While the Common App includes a primary personal essay that all applicants must complete, known as the common app essay or common application essay, many colleges also require additional essays known as supplemental essays. These common app essays provide students the chance to showcase different aspects of their background, experiences and career goals while also giving universities more detailed information about them. The common app prompts and college essay topics allow applicants to share their personal history.
Why Are Supplemental Essays Important for College Applications?
Supplemental essays play a crucial role in the college application process. While an applicant's personality, experiences, and goals are summarized in the Common App personal essay, supplementary essays give institutions more in-depth information about certain areas of a candidate's suitability and potential contribution to their college community and campus life. Here are some reasons why supplemental essays are a vital part of the college application—
- Shows That You Are Really Interested in the College: Applicants are frequently asked to describe their interest in the supplemental essays. This helps admissions officers determine whether a candidate has done their homework and genuinely wants to be a part of the institution. The applicant's understanding of the college's distinctive academic programs and campus environment can be demonstrated through a well-written "why us" essay, suggesting a high chance of a good college fit.
- Emphasize Unique Skills and Experiences:Supplementary essays give students the opportunity to focus on certain areas of their lives, while the main personal statement presents a general overview of the candidate. Extracurricular activities, volunteer work, scholarly pursuits, and personal obstacles are a few examples of essay topics that allow applicants to showcase their talents and gratitude. These college essays give candidates a chance to highlight special traits and experiences that set them apart.
- Showcase Writing and Critical Thinking Skills:Effective supplemental essay writing necessitates careful, concise, and clear communication. Through these application essays, applicants can showcase their writing skills in English, critical thinking, and ability to articulate their thoughts coherently. Good writing abilities are essential for college success, and these essays show how well-versed an applicant is in the liberal arts and humanities.
- Address Specific Questions and Concerns: Supplemental essay questions can address particular issues or queries that might not be addressed in the primary application. This can involve elucidating disparities in academic performance, talking about educational inequalities, or offering more details about individual situations. Admissions officers may be better able to comprehend the applicant's experience and perseverance with this transparency.
- Give a Complete Perspective on the Applicant: Supplementary essays contribute to the overall application package, together with the primary personal statement, letters of recommendation, and other application materials. They enable universities to view an applicant's identity, interests, and potential contributions from a variety of angles, resulting in a more comprehensive informed decision about the applicant's college experience.
Types of Supplemental Essay Prompts
“Why Us?” Essays
- Purpose: To understand why the student is interested in the particular college.
- Example: “Why do you want to attend our University?”
Extracurricular Activity Essays
- Purpose: To delve deeper into a student’s extracurricular involvement.
- Example: “Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences.”
Community Essays
- Purpose: To learn about the student’s involvement in and impact on their community.
- Example: “Describe a community you belong to and your place within it.”
Personal Growth Essays
- Purpose:To explore a student’s personal development and challenges.
- Example: “Describe a significant challenge you faced and how you overcame it.”
Diversity Essays
- Purpose: To understand the student’s perspective on diversity and inclusion.
- Example: “How do you think you can contribute to our campus community?”
Academic Interest Essays
- Purpose: To learn about the student’s academic interests and goals.
- Example: “Why are you interested in your chosen field of study?”
How to write effective Supplementals
- Understand the Prompt:Make sure you know exactly what the essay questions are requesting. Look for keywords and consider the main point the college wants to make. If the prompt has multiple parts, break it down into manageable sections and address each part clearly.
- Research well about the College:Look into the college's educational programs like directed studies, values like social responsibility and environmental sustainability, and any specific opportunities like student publications that catch your attention. Relate your personal experiences, career goals, and values to what the college offers, whether it's the Sterling Memorial Library, residential college system, or culture of intellectual activism. Show how you'll be a good fit and how the college will help you achieve your aspirations.
- Be Specific: Make sure to include precise information and examples that are exclusive to your experiences and the university you're applying to. Make your essay unique to each college. Admissions officers are able to distinguish between essays that were produced especially for their school and those that are generic.
- Showcase Your Personality and Voice:Be genuine in your writing and honest about your emotions and experiences. Being authentic has a greater impact than trying to sound like the applicant you believe admissions staff would like to hear. Instead of just making statements, support your views with examples and evocative language. The best essay topics and interesting essay topics allow your personality to shine through.