Last updated June 25, 2026

In this article

• What are college supplemental essays? How are they different from regular essays/personal statements?
• Examples of common supplemental essay prompts & how to write about them
• How should I decide which prompt(s) to choose?
• What do colleges look for in supplemental essays? 
• Can I reuse supplemental essays for different colleges?
• Can I use ChatGPT or other AI to write my supplemental essay?
• General supplemental essay advice
• Finished your college application essays? Get them reviewed for free 👇🏾

When putting together your college applications, you may be required to submit supplemental essays to some schools on your list. But what are college supplemental essays, how do they work, and how are they different from standard college application essays? We break it all down!

What are college supplemental essays? How are they different from regular essays/personal statements? 

College supplemental essays are extra writing questions that a college may require you to answer and submit with your application and main college application essay. Supplemental essays typically have a shorter word count than your main essay and are written in response to prompts specific to the college you’re applying to. Not every college in the U.S. requires supplemental essays, so be sure you know what’s needed when applying. You can usually find this information by Googling [name of your college + supplemental essays] or looking on its application homepage.

As mentioned, supplemental essays are different from your main college essay (also known as a personal statement), which you will write in response to one of the Common App or Coalition Application’s prompts. This type of essay is required by almost every college you will apply to and plays an important role in your overall application.

Examples of common supplemental essay prompts & how to write about them

The number of supplemental essays you will need to write depends on where you’re applying. Some colleges may require you to write a response to every prompt they give, while others allow you to choose from a handful of options. 

The prompts given to you will depend on where you’re applying. Some colleges have fun and unique questions, like University of Chicago’s “If you could uninvent one thing, what would it be — and what would unravel as a result?” or Princeton University’s “What song represents the soundtrack of your life at this moment?”. 

On the other hand, lots of colleges have similar supplemental essay prompts. While they may be phrased a bit differently, here are a few common supplemental questions you can expect to see across colleges (and how to write about them):

Why are you applying to this college? How will attending this college help you achieve your goals?

Colleges want to know that you’ve done your research. Before responding to this prompt, do a deep dive on the school you’re applying to. Start by researching majors, professors, campus traditions, clubs, and resources that excite you. Then, consider how you can connect one or a few of these to your academic and career goals. Be as specific as possible. For example, if you want to be a scientist, mention the school’s research lab and internship opportunities on and around campus. If you’ve ever visited the college on a tour, be sure to mention that as well, as it can further show your interest. The more specific and personal you are, the easier it is for the school to imagine you thriving there.

Why are you applying to your major or program of study?

Colleges want to know where your interests come from. When responding to this prompt, you could share a story about how you discovered your passion for a class or school subject. You could then share what you did in middle or high school to learn more about that class or subject, like joining clubs, doing volunteer work, or teaching yourself new skills. You could then connect these experiences with your prospective major and how pursuing that major at that specific school can help you achieve your long-term goals. 

How will you contribute to our campus community? 

This question will help colleges learn more about who you are outside of the classroom. They want to know how you’ll get involved, connect with others, and contribute something meaningful to its community. Consider what you did in high school—the clubs and extracurricular activities you were involved in, any volunteer work you did, or the causes you advocated for—and write about how you want to continue them in college. Be as specific as possible while using personal and intentional reflections.

How should I decide which prompt(s) to choose?

Depending on where you’re applying, you may not be able to choose and will need to respond to every prompt given. However, if you’re able to choose your prompt(s), start by asking yourself which ones feel natural for you to answer. Consider whether you have any stories, memories, or perspectives you could share that help you effectively respond to the prompt. There’s no “right” choice, so don’t stress too much about the prompt you choose. What matters most is that you are expressing your interest in a school and sharing a unique part of your personality in your essay. 

What do colleges look for in supplemental essays? 

It’s worth repeating—colleges will want to see that you’ve done your research. This doesn’t mean just knowing facts or trivia about the college, like when it was founded or how big the student population is. They will want to see that you’ve done enough research about the school that you can draw specific and personal examples between what they offer and why you want to attend. Whether you’re interested in a specific extracurricular activity or want to take classes with a professor whose research you’ve been following, be specific and clear about how the school will help you achieve your goals. This is also a great time to talk about what you will contribute back to the school by attending. 

