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Supplemental Essays 2022-2023: The Ultimate Master List

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August 23, 2022

Supplemental Essay Prompts 2022-2023: The Ultimate Master List

You're probably applying to a wide range of colleges, all of which have their own unique prompts for the supplemental essay prompts 2022-2023 . If you're starting to feel a bit overwhelmed by the number of essays that await you, you're not alone.

Luckily, we have compiled a guide to the  supplemental essay prompts 2022-2023  from over 115 colleges to help you keep track of it all. Now you don't have to go searching all over the Common App! With every prompt in one place, you'll be able to stay organized and on top of your work during application season.

Download Every Supplemental Prompt Here!

Remember, your  college supplemental essays  are an integral part of your application. Colleges select their prompts carefully, and use your essays to determine whether you're a good fit for their school. Make sure you stay organized and start writing your  supplemental essay prompts 2022-2023  early. Submission deadlines will come sooner than you think, so start looking at the prompts now!

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Supplemental Essay Prompts by College (2022-2023)

Many colleges require applicants to submit supplemental essays in addition to the Common App essay. These essays vary in topics and range in length from just a few sentences (or 100-300 characters) to 650 words. These prompts can change from year to year. For your convenience, I have compiled the 2022-2023 supplements for a majority of the top 50 Colleges, according to the US News Report. Note that “optional” doesn’t mean “optional” these days—it is highly suggested, if not expected that you complete these essays to demonstrate genuine interest in the school. I look forward to helping your college applicant craft standout supplemental essays.  

Amherst College

Barnard College

Bates College

Boston college.

Boston University Bowdoin College Brandeis University

Brown University

Bryn mawr college.

Bucknell University California Institute of Technology (CalTech)

Carleton College

Carnegie mellon university, claremont mckenna college, colby college, colgate university, college of william and mary.

  Columbia University  

Cornell Universit

Dartmouth College

Davidson college, duke university, elon university, emerson college, emory university, franklin and marshall college, george washington university, georgetown university, hamilton college, harvard university, harvey mudd college, haverford college, indiana university (bloomington), johns hopkins university, kenyon college, lafayette college, lehigh university, middlebury college, massachusetts institute of technology (mit).

  New York University  

The New School

Northeastern university, northwestern university, oberlin college, pepperdine university, pomona college, princeton university, sarah lawrence college, scripps college, skidmore college, smith college, stanford university, swarthmore college, syracuse university, tufts university, tulane university, university of chicago, university of miami, university of michigan, university of north carolina (chapel hill), university of notre dame, university of pennsylvania, university of southern california (usc), university of vermont, university of virginia, university of wisconsin (madison), vanderbilt university, vassar college, villanova university, wake forest university, wellesley college, wesleyan university, williams college, yale university.

Does Amherst College have Supplemental Essays?   Yes • At Amherst we know that identity is more than checkboxes. If you would like to share more about your identity, background, family, culture or community, please tell us more here. (Maximum: 175 words) • Please briefly elaborate on an extracurricular activity or work experience of particular significance to you. (Maximum: 175 words) • If you have engaged in significant research in the natural sciences, mathematics, computer science, social sciences or humanities that was undertaken independently of your high school curriculum, please provide a brief description of the research project: (Optional) (50-75 words)     

Barnard College  

Does Barnard College have Supplemental Essays?   Yes • What factors encouraged your decision to apply to Barnard College and why do you think the college would be a good match for you? (300 words) • At Barnard, academic inquiry starts with bold questions. What are some of the bold questions you have pondered that get you excited and why do they interest you? Tell us how you would explore these questions at Barnard. (300 words) • At Barnard, academic inquiry starts with bold questions. What are some of the bold questions you have pondered that get you excited and why do they interest you? Tell us how you would explore these questions at Barnard. (300 words)  

Does Bates College have Supplemental Essays?   No  

Does Boston College have Supplemental Essays?   Yes •  Respond to one of the following prompts (400 words) 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? •  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. •  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? •  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. •  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 University

Does Boston University have Supplemental Essays?   Yes •  What about being a student at Boston University most excites you? (250 words) •  Additional Information (optional): Please use this space if you have additional information, materials, or writing samples you would like us to consider.  

Bowdoin College

Does Bowdoin College have Supplemental Essays?   Yes •  How did you first learn about Bowdoin? (Limit 140 characters.) •  Generations of students have found connection and meaning in Bowdoin's “The Offer of the College,” written in 1906 by Bowdoin President William DeWitt Hyde. (250 words) To be at home in all lands and all ages; to count Nature a familiar acquaintance, and Art an intimate friend; to gain a standard for the appreciation of others' work and the criticism of your own; to carry the keys of the world's library in your pocket, and feel its resources behind you in whatever task you undertake; to make hosts of friends...who are to be leaders in all walks of life; to lose yourself in generous enthusiasms and cooperate with others for common ends – this is the offer of the college for the best four years of your life. Which line from the Offer resonates most with you? -    Optional: The Offer represents Bowdoin’s values. Please reflect on the line you selected and how it has meaning to you. (250 words) -    Optional: Navigating Through Differences Bowdoin believes that only through building a more diverse and inclusive campus community will the College best prepare graduates to be contributing and useful citizens of the world. (250 words)  

Brandeis University

Does Brandeis University have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

•  The Brandeis community is a diverse group of critical thinkers defined by their ability to dive deeper into their learning by questioning, analyzing, evaluating, creating, critiquing and seeking other perspectives. Share an example of how you have used your own critical thinking skills on a specific subject, project, idea or interest. (250 words) •  What excites you the most about being an international student at Brandeis University? (250 words)  

Does Brown University College have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

• 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. (250 words) •  (200-250 words) 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? (200-250 words) •  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. (200-250 words)  

Does Bryn Mawr College have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

•  As you prepare to join a new college community, reflect on your role as a community member throughout the past four years. What legacy do you hope to leave behind? • Why are you interested in Bryn Mawr?  

Bucknell University

Does Bucknell University have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

•  Please explain your interest in your first-choice major/undecided status and your second-choice major, should you opt to list one. (250 words)  

California Institute of Technology (CalTech)  

Does CalTech have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

•  Because of the rigorous core course curriculum, Caltech students don’t declare a major until the end of their first year. However, some students arrive knowing which academic fields and areas already most excite them, or which novel fields and areas they most want to explore. If you had to choose an area of interest or two today, what would you choose? (Select from List) •  Why did you choose that area of interest?  (200 words) •  At Caltech, we investigate some of the most challenging, fundamental problems in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Identify and describe two STEM-related experiences from your high school years, either in or out of the classroom, and tell us how and why they activated your curiosity.  What about them made you want to learn more and explore further? •  STEM experience/activity #1* (200 words) •  STEM experience/activity #2* (200 words) •  The creativity, inventiveness, and innovation of Caltech’s students, faculty, and researchers have won Nobel Prizes and put rovers on Mars, but Techers also imagine smaller scale innovations every day, from new ways to design solar cells to 3D printing dorm decor. How have you been an innovator in your own life? * (250 words) •  The process of discovery is best advanced when people from diverse backgrounds come together to solve the greatest challenges in their fields. How do your past experiences and present-day perspectives inform who you have become and how you navigate the world? * (250 words) •  Optional Short Answers: We know, we know … you see optional and start to wonder if we mean it. But in this section, we truly do! See these as completely optional opportunities to show us more of your personality.  Optional. We promise. If there are aspects of your identity that you feel are not captured elsewhere in this application, please provide that information below. (150 words) •  When not surveying the stars, peering through microscopes, or running through marathons of coding, Caltech students pursue an eclectic array of interests that range from speedcubing to participating in varsity athletics to reading romance novels. What is a favorite interest or hobby and why does it bring you joy? (100 words) •  Did you have a hard time narrowing it down to just one interest or hobby? We understand – Caltech students like to stay busy, too – tell us about another hobby or interest! (50 words) •  Have you had any extenuating circumstances regarding your coursework (such as limited course selection or disruptions) not described elsewhere in your application? If so, tell us about them here. (150 words) •  Some Caltech applicants engage in STEM competitions locally, nationally, and internationally (such as AIME, Science Olympiad, International Science Olympiads.) If you have received any STEM honors or awards, list them here (and scores, if applicable). (200 words)

Does Carleton College have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

Please share your thoughts on one (1) of the following prompts (in no more than 300 words) of what these Carleton values look like to you: 1. I am empowered by individuals who… OR 2. I value community because… OR 3. I want to better my world by… •  Do you want to share more with us? If so, use this space to fill any gaps you think would assist us in reviewing your application. (Optional, no more than 250 words)

Does Carnegie Mellon University have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

•  Many students pursue college for a specific degree, career opportunity or personal goal. Whichever it may be, learning will be critical to achieve your ultimate goal. As you think ahead to the process of learning during your college years, how will you define a successful college experience? (300 words) •  Most students choose their intended major or area of study based on a passion or inspiration that’s developed over time – what passion or inspiration led you to choose this area of study? (300 words) •  Consider your application as a whole. What do you personally want to emphasize about your application for the admission committee’s consideration? Highlight something that’s important to you or something you haven’t had a chance to share. Tell us, don’t show us (no websites please). (300 words)  

Does Claremont McKenna College have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

Why do you want to attend CMC? (150-250 words) •  One of the hallmarks of a CMC education is the first-year humanities program that all students take in their first year at the College. The program has two components: the Freshman Humanities Seminar (FHS) and the Freshman Writing Seminar (FWS). While each FHS and FWS seminar has a distinctive approach in terms of texts and topics, their pairing gives first-year students a shared academic experience in small, writing-intensive courses that foster critical thinking about a wide range of important issues. FHS introduces first-year students to some of the crucial questions that human beings face with relation to society and the world. Individual sections are taught by faculty from a range of departments. Past and current topics include: 1. Democracy and Leadership 2. Women in Science 3. Unconventional Thinking FWS, taught by faculty from the literature department, develops students’ abilities in written and oral communication at the college level. Past and current topics include: 1. Art of the Personal Essay 2. Blackness in American Cinema 3. Post-Apocalyptic Humanity For the purpose of this essay prompt, pick one FHS or FWS seminar to study at CMC. What part of your personal experience—or your desire to know more about an area outside of your experience—best explains your seminar choice?" (250 words)

Does Colby College have Supplemental Essays?   No

Does Colgate University have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

Does Colgate University have Supplemental Essays? Yes Colgate offers applicants the opportunity to lend depth to their application through optional supplemental writing prompts. •    Question 1: A great institution is diverse. It brings students of different socioeconomic backgrounds, races, ethnicities, and religions to campus. Colgate recognizes this and exposes students to a rich variety of perspectives and backgrounds in their educational and social experiences. Tell us in 150-200 words how you have prepared to immerse yourself in a community such as this or how you look forward to growing as a result of your experience at Colgate. •    Question 2: Colgate cultivates a skilled and engaged student body. Through their achievements, our students reflect the University’s reputation as a great place to pursue one’s academic interests. Tell us in 150-200 words about an academic or personal experience that highlights your skill and potential as a Colgate student. •    Question 3: The academic community at Colgate is shaped by the unique talents, character, and personality of each student. Please finish each sentence in 75 characters or less so we can learn more about you. I am fascinated by… I want to learn all I can about… My favorite book is… My role model is… In the future, I hope to … One thing I would change is… I wish… I am most challenged by… In 5 years, I…

Does College of William and Mary have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

•    Beyond your impressive academic credentials and extracurricular accomplishments, what else makes you unique and colorful? What aren’t we seeing elsewhere in your application? We know nobody fits neatly into approximately 500 words, but you can provide us with some suggestion of the type of person you are.  Think of this optional opportunity as show and tell by proxy. (500 words)

Columbia University

Does Columbia University have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

•  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. (75 words) •  We’re interested in learning about some of the ways that you explore your interests. List some resources and outlets that you enjoy, including but not limited to websites, publications, journals, podcasts, social media accounts, lectures, museums, movies, music, or other content with which you regularly engage. (125 words) •  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. (2oo words) •  Why are you interested in attending Columbia University? We encourage you to consider the aspect(s) that you find unique and compelling about Columbia. (200 words) •  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. (200 words) • In Columbia’s admissions process, we value who you are as a unique individual, distinct from your goals and achievements. In the last words of this writing supplement, we would like you to reflect on a source of happiness. Help us get to know you further by describing the first thing that comes to mind when you consider what simply brings you joy. (35 words)

Cornell University

Does Cornell University have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

•  Each college has a particular prompt. See here for details.

