<p>If you are applying to A&S do you need to write an essay on the supplament? It seems only Engineering and Transfers do. </p>
<p>If you only need to write a Common App essay then thats sweet!!!!</p>
<p>yea the essays for trinity in the supplement are not required and it states that not writing the essays doesn't count against you. but the advantage to it is that it gives you some more needed space to tell them about yourself. if you feel your essay conveys your personality more than enough than theres no need to do it.</p>
<p>Are you applying ED? If so, then you obviously feel passionate about going to Duke. That being said, I think it would be worth your time to write a supplement on "Why I want to go to Duke" because a) admissions loves applicants who truly, genuinely feel like Duke is the place for them and b) if you really write how you feel, it won't be that difficult an essay.</p>
<p>One important thing to mention about the supplements is, as nmehta4 said, to tell the reader something about your personality. An essay on "Why I want to go to Duke" should be about 2/3 talking about you and 1/3 talking about Duke (give or take...IMO)</p>