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Common Supplemental Essay Topics

Most students using the Common App are aware that they’ll have to write a personal statement. But that’s not the only essay you’ll need to write! Many schools on the Common App will require (or strongly encourage) you to write supplemental essays that are specific to their application. It’s crucial that you give the same time and attention to these supplemental essays.

It’s a good idea to look ahead to find the supplemental essay questions asked by the schools on your list. When you add a school to your colleges on the Common App, the supplemental essay questions will be included. But do make a note that they don’t always appear clearly in a separate section called “Writing Supplement.” Sometimes, you’ll find substantive essay prompts in other sections like “Academics.” This is especially true if you are applying to a particular school or major within the college you’re applying to. Going through each school on your list in advance will help you avoid any unpleasant last-minute surprises!

Some types of supplemental essay questions show up frequently, and you can often talk about the same idea or experience while tailoring it to slightly different prompts. The prompts will vary in the way they’re phrased and in word length. Once you know what the supplemental essay prompts are for your chosen colleges, you can begin to think about how to respond most effectively to each one.

Here are the three most common supplemental essay topics and some advice about how to approach them:

Why this college?

There are several different ways colleges can ask students a version of the “Why this college?” question. So, the first thing you’ll need to do is read the prompt! Some versions are very open-ended, while others ask you to focus on one area like academics. You need to make sure you’re answering the specific question being asked; if they want to know why you chose your major, don’t tell them how excited you are to cheer for the football team. Take a look at some of these different ways of asking “Why this college?”

• Why Bard? (250 words)
• Many students apply to the College of Charleston based on our location, size, reputation, and the beauty of our campus (temperate year-round weather also comes up frequently). While these are all important considerations in choosing a college, why is the College of Charleston a particularly good match for you? (750 words)
• Describe the unique qualities that attract you to the specific undergraduate College or School (including preferred admission and dual degree programs) to which you are applying at the University of Michigan. How would that curriculum support your interests? (Required for all applicants; minimum 100 words/maximum 550 words)
• Why do you want to study your chosen major specifically at Georgia Tech? (300 words)

In terms of helpful advice for addressing the “why this college?” prompt, look back at the second on the list, from the College of Charleston. Notice that they have already told you the kind of information that’s less likely to be helpful in your response—the size of the school, weather, geography, etc. That’s because none of those factors really distinguish the College of Charleston from schools of similar size and location. When you approach a “why this college” question, you should really be asking yourself, “why this college and not another ?”

This is where your own research into the school becomes essential. You need specific information about each school’s resources (beyond what’s found on the landing page of the website). Once you know what the school has to offer, connect their resources to your interests and make it personal. The colleges already know what resources they have, so it’s not enough to list them; you need to tell them why they matter to you .

Extracurricular Activity

Another common supplemental essay prompt asks you to reflect on an extracurricular activity you’re involved in. While many schools will ask a similar question, the level of detail and reflection they call for can vary dramatically. Take a look at these prompts from Tulane and Vanderbilt:

• Tulane: Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. (Minimum 20/Maximum 250)
• Vanderbilt offers a community where students find balance between their academic and social experiences. Please briefly elaborate on how one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences has influenced you. (200-400 words)

These prompts are remarkably similar in asking about extracurricular or work experiences, but Vanderbilt’s maximum word limit is nearly twice as long as Tulane’s. This might signal that Vanderbilt wants a bit more depth and detail in your response.

When you’re composing your response, think beyond the activity itself. What did you do when you were involved with this activity? What problems did you solve, what impact did you have on the community participating in this activity with you? What skills did you learn, and how have you applied those skills in other areas of your life? Use the response as a space to give the admissions committee more information about what’s important to you. No matter the length of the response, avoid merely describing the activity (most likely, you will have already done this in either your Activities section, your resumé, or both). Make the best use of the space and give your reader some new insight into who you are.

The last type of supplemental essay prompt we want to highlight is about community. Like the others, this topic can be given a few different spins. In its most general form, the community essay looks like this:

• Yale: Reflect on your membership in a community. Why is your involvement important to you? How has it shaped you? You may define community however you like. (400 words or fewer)
• At MIT, we bring people together to better the lives of others. MIT students work to improve their communities in different ways, from tackling the world’s biggest challenges to being a good friend. Describe one way in which you have contributed to your community, whether in your family, the classroom, your neighborhood, etc. (200-250 words)

When thinking about how to answer this question, it helps to start by simply making a list of communities you’re a part of. There are many ways to define “community,” and you may find you can give a deeper and more thoughtful response by not going for the most obvious choices. Your school or home communities might come immediately to mind, but remember that communities can also be forged around a common place, activity, shared experience, or interest.

As with the other questions, keep the focus on yourself when you respond to this prompt. How has your community influenced you (think values, interests, goals, personality)? How have you contributed to your community (think helping a friend, having a difficult but important conversation, stepping up as a leader, bringing a new perspective)? It’s important that the reader come away with a sense of who you are in the context of this community and not just a description of the community.

Sometimes you’ll see a more pointed version of the community essay that asks you to describe how you handle conflict. Examples of this kind of question include:

• Brown’s culture fosters a community in which students challenge the ideas of others and have their ideas challenged in return, promoting a deeper and clearer understanding of the complex issues confronting society. This active engagement in dialogue is as present outside the classroom as it is in academic spaces. Tell us about a time you were challenged by a perspective that differed from your own. How did you respond? (200-250 words)
• At Princeton, we value diverse perspectives and the ability to have respectful dialogue about difficult issues. Share a time when you had a conversation with a person or a group of people about a difficult topic. What insight did you gain, and how would you incorporate that knowledge into your thinking in the future? (250 words)

These types of questions present yet another opportunity to demonstrate to the school the kind of person you are. When generating ideas for this kind of prompt, think of instances of conflict or difference you’ve encountered, and be honest about how you dealt with them. There’s no need to fabricate a happy outcome (although it’s fine if your conflict ended well!). The important thing is that you articulate how the conflict changed you: what you learned from the experience, and how it will shape your thinking going forward.

As you work through your supplemental essays, remember that there’s no need to reinvent the wheel. You most likely already have all of the information, reflection, and insight needed to write effective supplements—it’s just a matter of writing them down. If you can craft a few clear, compelling essays, you can adjust those essays to fit specific prompts and move through this section of your application process with confidence.

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Highly-selective colleges and universities often require supplemental application materials. These materials help further personalize the admissions process so that each college’s admissions committee has the information it needs to select a vibrant and diverse incoming class. 

In this article, we will look at 10 supplemental essay prompts from top colleges and universities for the 2022-23 admissions cycle. Once you get a better sense of what to expect from a supplemental essay prompt, we will outline key strategies for answering these prompts, as well as provide practical writing tips to help you get started.

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What are supplemental essays and are they important?

Each college has its own sets of values and criteria that it looks for in applicants. This is why determining college fit is so important. By carefully researching each school on your college list and having several clear and compelling reasons for wanting to attend, you will increase your overall chances of admission.    

One way that colleges gauge whether or not a student would be a good fit for their university is by posing unique supplemental essay prompts. This is why knowing how to write a supplemental essay is so important. Most colleges with supplemental essays will have applicants write the “why this college” essay . 

Many selective colleges will require additional supplemental essays as well. In some cases, you will need to prepare an additional five essays per school, so give yourself plenty of time to complete each essay thoughtfully, write multiple drafts, seek out feedback, and proofread. The college application process can feel overwhelming at times, so make sure you brainstorm ways to stay organized during the college application process . 

Although the style and content of the actual prompts can vary greatly, at the core these prompts have one thing in common: They are designed to get to know who you are as a person, what your values are, and whether you demonstrate compatibility with the university’s overall mission. 

How to write supplemental essays

If you’re looking for supplemental essay tips, you’ve come to the right place! In this section, we will discuss how to write a good supplemental essay, by providing several key application essay tips. 

To start, it’s important to remember that the process of writing supplemental essays is similar to the process of writing a successful personal statement . Review components of a strong personal statement to give yourself a fresh perspective before beginning your supplemental essays.

Tips for writing supplemental essays

Supplemental essays are typically pretty brief. This is why it’s important to learn how to write concisely and powerfully. Having very few words to respond does not mean that you should prepare your responses casually or that your responses shouldn’t include lots of details. Rather, approach each word limit creatively. Whether you have 50 words, 200 words, or 500 words, try to use each sentence and detail to your advantage. One of the best ways to do this is to begin by freewriting. Write down everything that comes to mind. Take time to fully flush out your ideas. Then review what you’ve written and see what feels most important. These are the details you will want to highlight in your response.

Some colleges will require three to five additional essays. Maybe even more! This is why it’s important to be prepared and plan ahead. Supplemental essays are an important part of your college application and they require a lot of time and effort. While some supplemental essay prompts may be similar between schools, in general, you want to avoid recycling your college essays. Admissions officers can tell when a student is tweaking an existing essay to fit a prompt.

