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How to Write the Davidson College Essays 2023-2024

Davidson College has two supplemental essay prompts, one about why you are interested in the school, and the other about a topic, activity, or idea that interests you.

Since Davidson College receives thousands of applications from academically-strong students, you want to be confident your application will stand out. One of the best ways to improve your chances of acceptance during the admissions process is to submit essay responses that let your personality, beliefs, and passions shine.

In this post, we’ll share how to write strong supplemental essays to boost your chances of acceptance at Davidson College.

Davidson College Supplemental Essays

Prompt 1: There are just under 4,000 4-year colleges and universities in the United States. Being as specific as possible, what interests you most about Davidson College? (250-300 words)

Prompt 2: Davidson encourages students to explore curiosites in and out of the classroom. What is a topic, activity or idea that excites you? Tell us why. Examples may include hobbies, books, interactions, podcasts, movies, etc. (250-300 words)

There are just under 4,000 4-year colleges and universities in the United States. Being as specific as possible, what interests you most about Davidson College? (250-300 words)

Davidson’s first prompt falls under the standard “ Why This College? ” category. To answer this prompt, you’ll need to explain why Davidson College is the perfect college for you and why you’re an excellent fit for the community.

To do this, you’ll need to show both tangible and intangible connections to the university. Your essay should ultimately demonstrate how your academic, professional, and extracurricular goals align specifically with the college’s resources.

First, you’ll need to think about your goals for your college experience. These goals typically fall in one of the following categories:

• Academic knowledge
• Social connections
• Self-discovery
• Career advancement

It’s best to focus on one to two goals in your essay, especially since the word count is limited to 300 words. For instance, a student planning to major in pre-medicine and apply to medical school after college may want to focus on the areas of academic knowledge and career advancement.

Next, you’ll need to visit Davidson College’s website to research the classes, extracurriculars, programs, professors, traditions, or other on-campus opportunities that are unique to the school that can help reach your goals and create the college experience you’re searching for. These are your tangible connections to the university.

For example: If the pre-med student mentioned above is excited about career advancement and growing academically, they may be excited for research opportunities at Davidson. However, they should not write, “I am interested in the biology research opportunities at Davidson. ” In that sentence, Davidson could be interchangeable with any other university! Many universities offer biology research opportunities for undergraduate students, so this generalized response doesn’t highlight the resources provided at Davidson.

Instead, this student should write about a particular topic or research opportunity unique to the Davidson and interests them personally. It’s also important to connect the resource you choose with your personal goals. They might say, “ During my junior year, I am excited to apply for the Duke-Davidson Immunology Partnership for the unique opportunity to study the immune system with Professor Sophia Sarafova. I want to become an immunologist to help people like my sister, who suffers from Multiple Sclerosis, and I know this opportunity will give me valuable skills and knowledge to prepare me for my future career.”

Next, take some time to reflect on Davidson College’s statement of purpose and understand why it appeals to you. These are your intangible connections to the university. Think about:

• Which of Davidson’s values are important to me?
• Why am I a good fit for Davidson’s community?
• How will these values impact my life at Davidson and post-college?

Although you don’t need to answer these questions verbatim in your essay, it’s important to understand the school’s values to guide your response. For example, maybe you grew up in the Presbyterian church, so you want to attend a school that adheres to your Christian belief system. Or perhaps you appreciate Davidson College’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, specifically for the LGBTQIA community, as a student who faced discrimination because of your sexual orientation in high school.

Here are some tips for writing an excellent “Why This College?” essay:

Stay focused. You may be tempted to list all the amazing resources at Davidson College, but doing so is a poor choice of words. The admissions counselor reading your essay already knows all the resources the university offers. Instead, focus on one to two things you love about Davidson that tie in with your personal goals for college and beyond.

Avoid name-dropping. Don’t list distinguished professors, popular classes, or unique programs in your essay for the sake of naming them. Instead, explain why these resources are important to you (i.e., the unique opportunity to collaborate with a particular professor on a research opportunity in a specialized field).

Specify your goals. It’s crucial to be as detailed as possible in describing how Davidson College can help you accomplish your goals for college and beyond. As the prompt said, there are nearly 4,000 universities you could have applied to. Why exactly are you applying to Davidson?

Davidson encourages students to explore curiosities in and out of the classroom. What is a topic, activity or idea that excites you? Tell us why. Examples may include hobbies, books, interactions, podcasts, movies, etc. (250-300 words)

This prompt gives you the chance to talk about a topic, activity, or idea that excites you. The purpose of this essay is to provide the college with a glimpse into your passions and interests and gives you a chance for you to dive deeper into a seemingly small concept or idea.

You may have tons of ideas and activities that excite you, but the most crucial part of this essay is choosing one topic to focus on in-depth. If you jump around from one idea to another, you will lose your reader’s attention and diminish the impact of your essay.

First, you’ll need to choose a topic to write about. It’s important to select a topic you’re passionate about rather than choosing something because it seems impressive. After all, the goal of this essay is to show off your interests and personality to the college! The essay needs to be an accurate reflection of what you value.

For example: An avid hiker may choose to write about their goal to hike all 96 “fourteeners” in the United States before their 30th birthday. They may explain that climbing mountains is a physical and mental challenge that gives them a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.

Another approach to answering this essay is to use elegant language and sensory details to captivate your reader while describing your topic or activity. If you’re an excellent creative writer, this is a great prompt to showcase skills in a direct, interesting way.

For example: If you’re passionate about golf, think about what you can hear, see, feel, and taste when you’re golfing. Maybe it’s the peacefulness of the course at sunrise, the smell of fresh-cut grass, and the cool breeze. These elements of golf all cater to the five senses.

This student may start their essay with a sensory narrative about one of their favorite golfing experiences. Then, they should transition their essay to answering the prompt’s question: “ Why does golfing excite you ?” It’s important to focus your essay on your personal connection with the activity. Some students mistakenly focus solely on their narrative and forget to explain why that particular activity is significant to them and what it’s taught them.

When brainstorming ideas for this essay, consider making a list of all the activities, hobbies, ideas, and topics that interest you most. Then, think about characteristics, themes, stories, and sensory details that relate to each topic. Choose an activity or idea with the most depth to simplify the writing process.

Where to Get Your Davidson College Essays Edited 

Do you want feedback on your Davidson 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!

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How to Respond to the 2023/2024 Davidson College Supplemental Essay Prompts

Karla Ibarra is a content writer at Scholarships 360. She has worked as an English teacher and writing tutor. As a writing tutor, she has experience editing scholarships and college application essays. Karla graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in Communication and a minor in English.

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Bill Jack has over a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. Since 2008, he has worked at Colby College, Wesleyan University, University of Maine at Farmington, and Bates College.

Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.

Davidson College is a private liberal arts college in Davidson, North Carolina. Davidson has an acceptance rate of 18% , and a whopping 91% graduation rate. Classes are small, with a student-faculty ratio of 10:1 and an average class size of 18 students. To answer the two Davidson supplemental essay prompts, you will first need to understand the prompts in full. Our guide will help you do just that, so let’s get started with the first Davidson College supplemental essay:

Prompt #1:  

There are just under 4,000 4-year colleges and universities in the United States. Being as specific as possible, what interests you most about Davidson College (250-300 words)

The first question is the typical “why us” admission question. Remember, Davidson College already knows all about themselves, so the focus is on you here. When thinking about how to answer, we recommend thinking about what drew you to Davidson College in the first place. Did a particular program or unique experience that Davidson offers intrigue you? The key is to find a connection to the institution and write about what it reveals about you.

