Selective schools without Supps

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For schools that don’t have a supplement, I would suggest a different type of personal essay that is more focused on your major’s origin story. You can still show your values, community orientation and other personal qualities but you need a different type of personal essay for your entire application to work. And in this case, you can easily add some language specific to the school in the last paragraph for two.

Alternatively, use the additional information section to create a short 100-150 word paragraph about the school. I think more professionals will be coming out with strategies on how to do this in the coming months so pay attention.

Newby here, so apologies if this is a stupid question, but how does this work with the Common App? I thought you had to have one main essay that automatically goes to all the schools to which your student is applying?

Fill out the common app.

Submit to school A.

Edit.

Submit to school B.

Edit again.

Submit to school C.

Etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For schools that don’t have a supplement, I would suggest a different type of personal essay that is more focused on your major’s origin story. You can still show your values, community orientation and other personal qualities but you need a different type of personal essay for your entire application to work. And in this case, you can easily add some language specific to the school in the last paragraph for two.

Alternatively, use the additional information section to create a short 100-150 word paragraph about the school. I think more professionals will be coming out with strategies on how to do this in the coming months so pay attention.

Most of these places don't even admit to major. Do the IECs who push this idea even talk to the AOs before they decide this is what they want? Or are they the IECs who don't have any friends in admissions because they have no real experience and don't try to create relationships?

Having been a T10 reader, sometimes this is done well and sometimes not.

The origin story essay works well for unique / niche majors and can make for a memorable candidate. Haven’t seen it executed well often for STEM but it does happen occasionally.

Writing about middle seats, cutting hair, rock bands - that’s not so memorable. It’s become a bit cliche.

And while AO don’t admit by major, we absolutely note it in our review (and highlight the ones we’ve been told to look for)! Major matters in committee even though no one is “admitted to a major”.

OMG, you were a temp in an admissions and think your experience is robust enough to tell people what to do?

No one who was a temp should think they know what's best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There’s been increase of selective schools dropping/without supplements for next cycle:
WashU (new/drop)
UVA
Tulane (new/drop)
Middlebury
Others??

I’m now reading that the personal statement should be customized for each school.

Did anyone do that successfully this year for UVA or Middlebury or another?

ANy chance UVA or Middlebury or others will bring them back? Or do people think they are gone for good?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For schools that don’t have a supplement, I would suggest a different type of personal essay that is more focused on your major’s origin story. You can still show your values, community orientation and other personal qualities but you need a different type of personal essay for your entire application to work. And in this case, you can easily add some language specific to the school in the last paragraph for two.

Alternatively, use the additional information section to create a short 100-150 word paragraph about the school. I think more professionals will be coming out with strategies on how to do this in the coming months so pay attention.

I really think it is a bad idea. if they wanted a why is essay, they would have asked for one.

[Anonymous]

Wesleyan
Bates
Colby

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Williams

and Amherst too, I think -- they require a graded paper from high school instead

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s been increase of selective schools dropping/without supplements for next cycle:
WashU (new/drop)
UVA
Tulane (new/drop)
Middlebury
Others??

I’m now reading that the personal statement should be customized for each school.

Did anyone do that successfully this year for UVA or Middlebury or another?

ANy chance UVA or Middlebury or others will bring them back? Or do people think they are gone for good?

Gone for good. Other schools will soon follow suit.

I wouldn't be surprised -- now that the SAT is all digital -- if they added back an optional / ungraded essay section in the next 2-5 years. The only cost would be more time for proctors. Schools could choose to download them and use AI to grade them according to the school's own metrics.

[Anonymous]

Title is misleading for those that have supps but maybe changed the requirements.

[Anonymous]

I like the approach of asking for an academic paper. It's more often a thing the kid created on their own and without professional editors/ghost writers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For schools that don’t have a supplement, I would suggest a different type of personal essay that is more focused on your major’s origin story. You can still show your values, community orientation and other personal qualities but you need a different type of personal essay for your entire application to work. And in this case, you can easily add some language specific to the school in the last paragraph for two.

Alternatively, use the additional information section to create a short 100-150 word paragraph about the school. I think more professionals will be coming out with strategies on how to do this in the coming months so pay attention.

I really think it is a bad idea. if they wanted a why is essay, they would have asked for one.

+1

Do not give more essay than they ask for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Williams

and Amherst too, I think -- they require a graded paper from high school instead

Not even required. DD got in submitting no supplementary materials

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For schools that don’t have a supplement, I would suggest a different type of personal essay that is more focused on your major’s origin story. You can still show your values, community orientation and other personal qualities but you need a different type of personal essay for your entire application to work. And in this case, you can easily add some language specific to the school in the last paragraph for two.

Alternatively, use the additional information section to create a short 100-150 word paragraph about the school. I think more professionals will be coming out with strategies on how to do this in the coming months so pay attention.

I really think it is a bad idea. if they wanted a why is essay, they would have asked for one.

Lots of creative ways to use the Addtl Info section….

https://www.myprompt.com/post/getting-the-most-out-of-the-common-apps-additional-info-section

[Anonymous]

Holy Cross

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This just seems like another way to increase the number of applications and artificially reduce the acceptance rate.

Bingo. It's perfect for lazy students and lazy AOs who don't want to bother reading essays. What a joke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This just seems like another way to increase the number of applications and artificially reduce the acceptance rate.

Bingo. It's perfect for lazy students and lazy AOs who don't want to bother reading essays. What a joke.

Stupid essays that don't even know who actually wrote it lol what a joke.