does university of pittsburgh have supplemental essays

University of Pittsburgh | Pitt

• Cost & scholarships
• Essay prompt

Want to see your chances of admission at University of Pittsburgh | Pitt?

We take every aspect of your personal profile into consideration when calculating your admissions chances.

University of Pittsburgh | Pitt’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Personal statement essay.

If you have written a Common Application Personal Essay you are not expected to also submit a Personal Statement below. We will receive your Common App personal essay if completed.

Submission of either the optional personal statement or Common App personal essay is required for scholarship review, if applying without SAT or ACT scores, and may increase the likelihood that you are considered for guaranteed admission programs or given special consideration due to extenuating circumstances.

The personal statement is your opportunity to communicate directly with the Admissions Committee. Applicants are welcome to submit anything that helps tell their story, being mindful and thoughtful about the quantity and quality of information shared. Share information not included elsewhere in your application.

Select-A-Prompt Short Response

Please select one of these questions

What is something you would like to see change in the world? Explain why.

If you had 10 minutes and the attention of a million people, what would your TED Talk be about?

What does it mean to be “educated”?

What will first-time readers think of your college essay?

Other Links

• At Parturient Porta Vestibulum Integer Sociosqu Vitae Aptent Aptent Praesent Rhoncus Urna

Guaranteed Admission Program

The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine’s Guaranteed Admission Program (GAP) is for outstanding high school seniors who have been admitted to the University of Pittsburgh as undergraduates and are interested in attending the University’s medical school after completing their undergraduate degree(s).

The undergraduate Office of Admissions provides information for students who meet the required criteria for the  Medicine Guarantee .

Applying for the Guaranteed Admission Program

Applying for the GAP is a multi-step process.  To be considered, the undergraduate application to the University of Pittsburgh is due by October 15 via the Common App or Pitt’s application.   Additionally, the required undergraduate webform MUST be submitted along with all other application materials by November 1.  This includes test scores (if choosing to submit) and the required Self-Reported Academic Record.  Any undergraduate applications that remain incomplete after November 1 will not be reviewed for the guarantee.  Applicants must be a US Citizen, Lawful Permanent Resident (not pending or conditional) or have Asylee Status. International students as well as applicants to the regional campuses of the University of Pittsburgh are not eligible for this program. 

Applicants must earn the highest grade point average available at their high school in the context of a curriculum showing the greatest academic rigor possible.  In addition, achieve a minimum SAT score of 1490 (combined Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Math) or 34 ACT composite score.  With the University expanding the test-optional policy through fall of 2025, the MCAT will be required prior to matriculation to the medical school only for test-optional candidates entering Pitt as first-year guaranteed admits starting in 2021.  However, the earned score will only be used for advising purposes following matriculation to medical school. The MCAT requirement does not apply to students admitted with SAT/ACT scores. 

After the initial review described above, students selected to continue in the process will be notified by the School of Medicine of their eligibility to apply for the Medicine GAP.   An email containing the applicant's personal login information for our database will be sent out (early December - date TBD). Those selected will be asked to submit a supplemental application in support of their candidacy, which is  DUE: WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2025 (11:59 PM EST - NO extensions will be granted).  The supplemental application will be reviewed by the School of Medicine’s Admission Committee. Selected students will be invited for an interview to the School of Medicine in March (no one is admitted to the medical school without an interview).

Helpful Tips to Completing Your Application

Selection for the interview is based on:

• Academic performance
• Medically related experiences
• Research Experience, if available
• Community Service
• Leadership activities
• Two letters of recommendation (1 from either a school counselor or and teacher and the other from a person who knows the applicant through their participation in the activities above) - this information is only requested if a student is selected for nomination to complete the supplemental application to the School of Medicine 
• An essay (250 word limit)

While in-person experiences are encouraged, virtual or remote experiences will be considered when evaluating the applicant. 

Requirements

If accepted into the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine’s Guaranteed Admission Program, students must:

• Maintain an overall GPA of 3.75 with a Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics  (BCPM) GPA of 3.75 as an undergraduate
• Complete the undergraduate degree within four years
• Continue to gain medically related experiences* during their undergraduate years
• Seek research opportunities in a medically related field
• Seek opportunities for community service 
• Meet with the Director of the Guaranteed Admit program once every semester to discuss their progress in terms of medically related activities, research and community service.
• Meet with the University Pre-Medical Advisor at the start of each semester in order to confirm that they are fulfilling the academic pre-requisites for admission to the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.   In addition, students will be given information regarding various research** and volunteering opportunities.
• Provide the Office of Admissions with an official transcript at the completion of their junior year

Please keep in mind, students must also meet with the advisor who was assigned to them by the University of Pittsburgh at matriculation.

