university of minnesota supplemental essay

University of Minnesota – Twin Cities Supplemental Essays Guide: 2021-2022

Not sure how to approach the University of Minnesota Twin Cities essay prompts? With tips from an Ivy League graduate, CollegeAdvisor.com’s guide to the University of Minnesota essay prompts will show you how to write s trong University of Minnesota application essays and in crease your chances of University of Minnesota admission.

For more resources on UM, click here . Want help crafting your University of Minnesota supplemental essays? Create your free account or schedule a free consultation by calling (844) 343-6272.

University of Minnesota Twin Cities Essay Guide Quick Facts:

The University of Minnesota has an acceptance rate of 70%— U.S. News ranks University of Minnesota Twin Cities as a competitive school.
We recommend answering all University of Minnesota Twin Cities essay prompts with thought and care.

Does University of Minnesota require essays?

Yes. In addition to the Common App Personal Statement, there are two University of Minnesota Twin Cities essay prompts. Although the University of Minnesota essay prompts are optional, we suggest writing all the University of Minnesota application essays. This will help boost your chances in the University of Minnesota admissions process.

Need tips on writing your Common App essay? Check out our blog article .

How do I get into the University of Minnesota?

The University of Minnesota admissions process is like any other. You should apply via either the Common App or the University of Minnesota portal, the Golden Gopher Application . The platform you use will not affect your University of Minnesota admissions chances.

You should include your extracurriculars and awards. You should also highlight what makes you unique. Additionally, you should write strong University of Minnesota supplemental essays. Your application should show University of Minnesota admissions officers who you are and how you’ve grown throughout high school.

You do not, however, need to submit your ACT/SAT scores, letters of recommendation, or academic transcript. Some of those materials may be required for other colleges, but not for University of Minnesota admissions. You can view the University of Minnesota admissions process in more detail here .

How many essays are there for University of Minnesota?

There are two University of Minnesota essay prompts. Both of these University of Minnesota application essays are optional. However, we suggest that you write both University of Minnesota supplemental essays. This will help increase your odds in the University of Minnesota admissions process.

You can view the University of Minnesota Twin Cities supplemental essays on the Common App website .

What does the University of Minnesota look for in essays?

In the University of Minnesota Twin Cities essay prompts, your readers want to see clear, well-written prose. They also want to see how you’ve grown during your high school career. In your responses to the University of Minnesota essay prompts, University of Minnesota admissions officers want to see what makes you special. You should highlight what makes you unique as you complete the University of Minnesota essay prompts.

Be authentic

Your University of Minnesota application essays should also show that you’ve done research on the school. Colleges like to know why they are special to you. So, use the University of Minnesota application essays to discuss why UM would be the best fit for you. Most of all, you should strive to sound genuine and thoughtful in your University of Minnesota Twin Cities essay prompts. Strong essays will boost your chances in the University of Minnesota admissions process.

University of Minnesota Supplemental Essay 1 (Optional)

Please include an explanation of why you would like to study the major(s) you have selected. You may also use this space to indicate your interest in other major(s) in the colleges listed above. (Maximum 150 words)

How do I write the University of Minnesota essays?

This University of Minnesota application essay is the classic “Why Us” question with a little twist. Rather than asking why the school attracts you, this University of Minnesota supplemental essay asks about your chosen major. Here are a few guidelines to follow as you complete this University of Minnesota Twin Cities essay prompt.

To best answer this University of Minnesota essay prompt, you should read all you can about your major on the UM website . You could even read about the courses you would take in your chosen program. This will help you write an informed response for this University of Minnesota Twin Cities essay.

Avoid general statements such as “I think the University of Minnesota has a great biology program.” Instead, use details to show what makes the UM biology major special. The more specific you can be, the better.

In this University of Minnesota supplemental essay, you might also address what made you want to pursue this major. You could also include an anecdote that sparked your passion for whatever you intend to study. Don’t just talk about what you want to study; instead, highlight why this field matters to you.

Don’t list

As this University of Minnesota essay prompt notes, you can also express interest in more than one major. You should, however, remain concise. After all, you only have 150 words, so make the most of them. You don’t want your University of Minnesota application essay to just list all the majors which might appeal to you. Instead, make sure you address the why of this University of Minnesota essay prompt rather than just stating the what.

For example, if you are applying to major in Electrical Engineering, you should first read the entire department website . You could also check out their faculty news and student & alumni news pages to get a full overview of the department. The University of Minnesota Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering offers two degrees: Bachelor of Electrical Engineering (BEE degree), and Bachelor of Computer Engineering (BCompE). Make sure you use the right language when discussing your future major in your University of Minnesota application essay.

Connect your interests to career goals

If you know you want to study Sociology of Law, Criminology, and Justice, you should, again, read the website . You could discuss how this major will prepare you for a career in healthcare or policy. As you research, look at what makes this program unique. For instance, you could address how this program lets you pursue advanced courses in one of four different clusters. Then, you could talk about which cluster interests you and why.

Overall, for this University of Minnesota supplemental essay, ensure you have done detailed research about your chosen major. You only have 150 words to respond to this University of Minnesota essay prompt. However, you can maximize the space you have by doing in-depth research. Be specific, concise, and detailed.

University of Minnesota Twin Cities Essay Prompt Key Questions :

Does your essay demonstrate that you’ve done research on the school?
Do you explain what unique programs at UM interest you?
Does your draft provide details about what you hope to do on UM’s campus?

University of Minnesota Supplemental Essay 2 (Optional)

The University values diversity, broadly defined to include diversity of experiences, perspectives, backgrounds, and talents. Enrolling a diverse community of scholars interested in learning with and from each other fosters discussion and discovery inside and outside of the classroom. Please share briefly how you might contribute to, or benefit from, our community of scholars. (Maximum 150 words)

This University of Minnesota Twin Cities essay prompt is twofold. First, you should describe how you will enrich the University of Minnesota community. Then, you should address how you will benefit from a diverse learning environment.

The wording of this University of Minnesota essay prompt suggests that you can answer only the first or second part. However, we suggest you address both sections of this University of Minnesota essay prompt to strengthen your essay. Your readers want to see that you’ve addressed all parts of the prompt.

This University of Minnesota supplemental essay may be listed as optional. However, you should still complete it. Some students might ignore this prompt, so writing this essay can help you stand out.

A diverse learning experience is the cornerstone of any college campus. Your response to this University of Minnesota essay prompt should show why this diversity matters to you on both an academic and personal level.

Pick something unique

For the first part of this University of Minnesota supplemental essay, choose something that makes you unique. This might be an identity, a view, an experience, or even a rare talent. Then, you should discuss how this aspect of yourself would enrich UM’s campus. How will you use your chosen skill or experience to engage with other students? Your readers want to be able to see how you will fit in into their student body. This means your University of Minnesota application essays should show how you will add to UM’s campus.

Then, turn to the second part of this University of Minnesota Twin Cities essay. In this part of your essay, describe how a diverse college experience will benefit you . Perhaps you come from a very homogeneous area, either racially, politically, or economically. How will engaging with those from other backgrounds broaden your views and enhance your education? Despite the word limit, you should still address both parts of the University of Minnesota Twin Cities essay prompt.

University of Minnesota Twin Cities Essay Prompt Key Questions:

Does your essay describe an experience, background, or talent that you have which would enrich the University of Minnesota campus?
Have you shown a desire for growth and collaboration during your time as a student at UM?
Do you use concise and specific language to maximize the space you have in this prompt?

University of Minnesota – Twin Cities Supplemental Essay Final Thoughts

The University of Minnesota supplemental essays can seem daunting. However, don’t let that keep you from applying. The University of Minnesota supplemental essays will help you show who you are to the University of Minnesota admissions team. The University of Minnesota supplemental essays can boost your application if you have a below-average GPA or SAT score .

Use this guide as a step-by-step aid for the University of Minnesota supplemental essays. Start writing earlier than you think you should. Given the University of Minnesota acceptance rate, these optional University of Minnesota supplemental essays are even more crucial.

Some students might ignore this part of the University of Minnesota admissions process. So, writing these essays will strengthen your application. Don’t be afraid to ask for edits; it’s helpful to have someone check your University of Minnesota supplemental essays for grammar, tone, and clarity. Good luck!

This guide was written by Laura Frustaci , Harvard ’21. This guide to the University of Minnesota supplemental essays shows you how to write strong essays and increase your chances in the University of Minnesota admissions process. For more resources on UM, click here . Want help crafting your University of Minnesota supplemental essays? Create your free account or schedule a free advising consultation by calling (844) 343-6272.

