Why Do So Many Strong Liberal Arts Colleges Not Have Supplemental Essays?

[Anonymous]

I'm suprised by how many liberal arts schools are Common App only - no supplemental essays at all. Schools like Williams, Wesleyan, Middlebury, Hamilton, Colby, and Bates.

Any idea why? Is it simply an attempt to boost the overall number of applications and therefore their selectivity rate?

DH and I both went to big universities. But we both assumed one of the upsides of small liberal arts schools is that they're tight-knit communities of highly engaged students.

To create that culture, wouldn't schools want more information from applicants than their GPA/test scores and their bare-bones list of ECs on the Common App?

At a minimum, why skip the short "Why College X?" essay? Or the "Tell us about your academic interests (or lessons learned from your community) and how you plan to pursue/apply them at College X?" like so many of the other schools out there? Even the big state schools like UMD, Wisconsin, Maryland etc. include supplementals.

[Anonymous]

At research universities, they often admit to a particular school and consider your intended major, thus the Why Major? type of supplemental essay may be helpful in their evaluation. In contrast, SLACs don't require declaration of major often until sophomore year, and the whole idea of a SLAC is exploration of many different subject areas, so perhaps they are less concerned about intended major and thus don't need a special essay on it. As for Why Us? supplementals, they ask you to list your contacts with the school; you can list up to 10 contacts and so it's easy for them to see if the applicant is highly interested in their school without a Why Us? essay. Finally, perhaps they just consider the 650 word Common App personal statement a sufficient essay, and don't need more.

[Anonymous]

Swarthmore had 2 supp essays, as does Haverford

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Swarthmore had 2 supp essays, as does Haverford

Amherst has one.

I think supplementals are important, help give a fuller picture of the kid applying. This is especially important at small colleges, when trying to build a cohort with a positive and intellectually dynamic vibe.

[Anonymous]

They already have two essays and three recommendation letters. At a certain point, they have enough information to know who will make it into the « could admit » pile. After that, they are building a class around their own priorities not about the specific kids. There is no real difference between the final group of kids that they admit or reject except that they already had too many kids from New York or not enough kids from public school, etc.

[Anonymous]

It is to help with admissions stats and drive applications. Same reason many also make the application free. Just a few button clicks to apply.

[Anonymous]

They are declining in popularity, especially amount the diverse pop they desperately want to attract.

[Anonymous]

Some of them ask for essays later, once your kid submits the Common App. It’s “fun,” they think they’re done and then they a request to log into the school’s website and do more work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm suprised by how many liberal arts schools are Common App only - no supplemental essays at all. Schools like Williams, Wesleyan, Middlebury, Hamilton, Colby, and Bates.

Any idea why? Is it simply an attempt to boost the overall number of applications and therefore their selectivity rate?

DH and I both went to big universities. But we both assumed one of the upsides of small liberal arts schools is that they're tight-knit communities of highly engaged students.

To create that culture, wouldn't schools want more information from applicants than their GPA/test scores and their bare-bones list of ECs on the Common App?

At a minimum, why skip the short "Why College X?" essay? Or the "Tell us about your academic interests (or lessons learned from your community) and how you plan to pursue/apply them at College X?" like so many of the other schools out there? Even the big state schools like UMD, Wisconsin, Maryland etc. include supplementals.

OP, the vast majority of SLAC's have one or more supplementals. They care a lot about the fit. Of course, the ones that do not are trying to increase applications. Some of them even waive application fees. Colby is now one of the "most selective" colleges because of it.

[Anonymous]

pomona has them. CMC. Swat. I'm trying to think of my kids own list - there were a lot of sups.

Williams asks for an optional (not really) piece of academic writing. This, to me, is better. It's a piece of writing that - unless the kid is VERY locked in - was done without essay coaches, without colleges in mind. With teacher notes.

[Anonymous]

they have a common app essay, grades, test scores, 3 LORs. getting a recycled 'why us' essay shouldn't move the needle.

But this is not unique to LACs. There are a few that don't require them, that's true. It's also true that CWRU doesn't have them. Nor Northeastern. Nor UConn or UVM. Not Tulane. Not Clemson, Alabama, LSU. Not Indiana, Iowa or Minnesota. Not Bing. Not Ohio State.

[Anonymous]

Schools want more apps to appear to be more selective so an easy app process generates more activity/applications.

Plus, school already have enough information based on regular common application and teacher recs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Schools want more apps to appear to be more selective so an easy app process generates more activity/applications.

Plus, school already have enough information based on regular common application and teacher recs.

Additionally, ED 1 or ED 2 tells the school enough about your desire to attend.

[Anonymous]

we could be asking why all these essays are important to other schools.

my kid did 5-6 essays for some schools. totally ridiculous. can you imagine a job interview process than required that?

[Anonymous]

Their admissions counselors are very, very good at analyzing applications and determining fit. They know what they're looking for. How you present via the activities list and essay coupled with teacher recommendations is hugely important.