Does Dartmouth College have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

•  Dartmouth celebrates the ways in which its profound sense of place informs its profound sense of purpose. As you seek admission to Dartmouth’s Class of 2027, what aspects of the College’s academic program, community, or campus environment attract your interest? In short, Why Dartmouth? (Please respond in 100 words or fewer) •  “Be yourself,” Oscar Wilde advised. “Everyone else is taken.” Introduce yourself in 200-250 words. Required of all applicants. Please choose one of the following prompts and respond in 200-250 words: •  Labor leader and civil rights activist Dolores Huerta recommended a life of purpose. “We must use our lives to make the world a better place to live, not just to acquire things,” she said. “That is what we are put on the earth for.” In what ways do you hope to make—or are you making—an impact? •  What excites you? •  In The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, William Kamkwamba ’14 reflects on constructing a windmill from recycled materials to power electrical appliances in his family’s Malawian house: “If you want to make it, all you have to do is try.” What drives you to create and what do you hope to make or have you made? •  Dr. Seuss, aka Theodor Geisel of Dartmouth’s Class of 1925, wrote, “Think and wonder. Wonder and think.” What do you wonder and think about? •  “Not everything that is faced can be changed; but nothing can be changed until it is faced,” wrote James Baldwin. How does this quote apply to your life experiences?

Does Davidson College have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

•  There are just under 4,000 4-year colleges and universities in the United States. Being as specific as possible, what interests you most about Davidson College (250-300 words) •  Davidson encourages students to explore curiosities in and out of the classroom. What is a topic, activity or idea that excites you? Tell us why. Examples may include hobbies, books, interactions, music, podcasts, movies, etc. (250-300 words).

Does Duke University   have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

•  What is your sense of Duke as a university and a community, and why do you consider it a good match for you?  If there’s something in particular about our offerings that attracts you, feel free to share that as well. (250-word limit) We want to emphasize that the following questions are optional. Feel free to answer them if you believe that doing so will add something meaningful that is not already shared elsewhere in your application.  Four optional questions are available – a maximum of 2 can be selected. Please select 0 – 2 optional essay topics. (Respond in 250 words or fewer.) •  We seek a diverse student body that embodies the wide range of human experience.  In that context, we are interested in what you’d like to share about your lived experiences and how they’ve influenced how you think of yourself. •  We believe there is benefit in sharing and sometimes questioning our beliefs or values; who do you agree with on the big important things, or who do you have your most interesting disagreements with? What are you agreeing or disagreeing about? •  What has been your best academic experience in the last two years, and what made it so good? •  Duke’s commitment to diversity and inclusion includes sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. If you’d like to share with us more about your identity in this context, feel free to do so here.

Does Elon University   have Supplemental Essays?   Yes (all five required)

Prompt 1: We’re in your hometown. Where should we go and what should we do? Tell us about your hometown. Our admissions counselors may even take your suggestions when they are in the area! (50 words)   Prompt 2: What three emojis/GIFs do you use most often? Why? OK, we know not everyone uses emojis or GIFs – so if you don’t, tell us which three you would choose if you did! (30 words)   Prompt 3: You are a superhero. What are your powers? Be imaginative. What would you do with the powers you choose? (30 words)   Prompt 4: Name three songs from your perfect playlist.   Prompt 5: Tell us your top 5. Take this opportunity to let the admissions committee know more about you. Your top 5 should be something unique to you and give us a glimpse of who you are. Be creative! You may choose any theme for your top 5. Do you love cooking? List your top 5 recipes. Are you enthusiastic about anime? Who are your top 5 characters? Do you watch or participate in a lot of athletic events? Name your top 5 moments. Love to stream; what are you watching? You could even list your top five college tours – as long as Elon is #1! Explain why these are your top 5. (250 words)

Does Emerson College   have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

•    As you know, the academic programs at Emerson College are focused on communication and the arts. Please tell us what influenced you to select your major. If you're undecided about your major, what attracted you to Emerson's programs? Please be brief. (100-200 words) •    Much of the work that students do at Emerson College is a form of storytelling. If you were to write the story of your life until now, what would you title it and why? Please be brief. (100-200 words) OR •    At its best, how does community benefit the individual, the whole, or both?  

Does Emory University   have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

•  What academic areas are you interested in exploring in college? (200 words) Reflect on a personal experience where you intentionally expanded your cultural awareness. Answer one of the following questions. Your response should be no more than 150 words. •  When was the last time you questioned something you had thought to be true? •  If you could witness a historic event (past, present or future) first-hand, what would it be, and why? •  Share about a time when you were awestruck. •  Which book, character, song, monologue, or piece of work (fiction or non-fiction) seems made for you? Why?

Does Franklin and Marshall College   have Supplemental Essays?   No

Does George Washington University   have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

Respond to one of the following prompts (500 words): • 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? • 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?

Does Georgetown University   have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

•  Indicate any special talents or skills you possess. (250 words) •  Briefly discuss the significance to you of the school or summer activity in which you have been most involved. (Half a page) •  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. (approximately 1 page, single-spaced) Additional Georgetown University School-Specific Prompts. (Each school-specific prompt should not exceed 1 page, single-spaced)

Does Hamilton College have Supplemental Essays? No

Does Harvard University have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

•  Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. (50-150 words) •  Your intellectual life may extend beyond the academic requirements of your particular school. Please use the space below to list additional intellectual activities that you have not mentioned or detailed elsewhere in your application. These could include, but are not limited to, supervised or self-directed projects not done as school work, training experiences, online courses not run by your school, or summer academic or research programs not described elsewhere. (150 words) •  You may wish to include an additional essay if you feel that the college application forms do not provide sufficient opportunity to convey important information about yourself or your accomplishments. You may write on a topic of your choice, or you may choose from one of the following topics: – Unusual circumstances in your life – Travel, living, or working experiences in your own or other communities – What you would want your future college roommate to know about you – An intellectual experience (course, project, book, discussion, paper, poetry, or research topic in engineering, mathematics, science or other modes of inquiry) that has meant the most to you – How you hope to use your college education – A list of books you have read during the past twelve months – The Harvard College Honor code declares that we “hold honesty as the foundation of our community.” As you consider entering this community that is committed to honesty, please reflect on a time when you or someone you observed had to make a choice about whether to act with integrity and honesty. – The mission of Harvard College is to educate our students to be citizens and citizen-leaders for society. What would you do to contribute to the lives of your classmates in advancing this mission? – Each year a substantial number of students admitted to Harvard defer their admission for one year or take time off during college. If you decided in the future to choose either option, what would you like to do? – Harvard has long recognized the importance of student body diversity of all kinds. We welcome you to write about distinctive aspects of your background, personal development or the intellectual interests you might bring to your Harvard classmates. •    For International Students: What specific plan do you have, if any, for using the education you hope to receive? (0-50 words)

Does Harvey Mudd College have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

“Scientific research is a human endeavor. The choices of topics that we research are based on our biases, our beliefs, and what we bring: our cultures and our families. The kinds of problems that people put their talents to solving depends on their values.” – Dr. Clifton Poodry •    How has your own background influenced the types of problems you want to solve, the people you want to work with, and the impact you hope your work can have? (500 words) •    Many students choose HMC because they don’t want to give up their interests in the Humanities, Social Sciences and the Arts – or HSA as we call it at HMC. Briefly describe what you’d like to learn about in your dream HSA class. (100 words or less)

Does Haverford College have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

•   Tell us about a topic or issue that sparks your curiosity and gets you intellectually excited. How do you think the environment at Haverford, including the framework of the Honor Code, would foster your continued intellectual growth? (250 words) •  Please tell us what motivated you to apply to Haverford and what excites you most as you imagine your Haverford experience. (150 words)

Does Indiana University (Bloomington) have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

• Describe your academic and career plans and any special interest (for example, undergraduate research, academic interests, leadership opportunities, etc.) that you are eager to pursue as an undergraduate at Indiana University. Also, if you encountered any unusual circumstances, challenges, or obstacles in pursuit of your education, share those experiences and how you overcame them. This essay may be used in scholarship consideration. (4oo words)  

Does Johns Hopkins University have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

•   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. (400 words)  

Does Kenyon College have Supplemental Essays? No

Does Lafayette College have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

•    Students identify Lafayette as an excellent fit for countless reasons. In your response, be deliberate and specific about your motivation for applying to Lafayette. Why do you see yourself at Lafayette? (200 words)

Does Lehigh University have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

​ •    How did you first learn about Lehigh University and what motivated you to apply? (150 words) A compelling characteristic of Lehigh’s community is that our students want to be actively engaged in their learning, their community, and the world. Our students look to make a difference and have a real-world impact. We expect our community to challenge your viewpoint, your naturalized assumptions, and the way that you see the world around you. In the words of Lehigh’s President, John Simon, “The murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis has shaken our nation, and brought into harsh relief the life-threatening, systemic racial injustice that affects the lives of so many every day. Members of our community are angry and fearful, and we will support them...We need to make Lehigh University an actively anti-racist institution. By this, we mean actively speaking out and addressing acts of racism, racist comments, racist practices, policies and procedures. •    What would you want to be different in your own country or community to respond to issues of inequality, inequity, or injustice? (300 words)

Accepts Common App: Yes Common App Essay required? Yes Does Middlebury College have Supplemental Essays? No  

Does Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

•    250 words each: o    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? o    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. o    We know you lead a busy life, full of activities, many of which are required. Tell us about something you do simply for the pleasure of it. o    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. o    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?

New York University

Does New York University have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

NYU was founded on the belief that a student’s identity should not dictate the ability for them to access higher education. That sense of opportunity for all students, of all backgrounds, remains a part of who we are today and a critical part of what makes us a world class university. Our community embraces diversity, in all its forms, as a cornerstone of the NYU experience. We would like to better understand how your experiences would help us to shape and grow our diverse community. Please respond in 250 words or less.

Does The New School have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

•  If you could choose a social issue to impact or change, what would you choose? When addressing this prompt, imagine how your studies and experiences at The New School could help you affect change. (400 words) •  What specific aspects of The New School’s academic programs or community drew you to apply? Please pay particular attention within your essay to the college, program, and/or campus to which you have applied. (400 words)

Does Northeastern University have Supplemental Essays?   No

Does Northwestern University have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

•  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. (3oo words)

Does Oberlin College have Supplemental Essays?   No

Does Pepperdine University have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

•    Pepperdine is a Christian university where all are welcomed and encouraged to challenge each other in the pursuit of truth. Students, faculty, and staff members from all backgrounds participate in conversations of faith inside and outside of the classroom. Considering that Pepperdine is a Christian university, why are you interested in attending and how would you contribute to conversations of faith on campus? (5oo words)

Does Pomona College have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

The Pomona-specific essay prompts for those applying for Fall 2023 admission include an academic interest statement (max. 150 words); a short-response essay (max. 150 words); and a longer-response essay (max. 250 words). (1) Academic Interest Statement: What do you love about the subject(s) you selected as potential major(s)? If undecided, share more about one of your academic passions. (2) Short-Response Essay: choose to respond to one of the following three prompts in 150 words or less: o    At Pomona, we celebrate and identify with the number 47. Share with us one of your quirky personal, family, or community traditions and why you hold on to it. o    What item are you excited to bring with you to college? o    Describe a time when you felt empowered or on top of the world? (3) Longer-Response Essay: choose to respond to one of the following three prompts in 250 words or less: o    In the past few years, is there something you have changed your mind about? Why? o    Reflecting on a community that you are part of, what values or perspectives from that community would you bring to Pomona? o    What strength or quality do you have that most people might not see or recognize?

Does Princeton University have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

Activities: Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences that was particularly meaningful to you. (Response required in about 200 words.) Please respond to each question in an essay of about 250 words: 1.)    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? 2.)    Princeton has a longstanding commitment to service and civic engagement. Tell us how your story intersects (or will intersect) with these ideals. 3.)    Please respond to each question in 75 words or fewer. There are no right or wrong answers. Be yourself! What is a new skill you would like to learn in college? What brings you joy? What song represents the soundtrack of your life at this moment?

Does Sarah Lawrence College have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

Optional: We know that there may be elements of who you are as a person and student that you may not feel are conveyed fully in the other sections of this application. If you wish to showcase a little more about your particular interest in Sarah Lawrence College, please respond to one of the prompts below. •    Sarah Lawrence students are often described as hyphenates: director-playwright-sound designer, environmentalist-photographer, journalist-linguist, economist-poet. In 250-500 words, tell us about seemingly disparate interests you’ve brought together, or hope to bring together at Sarah Lawrence. •    Students at Sarah Lawrence are asked to design their own research questions and answer them during semester-long projects. In 250-500 words, thoughtfully respond to a prompt of your own creation. •    Sarah Lawrence College’s community places strong value in inclusion and diversity. In 250-500 words, tell us about what you value in a community and how your perspective, lived experiences, or beliefs might contribute to your College community. •    In her 2019 commencement address, Maggie Haberman ’96 told the graduating class “My time at Sarah Lawrence helped me understand the importance of patience, of assuming good faith in others, and of finding truth.” In 250 – 500 words, tell us about a time you spoke your own truth or found the importance in one of the values Maggie describes.

