College may be a tiny school, but its values are voluminous. In case you didn’t already know that Haverford is known for its Honor Code , admissions makes it abundantly clear in the epic introduction to this supplement. Our advice to you: read it very carefully so you can plan your essays strategically. Admissions is testing you in two ways, (1) to see if you’re dedicated enough to read with care, and (2) to see if you have the imagination to go beyond the information they have laid out. They know what you know (or at least what they expect you to know), so your job is to push the values of the Haverford community into uncharted territory and show admissions how they apply to your own life and ambitions. The stakes are extra high for originality and honesty so give yourself some time with this one.

The Requirements: Two essays of 150-200 words each

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Why

We appreciate you taking the time to answer these Haverford specific questions and are excited for the opportunity to consider your application for admission. Good writing is a process, and there are many resources you might use as you craft your responses, including asking someone you trust to review your work and offer feedback or using generative artificial intelligence to brainstorm your response. But please know that what is most important to us is to hear your voice and ideas. Your voice matters to us, and hearing it in your writing will help us better understand who you are and imagine who you would be at Haverford.  

Haverford college has one of the oldest and one of the very few student-run honor codes in the u.s. our honor code is not a set of rules, but rather a statement of shared values around both the academic and social aspects of life and is centered on the concepts of trust, concern, and respect. our honor code serves as an educational tool in and of itself and provides a powerful framework for our community, emphasizing and supporting qualities we see as essential to a haverford education. among other things, the honor code at haverford supports:, academic freedom: the honor code fosters an atmosphere emphasizing academic integrity, collaboration over competition, and the cultivation of intellectual curiosity. differences and disagreement are respected, valued, and embraced, and open discourse is seen as fundamental to the academic endeavor., student agency: the honor code upholds a culture in which students are deeply trusted to take substantial ownership of their education and to profoundly shape and define the haverford community. student ownership is reflected in self-scheduled exams, in the fact that every student completes a senior thesis, in shared responsibility for the residential experience, and of course in oversight of the honor code itself., community: the honor code establishes a supportive environment for living and learning, where the community experience plays a central role in one’s education. the inherent value of every community member is recognized, and diversity in all respects – including diversity of background, experience, and perspective – is nurtured, celebrated, and embraced., leadership and engagement: the honor code allows every student to find and develop their own voice, to practice ways of improving community and acting on issues of importance, to learn methods of problem solving and conflict resolution, and to examine the ways they can and will impact the world beyond haverford., please give us a better sense of what you are looking for in your college experience by answering the following questions:, tell us about a topic or issue that sparks your curiosity and gets you intellectually excited. how do you hope to engage with this topic or issue at haverford please limit your response to 150-200 words..

Like many of the schools you’re applying to, Haverford wants to know why you’re interested in exploring your area of interest at their school. Start with the easy part: What do you love? What could you geek out about for hours? Keep in mind that something that gets you “intellectually excited” doesn’t have to be strictly academic. Maybe you’re fascinated by Foucault. Or maybe you’re intrigued by the evolution of modern cities and how infrastructure impacts culture (and vice versa). Both are totally valid! Follow your gut and focus on a subject that you could easily blather on about for hours. Then, connect your interest to Haverford’s offerings. Perhaps you hope to explore more of Foucalt’s ideas with other curious minds in Philosophy classes or you’re excited to major in Growth and Structure of Cities , which will set you up for a career in urban planning. Whatever your story is, make sure to do your research on the school’s website so you can cite specific courses, professors, and/or other Haverford resources that excite you.

We have highlighted for you some of the values that shape the Haverford community. What are some of the values you seek in your next community? How do Haverford’s values, as demonstrated through our Honor Code, resonate with you?

As you think about how to answer this question, you might draw from how you have been influenced by other communities you have been a part of, experiences you may have had within your communities, or opportunities you have had to shape or even change your communities.  please limit your response to 150-200 words..

This prompt is asking you to do some introspection about your own values and what you look for in a community. Start by doing some brainstorming: grab a notebook and list out all of the communities you belong to—your family, sports teams, extracurricular clubs, your cultural groups (e.g. race, religion), your gender identity, etc.—and then jot down the values you associate with each one. When you’re done, refer back to Haverford’s Honor Code and see where you can find connections. Another way to approach this prompt would be to write down Haverford’s values and free-associate; what personal experiences does this list bring up? For instance, when you think of academic freedom, maybe you think of your fiction writing class, where you can partner with classmates to explore anything your mind can conjure. Is it important for you to join a community that encourages collaboration and creativity? Once you have your brainstorming notes, think about what you envision for your college experience. Make sure to highlight specific stories for this prompt that offer admissions insight into the kinds of communities you’ve been a part of thus far, how they have shaped or influenced you, what you learned as a result, and finally, what that all means for your vision of community at Haverford. Details will make your answer stand out! 

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