<p>The long essays are usually pretty standard--personal statements or "why this school" (exempting UChicago, of course)--but a few good short-answer questions thrown in there can really brighten the application experience, I've found. It feels good when schools actually ask for the little details that make you yourself.</p>
<p>CARLETON (all are 500 characters or less): Name the secondary school teacher who has most influenced you and why; describe your tentative career plan or dream; "from your reading, whether children's books or classics, what books or authors have particularly impressed you and why?"</p>
<p>BELOIT (500 characters): "Beloit's viewbook is titled, 'The Beloit College book of love, luck, fame, flops, dirt, dreams, sloth, sweat, basements, ballrooms, impossible questions, struggle, muscles, soul, big ideas, power, poems...and everything else otherwise known as life.' What words otherwise describe you or your life? No essay required, just words."</p>
<p>KENYON (longer--2000 characters): Choose one: A) "Neuroscientists have recently discovered the part of the brain most active in decision-making. What human trait would you most want to understand and what makes it significant to you?" B) "You're given a block of stone and a hammer and chisel. What would you carve and why?" C) "Along the edge of ancient maps it used to say 'Here there be monsters.' What does it say at the edge of your map and why does it say that?" D) "What recent discovery - either by you or by someone else - most excites you? Why is it important to you?"</p>
<p>I would consider applying to a common-app-using college on the basis of their supplement's good short-answer questions! Anyone got more?</p>