While some essay prompts are required, others are optional. In general, try to answer each prompt thoughtfully and creatively. After all, it’s no secret that college admissions are highly competitive so it’s great to give your application “an edge” whenever possible. That said, there are times when you should pass on writing an optional essay. If you’re not sure whether or not you should submit an essay for an optional prompt, begin by drafting a response. Then ask yourself if the essay feels forced or genuine. Does the essay convey something new about you that isn’t included in the rest of your application? If the question doesn’t seem to apply to you and you are genuinely unsure what to contribute, you should probably skip that particular essay. After all, no one wants to read an uninspired essay that doesn’t contribute to your overall application.

2022-23 supplemental essay prompts

As mentioned, supplemental essay prompts can vary significantly. Some prompts ask you to respond in 50 words while other prompts ask you to respond in 500 words. Some prompts focus on academics while others ask you to reflect carefully on your cultural upbringing or life philosophies. Still, other prompts will ask you to introduce who you are as a person or discuss something that you enjoy.

Just as supplemental essay prompts vary in style, your responses will also vary. Some prompts will require you to be thoughtful and serious, while other prompts may encourage you to be humorous or creative. It all depends.

Brown University supplemental essay prompt

As a part of the 2022-23 college applications, Brown University requires three supplemental essays. One of the supplemental essay prompts is as follows:

Brown’s culture fosters a community in which students challenge the ideas of others and have their ideas challenged in return, promoting a deeper and clearer understanding of the complex issues confronting society. This active engagement in dialogue is as present outside the classroom as it is in academic spaces. Tell us about a time you were challenged by a perspective that differed from your own. How did you respond? (200-250 words)

Columbia University supplemental essay prompt

As a part of the 2022-23 college applications, Columbia University requires the following supplemental materials: 1 list of 75 words, 1 list of 125 words, 3 essays of 200 words each, and 1 short answer of 35 words. One of their supplemental essay prompts is as follows:

For the following questions, we ask that you list each individual response using commas or semicolons; the items do not have to be numbered or in any specific order. No explanatory text or formatting is needed. (For example, it is not necessary to italicize or underline titles of books or other publications. No author names, subtitles or explanatory remarks are needed.)  

List the titles of the books, essays, poetry, short stories or plays you read outside of academic courses that you enjoyed most during secondary/high school. (75 words or fewer)

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Dartmouth college supplemental essay prompt.

As a part of the 2022-23 college applications, Dartmouth College requires three supplemental essays. One of the supplemental essay prompts is as follows:

“Be yourself,” Oscar Wilde advised. “Everyone else is taken.” Introduce yourself in 200-250 words. 

Duke University supplemental essay prompt

As a part of the 2022-23 college applications, Duke University requires at least one supplemental essay, with the option to submit an additional two supplemental essays. One of the optional supplemental essay prompts is as follows:

What has been your best academic experience in the last two years, and what made it so good?

Emory University supplemental essay prompt

As a part of the 2022-23 college applications, Emory University requires two supplemental essays. One of the supplemental essay prompts is as follows:

Emory If you could witness a historic event (past, present or future) first-hand, what would it be, and why?

Harvard University supplemental essay prompt

As a part of the 2022-23 college applications, Harvard University requires three supplemental essays. One of the supplemental essay prompts is as follows:

Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. (50-150 words)

MIT supplemental essay prompt

As a part of the 2022-23 college applications, MIT requires five supplemental essays. One of the supplemental essay prompts is as follows:

We know you lead a busy life, full of activities, many of which are required of you. Tell us about something you do simply for the pleasure of it.

Princeton University supplemental essay prompt

As a part of the 2022-23 college applications, Princeton University requires three supplemental essays and three short responses. One of the short-answer prompts is as follows:

Please respond to each question in 75 words or fewer. There are no right or wrong answers. Be yourself!

What is a new skill you would like to learn in college?

What brings you joy? 

What song represents the soundtrack of your life at this moment?

Stanford University supplemental essay prompt

As a part of the 2022-23 college applications, Stanford University requires three supplemental essays and five short answer responses. One of the short-answer prompts is as follows:

How did you spend your last two summers? (50-word limit)

UPenn supplemental essay prompt

As a part of the 2022-23 college applications, UPenn requires three supplemental essays. One of the supplemental essay prompts is as follows: 

Write a short thank-you note to someone you have not yet thanked and would like to acknowledge. (We encourage you to share this note with that person, if possible, and reflect on the experience!) (150-200 words)

Yale University supplemental essay prompt

As a part of the 2022-23 college applications, Yale University requires the following supplemental materials: 1 list; 6 short answer questions; 1 additional short essay of 400 words. One of the short answer prompts is as follows:

Yale’s residential colleges regularly host conversations with guests representing a wide range of experiences and accomplishments. What person, past or present, would you invite to speak? What would you ask them to discuss? (200 characters or fewer)

Supplemental essay examples

One of the best ways to prepare your supplemental essay responses is to look at successful past examples. In this section, we will look at three examples and explain why each response is successful. 

This first example was submitted as a part of Harvard’s college application. This essay is in response to the prompt: Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. (50-150 words).

Feet moving, eyes up, every shot back, chants the silent mantra in my head. The ball becomes a beacon of neon green as I dart forward and backward, shuffling from corner to far corner of the court, determined not to let a single point escape me. With bated breath, I swing my racquet upwards and outwards and it catches the ball just in time to propel it, spinning, over the net. My heart soars as my grinning teammates cheer from the sidelines. While I greatly value the endurance, tenacity, and persistence that I have developed while playing tennis throughout the last four years, I will always most cherish the bonds that I have created and maintained each year with my team.

This essay uses rich, descriptive language to evoke a clear sense of movement and place. The first paragraph shows a creative and expert control of language, whereas the second paragraph uses straightforward language to highlight key characteristics. Overall, this response is creative, well-balanced, and uses each word to its advantage. 

Source: https://www.collegeadvisor.com/essay-guides/harvard-university-essay-examples-and-why-they-worked/  

This essay was submitted as a part of an MIT college application. The supplemental essay prompt that it addresses is: Describe the world you come from; for example, your family, clubs, school, community, city, or town. How has that world shaped your dreams and aspirations?

We were moving away from my home of thirteen years to go miles and miles away, from my whole life. Worst of all: away from New York City – the only place in the world worth knowing – or so I thought. The town might as well have been called “Miniscule Ville”. I resented every second of it. The real shocking thing to me was almost that anything existed outside of New York City. NYC is a world of its own, with its own pulses and lifeblood. I still think it’s a great place, and I’ll likely at least visit it someday, but right now, I want to visit everywhere. My move humbled me. I began to love nature walks, the friendly camaraderie of the small town, and saw a world I never imagined. I thought I knew it all just because I lived in New York. Here was a great place, hidden from view. I loved experiencing that new world, learning local history, and most of all, learning the life stories of my new neighbors, each one of whom had a fascinating life. My greatest dream is to be a journalist, covering other countries, and learning about new worlds and neighbors. My old perspective feels so limited. If I can share global stories, I can open up my perspective, and I can share those stories with a thousand homes so readers can learn about other perspectives as well. The world is full of different lives. Everywhere is somebody’s home.

This essay covers a lot of material; most impressively, it shows a shift in perspective and its effect on the student’s lived experience. It also clearly explains the student’s academic and professional goals. The tone of this essay is both confident and humble. It demonstrates who this student is as a person, what their goals are, and what they value.  

Source: https://bemoacademicconsulting.com/blog/mit-supplemental-essay-examples  

This essay was submitted as a part of a Duke college application. The essay addresses the prompt: What has been your best academic experience in the last two years, and what made it so good?

Most teachers who taught me talked a big game about wanting students to engage in debate, or “dialectic” as they called it, and to challenge their ideas. In my experience, most of this was a fabrication. The best essay grades and participation marks were found through parroting what was dictated from on high. Did the teacher think such-and-such is the “correct” interpretation of a novel? You did, too, or you lost points. None of that was true for Ms. Jackie Winters. The first essay I sent her came back with the note, “This doesn’t sound like you; it sounds like me.” I asked her about the note, and this initiated a marvelous learning environment, in which I grew faster than I ever have in any other class. Discussions were lively, and the more I presented my authentic views, the more I was respected. My grades were dependent on being backed up by rhetoric, sources, and logic, not by compliance. Due to this engagement, this was the most enjoyable English literature class I had, and I feel like my viewpoints were challenged. I learned to question my ideas and dig into a text for the best results. Best of all, I was putting in more and more effort to find good, quality sources to back up my arguments. I was held to a high standard and shown respect, and I believe that those qualities made for the best learning environment possible

This essay clearly shows a shift in perspective and the effects it had on this student’s ability to think, speak, and write critically. Structurally, this essay uses an anecdote to introduce and contextualize a topic, but the essay itself isn’t overly narrative. Rather, the student explains, in detail, how this teacher’s encouragement and guidance have influenced their willingness and ability to engage with the source material and academic discourse.

Source: https://bemoacademicconsulting.com/blog/duke-supplemental-essay-examples  

Key takeaways and moving forward

Supplemental essays are an important part of your college applications. In fact, they are a key factor in what college admissions officers look for in an applicant . Highly-selective colleges and universities use supplemental essays to further personalize the college admissions process. After all, thousands of qualified students apply to Ivy League institutions each year and only a small fraction are admitted. Supplemental essays allow you to share more about who you are as a person and as a student. Use each prompt as an opportunity to add something new to your college application. If you feel like you could benefit from professional guidance throughout this process, reach out to learn more about our services .

