Ace Your Application: What Are Supplemental Essays?

Ace Your Application: Understanding Supplemental Essays

Supplemental essays. The very phrase can strike a bit of fear into the hearts of college applicants! But don’t worry, understanding what they are and how to approach them can turn that fear into excitement. Think of them as opportunities to shine and show colleges who you really are beyond your grades and test scores. Let’s break it down.

What Are Supplemental Essays, Exactly?

Supplemental essays are extra essays, beyond the main Common Application or Coalition Application essay, that many colleges require as part of their application process. They’re specific to each college and designed to get a deeper understanding of your personality, your interests, and why you’re a good fit for their particular institution.

Why Do Colleges Use Supplemental Essays?

• Going Beyond the Numbers: Colleges use these essays to look beyond GPA and standardized test scores. They want to see your critical thinking skills, your writing ability, and your overall personality.

• Assessing Fit: They help the admissions committee determine if you’re a good fit for their campus culture, academic programs, and overall values. Do you understand what their college stands for and why you’d thrive there?

• Demonstrating Interest: Writing thoughtful supplemental essays shows that you’ve done your research and are genuinely interested in attending that specific school, not just applying randomly.

Decoding Common Supplemental Essay Prompts

Supplemental essays come in many forms, but some prompts are more common than others. Understanding these common prompts can help you prepare.

"Why This College?" Essays

This is the most common type of supplemental essay. Colleges want to know why you’re specifically interested in their school.

• What they’re looking for: Demonstrated knowledge of the college’s programs, faculty, resources, and campus culture. They want to see that you’ve done your homework and can articulate why this particular institution is the perfect place for you.
• How to approach it: Be specific! Don’t just say "It’s a great school." Talk about specific professors you want to learn from, programs that excite you, or clubs you want to join. Link your own interests and goals to the college’s offerings.

"Activities List Expansion" Essays

These essays allow you to delve deeper into one or two of your extracurricular activities or experiences.

• What they’re looking for: A better understanding of your involvement, your accomplishments, and what you learned from that experience. They want to see your passion, your commitment, and your ability to contribute to a team or organization.
• How to approach it: Don’t just rehash your activities list. Focus on the impact you made, the challenges you overcame, and the lessons you learned. Show, don’t tell! Use vivid language and specific examples to bring your experience to life.

"Identity & Community" Essays

These essays explore your background, your identity, and how you’ll contribute to the college community.

• What they’re looking for: Insight into your unique perspective, your values, and your ability to engage with diverse perspectives. They want to see how you’ll contribute to the campus community and make a positive impact.
• How to approach it: Be authentic and genuine. Share your story in your own voice. Talk about your background, your experiences, and your values. Explain how you’ll use your unique perspective to contribute to the college community.

"Short Answer" Questions

Many colleges include shorter, more direct questions that require concise answers.

• Examples:

  • "What is your favorite book and why?"
  • "What is a challenge you have overcome?"
  • "What are you passionate about?"

• How to approach them: Be brief, direct, and thoughtful. Even though they are short, these answers should still reflect your personality and values. Every word counts!

Crafting a Winning Supplemental Essay

Writing supplemental essays can feel daunting, but with a little planning and effort, you can create essays that impress the admissions committee and help you stand out from the crowd.

Research, Research, Research!

The most important step is to thoroughly research each college you’re applying to.

• Visit the Website: Spend time on the college’s website. Read about their academic programs, faculty, research opportunities, and campus culture.
• Attend Virtual Events: Participate in virtual tours, information sessions, and Q&A sessions with current students and admissions officers.
• Talk to Current Students: If possible, connect with current students and ask them about their experiences at the college.

Brainstorming and Planning

Before you start writing, take some time to brainstorm and plan your essays.

1. Understand the Prompt: Carefully read and understand the essay prompt. What are they asking you to do?
2. Brainstorm Ideas: Generate a list of potential topics or stories that relate to the prompt. Don’t censor yourself at this stage; just let your ideas flow.
3. Choose the Best Idea: Select the idea that best showcases your strengths, your personality, and your potential to succeed at the college.
4. Outline Your Essay: Create an outline to organize your thoughts and ensure that your essay has a clear structure.

Writing and Revising

Now it’s time to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and start writing!

• Write a Strong Opening: Grab the reader’s attention with a compelling opening sentence or paragraph.
• Tell a Story: Use vivid language and specific examples to bring your essay to life.
• Show, Don’t Tell: Instead of simply stating your qualities, show them through your actions and experiences.
• Connect to the College: Clearly explain how your experiences and goals align with the college’s mission, values, and programs.
• Proofread Carefully: Before submitting your essay, proofread it carefully for errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Ask a trusted friend, teacher, or counselor to review your essay as well.

Supplemental Essay "Don’ts":

Don’t…	Do…
Rehash your resume.	Share deeper insights and reflections on your experiences.
Write about what you think they want to hear.	Be authentic and write about what truly matters to you.
Use generic language.	Use specific details and examples to make your essay unique and memorable.
Neglect to proofread.	Proofread carefully and ask someone else to review your essay for errors.
Miss the deadline.	Plan ahead and submit your application well before the deadline.
Submit the same essay to every school.	Tailor each essay to the specific prompt and the specific college.
Exceed the word count.	Stay within the specified word limit. If no word limit is given, aim for concise and focused writing.
Write in a way that is boastful.	Focus on reflection and insight over bragging.
Ignore formatting instructions.	Adhere to all specific formatting requirements provided by the college.

Alright, you’ve got the inside scoop on what are supplemental essays! Go forth, conquer those essays, and let your personality shine. Good luck – you’ve got this!