Facebook

Supplemental Essay Guide 2022-23

What do the 2022-23 supplemental essay prompts really mean, and how should you approach them? CEA's experts are here to break them all down.

Acceptance Rate

Undergrad population.

* Tuition filtering is based on out-of-state fees

Agnes Scott College 2022-23 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

supplemental essay help

Alvernia University 2022-23 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide  

American university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, amherst college 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, bard college 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide  , barnard college 2022-23 supplemental essay guide, baylor university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide  , bennington college 2022-23 supplemental essay guide, bentley university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, berry college 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, bethany college 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, bishop’s university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, boston college (bc) 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, boston university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, bowdoin college 2022-23 supplemental essay guide, brandeis university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide , brown university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, bryn mawr college 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, butler university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, california institute of technology (caltech) 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, california lutheran university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, capitol technology university 2022-23 supplemental essay guide, carleton college 2022-23 supplemental essay guide, carnegie mellon university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide , catawba college 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, centre college 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, chapman university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, claremont mckenna college 2022-23 supplemental essay guide  , clark university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, colgate university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, college of mount saint vincent 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, college of william & mary 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, college of wooster 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, colorado college 2022-23 supplemental essay guide, colorado school of mines 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, columbia university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, cornell university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, culver-stockton college 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, d’youville university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, dartmouth college 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, davidson college 2022-23 supplemental essay guide, duke university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, earlham college 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, elon university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, emerson college 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, emory university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, flagler college 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, fordham university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, george mason university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, georgetown university 2022-23 essay prompt guide, georgia state university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide  , georgia tech 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, gonzaga university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, harvard university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, harvey mudd college 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, haverford college 2022-23 supplemental essay guide, hillsdale college 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide  , hofstra university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, illinois institute of technology 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, illinois wesleyan university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, indiana university bloomington 2022-23 supplemental essay guide, ithaca college 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, johns hopkins university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, kalamazoo college 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, lafayette college 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, lehigh university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, lewis and clark college 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, linfield university 2022-23 supplemental essay guide, loyola marymount university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide , lynn university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, macalester college 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, malone university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, manchester university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, marist college 2022-23 supplemental essay guide, mary baldwin university 2022-23 supplemental essay guide, massachusetts institute of technology (mit) 2022-23 essay prompt guide, meredith college 2022-23 supplemental essay guide, monmouth college 2022-23 supplemental essay guide, moravian university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, morehouse college 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, mount holyoke college 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, new york university (nyu) 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, north park university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, northwestern university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, occidental college 2022-23 supplemental essay guide, oklahoma city university 2022-23 supplemental essay guide, pepperdine university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, pitzer college 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, pomona college 2022-23 supplemental essay guide, princeton university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, providence college 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, purdue university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, rensselaer polytechnic institute 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, rice university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, rutgers university 2022-23 supplemental essay guide, saint elizabeth university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, santa clara university 2022-23 supplemental essay guide, sarah lawrence college 2022-23 supplemental essay guide, scripps college 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, seattle pacific university 2022-23 supplemental essay guide, soka university of america 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, southern methodist university 2022-23 supplemental essay guide, stanford university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, stonehill college 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide  , suny stony brook university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, swarthmore college 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, syracuse university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, texas a&m university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, texas christian university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, the college of idaho 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide  , the george washington university 2022-23 supplemental essay guide, the new school 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, trinity college 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, tufts university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, tulane university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of california 2022-23 essay prompt guide, university of chicago 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of cincinnati 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of colorado boulder 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of florida 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of georgia 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of illinois urbana-champaign 2022-23 supplemental essay guide, university of maryland 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of massachusetts amherst 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of miami 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide  , university of michigan 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of minnesota twin cities 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide , university of north carolina (unc) 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of north carolina at charlotte 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of north carolina at greensboro 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of notre dame 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of oklahoma 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide , university of oregon 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of pennsylvania (upenn) 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of pittsburgh 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide , university of richmond 2022-23 supplemental essay guide, university of san diego 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide , university of san francisco 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of southern california (usc) 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of tampa 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of texas at austin 2022-23 essay prompt guide, university of tulsa 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of vermont 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of virginia (uva) 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of washington (uw) 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of wisconsin-madison 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, vanderbilt university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, vassar college 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, villanova university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, virginia tech 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, wake forest university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, washington and lee university 2022-23 supplemental essay guide, washington university in st. louis 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, wellesley college 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, williams college 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, worcester polytechnic institute (wpi) 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide, yale university 2022-23 supplemental essay prompt guide.

Ivy Divider

Contact us to learn more about our one-on-one advising services!

How to Write a Supplemental Essay for College Applications

Discover tips for tackling writing supplements, and read a sample essay from a current student.

Pretty young student sitting at desk and doing her homework, she is connecting to the internet with a laptop

A supplemental essay gives you an opportunity to tell the admissions committee about something you weren't able to cover in your main essay. (Getty Images)

Prospective students are usually aware that they must write an essay as part of the college application process . But they may not know that some schools will ask for additional writing samples such as a supplemental essay.

