I’m a rising senior and trying to start my college applications, but I have no idea how many supplemental essays I’m going to have to write. I tried to find information online, but I can’t find out too much. I’m not sure if I should just make a common application account, because I don’t know if I can see the supplements without submitting my common app essay (which I have barely started). If anyone knows how many essays certain colleges require, here’s my college list:
Georgetown University
Boston College
College of William & Mary
Barnard College
Cornell University
Boston University
Lafayette College
George Washington University
(also possibly Brown and Lehigh, but I’m not sure yet)
You can check which colleges require a writing supplement on the Common App. You don’t need to fill in the rest of the app. Just go to the dashboard and there will be a column that indicates whether the colleges require an additional supplement or not. Click on a specific college and next to “Writing Supplement” will be the word ‘Incomplete’. Click that and you will see the writing supplements prompt(s).
Make sure you type out your supplements somewhere else though.
will the common app website also give me the supplement prompts?
Yes
Edit: I didn’t see the part where you didn’t have an account already. Make an account then add the colleges on your list to your account. Then follow the steps above.
Hi! So the way the common app works is this: you fill out all the general common app information in one section and then the info for the specific college in the other. You do not have to submit one in order to see the other. When you submit an application to a college, you will send the common app and the colleges application at the same time. You can also search up a college on the common app website in order to find the number of supplements they require and you do not have to submit the application to see this. You cannot submit any application until all the required components are filled so it physically won’t let you send it in. You will know when you submit an application because there are many steps in order to send it in. If you create a common app account (which I suggest you do so you can familiarize yourself with the website and start looking around at your prospective colleges) double check with you college counselor at your school whether or not you have to waive your right to seeing your recommendations (I had to waive my right). With that in mind you can also check the individual college website since they will show you all the required aspects of the application, maybe not the specific questions, but whether or not you will need to send in a supplement. I looked some stuff up on my common app for you and this is what I found:
-Georgetown: not on the common app?
-Boston college: 1 supplement 400 words and you can choose between 4 questions
-College of William and Mary: no supplement I believe
-Barnard college: 3 supplements
-Cornell: I didn’t see one but not sure
-Boston university: didn’t see one either but not sure (some schools might not because they have so many applicants that it’s too much)
-Lafayette: 2 supplements
-GW: (this is where I go!!) 1 supplement (chose out of three prompts)
I hope this helped! The college application process is very confusing and there is a lot to keep track of, but stay organized and keep on top of your deadlines and you’ll be great! Feel free to ask any more questions! Good luck!
From personal experience, William & Mary does have a supplement but it is optional. It is pretty open-ended and is usually something along the lines of “What makes you unique or colorful?” Last year it was:
“Beyond your impressive academic credentials and extracurricular accomplishments, what else makes you unique and colorful? We know that nobody fits neatly into 500 words or less, but you can provide us with some suggestion of the type of person you are. Anything goes! Inspire us, impress us, or just make us laugh. Think of this optional opportunity as show and tell by proxy and with an attitude, but please restrict your submission to what will fit on one sheet of paper.”
I would recommend writing the supplement because it helps make you stand out and show a different side of yourself that can’t be shown through merely grades and test scores.
Cornell has supplemental essays. They vary, though, depending on which school you are applying to, so may not show up on a first look, but will when you’ve selected a school.