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university of minnesota supplemental essay

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How to Write the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Essays 2020-2021

We’ve updated this post! Read the 2021-2022 UMN Twin Cities essay guide .

The University of Minnesota is a public university with two separate campuses three miles apart in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. The Minneapolis campus is divided into the East and West Bank by the Mississippi River. Considered a “ Public Ivy ,” UMN ranks #70 according to U.S. News.

UMN is considered the top University of Minnesota school, with 19 academic divisions, from the College of Continuing Education to the College of Veterinary Medicine. The alumni of the university have been credited with major discoveries and inventions such as Melvin Calvin with the Calvin Cycle and Robert Gore’s GORE-TEX.

The university has a 52% acceptance rate. The middle 50% of admitted students had an SAT score of 1270-1480 and ACT scores of 26-31. All students must respond to one required essay, and Nursing students will have an additional 3 essay. The University of Minnesota also offers a University Honors Program and certain scholarships that you do not need to apply for separately. Want to know your chances at UMN? Calculate your chances for free right now.

Want to learn what UMN will actually cost you based on your income? And how long your application to the school should take? Here’s what every student considering UMN needs to know.

All Applicants

Please include an explanation of why you would like to study the major(s) you have selected. you may also use this space to indicate your interest in other major(s) in the colleges listed above. (150 words).

This is a classic example of the “ Why This Major? ” essay question. In approaching this prompt, try to think of it as straightforwardly as possible; the university wants to briefly know what your reasoning behind studying your major is, and whether you are considering other fields as well. Colleges ask this question to differentiate applicants who might have similar grades and test scores.

Note that you only have 150 words, so keep your answer succinct. The key here is to be specific to UMN’s offerings as well as your prior experiences and current interests. A common blunder is to mention money or prestige — avoid these topics at all costs. The admissions officers want to see that you are genuinely passionate about what you do or want to pursue.

To effectively answer this prompt, you need to show admissions officers why you like the subject rather than merely telling them. Focus on why you enjoy the subject: What niches in this subject area appeal to you most? Why do you have a personal connection to it? Use imagery and descriptive language to create an immersive level of detail that engages your readers.

You also need to connect your passions to UMN’s school-specific offerings. This underscores your interest in the school to admissions officers. A great way to research for this response is by perusing the school website. You can also communicate in-person or virtually with admissions staff, alumni, or current students to get a better idea of how you and your interests fit into UMN. For instance, a prospective food science major could respond like this:

“Ever since I can remember, cheese has been my favorite food. Whether I’m spreading a smoked gouda on a cracker or melting some creamy parmesan into a bowl of noodles, cheese consistently provides me with a reliable, hearty meal. Last summer, my sister and I experimented in the kitchen and made our own mozzarella; that intricate process sparked my desire to learn more about the science behind food. I want to further explore my passion for this delectable substance through UMN’s CFANS Food Science program. Through classes like Sensory Evaluation of Food Quality, I can learn what factors go into a nutritious cheese and how to taste the difference between a healthy and spoiled block of cheddar. Through the Baumler Lab, I can explore whether antimicrobials in chili peppers can help keep a wheel of brie fresh for an extra week or two.”

This response deftly weaves the student’s current passion and knowledge of cheese with potential future endeavors they could carry out in college. The essay tone is casual but the use of specific detail demonstrates passion. The author grounds each hypothetical activity to a specific UMN offering.

If you have another major you are considering, split the 150 words to devote enough time to both subjects. However, keep in mind that you might not be able to elaborate on each one enough to craft a thorough response. Try explaining why both subjects are interesting to you, and if you have any space left, you may want to write about how the subjects relate to each other, and why studying one gives you a deeper understanding of the other. This will tie the essay together, and give a clearer picture to admissions officers as to why you would like to pursue both.

For instance, a student could first write about studying mathematics, then follow-up with writing about art as a second interest. Additionally, the student could end with how mathematics influences art in symmetry, space, and perspective, and how the study of mathematics is necessary for creating art.

With this in mind, you are equipped to write a stellar response to UMN’s supplement prompt. Good luck! If you’re applying to Nursing, stick around for a breakdown of those prompts.

Nursing Major Applicants

Nursing prompt 1:, why have you chosen to pursue a nursing career explain how your experiences shaped your decision. (250 words), general strategy.

This question, like most questions for specialized programs, is intended to assess your commitment to a difficult, long-term path–as a high school senior. As such, your primary focus here should be to convey, with concise focus and concrete examples, your commitment to and passion for this path.

Furthermore, in such a short space, it’s crucial that you remain focused. There might be a million reasons that you want to be a nurse–and that’s great! Just don’t list them all here. Your reader won’t assume that this response is an exhaustive list of all the reasons you want to be a nurse–instead, they’ll assume that you’ve chosen one or two of the most compelling experiences you’ve had to illustrate the core motivation behind this aspiration.

This brings me to the final important thing to note: With why -driven essays, your focus should be on digging beyond basic explanation. Try to show not only the experiences that have inspired you but also what your deepest motivations and aspirations are. What drives you? What makes you tick? What do you aspire to do with your life? Use specific examples to offer insight into these important, deeply personal questions, even as you explain why you want to be a nurse.

Picking Examples

Though strong responses will have an abstract/aspirational dimension, your response should still be grounded in concrete examples. This means that your writing process should still begin with some brainstorming as you search for concrete examples. Think back: is there an obvious experience that made you go “Aha! I want to be a nurse?”

Strong experiences to focus on can include:

Family or close friends in health-related fields who have inspired you.
Your own medical experiences, as a patient.
Experiences with close family members or friends who have been patients and who have been cared for by excellent nurses.
An internship or shadowing experience.
An academic or pre-professional course that exposed you to nursing.

The experiences you choose to depict should be vivid and meaningful enough that you can offer a brief, but detailed, description that shows the reader how they impacted you. As such, a brief glimpse of a nurse on a break from work or an impression you got from watching a TV show might be too superficial to develop as an experience that “shaped your decision.”

One note of caution: Note that the next prompt asks about how your “studies and activities” have prepared you for a career in nursing. This means that you’ll get a chance later to focus on specific academic or extracurricular things that have given you the skills and knowledge to dive into nursing studies. Here, your focus should be on motivations and interests, not preparation.

Digging a little deeper

Once you’ve chosen your example, take a moment to consider what this experience touched in you. Was it your desire to help others? Your anger at the suffering in the world? Your fascination with biology and the mechanisms of the human body? These sorts of more abstract motivations are what, ultimately, will provide a deep, satisfying answer to this question’s “why.” However, you need to “pull” these sorts of deeper points out of your examples.

Describe a moment of reflection as you sat in your bed while a nurse drew your blood. You could watch her care and consideration intently, moved by it, but also fascinated by the procedure itself. This “moment” could be framed as helping you realize that these two passions could go together.

Structuring your response

A strong response will seamlessly interweave introspection/deeper reflection and concrete examples. In order to plan your essay, you should consider the relationship between your motivations/interests and the example(s) you’re giving. It’s sort of a “chicken and egg” question, but your job is to decide which came first.

In this case, you might start by describing that initial impulse, then jump into the example of your shadowing experience, then reflect on how it shaped/specified your long-term aspirations.
In this case, it might make sense to dive right into the “moment” when you found yourself in a hospital, fascinated by the procedures going on around you/happening to you. Then, you can extrapolate from this example, discussing what you realized about yourself and your long-term goals.

Nursing Prompt 2

How have your studies and activities prepared you for a career in nursing (250 words).

This is a fairly straightforward question. However, as with the previous question, the key here is to not go overboard. Your focus should not be to exhaustively list everything that has prepared you in any way for a career in nursing. Instead, pick 2-4 specific academic and/or extracurricular activities to discuss.

Crucially, this should not just be a list: for each example, go into detail. Explain what specific skills or information each experience you cite has given you; explain how this has prepared you to become a nurse.

Choosing your examples

This essay should cite specific studies and activities, so your first order of business should be to pick which studies or activities you want to discuss. However, your examples shouldn’t be chosen just because they “seem” like the good nursing prep. Instead, try working backward.

First, think about what skills and knowledge you have that would make you a good nurse. Then, think about how you acquired these competencies. Whatever comes out of this last reflection will be a potential “study or activity” to include in your response. Given the framing of the prompt, however, you should try to focus on clearly defined things, like courses or extracurriculars, rather than on personal experiences.

Strong examples could include:

Your anatomy course.
Your internship at a local hospital.
Your job, which has given you strong administrative skills (record-keeping is essential for nursing!).
Your biology course.
Your food science course, which has taught you a lot about nutrition (also key for nursing, though not always adequately covered!).
Membership in a club like Best Buddies that lets you connect with and help those who might be differently-abled than you are.