Avoid These College Application Mistakes

Courtney Rubin and Josh Moody Jan. 10, 2020

Young asian woman working and enjoy weekend with online social connection on laptop computer at coffee shop, lifestyle people

These writing supplements are usually shorter than the main college essay , but they're no less important, experts say.

"Every word counts in getting your story across," says Deborah Davis, president and founder of Davis Education & Career Consultants LLC, based in Ridgefield, Connecticut.

Some colleges ask for just one supplemental essay while others may require several.

For example, Wake Forest University in North Carolina had six additional questions for prospective students to respond to on its 2020 undergraduate admissions application. However, a couple of the questions asked applicants to write lists – for instance, a personal top 10 list – rather than a full paragraph or two.

Supplemental essay prompts come in all shapes and sizes. In some cases, schools let applicants choose from several options. For instance, the University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill 's fall 2019-20 application included four prompts – such as "What do you hope will change about the place where you live?" – from which prospective students had to select two.

Davis says two of the most common prompts she's seen are "What do you want to major in?" and "Tell us about a favorite activity."

While word counts for supplemental essays vary, they tend to be limited.

Wake Forest has a 150-word limit for each of its supplements, says Tamara Blocker, the university's senior associate dean of admissions. UNC caps applicants' short answer responses at 250 words each, according to the school's website.

In contrast, The Common Application , a platform that allows students to apply to multiple colleges at once, has a suggested 650-word limit for the main essay and 250 words for others.

These types of written responses are more like vignettes or snapshots, rather than full-blown essays, says Stephen Farmer, vice provost for enrollment and undergraduate admissions at UNC.

"I think – I hope, anyway – that students feel the opportunity maybe in the shorter responses to worry less about form and just be a little more open with us," he says.

To help prospective students familiarize themselves with supplemental essays, U.S. News obtained an example from Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts. Ryan Sheehan from Wallingford, Pennsylvania, wrote the short piece and is a computer science major in the class of 2021.

As part of his application, Sheehan responded to the following prompt: "There is a Quaker saying: 'Let your life speak.' Describe the environment in which you were raised – your family, home, neighborhood, or community – and how it influenced the person you are today."

"As the son of two journalists, I have grown up under a lifelong inquisition: How is your room such a mess? Can you please stop chasing the cat? Will you come down from the tree already? Granted, those are all from this past year, but the point still stands. Like any good journalists, my parents have also always had a propensity for uncovering the truth. On the third night that I had my license, I decided to go to the library to study. Before 15 minutes had passed, I noticed the librarian peering at me through the shelves before quickly averting her eyes and whispering, "He's here," into her phone. Even so, regardless of how many spies they've hired over the years, I have always looked up to my parents immensely. However, I have found my inherited inquisitiveness to be a trait most useful in a place far from the realm of reporting: the robotics lab. After four years of spending almost more time in the lab than at home, I have learned that nothing is more important than asking the right questions. As a programmer, I need to be able to communicate with my builders. Come press time, if I don't interview them properly, our robot will invariably end up as a hunk of unresponsive aluminum. To make a machine, the team must work as one. So although I may be writing source code instead of a breaking story, I am glad I had such nosy parents after all."

Karen Richardson, former dean of undergraduate admissions and enrollment management at Tufts who is now dean of admission at Princeton University in New Jersey, explained why she liked this response: "This is a great essay because, in just 250 words, it shows rather than tells the reader who Ryan is and the things that matter to him. It gives us a sense of his family life and academic interests, and it even shows us he has a sense of humor. As an admissions committee, we learned a lot about Ryan in just one paragraph."

Here are five additional tips from admissions officers to help prospective college students craft strong supplemental essays.

Answer the Question

This may seem obvious, but applicants should carefully read a supplemental essay prompt and make sure they understand what it is asking before answering it, Richardson says.

Prospective students may want to reuse an essay they wrote for another college, but that doesn't always work because supplemental questions tend to be more tailored to an individual institution, she says.

Start With an Outline

Applicants may have their own writing process, but Davis encourages those she works with to create outlines. She says prospective students should brainstorm the personal qualities, skills or experiences they would like to convey in their supplemental essays.

Don't Repeat Yourself

Supplemental essays are a chance for applicants to give more information to an admissions committee to further show why they are a good fit for a school, Davis says. So prospective students should make sure they aren't repeating something that's already been covered in their main essay.

Narrow Your Focus

Probably the biggest mistake applicants make in supplemental essays is choosing a topic that's too big, Farmer says. For example, he says prospective students may attempt to settle a complex political issue in just one paragraph.

"I think it's better to do something small and do it well than to do something big and skate over the surface," he says.

Maintain Your Voice

It's a good idea for applicants to ask another person for editing help, but too much input can be detrimental to an essay, experts say. If lots of people – teachers, parents, peers – read and weigh in on an essay, they can weaken how clearly a student's voice comes through in the writing.

"It's great to read something that sounds like it was written by an 18-year-old and not by a machine," Farmer says, "or by someone who's trying to be prematurely middle-aged."

Searching for a college? Get our complete rankings of Best Colleges.

