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The Writing Supplement (or College-Specific Essay) Tips & SamplesCompiled by Luvon Roberson, Girls Write Now College Prep Panel Most colleges and universities, in addition to the Common Application Essay response, also require candidates to complete a Writing Supplement specific to that particular institution. These tips and samples will help you to make sure you nail that part of your college application. Keep in mind that college admissions requirements are always being updated and changed. Check with your high school college counselor and on-line for the latest college admissions requirements.The Bottom line: Why Me?Supplemental essays for college applications can take all kinds of forms, but the majority of them are actually asking a very similar question: "Why do you want to go to our college?" The question sounds simple, but college admissions officers see the five mistakes below all too frequently. As you write your supplemental essay for your college applications, be sure to steer clear of these common blunders.Five Mistakes NOT to MakeVague Language - The Essay Is Generic and Lacking DetailIf a college asks you why you want to attend, be specific. Far too many supplemental essays resemble this sample essay for Duke University at HYPERLINK "" . The essay says nothing specific about the school in question. Whatever school you are applying to, make sure your essay addresses the particular features of that school that appeal to you.Length - The Essay Is Too LongMany prompts for the supplemental essay ask you to write a single paragraph or two. Don't go beyond the stated limit. Also realize that a tight and engaging single paragraph is better than two mediocre paragraphs. The admissions officers have thousands of applications to read, and they will appreciate brevity.Lack of Focus - The Essay Doesn't Answer the QuestionIf the essay prompt asks you to explain why the college is a good match for your professional interests, don't write an essay about how your friends and brother go to the school. If the prompt asks you how you hope to grow while in college, don't write an essay about how much you want to earn a bachelor's degree. Read the prompt multiple times before writing, and read it again carefully after you've written your essay.Faulty Tone - You Sound Entitled Rather Than Interested "I want to go to Williams because my father and brother both attended Williams..." A better reason to attend a college is because the curriculum matches your academic and professional goals. Essays that focus on legacy status or connections with influential people often fail to answer the question well, and they are likely to create a negative impression.Faulty Tone -You Sound MaterialisticThe admissions counselors see a lot of essays that are honest to a fault. Sure, most of us go to college because we want to get a degree and earn a good salary. Don't over-emphasize this point in your essay. If your essay states you want to go to Penn because their business majors earn more money than those from other colleges, you won't impress anyone. You'll sound self-interested and materialistic.Taken from: HYPERLINK "" of the Writing Supplement (or College-Specific Essay)Colleges often ask for an essay specific to their institution. Whatever the question they’re asking, it’s important to keep in mind that you should craft your answer in a way that highlights why you, in particular, would be a great asset to that particular school. Swarthmore College Writing SupplementAs part of the writing supplement, you will be asked to respond to the following short essay topics:Please write about why you are interested in applying to and attending Swarthmore. (500 word limit)Swarthmore's residential liberal arts community is shaped by its intellectually and culturally vibrant members, who come together to learn and grow through their shared and unique experiences. Briefly discuss how your academic and life experiences would inform, affect, and strengthen our community of thinkers. (500 word limit)Yale University Writing SupplementWrite openly and honestly about activities, interests, or experiences that have been meaningful to you. Most importantly, write in your own voice about topics that you are passionate about. If an essay doesn't sound like the person who writes it, it will not work well as a personal statement. We read essays very carefully and try to get a full sense of the human being behind them. Concise writing is often the best writing, so please try to limit each essay to approximately 650 and 500 words, respectively, for the Common Application essay and Yale Writing Supplement. You may find the 2013-14 Yale Yale Writing Supplement essay topic below. The essay prompts for the 2013-2014 Yale Writing Supplement are as follows:Yale Writing Supplement required for all freshman applicants:In this second essay, please reflect on something you would like us to know about you that we might not learn from the rest of your application, or on something about which you would like to say more. You may write about anything—from personal experiences or interests to intellectual pursuits.We ask that you limit your essay to fewer than 500 words. Before you begin, we encourage you to go to HYPERLINK "" , where you will find helpful advice.Optional essay for prospective engineering majors:If you selected one of the engineering majors, please write a brief third essay telling us what has led you to an interest in this field of study, what experiences (if any) you have had in engineering, and what it is about Yale’s engineering program that appeals to you. Macaulay Honors College Essay QuestionsComplete two out of three, max. 500 words each:Discuss some issue of local, national or international concern and its importance to you. What are the challenges it raises, problems to be addressed and hopeful outcomes?Tell us about personal, social or family challenges you have faced. How have you dealt with them and how have the shaped your thinking?It's 4 p.m. on Tuesday. What will you do next? Write about your extracurricular pursuits. Why and how do you choose the activities you are involved in? How do your activities reflect your values and affect your school, community or the world?Hunter College Essay QuestionsTo help us learn more about you and the positive impact that you will bring to our Hunter College community, we invite you to share with us your unique qualities and experiences by responding to one of the following essay topics:Tell us about a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and how it impacted you personally. (250-500 words)Describe a specific interest or talent and how you have pursued it to date or wish to pursue it in the future. (250-500 words)Provide both an essay question and response that you already completed via The Common Application.Baruch College Essay QuestionsBaruch College is a vibrant community made up of scholars, athletes, artists, business men and women, advocates, change-makers and leaders. Share with us what special qualities or unique experiences you would bring to our campus community.It is strongly recommended that applicants write an essay on one of the three topics listed below:Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.If you could meet anyone in the world, from history or present day, who would it be and why?Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence. Topic of your choice: Provide us with both the question and the answer.Geneseo State University of New York (SUNY) Supplemental Application Personal Statement/EssayAdmission to SUNY colleges and universities requires either the Common Application or the SUNY application. Geneseo SUNY is one of the exceptions. For admission to Geneseo, you are also required to submit the Supplemental Application, which includes a Personal Statement (unable to find word limit). Personal Statement topics include: (choose one)Recount an incident or time when you experience failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn?Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you?Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.*Taken from: Swarthmore, Yale, Macaulay Honors, Hunter, Baruch, Geneseo SUNY websites ................
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