Research will help support your response, so be sure to check out the Davidson College website . The prompt might ask about the school, but it’s really asking about you. While writing, mention the school when relevant, but do your best to bring the focus back to you.

Also see: College essay guide database

Q uestions to consider:

• What specific programs, instructors, or events appeal to me?
• What is the #1 reason you want to attend Davidson? Take it from there!
• What is your major, and how will Davidson college help you achieve your best self in that field?

Remember, 300 words is the limit for this essay. The prompt specifically asks you to be as “specific as possible.” The admissions team is looking for a focused, concise response. We always recommend that students free-write their initial draft, and then carefully edit until reaching the required word count.

See also: How to write a 250 word essay 

Prompt #2: 

Davidson encourages students to explore curiosities in and out of the classroom. What is a topic, activity or idea that excites you? Tell us why. Examples may include hobbies, books, interactions, music, podcasts, movies, etc. (250-300 words)

The second essay seeks to learn about you through your hobbies or interests. This is an excellent opportunity to talk about anything that you’ve been into or for a long time. Think about what you like and reflect on what that says about the kind of person you are. For example, maybe you like building Legos because you’re interested in the step-by-step process it takes. You can expand this example to say that it is what motivated you to pursue industrial engineering as a major. Assembling Legos has imparted on you a tactical sense of learning that would make you good at hands-on work during your engineering studies. Applying your interest to find a deeper connection can help elevate your response. Your interests will tell Davidson what sets you apart from other applicants.

Questions to consider :

• What is an activity, movie, book, etc. that interests, and what about it draws me in?
• How will this hobby play a part in accomplishing my goals?
• Has this interest taught me anything about myself?

See also: How to write an essay about yourself 

Final thoughts

As you answer each Davidson College supplemental essay question, think about revealing and reflecting. The first prompt is all about you and your goals. State what you are interested in about Davison and how it reveals what you want from your education. The second is meant to reflect and share your passion about your interests and discover what they say about you.

Again, keep the 300-word count limit in mind when drafting. It might be tempting to dive deep into a topic, but always come back to “you.” Consider keeping your responses direct and to the point. Remember, sincerity will help you answer the Davidson supplemental essay prompts. While you are applying to colleges, don’t forget to apply for all the scholarships you are eligible for!

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Why Davidson Essay 2022-23

The Davidson supplemental essays are a critical part of applying to Davidson College . An important part of the Davidson essay requirements is your Why Davidson Essay. Your responses to the Davidson essays are a great place to show your strengths as both a student and a writer. They also help the Davidson College admissions team get to know you better!

To apply you’ll need to write two essays:

• A Why Davidson essay
• An essay about your interests or passions

The Why Davidson essay allows you to explain why you should be admitted to Davidson. With the Davidson College acceptance rate at just 18% , the application process is competitive. So, spend time and effort on your Davidson supplemental essays. Additionally, make sure you’re aware of the Davidson College application deadline and start early. That way, you can give yourself enough time to make your essays as strong as possible.

The Why Davidson essay is also your best opportunity to demonstrate why you’re interested in Davidson College over other schools. As you’ve likely noticed, many schools have a why this college essay to help admissions officers understand what specifically attracts you to their school. In your Why Davidson essay, you should highlight what makes Davidson the perfect place for you.

The “why this college” essay

The why school essay allows you to directly address what draws you to a given school. In these essays, you might want to highlight the academic program , extracurricular activities , or other features about a given school that interest you.

The Why Davidson essay is the only place where you can explain exactly why you want to attend Davidson College. So, think carefully about your response. Additionally, make sure to touch on the things that really matter to you. Remember, you’ll want to explain the specific reasons that Davidson attracts you.

The low Davidson College acceptance rate means that every element of your application matters. While your grades and test scores matter, the supplemental essays allow your personality to shine through! The Davidson essay prompts are the best way to tell Davidson directly why you want to attend. On top of that, the Why Davidson essay lets you feature your own voice in your application. 

Given the low Davidson College acceptance rate, you’ll want to make sure your Davidson essays highlight your strengths. This guide to the Davidson supplemental essays will help you understand the Davidson essay prompts in greater detail. We’ll give you tips to help show Davidson College admissions why you would be a great fit for their campus . By the end, we hope you’ll feel prepared to tackle the Davidson College supplemental essay process.

Davidson College Supplemental Essays: Quick Facts

• Davidson College Acceptance Rate: 18%
• Davidson College Rankings U.S News lists the Davidson College ranking as #15 in National Liberal Arts Colleges
• Make sure to review the required application materials for Davidson College here . 
• 2 Essays (250-300 words)
• Early Decision: November 15 th  
• Early Decision II: January 8 th  
• Regular Decision: January 11 th
• Davidson College Supplemental Essay Tip: Davidson College requires students to write two different supplemental essays. Use this as an opportunity to showcase your interests and passion that you may not highlight elsewhere in your application!

Does Davidson College have supplemental essays?

Yes, Davidson College has two different supplemental essays. Each essay is 200-350 words, and both are required in order to apply to Davidson.

You might notice that the Davidson essay prompts seem similar to those of other schools. However, the low Davidson College acceptance rate means you’ll want to craft strong essays specifically tailored to your Davidson application.

For the 2022-2023 academic year, the Davidson supplemental essays are: 

Prompt 1: there are just under 4,000 4-year colleges and universities in the united states. being as specific as possible, what interests you most about davidson college.

This essay can be summarized as the Why Davidson essay. So, in your response, make sure to answer the question: “Why do you want to apply to Davidson?” Out of the two Davidson College supplemental essays, this essay lets you show Davidson you’ve done your research. Mention specific programs, professors, and clubs that Davidson offers. The more specific, the better! 

Prompt 2: Davidson encourages students to explore curiosities in and out of the classroom. What is a topic, activity or idea that excites you? Tell us why. Examples may include hobbies, books, interactions, music, podcasts, movies, etc.

This essay lets you discuss a passion of yours that may not come across in your general application. Try to really think beyond what you’ve studied in class. This Davidson College supplemental essay allows you to showcase your unique interests. Given the low Davidson College acceptance rate, you’ll want to take every opportunity to stand out. So, use this essay prompt to show Davidson who you are and what you care the most about! 

Next, let’s take a deep dive into the first of the Davidson essay prompts: the Why Davidson essay.

Why Davidson Essay

The Why Davidson essay is a major part of the Davidson College application process. With a 200-350 word limit, the Why Davidson essay provides limited space for students to highlight their interest in attending.

Remember, the Davidson College acceptance rate is relatively low. That means admissions looks for every opportunity to distinguish strong applicants from one another. To really catch their attention, make sure you include specific details! 

Your Why Davidson essay should show that you’ve researched Davidson College extensively. So, your essay should discuss which programs, activities, or resources excite you.

You can start your research on Davidson College’s website . Read about Davidson’s offered programs and majors to see what you might be interested in studying. If you’re not sure what major you’d like to pursue, don’t stress! Look into student clubs and activities to get a sense of Davidson’s campus life. The more you can imagine your future at Davidson, the easier it will be to write your Why Davidson essay.

