The Honors College is a community of students who love to engage with ideas that come from a broad range of sources. All applicants to the Honors College are welcome to submit a short essay in response to the prompt. For this essay, please consider an idea from a book, song, poem, play, painting, or another piece of art that has shaped your understanding of the world or the way you behave. The essay should not exceed 250 words.
Adelphi University
The Joint Degree Committee reviews all applicants holistically and values student motivation. Please provide a brief statement, no longer than one page, of your interest in Adelphi University’s joint degree program and your selected profession.*
Albany College of Pharmacy
Please write a paragraph about how you responded to an academic or personal obstacle.*
Albany College of Pharmacy
Supplemental Statement: Please explain your choice of major, your career goals, and why you are applying to ACPHS. (Recommended 50 to 250 words)
Baylor
What are you looking for in a university, why do you want to attend Baylor, and how do you see yourself contributing to the Baylor community?
Boston College
At Boston College, we hope to draw on the Jesuit tradition of finding conversation partners to discuss issues and problems facing society. Who is your favorite conversation partner? What do you discuss with that person?
Boston College
Each year at University Convocation, the incoming class engages in reflective dialogue around a common text. What book would you recommend for your class to read and explore together – and why?
Boston College
In 2020, we faced a national reckoning on racial injustice in America – a reckoning that continues today. Discuss how this has affected you, what you have learned, or how you have been inspired to be a change agent around this important issue.
Boston College
Socrates stated that “the unexamined life is not worth living.” Discuss a time when reflection, prayer, or introspection led to clarity or understanding of an issue that is important to you.
Boston College
Students at Boston College are encouraged to consider critical questions as they pursue lives of meaning and purpose. What is a question that matters to you and how do you hope Boston College will help you answer it?
Boston University
The Accelerated Programs Admission Committee is interested in learning more about you. Please write an essay of no more than 750 words on why you wish to enter the health professions, including what experiences have led you to this decision and what you hope to gain from your chosen profession. Please make sure this essay is completely distinct from your Common Application Personal Essay.*
Boston University
Trustee Scholarship Essay
Please write an essay of 600 words or less in response to one of the following two topics:
1. Howard Thurman, who was the dean of BU’s Marsh Chapel from 1953-1965, once wrote: “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” Can you describe a particular experience you have had or an activity that you participate in that makes you come alive? How would you try to integrate that experience or activity into your time at BU?
or
2. Describe a time when you felt out of your comfort zone or marginalized in a situation. How did you respond to that moment and how has it informed your actions moving forward?*
Boston University
What about being a student at Boston University most excites you?
Brown University
Brown students care deeply about their work and the world around them. Students find contentment, satisfaction, and meaning in daily interactions and major discoveries. Whether big or small, mundane or spectacular, tell us about something that brings you joy.
Brown University
Brown’s culture fosters a community in which students challenge the ideas of others and have their ideas challenged in return, promoting a deeper and clearer understanding of the complex issues confronting society. This active engagement in dialogue is as present outside the classroom as it is in academic spaces. Tell us about a time you were challenged by a perspective that differed from your own. How did you respond?
Brown University
Brown’s Open Curriculum allows students to explore broadly while also diving deeply into their academic pursuits. Tell us about any academic interests that excite you, and how you might use the Open Curriculum to pursue them while also embracing topics with which you are unfamiliar.
Brown University
Committing to a future career as a physician while in high school requires careful consideration and self-reflection. What values and experiences have led you to believe that becoming a doctor in medicine is the right fit for you?
Brown University
How do you envision the Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME) helping you to meet your academic personal and professional goals as a person and as a physician of the future?
Brown University
Select one of the following to answer for the second essay: A) Health care is constantly changing, as it is affected by racial and social disparities, economics, politics, and technology, among other factors. How will you, as a future physician, make a positive impact? B) How do you feel your personal background provides you with a unique perspective of medicine?
California Northstate University
Personal statement
Case Western Reserve
By applying to the Pre-Professional Scholars Program, you are applying to gain admission to professional school earlier than students who apply in the traditional way. Please indicate why you’re interested in your chosen profession. How do you see yourself being particularly suited to this field? What events and/or experiences have led you to your choice?
Case Western Reserve University
In the college application process, you are constantly prompted for a list of your achievements, awards, and accomplishments. While this information is useful to us, we are interested in hearing more about you. Describe an event, achievement, or experience of which you are particularly proud but that will not show up on a resume, may not garner any recognition, and does not appear anywhere else on your admission application.
College of New Jersey
Why are you interested in The College of New Jersey?
Columbia
A hallmark of the Columbia experience is being able to learn and live in a community with a wide range of perspectives. How do you or would you learn from and contribute to diverse, collaborative communities? (200 words or fewer)*
Columbia
List the titles of the books, essays, poetry, short stories or plays you read outside of academic courses that you enjoyed most during secondary/high school.
Columbia
List the titles of the required readings from academic courses that you enjoyed most during secondary/high school.
Columbia
Please tell us what from your current and past experiences (either academic or personal) attracts you specifically to the areas of study that you noted in the application.
Columbia
Why are you interested in attending Columbia University?
Columbia University
Columbia students take an active role in improving their community, whether in their residence hall, classes or throughout New York City. Their actions, small or large, work to positively impact the lives of others. Share one contribution that you have made to your family, school, friend group or another community that surrounds you.
Columbia University
List the movies, albums, shows, museums, lectures, events at your school or other entertainments that you enjoyed most during secondary/high school (in person or online).
Columbia University
List the titles of the print or digital publications, websites, journals, podcasts or other content with which you regularly engage.
Cornell University
College of Architecture, Art, and Planning: What is your “thing”? What energizes you or engages you so deeply that you lose track of time? Everyone has different passions, obsessions, quirks, inspirations. What are yours?
Cornell University
College of Arts and Sciences: Students in Arts and Sciences embrace the opportunity to delve into multifaceted academic interests, embodying in 21st century terms Ezra Cornell’s “any person…any study” founding vision. Tell us about the areas of study you are excited to explore, and specifically why you wish to pursue them in our College.
Drexel University
Tell the Admission Committee why you are applying to the joint program with the Drexel University College of Medicine. Be sure to explain why you want to be a physician and, more specifically, why you want to obtain your medical education at the Drexel University College of Medicine.
Duke
Duke University seeks a talented, engaged student body that embodies the wide range of human experience; we believe that the diversity of our students makes our community stronger. If you’d like to share a perspective you bring or experiences you’ve had that would help us understand you better, perhaps a community you belong to or your family or cultural background, we encourage you to do so here. Real people are reading your application, and we want to do our best to understand and appreciate the real people applying to Duke.
Duke
Duke’s commitment to diversity and inclusion includes sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. If you would like to share with us more about your identity in these areas, you can do so here, or use any previous essay prompt you feel is appropriate.
Duke
Please share with us why you consider Duke a good match for you. Is there something in particular about Duke’s academic or other offerings that attracts you? (200 word limit) *
George Washington University
(Optional) Every applicant can choose from one of the following two essay prompts to submit.
Essay Prompt 1 At the George Washington University, our students frequently interact with policymakers and world leaders. These experiences and those of our alumni can shape the future of global affairs. If you had the power to change the course of history in your community or the world, what would you do and why?
Essay Prompt 2 The George Washington University encourages students to think critically and to challenge the status quo. Thus, civil discourse is a key characteristic of our community. Describe a time when you engaged others in meaningful dialogue around an issue that was important to you. Did this exchange create change, new perspectives, or deeper relationships?