10 Ways to Discover College Essay Ideas

Doing homework

College Essay

Tags: education , colleges , college applications , college admissions , students

2022-2023 Best Colleges

supplemental essay help

Search for your perfect fit with the U.S. News rankings of colleges and universities.

College Admissions: Get a Step Ahead!

Sign up to receive the latest updates from U.S. News & World Report and our trusted partners and sponsors. By clicking submit, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy .

Ask an Alum: Making the Most Out of College

Recommended Articles

You May Also Like

What to know about new ncaa nil rules.

Cole Claybourn March 2, 2023

supplemental essay help

Facts About the Work-Study Program

Sarah Wood March 2, 2023

supplemental essay help

Intersection of Business, Human Rights

Sarah Wood March 1, 2023

supplemental essay help

College Scholarships for Your Hobbies

Cole Claybourn Feb. 27, 2023

supplemental essay help

Online Programs With Diverse Faculty

Sarah Wood Feb. 24, 2023

supplemental essay help

Avoid These 7 Scholarship Mistakes

Sarah Wood Feb. 21, 2023

supplemental essay help

Networking While You're in College

Jackson Nimesheim Feb. 21, 2023

supplemental essay help

Teacher Training for High Schoolers

Kate Rix Feb. 16, 2023

supplemental essay help

How to Perform Well on SAT, ACT Test Day

Cole Claybourn Feb. 16, 2023

supplemental essay help

High School Mistakes to Avoid

Anayat Durrani Feb. 15, 2023

supplemental essay help

Sample Supplemental Essay for College Admissions: Why This College?

Most college applicants fail to put adequate time into a supplemental college essay. The Common Application's personal essay allows a student to write a single essay for multiple colleges. The supplemental college essay, however, needs to be different for every application. Thus, it's tempting to dash off a generic and vague piece that can be used at multiple schools, resulting in a  weak essay .

Don't make this mistake. Your "Why This College" essay must be specific, demonstrating a high level of interest in and commitment to this particular school. To better understand how to ace this supplemental essay prompt, let's analyze a sample essay written for Oberlin College .

The essay prompt reads:

"Given your interests, values, and goals, explain why Oberlin College will help you grow (as a student and a person) during your undergraduate years."

Sample Supplemental Essay

I visited 18 colleges over the past year, yet Oberlin is the one place that most spoke to my interests. Early in my college search I learned that I prefer a liberal arts college to a larger university. The collaboration between the faculty and undergraduate students, the sense of community, and the flexible, interdisciplinary nature of the curriculum are all important to me. Also, my high school experience was greatly enriched by the diversity of the student body, and I am impressed by Oberlin’s rich history and its current efforts connected to inclusiveness and equality. To say the least, I’d be proud to say I attended the first coeducational college in the country.
I plan to major in Environmental Studies at Oberlin. After my campus tour , I took some extra time to visit the Adam Joseph Lewis Center. It’s an amazing space and the students I chatted with spoke highly of their professors. I became truly interested in issues of sustainability during my volunteer work in the Hudson River Valley, and everything I’ve learned about Oberlin makes it seem the ideal place for me to continue exploring and building upon those interests. I am also impressed by Oberlin’s Creativity and Leadership Project. I’ve been a bit of an entrepreneur ever since second grade when I made a dollar producing and performing The Runaway Bunny for my extended family. I’m drawn to a program that supports the move from classroom learning to creative hands-on, real-world applications.
Finally, as the rest of my application clearly demonstrates, music is an important part of my life. I’ve been playing the trumpet since fourth grade, and I hope to continue performing and developing my skills throughout college. What better place than Oberlin to do so? With more performances than days in the year and a large group of talented musicians in the Conservatory of Music, Oberlin is an ideal place for exploring my love of both music and the environment.

Understanding the Essay Prompt

To understand the strength of the essay, we must first look at the prompt: the admissions officers at Oberlin want you to "explain why Oberlin College will help you grow." This sounds straightforward, but be careful. You're not being asked to explain how college, in general, will help you grow, nor are you being asked how attending a small liberal arts school will help you grow. The admissions offers want to hear how  Oberlin , in particular, will help you grow, so the essay needs to include specific information about Oberlin College.

A strong "Why This College" essay will make a case for why the school in question is a good fit for the student. The case should be made by connecting facts about the school—unique opportunities, educational values, campus culture, et cetera—with the student's goals, values, and interests.

From the Admissions Desk

"We want to see [in the "Why This School" essay] that students understand the unique educational model at High Point University. We know that students have access to more information than ever before and that most colleges focus on the classroom experience. We want students who desire 25% of their time to be experiential ... who want to grow as people of character with strong values and to fully immerse themselves in our life skills education."

–Kerr Ramsay Vice President for Undergraduate Admissions, High Point University

A good way to see if you've responded to the prompt well is to swap out the name of the college you're applying to with the name of any other college. If the essay still makes sense once you do a global replace of the school name, you haven't written a good supplemental essay.

