The first day of summer has arrived and with it, a new application season has begun. Colleges across the country are beginning to release their supplemental essays, well in advance of the application deadlines, so that students can get a jump start on their materials. These essays complement the longer Main Essay and provide applicants with opportunities to share additional information about their leadership, meaningful activities, community engagement, and intellectual experiences.
As with last year’s supplements, there is a strong “Why Essay” trend this year. In order to gauge your genuine interest in a particular school, admissions officers want to see that you have done your homework and can make a case for why you would be a good fit. Brown, for instance, asks: “Brown’s Open Curriculum allows students to explore broadly while also diving deeply into their academic pursuits. Tell us about an academic interest (or interests) that excites you, and how you might use the Open Curriculum to pursue it. (250 words)” Other schools, like Cornell, ask applicants to respond to the essay question that corresponds to the undergraduate college or school to which they are applying (i.e. the College of Arts and Sciences or one of the other six colleges on campus.) The University of Chicago, notorious for the most creative supplemental questions (written by the previous year’s incoming class), offers seven options for the extended supplemental essay. One of the more irreverent options asks, “What can actually be divided by zero?”
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your supplements, you are not alone. We are here to help! This summer is the perfect time to work on your supplemental essays, especially now that you have unexpected free time at home due to COVID.
Don’t delay. The more you can do NOW, the more you can focus on your senior year grades without the added stress of college applications. On August 1, the Common App, the most popular application platform, will officially “go live,” but there’s no reason to wait to start your essays until then. Work one-on-one with one of our senior counselors to craft unique, stand-out essays with our College Essay Program. Or enroll in our trademark Application Boot Camp ® , which takes place over the course of four days in August and has a few remaining seats as of today.
THE VARIOUS APPLICATION PLATFORMS
- 2020-2021 Coalition App (now online)
- 2020-2021 Universal College App (will go live on or about July 1st)
- 2020-2021 Common App (will launch August 1st)
Note: Some schools, like Georgetown University, use their own application. Students interested in Georgetown must first complete and submit the Georgetown Application (a short form), which initiates the alumni interview and grants you access to the official application platform. The University of California likewise uses their own distinct application for their nine campuses.
2020-2021 SUPPLEMENTAL ESSAY PROMPTS
- AMHERST COLLEGE
- BABSON COLLEGE
- BARNARD COLLEGE
- BOSTON COLLEGE
- BROWN UNIVERSITY
- CALTECH
- COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
- CORNELL UNIVERSITY
- DARTMOUTH
- DUKE UNIVERSITY
- EMORY UNIVERSITY
- GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
- GEORGIA TECH
- HAVERFORD COLLEGE
- JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY (8/1)
- MIT
- NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- POMONA COLLEGE
- RICE UNIVERSITY
- STANFORD UNIVERSITY
- SWARTHMORE COLLEGE
- TRINITY COLLEGE
- TUFTS UNIVERSITY
- TULANE UNIVERSITY
- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
- UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
- UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO BOULDER
- UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
- UMASS AMHERST
- UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
- UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
- UNC CHAPEL HILL
- UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME
- UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND
- UT AUSTIN
- UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT
- UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
- UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
- UW – MADISON
- VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY
- WAKE FOREST
- WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS
- WILLIAMS COLLEGE
- YALE UNIVERSITY
We’ll continue to update this list as supplements are released. Feel free to note any schools we might’ve missed in the comments. We’d love to hear from you!
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2020-2021 Supplemental Essay Prompts: Early Releases
June 29, 2020 at 11:12 am
Emma
Hello! Emory prompts should be out as well.
Deanna
All set!
Alyssa Kay
What about Williams College supplemental essays
Deanna
Williams is now included. Thanks!
Cristian Says :
Caltech is out as well
Deanna
Done! Thank you.
Gabby
Amherst College’s prompts are out, too!
Deanna
All set!
Gabby
Amherst College’s prompts are out
Deanna
Thanks! All set now.
Sarah
UNC link does not work
Deanna
Thanks Sarah! Apparently they updated their site but didn’t forward original links. We’ve updated.
Radhey
Will this be updated as soon as they come out?
Deanna
We’re doing our best to keep this up to date but always appreciate a helping hand! If you learn of any that you don’t see on the list please feel free to comment.
Danielle
The University of Miami has also released a supplement
Deanna
All set!
Sam
Columbia is out.
Deanna
All set!
Natalia Berti
Does Northeastern have a writing supplement out?
Deanna
They don’t! I believe it was 2018 when they removed the supplemental essay requirement.
Junior
Pomona has also released their supplements.
Deanna
Yes, thank you! It’s included above.
Robert
Hi! Northwestern’s essay prompt is also out.
Deanna
Sure is! See above… thank you!
Avery
Barnard is out as well~ https://barnard.edu/barnard-writing-supplement-questions
Deanna
Thank you! Updated…
Tanonaris
Hi! Johns Hopkins’ essay is not out. The website says that it will be out on 1st August.
Deanna
Yes, thank you! This is our placeholder for JHU.
Joe
Notre dame released its essays
Deanna
Yes, all set!
Junior
Swarthmore is out too
Deanna
Got it! Thx.
Ryan Mogauro
Stanford is out, too.
Rachel
Does NYU have supplements? Thank you for the list by the way.
Deanna
Out and up on our site now!
Rachel
Does Smith College have supplements?
Deanna
Just released today and on our site! Thx!
Deanna
Posted today!
Deven Parikh
Does Penn State usually have any supplements
Deanna
We have the 19-20′ here though it’s an optional question… still waiting on 20-21′.
David
Santa Clara University is also out, I believe
Lana
What about NYU?
Deanna
We don’t see it yet!
Deanna
Out now and on our site!
Aria
UPenn is out too!
Deanna
All set! See our Essay Resource page!
Kate
Hi! MIT is out. https://mitadmissions.org/apply/firstyear/part-2-essays-activities-academics/
and URichmond as well https://admissions.richmond.edu/process/regular-decision.html
Ariel
Rice University and Washington University (St. Louis) also released their prompts
Deanna
All set! See our Essay Resource page.
Aria
UPenn is also out!
Deanna
Got it! https://www.toptieradmissions.com/resources/college-admissions-essay-prompts-top-tier-admissions/
Jane
Penn State? Ohio State?
Deanna
Not yet…
EF
U Texas is out! https://admissions.utexas.edu/apply/freshman-admission#fndtn-freshman-admission-short-answers-prompts-summer-fall-2021
Deanna
Yes, we have it. Thank you!
Check out our Essay Resource page.
Tanonaris
Stanford, MIT and UPenn are out. I can’t see the essay for Northwestern.
Deanna
It’s there. Thanks.
Jessie
Did Vanderbilt’s prompts come out yet?
Deanna
Not that we’re aware of…
windycity
Did Washington&Lee’s prompts come out yet?
Deanna
We don’t see it yet.
Deanna
They’re out now and up on our site!