What are some top colleges that don't require supplemental essays?
I'm currently working on my college list for this fall, and I'm trying to be realistic about the amount of time I have to get everything done. Supplemental essays are kind of stressing me out, honestly. I know that most top schools have pretty involved supplements, but are there any highly ranked colleges or universities that just use the Common App personal statement and don't ask for any additional essays?
If anyone went through this process and found some great options with no supplements, I'd love to hear your experiences or any suggestions. Trying to be strategic about where I apply since I have a tight schedule with school and extracurriculars. Any info would be awesome!
If anyone went through this process and found some great options with no supplements, I'd love to hear your experiences or any suggestions. Trying to be strategic about where I apply since I have a tight schedule with school and extracurriculars. Any info would be awesome!
2 weeks ago
•
19 views
Lydia Schooler
• 2 weeks ago
Advisor
I’m a Yale graduate and college admissions advisor with over 8 years of experience helping students gain admission to top universities like Harvard, Stanford, and MIT. I’ve also worked with many students who needed to be strategic about their applications due to time constraints, so I can share strong options that don’t require supplemental essays — or have very minimal ones.
While most highly selective colleges do require at least one supplemental essay, there are still reputable schools that, in recent years, have not required additional writing for most applicants:
1. Northeastern University – A popular, highly ranked private university in Boston. In the last couple of cycles, most applicants haven’t had to submit a supplemental essay.
2. Tulane University – Sometimes has a short optional supplement, but for the standard Common App, no required additional essay. The “Why Tulane” prompt is often optional, but always check the current year’s requirements.
3. University of Alabama and University of Iowa – Large flagship public universities with solid reputations and no required supplement for their main application.
4. Miami University (Ohio) – A well-regarded public university that typically only asks for the Common App essay.
Another approach is targeting top public universities in your state or region. Many big state flagships don’t require supplements for general admission, though honors programs or scholarships may have separate requirements.
For example, one of my students applied to Northeastern, Miami University (Ohio), and several other schools with heavy supplements. Prepping short answers for one school versus just the Common App essay for another saved her a lot of time and lowered her stress. She then used that extra bandwidth to really polish her main essay.
Be sure to double-check each college’s admissions site before you apply — requirements can change year to year or vary by program. If you share your specific list, I can help you confirm whether they have supplements this cycle.
Over the past 8 years, I’ve helped thousands of students craft essays and applications that stand out at the most selective schools, including the Ivy League and Stanford. To give each student the highest level of attention, I keep my caseload small — booking early guarantees a place. I’m currently offering free consultations for new Sundial families where we’ll review your goals, brainstorm essay ideas, and outline a clear application strategy. You can book directly through my profile.
I know this process can feel overwhelming at times, but you are fully capable of navigating it successfully. I’m always here to help guide you through it.
While most highly selective colleges do require at least one supplemental essay, there are still reputable schools that, in recent years, have not required additional writing for most applicants:
1. Northeastern University – A popular, highly ranked private university in Boston. In the last couple of cycles, most applicants haven’t had to submit a supplemental essay.
2. Tulane University – Sometimes has a short optional supplement, but for the standard Common App, no required additional essay. The “Why Tulane” prompt is often optional, but always check the current year’s requirements.
3. University of Alabama and University of Iowa – Large flagship public universities with solid reputations and no required supplement for their main application.
4. Miami University (Ohio) – A well-regarded public university that typically only asks for the Common App essay.
Another approach is targeting top public universities in your state or region. Many big state flagships don’t require supplements for general admission, though honors programs or scholarships may have separate requirements.
For example, one of my students applied to Northeastern, Miami University (Ohio), and several other schools with heavy supplements. Prepping short answers for one school versus just the Common App essay for another saved her a lot of time and lowered her stress. She then used that extra bandwidth to really polish her main essay.
Be sure to double-check each college’s admissions site before you apply — requirements can change year to year or vary by program. If you share your specific list, I can help you confirm whether they have supplements this cycle.
Over the past 8 years, I’ve helped thousands of students craft essays and applications that stand out at the most selective schools, including the Ivy League and Stanford. To give each student the highest level of attention, I keep my caseload small — booking early guarantees a place. I’m currently offering free consultations for new Sundial families where we’ll review your goals, brainstorm essay ideas, and outline a clear application strategy. You can book directly through my profile.
I know this process can feel overwhelming at times, but you are fully capable of navigating it successfully. I’m always here to help guide you through it.