The 2025 Fall application season has arrived, and all US college essay prompts have been released.
During the application process, the Common App Essay is not the only writing you'll encounter; students will often need to submit supplemental essays as well.
Supplemental essays are more university-specific, covering a wider range of topics, and allow for a deeper understanding of students' backgrounds and their interest in the university. They also provide more opportunities for students to emphasize their strengths, showcase their uniqueness, and express their enthusiasm for attending.
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How to Write Outstanding US College Supplemental Essays
When it comes to showcasing your personality and passion to admissions officers, there are many important considerations for writing supplemental essays. For example, UPenn has offered the following advice for supplemental essays:
First, read the prompt carefully. Make sure to answer all questions or prompts, directly and clearly addressing the topics the school wants to know about; otherwise, they can only evaluate you based on incomplete information.
Second, answer thoughtfully. When applying to multiple schools, you might reuse essay material, but ensure your responses are fully tailored to each school's prompts.
Third, check your writing carefully. Give yourself enough time to review your essays and polish and proofread the content before submission.
Fourth, conduct thorough research. Whether it's courses you want to take, research opportunities, or clubs you want to join, be specific in your essays so that admissions officers can sense your deliberate consideration in applying to that university.
Meanwhile, CheersYou（清柚教育） has compiled specific Supplemental Essay prompts and writing tips from top US universities to provide more insights for your essay writing. Let's take a look!
Analysis of Supplemental Essay Prompts from Top US Universities
Columbia University
In college/university, students are often challenged in ways that they could not predict or anticipate. It is important to us, therefore, to understand an applicant’s ability to navigate through adversity. Please describe a barrier or obstacle you have faced and discuss the personal qualities, skills or insights you have developed as a result. (150 words or fewer)
Before answering this question, first identify a specific difficulty you have overcome. The prompt is most concerned with your reaction to challenges and how you dealt with them, not the difficulty itself.
Therefore, we should choose to tell about a creative solution to a dilemma, showcasing it to the admissions officers. Columbia University tends to admit resilient, adaptable, and self-aware students. During the writing process, focus on developing personal qualities, skills, and insights.
For example, if you overcame a fear of public speaking, you could discuss how you built confidence, expressed your ideas under high-pressure situations, and became an effective communicator.
Harvard University
Top 3 things your roommates might like to know about you.
This prompt is quite unique, giving students the chance to present themselves in a more personal and casual way. It doesn't involve academic achievements or extracurricular activities; rather, it's about your personality, quirks, and how you contribute to Harvard's living environment. It's an opportunity to show Harvard who you are outside the classroom and how you interact with others in daily life.
Before answering, think carefully about what makes you unique, what you value most, and how you connect with others. Since the prompt aims to showcase your originality, feel free to be creative. Highlight the qualities you choose, and also consider how to present them.
Be sure to choose qualities you would actually share with friends or roommates, and avoid clichés and grandiose language. For example, are you someone who enjoys late-night chats? Or do you recharge quietly after a busy day? Do you go for a morning run every day?
New York University
In a world where disconnection seems to often prevail, we are looking for students who embody the qualities of bridge builders—students who can connect people, groups, and ideas to span divides, foster understanding, and promote collaboration within a dynamic, interconnected, and vibrant global academic community. We are eager to understand how your experiences have prepared you to build the bridges of the future. Please consider one or more of the following questions in your essay:
- What personal experiences or challenges have shaped you as a bridge builder?
- How have you been a bridge builder in your school, community, or personal life?
- What specific actions have you taken to build bridges between diverse groups, ideas, or cultures?
- How do you envision being a bridge builder during your time at our university and beyond?
NYU wants to admit students who actively participate in and promote a vibrant, inclusive campus culture. These sub-prompts all focus on the concept of community in different ways.
Perhaps you grew up in a bicultural family, lived in multiple countries, or participated in various school club activities. This topic examines whether students can integrate well into today's society despite differences among people.
First, identify the gap you bridged, then explain how you bridged it, and finally reflect on how this experience allowed both you and others to learn from each other. Use this opportunity to demonstrate your openness and curiosity about the world.
