How should I approach the Smith College supplemental essay for 2025?

Smith College’s supplemental essay is a particularly good opportunity to showcase your individuality, creativity, and fit with their community. For the 2025 application, Smith has continued with open-ended prompts that encourage you to go beyond the classic 'why us' or 'tell us about an activity' questions. Often, Smith prompts encourage reflection and personal storytelling rather than listing achievements.

When brainstorming, begin by looking at the question and thinking about moments in your life that reveal your values, personality, or perspective—not just your accomplishments. Smith reads for authenticity, intellectual curiosity, and a willingness to engage with difference. Their prompts often ask about when you took a risk, challenged a belief, or experienced growth.

For example, if the prompt is something broad, like "Tell us about a time you challenged an idea or took a risk," don't just recount winning a debate tournament or moving to a new school—these are common topics. Instead, narrow in on a very specific incident: Maybe you advocated for a change in your school’s lunch program after seeing how it affected classmates with dietary restrictions, or you stood up for a classmate in a subtle but meaningful way, showing empathy and leadership.

One key tip: Focus on your reflection more than the event itself. Smith wants to see how you think and process the world. What did the situation teach you about your values? How did it change your perspective or ambitions? For example, a student once wrote about questioning her long-held belief in perfectionism after a pottery project kept failing, and how embracing the beauty in imperfection made her more creative and collaborative. That essay worked because it was personal, vulnerable, and clearly connected to how she would interact in Smith’s community.

Be sure to avoid clichés and generalizations. Instead of saying, 'I learned the importance of teamwork,' demonstrate how a single exchange or turning point changed you. Vivid details, active reflection, and genuine voice all make a difference. Read your draft aloud—if it sounds like you or makes you smile, you’re more likely on the right track.

Finally, use Smith’s website and mission statement. Themes like women's empowerment, inclusion, or intellectual risk-taking resonate, but only if they connect organically to your story. If you can honestly show how your mindset matches Smith’s, your essay will stand out without trying too hard.

In short: Be specific, be personal, reflect deeply, and let your authentic self show through. Smith values essays that feel like glimpses into who you really are—not rehearsed or generic responses.