Frequently asked questions and answers

Still have questions about supplemental essays and the effects they have on college applications? Review the following frequently asked questions and answers for further insight on supplemental essays. 

How important are supplemental essays?

Supplemental essays are an incredibly important part of your college applications and should be properly prioritized. If a college didn’t care about your response, they wouldn’t ask you in the first place. Put plenty of time and care into your responses. Write several drafts, seek out feedback, and always proofread.

How long should supplemental essays be?

Always follow directions. Colleges will specify how long each supplemental essay should be, usually right after the prompt itself. Depending on the college, and the prompt, a supplemental essay’s word count may range anywhere from 50 to 500 words.

Do supplemental essays change every year?

It all depends on the college. Colleges often reuse past prompts, but there are no guarantees. This is why it’s important to plan ahead and make a list of supplemental essay prompts early on in the college application process.

Are supplemental essays required?

Sometimes colleges will have both required and optional supplemental essays. That said, the essay prompts are clearly labeled. In short, each college will specify whether supplemental essays are required. 

Do all colleges have supplemental essays?

No, not all colleges have supplemental essays. Highly-selective colleges, however, often require at least one additional essay.

• December 14, 2022

Supplemental Essay Guide for 2022-23 Prompts

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Find your college’s application essay prompts for 2023-24

Latest essay prompts for the top 100 schools.

At CollegeVine, our goal is to make the college application process a little less stressful, so we’ve compiled the latest essay prompts for the top 100 schools in one easy, searchable database.

Also, every year we create free guides on “ How to Write X School’s Essays ” for the top 100 schools. In these guides, we give you tips and tricks on how to approach each prompt. As such, our prompt database also contains a link to each school's Essay Breakdown.

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2023-2024 college application supplemental essay guides.

If your student is applying to one of these prestigious schools, they have to worry about more than the Common App Essay. Top schools ask students to submit one or more essays prompts that the schools provide. This is an opportunity for applicants to demonstrate how they are uniquely qualified for admission to a particular school, why they want to attend, and what they will contribute to the campus community once they arrive.

Here’s how to answer every top school’s supplemental essay question(s), complete with examples!

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College of charleston supplemental essays

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College of charleston supplemental essays 2023

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Boston college supplemental essays 2023

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How To Answer Harvard's 2023/24 Supplemental Essays: Tips & Insights

What's New in 2023/24

What are Harvard's Essay Prompts?

How to Answer Harvard's Essay Prompts

General Guidelines

Explore the changes in Harvard's supplemental essay prompts for 2023/24, understand the nuances of each question, and gain insights on crafting compelling responses with our detailed guide, complete with expert tips and links to successful Harvard essay examples.

Harvard's 2023/24 Supplemental Essay Updates: What's Changed?

Gaining admission to Harvard is no small feat, with acceptance rates sometimes plummeting as low as 3% . In such a competitive environment, every component of your application, especially your essay, becomes a crucial tool to stand out to admissions officers.

Every year, top-tier universities like Harvard fine-tune their application process to get a deeper understanding of their applicants. For the 2023/24 admissions cycle, Harvard University has made notable modifications to its supplemental essay questions .

Last year, applicants had a mix of required and optional prompts, with varying word limits, ranging from 50 to 150 words. These prompts touched on extracurricular activities, intellectual experiences, personal backgrounds, and more.

This year, Harvard has streamlined the process, requiring all applicants to answer five questions, each with a strict 200-word limit . The questions emphasize the importance of diversity, intellectual experiences, extracurricular activities, the utilization of a Harvard education, and personal insights for potential roommates.

This shift indicates a desire for more concise, focused responses from applicants, allowing the admissions committee to gain a clearer, more uniform understanding of each student's background, aspirations, and personality.

What Are Harvard’s Supplemental Essay Prompts for 2023/24?

For the 2023/24 application cycle, Harvard University has outlined specific supplemental essay prompts to understand applicants better in addition to the Common App or Coalition App questions. These questions delve into your experiences, intellectual pursuits, and personal insights. Students are required to answer each Harvard-specific question in under 200 words. Here's a breakdown of the prompts:

• Diversity and Contribution : Harvard values a diverse student body. Reflect on your life experiences and explain how they have shaped you and how you plan to contribute to Harvard. (200 words)
• Intellectual Experience : Discuss an intellectual experience that has had a significant impact on you. (200 words)
• Personal Shaping Experiences : Elaborate on extracurricular activities, employment, travel, or family responsibilities that have played a pivotal role in defining who you are. (200 words)
• Future Aspirations : Describe how you envision utilizing your Harvard education in the future. (200 words)
• Getting to Know You : List three things your future roommates should know about you. (200 words)

These prompts offer applicants a chance to showcase their personalities, aspirations, and experiences, providing a holistic view of their candidacy.

Looking for inspiration? Dive into these Harvard essay examples to see what successful applications look like!

How to Answer Harvard’s Supplemental Essay Questions?

This guide aims to help you craft a compelling response that showcases your unique journey and potential contributions to Harvard's diverse community.

As you begin planning responses to each individual prompt, be sure to consider what experiences, reflections, and qualities you want to showcase once you’ve responded to all the prompts:

• Ensure you won’t leave out any important experiences, reflections, and qualities you want Harvard to know about.
• Be sure you’ll avoid repeating the same experiences, reflections, or qualities in the other prompts.

Answering Prompt 1

Harvard values a diverse student body. reflect on your life experiences and explain how they have shaped you and how you plan to contribute to harvard., - 200 words or fewer, 1. understand the question.

Harvard is not merely asking for a list of experiences. They want to understand the depth of your experiences , how they've molded your character, and how you'll use that growth to contribute to the Harvard community.

Since Harvard is telling you they value diversity, consider emphasizing unique experiences or circumstances that highlight the most personal and profound aspects of your personality, values, and perspectives.

2. Reflect on Your Unique Experiences

Consider moments in your life that have had a significant impact on your worldview:

• Have you lived in multiple countries, exposing you to various cultures?
• Did you overcome challenges that forced you to view the world differently?
• Were there pivotal moments in your upbringing that shaped your identity?
• How did interactions with diverse individuals or groups influence your perspectives?

3. Dive Deep into Personal Growth

Discuss the evolution of your perspectives, values, or aspirations.

• How did these experiences challenge your beliefs or expand your understanding?
• What lessons did you derive, and how have they influenced your subsequent actions or decisions?
• What experiences or reflections shape your deepest beliefs and values? — or, shape some deep questions or doubts you wrestle with?

4. Connect to Harvard

Consider how your unique perspective will enrich Harvard's community .

• Will you introduce new viewpoints in classroom discussions or help teams work together more successfully?
• Will you contribute to or initiate student organizations or community projects?
• Will you exemplify certain traits that enhance a vibrant, curious, and inclusive learning environment?

5. Be Concise and Authentic

With a 200-word limit, precision is key. Ensure your narrative is genuine, making your essay resonate with the reader. Avoid generic statements; instead, provide specific examples that showcase your journey.

Harvard's first supplemental essay is an opportunity to showcase the depth of your experiences and how they've shaped you . Reflecting on significant moments, emphasizing personal growth, and connecting your unique perspective to how you'll contribute to Harvard is essential. Remember to be concise, authentic, and ensure your essay is polished to perfection.

Answering Prompt 2

Discuss an intellectual experience that has had a significant impact on you..

This question aims to help you articulate the depth and significance of an intellectual experience and its profound impact on your academic and personal journey.

1. Define "Intellectual Experience"

Before diving in, understand that an intellectual experience isn't limited to classroom learning . It could be:

• A book that changed your perspective
• A conversation that challenged your beliefs
• An experience that triggered a profound insight or understanding
• Or even a personal project or research endeavor

2. Choose a Meaningful Experience

Reflect on experiences that genuinely transformed your thinking:

• Was there a particular course or project that ignited a passion?
• Did a specific book, article, or documentary challenge your pre-existing beliefs?
• Have you attended seminars, workshops, or lectures that introduced you to new ideas?

3. Delve into the "Why"

Discuss why this experience was transformative:

• What preconceptions or beliefs did it challenge?
• How did it expand or deepen your understanding of a particular subject or idea?
• Did it inspire further exploration or study into the topic?

4. Highlight Personal Growth

Describe how this intellectual experience influenced your academic and personal journey:

• Did it guide your academic pursuits or career aspirations?
• How did it shape your values, beliefs, or worldview?

5. Be Authentic and Reflective

Your genuine curiosity and passion should shine through. Avoid using jargon or overly complex language. Instead, focus on genuine reflection and personal growth .

Harvard's second supplemental essay seeks to understand your intellectual journey . It's an opportunity to showcase your curiosity, passion, and the transformative power of learning. By reflecting on a significant intellectual experience and its impact on you, you can demonstrate your academic depth, your own intellectual processes and aptitudes, and intellectual growth.

