university of buffalo supplemental essay

• School of Social Work >
• Admissions >
• Application Requirements >
• MSW Application Process >

Application Essay Guidelines

Your personal statement essay is an important component of your application. The essay must include critically reflective responses to the below four (or five, if applicable) questions. 

Required Essay Questions

• Briefly, yet critically, discuss a social issue or problem that is important to you and motivates your decision to pursue an MSW degree.
• A key part of the UB School of Social Work’s mission is promoting social justice as one of the six core social work values outlined in the Code of Ethics. Please discuss how your lived experience has contributed to your understanding of social justice. In your response, you may include how race or other factors have impacted your life, whether through discrimination, inspiration or otherwise.
• Tell us why you are pursuing the profession of social work at this time, and why the UB School of Social Work's MSW degree program is a good match for you.
• What personal skills and knowledge, and/or professional and academic experiences have prepared you for a graduate level social work degree program?
• Undergraduate GPA below 3.0; 
• Low or failing grades (for example, D, F, U); 
• Been on academic probation; 
• Dismissed from, or denied readmission to any college or department major,

Please explain the issue(s) and  be specific  as to how you have addressed it and your readiness to move into graduate level study.

Formatting your Essay

• DO NOT use a question and answer format. Write a full essay answering ALL questions above.
• Questions may be answered in any order to fit the narrative of your essay. 
• Your essay should be double spaced, in 12-point font. 
• Please keep your answers to the first four questions to no more than 7 pages double-spaced.  

• University Honors College >
• Admissions >

Honors students stand out—and stand apart. Show us your intellectual curiosity; your commitment to diversity, inclusion and civic engagement; your resilience in the face of adversity; and your ownership of your own education, and you could be one of those selected to join the Honors College.

What We Look For

The Honors College aims to build a community that is diverse in its talents, interests and backgrounds. Successful applicants typically: 

• Represent the top 10% of incoming first-year students.
• Are intellectually curious.
• Demonstrate a commitment to civic engagement.
• Have shown resilience.
• Take ownership of their education.

If you’re interested in joining this highly talented community—if this is exactly the kind of extraordinary experience you’ve hoped to find in a college—your first step is to apply.

How to Apply to the Honors College

First-year students (current high school students), apply to ub.

Interested students must apply for  admission to the University at Buffalo.

Coalition for College

If you’re submitting the Coalition for College application, you can apply to the Honors College in the Academics section.

If you’re submitting the Common Application (Common App), you can apply to the Honors College in the Academics section.

If you’re applying with the State University of New York (SUNY) Application, please complete the Honors College supplemental application .

Honors Essay

As part of the application process, we ask you to write an essay so we can learn more about you.

Early Assurance & Dual Admissions Programs

UB and the Honors College offer a number of programs that can help you earn multiple degrees, or get admitted to a specific program.

Deadline for Merit Scholarships

To be considered for a merit scholarship, your general application for admission to the University at Buffalo (either SUNY or Common Application) must be on file and complete (including all supplemental materials) by Dec. 8, 2023.

Rolling Admissions

Offers of admission to the Honors College are made on a rolling basis. Preference is given to applications received by Dec. 8, 2023.

Some students start their first year at UB as non-Honors students, and then apply to the Honors College after their first year. While this is always an option, we encourage you to apply to the Honors College as you’re applying to UB, so you have all of the opportunities available to Honors scholars.

Transfer Students and Current UB Students

If you are transferring to UB from another college or university, or you're currently attending UB, we welcome you to apply for the Honors College. Transfer students and current UB students follow the same application process for the Honors College; the only difference is that transfer students must also be admitted to UB.

Oct. 1 for fall admission.

March 1 for spring admission.

Application Requirements

• Transfer students and current UB students are welcome to apply to Honors once they have at least 45 completed credit hours (including transfer and AP credits). While students can apply any time after that point, we find that our most successful admits apply when they have three or more semesters remaining until graduation.
• GPA of at least 3.5.
• One letter of reference from faculty submitted to [email protected] . Letters from TAs, graduate students, academic advisors, employers and coaches will not be accepted.
• There is more to being a UB Honors scholar than earning good grades. In 500 words or less, please share what you believe defines an Honors scholar outside of academic achievement  and how your undergraduate activities, choices and plans align with that description.
•  One of the hallmarks of the UB Honors College is our students' intellectual curiosity. In 500 words or less, discuss one current topic/issue that interests you and how it might be approached from multiple perspectives or disciplines.
• A completed  Honors Program Application for Transfer Students and Current UB Students .

Attend an Information Session

Please plan to attend an information session if you are interested in applying to the Honors College as a current UB student. Transfer students are also welcome. Information sessions are typically held during the first week or two of each semester. You do not have to pre-register for in-person sessions (only for remote sessions.)

All aspects of the application process and requirements will be covered at these meetings.

• Fall 2024 information sessions TBA

Singapore (UB-SIM) Students

We welcome UB Singapore students to apply for the Honors College.

