Essays have been a cornerstone part of college applications for so long that imagining the process without multiple individualized essays per school seems unrealistic. However, some schools are announcing what appear to be efforts to eliminate application bloat. Are they really, though? Amy and Mike invited independent education consultant Beth Kraemer to answer the question, “Are supplemental essays dead?”
Listen to the full episode and find links to related resources HERE before or after you review the key takeaways, topic breakdowns, and questions answered from this episode.
The pendulum is swinging: Some schools (UGA, Tulane) are dropping supplementals, citing low utility and application inflation, while others (USC, U of Arizona) are adding them to gather more data.
A strategic tool: Supplementals are a key way for students to demonstrate genuine interest and unique fit, which can be critical for admissions and yield management.
AI is a factor, not a solution: While schools cite AI as a reason for dropping essays, using AI to write them is a self-defeating strategy that eliminates a chance to stand out.
The rule remains: If a supplemental essay exists, complete it. Its presence signals a conscious choice by the school to gather specific information.
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The post-pandemic era has created volatility in admissions, with supplemental essays now under scrutiny.
Schools Dropping Essays: UGA, UVA, and Tulane
UGA’s Rationale: Low utility, student stress, and admissions team fatigue from application inflation.
Tulane’s Rationale: Cited AI use and the prevalence of consultants.
UVA: Dropping supplementals last year caused a ~27% application increase.
Schools Adding Essays: USC and U of Arizona
USC: Adding an essay on having one’s viewpoints challenged.
U of Arizona: Added an “optional” essay (which, in admissions, means “do it”).
Speculation on Identity Essays:
Cornell, WashU, and U Miami dropped essays on identity and community.
This may be a response to the Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) ruling, though no school has confirmed this.
Supplementals serve a critical function by allowing students to stand out in a homogenous applicant pool. Common supplemental topics include the following:
“Why Us?” / “Why Major?”: Demonstrates understanding of specific programs and resources. A strong “Why Us?” essay is a key indicator of genuine interest, which can influence a school’s yield. Colleges want to see understanding beyond surface-level factors like campus beauty or sports teams.
“What You’ll Contribute”: Shows how a student will enrich the campus community.
Creative Prompts: Reveals personality and thinking style (e.g., UVM’s “design a Ben & Jerry’s flavor” prompt).
Short-Term Prediction: The trend of dropping supplementals will continue, especially at large publics and less selective schools facing high application volumes.
Long-Term Prediction: Highly selective schools and those admitting by major will likely retain supplementals, as they are essential for assessing fit.
The AI Question: The role of AI in writing and reading essays remains a major unknown, creating uncertainty for students and consultants.
Students:
Complete all required supplemental essays.
Answer “optional” essays if you have something additive to say.
Use supplementals to demonstrate genuine interest and unique fit.
Avoid using AI to write essays; it eliminates a chance to stand out.
Families:
Recognize that admissions remains in a period of high volatility.
Understand that the “right” approach varies by school and year.
Consultants:
Stay current on annual essay changes for each school.
Are supplemental essays “dead,” and what’s driving changes?
Not dead but “on life support,” with policies shifting post-pandemic alongside testing.
Application inflation pressures reading loads and pushes some schools to drop essays.
AI concerns and consultant influence are cited reasons by schools like Tulane.
Optionality and removals vary by region and selectivity; chaos is the “new normal.”
How do supplementals differ from the main Common App essay?
Common buckets: “Why us,” “Why major,” quirky prompts, and quick takes (USC).
They add personality/context beyond grades/scores and extend word count real estate.
They help students reflect on fit and unique contributions, which main essay may not.
Does eliminating supplementals increase applications?
Yes; UVA saw ~27% app jump after dropping essays; UGA and Tulane show similar patterns.
Ease-of-apply drives “throw-in” apps, even with minimal school knowledge.
More apps amplify reader fatigue and selection noise.
Are some dropped prompts tied to identity concerns post-SFFA?
Several schools (WashU, Cornell, Miami) dropped identity/community prompts.
Speculation: legal caution to avoid eliciting sensitive info; no official confirmations.
Which schools dropped or added supplementals, and why?
Dropped: Tulane (cited AI and consultants), UGA (utility, stress relief, reader fatigue via Graves’ blog), UVA; Miami pared back.
Added/leaned in: USC adding “viewpoints challenged” essay; Arizona added an “optional” essay.
“Optional” often functions as expected/strategic, not truly optional.
How should students decide whether to write optional essays?
If you have additive info not elsewhere, write it; skip only when truly N/A (e.g., no hardships).
Treat included prompts as important; if a school keeps them, it’s a conscious data-seeking choice.
Don’t conflate one school dropping essays with others not valuing theirs.
How to approach “Why us?” and demonstrated interest?
Demonstrate understanding, not just interest: cite resources/opportunities you’ll use.
Include what you will contribute, not just what you’ll take (fit is two-way).
Strong “Why us?” can signal yield likelihood at DI-aware schools.
Is AI a meaningful factor in supplemental policy and student writing?
Schools cite AI as a rationale to drop essays, but AI can as easily touch main essays.
Using AI to write for you shortchanges authenticity and reflection.
Open question: how admissions offices will use AI in reading; landscape still evolving.
What’s next for supplementals over the next 2–3 cycles?
Expect more drops at large publics and mid/high-selective non-elites to manage scale.
Highly selective and admit-by-major schools likely retain targeted supplementals for fit.
Pendulum may swing back later; broader admissions “reboot” pressures are building.
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