Making the most of your research

In addition to Davidson’s website, you can find a lot of information from different sources online. Both the College Board and The Common App have great resources to learn about Davidson. You can read all about application requirements, average costs after aid, and popular student clubs.

You can also research the many different Davidson College ranking lists – U.S. News is a great place to start.  The U.S. Department of Education also has a College Scorecard for Davidson. Here, you’ll find information on graduation rates and average earnings for alumni.

To learn more about Davidson’s history, check out NCpedia for a summary of Davidson’s early years. As you can see, you’ll find plenty of resources available to help you get inspired to write your Davidson supplemental essays.

Overall, your Why Davidson essay should show why Davidson is the right school for you. The low Davidson College acceptance rate means your essays can make a huge difference. Remember, your essays should convince the admissions team that you are a great fit for Davidson. So, before you start writing your Why Davidson essay, make sure you know why you belong on campus.

Now, let’s look at the second of the Davidson supplemental essays.

Davidson College Prompt #2: Personal Interests

The second Davidson College supplemental essay allows you to showcase a personal interest. You might want to write about a passion project or a hobby—really, anything you’re excited about. Additionally, you can use this essay to share something that may not necessarily come through in the main parts of your application. While your Why Davidson essay may revolve around what you might study at Davidson, this one offers more freedom. The second Davidson College supplemental essay asks you to showcase your interests, whether they relate to your major or not.

Picking what idea or passion you’ll write about may feel daunting. Rather than worry, try and see this as an opportunity to tell Davidson College something unique about you. Maybe you’re super interested in a specific TV show or have researched something extensively outside of school. If you play a sport or musical instrument, you might reflect on what your hobbies mean to you. Use the second Davidson College supplemental essay to elaborate on something you care about! 

Connecting your interests to Davidson’s offerings

You may choose to connect your passion or interest back to Davidson College. While not necessary, making a connection between your passion project and Davidson can be powerful. If you’re interested in a specific hobby or sport, see if Davidson has a related student club or organization.

Out of the two Davidson essays, this prompt allows you to focus on your passions. Detailing how you plan to continue these passions in college can help you focus your essay. 

Rather than worrying about the Davidson College acceptance rate, put time and focus into your Davidson supplemental essays. Consider the things you love beyond strictly academic subjects—remember, this is your chance to bring your personality in! 

Does Davidson College care about essays?

If you’re still thinking about the Davidson College acceptance rate, you might wonder how much the Davidson supplemental essays matter. Overall, Davidson cares about the Davidson supplemental essays.

However, keep in mind that the Davidson supplemental essays comprise just one part of your application. Additionally, the Davidson essays are the one part of your application you have complete control over. In your own words, you get to tell Davidson exactly why you deserve a spot in their new class.

Colleges want to make sure you’re passionate about attending and will use their programs and resources to their fullest extent. This is why many colleges, including Davidson, have some sort of why this college essay. So, it’s important to take these Davidson essays seriously. 

Essays and test-optional admissions

Additionally, Davidson College is a test-optional school. That means they do not require students to submit SAT or ACT scores. Given the low Davidson College acceptance rate, you might wonder how Davidson reviews applications as a test-optional school. 

Without test scores, colleges rely on other parts of your application to determine if you would be a good fit. So, the Why Davidson essay is crucial. Understanding your interest in Davidson helps the Davidson admissions office gauge what you’ll bring to their campus. Additionally, if you choose not to submit test scores, your responses to the Davidson essay prompts become even more important. 

Overall, we can’t tell you exactly how the admissions team will factor in the Davidson supplemental essays for each student. However, we know that colleges care about your reasons for applying. The Davidson essay prompts are your chance to show Davidson who you are and what you care about. If your Davidson essays are compelling, it will boost your overall application. 

How to Write the Davidson College Supplemental Essays

If the Davidson supplemental essays feel daunting, that’s okay! The good news is that the Davidson essay prompts are pretty similar to prompts at a lot of other schools. That means you can approach these prompts similarly to how you’d approach your other application essays. To help you get started, let’s break down the best way to approach each Davidson College supplemental essay. 

Davidson Prompt #1

The first Davidson College supplemental essay is the quintessential why this college essay. These essays can be hard, as there may be many reasons why you’d like to be a Davidson student. The most important part of writing your Why Davidson essay is to avoid generalities. Focus on one or two things that you find intriguing about Davidson, and remember to be specific!

Really think about why you’re applying to Davidson. Is it because they offer a major that’s hard to find elsewhere, or do you really love Davidson’s location? Or, maybe you would enjoy the smaller class sizes and suburban setting. Additionally, maybe you’d like to explore Davidson’s robust study abroad program . You can reference specific facts and figures as well (like the Davidson College ranking for your intended major). Start by keeping things simple: write down your top two reasons and go from there! 

Then, try to find a connection between your reasons for applying, as this will help anchor your Why Davidson essay. This can be a great place to share more about your background and interests. Let’s say you’ve been involved in a student group in high school. You could talk about your experiences and then describe how you’ll build on them at Davidson.

Davidson Prompt #2

The second Davidson College supplement essay revolves around your hobbies, passions, and interests. Some students may have a hard time choosing just one topic or hobby. Alternatively, other students may have a hard time coming up with a topic at all. No matter which camp you’re in, both are totally normal!

If you’re feeling stuck, start by thinking about how you like to spend your free time. Think about what excites you the most or what you most look forward to doing. Then, ask yourself—is this something you want Davidson to know about you? 

If you can, focus on something that may not come across as clearly from the rest of your application. Try to branch out beyond what you plan to study. For instance, you may choose to focus on extracurriculars. Maybe Davidson has a club or student group that aligns with your interest. If so, you can write about how you’ll continue exploring your interests once on campus.

If you’re having a hard time landing on an idea, look through Davidson’s Activities and Organizations page for some inspiration. Additionally, think critically about your own interests and background. Ask yourself what most defines you, and think about whether all of your key features come through in your application. Then, if you notice something missing, you might use it as an essay topic. You can also read our Essay Guides and Essay Examples and our guide on How to Write a Personal Statement for more tips.  

Highlighting your identity

The most important thing is that your essay represents who you are and what you care about. Still, with only 350 words, this may prove a challenge. Given the competitive Davidson College acceptance rate, it’s important to set yourself apart. The best way to do that is through honesty and authenticity.

You may also find that you have to edit and re-write your supplemental essays multiple times. While this may seem tedious, it’s all part of the writing process. It may be helpful to start with a rough outline, detailing what you want to discuss in each essay. This will help you focus your ideas before you begin a full draft.

Every word counts

Often, students have a hard time staying within the word limit. So, we recommend focusing on one or two bigger themes per essay. That way, you’ll have room to go into greater detail and make a stronger impact. 

No matter what topic you land on, it’s important to give yourself enough time to write your Davidson supplemental essays. Editing and rewriting may take some time, and you don’t want to rush to finish your application. So, give yourself enough time to thoughtfully reflect on what you want to write about. Then, try to write a first draft at least a month before the application deadline. This will give you plenty of time to ensure that your essays are the best they can be.

Why Davidson Essay and More Resources from CollegeAdvisor

Looking for more resources to help you tackle the Davidson essay prompts? In addition to this Why Davidson essay guide, we have numerous guides to help you navigate the college application process. 