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Answering Prompt 3

Elaborate on extracurricular activities, employment, travel, or family responsibilities that have played a pivotal role in defining who you are..

This question is designed to help you articulate the significance of experiences outside the classroom and their profound impact on your personal journey.

1. Prioritize Depth Over Quantity

While you might have multiple experiences, focus on one or two that have had the most profound impact on you . This allows you to delve deeper and provide a more insightful reflection.

2. Choose a Defining Experience

Reflect on moments that genuinely shaped your character:

• Was there an extracurricular activity that taught you leadership, teamwork, or dedication?
• Did a job teach you responsibility, time management, or the value of hard work?
• Has travel exposed you to diverse cultures, broadening your perspectives?
• Were there family responsibilities that instilled in you a sense of maturity, empathy, or resilience?

3. Describe the Experience

Briefly set the scene. Whether it's the bustling environment of a part-time job, the challenges of a leadership role in a club, or the nuances of a family responsibility, paint a picture for the reader.

4. Reflect on the Impact

Discuss how this experience influenced your personal growth:

• What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?
• What skills or values did you acquire or strengthen?
• How did this experience shape your aspirations, perspectives, or values?

5. Connect to the Present

Highlight how this experience continues to influence you:

• How do the lessons you learned guide your current decisions or actions?
• How has it influenced your academic interests or future aspirations?

Harvard's third supplemental essay is an opportunity to showcase experiences outside the classroom that have significantly influenced your personal growth . Reflecting on these pivotal moments and their lasting impact can provide a holistic picture of your character, values, and aspirations.

Answering Prompt 4

Describe how you envision utilizing your harvard education in the future..

This question aims to help you articulate how a Harvard education aligns with your future goals and the impact you aim to make in your chosen field or community.

1. Reflect on Your Goals

Begin by identifying your long-term aspirations . Have a clear vision in mind, whether it's a specific career, a desire to address a global challenge, or a passion you wish to pursue further.

2. Highlight Harvard's Unique Offerings

Research specific programs, courses, or opportunities at Harvard that align with your goals. This could be a particular academic program, research opportunities, or extracurricular activities.

3. Draw a Connection

Discuss how these unique offerings will equip you with the skills, knowledge, or experiences needed to achieve your future aspirations . Make it evident that Harvard is the ideal place for you to realize these goals.

4. Go Beyond the Obvious

While Harvard's academic excellence is a given, delve into the broader Harvard experience. Consider the influence of its diverse community, its culture of innovation, or its commitment to leadership and service.

5. Discuss the Broader Impact

Expand on how you plan to use your Harvard education to make a difference . Whether it's in your community, in a particular field, or on a global scale, showcase your commitment to creating positive change.

6. Stay Authentic

Ensure your response is genuine and reflects your true aspirations. Admissions officers can discern genuine passion and commitment from generic responses.

Harvard's fourth supplemental essay is an opportunity to showcase your forward-thinking approach and how you plan to leverage Harvard's resources to achieve your future goals. By drawing a clear connection between what Harvard offers and your aspirations, you demonstrate a purposeful approach to your education.

Answering Prompt 5

List three things your future roommates should know about you..

This question aims to help you present a genuine and well-rounded picture of yourself, offering insights into your personality, habits, and values.

1. Reflect on Your Personality

This prompt is an invitation to share more about your personal side. Think about the quirks, habits, or values that define you. What are the things that make you, well, you?

2. Balance Seriousness with Lightness

While one point could be a deep reflection of your values or beliefs, another could be a fun fact or a unique hobby. This mix gives a rounded picture of who you are.

3. Be Genuine

Avoid coming up with things you believe the admissions committee wants to hear. This is your chance to let your true self shine through.

4. Consider Your Daily Life

Think about your habits or routines, the music you listen to, or the books you read. These can offer insights into your personality and preferences.

5. Reflect on Past Living Experiences

Have you shared a space with someone before — roommate, sibling, family members, fellow campers?… Think about what made the experience harmonious. Were there particular habits, routines, or guiding principles you followed that were appreciated by those you were sharing space with?

Harvard's fifth supplemental essay is a chance to showcase your personality beyond academics and extracurriculars . By sharing genuine aspects of yourself related to day-to-day living and the many small ways you interact with those around you in more personal spaces, you give a glimpse into your life outside the classroom and what it might be like to share a living space with you.

5 Tips for the "Why This School?" Essay

General Guidelines for Crafting Stellar Harvard Supplemental Essays

1. Understand the Question: Before you start writing, ensure you fully understand what the prompt is asking. Break it down and consider its nuances. This will help you stay on track and address all aspects of the question.

2. Be Authentic: Harvard isn't just looking for high achievers; they're looking for genuine individuals. Your essay should reflect your true self, not what you think the admissions committee wants to hear.

3. Show, Don't Tell: Instead of just stating facts or beliefs, use anecdotes, experiences, or stories to convey your points. This makes your essay more engaging and paints a clearer picture of who you are.

4. Stay Within the Word Limit: While it might be tempting to write more, respect the word limits. It shows that you can convey your thoughts concisely and respect guidelines.

5. Proofread and Edit: Always review your essay multiple times for clarity, coherence, and grammar. Consider also asking a teacher, mentor, or friend to review it.

6. Connect to Harvard: While the prompts might not explicitly ask for it, subtly showing why your experiences, values, or aspirations align with Harvard's culture or offerings can be a plus.

7. Reflect on Growth: Colleges love to see personal growth. Reflect on how experiences have shaped you, lessons learned, and how you've evolved.

8. Avoid Repetition: Ensure that your supplemental essays present new information and don't repeat what's already in your Common App essay or other parts of your application.

9. Be Forward-Looking: While it's essential to reflect on past experiences, also touch on how these experiences prepare you for future endeavors, especially at Harvard.

10. Start Early: Give yourself ample time to brainstorm, draft, and revise. Starting early reduces stress and allows you to approach the essay with a clear mind.

Remember, the supplemental essays are an opportunity to showcase aspects of yourself that aren't evident in other parts of your application . Use them wisely to provide a holistic picture of yourself and why you'd be a great fit for Harvard.

Final Thoughts

The journey to Harvard is more than just academic prowess; it's about crafting a narrative that resonates deeply with the admissions committee. Your supplemental essays provide a unique window into your personality, aspirations, and the distinct perspectives you'll bring to the Harvard community.

Every Harvard aspirant has a story waiting to be told. This is your moment to share yours. Approach your essays with authenticity, introspection, and a genuine passion for your narrative.

If you're wondering whether your essay truly captures your essence or if it stands out from the multitude of applications, our essay review service is here to help. Our team of experts will meticulously review and provide feedback to refine your essay, ensuring it resonates with admissions officers. For further inspiration, delve into our ebook , which showcases essays from students who clinched spots at top universities. And if Harvard is your dream, these successful Harvard essay examples will provide invaluable insights.

For those just starting their college application journey, consider booking a free consultation with our seasoned college counselors. We're dedicated to guiding you in creating an application that significantly enhances your chances of donning the Crimson colors. Harvard is within reach, and we're here to help you every step of the way.

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Key Resources & Further Reading

• Everything you need to know about US Application Supplemental Essays
• Acing your College Application Essay: 5 Expert Tips to Make it Stand Out from the Rest
• How to Tackle Every Type of Supplemental Essay
• 2023-24 Common App Essay Prompts
• What are the Most Unusual US College Supplemental Essay Prompts?

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USC Supplemental Essays 2023-24 Prompts and Tips

September 1, 2023

When applying to a school like the University of Southern California, it is important to grasp that their acceptance rate in 2023 is lower than Harvard’s back in the late 1990s. Last cycle, USC received roughly 80,000 applications and admitted just 9% from that pool (their first time in the single digits). We don’t bring up these numbers or the Friends -era Harvard comparison to cause future applicants unnecessary fear. Rather, we want aspiring Trojans to realize that in addition to strong high school grades and standardized test scores, they need to excel in other critical areas of their application as well. This brings us to the topic of the USC supplemental essays.

(Want to learn more about How to Get Into the University of Southern California? Visit our blog entitled:  How to Get Into USC: Admissions Data and Strategies   for all of the most recent admissions data as well as tips for gaining acceptance.)

The supplemental essay section offered by USC is a fairly epic one and presents just such an opportunity for students to differentiate themselves from swarms of other qualified applicants. In addition to several short essays, you are also required to answer 10 short answer questions. Below are the USC’s supplemental prompts for the 2023-24 admissions cycle along with tips about how to address each one.

2023-24 USC Supplemental Essays – Required Prompt #1

Describe how you plan to pursue your academic interests and why you want to explore them at USC specifically. Please feel free to address your first- and second-choice major selections. (Approximately 250 words)

This is part “Why Us?” and part “Explain Your Major” and your aim is to seamlessly touch on both topics in a tightly woven 250-word composition. For a deeper dive, let’s examine a list of characteristics of a winning USC “Why Us?” essay:

• How did your interest in your major of choice begin and how has it matured over the years?
• While pursuing your majors(s)/interest(s) of choice, how will you take advantage of the university’s immense resources both inside and outside of the classroom? Be sure to cite specific  academic programs ,  professors ,  research opportunities ,  internship/externship programs , and  study abroad programs . Discuss why they pique your interest.
• Feel free to touch on  student-run organizations  related to your field of study that you would like to join.
• Lastly, don’t ignore your second-choice major in this essay.