Does Scripps College have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

•    Why have you chosen to apply to Scripps College? (200 words)

Does Skidmore College have Supplemental Essays?   No

Does Smith College have Supplemental Essays?   No

•    The Stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. Reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning. (250 words) •    Virtually all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate – and us – get to know you better. (250 words) •    Tell us about something that is meaningful to you and why. (250 words) •    50 words each: o    What is the most significant challenge that society faces today? o    How did you spend your last two summers? o    What historical moment or event do you wish you could have witnessed? o    Briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities, a job you hold, or responsibilities you have for your family. o    Name one thing you are looking forward to experiencing at Stanford.

Does Swarthmore College have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

•    250 words each: o    Swarthmore students’ worldviews are often forged by their prior experiences and exposure to ideas and values. Our students are often mentored, supported, and developed by their immediate context—in their neighborhoods, communities of faith, families, and classrooms. Reflect on what elements of your home, school, or community have shaped you or positively impacted you. How have you grown or changed because of the influence of your community? o    We are inspired by students who are flexible in their approach to learning, who are comfortable with experimentation, and who are willing to take intellectual risks that move them out of their comfort zone. Reflect on a time that you were intellectually challenged, inspired, or took an intellectual risk—inside or outside of the classroom. How has that experience shaped you, and what questions still linger? o    Why are you interested in applying to and attending Swarthmore?

Does Syracuse University have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

•    Why are you interested in Syracuse University and how do you see yourself contributing to a diverse, inclusive and respectful campus community? (250 words)

Does Tufts University have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

Applicants to the School of Arts and Sciences, School of Engineering, and 5-Year Tufts/NEC Combined Degree answer the following two questions: •    Which aspects of the Tufts undergraduate experience prompt your application? In short, “Why Tufts?” (100-150 words) Now we’d like to know a little more about you. Please respond to one of the following three questions. (200-250 words): •    It’s cool to love learning. What excites your intellectual curiosity? •    How have the environments or experiences of your upbringing – your family, home, neighborhood, or community – shaped the person you are today? •    Where are you on your journey of engaging with or fighting for social justice? Applicants to the BFA or 5-Year BFA+BA/BS Combined Degree at the SMFA at Tufts answer the following two questions: •    Which aspects of the Tufts undergraduate experience prompt your application? Why SMFA at Tufts? (100-150 words) •    B) Art has the power to disrupt our preconceptions, shape public discourse, and imagine new ways of being in the world.  What are the ideas you’d like to explore in your work? (200-250 words)

Does Tulane University have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

•    Describe why you are interested in attending Tulane University. (5oo words) •    (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.) •    If you would like to elaborate on one of your activities, you may do so briefly here. (250 words)

Does University of Chicago have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

Question 1 (Required) •    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. Question 2: Extended Essay (Required; Choose one) Essay Option 1 •    Was it a cat I saw? Yo-no-na-ka, ho-ka-ho-ka na-no-yo (Japanese for “the world is a warm place”). Może jutro ta dama da tortu jeżom (Polish for “maybe tomorrow that lady will give a cake to the hedgehogs”). Share a palindrome in any language, and give it a backstory. Essay Option 2 •    What advice would a wisdom tooth have? Essay Option 3 •    You are on an expedition to found a colony on Mars, when from a nearby crater, a group of Martians suddenly emerges. They seem eager to communicate, but they’re the impatient kind and demand you represent the human race in one song, image, memory, proof, or other idea. What do you share with them to show that humanity is worth their time? For other options, see University of Chicago website

Does University of Miami have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

•    The University of Miami's official mascot is the ibis. Folklore maintains that the native marsh bird is the last to take shelter before a hurricane hits and the first to emerge once the storm passes, making it an apt symbol of courage and resilience. (25o words) •    Considering your ability to control your own motivation and behavior, how have past experiences helped build your courage and resilience to persist in the face of academic and life challenges so that, once these storms pass, you can emerge in continued pursuit of your goals?

Does University of Michigan have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

•    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. (3oo words) •    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? (55o words)

Does University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill) have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

•    Choose two of the following prompts to respond to in 200-250 words: 1.    Describe an aspect of your identity and how this has shaped your life experiences or impacted your daily interactions with others? 2.    Describe a peer who is making a difference in your school or community. What actions has that peer taken? How has their work made a difference in your life? 3.    If you could change one thing to better your community, what would it be? Please explain. 4.    Former UNC-Chapel Hill employee, community service member, and civil rights activist Esphur Foster once said “We are nothing without our history.” Her words are memorialized on the Northside Neighborhood Freedom Fighters monument. How does history shape who you are? Fill-in-the-blank responses You’ll complete all of the following fill-in-the-blank responses in 25 words each: 1.) One family, friend, or school tradition I cherish: 2.) If I had an extra hour in every day, I would spend it: 3.) If I could travel anywhere, near or far, past, present or future, I would go: 4.) The last time I stepped outside my comfort zone, I: 5.) People who meet me are most likely to notice, and least likely to notice:

Does University of Notre Dame have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

The University of Notre Dame Writing Supplement consists of one (1) essay response to a required question and one (1) essay response to one of four questions you select from a list of options provided. In total, you will write two (2) essay responses. The word count is a maximum of 200 words per essay. Required Question: •    Notre Dame is a Catholic university, founded by members of the Congregation of Holy Cross, with a mission to educate the hearts and minds of students. What excites you about attending Notre Dame? Additional Prompts (You choose 1): •    People in the Notre Dame community come from many different places, backgrounds, and walks of life. How is where you’re from a part of who you are? •    Tell us about a time when you advocated for something you believe in. •    If you were given unlimited resources to help solve one problem in your community, what would it be and how would you accomplish it? •    What is the greatest compliment you have ever been given? Why was it meaningful to you?

Does University of Pennsylvania have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

Write a short thank-you note to someone you have not yet thanked and would like to acknowledge. (We encourage you to share this note with that person, if possible, and reflect on the experience!) (150-200 words) •    How will you explore community at Penn? Consider how Penn will help shape your perspective and identity, and how your identity and perspective will help shape Penn. (150-200 words) •    Considering the specific undergraduate school you have selected, how will you explore your intellectual and academic interests at the University of Pennsylvania? (300-450 words)

Does University of Southern California (USC) have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

Describe how you plan to pursue your academic interests and why you want to explore them at USC specifically. Please feel free to address your first- and second-choice major selections. (Approximately 250 words) Describe yourself in three words (25 characters). 1. 2. 3. The following prompts have a 100 character limit: What is your favorite snack? Best movie of all time: Dream job: If your life had a theme song, what would it be? Dream trip: What TV show will you binge watch next? Which well-known person or fictional character would be your ideal roommate? Favorite book: If you could teach a class on any topic, what would it be?

Does University of Vermont have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

You may submit a response to ONE of the following prompts. •     (Optional) 500 words- Respond to one of the following prompts. o    Why UVM? o    Established in 1978 in a renovated gas station in Burlington, VT, Ben and Jerry’s is synonymous with the ice cream business. The company’s success and unique brand identity are due in part to their one-of-a-kind flavors. Which Ben and Jerry’s ice cream flavor (real or imagined) best describes you? o    Whether they are constructing a robot, a stronger sense of community or an identity, UVM students are builders. What would you like to build? o    At UVM, learning extends far beyond the walls of our classrooms. From student-led organizations, to internships and study abroad experiences, UVM students are encouraged to pursue knowledge in all environments. Describe a time when you’ve learned in a non-traditional setting. o    Communities and organizations are stronger when they value diversity of thought. How do you create meaningful connections or conversations with others when they express opinions that differ from your own?

Does University of Virginia have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

•    The first prompt is still tied to the UVA school or college the student selects. We want students to answer the prompt in around 100 words. As always, the boxes on the Common App allow students to go a bit over, so we don’t expect students to write exactly 100 words. Students will then write responses to two prompts out of eleven options in about 50 words each. Again, the Common App boxes allow students to go a little over the stated limit. Some of these are old favorites and some are new. •    What’s your favorite word and why? •    We are a community with quirks, both in language and in traditions. What is one of your quirks? •    About what topic could you speak for an hour? •    Take us to your happy place. •    You can wake up tomorrow and a skill you already have will become expert-level. What skill is that? •    What is the last gift you gave someone that wasn’t bought with money? •    What website is the internet missing? •    After a challenging experience, how do you recharge? •    Tell us about a place you’d like to share with everyone, but also keep to yourself. •    UVA students paint messages on Beta Bridge when they want to share information with our community. What would you paint on Beta Bridge and why is this your message? •    Tell us about a time when, faced with an opinion or perspective that differed from your own, you responded as an empathetic speaker or generous listener.

Does University of Wisconsin (Madison) have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

•    Tell us why you decided to apply to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In addition, please include why you are interested in studying the major(s) you have selected. If you selected undecided please describe your areas of possible academic interest. (650 words)

Does Vanderbilt University have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

Answer one of the prompts in approximately 250 words: •    Vanderbilt offers a community where students find balance between their academic and social experiences. Please briefly elaborate on how one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences has influenced you. •    Vanderbilt University values learning through contrasting points of view. We understand that our differences, and our respect for alternative views and voices, are our greatest source of strength. Please reflect on conversations you’ve had with people who have expressed viewpoints different from your own. How did these conversations/experiences influence you?

Does Vassar College have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

Please select and respond to one of the following prompts in 300 words or less: •    At Vassar, we aim to foster an inclusive community through our philosophy of engaged pluralism. Engaged pluralism is rooted in “the conviction that collaborating across differences is necessary for social transformation and critical for the well-being of any community and its members.” In short, we believe it’s our differences that make us stronger. Tell us a little bit about what makes you unique and what you hope to add to our community. •    Vassar is a diverse community that inspires positive change through open inquiry, deep dives into society’s most difficult challenges, and collaborative problem solving. We care deeply about one another, the communities that have forged us, and the community we build together on campus. Tell us more about the community (or communities) you come from and how it has shaped who you are.

Does Villanova University have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

Essay #1: 250 words- Respond to one of the following prompts. o    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? o    What is the truest thing that you know? o    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. o    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? o    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. Essay #2: Why Nova? (2022-23) •    Why do you want to call Villanova your new home and become part of our community? (150 words)

Does Wake Forest University have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

1. List five books you have read that intrigued you. (Spaces have been left for you to include each book’s title and author and mark whether the selection was required or not required.) 2. Explain how a text you’ve read – fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or literature of any kind – has helped you to understand the world’s complexity. (150 words) 3. Tell us more about the topic that most engages your intellectual curiosity. (150 words) 4. Give us your top ten list. (Theme)

Does Wellesley College have Supplemental Essays?   Yes

•    When choosing a college community, you are choosing a place where you believe that you can live, learn, and flourish. Generations of inspiring women have thrived in the Wellesley community, and we want to know what aspects of this community inspire you to consider Wellesley. We know that there are more than 100 reasons to choose Wellesley, but the “Wellesley 100” is a good place to start. Visit The Wellesley 100 and let us know, in two well-developed paragraphs, which two items most attract, inspire, or energize you and why. (Not-so-secret tip: The “why” matters to us.) (400 words)

Does Wesleyan University College have Supplemental Essays?   No

Does Williams College have Supplemental Essays? No

Williams does not require a writing supplement. However, students who are interested in submitting an example of their written work have the option of sharing an academic paper completed within the last year, ideally 3-5 pages in length. The paper does not need to be graded, and can be creative or analytical. Please do not submit lab reports. If submitting this optional paper, please include a description of the assignment or prompt.

Does Yale University have Supplemental Essays? No

Why Yale? •    Students at Yale have time to explore their academic interests before committing to one or more major fields of study. Many students either modify their original academic direction or change their minds entirely. As of this moment, what academic areas seem to fit your interests or goals most comfortably? Please indicate up to three from the list provided. •    Tell us about a topic or idea that excites you and is related to one or more academic areas you selected above. Why are you drawn to it? (200 words or fewer) •    What is it about Yale that has led you to apply? (125 words or fewer) Applicants applying with the QuestBridge Application will complete the questions above via the Yale QuestBridge Questionnaire, available on the Yale Admissions Status Portal after an application has been received. Applicants submitting the Coalition Application or Common Application will also respond to the following short answer questions, in no more than 200 characters (approximately 35 words): •    What inspires you? (200 characters or fewer) •    Yale’s residential colleges regularly host conversations with guests representing a wide range of experiences and accomplishments. What person, past or present, would you invite to speak? What would you ask them to discuss? (200 characters or fewer) •    You are teaching a new Yale course. What is it called? (200 characters or fewer) •    What is something about you that is not included anywhere else in your application? (200 characters or fewer) Essays Applicants submitting the Coalition Application or Common Application will respond to one of the following prompts in 400 words or fewer. •    Yale carries out its mission “through the free exchange of ideas in an ethical, interdependent, and diverse community.” Reflect on a time when you exchanged ideas about an important issue with someone holding an opposing view. How did the experience lead you either to change your opinion or to sharpen your reasons for holding onto it? •    Reflect on a time when you have worked to enhance a community to which you feel connected. Why have these efforts been meaningful to you? You may define community however you like.