Importantly, avoid choosing redundant examples. Each course or activity that you describe should touch on a different aspect of your preparation.

Writing your Essay

Once you’ve chosen your examples, the key is just to weave them together. The key, however, is to make sure that for every example you give, you do three things: (1) Explain the study experience activity in some detail; (2) describe what skills or knowledge you gained; and (3) explain how this has prepared you to become a nurse.

If several of your examples do show similar knowledge/skills, you can group them together.

You can explain how this knowledge base will allow you to rapidly develop efficient mastery of everyday procedures that nurses must conduct.
Then, you could explain how this comfort with comforting and helping others will allow you to be an effective and compassionate nurse.

If your examples all feel quite disparate, that’s fine. Each paragraph can focus on a different skill/area of knowledge–just be sure that all three components (example, detailed description, and explanation of how this will allow you to be a good nurse) are present. Then, try to add transitions and tie all your examples together in a strong, specific, personal conclusion.

Nursing Prompt 3

Please provide a brief reflection about why you feel the university of minnesota school of nursing will be the best fit with your degree and career plans. (250 words).

First, a note about what this prompt is not asking: This prompt is not asking you to explain why you want to be a nurse (you’ve already done that, hopefully, in your first response!) or why you like the University of Minnesota in a broad sense. This is a very specific question about why this particular program fits your degree and career plans .

Given this, your response should contain three elements:

(1) A statement of your career and degree plans;

(2) a reflection on key elements of the University of Minnesota’s Nursing Program; and

(3) an explanation of how these elements facilitate the achievement of your plans).

These elements can be combined in different ways, but all strong essays will contain all three in some form .

Defining your goals

Unlike most essays here, this one doesn’t require the incorporation of specific examples, though you might end up giving specific examples of what you aspire to do with your life.

Instead, you should begin stating your goals. What do you aspire to do with your nursing degree? Note that you need to go beyond “I want to be a nurse” as your career plan–this is already self-evident. Instead, you should explain the particular kind of nursing you want to practice, or, more abstractly, the kind of impact you want to have on your patients.

Furthermore, you might also mention aspirations beyond simply working as a nurse: perhaps you would like to eventually advocate for better nursing practices on a policy level, or work in a more managerial or administrative role in a hospital. Feel free to be as specific as you like here. The more clearly you set your “targets,” the more focused, personal and powerful your essay will be.

Familiarizing yourself with the program

Though you are hopefully already familiar with the program, take some time to brush up on its essential features. Identify particular requirements that really fit your goals. Go beyond what is readily accessible on their website’s front page.

Try making a list of all the unique features of the program that excite you and that you know you couldn’t find on a regular undergrad-nursing school path. Then, dig a bit deeper. Find specific mentors, courses, labs, etc., that really excite you.

Once you have this list, go back to the goals that you’ve defined. Which of these resources fit your goals? Can you draw a line from one particular offering of UMTC’s Nursing Program to achieving that aspiration?

Linking Program features to your goals

This brings us to the final step: explaining exactly how the features of the Nursing Program fit your goals. Remember, the key here is to show how this program will better fit your aspirations than a normal path (undergrad, then nursing school). You should not spend too many words explicitly making negative statements about a “normal” path–however, you should avoid elaborating on things that a “regular” path could also provide to you.

For example:

If you’re really interested in supporting patients suffering from cognition-altering brain conditions, you might want to talk about how the opportunity to work closely with faculty from an early point in your education will really steep you in different approaches to brain trauma. Emphasize how this sort of close study and mentorship simply wouldn’t be possible in another program; you could explain how this sort of close work early in your studies will allow you to focus, as you continue to take classes, on problems and questions that arise as you start to learn more about current approaches to brain maladies and trauma.
If your long-term goal is to work in hospital administration, trying to raise nurse’s voices in hospital decision-making, then you might focus on aspects of the program that will allow you to become more familiar with administrative dimensions of nursing.

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+ AMCAS APPLICATION

The first step in the application process is the completion of the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) common application, which consists of your complete academic record, biographic information, personal statement, experiences, and letters of evaluation. You will designate the University of Minnesota Medical School as a recipient of your application.

AMCAS has an Applicant Guide that will be helpful to you as well as a hotline number (202-828-0600) for real-time assistance with your application.

The AMCAS application deadline to the University of Minnesota Medical School MD program is October 1. The MSTP (MD/PhD) program AMCAS application deadline is November 1.

We encourage applicants to begin their AMCAS application as soon as the new application cycle opens in May so that they will be ready to submit by early June, when the AMCAS application becomes available for submission.

We strongly recommend applying as early as possible even if you are waiting on one or more components of your application to be completed. For example, you might be taking the MCAT in July, but all other parts of your application can be prepared and submitted. Please keep in mind that we will still wait to review your file until a verified MCAT score is received or if you indicate that you are retaking the MCAT.

Please note that applicants can apply to either the MD or the MSTP (MD/PhD) program, but not both. If an applicant does not fulfill the requirements of the MSTP program, there is no transfer of the application to the regular MD program or vice versa.

Updating Your Application

Once your application has been verified by AMCAS, you cannot add or delete information from it, nor can the University of Minnesota Medical School. If you have further questions regarding your AMCAS application, review the AMCAS FAQ or contact AMCAS at [email protected] or 202-828-0600.

+ LETTERS OF EVALUATION

All letters of evaluation must be available in your American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) application. The University of Minnesota Medical School is unable to accept letters outside of the AMCAS application system.

Evaluations should be requested from people who know you well and can evaluate you based on your demonstration of our Competencies for Entering Medical Students as well as your intellectual capacity, personal qualities, and performance. Letters do not need to be from specific academic faculty, though these can be particularly valuable to the Admissions Committee. Letters from employers and research/volunteer supervisors are also useful. The Admissions Committee does not accept letters from individuals writing in their capacity as friends or family acquaintances.

Number of Letters

The University of Minnesota MD program will only accept a total of three letters. Additional letters will not be accepted as three letters is the maximum.

If you have already submitted your AMCAS application and did not identify the three letters you want us to receive, instructions on how to correct this are included in the AMCAS Applicant Guide on page 58. AMCAS has also provided an instructional video . This change can be made even if you've previously submitted your application. If your application has been verified by AMCAS, you'll no longer be able to make changes and we'll receive all of your letters. We've instructed our reviewers to select three letters to read at their discretion. We can not direct them on which letters to read.

AMCAS accepts three different types of letters:

Committee Letter: A letter authored by a pre-health committee or pre-health advisor and intended to represent your institution’s evaluation of you. If the Committee Letter includes additional letters written in support of your application, this would fulfill the three letter requirement. If the packet only includes one letter of evaluation, this would count as one letter.
Letter Packet: A packet or set of letters assembled and distributed by your institution, often by the institution’s career center. A Letter Packet may include a cover sheet from your pre-health committee or advisor. However, unlike the Committee Letter, a Letter Packet does not include an evaluative letter from your pre-health committee or advisor. If the letter packet contains three letters of recommendation, this fulfills our requirement.
I ndividual Letter: A letter written by, and representing, a single letter author. If you have already included an Individual Letter within either a Committee Letter or a Letter Packet, do not add a separate entry for that letter.

We encourage you and your letter writers to review the AMCAS Letter Service for Advisors and Other Letter Authors and the Guidelines for Writing a Letter of Evaluation . Present these guidelines to your letter writers to help them focus their comments on the AAMC Premed Competencies for Entering Medical Students and our Competencies for Entering Medical Students .

Letters of evaluation are not needed for your application to be verified by AMCAS but we will need them to review with your supplemental application, therefore, we recommend asking your letter writers to submit their letters within the two weeks following the submission of your AMCAS application.

+ MCAT & RESIDENCY STATUS SCREEN

In order to receive a supplemental application, your AMCAS application will be reviewed for the following criteria:

A minimum MCAT score of 495 *

Residency status - applicants must be U.S. citizens, hold a permanent resident visa, or be a Minnesota resident with DACA designation

Status of baccalaureate degree

All prerequisite courses must be completed at an accredited U.S. or Canadian institution by July 1 of the year they matriculate

*If an applicant indicates on their AMCAS application that they are retaking the MCAT at a future date, we will wait to screen this application until the scores are verified and released to our office.

After this review, eligible applicants will be offered a supplemental application. This review could take up to 1-3 weeks after we have received your verified application from AMCAS.