Colleges will also want to see that you’re fully responding to the prompt. This means both that you address every question asked in the prompt and that you’re following the required word count. 

Lastly, colleges want you to share experiences and stories that can’t be easily found in your overall application. They will already know about your grades and test scores through your application, so your essay is a moment to really share more about yourself on a more personal level. You don’t have to be perfect or share a perfect story. You just have to be you! 

Can I reuse supplemental essays for different colleges?

We recommend not reusing supplemental essays. Because supplemental essays are specific to the college you’re applying to, it doesn’t make sense to recycle essays from one school to another. You could draft a general supplemental essay that has a story or anecdote you think could be a strong fit, but you’ll need to tailor it to be specific to each school you apply to—drawing specific connections and examples between what you share and where you’re applying. 

Can I use ChatGPT or other AI to write my supplemental essay? 

While AI tools like ChatGPT can be helpful with brainstorming ideas and proofreading your essays, they shouldn’t be used to write them. ChatGPT can create generalizations, resulting in responses that sound unoriginal and robotic. This will leave you with an essay that lacks personality and doesn’t give your reader a clear picture of who you are. That defeats the entire purpose of what a supplemental essay should do! Also, since college admissions officers are experienced in reading hundreds (if not thousands) of essays during each college application cycle, they may be able to tell whether an essay has heavy AI writing in it.

General supplemental essay advice 

No matter which prompt(s) you choose to write about, there are a few things you can do to make sure your essay is effective:

1. Consider the word count. Supplemental essays usually have a shorter word count (around 100-300 words) compared to personal statements. Be sure your essay doesn’t go over the word count. 
2. Be direct and specific. Because you’re working with a limited word count, it’s important to be sure that your essay is direct and specific. Try to hit your main points and avoid being wordy or including detail that’s not necessary in the story you’re telling.
3. Be sincere. Just like in your personal statement, your supplemental essay is a time to be sincere and share things that really matter to you. Whether you’re writing about why you want to pursue a certain major or why you feel this school is the best fit for you, don’t be afraid to lean into honesty and sincerity. Your story matters!

Finished your college application essays? Get them reviewed for free 👇🏾

Submit all of your college application, supplemental, and scholarship essays to Get Schooled for free review! We’ll have them back to you within 7-10 days with personalized feedback to help your essays shine. Get started by clicking the button below!

Do you have any questions or need some support with writing your college application essays or personal statements? Connect with a Get Schooled Advisor.

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Last updated June 25, 2026

In this article

• General advice
• 1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. 
• 2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? 
• 3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
• 4. Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
• 5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
• 6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
• 7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

When applying to college using the Common App, it’s important to understand each of the essay prompts it offers to help you decide which to choose. Your essay is one of the most important parts of your college application, so choosing a prompt that best helps you tell your unique story matters. Below, we’ll help you understand the Common App’s college essay prompts for the 2026-2027 application cycle!

General advice

No matter which prompt you choose, your essay should demonstrate personal growth and be free of spelling and grammar errors. Read our tips on writing your college application essay before selecting your prompt! 

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. 

This prompt invites you to highlight something that’s personal to you. For example, you can write about a cultural identity that has shaped your worldview, a passion for playing an instrument that has influenced your career path, or an extracurricular activity that helped you build community. 

2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? 

Setbacks and failures are a part of life, but the ability to persevere and learn is what sets you apart! You don’t need to share anything too personal if it doesn’t feel right, but if you can connect an obstacle you faced with how you overcame it and how it shaped your goals for the future, this might be the prompt for you.

3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

This prompt invites you to reflect on a time when you used your voice to challenge the status quo. Whether you stood up for a social cause you believe in or navigated conflict around your family’s expectations, you can write about what inspired you to speak up and why you felt strongly about challenging the norm. 

4. Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

There may be moments of joy or gratitude that stand out as important to you. What experiences changed your perspective or made an impact? Who are you thankful for and why? How has that gratitude shaped your story or inspired you to pay it forward?

5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

High school is a time of growth and self-discovery! If an experience led you to reflect and learn, this prompt could be a great fit. Demonstrating a clear connection between your personal growth and your hopes for the future is one of the most important things you can do in your college application essay.

6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

This prompt is a great fit for students who have a strong passion for a specific topic, idea, or concept. It could be a school subject, a hobby you spend hours on, or something that fascinates you. Sharing your enthusiasm can give an admissions team a deeper understanding of who you are outside of your transcripts and test scores. 

7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

If none of the Common App’s prompts fit the story you want to tell, you can choose your own! Keep in mind that it’s still just as important to make sure your essay is clear, free of grammar and spelling mistakes, and demonstrates personal growth and reflection.

Do you have any questions about the Common App’s essay prompts or about writing your college application essay? Connect with a Get Schooled Advisor.

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Last updated June 25, 2026

In this article

• Myth #1: You Need a Jaw-Dropping Essay to Stand Out
• Myth #2: You Need an Incredible Story to Write an Interesting Essay
• Myth #3: You Have to Talk About Everything You’ve Ever Accomplished in Your Essay
• Free College Application Essay Resources from Get Schooled

As you begin to work on your college applications, you may learn some myths or half-truths about writing your application essay. In this article, we share (and debunk) three of the most common college application essay myths!

Myth #1: You Need a Jaw-Dropping Essay to Stand Out

College admissions officers understand that you have a certain prompt and word limit when writing your essay. There is no expectation for you to write a groundbreaking, masterpiece of an essay. What truly matters the most when writing your college application essay is to share your authentic story and the things you’ve learned about yourself and the world through your experiences. As a student, athlete, community member, family member, and employee, you bring lots of great qualities and experiences to the table. Your essay is a great place to share those things and reflect on how they’ve prepared and motivated you to apply to college. 

Myth #2: You Need an Incredible Story to Write an Interesting Essay

You don’t need a life-changing or dramatic story to write a compelling college essay. Focus on an event or subject that genuinely reflects your perspectives and demonstrates your personal growth. Write with sincerity and detail about something meaningful to you.

Myth #3: You Have to Talk About Everything You’ve Ever Accomplished in Your Essay

Your resume is the best place to list your achievements, extracurricular activities, and academic honors. Your college essay should instead introduce new aspects of who you are, or add more context to an experience listed on your resume. Your college essay is a great place to really go deeper and share an important story that clearly shows how you’ve grown. Don’t be afraid to get personal!

Free College Application Essay Resources from Get Schooled

• How to Start Your College Essay
• How to Write College Supplemental Essays
• Understanding Common App College Essay Prompts
• How to Use AI/ChatGPT Effectively for Your College Application Essays
• College Application Requirements Tracker
• Free College Application and Scholarship Essay Review

Have any questions about writing a great college application essay? Connect with a Get Schooled Advisor.

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Last updated June 25, 2026

In this article

• Can I use AI to write my college application essay?
• Using AI for college application essays: dos and don’ts

With the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT, you may be curious about how they can support your college application essay writing, or if it’s even okay to use them at all. In this article, we’ll share the dos and don’ts of using AI in your college application essays!

Can I use AI to write my college application essay?

Yes, but use it thoughtfully. The purpose of college application essays and personal statements is to give colleges a deeper look at who you are—what matters to you, what you’re passionate about, and what excites you about the future. AI doesn’t know any of that! It’s up to you to tell your story. 

It’s also very important to note that many colleges are starting to create their own policies about the use of AI in essays and on applications. Some schools may even disqualify a student’s essay or application altogether if they have reason to believe that AI was used.

While we’ll share some tips in this article about using AI intentionally and thoughtfully in college application essays, we want to encourage you to lean on your own intelligence and experience much more than on AI. Don’t count yourself out of the race before it’s even started!

