auburn university supplemental essay 2023

Auburn University 2021-22 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Regular Decision: 

Auburn University 2021-22 Application Essay Question Explanations

Auburn University dropped its supplemental essay requirements for the 2021-22 admissions season. Lucky you! If you’re interested in seeing prompts from last year, read on below.

Auburn University 2020-21 Application Essay Question Explanations

Requirements: 4 essays of 100 words each Supplemental Essay Type(s): Short Answer , Community , Activity

Auburn University asks applicants to respond to four wordy prompts in 100 words each. In order to stand out, you’ll need to write succinct, brief responses that pack a punch!

Auburn University has a strong institutional mission of service and community. Briefly describe a group, organization, or community that you have been involved with. How long have you been involved with this community? What was your role? Did you seek assistance or additional information to expand your understanding of and ability to contribute to this community? (100 words)

Due to the very limited word count, we recommend you get strategic about how you want to answer this prompt. Try to answer the core of the questions throughout your response, rather than simply listing off facts. Admissions has likely already reviewed your activity list, so take this opportunity to give them insight into your community service experience that they wouldn’t otherwise be able to glean from your application. Maybe you want to focus on the relationship you developed with one of the kids you tutor or the art of holding water cups at just the right height for 5k runners to grab as they speed past on a charity run. Don’t hesitate to get creative with your approach. It’s always easier to cut down your response than to add more.

Briefly describe a situation where you or someone else was not being treated fairly. What did you do at the time and why? Would you do anything differently if that same situation occurred today? Has this event impacted or changed who you are now and if so, how? (100 words)

The admissions department at Auburn University wants to accept students who aren’t afraid to stand up for what they believe in or challenge the status quo, but you don’t have to be a protest organizer to impress admissions here. It can be just as bold to address internalized biases with your parents or to request discrimination training for teachers at your school after an insensitive remark in class. Ultimately, the key to writing an excellent response to this prompt is in the details. Don’t just tell admissions about something bold or brave you’ve done recently; tell them why you did it and maybe even share how you would like to continue to challenge the status quo in the future. Finally, don’t forget to reflect on how the event in question changed who you are. Admissions loves them some self-reflection!

Describe a strong interest or passion of yours. How long have you had this passion, and why does it interest you? What have you learned about yourself through your involvement in this activity; how will this knowledge benefit you as a student at Auburn? Did you have a mentor, support person, or someone who encouraged your interest in this area, and if so, how? Cite a specific goal you achieved and how you achieved it. (100 words)

What would your life be mundane without? Elaborate on an activity or passion you are super excited about or is unusual for someone your age. Your response should reflect your priorities and how you process the world around you, as well as answer all aspects of the prompt at hand. Do you go to Civil War reenactments on the weekends that fuel your love for history and battle trivia? Did these weekend adventures also reveal your interest in performance? Do you take care of stray pets that, one day, you hope to save through veterinary work? What is it about animals that makes you want to dedicate your life to saving and healing them? Did you inherit your animal love from your dad who used to work as a farmhand? Use your experiences to tell admissions something about you they wouldn’t already know. What gives your life meaning? Why do you wake up in the morning? What are you working toward?

Describe an example of a situation where you were given a directive or decision that you disagreed with. What was your role in this situation; were you in a leadership role, a position where others looked up to you, or a contributing member of this group? How did you communicate with others about this decision? What was the outcome? Would you do anything differently? (100 words)

Engaging others in meaningful conversations about issues that are important to you can be incredibly intimidating, and the Auburn University admissions committee knows this. Nevertheless, we have all experienced standing up for what we believe in some capacity, so comb through your memory to identify a time when you had an uncomfortable conversation with coworkers, family members, or even your best friend. Maybe your boss told you to lie by omission to a customer. Did you voice your discomfort? Were you able to clearly communicate your perspective? Perhaps your camp counselor advised you to do something that you just didn’t feel was right. How did you broach the subject and what was the outcome of your conversation? You don’t need to have changed company policies or even someone’s mind to impress admissions here. You just need to show that you’re not afraid to speak up about important issues and engage with those who may have different opinions than you. College will present you with a plethora of opportunities to meet and interact with people who live by different moral codes. Show Auburn that you’re game to learn, listen, share, and grow.

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Our Analysis of the 2023-2024 Supplemental Essay Prompts

This year's batch of supplemental essay prompts was released on august 1st. here's what those prompts reveal about the changing priorities at colleges and universities..