George Washington University
As a top tier research university, George Washington is committed to providing opportunities for practical application of theoretical knowledge and hands-on experiences in your field of interest. Please discuss the ways in which GW’s academic approach appeals to you and how that approach will strengthen your ability to succeed as a future physician. Approximately 500 words.*
Georgetown University
APPLICANTS TO GEORGETOWN COLLEGE: What does it mean to you to be educated? How might Georgetown College help you achieve this aim? (Applicants to the Sciences and Mathematics or the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics should address their chosen course of study.)
APPLICANTS TO THE SCHOOL OF NURSING & HEALTH STUDIES: Describe the factors that have influenced your interest in studying health care. Please specifically address your intended major (Global Health, Health Care Management & Policy, Human Science, or Nursing).
Georgetown University
As Georgetown is a diverse community, the Admissions Committee would like to know more about you in your own words. Please submit a brief essay, either personal or creative, which you feel best describes you.
Georgetown University
Briefly (approximately one-half page, single-spaced) discuss the significance to you of the school or summer activity in which you have been most involved.
Hofstra University
Why are you applying to Hofstra?
Howard University
If you had the chance to meet any one of the over 100,000 Howard University alumni (living or dead), who would you choose and why? (250 words maximum)
Howard University
Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. You may express why this activity is important to you, lessons learned from said activity, or any related details that give us more information on your passions, goals and/or experiences. While not required, this section gives our committee further details on your interests outside of the classroom. (250 words maximum)
Howard University
Presume there was only one spot left in your first choice major program. Given you have thoroughly researched said program, why should we offer the spot to you over another student? Please feel free to discuss your reasons for pursuing your first choice major, your unique talents & skills, and/or how said program aligns with your long-term goals. (250 words maximum)
Howard University
The College of Arts and Sciences is comprised of three divisions: Humanities, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences. The curriculum of the College is designed to meet the needs and interests of a diverse, multicultural student body. Explain what interests you in the Arts or Sciences, and how studying at Howard University will help you achieve your overall goals?*
Howard University
The year is 2030, and you have been invited to be the keynote speaker at an event of your choice. If you were to give this very important speech, what would it be about? You may reflect on a passion of yours, an important personal/global issue, or something that piques your interest; please feel free to be as creative as you’d like. (250 words maximum)*
Howard University
Why are you interested in Medicine, and how will you serve people who may be less privileged than yourself within the professional?*
Johns Hopkins
Founded in the spirit of exploration and discovery, Johns Hopkins University encourages students to share their perspectives, develop their interests, and pursue new experiences. Use this space to share something you’d like the admissions committee to know about you (your interests, your background, your identity, or your community), and how it has shaped what you want to get out of your college experience at Hopkins.
Massachuessetts Institute of Technology
At MIT, we bring people together to better the lives of others. MIT students work to improve their communities in different ways, from tackling the world’s biggest challenges to being a good friend. Describe one way in which you have contributed to your community, whether in your family, the classroom, your neighborhood, etc.
Massachuessetts Institute of Technology
Describe the world you come from; for example, your family, clubs, school, community, city, or town. How has that world shaped your dreams and aspirations?
Massachuessetts Institute of Technology
Pick what field of study at MIT appeals to you the most right now, and tell us more about why this field of study appeals to you.
Massachuessetts Institute of Technology
Please tell us more about your cultural background and identity in the space below.
Massachuessetts Institute of Technology
Tell us about the most significant challenge you’ve faced or something important that didn’t go according to plan. How did you manage the situation?
Massachuessetts Institute of Technology
We know you lead a busy life, full of activities, many of which are required of you. Tell us about something you do simply for the pleasure of it.
New York University
Why NYU? We would like to know more about your interest in NYU. What motivated you to apply to NYU? Why have you applied or expressed interest in a particular campus, school, college, program, and or area of study? If you have applied to more than one, please also tell us why you are interested in these additional areas of study or campuses. We want to understand – Why NYU?
NJIT
The Honors College develops leaders who are engaged members of their community and profession. How have you been of service to your community and what has that taught you about being a leader? How will you contribute to the Honors community? See our website for additional information http://honors.njit.edu.*
NJIT
Why do you want to pursue an accelerated program in medicine, law, dentistry, optometry, physical therapy or physician assistant, and what academic, educational or other experiences have provided you with a foundation for the accelerated program? Limit your response to 400 words.*
Penn State University
Describe one non-academic activity during your high school years that has been the most meaningful to you.
Penn State University
Describe what you think your strongest qualities are as well as weaknesses that you would like to improve upon.
Penn State University
Please tell us something about yourself, your experiences, or activities that you believe would reflect positively on your ability to succeed at Penn State. This is your opportunity to tell us something about yourself that is not already reflected in your application or academic records.
Penn State University
Tell us about a time you were unsuccessful and how you grew from this experience.
Penn State University
Write a personal statement indicating why you want to be a physician, why you want an accelerated program and why you’ve selected this Penn State/Kimmel program.
Princeton University
As a research institution that also prides itself on its liberal arts curriculum, Princeton allows students to explore areas across the humanities and the arts, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. What academic areas most pique your curiosity, and how do the programs offered at Princeton suit your particular interests? (Please respond in about 250 words.)
Princeton University
At Princeton, we value diverse perspectives and the ability to have respectful dialogue about difficult issues. Share a time when you had a conversation with a person or a group of people about a difficult topic. What insight did you gain, and how would you incorporate that knowledge into your thinking in the future?
Princeton University
Briefly elaborate on an activity, organization, work experience, or hobby that has been particularly meaningful to you.
Princeton University
Princeton has a longstanding commitment to service and civic engagement. Tell us how your story intersects (or will intersect) with these ideals.
Princeton University
Submit a graded written paper
Princeton University
What brings you joy?
Princeton University
What is a new skill you would like to learn in college?
Princeton University
What song represents the soundtrack of your life at this moment?
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
List the names and dates of any college courses you have taken or are currently taking (including the Institution name).
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
State your reasons for aspiring to a career in medicine
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Why are you interested in Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
Rutgers University-Newark
Describe your health-related volunteer experiences and the time devoted to them. (150 words)
Rutgers University-Newark
Discuss what has attracted you to apply to the School of Arts & Sciences-Newark , apart from the BA/MD program. (150 words)
Rutgers University-Newark
Discuss why you are interested in pursuing a career in medicine. (150 words)
Rutgers University-Newark
Discuss why you are specifically interested in attending Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (NJMS) over other medical schools. (150 words)
Siena College
Describe a personal service experience in your high school or community, what you have gained from this experience, and how it reflects the unique values of the Siena College/Albany Medical College Program.
St. Bonaventure University
Applying to Medical School,” which details your interest in working in the profession of medicine and why you are interested in starting that process at SBU and then continuing at GW.
St. Louis University
Students must be accepted and then complete Medical Scholars Program online application with two short essay questions
Stevens Institute of Technology
Please provide an essay of 500 words or less on why you want to go into the medical field. If the personal statement you submitted with your application addresses this topic, no additional essay is required. If that is the case, submit the phrase “Submitted with Common App Essay” to complete this writing requirement.*
Stony Brook University
“What aspects about medicine/dental medicine intrigue you? Describe how these aspects influence your life.” 650 words
Stony Brook University
“Why you believe you will be a good fit for your preferred honors program.”