+ SUPPLEMENTAL APPLICATION

Upon receipt and verification of the AMCAS application, the University of Minnesota Medical School will email eligible applicants the link to our supplemental application. The supplemental application is an institution-specific application consisting of questions that are important to our medical school community. The University of Minnesota Medical School is one school with three campuses: Twin Cities, Duluth, and St. Cloud. All applicants will complete the same supplemental application which includes four required questions and two optional questions. Your responses to these questions will provide detailed information to the Admissions Committee as they look to understand you as a medical school applicant. Your responses should include reasoned descriptions of meaningful life experiences and challenges, unique qualities, skills, accomplishments, problems or successes. Please do not restate or simply refer to your AMCAS essay. Your responses should be limited to the word counts indicated and you must provide a response to each required question before you can finalize and submit your application.

It is strongly recommended that applicants complete the supplemental application within two weeks of receiving the invitation. The final submission deadline is October 30. The MSTP (MD/PhD) program supplemental application deadline is November 15.

Campus Mission

When you begin your supplemental application, you will be prompted to select which University of Minnesota Medical School mission you would like to be considered: General Admission, Rural Health, or Indigenous Health & Community. You may only choose one. If you select the Rural Health or Indigenous Health & Community missions, your supplemental application will include an additional question. There are also two items to consider:

First, your application will be reviewed for admission within the context of the Rural Health or Indigenous Health & Community missions specifically.

Second, if you are accepted within the context of the Rural Health or Indigenous Health & Community missions, your campus placement will most likely be on the Duluth or St. Cloud campus. The primary mission of the Duluth and St. Cloud campuses is to educate physicians dedicated to serving rural Minnesota and Native American communities. Only select the Rural Health or Indigenous Health & Community missions if your application presents a strong commitment to and interest in serving these communities.

Campus Rank

Following your completion of the supplemental questions, you will then be prompted to select your campus placement rankings on a scale of 1 to 3 for Twin Cities, Duluth, and St. Cloud. The Office of Admissions will make campus placements for all accepted applicants at the time of admission. Again, please note that candidates accepted within the context of the Rural Health or Indigenous Health & Community missions will most likely be placed on the Duluth or St. Cloud campus.

Application Fee

All applicants are required to submit a $100 processing fee. This fee is non-refundable once submitted to our office and it will not be returned to those applicants whose file remains incomplete at the end of the admissions cycle. However, the processing fee will be waived for those applicants approved for the AAMC Fee Assistance Program (FAP). If you qualify for the FAP, please forward your email confirmation from AMCAS to our office at [email protected] .

After you submit your fee, you will receive an automated receipt of the payment from our third-party vendor (Cybersource). Once the vendor has reported the payment to our office and we have confirmed that it has been processed, we will update the application fee status in the applicant dashboard . If you have received the automated receipt but your fee status has not updated within three business days of submitting the payment, please contact our office at [email protected] .

Once you have submitted your secondary application, you cannot add or delete information, nor can the University of Minnesota Medical School.

If you are invited to interview with us, you will receive instructions on how to provide an update letter. We cannot otherwise update your application once submitted. Please do not send additional information to the Office of Admissions unless you have been instructed to do so.

+ APPLICATION STATUS

Every applicant wishing to be considered for admission to the University of Minnesota Medical School is required to submit three items in addition to their AMCAS application:

Supplemental Application

Letters of Evaluation

$100 Application Processing Fee

Your application will continue for review only after it is fully completed. A complete application is one where the AMCAS application has been verified, any pending MCAT scores have been received, all letters of evaluation and a supplemental application have been submitted, and the $100 application fee has been paid or a fee waiver has been applied.

Applicant Dashboard

The applicant dashboard tracks each applicant’s supplemental materials. The status page will indicate what materials are missing from your supplemental application. It is the applicant’s responsibility to monitor their status page and to contact the Office of Admissions to address any issues with their supplemental application.

Once all required application materials are compiled, the entire file will proceed for review.

+ FIRST REVIEW

During this phase of the review process, each application is evaluated for evidence of University of Minnesota Medical School Admissions Competencies for Entering Medical Students .

During this phase, there are two outcomes:

Your application will receive an invitation for an interview.

Your application will not be considered further.

Interviews are offered on a rolling basis until all slots are filled throughout the cycle from September through March. Once slots have filled we will stop making interview offers.

+ INTERVIEW

Qualified candidates will be invited for a virtual interview after a thorough review by our Admissions Committees. Interview invitations will be sent via email between September and March.

The interview program consists of one half day event typically from 9:45 AM - 1:00 PM that is conducted over Zoom Video Conferencing. You will be interviewing under the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) Program. The MMI is a circuit exercise, where applicants are presented scenarios that will measure non-cognitive characteristics such as communication skills, professionalism, ethical decision making and moral behavior, etc.

Following the MMI, each applicant will have a mission specific interview for either the General Admission, Rural Health, or Indigenous Health & Community missions.

Please reach out to us if you have questions about interviewing in the virtual environment. We would be glad to support you and discuss alternative options or reasonable accommodations should you identify any barriers to your participation in a virtual Zoom interview. You can contact us at [email protected] if you have questions and/or to request accommodations. If you prefer to work directly with the Disability Resource Center at the University of Minnesota, please contact Barbara Blacklock at [email protected] .

+ SECOND REVIEW

Following your interview, each application is evaluated holistically for all University of Minnesota Medical School Admissions Competencies for Entering Medical Students . The reviewers will consider comments from the first review and interview in addition to all of your other application materials including the academic profile, experiences, and letters of evaluation.

+ ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE VOTE

Applications will go to the corresponding General Admission, Rural Health, or Indigenous Health & Community Admissions Committee for them to review and discuss applicants as needed. The Committee will vote on each applicant and render the following decisions: accept, waitlist, or deny.

+ MEDICAL STUDENT ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE (MSAC) VOTE

The Medical Student Admissions Committee (MSAC) is the final approval body for recommendations made by the General Admission, Rural Health, and Indigenous Health & Community Admissions Committees. Once the MSAC approves the recommendations by the aforementioned committees, candidates will receive a final decision on their application. All decisions made by the MSAC are final.

+ FINAL DECISIONS

There are three final decisions post interview: accept, waitlist, and deny. All decisions will be sent to the email address indicated in your AMCAS application.

Accept - We will make official offers to applicants accepted to the University of Minnesota Medical School on December 13, 2024 and February 21, 2025. All remaining decisions will go out periodically through May. You’ll need to accept your offer within two weeks. Campus placement will be communicated to applicants with their acceptance offer.

Once the class is full, new acceptances will not be made until after May 1. By April 30, applicants with multiple acceptances must confirm their intent to matriculate to one school in the AMCAS Choose Your Medical School (CYMS) tool and give up all other acceptance offers.

Please communicate your intent to withdraw your acceptance via the applicant dashboard . Once you have decided to withdraw your acceptance offer, it cannot be reinstated.

Waitlist - If an applicant is placed on the waitlist, beginning in May, one of three things will happen:

You will be accepted off of the waitlist.

You will be placed on the ranked alternate list for possible admission later. You will receive notification via email of your position on the ranked list in June.

You will be released from the waitlist and will not receive further consideration.

Deny - Candidates who are denied after interview will not receive further consideration.

Delayed Matriculation

You may request delayed matriculation. Generally deferrals are granted to students who present unique personal or professional opportunities. The deferral period is limited to one year, and you are restricted from applying to other medical schools. Accepted applicants must submit a letter requesting a deferment by April 15. Any applicant accepted after April 30 who requests a deferment will be considered if spots are available.

+ REAPPLICANTS

If you choose to reapply to our program, the Admissions Committee will hope to see updates to your reflections and experiences throughout your application. We also strongly recommend that you provide at least one updated letter of evaluation from a new or previous recommender. Please note that the Admissions Committee will not have access to your previous applications. Additionally, we have created an Applicant Self-Assessment Guide that you may find helpful. Evaluate the components of your application as objectively as you can. You will likely be able to identify areas of your application that need to be strengthened for future applications to be successful. Any suggestions provided cannot assure you of acceptance, as it is impossible to predict the eventual outcome of any application. For future Admissions events, including Reapplicant Workshops, please refer to our Prepare to Apply page.

+ ACCEPTED STUDENTS

Please visit the accepted student websites:

Twin Cities accepted students
Duluth accepted students
Prepare to Apply
Admitted Applicants

Have questions about the MD program application process?

Contact Admissions at [email protected] .