*Students need to be HIPAA certified before they can be permitted to volunteer in any UPMC-affiliated hospital. The certification can be done online by:

• Visiting  http://cme.hs.pitt.edu
• Clicking on “Internet Based Studies in Education and Research” and then
• Clicking on “HIPAA Privacy Awareness for Faculty, Students, Health Professionals and Trainees.”

**For those interested in Neuroscience Research visit the website of  The Center for Neuroscience  for the University of Pittsburgh.

Procedures for Matriculation into the School of Medicine

At the end of the undergraduate junior year, students who meet the requirements listed above will be emailed detailed instructions on completing the application and matriculation process for the medical school.  Students will be granted pre-approval status to submit the medical school application through AMCAS.  In addition, students will be required to provide AMCAS and the medical school Office of Admissions and Financial Aid with official transcript(s). 

Colleges Without Supplemental Essays: 2020

• Post author By Top Tier Admissions
• Post date October 21, 2020
• No Comments on Colleges Without Supplemental Essays: 2020

Back in 1975 when the Common App was first launched, it was truly a common application. Students filled out a form, wrote a short piece on a favorite extracurricular activity, and then their 650-word essay.

Over time, colleges started asking for supplemental essays as a way to get to know more about their applicants, make distinctions amongst a high-achieving applicant pool, and to better assess who was seriously interested in the school. Today,  most colleges have two to four supplemental questions  (long essays, short responses, lists) in addition to what’s being asked on the Common Application. So, applying to colleges is far from streamlined. We are almost back to where we were before the Common Application – different essays for different schools. But……

MOST but not ALL.

There are still nearly 400 schools that accept the Common Application who don’t have additional supplements. That’s many good schools that don’t require supplemental essays and rely solely on the Common Application. So why don’t they ask any supplemental questions? Most likely, the decision falls into one of the following:

• A desire to increase accessibility and attract more applicants. An application with lots of additional essays will deter students who lack the time to work on them. Essentially – get more kids to apply!
• A much-more straightforward admissions process that is based primarily on scores, class rank, and GPA. Data drives these schools vs getting to know the candidates.

Whatever your reason for seeking a school that doesn’t require additional supplemental essays, we’ve got you covered.

SAMPLE LIBERAL ARTS SCHOOLS WITHOUT SUPPLEMENTAL ESSAYS

• Albion College
• Allegheny College
• Beloit College
• Coe College  (personal essay optional for students who meet Coe’s minimum academic standards )
• Colby College
• Connecticut College 
• DePauw University 
• Drew University  (applicants who select certain Specialty/Dual Degree programs will be required to complete an additional writing question)
• Farleigh Dickinson
• Furman University
• Gettysburg College 
• Goucher College
• Grinnell College
• Hanover College
• Hollins University
• Hope College
• Juniata College
• Kenyon College
• Middlebury College
• Muhlenberg College
• Ripon College  (optional personal statement)
• Sewanee—University of the South
• Siena College  (option to submit a graded paper in place of an essay on Siena application)
• Skidmore College
• Spelman College  (additional essay for Honors program)
• St. John’s University  (essay for Pharmacy program or if not submitting testing scores)
• St. Lawrence University
• Susquehanna University
• Wesleyan University  (international students will be required to complete a writing prompt, depending on answers to some questions)