The College of New Jersey
Why are you interested in The College of New Jersey?
Tulane University
Please describe why you are interested in attending Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane values the lessons gained from pursuing an education alongside a student body that represents a wide range of experiences and perspectives and is reflective of our multicultural world. If you would like to share a perspective related to your family, cultural group, sexual or gender identity, religious group, or some other aspect that has shaped your identity, please do so here.
Tulane University TAP-TP
Briefly describe your reason for applying to the TAP-TP program.
What was the single most meaningful volunteer experience you have had?
Describe a time when you had to interact with people who have a different viewpoints, backgrounds, or cultures than you own
Please list your hobbies and non-academic interests.
UConn
Please briefly share the influences on your decision to pursue the field of medicine, including shadowing experiences and other medical related activities.
UConn
Please describe a role you have held in a meaningful group/peer-related activity.
UConn
Please describe your interests, activities, hobbies, etc., outside the area of health sciences.
UIC
How will your engagement with the Honors College foster your academic, personal, and professional growth?
UIC
Please describe in detail ways that you have sought out academic challenges and personal growth opportunities while in high school. Examples can include activities both inside or outside of your school.
University at Albany
The University at Albany is noted for attracting students who seek careers that will enable them to lead and to serve. Please share in one or two paragraphs how you believe a UAlbany education would empower you to achieve your goals.
University at Albany
The University at Albany is noted for attracting students who seek careers that will enable them to lead and to serve. Please share in one or two paragraphs how you believe a UAlbany education would empower you to achieve your goals.
University of Chicago
Choose 1 of 6
University of Chicago
How does the University of Chicago, as you know it now, satisfy your desire for a particular kind of learning, community, and future? Please address with some specificity your own wishes and how they relate to UChicago
University of Illinois – Urbana Champlain
How does your selected first-choice major relate to your future career goals?
University of Illinois – Urbana Champlain
In the past 3 to 4 years, what experience(s) have you had (inside or outside of the classroom) related to your selected first-choice major or academic interest?
University of Illinois at Chicago
How will your engagement with the Honors College foster your academic, personal, and professional growth?
University of Illinois at Chicago
Please describe in detail ways that you have sought out academic challenges and personal growth opportunities while in high school. Examples can include activities both inside or outside of your school.
University of Illinois at Chicago
Please provide an essay that explains why you chose your intended program of study. What interests you the most about this major? Please be specific – those evaluating these essays are highly interested in your response. If Undecided, what areas of study do you look forward to studying in college? (50-500 words)*
University of Michigan
Describe the unique qualities that attract you to the specific undergraduate College or School (including preferred admission and dual degree programs) to which you are applying at the University of Michigan. How would that curriculum support your interests?
University of Michigan
Everyone belongs to many different communities and/or groups defined by (among other things) shared geography, religion, ethnicity, income, cuisine, interest, race, ideology, or intellectual heritage. Choose one of the communities to which you belong, and describe that community and your place within it.
University of Oklahoma
Please briefly explain your meaningful international experience.
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma believes strongly in educating leaders of communities in Oklahoma, as well as across the country and the world. Please share your leadership experiences and why they are important to you. (Please answer in 650 words or less.)
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is home to a vibrant, diverse and compassionate University community that is often referred to as “the OU family.” Please describe your cultural and community service activities and why you chose to participate in them. (Please answer in 650 words or fewer
University of Pittsburgh
If you could change anything in the world, what would it be? Explain why and how you would change it.
University of Pittsburgh
The personal statement is your opportunity to communicate directly with the Admissions Committee. Applicants are welcome to submit anything that helps tell their story, being mindful and thoughtful about the quantity and quality of information shared. Share information not included elsewhere in your application.
University of Toledo
Compose an essay of 400-500 words on the following topic: Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?
University of Toledo
Please summarize your high school, college or community activities, leadership positions, special awards, and work experience. Community Activities
UPenn
At Penn, learning and growth happens outside of the classroom, too. How will you explore the community at Penn? Consider how this community will help shape your perspective and identity, and how your identity and perspective will help shape this community.
UPenn
Considering the specific undergraduate school you have selected, how will you explore your academic and intellectual interests at The University of Pennsylvania?
Villanova University
St. Augustine states that well-being is “not concerned with myself alone, but with my neighbor’s good as well.” How have you advocated for equity and justice in your communities?
What is the truest thing that you know?
One of the themes in St. Augustine’s book, Confessions, is the idea of redemption. Tell us your story of being given a second chance.
In the Villanova community, we believe that we all learn from one another. What is a lesson in life that you have learned that you would want to share with others?
Augustine’s “Miracles are not contrary to nature but only contrary to what we know about nature.” Tell us about a societal issue that you believe the wonder of technology is well-poised to help solve.
Villanova University
You may be aware that our community, which we have affectionately named “Nova Nation,” is an exciting place to be. With a legacy spanning nearly 180 years, there is rich history to look back on, and an abundant future to look forward to. Our second Villanova essay question asks: Why do you want to call Villanova your new home and become part of our community? For this short response, please reveal what you find appealing about Villanova in 150 words.
Virgina Commonwealth University
Comment on your motivation for, and interest in, medicine.
Virgina Commonwealth University
Discuss one thing about you that is unique, which has not been addressed anywhere else in this application.
Previous Post
The Admissions Strategist
College supplemental essays: everything you need to know.
Your personal statement is one of the most important essays you will write for your college application. It shows a side of you that cannot be captured in your GPA, activities list, or anywhere else on your application. You can spend months crafting the perfect personal statement, honing each word and paragraph to convey exactly the right message.
So, why then do so many schools require that you write additional supplemental essays?
Colleges aren’t looking to overwhelm you with unnecessary extra work. Each supplemental prompt is meant to get a little more information about your interests, your knowledge about their school or programs, what kind of person you are, or any other number of specific subjects.
In this guide, we will review everything you need to know about supplemental essays and how to write the best essays possible.
Click above to watch a video on Supplemental Essays.
What are supplemental essays?
Many colleges find that they want more information about a certain aspect of your experience, knowledge, or personality than they might be able to find in your personal statement or the rest of your application.
If that’s the case, they will include special essay prompts that are unique to their school.
This could be one extra prompt or several—Stanford University has eight essay and short answer prompts.
These essay prompts can be found on each college’s website, and in most cases can be found through a simple Google search (i.e. “NYU supplemental essays,” “Upenn supplemental essays,” etc.). Our blog has plenty of essay guides for these prompts!
How many supplemental essays will I have to write?
Not every school has a supplemental essay requirement.
A good way to predict your potential workload, though, is to expect around one to three supplemental essays per school. Some schools may have more, some may not have any at all.
So, if you are applying to ten schools, then you could find yourself writing around 15-25 supplemental essays of varying lengths on top of writing your personal statement.
That may seem like a lot, and if you haven’t written a lot of essays in high school, it can feel like a daunting amount of writing.
Don’t fret—although it can be a lot of writing, if you start early (many colleges release their supplemental prompts during the summer), and work smart (more on that later), then you will knock them out before you know it.
How long will writing supplemental essays take?
One of the great things about supplemental essays is that only one school sees your work. They also tend to cover only a few types of questions or subjects.
As a result, you can often reuse large swaths of your work for different schools.
When you first start making your way through these prompts, the writing may take a little longer. After all, you’re writing those first few essays from scratch. Following those initial essays, the process should become a little easier.