Highly-selective colleges and universities often require supplemental application materials. These materials help further personalize the admissions process so that each college’s admissions committee has the information it needs to select a vibrant and diverse incoming class. 

In this article, we will look at 10 supplemental essay prompts from top colleges and universities for the 2022-23 admissions cycle. Once you get a better sense of what to expect from a supplemental essay prompt, we will outline key strategies for answering these prompts, as well as provide practical writing tips to help you get started.

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What are supplemental essays and are they important?

Each college has its own sets of values and criteria that it looks for in applicants. This is why determining college fit is so important. By carefully researching each school on your college list and having several clear and compelling reasons for wanting to attend, you will increase your overall chances of admission.    

One way that colleges gauge whether or not a student would be a good fit for their university is by posing unique supplemental essay prompts. This is why knowing how to write a supplemental essay is so important. Most colleges with supplemental essays will have applicants write the “why this college” essay . 

Many selective colleges will require additional supplemental essays as well. In some cases, you will need to prepare an additional five essays per school, so give yourself plenty of time to complete each essay thoughtfully, write multiple drafts, seek out feedback, and proofread. The college application process can feel overwhelming at times, so make sure you brainstorm ways to stay organized during the college application process . 

Although the style and content of the actual prompts can vary greatly, at the core these prompts have one thing in common: They are designed to get to know who you are as a person, what your values are, and whether you demonstrate compatibility with the university’s overall mission. 

How to write supplemental essays

If you’re looking for supplemental essay tips, you’ve come to the right place! In this section, we will discuss how to write a good supplemental essay, by providing several key application essay tips. 

To start, it’s important to remember that the process of writing supplemental essays is similar to the process of writing a successful personal statement . Review components of a strong personal statement to give yourself a fresh perspective before beginning your supplemental essays.

Tips for writing supplemental essays

Supplemental essays are typically pretty brief. This is why it’s important to learn how to write concisely and powerfully. Having very few words to respond does not mean that you should prepare your responses casually or that your responses shouldn’t include lots of details. Rather, approach each word limit creatively. Whether you have 50 words, 200 words, or 500 words, try to use each sentence and detail to your advantage. One of the best ways to do this is to begin by freewriting. Write down everything that comes to mind. Take time to fully flush out your ideas. Then review what you’ve written and see what feels most important. These are the details you will want to highlight in your response.

Some colleges will require three to five additional essays. Maybe even more! This is why it’s important to be prepared and plan ahead. Supplemental essays are an important part of your college application and they require a lot of time and effort. While some supplemental essay prompts may be similar between schools, in general, you want to avoid recycling your college essays. Admissions officers can tell when a student is tweaking an existing essay to fit a prompt.

While some essay prompts are required, others are optional. In general, try to answer each prompt thoughtfully and creatively. After all, it’s no secret that college admissions are highly competitive so it’s great to give your application “an edge” whenever possible. That said, there are times when you should pass on writing an optional essay. If you’re not sure whether or not you should submit an essay for an optional prompt, begin by drafting a response. Then ask yourself if the essay feels forced or genuine. Does the essay convey something new about you that isn’t included in the rest of your application? If the question doesn’t seem to apply to you and you are genuinely unsure what to contribute, you should probably skip that particular essay. After all, no one wants to read an uninspired essay that doesn’t contribute to your overall application.

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. Still, other prompts will ask you to introduce who you are as a person or discuss something that you enjoy.

Just as supplemental essay prompts vary in style, your responses will also vary. Some prompts will require you to be thoughtful and serious, while other prompts may encourage you to be humorous or creative. It all depends.

Brown University supplemental essay prompt

As a part of the 2022-23 college applications, Brown University requires three supplemental essays. One of the supplemental essay prompts is as follows:

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? (200-250 words)

Columbia University supplemental essay prompt

As a part of the 2022-23 college applications, Columbia University requires the following supplemental materials: 1 list of 75 words, 1 list of 125 words, 3 essays of 200 words each, and 1 short answer of 35 words. One of their supplemental essay prompts is as follows:

For the following questions, we ask that you list each individual response using commas or semicolons; the items do not have to be numbered or in any specific order. No explanatory text or formatting is needed. (For example, it is not necessary to italicize or underline titles of books or other publications. No author names, subtitles or explanatory remarks are needed.)  

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. (75 words or fewer)

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Dartmouth college supplemental essay prompt.

As a part of the 2022-23 college applications, Dartmouth College requires three supplemental essays. One of the supplemental essay prompts is as follows:

“Be yourself,” Oscar Wilde advised. “Everyone else is taken.” Introduce yourself in 200-250 words. 

Duke University supplemental essay prompt

As a part of the 2022-23 college applications, Duke University requires at least one supplemental essay, with the option to submit an additional two supplemental essays. One of the optional supplemental essay prompts is as follows:

What has been your best academic experience in the last two years, and what made it so good?

Emory University supplemental essay prompt

As a part of the 2022-23 college applications, Emory University requires two supplemental essays. One of the supplemental essay prompts is as follows:

Emory If you could witness a historic event (past, present or future) first-hand, what would it be, and why?

Harvard University supplemental essay prompt

As a part of the 2022-23 college applications, Harvard University requires three supplemental essays. One of the supplemental essay prompts is as follows:

Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. (50-150 words)

MIT supplemental essay prompt

As a part of the 2022-23 college applications, MIT requires five supplemental essays. One of the supplemental essay prompts is as follows:

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.

Princeton University supplemental essay prompt

As a part of the 2022-23 college applications, Princeton University requires three supplemental essays and three short responses. One of the short-answer prompts is as follows:

Please respond to each question in 75 words or fewer. There are no right or wrong answers. Be yourself!

What is a new skill you would like to learn in college?

What brings you joy? 

What song represents the soundtrack of your life at this moment?

Stanford University supplemental essay prompt

As a part of the 2022-23 college applications, Stanford University requires three supplemental essays and five short answer responses. One of the short-answer prompts is as follows:

How did you spend your last two summers? (50-word limit)

UPenn supplemental essay prompt

As a part of the 2022-23 college applications, UPenn requires three supplemental essays. One of the supplemental essay prompts is as follows: 

Write a short thank-you note to someone you have not yet thanked and would like to acknowledge. (We encourage you to share this note with that person, if possible, and reflect on the experience!) (150-200 words)

Yale University supplemental essay prompt

As a part of the 2022-23 college applications, Yale University requires the following supplemental materials: 1 list; 6 short answer questions; 1 additional short essay of 400 words. One of the short answer prompts is as follows:

Yale’s residential colleges regularly host conversations with guests representing a wide range of experiences and accomplishments. What person, past or present, would you invite to speak? What would you ask them to discuss? (200 characters or fewer)

Supplemental essay examples

One of the best ways to prepare your supplemental essay responses is to look at successful past examples. In this section, we will look at three examples and explain why each response is successful. 

This first example was submitted as a part of Harvard’s college application. This essay is in response to the prompt: Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. (50-150 words).

Feet moving, eyes up, every shot back, chants the silent mantra in my head. The ball becomes a beacon of neon green as I dart forward and backward, shuffling from corner to far corner of the court, determined not to let a single point escape me. With bated breath, I swing my racquet upwards and outwards and it catches the ball just in time to propel it, spinning, over the net. My heart soars as my grinning teammates cheer from the sidelines. While I greatly value the endurance, tenacity, and persistence that I have developed while playing tennis throughout the last four years, I will always most cherish the bonds that I have created and maintained each year with my team.

This essay uses rich, descriptive language to evoke a clear sense of movement and place. The first paragraph shows a creative and expert control of language, whereas the second paragraph uses straightforward language to highlight key characteristics. Overall, this response is creative, well-balanced, and uses each word to its advantage. 

Source: https://www.collegeadvisor.com/essay-guides/harvard-university-essay-examples-and-why-they-worked/  

This essay was submitted as a part of an MIT college application. The supplemental essay prompt that it addresses is: 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?

We were moving away from my home of thirteen years to go miles and miles away, from my whole life. Worst of all: away from New York City – the only place in the world worth knowing – or so I thought. The town might as well have been called “Miniscule Ville”. I resented every second of it. The real shocking thing to me was almost that anything existed outside of New York City. NYC is a world of its own, with its own pulses and lifeblood. I still think it’s a great place, and I’ll likely at least visit it someday, but right now, I want to visit everywhere. My move humbled me. I began to love nature walks, the friendly camaraderie of the small town, and saw a world I never imagined. I thought I knew it all just because I lived in New York. Here was a great place, hidden from view. I loved experiencing that new world, learning local history, and most of all, learning the life stories of my new neighbors, each one of whom had a fascinating life. My greatest dream is to be a journalist, covering other countries, and learning about new worlds and neighbors. My old perspective feels so limited. If I can share global stories, I can open up my perspective, and I can share those stories with a thousand homes so readers can learn about other perspectives as well. The world is full of different lives. Everywhere is somebody’s home.

This essay covers a lot of material; most impressively, it shows a shift in perspective and its effect on the student’s lived experience. It also clearly explains the student’s academic and professional goals. The tone of this essay is both confident and humble. It demonstrates who this student is as a person, what their goals are, and what they value.  

Source: https://bemoacademicconsulting.com/blog/mit-supplemental-essay-examples  

This essay was submitted as a part of a Duke college application. The essay addresses the prompt: What has been your best academic experience in the last two years, and what made it so good?

Most teachers who taught me talked a big game about wanting students to engage in debate, or “dialectic” as they called it, and to challenge their ideas. In my experience, most of this was a fabrication. The best essay grades and participation marks were found through parroting what was dictated from on high. Did the teacher think such-and-such is the “correct” interpretation of a novel? You did, too, or you lost points. None of that was true for Ms. Jackie Winters. The first essay I sent her came back with the note, “This doesn’t sound like you; it sounds like me.” I asked her about the note, and this initiated a marvelous learning environment, in which I grew faster than I ever have in any other class. Discussions were lively, and the more I presented my authentic views, the more I was respected. My grades were dependent on being backed up by rhetoric, sources, and logic, not by compliance. Due to this engagement, this was the most enjoyable English literature class I had, and I feel like my viewpoints were challenged. I learned to question my ideas and dig into a text for the best results. Best of all, I was putting in more and more effort to find good, quality sources to back up my arguments. I was held to a high standard and shown respect, and I believe that those qualities made for the best learning environment possible

This essay clearly shows a shift in perspective and the effects it had on this student’s ability to think, speak, and write critically. Structurally, this essay uses an anecdote to introduce and contextualize a topic, but the essay itself isn’t overly narrative. Rather, the student explains, in detail, how this teacher’s encouragement and guidance have influenced their willingness and ability to engage with the source material and academic discourse.

Source: https://bemoacademicconsulting.com/blog/duke-supplemental-essay-examples  

Key takeaways and moving forward

Supplemental essays are an important part of your college applications. In fact, they are a key factor in what college admissions officers look for in an applicant . Highly-selective colleges and universities use supplemental essays to further personalize the college admissions process. After all, thousands of qualified students apply to Ivy League institutions each year and only a small fraction are admitted. Supplemental essays allow you to share more about who you are as a person and as a student. Use each prompt as an opportunity to add something new to your college application. If you feel like you could benefit from professional guidance throughout this process, reach out to learn more about our services .

Frequently asked questions and answers

Still have questions about supplemental essays and the effects they have on college applications? Review the following frequently asked questions and answers for further insight on supplemental essays. 

How important are supplemental essays?

Supplemental essays are an incredibly important part of your college applications and should be properly prioritized. If a college didn’t care about your response, they wouldn’t ask you in the first place. Put plenty of time and care into your responses. Write several drafts, seek out feedback, and always proofread.

How long should supplemental essays be?

Always follow directions. Colleges will specify how long each supplemental essay should be, usually right after the prompt itself. Depending on the college, and the prompt, a supplemental essay’s word count may range anywhere from 50 to 500 words.

Do supplemental essays change every year?

It all depends on the college. Colleges often reuse past prompts, but there are no guarantees. This is why it’s important to plan ahead and make a list of supplemental essay prompts early on in the college application process.

Are supplemental essays required?