SAMPLE UNIVERSITIES WITHOUT SUPPLEMENTAL ESSAYS

• Case Western Reserve University  (Pre-Professional Scholars program requires additional writing questions)
• Clemson University
• DePaul University
• Drexel University  (essay for Westphal College of Media Arts & Design and custom-designed majors)
• Fordham University  (For 2020-2021, there will be a COVID-19 question)
• Miami University—Oxford
• New Jersey Institute of Technology  (Albert Dorman Honors College has an essay requirement)
• Northeastern University
• Ohio State University   (Honors, Scholars, Morrill Scholarship Program and some majors have additional essay requirements)
• Seton Hall University
• Stevens Institute of Technology  (Accelerated Medicine program has an additional writing question)
• Stony Brook University   (Honors College, University Scholars, Women in Science and Engineering (WISE), Scholars for Medicine and Scholars for Dental Medicine have additional essay requirements)
• SUNY Binghamton University  (depending on answers to some questions, a writing question may be required)
• SUNY Buffalo  (depending on answers to some questions, a writing question may be required)
• University of Alabama
• University of Arkansas
• University of Colorado -Denver
• University of Connecticut
• University of Dayton 
• University of Delaware  (supplemental essay required for Honors Program)
• University of Denver
• University of Iowa  (supplemental essays for certain programs of study)
• University of Minnesota  (depending on answers to some questions, a writing question may be required)
• University of Nebraska—Lincoln  (personal statement required to be considered for leadership and diversity scholarships)
• University of New Hampshire 
• University of the Pacific
• University of Pittsburgh  (In lieu of an essay or personal statement, interested applicants are asked to answer short answer questions. Specific questions required for Pitt Honors admission.)
• University of St. Thomas  (essays recommended, but not required)
• University of Vermont  (optional essay questions available as part of application process)

ESSAY GUIDANCE

Whether your list of schools requires supplemental essays or not, or if you’re still working on your Common Application essay – we’re here to help  you share your voice, your vision and your true scholarly selves to college admissions officers and can help you craft compelling essays.

“T was accepted early decision to Boston College! Thank you so, so much for all of the help and guidance that you provided us over the past 6 months. I can’t imagine there are many (if any!) people out there who are better than you at what you do! Thank you for your patience, prompt replies, and for keeping T on track! We are very grateful to have found you and worked with you!” – D.M., Essay Guidance Program parent

• Recent Posts
• Back to School with Top Tier Admissions - August 27, 2024
• The Top Tier Admissions Advantage: Chris’ Story - August 21, 2024
• Writing Skills: The Key to a Standout College Essay - August 20, 2024
• Tags College Admissions , College Essays

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Use code FALLSAT5 through 9/30 for 5% off SAT packages!

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

A Great Pitt Honors College Essay Example

What’s covered:, essay example – changing the world , where to get your pitt essay edited.

The University of Pittsburgh is a large public university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that is known for its great academics. The David C. Frederick Honors College at Pitt offers even more opportunities to a select group of talented students. Given the highly selective nature of the Pitt Honors College, you need to have strong essays to help your application stand out and gain admission. In this post, we’ll share a real essay a student submitted to the University of Pittsburgh Honors College, and outline its strengths and areas of improvement. (Names and identifying information have been changed, but all other details are preserved).

Please note: Looking at examples of real essays students have submitted to colleges can be very beneficial to get inspiration for your essays. You should never copy or plagiarize from these examples when writing your own essays. Colleges can tell when an essay isn’t genuine and will not view students favorably if they plagiarized. 

Read our Pitt essay breakdown to get a comprehensive overview of this year’s supplemental prompts.

Prompt: If you could change anything in the world, what would it be? Explain why and how you would change it. (No word count given)

While growing up, I was constantly reminded about my health. When I would rant about my trivial problems, my mother would respond with: “the most important thing is you are healthy.” As a young and naive child, this response irritated me. I never understood the blessing of good health until I was diagnosed with migraines. Every month I was met with throbbing headaches that made me lose all sensation and control of my body.

On one New Year’s Eve, I went to visit family friends with my father and sister. The flashing lights on the television and little sleep triggered a migraine attack. Without my mother present, everyone was unfamiliar with my frightening symptoms. Out of panic, they decided to call an ambulance. That one simple call and visit resulted in a one-year battle with our insurance company. For months on end, my mother argued against the unfair and hurtful statements the insurance listed as reasons for their refusal of payment. These endless calls brought about extreme stress and frustration, but we did not have the means to pay. There was no other option but to keep on fighting.

This was my first memorable experience with healthcare and its failures. From that day forward, I associated care with payment. I became worried about affording medical treatment at an early age. And so, if I had the power to change the world, I would make healthcare more affordable. Every individual deserves to be treated without the worry of a costly bill.