Using AI for college application essays: dos and don’ts

DON’T use ChatGPT to write your entire essay

We can’t emphasize this enough—do not use ChatGPT to write your entire college application essay. ChatGPT can create generalizations, resulting in responses that sound unoriginal and robotic. This will leave you with an essay that lacks personality and doesn’t give your reader a clear picture of who you are. That defeats the entire purpose of what a college application essay should do! Also, since college admissions officers are experienced in reading hundreds (if not thousands) of essays during each college application cycle, they may be able to tell whether an essay has heavy AI writing in it.

DO use ChatGPT to generate ideas

Your college application essay should reveal something about you through storytelling. If you’re having trouble deciding what to write, you can turn to ChatGPT to help you generate ideas and narrow down your topic. For example, you can ask it to come up with 10 questions to help you brainstorm topics or to elaborate on an idea you might already have. You know yourself the best, so while ChatGPT can help start your idea, it’s up to you to finish it. 

DO use AI to proofread your essay

While AI can’t tell your story, it’s a helpful tool for finding spelling and grammar errors and providing suggestions to improve sentence structure and clarity. You can also use it to identify whether your essay fully answers the prompt or is meeting the required word count. 

Want a more human review of your essay? Send it to us for free review! We’ll have it back to you within 7-10 days with specific feedback. 

DON’T share any personal or sensitive information with AI

Be careful when sharing personal information with ChatGPT, or avoid it altogether. While ChatGPT allows users to turn off chat history, it’s best to be cautious and not reveal too much about yourself—like your state, city, school, or any other sensitive information you wouldn’t want shared publicly. 

This is especially important in the context of writing your college application essay. The purpose of these essays is to write about something personal to you, which for some people may include sensitive or difficult topics. We recommend talking to a real person (like a parent or trusted educator) instead of ChatGPT if you need support writing your essay. 

DO keep your authentic voice

Showing your personality through your essay is crucial to leaving a lasting impression on admissions officers. Because ChatGPT provides widely generic responses, it can create a similar version of a story personal to you, but never the real and authentic thing. Colleges value authenticity, and your essays play a very important role in your overall application. 

DON’T use AI as your only tool for college application essays

Use our free resources to write a personal and thoughtful college application essay: 

• How to Start Your College Application Essay
• Understanding Common App College Essay Prompts
• Common College Application Essay Myths
• Free College Application and Scholarship Essay Review

Do you have any questions about writing your college application essay? Connect with a Get Schooled Advisor.

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Last updated September 17, 2024

In this article

• Free Essay Review

It’s college application season and Get Schooled is here to help review your essay! Submit your personal statement, supplemental college application essays, and scholarship essays for feedback and we’ll provide actionable suggestions and feedback FREE within 7-10 days from when you submit.

Free Essay Review

Let us help you have the best chance to stand out to the colleges and scholarships on your list with our FREE college application essay review!

Get Schooled has reviewed more than 6,500 college essays since 2017!

          

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Last updated September 16, 2025

In this article

• Is Get Schooled’s essay review service legit? 
• Is Get Schooled’s essay review service free?
• Why does Get Schooled review essays for free?
• How does essay review work? 
• What kind of feedback will I receive on my essay? 
• Can I submit other types of essays beside my college application essay?
• How many times can I get my essay reviewed? 
• Do I have to be in the U.S. to have my essay reviewed?
• Who is reviewing my essay?
• How can I get started?
• How else can Get Schooled help with my essay? 

Drafting a college or scholarship application essay can be intimidating, but you don’t have to do it alone! If you’re curious about Get Schooled’s essay review service, read below to learn more about how it works and what you can expect from us! 

We offer so much more than just free essay review! Create an account to start exploring our resources that have supported over 1 million young people since 2010 in reaching their college and career goals. 

Is Get Schooled’s essay review service legit? 

Yes! Launched in 2017, our free college and scholarship application essay review service has helped thousands of students across the world revise and polish their essays and personal statements for submission. There’s no catch or secret terms and conditions, and we never share or sell student data. 

Is Get Schooled’s essay review service free?

