How should I approach Lafayette College's supplemental essay prompts?

Lafayette’s supplemental essays are a great opportunity to show how you’ll fit into their close-knit, collaborative environment. The college values students who are intellectually engaged but also community-oriented, so you’ll want to strike a balance between academic interests and personal qualities.

Typically, Lafayette asks a “Why Lafayette?” prompt or something that asks you to connect your goals, interests, or values with specific Lafayette offerings. For this type of essay, specificity is your friend. Go beyond generic statements about ‘small classes’ or ‘great professors’—instead, name a club, research project, local community partnership, or unique program that genuinely excites you. For example, maybe you’re interested in engineering but also love the arts; Lafayette’s interdisciplinary approach makes double majors or blending disciplines easier, so discuss how you’d take advantage of both.

Don’t be afraid to tie in personal passions, even if they aren’t directly tied to your major. If you’re a biology major who also loves improv, mention how you’d contribute to Lafayette’s improv troupe or host wellness workshops using humor. Showing this multidimensional side can make your application more memorable.

When brainstorming, map out connections between what you love (academic and extracurricular) and what Lafayette offers. Try asking yourself: “What could I do at Lafayette that I couldn’t do elsewhere?” or “How would I make a mark on campus?”

A common pitfall is writing too generally. Avoid recycling the same answer you’d give to any small liberal arts college. If you mention a professor, class, or club, elaborate on why it excites you specifically. Another mistake is focusing too narrowly on admissions buzzwords—Lafayette is looking for authentic, well-researched essays, not just polished lists of accomplishments.

Don’t worry about sounding too academic or too personal; what matters most is that your essay feels genuine and distinctively yours. Try having someone read your draft and ask, “Could this apply to any applicant?” If yes, dig deeper into details only you could share.

Finally, remember that Lafayette appreciates curiosity and initiative. If there’s an aspect of the school or a project you’d like to start, mention that vision. For instance, an alum once wrote about wanting to research local environmental issues and later founded a campus sustainability initiative—that essay stuck with reviewers because it was both concrete and forward-thinking.

Focus on your specific interests and how they intersect with life at Lafayette, and your application will stand out.