CONTACT ADMISSIONS

Twin Cities Admissions Phone : 612-625-7977  Fax: 612-625-8228 Email : [email protected] Address: 420 Delaware St. SE Mayo Memorial Building, Rm. B639 Minneapolis, MN 55455

Duluth Admissions Phone : 218-726-8511  Fax: 218-726-7057 Email : [email protected] Address: 1035 University Drive, 180 Med Duluth, MN 55812

College of Pharmacy

Admissions Overview
How To Apply Overview
PharmCAS Application
Supplemental Application
Evaluators’ Guide to Letters of Recommendation
Evaluations Overview
Campus Preference & Assignment
Become a Strong Applicant
Join Our Email List
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BE ME: Being Equipped for My Excellence
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Career Services
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Student Organizations
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PharmD Student Wellness Support
Contact Student Services
IPPE/APPE Calendars
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CI-1 Curriculum
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College of Pharmacy Honors Program
Dual Degree & Certificate Programs
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Elective Courses Overview
Elective Course Descriptions
Student Research Opportunities
Experiential Education Program
Welcome Preceptors
Preceptor of the Year
Clinical Appointment Process
Preceptor Development Seminar Archives

+ Deadlines

Fall 2025 application deadlines.

Priority deadline - November 1, 2024 by 11:59 pm Central time

We recommend all transcripts are sent to PharmCAS by October 18, 2024
Admitted applicants meeting the priority deadline will receive priority scholarship consideration

Final deadline - March 3, 2025 by 11:59 pm Central time

We recommend all transcripts are sent to PharmCAS by February 17, 2025
Admitted applicants meeting the final deadline will be considered for any remaining scholarships

+ Required Application Materials

The following are all the parts required to apply for admission. We recommend that you carefully review our PharmCAS School Directory page for details about all our application requirements.

Online PharmCAS application

Personal statement
Official transcripts from all previously attended institutions (sent directly to PharmCAS)
WES course-by-course foreign transcript evaluation(s) , if applicable
Official PCAT scores (required if taken within the last 5 years). Visit our PCAT webpage for more details.
Official TOEFL scores , if applicable (sent to PharmCAS at code 8246)
Work experience (in the Experiences section of PharmCAS)
Volunteer and extracurricular experience (in the Experiences section of PharmCAS)
2 evaluations (letters of recommendation)
University of Minnesota supplemental application (submitted through the Program Materials section in PharmCAS)

Complete and eligible applications are reviewed for an interview invitation. Applicants are typically notified of an interview decision within 10 business days.

+ Application Process Overview

Review our selection criteria because the more time you have to prepare, the stronger an application you can build!
Make a plan to complete the prerequisites
Consider options for work and volunteer experiences
Learn about the Minnesota PharmD
Submit an application via PharmCAS, including the University of Minnesota supplemental application (once you select our program in PharmCAS, our supplemental application will appear in the Program Materials section). See our supplemental essay questions .
Interview (applications are reviewed for an interview invitation)
Submit your campus preference after interview day
If offered a seat: submit paperwork to hold your seat if you’re still considering our program within 2 weeks
If offered a seat: by the tuition deposit deadline, make your decision about the school you wish to attend. If you choose Minnesota, pay your $500 nonrefundable tuition deposit online by 11:59 pm Central time on the day of the deadline

+ Equal Opportunity and Title IX

The University of Minnesota is committed to adhering to the following Equal Opportunity Statement:

“The University of Minnesota shall provide equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, familial status, disability, public assistance status, membership or activity in a local commission created for the purpose of dealing with discrimination, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.”

As required by Title IX, the University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in any of its education programs or activities, including in admissions and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX can be directed to the University’s Title IX Coordinators or to the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights. The Title IX Coordinators on the University’s campuses may be contacted at:

Duluth Campus Corey Christensen (he/him/his) EO Associate & Title IX Coordinator Equal Opportunity and Title IX Office University of Minnesota Duluth 219 Darland Administration Building Duluth, MN 55812 (218) 726-8809 [email protected]
Twin Cities Campus Tina Marisam Director and Title IX Coordinator, Twin Cities Equal Opportunity & Title IX Office 274 McNamara Alumni Center 200 Oak St. SE Minneapolis, MN 55455 [email protected] or [email protected] (612) 626-9357 or (612) 624-9547

Please see the University’s policy for information about: (1) how to report or file a formal complaint of sexual harassment, gender-based harassment, sexual assault, stalking or relationship violence; and (2) the University’s procedures for responding to reports and formal complaints.

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PHAR 1001: Orientation to Pharmacy
PHAR 1002: Medical Terminology
PHAR 1003: Non-Prescription Medications and Self-Care
PHAR 1004: Common Prescription Drugs and Diseases
PHAR 2002: Precision Medicine and Health: Understanding the Personal Genome
PHAR 3206: Foundations of Health Literacy
PHAR 3700/5700: Fundamentals of Pharmacotherapy
PHAR 4204W/5204: Drugs and the U.S. Healthcare System
PHAR 5201: Applied Medical Terminology
PHAR 5205: Obesity: Issues, Interventions, Innovations
PHAR 5310: Topics in Pharmacy Ethics (Pandemics)
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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 (52)

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

Agnes Scott College 2023-24 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Alvernia University 2023-24 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

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northwestern university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, occidental college 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, oklahoma city university 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, olin college of engineering 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, pepperdine university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, pitzer college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, pomona college 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, princeton university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, providence college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, purdue university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, rensselaer polytechnic institute 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, rice university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, saint elizabeth university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, santa clara university 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, sarah lawrence college 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, scripps college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, seattle pacific university 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, smith college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, soka university of america 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, southern methodist university 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, st. john’s college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, stanford university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, stonehill college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide , swarthmore college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, syracuse university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, texas a&m university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, texas christian university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, the college of idaho 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide , the george washington university 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, the new school 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, trinity college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, tufts university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, tulane university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of california 2023-24 essay prompt guide, university of central florida 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of chicago 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of cincinnati 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of colorado boulder 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of florida 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of georgia 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of illinois urbana-champaign 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, university of maryland 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of massachusetts amherst 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of miami 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide , university of michigan 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of minnesota twin cities 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide , university of north carolina (unc) 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of north carolina at charlotte 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of north carolina at greensboro 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of notre dame 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of oklahoma 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide , university of oregon 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of pennsylvania (upenn) 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of pittsburgh 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide , university of richmond 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, university of san diego 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide , university of san francisco 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of southern california (usc) 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of texas at austin 2023-24 essay prompt guide, university of tulsa 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of vermont 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of virginia (uva) 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of washington (uw) 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of wisconsin-madison 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, vanderbilt university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, vassar college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, villanova university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, virginia tech 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, wake forest university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, washington and lee university 2023-24 supplemental essay guide, washington university in st. louis 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, wellesley college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, williams college 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, worcester polytechnic institute (wpi) 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide, yale university 2023-24 supplemental essay prompt guide.

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

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This section will help you understand the different types of writing and how you can improve your writing skills.

Avoiding Plagiarism

What is plagiarism.

The University of Minnesota defines plagiarism as "representing the words, creative work, or ideas of another person as one's own without providing proper documentation of source. Examples include, but are not limited to:

copying information word for word from a source without using quotations marks and giving proper acknowledgement by way of footnote, endnote, or in-text citation.
representing the words, ideas, or data of another person as one's own without providing proper attribution to the author through quotation, reference, in-text citation, or footnote.
producing, without proper attribution, any form of work originated by another person such as a musical phrase, a proof, a speech, an image, experimental data, laboratory report, graphic design, or computer code.
paraphrasing, without sufficient acknowledgement, ideas taken from another person that the reader might reasonably mistake as the author's.
borrowing various words, ideas, phrases, or data from original sources and blending them with one's own without acknowledging the sources."

Reference: University of Minnesota Student Conduct Code , p. 2.

Plagiarism Quiz

Decide if the below situations are examples of plagiarism or not.

How to Quote, Paraphrase, and Summarize

Citation resources.

What are citations?

This UMN Library tutorial explains how to cite books, articles, websites, and other sources both in the text of a paper and in the reference list at the end of a paper.

Citation Guides and Style Manuals

The UMN Libraries have many resources on using different styles (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.) in your citations and other information for using citations correctly in your writing.

Types of Writing

As a college student, you will need to produce many different types of writing, including essays, lab reports, and emails.

Annotated bibliography

An annotated bibliography is a collection of sources (books, articles, etc.) in which you write a paragraph or two describing and evaluating each source.

Why they're useful, what they are, and examples (UNC Chapel Hill's Writing Center)
Definitions, reasons, format (Purdue's Online Writing Lab)

Argument paper/essay

An argument (or persuasive) paper or essay requires you to take a stance on an issue, and present arguments to support your opinion.