Thanks to the perceived essay loophole Chief Justice Roberts’ Supreme Court decision language created—establishing that students can write about racial identity when tied to other experiences and characteristics—there has been much speculation that colleges would scramble to add diversity-related questions to their applications. Now that the Common App has reset for 2023-24, we can see colleges’ new supplemental questions. Did this bear out? So far, we’d say: yes. Yes it did. Here are a few overall trends and changes we’re noticing in the 2023-2024 supplemental essay prompts.

An increase in DEIB-related essays

This comes as no surprise. It’s important to note that many colleges already had prompts that asked students to reflect on their identities, on their communities, or on how they would contribute to diverse campuses; schools like Duke, Michigan, and Syracuse have included questions like this on their supplements for years now. But other schools have made notable changes since June’s decision: University of Miami, for example, replaced their question about the ibis (which, admittedly, we are not terribly sad to see go); American University scrapped their “why AU?”; and UVA retooled the essay questions they had only just retooled last year (even though UVA’s Dean J admitted she really liked last year’s version).

Here are the new versions of those schools’ supplemental essay questions:

University of Miami

“Located within one of the most dynamic cities in the world, the University of Miami is a distinctive community with a variety of cultures, traditions, histories, languages, and backgrounds. The University of Miami is a values-based and purpose-driven postsecondary institution that embraces diversity and inclusivity in all its forms and strives to create a culture of belonging, where every person feels valued and has an opportunity to contribute. Please describe how your unique experiences, challenges overcome, or skills acquired would contribute to our distinctive University community.” (max 250 words)

American University

“At American University, Inclusive Excellence is a cornerstone of the academic experience for our students, and we deeply value the learning that is inspired by the diversity of backgrounds and life experiences that all our community members bring with them. Please share why you would like to join this community.” (max 150 words)

All Applicants (300 words or less):

“What about your background, perspective, or experience will serve as a source of strength for you or those around you at UVA?”

(…and read more about UVA’s new legacy-based optional question here ).

More choice for students

Many colleges who have introduced new questions have included these questions as one of several choices. BU, for example, introduced a new question—“Reflect on a social or community issue that deeply resonates with you. Why is it important to you, and how have you been involved in addressing or raising awareness about it?”—but kept their classic “Why BU?” as an alternative option. Offering prompt choices—which schools like Tufts, Boston College, Villanova, Emory, and University of Richmond have done for quite some time—allows for students to write about their identities if they wish and on their own terms.

…Except at Harvard

As one of the defendants in the Supreme Court case, Harvard has lots of eyes on its post-SCOTUS decision making. Its response to the decision? Eliminating the previous optional (er, “optional”) essay and instituting five required essays. Very Harvard of them. And yes, one of them is directly about diversity:

“Harvard has long recognized the importance of enrolling a diverse student body. How will the life experiences that shape who you are today enable you to contribute to Harvard?”

Less emphasis on “why us?” essays

While this isn’t true everywhere, we saw a few surprising changes at some “why us?” stalwarts. Perhaps most notably, Tulane’s “why us?” essay—which, for many years, famously had an 800-word limit—is now a mere 250. And while last year Tulane had three different robust supplemental essay questions, now it’s just the one. Truly, our jaws are on the floor (yes, at this time of year, this counts as Very Exciting News. We essay editors don’t get out much in August). Equally shocking: no “why Indiana?” question for Indiana University in Bloomington. In fact, no supplement at all! That’s one way to lower the barrier to entry and boost application numbers (just ask Northeastern).

For tips on how to tackle these essay questions, check out our College Essay Hub . And if you’re looking for more in-depth, one-on-one support, reach out to our college admissions team!

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How to Write the Auburn University Essays 2020-2021

Auburn University is located in central Alabama, roughly 2 hours southeast of Birmingham. About 25,000 undergraduate students are enrolled, plus 5,000 graduate students, which makes Auburn the second largest university in the state.

Auburn has a history of athletic excellence in the Southeastern Conference. Their football team last won the national championship in 2010, and their basketball team made the March Madness Final Four in 2019. The rivalry between Auburn and the University of Alabama is one of the oldest in college sports, and the two football teams meet annually in the Iron Bowl.

US News named Auburn the best university in Alabama in 2020, and the Princeton Review consistently ranks Auburn students among the happiest in the nation. The school had an acceptance rate of 75%, with the middle 50% of students possessing an SAT score between 1150 and 1310 or an ACT score between 25 and 30.

Auburn has four supplemental short answer prompts for prospective applicants. Read on to learn how to answer these so that your application stands out. Want to know your chances at Auburn? Calculate your chances for free right now.