100% of our resources and services, including college application and scholarship essay review, are completely free. 

Why does Get Schooled review essays for free?

If you’re new to Get Schooled, hello! 👋🏾 We’re a nonprofit organization that helps young people get to college, find first jobs, and succeed in both. Everything we do is centered around the idea that students–particularly Black, brown, first-generation, and immigrant students–deserve free access to resources that help them plan for the future. Read more about our values and how we do what we do.

How does essay review work? 

Once you submit your essay(s), our reviewers will get to work! They’ll set up your essay in a Google Doc, leave personalized and specific feedback, and email it back to you within 7-10 days. If you do not receive your essay after 14 days, please email hello@getschooled.com or resubmit your essay. Please note that we cannot review essays that are submitted via email–they must be submitted through our website. 

What kind of feedback will I receive on my essay? 

Feedback will vary based on the essay we receive. We don’t have a one-size-fits-all approach to our essay reviews, since we believe that our feedback should be just as personal to you as your essay is. Generally, though, we look out for things like:

Prompt

We’ll offer feedback about the prompt you’ve chosen. Does the prompt you chose best help you tell your story? Does your essay address the entire prompt? 

Length and word count

We’ll give feedback about the length of your essay–whether it’s too long or short based on the prompt you’ve chosen and the required word count (if applicable). 

Grammar, punctuation, and sentence flow

We’ll identify present issues with spelling, punctuation, and grammar. Additionally, we’ll point out sentences or sections that are lengthy or harder to follow, offering tips for better flow and readability.  

Storytelling

Storytelling is a very important component of a college application essay! We identify whether you’re showing your story through specific details and examples, or just telling. We offer ideas for how to best lean into storytelling to draw your reader in and really understand what was at stake in your story.

Personal growth

This is one of the most important elements of your essay! Regardless of the prompt you choose or the story you’re telling, your essay should demonstrate personal growth and share hopes for the future. We’ll look for indicators of both within your essay and offer advice on how to best reflect on these things in your writing. 

Can I submit other types of essays beside my college application essay?

These are the types of essays we are able to review:

• College application essays
• Personal statements
• Supplemental college application responses
• Scholarship application essays and personal statements 

We only review essays being submitted to undergraduate postsecondary institutions (two- and four-year colleges, universities, and trade schools). We do not review high school or college class essays of any kind.

How many times can I get my essay reviewed? 

As many times as you’d like! We’d love to work with you to finalize your essay(s) for submission. You can submit multiple essays or drafts at once, or resubmit your essays after each round of feedback you receive from us. 

Do I have to be in the U.S. to have my essay reviewed?

While students do not need to be based in the U.S. at the time of submission, they must be applying to a college or university in the U.S. For example, if you’re based in Mumbai but are applying to a college in New York City, we can review your essay!

Who is reviewing my essay?

We have an awesome team of essay reviewers with backgrounds in student support and advising. They make our essay review service possible and we are so grateful for the ways they support students like you in achieving their college goals! Learn more about them 👇🏿

Rachel

Rachel brings a wealth of expertise in writing, editing, and college admissions guidance to her role as a college essay reviewer. With a background in education, program management, and college and career coaching, Rachel understands the unique stories and perspectives each applicant has to share. Dedicated to making the college application process less daunting, Rachel is committed to helping students confidently put their best foot forward. Born and raised in New York, Rachel loves spending time with friends and family, exploring the city, doing yoga, biking, hiking, and reading when she’s not helping students achieve their goals.

How long have you been an essay reviewer? 5-10 years

Where you went to college: University at Buffalo- bachelor’s in Human Services; University of Brussels- Masters in Education Science

What excites you most about Get Schooled? I love how accessible and resourceful Get Schooled is for students around the country to receive support with college and career success.

How can I get started?

Submit your essay for review here or by clicking the button below. Note: you must create a free Get Schooled account. 

How else can Get Schooled help with my essay? 

Check out our resources about college and scholarship applications here, and connect with a Get Schooled Advisor if you have any questions!

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