A Critique of the Supplemental Essay

The sample essay certainly succeeds on this front. If we were to substitute "Kenyon College" for "Oberlin College" in the essay, the essay would not make sense. The details in the essay are unique to Oberlin. Demonstrated interest can play a meaningful role in the admissions process, and this applicant has clearly demonstrated that she knows Oberlin well and her interest in the school is sincere.

Let's look at some of the essay's strengths:

Admissions officers can't help but feel that Oberlin is a great match for this applicant. She knows the school well, and her interests and goals line up perfectly with Oberlin's strengths. This short essay will certainly be a positive piece of her application.

A Final Word About Supplemental Essays

The content of your supplemental essay is extremely important, and poor decisions on this front can lead to a weak supplemental essay . But content isn't everything. You also need to focus on the presentation of your ideas. Make sure your essay is entirely free of any grammatical errors, and be sure to avoid common stylistic problems . The admissions officers need to conclude that you are sincerely interested in attending their school and that you are an excellent writer.

supplemental essay help

By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.

How to Write the NYU Supplemental Essay: Examples + Guide 2022/2023

supplemental essay help

TABLE OF CONTENTS

NYU only has one supplemental essay—a diversity essay with some “Why us?” thrown in. Since diversity extends far beyond categories like race or social class, this guide will provide examples of diversity essays, along with tips and analyses, that will help you determine what makes you stand out and how you can contribute to NYU’s diverse community. 

If you want to get a clearer sense of what NYU is looking for, you can explore an extensive, by-the-numbers look at its offerings, from enrollment and tuition statistics to student life and financial aid information on its Common Data Set . And for insights into how the university envisions itself and its role, and how it wants to grow and evolve, read its strategic plan . Reading through this will give you a strong idea of what NYU values—and may offer nuggets you can sprinkle into your essay.

What is the NYU supplemental essay prompt?

Prompt #1 (optional, but highly recommended).

NYU was founded on the belief that a student’s identity should not dictate the ability for them to access higher education. That sense of opportunity for all students, of all backgrounds, remains a part of who we are today and a critical part of what makes us a world class university. Our community embraces diversity, in all its forms, as a cornerstone of the NYU experience.
We would like to better understand how your experiences would help us to shape and grow our diverse community. Please respond in 250 words or less.

How to Write The Supplemental Essay Prompt for New York University

While this essay is marked as optional, we’d highly recommend writing it—it offers another chance to show the school who you are and what you bring to their campus and community.

The first thing that comes to mind when many people see the word “diversity” is race, caste, or economic backgrounds and influences, but diversity is actually a much more expansive word, especially in the minds of college officials. We recommend checking out the full guide on how to write the diversity essay (and paying  special attention to the “Some Do’s and Don’ts” section), but if you’re short on time, here are summaries of two straightforward approaches—community and identity/perspective: 

Community approach

Brainstorm a list of communities that you belong to (places, interests, action/activities, and circumstance). 

Once you choose a community or two, use the BEABIES exercise to generate the content for the essay (e.g., what you did, solved, learned, the impact you had, how you applied those lessons to other areas). 

Pick between a narrative (if you’ve faced challenges in your community) or montage structure. 

Identity/perspective approach

Brainstorm a list of ways in which you identify—this can range from ethnicity or nationality to activities (baker, gamer, reader) or interests (poetry, zoology), etc. 

Describe why these identities reveal different sides of you.

Consider addressing an important identity that hasn’t shown up in your application yet.

For shorter prompts, it helps to focus on one identity while for longer prompts, you can write about multiple. At 250 words, this essay is about in the middle between short and long. 

No matter which approach you pick, it’s important to remember that NYU is asking how your experiences will “ help [them] to shape and grow [their] diverse community.”   This calls for an extra “Why us? ” element in this diversity essay. Consider …

In what ways will you contribute to diversity on campus?

Are there organizations, groups, or programs that will allow you to continue service work or activities you’ve already done? 

Is there an organization you’d want to start? 

Answering these questions will take a bit of research to see what NYU does and doesn't offer in terms of opportunities, but doing so will ultimately show that you’ve thought deeply about how you want to engage with NYU’s proudly eclectic community (you’ll see hints of “Why us?” coming up in the examples!). 

Since this NYU prompt is new for the 2022-2023 application cycle, we don’t have examples that were specifically written for it. But we do have a great example, originally written for Brown, that does a great job of answering a similar question:

Since 10th grade, I have been offering TED Talks on topics of self-expression and inclusivity. I have learned to turn my experience of being bullied and silenced into a determined voice to combat bullying and promote a spirit of inclusivity. In 11th grade, I created an anti-bullying organization, which teaches middle schoolers how to deal with the transition to high school. I would like to take these conversations about the importance of safe space and inclusivity to middle schools in Providence, working with organizations such as “No Bully” and initiatives such as Be Fearless Be Kind to encourage kids to stand up for each other.  As poetry has become the cornerstone of my personal growth and a tool for helping others,  I plan to contribute to The Round Magazine and organizations such as WORD! I would explore opportunities to bridge poetry and the visual arts by possibly collaborating with Artbeat.  I am also interested in studying connections between poetry and the sciences, their mutual applicability, and ways science can help me write better poetry while becoming an outstanding psychiatrist.  By working with Providence organizations such as AS220, a non-profit community arts organization in downtown, I could tap into my passion for the arts and writing. I would be a AS220 volunteer teacher and possibly introduce activities and workshops to encourage others to express themselves more fully and vulnerably.  (228 words)

Tips + Analysis

Write an intentional opening sentence. You’ll notice there’s no prolonged introduction or hook for this essay. Since the word count here is pretty restrictive, opening with a sentence that 1) hints at or tells the reader exactly where this essay is going, and/or 2) opens with values, means you’re saving space for more words later. The writer here opens with an activity they’ve been doing, but emphasizes their values of self-expression and inclusivity. 