Most students will have to write multiple why this college essays. If you’re writing more than one why school essay, check out our guide on the “Why This College Essay” here . It can be helpful to read through a number of different essay examples to help jump-start your writing process.

More useful CollegeAdvisor resources

Given the low Davidson College acceptance rate, it’s likely Davidson is not the only college you’re applying to. That’s why we have information on a variety of different schools across the country. For example, if you’re interested in attending other colleges in North Carolina, you can check out our guide here . Remember, it’s important to apply to a number of different schools to balance your college list. If you’re not sure where to start looking for other schools, read our guide on the college search . 

In addition to writing your Davidson essays, the college application process requires you to keep track of a number of college application deadlines . Try making a calendar to keep your different deadlines and requirements organized throughout the application process. This way, you can make sure you write your Why Davidson essay well before the Davidson College application deadline.

CollegeAdvisor has a wealth of information and tips to help you with all aspects of the college application process. We have resources covering everything from recommendation letters to understanding tuition and college costs to applying for scholarships . Once you get into college, we’ll help you navigate your college acceptance letter and different ways to pay for college .

In addition to a number of different guides, CollegeAdvisor has many different webinars for you and your family to explore. Topics range from college essay brainstorming to finding the right college community .

If you found this guide on the Why Davidson essay helpful, take a look at the other many resources available through CollegeAdvisor. Additionally, if you are interested in one-on-one help with your college applications, schedule a free College Admissions Strategy Session with our team.

Davidson Essay Prompts – Final Thoughts

If you want to be one of Davidson’s 2,000 undergraduate students, you’ll need to write your Davidson supplemental essays. Before you get started, it’s important to reflect on the type of student experience you may have at Davidson. Given the low Davidson College acceptance rate, you’ll want your essays to stand out. More importantly, you’ll want them to help paint a holistic picture of who you are. Dedicating time and energy to your Davidson essays is crucial. Then, you can feel confident your application represents the best version of you and your accomplishments. 

The importance of research

The Why Davidson essay lets you explain why you’re interested in Davidson. So, use it to detail how you’ll add value to their campus. Make sure you’ve done your research on Davidson, and then point to specific reasons why you want to be admitted. Envision yourself as a Davidson student. What will you explore on campus? What are you most looking forward to? This is your chance to speak directly to the Davidson admissions office, so make it count. 

Highlighting who you are

The second Davidson supplemental essay is a great way to showcase a hobby, interest, or accomplishment that you’re proud of. Given the number of applications submitted to Davidson, it’s important that your essay captures something unique. This essay will help admissions officers get to know you better. So, don’t miss this chance to ensure your application stands out.

Remember to revise

Overall, it’s important to put care into writing your Davidson supplemental essays. So, you should complete multiple drafts as you prepare your Davidson essays. When you have a draft ready, share your Davidson essays with teachers, mentors, and your family for feedback. It can be helpful to have input from the people who know you the best and are rooting for you!

The Davidson essay prompts allow you to break down exactly what you hope to get out of Davidson. While the Davidson College acceptance rate is low, writing stellar essays can help boost your application. Plus, if you want expert guidance as you complete your Davidson essays, we’re here to help.

This guide to the Why Davidson Essay was written by Senior Advisor Jess Klein . Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process .

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Davidson College 2023-24 Supplemental Essay Guide

Early Decision: Nov 15

Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 10

You Have: 

Davidson College 2023-24 Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: Why , Oddball , Activity Supplemental Essay Type(s):  2 essays of 250-300 words

There are just under 4,000 4-year colleges and universities in the United States. Being as specific as possible, what interests you most about Davidson College (250-300 words)

This brief assignment is Davidson’s version of the classic why essay, and the key to success here is solid, specific research. Spend some quality time with the Davidson website or, if you can swing it, on a campus tour . Take notes and try to find specific people, programs, and experiences that excite you. In the end, you’ll need to go beyond simply listing the things that appeal to you and make a more personal point: what do your interests reveal about YOU? Examining your notes, ask yourself: what is the common thread in everything I have written down? Is it being a part of a small residential college community? Once-in-a-lifetime study abroad opportunities? Something more abstract and philosophical? Imagine you’re writing a mission statement. In describing what you value about Davidson, how can you reveal what you value, period? Maybe an interest in the African Drumming Ensemble points at an appreciation for collaborative working environments. Or perhaps your entrepreneurial aspirations will be fulfilled by the Jay Hurt Hub for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Whatever the case may be, you should consider starting your research sooner than later; that way, you can let the information percolate as you begin your response.

Davidson encourages students to explore curiosities in and out of the classroom. What is a topic, activity or idea that excites you? Tell us why. Examples may include hobbies, books, interactions, music, podcasts, movies, etc. (250-300 words)

Davidson wants to accept intellectually curious applicants, so why not use this opportunity to rant and rave about your current interests? Maybe you find astronomy to be absolutely fascinating and you’ve been reading up on the incomprehensible (maybe limitless?) size of the universe. Or maybe you recently started learning Dutch and now you want to consume all the Dutch and Netherlands-related content you can get your hands on. When was the last time you went down an internet rabbit hole trying to research something? When were you last excited to learn a new skill? What is your favorite thing to talk about with friends and peers? The bottom line here is to discuss examples of what truly fascinates you while also reflecting on what these examples say about your personality traits, interests, or learning style.

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How to Write the Davidson College Essays 2022-2023

North Carolina-based Davidson College is a prestigious Liberal Arts institution. It is one of the best institutions of its kind in the South. The most typical question types are included in this Davidson supplement. You can either write about a subject, activity, or idea that interests you in your essay or you can explain why you are interested in the school.

You want to be confident that your application will stand out because Davidson College receives thousands of applications from outstanding individuals. Submitting essay responses that allow your personality, values, and passions to show is one of the best methods to increase your chances of acceptance.

You’re in luck whether you’re just getting started or finished with the admissions process. You can probably reuse what you wrote for Davidson because similar questions will presumably be asked on other applications.

On the other hand, if this is the final supplement you need to write, you’ll probably be able to reuse or revise an old essay! Whatever the situation, keep in mind that specifics are crucial. Concentrate on being specific because admissions officers can tell when you’re using a template. You might need to dig deeper if your essay could be about any other student or any other institution.

There are just under 4,000 4-year colleges and universities in the United States. Being as specific as possible, what interests you most about Davidson College (250-300 words)

This brief essay is Davidson’s take on the traditional “why us” essay and thorough, focused research is essential to gain success in these essays.

When writing their Why Us essays, applicants frequently do poorly because they overuse cliches, undertake very basic research (such as praising US News rankings), and include characteristics that would be applicable to any institution (such as “excellent faculty”).

Spend some time on the Davidson Website or, if you have the time and resources, take a campus tour. Make notes and try to identify particular persons, events, and activities that interest you. In the end, you’ll need to make a more personal argument than just listing your interests and addressing what they tell you about you.

You must demonstrate both tangible and intangible ties to the university in order to do this. Ultimately, your essay should show how your extracurricular, career, and academic aspirations uniquely complement the college’s resources.

You must first consider your objectives for the college experience. These objectives usually fit into one of the following groups:

• Academic knowledge
• Social relationships
• Self-discovery
• Career development

Looking over your notes, consider the following: What is the unifying theme in everything you have noted? Is it living in a modest college town with other students? Once in a lifetime, is there an opportunity to study abroad? Something more ethereal and philosophical? Think of it as a mission statement and show how Davidson fits into your mission. In Davidson, what you value about Davidson ends up showing your personal values and goals, so be mindful of that.