When to Apply

• No incoming first-semester students (including transfer students) will be admitted immediately in the fall.
• The application period will open after the end of spring semester to continuing students admitted in the Spring semester or prior. (For example, for Fall 2024 admissions, we will accept applications from students admitted in Spring 2024 or earlier.)
• Ideally students should have four or more semesters remaining before graduation.
• Transfer credits are acceptable and students should submit a copy of their transfer work transcript with their application along with their UB transcript.
• UB GPA of at least 3.5.
• One letter of reference from UB faculty, including local instructors teaching for the SIM-UB program, should submitted to  [email protected] . Letters from TAs, graduate students, academic advisors, employers and coaches will not be accepted.
• There is much more to being a UB Honors Scholar than earning good grades. In 500 words or less, please share what you believe defines an Honors Scholar  outside of academic achievement , and how your undergraduate activities, choices and plans align with that description.
• One of the hallmarks of a UB Honors Scholar is our students’ intellectual curiosity. In 500 words or less, discuss one topic/issue today that interests you, and how it might be approached from multiple perspectives or disciplines.
• A completed  Honors Program Application for Singapore (UB-SIM) Students .

Admissions Decisions

SIM-UB Honors applications will be evaluated by a committee that includes Honors College and International Education staff. Students will be selected by:

• Overall GPA
• Strength of schedule
• Consistency, breadth, and depth of extracurricular activities
• Demonstration of leadership potential
• The quality of the essays

Important Dates

• June 1 – Spring grades can be taken into consideration
• Aug 1 –Releasing decision by early August will allow students to plan their Fall courses to include HON255 before the start of Fall semester.
• The Singapore application will be open from June 1 through July 1.

For More Information

University Honors College

106 Capen Hall

Phone: 716-645-3020; Fax: 716-645-3368

Email: [email protected]

UB Undergraduate Admissions

Supplemental Application

Before attempting to log into the application system, please read the information below.

The Supplemental Application is intended for (1) new domestic transfer students and (2) current UB students who are seeking admission to the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS).

The Supplemental Application is not intended for the following student groups:

• Domestic freshman applicants: please see the UB Office of Admissions
• International freshman and transfer applicants: please see the UB Office of International Undergraduate Admissions
• Readmission applicants: students previously enrolled within a SEAS degree program should consult http://engineering.buffalo.edu/home/academics/undergrad/admissions/readmission.html

In order to log in to the application system you will need to have been admitted to the University at Buffalo and have received your UBIT username and password.

The recommended deadline to submit a Supplemental Application for Fall 2024 is August 11, 2024. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to process applications submitted after this date. This application will close 3 days before the start of the semester.

A confirmation page will display and you will receive an email confirmation after you submit your application. If you do not see this confirmation page then your application was not successfully submitted and you must fill out the form and submit again.

Admissions decisions are posted electronically in the application system. You may log back in periodically to receive information about your decision. You will receive notification by email when the status of your application is updated.

Integrity Matters. Statements and documentation submitted with this form fall under the university’s academic integrity policy , and supplying falsified information or documents may result in sanctions, up to and including expulsion.

Questions? Please direct any admissions questions to the School of Engineering Office of Academic Affairs , 410 Bonner Hall, (716) 645-2775 or email [email protected] . Please have your UB person number and UBITname ready.

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SUNY Application Tips: How to Apply, Deadlines, and More

The State University of New York system of colleges—commonly known as SUNY—encompasses some 64 different campuses throughout New York. These campuses include research universities, community colleges, and even specific programs housed at other universities like Cornell.

Though this means that students who want to attend SUNY schools have plenty of choices, it also means that the SUNY application can feel something like a maze of options. Which school do you need? Which application should you fill out? Are you applying to one school or many?

If you're thinking of attending one of these 64 schools and need assistance filling out the SUNY application, this guide is here to help. We'll be covering admissions requirements, which schools require supplemental essays, and some helpful information for filling out your application.

Feature Image: CC-BY-SA-3.0 / Matt H. Wade at Wikipedia

Despite having 64 different campuses, the SUNY system's application is fairly straightforward. Most students who apply to schools in the system use applySUNY , a proprietary application developed specifically for SUNY. You can use applySUNY to apply to almost any college within the SUNY system.

However, there are a few schools that require their own applications :

• Cornell University, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences (Universal or Common Application)
• Cornell University, College of Human Ecology (Universal or Common Application)
• Cornell University, College of School of Industrial & Labor Relations (Universal or Common Application)
• Cornell University, College of College of Veterinary Medicine (Universal or Common Application)
• Downstate Medical University ( Apply Yourself Application )
• Empire State College ( SUNY ESC Application )
• Health Sciences Center at Stony Brook University ( Multiple Applications )
• Nassau Community College ( Nassau Community College Application )
• College of Optometry ( OptomCAS )
• Rockland County Community College ( RCC Application )
• Suffolk County Community College ( Suffolk County Community College Application )
• Westchester County Community College ( Westchester Community College Application )

If you're applying to any of those, be sure that you look up application deadlines, supplemental requirements, additional expectations, and other information in advance. Their requirements may differ substantially from the applySUNY requirements, so get started early.

Other schools accept the Common Application in addition to applySUNY. So if you already have your Common Application filled out, you a second option if you're also applying to schools that aren't in the SUNY system. Schools in the SUNY system that accept the Common Application include:

• Purchase College, SUNY
• SUNY Alfred State College of Technology
• SUNY Binghamton University
• SUNY Buffalo State
• SUNY Cobleskill
• SUNY College at Brockport
• SUNY College at Geneseo
• SUNY College at Old Westbury
• SUNY College at Oneonta
• SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry
• SUNY College of Technology at Canton
• SUNY Cortland
• SUNY Farmingdale State College
• SUNY Fredonia
• SUNY Maritime College
• SUNY Morrisville State College
• SUNY New Paltz
• SUNY Oswego
• SUNY Plattsburgh
• SUNY Polytechnic Institute
• SUNY Potsdam
• SUNY Stony Brook University
• SUNY University at Buffalo
• SUNY University at Albany

When Is the SUNY Application Due?

