How to Write Supplemental Essays That Stand Out
The Common App has a nasty surprise waiting for you.
You spend months perfecting your Personal Statement. You finally hit save. You feel a wave of relief. Then, you click on the "Writing Supplement" section for your dream school, and you see it.
The blank text boxes. Dozens of them.
Suddenly, you aren't done. You are staring at a mountain of "Why Us?" and "Why Major?" essays that stand between you and an acceptance letter. It feels impossible to write all of them and still keep your grades up.
But here is the secret. You do not have to work harder. You just have to work smarter.
Here is the strategic breakdown of how to tackle the mountain of essays waiting for you without burning out.
Stop Being Generic
When you write a generic "Why Us?" essay, two bad things happen. First, the admissions officer gets bored. Second, you waste your own time because you are writing fluff instead of substance.
The Fix: Do not spray random compliments at the school about their "pretty campus" or "nice people."
Instead, pick three specific targets.
One specific professor whose research interests you.
One specific upper-level class you want to take.
One specific club where you can lead.
Write about those three things in detail. It is faster to write because you have a clear focus, and it is much more impressive to read.
Connect the Dots for Them
For the "Why Major?" essay, do not make the admissions officer guess why you want to study Biology or History. You need to show them the path.
Think of your life as a series of dots.
Dot 1: You enjoyed a specific class in high school.
Dot 2: You did a summer project related to that topic.
Dot 3: You want to solve a specific problem in the future.
Your essay just needs to draw the line connecting those dots. Keep it simple. Tell them, "I did X, which led to Y, and that is why I want to do Z at your school."
Recycle Your Best Work
Here is the biggest secret in admissions. You are allowed to recycle your essays.
If Brown asks about a community you belong to, and Penn asks about a group you collaborate with, use the same story.
Write one "Master Version" of your best stories (about 400 words).
Cut it down to fit the word count for each school (usually 150 to 250 words).
Change the ending to apply to that specific campus.
Crucial Warning: The "Find and Replace" tool is dangerous. Always read your essay out loud before hitting submit to make sure you didn't leave the wrong school name in there!
Master Every School on Your List
Every Ivy League school has its own personality. We have created a cheat sheet for each one to help you finish your applications faster. Click below to get the specific guide for your dream school.
Need a Partner for the Process?
You have done the hard work in high school. But at schools with 4% acceptance rates, "good enough" isn't enough. We know exactly what admissions officers are looking for in these supplements. Let us help you turn your draft into an essay that demands attention.
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