Envision yourself at the university. This plays into the “Why us?” part of the response. Through careful and thorough research, you’ll be able to identify campus organizations and programs that resonate with you, especially in terms of the ways you’ve outlined your areas of diversity. Going this extra mile shows NYU officials that you’re familiar with what the community has to offer and that you can envision yourself on campus, not just thriving but contributing. This writer names a handful of organizations and programs at Brown or in the nearby community, drawing specific connections to their interests.  

Tie in your career aspirations. This is not necessary, but if it comes up organically while writing, it’s a nice nugget of information to include—it gives some backstory and motivation to your interests, and how you can use the university’s programs to achieve that goal. By noting their dream of becoming “an outstanding psychiatrist,” this student is able to add additional context around how these experiences will combine to enhance and inform their journey after college.

Show diversity through community. This essay is a good example of the community approach mentioned above. The writer touches on varying activities and interests, expanding by sharing how those experiences would help them contribute to the Brown community in specific ways. Like this: “As poetry has become the cornerstone of my personal growth and a tool for helping others,  I plan to contribute to The Round Magazine and organizations such as WORD! I would explore opportunities to bridge poetry and the visual arts by possibly collaborating with Artbeat.”  

Let’s take a look at another example (also written for Brown) that we love:

I am a people person. I enjoy meeting, engaging and connecting with people wherever I am and wherever they are from, the more different our perspectives, the better. I chat with New York taxi drivers and appreciate hearing their backgrounds and life stories. I chose to study Mandarin and Arabic to provide a better understanding of unfamiliar cultures and have enjoyed bonding with summer roommates from Colorado and Virginia to Lebanon, Russia and Turkey. And more recently, when volunteering in discussion forums with ex-convicts in the South Bronx, I have bonded over shared interests like hip hop and sneakers, while listening intently to the life lessons they imparted.  I believe that connecting with people is a two-way street. Through my experiences, I have fostered a diverse set of values like curiosity, a commitment to helping others, and a willingness to take risks that shape my outlook on the world. I enjoy sharing these experiences and values with others and would look forward to continuing to do that at Brown. Whether making a queen sacrifice on the chess board next to teammates on the Ivy League Champion Brown Chess Team or collaborating with other Brown students in continued refugee work with BRYTE (Brown Refugee Youth Tutoring and Enrichment), I would enjoy connecting with my Brown classmates and contributing to the broader Brown community.

Open with a logical flow of information. This writer opens with a very intentional first sentence on being a “people person,” then quickly and clearly shows what they mean, using color and details to illustrate their explanation. Packing each sentence with an individual example of people-personing in action gives the first paragraph an easy, breezy sense of flow. Try this approach and see if it works for you.

Demonstrate your values, but don’t be afraid to name them. In the second paragraph, the writer clearly states the values they gained from the experiences in paragraph 1. While some writers may be more subtle when writing about their values, this approach also works because this writer has already shown these values through color and context; now they’re connecting the values to experiences through the tell—i.e., curiosity = listening to the stories of New York taxi drivers, and commitment to helping others = their volunteer work with ex-felons. Whether you lean toward the show or feel comfortable following up with some tell, just make sure values make a strong appearance, in all your essays.

Mention of activities + why. Pretty early in the essay, the writer talks about their reasons for studying Mandarin and Arabic. Your transcripts and activities list will show the classes you took and the activities you participated in, but illustrating the motivation or backstory for relevant activities gives the reader a clear explanation for the “why,” which helps glue together the different parts of your application. 

Show more through small details. The writer is able to work in small details about themselves that the reader wouldn’t have known otherwise—their interest in hip hop and sneakers and that they had roommates from around the country and the world, leading to meaningful interactions. These small details offer the reader more of a 3D view of your world, breathing life and color into your application—the admission officers only know what you tell them.

Diversity through identity/perspective. This essay is a strong example of the identity and perspective approach, with the writer articulating what they gained from those interactions (like life lessons from ex-convicts and learning languages to better understand unfamiliar cultures), then followed up with specific ways they can use these experiences to enrich the Brown community—through BRYTE or Brown’s champion chess team.

Special thanks to Elica for contributing to this post.

Elica (she/her) is a college essay specialist who has a love of language in all forms; she has degrees in linguistics, has taught academic writing at the university level, and has been coaching students on their college and graduate school admissions essays for over 7 years. When she’s not working with students or writing, Elica can be found reading, printmaking, and exploring nature. 

