What are the college essay requirements for the 2024 application cycle?
I'm starting to prep my applications for this fall and I feel a bit overwhelmed by all the changes this year. Could anyone clarify what the essay requirements are for colleges in 2024? In particular, I'm not sure if many schools still require personal statements, or if there are any big changes to supplemental essays this year.
I'm mostly looking at selective schools on the East Coast but I want to know about general trends too. If anyone has a list of prompts or knows if the Common App or Coalition App made any big changes for 2024, it would be a lifesaver. I want to make sure I'm not missing anything important before I start drafting my essays.
I'm mostly looking at selective schools on the East Coast but I want to know about general trends too. If anyone has a list of prompts or knows if the Common App or Coalition App made any big changes for 2024, it would be a lifesaver. I want to make sure I'm not missing anything important before I start drafting my essays.
4 months ago
•
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Camille Luong
• 4 months ago
Advisor
Preparing for college essays can definitely feel intimidating, but you're smart to check the requirements early. For the 2024 application cycle, there are some important things to know:
First, most selective colleges—especially on the East Coast—still require a personal statement. If you're applying through the Common App, the main personal essay prompts remain almost exactly the same as last year. You'll choose from seven prompts (like "Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time" or "Share an essay on any topic of your choice") and write an essay of 250-650 words. The Coalition App prompts are also similar: broad, personal questions designed to help you share your story. There haven't been any major overhauls to the prompts for either application in 2024, so you can start brainstorming and even drafting using the current prompts on their official websites.
Supplemental essays are still a big part of applications for selective schools. Almost all highly selective East Coast schools require them. The types of supplements haven't changed drastically, but there's a growing trend toward shorter response lengths (often 200-350 words or even less for some "short-take" questions) and more creative or values-based prompts. For example, Yale asks questions about intellectual interests and community, while Boston College might ask about moments of courage. Some schools even have rapid-fire questions, like "What brings you joy?" or "Name one thing about our campus that excites you most."
An example: Princeton has several supplements, including a 250-word essay about your academic interests and brief responses about your favorite books and events. For another example, Brown often asks, "Why Brown?" and "Tell us about a community you belong to."
A few general tips:
- Most schools require the Common App essay and 1-4 supplemental essays.
- Read each college's website for any updates or special requirements.
- Keep an eye out for "optional" essays — at selective schools, it's best to treat these as required if you want to stand out.
Lastly, it's wise to make a spreadsheet of each college's requirements, deadlines, and prompts once they are posted for 2024. Some prompts are published as early as July or August.
You're off to a good start! If you need insight into specific schools, feel free to ask for their most recent prompts or advice.
First, most selective colleges—especially on the East Coast—still require a personal statement. If you're applying through the Common App, the main personal essay prompts remain almost exactly the same as last year. You'll choose from seven prompts (like "Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time" or "Share an essay on any topic of your choice") and write an essay of 250-650 words. The Coalition App prompts are also similar: broad, personal questions designed to help you share your story. There haven't been any major overhauls to the prompts for either application in 2024, so you can start brainstorming and even drafting using the current prompts on their official websites.
Supplemental essays are still a big part of applications for selective schools. Almost all highly selective East Coast schools require them. The types of supplements haven't changed drastically, but there's a growing trend toward shorter response lengths (often 200-350 words or even less for some "short-take" questions) and more creative or values-based prompts. For example, Yale asks questions about intellectual interests and community, while Boston College might ask about moments of courage. Some schools even have rapid-fire questions, like "What brings you joy?" or "Name one thing about our campus that excites you most."
An example: Princeton has several supplements, including a 250-word essay about your academic interests and brief responses about your favorite books and events. For another example, Brown often asks, "Why Brown?" and "Tell us about a community you belong to."
A few general tips:
- Most schools require the Common App essay and 1-4 supplemental essays.
- Read each college's website for any updates or special requirements.
- Keep an eye out for "optional" essays — at selective schools, it's best to treat these as required if you want to stand out.
Lastly, it's wise to make a spreadsheet of each college's requirements, deadlines, and prompts once they are posted for 2024. Some prompts are published as early as July or August.
You're off to a good start! If you need insight into specific schools, feel free to ask for their most recent prompts or advice.
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Camille Luong
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Stanford University, BAH in Urban Studies
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