Now that you know which application you'll be filling out, it's time to get into logistics.

The applySUNY application is available online and in a paper version. Electronic applications are generally faster and easier for both students and colleges, but if you have limited internet access or other concerns, it's totally fine to submit a paper application instead. Regardless of which one you choose, be sure that you include all required material!

The SUNY system is somewhat atypical in that there is no official deadline for general applications; they're accepted on a rolling basis as long as a program has openings . However, applications will close as soon as a program is full, so the sooner you can apply, the better. It's always wise to double-check the website of the campus you're applying to see if they have more specific deadlines. And though there is no official deadline, SUNY still recommends that you get your application in by December 1 .

For students applying Early Decision , application dates vary. Early Decision students applying to the NYS College of Ceramics at Alfred University or Maritime have a deadline of November 1, while students applying to Geneseo and ESF have a deadline of November 15. Keep in mind that you can only apply Early Decision to one SUNY school, so choose wisely. If you're accepted Early Decision, you have to make a tuition deposit by January 15 and withdraw your application from all other universities.

For Early Action , a non-binding early application, students hoping to attend Binghamton should apply by November 1. Oswego and Albany hopefuls should apply by December 1. All other Early Action applications must be received by November 15. For all Early Action students, the deadline to finalize their enrollment decision is May 1.

Good grades will make your application a slam dunk.

What Test Scores and GPA Do You Need for SUNY Schools?

The variety of schools within the SUNY system means that there's no hard and fast GPA and test scores guidelines for the entire system. Aim high and work hard to get the best score possible, but if you're looking to flesh out your college list with some SUNY schools, these are the average test scores and GPAs of accepted students :

What Should You Know About SUNY Essays?

Both the applySUNY application and the Common Application use the same prompts . You have seven choices, with just one required essay of 250 to 650 words.

However, some colleges require or accept a supplemental essay for freshmen and transfer students. Unless otherwise stated, the colleges listed below may require or recommend the following supplemental prompt as part of the applySUNY supplement:

Please provide additional information (up to 250 words) that will help us better understand your academic performance. You may also use this space to explain any chronological gaps in your academic history (e.g. a period of time after high school graduation before applying to college).

Always double-check with each individual school to be sure of their requirements. Additional information may be required after submitting your essay, so check in regularly to be sure you don't miss it.

Schools That Require or Recommend Supplemental Essays for Freshmen

Many of the SUNY schools require that you submit a supplemental essay with your application packet. We've listed those schools below and linked to supplement forms (if the supplement isn't available through the Common App or ApplySUNY).

Schools That Require or Recommend Additional Essays for Transfer Students

Some schools require different supplemental essays for transfer students. We've listed those below.

How to Answer the SUNY Essay Prompts

Since most of SUNY's required essays are the same as the Common Application, you can follow all the best practices for writing impressive Common App essays . However, there are some additional things to keep in mind when you're answering the prompts specifically for SUNY.

Don't answer the same prompt twice, unless you have a radically different answer the second time. Really put the effort in to ensure that your essays stand out from one another. Remember: admissions counselors want to learn about you and your future goals.

Second, tie your SUNY essay into SUNY itself. Your Common Application essays can be more general because they'll be sent to every school that you apply to, but your college-specific essays should be tied to the college your applying to.

To do this, consider making a visit to campus or browsing their course catalog and club lists. You want SUNY to know that you're not applying just because of proximity or reputation —you want to go to a SUNY school because it matters to you, not because you've heard its good.

Third, be sure that your essay is personal and unique. You may share some features with other students, including your good grades and extracurriculars, but no student is exactly the same as you. Your essay should reflect that! A good SUNY essay will be so unique that nobody else could possibly have written the same thing.

Our last tip is to dig deep into what makes you you as you write your essay. Don't just present yourself as a collection of grades and time invested in extracurriculars. What does your time spent in cooking club say about you? Is it that you love creating delicious foods that feed your hungry friends? Is it that you understand the reward of simmering something all day to bring out its innate flavors? Is it the thrill of perfecting a recipe you invented yourself?

The more specific and personal your essays are, the better off you'll be. Fill them with context and personality and you'll be on the way to a successful SUNY application.

What Does SUNY Look for in Students?

Your essay is just one part of your SUNY application. SUNY is looking for a comprehensive picture of your strengths as a student, so keep all these things in mind as you're working on your application:

Strong Academics

Grades are extremely important to a successful college application. Use the table above to find out the average admitted GPA for the schools you're applying to in order to figure out if your grades are on target. If not, start working now to improve your grades . A guide like this one can help you start making an academic plan to get your application into shape, no matter where you're at in your education

You could have the best grades in the world, but if you don't demonstrate any interest or passion for the things you do, you're not likely to be a successful college student. That doesn't mean you have to be in love with every subject, but rather that your application shows that you have interests and pursuits that you're passionate about. Let your application, and especially your essays, show that you're a person with varied passions and interests.

You can even use a " spike" approach to your application , which showcases that you're not only a good student, but that you have a particular passion that you're dedicated to honing at your chosen school. Say you're very into journalism—if you weight your application with English courses, journalism courses, time spent working on your school newspaper, and maybe even a few published works outside of school, you're showing SUNY that you're serious about what you do and that you're ready to put in the work to pursue it.

Investment in activities is great, but leadership is even better. Colleges like SUNY want to see that you're serious about your commitments, and a leadership position shows that you're confident and capable of inspiring others. If you've acted as a team captain, an editor, a group leader, or any other position of authority related to your field, it's worth including in your application and essay.