Davidson encourages students to explore curiosities in and out of the classroom. What is a topic, activity, or idea that excites you? Tell us why. Examples may include hobbies, books, interactions, music, podcasts, movies, etc. (250-300 words)

Use this chance to rave about your present interests, since Davidson is looking for intellectually curious people. It’s possible that you find astronomy to be utterly intriguing and that you’ve been reading about the universe’s immeasurable immensity. Or perhaps you’ve just started learning Dutch and are eager to learn everything you can about the Netherlands and its Dutch language. When was the last time you tried to investigate anything online and fell down a rabbit hole? When was the last time you were eager to acquire a new skill? What topic do you enjoy discussing with friends and peers the most?

The main goal of this discussion is to share examples of what fascinates you while also considering what these things say about your personality traits, interests, and learning styles. The most important aspect of this essay is picking one topic to delve deeply into, despite the fact that you probably have a ton of ideas and activities that interest you. You will lose your reader’s interest and lessen the effect of your essay if you hop from one idea to another.

Essays with Rostrum At Rostrum, we want to help you at every step of the college application process. The majority of students also have to write numerous supplemental, institution-specific essays in addition to the Common Application. Our expert topic and organisational guidance equip you to conquer these assignments efficiently and effectively. This overview of the Davidson supplemental essays for 2022–2023 should have been helpful, but if you’re interested in learning more about how Rostrum may assist you in reaching your objectives, schedule a free consultation right away.

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Supplemental Essays Guide: How to Write, Tips & Examples

Reviewed by:

Former Admissions Committee Member, Columbia University

Reviewed: 9/11/23

Writing stand-out supplemental essays may be your ticket into your dream school. Follow along for our complete guide on writing perfect supplemental essays for college.

If you’re working on supplemental essays, you’ve already spent countless hours perfecting your application. However, even the perfect application must be followed by stellar supplementals to get you into your dream school. That’s right, supplementals are a highly important piece of the application process - so how can you perfect yours? 

In this complete guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about writing excellent supplemental essays, including examples from well-written essays , tips for common essay prompts, and each possible length. To top it all off, we’ve also included answers to the most frequently asked questions about writing stand-out supplemental essays.

Let’s get started!

What are Supplemental Essays? 

Supplemental essays are additional writing samples that you submit along with the rest of your college application. Many high-ranking schools ask for these essays, as they are intended to be more specific than your personal statement. It’s a chance for you to further demonstrate why you are a good fit for the school you’re applying to.

How Important are Supplemental Essays?

In short, supplemental essays are an extremely valuable part of your application. Your application allows schools to see the base of your work ethic through numbers (grades, extracurriculars, awards, and more), but it doesn’t give any indication of your personality. 

These essays are your first opportunity to give your university an idea of who you are and what you are passionate about. 

Excellent essays can tip the scales in your favor, especially for highly competitive schools where most candidates have excellent grades. An in-depth, well-written essay can set your application apart from others.

What are Colleges Looking For in Supplemental Essays? 

In supplemental essays, colleges look for honesty, specificity, and the ability to answer the prompt accurately and succinctly. We will look at several common prompts that colleges often use: 

• “Why This Major?”
• Community/diversity
• Extracurricular

Using these prompts helps college admissions get a better idea of who you are as an applicant.

How to Write Different Supplemental Essay Prompts

Every college has a unique set of prompts they distribute to their applicants each year. However, most prompts follow core formats. Here are some of the most common types of supplemental essays and how to write them.

The “Why Us?” Essay

The “Why Us?” or "Why This School?” essay is one of the most common prompts in circulation. Top schools such as Brown, Columbia, and Cornell have all been known to ask applicants to answer this prompt as part of their application. So, how do you write the “Why Us?” essay? Let’s talk about it. 

When a college asks you why you want to go there, the admissions committee wants to know a few things:

• The specific things about this school that appeal to you (have you done your research?)
• How you will contribute to this school’s college life
• How attending this school will help you achieve short and long-term goals

With this prompt, avoid listing reasons you want to go to the school unless you are directly instructed to do so. This is an opportunity to show the admissions committee how much their school matters to you, what programs and courses most interest you, and how the school will help you develop your passion and achieve your goals. 

You should do thorough research on the school and consider what sets it apart from other colleges on your list . Avoid providing general reasons that could be said about any other college. 

Writing this essay is your chance to showcase why you are passionate about attending this specific school and why it matters to you. Finally, conclude your essay by explaining how and why attending this school will help your long-term goals. 

‍ “Why Us?” Essay Sample from Columbia University:

“Computer science is at the core of my academic passions and my life ambitions. What I value in life is being around brilliant technologists. At Columbia, I have worked with and befriended the most driven and gifted programmers I’ve ever met. In January, I formed a team with three Columbia freshmen for MIT’s annual strategy-game-playing artificial intelligence competition. Ben, Ryan, Koh and I spent the month reviewing matches, debating approaches and tweaking our models. More than once we coded through the night. Their caliber was clear in the subtle insights that their multi-disciplinary backgrounds gave them and they gave me something to aspire to.

I have many interests that lie outside of my intended major but that I want to continue to pursue, and Columbia provides an environment for those diverse passions. Recently, while at a Columbia math club meeting with Ben, I ran into a political science major, Mathieu. He was elated to point out the insights that a love of math granted him in his courses and his conviction encouraged me to explore the peculiar intersection of the two fields.

I love teachers who love to teach. At Columbia, I’ve seen faculty who have a love for what they do and who care about students. While touring, I sat in on a quantum mechanics lecture. Professor Norman Christ strode into the room at eight on-the-dot and jumped into a discussion of WKB complex value approximation. For three straight hours, he guided us through the intricate world of QM without any notes. His enthusiasm brightened that drizzling Monday morning. That I could follow the lecture at all is a testament to his lucid explanations and extraordinary knowledge. When I came to him with questions afterward, he helped me truly understand a topic that initially felt years out of reach.”

Why this is a successful essay: In this essay , the writer starts by talking about their major and how Columbia provides an excellent program. They continue to add how they could positively impact Columbia if accepted. Take note of how the writer lists their key topic at the beginning of each paragraph and then connects Columbia to each topic. 

This student also mentioned that they enjoyed a Columbia professor's lecture, which is an excellent way of showing their deep interest in the school. Showing in your essay that you are passionate about the program and that you’ve done your research can be a point in your favor. 

The “Why This Major?” Essay

Although this prompt is very similar to the “Why Us?” essay, your answer should focus entirely on why you’re passionate about your degree. Think of this essay as an opportunity to tell the story of how you developed your passion. Try creating a timeline before you start writing to help organize your ideas. It should look something like this:

1. The first time I thought about pursuing this major was: __________________                              

2. I started to get more serious about pursuing this passion when:___________________

3. I’m now applying to this program so that in the future, I can: ___________________

Creating a timeline can help you easily convey how important your major is to you and the journey you’ve taken to build upon your passion. 

You can also include, if it applies, what specific things about your school’s program that drew you to your current selection. However, the main focus of this essay should be how you developed your passion for the subject and what you want to do in this field later on.