Want to learn what Auburn will actually cost you based on your income? And how long your application to the school should take? Here’s what every student considering Auburn needs to know.

Auburn University Supplemental Essay Prompts

Prompt 1: Auburn University has a strong institutional mission of service and community. Briefly describe a group, organization, or community that you have been involved with.

How long have you been involved with this community?

What was your role, did you seek assistance or additional information to expand your understanding of and ability to contribute to this community (100 words).

Prompt 2: Briefly describe a situation where you were involved in, or were witness to, an act of discrimination; you or someone else was not being treated fairly.

What did you do at the time and why?

Would you do anything differently if that same situation occurred today, has this event impacted or changed who you are now and if so, how (100 words).

Prompt 3: Describe a strong interest or passion of yours.

How long have you had this passion, and why does it interest you?

What have you learned about yourself through your involvement in this activity; how will this knowledge benefit you as a student at auburn, did you have a mentor, support person, or someone who encouraged your interest in this area, and if so, how, cite a specific goal you achieved and how you achieved it. (100 words).

Prompt 4: Describe an example of a situation where you were given a directive or decision that you disagreed with.

What was your role in this situation; were you in a leadership role, a position where others looked up to you, or a contributing member of this group?

How did you communicate with others about this decision, what was the outcome would you do anything differently (100 words), all applicants, prompt 1, auburn university has a strong institutional mission of service and community. briefly describe a group, organization, or community that you have been involved with..

While college applications are largely focused on you, this prompt asks you to expand your focus and discuss the positive influence you have had on the world around you.

This kind of “Community Service” supplement is relatively common, so you may have already responded to a similar prompt. Although you can certainly use that response for inspiration, we discourage you from simply editing it to meet Auburn’s word count. If you cut half of a 200 word response, your essay may feel incomplete, which will be distracting for your reader.

Regardless of whether or not this is you are familiar with this kind of prompt, however, remember that there are two things you want to keep in mind:

• The impact your actions have had on your community.
• What this experience has taught you about yourself.

You want to be sure that whatever community you write about will allow you to showcase both of these things, even with such a restrictive word count. As you think about the various communities you are part of, there are a few questions that can help you figure out which one you should focus on:

• How long have you been a part of this community? Generally speaking, a community that has been important to you for a long time will be a stronger choice than one you just joined, as you will have more experience to draw on.
• What have you accomplished as part of this community? These don’t necessarily have to be tangible accomplishments (“We raised X dollars at our bake sale”); they can also be relationships you have built.
• What have you learned about yourself by being part of this community? Remember that this essay must still teach your reader something about you, and the best way to do that is by showing how your membership in this community has shaped who you are.

Once you have selected the community you want to write about, you want to think about how to best construct your essay. With supplementary essays in general, we recommend writing about specific experiences, but because this essay is so short, you may not have the space to do so.

You should still make it clear, however, that you have had meaningful experiences as part of this community, even if you don’t go into detail about them. Otherwise, your essay runs the risk of just feeling like a list of what happened, without personal connection.

Here are two example essays about your work with a beach cleanup organization.

Weak: I’ve spent six years working with Washington CoastSavers. At first, I didn’t really like it, but then my friends started telling me that it’s nice to be able to hang out by the water again without being surrounded by trash. This made me realize that maybe my actions can make a difference after all. Although cleaning up beaches isn’t always the most fun thing to do, it’s definitely rewarding in the end.

Strong: For the last six years, I have spent my Saturday mornings dragging half-submerged tires out of freezing water, or squinting at the sand, trying to find microplastics. My work with Washington CoastSavers has given me numb fingers and covered my car in sand, but it has also allowed me to watch seals return to a beach that was once piled high with trash. This sight made the memory of my small discomforts disappear, to be replaced by a sense of pride that it was my actions that had made this possible.

The first essay is unspecific, so it’s hard for your reader to visualize what this work looked like, and the takeaways are generic and impersonal. The second essay, on the other hand, uses strong, descriptive language, and communicates a personal lesson that you have learned: the satisfaction of being involved with long-term projects.

All Applicants, Prompt 2

Briefly describe a situation where you were involved in, or were witness to, an act of discrimination; you or someone else was not being treated fairly..

This prompt is likely quite different from others you have encountered, so you want to make sure you give yourself enough time to brainstorm what you want to say.

Initially, you may be having a hard time thinking of a moment to write about, as discrimination often refers to outward bigotry, which you may not have been subject to. The prompt gives a different definition, however: a moment of unfairness. This could be a coach benching players who challenged his decisions, or a teacher making fun of a student’s question. You can, of course, also write about a more serious act of a discrimination, if you are comfortable doing so.