In any “Why Us?” composition, you need to show that you’ve done your homework on a given school, but you don’t want it to read like a robotic list of items that you Googled ten minutes before writing the essay (even if the timing of the Google search is roughly accurate). In addition to the pure research element, a lot of the time and skill required in creating a stellar USC essay will involve connecting the classes, professors, opportunities, etc. of interest that you have uncovered to your distinct values, talents, aims, proficiencies, and future goals.

USC Supplemental Essays – Short Answers

(#1 provides 25 characters for each word, and #2-10 provide 100 characters each)

• Describe yourself in three words.
• What is your favorite snack?
• Best movie of all time
• If your life had a theme song, what would it be?
• What TV show will you binge watch next?
• Which well-known person or fictional character would be your ideal roommate?
• Favorite book
• If you could teach a class on any topic, what would it be?

USC Supplemental Essays (Continued)

It would be a bit silly to try to advise you on what your favorite snack is. Obviously, the USC admissions committee wants to hear “Pepperoni Pizza Combos” but will also accept “Ranch-flavored Bugles.” As such, we’ll keep our advice on these a bit broader:

• This is a chance to make a personal connection with an admissions officer. Don’t overthink these or pick movies, books, songs, or trips that you think an admissions officer will find impressive. Just be genuine.
• For #1, try to avoid words like “interesting” that are…well, not very  interesting , or words that could describe most of USC’s applicant pool, like “hard-working” or “dedicated.”
• For #10, don’t pick a general topic in a traditional discipline. Instead, pick something about which you are passionate. This could be a blend of pop culture and academics or a highly esoteric topic that you happen to be obsessed with (e.g., the Beatles 1965-67 mid-career era, the history of jai-alai, or how to groom a ferret).
• You have 100 characters to utilize, so do include some short explanations that infuse your answers with extra personality. For example, you could jazz up Ranch-flavored Bugles as follows: “Ranch-flavored Bugles, me and my mom’s go-to Jeopardy snack.”
• Final tip: if you feel stuck, try brainstorming a few options for each one before choosing your favorite.

USC Supplemental Essays – School-Specific Prompts

In addition to the required essays noted above, you’ll also need to answer at least one additional essay question that is dependent on the school or college you are applying to at USC. Below, we’ve broken down the most popular options:

Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

Many of us have at least one issue or passion that we care deeply about – a topic on which we would love to share our opinions and insights in hopes of sparking intense interest and continued conversation. If you had ten minutes and the attention of a million people, what would your talk be about? (250 words)

What makes you tick? What keeps you up at night? Which subjects could (and do) you talk about for hours if given the opportunity? If you could address one problem in the world, large or small, what would it be? Here’s your chance to tell us all about it. You’ll then want to explain “why”—why will (or should) your passion/topic of choice be made relevant to a wider audience? Why is it so important that others hear your message? Your answer will give admissions readers greater insight into what type of issues are most important to you.

Viterbi School of Engineering

The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) and their 14 Grand Challenges go hand-in-hand with our vision to engineer a better world for all humanity. Engineers and computer scientists are challenged to solve these problems in order to improve life on the planet. Learn more about the NAE Grand Challenges at  http://engineeringchallenges.org  and tell us which challenge is most important to you, and why. (250 words)

The NAE Grand Challenges list is expansive and includes a number of pressing issues, like clean water access, solar energy, and nuclear terrorism. Basically, you are 100% guaranteed to find at least one item on this list that resonates with you. After reviewing the options, which one are you most passionate about, and why? Is there something from your personal background or experiences that inspired your interest in this area? Alternatively, have you engaged with this topic either inside or outside of school, and if so, how? What would you still like to learn about it? If you choose an issue that you are genuinely interested in and clearly convey your reasoning for doing so, you’ll be well on your way to a compelling response.

The student body at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering is a diverse group of unique engineers and computer scientists who work together to engineer a better world for all humanity. Describe how your contributions to the USC Viterbi student body may be distinct from others. Please feel free to touch on any part of your background, traits, skills, experiences, challenges, and/or personality in helping us better understand you. (250 words)

Take note of the wide-open nature of this prompt. You are essentially invited to talk about any of the following topics:

• A perspective you hold
• An experience/challenge you had
• A community you belong to
• Your cultural background
• Your family background
• A personality trait
• A skill you hold

Although this prompt’s open floor plan may feel daunting, a good tactic is to first consider what has already been communicated within your Common App personal statement, activities list, and other USC essays. What important aspects of yourself have not been shared (or sufficiently discussed)? The admissions officer reading your essay is hoping to connect with you through your written words, so—within your essay’s reflection—be open, humble, thoughtful, inquisitive, emotionally honest, mature, and/or insightful about what you learned and how you grew. No matter what type of story you tell, the goal is to have the reader come away saying, “I can definitely see this applicant as a contributing member of our talented and engaged Viterbi community.”

How important are the USC supplemental essays?

There are five factors that USC considers to be “very important” to their candidate evaluation process and the essay section is one of them. Along with GPA, standardized test scores, rigor of high school coursework, and recommendations, the Common App and supplement essays play a huge role in the USC admissions staff’s decision-making.

Want personalized assistance?

Lastly, if you are interested in working with one of College Transitions’ experienced and knowledgeable essay coaches as you craft your USC supplemental essays, we encourage you to  get a quote  today.

• College Essay

Dave Bergman

Dave has over a decade of professional experience that includes work as a teacher, high school administrator, college professor, and independent educational consultant. He is a co-author of the books The Enlightened College Applicant (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016) and Colleges Worth Your Money (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020).

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How to Write the Caltech Supplemental Essays 2023-2024

Caltech has four required supplemental essays, and three shorter optional essays, with word limits of 150, 100, and 50, respectively. Because Caltech is one of the most academically rigorous schools in the country, you want to be sure that your essays capture your intellectual and creative potential. In this post, we’ll break down each prompt so that you can know what you need to do to craft a response that truly shines.

Caltech Supplemental Essay Prompts

All applicants, required prompts.

Prompt 1: Because of the rigorous courses in the core curriculum , Caltech students don’t declare a major until the end of their first year. However, some students arrive knowing which academic fields and areas already most excite them, or which novel fields and areas they most want to explore.

If you had to choose an area of interest or two today, what would you choose? (There are dropdown menus from which you can choose up to two areas of interest.)

Why did you choose that area of interest (200 words).

Prompt 2: At Caltech, we investigate some of the most challenging, fundamental problems in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Identify and describe two STEM-related experiences from your high school years, either in or out of the classroom, and tell us how and why they activated your curiosity. What about them made you want to learn more and explore further? (100-200 words per experience)

Prompt 3: The creativity, inventiveness, and innovation of Caltech’s students, faculty, and researchers have won Nobel Prizes and put rovers on Mars , but Techers also imagine smaller scale innovations every day, from new ways to design solar cells to 3D printing dorm decor. How have you been an innovator in your own life? (200-250 words)

Prompt 4: Caltech’s mission – to cultivate learning, discovery, and innovation for the benefit of humanity – relies on its community members embracing fundamental Caltech values :

Openness and enthusiasm for having preconceptions challenged

Respect and appreciation for the idea that, while we are all members of the same community, the opportunities we’ve had to develop, showcase, and apply our talents have not been equal, passion for the ideal that science can and should meaningfully improve the lives of others, share what one or more of these values evokes for you. (200-400 words), all applicants, optional prompts.

Prompt 5: If there are aspects of your life or social or personal identity that you feel are not captured elsewhere in this application, please tell us about them. (150 words)

Prompt 6: When not surveying the stars, peering through microscopes, or running through marathons of coding, Caltech students pursue an eclectic array of interests that range from speed-cubing to participating in varsity athletics to reading romance novels. What is a favorite interest or hobby and why does it bring you joy? (100 words)

Prompt 7: Did you have a hard time narrowing it down to just one interest or hobby? We understand – Caltech students like to stay busy, too – tell us about another hobby or interest! (50 words)

Because of the rigorous courses in the core curriculum , Caltech students don’t declare a major until the end of their first year. However, some students arrive knowing which academic fields and areas already most excite them, or which novel fields and areas they most want to explore.

After you select your area(s) of interest, you are asked to provide the reasoning behind your choice(s). This is a fairly standard “Why This Major?” prompt . This straightforward prompt is intended to give the admissions committee a sense of what interests you, why it interests you, and why/how you plan on pursuing this interest in college and beyond.

Before we continue, we have to address the elephant in the room—what if you’re undecided?

The bad news is that you’re required to pick at least one area of interest on your application. The good news is that you aren’t contractually bound to the area you choose! In fact, “Every first-year student at Caltech takes the same classes during their first two terms; you won’t even declare your major until the end of your first year.”