"Why This Major" Essay Sample from Yale:

“Literature and anthropology are telescopes into the past; philosophy, a prism into the mind. I want to ask the hard questions: Do I have free will? Is meaning lost in translation? Is there eternal truth? What is an “I”? Am I my mind, body or something more? Literature is an empathetic account of the past, anthropology a scientific documentation of human lives. I want to find commonality in lives separated by time and space, find meaning within them, partake in the collective memory of humanity, and interrogate what it means to be human.”

Why this essay works: 

In this short essay example from a Literature and Anthropology student from Yale, the student gets straight to the point. Demonstrating the questions they have that they hope to answer throughout their education is an excellent way to show that you’ve given your major a lot of thought. 

They’ve also captured the true essence of their major in the last sentence by stating they want to “partake in the collective memory of humanity” and “interrogate what it means to be human.” Whatever major you choose, write honestly about what calls you to the subject and demonstrate that you have a thorough understanding of the genre of material you’ll be studying. 

The Adversity Essay

As one of the most challenging essay prompts, the adversity essay presents students with the uncomfortable task of recalling a difficult life experience and explaining how they overcame it. 

For some, choosing an instance of adversity can be the most challenging part of this prompt. Keep in mind that adversity looks different to everyone. Your story doesn’t have to be overly tragic to write a good adversity essay; you simply need to approach your issue from a place of growth. 

One of the main mistakes applicants make when writing the adversity essay is thinking that their adversity story needs to be overly tragic or complex. Instead of focusing on the actual adversity, your essay should mainly focus on the steps you took to overcome the adversity and learn valuable lessons moving forward. 

If a school asks you to write an adversity essay, the admissions committee wants to know how you handle a challenge. If you buckle under pressure, you may not be able to handle the intensity of a heavy workload. 

Therefore, schools want to know that you are capable of facing challenges head-on and have the capacity to learn from your mistakes. 

Adversity Essay Sample from Harvard University:

“When I was a freshman in high school, I didn't care about school or my education. I couldn't see a future where it mattered whether I knew how to say 'how are you' in Spanish or how to use the Pythagorean theorem. Because I couldn't see the point of these classes, I found myself disconnected from the high school experience as a whole, which resulted in low grades. My parents expressed their disappointment in me, but I still couldn't bring myself to care; I was feeling disconnected from my family, too.

I didn't realize it at the time, but I was depressed. I stopped spending time with my friends and stopped enjoying the things I used to enjoy. I was feeling hopeless. How could I get through three and a half more years of high school if I couldn't even get through a semester? I couldn't stand the thought of feeling this way for so long – at least it felt so long at the time.

After a few failed tests, one of my teachers approached me after class one day. She said she also noticed a difference in my demeanor in the last few weeks and asked if I was okay. At that moment, I realized that no one had asked me that in a long time. I didn't feel okay, so I told her that. She asked me what was wrong, and I told her that I was feeling disconnected from school and classes and just about everything at that point.

My teacher suggested I visit my guidance counselor. So the next day, during study hall, I got a pass to visit with my guidance counselor and told her I was feeling disconnected from classes and school. She asked me what my interests were and suggested that I take an elective like art or music or a vocational tech class like culinary arts or computer coding. I told her that I wasn't sure what I was interested in at this point and she told me to take a couple of classes to see what I like. At her persistence, I signed up for art and computer coding.

It turns out art was not my thing. But it also turns out that computer coding is my thing, and I am not sure I would have realized that had I not gone to see my guidance counselor at my teacher's recommendation. After taking computer coding and other similar classes, I had something to look forward to during school. So even when I still dreaded taking Spanish and Geometry, I knew I could look forward to an enjoyable class later in the day. Having something to look forward to really helped me raise my grades because I started caring about my future and the possibility of applying for college to study computer science.

The best thing that I took away from this experience is that I can't always control what happens to me, especially as a minor, but I can control how I handle things. In full transparency: there were still bad days and bad grades, but by taking action and adding a couple of classes into my schedule that I felt passionate about, I started feeling connected to school again. From there, my overall experience with school – and life in general – improved 100%."

Why this is a good essay: In this essay , the applicant focuses on personal development. They begin by addressing their low grades and poor mental health at a younger age and how the experience affected them. The main focus of the essay, however, is how they found the motivation to get back on track and improve their grades. 

The student has taken this essay opportunity to not only explain the poor grades that Harvard will see from freshman year but has also proven that they have the ability to pull through when times get tough. Remember, the adversity essay should focus mainly on how you’ve learned and grown from a negative experience rather than focusing on the experience itself. 

Community/Diversity Essay

Essay prompts that ask about your experiences in your community help colleges to better understand your unique perspective. Many schools aim to cultivate a diverse environment to enrich the student experience and make sure students from all different backgrounds feel welcome on campus. 

Diversity can relate to your ethnicity, culture, birthplace, health, socioeconomic status, interests, talents, values, and many other things. There is no “correct experience” when it comes to choosing a topic here. In this essay, you have the opportunity to celebrate your unique perspective.

Think about experiences that are important to your identity. For example, you could write about your hometown, a family tradition, a community event, a generational story, or whatever feels most authentic to you. 

Keep this essay authentic; avoid fabricating a story or using someone else's experience. This story needs to come completely from you and let your school get some more information on who you are.

Community/Diversity Essay Sample from Duke University:

“The pitter patter of droplets, the sweet smell that permeates throughout the air, the dark grey clouds that fill the sky, shielding me from the otherwise intense gaze of the sun, create a landscape unparalleled by any natural beauty. I have gazed upon the towering cliffs of Yosemite, stood next to Niagara Falls as the water roars, succumbing to the power of gravity, and seen the beaches of Mexico basked in moonlight, yet none of these wonders compares to the simple beauty of an Arizona rainstorm. To me, our rain represents more than humidity and darkness; its rarity gives it beauty. The uncertainty of when the next day of rain will come compels me to slow down, and enjoy the moment.

Out of the three realms of time; past, present, and future, the present is the only one we can experience, and I take advantage of every moment I have. When I pause my running to enjoy a sunset that dazzles the sky with brilliant colors of purple and orange, when I touch my brush to a canvas and focus on my movements in the present, when I drive home after a long day of improving our robot, and decide to drive around my neighborhood to finish “Garota de Ipanema”, which just popped up from my playlist of 700 songs, I am taking advantage of the moment.

So next time it rains, step outside. Close your eyes. Hear the symphony of millions of water droplets. And enjoy the moment.”

Why this is a successful essay: This essay is an excellent example of pulling a unique experience from your life and expressing its importance. The applicant tells a compelling story about their unique perspective on rain in Arizona and does an excellent job of expressing how special the seemingly mundane event is to them. 

The language used here is visually descriptive, which makes the reader feel as if we are experiencing the event with the writer. This is an excellent way to get the admissions committee to feel connected to your story and get a better understanding of who you are and what you enjoy doing in life. 

The Extracurricular Essay

Many schools are interested in how you spend your time outside of the classroom. Extracurricular essays are quite common as supplemental essays, although students often struggle with how to make an entire essay out of their extracurricular activities. That’s why it’s important to brainstorm and create a story.

Think of a problem that arose while you were participating in one of your extracurricular activities, such as:

• Your sports team lost an important player
• You were injured during a dance recital
• Your music group needed funding 
• Your local soup kitchen was at risk of being shut down, etc.