Top Values: Collaboration | Curiosity | Patience

TRY OUT THE COLLEGE APPLICATION + SUPPLEMENTAL ESSAYS COURSE

Create amazing supplemental essays for the most selective schools, polish your activities list, and complete everything else with ease and joy. Learn more here.

college_application_student_course_free_trial_2019.jpg

VIDEO LESSONS

Watch the lessons on your own or via the live option. 

supplemental essay help

Questions? Call us: 

Email: 

Essay Writing

Term Paper Writing

Research Paper Writing

Dissertation Writing

Other Services

Popular request:

How to write a supplemental essay.

March 4, 2021

How to Write a Supplemental Essay

How long should a supplemental essay be? A supplemental essay is usually much shorter than the main essay and can range between 150 – 250. As with the main essay, students should always be aware of the word limit or risk earning a lower score on their admissions report. Since the essay can be written several weeks before the application is due, students should have no trouble editing their writing so that it comes under the word limit.

Sample College Supplement Essay Prompts

How to write a supplemental college essay, college supplemental essay tips, frequently asked questions.

With nearly 700 colleges accepting a supplemental essay as a part of the application, you will have the opportunity to select a topic you like and can send your written example to multiple institutions. A list of supplemental essay prompts is issued each year, but since we do not have the opportunity to cover them all, we have included some of the most popular prompts that appear on this list year after year. This should give you an idea of what to expect and can be a valuable tool for practicing writing this short-form essay.

The following five-step process is easy to follow and will get you well-along your way to putting together a great supplemental essay for your college application. Be sure to start early so that you have ample time to revise, edit, and proofread. Don’t hesitate to ask others for their opinion. You can easily miss small mistakes that can work against you, so it is best to get a fresh pair of eyes to go over your writing.

The steps above should help you write an exceptional essay, but we think these supplemental essay tips can give you an extra edge over other applicants.

Do all colleges require a supplemental essay? No, there are hundreds of colleges with no supplemental essay listed as a requirement. A supplemental essay is an option and an opportunity for you to demonstrate your writing abilities and stand apart from other applicants. Most colleges usually provide you with a handful of essay prompts to choose from, and if a supplemental essay is allowed, you can say something about yourself that the main essay submission did not cover.

What to write in supplemental essay for weak test scores? No, do not use this essay as a place to mention your weak scores. The two common standardized tests are the ACT and the SAT, and many students struggle with them for numerous reasons. Stick with the essay prompt when writing your supplemental piece. If you feel like mentioning the reason behind your low test scores, use the Additional Information section of the application to explain your circumstances.

What exactly goes into an MBA supplemental essay? The MBA essay should mention something about your desire to go into business. You would most likely choose a prompt that speaks to your passion. You are limited to just a few hundred words, so pick one example about your interest in business and write about that.

How to end a supplemental essay the right way? You won’t have a lot of room to write an expanded conclusion, but the ending is your last chance to make your point. Aim for two sentences that could tie the essay together. For example, “I am excited to bring my talents and passion for art and my interest in free form painting in ways that I can contribute to the department and support my peers.”

For more assistance writing the supplemental essay or for college supplemental essay examples written by academic experts, contact our writing services company . We can provide you with more resources or can put you in contact with an expert who can review, edit, proofread, or write your essay from scratch. Just let us know what you need, and we’ll do all the hard work for you. You will not have anything to worry about and can be confident that the final piece is sure to impress that admissions committee.

supplemental essay help

Take a break from writing.

Top academic experts are here for you.

Ukraine

As Putin continues killing civilians, bombing kindergartens, and threatening WWIII, Ukraine fights for the world's peaceful future.

In This Section

Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Google+ Share to LinkedIn Share to Pinterest Share to Email Print this page

08 May , 2021

Are You Making These Mistakes in Your Essay?

Most typical mistakes in a college essay

Starting a new chapter of your life by entering college is always frustrating. Especially, when you almost physically feel the load of responsibility. To earn a place in a college of your dream you need to work hard - and make a good self-representation for an admission committee. How? By sending them a flawless college essay. This is one of the most essential part of the file.

Do you want to be sure your essay is unique and appealing? Check the most typical mistakes you might make in an essay!

supplemental essay help

Long writing. Of course, you want to highlight all the best qualities and part you have. But let's be honest, admission committee is usually flooded with the applications. They simply have no time for a long read!

Not using help. The thought "I write my essay myself" seems quite proud... And at the same time, it's a bit stupid. If you have not done it before or read a couple of examples on the Internet, that won't help you to reach the ideal result.

Not following the proper format. A professional essay writer can make the job done fast and easy, because he knows the template, follow the plan and had already made hundreds of unique and remarkable pieces or writing.

Mentioning wrong things. Essay is not a composition where you can express whatever you want. It requires time, ideas and an interesting story.

If you're not sure that you will be able to make an ideal job yourself, think about essay writing service. That's how everything would be ready for you, whenever you need it.

Getting professional essay help

We can name dozens of reasons why getting assistance in writing an essay for college admission is better than spending countless hours in front of your PC doing research and reading different tips and recommendations.