While I realize that affordable healthcare is a point of debate in our nation, I maintain my stance that it is a human right. I also understand that it will take years to put into place, but this does not discourage me. I can help start the change. With Pitt Honors, I will be exposed to interactive research, a matched mentor, and personalized co-curricular activities. I will be able to become a skilled nurse with critical thinking abilities. With the development of leadership skills, I plan to make a difference. Whether it be taking a high position role at a no-cost clinic or shaping healthcare reforms, I know Pitt Honors College will help me achieve my dream. Whether it be taking a high position role at a no-cost clinic or shaping healthcare reforms, I plan to make a difference.

What the Essay Did Well

Something that makes this essay strong is how it takes time to tell a story and build an understanding for the author before we even learn what they would change about the world. The essay begins by introducing the idea of health, but because we aren’t told what they want to change yet, we are compelled to keep reading. Then, the anecdote helps us appreciate the personal connection this student has to affordable healthcare. They take the time to fully flesh out the context needed to answer the why aspect of the prompt, while at the same time building suspense for the what .

Additionally, this student went above and beyond the prompt by connecting it back to Pitt. They weren’t explicitly asked to discuss how an education from the Pitt Honors Program would help them change the world, but by including this paragraph it demonstrates genuine interest in the school. If an essay can prove that you can only accomplish your goals — especially such impressive ones like changing the world — by taking advantage of unique opportunities at that specific school, then admissions officers might feel they are denying you the chance to reach your full potential by not accepting you.

What Could Be Improved

The area that could use the most improvement in this essay is the last paragraph dedicated to Pitt. Although it’s great that this student took the extra step to include how attending the Honors College will allow them to achieve their goals, the paragraph is a bit vague. To improve it, there should be more specific details, about classes, programs, professors, etc, to show that they have done their research and think taking advantage of these offerings are the only way to change the world. 

For example, the essay says, “With the development of leadership skills, I plan to make a difference.” This sentence would be far stronger if the student mentioned a specific club or volunteer program they want to be a part of and how emerging as a leader in that experience would help them become a leader in the medical field. Or, they mention the Honors College will expose them to research and match them with a mentor, but they don’t elaborate on this. 

The entire paragraph could have just been dedicated to one specific professor whose research aligns with affordable healthcare and what this student hopes to learn from them. Having a more focused and detailed approach to why you want to attend a college will always make for a stronger essay than briefly touching on general opportunities offered at most schools. 

Do you want feedback on your Pitt essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools.  Find the right advisor for you  to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

Supplement essay

<p>For the supplement essay, for scholarship consideration, would my common app essay work? I know it’s not one of the 10 or so options though.</p>

<p>Absolutely! It is what I used for my essay.</p>

<p>Even though the common app essay topic does not fall into any of the supplement essay prompts Pittsburgh has, it is okay to use? I’m really hoping for merit aid so sorry I’m being really precautious</p>

<p>So is the personal essay the same as the supplement essay?</p>

<p>Yes. Pitt says that you can send in an essay on any topic you want (not necessarily one they give you) so you can use your commonapp essay. </p>

<p>Yes. Do not send in two essays.</p>

<p>Warren, my kid is applying to Pitt too and I have the essay info in front of me. it says you can choose one of their topics or select a topic that reflects something about you and your interests. so I would say as long as your common app essay reflects something about you and your interests, that should be fine. thanks for asking this question. I planned to have our kid do a separate essay for Pitt and looked at the materials more closely when I saw your question.</p>

Supplemental Essay Guide 2024-25

What do the 2024-25 supplemental essay prompts really mean, and how should you approach them? CEA's experts are here to break them all down.

Acceptance Rate

Undergrad population.

• Liberal Arts (59)

* Tuition filtering is based on out-of-state fees

How to Approach Supplemental Essays

When our students dig into the college application process, they are often surprised to encounter not only the main Common Application’s personal statement , but also a host of supplemental essay questions. These assignments are often school-specific writing prompts for which a student must also craft thoughtful, well-written replies.

Supplemental essays are often more focused than the Common App assignment, though they vary in length and scope. Their prompts tackle subjects that range from deeper explorations of a student’s background to their collegiate and academic interests.

We often encourage our students to nail down their personal statement topic first, then ask them to approach their supplemental essays in priority order, according to submission deadlines. Many schools will offer prompts that are similar in theme and content to one another (for example, many institutions now ask about a student’s most important activity ), so it is helpful for students to gather and review all supplemental questions before beginning the brainstorm process to see where they might naturally overlap.

Elite institutions often have extensive supplemental sections, as do some honors programs, so students should keep this in mind as they hunt for their essay questions and map out their plan of attack.