Leadership positions not only demonstrate your passion, but also your trustworthiness and ability to inspire. These are important features on a college campus, where you'll be participating in campus culture, not just being an individual in a sea of unfamiliar faces. Show that you can lead others and you'll show SUNY that you're a good person to have on campus.

Students can easily get hung up on diversity, which is often used to mean difference in race, gender, sexuality, or socioeconomic status. But even if those things don't apply to you—or if they don't feel like they're relevant to your experience—that doesn't mean that you're not a good fit.

The word "diversity" can also be applied to diversity of experience and thought. Think about your upbringing and how it's set you apart from others. Things like the size of your hometown, the number of siblings you have, or where you live can impact your thinking and experiences, too. Don't be afraid to include how your environment has shaped the person you are, including how you relate to others.

Understanding of Mission and Goals

One of the strongest ways to connect with the school you're applying to is to understand what they want to accomplish as a college. Consult their mission statement and academic goals, and even read a little deeper into the essay prompts to understand exactly what they're looking for.

Though individual SUNY schools may have their own mission statements, you can learn a lot about the system by consulting the general SUNY mission .

For example, SUNY uses words like "diversity," "access," and "traditional and non-traditional students," throughout. From that, we can deduce that SUNY is interested in providing opportunities and education to all kinds of students, not just those who are wealthy, privileged, or from the state of New York.

Keep this in mind as you're working on your application. How can you align yourself with these values, or the other values expressed in SUNY's mission statement? Do these ideas apply to you? If not, how can you demonstrate that you're committed to helping maintain and grow that mission?

Make a list, check it twice.

SUNY Application Checklist

Applying to SUNY—let alone applying to multiple schools at once—requires a lot of forms, essays, and documents coming together. If you're struggling to stay on top of everything you need to do to apply, this checklist will help get you started.

#1: Decide Which Schools You're Applying To

Make a list of schools you'll be applying to and the deadlines for each to help keep you on track.

#2: Pay the Application Fee or Request a Waiver

SUNY has a $50 application fee . If you qualify, get the fee waiver ahead of time and get it filled out so you're ready to submit it with your application

#3: Collect Letters of Recommendation

If you're submitting letters of recommendation, they should be ready to go along with your application. Ask your teachers, counselors, coaches, and so on early to be sure that you get a letter that's of good quality and that's ready on time .

#4: Complete the SUNY Application

Depending on which SUNY school you're applying to and whether or not you'll be applying Early Decision or Early Action, you may or may not have a deadline. Research your school early so you can keep track of when you need to apply! Also keep in mind it's still best to get your application in as soon as possible.

#5: Submit Supplemental Portfolio and Essays

Some SUNY schools require or allow supplemental portfolios or other materials. If you'll be submitting them, they should already be ready to go by the time you submit your application. SUNY will give you the due dates for any supplemental materials when you complete your application.

#6: Retrieve School Counselor Forms

SUNY requires a special form from your school counselor . Your counselor is responsible for submitting this form, but be sure to give them plenty of time to do so.

#7: Submit International Student Forms

If you're an international student, determine which forms you need in advance so you have plenty of time to fill them out and turn them in.

#8: Submit Academic Record

SUNY requests transcripts from freshmen and transfer applicants. You can request that your school send them electronically or by mail , but be sure you ask for them to be sent as soon as possible to ensure they arrive on time.

#9: Submit FAFSA

Submit your FAFSA application by June 30 —but keep in mind that the earlier you submit, the better!

SUNY Application Tips

This is a lot of information, but don't panic. There are some simple things to keep in mind as you're working on your SUNY application. Following these steps will help you be stress-free as you're applying.

You're guaranteed to get stressed if you're trying to cram the entire college application process into just one month. Start early.

The best time to start thinking about college applications is freshman year. The second best time is right now. No matter where you're at, take a moment to draft a concrete plan to follow, including deadlines, and stick to it.

The earlier you get started, the better. Don't wait until deadlines are already looming—give yourself lots of time and avoid stressing.

Focus on Either the SAT or ACT

Is the ACT or SAT more important? That depends on a few different factors.

But as you're getting ready to apply for colleges, don't worry too much about excelling on both . Pick one or the other to be your focus, and hone your score on that test.

Don't try to divide your attention. As long as your chosen school accepts the test you choose, it doesn't matter which test you take. Do your best on one of them and you'll be good to go.

Strive for Depth Over Breadth in Extracurriculars

You don't need a thousand extracurriculars to impress SUNY. You don't even need ten extracurriculars. What you need is depth , meaning that you've spent time cultivating an interest in something rather than doing a whole bunch of activities for the sole purpose of fleshing out your application.

Having a variety is good, but not if you've only spent a minimum amount of time on them. Chase your passions and dive deep into them rather than dipping your toes into a whole bunch of fields.

It's better to have a couple of strong interests than tons of shallow ones. If you have time, try out lots of things, but don't waste time you could spend on your passions doing soccer, baseball, piano lessons, volunteer work, tutoring, acrobatics, beekeeping, woodworking, photography, journalism, and Mathletes if only one or two of them are at all interesting to you.

Seek Strong Letters of Recommendation

Many SUNY schools allow or require letters of recommendation, but not all letters are created equal. You should be asking people in positions of authority who know you and your academic strengths to write your letters. Ask early, and don't be offended if you get a "no" in response—it could be that the person you ask already has quite a few letters to write.

