Need to Apply to Some More Schools? Here Are Some Schools Without Supplemental Essays
Elton Lin
Students put blood, sweat, and time into writing their college application essays. The Common App Essay is one of the heftier ones, but it can at least be sent to many schools at once; supplemental essays, on the other hand, are another breed entirely. Many schools require applicants to write these supplemental essays with college-specific prompts, and while they certainly let students add a personal touch to their applications beyond GPA and activities lists, they are undeniably a lot of work, both for students to write and for admissions boards to evaluate.
It makes sense, then, that there are many schools that don’t require supplemental essays from their applicants. Some schools find the Common App Essay sufficient, and many college admissions boards prefer shorter applications so that they can efficiently review them in less time. Also, removing supplemental essay requirements tends to increase the number of applicants, as the easier application process incentivizes more students to apply—and schools always benefit from having more applicants.
Whatever these schools’ reasons, no supplemental essays means a lot of saved time and an easier application process for students. Here are some schools that don’t require these extra essays in their applications:
Case Western Reserve University* - Located in Cleveland, OH, CWRU is well known for its research programs in science and engineering students.
Clemson University - You may hear about Clemson during the college football season, but public university in South Carolina is also known for its programs in engineering and education.
Colby College - Colby College is a small, selective, liberal arts college located in Waterville, ME and might be a good fit for students looking for a small school in a rural area.
Connecticut College - Also of consideration for students interested in liberal arts colleges, Connecticut College uses the term “Connections” to describe its liberal arts education and allows students to build their curriculum with a team of advisors.
Fordham University - Located in New York City, Fordham University is known as “the Jesuit University in New York” and is well known for its programs in law, business, and the humanities.
Kenyon College - Kenyon College is a liberal arts college located in Gambier, OH, and they have three things they want to tell you about Kenyon.
Middlebury College - Located in Middlebury, VT, Middlebury College is best known for its strong international relations and language programs.
Northeastern University - Northeastern is a large research university located in Boston that places a special emphasis on internships and co-ops within its programs.
The Ohio State University - Located in Columbus, OH, the Ohio State University is the third largest university by enrollment in the United States.
Skidmore College - Skidmore is a selective liberal arts college located in Saratoga Springs, NY and is known for its faculty-student collaborative research.
St. Lawrence University - St. Lawrence University is a private liberal arts college in Canton, NY and boasts that 94% of 2019 graduates are employed or or attending graduate school.
Wesleyan University - Wesleyan is a private liberal arts college in Middletown, CT with strong programs in film and the arts, as well as STEM research.
*unless applying to Pre-Professional Scholars Program