<p>I saw the thread stickied at the top of this forum that lists colleges which were free to apply to, and I was wondering if there's a similar list for colleges that do not require a supplement essay for the common app? What I actually want is a list of colleges that are both free AND have no supplement, but I realize that that may be too much to ask for. </p>
<p>I know this isn't the best way to apply to universities, but I think it's pretty reasonable to submit applications to colleges like Case Western seeing as they take absolutely no time or money (other than the $11 for sending SAT scores) and are academically strong. Are there any other similar universities?</p>
<p>Just to clarify, I'm not trying to build an application list solely based on these sort of colleges - but imo there's nothing to lose when you apply to a few of them right?</p>
<p>You forgot to add the requirement that they also hand out gobs of merit aid to kids with a 3.2 GPA.</p>
<p>Sorry, my inner screenwriter just saw the humor in your post. I know you’re sincere, but I can see a scene right now involving something along the lines of:</p>
<p>Recruiter: “So, tell me, why did you choose to attend Prestigious U?”</p>
<p>Bluto: “Well, I’m a cheap, lazy SOB, so I just hit the Submit button on every school that let me apply for free with no additional writing required.”</p>
<p>Recruiter: “Congratulations! Those are the type of cost and labor efficiencies we’re looking for in our employees. Welcome to McKinsey & Co!”</p>
<p>Haha, I get what you’re saying; yes, I realize how lazy and cheap I sound, but how I see it is: I’m applying to 5-6 universities early that are all pretty tough to get into and that I spent time to write a bunch of essays for. Taking into account that there’s a chance I don’t get into ANY of these colleges, there’s always the costless application I sent to free college X which took me 20 seconds to finish and send… where I know i’ll get in. On the other hand, if I were to choose to apply to a safety which actually had an essay, then that would take away valuable time I could be spending on my higher-risk colleges.</p>
<p>I know I’m not really conveying my point clearly, but I just feel like it minimizes risk and at the same time doesn’t take any time at all to finish.</p>
<p>Like I said, it’s not like i’m going to be building my college list around cost of applying or number of supplemental essays. I’m just saying maybe it’s not so bad of an idea to apply to a couple universities WITH the ones you’re already applying to on the premise that they’re free and quick to finish.</p>
<p>I may be really off here but I feel like most colleges don’t require supplemental essays (and in many cases not even the CA essay). So if you look at the “free to apply” list I think it’s reasonable to assume that many or even most of them also don’t require a supplement.</p>
<p>It bothers me that people do this with Case because I’m from Cleveland and I want to go there because I could commute, and I’m worried that some “I applied because they don’t have a fee” kid with better stats will get in instead of me.
But I understand what you mean. </p>
<p>Drexel is free if you apply online, and they don’t have an essay.
Northeastern, WashU, the University of Miami, and Ohio State (non-honors) don’t have essays.
Stanford doesn’t require a “why us” essay. Those were always the worst for me.</p>
<p>Sympathetic to the OP since the process is so hard with all the supplements. The “free application/no essay” thing is not just a nice perk at Case - it’s symptomatic of how they try to make the application process (relatively) easy and friendly - while still being personal. It was one of my kid’s favorites anyway, but the free and easy app was such a nice thing.</p>
<p>@halcyonheather, I checked one of your older stats and you have nothing to worry about - I have much lower stats than you as would a lot of people. Anyways, I understand your point because I was already aware of Drexel but am not applying there since I friend with lower stats at my school actually wants to go there. But I didn’t know Northeastern didn’t have an essay, that’s the kind of university I was looking for (decent academics, easy application…although still has an application fee - oh well). And I feel your pain for Stanford - as well as Princeton and other long applications - but I guess all those supplements are necessary to distinguish between applicants.</p>
<p>@Case16mom, yeah it’s nice to have such an easy application. It really makes the whole process a lot less stressful since I don’t have to worry about how good your essays are (other than the common app one).</p>
<p>@OHMom, I didn’t think of it that way, I’ll go to that list and see if anything comes up, thank you.</p>
<p>So are there any compiled lists of these no-supplement universities? If someone could post a link here that would be great; I think it would help out a lot more people than just me.</p>
<p>…but it’s only for Common App schools. Most colleges do not use the CA but have their own online or other app, and in many cases there is no essay.</p>
<p>If you don’t mind going out of the country (albeit only barely) McGill and the University of Toronto are pretty prestigious and all they want are your grades and SAT scores. They have their own online applications, but they are really quick as they don’t care about essays or ECs or hooks or anything except grades and scores.</p>
<p>You can always waive the application fee. University of Denver, University of Miami, and DePaul University are all on the common app and have no writing supplement.</p>