Once you select a moment to write about, you want to think about what you learned from it. For example, say you are a woman interested in sports, and you asked your school’s football coach if you could work on his staff. In response, he laughed and said there was no way you could help, because girls don’t know anything about football.

At the time, perhaps you were too shocked to do anything, so you just left his office. As you reflect, however, you might wish that you had put together a portfolio of articles from the football blog you run, so that he couldn’t ignore your qualifications. You might conclude by saying this event made you realize that sometimes you have to go above and beyond to prove yourself, and although this isn’t fair, it’s a burden you’re willing to accept to get to where you want to go.

This example not only shows your ability to self-reflect, but also demonstrates personal growth in response to a moment of difficulty, as you are now more confident and determined than you were before.

If you choose to write about discrimination faced by someone else, make sure that you still illustrate how you learned from this experience, as you want your essay to teach your reader something about you, not the other person.

For example, say you choose to write about a teammate dealing with inappropriate jokes about his sexuality. If you write about how he responded by working with the coach to put together workshops, so the team could learn why their comments were disrespectful, that tells your reader a lot more about him than about you.

Instead, you might write about how, even though you weren’t one of the ones making the comments, you never defended your teammate either, and the workshops still taught you about complicity and how to be a true ally. Now, even though your teammate has graduated, you always speak up when someone on the team says something inappropriate, because you understand how important it is to call out even seemingly small comments.

Although being vulnerable in college essays is hard, it’s okay to admit a mistake in your response, so long as, like in the above example, you show what you have learned from that mistake. Everyone has moments where they wish they had acted differently, and owning your past mistake and illustrating your growth shows your reader that you have the maturity to think critically about yourself, as difficult as it is.

All Applicants, Prompt 3

Describe a strong interest or passion of yours..

Like the first prompt, this prompt may remind you of another common supplement: the “Extracurricular” essay. Also like the first prompt, the restrictive word count presents a challenge.

If you have already responded to a similar Extracurricular Activity prompt , you may know which extracurricular you want to write about, but if you haven’t, here are a few things to keep in mind as you brainstorm.

• Focus on meaning, not achievement. Remember that Auburn will also receive your Common App Activities List, where you can list your various accolades. For this essay, an activity that has personal meaning to you and/or has shaped some aspect of your personality is better than one that looks impressive.
• Tangible achievements. All of us have a variety of interests, but some are more casual than others, and it will be hard to write a strong essay about something that hasn’t had much of an impact on your life. If you just like to bake, that won’t tell your reader anything about you. If, on the other hand, your interest in baking has led you to start a club at your school where you share different recipes and host bake sales, that can make for a strong essay.
• Adding to your application. This goes beyond picking something you haven’t already written an essay about. If you have an unusual interest that wouldn’t otherwise show up on your application, this prompt is a great place to share it. For example, you could write about how your love for mystery novels led you to start hosting monthly murder mystery parties with your friends. This kind of topic will help your application stand out, as it’s less likely someone else is writing about the same thing.
• Use the prompt’s leading questions. You don’t have to answer all of the questions Auburn gives you, as you simply don’t have the space to do that well. But as you brainstorm, these kinds of questions–about mentors, accomplishments, and personal growth–can help you determine whether or not a particular activity was genuinely meaningful to you.

Once you select your topic, think about what this particular interest shows about you. Your response should illustrate one or two qualities that you have developed as a result of your interest in this thing. It’s incredibly important that this personal connection comes across, as the purpose of this essay is to teach Auburn something about you, not the thing you’re interested in.

Here are some examples to illustrate how to write a strong response:

Weak: I’ve always loved animals, so when I was fourteen I started working at my local animal shelter. Even though cleaning out the cages could be pretty gross, I absolutely loved the work, because I got to spend so much time with cats and dogs. The adoptions were my favorite moments, because I could tell how happy the animal was to have found a family. This made me realize how lucky I am to have grown up in a loving home, and how important it is to empathize with people who weren’t as lucky.

Strong: Ever since my dad gave me a kitten for my third birthday, I’ve loved animals, so I was ecstatic when I began working at the local shelter. But I didn’t anticipate how my heart would break for the lonely animals, still stuck in their cages, watching their friends get adopted. So, to brighten their days, I started baking them treats. Now, the sight of dogs and cats waiting eagerly at the front of their cages to see what I have for them always reminds me the difference even a little bit of empathy can make.

