Understanding College Supplemental Essays
Last updated August 18, 2025
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.
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 re-use supplemental essays for different colleges?
We would recommend against this. 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 in 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:
- 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 when submitting.
- 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 trying to tell.
- 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!