Advice for writing and organizing argument papers (Purdue's Online Writing Lab)

Book reports and book reviews

A book report is a summary of a book and is usually more descriptive and objective.

A book review is more critical, in which you evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the book.

How to write a book report
How to write a book review

Business writing assignments

Here are some guidelines to writing a variety of business class assignments:

Business memo writing guidelines
Business letter writing guidelines
Press release writing guidelines
Executive summary writing guidelines

All guidelines above are from Colorado State University's Writing Studio.

There are several parts to include in a polite email:

Always include a subject that summarizes the topic of the email.

Do not leave the subject empty.
Do not use a general subject like “hello,” “help!” or your name (they can see your name in the sender information).
Do not reply to an old email that has a subject about a completely different topic to start a message about a new topic.

The greeting you use shows how formal or informal your email is.

More formal greetings: Dear, Good morning, Good afternoon, Good evening,
Less formal greetings: Hi, Hey,
No greeting: If you are emailing someone that you are in frequent contact with, or if you are responding to an email conversation that has been going back and forth for a few messages, you might not need to use any greeting because you are continuing an ongoing conversation.

How to address instructors:

If your instructor has asked that you use his/her first name, then use their first name in email greetings ( Dear Sara, Hi John, ).
If you are not sure what to call your instructor, use the instructor’s title + family name ( Dear Dr. Johnson, Hi Professor Smith, Dear Ms. Jones, Hi Mr. Anderson ).
It is not correct to use their title + first name ( Dear Professor Sara, Hi Dr. John ).
Identify who you are if necessary.; “I’m a student in section 3 of your Physics 1301 class.”
Explain the reason you are writing early in the email. “I wanted to let you know I won’t be in class tomorrow." "I lost the handout from yesterday.”
Be polite and clear about what you want the recipient to do. “Please let me know if I can reschedule the quiz." "Could you send me a copy of the handout?”
Each paragraph should have its own main idea.
Paragraphs can be shorter, just one or two sentences.
Paragraphs do not need to be indented.

The closing signals that your email is finished.

More formal closings: Thank you in advance, Thank you very much, Thank you, Regards, Sincerely,
Less formal closings: Thanks a lot, Thanks, Best,
No closing: In less formal situations you can just sign your name with no closing.

You should always type your name at the end of an email, especially if your email account doesn’t show your English name. Don’t make the recipient look up your email address to find your name. In professional settings, people often use more detailed electronic signatures that might include their:

Company/Department/Program
Other contact information (address, phone number, etc.)

Essays for exams

Writing an essay for an exam is different than writing an essay as a homework assignment because you have a much more limited time frame to organize and write your essay.

Advice for writing essays for exams (Purdue's Online Writing Lab)

Exploratory paper

An exploratory paper or essay requires you to explore a problem and possibly some potential solutions to the problem. Purdue's Online Writing Lab has a couple resources to help:

Introductions, Body Paragraphs, and Conclusions for Exploratory Papers
Organizing an Exploratory Essay

Lab reports

Lab reports typically include:

an Introduction (which may include a Prediction),
a Methodology or Procedure section,
a Results section (which may be called Data and Analysis),
a Discussion or Conclusion section.

The sections may vary depending on your discipline or class, so check with your instructor to confirm which sections are required in your lab reports.

The sections of scientific papers (Colorado State University's Writing Studio)
Writing a science lab report (Monash College)

You might also need to write an abstract (a one-paragraph summary) of your experiment. Colorado State University's Writing Studio explains different types of abstracts and how to write them .

For discipline-specific advice on writing lab reports, visit:

Chemistry writing format (The American Chemical Society style guide)
Electrical engineering lab reports (Colorado State University's Writing Studio)
Civil engineering lab reports (Colorado State University's Writing Studio)
Physics lab report example (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

In technical science writing we use a lot of common phrases. Browse this list of phrases often used in engineering writing (which could also be useful in other science writing).

Research papers

Research papers are common assignments in many different departments on campus. In a research paper, you use several sources to investigate a topic. You evaluate and interpret this information, and add your own insights and perspectives on the topic.

Purdue's Online Writing Center has advice on writing research papers , including choosing a topic .
The University of Wisconsin Writing Center has a step-by-step guide for writing research papers .
This research paper assignment calculator from the University of Minnesota Libraries can help you manage your time and resources in completing all the parts of a research paper.

Response (to literature or other prompt)

In some classes, your instructor might ask you to respond to an essay, article, poem, story, book, event, film, or other prompt.

Advice for writing responses (Colorado State University's Writing Studio)

Resumes and CVs

In the United States, resumes are more common for undergraduate students and people with bachelor's degrees. A CV (curriculum vitae) is more common when applying for jobs in academia (where the applicant has a graduate degree). However, this can vary depending on the field. Advisors in your department and in Career Services can help guide you on the best format to use depending on your experience and field.

Resume resources from UMN's Career and Internship Services
Resume Guide from UMN's College of Liberal Arts
Undergraduate Resume Guide from UMN's College of Science and Engineering

Science writing assignments

Colorado State University's Writing Studio has resources on a variety of science writing assignments:

the sections of scientific papers
review essays for biological sciences
environmental policy statements
poster sessions
engineering technical reports
engineering proposals
engineering project notebooks

In technical science writing we use a lot of common phrases. Browse this list of phrases frequently used in engineering writing (which could also be useful in other science writing).

Thesis statements

To write a strong paper, you need a strong thesis statement. This is the main point of your entire paper. You can find advice for writing thesis statements at:

How to Write a Thesis Statement from Indiana University's Writing Tutorial Services
Thesis Statements from UNC Chapel Hill's Writing Center
Thesis Statements from Colorado State University's Writing Studio

Need help thinking of a good title for your paper? The UMN Center for Writing has advice on writing effective titles .

Assignment Expectations

First, read the assignment and the writing prompt carefully to make sure you fully understand it. The Online Writing Lab has step-by-step advice for help Understanding Writing Assignments .

Secondly, ask questions ! If something about the assignment is unclear, ask your instructor in class, in an email, or during office hours. Instructors want you to succeed so they will help make sure you understand the assignment.

Also, ask your instructor if there is a grading rubric for the assignment. A rubric is usually a table or chart that explains all of the categories you will be graded on, and what you need to do to get points in each category. Use the rubric as a checklist to make sure you are including everything in the assignment that the instructor will be looking for.

Not sure what the assignment is asking you to do? Here are common words used in writing prompts and what they mean.

Organization

Different languages have different standards for organizing ideas in writing. English writing tends to be very direct. The introduction has a clearly stated thesis or main idea and an overview for how you will support the thesis or main idea. The body of the paper supports the thesis. Each paragraph usually has one main idea, with supporting sentences to further explain or clarify that main idea. The conclusion summarizes the main points and restates the thesis in other words.

Compared to some cultures, this writing style can seem repetitive and insulting to the reader, since all ideas are directly stated rather than letting the reader make his or her own conclusions. However, this is the general organizational style expected in most American writing assignments.

Reference: Kaplan, R.B. (1966). Cultural thought patterns in inter-cultural education . Language Learning, 16 (1-2), pages 1-20.

Organizing Your Writing

This organization worksheet from the Center for Writing can help you organize your thesis and supporting ideas as you plan a paper or essay.
This tip sheet on paper cohesion and flow from the Center for Writing can help you organize your ideas and sentences into a clear and logical order.
Using sentence transitions can also help you better organize your ideas in writing.

Writing Resources

Schedule a consultation with the Center for Writing's Student Writing Support.
Tutorials, guides, and workshops : The UMN Libraries resources can help you find and cite research.
Resources for Multilingual Writers : The Center for Writing has a collection of useful websites, including good online dictionaries,
The Purdue Online Writing Lab is an excellent resource for writing with tips and information on organization and outlines, grammar, citations, different types of writing assignments, and more.
This collection of writing videos includes topics such as how to write a summary, sentence fragments, paragraph structure, combining sentences, and different types of paragraphs and essays.
Voices of Minnesota's Multilingual Writers : In these short videos, international students at the University of Minnesota describe how they learned to write American academic English, and writing experts' give advice for adjusting to American academic writing expectations.

Are you seeking one-on-one college counseling and/or essay support? Limited spots are now available. Click here to learn more.

73 Best Colleges Without Supplemental Essays – 2024

May 27, 2024

When college application season arrives, it’s easy for students to become overwhelmed about the essays. There’s the personal statement , which many students have a general idea about, and then there are the supplemental essays. Supplemental essays can cover a range of college-specific prompts that help the colleges better understand why you’d be a great fit . Due to how personal and varied the supplemental essays can be, students often end up spending weeks, if not months, writing them.