The weakness of the first essay is that the writer’s personal connection to her work at the animal shelter doesn’t come across. She spends most of the essay describing the work itself, rather than the impact it made on her. At the end, she tries to show what she has learned, but because the rest of the essay has been more about the work than her, the takeaway comes across as generic and impersonal.

The second essay, on the other hand, is focused on the writer and her emotional connection to the work from the very first sentence. Although the takeaway is the same, it comes across as far more genuine, because the reader can ground it in the writer’s vibrant descriptions of her experiences. The first essay just tells the reader that the writer is empathetic, while the second shows why working at the animal shelter has made her so.

Because this essay is so short, your descriptions of the interest and your personal connection to it will both be pretty brief. That’s okay—the admissions committee is well aware you only have so many words. The most important thing to remember is that the essay should be about you, not the thing you’re interested in. If you’re tight on space, focus on telling your reader something about yourself, rather than going into detail about the interest itself.

All Applicants, Prompt 4

Describe an example of a situation where you were given a directive or decision that you disagreed with..

Like the second prompt, this is a more unconventional supplement, so you likely won’t be able to draw on other essays you have already written.

As you begin brainstorming, think about times you have been part of a team: this could be sports, a group project in class, or an experience at work. Or, if you are part of more unusual teams, those can often make for even stronger responses, as they are more unique to you: perhaps you are in a band, or often go on backpacking trips with your friends.

Hopefully, as you think about the various groups you have been part of, you will also be reminded of contentious moments in these groups. Perhaps your band got into a huge argument about which songs to perform at one of your shows, or your coach called a play at the end of the game that you didn’t think would work.

Whatever situation you choose, your response should focus on two things: how you responded in the moment, and what you learned from this experience.

Let’s take the band example. Because this essay is so short, you should describe the disagreement itself relatively quickly: the focus of the essay should be on the resolution, not the argument itself. Here’s a sample response:

“The first time my band opened a concert, we couldn’t decide what to play. Our guitarist wanted upbeat songs so he could improvise, while I thought my voice was better suited to slow songs. Unfortunately, we ended up sounding totally incohesive, as we were constantly ping-ponging between fast and slow. In hindsight, I wish I had been able to look at the show more objectively, and realize the importance of unity in our set. This perspective may have helped us reach a better compromise, like alternating between faster and slower sets depending on the show.”

From this essay, your reader can see that you grew as a result of this experience: you have learned how to be a better bandmate by considering factors other than your own personal interests, which is a skill applicable to many other situations as well.

It’s incredibly important that your essay illustrates this kind of personal growth. If you find yourself over the word count, we advise shortening your description of the disagreement as much as possible, rather than cutting from what you have learned, as the admissions committee cares much more about you than the experience.

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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Auburn Requirements for Admission

What are Auburn's admission requirements? While there are a lot of pieces that go into a college application, you should focus on only a few critical things:

• GPA requirements
• Testing requirements, including SAT and ACT requirements
• Application requirements

In this guide we'll cover what you need to get into Auburn and build a strong application.

School location: Auburn, AL

This school is also known as: Auburn University

Admissions Rate: 50.5%

If you want to get in, the first thing to look at is the acceptance rate. This tells you how competitive the school is and how serious their requirements are.

The acceptance rate at Auburn is 50.5% . For every 100 applicants, 51 are admitted.

This means the school is moderately selective . The school expects you to meet their requirements for GPA and SAT/ACT scores, but they're more flexible than other schools. If you exceed their requirements, you have an excellent chance of getting in. But if you don't, you might be one of the unlucky minority that gets a rejection letter.

We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies . We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools , from state colleges to the Ivy League.

We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools.

Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.

Auburn GPA Requirements

Many schools specify a minimum GPA requirement, but this is often just the bare minimum to submit an application without immediately getting rejected.

The GPA requirement that really matters is the GPA you need for a real chance of getting in. For this, we look at the school's average GPA for its current students.

Average GPA: 4.07

The average GPA at Auburn is 4.07 .

(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA.

With a GPA of 4.07, Auburn requires you to be at the top of your class . You'll need nearly straight A's in all your classes to compete with other applicants. Furthermore, you should be taking hard classes - AP or IB courses - to show that college-level academics is a breeze.

If you're currently a junior or senior, your GPA is hard to change in time for college applications. If your GPA is at or below the school average of 4.07, you'll need a higher SAT or ACT score to compensate . This will help you compete effectively against other applicants who have higher GPAs than you.

SAT and ACT Requirements

Each school has different requirements for standardized testing. Only a few schools require the SAT or ACT, but many consider your scores if you choose to submit them.