Sometimes colleges will have both required and optional supplemental essays. That said, the essay prompts are clearly labeled. In short, each college will specify whether supplemental essays are required. 

Do all colleges have supplemental essays?

No, not all colleges have supplemental essays. Highly-selective colleges, however, often require at least one additional essay.

• December 14, 2022

Supplemental Essay Guide for 2022-23 Prompts

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Franklin and Marshall Requirements for Admission

Choose your test.

What are Franklin and Marshall'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 Franklin and Marshall and build a strong application.

School location: Lancaster, PA

This school is also known as: Franklin & Marshall College, F&M, Franklin and Marshall

Admissions Rate: 36.2%

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 Franklin and Marshall is 36.2% . For every 100 applicants, 36 are admitted.

This means the school is very selective . If you meet Franklin and Marshall's requirements for GPA, SAT/ACT scores, and other components of the application, you have a great shot at getting in. But if you fall short on GPA or your SAT/ACT scores, you'll have a very low chance of being admitted, even if you meet the other admissions requirements.

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.

Franklin and Marshall 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: 3.83

The average GPA at Franklin and Marshall is 3.83 .

(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA. This school did not officially report its average GPA, but we've estimated it here using data from over 1,000 schools.)

With a GPA of 3.83, Franklin and Marshall requires you to be near the top of your class , and well above average. Your transcript should show mostly A's. Ideally, you will also have taken several AP or IB classes to show that you can handle academics at a college level.

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 3.83, 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.

Franklin and Marshall 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 Franklin and Marshall 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.

Franklin and Marshall 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: 1350

The average SAT score composite at Franklin and Marshall is a 1350 on the 1600 SAT scale.

This score makes Franklin and Marshall Moderately Competitive for SAT test scores.

Franklin and Marshall SAT Score Analysis (New 1600 SAT)

The 25th percentile SAT score is 1300, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1410. In other words, a 1300 on the SAT places you below average, while a 1410 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.

Franklin and Marshall ACT Requirements

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

Average ACT: 31

The average ACT score at Franklin and Marshall is 31. This score makes Franklin and Marshall Strongly Competitive for ACT scores.

The 25th percentile ACT score is 29, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 32.

Even though Franklin and Marshall likely says they have no minimum ACT requirement, if you apply with a 29 or below, you'll have a very hard time getting in, unless you have something else very impressive in your application. There are so many applicants scoring 31 and above that a 29 will look academically weak.

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 32 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 Franklin and Marshall, so you should prep until you reach our recommended target ACT score of 32.

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.

Franklin and Marshall 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 it.

Final Admissions Verdict

Because this school is very selective, strong academic scores are critical to improving your chances of admission . If you're able to score a 1410 SAT or a 32 ACT or above, you'll have a very strong chance at getting in.

For a school as selective as Franklin and Marshall, rounding out the rest of your application will also help. We'll cover those details next.

But if you apply with a score below a 1410 SAT or a 32 ACT, you unfortunately have a low chance of getting in. There are just too many other applicants with high SAT/ACT scores and strong applications, and you need to compete against them.

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 Franklin and Marshall here.

Application Requirements Overview

• Common Application Accepted
• Electronic Application Available
• Essay or Personal Statement Required for all freshmen
• Letters of Recommendation 2
• Interview Not required
• Application Fee $60
• Fee Waiver Available? Available
• Other Notes Common Application Supplement required for freshmen

Testing Requirements

• SAT or ACT Considered if submitted
• SAT Essay or ACT Writing Optional
• SAT Subject Tests
• Scores Due in Office January 15

Coursework Requirements

• Subject Required Years
• Foreign Language 2
• Social Studies 1

Deadlines and Early Admissions

• Offered? Deadline Notification
• Yes January 15 April 1
• Yes November 15, January 15 December 15, February 15

Admissions Office Information

• Address: PO Box 3003 Lancaster, PA 17604-3003
• Phone: (717) 358-3911 x3911
• Fax: (717) 291-4389
• Email: [email protected]

Other Schools For You

If you're interested in Franklin and Marshall, 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 Franklin and Marshall.

Reach Schools: Harder to Get Into

These schools are have higher average SAT scores than Franklin and Marshall. 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 Franklin and Marshall, these schools will offer you a similar chance of admission.

Safety Schools: Easier to Get Into

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

Data on this page is sourced from Peterson's Databases © 2023 (Peterson's LLC. All rights reserved.) as well as additional publicly available sources.

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Franklin & Marshall College

Franklin & Marshall College offers students a hands-on education that emphasizes close relationships with faculty. With a 236-year history of academic excellence, the College unleashes the potential in students to help them achieve beyond what they themselves thought possible. Students flourish in a supportive community that treats them as an individual, and their successes continue long after F&M. The College is a national leader in launching students and alumni to opportunities where they make a difference in the community and the world.

Academic programs.

• Art & Design
• Communication
• Engineering
• Finance/Accounting
• Government/Political Science
• Health Science
• Liberal Arts
• Performing Arts
• Social Science
• Visual Arts

Student experience

• Co-op/Internship Opportunities
• Disability Services
• Intramural/Club Sports
• LGBTQIA Services
• On-Campus Housing
• Study Abroad
• Undergraduate Research

Application information

Find out about requirements, fees, and deadlines

Finding the right fit Think of the college search and application process as an adventure. There will be amazing discoveries, a-ha moments and the occasional detour, but at the end of the journey, your perfect college fit awaits. Our application process abounds with options — much like what you’ll experience as a student here.

• Choose  Early Decision  if you are sure that Franklin & Marshall is the best fit for you.

F&M is a welcoming place for transfer students.

The academics are challenging, the classes are intimate, and the community is warm and supportive. There are ample opportunities for research, independent study and internships, which will help you to develop an educational experience that fits your interests and goals. We hope you'll make F&M your new college home. F&M offers orientation programming for incoming transfer students to ensure a smooth transition into academic and student life at F&M. Meet a few of our current transfer students .

Additional Information

Franklin & Marshall offers multiple forms of aid to make our extraordinary education affordable to all students. We remain committed to meeting the institutionally determined financial need of our students. We are also dedicated to recruiting talent regardless of background. To that end, F&M offers merit aid on a limited basis.

We want you here! Visiting Franklin & Marshall is by far the best way to get a feel for the College. Our Office of Admission is prepared to help you build your visit to suit your needs, and we offer a variety of options.  https://www.fandm.edu/visit/admission-visit

Within a supportive community that values individuality and developing one's own voice, our students discover how to unleash their talent and exceed their own expectations. At Franklin & Marshall College, we create the education we seek.

Admissions office

637 College Ave Lancaster , PA 17603 , United States of America

[email protected]

Phone number

(877) 678-9111

For first-year students

Admissions website.

www.fandm.edu/admission

Financial aid website

www.fandm.edu/financial-aid

For transfer students

Mid-Atlantic

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The Ultimate Guide to 2022-2023 Brown Supplemental Essays

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Join college consultant Shane Niesen and CollegeVine co-founder Vinay Bhaskara in this stream all about the Brown supplemental essays!

Shane and Vinay will be going through every detail you should know to successfully answer these prompts and be taking your questions along the way. Don't miss this opportunity to receive advice directly from experts!

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Franklin & Marshall Undergraduate College Application Essays

These Franklin & Marshall college application essays were written by students accepted at Franklin & Marshall. All of our sample college essays include the question prompt and the year written. Please use these sample admission essays responsibly.

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• Undergraduate

College Application Essays accepted by Franklin & Marshall

My invisible army anonymous, franklin & marshall.

Here’s a sob story for you: my father died when I was four. My mother has always been legally blind, but shortly after my father’s death, when I was six, she fell and broke her back. Two years later, she had a brain hemotoma and nearly passed...

The Impostor Anonymous

I couldn’t find the elevator button. Minutes away from my first big meeting, my first real taste of corporate America, and the elevator seemed determined to snatch away my moment of glory. I tried to maintain my self-assured countenance, practiced...

A Souper Quest Anonymous

Where can you find the best French onion soup? Answering that question has been my quest for the last ten years of my life. I was first introduced to French onion soup when I was a young boy at a restaurant located a block from my house in Basking...

The Peak of Scouting Max B Grove

"Mr. Grove, you can come back in the room now." Wiping pints of sweat off my forehead, my heart racing, I reenter the room containing four people: the four people whose sole job is to challenge everything I have done for the past six years. Maybe...

My Hands Anonymous

My hair used to fall out because I thought I was strong, my heartbeat used to waver because I thought I was in control, and my hands used to shake because, for the first time, I thought I was beautiful.

My hands have done great things. I used my...

Do You Hear What I Hear? Xiang (Helen) Ji

From the first game of "broken telephone" in kindergarten, I knew I was different. Diagnosed with moderate hearing loss, I resorted to books and to my imaginary haven. I have had three-sentence Spanish conversations with Dora, casted spells in the...

Moving Yutong He

Nine - this number means the amount of times I have moved. I was five the first time I moved, and I remember looking at the big truck came and took away our packages. The fountain of water that bubbles near my new home was funny. Moving is great!...

Mother Cow Erica Messics

A cow gave birth and I watched. Staring from the window of our stopped car, I experienced two beginnings that day: the small bovine life and my future. Both emerged when I was only 10 years old and cruising along the twisting roads of rural...

Recent Questions about Franklin & Marshall

The Question and Answer section for Franklin & Marshall is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Colleges Without Supplemental Essays: 2022-2023

• Post author By Top Tier Admissions
• Post date October 11, 2022
• No Comments on Colleges Without Supplemental Essays: 2022-2023

With the extension of test-optional policies at many top colleges and universities for the 2022-2023 application cycle, we can expect another year of flooded applicant pools. This test-optional environment begets a high volume of applications and, in some cases, a larger incoming class. For instance, Princeton’s Class of 2026 is their largest class EVER ! Simply put, more students are throwing their hats into the ring at all levels of schools.

Though Princeton has remained test-optional, they do still require supplemental essays . If you are applying through their single-choice early action application round (a non-binding option, though you’re unable to apply to other early round schools), these essays should be near completion, if they’re not already finalized.

But not all schools require extra essays!

Essay Guidance

Get our expert guidance on your college essays.

If you’re looking for a college or two that doesn’t require any supplemental essays, you won’t have to look far! Check out this sample of colleges and universities that do not require any additional supplemental essays this admissions cycle.

SAMPLE LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGES WITHOUT SUPPLEMENTAL ESSAYS

• Albion College (application essay – recommended, not required)   
• Allegheny College   
• Bates College
• Beloit College
• Coe College  (personal essay optional for students who meet Coe’s minimum academic standards )
• Colby College
• College of the Holy Cross
• Connecticut College 
• Denison University
• DePauw University 
• Dickinson University
• Drew University  
• Farleigh Dickinson (essays are optional, but welcome)
• Franklin and Marshall College
• Furman University
• Gettysburg College 
• Goucher College
• Grinnell College
• Hamilton College
• Hanover College (application essay – optional)
• Hollins University
• Hope College
• Juniata College
• Kent St a te
• Kenyon College
• Middlebury College
• Muhlenberg College
• New College of Florida
• Oberlin College
• Ripon College (optional personal statement)
• Rhodes College
• Sewanee—University of the South
• Siena College  
• Skidmore College
• St. John’s University  (Personal Essay- recommended, Why essay for Pharmacy program)
• St. Lawrence University
• Susquehanna University 
• Thomas Aquinas College
• Ursinus College (optional short response)
• Wesleyan University  
• Whitman College

SAMPLE UNIVERSITIES WITHOUT SUPPLEMENTAL ESSAYS

• Case Western Reserve University 
• Clemson University
• DePaul University
• Drexel University  (essay for Westphal College of Media Arts & Design and custom-designed majors)
• Fordham University (optional personal essays)
• Miami University—Oxford
• New Jersey Institute of Technology  (Albert Dorman Honors College has an essay requirement)
• Northeastern University
• Ohio State University   (Honors, Scholars, Morrill Scholarship Program and some majors have additional essay requirements)
• Seton Hall University
• Stevens Institute of Technology  (Accelerated Medicine program has an additional writing question)
• SUNY Binghamton University  
• SUNY Buffalo  
• Tem p le University (optional essay)
• Tulane University (optional supplemental essays)
• University of Alabama
• University of Arkansas
• University of Colorado -Denver
• University of Connecticut
• University of Dayton 
• University of Delaware  
• University of Denver
• University of Iowa  (personal statement required if not submitting test scores)
• University of Minnesota  
• University of Nebraska—Lincoln  (personal statement required to be considered for leadership and diversity scholarships)
• University of New Hampshire 
• University of the Pacific
• University of Pittsburgh  (personal statement required to be considered for scholarships, essay required for Pitt Honors admission)
• University of St. Thomas  (essays recommended, but not required)
• University of Vermont  (optional essay questions recommended, but not required)

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Even if you choose to apply to schools that don’t require supplemental essays, most still require the personal statement. With the November 1 early decision deadline looming, Top Tier Admissions is here to help you craft a distinctive, compelling, and uniquely you essay. From brainstorming to the writing process to pushing through writer’s block, we can make sure your essay will stand out from the crowd.