Give the person you ask as much information as possible about where you're applying and what programs you're applying to; that will help them write an even better letter. Also, don't forget to say thank you—though teachers expect to write letters of recommendation, you should always express gratitude for them going above and beyond their job duties.

Keep Your Momentum Up Senior Year

Once your application is in and your transcripts are submitted, it might be tempting to take a little break from your hard work and start slacking off in school. Don't do it!

Some schools require a mid-year report, which could hurt your chances. You've worked hard to get where you are, so keep up that positive momentum to carry you forward into college and beyond!

What's Next?

Knowing what a college admissions committee is and what it does can help you write an even better application.

There's lots of advice out there about how to write an impressive college application. But what really looks good on your app ?

Understanding the college application process can ease some of the stress of applying to colleges. This guide covers everything you need to know about applying !

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Melissa Brinks graduated from the University of Washington in 2014 with a Bachelor's in English with a creative writing emphasis. She has spent several years tutoring K-12 students in many subjects, including in SAT prep, to help them prepare for their college education.

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Supplemental Essay Guide 2024-25

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

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(nyu) 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, frequently asked questions.

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

The most common supplemental essay topics are:

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

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

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

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

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

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

North Carolina State 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

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How to Write the Most Common Supplemental College Essays: A Complete Guide

Note: This post focuses on supplemental essays. If you want advice on the Common App prompts, check out our guide to the Common App essays .

Your grades are in, your test scores have been sent, and recommendation letters have been uploaded…but there’s one last component of your college applications left: the essays. For many students, essays are the final and most daunting hurdle to clear before hitting submit.

Your essays, however, are your opportunity to tell admissions officers how you want them to remember you. Maybe you didn’t do so well on the SAT, or maybe you got a lower grade than you hoped for in Honors Chemistry, but you can’t change your grades or scores.

The essays, however, are entirely in your control. There is so much freedom to tell your story and what makes you unique. Our mission at CollegeVine is to make the essay-writing as stress-free as possible. Read on for our tips and tricks on writing a college essay that will give you the best chance at getting that thick envelope!

Content overview:

• Why this college?
• Why this major?
• Elaborate on an extracurricular activity or work experience.
• Discuss a community you belong to that has impacted who you are today.
• Crafting the essay
• Avoiding pitfalls

Want to learn more about Supplemental Essays? Check out one of our popular recorded live streams on this topic.

Common Types of College Essays

Colleges will find a hundred different ways to ask a question, but most of the time, the prompt boils down to one of the following common essay themes.

Common Essay #1: Why this college?

Students’ most common mistake on a “Why this college?” essay is lack of specificity; in particular, some students will list attributes that can apply to multiple schools, which is what you want to avoid at all costs.

When it comes to a “Why this college?” essay, you need to discuss qualities and programs specific to that school. It is not enough to merely list or name-drop, however. Instead, talk about why this item is important to you. Here’s how this plays out:

What not to do:

I want to go to the University of Southern California because it is a highly ranked school in Los Angeles. In addition, I like its Cosmic Writers Club, as well as the Incubate USC program. I am especially excited about the abundant film resources.

Why the previous response doesn’t work:

There are many reasons you want to avoid a response like this. Let’s start with the first sentence: replace the school’s name with UCLA and the accuracy doesn’t suffer. What this means is that the sentence is not specific enough to USC. In addition, you never want to state, or even imply, that you’re applying to a school due to prestige or ranking.

The exception for the previous rule is if a school is ranked highly for a specific program of interest. For example, if you want to pursue creative writing and a school has the number one creative writing program in the country, you can mention this because it is a quality specific to that school. A school’s overall prestige, however, should not be mentioned in your essay.

Why else doesn’t this response work? Let’s look at the second sentence. The writer does well to mention specific programs within USC. However, the response fails to discuss why they liked these programs or how they would benefit from having access to them.

What to write instead:

As someone with a lasting love for writing and a blossoming passion for entrepreneurship, I was so excited to find a large urban school like the University of Southern California that would give me the resources to pursue both. From classes with award-winning authors—amongst them Professor T. Boyle, whose environmental fiction works are similar to those I hope to someday publish—to clubs like the Cosmic Writers Club, which unites author hopefuls, USC offers more resources than I could ever exhaust in my journey to publish my first book.

On the business side, USC is known for fostering the type of creativity and innovation needed in pursuing start-ups. In particular, I was so excited to learn of the Incubate USC program, a unique mothership of ideas that nurtures the creativity of students. With the help of this program, I would be able to pursue my growing interest in the world of start-up ventures.

Why the previous response works:

This response not only mentions programs and resources specific to USC, but it shows how the student would take advantage of these opportunities. In addition, this response portrays passion and ambition, infusing elements of the student’s personality while still staying focused on answering the prompt.

Other things to keep in mind:

• The first time you say the school’s name, you should write it out. After that, you can abbreviate.
• Avoid writing what every other applicant is going to write. For example, every NYU applicant is going to mention NYU’s location in New York City. Unless you have a unique twist on this, you should skip it.
• Don’t mention frivolous things like dorms or dining halls. Your reasons for liking a school should be more substantial.
• Do your research. For example, don’t say you’ve always wanted to go to a city if you’re writing an essay for a rural school.
• Do not copy and paste your “Why this college?” essay and simply change the school name. Many non-Harvard admissions officers have received essays from students about why they want to go to Harvard. If your “Why this college?” essay is so general that you can copy and paste it, your reasoning will not impress admissions officers.