Auburn hasn't explicitly named a policy on SAT/ACT requirements, but because it's published average SAT or ACT scores (we'll cover this next), it's likely test flexible. Typically, these schools say, "if you feel your SAT or ACT score represents you well as a student, submit them. Otherwise, don't."

Despite this policy, the truth is that most students still take the SAT or ACT, and most applicants to Auburn will submit their scores. If you don't submit scores, you'll have one fewer dimension to show that you're worthy of being admitted, compared to other students. We therefore recommend that you consider taking the SAT or ACT, and doing well.

Auburn SAT Requirements

Many schools say they have no SAT score cutoff, but the truth is that there is a hidden SAT requirement. This is based on the school's average score.

Average SAT: 1304

The average SAT score composite at Auburn is a 1304 on the 1600 SAT scale.

This score makes Auburn Moderately Competitive for SAT test scores.

Auburn SAT Score Analysis (New 1600 SAT)

The 25th percentile SAT score is 1240, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1360. In other words, a 1240 on the SAT places you below average, while a 1360 will move you up to above average .

Here's the breakdown of SAT scores by section:

SAT Score Choice Policy

The Score Choice policy at your school is an important part of your testing strategy.

Auburn has the Score Choice policy of "Highest Sitting."

This means that you can choose which SAT tests you want to send to the school. Of all the scores they receive, your application readers will consider the SAT score from your single highest test date (the sum of math, reading, and writing).

This is important for your testing strategy. Because you can choose which tests to send in, and Auburn only considers your highest score on a single test date, you can take the SAT as many times as you want, then submit your strongest score. Your application readers will only see that one score.

Therefore, if your SAT score is currently below a 1304, we strongly recommend that you consider prepping for the SAT and retaking it . You don't have much to lose, and you can potentially raise your score and significantly boost your chances of getting in.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

Auburn ACT Requirements

Just like for the SAT, Auburn likely doesn't have a hard ACT cutoff, but if you score too low, your application will get tossed in the trash.

Average ACT: 27

The average ACT score at Auburn is 27. This score makes Auburn Moderately Competitive for ACT scores.

The 25th percentile ACT score is 25, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 31.

Even though Auburn likely says they have no minimum ACT requirement, if you apply with a 25 or below, you'll have a harder time getting in, unless you have something else impressive in your application.

ACT Score Sending Policy

If you're taking the ACT as opposed to the SAT, you have a huge advantage in how you send scores, and this dramatically affects your testing strategy.

Here it is: when you send ACT scores to colleges, you have absolute control over which tests you send. You could take 10 tests, and only send your highest one. This is unlike the SAT, where many schools require you to send all your tests ever taken.

This means that you have more chances than you think to improve your ACT score. To try to aim for the school's ACT requirement of 27 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can. When you have the final score that you're happy with, you can then send only that score to all your schools.

ACT Superscore Policy

By and large, most colleges do not superscore the ACT. (Superscore means that the school takes your best section scores from all the test dates you submit, and then combines them into the best possible composite score). Thus, most schools will just take your highest ACT score from a single sitting.

We weren't able to find the school's exact ACT policy, which most likely means that it does not Superscore. Regardless, you can choose your single best ACT score to send in to Auburn, so you should prep until you reach our recommended target ACT score of 27.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and ACT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

SAT/ACT Writing Section Requirements

Currently, only the ACT has an optional essay section that all students can take. The SAT used to also have an optional Essay section, but since June 2021, this has been discontinued unless you are taking the test as part of school-day testing in a few states. Because of this, no school requires the SAT Essay or ACT Writing section, but some schools do recommend certain students submit their results if they have them.

Auburn considers the SAT Essay/ACT Writing section optional and may not include it as part of their admissions consideration. You don't need to worry too much about Writing for this school, but other schools you're applying to may require or recommend it.

Final Admissions Verdict

Because this school is moderately selective, strong academic performance will almost guarantee you admission . Scoring a 1360 SAT or a 31 ACT or above will nearly guarantee you admission. Because the school admits 50.5% of all applicants, being far above average raises the admission rate for you to nearly 100%.

If you can achieve a high SAT/ACT score, the rest of your application essentially doesn't matter. You still need to meet the rest of the application requirements, and your GPA shouldn't be too far off from the school average of 4.07. But you won't need dazzling extracurriculars and breathtaking letters of recommendation to get in. You can get in based on the merits of your score alone.

But if your score is a 1240 SAT or a 25 ACT and below, you have a good chance of being one of the unlucky few to be rejected.