Seeking reassurance that your essay(s), application and strategy are on-point? Our trusted team is here to support you with our Application Review Program .

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Common App Schools That Don't Require Extra Essays (2022-23)

There are many colleges and universities that use the Common Application but do not require any additional essays or writing supplements as part of their application process. This can make the application process more straightforward and less time-consuming for students. Some of these schools include American University, University of Delaware, Georgia State University, Howard University, and University of Vermont, among others. However, it's important to note that even if a school doesn't require additional essays, they may still require other application materials such as transcripts, test scores, and letters of recommendation.

Here is a list of Common App Schools that do not require supplemental essays for the 2022-23 application cycle:

1. American University

2. Amherst College

3. Babson College

4. Baldwin Wallace University

5. Barnard College

6. Baylor University

7. Binghamton University

8. Boston College

9. Boston University

10. Bowdoin College

11. Brigham Young University

12. Brown University

13. Bucknell University

14. California Institute of Technology

15. Carnegie Mellon University

16. Case Western Reserve University

17. Claremont McKenna College

18. Colgate University

19. College of Charleston

20. College of the Holy Cross

21. College of William and Mary

22. Colorado College

23. Columbia University

24. Cornell College

25. Cornell University

26. Dartmouth College

27. Davidson College

28. Denison University

29. DePauw University

30. Dickinson College

31. Drew University

32. Drexel University

33. Duke University

34. Elon University

35. Emory University

36. Fordham University

37. Franklin & Marshall College

38. Furman University

39. George Mason University

40. George Washington University

41. Georgetown University

42. Georgia Institute of Technology

43. Gettysburg College

44. Gonzaga University

45. Grinnell College

46. Hamilton College

47. Hampshire College

48. Harvey Mudd College

49. Haverford College

50. High Point University

51. Hobart and William Smith Colleges

52. Hofstra University

53. Howard University

54. Illinois Wesleyan University

55. Indiana University Bloomington

56. Iona College

57. Iowa State University

58. Ithaca College

59. James Madison University

60. Johns Hopkins University

61. Juniata College

62. Kalamazoo College

63. Kenyon College

64. Lafayette College

65. Lake Forest College

66. Lehigh University

67. Lewis & Clark College

68. Louisiana State University

69. Loyola Marymount University

70. Loyola University Chicago

71. Loyola University Maryland

72. Macalester College

73. Marquette University

74. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

75. Miami University - Oxford

76. Michigan State University

77. Middlebury College

78. Mills College

79. Muhlenberg College

80. New College of Florida

81. New York University

82. Northeastern University

83. Northwestern University

84. Oberlin College

85. Occidental College

86. Ohio State University

87. Ohio University

88. Ohio Wesleyan University

89. Oregon State University

90. Pace University

91. Pennsylvania State University

92. Pepperdine University

93. Pitzer College

94. Pomona College

95. Princeton University

96. Providence College

97. Purdue University

98. Quinnipiac University

99. Reed College

100. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

101. Rhodes College

102. Rice University

103. Richmond, The American International University in London

104. Rochester Institute of Technology

105. Rollins College

106. Rutgers University-New Brunswick

107. Saint Louis University

108. Saint Mary's College of California

109. San Diego State University

110. Santa Clara University

111. Sarah Lawrence College

112. Scripps College

113. Sewanee: The University of the South

114. Siena College

115. Skidmore College

116. Smith College

117. Southern Methodist University

118. Southwestern University

In conclusion, applying to colleges can be a time-consuming and overwhelming process, but knowing which schools don't require extra essays can save you a lot of time and effort. The Common App is widely used by colleges and universities, and this list of schools that don't require extra essays for the 2022-23 application cycle can be helpful for students who want to streamline their application process. However, it's important to keep in mind that even if a school doesn't require extra essays, it's still important to put in effort into your application and showcase your strengths and unique qualities.

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Free Resources

Supplemental Essay Guide 2024-25

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.

Acceptance Rate

Undergrad population.

• Liberal Arts (52)

* Tuition filtering is based on out-of-state fees

Agnes Scott College 2023-24 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Alvernia University 2023-24 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide  

American university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, amherst college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, babson college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, bard college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide  , barnard college 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, baylor university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide  , bennington college 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, bentley university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, berry college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, bethany college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, bishop’s university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, boston college (bc) 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, boston university (bu) 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, bowdoin college 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, brandeis university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide , brown university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, bryn mawr college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, bucknell university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, butler university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, california institute of technology (caltech) 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, california lutheran university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, capitol technology university 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, carleton college 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, carnegie mellon university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide , catawba college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, centre college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, chapman university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, claremont mckenna college 2023-24 supplemental essay guide  , clark university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, college of mount saint vincent 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, college of william & mary 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, college of wooster 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, colorado college 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, colorado school of mines 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, columbia university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, cornell university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, culver-stockton college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, d’youville university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, dartmouth college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, davidson college 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, drexel university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, duke university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, earlham college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, elon university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, emerson college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, emory university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, flagler college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, fordham university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, george mason university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, georgetown university 2023-24 essay prompt guide, georgia state university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide  , georgia tech 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, gonzaga university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, harvard university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, harvey mudd college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, haverford college 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, hillsdale college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide  , hofstra university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, illinois institute of technology 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, illinois wesleyan university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, indiana university bloomington 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, ithaca college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, johns hopkins university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, kalamazoo college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, lafayette college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, lehigh university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, lewis and clark college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, linfield university 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, loyola marymount university (lmu) 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide , lynn university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, macalester college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, malone university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, manchester university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, marist college 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, mary baldwin university 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, massachusetts institute of technology (mit) 2023-24 essay prompt guide, meredith college 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, monmouth college 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, moravian university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, morehouse college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, mount holyoke college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, new york university (nyu) 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, north park university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, northwestern university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, occidental college 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, oklahoma city university 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, olin college of engineering 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, pepperdine university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, pitzer college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, pomona college 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, princeton university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, providence college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, purdue university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, rensselaer polytechnic institute 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, rice university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, saint elizabeth university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, santa clara university 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, sarah lawrence college 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, scripps college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, seattle pacific university 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, smith college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, soka university of america 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, southern methodist university 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, st. john’s college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, stanford university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, stonehill college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide  , swarthmore college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, syracuse university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, texas a&m university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, texas christian university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, the college of idaho 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide  , the george washington university 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, the new school 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, trinity college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, tufts university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, tulane university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of california 2023-24 essay prompt guide, university of central florida 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of chicago 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of cincinnati 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of colorado boulder 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of florida 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of georgia 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of illinois urbana-champaign 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, university of maryland 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of massachusetts amherst 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of miami 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide  , university of michigan 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of minnesota twin cities 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide , university of north carolina (unc) 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of north carolina at charlotte 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of north carolina at greensboro 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of notre dame 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of oklahoma 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide , university of oregon 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of pennsylvania (upenn) 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of pittsburgh 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide , university of richmond 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, university of san diego 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide , university of san francisco 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of southern california (usc) 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of texas at austin 2023-24 essay prompt guide, university of tulsa 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of vermont 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of virginia (uva) 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of washington (uw) 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of wisconsin-madison 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, vanderbilt university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, vassar college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, villanova university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, virginia tech 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, wake forest university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, washington and lee university 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, washington university in st. louis 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, wellesley college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, williams college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, worcester polytechnic institute (wpi) 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, yale university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide.

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About FandM

Franklin & Marshall College is a private, nonprofit college in the suburb of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. FandM was founded in 1787. The college currently enrolls around 1,990 students per year, including 1,990 undergrads.

2022 Acceptance Rate for Franklin & Marshall College

It is very difficult to get into FandM. FandM admitted 36% of all applicants in 2022. In 2022, 8,923 students applied to FandM and 3,233 were admitted.

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Franklin & Marshall College is located in the town of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in the suburbs of Philadelphia.

If you would like to see FandM for yourself, plan a visit. The best way to reach campus is to take Route 30 to Lancaster, or book a flight to the nearest airport, Harrisburg International.

You can also take a virtual campus tour to get a sense of what Franklin & Marshall College and Lancaster are like without leaving home.

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PO Box 3003 Lancaster, PA 17604-3003

Campus Setting: Suburban

FandM Application Deadline

First-Year Applications are Due

Transfer Applications are Due

The deadline for Fall first-year applications to FandM is Jan 15.

The deadline for Fall transfer applications to FandM is Apr 15.

Check the school website for more information about deadlines for specific programs or special admissions programs

FandM SAT Scores

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1300 - 1410

Math SAT Range

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Estimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score

Estimated Chance

1410 and Above

1300 to 1410

1300 and Less

SAT Scores Needed to Get Accepted

The median SAT score for FandM students is 1350. Applicants with SAT scores of 1410 and above have a good chance of being admitted to FandM, while applicants with SAT scores between 1300 to 1410 have an average chance of admittance, and prospective students with an SAT score below 1300 have a low chance of being offered a spot at FandM.

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Wondering what life at FandM is like? There are approximately 1,990 students enrolled at FandM. 100% percent of students attend school full-time, 32% percent are from PA and 68% percent of students are from other states.

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15+ Colleges That Don’t Require Supplemental Essays

• March 12, 2022

Colleges with no supplemental essays: It takes a lot of time to apply to so many colleges, especially because many want additional essays. Ten to twenty additional essays may be required if you apply to ten institutions.

There are many institutions that don’t demand additional writings beyond the Common App essay or personal statement if you don’t want to write them.

Even if it isn’t comprehensive, the article does contain a wide spectrum of colleges that don’t require Supplemental Essays. Schools that need optional essays are also included in our list, and we always encourage applicants to submit them.

Table of Contents

Do Supplementary Essays Matter?

Remember that each institution has an application fee, so you may want to limit your applications. Also, keep in mind that you should only apply to universities that you can see yourself attending.

Not all college applications require extra essays. Except for a few significant outliers, many of the universities on this list are good safety or match schools.

If a supplemental essay is optional, we strongly advise writing one. This is especially true for overseas students who face greater competition. It’s true that some institutions have “hidden” additional essays for international students.

Top Colleges that don’t require Supplemental Essays:

Case western reserve university:.

Case Western Reserve University is a private research university in Cleveland, Ohio. Case Western Reserve University has an admittance rate of 29.3%. For every 100 people that apply, only 29 of them will be accepted.

This hints at the school’s high standard of admissions. Because Case Western Reserve University requires a high GPA as well as strong SAT/ACT scores, you have a good chance of being accepted if you match their admission standards with an acceptance rate of 30.3%.

Visit school

Middlebury College:

Middlebury College is an undergraduate institution; a graduate school of international studies; a center for immersive language study; a graduate school of literature, literacy, and pedagogy; a global leader in school abroad sites; and the home of the world’s oldest and most prestigious writers’ conference.

As one of the colleges that don’t require supplemental essays, they have an acceptance rate of 22% (for every 100 people that apply, only 22 of them will be accepted).

Skidmore College:

Skidmore is a highly ranked residential liberal arts institution located in Saratoga Springs, New York on 1,000 acres of natural splendor.

It offers a vibrant college experience with 2,500 students from 40 states and 70 countries, 43 majors, more than 100 student clubs, supported research and internship opportunities, and 118 study abroad programs.

As one of the colleges that don’t require supplemental essays, it has an acceptance rate of 32.2% (for every 100 people that apply, only 32 of them will be accepted).

Connecticut College:

Connecticut College is a thriving private, coeducational liberal arts college noted for generating exceptional students who are drawn to the college by its demanding, interdisciplinary curriculum and integrative residential life program.

With a 37.7% acceptance rate, 38 applications out of every 100 are admitted. This indicates that the school is extremely selective.

As one of the colleges that don’t require supplemental essays, if you meet Connecticut College’s GPA, SAT/ACT score, and other applicable standards, you have a good chance of admission.

Spelman College:

Spelman College was founded in 1881 and is largely regarded as the global leader in the education of women of African origin. The College’s lovely campus, located in Atlanta, is home to 2,100 students.

Spelman is the biggest producer of Black women who get doctorates in the country. The school has an acceptance rate of 52.6%; for every 100 people that apply, only 56 of them will be accepted.

Spelman College is one of the colleges that don’t require supplemental essays.

Franklin & Marshall College:

Franklin & Marshall’s admissions process is highly selective, with a 30% acceptance rate (for every 100 people that apply, only 30 of them will be accepted).