For more tips on writing this essay, see our complete guide to the “Why this college?” essay , including a real sample essay.

Common Essay #2: Why this major? 

One of the most important things to remember is that admissions officers are not looking for a résumé. This is not to say you can’t discuss your activities and how they culminated a passion for a specific major. The challenge, however, is to use these activities to tell a story rather than a mere list of achievements.

How do you do this? Share your thought processes. Many times it is the thoughts surrounding an activity more than the activity itself that will show the reader your journey to choosing a major.

Other tips:

• Don’t ever say that your reason for choosing a major is money-making potential. If you want to mention life beyond college, then talk about how this major will help you achieve your dreams. If your dream is to produce a feature-length film and a film major will help you get there, say that. But don’t say your dream is to be a rich film producer.
• Undeclared? That’s totally okay. Just be sure to list a couple potential majors, and explain your interest in those. Under no circumstances should you say you have absolutely no idea, as that will make you look like you don’t care. For more tips, see our post on how to write the “Why this major?” essay if you’re undecided .

For more tips on writing this essay, see our complete guide to the “Why this major?” essay , including a real sample essay.

Common Essay 3: Elaborate on an extracurricular activity or work experience.

Is there an activity or work experience in your application that you have more to say about? Maybe there’s a story behind it that you want to tell. Some questions to consider are:

• How did you become interested in this extracurricular?
• What is your role in the activity or work experience?
• Why do you do it?
• Have you experienced growth within the activity over time?

There are endless angles you can pursue here, but your essay should, in short, show your motivation behind participating in a certain activity or job.

What you don’t want to do, however, is simply restate something that’s been said elsewhere. If you have already spotlighted an activity in another essay for a given college, don’t write about the same activity. Your goal here is to share new information and your breadth of experiences.

As with the “Why Major?” prompt, it is more powerful to share a story with the reader rather than to detail the activity itself.

For more tips on writing this essay, see our complete guide to the Extracurricular Activity essay , including a real sample essay.

Common Essay 4: Discuss a community you belong to that has impacted who you are today.

“Community” can mean many things, so there are many possible approaches to this prompt. Some applicants respond with a community they’re linked to through culture, and others through sports or a club.

One thing you can emphasize is personal growth—or other aspects of who you are as a person—that has come from belonging to this community. The majority of the essay should, in fact, center around how being part of this group has changed or impacted who you are as a person.

What to avoid:

• Do not discriminate against other communities in your response.
• Try not to talk about your community in broad terms, but instead focus on your place within this community.
• Avoid using the essay as a chance to complain. If you choose to talk about challenges in a certain community, find a way to give your essay a sense of resolution. This can consist even of talking about how you’ve grown as a person or learned how to confront these obstacles in a productive way.

Writing the Essay

Phase 1: ideation.

Highlights of this section:

• Thinking of an idea
• Portraying individuality
• Staying true to yourself
• General tips and tricks

Now that you’re familiar with some of the most common types of essay prompts, let’s dive into the ideation process. Here are some questions that it’s good to ask yourself when you’re just starting out, particularly when the prompt deviates from the more straightforward archetypes above:

• What makes you unique?
• What is your story?
• Is there something you weren’t able to say in your application that you think admissions officers should know?
• Did you mention something earlier in your application that you want to elaborate on?

Remember that your essays, and application in general, should read like a portfolio in which all components are complementary without being redundant. If the application is like a drawing, then the essays should contribute to creating one coherent image without sketching the same line more than once or leaving gaps in the drawing.

Don’t shy away from being quirky! The more you present yourself as your own unique person, the more likely the admissions officer is to remember you. Take the following cases, for instance:

• A football player who scores a winning touchdown in the last five seconds of the game.
• A football player who knits scarves for residents of a retirement home in his free time.

In the first case, telling this story doesn’t do anything to differentiate this football player from others. However, the second story portrays a unique student with two interests the reader might not otherwise have paired together. Individuality is the goal here.

Of course, don’t exaggerate , lie, or pretend to be someone you’re not. In particular, don’t write something just because you think the admissions officer wants to hear it. They have read enough applications to separate the genuine voices from the insincere. As such, your only job is to put your true self on the page!

Here are some other things to keep in mind while brainstorming college essay topics:

• Narratives will always be more successful because they engage the reader emotionally. They are also an easy way to demonstrate how you’ve changed and grown over time.
• If you have already emphasized something in your application, don’t dedicate an essay to it unless can share an entirely new perspective. When in doubt, choose a new topic.
• Your essay doesn’t have to be about something rare and incredible. You don’t have to have started a company or traveled the world to write a solid essay. In fact, some of the strongest essays have taken a simple, perhaps even everyday occurrence, and portrayed it in a beautiful way that shows a unique way of thinking.
• Be sure to answer all aspects of the prompt while still giving the reader insight into who you are. It’s very easy to speak about some topics in third-person or broad terms (example: “What is your idea of success?”). Don’t do this. Instead, find a way to link the prompt to your own life.

Overall, think of the essays as a way to let the admissions officer get to know you on a personal level. Humanize yourself.

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Phase 2: Crafting the Essay

• Show, don’t tell.
• Perfecting the first and last sentence
• What does the essay say about me?

You have likely heard this next tip a hundred times throughout high school, but it’s vital to writing a strong essay: show, don’t tell . The whole point of essays is to give insight into who you are and how you think. Can you effectively do that if you’re merely listing off things that happened? Nope. Let’s take a lot at two examples:

• An example of telling: The cat ran out the door, and I got scared.
• An example of showing: The doorbell rang, accompanied by the creak of the mailbox as the mailman slipped the day’s envelopes inside. I ran downstairs and threw the door open, knowing today was the day I was going to hear back. My excitement made me oblivious, though, and it wasn’t until I saw a blur of dark fur dash through the open door that I realized my mistake.