The problem you choose can be big or small as long as it lends itself to a story. Think about the problem and how you took steps to solve it with your team or other members of your community. 

Use your extracurricular essay to show how your passion and motivation extend beyond the classroom. You can choose any activity to write about, as long as it was not during regular school hours or related to a specific course. 

Extracurricular Essay Sample from Yale:

“ Haunted romanticism, ravaged gaze, desperation bordering on lunacy, Saturn Devouring His Son first caught my attention as a bored nine-year-old wandering around a museum, and once again as a high-school student, after catching a glimpse of it in a textbook. 

Because after looking at angelic frescos after more Church frescos, I could not stop myself from flipping back to the tiny printing of this unholy piece. I sought to discover the story behind it—what caused this artist to create something so raw and naked, in the age of staid royal family portraits?

I became immersed in unraveling each bit of the story, how Goya had long transitioned from a royal painter, to a harsh, but veiled critic of society, the desolation that occurred during the French occupation of Spain, the corruption of Charles IV— who was really only a puppet ruler to Godoy. I learned how kingdoms rose and fell—and rose again, how art is unafraid to capture the seditious attitudes of the common people, and how it has endured to teach us of past mistakes.

I fell in love with dissecting the messages from the past, and discovering how we still have not listened to them.”

Why this essay is successful: 

The prompt for this Yale extracurricular essay was “Write about something that you love to do,” and the writer has certainly delivered. Here, the writer goes into detail about why they enjoy going to art museums outside of school. They’ve kept their essay focused on the meanings behind the paintings, giving the reader a deeper understanding of not only what fascinates them - but why it does.

The real key to an extracurricular essay is showing your passions outside of school. There is no right answer; you should simply focus on what interests you and explain why. Try to make the reader feel as if they are there with you. Think about the smells, the sights, and the feelings that surround your extracurricular interest and include them in your essay. 

College Supplemental Essay Length 

All of the essay types above come in different lengths. Some essays will ask only 150 words or less, while some have no word limit at all. Here, we’ll go over how to adjust your writing depending on your word count. 

Short Essay

There is a broad misconception that writing a short essay is “less work,” which we are unfortunately here to squash. Writing shorter-form essays (150 to 500 words) can be more challenging because you have less room to make your point, and your writing must be concise. 

To write an excellent short-form essay, start by brainstorming your ideas and move on to writing once you have a solid idea of the main points you want to include. Avoid fluff, repeating the question, reciting your resume, and run-on sentences. The best short essays are honest and to the point. 

If your essay is too long when you’ve finished writing, go through each sentence and ask yourself: “Could I tell this story without this sentence?” If yes, cut it completely. If you answered no, find ways to subtract unnecessary words. Having a friend help you edit is a great way to find out which parts are making the text longer without lending anything to the story. 

Medium Essay 

A medium essay is a sweet spot. Typically, a length of one to three pages flows easily and allows the writer to include all necessary information without repeating themselves or taking anything away. 

Because of this, make sure not to go over or under the word count. Most students do not struggle to keep their writing within these parameters, so it’s important to respect them. 

Although you have more room in a medium-length essay, your writing should still be concise and flow well without including excess information. It’s always a good idea to have a teacher, friend, or family member look over your story. 

Make sure that when they edit, they are looking for things like grammatical errors, run-on sentences, and unnecessary information. They shouldn’t take too much out of your essay because you don’t want the voice of the essay to change. 

Long Essay 

When tasked with writing a long essay (three pages or more), it can be challenging to continuously provide fresh information and avoid repetition. However, repetition and dragging sentences is the main thing you’ll want to avoid in a long-form essay. To do this, you should rely heavily on planning and your thesis statement.

Your thesis statement sets up your article, allowing you to break the information into parts and tackle each step individually. Brainstorming before you start writing is critical as it ensures you have enough relevant information to fill out the full length of your paper. 

How to Write School-Specific Supplemental Essays? 

It’s a good idea to tailor your supplemental essays to match the expectations of the school you’re applying to. Here are some guides on how to write outstanding essays for specific schools: 

• How to Write the Harvard Supplemental Essays
• How to Write the Vanderbilt Supplemental Essays
• How to Write the University of Michigan Supplemental Essays
• How to Write the Duke Supplemental Essays
• How to Write the Princeton Supplemental Essays
• How to Write the Northwestern University Supplemental Essays
• How to Write the UPenn Supplemental Essays
• How to Write the University of Washington Supplemental Essays
• How to Write the Boston College Supplemental Essays
• How to Write the Cornell Supplemental Essays
• How to Write the Bowdoin Supplemental Essays ‍
• How to Write the Pepperdine Supplemental Essays

These guides will help you write stellar essays!

FAQs: Supplemental Essays

Here are our answers to some frequently asked questions about supplemental essays.

1. Do Colleges Care About Supplemental Essays?

Yes, colleges care about supplemental essays. Your writing gives colleges extra insight into who you are as a person beyond your grades. Strong essays can give you an advantage in your application to many different schools. 

2. What to Include in Supplemental Essays?

Stick to the prompt. Your response should approach each aspect of the prompt while providing genuine information about your life experience. 

Each essay prompt is different, but admissions committees always love to hear a good story. Use descriptive yet concise language to get your points across while transporting the reader into your world.

3. When Should I Start My Supplemental Essays?

You should start planning your essays as soon as you receive the prompts for each. Once you’re confident in your plan, begin writing your essay as soon as you can to give yourself plenty of time to edit before submitting. 

4. Are Supplemental Essays Hard?

For students who are not strong writers, it can be challenging to get started on your essays. However, the most important part of your essay is to remain genuine, tell your story, and be concise. 

5. How Do I Start Writing My Supplemental Essay?

Before you start writing, brainstorm and create a solid plan for what you want to include. This will help you write with ease and remain on track while you’re writing your paper. You can also look at good essay examples for inspiration. 

6. Where Do You Submit Supplemental Essays? 

If using the Common Application, you can submit your essays in the Writing Supplements section. Generally, you will submit your essays along with the rest of your application.

Final Thoughts

Your supplemental essays are an important part of your application and should be given plenty of time and attention. No matter what essay prompts you are given, ensure that you are consistently speaking from the heart and telling a compelling story. 

Keep in mind that your experiences are what make you unique, and you do not have to exaggerate or fabricate anything to craft an excellent supplemental essay.

If you are still struggling with writing compelling essays, you can always seek professional help to get assistance with writing, editing, brainstorming, and overall crafting stellar supplementals. 

Good luck with your essays!

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How to Write a Supplemental Essay for College Applications

Discover tips for tackling writing supplements, and read a sample essay from a current student.

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A supplemental essay gives you an opportunity to tell the admissions committee about something you weren't able to cover in your main essay.

Prospective students are usually aware that they must write an essay as part of the college application process . But they may not know that some schools will ask for additional writing samples such as a supplemental essay.

Avoid These College Application Mistakes

Courtney Rubin and Cole Claybourn July 26, 2023

These writing supplements are usually shorter than the main college essay , but they're no less important, experts say.

"Every word counts in getting your story across," says Deborah Davis, president and founder of Davis Education & Career Consultants LLC, based in Ridgefield, Connecticut.

Some colleges ask for just one supplemental essay while others may require several.

