Supplemental essays are your chance to tailor your application to individual schools and demonstrate how you’d thrive in their environment. These essays are often more specific and focused than the Common App essay, allowing you to highlight why you’re a great fit for a school’s academic programs, culture, and values. Let’s break down how to approach these essays and stand out—with vivid, quirky examples to inspire your writing.

Why Are Supplemental Essays Important?

Think of supplemental essays as your personalized pitch to the admissions office. They help answer two key questions:

  1. Why this school? Show you’ve done your homework and understand what makes the school unique.
  2. Why you? Highlight how your interests, experiences, and goals align with the school’s mission.

Supplemental essays reveal:

  • Your personality: Through specific and memorable anecdotes.
  • Your preparation: Your ability to research and connect with what a school offers.
  • Your vision: How you see yourself contributing to the campus community.

Common Types of Supplemental Essay Prompts

  1. Why Us?
    • Example: Why do you want to attend [College Name]?
    • Focus: Specific programs, traditions, or values that resonate with you.
  2. Why This Major?
    • Example: What inspired your choice of major, and how do you see it shaping your future?
    • Focus: Your passion for the subject and academic goals.
  3. Community Contributions
    • Example: Describe a community you’ve been a part of and your role in it.
    • Focus: Empathy, leadership, and collaboration.
  4. Creative Prompts
    • Example: If you were a kitchen utensil, which one would you be and why?
    • Focus: Show off your imagination and sense of humor.

Step 1: Do Your Research

Thorough research sets the foundation for great supplemental essays. Start by exploring:

  • Academic programs: Dive into unique courses, research opportunities, or professors you admire.
  • Campus culture: Look for traditions, clubs, or events that excite you.
  • School mission and values: Align your personal goals with the school’s ethos.

Example: For a “Why Us?” essay at Tufts University, mention “Tufts Wilderness Orientation” if you’re passionate about the outdoors, or highlight the Experimental College’s innovative, student-taught courses that appeal to your interdisciplinary interests.

Step 2: Understand the Prompt

Carefully dissect the question to ensure you address all components.

  • What is the school asking for?
  • Are they seeking a personal story, your career aspirations, or evidence of your research?

Prompt Breakdown Example:
“What about Stanford’s program, community, or mission makes it the best place for you?”

  1. Stanford wants to know what excites you about their offerings.
  2. They’re assessing how well you align with their interdisciplinary ethos and vibrant community.

Step 3: Brainstorming with Creativity

Use these exercises to develop fresh ideas:

  • Map your passions: Link specific interests (e.g., marine biology) to the school’s programs (e.g., Duke’s Marine Lab).
  • Think quirky: For creative prompts, think about your personality, humor, or unique habits.
  • Go personal: Relate school resources to your life experiences.

Creative Example:
Prompt: “If you were a kitchen utensil, what would you be and why?”
Brainstorm:

  • A waffle iron: “Because I thrive under pressure and love creating order out of chaos.”
  • A garlic press: “Compact, powerful, and always adding a little kick to the mix.”

Step 4: Structuring Your Essay

No matter the prompt, strong essays follow a clear structure:

  1. Introduction: Grab attention with an engaging hook.
    • Example: “When I first walked through Vanderbilt’s Commons, I overheard two students debating the ethics of self-driving cars over coffee. I immediately thought, ‘This is my kind of place.’”
  2. Body: Provide specific details and personal connections.
    • Example: “As an aspiring environmental engineer, I want to join Vanderbilt’s Wond’ry innovation hub and contribute to its Sustainability Project team to prototype solutions for waste management in urban areas.”
  3. Conclusion: Tie your goals to the school’s offerings.
    • Example: “Vanderbilt’s collaborative ethos and resources will help me channel my passion for innovation into tangible change.”

Step 5: Add Memorable Details and Examples

Use fun, vivid examples.

Why Us? Example: UChicago

“When I found out about UChicago’s Uncommon Essay Prompts, I knew I’d found my intellectual home. The idea of debating whether a hot dog is a sandwich felt like an academic triathlon—exhausting, exhilarating, and completely worth it. Beyond the prompts, UChicago’s Core Curriculum excites me because it mirrors my love for interdisciplinary thinking. I imagine combining the class on ‘The History of Cryptography’ with the Media Arts Center to create an interactive VR museum exhibit that lets users decode messages from World War II. UChicago isn’t just a school; it’s where my love for curiosity and creativity will thrive.”

Why This Major? Example: UPenn

“At ten, I invented a Rube Goldberg machine to flip light switches. At sixteen, I built a solar-powered water purifier for my science fair. Now, as I prepare for college, I’m drawn to UPenn’s Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology. The program combines my twin passions for engineering and business, and I’m eager to study under Dr. Jacob, whose work in renewable energy startups inspires me. Through Penn’s VIPER initiative, I want to lead the next wave of sustainable tech solutions.”

Creative Prompt Example: Brown University

Prompt: “If you could design a course, what would it be called and why?”
“I’d create ‘The History of Snacks,’ a class that explores how food trends shape global history. Imagine studying the industrial revolution through the invention of the potato chip or analysing globalization through the spread of Kit Kats in Japan. Brown’s Open Curriculum would let me integrate history, economics, and food science into a course as deliciously interdisciplinary as my academic interests.”

Step 6: Avoid Common Mistakes

  1. Avoid generic praise: Don’t say “I love your great professors and beautiful campus.” Be specific.
  2. Don’t recycle essays: Tailor each essay to the school and prompt.
  3. Avoid vague goals: Replace “I want to help people” with specific aspirations tied to school resources.

Need Help with Your Essays?

Writing stellar supplemental essays requires creativity, research, and authenticity. Download our Essay Writing Guide [insert link]. Or, work 1:1 with our essay experts to craft responses that stand out.