Does University of Maryland College Park require supplemental essays for their application?
I'm currently a rising senior starting to work on my college applications, and I'm making my school list a little longer. I really want to apply to University of Maryland College Park (UMD), but I can't figure out if they have any supplemental essays in addition to the main Common App essay.
I've scrolled through their admissions website and the Common App portal, and it almost seems like you can apply with just the main essay. But then I read somewhere else that there might be short answer questions or optional supplements. Has anyone applied recently who can clarify what to expect?
I want to make sure I'm not missing anything or leaving anything until the last minute. Any help from current students or other applicants would be really appreciated, especially if you remember exactly what was required for UMD last year.
I've scrolled through their admissions website and the Common App portal, and it almost seems like you can apply with just the main essay. But then I read somewhere else that there might be short answer questions or optional supplements. Has anyone applied recently who can clarify what to expect?
I want to make sure I'm not missing anything or leaving anything until the last minute. Any help from current students or other applicants would be really appreciated, especially if you remember exactly what was required for UMD last year.
4 months ago
•
105 views
Camille Luong
• 4 months ago
Advisor
Great question! As of the 2023–2024 application cycle, the University of Maryland College Park (UMD) does not require traditional supplemental essays beyond the main Common Application essay. In the Common App, you'll see that UMD does not have additional required long-form essays like some other schools.
However, UMD does require applicants to answer a set of short answer questions as part of their university-specific section in the Common App. Typically, these short answers are about 160 characters each, so they are much briefer than a formal essay. The prompts tend to focus on your interests, favorite activities, or unique traits—essentially a rapid-fire way to learn about your personality. For example, in recent years, applicants were asked to answer prompts like: “What is your favorite thing about last school year?” or “Describe a character from history or fiction that you admire.”
While these aren't essays in the usual sense, you should still take them seriously. They give you a chance to let your voice and individuality shine in a concise way. My advice would be to brainstorm specific, authentic responses that reflect your experiences and interests, and avoid generic answers. For example, if prompted about a ‘favorite place,’ you could mention a quirky local café where you tutor kids, and explain why it matters to you, instead of just saying "my bedroom" or "the library" without any detail.
In summary, for UMD: you must submit the main Common App essay, and then complete the brief short answers in the UMD section. No other longer supplements or required essays are needed. Check the Common App carefully to make sure you complete all school-specific questions, and aim to finish these short answers early to leave yourself time to review.
If UMD updates their requirements for the 2024–2025 cycle, you'll see this in the Common App as soon as their section becomes available (usually in August). It's a good idea to double-check then, but for now, you can plan for only the main essay plus those short responses.
However, UMD does require applicants to answer a set of short answer questions as part of their university-specific section in the Common App. Typically, these short answers are about 160 characters each, so they are much briefer than a formal essay. The prompts tend to focus on your interests, favorite activities, or unique traits—essentially a rapid-fire way to learn about your personality. For example, in recent years, applicants were asked to answer prompts like: “What is your favorite thing about last school year?” or “Describe a character from history or fiction that you admire.”
While these aren't essays in the usual sense, you should still take them seriously. They give you a chance to let your voice and individuality shine in a concise way. My advice would be to brainstorm specific, authentic responses that reflect your experiences and interests, and avoid generic answers. For example, if prompted about a ‘favorite place,’ you could mention a quirky local café where you tutor kids, and explain why it matters to you, instead of just saying "my bedroom" or "the library" without any detail.
In summary, for UMD: you must submit the main Common App essay, and then complete the brief short answers in the UMD section. No other longer supplements or required essays are needed. Check the Common App carefully to make sure you complete all school-specific questions, and aim to finish these short answers early to leave yourself time to review.
If UMD updates their requirements for the 2024–2025 cycle, you'll see this in the Common App as soon as their section becomes available (usually in August). It's a good idea to double-check then, but for now, you can plan for only the main essay plus those short responses.
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Camille Luong
Nomadic
Stanford University, BAH in Urban Studies
Experience
5 years
Rating
5.0 (5 reviews)