All supplemental essays should be given the same time and care as the main Common Application essay. These supplements not only are an excellent opportunity to show a school both your competence and level of devotion to their institution, but also offer opportunities to paint some personality into your application. So embrace supplements, use your unique voice, and show these schools what you’re made of!

Agnes Scott College 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Alvernia University 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide  

American university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, amherst college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, babson college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, bard college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide  , barnard college 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, baylor university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide  , bennington college 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, bentley university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, berry college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, bethany college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, boston college (bc) 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, boston university (bu) 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, bowdoin college 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, brandeis university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide , brown university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, bryn mawr college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, bucknell university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, butler university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, california institute of technology (caltech) 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, california lutheran university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, capitol technology university 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, carleton college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, carnegie mellon university (cmu) 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide , catawba college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, centre college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, chapman university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, claremont mckenna college 2024-25 supplemental essay guide  , clark university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, clemson university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, coastal carolina university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, college of charleston 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, college of william & mary 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, college of wooster 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, colorado college 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, colorado school of mines 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, columbia university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, cornell university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, culver-stockton college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, d’youville university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, dartmouth college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, davidson college 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, dickinson college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, drexel university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, duke university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, earlham college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, elon university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, emerson college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, emory university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, flagler college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, fordham university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, george mason university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, georgetown university 2024-25 essay prompt guide, georgia state university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide  , georgia tech 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, gonzaga university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, hamilton college 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, hampshire college 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, harvard university 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, harvey mudd college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, haverford college 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, hillsdale college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide  , hofstra university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, howard university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, illinois institute of technology 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, illinois wesleyan university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, ithaca college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, johns hopkins university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, kalamazoo college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, lafayette college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, lehigh university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, lewis and clark college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, linfield university 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, loyola marymount university (lmu) 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide , lynn university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, macalester college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, manchester university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, marist college 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, mary baldwin university 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, massachusetts institute of technology (mit) 2024-25 essay prompt guide, meredith college 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, monmouth college 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, moravian university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, morehouse college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, mount holyoke college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, new york university (nyu) 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, frequently asked questions.

It really depends. Typically, the more competitive the university, the more arduous the supplemental essay requirements. Most top universities ask for at least three supplemental essays, but some only require one short essay.

The most common supplemental essay topics are:

• The Why Essay , which asks applicants to discuss their interest in their intended major and/or the school in question.
• The Activity Essay , which asks applicants to describe their involvement in an activity that is meaningful to them.
• The Community Essay , which asks about a community the applicant belongs to and the role that community plays in their life (and vice versa!).
• The Diversity Essay , which often asks applicants to explore how they champion diversity and inclusion in their communities and/or how they engage with people from different backgrounds or who hold opposing views. 
• The Short Answer , which asks applicants to answer prompts in very few words (or characters) to add context to their application and a splash of personality.
• The Oddball Essay , which asks applicants to tap into their creativity to connect curveball questions to their lives and interests.

Just like with the Common App personal statement, you’re going to want to write authentically about yourself while addressing all parts of each supplemental essay prompt. Many schools want to better understand how you see yourself contributing to their campus community and/or diversity and inclusion efforts along with how you hope to use your education to achieve your goals. So, be honest and forward-thinking, and don’t forget to customize each supplemental essay so it’s specific to each school you’re submitting to. That means doing research and weaving information into your essays that demonstrates the amount of time and thought you’ve put into your application. 

We have a few successful supplemental essay examples in our Free Resources section.

Each admissions department has their own process for reviewing applications, and some admissions committees put more weight on supplemental essays than others, but all admissions departments that offer applicants the opportunity to pen additional essays are doing so for a reason: to better understand the applicant and compare similarly qualified candidates. It’s in the applicant’s best interest to not only provide admissions with as much information regarding their candidacy as possible, but also go the extra mile. At highly competitive institutions, admissions officers are looking for reasons to remove students from the applicant pool—don’t let poorly written or (*gulp*) incomplete supplemental essays work against you!

Absolutely not. Please do not reuse content from your Common App essay in your supplements. Although it’s possible for you to expand upon an idea, activity, or community that you mention in your Common App essay in your supplements, you should never recycle content or any phrasing word for word.

