Tips on How to Answer Supplemental Essays on College Applications
Exclusive Supplemental Essay Example with Commentary
This email is written by Program Director Jasmine Ngo
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What's the most effective approach for addressing supplemental essays?
These additional essays offer a valuable opportunity to further introduce yourself to college admissions officers. In addition to your primary application essays, they allow you to provide deeper insights into your personality and make an effective case for your admission to their campus.
In this email, I will provide you with tips for crafting impressive responses to supplemental essay questions.
Let's examine a sample supplemental essay from a Stanford College application.
Prompt: The Stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. Reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning. (250 words)
Jasmine’s Commentary:
This supplemental essay is strong in showcasing the student’s genuine passion for learning, evident in their self-driven exploration of AI during the COVID lockdown and their remarkable dedication to completing a Stanford course in 3 weeks.
The essay details their hands-on involvement in an AI project at Stanford, displaying their commitment to applying knowledge to real-world challenges. The student showed genuine enthusiasm for their experience and didn’t just use this opportunity to simply list academic achievements.
Their focus on making AI serve social science research and underprivileged communities aligns with Stanford's values. The student’s desire to learn, experiences, and aligned values pique colleges' interest to see what this student can contribute to their school.
Here are some tips on how to approach Supplemental Questions
Be Authentic
Write about experiences or ideas that genuinely excite you. Admission officers appreciate sincerity and can easily tell when something isn’t sincere. Share what genuinely drives your curiosity and interest.
Show with experiences
Instead of listing achievements, narrate a specific story or personal experience that illustrates your enthusiasm. Use anecdotes, examples, and vivid descriptions to make your essay memorable.
Understand the College’s Values
Customize your essay to align with the values and culture of the college you're applying to. Explain how your interests and goals complement the institution's mission.
Why does this Matter?
Reflect on the significance of your chosen experiences or ideas. Why is it exciting to you? What have you learned, and how does it relate to your future goals?
Connect Past, Present, and Future with Character Development
Show how your past experiences and excitement shape your future ambitions. Create a narrative that demonstrates a sense of purpose and personal growth.
Why this College?
In essays asking about your fit with a particular college, focus on what you can contribute to the community and how you see yourself thriving there. To avoid saying things other students would mention, connect your experiences to the college’s main values. Show more interest outside what is mentioned on the college’s brochure.
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