You will get more familiar with the structure of the questions and answers, and you will be able to reuse the most important pieces from your previous essays.
Early on in the writing process, an essay may take you two or three weeks to write. By the end, you will be able to write several essays within a week.
The one type of prompt that you may need to spend a little more time on, though, are the “ why this school ” prompts. These prompts can come in many forms, but the gist of the question asks for things that you like about their school, program, or major.
Here is a sample of this type of prompt from Northwestern University:
In 300 words or less, help us understand how you might engage specific resources, opportunities, and/or communities here. We are curious about what these specifics are, as well as how they may enrich your time at Northwestern and beyond.
What they are asking for here is research–specific details about professors that you like, or classes you are looking forward to.
Researching these can take slightly longer, but again, once you are familiar with the structure and approach needed for these essays, they will become easier to write.
Get personalized advice!
Does every school have supplemental essays.
Short answer: No.
As you move from safety schools on up to reach schools, the likelihood of the school having at least one supplemental essay prompt increases.
With that said, several notable schools have chosen to forgo supplemental essays, including schools like Drexel University in Philadelphia, or Northeastern University in Boston. So, not having a supplemental essay isn’t always indicative of a school’s quality or reputation.
The number of required supplemental essays can also depend on the program or major to which you are applying.
For example, the University of Pennsylvania has two supplemental essays that every applicant must answer, but they also require additional essays for more specific programs .
Ultimately, you should look specifically at the website of every school to which you are applying and check if they have supplemental essay prompts.
Why are supplemental essays so important?
Supplemental essays represent an opportunity to speak directly to an individual school on your list.
In general, the essays are the only places on your application where you can control how you are presenting yourself. Everything else is simply a collection of accomplishments, experiences, or scores that likely paint a similar picture to several other applicants.
With the essays, you can finally give voice to those more intangible aspects of your personality, passions, and interests, and the supplemental essays help you hone that information one school at a time.
By necessity, your personal statement needs to be more general. You can’t include details about a specific school in the personal statement because so many different schools will see that same essay.
With a supplemental essay, only one school will see your answer, which means you can tailor your answers specifically to that school, sprinkling in details about their unique programs, instructors, and more.
This is your chance to show each school why you are the perfect applicant for their program, and why they are the perfect school for you.
Why are supplemental essays more important post-COVID?
Supplemental essays have always been important to a school’s decision-making process, but recently, they have become more important than ever.
As you know, colleges use several sources of information to evaluate potential candidates, including standardized test scores, GPA, activities, essays, etc.
However, COVID disrupted this process quite a bit.
As a result of COVID restrictions, many schools opted to offer test-optional applications for the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 application seasons. This means that they will accept applications that do not submit standardized test scores like the SAT or ACT.
Some schools and school systems were already looking at phasing out or lessening the importance of testing before COVID hit, and In several notable instances, test-optional has already become a permanent offering.
In theory, this gives applicants who were unable to take a test an equal chance at gaining acceptance.
In practice, the process doesn’t always equal the playing field. Sometimes, schools can place an increased emphasis on the other aspects of the application. For example, a test-optional application might now need a higher average GPA than applicants who have scored high on a standardized test, especially at higher-level schools.
With a shift away from standardized tests, and a larger emphasis being placed on other pieces of the application, supplemental essays have increased in importance.
How can I prepare to write my supplemental essays?
Essay writing can feel like a bit of a slog if you don’t prepare properly.
Follow these seven steps to make sure that you can write the best supplemental essays possible without doubling or tripling your work.
Look up all of the supplemental essays for each of the schools on your list.
These can usually be found with a simple Google search (i.e. “ NYU supplemental essays ,” “ Harvard supplemental essays ,” etc.).
Read through each prompt and categorize them by their similarities.
All “why this school” essays go in one category, all essays asking about your interest in your major go into another, etc. Keep in mind that some questions may straddle two or more categories.
Check each essay’s length. Write the longer essays first.
Some prompts require a short answer of 150 characters or 50 words, others might require 450-500 words long.
Supplemental prompts sometimes try to gauge your interest or excitement for the school or a specific program. Look up specific details and mention them in your essay. This can include professors whose work you admire, classes you are looking forward to, or specific programs and facilities that fall in line with your interest. The more pointed the detail, the more effective it will be in your essay.
Recycle. Recycle. Recycle.
Use the longer essays to help answer the shorter essays whenever possible. This likely won’t be a one-for-one fit. You will need to edit your essay to make it fit each individual prompt.
Make sure you are answering every aspect of a prompt.
One school’s prompt may be asking for a personal story of leadership, while another school may want a story of leadership that specifically illustrates your grasp of teamwork. The answers to these two prompts may be similar but not exactly the same. Additionally, some prompts may have more than one question. Answer every aspect of the prompt as completely as possible.
Be creative!
Sometimes, a school just wants you to flex your creativity. Don’t get stuck in a rut with each essay. Make sure you are writing the most interesting answer possible. If a school gives you a strange and esoteric prompt, then chances are they want a strange and esoteric response.
Using these steps, you will have what you need to complete any prompt a school throws at you.
Conclusion: Supplemental Essays for College
This guide should provide you with all the information you need to know about college supplemental essays.
Not every school has them, but when they do, they can be incredibly important for your application .
Check each school on your list for their requirements, and make sure you read each prompt closely and carefully. Some of the most common mistakes in these essays can be boiled down to not answering the prompt fully or accidentally ignoring part of the question.
Ultimately, the supplemental essays will be one of the main components of your application. They will take more time to complete than any other piece, and answering them properly and creatively can make all the difference between two potential candidates with similar credentials.
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Most college applicants fail to put adequate time into a supplemental college essay. The Common Application's personal essay allows a student to write a single essay for multiple colleges. The supplemental college essay, however, needs to be different for every application. Thus, it's tempting to dash off a generic and vague piece that can be used at multiple schools, resulting in a weak essay .
Don't make this mistake. Your "Why This College" essay must be specific, demonstrating a high level of interest in and commitment to this particular school. To better understand how to ace this supplemental essay prompt, let's analyze a sample essay written for Oberlin College .
The essay prompt reads:
"Given your interests, values, and goals, explain why Oberlin College will help you grow (as a student and a person) during your undergraduate years."
Sample Supplemental Essay
I visited 18 colleges over the past year, yet Oberlin is the one place that most spoke to my interests. Early in my college search I learned that I prefer a liberal arts college to a larger university. The collaboration between the faculty and undergraduate students, the sense of community, and the flexible, interdisciplinary nature of the curriculum are all important to me. Also, my high school experience was greatly enriched by the diversity of the student body, and I am impressed by Oberlin’s rich history and its current efforts connected to inclusiveness and equality. To say the least, I’d be proud to say I attended the first coeducational college in the country.
I plan to major in Environmental Studies at Oberlin. After my campus tour , I took some extra time to visit the Adam Joseph Lewis Center. It’s an amazing space and the students I chatted with spoke highly of their professors. I became truly interested in issues of sustainability during my volunteer work in the Hudson River Valley, and everything I’ve learned about Oberlin makes it seem the ideal place for me to continue exploring and building upon those interests. I am also impressed by Oberlin’s Creativity and Leadership Project. I’ve been a bit of an entrepreneur ever since second grade when I made a dollar producing and performing The Runaway Bunny for my extended family. I’m drawn to a program that supports the move from classroom learning to creative hands-on, real-world applications.