Start by reading through all the prompts. Next, jot down ideas that come to your mind (no matter how silly they may seem!). Everyone has a story to tell, and we’re willing to bet you’re more interesting than you think. Give yourself plenty of time to consider different topics and revise, revise, revise! Also, our handy dandy Supplemental Essay Guides are sure to help you on your writing journey.

North Carolina State 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

North park university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, northwestern university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, occidental college 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, oklahoma city university 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, olin college of engineering 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, penn state 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, pepperdine university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, pitzer college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, pomona college 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, princeton university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, providence college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, purdue university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, rensselaer polytechnic institute 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, rice university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, roger williams university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, saint anselm college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, saint elizabeth university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, santa clara university 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, sarah lawrence college 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, scripps college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, seattle pacific university 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, seattle university 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, smith college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, soka university of america 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, southern methodist university 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, spelman college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, st. john’s college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, stanford university 2024-25 supplemental essay and short questions guide, stevens institute of technology 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, stonehill college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide  , swarthmore college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, syracuse university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, texas a&m university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, texas christian university (tcu) 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, the college of idaho 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide  , the george washington university 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, the new school 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, trinity college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, tufts university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, tulane university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, unc wilmington 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide , university of california (uc) 2024-25 essay prompt guide, university of central florida 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of chicago 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of cincinnati 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of colorado boulder 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of florida 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of georgia (uga) 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of illinois chicago (uic) 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of illinois urbana-champaign 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, university of maryland 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of massachusetts amherst 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of massachusetts lowell 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of miami 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide  , university of michigan 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of minnesota twin cities 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide , university of mississippi (ole miss) 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of mount saint vincent 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of north carolina (unc) 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of north carolina at charlotte 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of north carolina at greensboro 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of notre dame 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of oklahoma 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide , university of oregon 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of pennsylvania (upenn) 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of pittsburgh 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide , university of richmond 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, university of rochester 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of san diego 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide , university of san francisco 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of southern california (usc) 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, university of texas at austin 2024-25 essay prompt guide, university of tulsa 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of vermont 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of virginia (uva) 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of washington (uw) 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of wisconsin-madison 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, vanderbilt university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, vassar college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, villanova university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, virginia tech 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, wake forest university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, washington and lee university 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, washington university in st. louis 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, wellesley college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, worcester polytechnic institute (wpi) 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, yale university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide.

Contact us to learn more about our one-on-one advising services!

• I am a * Student Parent Potential Partner School Counselor Private College Counselor
• Name * First Last
• Phone Type Mobile Landline
• Street Address
• Address City State / Province / Region Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos Islands Colombia Comoros Congo Congo, Democratic Republic of the Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Curaçao Cyprus Czechia Côte d'Ivoire Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Heard Island and McDonald Islands Holy See Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macao Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Macedonia Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestine, State of Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russian Federation Rwanda Réunion Saint Barthélemy Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Sint Maarten Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Sweden Switzerland Syria Arab Republic Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania, the United Republic of Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Türkiye US Minor Outlying Islands Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Viet Nam Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, U.S. Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Åland Islands Country
• Which best describes you (or your child)? High school senior High school junior College student College grad Other
• How did you find CEA? Internet Search Podcast New York Times Guidance counselor/school Social Media YouTube Friend Special Event Delehey College Consulting Perks at Work Other
• Common App and Coalition Essays
• Supplemental Essays
• University of California Essays
• University of Texas Essays
• Resume Review
• Post-Grad Essays
• Specialized Services
• Waitlist Letters
• Private School Essays
• General College Counseling
• School list with priorities noted:
• Anything else we should know?
• Phone This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
• Our Approach & Team
• Undergraduate Testimonials
• Postgraduate Testimonials
• Where Our Students Get In
• CEA Gives Back
• Undergraduate Admissions
• Graduate Admissions
• Private School Admissions
• International Student Admissions
• Common App Essay Guide
• Supplemental Essay Guide
• Coalition App Guide
• The CEA Podcast
• YouTube Tutorials
• Admissions Stats
• Notification Trackers
• Deadline Databases
• College Essay Examples
• Academy and Worksheets
• Waitlist Guides
• Get Started

Login or sign up

Get Started

• College Search
• College Search Map
• Graduate Programs
• Featured Colleges
• Scholarship Search
• Lists & Rankings
• User Resources

Articles & Advice

• All Categories
• Ask the Experts
• Campus Visits
• Catholic Colleges and Universities
• Christian Colleges and Universities
• College Admission
• College Athletics
• College Diversity
• Counselors and Consultants
• Education and Teaching
• Financial Aid
• Graduate School
• Health and Medicine
• International Students
• Internships and Careers
• Majors and Academics
• Performing and Visual Arts
• Public Colleges and Universities
• Science and Engineering
• Student Life
• Transfer Students
• Why CollegeXpress
• CollegeXpress Store
• Corporate Website
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• CA and EU Privacy Policy

Lists & Rankings > College Admission > Colleges For B Students, Late Bloomers, And Underachievers

Colleges and Universities That Don't Require Supplemental Essays

List produced by the facts.