Don’t worry if you haven’t figured out exactly what you want to do in college—many students haven’t! Look through the list of areas of interest and pick one that’s closely related to a hobby or pastime of yours so you’ll have something to write about.

If you do have an area of interest or desired major in mind, great! Pick that one for your essay.

Now that you’ve picked a subject, you may find it helpful to ponder the following questions before you begin crafting your response:

1) What are your sincere reasons for wanting to major in your chosen field?

Ideally, you will have picked a field in which you have a deep interest—one that you can talk about at length. You should have meaningful reasons for wanting to pursue your chosen field. If your primary motivation involves money, status, or pressure from your parents, you’re already off to a bad start. An essay that seems disingenuous or too self-serving will detract immensely from your application as a whole, so be sure to choose substantial reasons.

2) What are some specific examples of things you enjoy about this field of study?

When answering this question, aim to be as specific as you can. Anyone can write about liking “information and data sciences” or “biology,” so think of more narrow subtopics like “principal component analysis to reduce dataset dimensionality” or “identifying mitotic mutations in fruit flies.” If you’ve picked a topic you’re already passionate about and familiar with, talking about something specific you enjoy about it shouldn’t be too daunting.

3) How does this major serve your life and/or career goals?

You might not have the most detailed plan for your career and adult life, and that’s totally fine! However, it would be helpful if you had some idea of what you want to do in the future. Think of industries you would be able to work in with a degree in your chosen field. What is your dream job? How can this major contribute to your attainment of that job and success in the field?

4) What’s your favorite experience with this subject in school? What are the best parts of your experience with it outside the classroom?

5) Is there any recurring emotion or state of mind that you experience when exploring this field of study? What do you find appealing about that emotion or state of mind?

You can use your answers to questions 4 and 5 to recall some relevant anecdotes that may contribute to your response.

Once you’ve figured out the answers to the five aforementioned questions, you can begin planning a structure for your response. You may find it helpful to break your essay into two principal parts:

• The experiences that fostered and increased your interest in this field (as well as your emotional and personal connection to your chosen major)
• What you hope to do in the future, both at Caltech and in your career

Now, you should do some research on Caltech’s website to find some unique aspects of your chosen major that you can write about. Check out Caltech’s list of majors , as it has links that will lead you to each major’s respective webpage. Also consult their lists of faculty members and research facilities to see what work Caltech is doing in your area of interest.

For example, consider a hypothetical student who wants to pursue bioengineering with a particular interest in stem cell research. She might begin with an anecdote about how her father was a participant in a clinical trial for stem cell therapy after his spinal cord treatment. Perhaps seeing the potential of stem cell treatment opened up a new world for her, which fostered a deeper interest in biology and bioengineering than she had ever had before.

She might write about her high school experiences with biology classes, her intensive preparation for the AP Biology exam, and the bioengineering publications she now likes to read in her free time. She can then transition into a discussion of what kind of research she would like to be a part of at Caltech. A faculty member she can talk about specifically is Professor Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz, whose lab used stem cells last year to create model mouse embryos “that have beating hearts, as well as the foundations for a brain and all of the other organs in the mouse body.”

No matter how unique, weird, or quirky you think your interests are, there will probably be a major or research group at Caltech that can cultivate them. Don’t be afraid to show how unique you are as an individual—that’s the point of supplemental essays!

At Caltech, we investigate some of the most challenging, fundamental problems in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Identify and describe two STEM-related experiences from your high school years, either in or out of the classroom, and tell us how and why they activated your curiosity. What about them made you want to learn more and explore further? (100-200 words per experience)

This prompt is supposed to gauge your interest in and experiences with STEM, both in school and in your personal life. Writing a successful essay will ideally show the admissions committee a few things:

• You are serious about pursuing STEM in college and beyond.
• You have hands-on experience in STEM.
• You have at least some idea of what to expect from a STEM-based education at Caltech.

You’ll probably know if an experience is related to STEM at first glance. Nevertheless, before you begin writing your responses to this prompt, you should make sure you have a handle on what exactly STEM is, even if you think you understand it fully.

As a quick refresher, STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. It heavily emphasizes analytical and critical thinking skills, scientific literacy, and domain-specific hard skills that are essential to many career paths.

Even though the prompt specifies that you can write about experiences both within and outside the classroom, you might find the tips in CollegeVine’s guide to the extracurricular activities essay helpful.

If you have any obvious STEM experience, picking some events should be fairly straightforward. Think about the experiences you’ve had with science fairs, robotics clubs, biology or chemistry classes, etc. Narrow down your experiences to the ones that had the most significant impact on your interest in STEM. If you write about an experience that you didn’t have too much emotional investment in, you might inadvertently express a tepid interest in STEM as a whole.

If you only took one science class in high school and didn’t participate in any STEM-related extracurriculars, don’t fret! Feel free to write about two experiences from the same class. You might even be able to relate some work experience to STEM.

For example, perhaps you worked alongside a pharmacist during high school. Some people consider pharmacy to be more medical and less STEM-related, but the field of pharmacology is indisputably a branch of biology and chemistry. Don’t be afraid to bend some definitions when identifying meaningful STEM experiences you’ve had.

To help you identify your two experiences, mull over a few questions:

1) What is your favorite STEM-related activity? If you don’t have a good STEM activity, which of your non-STEM activities can be linked to STEM logically?

2) What about this activity generated your interest in STEM? Why did it make you curious and how did your participation in it increase your interest?

3) What went through your mind as you participated in this activity?

4) Have you developed or strengthened any specific interests because of this activity? If so, what are they and how have they changed over time? For example, you might have been interested in chemistry in general, but this particular activity focused your attention on metal alloys.

5) Are there any specific STEM-related skills that you have developed as a result of participating in this activity? Think about hard skills like chemical titration, building robots, testing the pH of substances, etc.

Once you’ve decided on your two activities, you can begin writing your responses. For each activity, you should address each point of the prompt:

• How did the activity activate your curiosity?
• Why did the activity activate your curiosity?
• What about the activity made you want to learn more and explore further?

After addressing each point, if you still have room within your 200 words per activity, you can explain some things further. Perhaps you want to discuss something specific that you learned or exactly what your role in the activity was.

For example, consider the following response by a hypothetical student:

“During my junior year of high school, I joined the Robotics Club with no prior experience, other than having taken AP CompSci. Our team’s first project involved building and coding a robot that could get to distant water sources, collect water, and purify and store it. We spent several weekends and late nights programming the bot and troubleshooting it.

It had trouble navigating at first, then it failed to recognize the water sources. Finally, we completed the build in a few months, and though it was far from perfect, it did the job. That first drink of purified water from the bot was beyond refreshing.

That project was the one that truly showed me how useful robotics could be to humanity. I imagined building hundreds of robots like the original and sending them to developing countries to increase their access to clean drinking water. I am now drawn to mechanical engineering because it offers limitless opportunities to create devices that can be used to improve the world and people’s quality of life.”

This example is effective because it tells an engaging anecdote, addresses each point of the prompt, and offers a plan for the student’s college career and future professional life.

The creativity, inventiveness, and innovation of Caltech’s students, faculty, and researchers have won Nobel Prizes and put rovers on Mars , but Techers also imagine smaller scale innovations every day, from new ways to design solar cells to 3D printing dorm decor. How have you been an innovator in your own life? (200-250 words)

This prompt is trying to determine how you think as a problem solver. The admissions committee wants to know the ways in which you have been innovative or have approached problems creatively.

Don’t feel like you have to have developed some revolutionary solution to a global problem. No one is expecting you to have engineered some brilliant scientific apparatus—you haven’t even begun college yet! Just like the prompt’s examples illustrate, you can think on as big or as small a scale as you’d like.

When trying to choose an example of innovation in your own life, it might be useful to think about abstract qualities then work your way to concrete events. Are you ambitious, adaptable, creative, resourceful, open-minded? What are some positive qualities of yours? Once you’ve decided on some attributes, you should be able to relate them to some anecdotes.

Let’s say you’re creative and resourceful. Think of a time when those traits generated something innovative or novel in your life. Maybe you were locked out of your apartment and used a credit card to open the latch. Perhaps this experience inspired you to 3D print a plastic card to use specifically for problems like that.

Your story of innovation can involve anything really, as long as you came up with a creative solution to a problem you were confronted with. Maybe the arm of your glasses broke in the middle of class, so you attached a pen cap to it so the glasses could still be used until you had time to replace them.

You have 250 words, so you may want to think of 2-3 anecdotes to discuss. It might even be helpful to write about something you want to improve but haven’t yet. You can talk about a persistent problem you’ve seen and propose a creative potential solution.

Here’s an example of an anecdote a student might write:

“I worked at a hardware store during high school to help my parents pay some bills. The store was far from my home, and often took about an hour to get to by public transportation. I’ve always been interested in tinkering with mechanical devices, so I decided to make the most of my job.

I bought parts from the store with portions of my paycheck every couple of weeks, and over the course of several months I built myself a bicycle from scratch. Of course, it wasn’t the most visually appealing or comfortable bike, but it did the job and it did it well. I don’t use it much anymore, but I still own it and feel great pride every time I pass it on my way out the door.”