Finally, as the rest of my application clearly demonstrates, music is an important part of my life. I’ve been playing the trumpet since fourth grade, and I hope to continue performing and developing my skills throughout college. What better place than Oberlin to do so? With more performances than days in the year and a large group of talented musicians in the Conservatory of Music, Oberlin is an ideal place for exploring my love of both music and the environment.
Understanding the Essay Prompt
To understand the strength of the essay, we must first look at the prompt: the admissions officers at Oberlin want you to "explain why Oberlin College will help you grow." This sounds straightforward, but be careful. You're not being asked to explain how college, in general, will help you grow, nor are you being asked how attending a small liberal arts school will help you grow. The admissions offers want to hear how Oberlin , in particular, will help you grow, so the essay needs to include specific information about Oberlin College.
A strong "Why This College" essay will make a case for why the school in question is a good fit for the student. The case should be made by connecting facts about the school—unique opportunities, educational values, campus culture, et cetera—with the student's goals, values, and interests.
From the Admissions Desk
"We want to see [in the "Why This School" essay] that students understand the unique educational model at High Point University. We know that students have access to more information than ever before and that most colleges focus on the classroom experience. We want students who desire 25% of their time to be experiential ... who want to grow as people of character with strong values and to fully immerse themselves in our life skills education."
–Kerr Ramsay Vice President for Undergraduate Admissions, High Point University
A good way to see if you've responded to the prompt well is to swap out the name of the college you're applying to with the name of any other college. If the essay still makes sense once you do a global replace of the school name, you haven't written a good supplemental essay.
A Critique of the Supplemental Essay
The sample essay certainly succeeds on this front. If we were to substitute "Kenyon College" for "Oberlin College" in the essay, the essay would not make sense. The details in the essay are unique to Oberlin. Demonstrated interest can play a meaningful role in the admissions process, and this applicant has clearly demonstrated that she knows Oberlin well and her interest in the school is sincere.
Let's look at some of the essay's strengths:
The first paragraph makes several important points. First of all, we learn that the applicant has visited Oberlin. This may not seem like a big deal, but you'd be surprised how many students apply to a large number of colleges based on nothing but the schools' reputations. Also, the student notes that she wants to go to a liberal arts college , not a larger university . This information isn't really specific to Oberlin, but it does show that she has thought about the options available to her. The final point in this first paragraph gets more specific—the applicant is familiar with Oberlin and knows the school's socially progressive history.
The second paragraph is really the heart of this essay—the applicant wants to major in Environmental Studies, and she is clearly impressed with the program at Oberlin. She has visited the Environmental Studies building, and she knows of some of the unique opportunities offered at Oberlin. She has even talked with Oberlin students. This paragraph can't help but make a favorable impression on the admissions folks—the applicant is drawn to Oberlin, and she clearly knows exactly why she likes Oberlin.
The final paragraph adds another important dimension to the application. Not only does the student find the Environmental Studies program attractive, but her love of music makes Oberlin an even better match. Oberlin has a top-rated music conservatory, so the applicant's dual love of music and Environmental Studies makes Oberlin a natural match for her.
Admissions officers can't help but feel that Oberlin is a great match for this applicant. She knows the school well, and her interests and goals line up perfectly with Oberlin's strengths. This short essay will certainly be a positive piece of her application.
A Final Word About Supplemental Essays
The content of your supplemental essay is extremely important, and poor decisions on this front can lead to a weak supplemental essay . But content isn't everything. You also need to focus on the presentation of your ideas. Make sure your essay is entirely free of any grammatical errors, and be sure to avoid common stylistic problems . The admissions officers need to conclude that you are sincerely interested in attending their school and that you are an excellent writer.
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Columbia University 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide
Early Decision: Nov 1
Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 1
Columbia University 2024-25 Application Essay Question Explanations
The Requirements: 1 lists of 100 words; 4 essays of 150 words each
Supplemental Essay Type(s): Community , Why, Short Answer
List questions
For the list question that follows, there is a 100 word maximum. please refer to the below guidance when answering this question:, your response should be a list of items separated by commas or semicolons., items do not have to be numbered or in any specific order., it is not necessary to italicize or underline titles of books or other publications., no author names, subtitles or explanatory remarks are needed., list a selection of texts, resources and outlets that have contributed to your intellectual development outside of academic courses, including but not limited to books, journals, websites, podcasts, essays, plays, presentations, videos, museums and other content that you enjoy. (100 words or fewer).
How do you pursue intellectual development outside of the classroom? You’ll need to be careful to avoid self-aggrandizing or pandering choices. Don’t top your list with 1984 unless you genuinely picked it up of your own accord, read it from start to finish, and meditated on Orwell’s intentions (while staring out the window, jaw agape). Think of not just the most recent media you’ve consumed, but also the old classics you can’t help revisiting (anything by Jenny Han, the podcast you binged in two weeks, the film you saw in theaters three times). Play with the sequencing here: how would you set these up in your library? Chronologically? Alphabetically? Thematically? Maybe you can make an entertaining leap from the sublime to the ridiculous by placing a heart-wrenching play alongside a goofy satire. Have fun with it! After all, this list is, at its core, about what you consume for the pleasure of it.
Short answer questions
For the four short answer questions, please respond in 150 words or fewer., a hallmark of the columbia experience is being able to learn and thrive in an equitable and inclusive community with a wide range of perspectives. tell us about an aspect of your own perspective, viewpoint or lived experience that is important to you, and describe how it has shaped the way you would learn from and contribute to columbia’s diverse and collaborative community. (150 words or fewer).
Ah, the infamous “community” essay. Many schools ask students about their communities because they want to know how you relate to the people around you, forge connections, and commune with your peers. In this particular instance, the question emphasizes equity, inclusivity, diversity, and collaboration. What do these words mean to you and how do they relate to your perspective or lived experience? Maybe you’re very involved in a progressive church youth group that celebrates its members differences, including trans and nonbinary members. Perhaps the friends you made at the skatepark have introduced you to a new culture and mindset of “try and try again” that you love. Maybe there are different languages spoken by the volunteers in your community garden, and now you know how to say “basil” in four different dialects (BTW in Italian it’s “ basilico ,” #funfact). How do you see equity, inclusivity, diversity, and collaboration play out in your community? And, looking forward, how would you keep those values alive at Columbia next fall?
In college/university, students are often challenged in ways that they could not predict or anticipate. It is important to us, therefore, to understand an applicant’s ability to navigate through adversity. Please describe a barrier or obstacle you have faced and discuss the personal qualities, skills or insights you have developed as a result. (150 words or fewer)
This prompt is incredibly similar to the Common App’s Prompt #2, which asks applicants to recount a time when they faced a challenge, setback, or failure. Our advice is similar: isolate an incident of trial in your life and illustrate how you learned from it. Writing about a difficult time in your life requires both vulnerability and perspective. Instead of focusing on the barrier or obstacle you were up against, spend most of the words at your disposal on how you rose to the occasion to overcome the challenge at hand. This is your opportunity to show admissions that you are a developing, maturing young adult with resilience and work ethic. As you zero in on a key moment, ask yourself the following questions: What healthy coping mechanisms or communication skills did you develop? Who, if applicable, did you choose to lean on and why? What did you learn about yourself? How will you approach difficult situations moving forward? Be honest and open, and we’re sure admissions will be impressed.