Admissions Calculator

Here's our custom admissions calculator. Plug in your numbers to see what your chances of getting in are. Pick your test: SAT ACT

• 80-100%: Safety school: Strong chance of getting in
• 50-80%: More likely than not getting in
• 20-50%: Lower but still good chance of getting in
• 5-20%: Reach school: Unlikely to get in, but still have a shot
• 0-5%: Hard reach school: Very difficult to get in

How would your chances improve with a better score?

Take your current SAT score and add 160 points (or take your ACT score and add 4 points) to the calculator above. See how much your chances improve?

At PrepScholar, we've created the leading online SAT/ACT prep program . We guarantee an improvement of 160 SAT points or 4 ACT points on your score, or your money back.

Here's a summary of why we're so much more effective than other prep programs:

• PrepScholar customizes your prep to your strengths and weaknesses . You don't waste time working on areas you already know, so you get more results in less time.
• We guide you through your program step-by-step so that you're never confused about what you should be studying. Focus all your time learning, not worrying about what to learn.
• Our team is made of national SAT/ACT experts . PrepScholar's founders are Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers . You'll be studying using the strategies that actually worked for them.
• We've gotten tremendous results with thousands of students across the country. Read about our score results and reviews from our happy customers .

There's a lot more to PrepScholar that makes it the best SAT/ACT prep program. Click to learn more about our program , or sign up for our 5-day free trial to check out PrepScholar for yourself:

Application Requirements

Every school requires an application with the bare essentials - high school transcript and GPA, application form, and other core information. Many schools, as explained above, also require SAT and ACT scores, as well as letters of recommendation, application essays, and interviews. We'll cover the exact requirements of Auburn here.

Application Requirements Overview

• Common Application Not accepted
• Electronic Application Available
• Essay or Personal Statement Required for all freshmen
• Letters of Recommendation
• Interview Not required
• Application Fee $50
• Fee Waiver Available? Available
• Other Notes

Testing Requirements

• SAT or ACT Considered if submitted
• Scores Due in Office February 1

Coursework Requirements

• Subject Required Years
• Foreign Language
• Social Studies 3

Deadlines and Early Admissions

• Offered? Deadline Notification
• Yes February 1 March 1
• Yes November 1 December 1

Admissions Office Information

• Address: 182 Auburn, AL 36849
• Phone: (334) 844-4000
• Fax: (334) 844-6436

Other Schools For You

If you're interested in Auburn, you'll probably be interested in these schools as well. We've divided them into 3 categories depending on how hard they are to get into, relative to Auburn.

Reach Schools: Harder to Get Into

These schools are have higher average SAT scores than Auburn. If you improve your SAT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.

Same Level: Equally Hard to Get Into

If you're competitive for Auburn, these schools will offer you a similar chance of admission.

Safety Schools: Easier to Get Into

If you're currently competitive for Auburn, you should have no problem getting into these schools. If Auburn is currently out of your reach, you might already be competitive for these schools.

Data on this page is sourced from Peterson's Databases © 2024 (Peterson's LLC. All rights reserved.) as well as additional publicly available sources.

1920 SAT Score Standings

Here's how you compare to other students and how many colleges you are competitive for:

Out of the 1.67 million test-takers, 181974 scored the same or higher than you.

You can apply to 1213 colleges and have a good shot at getting admitted.

If you apply to these schools, with this score, you have a very low chance of getting in.

Top Choice Colleges Chances

We've collected data from millions of students and thousands of colleges to figure out your chances at getting admitted with a 1920 SAT score. You'll also see how your chances improve with a higher SAT score.

To add a school to your list, type in part of the school name, choose from the dropdown, and click the button.

• be competitive for 67 more schools in the country
• raise your chances of getting into target schools from 64.15% to 67.69%

Check Out a Different Score

Curious about what your profile is with a different score? Choose any score from the entire SAT score range to see what you'd be able to do!

If You Liked Our Advice...

Our experts have written hundreds of useful articles on improving your SAT score and getting into college. You'll definitely find something useful here.

Subscribe to our newsletter to get FREE strategies and guides sent to your email. Learn how to ace the SAT with exclusive tips and insights that we share with our private newsletter subscribers.

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On The Lawn

All about becoming and being an Auburn student

How to apply to Auburn University for Fall 2024

Summer is over, and another application cycle has begun. The Fall 2024 application is officially open on our website and on the Common Application, and the first deadline is approaching. With September 15th right around the corner, we wanted to share some useful information and hopefully answer questions about the Fall 2024 admissions process.