The second example takes the facts and turns it into a story. It gives the reader a sense of anticipation as well as a character to identify with and root for. That’s what “show, don’t tell” does for your essay.

Now let’s talk about the two most important parts of your essay: the first sentence and the last sentence.

Your first sentence’s job is to hook the reader. Aim for a first sentence that surprises, even slightly jars, the reader to wake them up and get their full focus on your essay. Here are some examples:

• It wasn’t supposed to be blue.
• Was the car meant to sound like that?

In both cases, the writer has intentionally withheld information, providing just enough to leave the reader wanting to know the rest of the story. What isn’t supposed to be blue? What happens next?

As for the last sentence, its job is to resolve the essay, leaving the reader with a sense of peace and finality. Give the reader one last great impression to remember you by. Here’s an example:

“I’ve learned to hold my failures close; not so close that they burden me, per say, but just

close enough that they can guide me as I journey onward.”

This sentence works because it gives the reader a sense that, though the story continues on in the form of the narrator’s ongoing journey, the story on the page has been resolved. It feels peaceful.

Now then, after you’ve completed your first draft, the next thing you want to do is ask yourself the following question : What three things about me can the reader get from reading this essay? If you’re having trouble answering this question, then the essay needs to share more about you. Otherwise, you’re ready for revision!

Phase 3: Revision

• Careless errors
• Staying under the word limit
• Getting a second opinion

You’ve done the hard work. You came up with a brilliant idea and poured your heart and soul into the writing. Now comes the tedious part: revision.

Most importantly, college essays need to be absolutely devoid of grammatical or spelling mistakes . You don’t want to give your admissions officer the impression that you didn’t care enough to proofread, especially after all of your hard work.

Another aspect that tends to frustrate students is the word limit. If you’ve made it under the word limit, great! If not, here are some methods of cutting down.

• Example: In visiting your campus, it occurred to me that the method with which you schedule your classes is ideal because…
• This can be cut down to: The way you schedule your classes is ideal because…
• Most times phrases such as “I think,” “I believe,” “it seems,” and other similar wording is not necessary and simply takes up extra space. Use your judgement, but generally, these phrases get the boot.
• Keep an eye out for the word “that.” This can almost always be cut.
• If you use a long hyphen (—), no space is needed between words. This will bring your word count down. Don’t get too hyphen happy, though!

If the above tips are not enough to get you below the word limit,  you may need to remove entire paragraphs. If a paragraph does not drive the story forward, or is unnecessary in understanding the progression of the story, you may want to remove it.

Once your essay is mistake-free and below the word limit, your next task is to send it to at least three trusted individuals. Ask them the following questions to guide their suggestions:

• Does it make sense?
• Does it sound like me?
• What does it say about me? (Check that this aligns with what you want it to say about you).

Take note of their responses and decide what changes you want to implement. Be receptive, but remember to stay true to yourself and your vision.

Avoiding Pitfalls:

• Avoid discussion of taboo subjects or things that can be perceived as controversial. Everyone is entitled to their own views, but you don’t want to chance saying something controversial that your reader might disagree with.
• Never appear discriminatory in any way. Colleges tend to be vastly left-wing and progressive.
• Don’t turn in work that isn’t your own. When does accepting another person’s edits become plagiarism? If they are rewriting entire sentences in their own words, it is no longer your own work.
• Avoid clichés! It is okay to write about a common experience (like a sports injury or service trip), but only if you have a unique take on them. Don’t write on a popular topic if you will simply describe the same lesson that everyone else learned.
• Don’t write your essay directly into the application text box or it may not save your work. Write it in a separate document and copy and paste it later. Then, double check that the format is correct.

At the end of the day, your essays should just leave the reader thinking: I want to have a conversation with this student. You want to show that you’re an multifaceted, mature person with an interesting story to tell. At CollegeVine, we’re rooting for you all the way—go get writing!

Want help with your college essays to improve your admissions chances? Sign up for your free CollegeVine account and get access to our essay guides and courses. You can also get your essay peer-reviewed and improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.

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Duke Supplemental Essays: 2024-25 Prompt Guide

Tackling Duke University’s 2024-25 application can be challenging, especially when it comes to supplemental essays. These essays play a crucial role in showcasing who you are beyond your grades and test scores, highlighting how you align with Duke’s values and community. In this guide, we’ll walk you through strategies for crafting standout responses to both the required and optional prompts, ensuring your application truly reflects your potential.

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Duke required essay prompt

All applicants to Duke University for the 2024-2025 admissions cycle are required to respond to the following prompt:

“What is your sense of Duke as a university and a community, and why do you consider it a good match for you? If there’s something in particular about our offerings that attracts you, feel free to share that as well.” (250-word limit)

Duke places great emphasis on its holistic review process, looking beyond grades and test scores to understand the person behind the application. This essay is your opportunity to demonstrate why Duke is the ideal place for your academic and personal growth, and how you would contribute to the vibrant community on campus. By thoughtfully addressing this prompt, you can make a compelling case for why you belong at Duke.

How to approach the required Duke supplemental essay

To craft a compelling response, start by understanding Duke’s core values. Duke prides itself on fostering a diverse and inclusive community, promoting interdisciplinary learning, and encouraging students to engage in both local and global challenges. Your response should be deeply personal, reflecting what specifically attracts you to Duke.