Why are you interested in attending Columbia University? We encourage you to consider the aspect(s) that you find unique and compelling about Columbia. (150 words or fewer)
This brief assignment is Columbia’s version of the classic Why Essay , and the key to every good Why Essay is solid, specific research. Spend some quality time with the Columbia website or, if you can, on a campus tour. Ask questions, take notes, and dig to find specific people, organizations, and experiences that excite you. Don’t dig too deep into majors or classes just yet; you’ll have an opportunity to write about your academic interest in a little bit, so for now, focus on the Columbia experience as a whole. Once you have some notes on the page, try to weave together a story that pairs your interests with Columbia’s offerings. Reveal new information about yourself while also showing that you’ve done your homework.
What attracts you to your preferred areas of study at Columbia College or Columbia Engineering? (150 words or fewer)
This prompt gives you a chance to geek out about your intended area(s) of study. Whether you’re hoping to study at Columbia College or Columbia Engineering, the assignment is the same: offer admissions insight into your academic interests and pursuits. Whether your goals are intellectual, professional, or somewhere in between, your reasoning should be grounded in what Columbia has to offer. 150 words isn’t a lot of space, but that doesn’t mean you can’t provide a detailed response. Get ambitious and aim to answer these two key questions: What intrigues or excites you about your intended major? And why is Columbia the ideal place for you to study it? Do a little research to identify classes you’d like to take, professors you’d like to work with, and alumni you’d like to network with; then, get to drafting—and leave yourself plenty of time to edit and revise!
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How to Write the Georgetown Supplemental Essays 2024–2025
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Georgetown University , located in Washington, D.C., is a historically Catholic and Jesuit institution that embraces students of all faiths. Known for their global research community and vibrant student life , Georgetown attracts over 25,000 applicants every year. However, Georgetown admits only around 13% of their applicants. Their accomplished alumni include Bill Clinton, Bradley Cooper, John Kelly, and Jim Gaffigan. Hoping to join their ranks? First, you’ll need to nail your Georgetown supplemental essays. Let’s dive in.
Georgetown’s 2024-2025 Prompts
Required short essays, briefly (approximately one-half page, single-spaced) discuss the significance to you of the school or summer activity in which you have been most involved., as georgetown is a diverse community, the admissions committee would like to know more about you in your own words. please submit a brief personal or creative essay which you feel best describes you and reflects on your personal background and individual experiences, skills, and talents. (approximately one page, single-spaced), school-specific essays (approximately one page, single-spaced), applicants to the college of arts & sciences: founded in 1789, the georgetown college of arts & sciences is committed to the jesuit traditions of an integrated education and of productive research in the natural sciences, humanities, social sciences, and fine arts. describe your interest in studying at college of arts & sciences. applicants interested in the sciences, mathematics, or languages are encouraged to make specific reference to their choice of major., applicants to the school of nursing: georgetown university’s school of nursing is committed to the formation of ethical, empathetic, and transformational nursing leaders. describe the factors that have influenced your interest in studying nursing at georgetown university., applicants to the school of health: georgetown university’s school of health was founded to advance the health and well-being of people locally, nationally, and globally through innovative research, the delivery of interdisciplinary education, and transformative engagement of communities. describe the factors that influenced your interest in studying health care at georgetown university, specifically addressing your intended related major: global health, health care management & policy, or human science., applicants to the walsh school of foreign service: georgetown university’s walsh school of foreign service was founded more than a century ago to prepare generations of leaders with the foundational skills to address global issues. describe your primary motivations for studying international affairs at georgetown university and dedicating your undergraduate studies toward a future in global service., applicants to the mcdonough school of business: georgetown university’s mcdonough school of business provides graduates with essential global, ethical, analytical, financial, and diverse perspectives on the economies of our nation and the world. describe your primary motivations for studying business at georgetown university..
General Tips
A running theme of all of these prompts is understanding what makes you you . In other words, what are your unique qualities, interests, and academic/career goals?
Before you begin writing these essays, it can be helpful to read through the prompts. This will help you better understand what you’re being asked to provide in each essay. Note that you will only need to answer one school-specific essay . This is because you can only apply to one school at Georgetown.
After you’ve read through the prompts, make a brief list of all the pieces of information the prompt requires. Be specific. Within your prospective major, what specialties are of particular interest to you? Among your formative personal experiences, what particular experiences have most significantly shaped the person (and student) you are today? Then, identify what pieces of information will satisfy the prompt that you are comfortable sharing with strangers.
Often, applicants feel overwhelmed by the expectation to get vulnerable in their college essays. However, the Georgetown supplemental essays do not require vulnerability. Instead, they require specific details about your academic interests and career goals. You only need to provide minimal information about your personal background and experiences in the second required essay. Thus, you shouldn’t feel pressured to get vulnerable in your Georgetown supplemental essays. In fact, it may be advisable to stay focused on academics and your intended career.
Now, let’s dive into the prompts themselves.
Georgetown Required Short Essays
Georgetown’s admissions team seeks to understand what drives you to pursue the activities listed on your application. Some high school students only pursue a set of activities because they think it’s what they’re “supposed” to do. However, top universities like Georgetown seek applicants who are self-motivated and pursue their activities due to genuine interest and curiosity.
Therefore, consider which activities you’ve pursued because you felt internally driven to get involved. Writing about these activities will give your application that authentic, personal quality that distinguishes remarkable essays from unremarkable essays.
Moreover, be sure to explain not only the significance of the activity you choose to write about, but also what exactly the activity is. Where and when did you get involved in this activity? Who else was involved? How did your involvement begin? Even if you don’t have room to answer all of these questions in your essay, at least some of the answers should be clarified so that the reader understands the context of the activity.
This essay prompt is similar to a Common App personal essay. Although Georgetown University doesn’t accept the Common App, or the Coalition App for that matter, their admissions team seeks many of the same qualities in their applicants as other universities do. A single-spaced page of typed writing is around 500 words. Thus, this essay will likely be just a bit shorter than your Common App personal essay.
That said, the prompt does say “approximately,” so you could likely push your essay just beyond the length of a page without repercussions. In other words, feel free to repurpose your Common App personal essay for this prompt if desired. Still, consider shortening it just a bit if it is near 650 words.
If you do repurpose your Common App personal essay, make sure that it still fits with the Georgetown prompt. Think about each aspects of the question above. Does your essay describe who you are? Does it reflect on your personal background? And does it reflect on your individual experiences, skills, and talents? If not, you must modify or rewrite your essay so that all aspects of the prompt are addressed.
Georgetown School-Specific Essays
You will need to write only one of the essays below. This is because you can only apply to one school at Georgetown. Your essay must be approximately one page long, single-spaced.
Although this prompt does not require all applicants to “make specific reference to their choice of major,” all applicants likely should do so. Moreover, students interested in the sciences, mathematics, or languages should feel more than encouraged to do so. If you have not yet settled upon a particular major or two, you can indicate what majors interest you. Further, provide brief explanation as to your uncertainty about which to choose. A strong reason for your indecision could be that you haven’t yet had the opportunity to study certain subjects. Therefore, you look forward to exploring those areas of study while at Georgetown.
A strong argument for why the Georgetown College of Arts & Sciences is a great fit for you will require specificity. That means explaining how your specific intended area of study is taught at Georgetown. Further, clarify why that method of teaching aligns with your academic goals. That also means indicating what opportunities at Georgetown specifically align with your goals and interests. In order to do this, you’ll need to research the courses, professors, programs, research, and other opportunities/programs available to College of Arts & Sciences students that interest you.
