Which colleges have no supplemental essays for their applications?
I'm in the middle of making my college list and I'm a little overwhelmed by how many of them seem to require tons of extra essays. Between school, sports, and my job, it's getting really hard to find the time to write so many responses for each application.
Does anyone know what colleges or universities don't require any supplemental essays, just the main Common App or Coalition essay? I'm especially interested in schools in the Northeast but open to hearing about options in other states too. If you've applied to schools without extra writing, was the process actually easier? Any tips for finding updated lists or info about which colleges add or drop supplements from year to year would be appreciated.
Does anyone know what colleges or universities don't require any supplemental essays, just the main Common App or Coalition essay? I'm especially interested in schools in the Northeast but open to hearing about options in other states too. If you've applied to schools without extra writing, was the process actually easier? Any tips for finding updated lists or info about which colleges add or drop supplements from year to year would be appreciated.
4 months ago
•
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Camille Luong
• 4 months ago
Advisor
You're definitely not alone—many students feel overwhelmed by the amount of writing involved in college applications, especially since requirements tend to change from year to year. There are still some colleges that don’t require supplemental essays beyond the main Common App (or Coalition App) essay, which can help streamline the process.
As of the most recent cycle, here are some well-known colleges in the Northeast and beyond that have required only the Common App essay (no mandatory supplements):
- University of Vermont (UVM)
- University of New Hampshire (UNH)
- Rutgers University (usually no required supplement for the main application)
- University of Maine
- SUNY schools (some campuses like SUNY Binghamton and SUNY Buffalo have no or only optional prompts)
Outside of the Northeast, a few other options include:
- University of Alabama
- Indiana University Bloomington
- University of Nebraska–Lincoln
- University of Arizona
- Miami University (Ohio)
It’s still a good idea to double-check directly on each college’s admissions website or through the Common App preview page. Schools sometimes add or change their supplemental essays from year to year (for instance, some introduced optional COVID-19 prompts, or added a short, new diversity statement).
From personal experience and from what other applicants have shared, applying to schools with no supplementals does make the process much less stressful. When I was applying, I added UVM and Rutgers to my list for that reason, and it definitely let me focus more on a few schools with extra essays I really cared about.
A tip for staying up-to-date: As you start each application, check the 'Questions' section on the Common App for that school. If there are no required writing supplements listed there, you’re good to go. Also, websites like College Essay Guy or college admissions Reddit forums sometimes crowdsource and update lists of no-supplement schools every fall.
Ultimately, schools without supplements can be a great way to expand your list without burning out. Just remember to make your main essay count since that will be the centerpiece for these applications!
As of the most recent cycle, here are some well-known colleges in the Northeast and beyond that have required only the Common App essay (no mandatory supplements):
- University of Vermont (UVM)
- University of New Hampshire (UNH)
- Rutgers University (usually no required supplement for the main application)
- University of Maine
- SUNY schools (some campuses like SUNY Binghamton and SUNY Buffalo have no or only optional prompts)
Outside of the Northeast, a few other options include:
- University of Alabama
- Indiana University Bloomington
- University of Nebraska–Lincoln
- University of Arizona
- Miami University (Ohio)
It’s still a good idea to double-check directly on each college’s admissions website or through the Common App preview page. Schools sometimes add or change their supplemental essays from year to year (for instance, some introduced optional COVID-19 prompts, or added a short, new diversity statement).
From personal experience and from what other applicants have shared, applying to schools with no supplementals does make the process much less stressful. When I was applying, I added UVM and Rutgers to my list for that reason, and it definitely let me focus more on a few schools with extra essays I really cared about.
A tip for staying up-to-date: As you start each application, check the 'Questions' section on the Common App for that school. If there are no required writing supplements listed there, you’re good to go. Also, websites like College Essay Guy or college admissions Reddit forums sometimes crowdsource and update lists of no-supplement schools every fall.
Ultimately, schools without supplements can be a great way to expand your list without burning out. Just remember to make your main essay count since that will be the centerpiece for these applications!
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