Beyond the personal statement, many top schools require applicants to submit supplemental essays answering various questions, like why they chose their intended major or why they are applying to a particular school. Supplemental essays provide a unique opportunity for applicants to showcase their personality, experiences, and suitability for a particular institution. These essays offer students a chance to stand out in the competitive applicant pools at top universities.
Below are five different types of supplemental essay prompts along with instructions on how to craft compelling responses that will leave a lasting impression on admissions committees.
1. The “Experiences” Question
Perhaps the most common supplemental essay prompts are those that ask students to explain how their experiences have uniquely prepared them for their collegiate career. This year, Princeton, Johns Hopkins, Harvard, and Tulane all ask students to answer a version of this prompt. To effectively answer this question, students should start by selecting an experience that holds significant meaning and describe it in vivid detail, providing context and background to help the reader understand its importance. Beginning with a descriptive anecdote is a great way to catch admissions officers’ attention from the beginning of your essay. Applicants can then explain the lessons learned, the insights gained, and the ways in which the experience has influenced their outlook on life and future goals. Finally—and perhaps most importantly— students should connect the dots between this experience and their desire to attend the specific college to which they are applying. They should explain how the institution’s values, programs, and campus community align with the lessons learned from their experience. Demonstrating this connection shows that students are not simply recounting a story, but instead demonstrating self-awareness and considering how their experiences have molded them into an ideal candidate for the school’s academic community.
2. The “Why This School” Question
This year’s applicants can expect to see this question on applications for the University of Chicago, Tufts, and Yale University and many other schools. When faced with a “Why This School?” essay prompt, it’s essential to start with thorough research. Applicants should dive into the institutions’ programs, culture, values, and opportunities in order to better understand the unique offerings and distinct values of the school to which they are applying. Admissions officers want to see that applicants have done their homework and genuinely understand what makes their school special. Students should be specific, highlighting aspects of the institution that resonate with them on a personal level. This could be a particular faculty member’s work, a unique academic program, or the welcoming campus community. Finally, applicants should be sure to connect their aspirations and goals to what the college offers, showcasing how they envision themselves contributing to and thriving within the campus community. Passion and genuine interest are the keys to a standout response.
3. The “Diverse Perspectives” Essay
“Diverse Perspective” essays often require students to share their background, experiences, or perspectives that will positively contribute to the diversity of the school’s student body. This year, many prestigious schools including Duke and Emory ask students to reflect on some variation of this prompt. When responding, students should begin by reflecting on their life experiences and how those experiences have contributed to their unique identity and perspective. Applicants can consider experiences encountering people, cultures, or situations that challenged or broadened their perspective, then discuss how these experiences have shaped their character and values. Beyond sharing their story, they should emphasize how they will participate in the school’s diverse and inclusive campus community. Students should highlight their willingness to engage with different viewpoints and how their identity—whether their race, gender, religion, or some other aspect of their identity—will contribute to the diverse voices and perspectives represented on campus.
4. The “Challenge Overcome” Essay
A “Challenge Overcome” essay, notably appearing on the Columbia application this year, is one that asks students to reflect on a time in which they faced an obstacle or challenge (whether academic or otherwise) and how they responded. Students should carefully choose a significant challenge from their lives—while the challenge doesn’t have to be groundbreaking in and of itself, it should be something that meaningfully shifted the student’s perspective or profoundly impacted their personal growth and character development. Applicants should provide context for the challenge, describing the situation and its significance in their life. The key to an effective response is to demonstrate resilience, curiosity, and growth by sharing how they confronted the challenge, what they learned from it, and how it has prepared them to handle adversity in college. Admissions officers want to see that applicants have the determination, self-awareness, and teachability to view obstacles as opportunities for growth.
5. The “Unique Interest” Question
This year, schools such as UNC and Brown University ask students to reflect on their unique interests. These essay prompts allow students to showcase their passions outside of the classroom. Admissions officers at top schools want to admit students who will bring unique perspectives and vibrant and diverse interests to their campus communities. Applicants should begin by explaining their interest and why it matters to them. They should share the journey of how they discovered and cultivated this passion, highlighting the time and effort they have dedicated to pursuing it and underscoring their dedication and commitment. Students should make sure to connect their interest to their personal growth and academic or career goals. As with every strong essay, it is important that students show rather than tell—they should engage the reader by painting a vivid picture of their involvement.
With years of expertise in college admissions consulting, I have seen firsthand power of supplemental essays to make or break a student’s application. As a critical opportunity to connect your background and unique qualities with the school’s values and programs, the supplemental essays require time and thoughtful reflection. However, with strategy and self-reflection, students can use their supplemental essays to stand out to admissions officers and earn acceptance to their dream schools! For more information on how to answer each school’s prompts, check out this comprehensive guide.
Read the full article here