Cornell University
We all contribute to, and are influenced by, the communities that are meaningful to us. Share how you’ve been shaped by one of the communities you belong to.
Remember that this essay is about you and your lived experience. Define community in the way that is most meaningful to you. Some examples of community you might choose from are: family, school, shared interest, virtual, local, global, cultural. (350 word limit)
Cornell admissions officers hope to understand your background, experiences, and how your worldview was formed through this prompt.
When considering a topic, think about the communities you are most closely involved with (your family, clubs, or classmates), and then consider your role within them.
Not only consider how these experiences and collective living shaped you, but also consider the positive contributions you made. This is the most critical part of the essay.
Brown University
Brown’s Open Curriculum allows students to explore broadly while also diving deeply into their academic pursuits. Tell us about any academic interests that excite you, and how you might pursue them at Brown. (200-250 words)
Brown's Open Curriculum allows students to design their own course of study, free from the constraints of traditional general education requirements.
This means you'll have the opportunity to explore various disciplines and delve deeply into areas of interest, from business to education, sociology, music, and more.
This prompt allows you to demonstrate your deep understanding of the Open Curriculum and explain how its flexibility will help you pursue your academic interests. For instance, if you plan to study astrophysics, you might write about wanting to research atmospheric composition with a Brown professor or collaborate with a research institute working on similar projects.
Johns Hopkins University
How has your life experience contributed to your personal story—your character, values, perspectives or skills—and what you want to pursue at Hopkins? (350 word limit)
This question is essentially asking a simple thing: How has your upbringing shaped you? And what do you hope to learn at Johns Hopkins?
The prompt values your self-awareness of your own interests and your motivation for academic pursuits. For example, how did growing up in a multicultural family inspire you to study music? You could first describe an experience that led you to choose this major, and then elaborate on your specific academic goals at the university.
In summary, the core of this prompt is to integrate your personal background, extracurricular interests, and the major you want to study.
Duke University
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)
This question essentially asks 'why this university,' and we can break it down into three parts: describe your overall impression of Duke, why it's a good fit for you, and what specific programs attract you.
The first part asks you to articulate your view of Duke. You can mention the aspects of Duke that impressed you most, such as its emphasis on interdisciplinary research, spirit of innovation, or athletic events.
The second part, think about how Duke is the best fit for you, offering opportunities and experiences you wouldn't find at other universities.
Finally, don't forget to make the essay interesting to read. Injecting personal flair will more easily capture admissions officers' attention.
Boston University
Reflect on a social or community issue that deeply resonates with you. Why is it important to you, and how have you been involved in addressing or raising awareness about it?
When answering this prompt, students need to consider two things: First, why is this issue important to you? Second, how have you been involved in addressing it or raising awareness about it?
When brainstorming, first think about how you addressed or raised awareness about a social issue. Did you fundraise for a cause, organize educational community events, etc.?
Be sure to write about things you have actively done, and avoid mentioning issues you care about but haven't addressed.
Carnegie Mellon University
Most students choose their intended major or area of study based on a passion or inspiration that’s developed over time – what passion or inspiration led you to choose this area of study?
Through this prompt, admissions officers want to learn more about your academic journey and intellectual curiosity, which are highly valued qualities in applicants.
First, consider the field you want to study: What sparked your initial interest in this area? You can start your essay with a story that connects your past experiences to your intended major, expanding on your academic interests.
Although CMU requires each student to apply to a specific college, the university also prides itself on its interdisciplinary approach. To showcase your intellectual curiosity and interest in interdisciplinarity, you might consider the intersections of your field with other disciplines.
US college applications have always placed great emphasis on essays as a critical component. Many elite universities have dedicated supplemental essay sections precisely to admit applicants who best fit the school and have the most potential, paying closer attention to the stories and details behind each student.
Writing strong supplemental essays will effectively increase your chances of a successful mutual match with the school. In this new application season, we hope everyone will thoroughly prepare your essays and successfully secure admission to your dream school!