This is a good anecdote because it presents an issue, describes something about the student’s creative and inquisitive nature, and showcases the innovative solution that the student devised.

You may want to approach this prompt in a similar way. Outline a problem you had to deal with, describe some relevant positive attributes about yourself, then explain how these attributes helped you find an innovative solution to the problem.

Caltech’s mission – to cultivate learning, discovery, and innovation for the benefit of humanity – relies on its community members embracing fundamental Caltech values :

Brainstorming your topic:

Caltech has narrowed your list of possible topics to just three things—the values listed above. Now, that doesn’t mean your brainstorming process is over when you pick the value(s) you want to write about.

You also want to have a clear sense of how you’re going to explain what that value means to you, as 400 words is on the longer side for a supplemental essay. If you’re unfocused going into the essay, your writing may end up somewhat scattered. To ensure that doesn’t happen, think of some experiences you’ve had that showcase what the value you’ve selected means to you.

For example, you might want to write about your openness to other perspectives. Maybe you describe a snowshoeing trip you took with your family, and how you were dreading the damp, the cold, and the blisters. But, even though you did end up confronting all of those things, you also unexpectedly got to see the northern lights. That once-in-a-lifetime treat helped you realize that having a positive outlook on new experiences is a choice, and if you consciously make it, you’re likely to enjoy yourself much more.

As this example illustrates, unless you choose the third value, your response doesn’t have to rely solely on STEM-related experiences. Obviously, Caltech is one of the most prestigious tech schools in the world, but remember that admissions officers will also be reading your responses to Prompts 1, 2, and 3, which are all academically focused. So, if you want to share a slightly different side of yourself, this prompt is a great opportunity to do so.

Note: given the linked webpage and the wording of the values in the prompt, you might use this space to write about a topic related to diversity . Just be sure to follow the prompt’s directions if you do.

Finally, note that the prompt says you can write about “one or more” of the listed values. If you can think of an experience you’ve had that showcases two or three of the given values, go for it! That said, don’t force anything. A well-written, cohesive response that focuses on just one value is just as good as one that includes multiple values.

400 words should be more than enough to develop your ideas in sufficient detail, but if you’re trying to cram in a connection that isn’t really logically there, your essay will feel disjointed.

Tips for writing your essay:

Once you start writing, keep this important writing principle in mind—show, don’t tell. You don’t want to just state things in a factual, direct way. Rather, describe a situation that illustrates the points you’re trying to make. To see the difference, compare the following two example sentences:

Example 1: “Although I had been having a terrible time all day, when we finally reached the overlook we had been trekking towards, we got to see the northern lights, which I will never forget.”

Example 2: “When we finally emerged from the treeline, my hair was still damp with cold sweat and snowfall, and my heels were still chafing against my itchy wool socks, but my discomfort melted away in the iridescent shimmer of the aurora borealis sparkling on unblemished snow.”

These two examples are about the same moment, but the second immerses us in the scene with sensory details and strong descriptions, which makes it much more engaging to read. Since you have a little more room to write in this supplement, don’t be afraid to show your creative writing abilities.

Also be sure you give the admissions officers a strong sense of what your chosen value means to you. Remember, within your application as a whole, the point of the essay is to set yourself apart even from other smart, talented applicants. Since everyone is going to be writing about the same three given values in their responses, make sure it’s clear how your experiences have shaped your own personal understanding of the value you select. 

Including a personal overall takeaway will help admissions officers see why the experience you’ve described speaks to the kind of Caltech student you’ll be. Remember, their job is to visualize how you will contribute to their school for the next four years, so make sure you explain how something that took place in the past continues to influence you today.

Mistakes to avoid:

The most important thing to avoid in your response is vagueness. If you speak only in general abstract terms about the value you’ve selected and fail to incorporate detailed, illustrative examples, your essay may end up sounding preachy, or like a Hallmark card.

The other, slightly more subtle mistake you want to watch out for is not drawing an obvious connection between your experiences and the value you’ve selected. For example, say that in the snowshoeing example you spent all 400 words describing how beautiful the northern lights are, and didn’t say anything about how grumpy you were at the start of the snowshoeing trip. Your reader wouldn’t have any idea how this story reflects your open-mindedness.

As long as you follow the brainstorming tips we’ve provided above and rely on strong descriptions once you start writing, you should be unlikely to fall into these traps and should be well on your way to a personal, engaging essay.

Prompt 5 (Optional)

If there are aspects of your life or social or personal identity that you feel are not captured elsewhere in this application, please tell us about them. (150 words).

While we typically encourage students to respond to optional prompts, there’s no need to write additional information here if you feel that your application already captures your identity adequately.

This is a variation on the common diversity prompt . Unlike the previous prompts, this prompt has a 150-word limit, so if you choose to respond to it, you’re going to have to be more succinct.

Think about communities that you’re a member of, especially those that have played a role in your development as a person. These communities can be physical environments, like the neighborhood you grew up in, or communities defined by attributes, like your ethnic group or gender identity. Remember, identity encompasses a wealth of attributes.

Aspects of identity include traditional markers of diversity, such as ethnicity/race, country of origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, your first language, and an illness/disability. However, aspects of identity also include your hometown, socioeconomic class, groups you’re part of, and even your interests or hobbies.

A quick note if you intend to write about your racial background: In June 2023, the United States Supreme Court struck down the use of affirmative action in college admissions. The ruling, however, still allows colleges to consider race on an individual basis, which is one reason many schools are now including diversity prompts as one of their supplemental essay prompts. If you feel that your racial background has impacted you significantly, this is the place to discuss that.

Because of the wording of the prompt, you might also choose to write about an aspect of your life that isn’t related to ideas of identity. These can include life-altering events, important social interactions you’ve had, or formative experiences.

After you’ve settled on an aspect of identity or an event you deem important enough to write about, consider some questions to help direct your writing:

1) What is the strongest emotion you feel about your chosen aspect of identity or event?

2) Is there a skill, ability, or talent you have due to this aspect or event?

3) Have you developed or strengthened any personality traits as a result of this background? If so, what are they and how have they changed over time?

You don’t necessarily have to include any or all of this information in your response, but if you’re having trouble putting the importance of your chosen aspect/event into words, these questions might inspire some ideas.

Once you’ve chosen a topic and have some idea of how you intend to describe it and its importance, it’s time to write. There are two strong approaches to writing this response:

• The first approach involves doing something totally novel. You might want to pick a completely new aspect of your identity or life event that is fully distinct from one previously mentioned in your application. For example, if you mentioned your gender identity already, you may choose to write about your ethnic background here. This can be a useful approach if certain parts of your identity hold a similar level of importance to you.
• The second approach involves building a previously mentioned attribute/event. Perhaps there is an aspect of your identity that is related to the one you just wrote about, but distinct enough to warrant a new essay. Maybe you talked about being Hispanic somewhere in your application previously, and now want to write about the Spanish language. The language you speak might be an integral part of your identity. It isn’t the same as your ethnic background, even if the two are closely linked, so something like that would be fair game for this prompt.

Though this response is really whatever you want it to be, there are some things you’ll want to try not to do. Remember to avoid simply listing aspects of your identity without elaboration, writing too much about something negative, and discussing a topic that’s too clichéd.

This is another chance to showcase who you are. During the admissions process, there aren’t too many of these opportunities, so make the most of them!

Prompt 6 (Optional)

When not surveying the stars, peering through microscopes, or running through marathons of coding, caltech students pursue an eclectic array of interests that range from speedcubing to participating in varsity athletics to reading romance novels. what is a favorite interest or hobby and why does it bring you joy (100 words).

This prompt is meant to gauge who you are beyond your grades and test scores. It’s an optional prompt, but we strongly recommend writing a response to it, as this gives the admissions committee more knowledge about you.

Caltech wants to know what interests you outside of school, and what hobbies you might bring to their campus. Your hobbies don’t necessarily have to be traditional extracurricular activities, but you might still want to look at our guide to writing the extracurricular activities essay for some tips!

Before you begin writing, it’s important that you select a strong topic. Of course, you need to be sincere. Don’t write about a topic you don’t consider a hobby just because you think the admissions committee wants to read about it. An authentic topic will always make for a better essay than an extravagant one. Make a list of your most meaningful hobbies and consider the following questions:

1) Which hobby on your list have you shown the most commitment to? Which has been most influential in your development?

2) What is the strongest emotion you feel about this hobby?

• Why do you feel this emotion?
• Has that emotional response changed over time? If so, how and why?
• What emotions do you feel during the activity?

3) What thoughts and feelings go through your mind while you participate in this hobby/activity?

4) Have you developed or strengthened any personality traits as a result of this hobby? If so, what are they and how have they evolved over time?

5) Have you developed any skills due to this hobby? These can include soft skills such as critical thinking, public speaking, work ethic, and teamwork, or hard skills, which are specific to whatever domain your hobby is a part of.

6) What impact has this hobby had on the rest of your life (other activities, social life, academics, etc.)?

