How to tackle the Emory Supplemental Essay?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Emory University
1

I seriously have no idea what to write:/

Essay Option 1
Last August, Susan Grant, chief nurse executive for Emory Healthcare, said this of Emory’s choice to treat patients with Ebola: “We can either let our actions be guided by misunderstandings, fear and self-interest, or we can lead by knowledge, science and compassion. We can fear, or we can care.” Consider her idea of doing what is in the public interest despite potential cost. Please discuss an example in your life or the life of another that’s come to your attention.

Essay Option 2
In the spirit of Emory’s tradition of courageous inquiry, what question do you want to help answer, and why?

I have never done anything courageous or spectacular so I feel like I cannot write an essay on the first prompt. I just don’t know how to approach either of the essay options.

Also, to be considered for the scholars program, I have to apply by November 15, but I have not even written my essay yet so should I just apply by the regular date? I heard the program is very selective so I wouldn’t be chosen anyway I think.

2

Just write about the second prompt, that’s what I’m doing.

3

You don’t have to talk about you doing something in public interest. You can talk about someone you know or admire.
Don’t rush yourself to submit your app by the 15 if you don’t see yourself in the program. Also, you never know if you’ll be selected. They look at all of your commitments and activities as well as your grades.

4

I’m having trouble with this as well. For the second question, do we need to link it to the field we are majoring in?

5

I don’t think so. I think the Emory supplemental is to get to know more about your personality. I was also confused about the second prompt. What kind of questions are they talking about? Scientific like curing cancer or philosophical like what is truth?

6

I’m doing the 2nd, and it is more philosophical/philanthropic. i think it’s the quality of the writing that’s more important than answering the prompt 100% perfect

7

Hi all,

I am a current student at the University of Florida - Honors College, and I have just been accepted to transfer to Emory in Spring 2016.

We had these same prompts, and I wrote about the “We can fear or we can care” one. You definitely do NOT need a big spectacular or courageous story for this one.

I wrote about how there was a culture of it’s “cool not to care” in many of my classes, meaning that absolutely nobody would participate in classroom discussions, and nobody would raise their hands to answer professor’s questions. I told the story of how I, regardless of the scoffs of my peers, would speak in class and be actively engaged in the classroom. Even though I was labeled as a nerd, a know-it-all, and a teacher’s pet, I wasn’t going to let the weight of peer pressure discourage me from getting the most out of my education.

8

Hi guys!

I just got invited to an interview! So I’m both excited and nervous. For the common app essay i submitted by the nov 15th deadline but I find it works if you write your essay sort of like a story. So i chose the one about failure and talked about how I’m not a mathematician but am extremely great at math and how i got to this point. I talked about how i was never always good at math and talked about my childhood and background as a Jamaican. For the supplemental, the same works. You need to make a story that is memorable and integrates some component of your life. For that i chose the fear or care prompt and chose obe of my volunteering opportunities. In the end mentioned susan grant and sort of clarified her statement but connected it back to my story. I hope this helps :slight_smile:

9

@Caintpau : Did that happen at an honors college? Some teachers in small classes at Emory basically demand that and it will effect your participation grade (if the class has one) if you don’t. In addition…if it is a course in your major or area of interest, as it should be for many, then many should be excited to discuss if they did the readings. Even when I was out of my element (I was a STEM major) in these special topics and intermediate history and political science courses, I would at least attempt to participate and do it well when I was well prepared, as did several others. I mean, is Emory like many other colleges where many classrooms will appear to have a level of disengagement, sure…but I’ve never really seen a case where a single person would stand out for participating, at least not in a small (35 or less) class. Discussions were often quite vigorous.

10

@bernie12 I experienced it in both honors and non-honors courses. Often times I would be sitting in an anthropology lab, answering all my TA’s questions, only to find out that 3-4 of my classmates were anthropology majors who didn’t say a word (meanwhile I’m Pre-Law).

Thank you for your message - it really makes me excited to hear that Emory, the next school I will be going to, can provide me with an actively engaged classroom experience :slight_smile:

11

Interesting that you’re pre-law which I didn’t know…guess I got lucky mentioning political science and history courses I took.

12

@BlackHuntress Did you apply ED I, II, or RD? Stats? Major?
I thought Emory did not care about demonstrated interest/interviews, like at all.

13

It cares about the interview if they select an applicant to interview and then the applicant goes forth with it. The alumni interviews were recently (3 years ago?) revived and seems to have had some success.

14

@cappex Admission: RD (but I’m applying as a freshman so not sure if that changes anything)
Major: (Intended) Neuroscience

GPA: 4.0
Weighted GPA: 6.9

SAT I: 2190, 11 essay
SAT II: Math: 760. Bio (molec): 670

IB/AP: IB Bio, Psych, History, math, english, and spanish.
AP: Euro(3), lang(5), psych (5), apush(5)
College credit: introductory Stats, Comp I, Creative Writing.

ECs: Violin for 8 years, Interact (VP and PRES) all 4 years, racquetball/ yoga (4years but more of recreational), Graphite artist, Red Cross member(secretary)) in it 2 years.

Awards/honors: principal’s hinor roll (4 years)(well hoping for it for 12th too), National Merit Commended, Distinguished Sercice Citation on behalf of Interact Club, Rotary Youth Leadership Award, AP Scholar with Honors, Award for Excellence in State Fair Art Exhibit, Superior in Concert orchestra.

Hooks: I literally started one of my essays saying “I am not a mathematician”, talked about culture.

Recommendations: submitted 3 which I absolutely know 110% were the best recs ever XD

I hope this helps…my stats really aren’t that much in emory standards so I definitely think my essays were the “this person is interesting” factor.
:slight_smile:

15

@cappex i don’t think they stress the interview much because they understand not everyone applying will have an alumni nearby for one…plus there’s the fact that you’re invited so i think that adds some degree since they highly recommend if you are the lucky few invited you should consider doing it very carefully before rejecting.

16

Well, they do admit that they are evaluative, but I imagine they would expect anyone accepting the interview to probably be somewhat likable or interesting to talk to.

@BlackHuntress : Come on, you know that your stats are fine…

17

OH, i get it. They offer interviews to see if you will yield their admission, or for the scholarships. So being ED, they don’t necessarily need to interview.

18

Yeah! Haha XD lol @bernie12 it sounds good but like when I compare it to like all those people who like have varsity sports, won international awards, started an orphanage…it pales in comparison XD