College Admissions: Supplemental Essays

Most people know that a competitive college applications begin with a strong, personal, and compelling personal statement that helps an admissions committee get to know the applicant.

But did you know that many schools now require or encourage the applicant to submit supplementary essays? These can range from 100-500 words, depending on the school, and each plays a vital role in indicating to a committee who the applicant is and what they have to offer.

A diversity statement asks the student to describe their outlook on the importance or role of diversity in a healthy society, while hardship statements allow them to cover how related experiences have affected their lives or academic experiences. Covid-19 impact statements, too, give students space to relate how challenges from the pandemic have affected their learning, which can be a powerful addendum to test scores.

Interest statements give the student an opportunity to make a case of why a given school is a “good fit” for them, while program interest statements and honors/scholarship statements play an important role in identifying their major and/or their candidacy for financial aid or honors programs.

Extracurricular statements and/or Lists of Activities give the student the chance to document their volunteering, sports, or other non-academic pursuits, especially if these did not play a central role in their personal statements.

All of these items are covered in our College Admissions Workshop! If your student is beginning their admissions process or wants to get a head-start, sign up today! https://www.thelearningcurvelkn.com/class/sat-bootcamp-372020-wghnf-zykpg