However, across the country, there are colleges that do not require supplemental essays at all. For some students, applying to colleges without supplemental essays can make the overall application process much smoother. Benefits include experiencing less stress in their application preparation and diversifying prospective colleges while focusing more on their priority schools. Sometimes, though, these schools do ask for program-specific essays or optional essays, depending on the applicant.

Best Colleges without Supplemental Essays

1) albion college.

At Albion College, the application essay is not required, but it is recommended. Students are encouraged to provide any more details that they believe the admissions team should consider.

2) Allegheny College

As noted on their website, Allegheny College has not required the supplemental essay since their 2013-2014 application cycle. Students will find more essay questions in the Member Questions section of the Common Application.

3) Augusta University

Augusta University joins the list of colleges without supplemental essays as they do not require a personal essay at all. They do still require SAT or ACT scores and GPA.

4) Bates College

Since 1984, Bates College has not required SAT Subject Tests or ACT scores in their applications. There is an optional arts supplement for students who are applying to study art, creative writing, dance, film, music, and theater.

5) Case Western Reserve University

At Case Western Reserve University, the Common Application personal essay is required. However, if you’re applying to the Pre-Professional Scholars Program, then you’ll have to write supplemental essays.

Best Colleges Without Supplemental Essays (Continued)

6) clemson university.

Clemson University does not require students to complete a personal essay with the Common or Coalition Application. There is also a test-optional policy that may appeal to some students.

7) Coe College

At Coe College, the personal essay is optional for students who meet the college’s minimum academic standards. Coe College joins the list of colleges without supplemental essays that also have a test-optional policy.

8) Colby College

Colby College accepts the Common Application, Coalition Application, and QuestBridge Application, and they do not have any additional writing supplements. Test scores are optional for applicants at Colby College, and there is no application fee.

9) Colgate University

Colgate University is one of the colleges without supplemental essays required, but there is the option to write them. As stated on their website, “These prompts are not meant to feel like essays; they are simply an added perspective.

10) College of the Holy Cross

College of the Holy Cross does not require supplemental essays, but the following are optional: personal interview, SAT or ACT scores, and supplementary materials.

11) Denison University

Denison University joins this list of colleges without supplemental essays. Their website states that they wish to provide “equal access” to a Denison education, and they are also test-optional.

12) DePaul University

For first-year student applicants at DePaul University, personal essays are not required but optional. They have also been a test-optional university since 2012.

13) Dillard University

Dillard University is the oldest HBCU in Louisiana and is one of the colleges with no supplemental essay requirements. However, if students do not meet the minimum GPA and standardized test score requirements, then they must submit two letters of recommendation and a personal statement.

14) Drew University

At Drew University, a personal statement is required, along with a counselor evaluation, teacher evaluation, and high school transcript.

15) Drexel University

Drexel University joins the list of colleges without supplemental essays. They do require all students to complete the 250 to 650 essay on the Common or Coalition Application. However, the short answer question is optional.

16) Fairleigh Dickinson University

At Fairleigh Dickinson University, all essays, résumés, and recommendations are optional.

17) Florida Gulf Coast University

The only essay required by Florida Gulf Coast University is a two-page personal essay that discusses academic performance, special talents, and what the student can contribute to the campus.

18) Florida State University

Although Florida State University is one of the colleges without supplemental essays, students should invest time into the Common Application personal statement.

19) Fordham University

At Fordham University, the Common Application essay is required, but there are also optional writing sections. If students choose not to write in these sections, they will not be penalized.

20) Franklin and Marshall College

Franklin and Marshall College joins this list of colleges without supplemental essays. They do require the personal essay in the Common Application, as well as standardized test scores, recommendations and other materials.

21) Furman University

At Furman University, first-year applicants do not need to submit a personal essay, and they are also test-optional.

22) Gannon University

Gannon University does not require students to submit a personal statement. It is optional but recommended for students to submit a statement. However, it is required for LECOM 4+4 Medical Program applicants.

23) Gettysburg College

Although Gettysburg College joins the list of colleges without supplemental essays, it does require a personal statement on the Common Application.

24) Grinnell College

Grinnell College does not require supplemental essays and it also does not have an application fee. Standardized test scores are also optional.

25) Hamilton College

Although Hamilton College joins this list of colleges without supplemental essays, the optional essays are still encouraged.

26) Hampshire College

Hampshire College only requires supplemental essays from international students applying as first-year or transfer students.

27) Hanover College

Hanover College states on their website that the essay or personal statement is optional, alongside test scores, letters of recommendation and résumé.

28) Hollins University

At Hollins University, for first-year students no personal statement is required and standardized test scores are optional.

29) Howard University

Howard University requires students to complete the Common Application essay and there is one optional supplemental essay.

30) Indiana University – Bloomington

Students applying to Indiana University – Bloomington must write the one essay in the Common Application or through Apply IU.

31) Kent State University

At Kent State University, first-year students are not required to submit a personal essay or a letter of recommendation. Test scores are also optional.

32) Kenyon College

Kenyon College joins this list as it is one of the colleges without supplemental essays. For first-year and transfer students, test scores are optional and flexible.

33) Louisiana State University

Louisiana State University does require the Common Application personal statement, but as of its most recent admissions cycle, no supplemental essay is required.

34) Mercer University

At Mercer University, applicants who wish to be test-optional must complete the supplemental essays. They must also have a 3.5 GPA and letter of recommendation.

35) Miami University

Miami University, not to be confused with the University of Miami, requires the Common App personal statement but not the supplemental essays.

36) Michigan State University

Michigan State University requires students to write only one essay on the MSU application, Common Application or Coalition Application.

37) Middlebury College

Middlebury College is one of the best colleges without supplemental essays. They do still require the personal statement on the Common Application.

38) Muhlenberg College

Muhlenberg College requires students to submit the personal essay but no other supplemental essays.

39) New College of Florida

New College of Florida is one of the many colleges with no supplemental essays. However, they do still require a personal statement.

40) New Jersey Institute of Technology

New Jersey Institute of Technology only requires a personal statement included in the Common Application. There is no supplemental essay requirement.

41) New York Institute of Technology

Students applying to the New York Institute of Technology are required to write a 300 to 350 word essay as their only essay. They may require test-optional applicants to submit a graded essay.

42) Northeastern University

Northeastern is one of the best colleges without a supplemental essay requirement. They do require a personal statement, alongside other materials.

43) Nova Southeastern University

At Nova Southeastern University, the essay is entirely optional, and students can self-report their test scores.

44) Oberlin College

Oberlin requires a personal statement, but does not require any supplemental essays.

45) Ohio State University

Ohio State University only requires a personal statement. However, they also offer a COVID-19 impact statement on the Common Application for interested students.

46) Ripon College

At Ripon College, the personal statement itself is optional for applicants, along with other materials.

47) Rhodes College

Rhodes College does not require a supplemental essay, but they have the option for students to record an optional “ Elevator Pitch .”

48) Rowan University

Rowan University requires a personal statement in the Common Application, but joins this list as a college without supplemental essays.

49) St. Lawrence University

St. Lawrence University has no supplemental essay requirement, but it still requires the personal statement essay. They are also test-optional, depending on the applicant.

50) St. Mary’s University (San Antonio)

For students applying to St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, the personal statement is only required if they choose not to submit test scores.

51) Seton Hall University

At Seton Hall University, the personal statement is required, but there are no other supplemental essays.

52) Siena College

Siena College has made the personal statement (open topic) optional for students applying.

53) Skidmore College

While Skidmore College does not require supplemental essays, students do often send in supplemental materials to further support their application.

54) Stony Brook University

At Stony Brook University, only a personal statement is required. However, students applying to the Honors, WISE, University Scholars, Scholars for Medicine, and Scholars for Dental Medicine must write supplemental essays.

55) Sewanee: The University of the South

Sewanee does not require supplemental essays and SAT/ACT scores are also optional.

56) Susquehanna University

Susquehanna University only requires supplemental essay materials for students applying to the creative writing, graphic design, studio art, and music programs.

57) Temple University

Temple University offers an optional essay as part of the Common Application for students to tell more about themselves beyond grades or test scores.

58) Union College

Union College does offer an optional supplemental essay question as part of their application.

59) University of Alabama

At the University of Alabama, essay submissions and letters of recommendation are not required but they are optional.

60) University of Albany

University of Albany joins the list as one of the colleges without supplemental essays. However, it does require a personal essay of at least 250 words on the Common Application of SUNY Application.

61) University of Arkansas

At the University of Arkansas, first-year students are not required to submit a personal essay. They accept self-reported test scores and letters of recommendation are also not required.