Before you begin writing, consider making a list for yourself of your reasons for pursuing Nursing at Georgetown University. These reasons can range from specific courses that interest you, the location of the program, a particular professor whose work relates to your intended specialization, or even the career outcomes of Georgetown Nursing students. Whatever your reasons may be, identify them for yourself before you begin writing.
Then, in your essay, focus on explaining why these reasons are important to you specifically. Instead of merely listing the reasons, express their significance to you and your goals. This will make your essay far more compelling. In other words, it will demonstrate to the reader why you are a good fit for Georgetown. In addition, you may want to describe how you hope to maximize the opportunities available to Georgetown Nursing students.
First things first, identify your intended major for the reader, and consider briefly explaining why this major interests you. Then, link your reasons for pursuing a degree in health care to your reasons for pursuing a degree in health care specifically at Georgetown . What differentiates Georgetown’s programs? What makes Georgetown a uniquely good fit for you?
In other words, you’ll need to answer multiple questions whose answers will build upon one another. As you answer these questions, you’ll need to provide evidence to back up your points. Name specific courses, clubs, professors, and other opportunities available to Georgetown School of Health applicants that excite you and have compelled you to apply. Consider mentioning how these programs are uniquely suited to your unique interests and goals . This specificity will demonstrate how and why Georgetown is a great fit for you.
This essay prompt requires you to look critically at your past, present, and future. Consider the following questions:
Past: What experiences, worldviews, aspects of your background, and influential people in your past have motivated you to pursue a degree in international affairs?
Present: How do you currently pursue international affairs? Put differently, how are you preparing yourself for an undergraduate career in international affairs?
Future: How do you hope to pursue international affairs after graduation? What are your career aspirations? How will a Georgetown education bring you closer to your goals?
After answering each of these questions for yourself, incorporate their sentiments into your essay. Then, provide the reader with specific examples of programs, courses, professors, clubs, and other opportunities available to students in the Walsh School of Foreign Service that are of particular interest to you.
Before you begin writing this essay, you may want to make a list for yourself of your reasons for pursuing international affairs at Georgetown University. These reasons can range from specific courses that interest you, the location of the program, a particular professor whose work relates to your intended specialization, or even the career outcomes of graduates from the McDonough School of Business. Whatever your reasons may be, identify them for yourself before you begin writing.
In addition, this prompt specifically mentions the “essential global, ethical, analytical, financial, and diverse perspectives” developed by students at the McDonough School of Business. Thus, you may want to bring up the particular global, ethical, analytical, financial, and diverse programs, courses, and other opportunities at the McDonough School of Business that you hope to get involved in.
If you need help polishing up your Georgetown supplemental essays, check out our College Essay Review service. You can receive detailed feedback from Ivy League consultants in as little as 24 hours.
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This is a must read for anybody writing the Stanford roommate essay: included is an example essay, a detailed breakdown, helpful tips along the way, and a section on how to revise your essay too. Write supplemental essays for hundreds of the most competitive colleges. Follow our step-by-step guides and read our supplemental essay examples that ...
Supplemental Essays Guide: How to Write, Tips & Examples
Think of this essay as an opportunity to tell the story of how you developed your passion. Try creating a timeline before you start writing to help organize your ideas. It should look something like this: 1. The first time I thought about pursuing this major was: __________________. 2.
PDF THE COMMON APPLICATION: SUPPLEMENTAL ESSAY GUIDE
o talk about a time when you misjudged a person. Likewise, it is best to avoid topics. round politics, religion, or matters of opinion. Instead, focus on a situation that forced you to take a different approach and what you learned from doi. THE FAVORITE ESSAY: alk about their favorite book, movie, song, e.
How to Write the Most Common Supplemental College Essays: A Complete
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.".
Don't Sweat the Supp Stuff: Advice for Crafting Your Supplemental Essay
The supplemental essay portion of the application is specific to each school. Each institution has intentionally crafted a question (or multiple) to help determine whether a student might be a good match. We look for individuals who share Hopkins' institutional values but will also bring unique experiences and perspectives to the community.
Supplemental Essay Guide for 2022-23 Prompts
2022-23 supplemental essay prompts. As mentioned, supplemental essay prompts can vary significantly. Some prompts ask you to respond in 50 words while other prompts ask you to respond in 500 words. Some prompts focus on academics while others ask you to reflect carefully on your cultural upbringing or life philosophies.
Everything You Need To Know About The Supplemental Essays
A supplemental essay is an additional written response required by many colleges and universities as part of the application process, in addition to the Coalition App or Common App essay. Generally, colleges will have their own prompts that applicants answer to create multiple short essays. These essays are submitted in addition to the main ...
How to Write Every Type of Supplemental Essay
Before you jump into the writing process, however, read through our strategic advice for writing winning supplemental essays. The 5 Main Types of Supplemental Essays. Although it may seem that colleges require an overwhelming amount of writing, bear in mind that most of the supplements you will have to write can be categorized into common ...
How to Write Supplemental Essays that Will Impress Admissions Officers
The Common App personal statement, for example, is maximum 650 words. Supplemental essays, on the other hand, typically range from 100 to 400 words (although occasionally some will be longer). When added together, you'll likely be writing at least a couple thousand words for your college applications. Research.
How to Write the MIT Supplemental Essay
Prompt #3: "Community" essay. Prompt #4: Extracurricular activity / community contribution essay. Prompt #5: "Manage a challenge" essay. Prompt #6: Activities list essay. Prompt #7: Optional additional information essay. If you're applying to MIT, odds are high that you're a pretty exceptional student (and human).
The Expert Guide to the Columbia Supplement
The supplemental materials section of the Columbia application for admission consists of two sections: four Columbia-specific essay questions and two list answer questions. The Columbia essay prompts offer you plenty of opportunities to show off your qualifications as an applicant and wow the admissions committee. The short answers are designed ...
Your Definitive Guide to Supplemental College Application Essays
Updated: Aug 07, 2024. Supplemental college application essays come in a vast range of topics and sizes and are often the biggest challenge for students after getting through the grueling initial application stages. These essays are crucial in the admissions process, as they provide a more personal and detailed context of your candidacy.
List of Supplemental Essays Required By Top Colleges
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! Adelphi University. The Honors College is a community of students who love to engage with ideas that come from a broad range of sources.
How to Tackle College-Specific Supplemental Essays
Good news: they don't have to be so hard! Supplemental essays are typically short in length requirement—you might encounter prompts with word limits ranging from 150 to 400. Many schools require them, and many don't, so you have some flexibility as to whether or not you'll be writing extra. Colleges often use their supplemental essays ...
How to Write the Columbia University Supplemental Essays: Examples
Step #1: Imagine a mini-movie of the moments that led you to your interest and create a simple, bullet point outline. Step #2: Put your moments (aka the "scenes" of your mini-movie) in chronological order, as it'll help you see how your interests developed. It also makes it easier to write transitions.
College Supplemental Essays: Everything You Need to Know
Write the longer essays first. Some prompts require a short answer of 150 characters or 50 words, others might require 450-500 words long. Research. Supplemental prompts sometimes try to gauge your interest or excitement for the school or a specific program. Look up specific details and mention them in your essay.
Sample Strong Supplemental Essay for College Admissions
If we were to substitute "Kenyon College" for "Oberlin College" in the essay, the essay would not make sense. The details in the essay are unique to Oberlin. Demonstrated interest can play a meaningful role in the admissions process, and this applicant has clearly demonstrated that she knows Oberlin well and her interest in the school is sincere.
