Many colleges require students to attach supplemental essays in addition to their personal statements. These supplemental essays come in various forms depending on what the college wants to know about its candidate pool.
Some students believe that supplemental essays are not as important as personal statements, which is not true. The truth is that the personal statement and the supplemental essays are equally important. Without a doubt, supplemental essays require attention, extensive research, and careful thought.
However, you'll need to edit your supplemental essays multiple times before submitting them to the admissions officers. It would help if you started preparing to write these supplemental essays are early as now.
Types of Supplemental Essays
Below are the six most common types of supplemental essays you'll write this application season, with examples of previous and current year's prompts.
- The "Why?" Essay
The "Why?" Essay is by far the most common type of supplemental essay. The "Why?" Essay allows you to explain why you're interested in applying and attending the specific school.
- Here is a supplemental essay from the University of Wisconsin–Madison: Why you are interested in attending the University of Wisconsin–Madison? In addition, please explain why you chose the particular major(s). If you chose "undecided," please describe your areas of possible academic interest. (650 words)
- The Major Essay
Colleges want to know about your passions and achievements. Some colleges combine this essay with the "Why?" essay and ask students to focus specifically on their chosen major.
- Example from the University of Texas-Austin: Why do you want to study the course you selected as your first-major choice? (300 words)
- The Activity Elaboration Essay
Colleges are interested in learning about their students' extracurricular activities. Many schools ask for an additional explanation of a student's contribution outside the classroom because the extracurricular activities list is so condensed.
- Here is a supplemental essay from Harvard University: Please briefly describe one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. (150 words)
- The Community Essay
Creating an inclusive and diverse environment is highly important for many schools. This essay allows students to describe their backgrounds to their prospective schools and demonstrate a willingness to collaborate with others from diverse cultural identities.
- Here is a supplemental essay from the University of Michigan: Everyone is a part of a community or group defined by shared geographical location, religion, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, cuisine, hobbies, races, ideologies, or intellectual history. Choose a community you belong to and describe your role within the community. (300 words)
- The Intellectual Essay
Some schools may want to assess your academic prowess. These schools will require you to submit an intellectual essay. They will also require you to respond to a prompt to analyze and explore your interests and passions.
- The following is an example from Washington University: Tell us about a topic or subject that has piqued your intellectual curiosity and compelled you to learn more about it. It could be an idea, book, project, cultural activity, work of art, start-up, music, movie, research, innovation, question, or other pursuits. (Words: unspecified)
The Common Application for the 2020-2021 application cycle went live on August 1st. This coincides with the time when most institutions post their supplemental essay prompts. As such, it would be best to get started on these essays once they are available.