62) University of Arizona

Although the University of Arizona does not require an application essay, they strongly encourage students to submit the 500-word personal statement.

63) University of Cincinnati

Students applying to the University of Cincinnati are required to write the Cincinnati personal statement and the Common Application personal statement. However, there are no other required essays.

64) University of Colorado-Denver

University of Colorado-Denver requires the personal statement on the Common Application, but not other supplemental essays.

65) University of Connecticut

The University of Connecticut joins this list as one of the best colleges without supplemental essays. The university does require a personal essay on the Common Application or the Coalition Application.

66) University of Dayton

The University of Dayton does not require any supplemental essays, although it does require a personal statement. The university is also test-optional.

67) University of Denver

The University of Denver only requires the personal statement on the Common Application.

68) University of Houston

Students who apply to the University of Houston without a test score must submit a short admissions essay and extracurricular activities.

69) University of Iowa

The University of Iowa does require a personal statement as part of their application, but there is no supplemental essay requirement.

70) University of Kansas

The University of Kansas is a college without supplemental essay requirements for first-year students. However, students applying to the Honors Program or the Engineering SELF Program must submit their responses.

71) University of Kentucky

The University of Kentucky requires students to write one personal statement from seven of their given writing prompts.

72) University of Minnesota – Twin Cities

For first-year students applying to the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, the personal essay is not required, although it is encouraged.

73) University of Nebraska-Lincoln

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln does not require a personal statement for first-year students. However, those applying to the Honors Program must write a 300-600 word essay.

Whether for the personal statement or any supplemental essay, writing college application essays can prove to be a challenging task. But if students plan ahead about how they want to approach the essays, it helps tremendously. Those who are about to apply to a college without supplemental essays can focus any extra time on other schools that do require them. It’s also great for students who wish to be considered primarily for their grades, test scores, personal statement and other reasons.

Best Colleges Without Supplemental Essays – Additional Resources

10 Instructive Common App Essay Examples
How to Write a Body Paragraph for a College Essay
UC Essay Examples
Good Safety Schools
College Search/Knowledge

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With a BA from Pitzer College and an MA from University College London, Joanna has worked in London, Berlin, and Los Angeles covering many cultural and political issues with organizations such as Byline Media, NK News, and Free Turkey Media. A freelancer for The New York Times, her work has also appeared in Newsweek, Dazed and Confused Magazine, and The Guardian, among others. In addition, Joanna was the recipient of the 2021 PEN America Emerging Voices Fellowship in Fiction and is currently completing her first novel.

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IMAGES

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Nyu Supplemental Essays 2023

VIDEO

READING THE ESSAY THAT GOT ME ACCEPTED TO NORTHWESTERN
Supplemental Instruction at DePaul University
Stanford 2023-24 Prompts Guide
Minnesota House debate on SF5335, the human services supplemental budget bill
Minnesota House debate on SF5335, the human services supplemental budget bill
House Labor and Industry Finance and Policy Committee 4/4/24

COMMENTS

How to Write the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities requires applicants to submit two supplemental essays of 150 words or less. Applicants who intend to pursue a nursing degree must submit an additional three essays of 250 words or less. This post contains some tips for how to make your responses to UMN's prompts as engaging as possible.
Freshman Admission
The application to the University of Minnesota Twin Cities only requires three items: an application, $55 application fee and self-reported academic record; no letters of recommendation or essays required! Students can begin applying the August before their senior year of high school. FAQ About Freshman Admission Apply to the University of ...
2023-24 University of Minnesota Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide
University of Minnesota Twin Cities 2023-24 Application Essay Question Explanations. *Please note: the information below relates to last year's essay prompts. As soon as the 2024-25 prompts beomce available, we will be updating this guide -- stay tuned! The Requirements: Two essays of 150 words each. Supplemental Essay Type (s): Why, Community.
University of Minnesota Supplemental Essay Guide: 2021-2022
Overall, for this University of Minnesota supplemental essay, ensure you have done detailed research about your chosen major. You only have 150 words to respond to this University of Minnesota essay prompt. However, you can maximize the space you have by doing in-depth research. Be specific, concise, and detailed.
Supplemental Applications
Supplemental Applications. Acting: U of M / Guthrie Theater BFA Actor Training Program auditions (freshmen and transfer students) Dental Hygiene: Dental Hygiene online application (transfer students) Mortuary Science: Mortuary Science application supplement. Dance: Dance application procedures (freshmen and transfer students)
Application Checklist for Transfer Students
Your transfer application is complete when you submit the following items: 1. Submit your Golden Gopher Application online. 2. Pay the $55 application fee. Please make your check or money order payable to the University of Minnesota. If you apply online, you have the option of paying with a credit card. 3. Submit all of your official college ...
Supplemental Application
The University of Minnesota's supplemental application is embedded in the Program Materials section of the PharmCAS application. To apply to our program, applicants must select the University of Minnesota within PharmCAS and complete this section of the application. ... Required essays. Our Fall 2025 short-answer essay prompts are as follows ...
How to Write the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Essays 2020-2021
Read the 2021-2022 UMN Twin Cities essay guide. The University of Minnesota is a public university with two separate campuses three miles apart in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. The Minneapolis campus is divided into the East and West Bank by the Mississippi River. Considered a "Public Ivy," UMN ranks #70 according to U.S. News.
2018-19 University of Minnesota Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide
University of Minnesota Twin Cities 2018-19 Application Essay Question Explanations. The Requirements: 2 essays of up to 150 words each. Supplemental Essay Type (s): Why, Community. The University of Minnesota's brief supplement asks you to envision your life on campus, both as a student and community member.
How to Get Into the University of Minnesota—Twin Cities: Admissions
Many students applying to University of Minnesota may also find the following blogs to be of interest: ... There are two supplemental essays required by the University of Minnesota—Twin Cities. The 2021-22 prompts were as follows: Prompt 1: The University values diversity, broadly defined to include diversity of experiences, perspectives ...
Application Process
The supplemental application is an institution-specific application consisting of questions that are important to our medical school community. The University of Minnesota Medical School is one school with three campuses: Twin Cities, Duluth, and St. Cloud. ... Please do not restate or simply refer to your AMCAS essay. Your responses should be ...
How To Apply Overview
Learn about the Minnesota PharmD; Submit an application via PharmCAS, including the University of Minnesota supplemental application (once you select our program in PharmCAS, our supplemental application will appear in the Program Materials section). See our supplemental essay questions. Interview (applications are reviewed for an interview ...
How to Apply
How to Apply. Freshman Applicant. Transfer Applicant. Graduate Applicant. Current U of M Student. Former U of M Student. You are a freshman applicant if you are still a high school student. (Even if you will complete college credits while in high school.) You are also a freshman if you have already graduated from high school, but have NOT ...
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. Reserve your spot on our 2024-25 roster before we're fully booked! ... University of Minnesota Twin Cities 2023-24 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide ...
Writing
The University of Minnesota defines plagiarism as "representing the words, creative work, or ideas of another person as one's own without providing proper documentation of source. ... As a college student, you will need to produce many different types of writing, including essays, lab reports, and emails. Annotated bibliography . An annotated ...
The University of Minnesota Twin Cities College Essay Prompt
Enrolling a diverse community of scholars interested in learning with and from each other fosters discussion and discovery inside and outside of the classroom. Please share briefly how you might contribute to, or benefit from, our community of scholars. (150 words) This 150-word University of Minnesota Twin Cities essay prompt is optional, but ...
Are there supplement essays for UMinnesota
There's an old saying in the world of college admissions: "If it says optional, it's required." While this saying is certainly not as universal as the text of it purports to be, it's a good rule of thumb. If you really want to get into the University of Minnesota, you should write (and work hard on) supplemental essays for submission.
Application Checklist for Freshman
Common Application: complete the Courses and Grades section and enter your test scores in your profile section. Freshman Application Checklist. Application. Self-Reported Academic Record. $55 Application Fee. ACT/SAT Score. Not required for 2024 or 2025 admission. Essay. Not required for admission.
73 Best Colleges Without Supplemental Essays
The University of Connecticut joins this list as one of the best colleges without supplemental essays. The university does require a personal essay on the Common Application or the Coalition Application. Best Colleges Without Supplemental Essays (Continued) ... For first-year students applying to the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, the ...
Office of Admissions
We offer campus tours, information sessions, admissions events, and counselor appointments to help you learn why the U of M is such a special place. When you apply for admission to the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and become a Golden Gopher, you will expand your global perspective, develop new passions, and accomplish more than you ever ...