Which top colleges don't require any supplemental essays?
I'm a rising senior starting to make my college list, and the essay writing part is definitely what stresses me out the most. I heard that some colleges, even pretty selective ones, actually don't ask for any supplemental essays beyond the main Common App essay.
I was wondering if there's a compiled list somewhere of the top-ranked colleges (think T50ish) that have no or very minimal supplemental writing? Or even just a few that people know about. It would be super helpful to hear people's experiences or recent examples from this cycle because I know requirements sometimes change.
Would love to know if skipping the supplementals actually makes the admissions more competitive, too, since more people apply. Just trying to weigh if it's worth applying to some of these! Any advice or anecdotes would be awesome.
I was wondering if there's a compiled list somewhere of the top-ranked colleges (think T50ish) that have no or very minimal supplemental writing? Or even just a few that people know about. It would be super helpful to hear people's experiences or recent examples from this cycle because I know requirements sometimes change.
Would love to know if skipping the supplementals actually makes the admissions more competitive, too, since more people apply. Just trying to weigh if it's worth applying to some of these! Any advice or anecdotes would be awesome.
6 days ago
•
14 views
Roger Lopez
• 6 days ago
Advisor
Your instinct is correct—some highly regarded colleges do not have supplemental essays, or have very minimal additional writing, aside from the Common App personal statement. However, these policies can change quickly from year to year, so always double-check the most current application for the upcoming cycle. That said, here is an updated list of top schools (generally within or near the T50 US universities and liberal arts colleges) that typically do not require additional supplemental essays:
- Northeastern University:
- Tulane University:
- Case Western Reserve University
- Grinnell College
- Middlebury College
- Colby College
Anecdotally, applying to schools without supplements can make them more competitive, simply because it lowers the barrier to entry and large numbers of students will throw in an application. For example, Northeastern's acceptance rate has plummeted as its application numbers exploded. When a school has no supplements, admissions officers have fewer ways to differentiate applicants. This sometimes means they focus heavily on your transcript, test scores, and activities—just something to keep in mind.
One tip: if you’re truly interested in a school, even if they don’t require a supplement, reach out or demonstrate interest in other ways (information sessions, campus visits, etc.) because yield protection becomes a factor at some of these larger, selective universities.
In short, adding schools with no supplements can be a smart move if you're anxious about managing your workload, but popularity does make them more competitive in certain respects. Balance your list and check for updated requirements once applications open—the list does keep changing! For the most up-to-date info, admissions Reddit threads or each college’s application portal usually announce changes by late summer.
- Northeastern University:
- Tulane University:
- Case Western Reserve University
- Grinnell College
- Middlebury College
- Colby College
Anecdotally, applying to schools without supplements can make them more competitive, simply because it lowers the barrier to entry and large numbers of students will throw in an application. For example, Northeastern's acceptance rate has plummeted as its application numbers exploded. When a school has no supplements, admissions officers have fewer ways to differentiate applicants. This sometimes means they focus heavily on your transcript, test scores, and activities—just something to keep in mind.
One tip: if you’re truly interested in a school, even if they don’t require a supplement, reach out or demonstrate interest in other ways (information sessions, campus visits, etc.) because yield protection becomes a factor at some of these larger, selective universities.
In short, adding schools with no supplements can be a smart move if you're anxious about managing your workload, but popularity does make them more competitive in certain respects. Balance your list and check for updated requirements once applications open—the list does keep changing! For the most up-to-date info, admissions Reddit threads or each college’s application portal usually announce changes by late summer.
Roger Lopez
Chicago, Illinois
Yale University BA, Political Science | Northwestern Kellogg School of Management, MBA Candidate |
Experience
4 years