For example, Wake Forest University in North Carolina had six additional questions for prospective students to respond to on its 2020 undergraduate admissions application. However, a couple of the questions asked applicants to write lists – for instance, a personal top 10 list – rather than a full paragraph or two.

Supplemental essay prompts come in all shapes and sizes. In some cases, schools let applicants choose from several options. For instance, the University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill 's fall 2019-20 application included four prompts – such as "What do you hope will change about the place where you live?" – from which prospective students had to select two.

Davis says two of the most common prompts she's seen are "What do you want to major in?" and "Tell us about a favorite activity."

While word counts for supplemental essays vary, they tend to be limited.

Wake Forest has a 150-word limit for each of its supplements, says Tamara Blocker, the university's senior associate dean of admissions. UNC caps applicants' short answer responses at 250 words each, according to the school's website.

In contrast, The Common Application , a platform that allows students to apply to multiple colleges at once, has a suggested 650-word limit for the main essay and 250 words for others.

These types of written responses are more like vignettes or snapshots, rather than full-blown essays, says Stephen Farmer, vice provost for enrollment and undergraduate admissions at UNC.

"I think – I hope, anyway – that students feel the opportunity maybe in the shorter responses to worry less about form and just be a little more open with us," he says.

To help prospective students familiarize themselves with supplemental essays, U.S. News obtained an example from Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts. Ryan Sheehan from Wallingford, Pennsylvania, wrote the short piece and is a computer science major in the class of 2021.

As part of his application, Sheehan responded to the following prompt: "There is a Quaker saying: 'Let your life speak.' Describe the environment in which you were raised – your family, home, neighborhood, or community – and how it influenced the person you are today."

"As the son of two journalists, I have grown up under a lifelong inquisition: How is your room such a mess? Can you please stop chasing the cat? Will you come down from the tree already? Granted, those are all from this past year, but the point still stands. Like any good journalists, my parents have also always had a propensity for uncovering the truth. On the third night that I had my license, I decided to go to the library to study. Before 15 minutes had passed, I noticed the librarian peering at me through the shelves before quickly averting her eyes and whispering, "He's here," into her phone. Even so, regardless of how many spies they've hired over the years, I have always looked up to my parents immensely. However, I have found my inherited inquisitiveness to be a trait most useful in a place far from the realm of reporting: the robotics lab. After four years of spending almost more time in the lab than at home, I have learned that nothing is more important than asking the right questions. As a programmer, I need to be able to communicate with my builders. Come press time, if I don't interview them properly, our robot will invariably end up as a hunk of unresponsive aluminum. To make a machine, the team must work as one. So although I may be writing source code instead of a breaking story, I am glad I had such nosy parents after all."

Karen Richardson, former dean of undergraduate admissions and enrollment management at Tufts who is now dean of admission at Princeton University in New Jersey, explained why she liked this response: "This is a great essay because, in just 250 words, it shows rather than tells the reader who Ryan is and the things that matter to him. It gives us a sense of his family life and academic interests, and it even shows us he has a sense of humor. As an admissions committee, we learned a lot about Ryan in just one paragraph."

Here are five additional tips from admissions officers to help prospective college students craft strong supplemental essays.

Answer the Question

This may seem obvious, but applicants should carefully read a supplemental essay prompt and make sure they understand what it is asking before answering it, Richardson says.

Prospective students may want to reuse an essay they wrote for another college, but that doesn't always work because supplemental questions tend to be more tailored to an individual institution, she says.

Start With an Outline

Applicants may have their own writing process, but Davis encourages those she works with to create outlines. She says prospective students should brainstorm the personal qualities, skills or experiences they would like to convey in their supplemental essays.

Don't Repeat Yourself

Supplemental essays are a chance for applicants to give more information to an admissions committee to further show why they are a good fit for a school, Davis says. So prospective students should make sure they aren't repeating something that's already been covered in their main essay.

Narrow Your Focus

Probably the biggest mistake applicants make in supplemental essays is choosing a topic that's too big, Farmer says. For example, he says prospective students may attempt to settle a complex political issue in just one paragraph.

"I think it's better to do something small and do it well than to do something big and skate over the surface," he says.

Maintain Your Voice

It's a good idea for applicants to ask another person for editing help, but too much input can be detrimental to an essay, experts say. If lots of people – teachers, parents, peers – read and weigh in on an essay, they can weaken how clearly a student's voice comes through in the writing.

"It's great to read something that sounds like it was written by an 18-year-old and not by a machine," Farmer says, "or by someone who's trying to be prematurely middle-aged."

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Don’t Sweat the Supp Stuff: Advice for Crafting Your Supplemental Essay

It can feel daunting to choose what to write about in your college application essays. How do you sum up the complex, dynamic individual you are with such limited space? 

The short answer: You can’t. But that’s OK. 

The goal of your application is not to share every detail of your multifaceted life. Rather, the process allows you to share your story with the admissions committee about what makes you a strong match for the institution. Each piece of the application reveals something about your academic experiences and personal journey that shows us how you might contribute to the Hopkins community. 

In some ways, the essays help tie together the rest of the application. They offer space for you to tell stories that represent the most important parts of your identity, which provide context for other components of the application. 

Let’s zero in on the supplemental essay . 

The supplemental essay portion of the application is specific to each school. Each institution has intentionally crafted a question (or multiple) to help determine whether a student might be a good match. We look for individuals who share Hopkins’ institutional values but will also bring unique experiences and perspectives to the community.  

Below is the supplemental essay prompt for students applying for entry to Hopkins in the fall of 2024:  

Tell us about an aspect of your identity (e.g., race, gender, sexuality, religion, community, etc.) or a life experience that has shaped you as an individual and how that influenced what you’d like to pursue in college at Hopkins. This can be a future goal or experience that is either academic, extracurricular, or social. (350-word limit) *

Picture your life in college. What does your community look like? Which aspects of your identity are most important for you to develop and nurture?  

Now jot down some thoughts about experiences or parts of your identity that have had a significant effect on your life. Maybe it’s a hobby you love, a cultural tradition, or an instance when you discovered something new about yourself. 

Once you have a list, think about how each of these will continue to play a role in your college life. Choose one to focus on and spend some time building it out. 

Keep in mind this essay is not an exercise in “tell us everything you know about Hopkins.” While it’s important for the admissions committee to see you’ve done your research and understand what Hopkins has to offer, simply listing what you hope to pursue on campus is only half of the puzzle. Be sure to connect the dots by explaining why you wish to pursue those things, and how they’ll help you remain connected to and grow in your identity. 

If you’re having trouble coming up with ideas or crafting your essay, reach out to your school counselor or an English teacher. They can help you brainstorm and ensure your piece is answering the prompt in a meaningful way. 

Happy writing! 

* An important note about the essay: In this essay question, we are looking for how an aspect of your identity or background has contributed to your personal story—your character, values, perspectives, or skills—and how you think it may shape your approach to college as a scholar, leader, or community member.

Please note that the U.S. Supreme Court recently limited the consideration of race in college admissions decisions but specifically permitted consideration of “an applicant’s discussion of how race affected his or her life” so long as the student is “treated based on his or her experiences as an individual—not on the basis of race.” Therefore, any part of your background, including but not limited to your race, may be discussed in your response to this essay if you so choose, but will be considered by the university based solely on how it has affected your life and your experiences as an individual.

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