For students admitted to Franklin and Marshall, an average SAT score of 1200-1420 or an average ACT score of 28-31 is required for admission.

It is one of the colleges with no supplemental essays.

Read more: Top 10 Easy majors that pay well in 2022 (Expert Research)

Wesleyan University:

Wesleyan University is a Middletown, Connecticut-based private liberal arts university.

With an acceptance rate of 20.9% (for every 100 people that apply, only 21 of them will be accepted) for the 2020–2021 admissions cycle, students who enrolled had a median SAT score of 1340-1510, with 49% submitting data, and an ACT score of 31-34, with 37% submitting scores.

More so, supplemental essays are required from international students for admission.

Hamilton College:

Hamilton College, located in Clinton, New York, is a private liberal arts college. Hamilton-Oneida Academy was established in 1793 and renamed Hamilton College in 1812 in honor of first trustee Alexander Hamilton.

Hamilton is dedicated to students’ intellectual and personal development.

As one of the colleges with no supplemental essays, they foster a love of study, a creative spirit, and an informed and responsible engagement with our ever-changing world, with an admission rate of 18.4% (for every 100 people that apply, only 19 of them will be accepted).

Colgate University:

Colgate is a unique, leading American university noted for its intellectual rigor, world-class faculty, magnificent campus, and famously devoted alumni.

The world has repeatedly demonstrated an essential need for citizens capable of creating, exploring, examining, and connecting human knowledge.

Colgate University has responded to that demand for decades through academic rigor grounded in the liberal arts tradition. The school has an acceptance rate of 27.5%, for every 100 people that apply, only 28 of them will be accepted.

Colgate University is one of the colleges with no supplemental essays.

Colby College:

Colby is unique in that it offers an intimate, undergraduate-focused learning environment with a breadth of programs that gives students and faculty unmatched opportunities.

A varied and supportive community sustains a vibrant and fully integrated academic, residential, and co-curricular experience.

Colby College, located in Waterville, Maine, is a worldwide college with students from virtually every state in the United States and about 70 countries and an acceptance rate of 10.3%, for every 100 people that apply, only 10 of them will be accepted.

Northeastern University:

Northeastern offers over 200 online, in-class, and hybrid graduate degree and certificate programs in 20 distinct fields of study, which means that prospective students have an abundance of options for pursuing their personal and professional goals.

As one of the colleges that don’t require supplemental essays, the school has an acceptance rate of 20.5%, for every 100 people that apply, only 21 of them will be accepted.

University of Miami:

The University of Miami is a well-regarded institution that provides its students with an excellent education. To guarantee that academics remain a top focus at the University of Miami, competition is fierce.

It is widely regarded as Florida’s best and one of the world’s best research institutions with an acceptance rate of 33.1%, for every 100 people that apply, only 33 of them will be accepted.

Read more: Top 10 Preppy Colleges in the US | 2022

Grinnell College:

Grinnell is renowned for its academic rigor, innovative teaching methods, and commitment to social justice.

Grinnell’s acceptance rate of 19.2% (for every 100 people that apply, only 19 of them will be accepted) places it seventh among liberal arts colleges in terms of endowment-to-student ratio, enabling need-blind admissions and large academic merit scholarships to increase socioeconomic diversity.

Grinnell College is one of the colleges that don’t require supplemental essays.

Kenyon College:

With a 36.9% admission rate (for every 100 people that apply, only 37 of them will be accepted), Kenyon College is reasonably priced for the high-quality education it provides, earning a fair value designation from College Factual’s study.

Kenyon’s undergraduate curriculum is ranked among the best in the world. The unmatched combination of intellectual students, outstanding professors, and a gorgeous campus is unmatched.

This is a demanding institution that will put you to the test on every level, yet it is similar to other renownedly demanding schools.

Williams College:

Williams College is a Williamstown, Massachusetts-based private liberal arts college. Williams College expects students to have a minimum GPA of 4.07 and to be at the top of their class.

To compete with other applicants, you’ll need practically straight A’s in all of your classes.

Additionally, you should have taken a sufficient number of AP or IB subjects to demonstrate your ability to achieve academically.

As one of the colleges with no supplemental essays, they have an acceptance rate of 15.1% (For every 100 people that apply, only 15 of them will be accepted) and students can submit an optional academic paper.

University of Iowa:

The University of Iowa is renowned for its excellence in the arts and sciences, offering world-class undergraduate, graduate, and professional academic programs in a broad range of fields.

Iowa’s admissions process is rather selective, with an acceptance rate of 83% (For every 100 people that apply, only 83 of them will be accepted). For admission, supplemental essays for specific programs of study.

Read more: Top Jesuit Colleges in the US | 2022

Colleges with optional Supplemental Essays:

Numerous institutions waive the requirement for extra essays from prospective students, owing to a lack of time and resources, as there are frequently thousands of essays submitted for critical study and assessment by admission officers.

The costs of reading and evaluating each prospective applicant’s essay may outweigh the benefits of obtaining further information about candidates, hence necessitating the waiver of the supplemental essays.

Bowdoin College:

Bowdoin’s applications process is exceptionally selective, with a 9% acceptance rate. Bowdoin accepts students with an average SAT score of 1360-1510 or an average ACT score of 31-33.

It is one of the colleges with optional supplemental essays.

​​Northwestern University:

Northwestern is one of the most competitive private colleges or institutions in the United States, with an acceptance rate of 10.70%, an average SAT score of 1480, an average ACT score of 33, and an approximate average unweighted GPA of 4. 

Sarah Lawrence College:

Sarah Lawrence College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in Yonkers, approximately 25 kilometers north of central Manhattan.

Its innovative approach to education allows students to design their own course of study, a feature that distinguishes it as one of the state’s most prestigious liberal arts institutions.

As one of the colleges with optional supplemental essays, they have an acceptance rate of 54.6%. 

Washington and Lee University:

Washington and Lee University’s admissions process is extremely selective, with a 24% acceptance rate.

As one of the colleges with optional supplemental essays, half of Washington and Lee’s admitted students have a SAT score of between 1350 and 1500 or an ACT score of between 32 and 34.

Conclusion:

By limiting your application to schools that do not require a supplement, you significantly reduce your alternatives. Supplements, on the other hand, can demonstrate your commitment to a college.

After all, you can convince a college why they should accept you. Writing a supplemental essay may dissuade you from applying to a school if you are not as enthusiastic about it as you anticipated.

Awesome one; I hope this article answers your question.

Editor’s Recommendations:

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• 5 Most Expensive Colleges In California (FAQs)
• 15 Best Ways To Take Notes In College (FAQs)
• When Is It Too Late To Transfer Colleges (13+ Questions, FAQs)
• 9 Easiest California Colleges To Get Into (FAQs)

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Paschal Uchechukwu

Paschal Uchechukwu Christain is a professional and passionate SEO writer on Education, including homeschool, college tips, high school, and travel tips.

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Transfer-Profile

Franklin and marshall college.

• Private 4 year
• 2,272 Full + Part time Students
• 1:9 Faculty to Student Ratio
• 4% Transfer Student Ratio

Financial Information

• Scholarships and Financial Aid: We are committed to making an F&M education affordable for all. In fact, 65% of our students receive need-based aid. We use information from the CSS Profile, FAFSA and federal income taxes to determine your family contribution and create your need-based aid package. We offer need-based aid only and do not offer any academic or merit scholarships.
• Tuition and Fees: Estimated tuition...$31,608 per semester/$63,216 per year. Additional fees, housing, and meal plans vary by circumstance.

Information for Transfer In Students

• Accepts Transfers: F&M is a welcoming place for transfer students.

Application Deadlines for Transfer

Transfer application requirements.

• Official Transcripts: Transcripts must be submitted for all secondary and post-secondary coursework, even if completed at multiple institutions.
• SAT Scores: Franklin & Marshall College has been and is proud to continue being a test optional institution.
• Letters of Recommendation: A Letter of Recommendation from a College-Level Instructor is required.
• Essay: An essay or personal statement is required.
• Application Fee: The $60 application fee is paid electronically through the Common Application.
• Other Requirements: To supplement your official transcript(s), you are required to submit a list of course descriptions for ALL completed and in-progress post-secondary coursework. A Transfer College Report is required.
• Apply Here: https://www.fandm.edu/admission/apply/transfer-student-admission/instructions-checklist

Transfer Credit Policy

• Minimum Grade: C- is the lowest grade earned for any course that may be transferred for credit.
• Credits (Min/Max): 64 semester hours is the maximum number of credits that may be accepted for transfer.

Virtual Tour

Use this interactive map to explore the campus, see 360 views of spaces, and more. Click on the "Tours" tab to check out our Admission student tour guides' favorite Lancaster spots!

Supplemental Questions

Does F&M have a supplemental essay and “Why F&M” question this year? I thought it did based on Prompt and other sites but neither my daughter nor I can find them on the common app. Did they get rid of supplementals this year, like some other schools?

We sent it in without the supplemental and our application shows as complete in the portal that they set up for us.

Your D can always contact admissions at F&M and ask.

We went on the admissions visit and they said they don’t have any supplemental questions this year. They said it changes from year to year what they require.

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How to Write the USC Supplemental Essays 2023-2024

The University of Southern California has a few supplemental essays and creative short answers that students must complete. Your essays are one of the only opportunities you’ll have to show an admissions officer who you are beyond the numbers, and with USC’s many different prompts, it’s clear this school wants you to seize that opportunity.

Here are our tips for responding to the USC essays in a way that will help your application stand out!

Read these USC essay examples written by real students to inspire your own writing. 

USC Supplemental Essay Prompts

All applicants.

Prompt 1: Describe how you plan to pursue your academic interests and why you want to explore them at USC specifically. Please feel free to address your first- and second-choice major selections (250 words).

Prompt 2 (optional): Starting with the beginning of high school/secondary school, if you have had a gap where you were not enrolled in school during a fall or spring term, please address this gap in your educational history. You do not need to address a summer break (250 words).

Short Answer Prompts: Respond to all the prompts below (100 characters unless otherwise specified)

• Describe yourself in three words (25 characters each)
• What is your favorite snack?
• Best movie of all time
• If your life had a theme song, what would it be?
• What TV show will you binge watch next?
• Which well-known person or fictional character would be your ideal roommate?
• Favorite Book
• If you could teach a class on any topic, what would it be?

Viterbi School of Engineering Applicants

Prompt: The student body at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering is a diverse group of unique engineers and computer scientists who work together to engineer a better world for all humanity. Describe how your contributions to the USC Viterbi student body may be distinct from others. Please feel free to touch on any part of your background, traits, skills, experiences, challenges, and/or personality in helping us better understand you. (250 words)

Engineering and Computer Science Applicants

Prompt: The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) and their 14 Grand Challenges go hand-in-hand with our vision to engineer a better world for all humanity. Engineers and computer scientists are challenged to solve these problems in order to improve life on the planet. Learn more about the NAE Grand Challenges at http://engineeringchallenges.org and tell us which challenge is most important to you, and why. (250 words)

Dornsife Applicants

Prompt: Many of us have at least one issue or passion that we care deeply about — a topic on which we would love to share our opinions and insights in hopes of sparking intense interest and continued conversation. If you had ten minutes and the attention of a million people, what would your talk be about? (250 words)

All Applicants, Prompt 1

Describe how you plan to pursue your academic interests and why you want to explore them at usc specifically. please feel free to address your first- and second-choice major selections (250 words)..

The tricky bit about this prompt is that it essentially combines the “ Why This Major ” and “ Why This College ” essay archetypes into one essay with a strict cap of 250 words. That’s a lot of information in not a whole lot of space, which might feel overwhelming. The first thing you should do is figure out the content of your essay.

Step One: Think about your academic interests (i.e. your majors). 

• How did your interests develop? 
• Why are you passionate about your interests? 
• What are your goals within your interests?
• How will pursuing your major help you achieve your goals in life? 

Step Two: Think about the answers to those questions in relation to USC. 

• How will USC help you to further develop your interests? 
• What resources does the university have that will help you achieve your goals? 

While your essay should explore resources that will aid in your academic pursuits, you should also keep it as specific to USC as possible—this essay should not be able to be copied and pasted for any other university! Here’s an example of how to achieve the specificity you need:

Bad: USC is a great school, located in the beautiful city of Los Angeles, with unparalleled academics and renowned instructors.

Why is this bad? This sentence could just as easily apply to UCLA. Without the bit about Los Angeles, the reasoning could even apply to any decent school in existence.

Good: At USC, I plan to participate in the Joint Educational Project (JEP) to find a community of students who, like me, are passionate about the intersections of teaching and social justice. Through JEP, I will be able to actively use the teaching principles I learn in my classes about the Dynamics of Early Childhood.

