Which top colleges don’t require supplemental essays for their applications?
I’m a rising senior getting ready to finalize my college list, and something I keep running into is the overwhelming number of supplemental essays for each school. Writing so many essays on top of my regular schoolwork is honestly stressing me out, and I’d like to save some time if possible.
Does anyone know which well-known or highly-ranked colleges don’t ask for additional essays aside from the main Common App essay? I’m hoping to find schools that are still strong academically but with a simpler application process. If you’ve applied without having to write a bunch of supplementals, I’d really appreciate hearing which colleges you chose and how your process went! I’m majoring in biology if that matters, but I’ll take any suggestions for now.
Does anyone know which well-known or highly-ranked colleges don’t ask for additional essays aside from the main Common App essay? I’m hoping to find schools that are still strong academically but with a simpler application process. If you’ve applied without having to write a bunch of supplementals, I’d really appreciate hearing which colleges you chose and how your process went! I’m majoring in biology if that matters, but I’ll take any suggestions for now.
4 months ago
•
28 views
Camille Luong
• 4 months ago
Advisor
It's totally understandable to feel overwhelmed by how many supplemental essays some colleges require, especially when you're juggling schoolwork and extracurriculars. Finding strong colleges without extra essays is tricky but doable! As of the most recent admissions cycles, a few well-known colleges typically do not require supplemental essays beyond the Common App personal statement for most applicants.
Some examples include:
- Northeastern University: For many years, Northeastern didn't require a supplemental essay for general admissions, though they sometimes had short questions for special programs or scholarships. Double-check their application for your specific program, but the main application has historically been straightforward.
- University of Pittsburgh: While not all programs are supplement-free, Pitt usually doesn't require extra essays for most applicants; only some specialized schools (like Honors or certain scholarships) include supplementals.
- Tulane University: In several cycles, Tulane has made the supplemental essay optional rather than required. Some students complete it for a boost, but you can apply with just your Common App essay.
- Case Western Reserve University: Usually, no extra essays are required unless you’re applying to special programs or scholarships.
Many large public universities (especially flagships) also keep the application relatively simple. For example, the University of Alabama, University of Arizona, and University of Iowa have straightforward applications with little to no supplemental content. Another option to consider is the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, which has just a very short prompt for some majors.
For an applicant interested in biology, these schools all offer strong STEM programs, so you're not sacrificing academic quality. One student I know was able to apply to Northeastern, Tulane, and Pitt in just a couple days because she reused her main essay and only had to answer one optional question for Tulane. That gave her more time to focus on her top-choice schools that did require supplementals.
A tip: Always check the most current application instructions on each school's website because requirements can change year to year and may differ for certain programs or majors. And if you want more time for each essay, start with these supplement-light schools on your list—you’ll get a jump start on the application season and reduce some stress.
Good luck as you finalize your list! If you narrow it down or have more biology-focused questions, feel free to ask.
Some examples include:
- Northeastern University: For many years, Northeastern didn't require a supplemental essay for general admissions, though they sometimes had short questions for special programs or scholarships. Double-check their application for your specific program, but the main application has historically been straightforward.
- University of Pittsburgh: While not all programs are supplement-free, Pitt usually doesn't require extra essays for most applicants; only some specialized schools (like Honors or certain scholarships) include supplementals.
- Tulane University: In several cycles, Tulane has made the supplemental essay optional rather than required. Some students complete it for a boost, but you can apply with just your Common App essay.
- Case Western Reserve University: Usually, no extra essays are required unless you’re applying to special programs or scholarships.
Many large public universities (especially flagships) also keep the application relatively simple. For example, the University of Alabama, University of Arizona, and University of Iowa have straightforward applications with little to no supplemental content. Another option to consider is the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, which has just a very short prompt for some majors.
For an applicant interested in biology, these schools all offer strong STEM programs, so you're not sacrificing academic quality. One student I know was able to apply to Northeastern, Tulane, and Pitt in just a couple days because she reused her main essay and only had to answer one optional question for Tulane. That gave her more time to focus on her top-choice schools that did require supplementals.
A tip: Always check the most current application instructions on each school's website because requirements can change year to year and may differ for certain programs or majors. And if you want more time for each essay, start with these supplement-light schools on your list—you’ll get a jump start on the application season and reduce some stress.
Good luck as you finalize your list! If you narrow it down or have more biology-focused questions, feel free to ask.
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Camille Luong
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Stanford University, BAH in Urban Studies
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