1. When should I apply?

For Fall 2024, admission decisions will be released in rounds. There are 4 Early Action (EA) rounds this year. For scholarship consideration, you must apply and be accepted in one of the EA rounds. EA decisions are non-binding. This means that you do not have to commit to Auburn if you are accepted in an EA round. The Regular Decision deadline is February 1st. To have a complete application file, all required materials must also be received by the deadline.

Decision Rounds

2. What are we looking for in an application?

Admission to Auburn University is competitive. When you apply to Auburn, the Admissions staff carefully reviews your academic achievement, and each application is given personal consideration. As a land-grant institution, we understand and embrace our responsibility to serve the citizens of the state of Alabama. We focus on successful applicants who demonstrate the greatest potential for success and can live up to the Auburn Creed.

Middle 50% The ideal candidate will have achieved an academic GPA at or above our middle 50% GPA, demonstrated academic excellence and participated in challenging coursework during high school. As a guideline, the middle 50% profile for students enrolling in Fall 2022 was:

ACT: 23-30 (Alabama Resident)

ACT: 27-31 (Non-Resident)

SAT: 1160-1370 (Alabama Resident)

SAT: 1240-1370 (Non-Resident)

GPA: 3.85-4.31

Early Action – Preliminary Academic Review  We select our freshman class through an evaluation that includes a preliminary academic review of an applicant’s academic performance. Our initial review focuses on the rigor of classes, GPA, and test scores as well as a deeper dive into a whole student. We consider the mix of in-state and out-of-state students. As a land-grant institution, our mission is to serve Alabama residents. Academic factors in our review include:

• ACT or SAT test scores for students applying with a test score. 
• Your 9th-11th grade point average including weighted and unweighted. 
• Grades earned in core curriculum courses. 
• Planned 12th-grade courses. 
• Pattern of grades over time. Marked improvement in academic performance as demonstrated by academic GPA and the quality of coursework completed or in progress. 
• The number of college preparatory, Advanced, Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), honors, gifted, and transferable college courses completed and achievement in those courses. 
• Academic performance relative to other applicants at their high school and the learning opportunities available in their high school. 
• Outstanding performance in one or more specific subject areas.
• Academic area of interest. 

3. Do I need to send my ACT or SAT scores?

Auburn University is a test-preferred institution; we recommend that students take and submit official ACT and SAT scores for admissions. Freshman admission is based mainly on your high school courses, grades, and academic rigor. While we encourage students to submit standardized test scores, they are not required to be considered for admission or scholarships.

If you are applying with test scores, official test scores are required for a completed application. Official test scores must be submitted directly from the testing agency.

Auburn University School codes are:

Applicants with at least a 3.6 GPA and unable to test will be reviewed holistically through our test-optional pathway.

4. What do I need to apply?

Traditional Applicants

Submitted  Admission Application

$50 non-refundable application fee*

Official ACT/SAT test scores sent from the testing agency**

Uploaded copy of your high school transcript(s). We will accept an official or unofficial copy.

Test-optional Applicants

Minimum 3.6 cumulative GPA*** 

*Students are eligible for an application fee waiver if certain criteria is met.

**Starting Fall 2024, Auburn University will accept the ACT Superscore Report. Auburn will calculate a superscore for the SAT and any individual score reports from ACT. Only your best testing result will be used for admissions and scholarship consideration.

***If your GPA is not on a 4-point weighted scale or on a 100 pt scale, Auburn will recalculate your GPA. If the recalculated GPA is less than a 3.6 GPA, official test scores will be required to receive an admissions decision.

5. Should I apply through the Auburn website or Common App?

You can submit your admissions application online at  auburn.edu/admissions  or through the  Common Application . Choose the application you’re most comfortable with; there’s no preference given to either application. The same information will be reviewed whether you apply through our website or through Common App. We highly encourage you to submit the application you start, as filling out both applications may delay your application from being processed. A completed application file includes a submitted admissions application, an application fee or fee waiver, your high school transcript and official ACT/SAT scores if applicable.

6. What if I still have questions?

You can find more information about the Fall 2024 admissions process here . You might find our FAQ page to be useful also. If you still have questions, reach out to your admissions advisor. You can search for your advisor here . We are here to help you on your path to Auburn!

One Reply to “How to apply to Auburn University for Fall 2024”

I want to be with Auburn University because I want to major in Business Management and Marketing as my degree. I have been doing dance and band ColorGuard for 2 years now. Me performing for the school and with Auburn is my dream. Showing people that anything can be possible if you just try new things. My band Director is from Auburn University and he performed with them. He told that it was his best performance and he said I would love it.

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