First, it saves your time. Essay help allows you not to worry about the deadline and devote your time to whatever desired.

Second, you are getting a perfect result. Without any breakdowns, sleepless nights, thousands of drafts! Sounds like a good idea!

Third, best essay writing service isn't that expensive. There's no need to be one of the Rockfellers to pay for it.

Fourth, it's a professional attitude. Essay rewriter might check your work and correct it.

Still in doubt? Imagine how many people are typing in the search box "write my essay for me" to get into the college you want to be admitted! Be the first in this race

Tips for successful essay

What should you do to make your piece of writing outstanding and remarkable? We can give several recommendations. First, don't rely on your own skills only. Second, remember about strong parts. And third, be confident in a positive result when ordering a writing help!

The Physician Assistant Life

The Physician Assistant Life: The Ultimate Resource for All Things PA

How Can We Help? Essays Interviews Consulting Community 😀

How to Write the Perfect PA School Supplemental Essay

September 7, 2020 By Deanna Matzen (Pre-PA Advisor) and Stephen Pasquini PA-C Leave a Comment

How to Write the Perfect Physiciant Assistant PA School Supplemental Essay

S o you finished writing your amazingly perfect PA school personal statement that shows Admissions Committees your passion for patient care and interest in the PA profession.

Now you are faced with a slew of supplemental essay prompts that must be addressed concisely and specifically.

What is a Pre-PA Applicant to do?

First, take a deep breath.

Second, remember the purpose of the supplemental essay: to speak specifically about why this school is the right fit for you and why you are a good fit for them.

The best supplemental essays require careful preparation and attention to detail. While your personal statement was not school-specific but rather answers the broader question of why do you want to be a PA ? The supplemental essay is used by schools to find applicants who will best fit into their program’s goals and mission.

Those who do not put in effort into their supplemental essays will be weeded out quickly. The best applications are those that align with a school’s specific goals with the appropriate experience to back it up.

For your top choice schools, this is where a little effort can go a long way.

PA School Personal Statement Help

Single Edit   One-on-one service   Supplemental Essays

5 Tips to Write the Perfect PA School Supplemental Essay

1. look for redundant questions.

Some prompts are generic and will show up for multiple programs such as addressing any gaps and deficiencies in your application, the COVID essay, or your autobiography.

Write one version of this essay and use it for all schools where this question applies. Be careful that the narrative in the longer version does not contradict the simplified version that you may have included in your personal statement.

2. Do your research

Many schools will ask you why you want to attend their program. This question requires you to reflect on how you fulfill or align with their vision, mission statement, and goals. Locate the mission statement for each school you are applying to on our PASchoolFinder website . Copy and paste the program's mission statement into your favorite document editor. Pay careful attention to every word and highlight the key phrases. When writing your response, resist the urge to parrot or repeat back their own wording. This is your chance to provide specific examples from your work or volunteer experience that demonstrate how you align with their mission/goals—show, don’t tell.

3. Don’t repeat your personal statement

The supplemental essay also provides you an opportunity to highlight work, volunteer, and academic experiences that you were unable to discuss in your personal statement. Focus on adding new stories and anecdotes that make your application more well-rounded.

4. Read and then reread

One of the biggest mistakes that applicants make in their supplemental essays is not answering the question being asked. After you have written your response(s), set it aside for a couple of days while you work on something else. Starting over with a fresh mind, reread the prompt, focusing on determining precisely what the question or questions are asking. As you read your response, look back to the original question and make sure that you have adequately answered it using specific details or examples and have avoided repeating the question verbatim. You should be able to map your answer to the prompt or to each component if there is more than one.

5. Start and end strong

Begin each paragraph with a clear topic sentence. It should not repeat the question being asked, but it should introduce the aspect of the question you want to answer. For example, if you have three reasons for applying to a specific program, each paragraph should focus on one reason that you introduce in the first sentence. Provide examples of how you have lived that reason out in your career. Then tie those examples together with the missional purpose to end the paragraph. Repeat until you have demonstrated each reason. End your essay with a summary conclusion that restates all the points made and ties it back to the beginning question.

A Little Effort Goes a Long Way

You may feel that you already put your best work into your personal statement to make it unique, enjoyable, etc. Even still, Admission Committees are sorting through thousands of applications, and they start to sound the same after a while.

The supplemental essay is your chance to stand out from the crowd, to address new aspects of your experiences, and to show that you align with your chosen program's goals and values, not just in words but with actions.

Be sure to put in the time and effort now to create a thoughtful and well-crafted supplemental essay. The supplemental essay may seem like an afterthought, but it could very well be the deciding factor between receiving an interview invite or facing yet another year of CASPA applications .

Need help crafting your perfect PA school supplemental essay?

We have helped hundreds of pre-PAs with their supplemental essays through our PA school personal statement collaborative . Prices start at just $49 for a supplemental essay revision and we can get started right away.

