Which colleges don't require supplemental essays for their applications?
I'm trying to finalize my college list and I've noticed a lot of schools require a bunch of supplemental essays beyond the main Common App one. Between schoolwork, activities, and applying to scholarships, honestly the thought of writing 10+ essays for colleges is pretty overwhelming. I'm hoping to find some solid schools (doesn’t have to be Ivy-level, just good programs) that don't ask for any extra writing beyond the personal statement, or maybe just have an optional short response.
Would anyone be able to share colleges or universities that don't ask for supplementals, or only have super short ones? It'd help me plan things out and relieve some stress majorly. If you know why some schools don’t assign supplementals, I’d love to hear more about the reasoning too. Also, did applying to these schools impact your admissions strategy or chances at all? Please let me know your experiences!
Would anyone be able to share colleges or universities that don't ask for supplementals, or only have super short ones? It'd help me plan things out and relieve some stress majorly. If you know why some schools don’t assign supplementals, I’d love to hear more about the reasoning too. Also, did applying to these schools impact your admissions strategy or chances at all? Please let me know your experiences!
6 months ago
•
52 views
Caroline Benson
• 6 months ago
Advisor
Great question—managing application workload is smart, and you’re definitely not alone in wanting to sidestep dozens of extra essays! Luckily, there are some well-known colleges and universities that either require no supplemental essays or keep them extremely minimal.
A few examples as of the 2023–2024 cycle:
1. University of Alabama – No supplementals beyond the main essay; offers solid programs and automatic scholarships for certain stats.
2. University of Arizona – No essays required unless you apply for the Honors College.
3. Indiana University Bloomington – No supplementals for the main application.
4. University of Arkansas – No supplementals; strong for business, engineering, and more.
5. Rutgers University (NJ) – Only the Common App essay is required for most applicants.
6. University of Iowa – Admissions just require the main essay.
7. Miami University (Ohio) – Generally just the Common App essay.
Several Texas public universities (like Texas Tech, UT Arlington, and others) also keep essays minimal unless you’re applying for special programs. Virginia Tech and the University of Pittsburgh have short, optional responses but no mandatory supplementals for the main application.
Why do some schools skip supplementals? Often, they’re either public universities with large applicant pools and want to streamline review, or they’re looking to boost application numbers (fewer barriers means more applicants). Private colleges with unique campus cultures usually require extra essays to assess “fit” more closely.
As for admissions strategy: applying to schools with no supplementals typically makes it easier to cast a wider net, so you can increase your options without maxing out your writing capacity. For example, when I applied to Rutgers and Alabama, not having to write much extra let me focus energy on my top-choice schools’ supplementals. I also found that those applications could be submitted earlier, which sometimes meant faster decisions.
If you need more ideas, try searching for online lists updated each year, as schools sometimes change their requirements. But double-check the application interface, because requirements can vary based on major or special programs. Good luck planning out your list—taking steps to reduce stress now is really smart!
A few examples as of the 2023–2024 cycle:
1. University of Alabama – No supplementals beyond the main essay; offers solid programs and automatic scholarships for certain stats.
2. University of Arizona – No essays required unless you apply for the Honors College.
3. Indiana University Bloomington – No supplementals for the main application.
4. University of Arkansas – No supplementals; strong for business, engineering, and more.
5. Rutgers University (NJ) – Only the Common App essay is required for most applicants.
6. University of Iowa – Admissions just require the main essay.
7. Miami University (Ohio) – Generally just the Common App essay.
Several Texas public universities (like Texas Tech, UT Arlington, and others) also keep essays minimal unless you’re applying for special programs. Virginia Tech and the University of Pittsburgh have short, optional responses but no mandatory supplementals for the main application.
Why do some schools skip supplementals? Often, they’re either public universities with large applicant pools and want to streamline review, or they’re looking to boost application numbers (fewer barriers means more applicants). Private colleges with unique campus cultures usually require extra essays to assess “fit” more closely.
As for admissions strategy: applying to schools with no supplementals typically makes it easier to cast a wider net, so you can increase your options without maxing out your writing capacity. For example, when I applied to Rutgers and Alabama, not having to write much extra let me focus energy on my top-choice schools’ supplementals. I also found that those applications could be submitted earlier, which sometimes meant faster decisions.
If you need more ideas, try searching for online lists updated each year, as schools sometimes change their requirements. But double-check the application interface, because requirements can vary based on major or special programs. Good luck planning out your list—taking steps to reduce stress now is really smart!
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Caroline Benson
Upstate New York
Columbia University (BA); American University in Cairo (MA); Middlebury College (MA)
Experience
9 years