* Green "Yes, connect me!" buttons indicate a featured school

• Albion College (Albion, MI): An application essay is recommended but not required.
• Binghamton University (Binghamton, NY): No additional essays are required, but students may submit special talent supplements. Yes, connect me!
• Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, OH): Additional materials are an optional way to enhance your application. Yes, connect me!
• Clemson University (Clemson, SC): No personal essay is required with the Common or Coalition Application.
• Colby College (Waterville, ME): Supplemental essays aren't required, but students may opt to submit a video through InitialView Elevator Pitch.
• Connecticut College (New London, CT): No supplemental essays are requested beyond the Common Application personal statement requirement.
• DePaul University (Chicago, IL): Personal essays are optional and not required for first-year student applicants; however, test-optional applicants are encouraged to submit the essay through the Common App.
• DePauw University (Greencastle, IN): An additional essay beyond the personal statement is required to be considered for the Honor Scholar Program.
• Dillard University (New Orleans, LA): If a first-year applicant doesn't meet certain requirements, they must submit two letters of recommendation and a personal statement (a three-to-five-paragraph essay outlining your future aspirations) for further consideration.
• Drexel University (Philadelphia, PA): A 250–650-word essay via the Common or Coalition Application is the only writing requirement for most applicants, while certain programs in the Westphal College of Media Arts and Design require an additional writing supplement. Essays submitted on paper or emailed directly to the University are not accepted.
• Fairleigh Dickinson University (Teaneck, NJ): Essays, résumés, and recommendation letters are optional but welcome.
• Fordham University (Bronx, NY): An essay as part of the Common Application is required, but other writing opportunities are optional; applicants will not be penalized if they choose to skip these sections. Yes, connect me!
• Grinnell College (Grinnell, IA): No fee to apply and no required supplement.
• Kent State University (Kent, OH): Personal essays aren't required for first-year applicants.
• Kenyon College (Gambier, OH): Prospective students who have an interest or talent they would like to share may submit an optional portfolio.
• Middlebury College (Middlebury, VT): A supplemental essay is not required; any additional materials submitted beyond what are required are not guaranteed to be reviewed by admissions readers.
• Muhlenberg College (Allentown, PA): Only a personal essay is required of applicants.
• New Jersey Institute of Technology (Newark, NJ): An additional essay on a specific topic is required to apply to the Honors College.
• Northeastern University (Boston, MA): Additional essays are not required beyond the personal statement through the Common or Coalition Application. Yes, connect me!
• Seton Hall University (South Orange, NJ): An essay through the Common Application is the only writing requirement. Yes, connect me!
• Siena College (Loudonville, NY): The essay is optional for the majority of applicants, though many students still choose to submit one to help the admissions team learn more about them. Applicants also have the option to submit a graded English or history paper from junior or senior year to show off their best work. Yes, connect me!
• Skidmore College (Saratoga Springs, NY): Supplemental materials will be reviewed but aren't required; however, an additional essay is required in order to apply for the College's Porter-Wachenheim Presidential Scholarships in Science and Mathematics.
• Spelman College (Atlanta, GA): Students who are invited to the honors program will be required to submit an additional essay.
• Stevens Institute of Technology (Hoboken, NJ): Just one personal statement is required of applicants.
• Stony Brook University (Stony Brook, NY): Additional essays are required for Honors, WISE, University Scholars, Scholars for Medicine, and Scholars for Dental Medicine applicants.
• The Ohio State University—Columbus (Columbus, OH): Freshman applicants to the Columbus campus are only required to write a Common Application essay, while no essay is required for admission to OHIO's regional campuses. Yes, connect me!
• The University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa, AL): No personal essay is required for first-year student applicants.
• University at Buffalo (Buffalo, NY): The University may ask applicants to submit a personal statement and/or mid-year grades if they apply without test scores.
• University of Arkansas (Fayetteville, AR): A personal essay isn't required through the Common App, but supplemental essay prompts are available for students who would like to apply for scholarships.
• University of Colorado, Denver (Denver, CO): The personal statement is the only writing sample submitted during the application process. Yes, connect me!
• University of Connecticut (Storrs, CT): A personal essay through the Common Application is the only writing requirement for prospective students. Yes, connect me!
• University of Dayton (Dayton, OH): Just one essay is required of applicants.
• University of Denver (Denver, CO): No essays are required beyond the Common App personal statement. Yes, connect me!
• University of Iowa (Iowa City, IA): If a student doesn't provide ACT or SAT scores at the time of application, they may be required to submit additional academic documents or a personal statement to receive an admission decision.
• University of Minnesota—Twin Cities (Minneapolis, MN): No essays are required, but applicants have the option to submit short answers to supplemental questions.
• University of Nebraska—Lincoln (Lincoln, NE): A personal essay isn't required for admission, but applicants must write a 500-word essay about themselves with a focus on leadership, career goals, and community service to be considered for the University's Leadership, Service & Diversity Enhancement Scholarships.
• University of New Hampshire (Durham, NH): No supplemental essays or writing prompts are required other than the essay required as part of the Common Application.
• University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA): A personal statement or the Common Application essay is required for scholarship consideration as well as for students applying test-optional. It could also increase your chances with guaranteed admission programs or help explain extenuating circumstances. Yes, connect me!
• University of St. Thomas (St. Paul, MN): Applicants aren't required to answer the University's essay questions, but it's "highly recommend" to do so, especially if you apply without test scores.
• University of Vermont (Burlington, VT): An optional essay is available as a chance for the University to get to know you better. Yes, connect me!
• University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA): A personal statement is the only writing requirement for prospective students.
• Wesleyan University (Middletown, CT): The submission of supplemental materials is optional.