Personalization: Reflect on what makes Duke your top choice. Whether it’s a particular academic program, a research opportunity, or the campus culture, demonstrate that you’ve done your homework.

Specificity: Mention specific aspects of Duke that align with your academic interests, extracurricular passions, and career aspirations. The more detailed, the better.

Structure: Structure your supplemental essays with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion:

• Introduction: Start by stating why Duke stands out to you.
• Body: Provide examples of how Duke aligns with your goals.
• Conclusion: Sum up why Duke is the ideal place for you to grow and contribute.

Duke optional essay prompts

Duke offers five optional prompts, of which you can choose to respond to one or two. These prompts allow you to share more about your personality, values, and experiences that aren’t covered elsewhere in your application.

Optional prompts

“We believe a wide range of viewpoints, beliefs, and lived experiences are essential to maintaining Duke as a vibrant and meaningful living and learning community. Feel free to share with us anything in this context that might help us better understand you and what you might bring to our community.”

“Tell us about an experience in the past year or two that reflects your imagination, creativity, or intellect.”

“We believe there is benefit in sharing or questioning our beliefs or values; who do you agree with on the big important things, or who do you have your most interesting disagreements with? What are you agreeing or disagreeing about?”

“Duke’s commitment to inclusion and belonging includes sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. Feel free to share with us more about how your identity in this context has meaning for you as an individual or as a member of a community.”

“We recognize that not fully ‘fitting in’ a community or place can sometimes be difficult. Duke values the effort, resilience, and independence that may require. Feel free to share with us circumstances where something about you is different and how that’s influenced your experiences or identity.”

How to approach the optional Duke supplemental essays

When choosing which optional prompts to answer, select the ones that allow you to present new and compelling information about yourself.

Highlighting diversity and inclusion: For prompts related to diversity or personal identity, focus on sharing unique aspects of your background and how they have shaped your worldview. Discuss how these experiences will contribute to the diversity of thought and culture at Duke.

Demonstrating creativity and intellect: For prompts asking about creativity or intellectual pursuits, choose an experience that truly showcases your innovative thinking. Detail how you approached a problem creatively, what you learned, and how it reflects your intellectual curiosity.

Personal growth and resilience: If you decide to write about overcoming challenges, focus on how these experiences have shaped your character and resilience. Reflect on how you’ve grown and how you’ll bring that strength to Duke.

General tips for all Duke essays

Be authentic.

Your essays should reflect your true self. Admissions officers are looking for genuine insights into who you are, so it’s important to write in your own voice and be honest about your experiences and perspectives. No need to pretend to be someone you’re not.

Show, don’t tell

Instead of simply stating your qualities, use specific examples and vivid descriptions to bring your experiences to life. For instance, rather than saying you’re a strong leader, describe a moment when you led a team through a challenging project, highlighting the obstacles you overcame and the impact of your leadership. This approach not only makes your essays more engaging but also leaves a lasting impression on the reader by vividly showcasing your strengths.

Revise and proofread

Always take the time to revise and proofread your essays. Multiple drafts will help you refine your ideas and ensure that your writing is clear and error-free. Consider seeking feedback from teachers, counselors, or peers.

Don’t let incorrect grammar or awkward phrasing distract from the strength of your message. Polishing your essays to perfection will help ensure that your true voice and unique story shine through.

Expert tips from a Prepory college admissions coach

For those seeking an insider’s perspective, we reached out to one of our experienced admissions coaches, Meghan, to share some of her best tips on crafting exceptional Duke supplemental essays. Here’s what she recommends:

"Don't repeat anything that AOs already know about their own school. Commonly known stats or information don't convey why the school is a good fit for YOU ." Meghan N. College Admissions Coach

Final thoughts on mastering Duke’s supplemental essays

Duke’s supplemental essays are a vital part of your application, offering a unique opportunity to show how you’ll fit into and contribute to the Duke community. By following the strategies outlined in this guide, you can craft Duke supplemental essays that will make your application shine.

Start your essays early, seek feedback, and don’t be afraid to revise until your essays truly reflect your best self. Good luck!

How Prepory can help you

Writing strong supplemental essays is crucial for standing out in the competitive Duke admissions process. Prepory’s expert college counselors are here to guide you every step of the way. We offer personalized feedback, unlimited essay reviews, and tailored advice to help you craft compelling essays that showcase your strengths and align with Duke’s values. With Prepory’s support, you can confidently submit essays that truly reflect who you are and what you’ll bring to Duke’s community. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and take the next step toward crafting your perfect Duke supplemental essays.

Frequently asked questions about Duke essays

How long should my duke supplemental essays be.

Stick to the word limit while being concise and impactful. Each word should serve a purpose in conveying your message.

Can I reuse essays from other applications?

While you can draw on similar themes, it’s important to tailor your essays specifically to Duke. Show that you’ve taken the time to understand what makes Duke unique.

What topics should I avoid?

Avoid clichés, overly controversial topics, or subjects that don’t add value to your application. Focus on what will make you stand out in a positive way.

Contact a Prepory college admissions coach and start your college admissions journey.

Our college admissions experts are here to guide you from where you are to where you should be. Through our comprehensive curriculum, individualized coaching, and online workshops, you are set for success as soon as you connect with us.

During our initial consultation, we will: 

• Assess your student’s applicant profile and higher education goals 
• Provide detailed information about our services and programming
• Share tips on how to navigate the U.S. college admissions process 

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