Recommended reading:

PA School Supplemental Essay Strategies (Webinar Replay)
How to Write the Perfect Physician Assistant School Application Essay

You may also like -

12 Secrets to Writing an Irresistible PA School Personal Statement

Download Your FREE 300 PA School Interview Questions and Answers Workbook

Sign up below to receive your free 65 page 300 PA school interview questions and answers workbook.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Caspa personal statement help.

supplemental essay help

Personal Statement Editing

Schedule a Live Recorded PA School Video Interview

We offer 60-minute mock PA school interviews with post-interview feedback and advice. Includes a recorded video of your interview that you can watch, download, or share with family and friends. There is no better way to prepare!

Pre-PA Consulting and Advising

Jennifer Crozier PA-C

PPre-PA Consulting and Advising

Download Your Free Copy of the How to Write Your PA School Essay Workbook

We created a free workbook to help you craft a personal statement that the admissions directors will be dying to read. Tell us where to send your free copy.

Deanna Matzen Headshot

About Deanna Matzen (Pre-PA Advisor) and Stephen Pasquini PA-C

Deanna Matzen is a gifted interviewer, editor, coach, and listener. Her passion for the PA profession has drawn her to The PA Life with years of experience as a university professor, Pre-PA advisor, scientist, and professional writer. She has helped hundreds of pre-PAs find their unique story and tell it with confidence and heart. Deanna strives to be a voice that helps others articulate what they want in life while also challenging them to grow into who they are meant to be.

Stephen has been a family practice PA since 2004 and is the creator of The PA Life and Smarty PANCE Board Review websites. A National Health Service Corps Scholar and a graduate of The University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ (Rutgers) PA Program and the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. Stephen's goal is to provide one-of-a-kind online resources for those interested in or practicing in the PA profession, to promote better access to healthcare for all, and foster universal recognition/awareness of the PA profession. Read more about Stephen.

Reader Interactions

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Are you struggling to write your PA School Personal Statement?

We have options to fit every budget

Essay Review Service

Useful Links

supplemental essay help

IMAGES

  1. 38+ Penn Supplemental Essay Images

    supplemental essay help

  2. Supplemental Essay Coaching

    supplemental essay help

  3. Usc Supplemental Essay Help

    supplemental essay help

  4. How to Write a Supplemental Essay: Best Writing Tips

    supplemental essay help

  5. Usc Supplemental Essay Help

    supplemental essay help

  6. Supplemental essay writing pro supplementalapplication 4 by Shani Harrelson

    supplemental essay help

VIDEO

  1. Get Admitted With This Supplemental Essay Tip #collegeadmissions

  2. Flight of the Jumbo

  3. Revising Your Essay

  4. Essay Specialists Discuss Supplemental Essays!

  5. Should You Write A Disadvantaged Essay?

  6. Ep 525 Supplemental Essay Help

COMMENTS

  1. Supplemental Essay Guide 2022-23 - College Essay Advisors ...

    Supplemental Essay Guide 2022-23 - College Essay Advisors: Admissions Essay Experts Supplemental Essay Guide 2022-23 What do the 2022-23 supplemental essay prompts really mean, and how should you approach them? CEA's experts are here to break them all down. State Acceptance Rate % - % Undergrad Population - Tuition $ - $ Ivy League Yes

  2. How to Write a Supplemental Essay for College Applications

    A supplemental essay gives you an opportunity to tell the admissions committee about something you weren't able to cover in your main essay. (Getty Images) Prospective students are usually...

  3. Learn How to Write Great Supplemental College Essays ...

    Supplemental essays are additional pieces of writing required by many highly-selective universities, and they can be just as revealing and important as your personal statement. Read on for how-to guides with essay examples & analysis on tackling these essays for some of the most popular colleges and universities. American University Amherst College

  4. Sample Supplemental Essay for College Admissions ... - ThoughtCo

    The content of your supplemental essay is extremely important, and poor decisions on this front can lead to a weak supplemental essay. But content isn't everything. You also need to focus on the presentation of your ideas. Make sure your essay is entirely free of any grammatical errors, and be sure to avoid common stylistic problems.

  5. How to Write the NYU Supplemental Essay ... - College Essay Guy

    Create amazing supplemental essays for the most selective schools, polish your activities list, and complete everything else with ease and joy. Learn more here. 25+ VIDEO LESSONS Watch the lessons on your own or via the live option. Tagged:

  6. How To Write A Supplemental Essay? - e Writing Service

    The supplemental essay, also referred to as the common application essay, is a chance to let the college admissions group learn something about you that were not able to express in the main essay entry. Some schools require a supplemental writing example in addition to the main essay.

  7. Essay Writing Service | Help to Write My Essay ...

    Essay help allows you not to worry about the deadline and devote your time to whatever desired. Second, you are getting a perfect result. Without any breakdowns, sleepless nights, thousands of drafts! Sounds like a good idea! Third, best essay writing service isn't that expensive. There's no need to be one of the Rockfellers to pay for it.

  8. How to Write the Perfect PA School Supplemental Essay

    The supplemental essay is your chance to stand out from the crowd, to address new aspects of your experiences, and to show that you align with your chosen program's goals and values, not just in words but with actions. Be sure to put in the time and effort now to create a thoughtful and well-crafted supplemental essay.