Once you’ve chosen your hobby, think about how you want to structure your essay. You only have 100 words, which is a very small space to work within, so you’re going to have to be concise. The prompt specifically asks why this interest brings you joy, so you’ll definitely want to include a response to that question.

You have some flexibility in the way you respond to this prompt. You might explicitly state what you enjoy about the hobby, or perhaps you’ll talk about some of the activity’s outcomes that have brought you fulfillment.

Consider this response from a hypothetical student:

“My fingers pluck each string deliberately but delicately. My foot taps quietly along, keeping rhythm like a metronome. I am at peace, once again practicing classical guitar like I have every day for the past ten years. That seems long already, but there is still so much to learn.

As each mellifluous note wafts through the air, I am filled with the joy of knowing there is another technique to master, another piece to play, another obstacle to conquer. Playing classical pieces is more than a hobby; it is a challenge, an opportunity to honor something that transcends time.”

This is a strong response for a number of reasons:

• First, it uses very evocative language to great effect, painting a picture of the hobby in question.
• Second, it describes in detail the emotions the hobby evokes and the reason it elicits joy in the student.
• Finally, it showcases the student’s perspective in a way that cannot be misconstrued. This student is clearly intellectually stimulated by this hobby, dedicated to it, and industrious when it comes to practicing—all excellent qualities to bring to Caltech.

You should strive to do the same things in your essay. Use imagery to your advantage, be specific when discussing your emotions, and try to describe your emotional response to the hobby in a way that reveals something about your personality.

You want to craft an effective essay, so you should note a few common mistakes to avoid:

• Don’t pick the wrong activity! Bad activities include: hobbies you’ve already written about somewhere else in your application, impressive-sounding hobbies you don’t actually participate in, and hobbies you haven’t actually put that much time into.
• Don’t just describe the interest without elaborating on its impact on you. You might get caught up in your anecdote when writing, but don’t forget to explain the hobby’s significance.
• Don’t just list your accomplishments within the hobby. You shouldn’t simply provide a list of things that make you look good superficially. You want to show your personal perspective and growth by discussing your emotional response to your chosen hobby and how the hobby impacts your life.

Structurally, take a reflective approach and really analyze your thoughts and feelings about the hobby. Since you only have 100 words to work with, avoid writing more than one anecdote. You need to be concise in your language, but as long as you can provide a good reflection and describe what it is about your hobby that brings you joy, you will be fine.

Prompt 7 (Optional)

Did you have a hard time narrowing it down to just one interest or hobby we understand – caltech students like to stay busy, too – tell us about another hobby or interest (50 words).

This prompt is also optional, but it’s a great chance to describe something else you’re passionate about. If you were stuck on the previous prompt, struggling to choose between two hobbies that are really important to you, you can describe the second one here.

Bear in mind that this prompt has only 50 words, half the words you had for the previous prompt. If you decide to write a response to this prompt, you have to be extremely precise in your word choice. Consult the guide to the previous prompt above, CollegeVine’s guide to writing the extracurricular activities essay , for more in-depth tips on how you should craft your essay.

Consider the following example response:

“My fingers pluck each string deliberately but delicately. I am at peace, practicing classical guitar like I have daily for the past decade. As notes float through the air, I’m filled with the joy of knowing there is another technique to master, another piece to play, another obstacle to conquer.”

This response is the previous example response adapted to fit the smaller word limit. Notice that it still defines the hobby, paints a picture of the activity, and describes the student’s emotional response when participating in the activity. Of course, the reduced word count means that this essay reveals a bit less about the student than the previous version, but it still answers the prompt well.

Where to Get Your Caltech Essay Edited

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

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

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

Pomona College 2023-24 Supplemental Essay Guide

Early Decision: Nov 15

Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 8

You Have: 

Pomona College 2023-24 Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: 2 essays of 150 words each, 1 essay of 250 words

Supplemental Essay Type(s) : Why , Oddball, Community

The Pomona-specific essay prompts for those applying for Fall 2024 admission include an academic interest statement (max. 150 words); a short-response essay (max. 150 words); and a longer-response essay (max. 250 words).

(1) academic interest statement: what do you love about the subject(s) you selected as potential major(s) if undecided, share more about one of your academic passions..

This prompt is asking you to describe what you want to major in and explain why you like it so much that you’re willing to dedicate four years of life to its study. The admissions officer reviewing your application will likely expect you to connect your intended major to some prior experience and/or passion as well, so tell a story. The essays that stick with us are the ones that jump off the page with concrete descriptions from real life. What interests you and why? How have you gone about learning more about your subject of interest? What will this degree allow you to do (if you’re going in decided)? How have you already explored your inclination? While you don’t need to narrow in on the exact moment you became interested in geology or music education, try to focus on one significant experience. Your story should showcase your unique connection to your chosen course of study. 

(2) Short-Response Essay: choose to respond to one of the following three prompts in 150 words or less:

At pomona, we celebrate and identify with the number 47. share with us one of your quirky personal, family, or community traditions and why you hold on to it..

The fun thing about community essays like this one is that the word “community” can refer to many kinds of groups/cultures/online clubs—if you’re connecting to others, that’s a community! The tradition you choose to discuss could be from an established community like your church or mosque, but it could also be from any other group you consider yourself a part of. Maybe you found an important group of friends and mentors once you got into artistic swimming and you are now the proud owner of a cherished good luck charm that will accompany you to college next year. Or perhaps you have a family tradition of playing a game of basketball after Thanksgiving every year. Do you look forward to it? Would it still be Turkey Day without your uncle’s famous alley-oop? If you’re drawing a blank, try to list out a few individual people who have impacted your life for the better. Then try to fit them into a larger community. How have your Twitch followers enriched your gaming experience? How can you lead admissions to a new way of understanding the person you are today?

What item are you excited to bring with you to college?

Do not overthink this prompt, dear applicants, for it is just another opportunity for admissions to get to know you better. If an item immediately comes to mind, we say run with it. If nothing comes to mind, fear not; you can work backward. Is there an element of your life, dreams, or personality that you have yet to share with admissions? Which item unlocks a story that demonstrates that aspect of your identity? You might be excited to bring a souvenir to campus that will serve as an icebreaker for meeting fellow students. Maybe you’re more of a mental health advocate and want to share how you’re bringing a weighted blanket to help ease potential anxiety. Perhaps making bracelets has always helped you to clear your mind and ground yourself in the present moment. Will you be bringing three packs of embroidery floss to campus? This prompt is so open-ended that anyone can make it their own, including you!

Describe a time when you felt empowered or on top of the world?

Pomona College wants to know about a time when you felt empowered. What happened? How were you feeling? How did you grow from the experience? What skills did you develop? What did you learn? Maybe you stepped out of your comfort zone to audition for the school play and were, to your surprise, cast in a leading role. Perhaps you learned first-hand that great risks can yield great rewards and you plan to take that mindset with you to college. Did you bond with a student you tutored after school as part of a volunteer program? Maybe you continued to help him with his homework long after the program ended, cheering him on when he made Honor Roll for the first time, an achievement he never foresaw for himself. Whatever your top-of-the-world-moment is, don’t forget to connect it in some way to the type of college experience you hope to have at Pomona.

(3) Longer-Response Essay: choose to respond to one of the following three prompts in 250 words or less:

In the past few years, is there something you have changed your mind about why.

Admissions wants to know that you can view life from different perspectives by reflecting on your own behavior, values, and thought processes and drawing conclusions that best align with your values. As you consider this prompt, think back on those impassioned “aha!” moments that forced you to drastically re-examine a long-held belief. As you tell your story, include sensory details to bring your experience to life and help them connect with you. Applicants who can articulate their thoughts and feelings while showcasing malleability and willingness to thoughtfully consider the ideas of others will likely stand out as valuable additions to the Pomona College community. If this prompt jumps out at you because you have a very specific story to tell or opinion to voice, lean into it!

Reflecting on a community that you are part of, what values or perspectives from that community would you bring to Pomona?

This is a classic community essay, through and through. While it’s similar to the tradition question above, it also asks you to dive deeper into a community you’re a part of and explain how they affect you (and vice versa)—with that in mind, it might be a good idea to select a different community than the one discussed in that answer! Where do you come from? What has shaped you as a person and how has that made your perspective unique? What traditions or aspects of your community would you like to share at Pomona? What you address can be reflective of larger cultural constructs or as specific as an ideology shared by your community theater troupe. Consider why your particular background or experience will be useful in an academic setting. How will it help inspire and/or inform others? Were you raised in an intentional community? Do you identify as a BIPOC? Have you lived on three different continents? What do you believe and how will your worldview bring something of value to the community at Pomona?

What strength or quality do you have that most people might not see or recognize?

This prompt is the perfect outlet for you to showcase your more personal skills and/or quirks. If you choose to respond to this prompt, have fun with it! Maybe you’ve always had an uncanny talent for reading body language. Do your friends refer to you as a “mind reader”? Maybe you have a knack for bringing people together and making them feel included. How do you foster an inclusive environment? If nothing immediately comes to mind, try working backward: What do you want admissions to know about you? What is one trait you’re proud to embody? What kind of impact would you like to have on the world? Your answers to these questions will likely lead you to a quality response (pun intended).

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