Why is this good? It references a unique resource at USC and relates to the student’s academic interests.

The Final Step: Write a cohesive essay that tells admissions officers why you are pursuing your field and why USC is the right place for you to pursue it. Some examples could include:

• An Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering student who was obsessed with the launching of the Antares rocket, movies like Gattaca and The Martian , and their physics summer camp as a middle schooler. They could describe their goal of working for NASA, then discussing their interest in the USC Rocket Propulsion Laboratory (RPL).
• An English student who ultimately wants to write romance novels discussing the Creative Writing Hour series that is hosted by English faculty. They might want to reference some of the big-name professors at USC—like Maggie Nelson, Aimee Bender, Dana Johnson, and T.C. Boyle—who have inspired their love of writing.
• A Fine Arts applicant mentioning the Fisher Museum of Art that is on USC’s campus. It was after a school field trip to the Dallas Museum of Art (DMA) that they first tried working with graphite and learned of their life goals. They know the power of art museums for inspiration and are excited to have a constant source of inspiration just minutes away.

If you are worried about the word count, one way to maximize the little space you have is to find a way to relate your first- and second-choice majors. This way, your explanations of each wouldn’t read like separate essays; rather, they would be telling different parts of the same story. A student with a first-choice major in Physics and a second-choice major in English might want to write about their ultimate goal of writing Science Fiction novels. A student with a first-choice major in History and a second-choice major in East Asian Languages and Culture might write about their goal of curating Asian American history museums.

Make sure you focus on your academic interests/goals and tell admissions officers the ways that USC will help your academic dreams come true, and you will be set!

All Applicants, Prompt 2 (optional)

Starting with the beginning of high school/secondary school, if you have had a gap where you were not enrolled in school during a fall or spring term, please address this gap in your educational history. you do not need to address a summer break (250 words). .

USC’s second prompt is optional and won’t apply to most students. However, if you do have a gap in your educational history, then be sure to use this space to address it. Give a brief explanation of the reasoning for the gap—be it illness, a move, etc.—as well as an overview of how you spent this time outside of school. 

For example, let’s say your family moved across the country and you took a term off during the transfer. You can describe your role in the move (perhaps you were in charge of organizing a yard sale), why the circumstances warranted an educational gap (maybe the new school doesn’t allow mid-term transfers), and any other projects or commitments to which you dedicated your time. 

Ideally, you want to demonstrate how you made the most of this time off and why the time off was necessary.

All Applicants, Short Answer Prompts

Respond to all the prompts below (100 characters unless otherwise specified), 1. describe yourself in three words (25 characters each), 2. what is your favorite snack, 3. best movie of all time, 4. dream job, 5. if your life had a theme song, what would it be, 6. dream trip, 7. what tv show will you binge watch next, 8. which well-known person or fictional character would be your ideal roommate, 9. favorite book, 10. if you could teach a class on any topic, what would it be.

In this section, USC lets you have a little fun. The questions ask for short, rapid-fire responses that give you the opportunity to let your individuality shine.

The most important thing to keep in mind with the short answer supplements is that USC is asking you to provide new information that sheds light on different aspects of your personality. 

Don’t repeat tidbits you’ve already mentioned, although you can and should develop new angles of themes you’ve already established. Most importantly, have fun in this section! If you’re having fun writing it, chances are your admissions officer will have fun reading it.

You can leave descriptions or notes in your responses, though remember that you have 100 characters max. If your choices are more offbeat, we recommend giving a brief description, as your admissions officer certainly won’t have the time to look things up. If your choices are pretty well-known, you can still leave a note about why you chose them (as in the sample response to #8). It’s another opportunity to share your personality, which is valuable!

• Describe yourself in three words (25 characters max each).

Example: Cinephile. Cynophile. Logophile. 

Tip: Be creative!

Example: My Gram’s Lebuchken, tiny gingerbread-esque German cakes that my family devours each holiday season.

Tip: This is an opportunity to show your roots or quirky favorites. Make your response more interactive by including descriptive words that appeal to the senses, especially taste and smell. Also, if you’re using another language or describing a less common food, feel free to provide a short description or explanation so that someone who’s never heard of it before can still imagine it. 

Example: October Sky; Homer’s rockets remind me of my own homemade science creations, like my DIY lava lamp.

Tip: A lot of applicants will write Harry Potter . Be genuine in your response, but take this opportunity to stand out rather than providing a generic answer. 

Example: A math professor; sharing my love of topology to positively shape students’ view of the subject. 

Example: Crossword Puzzle Writer; my mornings aren’t complete without a cup of OJ and my daily brain teaser.

Tip: If you go with a serious answer, make a clear connection to your major to show that you’re focused on your academic path. Don’t give a generic answer like “doctor” or “lawyer;” talk about what specialty or subfield interests you most. That said, you could also go for a more lighthearted answer, like a crossword puzzle writer, to use the space to show personality.

Example: The [TV show] Intro; I’d like to think of myself as a [character], but I have to admit I’m more of an [character]. 

Example: Happy Birthday by AJR – a catchy tune with funny/sarcastic lyrics about the reality of modern life.

Tip: Just as with the best movie prompt, you may want to avoid mainstream selections and instead put forward a title that says something about you. What song would you want the admissions officer to play while reading your application? Make sure the song you choose is appropriate. 

Example: Road trip around Iceland’s perimeter; stops include Thingvellir National Park and the Geysir Springs.

Tip: Be more specific than simply “Hawaii” or “Europe.” Also, just as with all the prompts, you want to convey something about yourself in your response, so avoid mainstream or overly luxurious answers.

Example: Aggretsuko (anime about a red panda who relieves job stress by singing death metal at karaoke bars)

Tip: Follow similar guidelines to the theme song prompt—mainstream selections are fine and are potentially relatable to the reader, but that quirkier show you have your eye on might make for a more fun response. If your selection is lesser-known, consider adding a brief description.

Example: Rory Gilmore – there definitely won’t be a shortage of coffee or good conversation.

Tip: It’s okay to go with a more well-known character here, since that will allow the reader to relate. It’s just important to use that extra space to elaborate on why you’d want to live with this person.

• Favorite book

Example: Shoe Dog by Phil Knight – I read the entire book in my favorite pair of Air Max 97s.

Tip: Follow the same advice for best movie of all time.

Example: SETI: Using the Drake Equation to Find E.T., complete with a field trip to outer space!

Tip: You can have some fun with this prompt; try thinking outside the box of the generic “Intro to Calculus.” You can also have the class relate back to your intended major, though that’s not absolutely necessary.

The student body at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering is a diverse group of unique engineers and computer scientists who work together to engineer a better world for all humanity. Describe how your contributions to the USC Viterbi student body may be distinct from others. Please feel free to touch on any part of your background, traits, skills, experiences, challenges, and/or personality in helping us better understand you. (250 words)

USC’s engineering school is extremely competitive to get into, forcing admissions officers to choose between many qualified applicants who look relatively similar on paper. This essay wants to get down to the heart of why they should pick you over others. 

The most important word in this prompt that should job out to you is “contributions”. In this essay, you need to convey what you will bring to the engineering community that is unique. You might be saying to yourself “what can I contribute to an established university?”, but there’s actually a lot to work with here. The prompt gives suggestions of sources that could contribute to your uniqueness so let’s look at some examples of traits and how they relate to contribution to USC.

Trait: You’re from a coastal town in Florida that is experiencing flooding.

Contribution: You plan to join the Structures and Material Lab in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering to discover which materials are erosion-resistant.

Trait: You’re the only daughter among four brothers.

Contribution: Since you’re no stranger to asserting your voice as a woman in a male-dominated setting, you want to become a mentor through the Women in Science and Engineering’s Young Researchers Program and encourage female high schoolers to pursue STEM.

Trait: You have OCD.

Contribution: Rather than being a hindrance, you channel your obsessive tendencies into meticulously completing complex calculations which you are excited to do as an Aerospace Engineering major.

Trait: You started an iPhone repair business out of your garage in high school.

Contribution: Your experience working with technology has given you insight into specific aspects of hardware design that could be improved that you plan to experiment with under the supervision of X professor.

As you can see from these examples, there are many ways to approach what you can contribute to the Viterbi community. When it comes to actually writing this in your essay, you should start by highlighting the unique aspect of yourself that you are choosing to focus on with a short anecdote. For example, the student writing about being from a coastal town might open with a vivid description of the damage caused by erosion from the most recent flood.

Once you’ve caught the reader’s attention and communicated what your unique background is, explain how that has positioned you to bring something special to the USC community. It’s important to be as detailed as possible by including specific programs or institutes, professors, classes, or research projects you are interested in. You can also mention more than one way that you will contribute—just ensure that each one is fully fleshed out.

Finally, end your essay with a concise conclusion. This might look like returning back to your anecdote from the beginning, talking about your future plans and how USC will get you there, or something else entirely. 

The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) and their 14 Grand Challenges go hand-in-hand with our vision to engineer a better world for all humanity. Engineers and computer scientists are challenged to solve these problems in order to improve life on the planet. Learn more about the NAE Grand Challenges at http://engineeringchallenges.org and tell us which challenge is most important to you, and why. (250 words)

Before you can start answering this prompt, you need to do a little research! Once you go to the website linked above, click on the Challenges button at the top of the page and it will take you to the 14 Grand Challenges that engineers across the globe are committed to addressing. These challenges are broken up into four categorical themes (Sustainability, Health, Security, and Joy of Living) and they range from providing access to clean water to improving urban infrastructure to engineering better medicines to preventing nuclear terror attacks.

Your job is to pick one of these challenges that speaks the most to you. Keep in mind, we didn’t say pick the challenge you think is the “trendiest” or the admissions officers would be most impressed by; in order to write a successful and engaging essay your genuine passion and fascination with the issue has to come through. 

Once you have a challenge in mind, now you have to connect it to you. This is where you will bring in your previous experiences, your academic interests, and personal anecdotes to demonstrate why that particular issue resonates with you. For example, maybe you picked Manage the Nitrogen Cycle because your favorite memories from when you were little were gardening with your grandma which started your fascination with how plants sustain themselves and interact with the environment.

It’s important to connect to the challenge with both past experiences and future goals. So, continuing the nitrogen cycle example, maybe your dream one day is to own your own farm that is pesticide-free, so you are passionate about engineering nitrogen-free fertilizers. They don’t all have to be this personal—it’s just as valid to say you are committed to providing clean water because you dream of a world where no one is denied basic human rights like water—but you should have some explanation of the impact overcoming one of these challenges would have on you and the broader community. This helps demonstrate to the admissions officers that you appreciate the weight of these issues.

One thing to remember that trips up some students: you aren’t asked to solve the challenge in this essay. Although you can definitely contribute ideas you have, especially if you have previous experiences that relate to addressing the issue, it’s not required. The major point of this essay is to learn more about global issues you care about and why you are choosing to address them through an engineering perspective.

Many of us have at least one issue or passion that we care deeply about — a topic on which we would love to share our opinions and insights in hopes of sparking intense interest and continued conversation. If you had ten minutes and the attention of a million people, what would your talk be about? (250 words)

This prompt requires less deep thought than the former. The “education” prompt asks students to think deeply about a question they have probably never thought about before, while this prompt asks you “what are you thinking about all the time?”  

If an idea comes to mind when you first read this prompt, that’s probably where you should start. USC is not looking for wild answers where students turn the holes in swiss cheese into a complex metaphor—they really just want to hear what you care about. That being said, what you care about can totally be weird or nuanced, as long as your interest in the subject tells admissions officers something about you.

Some examples of how you could work this prompt:

• Writing about a social justice issue. Introducing a specific anecdote (that you would introduce during your hypothetical talk). Providing insightful and unique commentary on the issue—whether that be how we got here or where we should go from here.
• Writing about a school of thought in science or philosophy. Explaining the importance of certain types of questions. Giving specific examples (historical, fictional, and anecdotal) that show that you have thought through the importance of rationalism, taoism, sensationalism, or any other school.
• Writing about a lecture on a specific book. Discussing how White Teeth, Giovanni’s Room, or Moby Dick tells multiple important life lessons in one pretty package. Drawing connections between the fictional world and the real world.
• Writing about the valuable lessons that can be learned from another culture. Introducing stories from your past that show the value of Japanese respect, Persian hospitality, or Indian selflessness. Recognizing negative aspects of cultures, but recognizing the lessons that can be learned when you take the time to learn them.

While these are just some examples, this prompt leaves the door open for you to explore whatever you care about. Because this essay is the simpler option, make sure that your writing is impeccable if you choose this second prompt. Engage with anecdotes and a unique personal voice to keep your essay engaging. Don’t give the reader the option to stop reading!

Where to Get Your USC Essays Edited

Do you want feedback on your USC essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

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