Source: Moon Prep

Want more information on how this list was compiled? Find out more about  where our Lists & Rankings come from .

About This List

Having schools on your list that don’t require supplemental essays gives you more time and energy to apply to more colleges and programs. The following schools do not require supplemental essays as of the 2022–2023 application season. Please keep in mind that if you're interested in special programs such as honors, Nursing, or scholarship opportunities, you may still be required or encouraged to write essays—especially if you don't submit standardized test scores. (This list was compiled by our friends at Moon Prep , with additional research by CollegeXpress.)

Join our community of over 5 million students!

CollegeXpress has everything you need to simplify your college search, get connected to schools, and find your perfect fit.

•   College Admission Colleges for Students Needing a Second Chance
•   College Admission Colleges That Do Not Consider Standardized Test Scores
•   College Admission The Experts' Choice: Great Public Universities for a B Student with a Strong Desire for College Success
•   College Admission Colleges for the B/B- Student with Average Scores
•   College Admission The "I Can't Believe I Can Get in There" List

College Quick Connect

Swipe right to request information. Swipe left if you're not interested.

Salve Regina University

Newport, RI

University of Delaware

SUNY Cortland

Cortland, NY

Miami University

Pepperdine University

Thiel College

Greenville, PA

Agnes Scott College

Atlanta, GA

Suffolk University

The University of Tampa

Fisher College

Samford University

Birmingham, AL

Molloy University

Rockville Centre, NY

SUNY Oneonta

Oneonta, NY

University of Cincinnati

Cincinnati, OH

Nelson University

Waxahachie, TX

University of Idaho

Grace College

Winona Lake, IN

Meredith College

Raleigh, NC

Fashion Institute of Technology

New York, NY

University of West Georgia

Carrollton, GA

SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Utica and Albany, NY

Brown University

Providence, RI

Lawrence Technological University

Southfield, MI

University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Lafayette, LA

Gonzaga University

Spokane, WA

That's it for now!

You need to be registered or signed into your CollegeXpress account to view more lists.

Not a member yet? What are you waiting for!

Personalize your experience on CollegeXpress.

With this information, we'll display content relevant to your interests. By subscribing, you agree to receive CollegeXpress emails and to make your information available to colleges, scholarship programs, and other companies that have relevant/related offers.

Already have an account?

Log in to be directly connected to

Not a CollegeXpress user?

Don't want to register.

Provide your information below to connect with