2024-25 Stanford University Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide
The Requirements: 3 essays of 100-250 words; 5 short answers of 50 words. Supplemental Essay Type (s): Why , Community , Oddball. Unshockingly, given that Stanford is the most difficult university to get into in the country, this supplement is a doozie. It puts both your writing and creativity to the test in a myriad ways.
How to Write the Johns Hopkins Supplemental Essay
That will give your reader a sense of where you're coming from and how it relates to the interests you want to pursue at Johns Hopkins. As you write, try to avoid these common mistakes: Mistake #1: Writing about the school's size, location, reputation, weather, or ranking. Mistake #2: Simply using emotional language to demonstrate fit.
2024-25 Columbia University Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide
The Requirements: 1 lists of 100 words; 4 essays of 150 words each Supplemental Essay Type(s): Community, Why, Short Answer. List questions For the list question that follows, there is a 100 word maximum. Please refer to the below guidance when answering this question: Your response should be a list of items separated by commas or semicolons.
How to Write the Georgetown Supplemental Essays 2024-2025
First, you'll need to nail your Georgetown supplemental essays. Let's dive in. Georgetown's 2024-2025 Prompts Required Short Essays. Briefly (approximately one-half page, single-spaced) discuss the significance to you of the school or summer activity in which you have been most involved.
How to Write the Stanford Supplemental Essay
Well, most colleges will have anywhere from 1-4 supplemental essay prompts you'll need to answer in addition to the Common App essay. Stanford is sitting comfortably with eight supplemental essay prompts, with a combined possible 1000 words. On top of that, Stanford has the lowest acceptance rate of any college in the US at 4.3%.
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Yale University 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide. What do the 2024-25 supplemental essay prompts really mean, and how should you approach them? CEA's experts are here to break them all down.
We recommend using this resource alongside our College Supplemental Essay Premium Example Hub, which includes a sample essay in response to every prompt required by the top universities and BS/MD programs in the United States.. Part 1: Introduction Part 2: From outlining to writing. The 600-word essay. The 500-word essay. The 150-250-word or other very short essay
This is a must read for anybody writing the Stanford roommate essay: included is an example essay, a detailed breakdown, helpful tips along the way, and a section on how to revise your essay too. Write supplemental essays for hundreds of the most competitive colleges. Follow our step-by-step guides and read our supplemental essay examples that ...
Think of this essay as an opportunity to tell the story of how you developed your passion. Try creating a timeline before you start writing to help organize your ideas. It should look something like this: 1. The first time I thought about pursuing this major was: __________________. 2.
o talk about a time when you misjudged a person. Likewise, it is best to avoid topics. round politics, religion, or matters of opinion. Instead, focus on a situation that forced you to take a different approach and what you learned from doi. THE FAVORITE ESSAY: alk about their favorite book, movie, song, e.
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.".
The supplemental essay portion of the application is specific to each school. Each institution has intentionally crafted a question (or multiple) to help determine whether a student might be a good match. We look for individuals who share Hopkins' institutional values but will also bring unique experiences and perspectives to the community.
2022-23 supplemental essay prompts. As mentioned, supplemental essay prompts can vary significantly. Some prompts ask you to respond in 50 words while other prompts ask you to respond in 500 words. Some prompts focus on academics while others ask you to reflect carefully on your cultural upbringing or life philosophies.
A supplemental essay is an additional written response required by many colleges and universities as part of the application process, in addition to the Coalition App or Common App essay. Generally, colleges will have their own prompts that applicants answer to create multiple short essays. These essays are submitted in addition to the main ...
Before you jump into the writing process, however, read through our strategic advice for writing winning supplemental essays. The 5 Main Types of Supplemental Essays. Although it may seem that colleges require an overwhelming amount of writing, bear in mind that most of the supplements you will have to write can be categorized into common ...
The Common App personal statement, for example, is maximum 650 words. Supplemental essays, on the other hand, typically range from 100 to 400 words (although occasionally some will be longer). When added together, you'll likely be writing at least a couple thousand words for your college applications. Research.
Prompt #3: "Community" essay. Prompt #4: Extracurricular activity / community contribution essay. Prompt #5: "Manage a challenge" essay. Prompt #6: Activities list essay. Prompt #7: Optional additional information essay. If you're applying to MIT, odds are high that you're a pretty exceptional student (and human).
The supplemental materials section of the Columbia application for admission consists of two sections: four Columbia-specific essay questions and two list answer questions. The Columbia essay prompts offer you plenty of opportunities to show off your qualifications as an applicant and wow the admissions committee. The short answers are designed ...
Updated: Aug 07, 2024. Supplemental college application essays come in a vast range of topics and sizes and are often the biggest challenge for students after getting through the grueling initial application stages. These essays are crucial in the admissions process, as they provide a more personal and detailed context of your candidacy.
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! Adelphi University. The Honors College is a community of students who love to engage with ideas that come from a broad range of sources.
Good news: they don't have to be so hard! Supplemental essays are typically short in length requirement—you might encounter prompts with word limits ranging from 150 to 400. Many schools require them, and many don't, so you have some flexibility as to whether or not you'll be writing extra. Colleges often use their supplemental essays ...
Step #1: Imagine a mini-movie of the moments that led you to your interest and create a simple, bullet point outline. Step #2: Put your moments (aka the "scenes" of your mini-movie) in chronological order, as it'll help you see how your interests developed. It also makes it easier to write transitions.
Write the longer essays first. Some prompts require a short answer of 150 characters or 50 words, others might require 450-500 words long. Research. Supplemental prompts sometimes try to gauge your interest or excitement for the school or a specific program. Look up specific details and mention them in your essay.
If we were to substitute "Kenyon College" for "Oberlin College" in the essay, the essay would not make sense. The details in the essay are unique to Oberlin. Demonstrated interest can play a meaningful role in the admissions process, and this applicant has clearly demonstrated that she knows Oberlin well and her interest in the school is sincere.
The Requirements: 3 essays of 100-250 words; 5 short answers of 50 words. Supplemental Essay Type (s): Why , Community , Oddball. Unshockingly, given that Stanford is the most difficult university to get into in the country, this supplement is a doozie. It puts both your writing and creativity to the test in a myriad ways.
That will give your reader a sense of where you're coming from and how it relates to the interests you want to pursue at Johns Hopkins. As you write, try to avoid these common mistakes: Mistake #1: Writing about the school's size, location, reputation, weather, or ranking. Mistake #2: Simply using emotional language to demonstrate fit.
The Requirements: 1 lists of 100 words; 4 essays of 150 words each Supplemental Essay Type(s): Community, Why, Short Answer. List questions For the list question that follows, there is a 100 word maximum. Please refer to the below guidance when answering this question: Your response should be a list of items separated by commas or semicolons.
First, you'll need to nail your Georgetown supplemental essays. Let's dive in. Georgetown's 2024-2025 Prompts Required Short Essays. Briefly (approximately one-half page, single-spaced) discuss the significance to you of the school or summer activity in which you have been most involved.
Well, most colleges will have anywhere from 1-4 supplemental essay prompts you'll need to answer in addition to the Common App essay. Stanford is sitting comfortably with eight supplemental essay prompts, with a combined possible 1000 words. On top of that, Stanford has the lowest acceptance rate of any college in the US at 4.3%.