How do you approach writing college application supplemental essays?

The feeling of overwhelm around supplementals is super common—most applicants hit that wall when they see how many essays some colleges require. The good news is, there are strategies to make it less intimidating, keep your writing genuine, and even reuse core ideas without sounding repetitive.

Start by creating a master document or spreadsheet. Put all your colleges and their prompts in one place, then group similar ones (like all the "Why Us?" essays or "Community" prompts together). This can help you spot places where you can adapt your core ideas but tweak the specifics, so you don’t have to start from scratch every time.

Next, brainstorm specific anecdotes or details unique to you—it doesn’t have to be a huge, life-changing story. For example, you could use the same story about starting a club or working a summer job, but focus on different angles depending on the prompt. One college might ask how you contribute to your community (so you highlight teamwork and impact), while another wants to know about an academic interest, where you can focus on leadership or learning within the same experience.

As for being unique, remember that "unique" really means personal to you. If you want to reuse ideas, just be sure the angle and details change depending on the school’s values. If you’re answering a "Why Us?" prompt, dig into that college’s specific resources—for example, reference a program, a club, or even a faculty member that relates to your interests. Don’t copy-paste; instead, use the skeleton of your story and dress it up differently for each school.

For organization, some students set weekly goals, knock out one essay a week, or even draft bullets or outlines first. Google Docs folders are great for tracking different drafts. Consider sharing early drafts with friends, family, or teachers for feedback—they often catch things you might not.

Here’s an example: For a diversity prompt, you could write about how being part of your school’s robotics team as the only girl taught you about fostering inclusive spaces. For a challenge prompt, zoom in on the same club, but focus on a specific competition where you solved an unexpected technical problem. Both essays come from the same activity but tackle it from totally different perspectives.

Don’t stress about every answer being wildly different; focus on authenticity and how each essay fits what that college is looking for. Give yourself plenty of time for brainstorming, outlining, and revising—you’ll be surprised how themes connect across prompts once you get going.

It’s a marathon, not a sprint! Take it one essay at a time and know that most applicants are right where you are now. You’ll find your voice by experimenting and reworking drafts, and with some forward planning, the process becomes a lot more manageable.