As you’re working on your college applications, you might notice that while some schools have four or five supplemental essays, others have none. At these schools, admissions officers still look at your Common App essay, letters of recommendation and extracurriculars—so make sure those parts of your application are strong and demonstrate your fit for the college.
Which colleges don’t require supplemental essays?
Take a look at the list of colleges that don’t require supplemental essays below. Note that this list is not exhaustive.
National universities
- Case Western Reserve University
- Clemson University
- DePaul University
- Drexel University
- Fordham University Miami University—Oxford
- New Jersey Institute of Technology
- Northeastern University
- Ohio State University
- Seton Hall University
- Stevens Institute of Technology
- SUNY Binghamton University
- SUNY Buffalo
- Temple University
- Tulane University
- University of Alabama
- University of Arkansas
- University of Colorado -Denver
- University of Connecticut
- University of Dayton
- University of Delaware
- University of Denver
- University of Georgia
- University of Iowa
- University of Miami
- University of Minnesota
- University of Nebraska—Lincoln
- University of New Hampshire
- University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill
- University of the Pacific
- University of Pittsburgh
- University of Virginia
Liberal arts colleges
- Albion College
- Allegheny College
- Bates College
- Beloit College
- Colby College
- College of the Holy Cross
- Connecticut College
- Denison University
- DePauw University
- Dickinson University
- Drew University
- Franklin and Marshall College
- Furman University
- Gettysburg College
- Goucher College
- Hollins University
- Hope College
- Juniata College
- Kent State
- Kenyon College
- Middlebury College
- Muhlenberg College
- New College of Florida
- Oberlin College
- Rhodes College
- Sewanee—University of the South
- Siena College
- Skidmore College
- St. John’s University (essay required for Pharmacy applicants)
- St. Lawrence University
- Susquehanna University
- Thomas Aquinas College
- Ursinus College
- Wesleyan University
- Whitman College
- Williams College (students have the option to share a graded academic paper)
Which colleges were the latest to drop supplemental essays?
This summer, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Tulane University, the University of Georgia, and the University of Miami have all announced that they will no longer require supplemental essays as part of their application.
Why are more schools dropping their supplemental essays?
According to the Cavalier Daily, UVA’s decision was made to “lighten the load and reduce stress and anxiety around the college application process.”
Another big reason behind removal of the supplemental essays is the increasing student reliance on AI. According to a survey conducted by College Board, college faculty believe AI is already transforming college student learning. The survey found that “74% of faculty report that students are using AI to write essays or papers, and 67% say students are using it to paraphrase or rewrite content.” Admissions officers may find it difficult to differentiate between human-written and AI-generated essays, and as a result find supplemental essays to be an additional layer of confusion rather than an authentic indicator of fit.
The University of Georgia was well-known for its “book essay,” which asked students to write about a book that had a serious impact on them in high school. The admissions office stated that while they will miss the book essay (both as an insight into the students and for curating their own to read lists), they believe that the Common App essay is enough for them to get a sense of a student in the evaluation process. They also “hope that this decision takes some stress out of the admissions process for both students and parents.”
How should you set yourself up forsuccess at colleges without supplemental essays?
Without supplemental essays, students have one less component to showcase their individuality and how they would fit into a school. Because many applicants have strong grades and test scores, the Common App essay in particular will now matter more than ever—make sure you use your personal statement to convey why you’re a candidate who will contribute meaningfully to their campus.
The activities list can also help portray your prowess in your academic and extracurricular interests. As you’re drafting the descriptions of the activities you’ve been involved in, you may be tempted to simply write about the activity itself. However, what colleges want to know is what you did. And because the space for each activity description is incredibly short, there’s no room for extraneous information. In your descriptions, you need to focus on your role within the activity that you participated in. Highlight any leadership roles you’ve held and what you contributed. Use active verbs to talk about your involvement.
The honors section is another place where you can highlight your accomplishments. There, you can report impressive awards and accomplishments from the past four years. Alongside the activities list, adding your honors can help admissions officers understand your prowess in different fields inside and outside the classroom.
Schools without supplemental essays such as Colby also accept interviews via third-person platforms. Interviews are your opportunity to let the school put a face to the name and show them your personality, talk about why you think the school is a good fit for you in greater detail, and bring your application to life. It’s a good idea to schedule one to show that you’re a committed applicant, even if interviews don’t ultimately make or break your application.
How should you show colleges without supplemental essays that you’re interested and a good fit?
Students often use supplemental essays to convey why they have their eyes on a particular college. Without the essays, you might be wonder how you can show that you’ve done your research. Demonstrating interest is a good way to show colleges you’re keen to apply and would be a good fit. You can do this in several ways.
Visiting campuses is an effective way to convey your demonstrated interest. Touring will help you get a specific sense of what you liked about the schools on your list. In addition, if you sign up for a visit with the admissions office, the college will have an official record of that visit, which will be noted in your application.
Pay attention during your visit to find out more about the school, ask questions relevant to your interests and goals, and—if possible—talk to professors in your field. Be friendly with your tour guides and ask them about their experience.
Schools also understand that not everyone is able to make their way to campus, and many now offer virtual tours and information sessions that you can register for on their websites. Some schools will also arrange for local or regional information sessions. If there is one at a date and time convenient for you, you should attend to learn more about the college and get your name on the school’s radar. You can also use websites such as YouVisit to arrange a virtual tour or check for information sessions that are hosted online via Zoom.
Talking to an admissions representative at a college fair is an opportunity to introduce yourself to the people who will be reading your applications in a setting where you’re familiar and comfortable, like your own school or local conference center.
Many colleges have overnight programs for prospective students to visit campus, stay at a dorm with a current student, and sit in on classes and extracurricular activities.
Students appreciate applying to colleges that don’t have supplemental essays because it can be a quick way to add a school to your list. However, admission to these schools is by no means guaranteed and in fact, even harder to predict given the fewer chances to highlight yourself. Take advantage of your main essay, activities list, and opportunities to demonstrate interest to help set yourself apart from other applicants.
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